bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expeditie Tussentaal - Leeftijd, identiteit en context in “Expeditie Robinson”
Authors: Eline Zenner , Dirk Geeraerts , Dirk Speelman
Published: April 2014

In this article, a quantitative corpus-based analysis is presented of the use of Colloquial Belgian Dutch (CBD, better known as tussentaal) in the reality-show “Expeditie Robinson” (the Dutch counterpart of “Survivor”). More specifically, we will use the format of the show and the stratified group of contestants to determine whether a correlation exists between CBD-variation on the one hand and several context- and speaker-related features (e.g. register and age) on the other hand. This will be done by performing a mixed-effect multiple regression analysis on an average CBD-index of the utterances of several Flemish participants. As such, we will show how the use Flemish language users make of CBD depends on the conversational situation, which among others goes in against current presuppositions which claim that Flemish speakers use CBD without any feeling for register. Furthermore, as a more general point, we would like to make clear how reality TV can be useful for sociolinguistic research.
Uit de tijdschriften nummer 1, 2009
Authors: Nijen Twilhaar Jan
Published: April 2014

De rubriek Uit de tijdschriften geeft kort weer wat er in andere tijdschriften op het gebied van de taalkunde is verschenen. Momenteel worden in deze rubriek de volgende tijdschriften besproken: Anéla, Internationale Neerlandistiek, Naamkunde, Ons Erfdeel, Onze Taal, Over Taal, Taal en Tongval. Uitgevers van niet vermelde taalkundige periodieken die hun tijdschrift besproken willen zien, wordt verzocht contact op te nemen met de redacteur van deze rubriek: Dr. J. Nijen Twilhaar Oerdijk 35 7433 AG Schalkhaar tel.: 0570-608080 e-mail: jnth@kpnplanet.nl
Van boekenbonnen en feëverhale - De tussenklank e(n) in Nederlandse en Afrikaanse samenstellingen: vorm of betekenis?
Authors: Anneke Neijt , Robert Schreuder , Carel Jansen
Published: April 2014

Compounds in Dutch and Afrikaans may contain a linking sound resembling the plural suffix [ə] or [ən]. This linking sound can be spelled in Dutch as e or en, a difference which previous research has shown to affect the interpretation of left hand members of compounds regarding their plurality. Here, we look at the existence of the reverse effect: do semantic clues about number influence preferences for a linking sound in novel compounds? Indeed, contexts in which the left hand member of a compound-to-be is present in its plural form increase the tendency to prefer a linking element (using a seven-point rating scale). In contexts which merely suggest a plural interpretation for the left hand member, this propensity is markedly less for speakers of Dutch, and absent for speakers of Afrikaans. Of interest is the asymmetry with previous research that shows how subtle form differences influence number interpretation.
A new data set of soil mineralogy for dust-cycle modeling
Authors: Journet E. , Balkanski Y. , Harrison S. P.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The mineralogy of airborne dust affects the impact of dust particles on direct and indirect radiative forcing, on atmospheric chemistry and on biogeochemical cycling. It is determined partly by the mineralogy of the dust-source regions and partly by size-dependent fractionation during erosion and transport. Here we present a data set that characterizes the clay and silt-sized fractions of global soil units in terms of the abundance of 12 minerals that are important for dust–climate interactions: quartz, feldspars, illite, smectite, kaolinite, chlorite, vermiculite, mica, calcite, gypsum, hematite and goethite. The basic mineralogical information is derived from the literature, and is then expanded following explicit rules, in order to characterize as many soil units as possible. We present three alternative realizations of the mineralogical maps, taking the uncertainties in the mineralogical data into account. We examine the implications of the new database for calculations of the single scattering albedo of airborne dust and thus for dust radiative forcing.
Enhancements of the refractory submicron aerosol fraction in the Arctic polar vortex: feature or exception?
Authors: Weigel R. , Volk C. M. , Kandler K. , Hösen E. , Günther G. , Vogel B. , Grooß J.-U. , Khaykin S. , Belyaev G. V. , Borrmann S.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In situ measurements with a 4-channel stratospheric condensation particle counter (CPC) were conducted at up to 20 km altitude on board the aircraft M-55 Geophysica from Kiruna, Sweden, in January through March (EUPLEX 2003; RECONCILE 2010) and in December (ESSenCe, 2011). During all campaigns air masses from the upper stratosphere and mesosphere were subsiding inside the Arctic winter vortex, thus transporting refractory aerosol into the lower stratosphere (Θ<500 K) by vertical dispersion. The strength and extent of this downward transport varied between the years depending on the dynamical evolution of the vortex. Inside the vortex and at altitudes of potential temperatures Θ ≥ 450 K as many as eight of eleven particles per cm3 contained refractory material, thermally stable residuals with diameters from 10 nm to a few μm which endure heat exposure of 250 °C. Particle mixing ratios (up to 150 refractory particles per milligram of air) and fractions of non-volatile particles (up to 75% of totally detected particles) reach highest values in air masses with lowest content of nitrous oxide (N2O, down to 70 nmol mol−1). This indicates that refractory aerosol originates from the upper stratosphere or the mesosphere. From mixing ratios of the long lived tracer N2O (simultaneously measured in situ) an empirical index was derived which serves to differentiate air masses according to their origin from inside the vortex, the vortex edge region, and outside the vortex. Previously, observed high fractions of refractory submicron aerosol in the 2003 Arctic vortex were ascribed to unusually strong subsidence during that winter. Measurements under perturbed vortex conditions in 2010 and during early winter in December 2011, however, revealed similarly high values. Thus, the abundance of refractory aerosol at high levels appears to be a feature rather than the exception for the Arctic vortices. During December, the import from aloft into the lower stratosphere appears to be developing; thereafter the abundance of refractory aerosol inside the vortex reaches its highest levels until March. A measurement-based estimate of the total mass of refractory aerosol inside the vortex is provided for each campaign. Based on the derived increase of particle mass in the lower stratospheric vortex (100–67 hPa pressure altitude) on the order of 32 × 106 kg between early and late winter and assuming a mesospheric origin, we estimate the total mass of mesospheric particles deposited in the Arctic vortex and compare it to the expected atmospheric influx of meteoritic material (110 ± 55 × 103 kg per day). Such estimates at present still hold considerable uncertainties which are discussed in detail. Nevertheless, the results strongly suggest that the Arctic vortex easily achieves the drainage of all meteoric material deposited on the upper atmosphere.
Diversity and distribution of amoA-type nitrifying and nirS-type denitrifying microbial communities in the Yangtze River estuary
Authors: Zhang Y. , Xie X. , Jiao N. , Hsiao S. S.-Y. , Kao S.-J.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Coupled nitrification–denitrification plays a critical role in the removal of excess nitrogen, which is chiefly caused by humans, to mitigate estuary and coastal eutrophication. Despite its obvious importance, limited information about the relationships between nitrifying and denitrifying microbial communities in estuaries, and their controlling factors have been documented. We investigated the nitrifying and denitrifying microbial communities in the estuary of turbid subtropical Yangtze River (YRE), the largest river in Asia, by analyzing the ammonia monooxygenase gene amoA, including archaeal and bacterial amoA, and the dissimilatory nitrite reductase gene nirS using clone libraries and quantitative PCR (qPCR). The diversity indices and rarefaction analysis revealed a quite low diversity for both β-proteobacterial and archaeal amoA genes, but qPCR data showed significantly higher amoA gene copy numbers for archaea than β-proteobacteria. Compared with the amoA gene, a significantly higher level of diversity but lower gene copy numbers were found for the nirS gene. Nitrification and denitrification rates based on 15N incubation experiments supported gene abundance data as denitrification rates were below detection limit, suggesting lower denitrification than nitrification potential. In general, the abundances of the amoA and nirS genes were significantly higher in the bottom samples than the surface ones, and in the high-turbidity river mouth, were significantly higher in the particle-associated (> 3 μm) than the free-living (0.2 ~ 3 μm) communities. Notably, positive correlations between the amoA and nirS gene abundances suggested potential gene-based coupling between nitrification and denitrification, especially for the particle-associated assemblages. Statistical analysis of correlations between the community structure, gene abundances and environmental variables further revealed that dissolved oxygen and total suspended material might be the key factors controlling community spatial structure and regulating nitrification and denitrification potentials in the YRE ecosystem.
Capturing interactions between nitrogen and hydrological cycles under historical climate and land use: Susquehanna watershed analysis with the GFDL Land Model LM3-TAN
Authors: Lee M. , Malyshev S. , Shevliakova E. , Jaffé P. R.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. We developed a~process model LM3-TAN to assess the combined effects of direct human influences and climate change on Terrestrial and Aquatic Nitrogen (TAN) cycling. The model was developed by expanding NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory land model LM3V-N of coupled terrestrial carbon and nitrogen (C-N) cycling and including new N cycling processes and inputs such as a~soil denitrification, point N sources to streams (i.e. sewage), and stream transport and microbial processes. Because the model integrates ecological, hydrological, and biogeochemical processes, it captures key controls of transport and fate of N in the vegetation-soil-river system in a comprehensive and consistent framework which is responsive to climatic variations and land use changes. We applied the model at 1/8° resolution for a study of the Susquehanna River basin. We simulated with LM3-TAN stream dissolved organic-N, ammonium-N, and nitrate-N loads throughout the river network, and we evaluated the modeled loads for 1986–2005 using data from 15 monitoring stations as well as a reported budget for the entire basin. By accounting for inter-annual hydrologic variability, the model was able to capture inter-annual variations of stream N loadings. While the model was calibrated with the stream N loads only at the last downstream station Marietta (40.02° N, 76.32° W), it captured the N loads well at multiple locations within the basin with different climate regimes, land use types, and associated N sources and transformations in the sub-basins. Furthermore, the calculated and previously reported N budgets agreed well at the level of the whole Susquehanna watershed. Here we illustrate how point and non-point N sources contribute to the various ecosystems are stored, lost, and exported via the river. Local analysis for 6 sub-basins showed combined effects of land use and climate on the soil denitrification rates, with the highest rates in the Lower Susquehanna sub-basin (extensive agriculture; Atlantic coastal climate) and the lowest rates in the West Branch Susquehanna sub-basin (mostly forest; Great Lakes and Midwest climate). In the re-growing secondary forests, most of the N from non-point sources was stored in the vegetation and soil, but in the agricultural lands most N inputs were removed by soil denitrification indicating that anthropogenic N applications could drive substantial increase of N2O emission, an intermediate of the denitrification process.
Background subtraction for the Cluster/CODIF plasma ion mass spectrometer
Authors: Mouikis C. G. , Kistler L. M. , Wang G. , Liu Y.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The CODIF instrument on the Cluster spacecraft is a time-of-flight (TOF) ion mass spectrometer. Although TOF spectrometers are relatively immune to background contamination due to the inherent double coincidence requirement, high background rates can still result in false coincidences. Along the Cluster orbit, false coincidences are commonly observed due to the penetrating radiation of relativistic electrons during the encounters with the Earth's radiation belts. A second type of background in these instruments occurs when events of one species fall into the time-of-flight range defined for another species. Although the fraction of the H+ events that spill into the He+ measurement is small, when the actual He+ fluxes are low this can result in significant contamination. In this paper we present two techniques that allow the subtraction of the false coincidences and the H+ "spill" from the CODIF measurements.
Research Note: Economic Benefits of Agritourism Development in Poland — An Empirical Study
Authors: Jȩczmyk Anna , Uglis Jarosław , Graja-Zwolińska Sylwia , Maćkowiak Magdalena , Spychała Aleksandra , Sikora Jan
Published: April 2014

This paper discusses the economic benefits of agritourism development, a topic in need of further research. Understanding the benefits of agritourism is especially important but empirical research on this matter remains limited. The results reported are based on a survey conducted among agritourism providers in Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, Poland. The findings show that agritourism can bring several economic benefits. It was found that the average income from agritourism accounted for about one-third of the overall household income of farmers. Moreover, food service is an important factor in the success of agritourism as it brings extra money to farmers. This research also identified an important relationship between the income obtained from agritourism activities only with the income obtained by providing meals to agritourists.
Factors associated with high Cesarean deliveries in China and Brazil - A Call for reducing elective surgeries in moving towards Universal Health Coverage
Authors: Hou Xiaohui , Sabah Rakhshani Noor , Iunes Roberto
Published: April 2014

Background: Annually 6.2 million unnecessary Cesarean Deliveries (CD) are performed globally. Such high unnecessary CD rate is a concern not only due to the additional financial burden it places on the health system but also because the quality of care could be compromised. There is an even more imperative need to reduce elective surgeries in moving towards the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), to ensure the ever stretched resources are effectively channeled for the best health outcomes. Methods: The paper uses a case study method. China and Brazil were selected primarily due to their alarmingly high number and percentage of the CD rate. Systematic literature review was conducted and the analyses were structured based on the framework “Determinants of High Cesarean Delivery Rates”, developed by the authors. Results: In China and Brazil, cultural belief, fear of labor pain and patient’s perception regarding quality of care may play a role in the patient’s preference for CD but these perceptions are shaped by their health care providers as well. The principal-agent relation comes into play as the health professionals can modify perceived needs of their patients. Availability of health insurance to mothers, physicians’ preference for convenient working hours, and payment incentives for performing higher yielding Cesarean procedures are driving the high CD rate phenomena in China and Brazil. Understand the social determinants of CD and using various instruments to change women’s perceptions of birthing options and physicians’ behaviors are critical in managing the CD rate. Conclusion: In the context of the rapid movement towards UHC, the evidence presented in this paper supports the call for implementing complementary policy interventions and regulation to ensure minimal efficiency loss due to resources being diverted to unnecessary procedures or hospital stays.
Noticing Children's Participation: Insights Into Teacher Positionality Toward Equitable Mathematics Pedagogy
Authors: Wager Anita A.
Published: April 2014

This article describes how teachers in a professional development course responded to what they noticed about children's participation in elementary mathematics classrooms and how what they noticed was connected to the teachers' positionality toward equitable mathematics pedagogy. Findings suggest that a lens of participation supported teachers as they considered how to provide more equitable mathematics instruction. Further, the depth to which teachers noticed children's participation was connected to their positionality as equitable mathematics educators.
Cobalt Protoporphyrin Pretreatment Protects Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes From Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury In Vitro and Increases Graft Size and Vascularization In Vivo
Authors: Luo Jun , Weaver Matthew S. , Cao Baohong , Dennis James E. , Van Biber Benjamin , Laflamme Michael A. , Allen Margaret D.
Published: April 2014

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) can regenerate infarcted myocardium. However, when implanted into acutely infarcted hearts, few cells survive the first week postimplant. To improve early graft survival, hESC-CMs were pretreated with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), a transcriptional activator of cytoprotective heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). When hESC-CMs were challenged with an in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, mimicking cell transplantation into an ischemic site, survival was significantly greater among cells pretreated with CoPP versus phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-pretreated controls. Compared with PBS-pretreated cells, CoPP-pretreated hESC-CM preparations exhibited higher levels of HO-1 expression, Akt phosphorylation, and vascular endothelial growth factor production, with reduced apoptosis, and a 30% decrease in intracellular reactive oxygen species. For in vivo translation, 1 × 107 hESC-CMs were pretreated ex vivo with CoPP or PBS and then injected intramyocardially into rat hearts immediately following acute infarction (permanent coronary ligation). At 1 week, hESC-CM content, assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for human Alu sequences, was 17-fold higher in hearts receiving CoPP- than PBS-pretreated cells. On histomorphometry, cardiomyocyte graft size was 2.6-fold larger in hearts receiving CoPP- than PBS-pretreated cells, occupying up to 12% of the ventricular area. Vascular density of host-perfused human-derived capillaries was significantly greater in grafts composed of CoPP- than PBS-pretreated cells. Taken together, these experiments demonstrate that ex vivo pretreatment of hESC-CMs with a single dose of CoPP before intramyocardial implantation more than doubled resulting graft size and improved early graft vascularization in acutely infarcted hearts. These findings open the door for delivery of these, or other, stem cells during acute interventional therapy following myocardial infarction or ischemia.
Meteorological Safety of Entering Eastern Adriatic Ports
Authors: Popović Ružica , Kulović Mirsad , Stanivuk Tatjana
Published: April 2014

Traffic and sea shipping industry are perhaps the most important economic activities in modern economic and social development of the world. Basic features and the meaning of sea shipping industry, as one of the constituent parts of multimodal transport, emerge primarily from special characteristics of the sea as a transportation way. Ports represent a great economic power; they play an essential role in the international and national economies, as well as in the global commodity exchange. They are of special importance because they are primary starting points for marine economy development. Numerous factors are relevant for the role and development of ports and port systems, and the most important ones include natural characteristics of ports, such as the depth and spatiality of the port maritime zone, shelter from winds, waves, sea currents and tides, and climate features. The recognition of the importance of meteorology for maritime activities has even changed the schooling of seamen; educational programme have been adjusted according to WMO recommendations, ships have been equipped with the state-of-the-art meteorological and navigational devices, and once the satellites were introduced the meteorological service has reached a high level of development and forecast accuracy. Therefore, marine meteorology should not be neglected; it should be given as much importance so as to become a constituent part of the skill for choosing the best and optimal shipping route. Marine meteorology (which includes the river meteorology as well) provides weather information to various maritime and river transportation activities. First of all, it refers to information on the state of wind and sea. Considering the importance of understanding the weather and climate of the area where a port is located, this paper provides a detailed overview of the climatological elements, including wind roses, for each of the presented ports: Rijeka, Zadar (Gaženica), Split (North Port), Ploče and Dubrovnik (Gruž).
Audit Firm Size, Earnings Management, and Information Asymmetry
Authors: Chen Xiaolin , Kong Dongmin , Wang Yutao
Published: April 2014

Using a sample of 8,788 observations from Chinese listed firms from 2001 to 2009, we investigate the difference in the information content of discretionary accruals between those audited by Top 10 and non-Top 10 accounting firms. We find that discretionary accruals are positively related to the probability of informed trading (PIN) and bid-ask spreads; the larger the discretionary accruals, the higher will be PIN, the level of information asymmetry, and bid-ask spreads. Furthermore, we argue that the significance level of the correlation between discretionary accruals and PIN/bid-ask spreads differs between companies audited by Top 10 and by other firms. The positive relationship between discretionary accruals and PIN/bid-ask spreads is significantly weaker in companies audited by the Top 10. This indicates that the Top 10 firms are better at restraining opportunistic earnings management, and also that the information content of their clients’ discretionary accruals is higher and their information asymmetry lower. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the two types of earnings management through manipulating discretionary accruals; one is based on delivering value-related information and the other arises from opportunism.
Live‐Cell Stimulated Raman Scattering Imaging of Alkyne‐Tagged Biomolecules
Authors: Hong Senlian , Chen Tao , Zhu Yuntao , Li Ang , Huang Yanyi , Chen Xing
Published: April 2014

Alkynes can be metabolically incorporated into biomolecules including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and glycans. In addition to the clickable chemical reactivity, alkynes possess a unique Raman scattering within the Raman‐silent region of a cell. Coupling this spectroscopic signature with Raman microscopy yields a new imaging modality beyond fluorescence and label‐free microscopies. The bioorthogonal Raman imaging of various biomolecules tagged with an alkyne by a state‐of‐the‐art Raman imaging technique, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, is reported. This imaging method affords non‐invasiveness, high sensitivity, and molecular specificity and therefore should find broad applications in live‐cell imaging.
All‐Nitrogen Analogue of Ozone: Li3N3 Species
Authors: Olson Jared K. , Ivanov Alexander S. , Boldyrev Alexander I.
Published: April 2014

A theoretical study of ozone isoelectronic Li3N3 species has been performed. Ab initio electronic structure calculations prove the viability of the ozone‐like Li3N3 molecule that might become synthesized. The predicted Li3N3 species with a novel N33− molecular motif possess structural and chemical bonding features similar to that of O3 molecules and can thus be considered as an “all‐nitrogen ozone”.
Investigation of a Vitamin B12 Conjugate as a PET Imaging Probe
Authors: Ikotun Oluwatayo F. , Marquez Bernadette V. , Fazen Christopher H. , Kahkoska Anna R. , Doyle Robert P. , Lapi Suzanne E.
Published: April 2014

Nutrient demand is a fundamental characteristic of rapidly proliferating cells. Vitamin B12 is vital for cell proliferation; thus neoplastic cells have an increased demand for this essential nutrient. In this study we exploited the vitamin B12 uptake pathway to probe the nutritional demand of proliferating cells with a radiolabeled B12 derivative in various preclinical tumor models. We describe the synthesis and biological evaluations of copper‐64‐labeled B12–ethylenediamine–benzyl‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane‐N,N′,N′′‐triacetic acid (B12‐en‐Bn‐NOTA‐64Cu), the first example of a B12 derivative for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Small‐animal imaging and pharmacological evaluation show high tumor uptake ranging from 2.20 to 4.84 % ID g−1 at 6 h post‐administration. Competition studies with excess native B12 resulted in a 95 % decrease in tumor accumulation, indicating the specificity of this radiopharmaceutical for B12 endocytotic transport proteins. These results show that a vitamin B12 PET radiopharmaceutical has potential utility for non‐invasive imaging of enhanced nutrient demand in proliferating cells.
Dual inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway: A phase 1 trial evaluating bevacizumab and AZD2171 (cediranib) in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Hong David S. , Garrido‐Laguna Ignacio , Ekmekcioglu Suhendan , Falchook Gerald S. , Naing Aung , Wheler Jennifer J. , Fu Siqing , Moulder Stacy L. , Piha‐Paul Sarina , Tsimberidou Apostolia M. , Wen YueJin , Culotta Kirk S. , Anderes Kenna , Davis Darren W. , Liu Wen , George Goldy C. , Camacho Luis H. , Percy Ivy Susan , Kurzrock Razelle
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to evaluate the safety and biological activity of dual inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway with combined bevacizumab and cediranib (a VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor).

METHODS

This was a 3 + 3 dose escalation study in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cediranib was given orally daily for 21 days and bevacizumab intravenously every 2 weeks. Pharmacokinetics and correlates (nitric oxide synthase, nitrate oxide, and circulating tumor cells) were assessed.

RESULTS

Fifty‐one patients were treated. Dose‐limiting toxicities (DLTs) (grade 3‐4; graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events [version 3.0]) observed included 1 patient with chest pain, 1 patient with fatigue, 2 patients with thrombocytopenia, 3 patients with hypertension (1 with intracranial hemorrhage), and 1 patient with grade 5 hemoptysis. Moreover, 2 patients presented with grade 3 intracranial bleeding beyond the DLT window. Dose level 2 (cediranib at a dose of 20 mg/day and bevacizumab at a dose of 5 mg/kg every 2 weeks) was selected as the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D); 17 patients were treated at dose level 2 with 1 DLT and no intracranial bleeding or severe hypertension reported. Pharmacokinetics of cediranib at dose level 3 demonstrated a 46% to 77% increase in area under the curve (0‐24 hours) on cycle 1 day 1 compared with historical controls. Four patients attained partial remissions: inflammatory breast cancer (‐54%), basal cell carcinoma (‐33%), alveolar soft part sarcoma (‐33%), and synovial sarcoma (‐32%). Patients with a lower circulating tumor cell count (< 30) at the predose period had a longer time to tumor progression (P = .024, log‐rank test).

CONCLUSIONS

Cediranib at a dose of 20 mg/day and bevacizumab at a dose of 5 mg/kg every 2 weeks was found to be the RP2D. Activity in several tumor types was noted. Central nervous system bleeding and severe hypertension were observed at doses above the RP2D. Cancer 2014;120:2164–2173. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Management of acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitors in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Sacher Adrian G. , Jänne Pasi A. , Oxnard Geoffrey R.
Published: April 2014

The widespread adoption of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the first‐line treatment of patients with advanced EGFR‐mutated non‐small cell lung cancer has resulted in acquired tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance becoming a ubiquitous clinical problem. The identification of specific mechanisms of acquired resistance has allowed a better understanding of the biology and natural history of resistant disease, but is only now starting to impact treatment decisions. Strategies for managing acquired resistance in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer are complex and must be adapted to the individual characteristics of each patient's cancer. Although combination chemotherapy is the presumed standard of care for most patients, prospective trial data are lacking, highlighting the importance of offering patients participation in clinical trials in this setting. Emerging data from trials of third‐generation mutant‐specific EGFR kinase inhibitors suggests particular promise with this class of agents. Cancer 2014;120:2289–2298. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Hierarchical deep belief networks based point process model for keywords spotting in continuous speech
Authors: Wang Yi , Yang Jun‐an , Lu Jun , Liu Hui , Wang Lun‐wu
Published: April 2014

Point process model keyword spotting (KWS) system has attracted considerable attentions in the areas of keyword spotting by its capacity that can generalize from a relatively small numbers of training examples. But unfortunately, the accuracy level of the point process model is not comparable with the state‐of‐the‐art KWS systems because of the poor modeling capacity of the phoneme detector, which are based on Gaussian Mixture Models. In this paper, focus on improving the performance of detector in point process model, we propose an enhanced version of point process model, which is based on hierarchical deep belief networks (DBNs). Hierarchical DBNs are used as the phoneme detector in this system, and they combine the advantages of both the DBN and the hierarchical architecture for capturing complex statistical patterns in speech while overcoming the inherent flaws of conventional hidden Markov models and multilayer layer perceptron. Experiments results on TIMIT database show that the proposed method can yield 2% improvement. Furthermore, in the case when training examples are extremely limited, it can achieve better results over state‐of‐the‐art KWS systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strong selection on mandible and nest features in a carpenter bee that nests in two sympatric host plants
Authors: Flores‐Prado Luis , Pinto Carlos F. , Rojas Alejandra , Fontúrbel Francisco E.
Published: April 2014

Host plants are used by herbivorous insects as feeding or nesting resources. In wood‐boring insects, host plants features may impose selective forces leading to phenotypic differentiation on traits related to nest construction. Carpenter bees build their nests in dead stems or dry twigs of shrubs and trees; thus, mandibles are essential for the nesting process, and the nest is required for egg laying and offspring survival. We explored the shape and intensity of natural selection on phenotypic variation on three size measures of the bees (intertegular width, wing length, and mandible area) and two nest architecture measures (tunnel length and diameter) on bees using the native species Chusquea quila (Poaceae), and the alloctonous species Rubus ulmifolius (Rosaceae), in central Chile. Our results showed significant and positive linear selection gradients for tunnel length on both hosts, indicating that bees building long nests have more offspring. Bees with broader mandibles show greater fitness on C. quila but not on R. ulmifolius. Considering that C. quila represents a selective force on mandible area, we hypothesized a high adaptive value of this trait, resulting in higher fitness values when nesting on this host, despite its wood is denser and hence more difficult to be bored.
Impaired hippocampus‐dependent spatial flexibility and sociability represent autism‐like phenotypes in GluK2 mice
Authors: Micheau Jacques , Vimeney Alice , Normand Elisabeth , Mulle Christophe , Riedel Gernot
Published: April 2014

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with high heritability. grik2 (which encodes the GluK2 subunit of kainate receptors) has been identified as a susceptibility gene in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but its role in the core and associated symptoms of ASD still remains elusive. We used mice lacking GluK2 (GluK2 KO) to examine their endophenotype with a view to modeling aspects of autism, including social deficits, stereotyped and repetitive behavior and decreased cognitive abilities. Anxiety was recorded in the elevated plus maze, social behavior in a three‐chamber apparatus, and cognition in different water maze protocols. Deletion of the GluK2 gene reduced locomotor activity and sociability as indicated by the social interaction task. In addition, GluK2 KO mice learnt to locate a hidden platform in a water maze surrounded by a curtain with hanging cues faster than wild‐type mice. They maintained a bias toward the target quadrant when some of these cues were removed, at which point wild‐types orthogonalized the behavior and showed no memory. However, GluK2 KO mice were impaired in spatial reversal learning. These behavioral data together with previously published electrophysiology showing severe anomalies in CA3 network activity, suggest a computational shift in this network for enhanced propensity of pattern completion that would explain the loss of behavioral flexibility in GluK2 KO mice. Although a single mutation cannot recapitulate the entire core symptoms of ASD, our data provide evidence for glutamatergic dysfunction underlying a number of social‐ and cognition‐related phenotypes relevant to ASD. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nontargeted GC–MS approach for volatile profile of toasting in cherry, chestnut, false acacia, and ash wood
Authors: Fernández de Simón Brígida , Sanz Miriam , Cadahía Estrella , Esteruelas Enrique , Muñoz Angel María
Published: April 2014

By using a nontargeted GC–MS approach, 153 individual volatile compounds were found in extracts from untoasted, light toasted and medium‐toasted cherry, chestnut, false acacia, as well as European and American ash wood, used in cooperage for aging wines, spirits and other beverages. In all wood types, the toasting provoked a progressive increase in carbohydrate derivatives, lactones and lignin constituents, along with a variety of other components, thus increasing the quantitative differences among species with the toasting intensity. The qualitative differences in the volatile profiles allow for identifying woods from cherry (being p‐anisylalcohol, p‐anisylaldehyde, p‐anisylacetone, methyl benzoate and benzyl salicylate detected only in this wood), chestnut (cis and trans whisky lactone) and false acacia (resorcinol, 3,4‐dimethoxyphenol, 2,4‐dihydroxy benzaldehyde, 2,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone, 2,4‐dihydroxypropiophenone and 2,4‐dihydroxy‐3‐methoxyacetophenone), but not those from ash, because of the fact that all compounds present in this wood are detected in at least one other. However, the quantitative differences can be clearly used to identify toasted ash wood, with tyrosol being most prominent, but 2‐furanmethanol, 3‐ and 4‐ethylcyclotene, α‐methylcrotonolactone, solerone, catechol, 3‐methylcatechol and 3‐hydroxybenzaldehyde as well. Regarding oak wood, its qualitative volatile profile could be enough to distinguish it from cherry and acacia woods, and the quantitative differences from chestnut (vanillyl ethyl ether, isoacetovanillone, butirovanillone, 1‐(5‐methyl‐2‐furyl)‐2‐propanone and 4‐hydroxy‐5,6‐dihydro‐(2H)‐pyran‐2‐one) and ash toasted woods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can the freshwater bacterial communities shift to the “marine‐like” taxa?
Authors: Zhang Lei , Gao Guang , Tang Xiangming , Shao Keqiang
Published: April 2014

A mesocosm experiment was used to study the response of a freshwater bacterial community to increasing salinity. Bacterial community composition in the control and saline groups was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) of the 16S rRNA genes, followed by clonal sequencing of eight selected samples. Cluster analysis and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the bacterial communities in pre‐ and post‐salt addition samples were significantly different. Detailed analysis showed: (i) the existing bacterial taxa markedly declined from freshwater to hypersaline habitats, although some taxa maintain balanced growth over a small salinity range through inter‐genus changes in community structures; (ii) the addition of salt induced a clear shift in the community structure toward a striking increase in the relative abundance of the latent “marine‐like” genera (e.g., Alcanivorax and Roseovarius). The reasons may be that freshwater bacteria adapt to live in low salt concentrations and low osmotic pressure. They were not adapted to high concentrations of salt, and their acute response to increasing salinity resulted in significantly decreased numbers. However, as the salinity increases, rare members of the ever‐present community (rare or dormant bacterial taxa in the “microbial seed bank”) rise to the fore, while previous dominant members drop away. This study provides direct evidence for bacterial succession from halosensitive taxa in freshwater to halotolerant ones in response to water salinization.
Characteristics in streamflow and extremes in the Tarim River, China: trends, distribution and climate linkage
Authors: Wang Huaijun , Chen Yaning , Li Weihong
Published: April 2014

Using long‐term daily streamflow records from the headwaters of the Tarim River Basin in northwestern China, the mean seasonal streamflow and extremes (1‐day maximum and minimum flows) are analysed. The aim is to assess possible changes in trends, return periods and teleconnections to selected climate indices such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Arctic Oscillation (AO), the multivariate El Nino–Southern Oscillation index (MEI), the Tibetan Plateau High (XZH), the Northern Hemisphere polar vortex area (VPA), the Asian zonal index (AZI) and the Siberian High intensity index (SHI). The Mann–Kendall test is used to investigate instances where significant positive trends are observed in all hydrological indices, especially in winter. From 1990 onwards, a significant wavelet power spectrum of annual and seasonal flow was observed at 1–5 year periods in the Aksu River. Correlation analysis and wavelet coherence analysis were employed between selected climate indices with respect to seasonal streamflow means and extremes. Maximum changes in correlation strengths were observed in hydrological indices with VPA. The winter AO and NAO also showed significant influence on streamflow means and extremes. In addition, step change analysis was carried out using the Cumulative Sum Control Chart (CUSUM) test, the results suggesting that step change points were observed towards the end of the 1980s and in the early 1990s. The teleconnection between climate indices and streamflow and extremes can be utilized in a model to predict the probability of hydrological indices in the Tarim River.
Electrical impedance myography for the in vivo and ex vivo assessment of muscular dystrophy (mdx) mouse muscle
Authors: Li Jia , Geisbush Tom R. , Rosen Glenn D. , Lachey Jennifer , Mulivor Aaron , Rutkove Seward B.
Published: April 2014

Introduction: Sensitive, non‐invasive techniques are needed that can provide biomarkers of disease status and the effects of therapy in muscular dystrophy. Methods: We evaluated electrical impedance myography (EIM) to serve in this role by studying 2‐month‐old and 18‐month‐old mdx and wild‐type (WT) animals (10 animals in each of 4 groups). Results: Marked differences were observed in EIM values between mdx and WT animals; the differences were more pronounced between the older age groups (e.g., reactance of 92.6 ±4.3 Ω for mdx animals vs. 130 ± 4.1 Ω for WT animals, P < 0.001). In addition, in vivo EIM parameters correlated significantly with the extent of connective tissue deposition in the mdx animals. Conclusions: EIM has the potential to serve as a valuable non‐invasive method for evaluating muscular dystrophy. It can be a useful biomarker to assist with therapeutic testing in both pre‐clinical and clinical studies. Muscle Nerve 49: 829–835, 2014
Running repeatable and controlled virtual routing experiments
Authors: Abeni Luca , Kiraly Csaba
Published: April 2014

This paper describes an approach to perform reproducible performance tests on virtual routers, comparing different virtual routing architectures, different software versions and configurations. The presented approach is based on VRKit, a software tool that allows to build pre‐configured bootable virtual router images with the desired characteristics. Design decisions are described, and some usage examples are presented, showing how the tool can be used for research on virtual routing, facilitating performance comparison of various virtual router implementations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microbial view of central nervous system autoimmunity
Authors: Berer Kerstin , Krishnamoorthy Gurumoorthy
Published: April 2014

Not much is known about the initial events leading to the development of the central nervous system (CNS)‐specific autoimmune disorder Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Environmental factors are suspected to trigger the pathogenic events in people with genetic disease susceptibility. Historically, many infectious microbes were linked to MS, but no infection has ever been demonstrated to be the cause of the disease. Recent emerging evidence from animal models of MS suggests a causal link with resident commensal bacteria. Microbial organisms may trigger the activation of CNS‐specific, auto‐aggressive lymphocytes either through molecular mimicry or via bystander activation. In addition, several gut microbial metabolites and bacterial products may interact with the immune system to modulate CNS autoimmunity.
Pyruvate kinase M2 and cancer: an updated assessment
Authors: Iqbal Mohd Askandar , Gupta Vibhor , Gopinath Prakasam , Mazurek Sybille , Bamezai Rameshwar N.K.
Published: April 2014

Cancer cells are characterized by high glycolytic rates to support energy regeneration and anabolic metabolism, along with the expression of pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (PKM2). The latter catalyzes the last step of glycolysis and reprograms the glycolytic flux to feed the special metabolic demands of proliferating cells. Besides, PKM2 has moonlight functions, such as gene transcription, favoring cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests a critical role played by the low‐activity‐dimeric PKM2 in tumor progression, supported by the identification of mutations which result in the down‐regulation of its activity and tumorigenesis in a nude mouse model. This review discusses PKM2 regulation and the benefits it confers to cancer cells. Further, conflicting views on PKM2's role in cancer, its therapeutic relevance and future directions in the field are also discussed.
PrimerSeq: Design and Visualization of RT-PCR Primers for Alternative Splicing Using RNA-Seq Data
Authors: Tokheim Collin , Park Juw Won , Xing Yi
Published: April 2014

The vast majority of multi-exon genes in higher eukaryotes are alternatively spliced and changes in alternative splicing (AS) can impact gene function or cause disease. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has become a powerful technology for transcriptome-wide analysis of AS, but RT-PCR still remains the gold-standard approach for quantifying and validating exon splicing levels. We have developed PrimerSeq, a user-friendly software for systematic design and visualization of RT-PCR primers using RNA-seq data. PrimerSeq incorporates user-provided transcriptome profiles (i.e., RNA-seq data) in the design process, and is particularly useful for large-scale quantitative analysis of AS events discovered from RNA-seq experiments. PrimerSeq features a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays the RNA-seq data juxtaposed with the expected RT-PCR results. To enable primer design and visualization on user-provided RNA-seq data and transcript annotations, we have developed PrimerSeq as a stand-alone software that runs on local computers. PrimerSeq is freely available for Windows and Mac OS X along with source code at http://primerseq.sourceforge.net/. With the growing popularity of RNA-seq for transcriptome studies, we expect PrimerSeq to help bridge the gap between high-throughput RNA-seq discovery of AS events and molecular analysis of candidate events by RT-PCR.
Effects of Productive Activities with Reminiscence in Occupational Therapy for People with Dementia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study*
Authors: Nakamae Toshimichi , Yotsumoto Kayano , Tatsumi Eri , Hashimoto Takeshi
Published: April 2014

Objective/Background

Although a number of studies have considered the effects of reminiscence therapy, none have examined whether a therapy that combines reminiscence with productive activity has a beneficial effect on elderly dementia patients. This study tests our hypothesis that productive activities with reminiscence in occupational therapy (PAROT) can alleviate depressive symptoms and improve task performance of elderly dementia patients.

Methods

Thirty-six patients with dementia were randomly divided into two groups, namely, an intervention group (n = 17) and a control group (n = 19). The intervention group had six activity sessions (making rice balls and cakes; one session/week) while reminiscing about the activity. Measurements were performed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects (MOSES), Vitality Index, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The performance of the patients was assessed based on photographs of the products after the first and sixth sessions.

Results

Six patients dropped out while the study was in progress, thus leaving 15 patients in the intervention group and 15 patients in the control group. The scores of depression symptoms in CSDD and MOSES were significantly improved for the intervention group, while within-group comparison showed no significant differences in CSDD, MOSES, or MMSE total scores. In terms of task performance, 88% of the patients in the intervention group, including two patients with severe dementia, showed significant improvement in making the product.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that PAROT may alleviate depressive symptoms and improve the task performance of elderly people with dementia.
Effects of product type and contextual cues on eliciting naive theories of popularity and exclusivity
Authors: Steinhart Yael , Kamins Michael , Mazursky David , Noy Avraham
Published: April 2014

This research shows in a series of studies that exposing consumers to functional products evokes the naive theory of popularity, whereas exposing them to self‐expressive products induces belief in the naive theory of exclusivity. The research further demonstrates that when the naive theory elicited by product type is matched by the appropriate contextual purchasing cues regarding the interest of others, it results in greater purchase intentions than when those cues are mismatched. The research specifies that the matching effect for functional products is mediated by consumers' perceptions of product quality, whereas mediation for self‐expressive products occurs through consumers' self‐perceptions regarding the extent to which the product conveys uniqueness. Finally, the research illustrates that an explicit signal of product quality (e.g., a favorable rating in Consumer Reports) attenuates the effect associated with the contextual cues regarding the interest of others.