bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) Prevents β‐Amyloid Aggregation, Generation of Advanced Glycation‐end Products (AGEs), and Acrolein‐Induced Cytotoxicity on Human Neuronal‐Like Cells
Authors: Bittencourt Leonardo da Silva , Zeidán‐Chuliá Fares , Yatsu Francini Kiyono Jorge , Schnorr Carlos Eduardo , Moresco Karla Suzana , Kolling Eduardo Antônio , Gelain Daniel Pens , Bassani Valquiria Linck , Moreira José Cláudio Fonseca
Published: May 2014

Advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) are considered potent molecules capable of promoting neuronal cell death and participating in the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that AGEs exacerbate β‐amyloid (Aβ) aggregation and AGE‐related cross‐links are also detected in senile plaques. Acrolein (ACR) is an α, β‐unsaturated aldehyde found in the environment and thermally processed foods, which can additionally be generated through endogenous metabolism. The role of ACR in AD is widely accepted in the literature. Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) is popularly consumed by the population in Brazil, mainly for its stimulant activity. In the present study, we showed that guarana (10, 100, and 1000 µg/mL) is able to prevent protein glycation, β‐amyloid aggregation, in vitro methylglyoxal, glyoxal, and ACR (20 μM)‐induced toxicity on neuronal‐like cells (SH‐SY5Y). Since these are considered typical AD pathological hallmarks, we propose that guarana may deserve further research as a potential therapeutic agent in such a neurodegenerative disease. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Mountain Streams with Different Streambed Stability
Authors: Zhao N. , Wang Z.‐Y. , Pan B.‐Z. , Xu M.‐Z. , Li Z.‐W.
Published: May 2014

Benthic macroinvertebrates are organisms primarily living in the streambed. The stability of the streambed is of vital importance to macroinvertebrate assemblages. Measurement of the streambed stability and sampling of macroinvertebrates were performed from 2005 to 2011 in four mountain streams: the Shengou, Diaoga, Jiangjia and Dabaini Rivers, which have different stability and are all located in the Yunnan plateau in southwestern China. The Shengou, Diaoga and Jiangjia Rivers are composed of gravels and cobbles, and the Dabaini River is mainly composed of gravels. The streambed stability was determined by the ratio of time over the sum of erosion and deposition areas of sediment per unit streambed width at each measured cross‐section.

The Shengou River had the highest stability, followed by the Diaoga and Jiangjia Rivers. The Dabaini River had the lowest stability. A total of 70 taxa of macroinvertebrates belonging to 45 families and 68 genera were identified in these streams. Arthropods were the dominant taxonomic group. Collector gatherers had the highest density. Taxa richness, Shannon–Weaver index and K‐dominance curve were used to assess the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates. Results showed that the Shengou River had the highest biodiversity, followed by the Diaoga and Jiangjia Rivers. The Dabaini River had the lowest biodiversity. The detrended correspondence analysis ordination indicated that the streambed stability was the main factor that influenced macroinvertebrate assemblages, counting for 22.7% of the variance. The biodiversity and wet weight of the macroinvertebrates were highly dependent on the streambed stability. The biodiversity increased with the streambed stability and reached equilibrium when the stability was over 20 year m−1. The wet weight of macroinvertebrates showed an increasing trend with the streambed stability. However, no clear relation was identified between the density of macroinvertebrates and the streambed stability. It was concluded from this study that, in order to improve the ecological condition within the mountain streams, erosion and sedimentation must be controlled to enhance the streambed stability. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of ceria distribution on the redox behaviour of nanoparticulated CeO2‐SiO2 systems with application in catalysis
Authors: Cabeza I. , Souto L. G. , Pintado J. M. , Pereira C. , Freire C. , Blanco G.
Published: May 2014

Ceria has been broadly employed in many technological applications. However, because of geo‐strategic concerns, reducing the lanthanide loadings in heterogeneous catalysts while maintaining their good properties has become a main goal in many recent studies. In this work, ceria has been dispersed over two different silica nanoparticle supports, with different sizes and porosity, producing samples with different ceria crystal size and distribution. The influence of these parameters on the redox behaviour of the resulting samples has been investigated, finding a correlation between ceria distribution and both the reducibility and the resistance to deactivation of the systems. Samples obtained from porous silica, consisting of small ceria nanocrystals uniformly distributed along the pore structure of silica, exhibited better reducibility, whereas samples prepared from non‐porous silica, presenting a core‐shell like structure, had a better resistance against thermal deactivation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of tensile chord stresses on the strength of circular hollow section joints
Authors: Lipp Andreas , Ummenhofer Thomas
Published: May 2014

The current version of the Eurocode for the design of joints does not include any brace load capacity reduction for welded hollow section joints with tensile chord preloading as opposed to those without. However, the more recent 2nd edition of the CIDECT design guides or the ISO standard for welded hollow section joints includes a strength reduction due to tensile chord stresses. This paper presents the results of experimental and numerical investigations into how tensile chord stresses influence the capacity of circular hollow section X‐joints. The conclusion of this study is a new chord load function proposal for circular hollow section joints subjected to tensile chord stresses.
Low‐temperature ductility and structural behaviour of cold‐formed hollow section structures – progress during the past two decades
Authors: Ritakallio Pekka , Björk Timo
Published: May 2014

Cold‐formed hollow sections are a widely used tubular construction material. The applicability, weldability and reliability of cold‐formed rectangular hollow sections are sometimes questioned because of the consequences of cold forming and inhomogeneous cross‐sections. One of the main concerns is related to the cold‐formed corner areas and possible loss of toughness due to strain ageing in the vicinity of the welds. Conventional hot‐rolled C‐Mn steels are susceptible to strain ageing, and Eurocode 3 includes restrictions on welding in the cold‐formed corner area. Both steelmaking and hot rolling have undergone crucial developments and this has had an impact on cold‐formed hollow sections. Thermomechanically rolled fine‐grain steels became state of the art at the end of the 1990s. This study confirms that cold‐formed EN 10219 hollow sections made of suitable fine‐grain steels have a similar Charpy‐V toughness on the flat face and in the corner, and that even after ageing the transition temperature T40J in the corner area is at a very low level, typically below –50 °C. The load and deformation capacities of X‐ and K‐joints fulfil the requirements without any noticeable ageing effects. The advances in steelmaking and hot rolling enable the manufacturing of reliable and versatile cold‐formed EN 10219 hollow sections for welded structures with good low‐temperature ductility even in the cold‐formed corner area.
Response of steel tubes under concentrated lateral loads
Authors: Gresnigt A. M. (Nol) , Karamanos Spyros A.
Published: May 2014

Steel tubes may be loaded by concentrated lateral loads such as support or impact loads. Impact loading, for example, is an important load case for buried pipelines that are struck during excavation activities, or large‐diameter tubes during transportation (handling accidents). This paper presents an analytical model based on shell theory to determine the elastic‐plastic load deformation behaviour. Test results are given as well as the results of finite element calculations. The finite element results and the model equations are in good agreement with the experimental results and illustrate the tube denting response.
Lazika Pier Sculpture
Authors: Helbig Thorsten , Kamp Florian , Oppe Matthias
Published: May 2014

Lazika is a new city in Georgia located on the Black Sea coast. The one‐hundred meter long Lazika Pier with its 31 m high landmark sculpture is one of the first structures to mark the beginning of the development of this new metropolis.

The sculpture designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer H. consists of stacked oval elements – so called blobs – organized in seven levels. The blobs are subdivided into vertical plain levels running in an orthogonal direction with a distance of 90 cm. Due to the exposed position, tough requirements concerning corrosion resistance and a pretty tight timetable for design, fabrication and erection, structural steel has been chosen as the building material. The sculpture consists of steel plates with varying thicknesses of 5 to 10 mm. Elements composed of plasma‐cut plates were pre‐fabricated within a site workshop and installed using mobile cranes. Exterior and interior lighting features provide a dynamic and pulsating look to the sculpture.
Energy efficient bipedal robots walking in resonance
Authors: Bauer F. , Fidlin A. , Seemann W.
Published: May 2014

This contribution presents a method to improve the energy efficiency of walking bipedal robots over 50% in a range of speed from 0.3 to 2.3 m/s by the use of constant elastic couplings. The method consists of modeling the robot as underactuated system – so that it is making use of its natural dynamics instead of fighting against it – controlling its joint‐angle trajectories with input‐output feedback linearization and optimizing the joint‐angle trajectories as well as the elastic couplings numerically. The mechanism of minimizing energy expenditure consists of reducing impact losses by choosing smaller steps, which gets favorable by a higher natural frequency due to elastic couplings. The method is applied to a planar robot with upper body, two stiff legs, two actuators in the hip joints and one simple rotational spring between the legs as elastic coupling. The mechanism of energy expenditure is investigated for the robot with and without elastic coupling between legs in detail.
Friction between a rigid body and a model elastomer having a linear viscous rheology
Authors: Kürschner S.
Published: May 2014

The present paper contributes to the modeling of contacts with viscoelastic materials. An indenter is pressed into an elastomer and slides on its surface with a constant velocity. Contact regions typically experience periodical loading due to surface roughness with characteristic length scales. Loading within a medium frequency range is studied, in which the viscous properties of the elastomer dominate. After passing a transition zone a stationary state is reached. An one‐dimensional model is used to determine estimations for the indentation depth and the coefficient of friction. Results for two simply shaped indenters are presented and compared to boundary element simulations.
Medical education research: is participation fair?
Authors: Walsh Kieran
Published: May 2014

Medical researchers and ethicists emphasise the importance of equity, fairness and justice in general medical research participation. No individual or group should be over-represented or under-represented in research—there should be fair participation. Thus far little thought has been given to fair participation in medical education research. There is no evidence based answer as to whether vulnerable groups are ever exploited in medical education research, or whether other individuals or groups are overlooked. However the heavy reliance on undergraduate learners as subjects for medical education research creates two key threats to the fairness of that research. First, there is a risk that undergraduate learners, as a potentially vulnerable population, may be exploited in research settings. Often the faculty carrying out medical education research will be the same faculty that are responsible for delivering medical education and assessing medical students’ competencies. It is possible as a result that medical students might feel pressured to participate in research. Second, there is a risk that other important groups of learners may be inadequately represented. Much medical education research is carried out on undergraduates and relatively little on those who have been doing CPD for many years. Thus much of our research concentrates on only a small proportion of medical learning. The relatively small amount of research carried out on those doing continuing professional development (CPD) is probably because of the difficulties of recruiting and retaining this group of learners in research programmes.
Reducing Bloodstream Infection Risk in Central and Peripheral Intravenous Lines: Initial Data on Passive Intravenous Connector Disinfection
Authors: DeVries Michelle , Mancos Patricia S. , Valentine Mary J.
Published: May 2014

Background: Although few facilities focus on it, bloodstream infection (BSI) risk from peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVs) may exceed central line-related risk. Over a 6-year period, Methodist Hospitals substantially reduced BSIs in patients with central lines but not in patients with PIVs. A practice audit revealed deficiencies in manual disinfection of intravenous connectors, thereby increasing BSI risk. Methodist thus sought an engineered approach to hub disinfection that would compensate for variations in scrubbing technique.

Methods: Our institution involved bedside nurses in choosing new hub disinfection technology. They selected 2 devices to trial: a disinfection cap that passively disinfects hubs with isopropyl alcohol and a device that friction-scrubs with isopropyl alcohol. After trying both, nurses selected the cap for use in the facility's 3 intensive care units. After no BSIs occurred during a 3-month span, we implemented the cap throughout the hospital for use on central venous catheters; peripherally inserted central catheters; and peripheral lines, including tubing and Y-sites.

Results: Comparing the postintervention period (December 2011-August 2013) to the preintervention span (September 2009–May 2011), the BSI rate dropped 43% for PIVs, 50% for central lines, and 45% overall (PIVs + central lines). The central line and overall results are statistically significant. The PIV BSI rate drop is attributable to cap use alone because the cap was the only new intervention during the postimplementation period. The other infection reductions appear to be at least partly due to cap use.

Conclusions: Our institution achieved substantial BSI reductions, some statistically significant, by applying a disinfection cap to both PIVs and central lines.
STATISTICAL CAUSALITY AND MARTINGALE REPRESENTATION PROPERTY WITH APPLICATION TO STOCHASTIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: PETROVIĆ LJILJANA , VALJAREVIĆ DRAGANA
Published: May 2014

The paper considers a statistical concept of causality in continuous time between filtered probability spaces, based on Granger’s definition of causality. This causality concept is connected with the preservation of the martingale representation property when the filtration is getting smaller. We also give conditions, in terms of causality, for every martingale to be a continuous semimartingale, and we consider the equivalence between the concept of causality and the preservation of the martingale representation property under change of measure. In addition, we apply these results to weak solutions of stochastic differential equations. The results can be applied to the economics of securities trading.
GENERALISATION OF KEITH’S CONJECTURE ON 9-REGULAR PARTITIONS AND 3-CORES
Authors: LIN BERNARD L. S. , WANG ANDREW Y. Z.
Published: May 2014

Recently, Keith used the theory of modular forms to study 9-regular partitions modulo 2 and 3. He obtained one infinite family of congruences modulo 3, and meanwhile proposed an analogous conjecture. In this note, we show that 9-regular partitions and 3-cores satisfy the same congruences modulo 3. Thus, we first derive several results on 3-cores, and then generalise Keith’s conjecture and get a stronger result, which implies that all of Keith’s results on congruences modulo 3 are consequences of our result.
High-grain feeding alters caecal bacterial microbiota composition and fermentation and results in caecal mucosal injury in goats
Authors: Liu Junhua , Xu Tingting , Zhu Weiyun , Mao Shengyong
Published: May 2014

The effect of high-grain (HG) feeding on caecal bacterial microbiota composition and fermentation and mucosa health is largely unknown. In the present study, ten male goats were randomly assigned to either a group fed a hay diet (0 % grain;n5) or a group fed a HG diet (65 % grain;n5) to characterise the changes in the composition of the bacterial community and mucosal morphology in the caecum. After 7 weeks of feeding, the HG diet decreased the caecal pH (P< 0·001) and increased (P< 0·001 toP< 0·004) the caecal digesta concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pyrosequencing of the16Sribosomal RNA gene revealed that HG feeding increased (P= 0·001 toP= 0·009) the abundance of predominant generaTuricibacterandClostridiumin the caecal lumen and in the caecal mucosa and decreased (P< 0·001 toP< 0·009) the proportion ofBacteroidesin the lumen andMucispirillumin the mucosa compared with the hay diet. Furthermore, the HG diet-fed goats exhibited intense epithelial damage and up-regulation (P< 0·001 toP< 0·025) of the relative mRNA expression ofIL-1β,IL-6,IL-12and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the caecal mucosa. The correlation analysis revealed that alterations in caecal pH, LPS concentration and mucosa-associated microbiota abundance during HG feeding might partly contribute to local inflammation. Collectively, these results provide insight into the adaptive response of caecal bacterial populations to HG feeding in goats and reveal that the fermentable substrates that flow into the caecum may cause dramatic alterations in microbial compositions and play a significant role in caecal dysfunction.
Potential of Hymenopteran larval and egg parasitoids to control stored-product beetle and moth infestation in jute bags
Authors: Adarkwah C. , Ulrichs C. , Schaarschmidt S. , Badii B.K. , Addai I.K. , Obeng-Ofori D. , Schöller M.
Published: May 2014

The control of stored-product moths in bagged commodities is difficult because the developmental stages of the moths are protected by the bagging material from control measures such as the application of contact insecticides. Studies were carried out to assess the ability of Hymenopteran parasitoids to locate their hosts inside jute bags in the laboratory. The ability of different parasitoids to penetrate jute bags containing rice was investigated in a controlled climate chamber. Few Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) passed through the jute material while a high percentage of Lariophagus distinguendus (Förster), Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Theocolax elegans (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were able to enter the Petri-dishes. Significantly more L. distinguendus and T. elegans entered compared to H. hebetor. There was significant difference in the mean percentage parasitoids invading depending on species. Head capsules and/or thorax widths were measured in order to determine whether the opening in the jute material would be large enough for entry of the parasitoids. These morphometric data differed depending on parasitoid species and sex. The parasitoid Venturia canescens (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) did not enter the bags, but located host larvae inside the jute bags and parasitized rice moths Corcyra cephalonica larvae by stinging through the jute material. Venturia canescens significantly reduced the number of C. cephalonica adults emerging from the bagged rice; therefore, it could be released in storage rooms containing bagged rice for biological control of C. cephalonica. The use of parasitoids to suppress stored-product insect pests in bagged commodities could become a valuable supplement to the use of synthetic pesticides.
An evaluation of contrasting C32 alkane dosing and faecal sampling regimes to estimate herbage dry matter intake by beef cattle
Authors: RICHMOND A. S. , WYLIE A. R. G. , LAIDLAW A. S. , LIVELY F. O.
Published: May 2014

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate different dosing and sampling regimes for estimating the dry matter intake (DMI) of vegetation by grazing beef cattle. Experiment 1 compared the DMI of a perennial ryegrass pasture by 48 grazing beef cattle dosed with C32n-alkane and faecally sampled at different time intervals. The cattle, of dairy and suckler origin, were balanced by origin and allocated to one of three alkane-dosing treatments (n=16): T1, dosed once daily (10.30 h) with two 500 mg boluses of C32 alkanes; T2, dosed twice daily (09.00 and 16.00 h) with a 500 mg bolus of C32n-alkane; and T3, dosed twice daily (07.00 and 19.00 h) with a 500 mg bolus of C32n-alkane. Faecal samples were collected concurrently with dosing in each treatment. Dosing interval had no effect on estimated DMI, when calculated using the n-alkane content of faeces sampled concurrently with dosing, suggesting that once-daily dosing with concurrent faecal sampling is adequate to estimate DMI by beef cattle. The objective of Expt 2 was to compare the accuracy of herbage DMI estimated using a once-daily C32 alkane dosing regime and n-alkane concentrations in faeces sampled at 09.00, 13.00, 17.00 and 21.00 h, against DMI measured directly. Twelve Holstein-Friesian bulls (mean body weight 265 kg) were housed individually in digestibility stalls and offered harvested perennial ryegrass or harvested semi-natural upland vegetation, both ad libitum. The DMI estimated by once-daily dosing with n-alkane and concurrent per rectum faecal sampling did not differ significantly from the directly measured DMI for either herbage type. It is concluded that a once-daily alkane dosing and concurrent faecal sampling protocol is adequate to reliably estimate the DMI of both upland and lowland pasture vegetation by beef cattle.
Different respiration metabolism between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal rice under low-temperature stress: a cry for help from the host
Authors: LIU Z. , LI Y. , WANG J. , HE X. , TIAN C.
Published: May 2014

Low-temperature stress is an important environmental factor that severely disrupts plant respiration but can be alleviated by symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In the current study, a pot experiment was performed to determine changes in the respiratory metabolic capacity of mycorrhizal rice (Oryza sativa) under low-temperature stress. The results demonstrated that low temperature might accelerate the biosynthesis of strigolactone in mycorrhizal rice roots by triggering the expression of genes for the synthesis of strigolactone, which acted as a host stress response signal. In addition, AMF prompted the host tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle by enhancing pyruvate metabolism, up-regulating the expression of genes of the TCA cycle under low-temperature stress and affecting the electron transport chain. The alternative oxidase pathway might be the main electron transport pathway in non-mycorrhizal rice under stress, while the cytochrome c oxidase (COX) pathway might be the predominant pathway in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycorrhizal rice also had higher adenosine triphosphate production to maintain the natural status of respiration under stress conditions, which resulted in improved root growth status and alleviated low-temperature stress.
Trading in the Options Market around Financial Analysts’ Consensus Revisions
Authors: Hayunga Darren K. , Lung Peter P.
Published: May 2014

This article investigates the options market around a revision in the financial analysts’ consensus recommendation. The results demonstrate that options investors trade in the correct direction of the upcoming revision approximately 3 days prior to the announcement. We find this behavior in option-implied prices, implied volatilities, and options trading volume. Tests confirm that the options market leads the stock market before the financial analysts’ revision. Moreover, using all firms with outstanding options, an out-of-sample analysis produces a profitable zero-cost trading strategy net of transaction costs based on the relative valuations between the synthetic and the underlying equity security.
Purification and characterization of guanylate kinase, a nucleoside monophosphate kinase ofBrugia malayi
Authors: GUPTA SMITA , YADAV SUNITA , SINGH NIDHI , VERMA ANITA , SIDDIQI IMRAN , SAXENA JITENDRA K.
Published: May 2014

Guanylate kinase, a nucleoside monophosphate kinase ofBrugia malayiwhich is involved in reversible transfer of phosphate groups from ATP to GMP, was cloned, expressed and characterized. The native molecular mass of BmGK was found to be 45 kDa as determined by size exclusion chromatography and glutaraldehyde cross-linking which revealed that the protein is homodimer in nature. This is a unique characteristic among known eukaryotic GKs. GMP and ATP served as the most effective phosphate acceptor and donor, respectively. Recombinant BmGK utilized both GMP and dGMP, as substrates showing Kmvalues of 30 and 38 μm, respectively. Free Mg+2(un-complexed to ATP) and GTP play a regulatory role in catalysis of BmGK. The enzyme showed higher catalytic efficiency as compared with human GK and showed ternary complex (BmGK-GMP-ATP) formation with sequential substrate binding. The secondary structure of BmGK consisted of 45%α-helices, 18%β-sheets as revealed by CD analysis. Homology modelling and docking with GMP revealed conserved substrate binding residues with slight differences. Differences in kinetic properties and oligomerization of BmGK compared with human GK can provide the way for design of parasite-specific inhibitors.
Some reflections on an early Mahāyāna textHastikakṣyasūtra
Authors: Liu Zhen , Chen Huaiyu
Published: May 2014

This paper attempts both to transliterate and translate a newly published Sanskrit fragment of theHastikakṣyasūtraand compare it to its corresponding Chinese and Tibetan translations. This fragment is part of the Hoernle Collection housed in the British Library. Through a comparison of all extant titles of this text found in both the Chinese and Tibetan versions and their reconstruction in Sanskrit, this work further deciphers why some titles use the metaphor of the effort or power of an elephant. In analysing the Chinese and Tibetan versions, this paper suggests that the content and structure of this text shed some light on the early development of Mahāyānasūtras.
Vowel insertion in Scottish Gaelic
Authors: Hammond Michael , Warner Natasha , Davis Andréa , Carnie Andrew , Archangeli Diana , Fisher Muriel
Published: May 2014

Scottish Gaelic has been cited as providing an instance of vowel excrescence (Hall 2006). One of the defining properties of excrescent vowels is that they are phonologically inert and are not motivated by – nor do they contribute to – the syllable structure of a language. In this paper, we report on a series of experiments which tap into native speakers' intuitions of syllable structure in Scottish Gaelic. Insofar as intuitions about syllable count and syllabification reflect phonological structure, our results suggest that the relevant vowels of Scottish Gaelic are not phonologically inert, and contribute directly to native speaker intuitions involving the number of syllables and the affiliation of consonants to those syllables. However, our results also establish that the relevant vowels have an intermediate phonological status, which also distinguishes them from underlying vowels.
Transcatheter occlusion of a left ventricular to right atrial communication by an Occlutech duct occluder
Authors: Zanjani Keyhan S. , Voshtani Seyed H.
Published: May 2014

Left ventricular to right atrial communication is a rare congenital or acquired heart defect. There are many reports of successful transcatheter closure of this defect. We describe the device closure of one such communication in a 5-year-old girl using the Occlutech duct occluder. We believe that this device may have some advantages over the devices previously used for this purpose.
A tale of two rings
Authors: Prasad Deepa , Bansal Manish , Ashwath Ravi C.
Published: May 2014

We describe a rare case of double vascular ring diagnosed with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, and right aortic arch.
Body size dissatisfaction among young Chinese children in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Knowles Gemma , Ling Fiona Chun Man , Thomas G Neil , Adab Peymane , McManus Alison M
Published: May 2014

Objective

To determine the potential predictors of body size dissatisfaction in Chinese children.

Design

The Child’s Body Image Scale was used to assess body size perception and dissatisfaction. BMI was calculated from objectively measured height and weight. Predictors of body size dissatisfaction were examined by logistic regression analysis.

Setting

Hong Kong, China.

Subjects

Six hundred and twenty children (53 % boys, aged 6·1–12·9 years) from a state-run primary school.

Results

Female sex (adjusted OR (AOR)=1·91; 95 % CI 1·32, 2·76), age (AOR=2·62; 95 % CI 1·65, 4·16 for 8–10 years; AOR=2·16; 95 % CI 1·38, 3·38 for >10 years), overweight (AOR=6·23; 95 % CI 3·66, 10·60) and obesity (AOR=19·04; 95 % CI 5·64, 64·32) were positively associated with desire to be thinner. Size misperception was a strong predictor of body size dissatisfaction, irrespective of actual weight status (AOR=1·90; 95 % CI 1·02, 3·54 for overestimation; AOR=0·43; 95 % CI 0·27, 0·67 for underestimation).

Conclusions

Body size dissatisfaction is prevalent among Chinese children as young as 6 years. Female sex, age, overweight, obesity and overestimation of size were associated with increased desire to be thinner. These findings emphasise the importance of preventing body image issues from an early age.
Constituting Women's Interests through Representative Claims
Authors: Celis Karen , Childs Sarah , Kantola Johanna , Krook Mona Lena
Published: May 2014

A recent wave of gender and politics research revisits the concept of “women's interests,” opening up new ways of thinking about who can articulate these interests and how to avoid essentialism in empirical analysis on women's substantive representation. This article seeks to advance these debates by integrating them with new work on political theory noting that speaking “for” a group also entails speaking “about” a group. Resolving some of the tensions presenting in existing work, the revised approach expands the range of actors engaged in making claims on behalf of “women” and draws a conceptual distinction between “issues,” broad policy categories, and “interests,” the content given to a particular issue. The contours of this new approach are illustrated via a comparative study of claims-making on behalf of “women” in three countries, revealing some overlaps but also important differences in the issues raised and arguments made regarding the nature of “women's interests.” This inductive method avoids problems of essentialism by arguing that “women” and “women's interests” are constructed through, and not simply reflected in, political advocacy on their behalf.
Does the Descriptive Representation of Gender Influence Accountability for Substantive Representation?
Authors: Jones Philip Edward
Published: May 2014

Does the descriptive representation of gender affect how constituents respond to their legislators' substantive policy records? Previous work offers two distinctly opposing theories: the first, that descriptive representation may weaken accountability for substantive representation, if it leads female constituents to misperceive the incumbent's positions or give them a “free pass” on policy congruence; the second, that it may strengthen accountability, if it leads female constituents to pay greater attention to the incumbent and his or her record. Using survey data from three electoral cycles, I show that women are more likely to correctly identify their U.S. senators' policy records and weigh that record more heavily in their evaluations when they are represented by women. The descriptive representation of gender thus strengthens the links between the policy positions legislators take in office and how they are evaluated by their constituents.
Making the Political Personal: A Challenge for Young Women
Authors: Shames Shauna
Published: May 2014

There are many good reasons why we still need a women's movement in this country. Here I shall focus on just one: I argue that we need a women's movement to recruit and support women as candidates for public office.
Bridging the Feminist Generation Gap: Intersectional Considerations
Authors: Hancock Ange-Marie
Published: May 2014

In my Sex, Power, and Politics class it is often easy to convince students of the ways in which feminist political activism is radically different from the women's movements of the 19th century. Grappling with how “slut shaming” has changed from Hawthorne's story of Hester Prynne (The Scarlet Letter) to Emma Stone's ironic performance in the film Easy A to pop star Miley Cyrus' “twerking” in an MTV performance with singer Robin Thicke is an easy feat for my late-millennial generation students. They are far less comfortable, however, with the idea that there are troubling continuities in the topics of that political activism. It is thus harder for them to see the continuities and ongoing challenges as part of a longstanding rationale for a perpetual women's movement. These continuities are seen more clearly by baby boomer feminists, the bulk of whom came to consciousness as second-wave feminists.
Assessment of Self Perceived Social Competencies of Caregivers in Dementia Care
Authors: Franzmann (These authors contributed equally to this work.) Judith , Krause (These authors contributed equally to this work.) Katharina , Haberstroh Julia , Pantel Johannes
Published: May 2014

We report on the development and psychometric testing of the Self-Perceived Social Competence in Dementia Care (SOKO dementia) questionnaire, a self-report instrument to assess geriatric caregivers’ perceptions of their specific social competencies in dementia care. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to verify that three factors were captured. Convergent and discriminatory validity of the instrument was demonstrated using measures of self-reported occupational mental stress, conscientiousness, and sensitivity. The measure captured specific self-perceived social competencies in professional interactions with dementia patients, colleagues, and patients’ relatives, and showed appropriate psychometric properties. The SOKO dementia is useful for estimating caregivers’ self-perceptions prior to continuous education. It may also help to measure the specific effects of training programs that focus on social-communicative skills in dementia care.
A Replication Attempt of Stereotype Susceptibility ()
Authors: Gibson Carolyn E. , Losee Joy , Vitiello Christine
Published: May 2014

Awareness of stereotypes about a person’s in-group can affect a person’s behavior and performance when they complete a stereotype-relevant task, a phenomenon called stereotype susceptibility. Shih, Pittinsky, and Ambady (1999) primed Asian American women with either their Asian identity (stereotyped with high math ability) or female identity (stereotyped with low math ability) or no priming before administering a math test. Of the three groups, Asian-primed participants performed best on the math test, female-primed participants performed worst. The article is a citation classic, but the original studies and conceptual replications have low sample sizes and wide confidence intervals. We conducted a replication of Shih et al. (1999) with a large sample and found a significant effect with the same pattern of means after removing participants that did not know the race or gender stereotypes, but not when those participants were retained. Math identification did not moderate the observed effects.
Replication of “Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth” by
Authors: Lynott Dermot , Corker Katherine S. , Wortman Jessica , Connell Louise , Donnellan M. Brent , Lucas Richard E. , O’Brien Kerry
Published: May 2014

We report the results of three high-powered, independent replications of Study 2 from Williams and Bargh (2008) . Participants evaluated hot or cold instant therapeutic packs before choosing a reward for participation that was framed as a prosocial (i.e., treat for a friend) or self-interested reward (i.e., treat for the self). Williams and Bargh predicted that evaluating the hot pack would lead to a higher probability of making a prosocial choice compared to evaluating the cold pack. We did not replicate the effect in any individual laboratory or when considering the results of the three replications together (total N = 861). We conclude that there is no evidence that brief exposure to warm therapeutic packs induces greater prosocial responding than exposure to cold therapeutic packs.
Replication of Experiments Evaluating Impact of Psychological Distance on Moral Judgment
Authors: Žeželj Iris L. , Jokić Biljana R.
Published: May 2014

Eyal, Liberman, and Trope (2008) established that people judged moral transgressions more harshly and virtuous acts more positively when the acts were psychologically distant than close. In a series of conceptual and direct replications, Gong and Medin (2012) came to the opposite conclusion. Attempting to resolve these inconsistencies, we conducted four high-powered replication studies in which we varied temporal distance (Studies 1 and 3), social distance (Study 2) or construal level (Study 4), and registered their impact on moral judgment. We found no systematic effect of temporal distance, the effect of social distance consistent with Eyal et al., and the reversed effect of direct construal level manipulation, consistent with Gong and Medin. Possible explanations for the incompatible results are discussed.
Electrochemical detection of leukemia oncogenes using enzyme-loaded carbon nanotube labels
Authors: Lee Ai-Cheng , Du Dan , Chen Baowei , Heng Chew-Kiat , Lim Tit-Meng , Lin Yuehe
Published: May 2014

An ultrasensitive electrochemical nucleic acid assay amplified by carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based labels for the detection of leukemia oncogenes.
Organosilane oxidation by water catalysed by large gold nanoparticles in a membrane reactor
Authors: Gitis Vitaly , Beerthuis Rolf , Shiju N. Raveendran , Rothenberg Gadi
Published: May 2014

Go large! Surprisingly, “large” gold nanoparticles (6–18 nm in diameter) are just as effective as small ones in catalysing the oxidation of organosilanes to silanols. These catalysts are easily separated using ultrafiltration ceramic membranes.
Fluorescent cyclodextrin carriers for a water soluble ZnII pyrazinoporphyrazine octacation with photosensitizer potential
Authors: Anand R. , Manoli F. , Manet I. , Donzello M. P. , Viola E. , Malanga M. , Jicsinszky L. , Fenyvesi E. , Monti S.
Published: May 2014

Novel, negatively charged, fluorescent cyclodextrin oligomers form highly stable complexes with a water soluble, octacationic porphyrazine photosensitizer in dimeric form.
Atomistic simulations of TeO2-based glasses: interatomic potentials and molecular dynamics
Authors: Gulenko Anastasia , Masson Olivier , Berghout Abid , Hamani David , Thomas Philippe
Published: May 2014

This article derives the interatomic potential for the TeO2 system and presents the first results of molecular dynamics simulations of the pure TeO2 structure.
Defect-induced semiconductor to metal transition in graphene monoxide
Authors: Woo Jungwook , Yun Kyung-Han , Cho Sung Beom , Chung Yong-Chae
Published: May 2014

This study investigates the influence of point defects on the geometric and electronic structure of graphene monoxide (GMO) via density functional theory calculations.
Protective effects of Drynaria fortunei against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced oxidative damage in B35 cells via the PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Kuo Hui-Chun , Chang Hung-Chi , Lan Wan-Cheng , Tsai Fan-Hsuan , Liao Jung-Chun , Wu Chi-Rei
Published: May 2014

In this study, we demonstrate the antioxidant and protective properties of the aqueous extract of two commercial Polydiaceae plants –Drynaria fortuneiandPseudodrynaria coronans– against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced oxidative damage in B35 neuroblastoma cells.
Effective encapsulation of laccase in an aluminium silicate nanotube hydrogel
Authors: Kato Katsuya , Inukai Keiichi , Fujikura Kie , Kasuga Toshihiro
Published: May 2014

Laccase was encapsulated during aluminium silicate nanotube (ASNT) hydrogel formation. This encapsulation method has fewer negative effects on the relatively unstable enzyme because of the milder conditions used compared to sol–gel silica formation.
A tumor-targeting dextran–apoprotein conjugate integrated with enediyne chromophore shows highly potent antitumor efficacy
Authors: Li Bin , Liu Xiu-jun , Li Liang , Zhang Sheng-hua , Li Yi , Li Dian-dong , Zhen Yong-su
Published: May 2014

A novel dextran–apoprotein conjugate that could selectively stay in tumor tissues for a prolonged time was prepared. After integrating with enediyne chromophore, this conjugate showed highly potent antitumor efficacy.
How can photoisomerization of azobenzene induce a large cloud point temperature shift of PNIPAM?
Authors: He Jie , Tremblay Luc , Lacelle Serge , Zhao Yue
Published: May 2014

We present a comprehensive study of the photo-induced phase transition of azobenzene-containing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in block copolymers (BCPs) upon the isomerization of azobenzene in the mixed solvent of water and dioxane.
Fabrication and modification of composite silica nano test tubes for targeted drug delivery
Authors: Buyukserin F. , Altuntas S. , Aslim B.
Published: May 2014

Drug containing composite silica nano test tubes were fabricated within alumina template membranes, and upon liberation, modified with targeting moieties to specifically kill cancer cells.
Novel nanoaggregates with peripheric superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and organic cores through self-assembly of tailor-made block copolymers
Authors: Rocha Nuno , Rodrigues Daniela P. , Gaspar André , Durães Luisa , Serra Arménio C. , Coelho Jorge F. J.
Published: May 2014

Well-defined magnetic nanovesicles are obtained through self-assembly of double hydrophilic PEG–PDMAEMA block copolymers and oleic-coated iron oxide nanoparticles.
Synthesis and evaluation of stable polymeric solid acid based on halloysite nanotubes for conversion of one-pot cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Zhang Yunlei , Pan Jianming , Yan Yongsheng , Shi Weidong , Yu Longbao
Published: May 2014

Based on halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), precipitation polymerization and Pickering emulsion polymerization were firstly adopted to synthesize two composites i.e. HNTs–polystyrene(PSt)–polydivinylbenzene(DVB)(i) and HNTs–PSt–PDVB(ii), respectively.
High performance Pt-free cathode catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells prepared from widely available chemicals
Authors: Nabae Yuta , Kuang Yongbo , Chokai Masayuki , Ichihara Takeo , Isoda Ayano , Hayakawa Teruaki , Aoki Tsutomu
Published: May 2014

A high performance Pt-free cathode catalyst for polymer electrolyte fuel cells has been synthesized by the multi-step pyrolysis of polyimide fine particles with a diameter of about 100 nm.
pH-controlled release of substrates from mesoporous SiO2 nanoparticles gated by metal ion-dependent DNAzymes
Authors: Zhang Zhanxia , Wang Fuan , Balogh Dora , Willner Itamar
Published: May 2014

pH-programmed release of fluorescent substrates from mesoporous silica nanoparticles is stimulated by Mg2+- or UO22+-dependent DNAzymes unlocking the pores.
Holocarboxylase synthetase interacts physically with nuclear receptor co-repressor, histone deacetylase 1 and a novel splicing variant of histone deacetylase 1 to repress repeats
Authors: Liu Dandan , Zempleni Janos
Published: May 2014

HLCS (holocarboxylase synthetase) is a nuclear protein that catalyses the binding of biotin to distinct lysine residues in chromatin proteins. HLCS-dependent epigenetic marks are over-represented in repressed genomic loci, particularly in repeats. Evidence is mounting that HLCS is a member of a multi-protein gene repression complex, which determines its localization in chromatin. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that HLCS interacts physically with N-CoR (nuclear receptor co-repressor) and HDAC1 (histone deacetylase 1), thereby contributing toward the removal of H3K9ac (Lys9-acetylated histone H3) gene activation marks and the repression of repeats. Physical interactions between HLCS and N-CoR, HDAC1 and a novel splicing variant of HDAC1 were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation, limited proteolysis and split luciferase complementation assays. When HLCS was overexpressed, the abundance of H3K9ac marks decreased by 50% and 68% in LTRs (long terminal repeats) 15 and 22 respectively in HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells compared with the controls. This loss of H3K9ac marks was linked with an 83% decrease in mRNA coding for LTRs. Similar patterns were seen in pericentromeric alpha satellite repeats in chromosomes 1 and 4. We conclude that interactions of HLCS with N-CoR and HDACs contribute towards the transcriptional repression of repeats, presumably increasing genome stability.
Coulomb collision effects on linear Landau damping
Authors: Callen J. D.
Published: May 2014

Coulomb collisions at rate ν produce slightly probabilistic rather than fully deterministic charged particle trajectories in weakly collisional plasmas. Their diffusive velocity scattering effects on the response to a wave yield an effective collision rate νeff ≫ ν and a narrow dissipative boundary layer for particles with velocities near the wave phase velocity. These dissipative effects produce temporal irreversibility for times t ≳ 1/νeff during Landau damping of a small amplitude Langmuir wave.
The Lagrangian formulation of strong-field quantum electrodynamics in a plasma
Authors: Raicher Erez , Eliezer Shalom , Zigler Arie
Published: May 2014

The Lagrangian formulation of the scalar and spinor quantum electrodynamics in the presence of strong laser fields in a plasma medium is considered. We include the plasma influence in the free Lagrangian analogously to the “Furry picture” and obtain coupled equations of motion for the plasma particles and for the laser propagation. We demonstrate that the strong-field wave (i.e., the laser) satisfies a massive dispersion relation and obtain self-consistently the effective mass of the laser photons. The Lagrangian formulation derived in this paper is the basis for the cross sections calculation of quantum processes taking place in the presence of a plasma.