bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non‐mRNA 3′ end formation: how the other half lives
Authors: Peart Natoya , Sataluri Anupama , Baillat David , Wagner Eric J.
Published: June 2013

The release of nascent RNA from transcribing RNA polymerase complexes is required for all further functions carried out by RNA molecules. The elements and processing machinery involved in 3′ end formation therefore represent key determinants in the biogenesis and accumulation of cellular RNA. While these factors have been well‐characterized for messenger RNA, recent work has elucidated analogous pathways for the 3′ end formation of other important cellular RNA. Here, we discuss four specific cases of non‐mRNA 3′ end formation—metazoan small nuclear RNA, Saccharomyces cerevisiae small nuclear RNA, Schizosaccharomyces pombe telomerase RNA, and the mammalian MALAT1 large noncoding RNA—as models of alternative mechanisms to generate RNA 3′ ends. Comparison of these disparate processing pathways reveals an emerging theme of evolutionary ingenuity. In some instances, evidence for the creation of a dedicated processing complex exists; while in others, components are utilized from the existing RNA processing machinery and modified to custom fit the unique needs of the RNA substrate. Regardless of the details of how non‐mRNA 3′ ends are formed, the lengths to which biological systems will go to release nascent transcripts from their DNA templates are fundamental for cell survival.WIREs RNA 2013, 4:491–506. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1181

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > 3' End Processing

RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs
Posttranscriptional regulation of retroviral gene expression: primary RNA transcripts play three roles as pre‐mRNA, mRNA, and genomic RNA
Authors: LeBlanc Jason , Weil Jason , Beemon Karen
Published: June 2013

After reverse transcription of the retroviral RNA genome and integration of the DNA provirus into the host genome, host machinery is used for viral gene expression along with viral proteins and RNA regulatory elements. Here, we discuss co‐transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of retroviral gene expression, comparing simple and complex retroviruses. Cellular RNA polymerase II synthesizes full‐length viral primary RNA transcripts that are capped and polyadenylated. All retroviruses generate a singly spliced env mRNA from this primary transcript, which encodes the viral glycoproteins. In addition, complex viral RNAs are alternatively spliced to generate accessory proteins, such as Rev, which is involved in posttranscriptional regulation of HIV‐1 RNA. Importantly, the splicing of all retroviruses is incomplete; they must maintain and export a fraction of their primary RNA transcripts. This unspliced RNA functions both as the major mRNA for Gag and Pol proteins and as the packaged genomic RNA. Different retroviruses export their unspliced viral RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm by either Tap‐dependent or Rev/CRM1‐dependent routes. Translation of the unspliced mRNA involves frame‐shifting or termination codon suppression so that the Gag proteins, which make up the capsid, are expressed more abundantly than the Pol proteins, which are the viral enzymes. After the viral polyproteins assemble into viral particles and bud from the cell membrane, a viral encoded protease cleaves them. Some retroviruses have evolved mechanisms to protect their unspliced RNA from decay by nonsense‐mediated RNA decay and to prevent genome editing by the cellular APOBEC deaminases. WIREs RNA 2013, 4:567–580. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1179

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing

RNA Export and Localization > Nuclear Export/Import

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease
Hard forest edges act as conduits, not filters, for bats
Authors: Kalcounis‐Rueppell Matina C. , Briones Kim M. , Homyack Jessica A. , Petric Radmila , Marshall Matthew M. , Miller Darren A.
Published: June 2013

High levels of bat activity have been reported at forest edges worldwide, but few studies have examined the ecological function of edges as a linear landscape feature. Patterns of association of bats at edges between old and young forest stands (hard edges) could be a result of edges acting as either a semi‐permeable barrier or a filter to movement into the forest between different‐aged forest stands for bats (or their insect prey), causing an accumulation of bat activity along the edge. Alternatively, edges may be a linear landscape feature similar to roads and riparian corridors that bats use as flight conduits as they move from one place to another. Using ultrasound microphone arrays and recording equipment, we were able to determine flight patterns of bats at hard edges within a landscape of intensively managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation in eastern North Carolina, USA, during 2009. Across edges and species sampled, bats consistently flew parallel to edges, suggesting that edges act as conduits for bats. Feeding rates of bats at edges were low, further supporting use of edges as conduits for bats that are either flying along edges to move to and from roosting and foraging habitat patches or moving among foraging patches. Continuous edges should be maintained between linear and nonlinear landscape features, especially where known roosting and foraging areas are being connected by an edge. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
Extended Lymphadenectomy in Colon Cancer is Crucial
Authors: Kessler Hermann , Hohenberger Werner
Published: June 2013

No one doubts that lymph node dissection in colon cancer is necessary, it is just the extent of that dissection that is still under debate. As the individual steps of an oncologic operation cannot be separated from each other, analysis of the significance of lymph node dissection alone is difficult. It has been proven that the T category is directly related to the number and central spread of lymph node metastases. Micrometastases and isolated tumor cells may be detected in lymph nodes by using special staining techniques; their presence may worsen prognosis significantly and approximate it to UICC stage III. The numbers of dissected lymph nodes and the ratio of involved versus dissected lymph nodes have been used as markers for quality of surgery and histopathological evaluation. Recent results underscore the importance of technique and extent of dissection. Dissection must be performed along the embryologic planes of the mesocolon and leave them intact. A high vascular tie with preservation of the central hypogastric nerves must be applied in order to achieve the best oncologic results while preserving quality of life. Extended lymphadenectomy is oncologically relevant only when it is combined with removal of the primary tumor with adequate longitudinal clearance, an intact complete mesocolon, and high vascular tie. It is part of a concept in which the tumor‐bearing specimen is harvested as an enveloped package to minimize the risk of tumor cell spillage and local recurrence.
Evaluation of Appropriateness of Patient Transfers for Hand and Microsurgery to a Level I Trauma Center
Authors: Friebe Ilvy , Isaacs Jonathan , Mallu Satya , Kurdin Anton , Mounasamy Varatharaj , Dhindsa Harinder
Published: June 2013

Background

The transfer of patients for hand and microsurgical emergencies to level I trauma centers is a common practice. Many of these transfers do not actually require a hand specialist and could be taken care of at most regional hospitals. In this study, we will evaluate the appropriateness of patient transfers for hand trauma and determine if there is a correlation between inappropriate transfers and undesirable factors, such as insurance status and off-hour's presentation.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed in all patients transferred to a level I trauma center for hand and microsurgical trauma over a 22-month period. Collected data included indication for transfer, mode of transfer, time and day of the week, patient demographics, insurance status, and whether the transferring facilities had surgical coverage available. A synopsis, including treatment details, of each transfer was created, and a survey was sent to a review committee who rated the appropriateness of the transfers. Statistical analysis was performed to determine whether appropriateness of transfers was influenced by nonmedical variables.

Results

Over a 22-month period, a total of 95 hand or microsurgical patients were transferred to a single tertiary referral center. Of these, 66 % of the transfers were considered inappropriate by the surveyed physicians. Inappropriate transfers were statistically more likely to be under insured or transferred during nonbusiness hours.

Conclusion

A large percentage of patients are being transferred to tertiary care centers for reasons other than medical necessity, generating a large burden on already strained medical resources.
What are the risks of the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and how can they be minimized?
Authors: Rebar Robert W.
Published: June 2013

Although assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have become established procedures performed around the world, there are still many unanswered questions regarding safety. Possible risks associated with infertility and ART include (1) those inherent to pregnancy, delivery, and childhood; (2) those associated with the infertility itself and its causes; and (3) risks iatrogenic to ART. Although there are many potential risks associated with ART, it has become clear that the major risk is multiple pregnancy and its consequences. Major efforts are warranted to reduce the risk of multiple gestations with IVF, but it is also clear that single‐embryo transfer is not the solution in all cases. Moreover, several studies have now documented that perinatal outcomes are somewhat poorer in IVF singleton infants than in spontaneously conceived singletons, but it is not clear if this increased risk is due to the ART or the infertility. Concerns about the impact of abnormalities in genomic imprinting persist at this time, as do risks associated with the culture conditions and even our environment. Only time will tell if children born following ART are at any increased risk of developing certain chronic diseases as they age. In any case, the risks to IVF children and mothers are likely to remain higher than those for children and mothers conceived spontaneously without medical assistance. However, since there have been over 5 million births after ART worldwide, and the vast majority of pregnancies and children have been essentially “normal”, it is obvious that any excess risk must be relatively small. The normality of most pregnancies mandates that extreme care be exercised in making any changes to current practice.
Mental health literacy about depression and schizophrenia among adolescents in Sweden
Authors: Melas P.A. , Tartani E. , Forsner T. , Edhborg M. , Forsell Y.
Published: June 2013

Background

Mental health literacy (MHL) refers to an individual's knowledge of mental disorders, including the ability to recognize psychopathology and being aware of help options. Most studies of MHL have focused on adults.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine levels of MHL among adolescents.

Methods

MHL was examined using two pre-established vignettes that presented an adolescent with symptoms of either depression or schizophrenia. The respondents were 426 adolescents (age mean = 16). Vignette data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Results

The data showed that 42.7% and 34.7% of the respondents identified depression and schizophrenia, respectively. Depression was recognized more often by females than males. Professional help was suggested by a minority of the respondents for managing symptoms of depression (22.5%) or schizophrenia (32.6%). Altruistic behaviors, examined through the willingness to help an acquaintance with mental illness symptoms, were apparent among 58.2% of the respondents and to a greater extent in females than males. Answers following the schizophrenia vignette also revealed stigmatizing attitudes in 11.5% of the participants.

Conclusions

There are relatively low levels of MHL among teenagers in Sweden. Awareness campaigns and the implementation of psychoeducation in the school curriculum could increase MHL in this group.
Working memory dysfunction in schizophrenia patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms: An fMRI study
Authors: Bleich-Cohen M. , Hendler T. , Weizman R. , Faragian S. , Weizman A. , Poyurovsky M.
Published: June 2013

Background:

A substantial proportion of schizophrenia patients also meets DSM-IV criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Schizophrenia with OCD (“schizo-obsessive”) patients are characterized by distinct clinical characteristics, treatment response and prognosis. Whether schizo-obsessive patients exhibit a distinct pattern of brain activation is yet unknown. To address this question, the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study explicitly compared alterations in brain activation and functional connectivity (FC) underlying a working memory deficit in schizophrenia patients with and without OCD.

Methods:

fMRI was applied during the N-back working memory (WM) task in three groups: schizo-obsessive (n = 16), schizophrenia (n = 17) and matched healthy volunteers (n = 20). WM-related activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the right caudate nucleus, brain areas relevant to schizophrenia and OCD, and FC analysis were used for the evaluation.

Results:

The two schizophrenia groups with and without OCD exhibited a similar reduction in activation in the right DLPFC and right caudate, as well as decreased FC compared to the healthy controls. Notably, reduced regional brain activation was not related to severity of schizophrenic or OCD symptoms.

Conclusions:

Schizo-obsessive patients do not differ from their non-OCD schizophrenia counterparts in brain activation patterns during the N-back WM task. Cognitive paradigms taping alternative neural networks (e.g., orbitofrontal cortex) particularly relevant to OCD, are warranted in the search for potential distinctive brain activation patterns of the schizo-obsessive subgroup.
Failure to find association between childhood abuse and cognition in first-episode psychosis patients
Authors: Sideli L. , Fisher H.L. , Russo M. , Murray R.M. , Stilo S.A. , Wiffen B.D.R. , O’Connor J.A. , Aurora Falcone M. , Pintore S.M. , Ferraro L. , Mule’ A. , La Barbera D. , Morgan C. , Di Forti M.
Published: June 2013

This study investigated the relationship between severe childhood abuse and cognitive functions in first-episode psychosis patients and geographically-matched controls. Reports of any abuse were associated with lower scores in the executive function domain in the control group. However, in contrast with our hypothesis, no relationships were found amongst cases.
Dengue fever causing febrile neutropenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Ramzan Mohammed , Prakash Yadav Satya , Dinand Veronique , Sachdeva Anupam
Published: June 2013

Dengue fever is endemic in many parts of the world but it has not been described as a cause of febrile neutropenia. We describe here clinical features, laboratory values and outcome in 10 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and with dengue fever as a cause of febrile neutropenia. These data are compared to an age-matched control population of 22 children with proven dengue infection without ALL. Except for fever in all patients and plethoric face in one patient, typical symptoms of dengue such as abdominal pain, myalgias, and headaches, were absent. Mean duration of hospital stay was 6.3 ±2.0 days in ALL patients vs. 5.0 ±2.0 in controls (p = 0.096). Median platelet count was 13,000/cmm (range 1000–28,000) in cases vs. 31,500 (range 13,000–150,000) in controls (p = 0.018). Mean time for recovery for platelet was 6.0 ± 1.3 days in ALL patients vs. 2.5 ± 0.9 days in controls (p < 0.001). All 10 patients survived. In endemic areas, high suspicion of dengue fever should be maintained in children with ALL and febrile neutropenia although typical symptoms may be lacking. Platelet recovery may be significantly delayed.
Social impact and healthcare‐seeking behavior among women with urinary incontinence in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Elbiss Hassan M. , Osman Nawal , Hammad Fayez T.
Published: June 2013

Objective

To determine the prevalence and social impact of urinary incontinence (UI) and healthcare‐seeking behaviors among women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods

A study was conducted of 429 women who attended family development foundation centers in Al Ain, UAE, between January 1, 2010, and January 31, 2011. Data on sociodemographics, obstetric and medical history, and factors related to UI were obtained using a questionnaire.

Results

The prevalence of UI was 42.2% (mean age, 37.8 years). Aspects of daily life (praying, social activities, physical activities, or sexual relationship) were disrupted by UI among 78.0% of the women, with severe effects reported by 8.8%. Independent risk factors for UI were education level, history of “dragging” genital lump, and constipation. In all, 50.5% of the affected women did not seek medical advice, stating the following reasons: hoped for spontaneous resolution of UI (61.9%); embarrassed to visit a male or female clinician (35.9%); believed that UI was a normal occurrence among women (31.5%); embarrassed to visit a male clinician (29.3%); and unaware that treatment was available (23.9%).

Conclusion

Although UI was prevalent in the UAE and affected quality of life, less than half of all women with this condition sought medical advice.
Entrepreneurial risk aversion, net worth effects and real fluctuations
Authors: Pardo Cristian
Published: June 2013

This paper examines the combined effect of asymmetric information and private entrepreneurial risk aversion on investment decisions. The standard optimal debt contract becomes modified by the introduction of insurance and a risk premium that entrepreneurs demand due to the uncertainty of their investment returns: the private equity premium. In general equilibrium, the private equity premium may become a mechanism that magnifies the effects of shocks. A structural estimation of the model's parameters using Chilean and U.S. data shows that the entrepreneurial risk aversion assumption has more empirical relevance in an economy where smaller privately‐held businesses are relatively more prevalent than where the corporate sector predominates, like the U.S.
Does smoking reduction make smokers happier? Evidence from a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Beard Emma , Brown Jamie , West Robert
Published: June 2013

Objectives: Stopping smoking leads to greater happiness and life satisfaction. This raises the question as to whether harm reduction, i.e. smoking reduction (SR) and the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for SR, might lead to a similar benefit. This is of importance, given that the National Institute of Clinical Excellence in the UK is due to release guidance on harm reduction in 2013.

Design: Data were collected from 1,532 smokers involved in the Smoking Toolkit Study.

Method: Participants were asked if they were cutting down and if they were using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Smokers also rated happiness and life satisfaction.

Results: There was no evidence of an association between SR or use of NRT for SR and either reported ‘happiness’ or ‘life satisfaction’. Nor was there an association between measures of ‘happiness’ or ‘life satisfaction’ and cigarette consumption.

Conclusion: It appears that SR is not associated with mental health benefits. This suggests that complete cessation may be necessary for benefits to be incurred. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Sources of variation in nutrient intake and the number of days to assess usual intake among men and women in the Seoul metropolitan area, Korea
Authors: Kim Dong Woo , Kyung Park Min , Kim Jeongseon , Oh Kyungwon , Joung Hyojee , Lee Jung Eun , Paik Hee Young
Published: June 2013

Sources of variation in nutrient intake have been examined for Western diets, but little is known about the sources of variation and their differences by age and sex among Koreans. We examined sources of variation in nutrient intake and calculated the number of days needed to estimate usual intake using 12 d of dietary records (DR). To this end, four 3 d DR including two weekdays and one weekend day were collected throughout four seasons of 1 year from 178 male and 236 female adults aged 20–65 years residing in Seoul, Korea. The sources of variation were estimated using the random-effects model, and the variation ratio (within-individual:between-individual) was calculated to determine a desirable number of days. Variations attributable to the day of the week, recording sequence and seasonality were generally small, although the degree of variation differed by sex and age (20–45 years and 46–65 years). The correlation coefficient between the true intake and the observed intake (r) increased with additional DR days, reaching 0·7 at 3–4 d and 0·8 at 6–7 d. However, the degree of increase became attenuated with additional days: r increased by 13·0–26·9 % from 2 to 4 d, by 6·5–16·4 % from 4 to 7 d and by 4·0–11·6 % from 7 to 12 d for energy and fifteen nutrients. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the day of the week, recording sequence and seasonality minimally contribute to the variation in nutrient intake. To measure Korean usual dietary intake using open-ended dietary instruments, 3–4 d may be needed to achieve modest precision (r>0·7) and 6–7 d for high precision (r>0·8).
Material Adverse Change Clauses and Acquisition Dynamics
Authors: Denis David J. , Macias Antonio J.
Published: June 2013

Material adverse change (MAC) clauses are a ubiquitous feature of acquisitions and exhibit substantial cross-sectional variation in the number and types of events that are excluded from being material adverse events (MAEs). MAEs are the underlying cause of 69% ofacquisition terminations and 80% of renegotiations. These renegotiations lead to substantial changes in the price offered to target shareholders. Acquisitions with fewer MAE exclusions are characterized by wider arbitrage spreads during the acquisition period and are associated with higher offer premiums. We conclude that MAC clauses have an economically important impact on the dynamics of corporate acquisitions.
Reciprocity as Salvation: Christ as Salvific Patron and the Corresponding ‘Payback’ Expected of Christ's Earthly Clients according to theSecond Letter of Clement
Authors: Kelhoffer James A.
Published: June 2013

This article analyzes the widely misunderstood concept of ‘payback’ or ‘repayment’ (ἀντιμισθία) that, according to the so-calledSecond Letter of Clement, believers owe to Christ. Much of the secondary literature is laden with theological polemics (e.g. the author perverts Paul's gospel of grace), rather than an attempt to understand this concept relative to social relationships in antiquity. I argue thatSecond Clementpresents Christ as salvific benefactor and patron. Christ offers salvation to those who accept the terms of his patronage, terms that include the obligation to render ‘payback’—for example, in the form of praise, witness, loyalty, and almsgiving. A failure to accept these terms would jeopardize the relationship between Christ and his earthly clients and thus call their salvation into question. As a corollary, I propose that a likely purpose forSecond Clementwas to convince a Christian audience that the benefits of salvation come with recurring obligations to Christ, their salvific patron.
The Election of Officers in the Corinthian Christ-Group
Authors: Last Richard
Published: June 2013

Paul's language in 1 Cor 11.19 suggests that the Corinthians elected rotating officers to serve as administrative leaders with control over food distribution at the Lord's Supper. Interpreters overlook this verse's technical terminology despite the fact that doing so results in unusual and confusing translations. In addition to making sense out of the otherwise obscure sentence of v. 19, the existence of a ‘flat hierarchy’ of temporary and rotating officers in the Corinthian group helps to explain several aspects involved in the Corinthians' banquet problems.
Taking up and Raising, Fixing and Loosing: A Chiastic Wordplay in Acts 2.23b-24.
Authors: Wilson Benjamin R.
Published: June 2013

This article identifies a structural and conceptual chiasm within the description of Jesus' death and resurrection in Acts 2.23b-24, which helps to account for the distinctive elements of the passage.
Progressing the global antimalarial portfolio: finding drugs which target multiple Plasmodium life stages
Authors: SMITH PAUL W. , DIAGANA THIERRY T. , YEUNG BRYAN K. S.
Published: June 2013

The number of novel antimalarial candidates entering preclinical development has seen an increase over the last several years. Most of these drug candidates were originally identified as hits coming from screening large chemical libraries specifically targeting the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Indeed, a large proportion of the current antimalarial arsenal has mainly targeted the asexual blood stage which is responsible for clinical symptoms of the disease. However, as part of the eradication agenda and to address resistance, any next-generation antimalarial should have additional activity on at least one other parasite life stage, i.e. gametocytocidal and/or tissue schizonticidal activity. We have applied this approach by screening compounds with intrinsic activity on asexual blood stages in assays against sexual and liver stages and identified two new antimalarial chemotypes with activity on multiple parasite life stages. This strategy can be expanded to identify other chemical classes of molecules with similar activity profiles for the next generation antimalarials. The following review summarizes the discovery of the spiroindolones and imidazolopiperazine classes of antimalarials developed by the NGBS consortium (Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Genomic Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, Biomedical Primate Research Center, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute) currently in clinical trials.
XXI.—The Statistical Theory of Stiff Chains
Authors: Daniels H. E.
Published: June 2013

Synopsis

The paper is concerned with the distributional properties of Markoff chains in two and three dimensions where the transition probability for the length of a step and its orientation relative to that of the previous step is specified.

The discrete two-dimensional chain ofnsteps is first discussed, and by the use of moving axes an equation relating characteristic functions of the end-point distribution for successive values ofnis obtained. The corresponding differential equation for the limiting chain with continuous first derivatives is given and asymptotic solutions for long chains are found.

The three-dimensional chain is similarly treated in terms of moving axes, and the limiting continuous chain is again discussed. Finally the same methods are applied to the discrete chain of equal steps to obtain the asymptotic form of the end-point distribution for long chains.
Stimulated Raman backscattering of filamented hollow Gaussian beams
Authors: Singh Ram Kishor , Sharma R.P.
Published: June 2013

This paper presents a model for excitation of electron plasma wave and resulting stimulated Raman scattering due to presence of a laser beam carrying null intensity in center (hollow Gaussian beam) in a collisionless plasma. We have studied the self-focusing of the hollow Gaussian beam and its effect on back stimulated Raman scattering process in the presence of ponderomotive nonlinearity. To understand the nature of propagation of the hollow Gaussian beam, electron plasma wave and back reflectivity, a paraxial-ray approximation has been invoked. It is predicted that self-focusing and back reflectivity reduces for higher order of hollow Gaussian beam.
Spectral analysis based on fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of surveillance data: the case of scarlet fever in China
Authors: ZHANG T. , YANG M. , XIAO X. , FENG Z. , LI C. , ZHOU Z. , REN Q. , LI X.
Published: June 2013

Many infectious diseases exhibit repetitive or regular behaviour over time. Time-domain approaches, such as the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model, are often utilized to examine the cyclical behaviour of such diseases. The limitations for time-domain approaches include over-differencing and over-fitting; furthermore, the use of these approaches is inappropriate when the assumption of linearity may not hold. In this study, we implemented a simple and efficient procedure based on the fast Fourier transformation (FFT) approach to evaluate the epidemic dynamic of scarlet fever incidence (2004–2010) in China. This method demonstrated good internal and external validities and overcame some shortcomings of time-domain approaches. The procedure also elucidated the cycling behaviour in terms of environmental factors. We concluded that, under appropriate circumstances of data structure, spectral analysis based on the FFT approach may be applicable for the study of oscillating diseases.
Long Backboard versus Vacuum Mattress Splint to Immobilize Whole Spine in Trauma Victims in the Field: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Mahshidfar Babak , Mofidi Mani , Yari Ali-Reza , Mehrsorosh Saied
Published: June 2013

Introduction

Patients with possible spinal injury must be immobilized properly during transport to medical facilities. The aim of this research was comparing spinal immobilization using a long backboard (LBB) with using a vacuum mattress splint (VMS) in trauma victims transported by an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.

Methods

In this randomized clinical trial, 60 trauma victims with possible spinal trauma were divided to two groups, each group immobilized with one of the two instruments. Speed and ease of application, immobilization rate, and the patients’ comfort were recorded.

Results

In this survey, LBB was faster to apply: 211.66 (SD = 28.53) seconds vs 654.00 (SD = 16.61) seconds. Various measures of immobilization were better by LBB. Also, LBB offered a significant improvement in comfort over a VMS for the patient with possible spinal injury. All of the results were statistically significant.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that immobilization using LBB was easier, faster, and more comfortable for the patient, and provided additional decrease in spinal movement when compared with a VMS.

MahshidfarB, MofidiM, YariA, MehrsoroshS. Long backboard versus vacuum mattress splint to immobilize whole spine in trauma victims in the field: a randomized clinical trial. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(5):1-4.
On the role of social factors in the loss of phonemic distinctions
Authors: BARANOWSKI MACIEJ
Published: June 2013

The article tests the generalisation of the curvilinear hypothesis and the tendency of females to lead linguistic change in vocalic mergers on the basis of two mergers currently in progress in Charleston, South Carolina: the low-back merger and thepin–penmerger. It is based on sociolinguistic interviews with 100 informants, aged 8–90, covering the socioeconomic spectrum of the city. The speech of 90 of the informants is analysed acoustically; it is supplemented with minimal-pair tests and word list reading. F1/F2 measurements and minimal-pair test results are subjected to a series of multiple linear regression analyses, with social class, gender, age and style as independent variables. While the low-back merger is a change from below showing a female lead and a curvilinear effect of social class, thepin–penmerger shows a decreasing monotonic relationship with social class and no female advantage. The difference is argued to be due to the two mergers being at different levels of social awareness.
Imaging ofXenopus laevisOocyte Plasma Membrane in Physiological-Like Conditions by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Santacroce Massimo , Daniele Federica , Cremona Andrea , Scaccabarozzi Diletta , Castagna Michela , Orsini Francesco
Published: June 2013

Xenopus laevisoocytes are an interesting model for the study of many developmental mechanisms because of their dimensions and the ease with which they can be manipulated. In addition, they are widely employed systems for the expression and functional study of heterologous proteins, which can be expressed with high efficiency on their plasma membrane. Here we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to the study of the plasma membrane ofX. laevisoocytes. In particular, we developed and optimized a new sample preparation protocol, based on the purification of plasma membranes by ultracentrifugation on a sucrose gradient, to perform a high-resolution AFM imaging ofX. laevisoocyte plasma membrane in physiological-like conditions. Reproducible AFM topographs allowed visualization and dimensional characterization of membrane patches, whose height corresponds to a single lipid bilayer, as well as the presence of nanometer structures embedded in the plasma membrane and identified as native membrane proteins. The described method appears to be an applicable tool for performing high-resolution AFM imaging ofX. laevisoocyte plasma membrane in a physiological-like environment, thus opening promising perspectives for studyingin situcloned membrane proteins of relevant biomedical/pharmacological interest expressed in this biological system.
Structural Diversity of Aspergillus (Section Nigri) Spores
Authors: Simões Marta Filipa , Santos Cledir , Lima Nelson
Published: June 2013

The taxonomy of fungal species, similar to that of many other microorganisms, suffers frequent revisions due to the discovery of new species and to the development and gathering of characterization data and morphological information. Morpho-taxonomy helps in the identification of many species. This work presents the macro, micro-morphological, and spectral mass analyses for phenotypic characterization of 13 species of Aspergillus section Nigri, showing that the characterization of spores (conidia) by scanning electron microscopy can be used as a tool to discriminate key morphological characteristics and separate closely related fungi. These results were corroborated by colony plates, stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, and spectral mass data.
Brain stress system response after morphine-conditioned place preference
Authors: García-Carmona Juan-Antonio , Milanés María-Victoria , Laorden María-Luisa
Published: June 2013

This study examined the involvement of the brain stress system in the reinforcing effects of morphine. One group of mice was conditioned to morphine using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm and the other group received morphine in a home-cage (non-conditioned). Adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay; phospho (p) CREB expression and the number of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons and fibres were measured by immunohistochemistry in different brain areas. We observed that the number of CRF neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was increased after morphine-induced CPP, which was paralleled with enhanced CRF-immunoreactivity fibres in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) vs. home-cage group injected with morphine. Morphine exposure induced an increase in CREB phosphorylated at Ser133 in the PVN and central amygdale (CeA), whereas mice exhibiting morphine CPP had higher levels of pCREB in the PVN, CeA and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). We also found that most of the CRF-positive neurons in the PVN, CeA and BNST co-express pCREB after morphine CPP expression, suggesting that the drug-associated environmental contexts can elicit neuronal activity in the brain stress system. From the present results it is clear that exposure to a drug-associated context remains a potent activator of signalling pathways leading to CRF activation in the brain stress system.
Differential effects of acute and repeated stress on hippocampus and amygdala inputs to the nucleus accumbens shell
Authors: Gill Kathryn M. , Grace Anthony A.
Published: June 2013

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and ventral subiculum (vSub) of the hippocampus convey emotion and context information, respectively, to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Using in vivo extracellular recordings from NAc neurons, we examined how acute and repeated restraint stress alters the plasticity of the vSub and BLA afferent pathways. High-frequency (HFS) and low-frequency (LFS) stimulation was applied to the vSub to assess the impact on NAc responses to vSub and BLA inputs. In addition, iontophoretic application of the dopamine D2-antagonist sulpiride was used to explore the role of dopamine in the NAc in mediating the effects of stress on plasticity. Acute and repeated restraint caused disparate effects on BLA- and vSub-evoked responses in the NAc. Following repeated restraint, but not after acute restraint, HFS of the vSub failed to potentiate the vSub–NAc pathway while instead promoting a long-lasting reduction of the BLA–NAc pathway and these effects were independent of D2-receptor activity. In contrast, LFS to the vSub pathway after acute restraint resulted in potentiation in the vSub–NAc pathway while BLA-evoked responses were unchanged. When sulpiride was applied prior to LFS of the vSub after acute stress, there was a pronounced decrease in vSub-evoked responses similar to control animals. This work provides new insight into the impact of acute and repeated stress on the integration of context and emotion inputs in the NAc. These data support a model of stress whereby the hippocampus is inappropriately activated and dominates the information processing within this circuit via a dopaminergic mechanism after acute bouts of stress.
RAPE AND RACIAL APPRAISALS
Authors: McGuffey C. Shawn
Published: June 2013

Using Black women's responses to same-race sexual assault, I demonstrate how scholars can use interpersonal violence to understand social processes and develop conceptual models. Specifically, I extend the concept of racial appraisal by shifting the focus from how indirect victims (e.g., family and friends) use race to appraise a traumatic event to how survivors themselves deploy race in the aftermath of rape. Relying on 111 interviews with Black women survivors in four cities, I analyze how race, gender, and class intersect and contour interpretations of sexual assault. I argue that African Americans in this study use racially inscribed cultural signifiers to root their understandings of rape within a racist social structure (i.e., a racial appraisal)—which they also perceive as sexist and, for some, classist—that encourages their silence about same-race sexual assault. African and Caribbean immigrants, however, often avoid the language of social structure in their rape accounts and use cultural references to distance themselves from African Americans. Last, I discuss the implications of my findings for Black feminist/intersectional theory.
THE RACIAL INCORPORATION OF LATINOS INTO THE U.S. MAINSTREAM
Authors: Joseph Tiffany
Published: June 2013

For the last decade, scholars have pondered how the changing ethnoracial demographics of the United States would influence the country's racial, social, political, cultural, and economic landscape. Latinos are now the country's largest ethnoracial minority and the 2012 election provided an indication of just how significant this group will be for shaping the future of the United States. Scholars of race in particular have speculated how the ethnic and racial diversity of Latinos will change existing U.S. racial dynamics with some arguing that the historical Black/White binary will remain intact with Latinos falling on one or the other side of the binary. Yet, other scholars suggest that the Black/White binary will shift to a Black/non-Black binary in which Blacks will remain at the bottom of the U.S. ethnoracial hierarchy while Asian Americans and Latinos will be grouped with Whites. Going even further, another set of scholars argues that the size of the Latino population and its more fluid racial boundaries will trigger a Latin-Americanization of U.S. race relations such that Whites will remain at the top of the hierarchy, with Blacks and a few other lower-socioeconomic-status (SES) minority groups at the bottom while there will be an intermediate group between, “the Honorary Whites,” that consists of mixed-race individuals and higher SES Asians and Latinos.
The CPVT-associated RyR2 mutation G230C enhances store overloadinduced Ca2+ release and destabilizes the N-terminal domains
Authors: Liu Yingjie , Kimlicka Lynn , Hiess Florian , Tian Xixi , Wang Ruiwu , Zhang Lin , Jones Peter P. , Van Petegem Filip , Chen S. R. Wayne
Published: June 2013

CPVT (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) is an inherited life-threatening arrhythmogenic disorder. CPVT is caused by DADs (delayed after-depolarizations) that are induced by spontaneous Ca2+ release during SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum) Ca2+ overload, a process also known as SOICR (store-overload-induced Ca2+ release). A number of mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor RyR2 are linked to CPVT. Many of these CPVT-associated RyR2 mutations enhance the propensity for SOICR and DADs by sensitizing RyR2 to luminal or luminal/cytosolic Ca2+ activation. Recently, a novel CPVT RyR2 mutation, G230C, was found to increase the cytosolic, but not the luminal, Ca2+ sensitivity of single RyR2 channels in lipid bilayers. This observation led to the suggestion of a SOICR-independent disease mechanism for the G230C mutation. However, the cellular impact of this mutation on SOICR is yet to be determined. To this end, we generated stable inducible HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cell lines expressing the RyR2 WT (wild-type) and the G230C mutant. Using single-cell Ca2+ imaging, we found that the G230C mutation markedly enhanced the propensity for SOICR and reduced the SOICR threshold. Furthermore, the G230C mutation increased the sensitivity of single RyR2 channels to both luminal and cytosolic Ca2+ activation and the Ca2+-dependent activation of [3H]ryanodine binding. In addition, the G230C mutation decreased the thermal stability of the N-terminal region (amino acids 1–547) of RyR2. These data suggest that the G230C mutation enhances the propensity for SOICR by sensitizing the channel to luminal and cytosolic Ca2+ activation, and that G230C has an intrinsic structural impact on the N-terminal domains of RyR2.
Unipolar time-differential charge sensing in non-dispersive amorphous solids
Authors: Goldan A. H. , Rowlands J. A. , Tousignant O. , Karim K. S.
Published: June 2013

The use of high resistivity amorphous solids as photodetectors, especially amorphous selenium, is currently of great interest because they are readily produced over large area at substantially lower cost compared to grown crystalline solids. However, amorphous solids have been ruled out as viable radiation detection media for high frame-rate applications, such as single-photon-counting imaging, because of low carrier mobilities, transit-time-limited photoresponse, and consequently, poor time resolution. To circumvent the problem of poor charge transport in amorphous solids, we propose unipolar time-differential charge sensing by establishing a strong near-field effect using an electrostatic shield within the material. For the first time, we have fabricated a true Frisch grid inside a solid-state detector by evaporating amorphous selenium over photolithographically prepared multi-well substrates. The fabricated devices are characterized with optical, x-ray, and gamma-ray impulse-like excitations. Results prove the proposed unipolar time-differential property and show that time resolution in non-dispersive amorphous solids can be improved substantially to reach the theoretical limit set by spatial spreading of the collected Gaussian carrier cloud.
Dynamics of supercritical methanol of varying density from first principles simulations: Hydrogen bond fluctuations, vibrational spectral diffusion, and orientational relaxation
Authors: Yadav Vivek Kumar , Chandra Amalendu
Published: June 2013

A first principles study of the dynamics of supercritical methanol is carried out by means of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, the fluctuation dynamics of hydroxyl stretch frequencies, hydrogen bonds, dangling hydroxyl groups, and orientation of methanol molecules are investigated for three different densities at 523 K. Apart from the dynamical properties, various equilibrium properties of supercritical methanol such as the local density distributions and structural correlations, hydrogen bonding aspects, frequency-structure correlations, and dipole distributions of methanol molecules are also investigated. In addition to the density dependence of various equilibrium and dynamical properties, their dependencies on dispersion interactions are also studied by carrying out additional simulations using a dispersion corrected density functional for all the systems. It is found that the hydrogen bonding between methanol molecules decreases significantly as we move to the supercritical state from the ambient one. The inclusion of dispersion interactions is found to increase the number of hydrogen bonds to some extent. Calculations of the frequency-structure correlation coefficient reveal that a statistical correlation between the hydroxyl stretch frequency and the nearest hydrogen-oxygen distance continues to exist even at supercritical states of methanol, although it is weakened with increase of temperature and decrease of density. In the supercritical state, the frequency time correlation function is found to decay with two time scales: One around or less than 100 fs and the other in the region of 250–700 fs. It is found that, for supercritical methanol, the times scales of vibrational spectral diffusion are determined by an interplay between the dynamics of hydrogen bonds, dangling OD groups, and inertial rotation of methanol molecules and the roles of these various components are found to vary with density of the supercritical solvent. Effects of system size on the calculated structural and dynamical properties are also investigated in the present study.
Isotropic universe with almost scale-invariant fourth-order gravity
Authors: Schmidt Hans-Jürgen , Singleton Douglas
Published: June 2013

We study a class of isotropic cosmologies in the fourth-order gravity with Lagrangians of the form L = f(R) + k(G) where R and G are the Ricci and Gauss-Bonnet scalars, respectively. A general discussion is given on the conditions under which this gravitational Lagrangian is scale-invariant or almost scale-invariant. We then apply this general background to the specific case L = αR2 + β Gln G with constants α, β. We find closed form cosmological solutions for this case. One interesting feature of this choice of f(R) and k(G) is that for very small negative value of the parameter β, the Lagrangian L = R2/3 + βGln G leads to the replacement of the exact de Sitter solution coming from L = R2 (which is a local attractor) to an exact, power-law inflation solution a(t) = tp = t−3/β which is also a local attractor. This shows how one can modify the dynamics from de Sitter to power-law inflation by the addition of a Gln G-term.