bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First‐trimester crown–rump length and embryonic volume of aneuploid fetuses measured in virtual reality
Authors: Baken L. , van Heesch P. N. A. C. M. , Wildschut H. I. J. , Koning A. H. J. , van der Spek P. J. , Steegers E. A. P. , Exalto N.
Published: December 2012

Objectives

To examine whether embryonic volume (EV), as measured using three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound and a virtual reality approach, is a better measure of growth restriction than is crown–rump length (CRL) in aneuploid fetuses.

Methods

We retrospectively measured CRL and EV in prospectively collected 3D ultrasound volumes of 55 aneuploid fetuses using the Barco I‐Space VR system. The gestational age ranged from 11 + 2 to 14 + 4 weeks. We compared our measured data with previously published reference curves for euploid fetuses. Delta‐values were calculated by subtracting the expected mean for euploid fetuses of the same gestational age from observed values. The one‐sample t‐test was used to test the significance of differences observed.

Results

The CRL measurements of fetuses with trisomy 21 (n = 26), trisomy 13 (n = 5) and monosomy X (n = 5) were comparable with those of euploid fetuses, but in fetuses with trisomy 18 (n = 19) the CRL was 14.5% smaller (P < 0.001). The EV in fetuses with trisomies 21, 18 and 13 and monosomy X was smaller than in euploid fetuses (–27.8%, P < 0.001; –39.4%, P < 0.001; –40.9%, P = 0.004; and –27.3%, P = 0.055, respectively).

Conclusions

When relying on CRL measurements alone, first‐trimester growth restriction is especially manifest in trisomy 18. Using EV, growth restriction is also evident in trisomies 21 and 13 and monosomy X. EV seems to be a more effective measurement for the assessment of first‐trimester growth restriction in aneuploid fetuses. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brief report: A growth mixture model of occupational aspirations of individuals with high‐incidence disabilities
Authors: Lee In Heok , Rojewski Jay W.
Published: December 2012

A previous longitudinal study of the occupational aspirations of individuals with high‐incidence disabilities revealed multiple longitudinal patterns for individuals with learning disabilities or emotional–behavioral disorders. Growth mixture modeling was used to determine whether individuals in these two high‐incidence disabilities groups (N = 585) possessed heterogeneous aspirations trajectories. Two distinct classes emerged. Among selected covariates (inc., gender, SES, locus of control, self‐concept, mathematics achievement), only gender and SES significantly distinguished group membership. While no covariates were significantly related to the growth factors for latent class 2 (low aspirations), math achievement and SES were significantly related to initial aspirations in latent class 1 (high aspirations). Moreover, for latent class 1, the occupational aspirations of individuals with learning disabilities became increasingly lower than adolescents with emotional‐behavior disorders after high school. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are considered.
The protective role of yeast Cathepsin D in acetic acid‐induced apoptosis depends on ANT (Aac2p) but not on the voltage‐dependent channel (Por1p)
Authors: Pereira Helena , Azevedo Flávio , Rego António , Sousa Maria João , Chaves Susana R. , Côrte-Real Manuela
Published: December 2012

We have previously shown that the yeast Cathepsin D (CatD) Pep4p translocates from the vacuole to the cytosol during acetic acid‐induced apoptosis and is required for efficient mitochondrial degradation, though its specific role in this process is still elusive. Here, we show that the protective role of Pep4p in acetic acid‐induced apoptosis depends on its catalytic activity and is independent of the yeast voltage‐dependent anion channel Por1p (which has no role on mitochondrial degradation) but dependent on AAC proteins, the yeast adenine nucleotide translocator. Our results demonstrate a differential interplay between yeast vacuolar CatD and mitochondrial proteins involved in apoptosis regulation.
How do mechanical responses at closing loop ends vary when loop position changes? A systematic analysis of vertical, T‐, and L‐loops
Authors: Techalertpaisarn Paiboon , Versluis Antheunis
Published: December 2012

Closing loops are used in orthodontics to apply forces on teeth and cause them to move in a desired direction. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of loop geometry and position on loop properties. Using finite element analysis, loop response was simulated for three closing loop designs (vertical, T‐, and L‐loop) at thirteen loop positions. Loop length and height were 14 and 10‐mm, respectively. Loop properties (horizontal load/deflection, vertical force, and moment‐to‐force ratio M/F) on both ends were measured at 100 and 200 g force activation or when moving both ends 2‐mm together. It was found that the pattern of changes in loop properties with loop position was similar for the vertical and T‐loop. They reached their maximum M/F‐ratios of 5.5 and 7.3, respectively, at the ends closest to 1/5 or 4/5 off‐center loop positions. M/F‐direction at an end changed when the loop was about 2/3 away (vertical loop) or 4/5 (T‐loop). The L‐loop behaved differently, reaching its maximum 8.7 M/F‐ratio (200 g activation) when centered. M/F‐direction only changed at the opposite end of the L‐loop direction, and occurred when the loop was centered. This study showed that loop properties depended on loop shape, position and activation. The way properties changed with loop position depended on their designs. Clinicians should consider the specific characteristics of each loop configuration for desired tooth movements.
The Performance of Nationalism
Authors: Menon Jisha
Published: December 2012

Imagine the patriotic camaraderie of national day parades. How crucial is performance for the sustenance of the nation? The Performance of Nationalism considers the formation of the Indian and Pakistani nation, in the wake of the most violent chapter of its history: the partition of the subcontinent. In the process, Jisha Menon offers a fresh analysis of nationalism from the perspective of performance. Menon recuperates the manifold valences of 'mimesis' as aesthetic representation, as the constitution of a community of witnesses, and as the mimetic relationality that underlies the encounter between India and Pakistan. The particular performances considered here range from Wagah border ceremonies, to the partition theatre of Asghar Wajahat, Kirti Jain, M. K. Raina, and the cinema of Ritwik Ghatak and M. S. Sathyu. By pointing to the tropes of twins, doubles, and doppelgangers that suffuse these performances, this study troubles the idea of two insular, autonomous nation-states of India and Pakistan. In the process, Menon recovers mimetic modes of thinking that unsettle the reified categories of identity politics.
The Bolsheviks and the Russian Empire
Authors: Riga Liliana
Published: December 2012

This comparative historical sociology of the Bolshevik revolutionaries offers a reinterpretation of political radicalization in the last years of the Russian Empire. Finding that two-thirds of the Bolshevik leadership were ethnic minorities - Ukrainians, Latvians, Georgians, Jews and others - this book examines the shared experiences of assimilation and socioethnic exclusion that underlay their class universalism. It suggests that imperial policies toward the Empire's diversity radicalized class and ethnicity as intersectional experiences, creating an assimilated but excluded elite: lower-class Russians and middle-class minorities universalized particular exclusions as they disproportionately sustained the economic and political burdens of maintaining the multiethnic Russian Empire. The Bolsheviks' social identities and routes to revolutionary radicalism show especially how a class-universalist politics was appealing to those seeking secularism in response to religious tensions, a universalist politics where ethnic and geopolitical insecurities were exclusionary, and a tolerant 'imperial' imaginary where Russification and illiberal repressions were most keenly felt.
Edward I and the Governance of England, 1272–1307
Authors: Burt Caroline
Published: December 2012

This important exploration of the reign of Edward I – one of England's most lionised, feared and successful monarchs – presents his kingship in a radical new light. Through detailed case studies of Shropshire, Warwickshire and Kent, Caroline Burt examines how Edward's governance at a national level was reflected in different localities. She employs novel methodology to measure levels of disorder and the effects of government action, and uncovers a remarkably sophisticated approach to governance. This study combines an empirical examination of government with an understanding of developing political ideas and ideological motivation and contributes towards a greater understanding of the development of local government and politics in England in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Edward emerges as a king with a coherent set of ideas about the governance of his realm, both intellectually and practically, whose achievements were even more remarkable than has previously been recognised.
Polarons
Authors: Emin David
Published: December 2012

Emin provides experimental and theoretical graduate students and researchers with a distinctive introduction to the principles governing polaron science. The fundamental physics is emphasized and mathematical formalism is avoided. The book gives a clear guide to how different types of polaron form and the measurements used to identify them. Analyses of four diverse physical problems illustrate polaron effects producing dramatic physical phenomena. The first part of the book describes the principles governing polaron and bipolaron formation in different classes of materials. The second part emphasizes distinguishing electronic-transport and optical phenomena through which polarons manifest themselves. The book concludes by extending polaron concepts to address critical aspects of four multifaceted electronic and atomic problems: large bipolarons' superconductivity, electronic switching of small-polaron semiconductors, electronically stimulated atomic desorption and diffusion of light interstitial atoms.
Arbitration and the Constitution
Authors: Rutledge Peter B.
Published: December 2012

Arbitration has become an increasingly important mechanism for dispute resolution, both in the domestic and international setting. Despite its importance as a form of state-sanctioned dispute resolution, it has largely remained outside the spotlight of constitutional law. This landmark work represents one of the first attempts to synthesize the fields of arbitration law and constitutional law. Drawing on the author's extensive experience as a scholar in arbitration law who has lectured and studied around the world, the book offers unique insights into how arbitration law implicates issues such as separation of powers, federalism and individual liberties.
History of English Thought in the Eighteenth Century
Authors: Stephen Leslie
Published: December 2012

Leslie Stephen (1832–1904) was a writer, philosopher and literary critic whose work was published widely in the nineteenth century. As a young man Stephen was ordained deacon, but he later became agnostic and much of his work reflects his interest in challenging popular religion. This two-volume work, first published in 1876, is no exception: it focuses on the eighteenth-century deist controversy and its effects, as well as the reactions to what Stephen saw as a revolution in thought. Comprehensive and full of detailed analysis, this is an important work in the history of ideas. Volume 2 focuses on eighteenth-century moral philosophy, political philosophy and literature, and on the literary and religious reactions to the revolution in thought. Utilitarianism is discussed at length, as well as the work of thinkers such as Shaftesbury, Mandeville, Burke and Adam Smith.
The Works of Francis Bacon
Authors: Bacon Francis
Published: December 2012

Francis Bacon (1561–1626), the English philosopher, statesman and jurist, is best known for developing the empiricist method which forms the basis of modern science. Bacon's writings concentrated on philosophy and judicial reform. His most significant work is the Instauratio Magna comprising two parts - The Advancement of Learning and the Novum Organum. The first part is noteworthy as the first major philosophical work published in English (1605). James Spedding (1808–81) and his co-editors arranged this fourteen-volume edition, published in London between 1857 and 1874, not in chronological order but by subject matter, so that different volumes would appeal to different audiences. The material is divided into three parts: philosophy and general literature; legal works; and letters, speeches and tracts relating to politics. Volume 13, published in 1872, contains Bacon's papers from 1616 to 1618 and relate to his appointment as Lord Chancellor, and England's relations with Ireland and Spain.
Transforming Modern Macroeconomics
Authors: Backhouse Roger E. , Boianovsky Mauro
Published: December 2012

This book tells the story of the search for disequilibrium micro-foundations for macroeconomic theory, from the disequilibrium theories of Patinkin, Clower and Leijonhufvud to recent dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with imperfect competition. Placing this search against the background of wider developments in macroeconomics, the authors contend that this was never a single research program, but involved economists with very different aims who developed the basic ideas about quantity constraints, spillover effects and coordination failures in different ways. The authors contrast this with the equilibrium, market-clearing approach of Phelps and Lucas, arguing that equilibrium theories simply assumed away the problems that had motivated the disequilibrium literature. Although market-clearing models came to dominate macroeconomics, disequilibrium theories never went away and continue to exert an important influence on the subject. Although this book focuses on one strand in modern macroeconomics, it is crucial to understanding the origins of modern macroeconomic theory.
Karl Llewellyn and the Realist Movement
Authors: Twining William
Published: December 2012

First published in 1973, Karl Llewellyn and the Realist Movement is a classic account of American Legal Realism and its leading figure. Karl Llewellyn is the best known and most substantial jurist of the group of lawyers known as the American Realists. He made important contributions to legal theory, legal sociology, commercial law, contract law, civil liberties and legal education. This intellectual biography sets Llewellyn in the broad context of the rise of the American Realist Movement and contains an overview of his life before focusing on his most important works, including The Cheyenne Way, The Bramble Bush, The Common Law Tradition and the Uniform Commercial Code. In this second edition the original text is supplemented with a preface by Frederick Schauer and an afterword in which William Twining gives a fascinating account of the making of the book and comments on developments in relevant legal scholarship over the past forty years.
Australian Climate Law in Global Context
Authors: Zahar Alexander , Peel Jacqueline , Godden Lee
Published: December 2012

Australian Climate Law in Global Context is a comprehensive guide to current climate change law in Australia and internationally. It includes discussion of: emission trading schemes and carbon pricing laws, laws on renewable energy, biosequestration, carbon capture and storage and energy efficiency; the trading of emission offsets between developed and developing countries, the new international scheme for the protection of forests (REDD) and the transfer of green finance and technology from developed to developing states, the adaptation to climate change through legal frameworks. It assesses the international climate change regime from a legal perspective, focusing on Australia's unique circumstances and its domestic implementation of climate-related treaties. It considers how the challenge of climate change should be integrated into broader environmental law and management. It is a valuable resource for students in law and environmental science, for current and future legal practitioners and for policy-makers and those in the commercial sector.
Political Self-Sacrifice
Authors: Fierke K. M.
Published: December 2012

Over the last decade the increasing phenomenon of suicide terrorism has raised questions about how it might be rational for individuals to engage in such acts. This book examines a range of different forms of political self-sacrifice, including hunger strikes, self-burning and non-violent martyrdom, all of which have taken place in resistance to foreign interference. Karin Fierke sets out to study the strategic and emotional dynamics that arise from the image of the suffering body, including political contestation surrounding the identification of the victim as a terrorist or martyr, the meaning of the death as suicide or martyrdom and the extent to which this contributes to the reconstruction of community identity. Political Self-Sacrifice offers a counterpoint to rationalist accounts of international terrorism in terrorist and security studies, and is a novel contribution to the growing literature on the role of emotion and trauma in international politics.
Cognitive enhancement in middle-aged and old cats with dietary supplementation with a nutrient blend containing fish oil, B vitamins, antioxidants and arginine
Authors: Pan Yuanlong , Araujo Joseph A. , Burrows Joey , de Rivera Christina , Gore Asa , Bhatnagar Sandeep , Milgram Norton W.
Published: December 2012

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome is a major disease affecting old cats and is the consequence of severe and irreversible loss of brain cells and brain atrophy. The present study focused on the hypothesis that the optimal strategy for promoting successful brain ageing is to target risk factors associated with brain ageing and dementia. We used a nutritional strategy involving supplementation with a blend of nutrients (antioxidants, arginine, B vitamins and fish oil) to test this hypothesis. Middle-aged and old cats between 5·5 and 8·7 years of age were assigned to cognitively equivalent control or treatment groups based on prior cognitive experience and performance on baseline cognitive tests. The cats in the treatment group were maintained on a diet supplemented with the nutrient blend and the cats in the control group were maintained on the identical base diet without the additional supplementation. After an initial wash-in period, all cats were tested on a battery of cognitive test protocols. The cats fed the test diet showed significantly better performance on three of four test protocols: a protocol assessing egocentric learning, a protocol assessing discrimination and reversal learning and a protocol focused on acquisition of a spatial memory task. The results support the hypothesis that brain function of middle-aged and old cats can be improved by the nutrient blend that was selected to minimise or eliminate the risk factors associated with brain ageing and dementia.
Anti-diabetic activity of chromium picolinate and biotin in rats with type 2 diabetes induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin
Authors: Sahin Kazim , Tuzcu Mehmet , Orhan Cemal , Sahin Nurhan , Kucuk Osman , Ozercan Ibrahim H. , Juturu Vijaya , Komorowski James R.
Published: December 2012

The objective of the present study was to evaluate anti-diabetic effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) and biotin supplementations in type 2 diabetic rats. The type 2 diabetic rat model was induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and low-dose streptozotocin. The rats were divided into five groups as follows: (1) non-diabetic rats fed a regular diet; (2) diabetic rats fed a HFD; (3) diabetic rats fed a HFD and supplemented with CrPic (80 μg/kg body weight (BW) per d); (4) diabetic rats fed a HFD and supplemented with biotin (300 μg/kg BW per d); (5) diabetic rats fed a HFD and supplemented with both CrPic and biotin. Circulating glucose, cortisol, total cholesterol, TAG, NEFA and malondialdehyde concentrations decreased (P< 0·05), but serum insulin concentrations increased (P< 0·05) in diabetic rats treated with biotin and CrPic, particularly with a combination of the supplements. Feeding a HFD to diabetic rats decreased PPAR-γ expression in adipose tissue and phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (p-IRS-1) expression of liver, kidney and muscle tissues, while the supplements increased (P< 0·001) PPAR-γ and p-IRS-1 expressions in relevant tissues. Expression of NF-κB in the liver and kidney was greater in diabetic rats fed a HFD, as compared with rats fed a regular diet (P< 0·01). The supplements decreased the expression of NF-κB in diabetic rats (P< 0·05). Results of the present study revealed that supplementing CrPic and biotin alone or in a combination exerts anti-diabetic activities, probably through modulation of PPAR-γ, IRS-1 and NF-κB proteins.
S3-free 2-fusion systems
Authors: Aschbacher Michael
Published: December 2012

We develop a theory of 2-fusion systems of even characteristic, and use that theory to show that all S3-free saturated 2-fusion systems are constrained. This supplies a new proof of Glauberman's Theorem on S4-free groups and its various corollaries.
American Poetry and Private Real Property
Authors: RAWSON ERIC
Published: December 2012

This article examines the ways in which American poetic practice and thematics map a conception of private real property as it has developed uniquely on the North American continent. I explore how the Land Ordinance of 1790, the Preemption Act, the Homestead Act, and other land-use policies shaped a conception of the developing landscape as divisible into a vast agglomeration of private enterprises mediated primarily by the transfer of title deeds. The impact of private real property beliefs and practices, I argue, has shaped both the practice and the reception of American poetry (and other cultural products) for at least the last 150 years. I incorporate the insights of cultural geography – particularly the work of John B. Jackson, Carl Sauer, and Scott Freundschuh – to understand how the last century's building practices and the reorganization of the landscape, particularly in western metropolitan areas, find imaginative expression in poetry. Although mine is not a law-in-literature approach, I contend that modern/postmodern poetry operates in a way that depends on the very exchange values of the late capitalist property system it often critiques.
It takes more to forgive: The role of executive control
Authors: Karremans Johan C. , van der Wal Reine C.
Published: December 2012

The target article's evolutionary approach provides an excellent framework for understanding when and why people retaliate or forgive. We argue that recent findings on the basic processes in forgiveness – particularly, the role of executive control – can further refine the authors' proposed model. Specifically, the lack of executive control may restrict the explanatory power of relationship value and exploitation risk.
Experimental and Intervention Studies on Formulaic Sequences in a Second Language
Authors: Boers Frank , Lindstromberg Seth
Published: December 2012

In this article we review experimental and intervention studies published since 2004 on formulaic sequences in a second language (L2). There is plenty of evidence that learners have a lot to gain from building a sizable repertoire of L2 formulaic sequences language, but formulaicity is an area where learners are known to be slow to close the gap on native speakers. Pedagogical treatments proposed to help close that gap can be divided into three groups: (a) drawing learners’ attention to formulaic sequences as they are encountered, (b) stimulating lookups in dictionaries and the use of corpus tools, and (c) helping learners commit particular formulaic sequences to memory. We gauge the efficacy of treatments in these three categories by reviewing the (quasi-) experimental studies that put them to the test, and we refer to Laufer and Hulstijn's involvement load hypothesis to frame the discernible trends. The article concludes by suggesting avenues for much needed further research.
What Do We (Think We) Know About Formulaic Language? An Evaluation of the Current State of Play
Authors: Wray Alison
Published: December 2012

This article briefly summarizes key developments in formulaic language research over the past 5 years, before exploring certain assumptions typically made, regarding the coherence of formulaicity as a phenomenon, the significance of frequency as a property, and the location of subtypes of formulaic language along various continua. It is argued that we do not yet have the full measure of how different features associated with formulaicity fit together. The challenge lies in reconciling the range of evidence types within an explanation that is rooted not only in usage itself, but in the underlying motivations that determine usage.
Pathways to language: a naturalistic study of children with Williams syndrome and children with Down syndrome
Authors: LEVY YONATA , EILAM ARIELA
Published: December 2012

This is a naturalistic study of the development of language in Hebrew-speaking children with Williams syndrome (WS) and children with Down syndrome (DS), whose MLU extended from 1·0 to 4·4. Developmental curves over the entire span of data collection revealed minor differences between children with WS, children with DS, and typically developing (TD) controls of similar MLU. Development within one calendar year showed remarkable synchrony among the variables. However, age of language onset and pace of acquisition departed significantly from normal timing. It is argued that in view of the centrality of genetic timing and the network properties of cognition, normal schedules are crucial determinants of intact development. Consequently, with respect to neurodevelopmental syndromes, the so-called ‘language delay’ is indicative of deviance that is likely to impact development in critical ways.
Dynamics of International Aid in the Chinese Context: A Case Study of the World Bank's Cixi Wetlands Project in Zhejiang Province
Authors: Tan-Mullins May , Chen Guangli Gary
Published: December 2012

Environmental degradation in China, intensified by open-door reforms and industrialization, has been increasing at an alarming scale. Domestically, environmental governance has been poor, often due to institutional constraints and lack of “good practices.” However, recently there have been studies on how the “foreign factor” might have profound positive effects on capacity building in China and how international actors could lead to the successful introduction of good environmental governance. In this article, we present a study of a successful case: the World Bank Global Environmental Facility Cixi Wetlands project in Ningbo, China. The article examines the following: (a) the unique local context enabling the diffusion of international norms; (b) the factors which contribute to the World Bank's leverage role in restructuring local project governance; and (c) the changes in local environmental governance arising from the Bank's involvement. By evaluating this project, the article will demonstrate how the World Bank managed to introduce and socialize local actors into project-specific policy dialogues and procedures that enhanced local compliance with its international practices and standards.
Kinder mit Dyskalkulie fokussieren spontan weniger auf Anzahligkeit
Authors: Kucian Karin , Kohn Juliane , Hannula-Sormunen Minna , Richtmann Verena , Grond Ursina , Käser Tanja , Esser Günther , von Aster Michael
Published: December 2012

Zusammenfassung: Wie stark wir spontan auf Anzahligkeit in unserer Umgebung achten wird als SFON (Spontaneous Focussing On Numerosity) bezeichnet. Frühere Studien haben gezeigt, dass ein Kind, das stärkere SFON-Tendenz zeigt, bessere Zählfertigkeiten und mathematische Leistungen erbringt. SFON scheint sich stabil und kontinuierlich zu entwickeln und kann als Prädiktor für die zukünftige Rechenleistung genutzt werden. Es wird dementsprechend als ein stabiles und sensibles Maß für die numerische Entwicklung beschrieben. Bei Kindern mit Dyskalkulie scheint die Entwicklung der Zahlenverarbeitung und des Rechnens spezifisch gestört. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist die Untersuchung der SFON-Tendenz bei Kindern mit einer entwicklungsbedingten Dyskalkulie. Wir haben SFON bei 76 Kindern zwischen 7 und 11 Jahren getestet, 38 Kinder mit und 38 ohne Dyskalkulie. Die beiden Gruppen zeigten vergleichbare allgemeine kognitive Fähigkeiten, unterschieden sich aber spezifisch in den mathematischen Leistungen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine signifikant schwächere SFON-Tendenz bei Kindern mit Dyskalkulie, das heißt, Kinder mit Dyskalkulie fokussieren im Vergleich zu Kontrollkindern spontan weniger häufig auf Anzahligkeit. Zudem korreliert SFON positiv mit der Zahlenverarbeitungs- und Rechenleistung. Das heißt, Kinder mit schlechteren mathematischen Fertigkeiten achten spontan weniger auf numerische Aspekte. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine verminderte SFON-Tendenz ein Verhaltensmerkmal für Entwicklungsdyskalkulie zu sein scheint. Dies kann sowohl Ursache als auch Folge der Störung von Zähl- und Rechenfertigkeiten sein. Es empfiehlt sich daher, SFON bei Kindern mit einem Dyskalkulierisiko zu erfassen sowie Förderung und Lernumgebung in Hinblick auf Anzahlfokussierung anzureichern.
Detection of long‐living neutral hydrated clusters in laboratory simulation of ionospheric D region plasma
Authors: Sinha H. S. S. , Oyama Koh‐Ichiro , Watanabe S.
Published: December 2012

The existence of hydrated cluster ions is known through in situ measurements in the D region of the ionosphere and laboratory simulation experiments. A series of experiments were conducted at Sagamihara, Japan with the intention of detecting some of the ions which, although predicted, had eluded detection in laboratory simulation. The other motivation was to look for heavier ions in laboratory simulations in conditions close to those in the D region. With the availability of better ion mass spectrometers, these could supposedly be detected by rocket measurements. Results of these experiments point to a new aspect, namely, the production of a neutral hydrated cluster molecule, which (a) has ionization potential of less than 10.2 eV, (b) has lifetimes in excess of 90 min, and (c) is formed within a limited pressure range. As this neutral cluster molecule has a mass number of 102, most probably it is NO⋅(H2O)4. A number of other important ions, which were detected earlier in laboratory experiments, were also seen in our data. These include NO+(H2O)n, NO+(H2O)nX, NO2+(H2O)n, H3O+(H2O)n, H3O+(H2O)nX, and O2+(H2O)n series. A few clusters {36+(H3O+OH), 60+(NO+NO) and 63+(NO+HO2)} and molecular ions {29+(N2H+), 33+(HO2+) and 43+(N3H+)} were also detected in these experiments. It was also found that, like the earlier experiments, the concentration of most of the hydrated ions showed an oscillatory behavior. The ion formation was observed only within a limited pressure range, which corresponds to the 50 to 100 km altitude range of the ionosphere.
Parkinson's disease-associated human P5B-ATPase ATP13A2 increases spermidine uptake
Authors: De La Hera Diego P. , Corradi Gerardo R. , Adamo Hugo P. , De Tezanos Pinto Felicitas
Published: December 2012

P-type ion pumps are membrane transporters that have been classified into five subfamilies termed P1–P5. The ion transported by the P5-ATPases is not known. Five genes, ATP13A (ATPase type 13A) 1–ATP13A5, that belong to the P5-ATPase group have been identified in humans. Mutations of the human gene ATP13A2 underlie a form of PD (Parkinson's disease). Previous studies have suggested a relation between polyamines and P5B-ATPases. We have recently shown that the cytotoxicity induced by the polyamine analogue paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium), which is an environmental agent related to PD development, was increased in ATP13A2-expressing CHO (Chinese-hamster ovary) cells. In the present study we showed that ATP13A2-expressing CHO cells exhibit a 2-fold higher accumulation of spermidine. Increasing concentrations of spermidine reduced the viability of CHO cells stably expressing ATP13A2. The higher levels of spermidine attained by the ATP13A2-expressing CHO cells were correlated with an increase in the ATP-dependent spermidine uptake in an isolated subcellular fraction containing lysosomes and late endosomes. The results of the present study support the idea that the human P5B-ATPase ATP13A2 is involved in polyamine uptake.
A tailored approach to asthma management: Arg16 holds the key?
Authors: Sayers Ian
Published: December 2012

Asthma is heterogeneous with respect to clinical presentation, underlying disease mechanisms and response to existing drugs making tailored therapy desirable. Pharmacogenetics, the study of the influence of genetic polymorphisms on drug efficacy and/or adverse effects, is relatively advanced in asthma with replicated genetic associations identified in the main drug classes. In the present issue of Clinical Science, Lipworth and co-workers report a proof-of-concept study and demonstrate that, in asthmatic children carrying the β2-adrenergic receptor gene Arg16 polymorphism, a combination of corticosteroid plus leukotriene receptor antagonist provides superior asthma control (e.g. quality of life scores) compared with corticosteroid plus a long-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist as add-on therapy. The basis of these observations is well founded, as it has been demonstrated previously that the Arg16 polymorphism may confer an increased risk of exacerbation following prolonged β2-adrenergic receptor agonist use. These results suggest Gly16Arg genotyping in Caucasian asthma patients may have a role in the clinical management of asthma by influencing the decision of which add-on therapy to prescribe; however, larger studies are required to provide definitive conclusions regarding the clinical utility of this approach.
ArabidopsisLATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES negatively regulates brassinosteroid accumulation to limit growth in organ boundaries
Authors: Bell Elizabeth M. , Lin Wan-ching , Husbands Aman Y. , Yu Lifeng , Jaganatha Venkateswari , Jablonska Barbara , Mangeon Amanda , Neff Michael M. , Girke Thomas , Springer Patricia S.
Published: December 2012

Leaves and flowers begin life as outgrowths from the edges of shoot apical meristems. Stem cell divisions in the meristem center replenish cells that are incorporated into organ primordia at the meristem periphery and leave the meristem. Organ boundaries, regions of limited growth that separate forming organs from the meristem, serve to isolate these two domains and are critical for coordination of organogenesis and meristem maintenance. Boundary formation and maintenance are poorly understood processes, despite the identification of a number of boundary-specific transcription factors. Here we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that theArabidopsis thalianatranscription factor LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES (LOB) negatively regulates accumulation of the plant steroid hormone brassinosteroid (BR) in organ boundaries. We found that ectopic expression ofLOBresults in reduced BR responses. We identifiedBAS1, which encodes a BR-inactivating enzyme, as a direct target of LOB transcriptional activation. Loss-of-functionlobmutants exhibit organ fusions, and this phenotype is suppressed by expression ofBAS1under theLOBpromoter, indicating that BR hyperaccumulation contributes to thelobmutant phenotype. In addition,LOBexpression is BR regulated; therefore, LOB and BR form a feedback loop to modulate local BR accumulation in organ boundaries to limit growth in the boundary domain.
Mechanism of CREB recognition and coactivation by the CREB-regulated transcriptional coactivator CRTC2
Authors: Luo Qianyi , Viste Kristin , Urday-Zaa Janny Concha , Senthil Kumar Ganesan , Tsai Wen-Wei , Talai Afsaneh , Mayo Kelly E. , Montminy Marc , Radhakrishnan Ishwar
Published: December 2012

Basic leucine zipper (bZip) transcription factors regulate cellular gene expression in response to a variety of extracellular signals and nutrient cues. Although the bZip domain is widely known to play significant roles in DNA binding and dimerization, recent studies point to an additional role for this motif in the recruitment of the transcriptional apparatus. For example, the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-regulated transcriptional coactivator (CRTC) family of transcriptional coactivators has been proposed to promote the expression of calcium and cAMP responsive genes, by binding to the CREB bZip in response to extracellular signals. Here we show that the CREB-binding domain (CBD) of CRTC2 folds into a single isolated 28-residue helix that seems to be critical for its interaction with the CREB bZip. The interaction is of micromolar affinity on palindromic and variant half-site cAMP response elements (CREs). The CBD and CREB assemble on the CRE with 2:2:1 stoichiometry, consistent with the presence of one CRTC binding site on each CREB monomer. Indeed, the CBD helix and the solvent-exposed residues in the dimeric CREB bZip coiled-coil form an extended protein–protein interface. Because mutation of relevant bZip residues in this interface disrupts the CRTC interaction without affecting DNA binding, our results illustrate that distinct DNA binding and transactivation functions are encoded within the structural constraints of a canonical bZip domain.
Female-typical Subjects and their Effect on Wage Inequalities among Higher Education Graduates in Germany
Authors: Leuze Kathrin , Strauß Susanne
Published: December 2012

In the search for an explanation of wage inequalities between men and women, it is often argued that women's disadvantages on the labour market are the result of their lower investment in human capital. However, this argument loses for at a time when highly educated women are outperforming men in terms of educational attainment. But even within the group of higher education graduates, gender differences remain in the form of gender-typical enrolment in academic subjects. The present article analyses the wage effects of how graduation in typically female subjects and subsequent work in typically female occupations generate wage inequalities 1 and 5 years after graduation. For understanding these effects, it follows the hypothesis of a socio-cultural devaluation of female-dominated subjects and occupations. Based on the 1997 HIS Absolventenpanel, we estimate gross hourly wages of male and female higher education graduates as they enter the German labour market. Results show that, 1 year after graduation, men receive a higher wage penalty than women for graduating in a female-dominated subject. However, working in typically female occupations affects women's wages more strongly than it does men's immediately after graduation. In addition, women have fewer possibilities to compensate for this penalty in subsequent years.
ARGOS – II. The Galactic bulge survey
Authors: Freeman K. , Ness M. , Wylie-de-Boer E. , Athanassoula E. , Bland-Hawthorn J. , Asplund M. , Lewis G. , Yong D. , Lane R. , Kiss L. , Ibata R.
Published: December 2012

We describe the motivation, field locations and stellar selection for the Abundances and Radial velocity Galactic Origins Survey (ARGOS) spectroscopic survey of 28 000 stars in the bulge and inner disc of the Milky Way galaxy across latitudes of b = −5° to −10°. The primary goal of this survey is to constrain the formation processes of the bulge and establish whether it is predominantly a merger or instability remnant. From the spectra (R = 11 000), we have measured radial velocities and determined stellar parameters, including metallicities and [α/Fe] ratios. Distances were estimated from the derived stellar parameters and about 14 000 stars are red giants within 3.5 kpc of the Galactic Centre. In this paper, we present the observations and analysis methods. Subsequent papers (III and IV) will discuss the stellar metallicity distribution and kinematics of the Galactic bulge and inner disc, and the implications for the formation of the bulge.
Biodiversity technologies: tools as change agents
Authors: Snaddon Jake , Petrokofsky Gillian , Jepson Paul , Willis Katherine J.
Published: December 2012

A meeting on Biodiversity Technologies was held by the Biodiversity Institute, Oxford on the 27–28 of September 2012 at the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. The symposium brought together 36 speakers from North America, Australia and across Europe, presenting the latest research on emerging technologies in biodiversity science and conservation. Here we present a perspective on the general trends emerging from the symposium.
Extraversion predicts longer survival in gorillas: an 18-year longitudinal study
Authors: Weiss Alexander , Gartner Marieke C. , Gold Kenneth C. , Stoinski Tara S.
Published: December 2012

Personality plays an important role in determining human health and risk of earlier death. However, the mechanisms underlying those associations remain unknown. We moved away from testing hypotheses rooted in the activities of modern humans, by testing whether these associations are ancestral and one side of a trade-off between fitness costs and benefits. We examined personality predictors of survival in 283 captive western lowland gorillas (
Gorilla gorilla gorilla
) followed for 18 years. We found that of four gorilla personality dimensions—dominance, extraversion, neuroticism and agreeableness—extraversion was associated with longer survival. This effect could not be explained by demographic information or husbandry practices. These findings suggest that understanding how extraversion and other personality domains influence longevity requires investigating the evolutionary bases of this association in nonhuman primates and other species.
Females roam while males patrol: divergence in breeding season movements of pack-ice polar bears (
Ursus maritimus
)
Authors: Laidre Kristin L. , Born Erik W. , Gurarie Eliezer , Wiig Øystein , Dietz Rune , Stern Harry
Published: December 2012

Intraspecific differences in movement behaviour reflect different tactics used by individuals or sexes to favour strategies that maximize fitness. We report movement data collected from
n
= 23 adult male polar bears with novel ear-attached transmitters in two separate pack ice subpopulations over five breeding seasons. We compared movements with
n
= 26 concurrently tagged adult females, and analysed velocities, movement tortuosity, range sizes and habitat selection with respect to sex, reproductive status and body mass. There were no differences in 4-day displacements or sea ice habitat selection for sex or population. By contrast, adult females in all years and both populations had significantly more linear movements and significantly larger breeding range sizes than males. We hypothesized that differences were related to encounter rates, and used observed movement metrics to parametrize a simulation model of male–male and male–female encounter. The simulation showed that the more tortuous movement of males leads to significantly longer times to male–male encounter, while having little impact on male–female encounter. By contrast, linear movements of females are consistent with a prioritized search for sparsely distributed prey. These results suggest a possible mechanism for explaining the smaller breeding range sizes of some solitary male carnivores compared to females.
Design and Control of Glycerol-tert-Butyl Alcohol Etherification Process
Authors: Vlad Elena , Bildea Costin Sorin , Bozga Grigore
Published: December 2012

Design, economics, and plantwide control of a glycerol-tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) etherification plant are presented. The reaction takes place in liquid phase, in a plug flow reactor, using Amberlyst 15 as a catalyst. The products' separation is achieved by two distillation columns where high-purity ethers are obtained and a section involving extractive distillation with 1,4-butanediol as solvent, which separates TBA from the TBA/water azeotrope. Details of design performed in AspenPlus and an economic evaluation of the process are given. Three plantwide control structures are examined using a mass balance model of the plant. The preferred control structure fixes the fresh glycerol flow rate and the ratio glycerol + monoether : TBA at reactor-inlet. The stability and robustness in the operation are checked by rigorous dynamic simulation in AspenDynamics.
Life-Cycle-Based Multicriteria Sustainability Evaluation of Industrial Parks: A Case Study in China
Authors: Yang Jin , Chen Bin , Qi Jing , Zhou Shiyi , Jiang Meiming
Published: December 2012

Along with increasing concerns on environmental protection and global warming mitigation, new industrial organization modes such as “Ecoindustrial Park” and “Low Carbon Industrial Park” are emerging. Since ecoindustrial parks and low carbon industrial parks may offer multifaceted benefits to the users, it naturally follows that the sustainability assessment of the industrial parks ought to adopt a multicriteria methodology. In this paper, a multicriteria sustainable evaluation framework is proposed in combination with the life cycle analysis and applied to a low carbon and high end industrial park (LCHE) in Beijing, China. Results show that the LCHE industrial park can contribute to both energy-saving and greenhouse gas emission mitigations compared with other industrial parks. In terms of economic performance, although the economic profits are considerable, the investment per constructed area is relatively high. The results of sustainable analysis of the LCHE industrial park can thus shed light on future upgrading of industrial parks.
Synthesis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of New Alkyl-Substituted Phthalimide 1H-1,2,3-Triazole Derivatives
Authors: Assis Shalom Pôrto de Oliveira , Silva Moara Targino da , de Oliveira Ronaldo Nascimento , Lima Vera Lúcia de Menezes
Published: December 2012

Four new 1,2,3-triazole phthalimide derivatives with a potent anti-inflammatory activity have been synthesized in the good yields by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction fromN-(azido-alkyl)phthalimides and terminal alkynes. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined by injecting carrageenan through the plantar tissue of the right hind paw of Swiss white mice to produce inflammation. All the compounds3a–cand5a–cexhibited an important anti-inflammatory activity; the best activity was found for the compounds3band5c, which showed to be able to decrease by 69% and 56.2% carrageenan-induced edema in mice. These compounds may also offer a future promise as a new anti-inflammatory agent.
A survey of global radiation damage to 15 different protein crystal types at room temperature: a new decay model
Authors: Leal Ricardo Miguel Ferraz , Bourenkov Gleb , Russi Silvia , Popov Alexander N.
Published: December 2012

The radiation damage rates to crystals of 15 model macromolecular structures were studied using an automated radiation sensitivity characterization procedure. The diffracted intensity variation with dose is described by a two-parameter model. This model includes a strong resolution-independent decay specific to room-temperature measurements along with a linear increase in overall Debye–Waller factors. An equivalent representation of sensitivityviaa single parameter, normalized half-dose, is introduced. This parameter varies by an order of magnitude between the different structures studied. The data show a correlation of crystal radiation sensitivity with crystal solvent content but no dose-rate dependency was detected in the range 0.05–300 kGy s−1. The results of the crystal characterization are suitable for either optimal planning of room-temperature data collection orin situcrystallization plate screening experiments.