bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Talking in another person’s shoes: Incremental perspective-taking in language processing
Authors: Brown-Schmidt Sarah , Hanna Joy E.
Published: October 2013

Language use in conversation is fundamentally incremental, and is guided by the representations that interlocutors maintain of each other’s knowledge and beliefs. While there is a consensus that interlocutors represent the perspective of others, three candidate models, a Perspective-Adjustment model, an Anticipation-Integration model, and a Constraint-Based model, make conflicting predictions about the role of perspective information during on-line language processing. Here we review psycholinguistic evidence for incrementality in language processing, and the recent methodological advance that has fostered its investigation—the use of eye-tracking in the visual world paradigm. We present visual world studies of perspective-taking, and evaluate each model's account of the data. We argue for a Constraint-Based view in which perspective is one of multiple probabilistic constraints that guide language processing decisions. Addressees combine knowledge of a speaker’s perspective with rich information from the discourse context to arrive at an interpretation of what was said. Understanding how these sources of information combine to influence interpretation requires careful consideration of how perspective representations were established, and how they are relevant to the communicative context.
An Incremental Model of Anaphora and Reference Resolution Based on Resource Situations
Authors: Poesio Massimo , Rieser Hannes
Published: October 2013

Notwithstanding conclusive psychological and corpus evidence that at least some aspects of anaphoric and referential interpretation take place incrementally, and the existence of some computational models of incremental reference resolution, many aspects of the linguistics of incremental reference interpretation still have to be better understood. We propose a model of incremental reference interpretation based on Loebner’s theory of definiteness and on the theory of anaphoric accessibility via resource situations developed in Situation Semantics, and show how this model can account for a variety of psychological results about incremental reference interpretation.
Concept Type Prediction and Responsive Adaptation in a Dialogue System
Authors: Stoyanchev Svetlana , Stent Amanda J.
Published: October 2013

Responsive adaptation in spoken dialog systems involves a change in dialog system behavior in response to a user or a dialog situation. In this paper we address responsive adaptation in the automatic speech recognition (ASR) module of a spoken dialog system. We hypothesize that information about the content of a user utterance may help improve speech recognition for the utterance. We use a two-step process to test this hypothesis: first, we automatically predict the task-relevant concept types likely to be present in a user utterance using features from the dialog context and from the output of first-pass ASR of the utterance; and then, we adapt the ASR's language model to the predicted content of the user's utterance and run a second pass of ASR. We show that: (1) it is possible to achieve high accuracy in determining presence or absence of particular concept types in a post-confirmation utterance; and (2) 2-pass speech recognition with concept type classification and language model adaptation can lead to improved speech recognition performance for post-confirmation utterances.
Turkish Discourse Bank: Porting a discourse annotation style to a morphologically rich language
Authors: Zeyrek Deniz , Demirşahin Işın , Çallı Ayışığı B. Sevdik
Published: October 2013

This paper briefly describes the Turkish Discourse Bank, the first publicly available annotated discourse resource for Turkish. It focuses on the challenges posed by annotating Turkish, a free word order language with rich inflectional and derivational morphology. It shows the usefulness of the PDTB style annotation but points out the need to expand this annotation style with the needs of the target language.
Joint state and parameter estimation with an iterative ensemble Kalman smoother
Authors: Bocquet M. , Sakov P.
Published: October 2013

Abstract. Both ensemble filtering and variational data assimilation methods have proven useful in the joint estimation of state variables and parameters of geophysical models. Yet, their respective benefits and drawbacks in this task are distinct. An ensemble variational method, known as the iterative ensemble Kalman smoother (IEnKS) has recently been introduced. It is based on an adjoint model-free variational, but flow-dependent, scheme. As such, the IEnKS is a candidate tool for joint state and parameter estimation that may inherit the benefits from both the ensemble filtering and variational approaches. In this study, an augmented state IEnKS is tested on its estimation of the forcing parameter of the Lorenz-95 model. Since joint state and parameter estimation is especially useful in applications where the forcings are uncertain but nevertheless determining, typically in atmospheric chemistry, the augmented state IEnKS is tested on a new low-order model that takes its meteorological part from the Lorenz-95 model, and its chemical part from the advection diffusion of a tracer. In these experiments, the IEnKS is compared to the ensemble Kalman filter, the ensemble Kalman smoother, and a 4D-Var, which are considered the methods of choice to solve these joint estimation problems. In this low-order model context, the IEnKS is shown to significantly outperform the other methods regardless of the length of the data assimilation window, and for present time analysis as well as retrospective analysis. Besides which, the performance of the IEnKS is even more striking on parameter estimation; getting close to the same performance with 4D-Var is likely to require both a long data assimilation window and a complex modeling of the background statistics.
Connecting Slope, Steepness, and Angles
Authors: Nagle Courtney R. , Moore-Russo Deborah
Published: October 2013

Students must be able to relate many representations of slope to form an integrated understanding of the concept.
Connecting Research to Teaching: Linked Representations in Algebra: Developing Symbolic Meaning
Authors: Lapp Douglas A. , Ermete Marie , Brackett Natasha , Powell Karli
Published: October 2013

Algebra involves negotiating meaning between the worlds of mathematical ideas and the symbols that represent them. Here we examine classroom interactions and explorations as they relate to the connection of these worlds through the use of dynamically connected representations in a technology-rich environment.
The Process of "Urbanization" in the Countryside: A Study of Huron and Bruce Counties, 1891-1981
Authors: Dahms Fred A.
Published: October 2013

L'auteur de cet article nous présente l'histoire urbaine dans le cadre de «processus» pour ainsi faire ressortir dans le temps les petits établissements ruraux et les situer dans leur contexte d'arrière-pays agricoles et de réseaux urbains. Cette étude individuelle de huit localités dans les comtés ontariens de Huron et Bruce, de 1891 à 1981, illustre le mécanisme qui apporta la spécialisation fonctionnelle et l'«urbanisation» croissantes des villages ayant moins de 1,100 habitants en 1981. Les enquêtes sur le terrain de 1981 et les données sur les recensements effectués après 1961 vont à Vencontre de la notion courante du «village en déclin» qui trouve son point d'appui dans les compilations des annuaires et les tendances démographiques antérieurs. Contrairement à ce que semblaient indiquer les annuaires et les écrits relatifs aux localités centrales, la plupart des huit régions ont connu une récente croissance démographique et n'ont pas subi de grande baisse de l'activité économique. La spécialisation économique locale et l'attrait du milieu ont été grandement contributifs à leur essor continu.
Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary Libraries
Authors: Walker Annalise K.
Published: October 2013

Les «Archives d'architecture du Canada» (The Canadian Architectural Archives) aux bibliothèques de l'Université de Calgary furent établies en 1974; les premières grandes collections entrèrent par moyen de don en 1975 et, par la suite, les Archives se sont enrichies considérablement. Les collections comprennent surtout des desseins, des dossiers et des photographies, avec quelques modèles. Les Archives ont pour objectif de favoriser Vétude et la recherche et de conserver les collections. Sont comprises dans les grandes collections celles de John B. Parkin et Associés, Arthur Erickson et Ron Thorn ainsi que plusieurs collections d'importance de Toronto, Calgary et Vancouver. Les collections sont organisées d'après les principes archivistiques de l'ordre d'entrée et de la provenance. Divers répertoires et inventaires facilitent l'accès aux projets de construction individuels et un plus large contexte biographique est fourni à l'aide d'un programme d'histoire orale. À quelques exceptions près, tous ces instruments de recherche se trouvent dans la salle de lecture des Archives; les personnes venant de l'extérieur de la ville ou de la province pourront se prévaloir d'une aide à la recherche, quoi que limitée. Les Archives fourniront, conformément aux règlements des droits d'auteur, des copies de pièces ou d'extraits pour fins de recherche, d'exposition ou de publication.
Abdominal Fat Sonographic Measurement Compared to Anthropometric Indices for Predicting the Presence of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Shabestari Abbas Arjmand , Bahrami-Motlagh Hooman , Hosseinpanah Farhad , Heidari Kazem
Published: October 2013

Objectives

Sonography for measuring intra‐abdominal fat is more accurate than anthropometric measurements. Computed tomographic (CT) angiography has become an accurate noninvasive method for detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). We examined the associations between both sonographic and anthropometric measurements of abdominal adiposity and the presence of CAD on CT angiography.

Methods

We evaluated 83 consecutive patients (70% men; mean age ± SD, 56 ± 10.8 years) who were referred for CT angiography. Clinical and laboratory variables were determined, and CT angiography was performed using a 64‐slice scanner. The severity of CAD was defined by visual assessment of any plaque, either calcified or noncalcified. Preperitoneal fat, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat thicknesses were determined on sonography, and the abdominal fat index was calculated as the preperitoneal fat thickness‐to‐subcutaneous fat thickness ratio.

Results

Coronary artery disease was detected in 56 patients (67%). Patients with CAD had higher visceral fat thickness (9.3 ± 2.0 versus 8.2 ± 2.2 cm; P = .035) and a higher waist‐to‐hip ratio (0.97 ± 0.07 versus 0.92 ± 0.07; P = .018) than those without CAD. The preperitoneal fat thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, and abdominal fat index were not correlated with the CAD status. After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, however, only a waist‐to‐hip ratio higher than 0.95 remained significantly associated with the presence of CAD (odds ratio, 4.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–13.4).

Conclusions

This study shows that sonographically based obesity measurements are not superior to anthropometric indices in predicting the presence of CAD.
Value of the Left Inferior Thyroid Artery Peak Systolic Velocity in Diagnosing Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Authors: Banaka Ioanna , Thomas Dimitrios , Kaltsas Gregory
Published: October 2013

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to calculate a number of thyroid grayscale and Doppler sonographic parameters in healthy individuals and patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis or Graves disease and assess their sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Methods

A consecutive series of 153 patients (70 euthyroid and 54 hypothyroid patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and 29 patients with Graves disease), all selected from an outpatient endocrine clinic, and 48 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy control participants were evaluated with grayscale and power Doppler sonography.

Results

An irregular echo pattern in the thyroid parenchyma had 92.8% sensitivity for the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease, and a left inferior thyroid artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) greater than 26.11 cm/s had 91.7% specificity. Of 8 patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and normal grayscale sonographic characteristics, 6 had a left inferior thyroid artery PSV greater than 26.11 cm/s. A left inferior thyroid artery PSV greater than 61.65 cm/s had 82.8% sensitivity and 86.9% specificity for differentiating Hashimoto thyroiditis from Graves disease.

Conclusions

The left inferior thyroid artery PSV was the most accurate sonographic parameter for the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease. Measurement of the inferior thyroid artery PSV could be used in patients with a normal grayscale sonographic appearance and inconclusive clinical and biochemical parameters to substantiate the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease. Further studies are needed to evaluate and expand the use of this index.
Transoral Sonographic Diagnosis of Tonsilloliths
Authors: Cho Woojin , Park Hachoon
Published: October 2013

Tonsilloliths are calcified concretions that develop in tonsillar crypts. They are usually asymptomatic; however, they may cause problems such as halitosis, dysphagia, a globus sensation, and otalgia. Tonsilloliths may be diagnosed by a simple inspection or palpation of tonsillar crypts, which can be confirmed by panoramic radiography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. We report 3 cases of tonsilloliths diagnosed by transoral sonography that was performed easily and comfortably in an office‐based setting.
Methods to Detect Protein Glutathionylation
Authors: Poerschke Robyn L. , Fritz Kristofer S. , Franklin Christopher C.
Published: October 2013

Glutathionylation is a posttranslational modification that results in the formation of a mixed disulfide between glutathione and the thiol group of a protein cysteine residue. Glutathionylation of proteins occurs via both nonenzymatic mechanisms involving thiol/disulfide exchange and enzyme‐mediated reactions. Protein glutathionylation is observed in response to oxidative or nitrosative stress and is redox‐dependent, being readily reversible under reducing conditions. Such findings suggest that glutathionylation plays an important role in mediating redox‐sensitive signaling. Indeed, glutathionylation can affect protein function by altering activity, protein‐protein interactions, and ligand binding. Glutathionylation may also serve to prevent cysteine residues from undergoing irreversible oxidative modification. Thus, determining the ability of a given protein to become glutathionylated can provide insight into its redox regulation and putative role in dictating cellular response to oxidative and nitrosative stress. Methods to measure protein glutathionylation using immunoblotting and mass spectrometry are described. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 57:6.17.1‐6.17.18. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Assessment of Drug Transporter Function Using Fluorescent Cell Imaging
Authors: Bircsak Kristin M. , Gibson Christopher J. , Robey Robert W. , Aleksunes Lauren M.
Published: October 2013

ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) proteins, including the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and multidrug resistance proteins (MDRs), actively transport structurally diverse chemicals from a number of tissues and are being increasingly cited as mediators of clinically relevant drug‐drug interactions. The potential outcomes of concomitantly administering two drugs that interact at the same transporter include altered disposition and toxicity and/or efficacy of one or both of the drugs. Research demonstrating the role of transporters in clinical pharmacokinetics has shed light on the need for in vitro screening methods that detect drug‐transporter interactions during preclinical development. This unit describes cell‐based procedures for detecting functional inhibitors of BCRP and MDR1 by measuring fluorescent substrate accumulation in suspended cells using an automated cell counter, which offers convenience, sensitivity, and speed in measuring intracellular fluorescence and identifying new inhibitors. An alternative method is provided for making similar measurements using a spectrophotometer with fluorescence detection capabilities. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 57:21.12.1‐21.12.15. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Using Antibody Arrays to Measure Protein Abundance and Glycosylation: Considerations for Optimal Performance
Authors: Haab Brian B. , Partyka Katie , Cao Zheng
Published: October 2013

Antibody arrays provide a valuable method for obtaining multiple protein measurements from small volumes of biological samples. Antibody arrays can be designed to target not only core protein abundances (relative or absolute abundances, depending on the availability of standards for calibration), but also posttranslational modifications, provided antibodies or other affinity reagents are available to detect them. Glycosylation is a common modification that has important and diverse functions in both normal and disease biology. Significant progress has been made in developing methods for measuring glycan levels on multiple specific proteins using antibody arrays and glycan‐binding reagents. This unit describes practical approaches for developing, optimizing, and using antibody array assays to determine both protein abundance and glycosylation state. Low‐volume arrays can be used to reduce sample consumption, and a new way to improve the binding strength of particular glycan‐binding reagents through multimerization is discussed. These methods can be useful for a wide range of biological studies in which glycosylation may change and/or affect protein function. Curr. Protoc. Protein Sci. 73:27.6.1‐27.6.16. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Molecular Modeling of Nucleic Acid Structure
Authors: Galindo‐Murillo Rodrigo , Bergonzo Christina , Cheatham Thomas E.
Published: October 2013

This unit is the first in a series of four units covering the analysis of nucleic acid structure by molecular modeling. The unit provides an overview of the computer simulation of nucleic acids. Topics include the static structure model, computational graphics and energy models, the generation of an initial model, and characterization of the overall three‐dimensional structure. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 54:7.5.1‐7.5.13. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Simple Chemical Synthesis of Sugar Nucleoside Diphosphates in Water
Authors: Tanaka Hidenori , Yoshimura Yayoi , Hindsgaul Ole
Published: October 2013

Chemoenzymatic oligosaccharide synthesis is attractive since it eliminates the tedious multistep protection‐deprotection requirements of pure chemical synthesis. Chemoenzymatic synthesis using glycosyltransferases, however, requires not only the correct enzyme to control both regio‐ and stereospecificity, but also the glycosyl donor to provide the sugar that is added. This unit describes a simple synthesis of sugar‐nucleoside diphosphates (sugar‐NDPs), the type of glycosyl donor (e.g., UDP‐Glc, UDP‐Gal, ADP‐Glc) required by most glycosyltransferases, by using a chemical coupling reaction in water. The preparation of sugar‐NDPs by this method therefore does not require any skills in synthetic organic chemistry. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 54:13.12.1‐13.12.10. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nonhuman Primate Models for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development
Authors: Sui Yongjun , Gordon Shari , Franchini Genoveffa , Berzofsky Jay A.
Published: October 2013

The development of HIV vaccines has been hampered by the lack of an animal model that can accurately predict vaccine efficacy. Chimpanzees can be infected with HIV‐1 but are not practical for research. However, several species of macaques are susceptible to the simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) that cause disease in macaques, which also closely mimic HIV in humans. Thus, macaque‐SIV models of HIV infection have become a critical foundation for AIDS vaccine development. Here we examine the multiple variables and considerations that must be taken into account in order to use this nonhuman primate (NHP) model effectively. These include the species and subspecies of macaques, virus strain, dose and route of administration, and macaque genetics, including the major histocompatibility complex molecules that affect immune responses, and other virus restriction factors. We illustrate how these NHP models can be used to carry out studies of immune responses in mucosal and other tissues that could not easily be performed on human volunteers. Furthermore, macaques are an ideal model system to optimize adjuvants, test vaccine platforms, and identify correlates of protection that can advance the HIV vaccine field. We also illustrate techniques used to identify different macaque lymphocyte populations and review some poxvirus vaccine candidates that are in various stages of clinical trials. Understanding how to effectively use this valuable model will greatly increase the likelihood of finding a successful vaccine for HIV. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 102:12.14.1‐12.14.30. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Capitanio Receives 2012 Jason Morgan Early Career Award: Citation
Authors: Moresi Louis
Published: October 2013

Fabio Capitanio is one of the brightest and most dedicated young scientists. His work combines geology, plate reconstruction, numerical models, and basic physics. He has developed a powerful description of the processes underlying plate tectonic motions that greatly enhances our view of the way Earth works. His recent work models convergent margins at high resolution in three dimensions, including deforming overriding plates, buoyancy variations in the slab, melt generation, and the effect of surface processes. These models are an order of magnitude more advanced than their immediate predecessors, are well resolved, and provoke new understanding of the distribution and evolution of forces in subduction systems. Fabio's work draws out the simplicity inherent in a complicated system.
Concentric waves and short‐period oscillations observed in the ionosphere after the 2013 Moore EF5 tornado
Authors: Nishioka Michi , Tsugawa Takuya , Kubota Minoru , Ishii Mamoru
Published: October 2013

We detected clear concentric waves and short‐period oscillations in the ionosphere after an Enhanced Fujita scale (EF)5 tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma, U.S., on 20 May 2013 using dense wide‐coverage ionospheric total electron content (TEC) observations in North America. These concentric waves were nondispersive, with a horizontal wavelength of ~120 km and a period of ~13 min. They were observed for more than 7 h throughout North America. TEC oscillations with a period of ~4 min were also observed to the south of Moore for more than 8 h. A comparison between the TEC observations and infrared cloud image from the GOES satellite indicates that the concentric waves and short‐period oscillations are caused by supercell‐induced atmospheric gravity waves and acoustic resonances, respectively. This observational result provides the first clear evidence of a severe meteorological event causing atmospheric waves propagating upward in the upper atmosphere and reaching the ionosphere.
Local ionosphere model estimation from dual‐frequency global navigation satellite system observables
Authors: Mitch R. H. , Psiaki M. L. , Tong D. M.
Published: October 2013

A method is presented for the removal of ionospheric effects from single‐frequency radio navigation data. It uses data from a separate single collocated dual‐frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to estimate the states of a local ionospheric total electron content (TEC) model. These states can be used to estimate the TEC along lines of sight to other types of satellite‐based radio navigation transmitters. Two local ionosphere models are considered. The first model is a modified version of the classical thin‐shell model, where the altitude and altitude variations of the shell with respect to latitude and longitude are added as new estimable quantities. The second model is a new thick‐shell model, where the thin shell has been expanded with a Chapman electron density profile. The states of the Chapman profile are allowed to vary with respect to latitude and longitude and must be estimated. States are estimated using a Kalman filter and GPS observables. Truth‐model simulations are used to test the observability of the states in each of the local ionosphere models. The subset of observable local models are then tested using real GPS data. The TEC estimates produced by the local models are compared to the results produced by an existing multireceiver network and tomographic model. The local thin‐shell model is shown to compare well to the tomographic model, and significant improvement is shown over the classical single‐receiver fixed‐altitude thin‐shell model, but the thick‐shell model is shown to be unobservable.
Occupational injury among hospital patient‐care workers: What is the association with workplace verbal abuse?
Authors: Sabbath Erika L. , Hurtado David A. , Okechukwu Cassandra A. , Tamers Sara L. , Nelson Candace , Kim Seung‐Sup , Wagner Gregory , Sorenson Glorian
Published: October 2013

Objective

To test the association between workplace abuse exposure and injury risk among hospital workers. We hypothesized that exposed workers would have higher injury rates than unexposed workers.

Methods

Survey of direct‐care workers (n = 1,497) in two hospitals. Exposure to workplace abuse was assessed through self‐report; occupational injury reports were extracted from employee records. We tested associations between non‐physical workplace violence and injury using log‐binomial regression and multilevel modeling.

Results

Adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) for injury associated with being yelled at was 1.52 (95% CI 1.19, 1.95); for experiencing hostile/offensive gestures 1.43 (1.11, 1.82); and for being sworn at 1.41 (1.09, 1.81). In analyses by injury subtypes, musculoskeletal injuries were more strongly associated with abuse than were acute traumatic injuries. Associations operated on group and individual levels and were most consistently associated with abuse perpetrated by patients.

Conclusion

Exposure to workplace abuse may be a risk factor for injuries among hospital workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:222–232, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A series of novel ferrocene‐based dipeptide receptors for electrochemistry and biological activity
Authors: Zheng Juan , Wu Kong‐Li , Shi Tan‐Hao , Xu Yan
Published: October 2013

Synthesis of ferrocene‐based dipeptide receptors FcL1, FcL2, FcL3, FcL4, FcL5 was carried out by the acylation reaction of ferrocenecarboxylic acid with dipeptide esters. Compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of FcL3 showed it has two independent chiral molecules and the two chiral atoms (C12 and C35) are in R configuration. Their cyclic voltammetric behaviors showed a pair of well‐defined and stable redox waves in the potential range 0.00–1.00 V. The configuration of the metals influenced the receptor's characteristics greatly, and at the same time the FcL compounds could selectively sense group IIB metal ions Zn2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+. The biological activities of FcL1, FcL2, FcL3, FcL4, FcL5 were studied against the tested bacteria; among them, FcL4 showed significant activity against all five bacterial strains tested. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of coupling agents on the degradation of polypropylene/fly ash composites
Authors: Liauw Christopher Mark , Iraola‐Arregui Itziar , Potgieter Johannes Herman
Published: October 2013

Composites containing 50% wt fly ash (sourced from the UK and South Africa) in polypropylene homopolymer (manufacturer stabilized for general purpose use) have been prepared by using batch and continuous methods. The effect of the following coupling agents were investigated on the photo‐ and thermal‐decomposition of the composite materials: Lubrizol Solplus C800 (an unsaturated carboxylic acid), γ‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (γ‐MPS), 1,3‐phenylene dimaleimide (BMI), and maleic anhydride‐grafted‐polypropylene (m‐PP). High melt, thermal‐, and photo‐stability was favored when the matrix was coupled to the filler surface by monomeric coupling agents that were expected to adsorb in a close packed layer on the fly ash surface. Further improvements were observed in cases where the coupling agent could also self‐polymerize. m‐PP did not lead to increased stability due to its low adsorption density on the fly ash surface. The relatively high water/acid soluble transition metal ion content of the UK sourced fly ash did not appear to affect stability under the test conditions employed in this study. The South African sourced fly ash had a higher level of quartz and mullite together with a high level of group 1 and 2 metals. The latter in particular may have led to debonding of the coupled interfacial region from the filler surface and possible adsorption of stabilizers on the pristine surface. This resulted in the South African fly ash generally possessing poorer resistance to oxidation than the UK fly ash. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014, 131, 39974.
Cooperatively Enhanced Receptors for Biomimetic Molecular Recognition
Authors: Zhao Yan
Published: October 2013

The concept of preorganization suggests that organizing a receptor around its guest during binding is detrimental, because the cost of conformational change is assumed to be paid out of the binding energy. Although this concept has historically guided the synthesis of a great many synthetic hosts, in recent years, chemists have begun to synthesize receptors that resemble proteins in their cooperative conformational changes. Such changes could enhance the host–guest interactions, in particular if the binding of the guest triggers previously unengaged noncovalent interactions within the host. These hosts, referred to as cooperatively enhanced receptors, corroborate with their biological counterparts to support the approach of creating high‐affinity receptors through the combined strategies of cooperativity and preorganization. Solvents, often the invisible participants of any solution‐based supramolecular process, should be properly considered in the design of synthetic receptors, whether preorganized or cooperatively enhanced.
Recovery error bounds on compressed sensing of noisy signals
Authors: Rateb Ahmad M. , Yusof Sharifah K. S.
Published: October 2013

Compressed sensing is an emerging technique in the field of digital signal acquisition. It promises almost exact recovery of high‐dimensional signals from a very small set of measurements. However, this technique is challenged by the task of recovering signals immersed in noise. In this paper, we derive upper and lower bounds on mean squared recovery error of noisy signals. These bounds are valid for any number of acquired measurements and at any signal‐to‐noise ratio. This work is highly useful for the design of any compressed sensing‐based real world application by quantifying recovery error entailed with realistic digital signal acquisition scenarios. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Method to Prepare Optically Active Acyclic α‐Benzyl Ketones by Thermodynamically Controlled Deracemization
Authors: Kaku Hiroto , Imai Takahiro , Kondo Risa , Mamba Shiho , Watanabe Yu , Inai Makoto , Nishii Takeshi , Horikawa Mitsuyo , Tsunoda Tetsuto
Published: October 2013

Thermodynamically controlled deracemization of some acyclic ketones bearing a chiral center at the position α to the carbonyl group was satisfactorily achieved. Acyclic ketones with high optical purities could be isolated after treatment of the racemic ketones with base in aqueous MeOH in the presence of (–)‐(2R,3R)‐trans‐2,3‐bis(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)‐1,4‐dioxaspiro[5.4]decane (1a). The efficiency of the deracemization was appreciably influenced by the ratio of H2O/MeOH used as solvent.
A highly sensitive “turn‐on” fluorescent sensor for the detection of human serum proteins based on the size exclusion of the polyacrylamide gel
Authors: Xu Shenghao , Liu Pingping , Lu Xin , Zhang Jing , Huang Lingyun , Hua Wenhao , He Dacheng , Ouyang Jin
Published: October 2013

A highly sensitive “turn‐on” fluorescent sensor based on the size exclusion of the polyacrylamide gel was developed for the on‐gels detection of human serum proteins after PAGE. The possible mechanism of this fluorescence sensor was illustrated and validated by utilizing five kinds of colloidal silver nanoparticles with different particle size distribution and six kinds of polyacrylamide gels with different pore size. It was attributed to that silver nanoparticles (<5 nm in diameter) had been selectively absorbed into the gel and formed the small silver nanoclusters, resulting in the red fluorescence. Using this new technique for the detection of human serum proteins after PAGE, a satisfactory sensitivity was achieved and some relatively low‐abundance proteins (e.g. zinc‐alpha‐2‐glycoprotein), which are the significant proteinic markers of certain diseases can be easily detected, but not with traditional methods. Furthermore, it was also successfully applied to distinguish between serums from hepatoma patient and healthy people. As a new protein detection technique, the colloidal silver nanoparticles based “turn‐on” fluorescent sensor offers a rapid, economic, low background, and sensitive way for direct detection of human serum proteins, showing available potential and significance in the development of nanobiotechnology and proteome research.
Sex and ESR1 genotype may influence the response to treatment with donepezil and rivastigmine in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Scacchi Renato , Gambina Giuseppe , Broggio Elisabetta , Corbo Rosa Maria
Published: October 2013

Background

Many factors could be responsible for the different response to treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) donepezil and rivastigmine in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Sex and the variants of the estrogen receptor α (ESR1) gene are reported to modulate AD susceptibility or the course of the disease. The aim of the present study was to verify whether patient's sex and ESR1 genotype could influence the response to ChEI treatment, as there is evidence that estrogens affect cholinergic system functioning.

Methods

Two ESR1 intronic polymorphisms (PvuII, rs2234693; XbaI, rs9340799) were examined in 184 AD patients: 157 were receiving treatment with donepezil or rivastigmine and 27 were receiving no treatment. Cognitive status was assessed using the mini mental state examination at four time points (1, 3, 9, and 15 months into therapy).

Results

Among the patients under treatment with either ChEI, the women responded more markedly than the men. As compared with the untreated patients, the effects of treatment were statistically significant for both donepezil and rivastigmine. A significant effect of ESR1 genotypes was observed for the donepezil‐treated patients, among which those carrying at least one copy of P and X alleles showed a significantly lower cognitive decline than the noncarriers.

Conclusions

The present data seem to confirm a sex‐related influence on treatment, as the women seemed to be more sensitive to therapy and to have experienced less cognitive decline. ESR1 may be another gene contributing to interindividual variability in response to treatment with ChEIs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studies and X‐ray Determinations with 2‐(Acetonylthio)benzothiazole: Synthesis of 2‐(Benzothiazol‐2‐ylthio)‐1‐phenylethanone and 2‐(Acetonylthio)Benzothiazole by C―S Bond Cleavage of 2‐(Acetonylthio)benzothiazole in KOH
Authors: Al‐Omran Fatima , El‐khair Adel Abou
Published: October 2013

New route for the synthesis of 2‐(benzothiazol‐2‐ylthio)‐1‐phenylethanone (6) and 2‐(acetonylthio)benzothiazole (1) by using phenacyl bromide and α‐chloroacetone, respectively, through carbon–sulfur bond cleavage reactions in a basic medium has been generated. Treatment of 1 with malononitrile and elemental sulfur afforded the corresponding derivative of 2‐amino‐3‐cyanothiophene (12), whereas treatment of 1 with cyanoacetohydrazide afforded the corresponding derivative of cyanoacetylhydrazone derivative (13). The structure of the synthesis compounds has been established on the basis of elemental analyses, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear single quantum coherence, MS spectra, and X‐ray crystallographic investigations.
Respiratory syncytial virus detection in cells and clinical samples by using three new monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Gómez Roberto S. , Mora Jorge E. , Cortés Claudia M. , Riedel Claudia A. , Ferrés Marcela , Bueno Susan M. , Kalergis Alexis M.
Published: October 2013

Acute respiratory infections caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are important health burdens that affect infants worldwide. RSV is also an important cause of morbidity and disease in adults, which causes enormous economic losses. At the present time, RSV infection is diagnosed by immunofluorescence, test pack and/or PCR, obtaining better results with PCR than with any other technique. The production of new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) capable of detecting RSV in clinical samples is necessary to generate better and faster diagnosis tools for RSV. In this study, three new mAbs, directed against the RSV N and M2‐1 proteins, were evaluated for the detection of RSV in clinical samples. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from: 27 RSV‐positive patients; 15 human metapneumovirus (hMPV)‐positive patients; and 6 healthy controls. To evaluate RSV presence in these samples, clinical samples and RSV‐infected cells were tested by Enzyme‐Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA), flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and dot‐blot assays. Specificity and sensitivity were determined for each mAb by using purified RSV antigens and antigens from different viruses. Infected cells and clinical samples tested with the three new mAbs resulted positive by immunofluorescence, ELISA, flow cytometry, and dot blot. No false positives were obtained in samples infected with other respiratory virus (hMPV) or from healthy controls. These results suggest that these new anti‐RSV mAbs can be considered for the rapid and reliable detection of RSV on infected cells and clinical specimens by multiple immunological approaches. J. Med. Virol. 86:1256–1266, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genetic attributes of blood‐derived subtype‐C HIV‐1 tat and env in India and neurocognitive function
Authors: Tilghman Myres W. , Bhattacharya Jayanta , Deshpande Suprit , Ghate Manisha , Espitia Stephen , Grant Igor , Marcotte Thomas D. , Smith Davey , Mehendale Sanjay
Published: October 2013

Genetic elements in HIV‐1 subtype B tat and env are associated with neurotoxicity yet less is known about other subtypes. HIV‐1 subtype C tat and env sequences were analyzed to determine viral genetic elements associated with neurocognitive impairment in a large Indian cohort. Population‐based sequences of HIV‐1 tat (exon 1) and env (C2‐V3 coding region) were generated from blood plasma of HIV‐infected patients in Pune, India. Participants were classified as cognitively normal or impaired based on neuropsychological assessment. Tests for signature residues, positive and negative selection, entropy, and ambiguous bases were performed using tools available through Los Alamos National Laboratory (http://www.hiv.lanl.gov) and Datamonkey (http://www.datamonkey.org). HIV‐1 subtype C tat and env sequences were analyzed for 155 and 160 participants, of which 34–36% were impaired. Two signature residues were unique to impaired participants in exon 1 of tat at codons 29 (arginine) and 68 (proline). Positive selection was noted at codon 29 among normal participants and at codon 68 in both groups. The signature at codon 29 was also a signature for low CD4+ (<200 cells/mm3) counts but remained associated with impairment after exclusion of those with low CD4+ counts. No unique genetic signatures were noted in env. In conclusion, two signature residues were identified in exon 1 of HIV‐1 subtype C tat that were associated with neurocognitive impairment in India and not completely accounted for by HIV disease progression. These signatures support a linkage between diversifying selection in HIV‐1 subtype C tat and neurocognitive impairment. J. Med. Virol. 86:88–96, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Robust exponential synchronization for neutral complex networks with discrete and distributed time‐varying delays: A descriptor model transformation method
Authors: He Ping , Zhang Qingling , Jing Chun‐Guo , Chen Chang‐Zhong , Fan Tao
Published: October 2013

In this paper, the robust exponential synchronization problem for a class of neutral complex networks with discrete and distributed time‐varying delays is investigated. Some delay‐dependent synchronization criteria are derived by using the descriptor model transformation method; the stability condition of error dynamical networks based on the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is obtained via linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation. Finally, numerical examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cancer‐related fatigue in breast cancer patients after surgery: a multicomponent model using partial least squares—path modeling
Authors: Bortolon Catherine , Krikorian Alicia , Carayol Marion , Brouillet Denis , Romieu Gilles , Ninot Gregory
Published: October 2013

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine factors contributing to cancer‐related fatigue (CRF) in breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery.

Methods

Sixty women (mean age: 50.0) completed self‐rated questionnaires assessing components of CRF, muscular and cognitive functions. Also, physiological and subjective data were gathered. Data were analyzed using partial least squares variance‐based structural equation modeling in order to examine factors contributing to CRF after breast surgery.

Results

The tested model was robust in terms of its measurement quality (reliability and validity). According to the structural model results, emotional distress (β = 0.59; p < 0.001), pain (β = 0.23; p < 0.05), and altered vigilance (β = 0.30; p < 0.05) were associated with CRF, accounting for 61% of the explained variance. Also, emotional distress (β = 0.41; p < 0.05) and pain (β = 0.40; p < 0.05) were related to low physical function and accounted for 41% of the explained variance. However, the relationship between low physical function and CRF was weak and nonsignificant (β = 0.01; p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Emotional distress, altered vigilance capacity, and pain are associated with CRF in postsurgical breast cancer. In addition, emotional distress and pain are related to diminished physical function, which, in turn, has no significant impact on CRF. The current model should be examined in subsequent phases of the treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) when side effects are more pronounced and may lead to increased intensity of CRF and low physical function. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Formation of ordered arrays of gold particles by nanoindentation templating
Authors: Wong S. , Shalav A. , Ruffell S. , Bradby J. E. , Field M. R. , McCulloch D. G. , Elliman R. G.
Published: October 2013

Ordered arrays of gold‐rich particles, with diameters ranging from 50 nm to 180 nm, have been formed on a silicon (100) surface through pre‐patterning by nanoindentation. Indentation and gold deposition of the sample is followed by thermal processing, causing the gold to become trapped at the indentation sites. We suggest that gold trapping is via an alloying process with the underlying Si substrate where the native oxide is structurally compromised by the indentation process. The final size for a given particle is directly dependent on the size of the indentation site. It has also been demonstrated that excess gold found on the surface outside of these indentation sites can be readily removed via simple mechanical abrasion without affecting the particles within the indent. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A unified model for estimating and testing familial aggregation
Authors: Lee Myeongjee , Rebora Paola , Valsecchi Maria Grazia , Czene Kamila , Reilly Marie
Published: October 2013

Investigations of familial aggregation of disease can provide important clues for genetic mechanisms, and many such studies have been published in the epidemiological literature using various statistical methods. We developed a unified model for familial risk by extending a Cox regression model to enable estimation of the detailed effects of kinship. By appropriate parameterisation of the model, we show how the risks to all specific first‐degree kinships can be estimated and formally compared using simple interaction terms and how the model can be extended to accommodate higher‐degree relatives. The correlation due to observations from family members and from the potential for repeated observations is accommodated by a robust sandwich variance estimator or a bootstrap estimate. Hazard ratios for different kinships are formally compared using a robust Wald test. We illustrate the method with applications to studies of adult leukemia and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in the Swedish population and display our results on a pedigree diagram. Our estimates are consistent with published work that used simpler stratified methods, and our model enabled the detection of a number of statistically significant effects of kinship. The recognition of such kindred‐specific disease risk could be a first step in the design of more informative genetic biomarker studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of auxotrophic mutants of the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus by non‐homologous end joining‐mediated integrative transformation with genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Yarimizu Tohru , Nonklang Sanom , Nakamura Junpei , Tokuda Shuya , Nakagawa Takaaki , Lorreungsil Sasithorn , Sutthikhumpha Surasit , Pukahuta Charida , Kitagawa Takao , Nakamura Mikiko , Cha‐aim Kamonchai , Limtong Savitree , Hoshida Hisashi , Akada Rinji
Published: October 2013

The isolation and application of auxotrophic mutants for gene manipulations, such as genetic transformation, mating selection and tetrad analysis, form the basis of yeast genetics. For the development of these genetic methods in the thermotolerant fermentative yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus, we isolated a series of auxotrophic mutants with defects in amino acid or nucleic acid metabolism. To identify the mutated genes, linear DNA fragments of nutrient biosynthetic pathway genes were amplified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosomal DNA and used to directly transform the K. marxianus auxotrophic mutants by random integration into chromosomes through non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ). The appearance of transformant colonies indicated that the specific S. cerevisiae gene complemented the K. marxianus mutant. Using this interspecific complementation approach with linear PCR‐amplified DNA, we identified auxotrophic mutations of ADE2, ADE5,7, ADE6, HIS2, HIS3, HIS4, HIS5, HIS6, HIS7, LYS1, LYS2, LYS4, LYS9, LEU1, LEU2, MET2, MET6, MET17, TRP3, TRP4 and TRP5 without the labour‐intensive requirement of plasmid construction. Mating, sporulation and tetrad analysis techniques for K. marxianus were also established. With the identified auxotrophic mutant strains and S. cerevisiae genes as selective markers, NHEJ‐mediated integrative transformation with PCR‐amplified DNA is an attractive system for facilitating genetic analyses in the yeast K. marxianus. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.