bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Properties of Meromorphic Solutions of Systems of Complexq-Shift Difference Equations
Authors: Xu Hong-Yan , Liu Bing-Xiang , Tang Ke-Zong
Published: April 2013

In view of Nevanlinna theory, we study the properties of meromorphic solutions of systems of a class of complex difference equations. Some results obtained improve and extend the previous theorems given by Gao.
Neurogenesis, Exercise, and Cognitive Late Effects of Pediatric Radiotherapy
Authors: Rodgers Shaefali P. , Trevino Melissa , Zawaski Janice A. , Gaber M. Waleed , Leasure J. Leigh
Published: April 2013

Brain cancer is a common type of childhood malignancy, and radiotherapy (RT) is a mainstay of treatment. RT is effective for tumor eradication, and survival rates are high. However, RT damages the brain and disrupts ongoing developmental processes, resulting in debilitating cognitive “late” effects that may take years to fully manifest. These late effects likely derive from a long-term decrement in cell proliferation, combined with a neural environment that is hostile to plasticity, both of which are induced by RT. Long-term suppression of cell proliferation deprives the brain of the raw materials needed for optimum cognitive performance (such as new neurons in the hippocampus and new glia in frontal cortex), while chronic inflammation and dearth of trophic substances (such as growth hormone) limit neuroplastic potential in existing circuitry. Potential treatments for cognitive late effects should address both of these conditions. Exercise represents one such potential treatment, since it has the capacity to enhance cell proliferation, as well as to promote a neural milieu permissive for plasticity. Here, we review the evidence that cognitive late effects can be traced to RT-induced suppression of cell proliferation and hostile environmental conditions, as well as emerging evidence that exercise may be effective as an independent or adjuvant therapy.
Decomposition of Graphs into Paths and Cycles
Authors: Arumugam S. , Hamid I. Sahul , Abraham V. M.
Published: April 2013

A decomposition of a graph is a collection of edge-disjoint subgraphs of such that every edge of belongs to exactly one . If each is a path or a cycle in , then is called a path decomposition of . If each is a path in , then is called an acyclic path decomposition of . The minimum cardinality of a path decomposition (acyclic path decomposition) of is called the path decomposition number (acyclic path decomposition number) of and is denoted by
() (()). In this paper we initiate a study of the parameter and
determine the value of for some standard graphs. Further, we obtain
some bounds for and characterize graphs attaining the bounds. We
also prove that the difference between the parameters
and can be made arbitrarily large.
A Case Presentation: Decidualized Endometrioma Mimicking Ovarian Cancer during Pregnancy
Authors: Tazegül Aybike , Seçilmiş Kerimoğlu Özlem , İncesu Feyza Nur , Doğan Nasuh Utku , Yılmaz Setenay Arzu , Çelik Çetin
Published: April 2013

During pregnancy, masses that are larger than 5 cm and appearing in the Doppler ultrasonography as having increased blood flow, echoes of heterogeneous density, and containing solid components are suspicious for malignancy; however, differential diagnosis of decidualized endometriomas should also be considered. The patient was an 8 weeks pregnant primigravida. The ultrasonographic evaluation showed a cystic mass of size 65 × 57 mm in the left ovary that was well circumscribed, heterogeneous, with highly dense internal echo, and containing a solid component of size 8 × 14 mm. In the 12th week, the ultrasonographic examination revealed an increase in the size of the mass and increased arterial blood flow in the mass. The patient underwent surgery. It was observed that both ovaries were adherent in the Douglas pouch and that the left ovary contained an endometrioma of size 8cm. While the capsule was being peeled, lesions of soft density, with irregular surfaces, and with adhesion in the Douglas pouch were observed. The results of the frozen section revealed decidualized endometrioma and decidual structures. Even in pregnant women when adnexal masses are encountered and the ultrasonography, Doppler, MRI, and CA 125 level analysis still do not favor endometriosis, decidualized endometrioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
A Statistical Test for Ripley’sKFunction Rejection of Poisson Null Hypothesis
Authors: Marcon Eric , Traissac Stéphane , Lang Gabriel
Published: April 2013

Ripley’sKfunction is the classical tool to characterize the spatial structure of point patterns. It is widely used in vegetation studies. Testing its values against a null hypothesis usually relies on Monte-Carlo simulations since little is known about its distribution. We introduce a statistical test against complete spatial randomness (CSR). The test returns thePvalue to reject the null hypothesis of independence between point locations. It is more rigorous and faster than classical Monte-Carlo simulations. We show how to apply it to a tropical forest plot. The necessary R code is provided.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Composition ofSenecio salignusKunth
Authors: Pérez González Cuauhtemoc , Serrano Vega Roberto , González-Chávez Marco , Zavala Sánchez Miguel Angel , Pérez Gutiérrez Salud
Published: April 2013

We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity ofSenecio salignus. This medicinal plant is often used in Mexico for the treatment of fever and rheumatism. Chloroform and methanol extracts of the plant were tested on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate- (TPA-) induced edema in mice ears. The methanol extract of the plant inhibited edema by36±4.4% compared with the control, while the chloroform extract exhibited an even greater level of inhibition (64.1%). The chloroform extract was then fractionated, and the composition of the active fraction was determined by GC-MS. The anti-inflammatory activity of this fraction was then tested on TPA-induced ear edema in mice, and we found that the active fraction could inhibit edema by 46.9%. The anti-inflammatory effect of the fraction was also tested on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats at doses of 100 mg/kg; a58.9±2.8% reduction of the edema was observed 4 h after administration of carrageenan, and the effect was maintained for 5 h.
Physicochemical Study of Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2Supported Palygorskite Clay Mineral
Authors: Bouna Lahcen , Rhouta Benaissa , Maury Francis
Published: April 2013

This study deals with the influence of physicochemical parameters, namely, the photocatalyst loading, dye concentration, and pH of polluted solutions, on the degradation efficiency of Orange G (OG) solutions containing TiO2nanoparticles supported on palygorskite clay mineral (TiO2-Pal). The TiO2photocatalyst attached to natural palygorskite fibers was elaborated by colloidal sol-gel route. It exhibits the anatase structure that is the most photoactive crystallographic form. The highest performances of supported photocatalyst on OG degradation were found using an optimum amount of TiO2-Pal around 0.8 g·L−1, which corresponds properly toca. 0.4 g·L−1of TiO2. This amount is interestingly lower than the 2.5 g·L−1generally reported when using pure unsupported TiO2powder. The photodegradation rate increases by decreasing OG initial concentration, and it was found significantly higher when the OG solution is either acidic (pH<4) or basic (pH≈11). For OG concentrations in the range5×10-6– 5×10-4 M, the kinetic law of the OG degradation in presence of TiO2-Pal is similar to that reported for unsupported TiO2nanopowder. It follows a Langmuir-Hinshelwood model with a first-order reaction and an apparent rate constant of about2.9×10-2 min−1.
The Effect of Dantonic Pill onβ-Catenin Expression in a Rat Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Early Stage of Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Shuhong Zhou , Hongjun Lv , Bo Cui , Li Xu , Bingyin Shi
Published: April 2013

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common causes of end-stage renal failure. This study was performed to determine the effect of Dantonic Pill (DP) treatment onβ-catenin expression in a rat model of streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced early-stage DN, with irbesartan treatment as a positive control. Including an analysis of the general metabolic index and renal function, immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription real-time PCR forβ-catenin were performed in the renal cortex of the rat models every 4 weeks. After the treatments of DP and irbesartan, the albuminuria level, kidney weight/body weight, and thickness of the glomerular basement membrane were decreased, but the expression ofβ-catenin was not downregulated in the renal cortex. The effective drug target of DP to ameliorate albuminuria and renal hypertrophy should not inhibit the upregulated expression ofβ-catenin in rats with STZ-induced early-stage diabetic damage.
The Nature of Massive Neutrinos
Authors: Petcov S. T.
Published: April 2013

The compelling experimental evidences for oscillations of solar, reactor, atmospheric, and accelerator neutrinos imply the existence of 3-neutrino mixing in the weak charged lepton current. The current data on the 3-neutrino mixing parameters are summarised and the phenomenology of 3-νmixing is reviewed. The properties of massive Majorana neutrinos and of their various possible couplings are discussed in detail. Two models of neutrino mass generation with massive Majorana neutrinos—the type I see-saw and the Higgs triplet model—are briefly reviewed. The problem of determining the nature, Dirac or Majorana, of massive neutrinos is considered. The predictions for the effective Majorana mass|〈m〉|in neutrinoless double-beta-((ββ)0ν-) decay in the case of 3-neutrino mixing and massive Majorana neutrinos are summarised. The physics potential of the experiments, searching for(ββ)0ν-decay for providing information on the type of the neutrino mass spectrum, on the absolute scale of neutrino masses, and on the Majorana CP-violation phases in the PMNS neutrino mixing matrix, is also briefly discussed. The opened questions and the main goals of future research in the field of neutrino physics are outlined.
Detection of Rare Beta Globin Gene Mutation [+22 5UTR(G>A)] in an Infant, Despite Prenatal Screening
Authors: Mahdavi Mohammad Reza , Karami Hosein , Akbari Mohammad Taghi , Jalali Hosein , Roshan Payam
Published: April 2013

Background. Beta thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary disorders worldwide. In Iran, it is frequently reported from northern and southern provinces. In order to prevent child birth to be affected by this complication, prenatal screening and diagnosis are carried out nationwide. However, in some instances, this program is unable to identify rare mutations leading to thalassemia.Case Presentation. A married couple, who took part in prenatal screening and diagnosis, gave birth to a child who is affected by thalassemia major. After several molecular examinations, a rare mutation [+22 5UTR (G>A)] in compound heterozygote state along with a common mutation [codon 8 (-AA)] was found.Conclusion. This case study suggests that more advanced molecular evaluations must be integrated in prenatal screening programs to identify rare mutations and antenatal diagnosis of thalassemia cases.
HPV-Based Screening, Triage, Treatment, and Followup Strategies in the Management of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Authors: Peralta-Zaragoza Oscar , Deas Jessica , Gómez-Cerón Claudia , García-Suastegui Wendy Argelia , Fierros-Zárate Geny del Socorro , Jacobo-Herrera Nadia Judith
Published: April 2013

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women worldwide, and the development of new diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment strategies merits special attention. Many efforts have been made to design new drugs and develop immunotherapy and gene therapy strategies to treat cervical cancer. HPV genotyping has potentially valuable applications in triage of low-grade abnormal cervical cytology, assessment of prognosis and followup of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and in treatment strategies for invasive cervical cancer. It is known that during the development of cervical cancer associated with HPV infection, a cascade of abnormal events is induced, including disruption of cellular cycle control, alteration of gene expression, and deregulation of microRNA expression. Thus, the identification and subsequent functional evaluation of host proteins associated with HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins may provide useful information in understanding cervical carcinogenesis, identifying cervical cancer molecular markers, and developing specific targeting strategies against tumor cells. Therefore, in this paper, we discuss the main diagnostic methods, management strategies, and followup of HPV-associated cervical lesions and review clinical trials applying gene therapy strategies against the development of cervical cancer.
On the Set of Fixed Points and Periodic Points of Continuously Differentiable Functions
Authors: Alikhani-Koopaei Aliasghar
Published: April 2013

In recent years, researchers have studied the size of different sets related to the dynamics of self-maps of an interval. In this note we investigate the sets of fixed points and periodic points of continuously differentiable functions and show that typically such functions have a finite set of fixed points and a countable set of periodic points.
A Review of Existing Microgrid Architectures
Authors: Mariam Lubna , Basu Malabika , Conlon Michael F.
Published: April 2013

The future electricity network must be flexible, accessible, reliable, and economic according to the worldwide smartgrid initiative. This is also echoed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and European Electricity Grid Initiative (EEGI). In order to facilitate these objectives and to reduce green house gas (GHG) emission, research on various configurations of microgrid (μG) system is gaining importance, particularly with high penetration of renewable energy sources. Depending on the resource availability, geographical locations, load demand, and existing electrical transmission and distribution system,μG can be either connected to the grid or can work in an autonomous mode. Storage can also be a part of theμG architecture. This paper presents a critical literature review of variousμG architectures. The benefits of grid-connected or isolatedμG with storage have also been identified.
The Skeletal Muscle Impedancemetric Characteristics as a Marker for Detection of Functional State of Organism
Authors: Deghoyan Anush , Simonyan Robert , Wachtel Howard , Ayrapetyan Sinerik
Published: April 2013

Previously it has been shown that cell hydration is a universal and extrasensitive marker for different environmental mediums and functional state of tissue and organism. The comparative study of cell hydration of different organs (brain cortex, liver, and skeletal muscle) at various experimental conditions (microstress, pathology, and different poisons) was realized. It was shown that among tissues of different organs muscle hydration is more sensitive to any change of functional state of organism and environmental medium. The study of correlation between tissue muscle hydration and double-frequency measurement impedance method indicated that the differences between muscle reactive conductivity measured at high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) could be an adequate marker for detection of muscle hydration. The animal poisoning, stress, and pathology-induced tissue hydration were accompanied by increase in . The observed close correlation between time-dependent tissue hydration and in different environmental mediums can be a marker for detection of postmortal period as well as for characterizing environmental medium of the corpse.
Chinese Skullcap in Move Free Arthritis Supplement Causes Drug Induced Liver Injury and Pulmonary Infiltrates
Authors: Dhanasekaran Renumathy , Owens Victoria , Sanchez William
Published: April 2013

Herbal medications are being increasingly used by the American population especially for common conditions like arthritis. They have been reported to cause adverse effects, including significant hepatotoxicity, but reporting remains sporadic. We report here a patient who developed drug induced liver injury following the intake of Move Free, which is an over-the-counter arthritis supplement. We propose that Chinese skullcap, which is one of the herbal ingredients of the medication, is responsible for the adverse event. There was a strong temporal association between the intake of supplement and onset of symptoms, and also there have been a few recent case reports implicating the same component. A unique observation in our case is the occurrence of pulmonary infiltrates simultaneously with the hepatotoxicity, and this side effect has not been well documented before. Both the hepatic and pulmonary complications completely resolved over few weeks after the patient stopped taking the medication. Since these supplements are readily available over the counter, we feel that it is important to document possible adverse outcomes to raise awareness in the medical community and also among patients.
In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activity of a Novel Alkylating Agent, Melphalan-Flufenamide, against Multiple Myeloma Cells
Authors: Chauhan Dharminder , Ray Arghya , Viktorsson Kristina , Spira Jack , Paba-Prada Claudia , Munshi Nikhil , Richardson Paul , Lewensohn Rolf , Anderson Kenneth C.
Published: April 2013

Purpose: The alkylating agent melphalan prolongs survival in patients with multiple myeloma; however, it is associated with toxicities and development of drug-resistance. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of melphalan-flufenamide (mel-flufen), a novel dipeptide prodrug of melphalan in multiple myeloma.

Experimental Design: Multiple myeloma cell lines, primary patient cells, and the human multiple myeloma xenograft animal model were used to study the antitumor activity of mel-flufen.

Results: Low doses of mel-flufen trigger more rapid and higher intracellular concentrations of melphalan in multiple myeloma cells than are achievable by free melphalan. Cytotoxicity analysis showed significantly lower IC50 of mel-flufen than melphalan in multiple myeloma cells. Importantly, mel-flufen induces apoptosis even in melphalan- and bortezomib-resistant multiple myeloma cells. Mechanistic studies show that siRNA knockdown of aminopeptidase N, a key enzyme mediating intracellular conversion of mel-flufen to melphalan, attenuates anti–multiple myeloma activity of mel-flufen. Furthermore, mel-flufen–induced apoptosis was associated with: (i) activation of caspases and PARP cleavage; (ii) reactive oxygen species generation; (iii) mitochondrial dysfunction and release of cytochrome c; and (iv) induction of DNA damage. Moreover, mel-flufen inhibits multiple myeloma cell migration and tumor-associated angiogenesis. Human multiple myeloma xenograft studies showed a more potent inhibition of tumor growth in mice treated with mel-flufen than mice receiving equimolar doses of melphalan. Finally, combining mel-flufen with lenalidomide, bortezomib, or dexamethasone triggers synergistic anti–multiple myeloma activity.

Conclusion: Our preclinical study supports clinical evaluation of mel-flufen to enhance therapeutic potential of melphalan, overcome drug-resistance, and improve multiple myeloma patient outcome. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 3019–31. ©2013 AACR.
Metabolomics Identifies Pyrimidine Starvation as the Mechanism of 5-Aminoimidazole-4-Carboxamide-1-β-Riboside-Induced Apoptosis in Multiple Myeloma Cells
Authors: Bardeleben Carolyne , Sharma Sanjai , Reeve Joseph R. , Bassilian Sara , Frost Patrick , Hoang Bao , Shi Yijiang , Lichtenstein Alan
Published: April 2013

To investigate the mechanism by which 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-riboside (AICAr) induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells, we conducted an unbiased metabolomics screen. AICAr had selective effects on nucleotide metabolism, resulting in an increase in purine metabolites and a decrease in pyrimidine metabolites. The most striking abnormality was a 26-fold increase in orotate associated with a decrease in uridine monophosphate (UMP) levels, indicating an inhibition of UMP synthetase (UMPS), the last enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway, which produces UMP from orotate and 5-phosphoribosyl-α-pyrophosphate (PRPP). As all pyrimidine nucleotides can be synthesized from UMP, this suggested that the decrease in UMP would lead to pyrimidine starvation as a possible cause of AICAr-induced apoptosis. Exogenous pyrimidines uridine, cytidine, and thymidine, but not purines adenosine or guanosine, rescued multiple myeloma cells from AICAr-induced apoptosis, supporting this notion. In contrast, exogenous uridine had no protective effect on apoptosis resulting from bortezomib, melphalan, or metformin. Rescue resulting from thymidine add-back indicated apoptosis was induced by limiting DNA synthesis rather than RNA synthesis. DNA replicative stress was identified by associated H2A.X phosphorylation in AICAr-treated cells, which was also prevented by uridine add-back. Although phosphorylation of AICAr by adenosine kinase was required to induce multiple myeloma cell death, apoptosis was not associated with AMP-activated kinase activation or mTORC1 inhibition. A possible explanation for inhibition of UMP synthase activity by AICAr was a depression in cellular levels of PRPP, a substrate of UMP synthase. These data identify pyrimidine biosynthesis as a potential molecular target for future therapeutics in multiple myeloma cells. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(7); 1310–21. ©2013 AACR.
Prognostic Significance of Biomarkers in Predicting Outcome in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Authors: Feldman Arthur M. , Mann Douglas L. , She Lilin , Bristow Michael R. , Maisel Alan S. , McNamara Dennis M. , Walsh Ryan , Lee Dorellyn L. , Wos Stanislaw , Lang Irene , Wells Gretchen , Drazner Mark H. , Schmedtje John F. , Pauly Daniel F. , Sueta Carla A. , Di Maio Michael , Kron Irving L. , Velazquez Eric J. , Lee Kerry L.
Published: April 2013

Background—

Patients with heart failure and coronary artery disease often undergo coronary artery bypass grafting, but assessment of the risk of an adverse outcome in these patients is difficult. To evaluate the ability of biomarkers to contribute independent prognostic information in these patients, we measured levels in patients enrolled in the biomarker substudies of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trials. Patients in STICH Hypothesis 1 were randomized to medical therapy or coronary artery bypass grafting, whereas those in STICH Hypothesis 2 were randomized to coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary artery bypass grafting with left ventricular reconstruction.

Methods and Results—

In substudy patients assigned to STICH Hypothesis 1 (n=606), plasma levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor-1 (sTNFR-1) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were highly predictive of the primary outcome variable of mortality by univariate analysis (BNP: χ
2
=40.6;
P
<0.0001 and sTNFR-1: χ
2
=38.9;
P
<0.0001). When considered in the context of multivariable analysis, both BNP and sTNFR-1 contributed independent prognostic information beyond the information provided by a large array of clinical factors independent of treatment assignment. Consistent results were seen when assessing the predictive value of BNP and sTNFR-1 in patients assigned to STICH Hypothesis 2 (n=626). Both plasma levels of BNP (χ
2
=30.3) and sTNFR-1 (χ
2
=45.5) were highly predictive in univariate analysis (
P
<0.0001) and in multivariable analysis for the primary end point of death or cardiac hospitalization. In multivariable analysis, the prognostic information contributed by BNP (χ
2
=6.0;
P
=0.049) and sTNFR-1 (χ
2
=8.8;
P
=0.003) remained statistically significant even after accounting for other clinical information. Although the biomarkers added little discriminatory improvement to the clinical factors (increase in
c
-index ≤0.1), net reclassification improvement for the primary end points was 0.29 for BNP and 0.21 for sTNFR-1 in the Hypothesis 1 cohort, and 0.15 for BNP and 0.30 for sTNFR-1 in the Hypothesis 2 cohort, reflecting important predictive improvement.

Conclusions—

Elevated levels of sTNFR-1 and BNP are strongly associated with outcomes, independent of therapy, in 2 large and independent studies, thus providing important cross-validation for the prognostic importance of these 2 biomarkers.
Mechanisms of Tissue Uptake and Retention in Zotarolimus-Coated Balloon Therapy
Authors: Kolachalama Vijaya B. , Pacetti Stephen D. , Franses Joseph W. , Stankus John J. , Zhao Hugh Q. , Shazly Tarek , Nikanorov Alexander , Schwartz Lewis B. , Tzafriri Abraham R. , Edelman Elazer R.
Published: April 2013

Background—

Drug-coated balloons are increasingly used for peripheral vascular disease, and, yet, mechanisms of tissue uptake and retention remain poorly characterized. Most systems to date have used paclitaxel, touting its propensity to associate with various excipients that can optimize its transfer and retention. We examined zotarolimus pharmacokinetics.

Methods and Results—

Animal studies, bench-top experiments, and computational modeling were integrated to quantify arterial distribution after zotarolimus-coated balloon use. Drug diffusivity and binding parameters for use in computational modeling were estimated from the kinetics of zotarolimus uptake into excised porcine femoral artery specimens immersed in radiolabeled drug solutions. Like paclitaxel, zotarolimus exhibited high partitioning into the arterial wall. Exposure of intimal tissue to drug revealed differential distribution patterns, with zotarolimus concentration decreasing with transmural depth as opposed to the multiple peaks displayed by paclitaxel. Drug release kinetics was measured by inflating zotarolimus-coated balloons in whole blood. In vivo drug uptake in swine arteries increased with inflation time but not with balloon size. Simulations coupling transmural diffusion and reversible binding to tissue proteins predicted arterial distribution that correlated with in vivo uptake. Diffusion governed drug distribution soon after balloon expansion, but binding determined drug retention.

Conclusions—

A large bolus of zotarolimus releases during balloon inflation, some of which pervades the tissue, and a fraction of the remaining drug adheres to the tissue–lumen interface. As a result, the duration of delivery modulates tissue uptake where diffusion and reversible binding to tissue proteins determine drug transport and retention, respectively.
Plasma Retinol-Binding Protein 4 (RBP4) Levels and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Sun Qi , Kiernan Urban A. , Shi Ling , Phillips David A. , Kahn Barbara B. , Hu Frank B. , Manson JoAnn E. , Albert Christine M. , Rexrode Kathryn M.
Published: April 2013

Background—

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) may play an important role in the origin of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Few prospective data are available on the relationship between RBP4 and coronary heart disease (CHD). Furthermore, previous studies did not distinguish among full-length and truncated forms of RBP4 that might have various biological activities.

Methods and Results—

We measured plasma levels of full-length and several C-terminally truncated subfractions of RBP4 among 468 women who developed CHD and 472 matched controls in the Nurses’ Health Study cohort during 16 years of follow-up (1990–2006). We observed a temporal variation in the association of full-length RBP4 levels with CHD risk (
P
=0.04 for testing proportional hazard assumption). In the first 8 years of follow-up, after multivariate adjustment for covariates, the odds ratio of CHD risk comparing extreme quartiles of full-length RBP4 levels was 3.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.21–10.51;
P
trend
=0.003), whereas this association was 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.38–1.56;
P
trend
=0.44) in the follow-up period of 9 to 16 years. Results were similar for total RBP4 levels (summed levels of all RBP4 isoforms). Levels of the primary truncated isoform, RBP4-L, were not associated with CHD risk in any follow-up period; the odds ratios for extreme quartiles were 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 0.50–3.32) and 1.20 (95% confidence interval, 0.64–2.26) in the first and second 8 years of follow-up, respectively.

Conclusions—

In this cohort of women, higher circulating full-length and total RBP4 levels were associated with increased risk of CHD in a time-dependent fashion. Additional data are warranted to confirm the present findings.
Morphological and genetic variations of Ommatotriton in Turkey
Authors: Bülbül Ufuk , Kutrup Bilal
Published: April 2013

The classification of European newts has fluctuated throughout history based on morphological and genetic discoveries. In this study, specimens of Ommatotriton from Turkey were compared by using morphometrical features and partial mitochondrial sequences data. When we used the TCS program, 15 haplotypes were found for a 541 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene in 118 specimens, while 25 haplotypes were found for a 398 bp fragment of the cytb gene in 112 specimens. The sequence divergence of 16S rRNA gene ranged from 0.18% to 5.70% while for cytb gene it ranged from 0.25% to 12.84%. Combined sequences showed that newts collected in three distinct geographical areas of Turkey (Southern Anatolia, Western Black Sea and Eastern Black Sea) form four distinct lineages (Hatay, Adana-Mersin, Western Black Sea and Eastern Black Sea). A total of 195 adult specimens (94 males and 101 females) from 20 different populations belonging to the three distinct geographic areas were used in the morphometrical comparisons. Canonical Variate Analysis demonstrated that the four groups were successfully separated and formed geographically homogeneous groups in the canonical space. As a conclusion, our molecular data suggest that individuals from Western Black Sea are not conspecific with Eastern Black Sea ones and they could represent a good species (Ommatotriton nesterovi). Finally, we suggest that three distinct species, O. nesterovi, O. ophryticus and O. vittatus should be recognised as banded newts of Turkey.
Reading Other People’s Letters in the 1970s: Reconstructing Soviet Spectatorship in Il’i͡a Averbakh’s Other People’s Letters (1975)
Authors: Klimova Olga
Published: April 2013

This paper studies audiences’ responses, published in the Soviet press of the 1970s, to Il’i͡a Averbakh’s 1975 film Other People’s Letters. Averbakh’s film was made in the context of a stiffening ideological situation in the country, on the one hand, and the commercialization of Soviet cinema, on the other hand. Young and adult viewers reacted to the film differently and recreated their own messages, in accordance to their position in the power structure. As it is evident from the analysis of film reviews and letters to the editors, regarding Other People’s Letters, the prevailing spectatorial position during the Brezhnev years was “negotiating,” thus continuing the tradition of the Thaw culture. It allowed Soviet viewers to discuss some unconventional questions, while still limiting their ability to openly talk about some other taboo topics. The negotiating position was challenged and manipulated by viewers who were associated with authoritative, official discourse.
The Threat to “Un-Moderate”: Moroccan Islamists and the Arab Spring
Authors: Buehler Matt
Published: April 2013

Across the Islamic world, Islamist groups have chosen to join popular protests stemming from the 2011 Arab Spring. In Morocco, however, an exception emerged. The country’s main Islamist opposition political party – the Justice and Development Party (hizb al-a’dala wa al-tanmia) – declined invitations to join demonstrations organized by the February 20th Movement for Change. Under what conditions do Islamist movements support Arab Spring uprisings? Why did the PJD choose to stay outside these protests demanding greater reform? The PJD, some scholars argue, did not support Arab Spring unrest because it is a co-opted Islamist movement. In contrast, I argue that the PJD refused to join the protests because it thought it could leverage them to its advantage. By threatening the Moroccan regime to leave formal party politics for the street, the Islamist party used the unrest to increase its bargaining power, sideline its rivals, and win its policy demands. This threat to “un-moderate” empowered the PJD to get what it wanted from the regime during the Arab Spring.
Female Citizenship in the Middle East: Comparing family law reform in Morocco, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon
Authors: Maktabi Rania
Published: April 2013

This article explores the relationship between type of court system, parliamentary reform, and expanded female citizenship in four Arab states between 1990 and 2010. I argue that female citizens have acquired wider civil rights through parliament in relatively homogenous states with unitary court systems than in multireligious states with dual court systems. In Egypt and Morocco, unitary courts curbed clerical judicial authority over family law and weakened the resilience of conservative religious authorities. In these states, renewed pressures for reform after 1990 yielded strengthened female civil rights. In Syria and Lebanon, dual courts safeguard the judicial autonomy of clerics and enable them to resist pressures for family law reform more forcefully. In these states, little changed because the interests of political and religious authorities converge in ways that bolster group-based citizenship and constrain the civil rights of female citizens.
Correspondence manuals in nineteenth-century Greater Syria: between the arzuhalci and the advent of popular letter writing
Authors: Ben-Bassat Yuval , Zachs Fruma
Published: April 2013

This article is based on several editions of a recently located letter writing manual by Yusuf Efendi al-Shalfun (1839-95). This booklet provides a new perspective on a period in which the practice of ‘popular’ letter-writing was expanding in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman empire. Little research has been devoted thus far to the implications of the increase in the ability to write (in contradistinction to the ability to read), in the empire’s Arab provinces in the second half of the nineteenth century. Popular correspondence, both personal and more formal, gradually developed among the Arab urban literate population, who used manuals such as the one written by al-Shalfun as guides to write in various official, social, and familial situations. Letter writing thus complemented the work of the arzuhalcis, the professional letter and petition writers in the Ottoman empire. This paper examines the impact of popular letter writing in Greater Syria in the second half of the nineteenth century as well as the public’s ability at the time to communicate through writing.
The economic consequences of the Celali revolts: the destruction and re-establishment of the state’s taxation organisation
Authors: Polat Süleyman
Published: April 2013

At the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth centuries the Celali revolts resulted in wide-scale destruction throughout the entire Anatolian region. While research has been done on the general effects of this destruction, in-depth work investigating the economic consequences of the Celali revolts based on extant economic data has yet to be undertaken. Using archival material it is, however, possible to show the economic effects of these revolts. Taking the fall in tax collected by the state from the population as a result of the Celali revolts, this article aims to show how these revolts affected the economic structure of the state. By comparing the levels of avarız taxes collected before and after the revolts, and by trying to establish the levels of tax set according to the tax unit, the avarız hanes, the article thus sets out the economic impact the revolts had in Anatolia.
Ruler and state, state and society in Ottoman political thought
Authors: Sariyannis Marinos
Published: April 2013

It can be argued that the late seventeenth century marks the transition of the Ottoman entity into an early modern state, with one of its main features identified as the distinction between the ruler and the state apparatus. The paper aims to explore whether, when and how such a process reflected in contemporary political thought. It analyzes the ways Ottoman elite authors represented society vis-à-vis the sultan; also, the development of the notion of “state” in the same authors and how it came to be considered different from that of the “ruler”.
Inward FDI in the Western Balkans in the wake of Croatia’s EU accession
Authors: Kalotay Kálmán
Published: April 2013

The Western Balkans is a politically fragmented subregion, possessing moderate levels natural resources, and lagging behind the rest of Europe in terms of income. Integration into the European Union offers the only feasible perspective to overcome deep-rooted divisions, and to speed up progress on the road to prosperity. It can also act as a catalyst for more foreign direct investment inflows. However no large increase can be expected given the modest business opportunities of the subregion, and the fact that business entities have a gradualist approach to changes: certain measures are already factored into their locational decisions, while other will be acknowledged only on the longer term. Moreover, the Western Balkans needs to develop a strategy of attracting niche projects as it can not expect to divert investment on a large scale from countries in transition that are already members of the Union.
Revisiting the Case of China-Measures Involving the Exportation of Various Raw Materials from the perspective of Effectiveness of the Necessity Defence
Authors: Han Xiuli , Liu Zhiyi , Liu Lingzi
Published: April 2013

The case of Various Raw Materials has been settled. However, some issues in this case are still popular topics among Chinese scholars. The most controversial issues are whether China is entitled to invoke Article XX of the GATT 1994 to defend its export restrictions and whether China demonstrated its measures consistent with Article XX (b) and (g) of the GATT 1994. This paper points out that the Article XX of GATT 1994 in its essence is extremely difficult to be invoked successfully. What makes it even more difficult is ‘stereotype’ to China’s ‘exceptional circumstances’. In view of ineffectiveness of the necessity defence, changing economic management pattern to achieve sustainable development is the fundamental way to solve the problem of Chinese environmental protection as related to exploitation of natural resource.
Portfolio Investment: Reconceptualising the Notion of Investment under the ICSID Convention
Authors: Dekastros Michail
Published: April 2013

The International Investment régime has been transformed to a vibrant and constantly evolving, yet incoherent system. A point of incoherence has been the notion of ‘investment’ under the ICSID Convention for which the case-law and doctrine have remained unsettled for long. Some Respondent States have been particularly resistant to a broad interpretation of the notion of ‘investment’ which would include portfolio investments in its ambit.

Despite this trend, the aim of this article is to reconceptualise the problem and make the case for a more encompassing definition of ‘investment’. In Part II of the article, the case-law of ICSID tribunals will be analysed and it will be argued that the methodology they have followed to interpret the notion of ‘investment’ is erroneous. In Part III, it will be argued that the limitations that they have placed upon the definition of investment are not sanctioned under a proper interpretation of the Convention. In Chapter IV, a new conceptualisation of the notion of investment will be provided. This definition, anchored in International Law but being informed by economics, is more flexible and includes portfolio investment in its scope.
Should “the Perspective of South-North Contradictions” Be “Abandoned”? – Focusing on “2012 Sino-Canada BIT”
Authors: Chen An , Gu E-Nuo
Published: April 2013

The rapid development of China’s economy not only has upgraded its international economic rank, but also has accelerated its pace of outward investment. Meanwhile, China and several dozens of other developing countries are stuck in a disadvantageous status caused by consequent remarks, such as that “China is no longer a developing country”, that “the perspective of South-North Contradictions is already outdated and should be abandoned during the process of concluding BITs and establishing international economic rules in general”, etc. However, the rationale and accuracy of these remarks as well as the exact meaning hidden behind all remain open to question. This Article, from the source and stream of South-North Contradictions and modern BITs, focusing on the typical example of two core provisions selected from the newly concluded 2012 Sino-Canada BIT, endeavors to demonstrate that the “perspective of South-North Contradictions” cannot and should not be abandoned during the process of BIT negotiations and establishing international economic rules in general.
The regime of international investments within the EC-Chile Association Agreement: towards a possible renegotiation?
Authors: Tavassi Jacopo
Published: April 2013

This paper aims at analyzing the Association Agreement concluded between the European Community, today European Union, and Chile, as it is believed that it can be, given its articulated regulatory and institutional framework, a good example of how similar treaties, in the field of international investments, can combine the protection of the foreign company’s rights with the promotion and respect of the host-State’s public interests. Besides, in the light of the amendments to the content and scope of the EU Common Commercial Policy made by Treaty of Lisbon, through which the European Union acquires an exclusive competence in the field of FDI, it seems likely that in the future the issue of FDI may fully fall within the scope of the said Association Agreement, excluding, in the relations between Chile and the single EU Member States, the application of the BIT in force. This might encourage the parties to introduce a chapter on the setting up of a dispute settlement mechanism also operating in the relationships between investors and host-States. Such progress, in fact, would be fully in line with the recent practice of Free Trade Agreements concluded by Chile with third countries, which entrust the resolution of conflicts between the foreign company and the host-State to international arbitration bodies.
Double Remedies: A Feasible Option?
Authors: Dubey Akansha , Mukherjee Puloma
Published: April 2013

This paper is an endeavour to specifically discuss the problems of simultaneous imposition of trade remedies in disputes before the World Trade Organization. The authors have undertaken the approach of providing an introduction to the three trade remedies and then analyzing the recent AD-CVD case on the subject of Non-Market economies and imposition of more than one trade remedies. With a background of this dispute the interesting goal is to find a consistency of this measure with the WTO obligations. Further, various situations are scrutinized to assess the future implications of the adoption of this approach in the WTO jurisprudence.
Settlement Experiences of African Refugees: A Case Study of the Armidale, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour Regions of New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Kivunja Charles , Kuyini Ahmed Bawa , Maxwell Thomas
Published: April 2013

Cast in the framework of social capital theory, this research used case studies to investigate the settlement experiences of African migrants in Armidale, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour in Australia. Analysis of individual ( n = 29) and one focus group interview data revealed that most migrants expressed some satisfaction with service provision in the areas of initial settlement support and the work of local community organizations. Problems still remained with regard to employment, family reunion and dealing with changes in family relations. The study concludes that there is a need to educate African migrants on mainstream Australian culture in order to enhance the migrants’ capacity to build social capital. Local governments need to make specific provisions within their policies, focusing on the settlement of migrants to address some of the gaps in services.
Hot embossing of microstructures on addition curing polydimethylsiloxane films
Authors: Vudayagiri Sindhu , Yu Liyun , Hassouneh Suzan Sager , Skov Anne Ladegaard
Published: April 2013

The aim of this research work is to establish a hot embossing process for addition curing vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which are thermosetting elastomers, based on the existing and widely applied technology for thermoplasts. To our knowledge, no known technologies or processes are commercially available for embossing microstructures and submicron structures on elastomers like silicones in large scale production of films. The predominantly used technologies to make microscale components for microfluidic devices and microstructures on PDMS elastomer is (a) reaction injection molding, (b) ultraviolet lithography, and (c) photolithography. We focus on hot embossing as it is one of the simplest, most cost-effective, and time-saving methods for replicating structures for thermoplasts. Addition curing silicones are shown to possess the ability to capture and retain an imprint made on it, 10–15 min after the gel point at room temperature. This property is exploited in the hot embossing technology.
Is It Really Self-Control? Examining the Predictive Power of the Delay of Gratification Task
Authors: Duckworth Angela L. , Tsukayama Eli , Kirby Teri A.
Published: April 2013

This investigation tests whether the predictive power of the delay of gratification task (colloquially known as the “marshmallow test”) derives from its assessment of self-control or of theoretically unrelated traits. Among 56 school-age children in Study 1, delay time was associated with concurrent teacher ratings of self-control and Big Five conscientiousness—but not with other personality traits, intelligence, or reward-related impulses. Likewise, among 966 preschool children in Study 2, delay time was consistently associated with concurrent parent and caregiver ratings of self-control but not with reward-related impulses. While delay time in Study 2 was also related to concurrently measured intelligence, predictive relations with academic, health, and social outcomes in adolescence were more consistently explained by ratings of effortful control. Collectively, these findings suggest that delay task performance may be influenced by extraneous traits, but its predictive power derives primarily from its assessment of self-control.
“I Guess What He Said Wasn’t That Bad”
Authors: Rasinski Heather M. , Geers Andrew L. , Czopp Alexander M.
Published: April 2013

Although confrontations can be an effective means of reducing prejudicial responding, individuals often do not confront others due to the interpersonal costs. In the present research, we examined the intrapersonal implications of not confronting prejudice. In three studies, female participants were exposed to a confederate who made a sexist remark. Consistent with self-justification theories, in Study 1, participants who valued confronting and were given the opportunity to confront—but did not—subsequently made more positive evaluations of the confederate. Study 2 found that when participants were given a chance to affirm an important aspect of the self prior to evaluating the confederate, these inflated evaluations of the confederate did not occur. Finally, in Study 3, participants who initially valued confronting but did not confront a sexist partner reduced the amount of importance they placed on confronting. These data reveal that there are important intrapersonal consequences of not confronting prejudice.