bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heavily metamorphosed clasts from the CV chondrite breccias Mokoia and Yamato‐86009
Authors: JOGO Kaori , NAGASHIMA Kazuhide , HUTCHEON Ian D. , KROT Alexander N. , NAKAMURA Tomoki
Published: January 2013

Abstract–  Metamorphosed clasts in the CV carbonaceous chondrite breccias Mokoia and Yamato‐86009 (Y‐86009) are coarse‐grained, granular, polymineralic rocks composed of Ca‐bearing (up to 0.6 wt% CaO) ferroan olivine (Fa34–39), ferroan Al‐diopside (Fs9–13Wo47–50, approximately 2–7 wt% Al2O3), plagioclase (An37–84Ab63–17), Cr‐spinel (Cr/(Cr + Al) =  0.19–0.45, Fe/(Fe + Mg) = 0.60–0.79), nepheline, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, Ca‐phosphate, and rare grains of Ni‐rich taenite; low‐Ca pyroxene is absent. Most clasts have triple junctions between silicate grains, indicative of prolonged thermal annealing. Based on the olivine‐spinel and pyroxene thermometry, the estimated metamorphic temperature recorded by the clasts is approximately 1100 K. Few clasts experienced thermal metamorphism to a lower degree and preserved chondrule‐like textures. The Mokoia and Y‐86009 clasts are mineralogically unique and different from metamorphosed chondrites of known groups (H, L, LL, R, EH, EL, CO, CK) and primitive achondrites (acapulcoites, brachinites, lodranites). On a three‐isotope oxygen diagram, compositions of olivine in the clasts plot along carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral line and the Allende mass‐fractionation line, and overlap with those of the CV chondrule olivines; the Δ17O values of the clasts range from about −4.3‰ to −3.0‰. We suggest that the clasts represent fragments of the CV‐like material that experienced metasomatic alteration, high‐temperature metamorphism, and possibly melting in the interior of the CV parent asteroid. The lack of low‐Ca pyroxene in the clasts could be due to its replacement by ferroan olivine during iron‐alkali metasomatic alteration or by high‐Ca ferroan pyroxene during melting under oxidizing conditions.
The spatial scaling of saprotrophic fungal beta diversity in decomposing leaves
Authors: Feinstein Larry M. , Blackwood Christopher B.
Published: January 2013

Assembly of fungal communities remains poorly understood in part because of the daunting range of spatial scales that may be involved in this process. Here, we use individual leaves as a natural sampling unit, comprising spatially distinct habitat and/or resource patches with unique histories and suites of resources. Spatial patterns in fungal beta diversity were tested for consistency with the metacommunity paradigms of species sorting and neutral dynamics. Thirty senesced leaves were collected from the forest floor (O horizon) in replicate upland forest, riparian forest and vernal pool habitats. We quantified spatial distance between leaves, and fungal community composition was assayed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. Significant distance‐decay relationships were detected at all but one upland site. This is the first study where changes in fungal community composition were quantified across discrete adjacent habitat patches, providing evidence that fungal distance decay is operational at a scale of centimetres. Although leaves of differing lignin contents were sampled from each site, leaf type was not consistently important in explaining variation in fungal community composition. However, depth of a leaf within the forest floor significantly influenced community composition at five of six sites. Environmental heterogeneity associated with depth could include moisture gradients, relative influence of soil or spore colonization, and impact of forest floor biotic community (i.e. collembola and earthworms). Because the influence of spatial distance and depth on fungal community composition could not be disentangled, both species‐sorting and neutral processes may be embedded within the distance‐decay relationships that we found.
Interannual variation in effective number of breeders and estimation of effective population size in long‐lived iteroparous lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
Authors: Duong Thuy Yen , Scribner Kim T. , Forsythe Patrick S. , Crossman James A. , Baker Edward A.
Published: January 2013

Quantifying interannual variation in effective adult breeding number (Nb) and relationships between Nb, effective population size (Ne), adult census size (N) and population demographic characteristics are important to predict genetic changes in populations of conservation concern. Such relationships are rarely available for long‐lived iteroparous species like lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). We estimated annual Nb and generational Ne using genotypes from 12 microsatellite loci for lake sturgeon adults (n = 796) captured during ten spawning seasons and offspring (n = 3925) collected during larval dispersal in a closed population over 8 years. Inbreeding and variance Nb estimated using mean and variance in individual reproductive success derived from genetically identified parentage and using linkage disequilibrium (LD) were similar within and among years (interannual range of Nb across estimators: 41–205). Variance in reproductive success and unequal sex ratios reduced Nb relative to N on average 36.8% and 16.3%, respectively. Interannual variation in Nb/N ratios (0.27–0.86) resulted from stable N and low standardized variance in reproductive success due to high proportions of adults breeding and the species' polygamous mating system, despite a 40‐fold difference in annual larval production across years (437–16 417). Results indicated environmental conditions and features of the species' reproductive ecology interact to affect demographic parameters and Nb/N. Estimates of Ne based on three single‐sample estimators, including LD, approximate Bayesian computation and sibship assignment, were similar to annual estimates of Nb. Findings have important implications concerning applications of genetic monitoring in conservation planning for lake sturgeon and other species with similar life histories and mating systems.
Rangewide landscape genetics of an endemic Pacific northwestern salamander
Authors: Trumbo Daryl R. , Spear Stephen F. , Baumsteiger Jason , Storfer Andrew
Published: January 2013

A species' genetic structure often varies in response to ecological and landscape processes that differ throughout the species' geographic range, yet landscape genetics studies are rarely spatially replicated. The Cope's giant salamander (Dicamptodon copei) is a neotenic, dispersal‐limited amphibian with a restricted geographic range in the Pacific northwestern USA. We investigated which landscape factors affect D. copei gene flow in three regions spanning the species' range, which vary in climate, landcover and degree of anthropogenic disturbance. Least cost paths and Circuitscape resistance analyses revealed that gene flow patterns vary across the species' range, with unique combinations of landscape variables affecting gene flow in different regions. Populations in the northern coastal portions of the range had relatively high gene flow, largely facilitated by stream and river networks. Near the southeastern edge of the species' range, gene flow was more restricted overall, with relatively less facilitation by streams and more limitation by heat load index and fragmented forest cover. These results suggested that the landscape is more difficult for individuals to disperse through at the southeastern edge of the species' range, with terrestrial habitat desiccation factors becoming more limiting to gene flow. We suggest that caution be used when attempting to extrapolate landscape genetic models and conservation measures from one portion of a species' range to another.
One quantitative trait locus for intra‐ and interspecific variation in a sex pheromone
Authors: Groot A. T. , Staudacher H. , Barthel A. , Inglis O. , Schöfl G. , Santangelo R. G. , Gebauer‐Jung S. , Vogel H. , Emerson J. , Schal C. , Heckel D. G. , Gould F.
Published: January 2013

Even though premating isolation is hypothesized to be a major driving force in speciation, its genetic basis is poorly known. In the noctuid moth Heliothis subflexa, one group of sex pheromone components, the acetates, emitted by the female, plays a crucial isolating role in preventing interspecific matings to males of the closely related Heliothis virescens, in which females do not produce acetates and males are repelled by them. We previously found intraspecific variation in acetates in H. subflexa: females in eastern North America contain significantly more acetates than females in Western Mexico. Here we describe the persistence of this intraspecific variation in laboratory‐reared strains and the identification of one major quantitative trait locus (QTL), explaining 40% of the variance in acetate amounts. We homologized this intraspecific QTL to our previously identified interspecific QTL using restriction‐associated DNA (RAD) tags. We found that a major intraspecific QTL overlaps with one of the two major interspecific QTL. To identify candidate genes underlying the acetate variation, we investigated a number of gene families with known or suspected acetyl‐ or acyltransferase activity. The most likely candidate genes did not map to our QTL, so that we currently hypothesize that a transcription factor underlies this QTL. Finding a single, large QTL that impacts variation in pheromone blends between and within species is, to our knowledge, the first such example for traits that have been demonstrated to affect premating isolation.
Has the inbreeding load for a condition‐dependent sexual signalling trait been purged in insular lizard populations?
Authors: Runemark Anna , Hansson Bengt , Ljungqvist Marcus , Brydegaard Mikkel , Svensson Erik I.
Published: January 2013

Sexually selected traits are often condition‐dependent and are expected to be affected by genome‐wide distributed deleterious mutations and inbreeding. However, sexual selection is a powerful selective force that can counteract inbreeding through purging of deleterious mutations. Inbreeding and purging of the inbreeding load for sexually selected traits has rarely been studied across natural populations with different degrees of inbreeding. Here we investigate inbreeding effects (measured as marker‐based heterozygosity) on condition‐dependent sexually selected signalling trait and other morphological traits across islet‐ and mainland populations (n = 15) of an endemic lizard species (Podarcis gaigeae). Our data suggest inbreeding depression on a condition‐dependent sexually selected signalling character among mainland subpopulations with low or intermediate levels of inbreeding, but no sign of inbreeding depression among small and isolated islet populations despite their higher overall inbreeding levels. In contrast, there was no such pattern among ten other morphological traits which are primarily naturally selected and presumably not involved in sexual signalling. These results are in line with purging of recessive deleterious alleles, or purging in combination with stochastic fixation of alleles by genetic drift, for a sexual signalling character in the islet environment, which is characterized by low population sizes and strong sexual selection. Higher clutch sizes in islet populations also raise interesting questions regarding the possibility of antagonistic pleiotropy. Purging and other non‐exclusive explanations of our results are discussed.
Are long‐lived trees poised for evolutionary change? Single locus effects in the evolution of gene expression networks in spruce
Authors: Verta Jukka‐Pekka , Landry Christian R. , MacKay John J.
Published: January 2013

Genetic variation in gene expression traits contributes to phenotypic diversity and may facilitate adaptation following environmental change. This is especially important in long‐lived organisms where adaptation to rapid changes in the environment must rely on standing variation within populations. However, the extent of expression variation in most wild species remains to be investigated. We address this question by measuring the segregation of expression levels in white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench), Voss] in a transcriptome‐wide manner and examining the underlying evolutionary and biological processes. We applied a novel approach for the genetic analysis of expression variation by measuring its segregation in haploid meiotic seed tissue. We identified over 800 transcripts whose abundances are most likely controlled by variants in single loci. Cosegregation analysis of allelic expression levels was used to construct regulatory associations between genes and define regulatory networks. The majority (67%) of segregating transcripts were under linkage. Regulatory associations were typically among small groups of genes (2–3 transcripts), indicating that most segregating expression levels can evolve independently from one another. One notable exception was a large putative trans effect that altered the expression of 180 genes that includes key regulators of protein metabolism, highlighting a regulatory cascade affected by variation in a single locus in this conserved metabolic pathway. Overall, segregating expression variation was associated with stress response‐ and duplicated genes, whose evolution may be linked to functional innovations. These observations indicate that expression variation might be important in facilitating diversity of molecular responses to environmental stresses in wild trees.
Co‐Delivery of G‐CSF and EPO Released From Fibrin Gel for Therapeutic Neovascularization in Rat Hindlimb Ischemia Model
Authors: Chen Feng , Liu Qi , Zhang Zhen D. , Zhu Xian H.
Published: January 2013

Objective

G‐CSF and EPO have shown a notable capability in neovascularization. However, their use is limited because of untoward leucocytosis, erythrogenesis, and short half‐life in the plasma. Herein, we examined whether G‐CSF and EPO released from fibrin gel injected into ischemic tissues would synergistically promote neovascularization with limited systematic effects in a rat hindlimb ischemic model.

Methods and Results

In vivo study, group Gel received an intramuscular injection of fibrin gel; group Gel+G‐CSF received fibrin gel containing human G‐CSF; group Gel+EPO received fibrin gel containing human EPO; group Gel+G‐CSF&EPO received fibrin gel containing G‐CSF and EPO; group G‐CSF&EPO received G‐CSF and EPO. Through promoting the expression of SDF‐1, local high concentration of EPO could traffic CXCR4+ cells mobilized by G‐CSF to enhance neovascularization in ischemic muscle. The treatment with Gel+G‐CSF&EPO was superior to the other treatments on blood flow reperfusion, capillary density, and α smooth muscle actin‐positive vessel density. And this treatment induced a modest WBC count increase in peripheral blood.

Conclusions

G‐CSF and EPO released from fibrin gel had a combined effect on postischemia neovascularization. This treatment may be a novel therapeutic modality for ischemic peripheral artery disease.
Mechanisms underlying synaptic vulnerability and degeneration in neurodegenerative disease
Authors: Gillingwater T. H. , Wishart T. M.
Published: January 2013

Recent developments in our understanding of events underlying neurodegeneration across the central and peripheral nervous systems have highlighted the critical role that synapses play in the initiation and progression of neuronal loss. With the development of increasingly accurate and versatile animal models of neurodegenerative disease it has become apparent that disruption of synaptic form and function occurs comparatively early, preceding the onset of degenerative changes in the neuronal cell body. Yet, despite our increasing awareness of the importance of synapses in neurodegeneration, the mechanisms governing the particular susceptibility of distal neuronal processes are only now becoming clear. In this review we bring together recent developments in our understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating synaptic vulnerability. We have placed a particular focus on three major areas of research that have gained significant interest over the last few years: (i) the contribution of synaptic mitochondria to neurodegeneration; (ii) the contribution of pathways that modulate synaptic function; and (iii) regulation of synaptic degeneration by local posttranslational modifications such as ubiquitination. We suggest that targeting these organelles and pathways may be a productive way to develop synaptoprotective strategies applicable to a range of neurodegenerative conditions.
GMM Estimation with Non‐causal Instruments under Rational Expectations*
Authors: Lof Matthijs
Published: January 2013

Lanne and Saikkonen [Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics (2011a) Vol. 73, pp. 581–592], show that the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator is inconsistent, when the instruments are lags of variables that admit a non‐causal autoregressive representation. This article argues that this inconsistency depends on distributional assumptions, that do not always hold. In particular under rational expectations, the GMM estimator is found to be consistent. This result is derived in a linear context and illustrated by simulation of a nonlinear asset pricing model.
Local Asymptotic Power of Breitung's Test*
Authors: Hosseinkouchack Mehdi
Published: January 2013

In this article, we derive the local asymptotic power function of the unit root test proposed by Breitung [Journal of Econometrics (2002) Vol. 108, pp. 343–363]. Breitung's test is a non‐parametric test and is free of nuisance parameters. We compare the local power curve of the Breitungs’ test with that of the Dickey–Fuller test. This comparison is in fact a quantification of the loss of power that one has to accept when applying a non‐parametric test.
Morphophenotype of floating colonies derived from a single cancer cell has a critical impact on tumor‐forming activity
Authors: Ishii Genichiro , Hashimoto Hiroko , Atsumi Naho , Hoshino Ayuko , Ochiai Atsushi
Published: January 2013

The anchorage‐independent colony growth of cancer cells is reportedly correlated with the tumor‐forming activity; however, the correlation between the morphophenotype of each colony and the tumor‐forming activity has not been clarified. To assess this problem, we cultured single A549 cells (human lung adenocarcinoma cell line) in growth medium in individual wells (n = 426) for 14 days under anchorage‐independent conditions and analyzed the resulting growth characteristics. The single A549 cells formed various sizes of floating colonies. The proportion of large colonies (>400 μm) was 3.8% and this proportion increased dramatically with the exogenous addition of EGF (21.6%) or HGF (27.6%). Morphologically, the floating colonies could be divided into: (ii) Type A, spheroid colony; and (ii) Type B, dispersed villous colony. The Type B colonies expressed significantly higher levels of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related mRNAs (Snail 1, ZEB 1, and ZEB2) than the Type A colonies. Furthermore, the subcutaneous injection of a single cell‐derived colony with a large size and a Type B morphology resulted in more efficient tumor formation. The present results indicated that the morphophenotypes of floating colonies derived from single cancer cells have a critical impact on tumor‐forming activity.
Phytophthora diversity and the population structure of Phytophthora ramorum in Swiss ornamental nurseries
Authors: Prospero S. , Vercauteren A. , Heungens K. , Belbahri L. , Rigling D.
Published: January 2013

Invasive oomycete pathogens have been causing significant damage to native ecosystems worldwide for over a century. A recent well‐known example is Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of sudden oak death, which emerged in the 1990s in Europe and North America. In Europe, this pathogen is mainly restricted to woody ornamentals in nurseries and public greens, while severe outbreaks in the wild have only been reported in the UK. This study presents the results of the P. ramorum survey conducted in Swiss nurseries between 2003 and 2011. In all 120 nurseries subjected to the plant passport system, the main P. ramorum hosts were visually checked for above ground infections. Phytophthora species were isolated from tissue showing symptoms and identified on the basis of the morphological features of the cultures and sequencing of the ribosomal ITS region. Phytophthora was detected on 125 plants (66 Viburnum, 58 Rhododendron and one Pieris). Phytophthora ramorum was the most frequent species (59·2% of the plants), followed by P. plurivora, P. cactorum, P. citrophthora, P. cinnamomi, P. cactorum/P. hedraiandra, P. multivora and P. taxon PgChlamydo. The highest incidence of P. ramorum was observed on Viburnum × bodnantense. Microsatellite genotyping showed that the Swiss P. ramorum population is highly clonal and consists of seven genotypes (five previously reported in Europe, two new), all belonging to the European EU1 clonal lineage. It can therefore be assumed that P. ramorum entered Switzerland through nursery trade. Despite sanitation measures, repeated P. ramorum infections have been recorded in seven nurseries, suggesting either reintroduction or unsuccessful eradication efforts.
Transbronchial cryo‐biopsy in lung transplantation patients: First report
Authors: Fruchter Oren , Fridel Ludmila , Rosengarten Dror , Raviv Yael , Rosanov Viktoria , Kramer Mordechai R.
Published: January 2013

Background and objective

Transbronchial lung biopsies remain the gold standard to establish the presence of allograft rejection or infection after lung transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryo‐transbronchial biopsies (cryo‐TBB) in lung transplantation patients.

Methods

Forty lung transplantation patients (mean age 58.3 years) underwent cryo‐TBB, either routine post lung transplantation surveillance bronchoscopy (n = 27), or clinically indicated bronchoscopy (n = 13). During the procedure, two to three biopsy samples were taken. Procedure characteristics, complications and the diagnostic yield were compared with 40 matched controls who underwent conventional forceps‐TBB.

Results

No major complications occurred in the cryo‐TBB group. The mean diameter of the specimen taken by cryo‐TBB was 10 mm2 compared with only 2 mm2 using forceps‐TBB (P < 0.05). The increased size and quality of biopsy samples in the study group translated to a significant increase in the percentage of alveolated tissue (65% vs 34% respectively, P < 0.05) that enabled a clear histological detection of acute rejection (n = 4), pneumonitis (n = 3), diffuse alveolar damage (n = 1) and confident exclusion of acute rejection, infection or pneumonitis (n = 32). Fluoroscopy time was significantly shorter in the cryo‐biopsy patients compared with controls (25 s vs 90 s, respectively, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Cryo‐TBB for both surveillance and clinically indicated bronchoscopy in lung transplantation patients provides larger and more diagnostic lung parenchyma specimens with low complication rate and shorter intervention time than traditional forceps biopsies.
Variation in oral health parameters between older people with and without mental disorders
Authors: Kossioni Anastasia , Kossionis Georges E. , Polychronopoulou Argy
Published: January 2013

This study investigated the variation in the oral examination findings and the subjective oral complaints between older people with and without mental disorders. An interview and an oral investigation were performed in a group of older patients with mental disorders with a mean age of 71.9 years and in a group of older people without mental disease with a mean age of 70.2 years. The analysis did not reveal any statistically significant differences in the dental status of the participants and in the prevalence of oral ulcers and stomatitis. However xerostomia, burning mouth, dysgeusia, and oral malodor complaints were more frequent in patients with mental disorders, whereas general chewing complaints were less frequent. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that psychiatric illness was significantly associated with more complaints of dysgeusia and fewer chewing complaints. The increased prevalence of specific oral complaints in the older patients with mental disorders revealed the significant psychopathological compound of these symptoms.
Self‐Harm and Conventional Gender Roles in Women
Authors: Straiton Melanie L. , Hjelmeland Heidi , Grimholt Tine K. , Dieserud Gudrun
Published: January 2013

A total of thirty‐two women admitted to a general hospital for medical treatment after self‐harming completed measures of conventional positive and negative masculinity and femininity. Comparisons were made with two control groups with no self‐harm history; 33 women receiving psychiatric outpatient treatment and a nonclinical sample of 206 women. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that those with lower scores on Instrumentality and Unmitigated Agency (positive and negative masculinity) and higher scores on Insecurity (negative femininity) had greater odds of self‐harming. Relationships were weaker after accounting for generalized self‐efficacy. Results are discussed in relation to previous findings and suggestions for prevention are made.
Modeling the ski–snow contact in skiing turns using a hypoplastic vs an elastic force–penetration relation
Authors: Mössner M. , Heinrich D. , Schindelwig K. , Kaps P. , Schretter H. , Nachbauer W.
Published: January 2013

A ski–snow interaction model is presented. The force between ski and snow is decomposed into a penetration force normal to the snow surface, a shear force parallel to it, and friction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of a hypoplastic vs an elastic contact for penetration in the simulation of skiing turns. To reduce the number of influencing factors, a sledge equipped with skis was considered. A forward dynamic simulation model for the sledge was implemented. For the evaluation of both contact models, the deviation between simulated trajectories and experimental track data was computed for turns of 67 and 42 m. Maximum deviations for these turns were 0.44 and 0.14 m for the hypoplastic contact, and 0.6 and 7.5 m for the elastic contact, respectively. In the hypoplastic contact, the penetration depth of the ski's afterbody maintained nearly the same value as the part under maximum load, whereas it decreased in the elastic contact. Because the shear force is proportional to the penetration depth, the hypoplastic contact resulted in a higher shearing resistance. By replacing the sledge with a skier model, one may investigate more complex skier actions, skiing performance, or accident‐prone skiing maneuvers.
Does HIV status affect the aetiology, bacterial resistance patterns and recommended empiric antibiotic treatment in adult patients with bloodstream infection in Cambodia?
Authors: Phe Thong , Vlieghe Erika , Reid Tony , Harries Anthony D. , Lim Kruy , Thai Sopheak , De Smet Birgit , Veng Chhunheng , Kham Chun , Ieng Sovann , van Griensven Johan , Jacobs Jan
Published: January 2013

Objective

The microbiologic causes of bloodstream infections (BSI) may differ between HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative patients and direct initial empiric antibiotic treatment (i.e. treatment before culture results are available). We retrospectively assessed community‐acquired BSI episodes in adults in Cambodia according to HIV status for spectrum of bacterial pathogens, antibiotic resistance patterns and appropriateness of empiric antibiotics.

Methods

Blood cultures were systematically performed in patients suspected of BSI in a referral hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Data were collected between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2011.

Results

A total of 452 culture‐confirmed episodes of BSI were recorded in 435 patients, of whom 17.9% and 82.1% were HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative, respectively. Escherichia coli accounted for one‐third (n = 155, 32.9%) of 471 organisms, with similar rates in both patient groups. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella cholereasuis were more frequent in HIV‐positive vs. HIV‐negative patients (17/88 vs. 38/383 (P = 0.02) and 10/88 vs. 5/383 (P < 0.001)). Burkholderia pseudomallei was more common in HIV‐negative than in HIV‐positive patients (39/383 vs. 2/88, P < 0.001). High resistance rates among commonly used antibiotics were observed, including 46.6% ceftriaxone resistance among E. coli isolates. Empiric antibiotic treatments were similarly appropriate in both patient groups but did not cover antibiotic‐resistant E. coli (both patient groups), S. aureus (both groups) and B. pseudomallei (HIV‐negative patients).

Conclusion

The present data do not warrant different empiric antibiotic regimens for HIV‐positive vs. HIV‐negative patients in Cambodia. The overall resistance rates compromise the appropriateness of the current treatment guidelines.
Capillary versus venous haemoglobin determination in the assessment of healthy blood donors
Authors: Patel A. J. , Wesley R. , Leitman S. F. , Bryant B. J.
Published: January 2013

Background and Objectives

To determine the accuracy of fingerstick haemoglobin assessment in blood donors, the performance of a portable haemoglobinometer (HemoCue Hb 201+) was prospectively compared with that of an automated haematology analyzer (Cell‐Dyn 4000). Haemoglobin values obtained by the latter were used as the ‘true’ result.

Material and Methods

Capillary fingerstick samples were assayed by HemoCue in 150 donors. Fingerstick samples from two sites, one on each hand, were obtained from a subset of 50 subjects. Concurrent venous samples were tested using both HemoCue and Cell‐Dyn devices.

Results

Capillary haemoglobin values (HemoCue) were significantly greater than venous haemoglobin values (HemoCue), which in turn were significantly greater than venous haemoglobin values by Cell‐Dyn (mean ± SD: 14·05 ± 1·51, 13·89 ± 1·31, 13·62 ± 1·23, respectively; P < 0·01 for all comparisons among groups). Nine donors (6%) passed haemoglobin screening criteria (≥12·5 g/dl) by capillary HemoCue, but were deferred by Cell‐Dyn values (false‐pass). Five donors (3%) were deferred by capillary sampling, but passed by Cell‐Dyn (false‐fail). Substantial variability in repeated fingerstick HemoCue results was seen (mean haemoglobin 13·72 vs. 13·70 g/dl, absolute mean difference between paired samples 0·76 g/dl). Hand dominance was not a factor.

Conclusions

Capillary samples assessed via a portable device yielded higher haemoglobin values than venous samples assessed on an automated analyzer. False‐pass and false‐fail rates were low and acceptable in the donor screening setting, with ‘true’ values not differing by a clinically significant degree from threshold values used to assess acceptability for blood donation.
Numerical-symbolic exact irreducible decomposition of cyclic-12
Authors: Sabeti Rostam
Published: January 2013

In 1992, Göran Björck and Ralf Fröberg completely characterized the solution set of cyclic-8. In 2001, Jean-Charles Faugère determined the solution set of cyclic-9, by computer algebra methods and Gröbner basis computation. In this paper, a new theory in matrix analysis of rank-deficient matrices together with algorithms in numerical algebraic geometry enables us to present a symbolic-numerical algorithm to derive exactly the defining polynomials of all prime ideals of positive dimension in primary decomposition of cyclic-12. Empirical evidence together with rigorous proof establishes the fact that the positive-dimensional solution variety of cyclic-12 just consists of 72 quadrics of dimension one.
On the zeros of Dirichlet -functions
Authors: Omar Sami , Ouni Raouf , Mazhouda Kamel
Published: January 2013

This paper [1], which was published online on 1 June 2011, has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal’s Editor-in-Chief Derek Holt, the London Mathematical Society and Cambridge University Press. The retraction was agreed to prevent other authors from using incorrect mathematical results. (In this paper, we compute and verify the positivity of the Li coefficients for the Dirichlet $L$-functions using an arithmetic formula established in Omar and Mazhouda, J. Number Theory 125 (2007) no. 1, 50–58; J. Number Theory 130 (2010) no. 4, 1109–1114. Furthermore, we formulate a criterion for the partial Riemann hypothesis and we provide some numerical evidence for it using new formulas for the Li coefficients.)
Abelian functions associated with genus three algebraic curves
Authors: Eilbeck J. C. , England M. , Ônishi Y.
Published: January 2013

We develop the theory of Abelian functions associated with algebraic curves. The growth in computer power and the advancement of efficient symbolic computation techniques have allowed for recent progress in this area. In this paper we focus on the genus three cases, comparing the two canonical classes of hyperelliptic and trigonal curves. We present new addition formulae, derive bases for the spaces of Abelian functions and discuss the differential equations such functions satisfy.

Supplementary materials are available with this article.
Examples of linear multi-box splines
Authors: Bettayeb Abdellatif
Published: January 2013

Let S1=S1(v0,…,vr+1) be the space of compactly supported C0 piecewise linear functions on a mesh M of lines through ℤ2 in directions v0,…,vr+1, possibly satisfying some restrictions on the jumps of the first order derivative. A sequence ϕ=(ϕ1,…,ϕr) of elements of S1 is called a multi-box spline if every element of S1 is a finite linear combination of shifts of (the components of) ϕ. We give some examples for multi-box splines and show that they are stable. It is further shown that any multi-box spline is not always symmetric
Algorithmic construction of Chevalley bases
Authors: Magaard K. , Wilson R. A.
Published: January 2013

We present a new algorithm for constructing a Chevalley basis for any Chevalley Lie algebra over a finite field. This is a necessary component for some constructive recognition algorithms of exceptional quasisimple groups of Lie type. When applied to a simple Chevalley Lie algebra in characteristic p⩾5, our algorithm has complexity involving the seventh power of the Lie rank, which is likely to be close to best possible.
Generalized Transformation Techniques for Multi-Choice Linear Programming Problems
Authors: ACHARYA Srikumar , ACHARYA Mitali Madhumita
Published: January 2013

The multi-choice programming allows the decision maker to consider multiple number of resources for each constraint or goal. Multi-choice linear programming problem can not be solved directly using the traditional linear programming technique. However, to deal with the multi-choice parameters, multiplicative terms of binary variables may be used in the transformed mathematical model. Recently, Biswal and Acharya (2009) have proposed a methodology to transform the multi-choice linear programming problem to an equivalent mathematical programming model, which can accommodate a maximum of eight goals in righthand side of any constraint. In this paper we present two models as generalized transformation of the multi-choice linear programming problem. Using any one of the transformation techniques a decision maker can handle a parameter with nite number of choices. Binary variables are introduced to formulate a non-linear mixed integer programming model. Using a non-linear programming software optimal solution of the proposed model can be obtained. Finally, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the transformation technique and the solution procedure.
Cardiac effect of short‐term experimental weight gain and loss in dogs
Authors: Pelosi A. , Rosenstein D. , Abood S. K. , Olivier B. N.
Published: January 2013

During 12 weeks, 18 normal dogs were fed a high‐caloric diet intended to induce obesity (weight‐gain phase). For the next 12weeks (weight‐loss phase), all dogs were fed a diet calculated to provide maintenance needs. During this second phase, dogs were randomly assigned to three groups differing only in their exercise regimen: group 1 dogs were not exercised, group 2 dogs were exercised three times each week on a treadmill, group 3 dogs were similarly exercised and outfitted with a vest holding additional weights. Echocardiographic data were obtained at baseline and following both the weight‐gain and weight‐loss phases. The weight‐gain phase of the study was associated with an increase in bodyweight (31.4 per cent), decrease in body density (3.9 per cent) and an increase in left ventricular (LV) myocardial cross‐sectional area in all groups. Cardiac hypertrophy was variably reversible during the weight‐loss phase, with complete recovery for group 1, partial recovery for group 2 and no recovery in group 3. Regardless of group, weight loss was associated with a significant increase in LV diameter, a reduction of heart rate and an increase in heart rate‐corrected isovolumetric relaxation time.
A prospective on farm cohort study investigating the epidemiology and pathophysiology of drunken lamb syndrome
Authors: Angell J. W. , Jones G. , Grove‐White D. H. , Jones E. , Higgins R. J. , Otter A.
Published: January 2013

Drunken lamb syndrome (DLS) is a fatal disease of unknown aetiology affecting young lambs. In 2011, a prospective on farm cohort study was carried out to investigate the epidemiology and pathophysiology of DLS. Ten cases from a cohort of 1635 crossbred and pure Welsh Mountain lambs were identified as having DLS on the basis of characteristic clinical signs. Renal histopathology demonstrated nephrosis in all 10 cases. Some cases also demonstrated concurrent intestinal pathology. The cases were significantly smaller than the cohort, nine out of the 10 were twins, and they all demonstrated a severe metabolic acidosis characterised by elevated D‐lactate. This study demonstrates that D‐lactate—probably initiated by the overgrowth of intestinal microorganisms—appears to be the cause of the metabolic acidosis seen in cases of DLS, and to be responsible for the clinical signs seen. It is unclear as to the significance of the nephrosis lesions, and the name ‘Lamb Nephrosis’ may be misleading. Treatment may be possible using solutions of sodium bicarbonate.
Suggested guidelines for using systemic antimicrobials in bacterial skin infections: part 2— antimicrobial choice, treatment regimens and compliance
Authors: Beco L. , Guaguère E. , Méndez C. Lorente , Noli C. , Nuttall T. , Vroom M.
Published: January 2013

Systemic antimicrobials are critically important in veterinary healthcare, and resistance is a major concern. Antimicrobial stewardship will be important in maintaining clinical efficacy by reducing the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial skin infections are one of the most common reasons for using systemic antimicrobials in dogs and cats. Appropriate management of these infections is, therefore, crucial in any policy for responsible antimicrobial use. The goals of therapy are to confirm that an infection is present, identify the causative bacteria, select the most appropriate antimicrobial, ensure that the infection is treated correctly, and to identify and manage any underlying conditions. This is the second of two articles that provide evidence‐led guidelines to help practitioners address these issues. Part 1 discussed the use of clinical signs, cytology and culture in diagnosis. This article will cover the rationale for topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy, including choice of first‐, second‐ and third‐line drugs, the dose, duration of therapy, compliance and identification of underlying predisposing conditions. In addition, there is guidance on cases of therapeutic failure and environmental hygiene. These guidelines will help veterinarians avoid the development and propagation of antimicrobial‐resistant bacterial strains.
Grape seed and skin extract alleviates high-fat diet-induced renal lipotoxicity and prevents copper depletion in rat
Authors: Charradi Kamel , Elkahoui Salem , Karkouch Ines , Limam Ferid , Hamdaoui Ghaith , Hassine Fethy Ben , El May Michèle Veronique , El May Ahmed , Aouani Ezzedine
Published: January 2013

Obesity is a public health problem that contributes to morbidity and mortality from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancers. The purpose of this investigation was to analyse the link between obesity-induced oxidative stress, renal steatosis, and kidney dysfunction, as well as the protective effect of grape seed and skin extract. Rats were fed a standard diet or a high-fat diet for 6 weeks and were either treated or not treated with grape seed and skin extract. Fat-induced oxidative stress was evaluated in the kidney with a special emphasis on transition metals. High-fat diet induced triglyceride deposition and disturbances in kidney function parameters, which are linked to an oxidative stress status and depletion of copper from the kidney. Grape seed and skin extract abrogated almost all fat-induced kidney disturbances. Grape seed and skin extract exerted potential protection against fat-induced kidney lipotoxicity and should find potential application in other kidney-related diseases.
Plotting positions for fitting distributions and extreme value analysis
Authors: Fuglem M. , Parr G. , Jordaan I.J.
Published: January 2013

Random data are often examined on plotting paper to determine appropriate probability distributions and distribution parameters for extreme-value analyses and other applications. Engineers are not always aware of criteria that have been developed and published for selecting the type of probability paper, nor of the impact that the selection can have on results. Some of the advice available in the literature is inaccurate, so it is important that the basis for using the correct method be clearly demonstrated. In the present paper, it is confirmed using straightforward simulation techniques that use of plotting position methods specific to the distribution being considered is appropriate and that use of other plotting position methods can give inaccurate results.
PHASE SYNCHRONIZATION IN BRAIN NETWORKS DERIVED FROM CORRELATION BETWEEN PROBABILITIES OF RECURRENCES IN FUNCTIONAL MRI DATA
Authors: RANGAPRAKASH D. , HU XIAOPING , DESHPANDE GOPIKRISHNA
Published: January 2013

It is increasingly being recognized that resting state brain connectivity derived from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data is an important marker of brain function both in healthy and clinical populations. Though linear correlation has been extensively used to characterize brain connectivity, it is limited to detecting first order dependencies. In this study, we propose a framework where in phase synchronization (PS) between brain regions is characterized using a new metric "correlation between probabilities of recurrence" (CPR) and subsequent graph-theoretic analysis of the ensuing networks. We applied this method to resting state fMRI data obtained from human subjects with and without administration of propofol anesthetic. Our results showed decreased PS during anesthesia and a biologically more plausible community structure using CPR rather than linear correlation. We conclude that CPR provides an attractive nonparametric method for modeling interactions in brain networks as compared to standard correlation for obtaining physiologically meaningful insights about brain function.
EFFICIENT ACTIVE CONTOUR MODEL FOR MULTIPHASE SEGMENTATION WITH APPLICATION TO BRAIN MR IMAGES
Authors: YANG YUNYUN , ZHAO YI , WU BOYING
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we propose an efficient active contour model for multiphase image segmentation in a variational level set formulation. By incorporating the globally convex segmentation idea and the split Bregman method into the multiphase formulation of the local and global intensity fitting energy model, our new model improved the original local and global intensity fitting energy model in the following aspects. First, we propose a new energy functional using the globally convex segmentation method to guarantee fast convergence. Second, we incorporate information from the edge into the energy functional by using a non-negative edge detector function to detect boundaries more easily. Third, instead of a constant value to control the influence of the local and global intensity fitting terms, we use a weight function varying with the locations of the image to balance the weights between the local and the global fitting terms dynamically. Lastly, the special structure of our energy functional enables us to apply the split Bregman method to minimize the energy much more efficiently. We have applied our model to synthetic images and real brain MR images with promising results. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency and superiority of our model.
AN ULTRA LOW-VOLTAGE/POWER-EFFICIENT ALL-DIGITAL DELAY LOCKED LOOP IN 55 nm CMOS TECHNOLOGY
Authors: CHENG CHUN-YUAN , WANG JINN-SHYAN , YEH CHENG-TAI
Published: January 2013

This paper presents an all-digital delay locked loop (ADDLL) that uses asynchronous-deskewing technology and achieves low power/voltage, small jitter, fast locking, and high process, voltage, and temperature (PVT)-variation tolerance. The measurement results show that the maximum frequency is 100 MHz at 0.35 V with 19 μW power dissipation, 62 ps peak-to-peak jitter, and 3 locking cycles. When operated at 0.5 V, the measured maximal operating clock frequency is 450 MHz with 12 ps peak-to-peak jitter, 6 locking cycles and 119 μW power dissipation. The ADDLL is fabricated with 55 nm CMOS technology, and the active area is only 0.019 mm2.
A SIMPLE DISCRETE-TIME ANALOGUE PRESERVING THE GLOBAL STABILITY OF A CONTINUOUS SIRS EPIDEMIC MODEL
Authors: ENATSU YOICHI , MUROYA YOSHIAKI
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we consider the backward Euler discretization derived from a continuous SIRS epidemic model, which contains a remaining problem that our discrete model has two solutions for infected population; one is positive and the other is negative. Under an additional positiveness condition on infected population, we show that the backward Euler discretization is one of simple discrete-time analogue which preserves the global asymptotic stability of equilibria of the corresponding continuous model.
ZnS/HALLOYSITE NANOCOMPOSITES: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ENHANCED PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY
Authors: ZHANG YI , YANG HUAMING
Published: January 2013

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles are successfully deposited on the surface of natural halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to produce ZnS /HNTs nanocomposites. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. The results indicate that ZnS nanoparticles are uniformly attached on the surface of HNTs with narrow particle size distribution center at ~10 nm, and are prevented from aggregation by HNTs and expose more active sites. ZnS /HNTs show excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of eosin B under UV light, better than pure ZnS and HNTs, indicating its potential application in the field of environmental protection. The mechanism for photocatalytic activity enhancement is also investigated.