bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanistic study of CMP‐Neu5Ac hydrolysis by α2,3‐sialyltransferase from Pasteurella dagmatis
Authors: Schmölzer Katharina , Luley-Goedl Christiane , Czabany Tibor , Ribitsch Doris , Schwab Helmut , Weber Hansjörg , Nidetzky Bernd
Published: June 2014

Bacterial sialyltransferases of the glycosyltransferase family GT‐80 exhibit pronounced hydrolase activity toward CMP‐activated sialyl donor substrates. Using in situ proton NMR, we show that hydrolysis of CMP‐Neu5Ac by Pasteurella dagmatis α2,3‐sialyltransferase (PdST) occurs with axial‐to‐equatorial inversion of the configuration at the anomeric center to release the α‐Neu5Ac product. We propose a catalytic reaction through a single displacement‐like mechanism where water replaces the sugar substrate as a sialyl group acceptor. PdST variants having His284 in the active site replaced by Asn, Asp or Tyr showed up to 104‐fold reduced activity, but catalyzed CMP‐Neu5Ac hydrolysis with analogous inverting stereochemistry. The proposed catalytic role of His284 in the PdST hydrolase mechanism is to facilitate the departure of the CMP leaving group.
MicroRNA‐141 promotes the proliferation of non‐small cell lung cancer cells by regulating expression of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2
Authors: Mei Zhoufang , He Yanchao , Feng Jingjing , Shi Jindong , Du Yong , Qian Ling , Huang Qihui , Jie Zhijun
Published: June 2014

The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is crucially implicated in the development of various cancers. In this study, we explored the biological role of miR‐141 in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). miR‐141 expression was significantly up‐regulated in NSCLC tissues, and its overexpression accelerated NSCLC cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. We subsequently identified the antagonists of PI3K/AKT signaling, PH domain leucine‐rich‐repeats protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) and PHLPP2, as direct targets of miR‐141. Re‐introduction of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 abrogated miR‐141‐induced proliferation of NSCLC cells. Together, the results of this study suggest that miR‐141 and its targets PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 play critical roles in NSCLC tumorigenesis, and provide potential therapeutic targets for NSCLC treatment.
Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of genital tract bacteria in pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes in a resource‐limited setting
Authors: Eleje George U. , Adinma Joseph I. , Ghasi Samuel , Ikechebelu Joseph I. , Igwegbe Anthony O. , Okonkwo John E. , Okafor Charles I. , Ezeama Chukwuemeka O. , Ezebialu Ifeanyichukwu U. , Ogbuagu Chukwuanugo N.
Published: June 2014

Objective

To identify microbes prevalent in the genital tract of pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and to assess the susceptibility of the microbial isolates to a range of antibiotics to determine appropriate antibiotics for treating cases of PPROM in resource‐limited settings.

Methods

A prospective cross‐sectional study was undertaken involving women with (n = 105) and without (n = 105) a confirmed diagnosis of PPROM admitted to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, southeast Nigeria, between January 1, 2011, and April 30, 2013. Endocervical swabs were collected from all participants and examined microbiologically. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed using Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion.

Results

Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli were significantly more prevalent among women with PPROM than among those without PPROM (P < 0.01). Among the antibiotics considered safe to use during pregnancy, the bacteria were most sensitive to ampicillin‐sulbactam, cefixime, cefuroxime, and erythromycin.

Conclusion

For the first 48 hours, women with PPROM should receive an intravenous dose combining ampicillin‐sulbactam, cefixime, cefuroxime, or erythromycin with metronidazole followed by oral administration of the chosen antibiotic combination to complete a 7‐day course.
Risk factors for postoperative endoscopic recurrence in Crohn's disease: a Brazilian observational study
Authors: de Barcelos Ivan Folchini , da Silva Rodolff Nunes , Teixeira Fábio Vieira , de Albuquerque Idblan Carvalho , Saad-Hossne Rogério , Ropelato Renato Vismara , Kotze Lorete Maria da Silva , Olandoski Márcia , Kotze Paulo Gustavo
Published: June 2014

Introduction Postoperative endoscopic recurrence (PER) is the initial event after intestinal resection in Crohn's disease (CD), and after a few years most patients present with progressive symptoms and complications related to the disease. The identification of risk factors for PER can help in the optimization of postoperative therapy and contribute to its prevention.

Methods Retrospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational study involving patients with CD who underwent ileocolic resections. The patients were allocated into two groups according to the presence of PER and the variables of interest were analyzed to identify the associated factors for recurrence.

Results Eighty-five patients were included in the study. The mean period of the first postoperative colonoscopy was 12.8 (3–120) months and PER was observed in 28 patients (32.9%). There was no statistical difference in relation to gender, mean age, duration of CD, family history, previous intestinal resections, smoking, Montreal classification, blood transfusion, residual CD, surgical technique, postoperative complications, presence of granulomas at histology, specimen extension and use of postoperative biological therapy. The preoperative use of corticosteroids was the only variable that showed a significant difference between the groups in univariate analysis, being more common in patients with PER (42.8% vs. 21%; p
= 0.044).

Conclusions PER was observed in 32.9% of the patients. The preoperative use of corticosteroids was the only risk factor associated with PER in this observational analysis.
Synuclein gamma protects HER2 and renders resistance to Hsp90 disruption
Authors: Shao Yongfeng , Wang Bingchan , Shi Dorothy , Miao Suyu , Manivel Panneerselvam , Krishna Ramadas , Chen Yiding , Eric Shi Y.
Published: June 2014

Hsp90 is an important driver of stabilization and activation of several oncogenic proteins in many key pathways in oncogenesis, including HER2. The present study demonstrated that synuclein gamma (SNCG) prevents the protein degradation and protects the function of HER2 in the condition when the function of Hsp90 is blocked. Disruption of Hsp90 resulted in a significant degradation of HER2 and the loss of activity. However, SNCG completely recovered Hsp90 disruption‐mediated losses of HER2 and the function. SNCG bound to HER2 in the presence and absence of Hsp90. Specifically, the C‐terminal (Gln106‐Asp127) of SNCG bound to the loop connecting αC helix and β4 sheet of the kinase domain of HER2. SNCG renders resistance to 17‐AAG‐induced tumor suppression in tumor xenograft. Crossing SNCG transgenic mice with HER2 mice stimulated HER2‐induced tumor growth and rendered resistance to Hsp90 disruption. The present study indicates that SNCG protects Hsp90 client protein of HER2, and renders resistance to Hsp90 disruption.
Modulation of the muscle and nerve compound muscle action potential by evoked pain
Authors: Duez L. , Qerama E. , Jensen T.S. , Fuglsang-Frederiksen A.
Published: June 2014

Background and aims

To our knowledge there are no studies that have examined the effects of the experimental pain on muscle fibre excitability as measured by the amplitudes of the potentials evoked by direct muscle stimulation (DMS) in a muscle at rest. We hypothesized that evoked pain can modulate the muscle compound action potential (CMAP) obtained by DMS possibly due to changes in muscle fibre excitability.

Methods

Pain was evoked by intramuscular infusion of hypertonic saline in 50 men. Ten control subjects were infused with isotonic saline. The infusions were given distal to the motor end plate region of the dominant brachial biceps muscle (BBM) in a double-blind manner. The nerve CMAP was obtained by stimulating the musculocutaneous nerve and recording from the BBM using surface-electrodes. Muscle CMAPs were obtained by direct muscle stimulation with subdermal electrodes placed subcutaneously in the distal third of the muscle. A stimuli-response curve of the amplitudes from muscle CMAP was obtained by stimulating from 10 to 90 mA.

Results

There was a decrease of the nerve CMAP amplitudes after infusion of isotonic saline (from 13.78mV to 12.16 mV), p-value 0.0007 and of hypertonic saline (from 13.35 mV to 10.85 mV), p-value 0.0000. The percent decrease from before to after infusion was larger in the hypertonic saline group (19.37%) compared to the isotonic saline group (12.18%), p-value 0.025.

There was a decrease of the amplitudes of the muscle CMAP after infusion of both isotonic (at 90 mA from 13.84mV to 10.32 mV, p value 0.001) and of hypertonic saline (at 90 mA from 14.01 mV to 8.19 mV, p value 0.000). The percent decrease was larger in the hypertonic saline group compared to the isotonic saline group for all the stimulations intensities. At 90 mA we saw a 42% decrease in the hypertonic saline group and 24.5% in the isotonic saline group, p value 0.005.

There were no changes in conduction velocity.

Conclusion

We found a larger amplitude decrease of the muscle and nerve potentials following hypertonic saline infusion compared with that of isotonic saline. We suggest that this deferential outcome of hypertonic saline on muscle CMAP may be linked to the nociceptive effect on muscle fibre membrane excitability.

Implications

The study supplies with some evidence of the peripheral effect of muscle pain. However, further trials with other nociceptive substances such as capsaicin should be performed.
The role of advance ratio and aspect ratio in determining leading-edge vortex stability for flapping flight
Authors: Harbig R. R. , Sheridan J. , Thompson M. C.
Published: June 2014

The effects of advance ratio and the wing’s aspect ratio on the structure of the leading-edge vortex (LEV) that forms on flapping and rotating wings under insect-like flight conditions are not well understood. However, recent studies have indicated that they could play a role in determining the stable attachment of the LEV. In this study, a numerical model of a flapping wing at insect Reynolds numbers is used to explore the effects of these parameters on the characteristics and stability of the LEV. The word ‘stability’ is used here to describe whether the LEV was attached throughout the stroke or if it was shed. It is demonstrated that increasing the advance ratio enhances vorticity production at the leading edge during the downstroke, and this results in more rapid growth of the LEV for non-zero advance ratios. Increasing the wing aspect ratio was found to have the effect of shortening the wing’s chord length relative to the LEV’s size. These two effects combined determine the stability of the LEV. For high advance ratios and large aspect ratios, the LEV was observed to quickly grow to envelop the entire wing during the early stages of the downstroke. Continued rotation of the wing resulted in the LEV being eventually shed as part of a vortex loop that peels away from the wing’s tip. The shedding of the LEV for high-aspect-ratio wings at non-zero advance ratios leads to reduced aerodynamic performance of these wings, which helps to explain why a number of insect species have evolved to have low-aspect-ratio wings.
Two-dimensional numerical study of vortex shedding regimes of oscillatory flow past two circular cylinders in side-by-side and tandem arrangements at low Reynolds numbers
Authors: Zhao Ming , Cheng Liang
Published: June 2014

Oscillatory flow past two circular cylinders in side-by-side and tandem arrangements at low Reynolds numbers is simulated numerically by solving the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes (NS) equations using a finite-element method (FEM). The aim of this study is to identify the flow regimes of the two-cylinder system at different gap arrangements and Keulegan–Carpenter numbers (KC). Simulations are conducted at seven gap ratios $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}G$ ($G=L/D$ where $L$ is the cylinder-to-cylinder gap and $D$ the diameter of a cylinder) of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and KC ranging from 1 to 12 with an interval of 0.25. The flow regimes that have been identified for oscillatory flow around a single cylinder are also observed in the two-cylinder system but with different flow patterns due to the interactions between the two cylinders. In the side-by-side arrangement, the vortex shedding from the gap between the two cylinders dominates when the gap ratio is small, resulting in the gap vortex shedding (GVS) regime, which is different from any of the flow regimes identified for a single cylinder. For intermediate gap ratios of 1.5 and 2 in the side-by-side arrangement, the vortex shedding mode from one side of each cylinder is not necessarily the same as that from the other side, forming a so-called combined flow regime. When the gap ratio between the two cylinders is sufficiently large, the vortex shedding from each cylinder is similar to that of a single cylinder. In the tandem arrangement, when the gap between the two cylinders is very small, the flow regimes are similar to that of a single cylinder. For large gap ratios in the tandem arrangement, the vortex shedding flows from the gap side of the two cylinders interact and those from the outer sides of the cylinders are less affected by the existence of the other cylinder and similar to that of a single cylinder. Strong interaction between the vortex shedding flows from the two cylinders makes the flow very irregular at large KC values for both side-by-side and tandem arrangements.
The Burnett equations in cylindrical coordinates and their solution for flow in a microtube
Authors: Singh Narendra , Agrawal Amit
Published: June 2014

The Burnett equations constitute a set of higher-order continuum equations. These equations are obtained from the Chapman–Enskog series solution of the Boltzmann equation while retaining second-order-accurate terms in the Knudsen number $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}\mathit{Kn}$. The set of higher-order continuum models is expected to be applicable to flows in the slip and transition regimes where the Navier–Stokes equations perform poorly. However, obtaining analytical or numerical solutions of these equations has been noted to be particularly difficult. In the first part of this work, we present the full set of Burnett equations in cylindrical coordinates in three-dimensional form. The equations are reported in a generalized way for gas molecules that are assumed to be Maxwellian molecules or hard spheres. In the second part, a closed-form solution of these equations for isothermal Poiseuille flow in a microtube is derived. The solution of the equations is shown to satisfy the full Burnett equations up to $\mathit{Kn} \leq 1.3$ within an error norm of ${\pm }1.0\, \%$. The mass flow rate obtained analytically is shown to compare well with available experimental and numerical results. Comparison of the stress terms in the Burnett and Navier–Stokes equations is presented. The significance of the Burnett normal stress and its role in diffusion of momentum is brought out by the analysis. An order-of-magnitude analysis of various terms in the equations is presented, based on which a reduced model of the Burnett equations is provided for flow in a microtube. The Burnett equations in full three-dimensional form in cylindrical coordinates and their solution are not previously available.
Within-concept similarities in a taxonomy: a corpus linguistic approach
Authors: STORMS STIJN , SPEELMAN DIRK , GEERAERTS DIRK , STORMS GERT
Published: June 2014

abstract

This paper looks at a hitherto unexplored aspect of taxonomically organized concepts which has to do with word distributions in corpora of actual language use. In parallel to the psychological informativeness claim of the differentiation explanation, the question is addressed if concepts are internally more similar than their higher-ranked taxonomical relatives. This internal similarity is measured by making use of token-based vector space models. For each occurrence of a concept in the corpus a context vector can be calculated, which then serves as input for the internal similarity measure. Experiments are conducted for taxonomies taken from the Dutch counterparts of the English semantic domainsanimalandmeans of transportation. Results do not wholeheartedly agree with the imposition of a strict taxonomical order, but give rise to a new behavioural measure of the basic level.
Association between total, processed, red and white meat consumption and all-cause, CVD and IHD mortality: a meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Abete Itziar , Romaguera Dora , Vieira Ana Rita , Lopez de Munain Adolfo , Norat Teresa
Published: June 2014

An association between processed and red meat consumption and total mortality has been reported by epidemiological studies; however, there are many controversial reports regarding the association between meat consumption and CVD and IHD mortality. The present meta-analysis was carried out to summarise the evidence from prospective cohort studies on the association between consumption of meat (total, red, white and processed) and all-cause, CVD and IHD mortality. Cohort studies were identified by searching the PubMed and ISI Web of Knowledge databases. Risk estimates for the highest v. the lowest consumption category and dose–response meta-analysis were calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity among the studies was also evaluated. A total of thirteen cohort studies were identified (1 674 272 individuals). Subjects in the highest category of processed meat consumption had 22 and 18 % higher risk of mortality from any cause and CVD, respectively. Red meat consumption was found to be associated with a 16 % higher risk of CVD mortality, while no association was found for total and white meat consumption. In the dose–response meta-analysis, an increase of 50 g/d in processed meat intake was found to be positively associated with all-cause and CVD mortality, while an increase of 100 g/d in red meat intake was found to be positively associated with CVD mortality. No significant associations were observed between consumption of any type of meat and IHD mortality. The results of the present meta-analysis indicate that processed meat consumption could increase the risk of mortality from any cause and CVD, while red meat consumption is positively but weakly associated with CVD mortality. These results should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity observed in most of the analyses as well as the possibility of residual confounding.
Pitfalls in the use of randomised controlled trials for fish oil studies with cardiac patients
Authors: James Michael J. , Sullivan Thomas R. , Metcalf Robert G. , Cleland Leslie G.
Published: June 2014

Randomised controlled trials (RCT) examining the effects of fish oil supplementation on cardiac outcomes have yielded varying results over time. Although RCT are placed at the top of the evidence hierarchy, this methodology arose in the framework of pharmaceutical development. RCT with pharmaceuticals differ in important ways from RCT involving fish oil interventions. In particular, in pharmaceutical RCT, the test agent is present only in the intervention group and not in the control group, whereas in fish oil RCT,n-3 fats are present in the diet and in the tissues of both groups. Also, early phase studies with pharmaceuticals determine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to design the dose of the RCT intervention so that it is in a predicted linear dose–response range. None of this happens in fish oil RCT, and there is evidence that both baselinen-3 intake and tissue levels may be sufficiently high in the dose–response range that it is not possible to demonstrate a clinical effect with a RCT. When these issues are considered, it is possible that the changing pattern of fish consumption and fish oil use over time, especially in cardiac patients, can explain the disparity where benefit was observed in the early fish oil trials but not in the more recent trials.
Eating ‘attentively’ reduces later energy consumption in overweight and obese females
Authors: Robinson Eric , Kersbergen Inge , Higgs Suzanne
Published: June 2014

Attentional and memory processes underpin appetite control, but whether encouraging overweight individuals to eat more ‘attentively’ can promote reductions in energy consumption is unclear. In the present study with a between-subjects design, a total of forty-eight overweight and obese females consumed a fixed lunchtime meal. Their ad libitum energy intake of high-energy snack food was observed during a second laboratory session that occurred later that day. In the focused-attention condition, participants ate their lunch while listening to audio instructions that encouraged them to pay attention to the food being eaten. In a control condition, participants ate while listening to an audio book with a neutral (non-food-related) content. To test whether focused attention influenced food intake via enhancing the memory of the earlier consumed meal, we measured the participants' memory of their lunchtime meal. Ad libitum snack intake was approximately 30 % lower for participants in the focused-attention condition than for those in the control condition, and this difference was statistically significant. There was limited evidence that attention decreased later food intake by enhancing memory representation of the earlier consumed meal. Eating attentively can lead to a substantial decrease in later energy intake in overweight and obese individuals. Behavioural strategies that encourage a more ‘attentive’ way of eating could promote sustained reductions in energy intake and weight loss.
Genetic differences in the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae), in Thailand
Authors: Dusitsittipon S. , Thaenkham U. , Watthanakulpanich D. , Adisakwattana P. , Komalamisra C.
Published: June 2014

This study surveyed the genetic differences among Angiostrongylus cantonensis (A. cantonensis) using the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. Partial cytb sequences were determined for 91 worms from eight locations in Thailand. Using morphological techniques, the nematodes were found to be A. cantonensis. Phylogenetic analysis found two main clades, which were subdivided into four subclades (clusters). Haplotype network analysis showed that 11 distinct cytb haplotypes were also present in four groups of A. cantonensis. There was no observable relationship between the genetic differentiation of gene flow and geographical distance. This low genetic variation and geographical distribution of A. cantonensis in each location indicates a founder effect, which may have resulted from multiple independent origins, and suggests that haplotypes migrated from endemic areas via human-related activities.
Stability of the southern European border ofEchinococcus multilocularisin the Alps: evidence thatMicrotus arvalisis a limiting factor
Authors: GUERRA DIOGO , HEGGLIN DANIEL , BACCIARINI LUCA , SCHNYDER MANUELA , DEPLAZES PETER
Published: June 2014

The known range of the zoonotic fox tapewormEchinococcus multilocularishas expanded since the 1990s, and today this parasite is recorded in higher abundances throughout large parts of Europe. This phenomenon is mostly attributed to the increasing European fox populations and their invasion of urban habitats. However, these factors alone are insufficient to explain the heterogeneous distribution of the parasite in Europe. Here, we analysed the spatial interrelationship ofE. multiloculariswith the known distribution of seven vole species in Ticino, southern Switzerland. Among 404 necropsied foxes (1990–2006) and 79 fox faecal samples (2010–2012),E. multiloculariswas consistently found in the north of the investigated area. No expansion of this endemic focus was recorded during the 22 years of the study period. This stable endemic focus is coincident with the known distribution of the vole speciesMicrotus arvalisbut not, or only partly, with the distribution of the other autochthonous vole species. Our results give evidence that this vole species plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the parasite's life cycle and that its absence could be a limiting factor for the spread ofE. multilocularisin this region.
Persistence ofToxoplasma gondiitissue stages in poultry over a conventional fattening cycle
Authors: GEUTHNER A.-C. , KOETHE M. , LUDEWIG M. , POTT S. , SCHARES G. , DAUGSCHIES A. , BANGOURA B.
Published: June 2014

Toxoplasma gondiiis a widely spread protozoon in humans, mammals and poultry. Regarding the latter, nothing is known yet about the duration ofT. gondiipersistence and distribution over a conventional fattening cycle of turkeys and chickens. Twenty-four turkeys and 12 broiler chickens were infected intravenously with 1×106T. gondiitachyzoites (strain NED). Serum antibody levels were determined weekly by ELISA (turkeys) or immunofluorescent antibody test (chickens). Turkeys were slaughtered at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks post-infection (p.i.), and chickens 5 or 10 weeks p.i. (n = 6 per group). Sixteen different tissue samples per bird were analysed forT. gondiiby PCR. All infected animals showed seroconversion. In turkeys, 15·9% of all samples were tested positive forT.-gondii-DNA. Among the edible tissues (drumstick, thigh, breast muscle, heart, liver and gizzard) 7·8% tested positive. Among poultry slaughtered after different periods of time after infection no significant differences (P>0·05) regarding the number of positive samples were observed. Only 4 out of 192 samples (2·1%) from infected chickens contained detectableT. gondiiDNA.The PCR findings suggested thatT. gondiimay persist in poultry. Particularly in turkey it was shown that edible tissues stay infected for at least 16 weeks p.i. which indicates a potential risk for consumers of undercooked turkey meat whereas chickens appear less susceptible toT. gondiiinfection.
Bangor New Music Festival and INTER/actions Festival and Symposium, 2014
Authors: Power Stephanie
Published: June 2014

The Bangor New Music Festival has taken place annually at Bangor University School of Music since its inception in 2000. It is the only festival dedicated to new music in North Wales, and its programme typically encompasses a diverse range of styles and types of performance, including events curated by Electroacoustic Wales, an organisation that ‘exists to promote and encourage the creation and dissemination of electroacoustic music within Wales and beyond’, and which is also based at the University.
Building the Eco-social State: Do Welfare Regimes Matter?
Authors: KOCH MAX , FRITZ MARTIN
Published: June 2014

Authors such as Dryzek, Gough and Meadowcroft have indicated that social-democratic welfare states could be in a better position to deal with development of the ‘green’ or ‘eco’ state, and the intersection of social and environmental policies, than conservative or liberal welfare regimes (synergy hypothesis). However, this hypothesis has as yet not been examined in comparative empirical research. Based on comparative empirical data from EUROSTAT, the World Bank, the OECD, the Global Footprint Network and the International Social Survey Programme, we are carrying out two research operations: First, by applying correspondence analysis, we contrast the macro-structural welfare and sustainability indicators of thirty countries and ask whether clusters largely follow the synergy hypothesis. Second, we raise the issue of whether differences in the institutional and organisational capabilities of combining welfare with environmental policies are reflected in people's attitudes and opinions. With regard to the first issue, our results suggest that there is no ‘automatic’ development of the ecostate based on already existing advanced welfare institutions. Representatives of all welfare regimes are spread across established, deadlocked, failing, emerging and endangered ecostates. As for the second issue, the results are mixed. While responses to the statements ‘economic growth always harms the environment’ and ‘governments should pass laws to make ordinary people protect the environment, even if it interferes with people's rights to make their own decisions’ did not vary according to welfare regimes, people from social-democratic countries expressed more often than average their willingness to accept cuts in their standard of living in order to protect the environment.
Variation in Standard Dutch vowels: The impact of formant measurement methods on identifying the speaker's regional origin
Authors: Van der Harst Sander , Van de Velde Hans , Van Hout Roeland
Published: June 2014

It is common practice in sociophonetics to measure vowel formants at one (monophthongs) or two (diphthongs) time points. This paper compares this traditional target approach with two dynamic approaches for investigating regional patterns of variation: the multiple time point approach, which measures formants at successive time points, and the regression approach, which estimates formant dynamics over time by fitting polynomial regression equations to formant contours. The speech material consisted of monosyllabic words containing all full vowels of Dutch, except for /y/. These words were read out by 160 speakers of Standard Dutch, who were distributed over four regions in the Netherlands and four regions in Flanders, Belgium. The results show that dynamic approaches outperform the target approach in uncovering regional vowel differences, which suggests that sociophonetic vowel studies that apply the target approach run the risk of overlooking important sociolinguistic patterns.
Comparing social meanings across listener and speaker groups: The indexical field of Spanish /s/
Authors: Walker Abby , García Christina , Cortés Yomi , Campbell-Kibler Kathryn
Published: June 2014

Recent research has suggested that the contribution of individual sociolinguistic variables to the social perception of a speaker is influenced by other available information about the speaker (Campbell-Kibler, 2007; Pharao, Maegaard, Spindler Møller, & Kristiansen, 2014). Here we investigate the impact of listener awareness of regional sociolinguistic variation on sociolinguistic perception. Specifically, we compare how the social meanings attributed to word-internal, preconsonantal /s/ differ based on whether the listeners and speakers use predominantly /s/-weakening Puerto Rican Spanish or predominantly non–/s/-weakening Mexican Spanish. We find that for measures of status, Puerto Rican and Mexican listeners both show a smaller effect of /s/ when rating Puerto Rican as opposed to Mexican speakers. However, we see no effect of speaker nationality on heteronormativity, and Puerto Rican listeners and male Mexican listeners rate strong /s/ as less heteronormative across the board. Mexican female listeners, however, rate strong /s/ as more heteronormative. These results suggest that listeners integrate their own local ideologies with their understanding of regional differences when socially evaluating language variation.
The endocannabinoid system and appetite: relevance for food reward
Authors: Jager Gerry , Witkamp Renger F.
Published: June 2014

Mounting evidence substantiates the central role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the modulation of both homeostatic and hedonic elements of appetite and food intake. Conversely, feeding status and dietary patterns directly influence activity of the ECS. Following a general introduction on the functioning of the ECS, the present review specifically addresses its role in the modulation of hedonic eating. Humans possess strong motivational systems triggered by rewarding aspects of food. Food reward is comprised of two components: one appetitive (orienting towards food); the other consummatory (hedonic evaluation), also referred to as ‘wanting’ and ‘liking’, respectively. Endocannabinoid tone seems to influence both the motivation to feed and the hedonic value of foods, probably by modifying palatability. Human physiology underlying hedonic eating is still not fully understood. A better understanding of the role of the ECS in the rewarding value of specific foods or diets could offer new possibilities to optimise the balance between energy and nutrient intake for different target groups. These groups include the obese and overweight, and potentially individuals suffering from malnutrition. Examples for the latter group are patients with disease-related anorexia, as well as the growing population of frail elderly suffering from persistent loss of food enjoyment and appetite resulting in malnutrition and involuntary weight loss. It has become clear that the psychobiology of food hedonics is extremely complex and the clinical failure of CB1inverse agonists including rimonabant (Accomplia®) has shown that ‘quick wins’ in this field are unlikely.
Factors affecting circulating levels of peptide YY in humans: a comprehensive review
Authors: Cooper Jamie A.
Published: June 2014

As obesity continues to be a global epidemic, research into the mechanisms of hunger and satiety and how those signals act to regulate energy homeostasis persists. Peptide YY (PYY) is an acute satiety signal released upon nutrient ingestion and has been shown to decrease food intake when administered exogenously. More recently, investigators have studied how different factors influence PYY release and circulating levels in humans. Some of these factors include exercise, macronutrient composition of the diet, body-weight status, adiposity levels, sex, race and ageing. The present article provides a succinct and comprehensive review of the recent literature published on the different factors that influence PYY release and circulating levels in humans. Where human data are insufficient, evidence in animal or cell models is summarised. Additionally, the present review explores the recent findings on PYY responses to different dietary fatty acids and how this new line of research will make an impact on future studies on PYY. Human demographics, such as sex and age, do not appear to influence PYY levels. Conversely, adiposity or BMI, race and acute exercise all influence circulating PYY levels. Both dietary fat and protein strongly stimulate PYY release. Furthermore, MUFA appear to result in a smaller PYY response compared with SFA and PUFA. PYY levels appear to be affected by acute exercise, macronutrient composition, adiposity, race and the composition of fatty acids from dietary fat.
MRI shows limited mixing between systemic and pulmonary circulations in foetal transposition of the great arteries: a potential cause of in utero pulmonary vascular disease
Authors: Porayette Prashob , van Amerom Joshua F.P. , Yoo Shi-Joon , Jaeggi Edgar , Macgowan Christopher K , Seed Mike
Published: June 2014

Objectives

To investigate the relationship between foetal haemodynamics and postnatal clinical presentation in patients with transposition of the great arteries using phase-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background

A severe and irreversible form of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn occurs in up to 5% of patients with transposition and remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in these infants. Restriction at the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus has been identified as a risk factor for the development of pulmonary hypertension, and this can now be studied with magnetic resonance imaging using a new technique called metric optimised gating.

Methods

Blood flow was measured in the major vessels of four foetuses with transposition with intact ventricular septum (gestational age range: 35–38 weeks) and compared with values from 12 normal foetuses (median gestational age: 37 weeks; range: 34–40 weeks).

Results

We found significantly reduced flows in the ductus arteriosus (p<0.01) and foramen ovale (p=0.03) and increased combined ventricular output (p=0.01), ascending aortic (p=0.001), descending aortic (p=0.03), umbilical vein (p=0.03), and aorto-pulmonary collateral (p<0.001) flows in foetuses with transposition compared with normals. The foetus with the lowest foramen ovale shunt and highest aorto-pulmonary collateral flow developed fatal pulmonary vascular disease.

Conclusions

We found limited mixing between the systemic and pulmonary circulations in a small group of late-gestation foetuses with transposition. We propose that the resulting hypoxia of the pulmonary circulation could be the driver behind increased aorto-pulmonary collateral flow and contribute to the development of pulmonary vascular disease in some foetuses with transposition.
“Rigid body rotation” of the left ventricle in hypoplastic right-heart syndrome: a case from the three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-Path Study
Authors: Nemes Attila , Havasi Kálmán , Forster Tamás
Published: June 2014

Left ventricular twist results from the movement of two orthogonally oriented muscular bands of the helical myocardial structure, with a consequent clockwise rotation of the left ventricular base and counterclockwise rotation of the left ventricular apex. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that left ventricular “rigid body rotation”, the near absence of left ventricular twist in hypoplastic right-heart syndrome, has been demonstrated.
Physiological changes in blood pressure impact peripheral endothelial function during adolescence
Authors: Deda Livia , Sochett Etienne B. , Mahmud Farid H.
Published: June 2014

Reactive hyperemia index is a measure of endothelial function used to assess subclinical atherosclerosis. When evaluated in healthy adolescents, significant changes in endothelial function were correlated with advancing age, pubertal status, and blood pressure. Blood pressure was the principal contributor to reactive hyperemia index variability independent of age, lipid profile, body mass index, and/or pubertal status. Interpretation of this peripheral vascular marker should include age and maturational changes in paediatric patients.
A Twin Study of Problematic Internet Use: Its Heritability and Genetic Association With Effortful Control
Authors: Li Mengjiao , Chen Jie , Li Naishi , Li Xinying
Published: June 2014

Our goal was to estimate genetic and environmental sources of influence on adolescent problematic internet use, and whether these individual differences can be explained by effortful control, an important aspect of self-regulation. A sample of 825 pairs of Chinese adolescent twins and their parents provided reports of problematic internet use and effortful control. Univariate analysis revealed that genetic factors explained 58–66% of variance in problematic internet use, with the rest explained by non-shared environmental factors. Sex difference was found, suggesting boys’ problematic internet use was more influenced by genetic influences than girls’ problematic internet use. Bivariate analysis indicated that effortful control accounted for a modest portion of the genetic and non-shared environmental variance in problematic internet use among girls. In contrast, among boys, effortful control explained between 6% (parent report) and 20% (self-report) of variance in problematic internet use through overlapping genetic pathways. Adolescent problematic internet use is heritable, and poor effortful control can partly explain adolescent problematic internet use, with effects stronger for boys. Implications for future research are discussed.
Computational Analysis of Enhanced Magnetic Bioseparation in Microfluidic Systems with Flow-Invasive Magnetic Elements
Authors: Khashan S. A. , Alazzam A. , Furlani E. P.
Published: June 2014

A microfluidic design is proposed for realizing greatly enhanced separation of magnetically-labeled bioparticles using integrated soft-magnetic elements. The elements are fixed and intersect the carrier fluid (flow-invasive) with their length transverse to the flow. They are magnetized using a bias field to produce a particle capture force. Multiple stair-step elements are used to provide efficient capture throughout the entire flow channel. This is in contrast to conventional systems wherein the elements are integrated into the walls of the channel, which restricts efficient capture to limited regions of the channel due to the short range nature of the magnetic force. This severely limits the channel size and hence throughput. Flow-invasive elements overcome this limitation and enable microfluidic bioseparation systems with superior scalability. This enhanced functionality is quantified for the first time using a computational model that accounts for the dominant mechanisms of particle transport including fully-coupled particle-fluid momentum transfer.
Bulk metallic glass composite with good tensile ductility, high strength and large elastic strain limit
Authors: Wu Fu-Fa , Chan K. C. , Jiang Song-Shan , Chen Shun-Hua , Wang Gang
Published: June 2014

Bulk metallic glasses exhibit high strength and large elastic strain limit but have no tensile ductility. However, bulk metallic glass composites reinforced by in-situ dendrites possess significantly improved toughness but at the expense of high strength and large elastic strain limit. Here, we report a bulk metallic glass composite with strong strain-hardening capability and large elastic strain limit. It was found that, by plastic predeformation, the bulk metallic glass composite can exhibit both a large elastic strain limit and high strength under tension. These unique elastic mechanical properties are attributed to the reversible B2↔B19′ phase transformation and the plastic-predeformation-induced complicated stress state in the metallic glass matrix and the second phase. These findings are significant for the design and application of bulk metallic glass composites with excellent mechanical properties.
The air-sea interface and surface stress under tropical cyclones
Authors: Soloviev Alexander V. , Lukas Roger , Donelan Mark A. , Haus Brian K. , Ginis Isaac
Published: June 2014

Tropical cyclone track prediction is steadily improving, while storm intensity prediction has seen little progress in the last quarter century. Important physics are not yet well understood and implemented in tropical cyclone forecast models. Missing and unresolved physics, especially at the air-sea interface, are among the factors limiting storm predictions. In a laboratory experiment and coordinated numerical simulation, conducted in this work, the microstructure of the air-water interface under hurricane force wind resembled Kelvin-Helmholtz shear instability between fluids with a large density difference. Supported by these observations, we bring forth the concept that the resulting two-phase environment suppresses short gravity-capillary waves and alters the aerodynamic properties of the sea surface. The unified wave-form and two-phase parameterization model shows the well-known increase of the drag coefficient (Cd) with wind speed, up to ~30 ms−1. Around 60 ms−1, the new parameterization predicts a local peak ofCk/Cd, under constant enthalpy exchange coefficientCk. This peak may explain rapid intensification of some storms to major tropical cyclones and the previously reported local peak of lifetime maximum intensity (bimodal distribution) in the best-track records. The bimodal distribution of maximum lifetime intensity, however, can also be explained by environmental parameters of tropical cyclones alone.
Fluorescence probe techniques to study the interaction between hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)
Authors: He Xiaoyan , Zhang Huimin , Wu Jun , Qiu Bin , Lin Zhenyu , Chen Guonan , Cai Zongwei
Published: June 2014

A selective and sensitive method to study the interaction between OH-PBDEs and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was established in this assay.
Mesoporous silica particle embedded functional graphene oxide as an efficient platform for urea biosensing
Authors: Abraham Shiju , Ciobota Valerian , Srivastava Saurabh , Srivastava Sunil K. , Singh Rajesh K. , Dellith Jan , Malhotra B. D. , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen , Srivastava Anchal
Published: June 2014

Mesoporous silica particle-embedded graphene oxide (GO) is a promising platform for electrochemical biosensing. We report a GO–SiO2 composite electrode for urea detection, with excellent reproducibility, specificity and stability.
Hybrid of non-selective quantum dots for simultaneous determination of TNT and 4-nitrophenol using multivariate chemometrics methods
Authors: Barati Ali , Shamsipur Mojtaba , Abdollahi Hamid
Published: June 2014

The overall fluorescence of a hybrid of two non-selective quantum dots (CQDs and CdTe QDs) has been used for pattern-based discrimination of different analytes and simultaneous determination in a binary mixture of analytes.
Mesoporous single crystals Li4Ti5O12 grown on rGO as high-rate anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Chen Weina , Jiang Hao , Hu Yanjie , Dai Yihui , Li Chunzhong
Published: June 2014

Mesoporous single crystals Li4Ti5O12 grown on reduced graphene oxide (MSCs-LTO–rGO) nanohybrids have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reaction of TiO2/rGO and LiOH with subsequent annealing in Ar at 600 °C, which exhibited excellent electrochemical performances.
Alkali metal oxides trapped by diethylzinc
Authors: Zane Miller L. , Shatruk Michael , Tyler McQuade D.
Published: June 2014

Diethylzinc has yielded interesting and often puzzling reactivity for over 165 years. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of well-defined structures composed of alkali metal oxides surrounded by diethylzincs.
Hollow nitrogen-doped carbon spheres as efficient and durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction
Authors: Sanetuntikul Jakkid , Hang Tao , Shanmugam Sangaraju
Published: June 2014

Hollow nitrogen-doped carbon spheres showed oxygen reduction activity comparable with a commercial Pt/C catalyst and excellent stability in alkaline electrolyte medium.
Self assembly of carboxylate/alcoholate functionalized ring-shape phosphomolybdates
Authors: Yang Donghui , Liang Yanfen , Ma Pengtao , Li Suzhi , Wang Jingping , Niu Jingyang
Published: June 2014

Carboxylate and alcoholate ligands were covalently attached to a [HPMo6O21]2− cluster to generate a series of inorganic–organic hybrid phosphomolybdates.
Rational design and synthesis of a series of 3D lanthanide metal–organic frameworks with different structures driven by reaction conditions
Authors: Zhao Tingting , Zhang Lirong , Wang Dongmei , Li Guanghua , Huo Qisheng , Liu Yunling
Published: June 2014

A series of novel lanthanide metal–organic frameworks with three types of structures, moc, dia and a new topology, have been constructed and their luminescence properties were investigated.
Composition dependent intrinsic defect structures in SrTiO3
Authors: Liu Bin , Cooper Valentino R. , Xu Haixuan , Xiao Haiyan , Zhang Yanwen , Weber William J.
Published: June 2014

Sr/Ti composition dependent intrinsic defect complexes are predicted; providing guidelines for optimizing the functionality of SrTiO3in experiments.
Determination of protein binding affinities within hydrogel-based molecularly imprinted polymers (HydroMIPs)
Authors: EL-Sharif Hazim F. , Hawkins Daniel M. , Stevenson Derek , Reddy Subrayal M.
Published: June 2014

Selective synthetic MIP recognition of a range of bio-significant proteins. Comparison of functional acrylamide-based polymer hydrogels as MIPs. MIP–protein dissociation constants within the micro-molar range. AFM measurements exhibited specific MIP interactions with cognate protein.
Electronic effect of terminal acceptor groups on different organic donor–acceptor small-molecule based memory devices
Authors: Liu Haifeng , Zhuang Hao , Li Hua , Lu Jianmei , Wang Lihua
Published: June 2014

Three conjugated organic donor–acceptor small-molecules BCZ-BT, BCZ-NO2 and BCZ-CN with different electronic effects in their terminal acceptors were designed and synthesized and their application in memory devices with a sandwich configuration was tested.