bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental infection byHaemonchus contortusin lambs: influence of disease on purine levels in serum
Authors: GRESSLER LUCAS T. , DA SILVA ALEKSANDRO S. , OLIVEIRA CAMILA B. , SCHAFER ANDRESSA S. , AIRES ADELINA R. , ROCHA JOSÉ F. X. , TONIN ALEXANDRE A. , SCHIRMBECK GABRIEL H. , CASALI EMERSON A. , LOPES SONIA T. A. , LEAL MARTA L. R. , MONTEIRO SILVIA G.
Published: February 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the purine levels of lambs experimentally infected withHaemonchus contortus. A total of 12 healthy lambs were divided into two groups, composed of 6 animals each: Group A represented the healthy animals (uninfected), while in Group B the animals were infected with 15 000 larvae ofH. contortus. Blood was drawn on days 15, 45 and 75 post-infection (PI) in order to perform the purine analysis (ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid) by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in serum. On day 15 PI a significant (P<0·05) increase in the levels of ATP and inosine was observed in the infected animals, unlike the levels of ADP, adenosine, xanthine and uric acid which were reduced. On day 45 PI a significant (P<0·05) increase in the ATP and xanthine levels in infected animals was observed, contrasting with reduced levels of ADP and uric acid. Finally, on day 75 PI an increase occurred in the levels of ATP, adenosine and hypoxanthine in infected lambs, concomitant with a reduction in the levels of ADP and uric acid (P<0·05). These changes in purine levels may influence the inflammatory process and the pathological events.
Could Captain Scott have been saved? Cecil Meares and the ‘second journey’ that failed
Authors: May Karen , Airriess Sarah
Published: February 2014

This is a follow-up to the article ‘Could Captain Scott have been saved? Revisiting Scott's last expedition’, published in this journal in January 2012. Additional research in the expedition's primary documents reveals that there was a clear opportunity for One Ton depot to have been re-stocked with dog food in January 1912, preparatory to the final relief journey to meet the polar party that February, and that the dog driver Cecil Meares failed to follow Scott's relevant orders. The consequences will be examined in this article. All distances are given in geographical miles.
The evidence for clonal spreading of quinolone resistance with a particular clonal complex ofCampylobacter jejuni
Authors: KOVAČ J. , ČADEŽ N. , LUŠICKY M. , NIELSEN E. MØLLER , OCEPEK M. , RASPOR P. , MOŽINA S. SMOLE
Published: February 2014

Campylobacteris the most prevalent cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and it represents a significant public health risk of increasing severity due to its escalating resistance to clinically important quinolone and macrolide antibiotics. As a zoonotic pathogenCampylobacteris transmitted along the food chain and naturally cycles from environmental waters, feedstuff, animals and food to humans. We determined antibiotic resistance profiles, as well as multilocus sequence types andflaA-SVR types for 52C. jejuniisolated in Slovenia from human, animal, raw and cured chicken meat and water samples. Twenty-eight different sequence types, arranged in ten clonal complexes, three new allele types and five new sequence types were identified, indicating the relatively high diversity in a small group of strains. The assignment of strains from different sources to the same clonal complexes indicates their transmission along the food supply chain. The most prevalent clonal complex was CC21, which was also the genetic group with 95% of quinolone-resistant strains. Based on the genetic relatedness of these quinolone-resistant strains identified by polymerase chain reaction with a mismatch amplification mutation assay and sequencing of the quinolone resistance-determining region of thegyrAgene, we conclude that the high resistance prevalence observed indicates the local clonal spread of quinolone resistance with CC21.
Seed mass, germination and seedling traits for some central Argentinian cacti
Authors: Pivatto María Sosa , Funes Guillermo , Ferreras Ana E. , Gurvich Diego E.
Published: February 2014

Seed size is one of the most important traits in the regenerative phase of a plant's life cycle; however, for cactus species the relationship of seed size and germination characteristics and seedling traits is still unclear. We studied the relationship between seed mass and germination and seedling characteristics in 17 cactus species from central Argentina, belonging to different genera and life forms. We measured seed mass, total seed germination, light requirements for germination and mean time to germination for these 17 cacti species; in addition, we recorded seedling size and shape in 15 species. To test light requirements we performed germination experiments under laboratory conditions at 25/15°C (day/night temperatures) and under light or dark conditions. We also calculated seedling volume by measuring seedling height and width. A shape index was obtained by dividing height by width (a value of 1 indicates ‘globose’ seedlings, whereas, as this value increases, seedlings become ‘columnar’). We found no significant relationship between seed mass and any of the germination characteristics considered. However, species with heavier seeds produced bigger seedlings, which were more cylindrical. Adult growth was not totally determined by seedling ‘growth form’, because some species that had globose seedlings were columnar at the adult stage.
Two imbibition properties independently influence the cultivar-specific flooding tolerance of dried soybean seeds
Authors: Jitsuyama Yutaka , Hagihara Yuma , Konno Yutaro
Published: February 2014

Soybean seeds are prone to flooding injury just after planting if they are exposed to excess moisture. We investigated the flooding tolerance of soybean seeds to clarify the relationship between flooding injury and imbibition, to identify factors that could provide fundamental information for the breeding of flooding-tolerant cultivars. Seven cultivars were used for this study. The seeds were geminated in a paper towel after a flooding treatment and then evaluated for survival. The imbibition of submerged seeds (passive imbibition) was evaluated as the seed fresh weight change during the flooding process. The imbibition of seeds with capillary effect (capillary imbibition) was measured by the bottom water supply method. Furthermore, the conductivity of the seed coat and seed osmolarity were measured. After 3 h of flooding, significant differences in survival were detected among cultivars. In addition, the passive imbibition during 10–30 min of flooding, and the capillary imbibition during 0–10 min of flooding were caused by significant differences in the imbibition rate among cultivars. Although neither imbibition showed a significant correlation with the survival directly, the ratio between the passive and the capillary imbibition rate was significantly correlated with survival. Factors affecting imbibition included the hydraulic conductivity of the seed coat and seed osmolarity, which were significantly correlated with the passive and the capillary imbibition rate, respectively. Thus, the balance between the capillary and passive imbibition behaviour of seeds, affected by the hydraulic conductivity of the seed coat and seed osmolarity, was closely correlated with the occurrence of flooding injury in soybean seeds.
Activation and regulation of primary metabolism during seed germination
Authors: Rosental Leah , Nonogaki Hiroyuki , Fait Aaron
Published: February 2014

Seed germination is regulated in a concerted manner that involves generating growth potential in the embryo to overcome the mechanical resistance of the endosperm. The wake-up call of a dry seed includes the reorganization of subcellular structures and the reactivation of metabolism in a dense, oxygen-poor environment. Pools of unbound metabolites and solutes produced by the degradation of storage reserves, including starch, proteins and oils, in the embryo can contribute to the generation of the embryo growth potential and radicle protrusion. Recent genomics studies have contributed a vast amount of data on protein, metabolite and gene transcript profiles during germination, which can be integrated to explore the seed metabolism from water imbibition to radicle protrusion. To what extent are free pools of metabolites relevant to the reorganization of seed metabolism? How is energy built to support embryo growth and radicle protrusion? Elucidating these fundamental questions in seed biology is the key to the understanding of the germination process. Here we have attempted to summarize the recent scientific knowledge to provide a comprehensive description of the ignition, reassembling and regulation of metabolism during seed germination.
Biochemical changes associated with gibberellic acid-like activity of smoke-water, karrikinolide and vermicompost leachate during seedling development ofPhaseolus vulgarisL.
Authors: Singh Satendra , Kulkarni Manoj G. , Van Staden Johannes
Published: February 2014

Smoke-water (SW), karrikinolide (KAR1) and vermicompost leachate (VCL) have been reported to possess gibberellic acid-like activity. The effects of these plant growth-promoting substances (PGPSs) on biochemical changes occurring during seed germination ofPhaseolus vulgariswere assessed. Seeds were incubated/germinated under dark conditions in water (control) or with different concentrations of SW, KAR1, VCL and gibberellic acid (GA3) for 7 d. The maximum seedling fresh weight (1.863 g) was recorded for the SW (1:750 v/v) treatment. The longest seedling axes (9.9 cm) and the highest number of adventitious roots (16.3) were recorded for VCL-treated seedlings (1:10 and 1:5 v/v, respectively). Analysis of two important hydrolytic enzymes, acid phosphatase and alpha-amylase, showed maximum activity [1856 nkat mg− 1and 3.225 mg min− 1(g FW)− 1, respectively] in the seeds incubated with 10− 8M KAR1. In all the treated seedlings, proline content was significantly reduced [43.67 μg (g FW)− 1; VCL (1:20 v/v)] in comparison to the control [87 μg (g FW)− 1] but there was an increase in amino acids with some concentrations of PGPSs. The tested PGPSs significantly influenced various biochemical parameters that play a significant role in seed germination and plant growth. This study indicates that PGPSs may act via stress-relieving biochemical pathways during seed germination.
Prognosis Terminal
Authors: RICH BEN A.
Published: February 2014

The Caduceus in Court welcomes readers to submit articles on legal updates and discussions of issues in healthcare law to Ben Rich atbarich@ucdavis.edu.
Reaction Time Variability Associated with Reading Skills in Poor Readers with ADHD
Authors: Tamm Leanne , Epstein Jeffery N. , Denton Carolyn A. , Vaughn Aaron J. , Peugh James , Willcutt Erik G.
Published: February 2014

Linkages between neuropsychological functioning (i.e., response inhibition, processing speed, reaction time variability) and word reading have been documented among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and children with Reading Disorders. However, associations between neuropsychological functioning and other aspects of reading (i.e., fluency, comprehension) have not been well-documented among children with comorbid ADHD and Reading Disorder. Children with ADHD and poor word reading (i.e., ≤25th percentile) completed a stop signal task (SST) and tests of word reading, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Multivariate multiple regression was conducted predicting the reading skills from SST variables [i.e., mean reaction time (MRT), reaction time standard deviation (SDRT), and stop signal reaction time (SSRT)]. SDRT predicted word reading, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. MRT and SSRT were not associated with any reading skill. After including word reading in models predicting reading fluency and reading comprehension, the effects of SDRT were minimized. Reaction time variability (i.e., SDRT) reflects impairments in information processing and failure to maintain executive control. The pattern of results from this study suggest SDRT exerts its effects on reading fluency and reading comprehension through its effect on word reading (i.e., decoding) and that this relation may be related to observed deficits in higher-level elements of reading. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–10)
The impact of inter-fraction set-up errors on the probability of pulmonary and cardiac complication in left-sided breast cancer patients
Authors: Chamunyonga Crispen
Published: February 2014

Purpose

This study evaluated the impact of patient set-up errors on the probability of pulmonary and cardiac complications in the irradiation of left-sided breast cancer.

Methods and materials

Using the CMS XiO Version 4·6 radiotherapy planning system's normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) algorithm and the Lyman–Kutcher–Burman model, we calculated the dose–volume histograms (DVH) indices for the ipsilateral lung and heart and the resultant NTCP for radiation-induced pneumonitis and excess cardiac mortality in 12 left-sided breast cancer patients.

Results

Isocentric shifts in the posterior direction had the greatest effect on the lung V20, heart V25, and mean and maximum doses to the lung and the heart. DVH results show that the ipsilateral lung V20 tolerance was exceeded in 58% of the patients after 1 cm posterior shifts. Similarly, the heart V25 tolerance was exceeded after 1 cm antero-posterior and left–right isocentric shifts in 70% of the patients. The baseline NTCPs for radiation-induced pneumonitis ranged from 0·73% to 3·4%, with a mean value of 1·7%. The maximum reported NTCP for radiation-induced pneumonitis was 5·8% (mean 2·6%) after 1 cm posterior isocentric shift. The NTCP for excess cardiac mortality were 0% in 100% of the patients (n = 12) before and after set-up error simulations.

Conclusions

Set-up errors in left-sided breast cancer patients have a statistically significant impact on the Lung NTCPs and DVH indices. However, with a central lung distance of 3 cm or less (CLD < 3 cm), and a maximum heart distance of 1·5 cm or less (MHD < 1·5 cm), the treatment plans could tolerate set-up errors of up to 1 cm without any change in the NTCP to the heart.
Social support needs: Discordance between home hospice nurses and former family caregivers
Authors: Reblin Maija , Cloyes Kristin G. , Carpenter Joan , Berry Patricia H. , Clayton Margaret F. , Ellington Lee
Published: February 2014

Objective:

The two goals of our study were to (1) identify which of five types of social support (Informational, Esteem, Emotional, Tangible, Belonging) are most cited by hospice nurses and family caregivers and (2) determine the match in perception of support needs.

Method:

As part of a larger multiphase project, focus groups were conducted with former family caregivers and hospice nurses to discuss their experiences of home hospice care and to gather their opinions on the important issues involved in that care. Transcripts of focus group discussions were coded for support type (Informational, Esteem, Emotional, Tangible, Belonging) based on definitions from the literature. Nurse and caregiver data were compared to assess for potential match.

Results:

Analysis of coded data suggested that nurses see different types of support to be needed in equal measure across their caseloads, while caregivers expressed priorities for some types of support. Illustrative examples of each type of support are provided and discussed.

Significance of Results:

Because matching support provided with the type of support desired has been linked to improved physical and psychological outcomes, it is important to focus on this match in healthcare populations particularly vulnerable to psychological stress, including family caregivers of home hospice patients. This research has implications for interventions to match support provision to caregiver needs, or for education for home hospice providers to ensure that they are not only sensitive to the possibility of a broad range of needs but also to the necessity to tailor care to those needs.
A sequential injection lab-at-valve (SI-LAV) platform for hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS): on-line determination of inorganic arsenic
Authors: Anthemidis Aristidis N. , Daftsis Emmanouil I. , Kalogiouri Natasa P.
Published: February 2014

A sequential injection lab-at-valve (SI-LAV) platform for hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS).
Continuous cocrystallisation of carbamazepine and trans-cinnamic acid via melt extrusion processing
Authors: Moradiya Hiren G. , Islam Muhammad T. , Halsey Sheelagh , Maniruzzaman Mohammed , Chowdhry Babur Z. , Snowden Martin J. , Douroumis D.
Published: February 2014

High quality carbamazepine–trans–cinnamic acid cocrystals were produced by hot melt extrusion. The extruded cocrystals showed improved dissolution rates. In-line NIR showed that cocrystals were formed gradually along the mixing zones of the extruder.
Direct conversion of syngas to dimethyl ether as a green fuel over ultrasound-assisted synthesized CuO–ZnO–Al2O3/HZSM-5 nanocatalyst: effect of active phase ratio on physicochemical and catalytic properties at different process conditions
Authors: Khoshbin Reza , Haghighi Mohammad
Published: February 2014

Hybrid co-precipitation–ultrasound synthesis of CuO–ZnO–Al2O3/HZSM-5 used in direct conversion of syngas to dimethyl ether as a green fuel.
Dry mechanochemical synthesis of alane from LiH and AlCl3
Authors: Hlova Ihor Z. , Gupta Shalabh , Goldston Jennifer F. , Kobayashi Takeshi , Pruski Marek , Pecharsky Vitalij K.
Published: February 2014

A mechanochemical process for the synthesis of alane (AlH3) starting from lithium hydride (LiH) and aluminium chloride (AlCl3) at room temperature and the underlying reaction pathway have been studied. In contrast to a conventional process using the same two reactants dissolved in diethyl ether, our approach enables a solvent-free synthesis, thereby directly leading to adduct-free alane. The method described here is quick and efficient, resulting in the quantitative conversion of all aluminium in the starting mixture to alane. Both the intermediate compounds formed during the reaction and the final products have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state27Al NMR spectroscopy, and temperature programmed desorption analysis of the as-milled mixtures. We show that excess LiH in the starting mixture (with an optimal ratio of 9LiH : 1AlCl3) is essential for the formation and stability of Al–H bonds, initially in the form of alanates and, eventually, as alane. Further processing of this mixture, gradually adding AlCl3to reach the ideal 3LiH : 1AlCl3stoichiometry, appears to restrict the local accumulation of AlCl3during the ball-milling process, thereby preventing the formation of unstable intermediates that decompose to metallic Al and molecular hydrogen. We also demonstrate that under the milling conditions used, a moderate hydrogen pressure ofca.300 bar is required to suppress competing reactions that lead to the formation of metallic Al at room temperature. The identification of the reaction intermediates at each stage of the synthesis provides significant insight into the mechanism of this solid-state reaction, which may potentially afford a more rational approach toward the production of AlH3in a simple solvent-free process.
A new “functional” pasta containing tartary buckwheat sprouts as an ingredient improves the oxidative status and normalizes some blood pressure parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Merendino Nicolò , Molinari Romina , Costantini Lara , Mazzucato Andrea , Pucci Anna , Bonafaccia Francesco , Esti Marco , Ceccantoni Brunella , Papeschi Cristiano , Bonafaccia Giovanni
Published: February 2014

30% of tartary buckwheat sprouts (TBS) were incorporated in an experimental pasta which has a high content of quercetin. TBS pasta has antioxidant and hypothensive effects in SHR.
Microfluidic liquid jet system with compatibility for atmospheric and high-vacuum conditions
Authors: Trebbin Martin , Krüger Kilian , DePonte Daniel , Roth Stephan V. , Chapman Henry N. , Förster Stephan
Published: February 2014

A novel microfluidic device for the generation of liquid jets with micrometer diameters is described. The gas sheath design allows reliable jetting at sample-efficient flow rates under atmospheric and vacuum conditions. The soft-lithographic device fabrication is easy, reproducible and allows the integration of additional features such as a jet-in-jet.
Hydrothermal growth and characterization of shape-controlled NH4V3O8
Authors: Vernardou D. , Apostolopoulou M. , Louloudakis D. , Katsarakis N. , Koudoumas E.
Published: February 2014

The acidity of the solution can alter the crystal's shape and structure of the coatings grown at 95 °C controlling their electrochemical performance.
Ultrasensitive detection of bisphenol A in aqueous media using photoresponsive surface molecular imprinting polymer microspheres
Authors: Yang Yu-zhu , Tang Qian , Gong Cheng-bin , Ma Xue-bing , Peng Jing-dong , Lam Michael Hon-wah
Published: February 2014

A photoresponsive SMIP was prepared for photocontrolled detection of trace bisphenol A in aqueous media with simplicity and good efficiency.
N-Heterocyclic carbene rhodium(i) complexes containing an axis of chirality: dynamics and catalysis
Authors: Cassani Maria Cristina , Brucka Marta Anna , Femoni Cristina , Mancinelli Michele , Mazzanti Andrea , Mazzoni Rita , Solinas Gavino
Published: February 2014

Novel rhodium(i) complexes [RhCl(NBD)(NHC)] [NHC = 1-benzyl-3-R-imidazolin-2-ylidene; R = Me, Bz, Tr, tBu]: determination of the rotation barriers about the Rh-carbene and catalytic activity in the hydrosilylation of terminal alkynes.
Novel organic–inorganic hybrid soft xerogels with lanthanide complexes through an ionic liquid linkage
Authors: Yan Zhi-Yuan , Yan Bing
Published: February 2014

Functional hybrid soft materials [Ln(L)4]−IM+–Al/Ti are prepared by sol–gel derived hosts based on Ti–O or Al–O groups, with an exchange reaction of the ionic liquid 3-(5-carboxy-propyl)-1-methyl-imidazolium bromide and lanthanide complexes.
Photomechanical bending of linear azobenzene polymer
Authors: Wen Hongying , Zhang Weidong , Weng Yuyan , Hu Zhijun
Published: February 2014

In this work, photo-driven unimorph actuators are firstly fabricated by depositing azobenzene polymers onto silk fibroin films, eliminating the need for oriented azobenzene LCEs that have been used until now. The bending angle of the actuators can be well controlled either by changing the UV light intensity or by altering the thickness ratio of the two component layers. The bending deformation can be repeated many times without any fatigue.
Towards an understanding of structure-nonlinearity relationships in triarylamine-based push-pull electro-optic chromophores: the influence of substituent and molecular conformation on molecular hyperpolarizabilities
Authors: Wu Jingbo , Wilson Blake A. , Smith Jr. Dennis W. , Nielsen Steven O.
Published: February 2014

Theoretical study on the relationships between second-order NLO properties and the structures of triarylamine based chromophores.
A nitrogen-doped carbon dot/ferrocene@β-cyclodextrin composite as an enhanced material for sensitive and selective determination of uric acid
Authors: Zhang Hanqiang , Dai Pingwang , Huang Lizhang , Huang Yihong , Huang Qitong , Zhang Wuxiang , Wei Chan , Hu Shirong
Published: February 2014

The reaction process of UA on the surface of Fc@β-CD/CND/GCE.
Synthesis and structural studies of the simplest bismuth(iii) oxo-salicylate complex: [Bi4(μ3-O)2(HO-2-C6H4CO2)8]·2Solv (Solv = MeCN or MeNO2)
Authors: Boyd Tyler D. , Kumar Ish , Wagner Eric E. , Whitmire Kenton H.
Published: February 2014

Reaction of BiPh3with salicylic acid at room temperature in wet acetonitrile or nitromethane leads to the facile formation of the simplest bismuth oxo salicylate cluster found to date.
Multiplex detection of nucleic acids using a low cost microfluidic chip and a personal glucose meter at the point-of-care
Authors: Wang Qing , Wang Hui , Yang Xiaohai , Wang Kemin , Liu Fang , Zhao Qing , Liu Pei , Liu Rongjuan
Published: February 2014

A simple assay for multiplex DNA detection has been developed using a low cost microfluidic chip and a personal glucose meter.
Energetic multi-component molecular solids of tetrafluoroterephthalic acid with some aza compounds by strong hydrogen bonds and weak intermolecular interactions of C–H⋯F and C–H⋯O
Authors: Wang Lei , Hu Yanjing , Wang Wenqiang , Liu Faqian , Huang Keke
Published: February 2014

Tetrafluoroterephthalic acid forming nine new crystals with a series of N-containing heterocycles including salts/co-crystals/hydrates is discussed in context.
Deactivation studies of a carbon supported AuPt nanoparticulate catalyst in the liquid-phase aerobic oxidation of 1,2-propanediol
Authors: D'Agostino Carmine , Ryabenkova Yulia , Miedziak Peter J. , Taylor Stuart H. , Hutchings Graham J. , Gladden Lynn F. , Mantle Mick D.
Published: February 2014

The aerobic oxidation of 1,2-propanediol in alkaline aqueous solvent over bimetallic AuPt/C catalysts has been studied and catalyst reusability has been assessed.
Fast TiO2-catalyzed direct amidation of neat carboxylic acids under mild dielectric heating
Authors: Calcio Gaudino E. , Carnaroglio D. , Nunes M. A. G. , Schmidt L. , Flores E. M. M. , Deiana C. , Sakhno Y. , Martra G. , Cravotto G.
Published: February 2014

The development of green protocols for amide bond formation is a major socioeconomic goal for chemical and pharmaceutical industries and an important challenge for academic research.
Cycloalkyl-based unsymmetrical unsaturated (U2)-NHC ligands: flexibility and dissymmetry in ruthenium-catalysed olefin metathesis
Authors: Rouen Mathieu , Borré Etienne , Falivene Laura , Toupet Loic , Berthod Mikaël , Cavallo Luigi , Olivier-Bourbigou Hélène , Mauduit Marc
Published: February 2014

Structural features, chemical stabilities and catalytic profiles in olefin metathesis of a new library of low-cost cycloalkyl-based U2-NHC Ru complexes were disclosed.
Catalyst life in imidazolium-based ionic liquids for palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation
Authors: Guerrero-Ríos I. , Martin E.
Published: February 2014

Highlighting the reactivity of palladium species in catalytic asymmetric allylic alkylation using imidazolium-based ionic liquids.
Frontier microfluidic techniques for short and long-term single cell analysis
Authors: Avesar Jonathan , Arye Tom Ben , Levenberg Shulamit
Published: February 2014

This review details the frontier microfluidic platforms for single cell analysis, highlighting technological improvements and cell analysis capabilities.
A microfluidic tubing method and its application for controlled synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Jidong , Chen Wenwen , Sun Jiashu , Liu Chao , Yin Qifang , Zhang Lu , Xianyu Yunlei , Shi Xinghua , Hu Guoqing , Jiang Xingyu
Published: February 2014

A simple but robust PDMS tubing method is used for a controlled synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles.
β-Amyrin synthase from Euphorbia tirucalli. Steric bulk, not the π-electrons of Phe, at position 474 has a key role in affording the correct folding of the substrate to complete the normal polycyclization cascade
Authors: Ito Ryousuke , Masukawa Yukari , Nakada Chika , Amari Kanako , Nakano Chiaki , Hoshino Tsutomu
Published: February 2014

The importance of the steric bulk at 474 residue is described for completion of the cyclization cascade, but not the π-electrons of the Phe residue.
The Relationship Between Mathematics and Language: Academic Implications for Children With Specific Language Impairment and English Language Learners
Authors: Alt Mary , Arizmendi Genesis D. , Beal Carole R.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

The present study examined the relationship between mathematics and language to better understand the nature of the deficit and the academic implications associated with specific language impairment (SLI) and academic implications for English language learners (ELLs).

Method

School-age children (N= 61; 20 SLI, 20 ELL, 21 native monolingual English [NE]) were assessed using a norm-referenced mathematics instrument and 3 experimental computer-based mathematics games that varied in language demands. Group means were compared with analyses of variance.

Results

The ELL group was less accurate than the NE group only when tasks were language heavy. In contrast, the group with SLI was less accurate than the groups with NE and ELLs on language-heavy tasks and some language-light tasks. Specifically, the group with SLI was less accurate on tasks that involved comparing numerical symbols and using visual working memory for patterns. However, there were no group differences between children with SLI and peers without SLI on language-light mathematics tasks that involved visual working memory for numerical symbols.

Conclusion

Mathematical difficulties of children who are ELLs appear to be related to the language demands of mathematics tasks. In contrast, children with SLI appear to have difficulty with mathematics tasks because of linguistic as well as nonlinguistic processing constraints.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170279
An effective approach to alleviating the challenges of transmission control protocol
Authors: Wang GuoDong , Ren Yongmao , Li Jun
Published: February 2014

The transmission control protocol (TCP) has contributed to the tremendous success of the Internet but it also faces many challenges which are becoming more and more significant as the network grows. Although numerous congestion control algorithms have been proposed to improve the performance of TCP in heterogeneous networks, designing a congestion control algorithm that could achieve high utilisation, ensure fairness and maintain stability remains a great challenge. A novel congestion control algorithm named fair TCP (FTCP) has been proposed to mitigate these challenges. FTCP mitigates these challenges through the following strategies: First, increase the round trip time (RTT)‐fairness by altering TCP's initial congestion control window (cwnd) and adjusting the cwnd's growth rate to make FTCP flows with different RTTs achieve the same throughput. Secondly, balance the transmission efficiency and TCP‐friendliness by dynamically adjusting the aggressiveness of FTCP according to the congestion level of the link. Preliminary experimental evaluations verify that FTCP has obvious advantages in transmission efficiency, RTT‐fairness and TCP‐friendliness comparing to the state‐of‐the‐art congestion control algorithms.
Low‐complexity iterative channel estimation with lattice reduction‐based detection for multiple‐input multiple‐output systems
Authors: Bai Lin , Dou Shengyue , Li Qiaoyu , Xing Weixi , Choi Jinho
Published: February 2014

Iterative channel estimation and detection (ICED) can provide a better performance as the channel estimation can be improved through iterations. For a multiple‐input multiple‐output channel, owing to a large size of the signal alphabet, ICED becomes less practical unless a low‐complexity detector such as a lattice reduction‐based detector is employed. However, since the lattice basis reduction has to be carried out for each iteration, the resulting complexity can be still high. In this study, a computationally efficient technique was proposed to perform the lattice basis reduction within ICED over both static and slowly time‐varying block‐fading channels, where orthogonal defect of basis, as well as error probability are considered to decide whether or not basis reduction is needed for each iteration.
Stabilisation bound of stochastic singularly perturbed systems with Markovian switching by noise control
Authors: Wang Guoliang , Huang Chao , Zhang Qingling , Yang Chunyu
Published: February 2014

This study considers the stabilisation‐bound problem of stochastic singularly perturbed systems with Markovian jump parameters. The aim of this study is to determine whether a stochastic state‐feedback controller referred to be noise control can stabilise such a system for any perturbation parameter ε ⋲ (0, ε¯] with a predefined positive scalar ε¯. By introducing an ε ‐dependent Lyapunov function, new stabilisation method via an ϵ ‐dependent controller only in the diffusion part is developed, whose condition independent of ϵ is within LMI framework. Based on this, more extensions to transition probability matrix with elementwise bounded uncertainties, being partially unknown and system state partially observable are considered, respectively. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed methods.
Real‐time scheduling of electric vehicles charging in low‐voltage residential distribution systems to minimise power losses and improve voltage profile
Authors: Luo Xiao , Chan Ka Wing
Published: February 2014

Unscheduled charging of plenty of electric vehicles (EVs) might exert an adverse effect on the existing power grid, especially when the charging coincides with daily peak load at distribution level. In this study, a scalable real‐time scheduling scheme for EV charging in low‐voltage residential distribution system is proposed. Since most often, voltage drop would become a binding constraint when a distribution feeder is subject to a high EV penetration level, a scheduling method is first developed to increase the voltage safety margin. Then, a novel factor is derived to allow the scheduling to shift from voltage‐safety‐oriented to loss‐minimisation‐oriented, or vice versa, on demand of the EV penetration level. A number of charging scenarios were simulated to evaluate the proposed scheduling scheme. Simulation results verified that the proposed scheduling scheme is fast and efficient with circuit losses close to optimal at a low EV penetration level and voltage drops maintained within the tolerable limit at a high EV penetration level. The high scalability and effectiveness of the proposed scheme has made it suitable for coordinating large number of EV charging activities in real‐time.
Fast approach for transient stability constrained optimal power flow based on dynamic reduction method
Authors: Tu Xiaoping , Dessaint Louis‐A. , Kamwa Innocent
Published: February 2014

The main challenge to solve the transient stability constrained optimal power flow (TSC‐OPF) problem is its huge dimension due to numerous discretised transient variables and constraints. This problem becomes more serious when large power systems are considered. This study presents a fast approach to realise a global TSC‐OPF based on dynamic reduction method, which decomposes the power system into several coherent areas and represents the original system by a reduced equivalent system. In this approach, the single transient stability constraint is obtained by simulating the reduced system instead of the full system. The new approach reduces the simulation execution time and thus increases the efficiency of the TSC‐OPF. Two case studies indicate that the proposed approach can remarkably reduce the CPU time of the TSC‐OPF procedure, compared with the TSC‐OPF based on the full‐system simulation. The new approach is very practical in solving the TSC‐OPF problem in large power systems where numerous machines are coherent.
Fuel consumption and gas emissions of an automatic transmission vehicle following simple eco‐driving instructions on urban roads
Authors: Larue Grégoire S. , Malik Husnain , Rakotonirainy Andry , Demmel Sébastien
Published: February 2014

Following eco‐driving instructions can reduce fuel consumption between 5 and 20% on urban roads with manual cars. The majority of Australian cars have an automatic transmission gear box. It is therefore of interest to verify whether current eco‐driving instructions are efficient for such vehicles. In this pilot study, participants (N = 3) drove an instrumented vehicle (Toyota Camry 2007) with an automatic transmission. Fuel consumption of the participants was compared before and after they received simple eco‐driving instructions. Participants drove the same vehicle on the same urban route under similar traffic conditions. The authors found that participants drove at similar speeds during their baseline and eco‐friendly drives, and reduced the level of their accelerations and decelerations during eco‐driving. Fuel consumption decreased for the complete drive by 7%, but not on the motorway and inclined sections of the study. Gas emissions were estimated with the (Virginia Tech) VT‐micro model, and emissions of the studied pollutants (carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons) were reduced, but no difference was observed for CO2 on the motorway and inclined sections. The difference for the complete lap is 3% for CO2. The authors have found evidence showing that simple eco‐driving instructions are efficient in the case of automatic transmission in an urban environment, but towards the lowest values of the spectrum of fuel consumption reduction from the different eco‐driving studies.
Synthesis and design of dual‐wideband bandpass filters with internally‐coupled microstrip lines
Authors: Zhang Runqi , Zhu Lei
Published: February 2014

A class of dual‐wideband bandpass filters (BPFs) with internally‐coupled microstrip lines has been proposed and exactly synthesised. The generic structure of the proposed filters is formed by folding a multi‐mode resonator (MMR) along its symmetrical plane and coupling a pair of short‐circuited stubs at the two ends of the MMR. Thus, two coupling paths, one from the folded MMR and another from the coupled stubs, are used to generate additional transmission zeros (TZs) between the two passbands. A general synthesis procedure is developed for the synthesis of these BPFs by matching the transfer function of the circuit to the prescribed filtering function. As a design example, a first‐order BPF is first formed by using the coupled short‐circuited stubs to illustrate the tunable distribution of the two reflection zeros. Secondly, a second‐order dual‐band BPF is designed with fully internally‐coupled microstrip lines to provide an extra degree of freedom in the determination of the design parameters. Next, a third‐order BPF is partially coupled to have an explicit expression of the generated TZs. Finally, a second‐order, third‐order and a cascaded case are synthesised and designed. The experimental results agree closely with the synthesised and designed ones.
Overexpression of a pepper CaERF5 gene in tobacco plants enhances resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum infection
Authors: Lai Yan , Dang Fengfeng , Lin Jing , Yu Lu , Lin Jinhui , Lei Yufen , Chen Chengcong , Liu Zhiqin , Qiu Ailian , Mou Shaoliang , Guan Deyi , Wu Yang , He Shuilin
Published: February 2014

ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTORs (ERF) transcription factors (TFs) constitute a large transcriptional regulator family belonging to the AP2/ERF superfamily and are implicated in a range of biological processes. However, the specific roles of individual ERF family members in biotic or abiotic stress responses and the underlying molecular mechanism still need to be elucidated. In the present study, a cDNA encoding a member of ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factor, CaERF5, was isolated from pepper. Sequence analysis showed that CaERF5 contains a typical 59 amino acid AP2/ERF DNA-binding domain, two highly conserved amino acid residues (14th alanine (A) and 19th aspartic acid (D)), a putative nuclear localisation signal (NLS), a CMIX-2 motif in the N-terminal region and two putative MAP kinase phosphorylation site CMIX-5 and CMIX-6 motifs. It belongs to group IXb of the ERF subfamily. A CaERF5-green fluorescence protein (GFP) fusion transiently expressed in onion epidermal cells localised to the nucleus. CaERF5 transcripts were induced by Ralstonia solanacearum infection, salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and ethephon (ETH) treatments. Constitutive expression of the CaERF5 gene in tobacco plants upregulated transcript levels of a set of defence- related genes and enhanced resistance to R. solanacearum infection. Our results suggest that CaERF5 acts as a positive regulator in plant resistance to R. solanacearum infection and show that overexpression of this transcription factor can be used as a tool to enhance disease resistance in crop species.
The containment of Occupy: militarized police forces and social control in America
Authors: Morgan Matthew
Published: February 2014

The spread of the Occupy movement across the globe has reinvigorated the political, expanding the horizon of possibility after over thirty years of closure imposed by neoliberalism. While a literature which analyzes the interlinking nature of these social movements across the world is emerging, the response to them by powerful public and private actors is less examined. This paper focuses upon the attempt by domestic authorities in the United States to curtail these struggles. Applying the work of Nicos Poulantzas on authoritarian statism it examines how private and public actors have worked together to contain the recent surge of protest. Specific attention is paid to the harsh response of police forces to the Occupy protests, which is analyzed in the context of the growing militarization of American police that has been underway since the declaration of the War on Drugs in 1971.
The radius of starlikeness of normalized Bessel functions of the first kind
Authors: Baricz Árpád , Kupán Pál , Szász Róbert
Published: February 2014

In this note our aim is to determine the radius of starlikeness of the normalized Bessel functions of the first kind for three different kinds of normalization. The key tool in the proof of our main result is the Mittag-Leffler expansion for Bessel functions of the first kind and the fact that, according to Ismail and Muldoon, the smallest positive zeros of some Dini functions are less than the first positive zero of the Bessel function of the first kind.
Higher order extension of Löwner’s theory: Operator 𝑘-tone functions
Authors: Franz Uwe , Hiai Fumio , Ricard Éric
Published: February 2014

The new notion of operator/matrix

k
k

-tone functions is introduced, which is a higher order extension of operator/matrix monotone and convex functions. Differential properties of matrix

k
k

-tone functions are shown. Characterizations, properties, and examples of operator

k
k

-tone functions are presented. In particular, integral representations of operator

k
k

-tone functions are given, generalizing familiar representations of operator monotone and convex functions.
Immigration as an Adaptive Challenge: Implications for Lifelong Learning
Authors: Bhagat Rabi S. , McDevitt Annette S. , Segovis James C.
Published: February 2014

Since the 1960s, the liberalization of immigration laws in the United States as well as in other industrialized countries has created a significant pool of professional workers who migrate from their countries of origin to more advanced economies. A majority of these immigrant professionals are from countries that are largely collectivistic in their orientations. They encounter significant difficulties in adjusting to and acculturating in the countries of settlement. In this chapter, we describe the trend of global immigration patterns of professionals and present a theoretical framework for understanding the nature of cultural dynamics involved in the experience of acculturation and acculturative stresses. Implications for lifelong learning are discussed.
Emerging Conceptualizations of Adult Training and Learning
Authors: Bedwell Wendy L. , Weaver Sallie J. , Salas Eduardo , Tindall Mitchell
Published: February 2014

The learning landscape is changing. Learning occurs throughout the day, utilizing new content areas and different methods for distribution. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight new directions in adult learning, differentiating it from more traditional forms of learning. Toward this aim, we focus on the what (i.e., content), how (i.e., delivery mechanisms), and why (i.e., issues driving change) of new directions in adult learning. We discuss recent trends in learning content, highlighting what areas are important for adults to know in today’s dynamic work environment. Then we review new directions in learning methodology, looking at how individuals access content (i.e., key evolving formal and informal delivery mechanisms). A discussion of underlying factors driving these workforce changes is then presented, specifying the issue of why there is a need for new directions. We end with points for consideration, drawing up years of training and education literature.
Lessons of Educating Tomorrow’s Business Leaders
Authors: Weick Cynthia Wagner
Published: February 2014

Regaining public trust, surviving the recession, harnessing the talents of a diverse workforce, managing globalization, addressing resource limitations, and leveraging advances in science and technology. These challenges demand that we recast our concept of what makes for effective business leadership. Leadership is best viewed not as the role of a single person, but as a process that is spread throughout the organization and considers a wide range of stakeholders. The dimensions aligned with this distributed leadership model include tenacity, judgment, communication skills, sensitivity to trends, emotional intelligence, the capacity to learn, moral virtue, humility, and the ability to create environments that inspire others. Various approaches for learning these dimensions are available beyond formal education, including self-directed learning, dialogue with others, and company-sponsored avenues. These methods are adapted to different learning styles, schedules, purposes, circumstances, and life stages, and can be made widely accessible to those who choose to improve themselves.
Ecocriticism and the Politics of Representation
Authors: Lousley Cheryl
Published: February 2014

This article examines the politics of representation in the context of ecocriticism. It addresses the question concerning the modes of critique and action that are adequate to describe and respond to the farcical cultural moment when environmental knowledge circulates so readily but is dissociated from any particular political project of social change. It suggests that Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring outlines the representational challenge that ecocriticism faces, which is the politicization of environment. This article also explains that environmentalism articulates problems at the level of the social and in doing so expand the horizons of political possibility.
Resonant excitation of disk oscillations in deformed disks. VII. Stability criterion in MHD systems
Authors: Kato Shoji
Published: February 2014

In a disk with an oscillatory deformation from an axisymmetric state with frequency ωD and azimuthal wavenumber mD, two normal mode oscillations with a set of frequency and azimuthal wavenumber being (ω1, m1) and (ω2, m2) are resonantly coupled to each other through the disk deformation when the resonant conditions (ω1 + ω2 + ωD = 0 and m1 + m2 + mD = 0) are satisfied. In the case of hydrodynamical disks, the resonance amplifies the set of the oscillations if (E1/ω1)(E2/ω2) > 0 (Kato 2013b, PASJ, 65, 75), where E1 and E2 are wave energies of the two oscillations with ω1 and ω2, respectively. In this paper we show that this instability criterion is still valid even when the oscillations are ideal MHD ones in magnetized disks, if the displacements associated with the oscillations vanish on the boundary of the system.