bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Presentation and Microarray Analysis of Peruvian Children with Atypical Development and/or Aberrant Behavior
Authors: Butler Merlin G. , Usrey Kelly , Roberts Jennifer L. , Schroeder Stephen R. , Manzardo Ann M.
Published: October 2014

We report our experience with high resolution microarray analysis in infants and young children with developmental disability and/or aberrant behavior enrolled at the Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru in Lima, Peru, a low income country. Buccal cells were collected with cotton swabs from 233 participants for later DNA isolation and identification of copy number variation (deletions/duplications) and regions of homozygosity (ROH) for estimating consanguinity status in 15 infants and young children (12 males, 3 females; mean age ± SD = 28.1 m±  7.9 m; age range 14 m–41 m) randomly selected for microarray analysis. An adequate DNA yield was found in about one-half of the enrolled participants. Ten participants showed deletions or duplications containing candidate genes reported to impact behavior or cognitive development. Five children had ROHs which could have harbored recessive gene alleles contributing to their clinical presentation. The coefficient of inbreeding was calculated and three participants showed first-second cousin relationships, indicating consanguinity. Our preliminary study showed that DNA isolated from buccal cells using cotton swabs was suboptimal, but yet in a subset of participants the yield was adequate for high resolution microarray analysis and several genes were found that impact development and behavior and ROHs identified to determine consanguinity status.
BlockingαVβ3 Integrin Ligand Occupancy Inhibits the Progression of Albuminuria in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Maile Laura A. , Gollahon Katherine , Wai Christine , Dunbar Paul , Busby Walker , Clemmons David
Published: October 2014

This study determined if blocking ligand occupancy of theαVβ3 integrin could inhibit the pathophysiologic changes that occur in the early stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Diabetic rats were treated with either vehicle or a monoclonal antibody that binds theβ3 subunit of theαVβ3 integrin. After 4 weeks of diabetes the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) increased in both diabetic animals that subsequently received vehicle and in the animals that subsequently received the anti-β3 antibody compared with control nondiabetic rats. After 8 weeks of treatment the UACR continued to rise in the vehicle-treated rats; however it returned to levels comparable to control nondiabetic rats in rats treated with the anti-β3 antibody. Treatment with the antibody prevented the increase of several profibrotic proteins that have been implicated in the development of DN. Diabetes was associated with an increase in phosphorylation of theβ3 subunit in kidney homogenates from diabetic animals, but this was prevented by the antibody treatment. This study demonstrates that, when administered after establishment of early pathophysiologic changes in renal function, the anti-β3 antibody reversed the effects of diabetes normalizing albuminuria and profibrotic proteins in the kidney to the levels observed in nondiabetic control animals.
Intensity-Modulated and Image-Guided Radiotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer after Preradiation Chemotherapy
Authors: Sinn M. , Ganeshan R. , Graf R. , Pelzer U. , Stieler J. M. , Striefler J. K. , Bahra M. , Wust P. , Riess H.
Published: October 2014

Background. Radiotherapy (RT) in patients with pancreatic cancer is still a controversial subject and its benefit in inoperable stages of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), even after induction chemotherapy, remains unclear. Modern radiation techniques such as image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may improve effectiveness and reduce radiotherapy-related toxicities.Methods. Patients with LAPC who underwent radiotherapy after chemotherapy between 09/2004 and 05/2013 were retrospectively analyzed with regard to preradiation chemotherapy (PRCT), modalities of radiotherapy, and toxicities. Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves.Results. 15 (68%) women and 7 men (median age 64 years; range 40–77) were identified. Median duration of PRCT was 11.1 months (range 4.3–33.0). Six patients (27%) underwent conventional RT and 16 patients (73%) advanced IMRT and IGRT; median dosage was 50.4 (range 9–54) Gray. No grade III or IV toxicities occurred. Median PFS (estimated from the beginning of RT) was 5.8 months, 2.6 months in the conventional RT group (conv-RT), and 7.1 months in the IMRT/IGRT group (P=0.029); median OS was 11.0 months, 4.2 months (conv-RT), and 14.0 months (IMRT/IGRT);P=0.141. Median RT-specific PFS for patients with prolonged PRCT>9 months was 8.5 months compared to 5.6 months for PRCT<9 months (P=0.293). This effect was translated into a significantly better median RT-specific overall survival of patients in the PRCT>9 months group, with 19.0 months compared to 8.5 months in the PRCT  <  9 months group (P=0.049).Conclusions. IGRT and IMRT after PRCT are feasible and effective options for patients with LAPC after prolonged preradiation chemotherapy.
Genetic Diversity ofSCN5AGene and Its Possible Association with the Concealed Form of Brugada Syndrome Development in Polish Group of Patients
Authors: Uziębło-Życzkowska Beata , Gielerak Grzegorz , Siedlecki Paweł , Pająk Beata
Published: October 2014

Brugada Syndrome (BS) is an inherited channelopathy associated with a high incidence of sudden cardiac death. The paper presents the discovery of new genetic variants ofSCN5Agene which might be associated with the development of a concealed form of Brugada Syndrome. The study involved a group of 59 patients (37 men) with suspected concealed form of Brugada Syndrome. Pharmacological provocation with intravenous ajmaline administration was performed. Six patients with positive test results were subjected to molecular analysis ofSCN5Agene with MSSCP method. Additionally, MSSCP genotyping was performed for samples obtained from the family members with Brugada Syndrome, despite the fact that they had negative ajmaline challenge test results. Genetic examinations of theSCN5Agene at 6 positive patients showed 6 known polymorphisms, 8 new single nucleotide point (SNP) variants located at exons, and 12 new single nucleotide point variants located at introns. Among new SNPs localized inSCN5Agene exons three SNPs affected the protein sequence.
Connecting Soil Organic Carbon and Root Biomass with Land-Use and Vegetation in Temperate Grassland
Authors: McGranahan Devan Allen , Daigh Aaron L. , Veenstra Jessica J. , Engle David M. , Miller James R. , Debinski Diane M.
Published: October 2014

Soils contain much of Earth’s terrestrial organic carbon but are sensitive to land-use. Rangelands are important to carbon dynamics and are among ecosystems most widely impacted by land-use. While common practices like grazing, fire, and tillage affect soil properties directly related to soil carbon dynamics, their magnitude and direction of change vary among ecosystems and with intensity of disturbance. We describe variability in soil organic carbon (SOC) and root biomass—sampled from 0–170 cm and 0–100 cm, respectively—in terms of soil properties, land-use history, current management, and plant community composition using linear regression and multivariate ordination. Despite consistency in average values of SOC and root biomass between our data and data from rangelands worldwide, broad ranges in root biomass and SOC in our data suggest these variables are affected by other site-specific factors. Pastures with a recent history of severe grazing had reduced root biomass and greater bulk density. Ordination suggests greater exotic species richness is associated with lower root biomass but the relationship was not apparent when an invasive species of management concern was specifically tested. We discuss how unexplained variability in belowground properties can complicate measurement and prediction of ecosystem processes such as carbon sequestration.
Computational Analysis Reveals the Association of Threonine 118 Methionine Mutation in PMP22 Resulting in CMT-1A
Authors: Kumar Chundi Vinay , Swetha Rayapadi G. , Anbarasu Anand , Ramaiah Sudha
Published: October 2014

The T118M mutation in PMP22 gene is associated with Charcot Marie Tooth, type 1A (CMT1A). CMT1A is a form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the most common inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system. Mutations in CMT related disorder are seen to increase the stability of the protein resulting in the diseased state. We performed SNP analysis for all the nsSNPs of PMP22 protein and carried out molecular dynamics simulation for T118M mutation to compare the stability difference between the wild type protein structure and the mutant protein structure. The mutation T118M resulted in the overall increase in the stability of the mutant protein. The superimposed structure shows marked structural variation between the wild type and the mutant protein structures.
Disparity Map Generation from Illumination Variant Stereo Images Using Efficient Hierarchical Dynamic Programming
Authors: Borisagar Viral H. , Zaveri Mukesh A.
Published: October 2014

A novel hierarchical stereo matching algorithm is presented which gives disparity map as output from illumination variant stereo pair. Illumination difference between two stereo images can lead to undesirable output. Stereo image pair often experience illumination variations due to many factors like real and practical situation, spatially and temporally separated camera positions, environmental illumination fluctuation, and the change in the strength or position of the light sources. Window matching and dynamic programming techniques are employed for disparity map estimation. Good quality disparity map is obtained with the optimized path. Homomorphic filtering is used as a preprocessing step to lessen illumination variation between the stereo images. Anisotropic diffusion is used to refine disparity map to give high quality disparity map as a final output. The robust performance of the proposed approach is suitable for real life circumstances where there will be always illumination variation between the images. The matching is carried out in a sequence of images representing the same scene, however in different resolutions. The hierarchical approach adopted decreases the computation time of the stereo matching problem. This algorithm can be helpful in applications like robot navigation, extraction of information from aerial surveys, 3D scene reconstruction, and military and security applications. Similarity measure SAD is often sensitive to illumination variation. It produces unacceptable disparity map results for illumination variant left and right images. Experimental results show that our proposed algorithm produces quality disparity maps for both wide range of illumination variant and invariant stereo image pair.
Report of a Novel Mutation inMLH1Gene in a Hispanic Family from Puerto Rico Fulfilling Classic Amsterdam Criteria for Lynch Syndrome
Authors: Marqués-Lespier Juan M. , Diaz-Algorri Yaritza , Gonzalez-Pons Maria , Cruz-Correa Marcia
Published: October 2014

In Puerto Rico, colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the second leading cause of cancer in men and women. Familial CRC accounts for 10–15% of the total CRC cases, while Lynch syndrome accounts for approximately 2–4% of cases. Limited information is available about the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and genetic mutations of hereditary CRC in US Hispanic individuals. In this paper we report a novel mutation in thehMLH1gene in a Puerto Rican Hispanic family with Lynch syndrome recruited through the Puerto Rico Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry (PURIFICAR). Our proband was identified by applying Amsterdam and Bethesda criteria for Lynch syndrome, analysis of protein expression by immunohistochemistry, and genetic sequencing of the mismatch repair genes. A novel mutation at c.2044_2045 inhMLH1consisting of the deletion of two consecutive nucleotides (AT) at exon 18 was identified. This deletion causes a frameshift in the protein coding sequence at p.682 resulting in premature termination and a truncated MLH1 protein. To our knowledge, this mutation has not been previously reported in the literature. The detection of this novel mutation inMLH1further emphasizes the need for genetic testing in at-risk patients for hereditary CRC from various ethnic and racial backgrounds.
The Effects of Lycopene on the Methylation of the GSTP1 Promoter and Global Methylation in Prostatic Cancer Cell Lines PC3 and LNCaP
Authors: Fu Li-Juan , Ding Yu-Bin , Wu Lan-Xiang , Wen Chun-Jie , Qu Qiang , Zhang Xue , Zhou Hong-Hao
Published: October 2014

DNA (cytosine-5-) methylation silencing of GSTP1 function occurs in prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa). Previous studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between dietary lycopene intake and the risk of PCa. However, it is unknown whether lycopene reactivates the tumor suppressor gene glutathioneS-transferase-π(GSTP1) by demethylation of the hypermethylated CpGs that act to silence the GSTP1 promoter. Here, we demonstrated that lycopene treatment significantly decreased the methylation levels of the GSTP1 promoter and increased the mRNA and protein levels of GSTP1 in an androgen-independent PC-3 cell line. In contrast, lycopene treatment did not demethylate the GSTP1 promoter or increase GSTP1 expression in the androgen-dependent LNCaP cell line. DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) 3A protein levels were downregulated in PC-3 cells following lycopene treatment; however, DNMT1 and DNMT3B levels were unchanged. Furthermore, the long interspersed element (LINE-1) and short interspersed element ALU were not demethylated when treated by lycopene. In LNCaP cells, lycopene treatment did not affect any detected DNMT protein expression, and the methylation levels of LINE-1 and ALU were decreased. These results indicated that the protective effect of lycopene on the prostate is different between androgen-dependent and androgen-independent derived PCa cells. Further, in vivo studies should be conducted to confirm these promising results and to evaluate the potential role of lycopene in the protection of the prostate.
Land Use Intensification Effects in Soil Arthropod Community of an Entisol in Pernambuco State, Brazil
Authors: Siqueira G. M. , Silva E. F. F. , Paz-Ferreiro J.
Published: October 2014

The interactions between soil invertebrates and land use and management are fundamental for soil quality assessment but remain largely unaddressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in soil arthropod community of an entisol brought about by different land use systems under semiarid climate in Pernambuco State, Brazil. The soil invertebrate community was sampled using pitfall traps from areas with eight vegetation types by the end of the austral winter. The land uses studied were native thorn forest plus seven agricultural fields planted with elephant grass, apple guava, passion fruit, carrot, maize, tomato, and green pepper. Native vegetation was considered as a reference, whereas the agricultural fields showed a range of soil use intensities. The abundance of organisms, the total and average richness, Shannon’s diversity index, and the Pielou uniformity index were determined, and all of these were affected by several crop and soil management practices such as residue cover, weed control, and pesticide application. Our study found differences in community assemblages and composition under different land use systems, but no single taxa could be used as indicator of soil use intensity.
Activation of the AT1R/HIF-1α/ACE Axis Mediates Angiotensin II-Induced VEGF Synthesis in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Liu Chao , Zhang Jing-Wen , Hu Liang , Song Yi-Chen , Zhou Lu , Fan Yue , Zhu Hong-Yi , Wang Yu , Li Qing-Ping
Published: October 2014

A local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is expressed in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulates stem cell function. The local RAS influences the survival and tissue repairing ability of transplanted stem cells. We have previously reported that angiotensin II (Ang II) pretreatment can significantly increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis in MSCs through the ERK1/2 and Akt pathways via the Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1R). However, the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has not been clarified. Furthermore, whether Ang II pretreatment activates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) in MSCs has not been elucidated. Our data show that both ACE and HIF-1αare involved in promoting VEGF expression in MSCs, and that both are upregulated by Ang II stimulation. The upregulation of ACE appeared after the rapid degradation of exogenous Ang II, and led to the formation of endogenous Ang II. On the other hand, the ACE inhibitor, captopril, attenuated Ang II-enhanced HIF-1αupregulation, while HIF-1αsuppression markedly attenuated ACE expression. This interesting finding suggests an interaction between ACE and HIF-1α. We conclude that Ang II pretreatment, as a trigger, activated the AT1R/HIF-1α/ACE axis that then mediated Ang II-induced VEGF synthesis in MSCs.
A Wi-Fi Cluster Based Wireless Sensor Network Application and Deployment for Wildfire Detection
Authors: Ulucinar Alper Rifat , Korpeoglu Ibrahim , Cetin A. Enis
Published: October 2014

We introduce the wireless sensor network (WSN) data harvesting application we developed for wildfire detection and the experiments we have performed. The sensor nodes are equipped with temperature and relative humidity sensors. They are organized into clusters and they communicate with the cluster heads using 802.15.4/ZigBee wireless links. The cluster heads report the harvested data to the control center using 802.11/Wi-Fi links. We introduce the hardware and the software architecture of our deployment near Rhodiapolis, an ancient city raising on the outskirts of Kumluca county of Antalya, Turkey. We detail our technical insights into the deployment based on the real-world data collected from the site. We also propose a temperature-based fire detection algorithm and we evaluate its performance by performing experiments in our deployment site and also in our university. We observed that our WSN application can reliably report temperature data to the center quickly and our algorithms can detect fire events in an acceptable time frame with no or very few false positives.
Storage-Efficient 16-Bit Hybrid IP Traceback with Single Packet
Authors: Yang Ming Hour
Published: October 2014

Since adversaries may spoof their source IPs in the attacks, traceback schemes have been proposed to identify the attack source. However, some of these schemes’ storage requirements increase with packet numbers. Some even have false positives because they use an IP header’s fragment offset for marking. Thus, we propose a 16-bit single packet hybrid IP traceback scheme that combines packet marking and packet logging with high accuracy and low storage requirement. The size of our log tables can be bounded by route numbers. We also set a threshold to determine whether an upstream interface number is stored in a log table or in a marking field, so as to balance the logging frequency and our computational loads. Because we store user interface information on small-degree routers, compared with current single packet traceback schemes, ours can have the lowest storage requirements. Besides, our traceback achieves zero false positive/negative rates and guarantees reassembly of fragmented packets at the destination.
Reconfigurable Mixed Mode Universal Filter
Authors: Afzal Neelofer , Singh Devesh
Published: October 2014

This paper presents a novel mixed mode universal filter configuration capable of working in voltage and transimpedance mode. The proposed single filter configuration can be reconfigured digitally to realize all the five second order filter functions (types) at single output port. Other salient features of proposed configuration include independently programmable filter parameters, full cascadability, and low sensitivity figure. However, all these features are provided at the cost of quite large number of active elements. It needs three digitally programmable current feedback amplifiers and three digitally programmable current conveyors. Use of six active elements is justified by introducing three additional reduced hardware mixed mode universal filter configurations and its comparison with reported filters.
Association of the Total Cholesterol Content of Erythrocyte Membranes with the Severity of Disease in Stable Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Namazi Gholamreza , Pourfarzam Morteza , Jamshidi Rad Sabieh , Movahedian Attar Ahmad , Sarrafzadegan Nizal , Sadeghi Masoumeh , Asa Parastoo
Published: October 2014

Increasing evidence suggests that erythrocytes may participate in atherogenesis. We sought to investigate whether the total cholesterol content of erythrocyte membranes (CEM) is significantly different in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to patients with nonsignificant coronary stenosis and determine the correlation between CEM and the severity of coronary stenosis.Methods. The population included 144 patients, undergoing clinically indicated coronary angiography. The severity of coronary stenosis was scored after coronary angiography and patients were divided into two groups; theS-stenosis group (CAD patients,n=82) had a significant stenosis indicated by coronary angiography and the second group,N-stenosis (n=62), had nonsignificant coronary stenosis. Lipid parameters were determined by routine laboratory methods. CEM was measured using an enzymatic assay, and protein content was assessed by the modified Lowry method.Results.The mean of CEM levels was higher (P<0.001) in stable CAD patients (137.2 µg/mg of membrane protein) compared withN-stenosis patients (110.0 µg/mg of membrane protein). The coronary artery scores were correlated positively with CEM levels (r=0.296,P<0.001).Conclusion. CEM levels are positively associated with the severity of CAD, meaning that CEM might contribute to the development of CAD.
New Approach for Finding Basic Performance Measures of Single Server Queue
Authors: Koh Siew Khew , Pooi Ah Hin , Tan Yi Fei
Published: October 2014

Consider the single server queue in which the system capacity is infinite and the customers are served on a first come, first served basis. Suppose the probability density functionf(t)and the cumulative distribution functionF(t)of the interarrival time are such that the ratef(t)/1-F(t)tends to a constant ast→∞, and the rate computed from the distribution of the service time tends to another constant. When the queue is in a stationary state, we derive a set of equations for the probabilities of the queue length and the states of the arrival and service processes. Solving the equations, we obtain approximate results for the stationary probabilities which can be used to obtain the stationary queue length distribution and waiting time distribution of a customer who arrives when the queue is in the stationary state.
Low Actuation Voltage RF MEMS Switch Using Varying Section Composite Fixed-Fixed Beam
Authors: Manivannan M. , Daniel R. Joseph , Sumangala K.
Published: October 2014

The present authors have earlier reported the employment of varying section fixed-fixed beam for achieving lower pull-in voltage with marginal fall in restoring force. Reducing Young’s modulus also reduces the pull-in voltage but with lesser degree of reduction in restoring force. Composite beams are ideal alternatives to achieve decreased Young’s modulus. Hence new varying section composite fixed-fixed beam type RF MEMS switch has been proposed. The main advantage of this RF MEMS switch is that lower pull-in voltages can be achieved with marginal fall in stiction immunity. Spring constant of the proposed switch has been obtained using simulation studies and it has been shown that the spring constant and therefore the pull-in voltage (Vpi) can be considerably reduced with the proposed switch. Simulation studies conducted on the proposed switch clearly demonstrate that the pull-in voltage can be reduced by 31.17% when compared to the varying section monolayer polysilicon fixed-fixed beam. Further this approach enables the designer to have more freedom to design lower pull-in voltage switches with improved stiction immunity.
Active Vibration Suppression of a 3-DOF Flexible Parallel Manipulator Using Efficient Modal Control
Authors: Zhang Quan , Jin Jiamei , Zhang Jianhui , Zhao Chunsheng
Published: October 2014

This paper addresses the dynamic modeling and efficient modal control of a planar parallel manipulator (PPM) with three flexible linkages actuated by linear ultrasonic motors (LUSM). To achieve active vibration control, multiple lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers are mounted on the flexible links as vibration sensors and actuators. Based on Lagrange’s equations, the dynamic model of the flexible links is derived with the dynamics of PZT actuators incorporated. Using the assumed mode method (AMM), the elastic motion of the flexible links are discretized under the assumptions of pinned-free boundary conditions, and the assumed mode shapes are validated through experimental modal test. Efficient modal control (EMC), in which the feedback forces in different modes are determined according to the vibration amplitude or energy of their own, is employed to control the PZT actuators to realize active vibration suppression. Modal filters are developed to extract the modal displacements and velocities from the vibration sensors. Numerical simulation and vibration control experiments are conducted to verify the proposed dynamic model and controller. The results show that the EMC method has the capability of suppressing multimode vibration simultaneously, and both the structural and residual vibrations of the flexible links are effectively suppressed using EMC approach.
Introduction Justice in Security Negotiations
Authors: Müller Harald , Druckman Daniel
Published: October 2014

This article provides an overview of this thematic issue. We discuss four issues about the role of justice claims in international relations (ir) scholarship: the discrepancy between the historical centrality of justice themes in political thought and empirical research inir; challenges to the assumption of utility-maximizing motives; justice in the context of rules or norms of negotiation, and the rise of empirical research on justice inir. We conclude with themes suggested by the contributing authors in this issue and suggest priorities for further research on justice in international negotiation.
The Justice Motive in International Relations: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Welch David A.
Published: October 2014

Modern empirical social science is unique in denying, dismissing, or discounting the role of justice considerations in human behavior. A relatively small group of International Relations (ir) scholars have attempted to address this lacuna, with limited uptake to date. The articles in this issue collectively seek to move this research program forward. In this essay, I explore various conceptual, epistemological, methodological, and sociology-of-the-field issues that may be responsible for its limited traction thus far and argue that only the last represents a serious obstacle. Whether recent trends and developments inirindicate that the time may finally be ripe for a robust normal science on the role of justice considerations in international politics remains to be seen, but negotiation theorists are in the best position to move it forward.
Taxonomic relationship between two Gammarus species, G. nipponensis and G. sobaegensis (Amphipoda: Gammaridae), with description of a new species
Authors: TOMIKAWA KO , SOH HO YOUNG , KOBAYASHI NORIO , YAMAGUCHI AIKA
Published: October 2014

To assess the taxonomic relationship between G. nipponensis and G. sobaegensis, morphological features and molecular phylogenetic relationships using the nuclear 28S rRNA and the mitochondrial COI genes were examined. Detailed morphological observations revealed that G. nipponensis and G. sobaegensis were clearly distinguishable. In addition to the morphological differences, these two species were genetically diverged. In the course of this study, an undescribed species was found from Tsushima and Iki Islands and described here as G. mukudai. In the molecular phylogenetic analyses, monophyletic relationships of G. nipponensis, G. sobaegensis, and G. mukudai were shown but relationships among three species were unclear due to low statistical supports. Phylogeography of G. nipponensis, G. sobaegensis, and G. mukudai were discussed.
New records of Bodotriidae (Crustacea: Cumacea) from Puerto Rico with descriptions of three new species
Authors: PETRESCU IORGU , CHATTERJEE TAPAS , SCHIZAS NIKOLAOS V.
Published: October 2014

In a continuing effort to describe the cumacean fauna of Puerto Rico we describe three new species of Bodotriidae, a family that has never been reported from Puerto Rico before.  While finding and describing new microcrustacean species may not be an impossible task, if there is available taxonomic expertise, the currently described species were found in large numbers within a short distance from the Marine Laboratories of the University of Puerto Rico where the local reefs have been studied for over half a century, highlighting the large gaps that exist in our estimates of Caribbean marine diversity.  The three new species, Cyclaspis gurui sp. nov., Cyclaspis mariae sp. nov. and Vaunthompsonia budaii sp. nov. are reported from a fringing reef off La Parguera, southwest coast of Puerto Rico and Vaunthompsonia cristata Bate, 1858 represents a new record for Puerto Rico from the mesophotic reefs.
Microlepidogaster discus, a new species of Hypoptopomatinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Jequitinhonha basin, southeastern Brazil
Authors: MARTINS FERNANDA O. , ROSA ALAINA C. , LANGEANI FRANCISCO
Published: October 2014

A new Hypoptopomatinae is described from the upper rio Jequitinhonha basin. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by having the ventral laminar expansions of cleithrum and coracoid bearing only 1–30 odontodes, restricted to the area near the pectoral-fin insertion; the anterior plates of mid-ventral lateral series reduced, not ventrally elongated, the first or the second markedly round; pectoral-fin unbranched ray distinctly divided distally, with 7–15 ossified segments, reaching almost half of its length; and accessory process on first epibranchial present. Microlepidogaster discus is further distinguished from its congeners by several other osteological features. The problems concerning the taxonomy of Microlepidogaster, as well as the pattern of distribution of the genus, are discussed.
New species of Helpis Simon, 1901 from Australia (Araneae: Salticidae),
with a new definition of the genus
Authors: ŻABKA MAREK , PATOLETA BARBARA M.
Published: October 2014

Five new species of Helpis Simon, 1901 from Queensland and New South Wales are diagnosed, described and illustrated: H. foelixi sp. nov. (♂); H. merriwa sp. nov. (♀); H. staregai sp. nov. (♀); H. wanlessi sp. nov. (♀) and H. wisharti sp. nov. (♀). The male of H. kenilworthi Żabka, 2002 is described for the first time, Helpis gracilis Gardzińska, 1996 is illustrated to show intraspecific variation and Astia colemani Wanless, 1988 is redescribed and transferred to the genus Helpis. Remarks on relationships of described species are provided and maps with distributional records are given.
Resonant Generation and Energetics of Wind-Forced Near-Inertial Motions in a Geostrophic Flow
Authors: Whitt Daniel B. , Thomas Leif N.
Published: October 2014

A slab mixed layer model and two-dimensional numerical simulations are used to study the generation and energetics of near-inertial oscillations in a unidirectional, laterally sheared geostrophic current forced by oscillatory winds. The vertical vorticity of the current ζg modifies the effective Coriolis frequency , which is equivalent to the local resonant forcing frequency. In addition, the resonant oscillatory velocity response is elliptical, not circular, because the oscillation periodically exchanges energy with the geostrophic flow via shear production. With damping, this energy exchange becomes permanent, but its magnitude and sign depend strongly on the angle of the oscillatory wind vector relative to the geostrophic flow. However, for a current forced by an isotropic distribution of wind directions, the response averaged over all wind angles results in a net extraction of energy from the geostrophic flow that scales as the wind work on the inertial motions times (ζg/f)2 for ζg ≪ f. For ζg ~ f, this sink of geostrophic kinetic energy preferentially damps flows with anticyclonic vorticity and thus could contribute toward shaping the positively skewed vorticity distribution observed in the upper ocean.
Revealing Racial Purity Ideology
Authors: Irby Decoteau J.
Published: October 2014

Purpose: In this article, I explore White racial purity desire as an underexamined ideology that might help us understand the compulsion of disciplinary violence against Black boys in U.S. public schools. By pointing to the dearth of research on sexual desire as a site of racial conflict and through revisiting Civil Rights–era fears about interracial intimacy between Black men and White women, I encourage readers to consider if and to what extent fears about sexual desires remain in the fabric of our school and social lives. Proposed Conceptual Argument: I argue that in schools, White-supremacist patriarchy reproduces normative Whiteness through the continual surveillance, punishment, distancing, and removal of primarily heteronormative Black male bodies, locating its justification in protecting the bodily safety and academic achievement of heteronormative White girls. I suggest that in predominantly White desegregated schools, disciplining heteronormative Black boys represents a new policy-based campaign of institutionalized violence and intimidation that reflects a subtle, but nonetheless pernicious, White male segregationist agenda. Implications: Considering fear/desire of interracial intimacy as a lens, alongside economic and political explanations of resistance to desegregation, provides a more complete analytical framework to comprehend racial conflict and segregationism in contemporary school settings. Our collective failure to acknowledge and interrogate the ways schools produce Whiteness by seeking to protect White girls from Black boys ensures Black boys’ bodies and minds will continue to be unfairly subjected to the violence of harsh and disproportionate disciplinary measures.
The Troublesome Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education
Authors: López Gerardo R. , Burciaga Rebeca
Published: October 2014

Purpose: This article reflects on the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision while discussing the significant lessons learned from this and subsequent court decisions. Argument: In this article, we posit that a fundamentally different conversation surrounding the legacy of Brown is needed if we are to critically understand the past, present, and future of race relations as a backdrop to issues of segregated schooling in this country. Implications: The troublesome legacy of Brown provides a unique opportunity to interrogate why we, as a country, continue to have faith in this particular court decision as a remedy for racial inequality. We invite readers to symbolically “let go” of Brown in order to imagine new possibilities for racial justice, educational opportunity, and social reform.
The Politics of Education in the Post-Brown Era
Authors: Scott Janelle , Quinn Rand
Published: October 2014

Purpose: In this essay, we examine the racial politics of education in the six decades after Brown. We consider the state of educational policy in an era in which market reform advocates often invoke the spirit of the Brown decision even as the Supreme Court has largely vacated the legal framework provided by Brown to desegregate schools. Background: Educational policy post- Brown has focused largely on expanding market reforms such as school choice, high-stakes testing, and federal and state accountability mechanisms in lieu of the radical shifts in the distribution of educational opportunities for which Brown called. Setting: We discuss these market-oriented trends in San Francisco and Philadelphia. Findings: While many of these interventions have contributed to the growing racial, linguistic, and socioeconomic segregation in public education, efforts to realize more just and democratic schooling persist in these same urban school districts. Conclusion: We conclude with a call to educational leaders to partner with local communities to revive Brown’s promise for more just, diverse, and equitable schooling.
Development of small and medium-sized enterprise horizontal innovation networks: UK agri-food sector study
Authors: McAdam Maura , McAdam Rodney , Dunn Adele , McCall Clare
Published: October 2014

Within the management literature, there is an emergent discourse on horizontal collaboration among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), whereby individual rivalries are overcome by the need for more resources and innovation, leading to increased competitiveness through joint product development. In particular, a number of these horizontal collaborations between SMEs have occurred within the agri-food sector. As a consequence, this article aims to explore the longitudinal development of horizontal innovation networks within an artisan bakers’ network as part of the UK SME agri-food sector. An interpretivist research approach was used, whereby the development and evolution of an artisan bakers’ horizontal network was studied over a 27-month period. The findings, as summarised in conceptual models which draw upon knowledge-based open innovation and social network constructs, illustrate that a complex three-stage life cycle development occurred within the bakers’ horizontal network.
Why Don’t Women Program? Exploring Links between Gender, Technology and Software
Authors: Yansen Guillermina , Zukerfeld Mariano
Published: October 2014

The main question to be discussed in this article is: Why do women not program? In other words, why, in an activity that appears similar to others where women have gained ground, one cannot find an analogous process of incorporation? We propose a scheme of five related factors in order to analyse the genealogy of women’s exclusion from the world of software. First, we discuss the relation between gender and technologies in general, focusing on the initial stages of socialisation. Second, we fast forward a few years in the lives of boys and girls and we analyse their first interaction with digital technologies. Next, in relation to puberty or adolescence, we inquire into peer-group dynamics which are established by those who dedicate much of their time to computers. Fourth, we take into account the gender gap in college or bachelor degrees related to informatics. Lastly, we analyse the common representations of and beliefs about gender that employers hold in relation to informatics workers. These five parts of the explanation have different foundations. Some rely strongly on our qualitative fieldwork in Buenos Aires; others are based on texts or statistics which belong to other authors.
A critical account of a ‘creeping neo-abolitionism’: Regulating prostitution in England and Wales
Authors: Scoular Jane , Carline Anna
Published: October 2014

An increasingly dominant neo-abolitionist perspective on the issue of prostitution is currently taking hold across Europe. Pioneered in Sweden, this approach considers prostitution as inherently oppressive and seeks to tackle the dynamics of supply and demand by criminalizing purchasers and offering support to sellers who are regarded as victims. Against recent calls from both the European Parliament and an All Party Parliamentary Group on prostitution to universalize this model, we urge caution against moving any further in this direction. Our argument is informed, not only by critical accounts of the ‘Nordic model’, but also by emerging research which highlights the negative effects of recent criminal and ‘therapeutic’ interventions in England and Wales that have already attempted to reduce the demand and supply of commercial sex: the strict liability offence of paying for sexual services of a prostitute subject to exploitation and Engagement and Support Orders (ESOs) for on-street sex workers. We offer both normative insights and draw upon the findings of the first empirical study of ESOs, in order to highlight the problems that emerge when the complexities of commercial sexual exchange are reduced into a binary of ‘victims and victimizers’ to be saved or corrected by criminal justice sanctioned initiatives. In conclusion, we argue for a more productive use of the criminal law that complements rather than eclipses the wider social justice concerns in this arena.
Criminalization, protection and rights: Global tensions in the governance of commercial sex
Authors: Sanders Teela , Campbell Rosie
Published: October 2014

In this special issue we examine the global trends in the governance of commercial sex over the past decade and set out where this collection contributes to critical understandings of the governance of commercial sex through an analysis of the global legal, policy and policing trends. This collection of articles addresses the continued moves towards state control of sexual behaviours and sexual activities that do not fit dominant scripts for what constitutes ‘appropriate’ citizenship. The focus on the lived experience of the law, criminal justice system and policing practices for sex workers is the overarching theme of this special issue, as we contemplate the realities of the governance of sex work.
EVI1-rearranged acute myeloid leukemias are characterized by distinct molecular alterations
Authors: Lavallée Vincent-Philippe , Gendron Patrick , Lemieux Sébastien , D’Angelo Giovanni , Hébert Josée , Sauvageau Guy
Published: October 2014

Key Points

EVI1-r AMLs have recurrent mutations in RAS and other signaling genes, splicing factors, and at a lower frequency, IKZF1 and TP53. EVI1-r AMLs show a characteristic transcriptome profile marked by high expression of MECOM, PREX2, MYCT1, PAWR, and VIP.
High-sensitivity troponin T as a marker to predict cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients with adjuvant trastuzumab therapy
Authors: Katsurada Kenichi , Ichida Masaru , Sakuragi Masako , Takehara Megumi , Hozumi Yasuo , Kario Kazuomi
Published: October 2014

The humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab has been in routine use for chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor II (HER2)-positive breast cancer. A major adverse effect of trastuzumab is cardiotoxicity. Well-established biomarkers or echocardiographic parameters to predict trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity have not yet been determined. We attempted to identify useful biomarkers and/or echocardiographic parameters to predict trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity.

We prospectively investigated the cases of 19 women who received chemotherapy including anthracyclines and trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer. We measured cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters before their chemotherapy and every 3 months up to 15 months until the end of the adjuvant trastuzumab therapy.

We divided the patients into two groups: group R was the nine patients who showed a reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥5%, and group N was the 10 patients who showed a reduction of LVEF <5%. The high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) level at 6 months was significantly higher in group R than in group N (11.0 ± 7.8 pg/mL vs. 4.0 ± 1.4 pg/mL, p < 0.01). The hs-TnT level with a cutoff value of 5.5 pg/mL at 6 months had 78% sensitivity and 80% specificity for predicting a reduction of LVEF at 15 months. In our evaluation of echocardiographic parameters at baseline, the diastolic function was more impaired in group R than in group N.

The hs-TnT and echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function could be useful to predict trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity.
A whole genome analyses of genetic variants in two Kelantan Malay individuals
Authors: Wan Juhari Wan Khairunnisa , Md Tamrin Nur Aida , Mat Daud Mohd Hanif Ridzuan , Isa Hatin Wan , Mohd Nasir Nurfazreen , Maran Sathiya , Abdul Rajab Nur Shafawati , Ahmad Amin Noordin Khairul Bariah , Nik Hassan Nik Norliza , Tearle Rick , Razali Rozaimi , Merican Amir Feisal , Zilfalil Bin Alwi
Published: October 2014

Background

The sequencing of two members of the Royal Kelantan Malay family genomes will provide insights on the Kelantan Malay whole genome sequences. The two Kelantan Malay genomes were analyzed for the SNP markers associated with thalassemia andHelicobacter pyloriinfection.Helicobacter pyloriinfection was reported to be low prevalence in the north-east as compared to the west coast of the Peninsular Malaysia and beta-thalassemia was known to be one of the most common inherited and genetic disorder in Malaysia.

Result

By combining SNP information from literatures, GWAS study and NCBI ClinVar, 18 unique SNPs were selected for further analysis. From these 18 SNPs, 10 SNPs came from previous study ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection among Malay patients, 6 SNPs were from NCBI ClinVar and 2 SNPs from GWAS studies. The analysis reveals that both Royal Kelantan Malay genomes shared all the 10 SNPs identified by Maran (Single Nucleotide Polymorphims (SNPs) genotypic profiling of Malay patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection in Kelantan, 2011) and one SNP from GWAS study. In addition, the analysis also reveals that both Royal Kelantan Malay genomes shared 3 SNP markers; HBG1 (rs1061234), HBB (rs1609812) and BCL11A (rs766432) where all three markers were associated with beta-thalassemia.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the Royal Kelantan Malays carry the SNPs which are associated with protection toHelicobacter pyloriinfection. In addition they also carry SNPs which are associated with beta-thalassemia. These findings are in line with the findings by other researchers who conducted studies on thalassemia andHelicobacter pyloriinfection in the non-royal Malay population.
Sparse coding of the modulation spectrum for noise-robust automatic speech recognition
Authors: Ahmadi Sara , Ahadi Seyed Mohammad , Cranen Bert , Boves Lou
Published: October 2014

The full modulation spectrum is a high-dimensional representation of one-dimensional audio signals. Most previous research in automatic speech recognition converted this very rich representation into the equivalent of a sequence of short-time power spectra, mainly to simplify the computation of the posterior probability that a frame of an unknown speech signal is related to a specific state. In this paper we use the raw output of a modulation spectrum analyser in combination with sparse coding as a means for obtaining state posterior probabilities. The modulation spectrum analyser uses 15 gammatone filters. The Hilbert envelope of the output of these filters is then processed by nine modulation frequency filters, with bandwidths up to 16 Hz. Experiments using the AURORA-2 task show that the novel approach is promising. We found that the representation of medium-term dynamics in the modulation spectrum analyser must be improved. We also found that we should move towards sparse classification, by modifying the cost function in sparse coding such that the class(es) represented by the exemplars weigh in, in addition to the accuracy with which unknown observations are reconstructed. This creates two challenges: (1) developing a method for dictionary learning that takes the class occupancy of exemplars into account and (2) developing a method for learning a mapping from exemplar activations to state posterior probabilities that keeps the generalization to unseen conditions that is one of the strongest advantages of sparse coding.