bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expenditure Pattern for TB Treatment among Patients Registered in an Urban Government DOTS Program in Chennai City, South India
Authors: Ananthakrishnan Ramya , Muniyandi M. , Jeyaraj Anita , Palani Gopal , Sathiyasekaran B. W. C.
Published: November 2012

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) patients registered in the government clinics under the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) program in Chennai city catering to about 4.3 million population.Objective. To estimate the pattern and overall costs incurred by the new patients (who have never had treatment for tuberculosis or have taken antituberculosis drugs for less than one month) registered under DOTS program in the treatment of tuberculosis in Chennai city.Methodology. A cross-sectional survey among new TB patients, who had completed intensive phase of antituberculosis treatment, was done using a precoded semi-structured questionnaire between March and June 2007. Information was collected on demographic, socioeconomic characteristics and expenditure for before and during treatment. Mean costs were used for comparison.Results. Among the 300 TB patients, most economically productive age group and 186 (62%) were males. The overall estimated total costs incurred right from the onset of symptoms until treatment completion was found to be Rs. 3211 (3.8% of annual family income) under DOTS program, which is less compared to previous studies. The overall mean total cost was significantly high among male (Rs. 3270;P<0.01), employed (Rs. 3945;P<0.01), and extrapulmonary patients (Rs. 3915;P<0.01).Conclusion. The study has reiterated the fact that DOTS helps in reducing out-of-pocket expenses to patients with tuberculosis and hence is a cost-effective health intervention. This cost reduction may help to increase the access to the poor people which would help in achieving universal access to TB care services.
Assessing Exercise Limitation Using Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Authors: Stickland Michael K. , Butcher Scott J. , Marciniuk Darcy D. , Bhutani Mohit
Published: November 2012

The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is an important physiological investigation that can aid clinicians in their evaluation of exercise intolerance and dyspnea. Maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2max) is the gold-standard measure of aerobic fitness and is determined by the variables that define oxygen delivery in the Fick equation (V˙O2= cardiac output × arterial-venous O2content difference). In healthy subjects, of the variables involved in oxygen delivery, it is the limitations of the cardiovascular system that are most responsible for limiting exercise, as ventilation and gas exchange are sufficient to maintain arterial O2content up to peak exercise. Patients with lung disease can develop a pulmonary limitation to exercise which can contribute to exercise intolerance and dyspnea. In these patients, ventilation may be insufficient for metabolic demand, as demonstrated by an inadequate breathing reserve, expiratory flow limitation, dynamic hyperinflation, and/or retention of arterial CO2. Lung disease patients can also develop gas exchange impairments with exercise as demonstrated by an increased alveolar-to-arterial O2pressure difference. CPET testing data, when combined with other clinical/investigation studies, can provide the clinician with an objective method to evaluate cardiopulmonary physiology and determination of exercise intolerance.
Abundant Interaction Solutions of Sine‐Gordon Equation
Authors: Lü DaZhao , Cui YanYing , Liu ChangHe , Wu ShangWen
Published: November 2012

With the help of computer symbolic computation software (e.g., Maple), abundant interaction solutions of sine‐Gordon equation are obtained by means of a constructed Wronskian form expansion method. The method is based upon the forms and structures of Wronskian solutions of sine‐Gordon equation, and the functions used in the Wronskian determinants do not satisfy linear partial differential equations. Such interaction solutions are difficultly obtained via other methods. And the method can be automatically carried out in computer.
Immune Response ofBos indicusCattle against the Anti-Tick Antigen Bm91 Derived from LocalRhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplusTicks and Its Effect on Tick Reproduction under Natural Infestation
Authors: Lambertz Christian , Chongkasikit Natthaphon , Jittapalapong Sathaporn , Gauly Matthias
Published: November 2012

Antigens of anti-tick vaccines are more efficacious for homologous challenge with local tick strains. cDNA clones encoding for Bm91 from localRhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplusstrains were developed to immunizeBos indicuscattle under field conditions. Three groups of six animals each were injected with the antigen Bm91, saline, and adjuvant, respectively. Animals were immunized three times at 3-week intervals and a fourth time after six months. The anti-Bm91 antibody level, measured by ELISA, was monitored for 7 months and the reproductive performance of naturally infestedR. (B.) micropluswas determined. Bm91-immunized animals developed a strong immune response expressed by high anti-Bm91 levels remaining on high levels until the end of the study. Western blot analysis confirmed that Bm91 is immunogenic. Compared to control animals, the reproductive efficiency index and the egg viability were 6% and 8%, respectively, lower in the Bm91 group (P<0.05). In conclusion, it was demonstrated that Bm91 induced a long-lasting immune response. However, the effect on the tick reproduction was not sufficient for an efficient tick control. Further studies under field conditions are warranted to enhance the effect on the tick reproduction by optimizing the immunization regimen, alone or in combination with other vaccine candidate antigens.
The Role of Molecular Pathology in the Diagnosis of Cutaneous Lymphomas
Authors: Raess Philipp W. , Bagg Adam
Published: November 2012

Primary cutaneous lymphomas can be difficult to be distinguished from reactive mimics, even when integrating histologic, immunophenotypic, and clinical findings. Molecular studies, especially PCR-based antigen receptor gene rearrangement (ARGR) analysis, are frequently useful ancillary studies in the evaluation of cutaneous lymphoproliferations. The biologic basis of ARGR studies is discussed, as well as a comparison of various current protocols. The pitfalls and limitations of ARGR analysis are also highlighted. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of various cutaneous lymphomas are discussed. Some of these nascent discoveries may lead to the development of diagnostically useful molecular assays.
Tetradentate N2O2 Chelated Palladium(II) Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity towards Mizoroki‐Heck Reaction of Aryl Bromides
Authors: Che Soh Siti Kamilah , Shamsuddin Mustaffa
Published: November 2012

Four air and moisture‐stable palladium(II)‐Schiff base complexes, N,N′‐bis(α‐methylsalicylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine palladium(II) (2a), N,N′‐bis(4‐methyl‐α‐methylsalicylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine palladium(II) (2b), N,N′‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine palladium(II) (2c), and N,N′‐bis(4‐methoxy‐salicylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine palladium(II) (2d), have been successfully synthesised and characterised by CHN elemental analyses and conventional spectroscopic methods. These complexes were investigated as catalysts in the phosphine‐free Mizoroki‐Heck cross‐coupling reactions of aryl bromides with methyl acrylate.
Kinetics and	Mechanism of Electron	Transfer to Heptavalent Manganese by dl‐Aspartic Acid in Alkaline Aqueous and Micellar Media
Authors: Sanjana M. , Patnaik A. K. , Badamali S. K. , Mohanty P.
Published: November 2012

The kinetics and mechanism of the electron transfer of dl‐Aspartic acid (Asp) by Mn (VII) in alkaline medium has been studied spectrophotometrically over the range 2.0 ≤ 103[Asp] ≤5.0 mol dm−3; 0.01 ≤ [OH−] ≤ 0.05 mol dm−3; 298 ≤ T ≤ 318 K and I = 0.05 mol dm−3 (KNO3). The reaction exhibits first‐order dependence in but shows fractional‐order dependence in both [Asp]T and . The reaction was studied in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); an increase in the rate with the increase in the micellar concentration was observed. The products were characterized by spectral analysis. A mechanism involving free radicals is proposed. Asp binds to form a complex that subsequently decomposes to products. Activation parameters ΔH° (kJ mol−1) and ΔS° (JK−1 mol−1) for the reaction are 5.62 ± 0.35 and −227.65 ± 1.1, respectively. The negative value of ΔS° indicates that oxidation occurs via inner sphere mechanism.
A Case of 8p11 Myeloproliferative Syndrome with BCR-FGFR1 Gene Fusion Presenting with Trilineage Acute Leukemia/Lymphoma, Successfully Treated by Cord Blood Transplantation
Authors: Morishige Satoshi , Oku Eijiro , Takata Yuka , Kimura Yoshizo , Arakawa Fumiko , Seki Ritsuko , Imamura Rie , Osaki Koichi , Hashiguchi Michitoshi , Yakushiji Kazuaki , Mizuno Shinichi , Yoshimoto Koji , Nagafuji Koji , Ohshima Koichi , Okamura Takashi
Published: November 2012

The 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome is a rare neoplasm associated with chromosomal translocations involving the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) gene located at chromosome 8p11–12. FGFR1 encodes a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. The resultant fusion proteins are constitutively active tyrosine kinases that drive the proliferation of hematopoietic cells, whose uncontrolled growth can present as a myeloproliferative neoplasm. We report here the case of a 50-year-old man harboring the t(8;22)(p12;q11) chromosomal translocation in cells from both bone marrow and lymph nodes. He presented with acute leukemia and lymphoma with trilineage features. A novel mRNA in-frame fusion between exon 4 of the breakpoint cluster region (BCR) gene at chromosome 22q11 and exon 9 of FGFR1 gene on chromosome 8p11–12 was identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis and was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Because the patient was refractory to chemotherapy, cord blood transplantation was performed in progressive disease. It resulted in a successful outcome in which cytogenetic complete remission has been maintained for 2 years till date.
At the Edge of Intonation: The Interplay of Utterance-Final F0 Movements and Voiceless Fricative Sounds
Authors: Niebuhr Oliver
Published: November 2012

The paper is concerned with the ‘edge of intonation’ in a twofold sense. It focuses on utterance-final F0 movements and crosses the traditional segment-prosody divide by investigating the interplay of F0 and voiceless fricatives in speech production. An experiment was performed for German with four types of voiceless fricatives: /f/, /s/, /ʃ/ and /x/. They were elicited with scripted dialogues in the contexts of terminal falling statement and high rising question intonations. Acoustic analyses show that fricatives concluding the high rising question intonations had higher mean centres of gravity (CoGs), larger CoG ranges and higher noise energy levels than fricatives concluding the terminal falling statement intonations. The different spectral-energy patterns are suitable to induce percepts of a high ‘aperiodic pitch’ at the end of the questions and of a low ‘aperiodic pitch’ at the end of the statements. The results are discussed with regard to the possible existence of ‘segmental intonation’ and its implication for F0 truncation and the segment-prosody dichotomy, in which segments are the alleged troublemakers for the production and perception of intonation.
Making Sense of Outliers
Authors: Ogden Richard
Published: November 2012

Phonetic inquiry, particularly of the kind which looks at large numbers of items, frequently asks what a ‘typical’ example of a phenomenon of speech is like. For example, in describing the plosives of a language, it is common to calculate average closure durations or voice onset times in some contexts. In this paper, the focus is on examples from natural conversation where there are untypical patterns, and where the item of interest is, in statistical terms, an outlier. Outliers are generally excluded from linguistic analysis, and may be treated as e.g. production errors. The paper shows instead that at least some outliers are in fact part of a meaningful practice, and an orderly method by which speakers can create meaning. The phenomenon more precisely is that of intensifying emphasis, which has been described for German. We consider its phonetic exponents in American English, which are both ‘prosodic’ and ‘segmental’. We provide an account of function based on participants’ own use and displayed understanding of the phenomenon, and argue for a structurally rich account of the phenomenon which includes aspects of turn construction and sequential organisation.
Persimmon Fruit Tannin-Rich Fiber Reduces Cholesterol Levels in Humans
Authors: Gato Nobuki , Kadowaki Akio , Hashimoto Natsumi , Yokoyama Shin-ichiro , Matsumoto Kenji
Published: November 2012

Bile acid-binding agents are known to lower blood cholesterol levels and have been clinically used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. We previously showed that tannin-rich fiber from young persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruits had bile acid-binding properties. In this study, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effects of tannin-rich fiber in humans. The subjects (n = 40, plasma total cholesterol levels 180–259 mg/dl) were divided into 3 groups and ingested cookie bars containing 0 g (placebo group, n = 14), 3 g (low-dose group, n = 13), or 5 g (high-dose group, n = 13) of tannin-rich fiber 3 times daily before meals for 12 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol levels decreased significantly in the low-dose (12 weeks, p < 0.005) and high-dose (6 weeks, p < 0.05; 12 weeks, p < 0.001) groups. In addition, plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased significantly in the high-dose group (6 weeks, p < 0.05; 12 weeks, p < 0.001). These improvements were not accompanied by changes in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or plasma triglyceride levels. Our findings indicate that tannin-rich fiber from young persimmon fruits is a useful food material for treating hypercholesterolemia.
Fitness Function Distributions over Generalized Search Neighborhoods in the q-ary Hypercube
Authors: Sutton Andrew M. , Chicano Francisco , Whitley L. Darrell
Published: November 2012

The frequency distribution of a fitness function over regions of its domain is an important quantity for understanding the behavior of algorithms that employ randomized sampling to search the function. In general, exactly characterizing this distribution is at least as hard as the search problem, since the solutions typically live in the tails of the distribution. However, in some cases it is possible to efficiently retrieve a collection of quantities (called moments) that describe the distribution. In this paper, we consider functions of bounded epistasis that are defined over length-n strings from a finite alphabet of cardinality q. Many problems in combinatorial optimization can be specified as search problems over functions of this type. Employing Fourier analysis of functions over finite groups, we derive an efficient method for computing the exact moments of the frequency distribution of fitness functions over Hamming regions of the q-ary hypercube. We then use this approach to derive equations that describe the expected fitness of the offspring of any point undergoing uniform mutation. The results we present provide insight into the statistical structure of the fitness function for a number of combinatorial problems. For the graph coloring problem, we apply our results to efficiently compute the average number of constraint violations that lie within a certain number of steps of any coloring. We derive an expression for the mutation rate that maximizes the expected fitness of an offspring at each fitness level. We also apply the results to the slightly more complex frequency assignment problem, a relevant application in the domain of the telecommunications industry. As with the graph coloring problem, we provide formulas for the average value of the fitness function in Hamming regions around a solution and the expectation-optimal mutation rate.
Habit and Nonhabit Systems for Unconscious and Conscious Behavior: Implications for Multitasking
Authors: Lisman John , Sternberg Eliezer J.
Published: November 2012

The study of human consciousness has demonstrated that there are both conscious and unconscious systems. Other work, particularly in animals, has shown that there are habit and nonhabit systems and that these involve different brain regions and memory processes. Here we argue that habits can be equated with unconscious behavior and nonhabits with conscious behavior. This equation makes the extensive physiological literature on habit/nonhabit relevant to the less tractable issue of consciousness. On the basis of this line of reasoning, it appears that different parts of the BG and different memory structures mediate conscious and unconscious processes. It is further argued here that the unconscious system is highly capable; it can both process sensory information and produce behavior. The benefit of such a dual system is multitasking: The unconscious system can execute background tasks, leaving the conscious system to perform more difficult tasks.
Dopamine D2 Receptor Modulation of Human Response Inhibition and Error Awareness
Authors: Nandam L. Sanjay , Hester Robert , Wagner Joe , Dean Angela J. , Messer Cassandra , Honeysett Asha , Nathan Pradeep J. , Bellgrove Mark A.
Published: November 2012

Response inhibition, comprising action cancellation and action restraint, and error awareness are executive functions of considerable clinical relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, our understanding of their underlying catecholamine mechanisms, particularly regarding dopamine, is limited. Here, we used the dopamine D2 agonist cabergoline to study its ability to improve inhibitory control and modulate awareness of performance errors. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design with a single dose of cabergoline (1.25 mg) and placebo (dextrose) was employed in 25 healthy participants. They each performed the stop-signal task, a well-validated measure of action cancellation, and the Error Awareness Task, a go/no-go measure of action restraint and error awareness, under each drug condition. Cabergoline was able to selectively reduce stop-signal RT, compared with placebo, indicative of enhanced action cancellation (p < .05). This enhancement occurred without concomitant changes in overall response speed or RT variability and was not seen for errors of commission on the Error Awareness Task. Awareness of performance errors on the go/no-go task was, however, significantly improved by cabergoline compared with placebo (p < .05). Our results contribute to growing evidence for the dopaminergic control of distinct aspects of human executive ability, namely, action cancellation and error awareness. The findings may aid the development of new, or the repurposing of existing, pharmacotherapy that targets the cognitive dysfunction of psychiatric and neurological disorders. They also provide further evidence that specific cognitive paradigms have correspondingly specific neurochemical bases.
Critical Time Course of Right Frontoparietal Involvement in Mental Number Space
Authors: Rusconi Elena , Dervinis Martynas , Verbruggen Frederick , Chambers Christopher D.
Published: November 2012

Neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging studies suggest that right frontoparietal circuits may be necessary for the processing of mental number space, also known as the mental number line (MNL). Here we sought to specify the critical time course of three nodes that have previously been related to MNL processing: right posterior parietal cortex (rPPC), right FEF (rFEF), and right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG). The effects of single-pulse TMS delivered at 120% distance-adjusted individual motor threshold were investigated in 21 participants, within a window of 0–400 msec (sampling interval = 33 msec) from the onset of a central digit (1–9, 5 excluded). Pulses were delivered in a random order and with equal probability at each time point, intermixed with noTMS trials. To analyze whether and when TMS interfered with MNL processing, we fitted bimodal Gaussian functions to the observed data and measured effects on changes in the Spatial–Numerical Association of Response Codes (SNARC) effect (i.e., an advantage for left- over right-key responses to small numbers and right- over left-key responses to large numbers) and in overall performance efficiency. We found that, during magnitude judgment with unimanual key-press responses, TMS reduced the SNARC effect in the earlier period of the fitted functions (∼25–60 msec) when delivered over rFEF (small and large numbers) and rIFG (small numbers); TMS further reduced the SNARC effect for small numbers in a later period when delivered to rFEF (∼200 msec). In contrast, TMS of rPPC did not interfere with the SNARC effect but generally reduced performance for small numbers and enhanced it for large numbers, thus producing a pattern reminiscent of “neglect” in mental number space. Our results confirm the causal role of an intact right frontoparietal network in the processing of mental number space. They also indicate that rPPC is specifically tied to explicit number magnitude processing and that rFEF and rIFG contribute to interfacing mental visuospatial codes with lateralized response codes. Overall, our findings suggest that both ventral and dorsal frontoparietal circuits are causally involved and functionally connected in the mapping of numbers to space.
A Matter of Time: The Temporal Perspectives of Organizational Responses to Climate Change
Authors: Slawinski Natalie , Bansal Pratima
Published: November 2012

Prior research often categorizes corporate environmental responses on a spectrum that ranges from reactive to proactive. Such research subordinates the role of time, yet time is central to organizational responses to environmental issues such as climate change. In this paper, we study five oil and gas firms and inductively develop a framework of corporate responses to climate change that explicitly acknowledges the role of time. The framework identifies two categories of corporate responses grounded in different temporal perspectives: focused and integrated. We discuss the implications of this categorization for research on corporate environmentalism and time in organizational theory.
The Urbanization of Politics
Authors: Tedesco Delacey
Published: November 2012

If we live, as we are told, in an urbanizing world, then the problem of contemporary political analysis must be tackled by rethinking politics as practices of urbanizing spaces and subjectivities. This article questions whether relational ontologies of urban spatiotemporality and spatialized inter-subjectivity are sufficient as bases for analyses of the contemporary forms of politics enacted within practices and processes of urbanization. I argue that they are not, and suggest instead that urbanization puts into play multiple, overlapping aporetic boundaries between nature and culture, rural and urban, nature and urban, and ultimately between politics and its limits.
Mad doctors? The significance of medical practitioners admitted as patients to the first English county asylums up to 1890
Authors: Tomkins Alannah
Published: November 2012

‘Mad doctors’ specialized in treating the insane, but what about the doctors whose own mental health was jeopardized? Oppenheim found that doctors who attended the mad were presumed to be particularly vulnerable, but there has been no research investigating this claim, nor identifying practitioners’ experiences as patients. This article analyses medical admissions to asylums via both case notes and other sources such as newspaper reports, revealing the responses of medical superintendents to their former colleagues and, in some cases, the judgements of practitioners on their institutional surroundings. It indicates the impact of work-related stress, as medicine became self-consciously professional, and the evolution of public reactions to doctors who could not maintain an appropriately sane identity.
The toxic oil syndrome as a catalyst to psychiatric reform in Spain (1981–85)
Authors: Hernández-Martín Gregoria , Martínez-Pérez José , Dening Dr Tom
Published: November 2012

In 1981 Spain had an outbreak of a previously unknown disease. It became known as ‘toxic oil syndrome’ and it not only caused many deaths but also involved an alarming range of symptoms, with many patients suffering from mental problems, which left many of the victims disabled. Toxic oil syndrome, which occurred during the difficult transition from dictatorship to democracy, highlighted the inability of the Spanish health care system to deal with the myriad problems posed by the epidemic. The aim of this paper is illustrate how the epidemic was a catalyst in helping to bring about the transformation of psychiatric care in Spain. The toxic oil syndrome made it possible to try out new approaches to mental health which were being propounded by many psychiatrists. In fact, some of the methods adopted to deal with those affected by toxic oil syndrome also became mainstays of the so-called ‘psychiatric reform’ in Spain.
Cohesion
Authors: Carron Albert V. , Brawley Lawrence R.
Published: November 2012

The constitutive and operational definitions of group cohesion have varied across various disciplines in group dynamics. Recently, it has been suggested that a conceptualization of cohesion proposed by Carron, Widmeyer, and Brawley could have broad research applicability for different types of groups. However, results from a few studies have raised questions about the validity of this suggestion. One reason that these studies did not support the suggestion is that they failed to take into account the varied nature of groups and group cohesiveness. To clarify issues associated with measuring cohesion and testing various research questions, this article provides a general definition of cohesiveness, a discussion of the theoretical implications of that definition, and some suggestions for the conditions and procedures necessary to examine the structure of group cohesion in a variety of group contexts.
Group Cohesion and Performance
Authors: Evans Charles R. , Dion Kenneth L.
Published: November 2012

Past research examining group cohesion and performance was reviewed using meta analysis. The results indicated a positive relationship with the average cohesive group performing 18 percentile points above the average noncohesive group. Given the nature of the studies used here (all studies had been previously published), caution is suggested in generalizing these results to “real” work groups.
On the λ ratio range of mixed lubrication
Authors: Zhu Dong , Wang Q Jane
Published: November 2012

Mixed lubrication is a mode of fluid lubrication in which both hydrodynamic lubricant film and rough surface asperity contact coexist. Mixed lubrication problems are usually associated with significant surface roughness effect. A common belief is that full-film lubrication occurs when the λ ratio, defined as average film thickness divided by composite root mean square roughness, is greater than 3.0, while boundary lubrication corresponds to λ < 0.5–1.0. Mixed lubrication, therefore, is roughly in the range 0.5–1.0 <  λ < 3.0. However, these considerations were established long ago based on early stochastic analyses, which did not adequately consider rough surface asperity interaction and correlation, as well as reduction of asperity heights caused by surface deformation. Recent experimental studies and deterministic numerical simulations suggested that the λ ratio range of mixed lubrication needs to be re-visited. Actually, when the λ ratio is greater than 0.6–1.2, little or no asperity contact is found in either experimental results or numerical solutions. If λ is around 0.05–0.1, there may still be a considerable portion of load, e.g. greater than 10–15%, being supported by lubricant films. It appears that mixed lubrication spans a λ ratio range roughly from 0.01–0.05 up to 0.6–1.2, according to the numerical simulation results presented in this article. This estimated range is in a reasonably good agreement with experimental observations found in the literature.
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 related familial hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: Hanton Sally L , Van Heyningen Charles
Published: November 2012

Gain-of-function proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) mutations are an uncommon cause of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) with a reported frequency of less than 2% in patients with FH in the United Kingdom. We have found a high prevalence of this genotype in our patients with FH in northwest England. Out of 48 patients with possible, probable or definite FH screened for FH associated mutations in our clinic, five (10%) were found to have the same gain-of-function mutation in PCSK9. We present clinical details and lipid results before and during treatment on eight patients with this mutation and compare these findings with those in nine patients with FH due to low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene mutations. Gain-of-function mutations in PCSK9 result in a more severe clinical phenotype with a higher prevalence of early onset cardiovascular disease. The more severe hypercholesterolaemia is refractory to treatment compared with LDLR related FH.
The first hundred families diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolaemia in two lipid clinics in lothian
Authors: Finnie Robert M , Bell Christine , Bloomfield Peter , Ho Clement KM , Jenks Sara , Shand Nicola , Walker Simon W
Published: November 2012

As in other areas of Western Europe, familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is one of the most frequent genetic disorders in the UK. Genetic testing for this condition is available in Scotland. This observational study describes the genetic variants found when the databases of the two principal designated lipid clinics in South East Scotland were amalgamated.

The genetic mutations were identified by the Molecular Genetics Department in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by sequencing all 18 exons of the LDLR gene and using multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA) to identify major deletions and duplications in the gene. Variants of the APOB gene at codon 3527 and the common PCSK9 mutations were also investigated. The first 100 genetically positive families (as opposed to individuals) were studied and unidentified variants included. Care was taken not to include patients who could be related.

Sixty six different genetic mutations were found, including point mutations, major rearrangements, deletions or duplications or unidentified variants. No PCSK9 mutations were found. The frequency of mutations in different exons of the LDLR gene was explored.

There was a higher frequency than expected of unclassified variants. Our results were compared with two commercial kits and analysed with the pick-up rate, in this population, disappointing.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Proteomic analysis on N, N′-dinitrosopiperazine-mediated metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma 6-10B cells
Authors: Li Yuejin , Liu Na , Huang Damao , Zhang Zhenlin , Peng Zhengke , Duan Chaojun , Tang Xiaowei , Tan Gongjun , Yan Guangrong , Mei Wenhua , Tang Faqing
Published: November 2012

Background

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has a high metastatic feature. N,N′-Dinitrosopiperazine (DNP) is involved in NPC metastasis, but its mechanism is not clear. The aim of this study is to reveal the pathogenesis of DNP-involved metastasis. 6-10B cells with low metastasis are from NPC cell line SUNE-1, were used to investigate the mechanism of DNP-mediated NPC metastasis.

Results

6-10B cells were grown in DMEM containing 2H4-L-lysine and 13C 6 15 N4-L-arginine or conventional L-lysine and L-arginine, and identified the incorporation of amino acid by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Labeled 6-10B cells were treated with DNP at 0 -18 μM to establish the non-cytotoxic concentration (NCC) range. NCC was 0 -10 μM. Following treatment with DNP at this range, the motility and invasion of cells were detected in vitro, and DNP-mediated metastasis was confirmed in the nude mice. DNP increased 6-10B cell metastasis in vitro and vivo. DNP-induced protein expression was investigated using a quantitative proteomic. The SILAC-based approach quantified 2698 proteins, 371 of which showed significant change after DNP treatment (172 up-regulated and 199 down-regulated proteins). DNP induced the change in abundance of mitochondrial proteins, mediated the status of oxidative stress and the imbalance of redox state, increased cytoskeletal protein, cathepsin, anterior gradient-2, and clusterin expression. DNP also increased the expression of secretory AKR1B10, cathepsin B and clusterin 6-10B cells. Gene Ontology and Ingenuity Pathway analysis showed that DNP may regulate protein synthesis, cellular movement, lipid metabolism, molecular transport, cellular growth and proliferation signaling pathways.

Conclusion

DNP may regulate cytoskeletal protein, cathepsin, anterior gradient-2, and clusterin expression, increase NPC cells motility and invasion, is involved NPC metastasis.
Estimating relative abundances of proteins from shotgun proteomics data
Authors: McIlwain Sean , Mathews Michael , Bereman Michael S , Rubel Edwin W , MacCoss Michael J , Noble William Stafford
Published: November 2012

Background

Spectral counting methods provide an easy means of identifying proteins with differing abundances between complex mixtures using shotgun proteomics data. The command, implemented as part of the Crux software toolkit, implements four previously reported spectral counting methods, the spectral index (SI
N
), the exponentially modified protein abundance index (emPAI), the normalized spectral abundance factor (NSAF), and the distributed normalized spectral abundance factor (dNSAF).

Results

We compared the reproducibility and the linearity relative to each protein’s abundance of the four spectral counting metrics. Our analysis suggests that NSAF yields the most reproducible counts across technical and biological replicates, and both SI
N
and NSAF achieve the best linearity.

Conclusions

With the command, Crux provides open-source modular methods to analyze mass spectrometry data for identifying and now quantifying peptides and proteins. The C++ source code, compiled binaries, spectra and sequence databases are available athttp://noble.gs.washington.edu/proj/crux-spectral-counts.
Identification and profiling of novel microRNAs in the Brassica rapagenome based on small RNA deep sequencing
Authors: Kim Bumjin , Yu Hee-Ju , Park Sin-Gi , Shin Ja Young , Oh Mijin , Kim Namshin , Mun Jeong-Hwan
Published: November 2012

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one of the functional non-coding small RNAs involved in the epigenetic control of the plant genome. Although plants contain both evolutionary conserved miRNAs and species-specific miRNAs within their genomes, computational methods often only identify evolutionary conserved miRNAs. The recent sequencing of the Brassica rapa genome enables us to identify miRNAs and their putative target genes. In this study, we sought to provide a more comprehensive prediction of B. rapa miRNAs based on high throughput small RNA deep sequencing.

Results

We sequenced small RNAs from five types of tissue: seedlings, roots, petioles, leaves, and flowers. By analyzing 2.75 million unique reads that mapped to the B. rapa genome, we identified 216 novel and 196 conserved miRNAs that were predicted to target approximately 20% of the genome’s protein coding genes. Quantitative analysis of miRNAs from the five types of tissue revealed that novel miRNAs were expressed in diverse tissues but their expression levels were lower than those of the conserved miRNAs. Comparative analysis of the miRNAs between the B. rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana genomes demonstrated that redundant copies of conserved miRNAs in the B. rapa genome may have been deleted after whole genome triplication. Novel miRNA members seemed to have spontaneously arisen from the B. rapa and A. thaliana genomes, suggesting the species-specific expansion of miRNAs. We have made this data publicly available in a miRNA database of B. rapa called BraMRs. The database allows the user to retrieve miRNA sequences, their expression profiles, and a description of their target genes from the five tissue types investigated here.

Conclusions

This is the first report to identify novel miRNAs from Brassica crops using genome-wide high throughput techniques. The combination of computational methods and small RNA deep sequencing provides robust predictions of miRNAs in the genome. The finding of numerous novel miRNAs, many with few target genes and low expression levels, suggests the rapid evolution of miRNA genes. The development of a miRNA database, BraMRs, enables us to integrate miRNA identification, target prediction, and functional annotation of target genes. BraMRs will represent a valuable public resource with which to study the epigenetic control of B. rapa and other closely related Brassica species. The database is available at the following link: http://bramrs.rna.kr [1].
Optimal chroma-like channel design for passive color image splicing detection
Authors: Zhao Xudong , Li Shenghong , Wang Shilin , Li Jianhua , Yang Kongjin
Published: November 2012

Image splicing is one of the most common image forgeries in our daily life and due to the powerful image manipulation tools, image splicing is becoming easier and easier. Several methods have been proposed for image splicing detection and all of them worked on certain existing color channels. However, the splicing artifacts vary in different color channels and the selection of color model is important for image splicing detection. In this article, instead of finding an existing color model, we propose a color channel design method to find the most discriminative channel which is referred to as optimal chroma-like channel for a given feature extraction method. Experimental results show that both spatial and frequency features extracted from the designed channel achieve higher detection rate than those extracted from traditional color channels.
Inferred calcification rate of a Mediterranean azooxanthellate coral is uncoupled with sea surface temperature along an 8° latitudinal gradient
Authors: Caroselli Erik , Mattioli Guido , Levy Oren , Falini Giuseppe , Dubinsky Zvy , Goffredo Stefano
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Correlations between sea surface temperature (SST) and growth parameters of the solitary azooxanthellate Dendrophylliid Leptopsammia pruvoti were assessed along an 8° latitudinal gradient on western Italian coasts (Mediterranean Sea), to check for possible negative effects of increasing temperature as the ones reported for a closely related, sympatric but zooxanthellate species.

Results

Calcification rate was correlated with skeletal density but not with linear extension rate, indicating that calcium carbonate deposition was preferentially allocated to keep a constant skeletal density. Unlike most studies on both temperate and tropical zooxanthellate corals, where calcification rate is strongly related to environmental parameters such as SST, in the present study calcification rate was not correlated with SST.

Conclusions

The lower sensitivity of L. pruvoti to SST with respect to other sympatric zooxanthellate corals, such as Balanophyllia europaea, may rely on the absence of a temperature induced inhibition of photosynthesis, and thus the absence of an inhibition of the calcification process. This study is the first field investigation of the relationship between SST and the three growth parameters of an azooxanthellate coral. Increasing research effort on determining the effects of temperature on biological traits of the poorly studied azooxanthellate scleractinians may help to predict the possible species assemblage shifts that are likely to occur in the immediate future as a consequence of global climatic change.
Tick infestations in extensively grazed cattle and efficacy trial of high-cis cypermethrin pour-on preparation for control of ticks in Mvomero district in Tanzania
Authors: Hezron E Nonga , Adrian Muwonge , Robinson H Mdegela
Published: November 2012

Background

This study aimed at determining the extent of tick infestations in extensively grazed cattle and assess the efficacy of Ecotix® acaricide (2.5% high cis cypermethrin) in Mvomero district in Tanzania. A total of 1200 Tanzanian short horn Zebu (TSHZ) from two farms in two villages were qualitatively assessed for tick infestations and 40 animals (grouped in 10s from each farm) were separated in their herds and quantitatively examined to establish the tick load. The animals were grouped in treatment regime groups (TxRG 1, 2, 3, and 4), TxRG 1 being the control group was treated with water. Ecotix® was applied on day 0 for TxRG 2, days 0 and 7 for TxRG 3 and days 0, 7 and 14 for TxRG 4 and tick load was monitored for 28 days.

Results

All the animals examined were infested with ticks. The identified ticks were Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (55%), Amblyomma variegatum (18%), R. (Boophilus) microplus (12.9%), R. (B) decoloratus (7.1%), R. evertsi evertsi (4.4%) and R. composites (2.6%). The overall mean (mean ± SEM) tick density on day zero was 63 ± 30 ticks per animal (ranging from 20–160). The mean tick density on day zero was 44.6 ± 25.4, 74.6 ± 30.3, 55.0 ± 26.2 and 77 ± 33.5 for groups one, two, three and four respectively. Post-treatment quantitative assessment of tick burden revealed that the TxRG 1 animals maintained a tick load throughout the study period. A significant decrease in tick load in animals in groups TxRG 2, 3 and 4 (P=0.0001) with increasing frequency of Ecotix® application was recorded. There was however no significant difference in tick reduction between TxRG 3 and 4 (P=0.0986). Thus TxRG 3 would be sufficient for the monthly tick treatment and with this regime, the farmer would save up to 2.5 USD per animal during six months of dry season.

Conclusions

The study revealed a high tick infestation among the TSHZ kept in extensive grazing systems in Mvomero district and that when treated with Ecotix® as pour-on preparation using a two application regime per month, the tick control strategy was effective.
Relationship between beta-globin gene carrier state and insulin resistance
Authors: Bahar Adele , Kashi Zahra , Sohrab Mehrnoush , Kosaryan Mehrnoush , Janbabai Ghasem
Published: November 2012

Objective

To assess the relationship between being beta globin gene carrier and developing insulin resistance.

Methods

This study was conducted on 164 subjects including 82 healthy ones and 82 patients with beta thalassemia minor (microcytosis (MCV <80 fl) and hypochromia (MCH <25 pg) and HbA2 ≥ 3.5% using HPLC). Fasting blood glucose (FBS) values of 100–125 mg/dl were considered as impaired fasting glucose, and above
125 mg/dl as diabetes mellitus. Two hours After 75 gram glucose load(GTT), blood sugar level of 140–199 mg/dl was considered as impaired glucose tolerance and above 199 mg/dl as diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance was diagnosed based on homeostasis model assessment method (HOMA).

Results

According to FBS and BS2hPG values, the percentages of diabetes mellitus, pre diabetes, and normal glucose tolerance in case group was 8.5%, 9.8% and 81.7%, respectively. There was no case of diabetes mellitus in control group and 6.1% of this group were pre diabetic and 93.9% of them had normal glucose tolerance test
(P = 0.02). Relative risk for diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance in the cases with minor thalassemia was
2 (95% CI: 1.8-2.5) and 2.02 (95% CI: 1.7-2.4), respectively.

Conclusion

The risk of developing diabetes and insulin resistance in patients with thalassemia minor is two times greater than the general population. Considering the high serum levels of CRP in these cases, the inflammation noted in liver cells could be considered as the underlying cause of insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in these patients.
Response of Direct-Seeded Dry Bulb Onion to Simulated Glyphosate Drift with Variable Rates and Application Timings
Authors: Felix Joel , Boydston Rick , Burke Ian C.
Published: November 2012

Field studies were conducted in 2011 at the Malheur Experiment Station, Ontario, OR and Prosser, WA to evaluate the effect of simulated glyphosate drift on direct-seeded dry bulb onion. Glyphosate was applied at 8.6, 25.8, 86, 290, 434, and 860 g ae ha−1when onion plants were at the flag-, two-, four-, and six-leaf stages. Onion foliar injury was directly related to the glyphosate dose and varied with application timing. Foliar injury at 7 d after treatment (DAT) ranged from 0 to 12% for glyphosate ≤ 25.8 g ha−1. Foliar injury increased at 21 DAT when glyphosate was applied ≥ 25.8 g ha−1to plants at the flag- and four-leaf stage, and ranged from 24 to 99%. The 50%-injury glyphosate dose at 21 DAT was lowest when onion was treated at the four-leaf and flag stages and was estimated to be 76.8 and 81 g ha−1, respectively. Onion injury severity increased when glyphosate was applied at ≥ 86 g ha−1and eventually resulted in plant death at 860 g ha−1. Foliar injury was inversely correlated to U.S. no. 1 onion yield. Onions displayed sensitivity to very low glyphosate doses especially at the four-leaf stage. Shikimic acid accumulation increased with the increase in glyphosate dose and was positively correlated with foliar injury and negatively correlated with plant height and onion yield.
Application Placement Affects Postemergence Smooth Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum) and Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) Control with Indaziflam
Authors: Brosnan James T. , Breeden Gregory K.
Published: November 2012

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of herbicide placement on POST smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass control. Soil-plus-foliar, soil-only, and foliar-only applications of indaziflam (52.5 g ai ha−1), dithiopyr (560 ai g ha−1), or quinclorac (840 g ai ha−1) were made to one-tiller smooth crabgrass plants. Similarly, indaziflam (52.5 g ha−1), foramsulfuron (29 g ai ha−1), or prodiamine (840 g ai ha−1) were applied to nontillering annual bluegrass plants in an identical manner. No differences in smooth crabgrass control were detected between soil-plus-foliar and soil-only applied indaziflam from 21 to 35 d after treatment (DAT). By 28 DAT, smooth crabgrass control and biomass reductions with these indaziflam treatments were ≥ 90% and not different than quinclorac. Comparatively, smooth crabgrass control with foliar-only applications of indaziflam never exceeded 28%. Responses on annual bluegrass were similar as soil-plus-foliar and soil-only applied indaziflam exhibited greater efficacy than indaziflam applied foliar-only. By 28 DAT, annual bluegrass control and aboveground biomass reductions with soil-plus-foliar and soil-only treatments were ≥ 86% and not different from foramsulfuron. Comparatively, foliar-only applications of indaziflam controlled annual bluegrass ≤ 2%. These results indicate that root absorption is required for POST control of smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass with indaziflam. Further research is needed to determine if techniques to enhance indaziflam contact with soil will enhance POST smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass control in the field.