bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solid-Phase Organic Synthesis and Catalysis: Some Recent Strategies Using Alumina, Silica, and Polyionic Resins
Authors: Basu Basudeb , Paul Susmita
Published: September 2013

Solid-phase organic synthesis (SPOS) and catalysis have gained impetus after the seminal discovery of Merrifield’s solid-phase peptide synthesis and also because of wide applicability in combinatorial and high throughput chemistry. A large number of organic, inorganic, or organic-inorganic hybrid materials have been employed as polymeric solid supports to promote or catalyze various organic reactions. This review article provides a concise account on our approaches involving the use of (i) alumina or silica, either having doped with metal salts or directly, and (ii) polyionic resins to either promote various organic reactions or to immobilize reagents/metal catalysts for subsequent use in hydrogenation and cross-coupling reactions. The reaction parameters, scopes, and limitations, particularly in the context of green chemistry, have been highlighted with pertinent approaches by other groups.
XFEM-Based Analysis for Crack Growth Characteristics of Diffusion Bonded Laminates of Titanium Alloy with Localized Nonwelded Zone
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Yongcun , Liu Shutian , Xiao Shan , Wang Xiangming , Sun Yanpeng
Published: September 2013

Titanium-alloy laminates fabricated by sheet materials using diffusion bonding process have drawn more and more attention in the recent years. Proper placement of nonwelded zones on the diffusion bonding (DB) interface within titanium-alloy laminates as crack arrest zones can improve damage tolerance. To achieve the optimal damage tolerance via designing non-welded zones, it is necessary to study fatigue crack growth characteristics for this type of laminates by adjusting all the relevant parameters such as geometrical sizes, locations, and the number of the nonwelded zones, which is highly time consuming. Therefore it is essential to develop a reliable and quick method to analyze the fatigue crack growth characteristics for titanium-alloy laminates with non-welded zones. In this paper, the extended finite element method (XFEM) which was employed to simulate the fatigue crack growth process and the applicability of this method to capture fatigue crack growth characteristics of titanium-alloy laminates with localized non-welded zones was also studied. The numerical results were compared with the experiment data, and the agreement on numerical and experimental results illustrated that the specific crack growth characteristics can be captured by using XFEM, thereby verifying the applicability of XFEM in the analysis of fatigue crack growth of the laminates with non-welded zones. The influence of non-welded zones on the fatigue crack growth was then discussed.
Controlled Geometry Formation of the Carbon Coils by the Substrate Pretreatment
Authors: Park Semi , Kim Sung-Hoon
Published: September 2013

Carbon coils could be synthesized using C2H2/H2 as source gases and SF6 as an incorporated additive gas under thermal chemical vapor deposition system. Prior to the carbon coils deposition reaction, the supporting substrates were pretreated using various methods. Among the methods, the thermal etching pretreatment of Ni-SiO2 substrate with SF6 leads to the exclusive formation of the nanosized carbon coils. The diamond powders pretreatment of Si substrate gives rise to the dominant formation of the microsized carbon coils after 10 minutes reaction time. The geometry selectivity for the carbon coils in a specific pretreatment method was discussed in association with the peeled-off Ni layers by the thermal etching pretreatment with SF6 and the remained carbon particles on Si substrate by the diamond powders pretreatment.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Bioaccessible Fraction fromEryngium foetidumLeaves
Authors: Dawilai Suwitcha , Muangnoi Chawanphat , Praengamthanachoti Phawachaya , Tuntipopipat Siriporn
Published: September 2013

Eryngium foetidum(EF) has long been used as a medicinal plant and culinary spice in tropical regions. Phytochemicals in its leaves have been proposed to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The present study usedin vitrodigestion coupled with Caco-2 cells to assess such activities. Caco-2 cells were incubated with aqueous fraction from simulated digestion (bioaccessible fraction) of EF leaves with/without bile extract prior to stimulation with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and IL-8 in culture media and the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Approximately 24%β-carotene and 35% lutein of leaves were present in the aqueous fraction. The transfer of caffeic and chlorogenic acids to the aqueous fraction was 76%–81%, while that of kaempferol was 48%. Prior incubation of Caco-2 cells with the bioaccessible fraction suppressed IL-1βactivated IL-8 and MCP-1 by 33%, but the fraction lacking mixed micelles decreased IL-8 and MCP-1 levels only by 11%. The pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with the bioaccessible fraction of EF reduced ROS by 34%; the fraction lacking mixed micelles decreased ROS by 28%. These data suggest that bioactive compounds partitioning in mixed micelles play a significant role to suppress the proinflammatory insult but with a modest antioxidant effect.
Surgery for Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: McNally S.J. , Parks R.W.
Published: September 2013

Half of all patients with colorectal cancer develop metastatic disease. The liver is the principal site for metastases, and surgical resection is the only modality that offers the potential for long-term cure. Appropriate patient selection for surgery and improvements in perioperative care have resulted in low morbidity and mortality rates, resulting in this being the therapy of choice for suitable patients. Modern management of colorectal liver metastases is multimodal incorporating open and laparoscopic surgery, ablative therapies such as radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation and (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. The majority of patients with hepatic metastases should be considered for resectional surgery, if all disease can be resected, as this offers the only opportunity for prolonged survival.
No Association between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor G196A Polymorphism and Clinical Features of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Svetel Marina , Pekmezovic Tatjana , Markovic Vladana , Novaković Ivana , Dobričić Valerija , Djuric Gordana , Stefanova Elka , Kostić Vladimir
Published: September 2013

Aims: To investigate association of the Val66Met polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene with clinical features in Serbian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: The study comprised 177 consecutive PD patients. A comprehensive set of clinical scales was applied in all patients. The controls (n = 366) were recruited among students. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs6265) were analyzed using TaqMan assays. Results: PD patients (118 males) were aged 58.9 ± 10.9 years, with a mean age at onset of 49.0 ± 11.2 years. PD patients and controls had a similar distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies. The presence of the Met allele did not influence the clinical characteristics of PD patients (age at onset, family history, gender, disease duration, form of the disease, initial symptoms, cognitive abilities, depression, anxiety, disease severity, severity of motor and prevalence of nonmotor symptoms, and development of motor complications). Conclusion: Overall, the Val66Met polymorphism did not modify the clinical features in PD patients.
Does the Endoscopic Treatment of Lower Ureter Stones Affect Uroflowmetric Values? A Prospective Clinical Trial
Authors: Dadali Mumtaz , Aydogmus Yasin , Emir Levent , Aydin Arif , Hascicek Metin Ahmet , Bagbanci Sahin
Published: September 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to document if stones at the lower ureter alter the micturition capability of the patients and to investigate whether endoscopic removal of these stones restores normal urinary flow rates or not in the 3 months of follow-up. Methods: Forty patients with lower ureteral stone (group 1) and 20 control subjects with proximal ureteral stone (group 2) were enrolled into the study. All patients underwent uroflowmetry testing before and 3 months after the treatment for endoscopic stone removal. The mean average and peak flow rates with a sufficient voided volume (≥150 ml) were evaluated before and after surgery and compared between the groups. Results: Mean values of the peak flow rates before and after surgery were 20.3 and 27.5 ml/s in group 1 and 22.5 and 23.6 ml/s in group 2, and the mean average flow rate values before and after surgery were 10.5 and 13.6 ml/s in group 1 and 11.4 and 12.1 ml/s in group 2. Statistically significant differences were determined between before and after ureteroscopy values were determined in terms of average (p < 0.05) and peak flow rates (p < 0.01) in group I; however, there no significant difference was seen in the control group. Conclusion: We document for the first time in the literature that patients with lower ureteric stones have a reduction in their urinary stream which resolves with endoscopic removal of the stones.
Effect of an Automatic Triggering and Cycling System on Comfort and Patient-Ventilator Synchrony during Pressure Support Ventilation
Authors: Vasconcelos Renata dos S. , Melo Luíz Henrique de P. , Sales Raquel P. , Marinho Liégina S. , Deulefeu Flávio C. , Reis Ricardo C. , Alves-de-Almeida Mirizana , Holanda Marcelo A.
Published: September 2013

Background: The digital Auto-Trak™ system is a technology capable of automatically adjusting the triggering and cycling mechanisms during pressure support ventilation (PSV). Objective: To compare Auto-Trak with conventional settings in terms of patient-ventilator synchrony and discomfort. Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers underwent PSV via the mouth by breathing through an endotracheal tube. In the conventional setting, a pressure support of 8 cm H2O with flow cycling (25% peak inspiratory flow) and a sensitivity of 1 cm H2O was adjusted. In Auto-Trak the triggering and cycling were automatically set. Discomfort, effort of breathing, and the asynchrony index (AI) were assessed. In a complementary bench study, the inspiratory and expiratory time delays were quantified for both settings in three mechanical models: ‘normal', obstructive (COPD), and restrictive (ARDS), using the ASL 5000 simulator. Results: In the volunteer study the AI and the discomfort scores did not differ statistically between the two settings. In the bench investigation the use of Auto-Trak was associated with a greater triggering delay in the COPD model and earlier expiratory cycling in the ARDS model but with no asynchronic events. Conclusions: Use of the Auto-Trak system during PSV showed similar results in comparison to the conventional adjustments with respect to patient-ventilator synchrony and discomfort in simulated conditions of invasive mechanical ventilation.
Effects of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection in Patients with Low-Grade Intraepithelial Dysplasia of Esophageal Squamous Cells
Authors: Li Hao , Cheng Juan Li , Dong Ning Ning , Cui Chun Yong , Diao Tao Yu , Zhou Xue Rui
Published: September 2013

Background: This study evaluated the effects of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) on patients with low-grade intraepithelial dysplasia (LGD) of the esophageal squamous cells. Methods: A randomized study recruited 128 LGD patients. These patients were randomly divided into treatment and control groups after the preoperative examination. The treatment group was composed of 63 LGD cases who received EMR. The control group included 65 LGD cases that were not treated with EMR. Clinical interviews and endoscopy were conducted after 30 months as postoperative follow-up. Results: Concerning the percentages of esophageal lesions that changed from serious conditions into slight conditions (namely from high-grade intraepithelial dysplasia (HGD) to LGD, basal cell hyperplasia, esophagitis and normal mucosa) there was a significantly linear trend relationship between the treatment group and control group. In downstaging of dysplasia grade, the total percentage for the 52 cases (82.5%) in the treatment group was significantly higher than that for the 32 cases (49.2%) in the control group (Pearson χ2 = 15.734, p < 0.001). Also, in patients that remained at the LGD grade or had upstaging of their dysplasia grade, the proportions of the change were significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: The percentage rate of regression of LGD was increased in the EMR treatment group as compared to that of the control group. EMR may prevent or delay the progression of LGD to HGD.
Impact of Airflow Communication between Nasal Cavities on Nasal Ventilation
Authors: Zhou Bing , Huang Qian , Cui Shunjiu , Liu Yingxi , Han Demin
Published: September 2013

Objective: To investigate the impact of airflow communication between bilateral nostril sides on nasal ventilation. In addition, we try to validate the efficacy of the Draf III procedure from the aerodynamics perspective. Methods: One health model and two disease models were constructed. These included 2 patients with nasal septum perforation and 1 patient who received the Draf III procedure. With the computational fluid dynamics method, indices such as airflow velocity and wall shear stress in the nasal cavity were detected and compared among the 3 subjects. Results: The main pathway for airflow in the nasal cavity is the common meatus. Little airflow exchange occurred in the patient who underwent the Draf III procedure, and the wall shear stress around the communication site was as low as in the adjacent areas. However, when airflow communication occurred in the lower part of the nasal cavity, the airflow velocity and wall shear stress were obviously altered, and the ventilation function of the nasal cavity was impaired. Conclusion: Airflow communication in the upper part of the nasal cavity has little impact on nasal ventilation. Nonetheless, airflow communication occurring in the lower part of the nasal cavity disturbs the overall airflow distribution and a repair procedure is necessary.
Angiotensin II–Independent Angiotensin-(1–7) Formation in Rat Hippocampus
Authors: Pereira Marilia G.A.G. , Souza Laura L. , Becari Christiane , Duarte Diego A. , Camacho Fabio R.B. , Oliveira José Antônio C. , Gomes Marcelo D. , Oliveira Eduardo B. , Salgado Maria Cristina O. , Garcia-Cairasco Norberto , Costa-Neto Claudio M.
Published: September 2013

The involvement and relevance of the renin–angiotensin system have been established clearly in cardiovascular diseases, and renin–angiotensin system involvement has also been investigated extensively in the central nervous system. Angiotensin II acts classically by binding to the AT
1
and AT
2
receptors. However, other pathways within the renin–angiotensin system have been described more recently, such as one in which angiotensin-(1–7) (Ang-(1–7)) binds to the receptor Mas. In the central nervous system specifically, it has been reported that this heptapeptide is involved in learning and memory processes that occur in central limbic regions, such as the hippocampus. Therefore, this prompted us to investigate the possible role of the Ang-(1–7)–receptor Mas pathway in epileptic seizures, which are also known to recruit limbic areas. In the present study, we show that Ang-(1–7) is the main metabolite of angiotensin I in rat hippocampi, and, strikingly, that thimet oligopeptidase is the main enzyme involved in the generation of Ang-(1–7). Furthermore, elevations in the levels of thimet oligopeptidase, Ang-(1–7), and of receptor Mas transcripts are observed in chronically stimulated epileptic rats, which suggest that the thimet oligopeptidase–Ang-(1–7)–receptor Mas axis may have a functional relevance in the pathophysiology of these animals. In summary, our data, which describe a new preferential biochemical pathway for the generation of Ang-(1–7) in the central nervous system and an increase in the levels of various elements of the related thimet oligopeptidase–Ang-(1–7)–receptor Mas pathway, unveil potential new roles of the renin–angiotensin system in central nervous system pathophysiology.
Stimulatory Effects of Cardiotrophin 1 on Atherosclerosis
Authors: Konii Hanae , Sato Kengo , Kikuchi Sayaka , Okiyama Hazuki , Watanabe Rena , Hasegawa Akinori , Yamamoto Keigo , Itoh Fumiko , Hirano Tsutomu , Watanabe Takuya
Published: September 2013

Cardiotrophin 1 (CT-1), an interleukin-6 family cytokine, was recently shown to be expressed in the intima of early atherosclerotic lesions in the human carotid artery. CT-1 stimulates proatherogenic molecule expression in human vascular endothelial cells and monocyte migration. However, it has not been reported whether CT-1 accelerates atherosclerosis. This study was performed to examine the stimulatory effects of CT-1 on human macrophage foam cell formation and vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation in vitro, and on the development of atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E–deficient (ApoE
−/−
) mice in vivo. CT-1 was expressed at high levels in endothelial cells and macrophages in both humans and ApoE
−/−
mice. CT-1 significantly enhanced oxidized low-density lipoprotein–induced foam cell formation associated with increased levels of CD36 and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 expression in human monocyte–derived macrophages. CT-1 significantly stimulated the migration, proliferation, and collagen-1 expression in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Four-week infusion of CT-1 into ApoE
−/−
mice significantly accelerated the development of aortic atherosclerotic lesions with increased monocyte/macrophage infiltration, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and collagen-1 content in the aortic wall. Activation of inflammasome, such as apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain, nuclear factor κB, and cyclooxygenase-2, was observed in exudate peritoneal macrophages from ApoE
−/−
mice infused with CT-1. Infusion of anti–CT-1–neutralizing antibody alone into ApoE
−/−
mice significantly suppressed monocyte/macrophage infiltration in atherosclerotic lesions. These results indicate that CT-1 accelerates the development of atherosclerotic lesions by stimulating the inflammasome, foam cell formation associated with CD36 and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 upregulation in macrophages, and migration, proliferation, and collagen-1 production in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Cerebral Autoregulation of Blood Velocity and Volumetric Flow During Steady-State Changes in Arterial Pressure
Authors: Liu Jie , Zhu Yong-Sheng , Hill Candace , Armstrong Kyle , Tarumi Takashi , Hodics Timea , Hynan Linda S. , Zhang Rong
Published: September 2013

The validity of using transcranial Doppler measurement of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) to assess cerebral autoregulation (CA) still is a concern. This study measured CBFV in the middle cerebral artery using transcranial Doppler and volumetric cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the internal carotid artery (ICA) using color-coded duplex ultrasonography to assess CA during steady-state changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Twenty-one healthy adults participated. MAP was changed stepwise by intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine. Changes in CBFV, CBF, cerebrovascular resistance (CVR=MAP/CBF), or cerebrovascular resistance index (CVRi=MAP/CBFV) were measured to assess CA by linear regression analysis. The relationship between changes in ICA diameter and MAP was assessed. All values were normalized as percentage changes from baseline. Drug-induced changes in MAP were from −26% to 31%. Changes in CBFV and CVRi in response to MAP were linear, and the regression slopes were similar between middle cerebral artery and ICA. However, CBF in ICA remained unchanged despite large changes in MAP. Consistently, a steeper slope of changes in CVR relative to CVRi was observed (0.991 versus 0.804;
P
<0.05). The ICA diameter changed inversely in response to MAP (
r
=−0.418;
P
<0.05). These findings indicate that CA can be assessed with transcranial Doppler measurements of CBFV and CVRi in middle cerebral artery. However, it is likely to be underestimated when compared with the measurements of CBF and CVR in ICA. The inverse relationship between changes in ICA diameter and MAP suggests that large cerebral arteries are involved in CA.
Leptin‐Induced Endothelial Dysfunction Is Mediated by Sympathetic Nervous System Activity
Authors: Wang Jintao , Wang Hui , Luo Wei , Guo Chiao , Wang Julia , Chen Y. E. , Chang Lin , Eitzman Daniel T.
Published: September 2013

Background

The adipocyte‐derived hormone leptin is elevated in obesity and may contribute to vascular risk associated with obesity. The mechanism(s) by which leptin affects vascular disease is unclear, although leptin has been shown to increase sympathetic activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leptin treatment on endothelial function and the role of the local sympathetic nervous system in mediating these effects.

Methods and Results

Recombinant leptin was administered to C57BL6/J mice every other day for 1 week. Mesenteric arteriole myography revealed that leptin treatment caused significant impairment of endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation. Although leptin alone did not raise aortic blood pressure, leptin treatment augmented the blood pressure response to angiotensin II. The effects of leptin on mesenteric arteriolar function and aortic blood pressure response to angiotensin II were neutralized following sympathetic denervation to the mesenteric vasculature. The superoxide scavenger
TEMPOL
was also effective in preventing the effects of leptin on endothelial dysfunction.

Conclusions

Leptin causes endothelial dysfunction and enhances the effects of angiotensin II on blood pressure. These effects of leptin are mediated by sympathetic nervous system activation and superoxide and may contribute to vascular stiffness and hypertension in obesity.
Explaining Growing Climate Policy Differences Between the European Union and the United States
Authors: Skjærseth Jon Birger , Bang Guri , Schreurs Miranda A.
Published: September 2013

Strong rhetorical differences between the European Union and the United States on climate matters have been evident for almost two decades. Since the mid-2000s, such differences are becoming visible in their respective climate policies as well. We propose three explanations for differences in climate policy outcomes in the EU and the US. First, the agenda-setting privileges of their policy-makers are significantly different, influencing how agenda setters shape policies and link issues, such as energy and climate policy. Second, while issue linkage has helped overcome distributional obstacles in the EU, it has led to more complexity and greater policy obstacles in the US. Finally, legislative rules, procedures, and norms have constrained the coalition-building efforts of lawmakers in the two systems in different ways, affecting negotiation processes and outcomes. Such differences in agenda-setting privileges, potential for issue linkages, and legislative procedures in the EU and the US have left them wide apart in international climate negotiations.
Podocoryna martinicana, a new species of athecate hydroid (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Hydractiniidae) from the Caribbean
Authors: GALEA HORIA R. , FERRY ROMAIN
Published: September 2013

A new species of hydroid, Podocoryna martinicana sp. nov., is described from the Lesser Antilles. It lives symbiotically with Iridopagurus caribbensis (A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier, 1893) (Decapoda: Paguridae) inhabiting various gastropod shells. Its colonies are highly organized and develop exclusively around the aperture of the host shell. A few large, columnar gastrozooids provided with numerous tentacles arise from a perisarc-covered stolonal mat on the inner lip of the shell, and appear to form a gate when the hermit is withdrawn, while numerous, small, highly prolific gonozooids dress a line on the edge of the outer lip. Slender, very contractile tentaculozooids occur variably among the colonies. The dispersive stage, a free-swimming medusa with four well-developed marginal tentacles and no ocelli, is solely described based on young, sexually immature specimens. The species is further characterized by the peculiar bright white tinge of the core of both hydroid and medusa tentacles. Rich illustrations, data on the nematocyst complement, as well as comparisons with related congeners are provided.
New fossil mesoserphid wasps (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Proctotrupoidea) from the Jehol Biota, China
Authors: SHI XIAOQING , ZHAO YUNYUN , SHIH CHUNGKUN , REN DONG
Published: September 2013

A new genus with two new species, Codoserphus calophlebius gen. et sp. nov. and Codoserphus euneurus gen. et sp. nov., assigned to the subfamily Mesoserphinae of Mesoserphidae, are described from the Jehol Biota, Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Huangbanjigou Village in Liaoning, China. Codoserphus gen. nov. is characterized by its fore wing with all major veins present, not reduced, and 1cu-a distal to 1-M in fore wing. An updated key is given for the genera of Mesoserphidae from around the world.
The Composite Shape and Structure of Braid Patterns in Kelvin–Helmholtz Billows Observed with a Sodar
Authors: Lyulyukin Vasily , Kouznetsov Rostislav , Kallistratova Margarita
Published: September 2013

The structure and dynamic characteristics of the Kelvin–Helmholtz billows (KHB), observed with a sodar in the stable atmospheric boundary layer, are studied by means of composite analysis, which consists in the averaging of samples selected according to certain criteria. Using a specific kind of this method allowed the authors to obtain the fine structure of the perturbation velocity fields from the sodar data. The events of most pronounced KHB were visually selected from echograms of continuous sodar measurements in the Moscow region over 2008–10. The composite patterns of KHB have been constructed for a few cases of clear inclined–stripes echogram patterns to derive a typical finescale structure of billows and a spatial distribution of wind speed and shear within them. The interconnection between echo intensity and wind shear variations within such patterns is shown. The typical distributions of velocity perturbation within various forms of billows are found.
Using SURFRAD to Verify the NOAA Single-Channel Land Surface Temperature Algorithm
Authors: Heidinger Andrew K. , Laszlo Istvan , Molling Christine C. , Tarpley Dan
Published: September 2013

Because of spectral shifts from instrument to instrument in the operational NOAA satellite imager longwave infrared channels, the NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) has developed a single-channel land surface temperature (LST) algorithm based on the observed 11-μm radiances, numerical weather prediction data, and radiative transfer modeling that allows for consistent results from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-I/L (GOES-I/L), GOES-M–P, and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)/1 through 3 sensor versions. This approach is implemented in the real-time NESDIS processing systems [GOES Surface and Insolation Products (GSIP) and Clouds from AVHRR Extended (CLAVR-x)], and in the Pathfinder Atmospheres–Extended (PATMOS-x) climate dataset. An analysis of the PATMOS-x LST against that derived from the upwelling broadband longwave flux at each Surface Radiation Network (SURFRAD) site showed that biases in PATMOS-x were approximately 1 K or less. The standard deviations of the PATMOS-x minus SURFRAD LST biases are generally 2.5 K or less at all sites for all sensors. Using the PATMOS-x minus SURFRAD LST distributions to validate the PATMOS-x cloud detection, the PATMOS-x cloud probability of correct detection values were shown to meet the GOES-R specifications for all sites.
Polarity of Mature Human Odontoblasts
Authors: Tjäderhane L. , Koivumäki S. , Pääkkönen V. , Ilvesaro J. , Soini Y. , Salo T. , Metsikkö K. , Tuukkanen J.
Published: September 2013

Odontoblast polarization is based on histological appearance as columnar cells with asymmetric disposition of organelles and plasma membrane domains. However, little is known about the odontoblast plasma membrane organization. We investigated odontoblast membrane polarity using influenza virus hemagglutinin and vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein as model proteins in mature human odontoblast organ culture. We also examined the distribution patterns of aquaporin 4 and 5, which are basolateral and apical proteins in epithelial cells, respectively. Confocal microscopy immunofluorescence and electron microscopy demonstrated that the apical markers located at the surface toward pulp and basolateral markers located at the plasma membrane of odontoblast processes. Therefore, odontoblast plasma membrane polarity was different from that in epithelial cells. Also, certain lectins stained odontoblast processes while others stained the soma, reflecting the different natures of their membrane domains. Strong ZO-1 and weaker claudin expression suggest weak tight junctions in the odontoblasts. TGF-β1 showed a tendency to reinstate the expression of selected TJ genes, indicating that TGF-β1 may control odontoblast cell layer integrity by controlling tight junction protein expression.
Shaky Methods, Shaky Motives
Authors: Fuller Edward J.
Published: September 2013

The National Council on Teacher Quality’s (NCTQ) recent review of university-based teacher preparation programs concluded the vast majority of such programs were inadequately preparing the nation’s teachers. The study, however, has a number of serious flaws that include narrow focus on inputs, lack of a strong research base, missing standards, omitted research, incorrect application of research findings, poor methodology, exclusion of alternative certification programs, failure to conduct member checks, and failure to use existing evidence to validate the report’s rankings. All of these issues render the NCTQ report less than useful in efforts to understand and improve teacher preparation programs in the United States. The article also suggests alternative pathways NCTQ could have undertaken to work with programs to actually improve teacher preparation. The article concludes by noting that the shaky methods used by NCTQ suggest shaky motives such that the true motives of NCTQ for producing the report must be questioned.
Perception of English Vowels by Bilingual Chinese–English and Corresponding Monolingual Listeners
Authors: Yang Jing , Fox Robert A
Published: September 2013

This study compares the underlying perceptual structure of vowel perception in monolingual Chinese, monolingual English and bilingual Chinese–English listeners. Of particular interest is how listeners’ spatial organization of vowels is affected either by their L1 or their experience with L2. Thirteen English vowels, /i, ɪ, e, ε, æ, u, ʊ, o, ɔ, ɑ, ɔɪ, aɪ, aʊ/, embedded in /hVd/ syllable produced by an Ohio male speaker were presented in pairs to three groups of listeners. Each listener rated 312 vowel pairs on a nine-point dissimilarity scale. The responses from each group were analyzed using a multidimensional scaling program (ALSCAL). Results demonstrated that all three groups of listeners used high/low and front/back distinctions as the two most important dimensions to perceive English vowels. However, the vowels were distributed in clusters in the perceptual space of Chinese monolinguals, while they were appropriately separated and located in that of bilinguals and English monolinguals. Besides the two common perceptual dimensions, each group of listeners utilized a different third dimension to perceive these English vowels. English monolinguals used high-front offset. Bilinguals used a dimension mainly correlated to the distinction of monophthong/diphthong. Chinese monolinguals separated two high vowels, /i/ and /u/, from the rest of vowels in the third dimension. The difference between English monolinguals and Chinese monolinguals evidenced the effect of listeners’ native language on the vowel perception. The difference between Chinese monolinguals and bilingual listeners as well as the approximation of bilingual listeners’ perceptual space to that of English monolinguals demonstrated the effect of L2 experience on listeners’ perception of L2 vowels.
Does Bully Victimization Predict Future Delinquency?
Authors: Wong Jennifer S. , Schonlau Matthias
Published: September 2013

Over the past decade school bullying has emerged as a prominent issue of concern for students, parents, educators, and researchers. Bully victimization has been linked to a long list of negative outcomes, such as depression, peer rejection, school dropout, eating disorders, delinquency, and violence. Previous research relating bully victimization to delinquency has typically used standard regression techniques that may not sufficiently control for heterogeneity between bullied and nonbullied youths. Using a large, nationally representative panel dataset, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), we use a propensity score matching technique to assess the impact of bully victimization on a range of delinquency outcomes. Results show that 19% of respondents had been victimized prior to the age of 12 years ( n = 8,833). Early victimization is predictive of the development of 6 out of 10 delinquent behaviors measured over a period of 6 years, including assault, vandalism, theft, other property crimes (such as receiving stolen property or fraud), selling drugs, and running away from home. Bully victimization should be considered an important precursor to delinquency.
Career Stage Theory and Turnover Intent Among Correctional Officers
Authors: Griffin Marie L. , Hogan Nancy L. , Lambert Eric G.
Published: September 2013

Prior research on correctional staff turnover intent and turnover generally assumes that staff are impacted by the workplace in a similar manner regardless of career stage. This study examined whether correctional officers ( N = 2,621) with a Southwestern correctional agency differed in their level of turnover intent across different career stages, and whether the impact of work environment variables on turnover intent varied across career stages. Results indicated that turnover intent was lowest among staff with less than 1 year into their careers, and that the effects of work environment variables on turnover intent varied greatly across the 4 career stages. Commitment to the organization was the only work environment variable to be a significant predictor of intent to leave among four career stages, with a negative association in each of the four career groups.
The Effect of Changes in Public Sector Accounting Policies on Administrative Reforms Addressed to Citizens
Authors: Rodríguez Bolívar Manuel Pedro , Galera Andrés Navarro
Published: September 2013

Changes in financial reporting systems are relevant to the usefulness of governmental financial reporting in implementing New Public Management (NPM) reforms. The International Public Sector Accounting Standards, published by the International Federation of Accountants, seeks to improve the financial information reported. The aim of this paper is to analyze whether Fair Value Accounting (FVA) could improve the usefulness of governmental financial statements for citizens under NPM reforms. To achieve this aim, this paper examines the opinions of the National Accounting Standards Setters on the utility of FVA in the introduction of NPM models in countries under different administrative traditions. Our results show that FVA could promote successful NPM reforms, enhancing the implementation of the postulates of efficiency, transparency, and benchmarking analysis. Likewise, the administrative tradition could influence National Accounting Standards Setters’ viewpoints regarding the capability of financial information based on FVA to meet the new information requirements under NPM models.
Preparing the New Psychology Professoriate to Teach
Authors: Buskist William
Published: September 2013

The movement to prepare graduate students to teach is relatively new in the history of the academy. During the past several decades, many graduate departments of psychology, like many academic departments, have gone from providing essentially no training to graduate students to teach to developing extensive training programs consisting of course work and supervision of teaching activities. Although as a whole, graduate programs in psychology have made substantial progress in preparing its students for careers in teaching, there remains much to be done in further enhancing graduate students’ preparation for teaching. I discuss and provide recommendations for addressing several key issues that currently or in the future will impede the successful preparation of graduate students for teaching including the need for more research on preparatory practices, the need for more depth and consistency in these practices across graduate departments of psychology, the importance of maintaining the primary responsibility for preparing graduate students to teach within psychology departments, and the utility of having two or more faculty lead departmental preparatory teaching programs.
Premonitory Urges in Adults With Complicated and Uncomplicated Tourette Syndrome
Authors: Eddy Clare M. , Cavanna Andrea E.
Published: September 2013

Most patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) report experiencing subjective bodily sensations termed premonitory urges, before they have a tic. This study investigated relationships between premonitory urges and tic severity, depression, anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, and attention problems. We also explored possible differences between patients with and without comorbid conditions. Finally, we explored whether premonitory urges impacted on perceived quality of life (QoL). One hundred adult outpatients (70 males; mean age 32 years) were recruited from a specialist TS clinic. Fifty percent exhibited comorbid diagnoses, the most common of which were obsessive-compulsive disorder (23%), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (15%), anxiety (6%), and depression (5%). For the entire sample, premonitory urges were significantly related to clinical symptoms, especially obsessive-compulsive symptoms and anxiety, and were significantly negatively related to QoL scores. Premonitory urges had a strong negative correlation with QoL in patients with “pure” TS (no comorbidities), while this relationship was weaker for patients with comorbid conditions, who reported stronger or more frequent premonitory urges in association with greater anxiety. These findings may imply that slightly different psychological factors drive self-reported premonitory urge ratings in patients with and without comorbidities and that the perceived influence of distressing premonitory urges on wellbeing is less important in the context of comorbid symptomatology. As premonitory urges are related to QoL, they should be taken into account during evaluation of treatment efficacy, especially in cases with “pure” TS.
Burning issues in the meta-analysis of pharmaceutical trials for depression
Authors: Fountoulakis Konstantinos N , Samara Myrto T , Siamouli Melina
Published: September 2013

During the last decade a number of meta-analytic studies have been published and they triggered a debate on the true clinical usefulness of antidepressants. The current article comments on problems within the randomized controlled trials design, the study samples, the psychometric scales, the methods of meta-analysis, the interpretation of the results, and the reporting of conflicts of interest. Although the meta-analyses published so far agree that medication works in severe depression, they question its efficacy in mild cases. However, several methodological issues should be clarified before conclusions are definite. Different methods give different results and similar results seem to entertain a variety of interpretations. In the future it is important to address all of these problems, and to improve methodology on the basis of clinically informed choices. Otherwise, meta-analysis risks alienation from clinical reality and thus risks becoming the 21st century psychoanalysis.
Lion and man with visibility in monotone polygons
Authors: Noori Narges , Isler Volkan
Published: September 2013

In the original version of the lion and man game, a lion tries to capture a man who is trying to escape in a circular arena. The players have equal speeds. They can observe each other at all times. We study a new variant of the game in which the lion has only line-of-sight visibility. That is it can observe the man’s position only if the line segment connecting them does not intersect the boundary. We show that despite this limitation, the lion can capture the man in any monotone polygon in finite time.
The education of Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus (1651–1708)
Authors: Adler Jacob
Published: September 2013

Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, mathematician, inventor, and correspondent of Spinoza, is often thought to have studied medicine at Leiden, though documentation of this fact has been lacking. Tschirnhaus’ medical education is here documented, along with the nature of his medical practice.
Entrepreneurial Education: Reflexive Approaches to Entrepreneurial Learning in Practice
Authors: Higgins David , Smith Kelly , Mirza Mohammed
Published: September 2013

Eventhough entrepreneurial education is quite a new phenomenon in higher education, as a field of inquiry it is one of the most rapidly growing areas of research. However, there is a widespread consensus that traditional pedagogical methods of learning alone are insufficient to adequately develop entrepreneurs to deal with the complexities of running and creating innovating business opportunities. There is a consensus that traditional pedagogical ‘instructional methods’ alone are insufficient to adequately develop entrepreneurs to deal with the complexities of running and creating business opportunities. As a consequence there is a growing need to cultivate innovative ways of thinking and new modes of pedagogy to fully enhance and develop entrepreneurial approaches to education and learning. It is argued that traditional approaches to entrepreneurial education tend to ignore, and not address, the ambiguities and uncertainties which surround the entrepreneurial process. The historical preoccupation with an individualistic approach to entrepreneurial learning has continued to marginalise and de-value the broader social context in which the entrepreneur functions. Current writing on entrepreneurial learning has shifted attention towards ‘learning for’ as opposed to ‘learning about’ entrepreneurship. The authors adopt a social constructionist perspective which draws recognition to the importance of inter-subjective knowledge exchange as a means of developing entrepreneurial learning. While there are numerous approaches to a social constructionist paradigm, the critical features of the perspective provide the manner by which ‘we’ come to experience the social world. The approach suggests developing a pedagogical approach which explores the social processes that constitute entrepreneurial undertakings and thus shifts the focus away from the traditional positivist approaches to entrepreneurial learning. The article seeks to contribute to a growing need to cultivate innovative ways of thinking, diverse skills and new modes of behaviour to fully enhance and develop entrepreneurial approaches to education. The article sets out to address this problem by examining the role reflexivity can play in entrepreneurial education, as a method of critiquing what it means to practice as an entrepreneur.
Book Review: The Little Book of Big Customer Satisfaction Measurement
Authors: Ganesh P.
Published: September 2013

Ajit Rao and Subhash Chandra, The Little Book of Big Customer Satisfaction Measurement, New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2012, 164 pp.
Book Review: Total Customer Value Management: Transforming Business Thinking
Authors: Joshi Rajiv
Published: September 2013

Gautam Mahajan, Total Customer Value Management: Transforming Business Thinking, New Delhi: Response Books, 2011, 326 pp.
Book Review: Environmental Ethics: An Introduction and Learning Guide
Authors: Misra Shalini
Published: September 2013

Kees Vromans, Rainer Paslack, Gamze Yücel Isildar, Rob de Vrind and Jürgen Walter Simon (Eds), Environmental Ethics: An Introduction and Learning Guide, Sheffield, UK: Greenleaf Publishing Limited, 2012, 177 pp.
A Note on the Health-Growth Nexus in Malaysia
Authors: Tang Chor Foon
Published: September 2013

This study examined the Granger causality between health care spending, economic growth, relative prices and life expectancy in Malaysia. This study covered the sample period from 1970 to 2010. Applying the newly developed cointegration test proposed by Bayer and Hanck (2010) to the Malaysian data, we found that the variables are cointegrated. The TYDL Granger causality test revealed that life expectancy and relative prices have bi-directional causality with health care spending. Nevertheless, there is evidence of unidirectional causality running from economic growth to health care spending in Malaysia. In addition, there is also unidirectional causality running from life expectancy to economic growth. In sum, health care spending does not stimulate economic growth directly but through its impact on improved health status as reflected by the life expectancy. Therefore, health care spending is important to improve the health status of the population and thus spur economic growth in Malaysia.
An Evaluation of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Odisha
Authors: Patra Suresh Kumar , Murthy D. Satyanarayan , Rath Subhrajit
Published: September 2013

An agrarian structure predominated by small and marginal farmers; and repeated natural calamities like droughts, floods and cyclones and poor infrastructural development in the hilly terrain of western and southern Odisha have an adverse effect on the health status of the people of Odisha. As a result of which the birth rate, death rate, infant mortality rate, life expectancy rate, maternal mortality ratio, total fertility ratio, etc., of Odisha lags behind the national average. To improve the prevailing situation, the Government of Odisha launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) programme in the state on 17 June 2005. The NRHM has completed six years in Odisha. It becomes necessary to assess the impact of the NRHM on the health indicators, to know how the schemes under NRHM are working in Odisha and to assess the transition in the health status of Odisha. Both primary and secondary data are used for the analysis of data. Primary data was collected through personal interviews. Multiple Regression Analysis was used to know how the State Government Capital Expenditure (SGCE) and State Government Revenue Expenditure (SGRE) on health and family welfare have influenced the health indicators like infant mortality rate, birth rate, death rate, etc.