bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts from ditching salt marshes in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States
Authors: Tonjes David J.
Published: April 2013

Tidal inundation extent and duration, and water drainage and retention by marsh peat — marsh hydrology — determine most physical and ecological characteristics of salt marsh systems. Ditching, installed across nearly all marshes on the US east coast by 1940 to control mosquitoes, alters marsh hydrology. Two linchpin papers are used here as springboards to review the literature that describes the resulting effects, which clearly include reduced water table height for most marshes and changes in avian populations. Effects on invertebrate populations, including mosquitoes, are generally less, although to a smaller degree than is sometimes reported. Impacts on nekton are not clear, although probably negative. Tidal range and the degree of tide asymmetry appear to have greater effects on intermarsh variations in effects from ditching than has generally been appreciated or studied. Overall, although changed patterns of nutrient releases and promotion of Phragmites australis invasions are important ecological effects extending beyond individual sites, and salt marsh aesthetics are marred, ditching impacts are less than certain other anthropogenic alterations of coastal processes that affect salt marshes and estuarine ecology to a much greater extent.
INFORMATIONALLY DYNAMIZED GAUSSIAN COPULA
Authors: CRÉPEY S. , JEANBLANC M. , WU D.
Published: April 2013

In order to dynamize the static Gaussian copula model of portfolio credit risk, we introduce a model filtration made of a reference Brownian filtration progressively enlarged by the default times. This yields a multidimensional density model of default times, where, as opposed to the classical situation of the Cox model, the reference filtration is not immersed into the enlarged filtration. In mathematical terms this lack of immersion means that martingales in the reference filtration are not martingales in the enlarged filtration. From the point of view of financial interpretation this means default contagion, a good feature in the perspective of modeling counterparty wrong-way risk on credit derivatives. Computational tractability is ensured by invariance of multivariate Gaussian distributions through conditioning by some components, the ones corresponding to past defaults. Moreover the model is Markov in an augmented state-space including past default times. After a discussion of different notions of deltas, the model is applied to the valuation of counterparty risk on credit derivatives.
THEORETICAL STUDY ON THE BINDING OF THE ANTICANCER DRUGS Cis/Trans-[PtCl52(NH3){HN = C(CH3)2}] AND Cis/Trans-[PtCl2{HN = C(CH3)2}2] TO PURINE BASES
Authors: LI TIAN , XU ZHIJUAN , ZHANG DONGDONG , ZHOU LIXIN
Published: April 2013

The monofunctional (the first substitution reactions) and bifunctional (the second substitution reactions) binding of the title antitumor drugs to purine bases were studied computationally by using density functional theory and IEF-PCM solvation models. For the first substitutions with guanine and adenine, our calculations demonstrate that the trans monoaqua and diaqua reactant complexes (RCs) can generate trans- or cis-monoadducts via identical or very similar trigonal-bipyramidal transition-state structures, predicting that the cis-monoadducts generated by trans RCs can subsequently close by coordination to the adjacent purine bases to form 1,2-intrastrand Pt –DNA adducts and eventually distort DNA in the same way as cisplatin. Thus it is likely that the transplatin analogues have the same mechanism of anticancer activity of cisplatin. In general, the monoaqua and diaqua monofunctional substitutions prefer guanine over adenine. The calculated lowest activation free energy in aqueous solution is 15.2 kcal/mol in the monoaqua substitutions (substituted by guanine from trans- [Pt{HN = C(CH3)2}2Cl(H2O)]+ to trans/cis-monoadduct), and 11.4 kcal/mol in the diaqua substitutions (substituted by guanine from cis- [Pt{HN = C(CH3)2}2(H2O)2]2+ to cis-monoadduct). For the second substitutions, all the reactants are started from the diaqua product complexes of the first substitutions substituted by guanine. The data obtained for the complexation energy difference between guanine and adenine RCs suggest that a thermodynamic favors the formation of GG over GA adducts by ∼ 5 - 12 kcal/mol in aqueous solution. Moreover, there is a kinetic preference for the formation of GG over GA adduct for the cis-monoadduct to cis-diadduct paths, while for the trans-monoadduct to trans-diadduct paths there is no certain trend biased toward GG adduct. In addition, the second substitutions of the trans-monoadduct to trans-diadduct paths have lower activation barriers than the corresponding cis-monoadduct to cis-diadduct paths. The lowest activation energy in the bifunctional substitutions from cis-monoadduct to cis-diadduct is 20.5 kcal/mol in the Pt (acetonimine)2GG2+ head-to-head (HH) path, while it is 17.7 kcal/mol from trans-monoadduct to trans-diadduct in the Pt(NH3) (acetonimine)GA2+ head-to-tail (HT) path. For the first and second substitutions, hydrogen-bonds play an important role in stabilizing these species.
Magnetic methods and the timing of geological processes
Authors: Jovane L. , Hinnov L. , Housen B. A. , Herrero-Barvera E.
Published: April 2013

Magnetostratigraphy is best known as a technique that employs correlation among different stratigraphic sections using the magnetic directions that define geomagnetic polarity reversals as marker-horizons. The ages of the polarity reversals provide common tie points among the sections, allowing accurate time correlation. Recently, magnetostratigraphy has acquired a broader meaning, now referring to many types of magnetic measurements within a stratigraphic sequence. Many of these measurements provide correlation and age control not only for the older and younger boundaries of a polarity interval, but also within intervals. Thus, magnetostratigraphy no longer represents a dating tool based only on the geomagnetic polarity reversals, but comprises a set of techniques that includes measurements of all geomagnetic field parameters, environmental magnetism, rock magnetic and palaeoclimatic change recorded in sedimentary rocks, and key corrections to magnetic directions related to geodynamics, tectonics and diagenetic processes.
On the palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic constraints regarding the age of IODP 325 Hole M0058A
Authors: Herrero-Bervera Emilio , Jovane Luigi
Published: April 2013

We have studied the rock magnetic and palaeomagnetic properties of a 41 m long core (Hole M0058A) recovering calcareous sediments located seaward of Noggin Reef, offshore Queensland, Australia to decipher the magnetostratigrapy of the site. We deployed 1 cm
3
samples at every 10 cm down-core and subsampled the core by means of U-channels in order to obtain a continuous record. Stepwise alternating field demagnetization from natural remanent magnetization to 80 mT showed that the characteristic remanent magnetization was isolated at low demagnetization fields between 0 and 15 mT. We conducted magnetic granulometry analyses and Curie point determinations. The low-field v. temperature analyses indicate the presence of Ti-poor magnetite with Curie points from 560 to 563 °C. Hysteresis loop experiments were performed. The results show
M
rs
/
M
s
and
H
cr
/
H
c
ratios corresponding to single domain to multi-domain and super-paramagnetic to single domain ranges. Both discrete and continuous inclination results indicate a remarkable correlation of three excursional inclinations occurring during intervals of low intensity of magnetization closely corresponding to the Laschamp (
c.
41 ka), Skálamælifell (
c.
94 ka) and Blake (
c.
115–120 ka) ‘aborted reversals,’ and indicate that the base of the core is much older than the Blake excursion.
Effect of Anode on the Capacity Loss of Li-ion Cells with Redox Shuttles During Overcharge
Authors: Barbarich Thomas J. , Patterson Mary L
Published: April 2013

Redox shuttles provide a number of overcharge protection cycles for Li-ion cells. Cells with lithium anodes exhibit the largest number of protected overcharge cycles and cells with carbonaceous anodes exhibit the smallest number of protected overcharge cycles, with cells employing lithium titanate (LTO) anodes in the middle of these two extremes. Full cells with ANL-RS2 redox shuttle using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes and either graphite or LTO anodes were overcharge cycled and analyzed to explain the differing overcharge cycle life. The negative-to-positive (N/P) ratio of LFP-graphite cells decreases more rapidly than that of LFP-LTO cells, resulting in decreased overcharge cycle life. The redox shuttle ANL-RS2 likely undergoes oxidative dehydrogenation and oxygen insertion during overcharge cycling, perhaps catalyzed by the delithiated LFP cathode.
Determining Entropic Coefficient of the LFP Prismatic Cell at Various Temperatures and Charge/Discharge States
Authors: Bazinski Stephen , Wang Xia
Published: April 2013

The entropic coefficients versus state of charge (SOC) levels and temperatures for a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell show a behavior quite different from other types of lithium chemistries. The objective of this research is to calculate the varying entropic coefficient values of a iron phosphate battery. This value will be calculated from data taken at different SOC levels as well as different temperatures. A 14Ah lithium ion prismatic battery, with a dimension of 220mm x 130mm x 7mm, was studied in both charge and discharge. The SOC levels range from full charge to full discharge in 5% increments. The temperature levels vary from -200C to 550C in 50C increments. The data acquired has shown a cell behavior not uncovered by previous literature on the subject. Other studies that have used larger SOC and temperature increments found the entropic coefficient to be almost linear for different chemistries.
Effect of Preparation Methods on the Properties of Ni-YSZ Cermets for SOFC Anodes
Authors: Yang Naitao , Meng Xiuxia , Meng Bo , Tan Xiaoyao , Ma Zi-Feng , Sunarso Jaka
Published: April 2013

Three methods were applied to prepare Ni-YSZ (Yttria-stabilized zirconia) anode cermets: NiO coating YSZ, YSZ coating NiO and mechanical mixing of NiO-YSZ powders. And finally they were reduced by H2. The structure and sintering properties of the cermets were characterized using TG-DSC, XRD, TEM, EDS and 4-probe direct-current (4-DC) conductivity measurements, respectively. Disk type of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) LSSM-YSZ|YSZ|Ni-YSZ were prepared by a co-pressing method with the above three kinds of anodes. The results show that, the crystalline of all the three anode materials is composites of cubic fluorite YSZ and cubic NiO cermets, among which NiO-coated YSZ has the highest density, the lowest porosity, the highest electrical conductivity (e.g. 14,000 S/cm) and the lowest ionic conductivity. The SOFC prepared with NiO-coated YSZ anode exhibits the highest output performance with a maximum power density of 433 mW cm−2 at 750{degree sign}C fed with H2/air as fuel/oxidant.
Ionic, Organic and Strong Electrolytes with Graphene on Metal Oxide Composite Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Authors: Gutierrez Daniel Hepburn , Peaslee David , Tanaka Zuki , Londono Nicolas , Meyyapan Meyya , Chen Bin
Published: April 2013

This paper reports a scalable prototype supercapacitor using metal oxides and graphene oxide and an ionic liquid electrolyte. Our novel approach to combining pseudocapacitance and electric double layer capacitance in a tri-layered composite, promises to increase the energy density of the device, without sacrificing the high power density attributed to it. Solutions of KOH, Acetonitrile and 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIm-BF4) are used in manufacturing our devices, with more focus on the ionic liquid. These room temperature molten salts are predicted to function better as an electrolyte under extremely low temperatures. This paper presents the scalable synthesis of composites of reduced graphene oxide on MnO2 nanowires and Co3O4 nanorods. We assemble the devices with different electrolytes and employ a modified electrophoretic deposition process which produces uniform layers of rGO on semiconductors, metals and flexible substrates.
Clonal Evolution, Genomic Drivers, and Effects of Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Ouillette Peter , Saiya-Cork Kamlai , Seymour Erlene , Li Cheng , Shedden Kerby , Malek Sami N.
Published: April 2013

Purpose: The identification of gene mutations and structural genomic aberrations that are critically involved in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pathogenesis is still evolving. One may postulate that genomic driver lesions with effects on CLL cell proliferation, apoptosis thresholds, or chemotherapy resistance should increase in frequency over time when measured sequentially in a large CLL cohort.

Experimental Design: We sequentially sampled a large well-characterized CLL cohort at a mean of 4 years between samplings and measured acquired copy number aberrations (aCNA) and LOH using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 6.0 array profiling and the mutational state of TP53, NOTCH1, and SF3B1 using Sanger sequencing. The paired analysis included 156 patients, of whom 114 remained untreated and 42 received intercurrent therapies, predominantly potent chemoimmunotherapy, during the sampling interval.

Results: We identify a strong effect of intercurrent therapies on the frequency of acquisition of aCNAs in CLL. Importantly, the spectrum of acquired genomic changes was largely similar in patients who did or did not receive intercurrent therapies; therefore, various genomic changes that become part of the dominant clones are often already present in CLL cell populations before therapy. Furthermore, we provide evidence that therapy of CLL with preexisting TP53 mutations results in outgrowth of genomically very complex clones, which dominate at relapse.

Conclusions: Using complementary technologies directed at the detection of genomic events that are present in substantial proportions of the clinically relevant CLL disease bulk, we capture aspects of genomic evolution in CLL over time, including increases in the frequency of genomic complexity, specific recurrent aCNAs, and TP53 mutations. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 2893–904. ©2013 AACR.
Zoledronic Acid Reverses the Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Inhibits Self-Renewal of Breast Cancer Cells through Inactivation of NF-κB
Authors: Schech Amanda J. , Kazi Armina A. , Gilani Rabia A. , Brodie Angela H.
Published: April 2013

Zoledronic acid, a third-generation bisphosphonate, has been shown to reduce cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. However, the effects of zoledronic acid on the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular process essential to the metastatic cascade, remain unclear. Therefore, the effects of zoledronic acid on EMT, using triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells as a model system, were examined in more detail. Zoledronic acid treatment decreased the expression of mesenchymal markers, N-cadherin, Twist, and Snail, and subsequently upregulated expression of E-cadherin. Zoledronic acid also inhibited cell viability, induced cell-cycle arrest, and decreased the proliferative capacity of TNBC, suggesting that zoledronic acid inhibits viability through reduction of cell proliferation. As EMT has been linked to acquisition of a self-renewal phenotype, the effects of zoledronic acid on self-renewal in TNBC were also studied. Treatment with zoledronic acid decreased expression of self-renewal proteins, BMI-1 and Oct-4, and both prevented and eliminated mammosphere formation. To understand the mechanism of these results, the effect of zoledronic acid on established EMT regulator NF-κB was investigated. Zoledronic acid inhibited phosphorylation of RelA, the active subunit of NF-κB, at serine 536 and modulated RelA subcellular localization. Treatment with zoledronic acid reduced RelA binding to the Twist promoter, providing a direct link between inactivation of NF-κB signaling and loss of EMT transcription factor gene expression. Binding of Twist to the BMI-1 promoter was also decreased, correlating modulation of EMT to decreased self-renewal. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that through inactivation of NF-κB, zoledronic acid reverses EMT, which leads to a decrease in self-renewal. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(7); 1356–66. ©2013 AACR.
Identification and Characterization of a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Wnt Signaling in Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: De Robertis Alessandra , Valensin Silvia , Rossi Marco , Tunici Patrizia , Verani Margherita , De Rosa Antonella , Giordano Cinzia , Varrone Maurizio , Nencini Arianna , Pratelli Carmela , Benicchi Tiziana , Bakker Annette , Hill Jeffrey , Sangthongpitag Kanda , Pendharkar Vishal , Liu Boping , Mee Ng Fui , Wen Then Siew , Jing Tai Shi , Cheong Seong-Moon , He Xi , Caricasole Andrea , Salerno Massimiliano
Published: April 2013

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and prognostically unfavorable form of brain tumor. The aggressive and highly invasive phenotype of these tumors makes them among the most anatomically damaging human cancers with a median survival of less than 1 year. Although canonical Wnt pathway activation in cancers has been historically linked to the presence of mutations involving key components of the pathway (APC, β-catenin, or Axin proteins), an increasing number of studies suggest that elevated Wnt signaling in GBM is initiated by several alternative mechanisms that are involved in different steps of the disease. Therefore, inhibition of Wnt signaling may represent a therapeutically relevant approach for GBM treatment. After the selection of a GBM cell model responsive to Wnt inhibition, we set out to develop a screening approach for the identification of compounds capable of modulating canonical Wnt signaling and associated proliferative responses in GBM cells. Here, we show that the small molecule SEN461 inhibits the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in GBM cells, with relevant effects at both molecular and phenotypic levels in vitro and in vivo. These include SEN461-induced Axin stabilization, increased β-catenin phosphorylation/degradation, and inhibition of anchorage-independent growth of human GBM cell lines and patient-derived primary tumor cells in vitro. Moreover, in vivo administration of SEN461 antagonized Wnt signaling in Xenopus embryos and reduced tumor growth in a GBM xenograft model. These data represent the first demonstration that small-molecule–mediated inhibition of Wnt signaling may be a potential approach for GBM therapeutics. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(7); 1180–9. ©2013 AACR.
Frequent Mutation of the PI3K Pathway in Head and Neck Cancer Defines Predictive Biomarkers
Authors: Lui Vivian W.Y. , Hedberg Matthew L. , Li Hua , Vangara Bhavana S. , Pendleton Kelsey , Zeng Yan , Lu Yiling , Zhang Qiuhong , Du Yu , Gilbert Breean R. , Freilino Maria , Sauerwein Sam , Peyser Noah D. , Xiao Dong , Diergaarde Brenda , Wang Lin , Chiosea Simion , Seethala Raja , Johnson Jonas T. , Kim Seungwon , Duvvuri Umamaheswar , Ferris Robert L. , Romkes Marjorie , Nukui Tomoko , Kwok-Shing Ng Patrick , Garraway Levi A. , Hammerman Peter S. , Mills Gordon B. , Grandis Jennifer R.
Published: April 2013

Genomic findings underscore the heterogeneity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Identification of mutations that predict therapeutic response would be a major advance. We determined the mutationally altered, targetable mitogenic pathways in a large HNSCC cohort. Analysis of whole-exome sequencing data from 151 tumors revealed the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway to be the most frequently mutated oncogenic pathway (30.5%). PI3K pathway–mutated HNSCC tumors harbored a significantly higher rate of mutations in known cancer genes. In a subset of human papillomavirus-positive tumors, PIK3CA or PIK3R1 was the only mutated cancer gene. Strikingly, all tumors with concurrent mutation of multiple PI3K pathway genes were advanced (stage IV), implicating concerted PI3K pathway aberrations in HNSCC progression. Patient-derived tumorgrafts with canonical and noncanonical PIK3CA mutations were sensitive to an mTOR/PI3K inhibitor (BEZ-235), in contrast to PIK3CA–wild-type tumorgrafts. These results suggest that PI3K pathway mutations may serve as predictive biomarkers for treatment selection.

Significance: Treatment options for HNSCC are limited, in part, because of an incomplete understanding of the targetable mutations that “drive” tumor growth. Here, we define a subgroup of HNSCC harboring activating mutations of genes in the PI3K pathway where targeting the pathway shows antitumor efficacy. These results suggest that PI3K pathway mutation assessment may be used to guide HNSCC therapy. Cancer Discov; 3(7); 761–9. ©2013 AACR.

See related commentary by Iglesias-Bartolome et al., p. 722

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 705
Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plasma Homocysteine Levels Predict Cardiovascular and All-Cause Death: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Jung Jin-Man , Kwon Do Young , Han Changsu , Jo Inho , Jo Sangmee Ahn , Park Moon Ho
Published: April 2013

Background: There is still debate over the utility of carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) or carotid plaque in predicting future cardiovascular events and death. Additionally, the importance of plasma homocysteine levels was raised as a predictor of cardiovascular events and death. Methods: 1,391 subjects were recruited from the Ansan Geriatric cohort. We used B-mode carotid ultrasonography to assess C-IMT and plaque, measuring average maximal IMT and average mean IMT through 6-8 measurements of far-wall IMT in both common carotid arteries. We evaluated the presence of plaque in carotid segments. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to predict both cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Results: During a mean follow-up of 62.4 ± 12.4 months, 71 subjects (5.12%) died and 23 (1.66%) died of cardiovascular causes. Multivariable Cox regression analysis found the predictors of cardiovascular mortality to be average maximal IMT (HR = 3.709; 95% CI: 1.202-11.446) and plasma homocysteine (HR = 1.057; 95% CI: 1.012-1.103). All-cause mortality was independently associated with C-IMT (average maximal and average mean IMT) and plasma homocysteine. Conclusions: C-IMT and plasma homocysteine levels were found to predict cardiovascular and all-cause mortality independently of the presence of carotid plaque and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Reports of Patients and Relatives from the CogniCIS Study about Cognition in Clinically Isolated Syndrome: What Are Our Patients Telling Us?
Authors: Langdon D.W. , Benedict R.H.B. , Wicklein E.M. , Beckmann K. , Fredrikson S.
Published: April 2013

Objective: To assess the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ) in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Methods: 130 European CIS patients and 60 relatives completed the MSNQ. Results: The mean (SD) MSNQ score for CIS patients was 15.5 (10.8) and for their informants 11.3 (9.6). Neither the CIS patient nor relative MSNQ report scores correlated with any of the cognitive test scores in the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests, but they were significantly related to psychosocial scales including depression. Conclusions: In CIS, patient and relative MSNQ scores are influenced by psychosocial variables rather than actual objective cognitive status. Formal cognitive test assessment is recommended for CIS patients.
Is There a Negative Interpretation Bias in Depressed Patients? An Affective Startle Modulation Study
Authors: Käse Mirjam , Dresler Thomas , Andreatta Marta , Ehlis Ann-Christine , Wolff Babette , Kittel-Schneider Sarah , Polak Thomas , Fallgatter Andreas J. , Mühlberger Andreas
Published: April 2013

Background/Aims: Scientists proposed that patients with depression favour negative interpretations when appraising ambiguity. As self-report measures seem prone to response bias, implicit measures of emotional valence should be additionally used. Methods: A total of 16 patients with depression and 19 controls underwent an acoustic imagery task comprising neutral and negative words, as well as ambiguous words that could be understood either way. Affective startle modulation and direct interrogation were used to assess implicit and explicit emotional valence, respectively. We expected a negative bias for ambiguous words in the patient group, resulting in augmented startle magnitudes and preference for negative interpretations of the ambiguous words in the interrogation. Results: Surprisingly, both groups preferred neutral interpretations and showed augmented startle magnitudes to ambiguous words. Furthermore, both groups displayed an emotional startle potentiation for negative words. Conclusion: In summary, our results do not confirm a negative interpretation bias or a blunted emotional response in patients with major depression. The mismatch between self-report and affective startle reaction to ambiguous targets might reflect defensive mobilization or attention effects.
A Phase I Trial of Sunitinib and Rapamycin in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Waqar Saiama N. , Gopalan Priya K. , Williams Kristina , Devarakonda Siddhartha , Govindan Ramaswamy
Published: April 2013

Background: Sunitinib is an oral multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with single-agent activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy is mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and may be reversed by using mTOR inhibitors. Methods: We performed a phase I study evaluating the combination of sunitinib and rapamycin in patients with advanced NSCLC. Results: Nineteen patients were enrolled in the study. The dose-limiting toxicities included infection, pneumonia, diarrhea/dehydration and treatment delay due to thrombocytopenia in 1 patient each. Sunitinib 25 mg orally daily and rapamycin 2 mg orally daily with 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off therapy were determined to be the maximum tolerated dose. No objective responses were noted, and 6 patients had stable disease as a best response. Conclusion: The combination of sunitinib and rapamycin is well-tolerated and warrants further investigation in the phase II setting.
Involvement of the Orexin System in Adrenal Sympathetic Regulation
Authors: Nemoto Takayuki , Toyoshima-Aoyama Fumiyo , Ueda Yuto , Ohba Takayoshi , Yanagita Toshihiko , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Shirasaka Tetsuro , Tsuneyoshi Isao , Ishida Yasushi , Hirota Kazuyoshi , Sawaguchi Akira , Murakami Manabu
Published: April 2013

Orexin (hypocretin) is a neuropeptide secreted from hypothalamic neurons that is known to be activated during motivated behaviors and active waking. Presently, our knowledge of orexin is mainly limited to the central nervous system, and the involvement of the orexin system in peripheral tissues has received little attention. In the present study, we analyzed the existence of the orexin system in the adrenal medulla, which is part of the sympathetic nervous system. Orexin and its receptors are expressed in the bovine adrenal medulla. Orexins stimulated intracellular calcium changes and epinephrine release from cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. Applied orexin decreased expression of prepro-orexin, orexin receptor-1 and orexin receptor-2, suggesting negative feedback regulation in the adrenal gland. Our results indicate involvement of the orexin system in the sympathetic regulation of the adrenal medulla.
Citicoline Oral Solution in Glaucoma: Is There a Role in Slowing Disease Progression?
Authors: Ottobelli L. , Manni G.L. , Centofanti M. , Iester M. , Allevena F. , Rossetti L.
Published: April 2013

Purpose: To assess the effect of citicoline on visual field rates of progression in patients with progressing glaucoma. Patients and Methods: Forty-one patients with a diagnosis of progressing glaucoma received citicoline in oral solution for 2 years. Included were patients with a disease progression of at least -1 dB/year (at MD, mean deviation) for at least 3 years before entering the study despite controlled intraocular pressure (IOP). Patients were followed with 4 visual field examinations per year for 2 years. Results: At baseline, the mean rate of progression was -1.1 (±0.7) dB/year despite the fact that the IOP had been below 18 mm Hg for at least 3 years. At study inclusion, the mean IOP was 15.5 (±2.6) mm Hg and the mean MD was -9.2 (±6.7) dB in the worst eye. Starting from the first cycle of treatment with citicoline, the mean rate of progression significantly changed to -0.15 (±0.3) dB/year at the end of the study (p = 0.01). Conclusions: This study seems to indicate that supplementation with citicoline might significantly slow down glaucomatous rates of progression.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with the Use of Illicit Substances among Male University Students in Kuwait
Authors: Bajwa Hisham Z. , Al-Turki Ahmed S.A. , Dawas Ahmed M.K. , Behbehani Mohammad Q. , Al-Mutairi Abdulaziz M.A. , Al-Mahmoud Shaymaa , Shukkur Mumtaz , Thalib Lukman
Published: April 2013

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of illicit use of substances and identify the factors associated with illicit drug use among male students in the state-run Kuwait University and private universities in Kuwait. Subjects and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey with a sample of 1,587 male students from both private universities (n = 869) and the public (n = 718) Kuwait University in Kuwait. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Overall lifetime prevalence of substance use was computed with 95% confidence interval. Logistic regression was used to identify the factors influencing substance use, which was adjusted for potential confounders. Results: The total lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use was 14.4% and the most frequently used illicit substance was marijuana (11%). The substance use in general varied significantly (p ≤ 0.001) between private (18%) and public (10%) universities. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that drug use was positively associated with age, poor academic performance, high family income, being an only child, divorced parents, and graduation from a private high school. Conclusion: Drug use among male university students in Kuwait was high and requires attention and appropriate intervention. The factors identified with drug use in this study could be utilized to develop appropriate public health policies and preventive measures that may improve the health status of the student population.
Roundtable Discussion of Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church: The Challenge of Luke–Acts to Contemporary Christians
Authors: Everts Janet Meyer
Published: April 2013

In this book, Johnson’s outstanding commentary works on Luke–Acts are made available to non-biblical scholars. Much of the most insightful and engaging points from the commentaries are clearly and convincingly argued and the brilliance of his work is now available to a wider audience and a new generation.
Immediate and Subsequent Effects of Response Interruption and Redirection on Targeted and Untargeted Forms of Stereotypy
Authors: Pastrana Sarah J. , Rapp John T. , Frewing Tyla M.
Published: April 2013

A number of studies have shown that response interruption and redirection (RIRD) decreases immediate engagement in targeted stereotypic behaviors; however, its effects on untargeted stereotypy have not yet been studied, and its effects following removal of treatment are unclear. We evaluated the immediate and subsequent effects of RIRD on targeted motor stereotypy, as well as untargeted but higher probability vocal stereotypy, of two participants diagnosed with autism, using a three-component multiple-schedule design. Treatment with RIRD decreased immediate engagement in motor stereotypy for both participants, and did not increase subsequent engagement above baseline levels for either participant. In addition, RIRD produced modest changes in immediate engagement in untargeted vocal stereotypy for both participants. We briefly discuss the clinical implications and limitations of the findings from this study.
Internal Control Weaknesses and Accounting Conservatism
Authors: Mitra Santanu , Jaggi Bikki , Hossain Mahmud
Published: April 2013

This study examines the relationship between accounting conservatism and internal control weaknesses (ICW) in the post–Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) period when the U.S. firms have been subject to higher regulations and enhanced corporate oversight and scrutiny. Our multivariate analyses show that the firms having ICW, especially the firms with company-level ICW, have significantly changed their conservative reporting practice from the pre- to the post-SOX period. The analyses further show that the ICW firms exhibit greater accounting conservatism in the post-SOX period compared with the firms with effective internal controls (non-ICW). The result is mostly driven by increased conditional conservatism by the firms having company-level ICW that are more pervasive in effect, less auditable, and more difficult to detect and prevent. Furthermore, we find that the difference in conservatism between ICW and non-ICW firms is more prominent in the first 3 post-SOX years than in the last 3 post-SOX years of the sample period. These findings suggest that enhanced corporate oversight and scrutiny have induced the ICW firms to use more accounting conservatism in an effort to reduce reporting uncertainty, enhance information reliability, and promote contracting efficiency. Our findings are consistent with prior studies that demonstrate a shift in the U.S. firms’ financial reporting strategies in response to stringent regulations and governance in the post-SOX period.
Effects of Targeted Interventions on Lifestyle Modifications of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Teng Hsiu-Lan , Yen Miaofen , Fetzer Susan , Sung Junne-Ming , Hung Shih-Yuan
Published: April 2013

Targeting interventions to an individual’s readiness to modify lifestyle factors, specifically diet and exercise behaviors, may delay chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. This study examined the effects of a targeted Lifestyle Modification Program based on the readiness to change health-promotion lifestyle behaviors, renal protection knowledge, and physical indicators of patients with early CKD. A repeated-measures design randomized 160 CKD patients from four southern Taiwan outpatient nephrology clinics into control and intervention groups. Data were collected five times over a year with a participant retention rate of 64.4%. The intervention group demonstrated significant improvement with regard to diet behavior modifications. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a significant improving trend of renal function protection knowledge, stress management, and interpersonal relations. Targeted interventions for patients in the early phases of CKD promotes adherence to proper diet, exercise behavior, and positive lifestyle modifications.
Mothers’ Socialization Goals, Mothers’ Emotion Socialization Behaviors, Child Emotion Regulation, and Child Socioemotional Functioning in Urban India
Authors: Raval Vaishali V. , Raval Pratiksha H. , Deo Neeraj
Published: April 2013

Studies examining the link between parental socialization and child functioning in varying cultural contexts are scarce. Focusing on early adolescents in suburban middle-class families in India, the present study examined interrelations among reports of mothers’ socialization goals, socialization behaviors in response to child emotion, child emotion regulation, and child socioemotional functioning. One hundred and ten mothers and one of their children attending seventh grade at middle schools in Gujarat, India participated. Results indicated that suburban Indian mothers were more likely to endorse relational than autonomous socialization goals, and relational socialization goals were related to mothers’ reported explanation-oriented socialization behaviors in response to their children’s anger or sadness. Children’s self-reported regulation of anger and sadness mediated the negative relation between reports of mothers’ explanation-oriented supportive behaviors and child behavior problems. Moreover, children’s self-reported dysregulation partially mediated the positive association between reports of mothers’ nonsupportive behaviors and child behavior problems.
More and Less than Equal
Authors: Almeling Rene , Waggoner Miranda R.
Published: April 2013

In both social science and medicine, research on reproduction generally focuses on women. In this article, we examine how men’s reproductive contributions are understood. We develop an analytic framework that brings together Cynthia Daniels’ conceptualization of reproductive masculinity (2006) with a staged view of reproduction, where the stages include the period before conception, conception, gestation, and birth. Drawing on data from two medical sites that are oriented to the period before pregnancy (preconception health care and sperm banks), we examine how gendered knowledge about reproduction produces different reproductive equations in different stages of the reproductive process. We conclude with a new research agenda that emerges from rethinking the role of men and masculinity in reproduction.
The Experience of Emotions During the Job Search and Choice Process Among Novice Job Seekers
Authors: Bonaccio Silvia , Gauvin Natalie , Reeve Charlie L.
Published: April 2013

The authors investigate the role of emotions in the job search and choice process of novice job seekers. Results of qualitative analyses of the first-person accounts of 41 job seekers indicate that participants whose recollections of their job search contained emotional language were more likely to display a haphazard job search strategy than those whose recollections did not. They were also more likely to engage in choice strategies that were not driven by concrete criteria. In comparison, participants whose recollections were not emotion-laden reported more criteria-driven choice strategies, and did not display the tendency to revise or lower their standards or to settle for a less desirable job than they had been seeking. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the role of emotions in job search and choice research as well as in terms of job search counseling for novice job seekers.
Political Extremism Is Supported by an Illusion of Understanding
Authors: Fernbach Philip M. , Rogers Todd , Fox Craig R. , Sloman Steven A.
Published: April 2013

People often hold extreme political attitudes about complex policies. We hypothesized that people typically know less about such policies than they think they do (the illusion of explanatory depth) and that polarized attitudes are enabled by simplistic causal models. Asking people to explain policies in detail both undermined the illusion of explanatory depth and led to attitudes that were more moderate (Experiments 1 and 2). Although these effects occurred when people were asked to generate a mechanistic explanation, they did not occur when people were instead asked to enumerate reasons for their policy preferences (Experiment 2). Finally, generating mechanistic explanations reduced donations to relevant political advocacy groups (Experiment 3). The evidence suggests that people’s mistaken sense that they understand the causal processes underlying policies contributes to political polarization.
Research on the leakage and dynamic characteristics of a new kind of radial annular seal and comparisons with labyrinth seals
Authors: Zhang WF , Yang JG , Tian YW , Cao H , Gu JG
Published: April 2013

To minimize fluid leakage and improve rotordynamic stability of traditional seals, a new kind of radial annular seal is presented in this article. The structure and the sealing principle are analyzed. Compared to the traditional labyrinth seal, the fluid leakage direction is altered from the axial to radial direction. The flow resistance is increased, and the flow-induced force is reduced greatly. There is also a tremendous improvement in the wear resistance of the seal. Three-dimensional numerical models of the traditional labyrinth seal and radial annular seal are set up. Calculated results show that the discharge coefficient of the radial annular seal is about 20% lower than that of the labyrinth seal. Though the rotating speed has a small influence on the radial seal force for both the radial annular seal and labyrinth seal, it has a large effect on the tangential seal force. The tangential seal force increases with the increasing speed, and the destabilizing force in the radial annular seal is reduced greatly when compared to that in the labyrinth seal. The radial seal force of the radial annular seal is about 1.5–2.5 times as strong as that of the labyrinth seal. The tangential seal force is about 30–50% lower than that of the labyrinth seal under the same eccentricity, and this ratio becomes larger and larger with the increasing speed. Finally, the dependency of the seal characteristics on the design parameters is studied. It is shown that the optimum ratios of the clearance s to the tooth thickness b ( s/ b) for the outward and inward flows are 4.5–5.5 and 11–13, respectively. The flow characteristics perform best with the ratio of the seal chamber width B to the tooth height H ( B/ H) on the same order of 5.5–7 for the two kinds of flows.
Human-Automation Interaction Research
Authors: Hancock Peter A. , Jagacinski Richard J. , Parasuraman Raja , Wickens Christopher D. , Wilson Glenn F. , Kaber David B.
Published: April 2013

Scientific research accesses the past to predict the future. The history of science is often best told by those who have lived it. Our purpose is to provide a brief history of human-automation interaction research, including a review of theories for describing human performance with automated systems, an accounting of automation effects on cognitive performance, a description of the origins of adaptive automation and key developments, and an identification of contemporary methods and issues in operator functional state classification. Based on this history and acknowledgements of the state of the art of human-automaton interaction, future predictions are offered.
Societal Trust and Geography
Authors: Le Stephen H. T.
Published: April 2013

Societal trust is widely believed to be a fundamental component of prosperous societies, but geographical determinants of societal trust have not been examined in depth. This study examines hypothesized pathways between geography and societal trust.

Strongest support is found for the hypothesis that higher geographical latitude leads to lower disease prevalence, lower income inequality, and less ethnic and less linguistic heterogeneity. Lower disease prevalence, lower income inequality, and less ethnic and less linguistic heterogeneity in turn appear to determine the viability of a “virtuous circle” of mutually reinforcing societal characteristics, including greater wealth, greater life expectancy, greater political rights, greater civil liberties, greater societal trust, less religiosity, and less corruption.
Not enough doctors or not enough needs? Refocusing health workforce planning from providers and services to populations and needs
Authors: Birch Stephen , Mason Thomas , Sutton Matthew , Whittaker William
Published: April 2013

The importance of allocating services in accordance with population needs is well-established. Needs-based approaches to geographical resource allocation were established in the National Health Service in the UK in the 1970s, but the role of population needs has not extended to planning for the quantity and mix of health care services or for the providers required to deliver these services. We present a framework that integrates health service and workforce planning focused on responding to population needs. Using data from the General Household Survey for England over the period 1985–2006, we illustrate trends in health needs and service use per capita. Despite needs per capita falling, service use has increased. Rates of increase in service use are greater among those with less needs illustrating that, in the absence of appropriate planning methods, increases in service use may result from supplier influence rather than policy decisions.
Pragmatic sociology as political ecology
Authors: Blok Anders
Published: April 2013

This article engages the French pragmatism of Laurent Thévenot, Luc Boltanski and Bruno Latour in debates on how to forge a moral-political sociology of ecological valuation, justification and critique. Picking up the debate initiated by Thévenot on the possible emergence of a novel ‘green’ order of worth, the article juxtaposes the sociology of critical capacity of Boltanski and Thévenot with the actor-network theory of Bruno Latour. In doing so, the article suggests that each of these three pragmatic sociologists succeeds, in characteristically different ways, in theoretically articulating an important but partial socio-political grammar of ecological worth. This claim is substantiated by invoking three case studies into environmental critique and compromise, on transnational carbon markets, urban sustainability projects, and Japanese whaling, respectively. Against this backdrop, the article concludes that – when read together as grammarians of the ecological bond – pragmatic sociology provides important insights into the bounded multiplicity of nature’s worth in political modernity.
Alstrom syndrome – a diagnosis revisited
Authors: Vusirikala Bharati , Rajkumar Veena , Choudhary Maitrayee , Peter Rajesh , Rees Alan , Bolusani Hemanth
Published: April 2013

Carl Henry Alstrom first described the syndrome in 1959.1 It is a rare autosomal recessive, single gene, multi system disorder characterised by early onset retinal (progressive cone rod) dystrophy with profound visual loss, childhood obesity with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia and diabetes, sensorineural hearing loss, dilated cardiomyopathy as well as progressive renal and hepatic dysfunction. We present a case of Alstrom syndrome diagnosed in a 34 year old male subject followed by a brief review of its clinical presentation
Is there an optimal diet for patients with type 2 diabetes? Yes, the one that works for them!
Authors: Krebs Jeremy D , Parry-Strong Amber
Published: April 2013

Diet is fundamental in the aetiology and management of type 2 diabetes. The optimal diet remains unclear and the EASD and ADA have recently adopted increased flexibility with dietary composition, whilst maintaining a focus on reduced energy, reduced saturated fat and increased dietary fibre. This review draws three conclusions on the current evidence for three dietary approaches; high protein diets, very low carbohydrate diets and the Mediterranean diet, specifically for the management of weight, glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. First, unless energy intake is reduced below energy expenditure over a sustained period of time, weight loss will not occur. Second, weight loss achieved with any dietary approach over the long-term is modest, though compared with the natural history of weight gain in obesity is clinically important. Third, the evidence supports flexibility in dietary composition with no approach superior to another for weight loss, glycaemic control or cardiovascular risk management. Most importantly there is evidence that adherence to any given dietary approach is more important than the macronutrient prescription. So the best diet for those with type 2 diabetes is the one that works for them, and critically the one that they can maintain in the long term.