bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relation of cognitive learning strategies to psychosocial employability attributes amongst black adult learners in the economic and management sciences field
Authors: Coetzee Melinde , Potgieter Ingrid L.
Published: July 2014

Orientation: Research provides empirical evidence of the importance employers andemployees attach to continuous learning and development opportunities as aspects ofemployees’ employability, retention and job and career satisfaction.Research purpose: The objective of the research was to investigate the relation between adultlearners’ cognitive learning strategies (measured by the examination preparation inventory)and their psychosocial employability attributes (measured by the employability attributesscale).Motivation for the study: Recent research has made important progress in understanding thenotions of cognitive learning styles in learning and psychosocial employability attributes insustaining individuals’ employability in the contemporary world of work. However, researchon how adult learners’ cognitive learning strategies influence the psychosocial attributes theyneed to manage and sustain their employability has been lacking.Research approach, design and method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design wasused, involving a stratified proportional random sample of 1102 predominantly early careerblack female undergraduate level adult learners. The participants were enrolled for distancelearning studies in the economic and management sciences field at a South African highereducation institution.Main findings: Canonical correlation and multiple regression analysis indicated the abstracttheoretical and factual practical cognitive learning strategies as useful predictors of theparticipants’ overall level of psychosocial employability attributes and especially their levelsof career self-management and proactivity.Practical/managerial implications: Learning practitioners should strive to integrate cognitivelearning strategies in the design of learning and assessment activities in order to fosterthe psychosocial employability attributes adult learners need to manage their continuedemployability in the contemporary workplace.Contribution: The study contributes new insights to the employability and learning andeducation literature. The results may potentially inform formal learning and assessmentdesign in order to improve adult learners’ learning performance and employability.
The diakonia of Practical Theology to the alienated in South Africa in the light of 1 Peter
Authors: Breed Gert
Published: July 2014

This article investigates the role that Practical Theology can play in addressing the problem of alienation amongst the people of South Africa. The investigation is conducted from the viewpoint of the biblical concept of diakonia (service work). This concept as well as the content of Practical Theology as it is found in the first letter of Peter is investigated with the purpose of elucidating the diakonia of Practical Theology with regard to alienation. Four questions are answered in the article:� What may some of the reasons why people in South Africa experience alienation be?� What significance do the results of the most recent research into the diakon word group have for the diakonia of Practical Theology?� What insight can be gained from 1 Peter into the diakonia of Practical Theology for people who may be experiencing alienation in South Africa?� What should the diakonia of Practical Theology in the light of 1 Peter be for people who experience alienation? Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article addresses the issue of alienation. This is an issue that also falls within the research field of sociology and psychology. This article wants to make a contribution from a biblical perspective using the exegesis of a New Testament letter (1 Pt) with the focus on 1 Peter 4:10 and the use of the diakon word group in the letter. The article thus also operates on the research field of New Testament Theology. The results of the exegesis are used to give guidelines for the diakonia of Practical Theology in South Africa. The article challenges the way some research in Practical Theology is done, not using the Bible as reference point, thus making the distinction between Practical Theology and sciences like sociology and psychology indistinct.
Effects of different plant hormones or PEG seed soaking on maize resistance to drought stress
Authors: Yuan Zhiheng , Wang Chuntian , Li ShiPeng , Li Xiao , Tai Fuju
Published: July 2014

Yuan, Z., Wang, C., Li, S., Li, X. and Tai, F. 2014. Effects of different plant hormones or PEG seed soaking on maize resistance to drought stress. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1491–1499. Drought stress has a major impact on plant growth and productivity, and seed soaking is an important way to increase seedling resistance to drought stress. This study investigated whether drought hardening chemicals, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), or plant growth regulators enhance plant drought tolerance. The effects of PEG and several plant hormones, such as indoleacetic acid, gibberellic acid 3, 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), on seed germination and seedling growth under drought stress were analyzed. The results revealed that seed soaking with 5×10−3 mg L−1 6-BA or 10% PEG improved maize seed germination parameters under drought stress, including seedlings dry weight, seed vigor and germination rate. In addition, some physiological indices, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, soluble protein contents and malondialdehyde etc. in seedlings under drought stress were improved compared with the control. Therefore, the application of 6-BA or PEG as a seed soak treatment had a significant and synergistic effect on seed germination and seedling growth under drought stress. However, the PEG seed soak treatment maybe slightly lead to plant damage and then improved plant ability to acquire some resistance to stress, the 6-BA were not so.
Experimental evidence for foraminiferal calcification under anoxia
Authors: Nardelli M. P. , Barras C. , Metzger E. , Mouret A. , Filipsson H. L. , Jorissen F. , Geslin E.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. Benthic foraminiferal tests are widely used for paleoceanographic reconstructions from a range of different environments with varying dissolved oxygen concentrations in the bottom water. There is ample evidence that foraminifera can live in anoxic sediments. For some species, this is explained by a switch to facultative anaerobic metabolism (i.e. denitrification). Here we show for the first time that adult specimens of three benthic foraminiferal species are not only able to survive, but are also able to calcify under anoxic conditions, at various depths in the sediment, and with or without nitrates. In fact, several specimens of Ammonia tepida (1–4%), Bulimina marginata (8–24%) and Cassidulina laevigata (16–23%) were able to calcify at different redox fronts of sediment cores, under laboratory conditions. This demonstrates ongoing metabolic processes, even in micro-environments where denitrification is not possible. Earlier observations suggest that the disappearance of foraminiferal communities after prolonged anoxia is not due to instantaneous or strongly increased adult mortality. Here we show that it cannot be explained by an inhibition of growth through chamber addition either. Our observations of ongoing calcification under anoxic conditions mean that geochemical proxy data obtained from benthic foraminifera in settings experiencing intermittent anoxia have to be reconsidered. The analysis of whole single specimens or of their successive chambers may provide essential information about short-term environmental variability and/or the causes of anoxia.
Entrepreneurial University Archetypes
Authors: Bronstein Johann , Reihlen Markus
Published: July 2014

Most research on the entrepreneurial university is case-study based. While this helps us to understand specific characteristics of particular cases, integrative studies that build on cumulated knowledge have yet to be conducted. This study aims to synthesize existing research and to generate archetypes of the entrepreneurial university by conducting a qualitative meta-synthesis of the empirical literature. The underlying assumption of this research is that there is no single model or best type of the entrepreneurial university. Nevertheless, the authors expect to see entrepreneurial universities converge into a few distinct archetypes that display similar organizational attributes. As primary data sources, they use twenty-seven case studies on entrepreneurial universities, which are synthesized into four empirically grounded archetypes: ‘Research-preneurial’ or research driven; ‘Techni-preneurial’ or industry driven; ‘Inno-preneurial’ or service innovation driven; and ‘Commerce-preneurial’ or knowledge commercialization driven. This meta-synthesis provides a taxonomy of various structures, strategies and resources that characterize entrepreneurial universities, serving as a conceptual framework for a heterogeneous body of literature.
The Entrepreneurial University: Evidence of the Changing Role of Universities in Modern Russia
Authors: Williams Dina , Kluev Alexey
Published: July 2014

This paper examines the evolution of the entrepreneurial function of Russia's leading universities: the study is based on a conceptualization of a university's entrepreneurial development pathway developed by the OECD in 2009. The data on entrepreneurship development were collected in 2012 through a survey of technology transfer and innovation development managers of 18 National Research Universities. The primary data were complemented by desktop analysis of the strategy development documents of the universities surveyed. The results suggest that in the period studied, 2008–2012, a new type of university, the entrepreneurial university, has emerged in Russia. However, these entrepreneurial universities are facing serious challenges in the implementation of an entrepreneurial, innovation-oriented mission due to the lack of managerial competencies and inadequate infrastructure development. The paper has significant theoretical and practical implications in shedding light on the development of the entrepreneurial university in Russia, where the process is still in its infancy. The authors depict a trajectory of entrepreneurial transformation in and barriers to this process that, it is argued, university executives and policy makers should take into consideration.
EXPLORING FILM DIALOGUE DISCOURSE
Authors: Kačmárová Alena
Published: July 2014

The paper falls in the area of discourse analysis and presents an initial framework for research into the nature of audio-visual text, namely the discourse of fi lm dialogue. This preliminary exploration should serve the purpose of fi nding areas worth further examination. The corpus to be studied is an episode from Friends (2002/2003). The utilized method is a SWOT analysis (an analysis in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) within which specifi c features are indicated and observed. In the paper it is proposed and discussed that the strength of the studied discourse is its being a paragon of neutral/informal speech and idiomaticity of the language; the weakness is seen in the relative ‘unnaturalness’ of the verbal conduct; the opportunities are represented by their potential to build pragmatic awareness and intercultural competence in viewers; the threat can be embodied in an incautious choice of the title or topic with regard to the viewers’ age and intellectual capacity. The explored features are explained and exemplifi ed utilizing portions from the target corpus. The preliminary enquiry triggers further questions and implications.
Agencia, materialidad y documentación del arte de los medios
Authors: Alsina Pau , Hofman Vanina
Published: July 2014

El arte de los medios goza de una larga y fértil historia que ha generado innumerables prácticas artísticas de gran calidad así como no pocos estudios  teóricos e históricos sobre las diferentes tendencias, creadores, o sobre las diferentes zonas geográficas que han intervenido e intervienen en la construcción de su pasado y su presente (Wilson,2001; Paul, 2003; Daniels, 2004, 2005; Popper, 2007; Grau, 2007; Alsina, 2007; Shanken 2009). No obstante las própias características y el componente experimental inherente a este conjunto de prácticas también ha aportado importantes preguntas relativas a la transformación de la naturaleza de los procesos que el arte de los medios introduce en las formas tradicionales de habérselas con el arte y el mundo del arte. El propósito de este artículo es incidir específicamente en aquellos procesos vinculados a la construcción de archivos y documentación, así como tambien a la propia conservación del arte de los medios, a través de un análisis de la problemática de la materialidad y la agencia en las prácticas artísticas . La perspectiva que adoptaremos no se limitará a la discusión técnica de las diferentes soluciones a las problemáticas planteadas por las mismas prácticas sino más bien a la problematización del problema mismo desde la perspectiva de la arqueología de los medios (Kittler, 1997; Ernst 2005; Zielinski, 2006; Huhtamo, Parikka, 2011); y el conjunto de reflexiones vinculadas al denominado nuevo materialismo (Delanda, 2000; Barad, 2003; Law, 2007; Coole, 2010) . La misma diversidad de taxonomías aparecidas en relación al arte de los medios, en donde a menudo se destaca en la propia terminología su base tecnológica -video arte, net art, software art, a-life art etc..- nos sirve de punto de partida para reivindicar hasta qué punto la agencialidad del substrato  material y tecnológico de la práctica artística está indisolublemente unida a su discurso simbólico, y al revés en mútua reciprocidad, incluso en algo tan aparentemente inmaterial como el código informático inscrito en el epicentro del arte de los nuevos medios.
Correlation: A Brief Introduction
Authors: Sadiku Matthew N. O. , Musa Sarhan M. , Nelatury Sudarshan R.
Published: July 2014

An important concept in many applications is the correlation function between two signals. The correlation function is more of a measure of similarity between functions. In spite of the importance of the correlation function, it is not covered in most books on signals and systems and signal processing. The few books that cover it do not provide examples students can follow. This paper provides a simple introduction to the correlation function in continuous-time and discrete-time. It provides graphical examples and MATLAB examples.
Using Classic Circuit Analysis Methods to Describe Voltage Performance of Battery-Ultracapacitor Power Source
Authors: Norian K. H. , Bowen Ted L.
Published: July 2014

Circuit analysis methods taught in principles of engineering courses were used to develop instructional material for inclusion in teaching a course on Energy Systems Projects. The course involves lectures and lab experiments on renewable energy sources. The paper describes an experiment and its analysis as a typical unit in the course. The experiment concerned measuring the supply voltage of a rechargeable battery-ultracapacitor power source. Transformations were used in the analysis to reduce the battery-ultracapacitor circuit to a single loop and the Laplace transform technique was then applied to derive equations describing the transient voltage of the battery-ultracapacitor circuit discharging through a resistive load. The equations were used for calculations and measurements for a sealed D size lead acid battery in parallel with an ultracapacitor. Teaching the course in experiments and related lectures in a laboratory setting enhanced the excitement factor in both the teaching and learning of circuit analysis techniques.
Bloom's Taxonomy as a Pedagogical Model for Signals and Systems
Authors: Ursani A. A. , Memon A. A. , Chowdhry B. S.
Published: July 2014

Bloom's taxonomy (BT) is a hierarchical organisation of global educational objectives. Its cognitive domain has been used to improve pedagogy in several disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). At the same time, it has helped improve assessment methods in the domain of STEM. The work presented herein describes taxonomic levels specific to learning objectives in the electrical engineering course entitled ‘Signals and Systems' (S&S). Corresponding to those taxonomic levels, the paper also presents test questions to assess the students at different levels of cognition. In order to validate the proposed taxonomy, the presented test paper is used for summative assessment of 981 students. Results of this assessment are found to agree with the assumed taxonomic levels of the test questions. The results of this test fit closely to the bell-curve distribution and are contrasted with the results from an older, stereotypical examination that was not BT-aware.
Glomerulonephritis Induced by Heterologous Anti‐GBM Globulin as a Planted Foreign Antigen
Authors: Odobasic Dragana , Ghali Joanna R. , O'Sullivan Kim M. , Holdsworth Stephen R. , Kitching A. Richard
Published: August 2014

The glomerulonephritides are diseases characterized by immune‐mediated glomerular inflammation. Most severe and rapidly progressive forms of glomerulonephritis feature the participation of injurious leukocytes that localize to glomeruli. This unit describes classical models of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in mice, induced by injecting heterologous globulin (raised in sheep) that binds to the glomerular basement membrane. These models have been particularly useful in defining the participation of effector leukocytes in severe glomerular disease. In these models, injury typically occurs in two phases. In the initial, heterologous phase, injury is mediated by the globulin bound within the glomerulus acting as an antibody. The later, autologous phase of injury is mediated by the host's adaptive immunity to the heterologous globulin now functioning as a planted foreign antigen within glomeruli. As autologous phase injury is driven by immunity to sheep globulin, assessment of antigen‐specific systemic immunity to sheep globulin is critical when using this model. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 106:15.26.1‐15.26.20. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Back to Basics: Exploiting the Innate Physico‐chemical Characteristics of Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Tay Chor Yong , Setyawati Magdiel Inggrid , Xie Jianping , Parak Wolfgang J. , Leong David Tai
Published: August 2014

In nanomedicine design, emphasis is centered on the engineered impacts of the nanomaterials (NMs). However, failure to understand the unintended effects of nanomaterials on the cell biology can affect the overall performance, approval, and adoption in the clinic. Much of these unintended effects arise from unique physico‐chemical properties of the NMs. This feature article discusses some of the key physico‐chemical parameters of NMs and highlights how they could cause unexpected and novel biological responses, with some insights into their underlying mechanisms.
Catalytic Electrophilic Halogenations and Haloalkoxylations by Non‐Heme Iron Halides
Authors: Rana Sujoy , Bag Sukdev , Patra Tuhin , Maiti Debabrata
Published: August 2014

Synthetic non‐heme iron halides promote sub‐stoichiometric aliphatic halogenation reactions via a radical mechanism. Complementary to such activity, we have developed an electrophilic halogenation of arenes employing non‐heme iron halides. A catalytic version of these reactions has also been developed using potassium halide as the source of halogen atom for arenes at room temperature. Efforts towards understanding the mechanism of these catalytic halogenation reactions led to the discovery of the haloalkoxylation of olefins by a non‐heme iron complex. Implications of these findings with respect to natural transformations are also discussed.

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Experimental investigation of continuous single‐phase rimming flow in a horizontal rotating cylinder
Authors: Suppiah Singaram Saravanan , Lodha Himanshu , Jachuck Roshan J.
Published: August 2014

Rimming flow of water that leads to a thin film onto the inner surface of a horizontally rotating cylinder is studied in this work. At higher rotational speeds, axial flow of uniform thin film is established inside the rotating cylinder. Film thickness measurements under different flow conditions were performed in the annular flow regime using an optical interferometric technique. Dimensional analysis was also performed to understand the parametric dependence of key parameters involved in the rimming flow of water inside a horizontal rotating cylinder and expressions to determine average film thickness and average residence time are also presented. This study will provide a basis to estimate the transport characteristics in the thin film inside the horizontal rotating cylinder. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3939–3950, 2014
Formation of melt and solution spun polycaprolactone fibers by centrifugal spinning
Authors: Zander Nicole E.
Published: August 2014

Nano‐ and microfibers have a myriad of applications ranging from filtration, composites, energy harvesting, to tissue engineering and drug delivery. Electrospinning, the most common method to produce such fibers, has many limitations including low fiber output and solvent dependency. Centrifugal spinning is a new technique that uses centrifugal forces to form nano‐ and microfibers both from solution and the melt. In this work, the effect of melt temperature, collector distance, rotation speed, and concentration (for polymer solutions) of polycaprolactone were evaluated with respect to fiber morphology, diameter, alignment, and crystallinity. The fiber diameter generally decreased with increasing rotation speed and reduced concentration. Crystallinity for spun fibers decreased compared to the bulk polymer. Fiber alignment was improved with rotation speed for the melt‐spun fibers. The fiber mats were evaluated as tissue scaffolds with neuronal PC12 cells. The cells adhered and extended neurites along the fibers for both melt and solution‐spun scaffolds. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41269.
Rapid Reconstitution of Biosynthetic Machinery for Fungal Metabolites in Aspergillus oryzae: Total Biosynthesis of Aflatrem
Authors: Tagami Koichi , Minami Atsushi , Fujii Ryuya , Liu Chengwei , Tanaka Mizuki , Gomi Katsuya , Dairi Tohru , Oikawa Hideaki
Published: August 2014

Reconstitution of the biosynthetic machinery for fungal secondary metabolites in Aspergillus oryzae provides an opportunity both for stepwise determination of the biosynthetic pathways and the total biosynthesis of fungal natural products. However, to maximize the utility of the reconstitution system, a simple and rapid strategy for the introduction of heterologous genes into A. oryzae is required. In this study, we demonstrated an effective method for introducing multiple genes involved in the biosynthesis of fungal metabolites by using the expression vectors pUARA2 and pUSA2, each of which contains two cloning sites. The successful introduction of all the aflatrem biosynthetic genes (seven genes in total) after two rounds of transformation enabled the total biosynthesis of aflatrem. This rapid reconstitution strategy will facilitate the functional analysis of the biosynthetic machinery of fungal metabolites.
Asymmetric Hydrocyanation of Nitroolefins Catalyzed by an Aluminum(III) Salen Complex
Authors: Jakhar Ajay , Sadhukhan Arghya , Khan Noor‐ul H. , Saravanan S. , Kureshy Rukhsana I. , Abdi Sayed H. R. , Bajaj Hari C.
Published: August 2014

Chiral AlIII salen complexes were synthesized and used as catalysts for the asymmetric hydrocyanation of nitroolefins using 4‐phenylpyridine N‐oxide as an additive and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) as a source of cyanide. An excellent yield of β‐nitronitrile (87 %) and enantioselectivity (90 %) were achieved if (2‐nitrovinyl)cyclohexane was used as a substrate at −15 °C in 16 h. To understand the interaction of the AlIII salen complex and additive, NMR and IR spectroscopic studies revealed that 4‐phenylpyridine N‐oxide acts both as an axial ligand and helps to activate the cyanide source TMSCN, which thereby increases the reactivity. A catalytic cycle was proposed based on the spectroscopic studies.
Understanding the Guanidine‐Like Cationic Moiety for Optimal Binding into the DNA Minor Groove
Authors: O'Sullivan Patrick , Rozas Isabel
Published: August 2014

Based on our previous positive results with bis‐guanidine‐like diaromatic compounds as DNA minor groove binders, we propose a new family: bis‐2‐amino‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidines. According to calculated parameters, these dicationic systems would have a more suitable size and lipophilicity for binding into the minor groove than previous series. Moreover, their DFT‐optimised structures and docking into an AT oligomer model show that they would bind in the minor groove with good strength and without energy penalty. Hence, we prepared compounds 4 a–c and evaluated their binding to ssDNA and poly(dA‐dT)2 by thermal denaturation experiments. The results showed that 4 a (CO) and 4 d (NH) were the best DNA binders. Compared to the previous series, 4 a–d are better binders than bis‐guanidiniums but poorer than bis‐2‐aminoimidazolinium derivatives. Moreover, circular dichroism experiments using ssDNA and poly(dA‐dT)2 confirmed binding into the minor groove. Based on our computational design as well as biophysical studies, we have been able to determine that the optimal interaction of guanidine‐like dications in the minor grove occurs with bis‐2‐aminoimidazolinium systems.
Hearing molecules, mechanism and transportation: Modeled in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Bokolia Naveen Prakash , Mishra Monalisa
Published: August 2014

Mechanosensory transduction underlies the perception of touch, sound and acceleration. The mechanical signals exist in the environment are resensed by the specialized mechanosensory cells, which convert the external forces into the electrical signals. Hearing is a magnificent example that relies on the mechanotransduction mediated by the auditory cells, for example the inner‐ear hair cells in vertebrates and the Johnston's organ (JO) in fly. Previous studies have shown the fundamental physiological processes in the fly and vertebrate auditory organs are similar, suggesting that there might be a set of similar molecules underlying these processes. The molecular studies of the fly JO have been shown to be remarkably successful in discovering the developmental and functional genes that provided further implications in vertebrates. Several evolutionarily conserved molecules and signaling pathways have been shown to govern the development of the auditory organs in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The current review describes the similarities and differences between the vertebrate and fly auditory organs at developmental, structural, molecular, and transportation levels. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 109–130, 2015
Trigonal Bipyramidal or Square Pyramidal Coordination Geometry? Investigating the Most Potent Geometry for Vanadium Phosphatase Inhibitors
Authors: Crans Debbie C. , Tarlton Michael L. , McLauchlan Craig C.
Published: August 2014

The five‐coordinate geometry is an important factor in phosphoryl group transfer, particularly for phosphate ester hydrolysis. In the following review we analyze the five‐coordinate geometries for a range of VO4X coordination spheres with regard to their structure from the point of view of square pyramidal or trigonal bipyramidal geometries. The actual differences for the coordination environment of the reported small molecule structures are compared to the coordination environment of vanadate complexed to a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) with four coordinating O atoms and one S atom. These considerations demonstrate that actual differences between the coordination environments are very small and presumably less critical than generally anticipated. This analysis suggests that it is a combination of structural and electronic properties leading to the perfect combination of reactivity and stability for the potent protein phosphatase inhibitor complex, thus confirming the fact that some other geometries have been reported.
A Note on the Efficiencies of Sampling Strategies in Two‐Stage Bayesian Regional Fine Mapping of a Quantitative Trait
Authors: Chen Zhijian , Craiu Radu V. , Bull Shelley B.
Published: August 2014

In focused studies designed to follow up associations detected in a genome‐wide association study (GWAS), investigators can proceed to fine‐map a genomic region by targeted sequencing or dense genotyping of all variants in the region, aiming to identify a functional sequence variant. For the analysis of a quantitative trait, we consider a Bayesian approach to fine‐mapping study design that incorporates stratification according to a promising GWAS tag SNP in the same region. Improved cost‐efficiency can be achieved when the fine‐mapping phase incorporates a two‐stage design, with identification of a smaller set of more promising variants in a subsample taken in stage 1, followed by their evaluation in an independent stage 2 subsample. To avoid the potential negative impact of genetic model misspecification on inference we incorporate genetic model selection based on posterior probabilities for each competing model. Our simulation study shows that, compared to simple random sampling that ignores genetic information from GWAS, tag‐SNP‐based stratified sample allocation methods reduce the number of variants continuing to stage 2 and are more likely to promote the functional sequence variant into confirmation studies.
Differential regulation of NMDAR and NMDAR‐mediated metaplasticity by anandamide and 2‐AG in the hippocampus
Authors: Yang Kai , Lei Gang , Xie Yu‐Feng , MacDonald John F. , Jackson Michael F.
Published: August 2014

Endocannabinoids (eCBs), including AEA and 2‐AG, are endogenous signaling mediators involved in many physiological and pathological events. The G protein‐coupled cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) is an important target for eCBs, however, additional non‐CB1 receptor targets have also been identified. Although recent evidence suggests that NMDA receptor function may be regulated by eCBs, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Using acutely isolated CA1 neurons and slices from the hippocampus, we found that both AEA and 2‐AG potentiate NMDAR‐mediated currents independently of CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) and via distinct signaling pathways. Potentiation by AEA requires the activation of TRPV1 channels. In contrast, potentiation by 2‐AG requires the sequential activation of PKC and Src. Additionally, in hippocampal slices, we found that both AEA and 2‐AG induce NMDAR‐mediated metaplasticity and facilitate the induction of subsequent LTD independently of CB1Rs. Enhanced LTD by AEA, but not 2‐AG, was dependent on TRPV1 channels. Our findings reveal previously unrecognized non‐CB1R‐dependent signaling cascades through which the two major eCBs regulate NMDA receptor function and consequently synaptic plasticity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Relative role and extent of marine and groundwater inundation on a dune‐dominated barrier island under sea‐level rise scenarios
Authors: Manda Alex K. , Sisco Michael S. , Mallinson David J. , Griffin Michael T.
Published: August 2014

Climate change and sea‐level rise will have severe impacts on coastal water resources around the world. However, whereas the influence of marine inundation is well documented in the literature, the impact of groundwater inundation on coastal communities is not well known. Here, core analysis, groundwater monitoring, and ground penetrating radar are utilized to assess the groundwater regime of the surficial aquifer on Bogue Banks Barrier Island (USA). Then, geospatial techniques are used to assess the relative roles and extents of groundwater and marine inundation on the dune‐dominated barrier island under sea‐level rise scenarios of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 m above current conditions by 2100. Additionally, the effects of rising water tables on onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are modelled using the projected sea‐level rise scenarios. The results indicate that the surficial aquifer comprising fine to medium sands responds quickly to precipitation. Water‐level measurements reveal varying thicknesses of the vadose zone (>3 to 0 m) and several groundwater mounds with radial flow patterns. Results from projected sea‐level rise scenarios suggest that owing to aquifer properties and morphology of the island, groundwater inundation may occur at the same rate as marine inundation. Furthermore, the area inundated by groundwater may be as significant as that affected by marine inundation. The results also show that the proportion of land in the study area where OWTS may be perpetually compromised by rising water tables under worst case scenarios may range from ~43 to ~54% over an 86‐year‐period. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NY‐ESO‐1 specific antibody and cellular responses in melanoma patients primed with NY‐ESO‐1 protein in ISCOMATRIX and boosted with recombinant NY‐ESO‐1 fowlpox virus
Authors: Chen Ji‐Li , Dawoodji Amina , Tarlton Andrea , Gnjatic Sacha , Tajar Abdelouahid , Karydis Ioannis , Browning Judy , Pratap Sarah , Verfaille Christian , Venhaus Ralph R. , Pan Linda , Altman Douglas G. , Cebon Jonathan S. , Old Lloyd L. , Nathan Paul , Ottensmeier Christian , Middleton Mark , Cerundolo Vincenzo
Published: August 2014

Vaccination strategies based on repeated injections of NY‐ESO‐1 protein formulated in ISCOMATRIX particles (NY‐ESO‐1 ISCOMATRIX) have shown to elicit combined NY‐ESO‐1 specific antibody and T cell responses. However, it remains unclear whether heterologous prime‐boost strategies based on the combination with NY‐ESO‐1 ISCOMATRIX with different NY‐ESO‐1 boosting reagents could be used to increase NY‐ESO‐1 CD8+ or CD4+ T cell responses. To address this question, we carried out a randomized clinical trial in 39 high‐risk, resected melanoma patients vaccinated with NY‐ESO‐1 ISCOMATRIX, and then boosted with repeated injections of either recombinant fowlpox virus encoding full length NY‐ESO‐1 (rF‐NY‐ESO‐1) (Arm A) or NY‐ESO‐1 ISCOMATRIX alone (Arm B). We have comprehensively analyzed NY‐ESO‐1 specific T cells and B cells response in all patients before and after vaccination for a total of seven time points per patient. NY‐ESO‐1 ISCOMATRIX alone elicited a strong NY‐ESO‐1 specific CD4+ T cell and antibody response, which was maintained by both regiments at similar levels. However, CD8+ T cell responses were significantly boosted in 3 out of 18 patients in Arm A after the first rF‐NY‐ESO‐1 injection and such responses were maintained until the end of the trial, while no patients in Arm B showed similar CD8+ T cell responses. In addition, our results clearly identified immunodominant regions in the NY‐ESO‐1 protein: NY‐ESO‐179–102 and NY‐ESO‐1115–138 for CD4+ T cells and NY‐ESO‐185–108 for CD8+ T cells in a large proportion of vaccinated patients. These regions of NY‐ESO‐1 protein should be considered in future clinical trials as immunodominant epitopes.
Enhancement of primary neuronal cell proliferation using printing‐transferred carbon nanotube sheets
Authors: Kang Dong‐Wan , Sun Fangfang , Choi Yoon Ji , Zou Fengming , Cho Won‐Ho , Choi Byung‐Kwan , Koh Kwangnak , Lee Jaebeom , Han In Ho
Published: August 2014

Artificial nerve guidance conduits (aNGCs) prepared from polymer scaffolds and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique chemical and physical properties, and have been widely used in preclinical trials to promote neuronal differentiation and growth. However, there have been only a few reports on the clinical applicability of CNT sheets for proliferation of primary neuronal cells due to safety concerns. The present study assesses the ability and potential applicability of multiwalled CNTs (MWNTs) composited with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheets to promote and enhance the proliferation of primary neuronal cells. In this study, the aqueous MWNT dispersion was filtered, and the PDMS/MWNT sheets were prepared using a simple printing transfer method. Characterization of PDMS/MWNT sheets demonstrated their unique physical properties such as superior mechanical strength and electroconductivity when compared with PDMS sheets. The effect of the PDMS/MWNT sheets on the neural cell proliferation and cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT and alamar blue assays. Our results indicate the viability and proliferation of primary neuronal cells and Schwann cells in PDMS/MWNT sheets increased over twice when compared with a noncoated dish that is not usual in the primary neuronal cell growth control (p < 0.05). In addition, PDMS/MWNT sheets enhanced the adhesion and viability of the cells compared with poly‐l‐lysine coated dishes, which are most commonly used for improving cell adherence. Additionally, the PDMS/MWNT sheets exhibited excellent biocompatibility for culturing neuronal and Schwann cells. Overall, all assessments indicate that PDMS/MWNT sheets are ideal candidates for the development of artificial nerve conduits for clinical use following peripheral nerve injury. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 1746–1754, 2015.
Isolation and characteristics of protocatechuic acid from Paenibacillus elgii HOA73 against Botrytis cinerea on strawberry fruits
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Hoa , Naing Kyaw Wai , Lee Young Seong , Moon Jae Hak , Lee Jeong Hyun , Kim Kil Yong
Published: August 2014

This study was undertaken to describe purification, identification, and characteristics of protocatechuic acid (PCA) isolated for the first time from Paenibacillus elgii HOA73 against Botrytis cinerea (the cause of gray mold disease on strawberry fruit). PCA was purified by different chromatographic techniques and identified as PCA (3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid) by nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses. PCA displayed potent antifungal activity against B. cinerea and Rhizoctonia solani. However, the antifungal activities were not sufficient to inhibit mycelial growth of Phytophthora capsici and Fusarium oxysporum. The minimum inhibitory concentration of PCA to inhibit any visible mycelial growth of both B. cinerea and R. solani was 64 µg ml−1. Most B. cinerea conidia displayed altered shape and absence of germination, or were degraded after treatment with 50 and 100 µg ml−1 PCA, respectively. Moreover, gray mold formation on strawberry fruit was almost or completely inhibited by these PCA concentrations 7 days following infection with B. cinerea conidia, respectively. PCA may be a promising alternative to chemical fungicides as a potential biofungicide to prevent growth of B. cinerea in strawberry fruit disease management.
Free‐breathing multislice native myocardial T1 mapping using the slice‐interleaved T1 (STONE) sequence
Authors: Weingärtner Sebastian , Roujol Sébastien , Akçakaya Mehmet , Basha Tamer A. , Nezafat Reza
Published: August 2014

Purpose

To develop a novel pulse sequence for free‐breathing, multislice, native myocardial T1 mapping.

Methods

The slice‐interleaved T1 (STONE) sequence consists of multiple sets of single‐shot images of different slices, acquired after a single nonselective inversion pulse. Each slice is only selectively excited once after each inversion pulse to allow sampling of the unperturbed longitudinal magnetization in the adjacent slices. For respiratory motion, a prospective slice‐tracking respiratory navigator is used to decrease through‐plane motion followed by a retrospective image registration to reduce in‐plane motion. STONE T1 maps were calculated using both a two‐parameter and three‐parameter fit model. The accuracy and precision of the STONE sequence for different T1, T2, and inversion pulse efficiency were studied using numerical simulations and phantom experiments. T1 maps from 14 subjects were acquired with the STONE sequence and T1s were compared to the MOdified Look‐Locker Inversion recovery sequence (MOLLI).

Results

In numerical simulations and phantom experiments, the STONE sequence using a two‐parameter fit model yields more accurate T1 times compared to MOLLI, with similar high precision. The three‐parameter fit model further improves the accuracy, but with a reduced precision. The native myocardial T1 times were higher in the STONE sequence using two‐ or three‐parameter fit compared to MOLLI. The standard deviation of the T1 times was lower in the STONE T1 maps with a two‐parameter fit compared with MOLLI or a three‐parameter fit.

Conclusion

The STONE sequence allows accurate and precise quantification of native myocardial T1 times with the additional benefit of covering the entire ventricle. Magn Reson Med 74:115–124, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In vivo1H MRS study in microlitre voxels in the hippocampus of a mouse model of Down syndrome at 11.7 T
Authors: Santin Mathieu D. , Valabrègue Romain , Rivals Isabelle , Pénager Romain , Paquin Raphaël , Dauphinot Luce , Albac Christelle , Delatour Benoit , Potier Marie‐Claude
Published: August 2014

In this article, we report in vivo 1H MRS performed in 1.8‐μL voxels in a mouse model of Down syndrome (DS). To characterise the excitation–inhibition imbalance observed in DS, metabolite concentrations in the hippocampi of adult Ts65Dn mice, which recapitulate features of DS, were compared with those of their euploid littermates at a voxel 42‐fold smaller than in a previously published study. Quantification of the metabolites was performed using a linear combination model. We detected 16 metabolites in the right and left hippocampi. Principal component analysis revealed that the absolute concentrations of the 16 detected metabolites could differentiate between Ts65Dn and euploid hippocampi. Although measurements in the left and right hippocampi were highly correlated, the concentration of individual metabolites was sometimes significantly different in the left and right structures. Thus, bilateral values from Ts65Dn and euploid mice were further compared with Hotelling's test. The level of glutamine was found to be significantly lower, whereas myo‐inositol was significantly higher, in the hippocampi of Ts65Dn relative to euploid mice. However, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate levels remained similar between the groups. Thus, the excitation–inhibition imbalance described in DS does not appear to be related to a radical change in the levels of either GABA or glutamate in the hippocampus. In conclusion, microliter MRS appears to be a valuable tool to detect changes associated with DS, which may be useful in investigating whether differences can be rescued after pharmacological treatments or supplementation with glutamine. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Chromogenic Probe for the Selective Recognition of Sarin and Soman Mimic DFP
Authors: El Sayed Sameh , Pascual Lluís , Agostini Alessandro , Martínez-Máñez Ramón , Sancenón Félix , Costero Ana M. , Parra Margarita , Gil Salvador
Published: August 2014

The synthesis, characterization and sensing features of a novel probe 1 for the selective chromogenic recognition of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), a sarin and soman mimic, in 99:1 (v/v) water/acetonitrile and in the gas phase is reported. Colour modulation is based on the combined reaction of phosphorylation of 1 and fluoride‐induced hydrolysis of a silyl ether moiety. As fluoride is a specific reaction product of the reaction between DFP and the −OH group, the probe shows a selective colour modulation in the presence of this chemical. Other nerve agent simulants, certain anions, oxidant species and other organophosphorous compounds were unable to induce colour changes in 1. This is one of the very few examples of a selective detection, in solution and in the gas phase, of a sarin and soman simulant versus other reactive derivatives such as the tabun mimic diethylcyanophosphate (DCNP).
ELECTORAL GENDER QUOTAS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD TRADITIONAL LEADERS: A POLICY EXPERIMENT IN LESOTHO
Authors: Clayton Amanda
Published: August 2014

The adoption of electoral gender quotas has increased dramatically in the last 20 years, receiving praise for transforming the composition of political bodies worldwide. Gender quotas, however, have also been criticized as an unsuccessful tool in challenging the de facto power of traditional patriarchal elites. The case of Lesotho provides a randomized policy experiment to test for changes in the influence of traditional leaders after quota adoption at the subnational level. Between 2005 and 2011, Lesotho reserved at random 30 percent of all newly formed single‐member local electoral divisions for only female candidates. Using a unique data set by merging the 2008 Afro‐barometer survey with the reservation status of respondents’ villages, I find that having a quota‐mandated female leader significantly reduces the perceived influence of traditional leaders. Further, I find that this treatment effect holds across different demographic groups, suggesting a widespread policy impact.
Understanding the determinants of substrate specificity in IMP family metallo‐β‐lactamases: The importance of residue 262
Authors: Pegg Kevin M. , Liu Eleanor M. , George Alex C. , LaCuran Alecander E. , Bethel Christopher R. , Bonomo Robert A. , Oelschlaeger Peter
Published: August 2014

In Gram‐negative bacteria, resistance to β‐lactam antibacterials is largely due to β‐lactamases and is a growing public health threat. One of the most concerning β‐lactamases to evolve in bacteria are the Class B enzymes, the metallo‐β‐lactamases (MBLs). To date, penams and cephems resistant to hydrolysis by MBLs have not yet been found. As a result of this broad substrate specificity, a better understanding of the role of catalytically important amino acids in MBLs is necessary to design novel β‐lactams and inhibitors. Two MBLs, the wild type IMP‐1 with serine at position 262, and an engineered variant with valine at the same position (IMP‐1‐S262V), were previously found to exhibit very different substrate spectra. These findings compelled us to investigate the impact of a threonine at position 262 (IMP‐1‐S262T) on the substrate spectrum. Here, we explore MBL sequence‐structure‐activity relationships by predicting and experimentally validating the effect of the S262T substitution in IMP‐1. Using site‐directed mutagenesis, threonine was introduced at position 262, and the IMP‐1‐S262T enzyme, as well as the other two enzymes IMP‐1 and IMP‐1‐S262V, were purified and kinetic constants were determined against a range of β‐lactam antibacterials. Catalytic efficiencies (kcat/KM) obtained with IMP‐1‐S262T and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) observed with bacterial cells expressing the protein were intermediate or comparable to the corresponding values with IMP‐1 and IMP‐1‐S262V, validating the role of this residue in catalysis. Our results reveal the important role of IMP residue 262 in β‐lactam turnover and support this approach to predict activities of certain novel MBL variants.
Fault diagnosis in fixed‐block railway signaling systems: a discrete event systems approach
Authors: Durmuş Mustafa S , Takai Shigemasa , Söylemez Mehmet T
Published: August 2014

In conventional railway systems (or fixed‐block railway signaling systems), railway lines are divided into subsections, called railway blocks, which start and end with a signal. In order to prevent collisions, only one train is allowed in each railway block at a time. Since the occupancy of the next block is indicated by the signals, train drivers have to pay attention to the signals during their journey. In spite of the conventional railway systems having several drawbacks such as the reduction in railway line capacity and the same safe braking distances for all kinds of trains, they have been in use since the mid‐1800s. In this paper, we study fault diagnosis in fixed‐block railway signaling systems from the discrete event systems point of view: first the signaling system equipment are modeled by using Petri nets, and next a diagnoser is designed to show the diagnosability of the system. © 2014 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.