bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rearrangement and Fragmentation of Pentaphenylazetidinone
Authors: Sarel S. , Breuer E. , Klug J. T. , Fattal Y.
Published: November 2013

1, 3, 3, 4, 4‐Pentaphenylazetidinone‐2 (I) is converted by sulfuric acid into 1, 3, 3, 4‐tetraphenylhydrocarbostyril. Upon treatment with lithium aluminum hydride (I) undergoes a fragmentation reaction from which benzophenone anil is isolated.
The Metabolism of Ethylene Dibromide in the Rat I. Identification of Detoxification Products in Urine
Authors: Nachtomi Edna , Alumot Eugenia , Bondi A.
Published: November 2013

The metabolism of ethylene dibromide (EDB) has been studied after administration of this compound to rats by stomach tube.

N‐acetyl‐S‐(β‐hydroxyethyl)cysteine was isolated from the urine of EDB‐dosed rats. The identity of this compound with synthetic N‐acetyl‐S‐(β‐ hydroxyethyl)cysteine was proved by chromatographic and electrophoretic methods and by identification of the products obtained by acid and alkaline hydrolysis, by enzymatic hydrolysis and oxidation to a sulfoxide.

The second metabolite found in the urine in small amounts was proved to be identical with synthetic S‐(β‐hydroxyethyl)cysteine. The products of hydrolysis and oxidation obtained from the two compounds were shown by chromatography to be the same.

The symmetric S‐S'‐ethylene‐bis‐(N‐acetyl) cysteine has not been found in the urine of EDB‐treated rats.

When ethylene dichloride or ethylene bromohydrin was administered to rats, the same metabolites were detected in the urine as after EDB poisoning.
Constituents of Withania Somnifera Dun. Part X The Structure of Withanolide D
Authors: Lavie D. , Kirson I. , Glotter E.
Published: November 2013

Withanolide D, the major component of the leaves of Withania somnifera chemotype II, is a steroidal lactone of the withanolide type, isomeric with withaferin A. It has been identified as 5, 6β‐epoxy‐4β, 20α‐dihydroxy‐1‐oxo‐(5β)witha‐2, 24‐dienolide. The structure has been elucidated by NMR measurements and by chemical degradation to 4β‐acetoxy‐5,6β‐epoxy (5β) pregnan‐1, 20‐dione.
A Spectrophotometric Study of Trivalent Actinide Complexes in Solution. IV. Americium with Chloride Ligands
Authors: Marcus Y. , Shiloh M.
Published: November 2013

The light absorption spectra of americium(III) in ethanolic and concentrated aqueous lithium chloride solutions, and in long‐chain alkylammonium chloride solutions in aromatic diluents were obtained, as well as those of certain solid double salts and complexes. A strong 5f6 → 5f56d1 transition was observed in the aqueous solutions at 235 nm (42,500 cm−1), and from the dependence of the intensity of this and the 503 nm (19,880 cm−1) band, on the effective chloride activity, the stability constants of the inner sphere complexes: AmCl2+, logβ1* = −2.21± 0.08, and AmCl2+, log β2* = −4.70 ± 0.08, were determined. The spectrum of the long‐chain amine extracts is comparable to that of solids of the composition AmCl3 · 2N(C4H9)4Cl · × LiCl, and the nature of the extracts and of this and similar solids is discussed.
Isotope Effects on Metastable Transitions. IV. Isotopic Methanols
Authors: Lifshitz Chava , Shapiro M. , Sternberg Rachel
Published: November 2013

Metastable transitions were studied in the mass spectra of methanol and deuterated methanols in a sector mass spectrometer. The relative abundances of the various metastable ions at 70eV were determined. The intensities are in good agreement with those obtained employing a double‐focussing instrument operating in the metastable mode. There is a strong isotope effect on the intensity of the anomalous parent‐ion metastable transition. This transition and the one leading to a “flat top” metastable peak were studied carefully. Appearance potentials were determined for the ions involved, by the RPD method and for the metastables themselves by conventional techniques. Metastable ion decay curves were obtained using an improved pulsed ion source. The results are discussed in terms of the quasi‐equilibrium theory of mass spectra.
Infrared Spectra of N2O Adsorbed on Evaporated Films of CsCl, CsBr and CsI
Authors: Kozirovski Y. , Folman M.
Published: November 2013

Infrared spectra of N2O adsorbed on high‐surface area films of evaporated CsCl, CsBr and CsI have been investigated at different surface coverages. The absorption bands appeared nearly always as sharp and well defined multiplets. The relative intensities of their components depended strongly on surface coverage and often there was a correlation in their behaviour on adsorption and on desorption. The spectra have been interpreted in terms of the existence of different adsorption sites or orientations of the molecule on the surface.
Synthetic Peptides Related to Horse Heart Cytochrome C I. Peptides Corresponding To Positions 78–84
Authors: Wolman Y. , Schwarzberg M. , Frankel M.
Published: November 2013

Synthesis is described of a series of peptides and peptide derivatives which corresponds to positions 78–84 in the primary structure of horse heart Cytochrome c. The preparation of the heptapeptide: L‐threonyl‐ϵ‐trifluoroacetyl‐L‐lysyl‐L‐methionyl‐L‐isoleucyl‐L‐phenylalanyl‐L‐alanyl‐glycine is described.
Reproducibility of psychophysics and electroencephalography during offset analgesia
Authors: Nilsson M. , Piasco A. , Nissen T.D. , Graversen C. , Gazerani P. , Lucas M.‐F. , Dahan A. , Drewes A.M. , Brock C.
Published: November 2013

Background

Offset analgesia (OA) is a pain‐inhibiting mechanism, defined as a disproportionately large decrease in pain perception in response to a discrete decrease in noxious stimulus intensity. Hence, the aims were (1) to investigate whether psychophysics and electroencephalography (EEG) can be assessed simultaneously during OA and (2) to assess whether OA is reproducible within the same day as well as between different days.

Methods

Two separate studies investigated OA: Study I (13 healthy volunteers; seven men; 25.5 ± 0.65 years) aimed at determining the feasibility of recording psychophysics and EEG simultaneously during OA. Study II (18 healthy volunteers; 12 men; 34 ± 3.15 years) assessed reproducibility of OA in terms of psychophysics and EEG. Subjects were presented to a 30‐s OA heat stimulus paradigm on the volar forearm and psychophysics, and EEG recordings were obtained throughout the procedure. Reproducibility was assessed within the same day and between different days, using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Additionally, the reproducible psychophysical parameters were correlated to relevant EEG frequency bands.

Results

Simultaneous recording of psychophysics and EEG affects the frequency distribution in terms of alpha suppression. Reproducibility was proven for the psychophysics and EEG frequency bands both within the same day (all ICCs > 0.62) and between different days (all ICCs > 0.66, except for the delta band). Correlations between psychophysics and EEG were found in the theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz) and gamma (32–80 Hz) bands (all p < 0.01).

Conclusion

OA is a robust and reproducible model for experimental pain research, making it suitable for future research.
A novel modified peptide derived from membrane‐proximal external region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope significantly enhances retrovirus infection
Authors: Zhang Lishuang , Jiang Chunlai , Zhang Huayan , Gong Xin , Yang Lan , Miao Liang , Shi Yuhua , Zhang Yan , Kong Wei , Zhang Chuntao , Shan Yaming
Published: November 2013

Efficient gene transfer is a critical goal in retroviral transduction. Several peptides capable of forming amyloid fibrils, such as the 39‐residue semen‐derived infection‐enhancing peptide (SEVI), have demonstrated the ability to boost retroviral gene delivery. Here, a 13‐residue peptide P13 (Ac‐671NWFDITNWLWYIK683) derived from the membrane‐proximal external region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) gp41 transmembrane protein, together with its 16‐residue peptide derivative (P16) were found to enhance HIV‐1 infection significantly. Both peptides, P13 and P16, could form amyloid fibril structures to potently enhance HIV‐1 infectivity. Further investigations showed that both aromatic Trp residues and cationic Lys residues contributed to the enhancement of HIV‐1 infection by these two active peptides. P16 could more effectively augment HIV‐1 YU‐2 infection than SEVI, implying its potential applications as a tool in the lab to improve gene transfer rates. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impacts of openness on air quality in China
Authors: Li Pei , Tu Yong
Published: November 2013

This paper investigates how openness resulting from the adoption of the open-door policy influences air quality in urban China. City-level information is used to minimise the impacts of data inconsistency and data measurement problems. The intensity of international trade is used as a proxy for openness to examine how freer trade influences urban air quality. Several alternative measures of openness are adopted to investigate how different forms of openness can influence urban air quality. Our findings show that technique effects are the key to reversing the degradation of urban air quality and that openness is not necessarily a problem for urban air quality in China.
Knockout of an endogenous mannosyltransferase increases the homogeneity of glycoproteins produced in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Krainer Florian W. , Gmeiner Christoph , Neutsch Lukas , Windwarder Markus , Pletzenauer Robert , Herwig Christoph , Altmann Friedrich , Glieder Anton , Spadiut Oliver
Published: November 2013

The yeast Pichia pastoris is a common host for the recombinant production of biopharmaceuticals, capable of performing posttranslational modifications like glycosylation of secreted proteins. However, the activity of the OCH1 encoded α-1,6-mannosyltransferase triggers hypermannosylation of secreted proteins at great heterogeneity, considerably hampering downstream processing and reproducibility. Horseradish peroxidases are versatile enzymes with applications in diagnostics, bioremediation and cancer treatment. Despite the importance of these enzymes, they are still isolated from plant at low yields with different biochemical properties. Here we show the production of homogeneous glycoprotein species of recombinant horseradish peroxidase by using a P. pastoris platform strain in which OCH1 was deleted. This och1 knockout strain showed a growth impaired phenotype and considerable rearrangements of cell wall components, but nevertheless secreted more homogeneously glycosylated protein carrying mainly Man8 instead of Man10 N-glycans as a dominant core glycan structure at a volumetric productivity of 70% of the wildtype strain.
Efficient fixation of CO2 into organic carbonates catalyzed by 2-hydroxymethyl-functionalized ionic liquids
Authors: Wang Jin-Quan , Cheng Wei-Guo , Sun Jian , Shi Tian-Yuan , Zhang Xiang-Ping , Zhang Suo-Jiang
Published: November 2013

2-Hydroxymethyl-functionalized ionic liquids were found to be effective catalysts for fixation of CO2 with epoxides into cyclic carbonates, which were also compatible with K2CO3 for green catalytic transesterification reaction without catalyst separation.
Do speakers of Dutch use their knowledge of German while processing written Danish words?
Authors: Swarte Femke , Schüppert Anja , Gooskens Charlotte
Published: November 2013

This paper elaborates on a factor that plays a role in receptive multilingualism, namely the influence of a second language (L2). We investigated whether knowledge of German can help Dutch people to decode written Danish words when they do not know any Danish. We instructed 32 participants with Dutch as a native language (L1) and different levels of proficiency in German as an L2 to translate 42 written Danish words into Dutch. The results showed that participants with a higher level of German performed better on this translation task. Furthermore, our data provides evidence for the existence of a ‘foreign language mode’, i.e. the knowledge of German as an L2 seems to take over from the knowledge of the L1 if the participants’ proficiency in German is high.
Economic Loss and Alcohol Consumption and Problems During the 2008 to 2009 U.S. Recession
Authors: Mulia Nina , Zemore Sarah E. , Murphy Ryan , Liu HuiGuo , Catalano Ralph
Published: November 2013

Background

There is some evidence that individual‐level job loss can lead to greater alcohol consumption and problems. While other forms of economic loss were common during the recent recession, these are rarely investigated in studies of macroeconomic decline. This study examined the relationship between types of economic loss in the 2008 to 2009 recession and alcohol outcomes, and whether this varied by gender and age.

Methods

Data are from the 2009 to 2010 U.S. National Alcohol Survey (N = 5,382). We used multivariable regression to estimate associations between economic loss and alcohol volume, monthly drunkenness, negative drinking consequences, and alcohol dependence in the overall sample and within gender and age groups (18 to 29, 30 to 49, 50+), controlling for demographic and alcohol history covariates.

Results

In the overall sample, severe economic loss (job or housing loss) was positively associated with negative drinking consequences, alcohol dependence, and (marginally) drunkenness, whereas moderate loss (loss of retirement savings, reduced work hours/wages, or trouble paying the rent/mortgage) was unassociated with alcohol outcomes. Important gender and age differences were observed. Women reporting retirement loss, reduced hours/wages, and job loss consumed 41 to 70% more alcohol than women unaffected by the recession, and men who experienced job loss and housing problems had increased risk for drunkenness, drinking consequences, and dependence. Middle‐aged Americans affected by partial or complete job loss and housing problems also had greater risk of drunkenness and alcohol‐related problems, and older adults who lost retirement savings drank 42% more alcohol than their peers unaffected by the recession. With the exception of negative drinking consequences, young adult alcohol outcomes were largely unrelated to recessionary loss.

Conclusions

This study highlights the adverse effects of recession‐induced economic losses on alcohol use and problems in demographic subgroups. As men and middle‐aged Americans were at risk for multiple, adverse alcohol outcomes, these groups may warrant special alcohol screening and intervention efforts in future macroeconomic crises.
The Place of Additional Individual Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Alcoholism: A Randomized Controlled Study in Nonresponders to Anticraving Medication—Results of the PREDICT Study
Authors: Berner Michael M. , Wahl Sonja , Brueck Rigo , Frick Katrin , Smolka Robert , Haug Monika , Hoffmann Sabine , Reinhard Iris , Leménager Tagrid , Gann Horst , Batra Anil , Mann Karl ,   the PREDICT study group
Published: November 2013

Background

Goal of the presented study is to evaluate whether alcohol‐dependent patients given additional individual psychotherapy after a heavy relapse during pharmacotherapy remain abstinent for longer than those who continue with pharmacotherapy alone.

Methods

In a randomized, multicenter study, 109 alcohol‐dependent patients who had suffered a heavy relapse either while receiving anticraving medication or placebo were randomized into 2 groups. One group received medication, medical management, and additional individual, disorder‐specific, cognitive‐behavioral psychotherapy, while the control group received medication and medical management only. Main outcome was defined as days until first heavy relapse.

Results

Fifty‐four patients were randomized to the psychotherapy group, 55 to the control group. Intention‐to‐treat and completer analyses found no differences between groups, whereas as‐treated analyses (patients who actually received psychotherapy compared with those who did not) found a significant effect of psychotherapy.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that patients that are willing to attend psychotherapy benefit from receiving psychotherapy in addition to pharmacotherapy. We suggest that it may be beneficial to consider patients' preferences concerning psychotherapy at an earlier stage during treatment.
Paediatric models in motion: requirements for model‐based decision support at the bedside
Authors: Barrett Jeffrey S.
Published: November 2013

Optimal paediatric pharmacotherapy is reliant on a detailed understanding of the individual patient including their developmental status and disease state as well as the pharmaceutical agents he/she is receiving for treatment or management of side effects. Our appreciation for size and maturation effects on the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) phenomenon has improved to the point that we can develop predictive models that permit us to individualize therapy, especially in the situation where we are monitoring drug effects or therapeutic concentrations. The growth of efforts to guide paediatric pharmacotherapy via model‐based decision support necessitates a coordinated and systematic approach to ensuring reliable and robust output to caregivers that represents the current standard of care and adheres to governance imposed by the host institution or coalition responsible. Model‐based systems which guide caregivers on dosing paediatric patients in a more comprehensive manner are in development at several institutions. Care must be taken that these systems provide robust guidance with the current best practice. These systems must evolve as new information becomes available and ultimately are best constructed from diverse data representing global input on demographics, ethnic / racial diversity, diet and other lifestyle factors. Multidisciplinary involvement at the project team level is key to the ultimate clinical valuation. Likewise, early engagement of clinical champions is also critical for the success of model‐based tools. Adherence to regulatory requirements as well as best practices with respect to software development and testing are essential if these tools are to be used as part of the routine standard of care.
Seeing what's happening on the inside: Patients' views of the value of diagnostic cardiac computed tomography angiography
Authors: Devcich Daniel A. , Ellis Christopher J. , Waltham Natasha , Broadbent Elizabeth , Petrie Keith J.
Published: November 2013

Objectives

Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a commonly used diagnostic test for coronary artery disease. Despite its considerable clinical value, few studies have explored the psychological value of CCTA from the perspective of patients undergoing testing. This study aimed to investigate the patient‐perceived value of diagnostic CCTA testing, specifically in relation to patients' perceptions of their heart health and health behaviours.

Design

The study used a qualitative methodology incorporating thematic analysis before and after testing.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted before and after the receipt of CCTA test results among 13 non‐acute patients attending a heart clinic in New Zealand for diagnostic CCTA. Data analysis followed a thematic analysis approach applied at each interview time point.

Results

Three themes were identified from the pre‐diagnostic interviews: expectations that testing would facilitate heart‐related understanding; the role of CCTA as an essential requirement for considering the use of cardiac medication; and awareness of the importance of heart‐healthy behaviours. Post‐diagnostic interview analysis identified four themes: positive psychological responses to cardiac diagnosis; perceived value of viewing scan images; the potential impact of testing on health behaviour intentions; and patients' reflections on the procedure.

Conclusions

These results suggest that CCTA has the potential to meet knowledge‐gaining expectations that patients bring to clinic and may increase motivation of health‐protective behaviours. Diagnostic CCTA may therefore provide an ideal opportunity to address patients' illness understanding and behavioural intentions. The effective utilization of scan images as a supplement to consultation may enhance such practice objectives and warrants further investigation.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an advanced diagnostic test that is particularly useful for early diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Cardiac computed tomography angiography is able to produce highly detailed images of the formation and build‐up of calcium deposits in coronary vasculature, thus providing a window into an otherwise unseen disease process.

Although CCTA is increasingly utilized by clinicians, little is known about its psychological value for cardiac patients undergoing the test.

What does this study add?

Cardiac computed tomography angiography testing can be a potentially important experience for cardiac patients in understanding their cardiac health.

Cardiac computed tomography angiography could provide an opportune time to address patients' health behaviour intentions and treatment beliefs.

Effective utilization of CCTA scan images in consultation may help to enhance consultation objectives.
Beneficial effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockade in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Authors: MAINI R N , ELLIOTT M J , BRENNAN F M , FELDMANN M
Published: November 2013

The biological properties of TNF-α make it a candidate therapeutic target in RA. Our studies have demonstrated that TNF-α and its receptors are up-regulated and co-expressed in the synovium and cartilage-pannus junction of RA joints. Neutralizing TNF-α antibodies reduce the production of the many pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), produced by mononuclear cells from RA in culture. When injected into DBA/1 mice with collagen-induced arthritis and TNF-α transgenic mice with arthritis, anti-TNF MoAbs decrease inflammatory damage of joints. Clinical trials employing cA2, a chimaeric anti-TNF-α MoAb, in open-label and randomized placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated a dose-dependent efficacy with impressive improvement in disease activity and acute-phase responses lasting several weeks. We conclude that TNF-α is a critical mediator of inflammation in RA, and is an important therapeutic target in this disease.
Autoantibodies to malondialdehyde-modified epitope in connective tissue diseases and vasculitides
Authors: AMARA A , CONSTANS J , CHAUGIER C , SEBBAN A , DUBOURG L , PEUCHANT E , PELLEGRIN J-L , LENG B , CONRI C , GEFFARD M
Published: November 2013

Malondialdehyde (MDA), a peroxidative end-product released during polyunsaturated fatty acid degradation, reacts strongly with lysine residues of cellular proteins. MDA-modified proteins become immunogenic and may elicit specific autoantibody formation. We hypothesized that systemic diseases in which inflammatory events occur, could be an interesting model for studying oxidative stress. A few studies have suggested that MDA-modified proteins may exist in systemic diseases, and that autoantibodies to MDA-modified structures might reflect this oxidative process. Autoantibodies to MDA-modified epitope(s) were therefore assayed in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 29), scleroderma (SCL, n = 11), giant cell arteritis (GCA, n = 11), periarteritis nodosa (PAN, n = 10), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 9), and healthy subjects (HS, n = 32). Significantly increased anti-MDA-modified epitope(s) autoantibodies were found in patients with SLE and also in other systemic diseases such as PAN and SCL. Autoantibodies to MDA-modified epitope(s) were predominantly of IgM isotype, with low levels of IgG and no IgA activity. In SLE, anti-MDA-modified epitope(s) autoantibody titres correlated strongly with systemic lupus activity measure (SLAM, r = 0·702, P = 0·0001), anti-nuclear antigen autoantibodies (ANA, r = 0·4, P = 0·029), IgG anti-cardiolipin (r = 0·558, P = 0·03) and the steroid drug regimen (r = 0·52, P = 0·004). Autoantibodies to MDA-modified epitope(s) may reflect oxidative modifications occurring in systemic diseases, and might be useful as clinical markers of SLE activity if further investigated.
Avidity of antibody responses toActinobacillus actinomycetemcomitansin periodontitis
Authors: O'DELL D S , EBERSOLE J L
Published: November 2013

We designed a study to examine the serum IgG antibody avidity characteristics in: (i) normal subjects (N); (ii) Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-infected adult periodontitis (AP Aa+); (iii) A. actinomycetemcomitans-infected localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP Aa+); and (iv) AP subjects (AP) with various antibody patterns and disease presentation. Although there were significant elevations in antibody levels for AP Aa+ and LJP Aa+ patients compared with AP and normal patients (P < 0·0001), there were no significant differences in the avidity indices (AI). Correlations of antibody levels to avidity revealed that functional activity of the antibody as measured by avidity was independent of antibody levels. Increasing antibody levels correlated with an increase in the number of infected sites, yet there was a trend for AI to decrease with increased infection. Avidity indices for all patient groups did not appear to show a strong biologic relationship to plaque; however, in AP Aa+ and LJP Aa+ patients there was a generally positive relationship between avidity and bleeding on probing or pocket depth. In AP Aa+ and LJP Aa+ patients, and in AP patients there was a positive relationship of avidity through a threshold of ∼8 active disease sites. This study hypothesized that antibody avidity to A. actinomycetemcomitans could help to explain the relationship between the active host response and chronic infection with this pathogen. The results provide evidence that both antibody levels and avidity may contribute to the variation in host resistance to infection and disease associated with A. actinomycetemcomitans.
Clinical applications of palifermin: amelioration of oral mucositis and other potential indications
Authors: Vadhan‐Raj Saroj , Goldberg Jenna D. , Perales Miguel‐Angel , Berger Dietmar P. , van den Brink Marcel R.M.
Published: November 2013

Mucositis is one of the most significant toxicities in cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic treatment. It can have a negative impact on both quality of life and health economics. Severe oral mucositis can contribute to hospitalization, need for narcotic analgesics, total parentral nutrition, suboptimal delivery of anti‐neoplastic treatment, and morbidity and mortality. Palifermin, a recombinant derivative of human keratinocyte growth factor, is the first active agent approved by the FDA for the prevention of severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Several studies have also shown significant reduction in the incidence, severity and/or duration of oral mucositis in other high‐risk settings such as concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CT/RT) for patients with head and neck cancer, and use of mucotoxic chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin in sarcoma and fluorouracil for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The reduction in mucositis has translated into amelioration of symptoms and improvement in daily functioning as measured by patient‐reported outcome in multiple studies. The clinical response to palifermin appears to be related in part to epithelial proliferation and mucosal thickening. Palifermin also has other potential clinical applications including the acceleration of immune reconstitution and inhibition of graft‐versus‐host disease in patients undergoing HSCT, and mitigation of dysphagia in lung cancer patients treated with concurrent CT/RT. Palifermin is generally well tolerated with mild‐to‐moderate skin and oral adverse events. Future studies may expand the use of palifermin into other areas that would benefit from its cytoprotective and regenerative effects.
Immunoablation of cells expressing the NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan
Authors: Leoni Giampaolo , Rattray Marcus , Fulton Daniel , Rivera Andrea , Butt Arthur M.
Published: November 2013

Expression of the transmembrane NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG) defines a distinct population of NG2‐glia. NG2‐glia serve as a regenerative pool of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the adult central nervous system (CNS), which is important for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and are a major component of the glial scar that inhibits axon regeneration after CNS injury. In addition, NG2‐glia form unique neuron–glial synapses with unresolved functions. However, to date it has proven difficult to study the importance of NG2‐glia in any of these functions using conventional transgenic NG2 ‘knockout’ mice. To overcome this, we aimed to determine whether NG2‐glia can be targeted using an immunotoxin approach. We demonstrate that incubation in primary anti‐NG2 antibody in combination with secondary saporin‐conjugated antibody selectively kills NG2‐expressing cells in vitro. In addition, we provide evidence that the same protocol induces the loss of NG2‐glia without affecting astrocyte or neuronal numbers in cerebellar brain slices from postnatal mice. This study shows that targeting the NG2 CSPG with immunotoxins is an effective and selective means for killing NG2‐glia, which has important implications for studying the functions of these enigmatic cells both in the normal CNS, and in demyelination and degeneration.
Facing the Conundrum: How Useful Is the “Developmental State” Concept in South Africa?
Authors: Burger Philippe
Published: November 2013

Developmental states are often associated with high economic growth. Japan, South Korea, China and Brazil are all examples, most of which grew at phenomenal rates. The National Development Plan in South Africa sets out the intention of the South African government to transform the government into a “capable and developmental state able to intervene to correct our historical inequities …” However, what the South African government means by the term “developmental state” is not entirely clear. To help bring some clarity, this paper distinguishes between the East Asian developmental state and the Scandinavian developmentalist welfare state. The paper furthermore draws on Bernard and Boucher's distinction between a “social investment state” and a “transfer welfare state.” The former is a more precise description of the Scandinavian developmentalist welfare state. Subsequently, the paper discusses the applicability of the developmental state framework to South Africa. Specifically, it argues that the East Asian model neither is a model that would work in South Africa, nor is it a model that South Africa would wish to apply. South Africa currently resembles more a transfer welfare state than the Scandinavian–Brazilian social investment state. The social investment state, though, is closer to what South Africa needs.
Greening the German Classroom: Starting Points for a Cultural Lesson
Authors: Becker Angelika , DeMaris Sarah Glenn , Moller‐Tank Beth
Published: November 2013

The article presents and discusses materials for a cultural lesson about Green Germany. An introductory mini‐unit frames the over‐all student learning objective: students should be able to respond to the questions “Where are we?” and “Where are we going?” with regard to the natural environment. Three different units then help students with these questions. The first two units describe where people in Germany and the US are; the third helps them reflect on where we are going and where their generation can help take us. Although the ACTFL Standards are not addressed explicitly, implicit treatment of these can be recognized in the approach presented. Communication about this cultural topic helps students see comparisons, connections, and communities.
Water quality risks of ‘improved’ water sources: evidence from Cambodia
Authors: Shaheed A. , Orgill J. , Ratana C. , Montgomery M. A. , Jeuland M. A. , Brown J.
Published: November 2013

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of on‐plot piped water and rainwater at the point of consumption in an area with rapidly expanding coverage of ‘improved’ water sources.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study of 914 peri‐urban households in Kandal Province, Cambodia, between July–August 2011. We collected data from all households on water management, drinking water quality and factors potentially related to post‐collection water contamination. Drinking water samples were taken directly from a subsample of household taps (n = 143), stored tap water (n = 124), other stored water (n = 92) and treated stored water (n = 79) for basic water quality analysis for Escherichia coli and other parameters.

Results

Household drinking water management was complex, with different sources used at any given time and across seasons. Rainwater was the most commonly used drinking water source. Households mixed different water sources in storage containers, including ‘improved’ with ‘unimproved’ sources. Piped water from taps deteriorated during storage (P < 0.0005), from 520 cfu/100 ml (coefficient of variation, CV: 5.7) E. coli to 1100 cfu/100 ml (CV: 3.4). Stored non‐piped water (primarily rainwater) had a mean E. coli count of 1500 cfu/100 ml (CV: 4.1), not significantly different from stored piped water (P = 0.20). Microbial contamination of stored water was significantly associated with observed storage and handling practices, including dipping hands or receptacles in water (P < 0.005), and having an uncovered storage container (P = 0.052).

Conclusions

The microbial quality of ‘improved’ water sources in our study area was not maintained at the point of consumption, possibly due to a combination of mixing water sources at the household level, unsafe storage and handling practices, and inadequately treated piped‐to‐plot water. These results have implications for refining international targets for safe drinking water access as well as the assumptions underlying global burden of disease estimates, which posit that ‘improved’ sources pose minimal risks of diarrhoeal diseases.
Reduced weed growth with different paving constructions
Authors: De Cauwer B , Fagot M , Beeldens A , Boonen E , Bulcke R , Reheul D
Published: November 2013

The recent phaseout of herbicide use on public pavements in Flanders has triggered the development of alternative weed control strategies. Besides the search for effective non‐chemical curative methods, there is also a need for strategies that prevent or reduce weed growth on pavements. In this study a paving experiment was set up under a rain shelter to investigate the effects of four construction factors on weed growth: joint filling material, joint width, organic pollution of the joint filling material and type of bedding layer. Paving mini‐plots were oversown with a mixture of dominant, hard‐to‐control weed species found on pavements. The inhibitory effect on weeds was determined by examining initial weed density and weed coverage over a 2‐year period. More weed growth was found in pavings with wide joints and organically polluted joint filling materials. High permeability of the bedding layer resulted in higher weed cover. The coarse‐grained filling materials and the sodium silicate‐enriched sand Dansand® were associated with less weed cover than the fine‐grained filling materials. Our results show there is potential for preventing weed growth using suitable paving materials and appropriate high‐standard construction and maintenance of pavements.
Palliative care in people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who die in hospital
Authors: Walker Richard W , Churm Deepta , Dewhurst Felicity , Samuel Maria , Ramsell Amy , Lawrie Claire , Hill Jessica , Threapleton Christopher J D , Wood Brian , Gray William K
Published: November 2013

Background

The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines state that palliative care options for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) should be discussed.

Aims

To investigate whether palliative care guidelines are adhered to for people with PD who die in hospital.

Setting/participants

The medical notes of all people with a diagnosis of idiopathic PD who were living in two adjacent areas of northeast England and who died over a 3-year period were examined. Demographic data and specific information regarding events around the time of death were recorded.

Results

For the 236 patients identified, the average age at death was 82.8 years. Of these patients, 110 (46.6%) died in hospital, 56 (23.7%) at home, 59 (25.0%) in a care home and for 11 patients (4.7%) the place of death was not recorded. For those who died in hospital, only three patients, and seven relatives of patients, had had a recorded discussion with a clinician regarding their preferred place of death and only 15 (13.6%) were referred to a specialist palliative care team. Forty-six patients (41.8%) were placed on the Liverpool Care Pathway.

Conclusions

For those dying in hospital, there are few previously documented end-of-life care discussions with patients or their relatives. The use of end-of-life pathways and access to specialist palliative care is variable. Following the Neuberger report, the Liverpool Care Pathway is to be replaced with individual end-of-life care plans. It is important to engage patients, and their relatives, in decision making regarding preferences at the end of life.
Costs of traffic injuries
Authors: Kruse Marie
Published: November 2013

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyse the socioeconomic costs of traffic injuries in Denmark, notably the healthcare costs and the productivity costs related to traffic injuries, in a bottom-up, register-based perspective.

Method

Traffic injury victims were identified using national emergency room data and police records. Victims were matched with five controls per case by means of propensity score, nearest-neighbour matching. In the cohort, consisting of the 52 526 individuals that experienced a traffic injury in 2000 and 262 630 matched controls, attributable healthcare costs were assessed using Danish national healthcare registers. Productivity costs were computed using duration analysis (Cox regression models). In a subanalysis, cost per severe traffic injury was computed for the 12 995 individuals that experienced a severe injury.

Results

The socioeconomic cost of a traffic injury was €1406 (2009 price level) in the first year, and €8950 over a 10-year period. Per 100 000 population, the 10-year cost was €6 565 668. A severe traffic injury costs €4969 per person in the first year, and €4 006 685 per 100 000 population over a 10-year period. Victims of traffic injuries are younger and generally worse off, compared to the general population.

Conclusions

Prevention of traffic injuries could result in societal savings. The bottom-up, register-based approach renders more precise figures for these savings. The socioeconomic profile of injury victims differs from that of the general population on most parameters.
Critical care at extremes of temperature: effects on patients, staff and equipment
Authors: Hindle Elise M , Henning J D
Published: November 2013

Modern travel and military operations have led to a significant increase in the need to provide medical care in extreme climates. Presently, there are few data on what happens to the doctor, their drugs and equipment when exposed to these extremes. A review was undertaken to find out the effects of ‘extreme heat or cold’ on anaesthesia and critical care; in addition, subject matter experts were contacted directly. Both extreme heat and extreme cold can cause a marked physiological response in a critically ill patient and the doctor treating these patients may also suffer a decrement in both physical and mental functioning. Equipment can malfunction when exposed to extremes of temperature and should ideally be stored and operated in a climatically controlled environment. Many drugs have a narrow range of temperatures in which they remain useable though some have been shown to remain effective if exposed to extremes of temperature for a short period of time. All personnel embarking on an expedition to an extreme temperature zone should be of sufficient physical robustness and ideally should have a period of acclimatisation which may help mitigate against some of the physiological effects of exposure to extreme heat or extreme cold. Expedition planners should aim to provide climatic control for drugs and equipment and should have logistical plans for replenishment of drugs and medical evacuation of casualties.
Applications of local linking to nonlocal Neumann problems
Authors: Molica Bisci Giovanni , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D.
Published: November 2013

We study a nonlocal Neumann problem driven by a nonhomogeneous elliptic differential operator. The reaction term is a nonlinearity function that exhibits p-superlinear growth but need not satisfy the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition. By using an abstract linking theorem for smooth functionals, we prove a multiplicity result on the existence of weak solutions for such problems. An explicit example illustrates the main abstract result of this paper.
On the existence of stationary solutions for higher-order p-Kirchhoff problems
Authors: Autuori Giuseppina , Colasuonno Francesca , Pucci Patrizia
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we establish the existence of two nontrivial weak solutions of possibly degenerate nonlinear eigenvalue problems involving the p-polyharmonic Kirchhoff operator in bounded domains. The p-polyharmonic operators [Formula: see text] were recently introduced in [F. Colasuonno and P. Pucci, Multiplicity of solutions for p(x)-polyharmonic elliptic Kirchhoff equations, Nonlinear Anal.74 (2011) 5962–5974] for all orders L and independently, in the same volume of the journal, in [V. F. Lubyshev, Multiple solutions of an even-order nonlinear problem with convex-concave nonlinearity, Nonlinear Anal.74 (2011) 1345–1354] only for L even. In Sec. 3, the results are then extended to non-degeneratep(x)-polyharmonic Kirchhoff operators. The main tool of the paper is a three critical points theorem given in [F. Colasuonno, P. Pucci and Cs. Varga, Multiple solutions for an eigenvalue problem involving p-Laplacian type operators, Nonlinear Anal.75 (2012) 4496–4512]. Several useful properties of the underlying functional solution space [Formula: see text], endowed with the natural norm arising from the variational structure of the problem, are also proved both in the homogeneous case p ≡ Const. and in the non-homogeneous case p = p(x). In the latter some sufficient conditions on the variable exponent p are given to prove the positivity of the infimum λ1of the Rayleigh quotient for the p(x)-polyharmonic operator [Formula: see text].
ACCURATE DISCRIMINATION OF OUTER MEMBRANE PROTEINS USING SECONDARY STRUCTURE ELEMENT ALIGNMENT AND SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE
Authors: NI QINGSHAN , ZOU LINGYUN
Published: November 2013

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play critical roles in many cellular processes and discriminating OMPs from other types of proteins is very important for OMPs identification in bacterial genomic proteins. In this study, a method SSEA_SVM is developed using secondary structure element alignment and support vector machine. Moreover, a novel kernel function is designed to utilize secondary structure information in the support vector machine classifier. A benchmark dataset, which consists of 208 OMPs, 673 globular proteins, and 206 α-helical membrane proteins, is used to evaluate the performance of SSEA_SVM. A high accuracy of 97.7% with 0.926 MCC is achieved while SSEA_SVM is applied to discriminating OMPs and non-OMPs. In comparison with existing methods in the literature, SSEA_SVM is also highly competitive. We suggest that SSEA_SVM is a much more promising method to identify OMPs in genomic proteins. A web server that implements SSEA_SVM is freely available at http://bioinfo.tmmu.edu.cn/SSEA_SVM/ .
A dimensional result in continued fractions
Authors: Sun Yu , Wu Jun
Published: November 2013

Given x ∈ (0, 1), let [a1(x), a2(x), a3(x),…] be the continued fraction expansion of x and [Formula: see text] be the sequence of rational convergents. Good [The fractional dimensional theory of continued fractions, Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc.37 (1941) 199–228] discussed the growth properties of {an(x), n ≥ 1} and proved that for any β > 0, the set [Formula: see text] is of Hausdorff dimension [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we consider, for any β > 0, the set [Formula: see text] and show that the Hausdorff dimension of F(β) is [Formula: see text].
A note on the mean value of L(1, χ) in the hyperelliptic ensemble
Authors: Jung Hwanyup
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we establish an asymptotic formula for ∑D∈ℋ2g+2 L(1, χD) as g → ∞ (fixed odd q), where ℋ2g+2 is the subset of 𝔽q[T] consisting of monic square-free polynomials of degree 2g + 2. As an application, we obtain a formula for the average of the class number times the regulator of the associated rings [Formula: see text] when D is taken over ℋ2g+2 as g → ∞.
Enhanced insulin secretion responsiveness and islet adrenergic desensitization after chronic norepinephrine suppression is discontinued in fetal sheep
Authors: Chen Xiaochuan , Green Alice S. , Macko Antoni R. , Yates Dustin T. , Kelly Amy C. , Limesand Sean W.
Published: November 2013

Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses experience prolonged hypoxemia, hypoglycemia, and elevated norepinephrine (NE) concentrations, resulting in hypoinsulinemia and β-cell dysfunction. Previously, we showed that acute adrenergic blockade revealed enhanced insulin secretion responsiveness in the IUGR fetus. To determine whether chronic exposure to NE alone enhances β-cell responsiveness afterward, we continuously infused NE into fetal sheep for 7 days and, after terminating the infusion, evaluated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and glucose-potentiated arginine-induced insulin secretion (GPAIS). During treatment, NE-infused fetuses had greater ( P < 0.05) plasma NE concentrations and exhibited hyperglycemia ( P < 0.01) and hypoinsulinemia ( P < 0.01) compared with controls. GSIS during the NE infusion was also reduced ( P < 0.05) compared with pretreatment values. GSIS and GPAIS were approximately fourfold greater ( P < 0.01) in NE fetuses 3 h after the 7 days that NE infusion was discontinued compared with age-matched controls or pretreatment GSIS and GPAIS values of NE fetuses. In isolated pancreatic islets from NE fetuses, mRNA concentrations of adrenergic receptor isoforms (α1D, α2A, α2C, and β1), G protein subunit-αi-2, and uncoupling protein 2 were lower ( P < 0.05) compared with controls, but β-cell regulatory genes were not different. Our findings indicate that chronic exposure to elevated NE persistently suppresses insulin secretion. After removal, NE fetuses demonstrated a compensatory enhancement in insulin secretion that was associated with adrenergic desensitization and greater stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic islets.
Integration of Lot Sizing and Flow Shop Scheduling with Lot Streaming
Authors: Mortezaei Navid , Zulkifli Norzima
Published: November 2013

We will develop a mathematical model for the integration of lot sizing and flow shop scheduling with lot streaming. We will develop a mixed-integer linear model for multiple products lot sizing and lot streaming problems. Mixed-integer programming formulation is presented which will enable the user to find optimal production quantities, optimal inventory levels, optimal sublot sizes, and optimal sequence simultaneously. We will use numerical example to show practicality of the proposed model. We test eight different lot streaming problems: (1) consistent sublots with intermingling, (2) consistent sublots and no intermingling between sublots of the products (without intermingling), (3) equal sublots with intermingling, (4) equal sublots without intermingling, (5) no-wait consistent sublots with intermingling, (6) no-wait equal sublots with intermingling, (7) no-wait consistent sublots without intermingling, and (8) no-wait equal sublots without intermingling. We showed that the best makespan can be achieved through the consistent sublots with intermingling case.