bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosgenite, Pb2CO3Cl2 – a novel SRS‐active crystal
Authors: Bohatý Ladislav , Becker Petra , Rhee Hanjo , Kaltenbach André , Eichler Hans J. , Yoneda Hitoki , Shirakawa Akira , Ueda Ken‐ichi , Kaminskii Alexander A.
Published: May 2013

Lead carbonate chloride, Pb2CO3Cl2, known as mineral phosgenite, is introduced as a novel SRS‐active carbonate crystal with tetragonal symmetry. Under picosecond one‐micron laser pumping Raman‐induced χ(3)‐nonlinear generation in the near‐IR is observed. All recorded high‐order Stokes and anti‐Stokes sidebands are identified and attributed to two SRS‐promoting vibration modes with ωSRS1 ≈ 1062 cm–1 and ωSRS2 ≈ 86 cm–1.

magnified image

Example of a natural crystal of phosgenite, Pb2CO3Cl2, from the locality of Monte Poni, Sardinia. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comparison of optical and electromagnetic tracking for navigated lateral skull base surgery
Authors: Kral Florian , Puschban Elisabeth J. , Riechelmann Herbert , Freysinger Wolfgang
Published: May 2013

Background

Navigation with optical tracking sometimes makes it difficult to establish a line‐of‐sight in cluttered operating theatres. On the other hand, the accuracy of electromagnetic tracking is influenced by ferromagnetic surgical equipment. We compared electromagnetic with optical tracking under controlled conditions for the lateral skull base.

Methods

Six anatomical specimens were dissected to measure the target registration error (TRE) in and around the petrous bone in a wet laboratory to simulate an intraoperative setting. Specimens were registered with passive optical and electromagnetic tracking.

Results

Overall accuracy was better using optical tracking than electromagnetic tracking (0.22 mm; 0.07–0.48 vs 0.99 mm; 0.56–1.27 mm; median, lower and upper quartiles, respectively; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The accuracy of optical tracking was near the resolution of the camera system, whereas the accuracy of electromagnetic tracking was lower. Only optical tracking allows for an application accuracy of considerably less than 1 mm in high‐resolution datasets. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Causal inference, probability theory, and graphical insights
Authors: Baker Stuart G.
Published: May 2013

Causal inference from observational studies is a fundamental topic in biostatistics. The causal graph literature typically views probability theory as insufficient to express causal concepts in observational studies. In contrast, the view here is that probability theory is a desirable and sufficient basis for many topics in causal inference for the following two reasons. First, probability theory is generally more flexible than causal graphs: Besides explaining such causal graph topics as M‐bias (adjusting for a collider) and bias amplification and attenuation (when adjusting for instrumental variable), probability theory is also the foundation of the paired availability design for historical controls, which does not fit into a causal graph framework. Second, probability theory is the basis for insightful graphical displays including the BK‐Plot for understanding Simpson's paradox with a binary confounder, the BK2‐Plot for understanding bias amplification and attenuation in the presence of an unobserved binary confounder, and the PAD‐Plot for understanding the principal stratification component of the paired availability design. Published 2013. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Hydrolytic Cationic Ester Microparticles for Highly Efficient DNA Vaccine Delivery
Authors: Zhang Lei , Sinclair Andrew , Cao Zhiqiang , Ella‐Menye Jean‐Rene , Xu Xuewei , Carr Louisa R. , Pun Suzie H. , Jiang Shaoyi
Published: May 2013

DNA vaccination holds great potential to be a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional vaccination strategies, but the current lack of nontoxic and effective delivery systems is the greatest impediment to its clinical implementation. In this work, a convenient one‐step method is used to prepare a degradable “microgel” delivery platform, featuring hydrolytic esters. Prior to hydrolysis, these micrometer‐sized gel particles can effectively condense DNA due to their positive surface charge. Upon entering antigen‐presenting cells (APCs), the microgels can be hydrolyzed to nontoxic zwitterionic polymers, consequently releasing the DNA and inducing phagosomal escape. Surface charge, DNA loading, cytotoxicity, and gene transfection efficiency of the hydrolysable microparticles with different tertiary to quaternary amine ratios are systematically studied. Nonhydrolysable counterparts and commercially developed PLGA‐CTAB particles are used as the control. The passive targeting effect is further evaluated by blocking the phagocytosis pathway of the cells. The hydrolytic microgels prepared in this study possess great potential to become a platform for DNA vaccine delivery.
B-Cell Progenitors and Precursors Change Their Microenvironment in Fetal Liver During Early Development
Authors: Tsuneto Motokazu , Tokoyoda Koji , Kajikhina Ekaterina , Hauser Anja E. , Hara Takahiro , Tani-ichi Shizue , Ikuta Koichi , Melchers Fritz
Published: May 2013

The microenvironments, in which B lymphocytes develop in fetal liver, are largely still unknown. Among the nonhematopoietic cells, we have identified and FACS-separated two subpopulations, CD45−TER119−VCAM-1+ cells that are either CD105highLYVE-1high or CD105lowALCAMhigh. Immunohistochemical analyses find three of four c-Kit+IL-7Rα+B220lowCD19−SLC− B progenitors in contact with vascular endothelial-type LYVE-1high cells on embryonic day 13.5. One day later c-Kit+IL-7Rα+ cells develop to CD19− and +, SLC-expressing, DHJH-rearranged pre/pro and pro/preB-I cells. Less than 10% are still in contact with LYVE-1high cells, but half of them are now in contact with mesenchymally derived ALCAMhigh liver cells. All of these ALCAMhigh cells, but not the LYVE-1high cells produce IL-7 and CXCL12, while both produce CXCL10. Progenitors and pro/preB-I cells are chemoattracted in vitro toward CXCL10 and 12, suggesting that lymphoid progenitors with Ig gene loci in germline configuration enter the developing fetal liver at E13.5 from vascular endothelium, attracted by CXCL10, and then migrate within a day to an ALCAMhigh liver cell microenvironment, differentiating to DHJH-rearranging, surrogate light chain-expressing pre/proB and pro/preB-I cells, attracted by CXCL10 and 12. Between E15.5 and E16.5 preB-I cells expand 10-fold in continued contact with ALCAMhigh cells and begin VH- to DHJH-rearrangements in further differentiated c-Kit−IL-7Rα− preBII cells. STEM Cells  2013;31:2800–2812
Fetal Deficiency of Lin28 Programs Life-Long Aberrations in Growth and Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Shinoda Gen , Shyh-Chang Ng , Soysa T. Yvanka de , Zhu Hao , Seligson Marc T. , Shah Samar P. , Abo-Sido Nora , Yabuuchi Akiko , Hagan John P. , Gregory Richard I. , Asara John M. , Cantley Lewis C. , Moss Eric G. , Daley George Q.
Published: May 2013

LIN28A/B are RNA binding proteins implicated by genetic association studies in human growth and glucose metabolism. Mice with ectopic over-expression of Lin28a have shown related phenotypes. Here, we describe the first comprehensive analysis of the physiologic consequences of Lin28a and Lin28b deficiency in knockout (KO) mice. Lin28a/b-deficiency led to dwarfism starting at different ages, and compound gene deletions showed a cumulative dosage effect on organismal growth. Conditional gene deletion at specific developmental stages revealed that fetal but neither neonatal nor adult deficiency resulted in growth defects and aberrations in glucose metabolism. Tissue-specific KO mice implicated skeletal muscle-deficiency in the abnormal programming of adult growth and metabolism. The effects of Lin28b KO could be rescued by Tsc1 haplo-insufficiency in skeletal muscles. Our data implicate fetal expression of Lin28a/b in the regulation of life-long effects on metabolism and growth, and demonstrate that fetal Lin28b acts at least in part via mTORC1 signaling.
Multipotential differentiation of human urine-derived stem cells: Potential for therapeutic applications in urology
Authors: Bharadwaj Shantaram , Liu Guihua , Shi Yingai , Wu Rongpei , Yang Bin , He Tongchuan , Fan Yuxin , Lu Xinyan , Zhou Xiaobo , Liu Hong , Atala Anthony , Rohozinski Jan , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: May 2013

We sought to biologically characterize and identify a subpopulation of urine-derived stem cells (USCs) with the capacity for multipotent differentiation. We demonstrated that single USCs can expand to a large population with 60–70 population doublings. Nine of 15 individual USC clones expressed detectable levels of telomerase and have long telomeres. These cells expressed pericyte and mesenchymal stem cell markers. Upon induction with appropriate media in vitro, USCs differentiated into bladder-associated cell types, including functional urothelial and smooth muscle cell lineages. When the differentiated USCs were seeded onto a scaffold and subcutaneously implanted into nude mice, multilayered tissue-like structures formed consisting of urothelium and smooth muscle. Additionally, USCs were able to differentiate into endothelial, osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, skeletal myogenic, and neurogenic lineages but did not form teratomas during the 1-month study despite telomerase activity. USCs may be useful in cell-based therapies and tissue engineering applications, including urogenital reconstruction.
Experiments on lightning protection for automatic weather stations using artificially triggered lightning
Authors: Zhang Yijun , Chen Shaodong , Zheng Dong , Lu Weitao , Li Bin
Published: May 2013

This paper focuses on the voltages electromagnetically induced by the multiple return strokes involved in a triggered lightning on an overhead power line and a vertical signal line of an automatic weather station (AWS), and the backflow currents and residual voltages in a surge protection device (SPD) embedded in the power line. Pulses of voltage on the overhead power line corresponding to the return strokes with the peak currents ranging from −6.67 to −26.47 kA showed bipolar features. Subpeaks and main peaks ranged from 0.99 to 4.47 kV and from −4.98 to −10.31 kV, respectively. The voltage waveforms corresponding to the return strokes on the vertical signal line of wind speed were of two types: with and without a subpeak after the main peak. All the main peaks, with the peak value from −0.41 to −3.10 kV, were ‘V’ shaped. A significant relationship exists between the peak currents of the return strokes and the 10–90% average gradients of the voltages. The peaks of currents through the SPD ranged from −0.22 to −1.64 kA. The durations of residual voltages ranged from 0.6 to 5.9 ms, average value being 2.1 ms. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Metals in PVC stabilization considered under the aspect of sustainability ‐ one vision
Authors: Schiller Michael , Everard Mark
Published: May 2013

The plethora of claims about products being “green”, “based on renewable resources”, “biologically derived”, “environmentally friendly”, “ecological products”, etc., are often untested in practice and frequently are confusing to the public. The term “sustainable” is, by contrast, far from arbitrary, addressing the multiple chemical, physical, social, and economic dimensions that need to be considered in an integrated way. The authors outline their definition of “sustainable”, assessing the potential for PVC and its additives to become sustainable across its societal life cycle when key challenges are addressed. The PVC industry has been addressing these sustainability challenges for over a decade, during which time progress has been reported in a number of scientific papers and technical articles as well as some books. The European PVC industry has also recently published a new ten‐year commitment to sustainable development (J. Ertl, “Vinyl 2010 ‐ Industry Re‐invented for a Sustainable Future,” in PVC 2011, Brighton, UK (2011)–VinylPlus press release, European PVC Industry Launches Ambitious New Ten Year Sustainability Commitment and Calls for More Support for Recycling in Europe, Brussels, Belgium (2011)) see also: http://www.vinyl plus.eu/, and this paper constitutes a contribution to that longer‐term vision by assessing the role of metals and other chemical constituents in the broader drive towards sustainability by the PVC industry. To achieve this, we have updated some of the information published by Azar et al. (C. Azar, J. Holmberg, and K. Lindgren, Ecol Econ., 18, 69 (1996)) about the relative natural and anthropogenic flows of a range of elements extracted from the Earth's crust, assessing how this affects the likelihood of certain metals contributing to the sustainable use of PVC. The authors then describe an example of how to use a sustainability framework to evaluate products and to plan for their becoming fully sustainable in the long term. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 19:73–85, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Coarse‐grained methods for polymeric materials: enthalpy‐ and entropy‐driven models
Authors: Carbone Paola , Avendaño Carlos
Published: May 2013

Polymers are multiscale systems by construction. They are formed by several monomeric units connected by covalent bonds whose chemical nature defines the rigidity of the chain. The interconnection between the monomeric units determines the interdependence of the motion of the different chain segments and the intrinsic multiscale nature of polymeric materials. This characteristic is reflected on the different modeling techniques that can be used to simulate polymeric materials. Because of the large conformational space that needs to be sampled when simulating polymers, coarse‐grained (CG) models are commonly used and depending on which part of the system free energy (enthalpy, entropy, or both) is relevant for the properties of interest, the appropriate modeling techniques should be used. Each model is characterized by advantages and limitations that can have a great impact on the quality of the results obtained. In this overview, we address some of the more common CG techniques presented in the literature for the modeling of polymeric materials at different length scales. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2014, 4:62–70. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1149

This article is categorized under:

Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Dynamics and Monte-Carlo Methods
Preparation of sulfur reference materials that reproduce atmospheric particulate matter sample characteristics for XRF calibration
Authors: Indresand H. , White W. H. , Trzepla K. , Dillner A. M.
Published: May 2013

Energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) is an important tool used in routine elemental analysis of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) samples collected on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane filters. The method requires calibration against thin‐film standards of known elemental masses commonly obtained from commercial suppliers. These standards serve as a convenient and widely accepted interlaboratory reference but can differ significantly from samples in their chemical composition, substrate, and geometry. These differences can introduce uncertainties regarding the absolute accuracy of the calibration for atmospheric samples.

Continuous elemental records of the US Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) PM monitoring network extend back to 1988. Evaluation of long‐term concentration trends and comparison with other networks demand a calibration that is accurate and precise compared with the uncertainty of the XRF measurement itself. We describe a method to prepare sulfur reference materials that are optimized for calibration of XRF instruments used to analyze IMPROVE PM samples. The reference materials are prepared by using the atmospheric form of the element, by reproducing the sample geometry, and by using the same substrate as in samples. Our results show that stable, pure, anhydrous, and stoichiometric deposits are collected onto the filter substrates, and furthermore, that the reference material masses are accurate and have acceptable uncertainty in the measurement range. The XRF response of the sulfur reference materials is similar to other commercial standards and is linear in the measurement range, and the slope of the multipoint calibration curve has very low uncertainty. These reference materials are valid for the calibration of XRF systems, and they bring improved transparency and credibility to the IMPROVE calibration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amebic Acute Appendicitis: Systematic Review of 174 Cases
Authors: Otan Emrah , Akbulut Sami , Kayaalp Cuneyt
Published: May 2013

Background

This study aimed to determine the clinical and demographic features of acute amebic appendicitis by reviewing the reported cases.

Methods

The PubMed and MEDLINE databases were searched to identify articles related to amebic appendicitis using key words. The search included all articles published between 1935 and 2012 without restricting language, journal, or country.

Results

A total of 174 cases of amebic appendicitis reported in 42 articles were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 23.5 years (range 2 months–83 years). The majority of patients were male (74.0 %), and the majority of cases were reported from countries with high/moderate risk for amebiasis (76.5 %). A history of traveling to a high/moderate‐risk country was cited in 64.0 % of the overall cases. The interval between travel and onset of clinical symptoms ranged from months to years. History of or coexisting dysenteric diarrhea was present in only 7.0 and 14.0 % of overall cases, respectively. A preoperative diagnosis of amebiasis was cited for only five cases (3.0 %). Complicated appendicitis was present in 30.7 % of cases, some of which required colon resection. Severe postoperative intraabdominal complications (e.g., liver abscess, abdominal sepsis, gastrointestinal fistula, hemorrhage) occurred in 19.4 % of surgery‐treated patients. The overall mortality rate was 3.2 %.

Conclusion

Appendectomy specimens should be routinely sent for histopathologic examination. In the case of suspected amebic acute appendicitis, extra precautions—early appendectomy, metronidazole for antibiotic prophylaxis, wet‐preparation examination, obtaining a timely pathology result, increasing the awareness of uncommon complications of appendectomy—can hasten appropriate therapeutic intervention and improve outcome.
Patient Attitudes toward Transaxillary Robot‐assisted Thyroidectomy
Authors: Linos Dimitrios , Kiriakopoulos Andreas , Petralias Athanassios
Published: May 2013

Background

The transaxillary robot‐assisted technique constitutes an acceptable treatment option for patients requiring thyroidectomy. However, patients’ attitudes toward this new technique have not yet been analyzed.

Methods

A sample of 596 randomly selected patients who underwent thyroidectomy between January 2000 and March 2010 was assessed. We evaluated patients’ attitudes toward transaxillary robot‐assisted thyroidectomy, taking into account the validated Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire, the SF‐36 Health Survey Questionnaire, and 11 sociodemographic and surgical patient characteristics.

Results

Only 11.6 % of the patients would prefer to have been treated with the transaxillary method. Most patients had concerns that it would be a more painful procedure (39.2 %), and they expressed satisfaction with the existing esthetic outcome (29.1 %); other concerns were that the robotic approach would be of longer duration (25.4 %) and at higher cost (15.5 %). Nevertheless, the worse the appearance of the neck scar the more preferable is the new method (p = 0.025), a result that holds true irrespective of patients’ physical health, the invasive procedure attained (conventional or minimal), and the presence of postoperative complications, among other characteristics. Patients diagnosed with a benign or uncertain neoplasm (p = 0.022) and younger patients (p = 0.003) held a more positive view of the new method.

Conclusions

Patients who have undergone conventional thyroidectomy via the usual neck incision do not express a preference for the transaxillary method. The reasons given include various perceived disadvantages of the robotic procedure (increased pain, longer operative times, and higher cost). Younger patients, patients with poor appearance of their neck scar, and patients with benign thyroid pathology seem to hold a more positive attitude toward the robotic approach.
Hepatectomy for Huge Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Single Institute’s Experience
Authors: Yang Lianyue , Xu Jiangfeng , Ou Dipeng , Wu Wei , Zeng Zhijun
Published: May 2013

Background

The surgical resection of huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still controversial. This study was designed to introduce our experience of liver resection for huge HCC and evaluate the safety and outcomes of hepatectomy for huge HCC.

Methods

A total of 258 hepatic resections for the patients with huge HCC were analysed retrospectively from December 2002 to December 2011. The operative outcomes were compared with 293 patients with HCC >5.0 cm but <10.0 cm in diameter. Prognostic factors for long‐term survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐year overall survival rates after liver resection were 84, 62, and 33 %. Overall survival and disease‐free survival in huge HCC group and HCC >5.0 cm but <10.0 cm group were similar (P = 0.751, P = 0.493). Solitary huge HCC group has significantly a more longer overall and disease‐free survival time than nodular huge HCC (P = 0.026, P = 0.022). Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that the types of tumour, vascular invasion, and UICC stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (P = 0.047, P = 0.037, P = 0.033).

Conclusions

Hepatic resection can be performed safely for huge HCC with a low mortality and favorable survival outcomes. Solitary huge HCC has the better surgical outcomes than nodular huge HCC.
Relationship between oxidative stress and clinical pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology treatment cycles
Authors: Aydin Yunus , Ozatik Orhan , Hassa Hikmet , Ulusoy Dilek , Ogut Serdal , Sahin Fezan
Published: May 2013

Purpose

To examine the relationship between serum total oxidant (TOS) and antioxidant (TAS) levels and clinical pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.

Methods

Prior to and after oocyte pick-up (OPU) and embryo transfer (ET), blood samples were collected from gynecologically normal females (n = 70) who were enrolled for ART solely due to male factor infertility. TAS, TOS levels and oxidative stress indexes (OSI: TOS/TAS) in four phases of treatment cycle (pre and post OPU and ET) between clinically pregnant and non-pregnant patients were compared. Critical cut-off values of significantly different TAS, TOS levels and OSIes for clinical pregnancy were established.

Results

The TAS levels in patients with clinical pregnancy were significantly higher in all of the four phases of the cycle. Post-OPU and pre-ET TOS levels were significantly higher in clinically pregnant patients. According to OSIes; only the pre-OPU OSI was significantly lower in clinically pregnant patients compared with non-pregnant ones. Moreover, the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) from the seven different significant measurements [1) pre-OPU OSI, 2) pre-OPU TAS, 3) post-OPU TAS, 4) pre-ET TAS, 5) post-ET TAS, 6) post-OPU TOS, 7) pre-ET TOS] was related to pre-OPU OSI.

Conclusions

In ART cycles, women with a higher total antioxidant status prior to and after OPU and prior to and after ET have an increased probability of clinical pregnancy. Additionally; OSI before OPU was one of the most important determinants for clinical pregnancy, so the oxidant and antioxidant balance is as important as the antioxidant concentration alone.
2‐Monochloro‐1,3‐propanediol (2‐MCPD) Dynamics in DGF Standard Methods and Quantification of 2‐MCPD
Authors: Sato Hirofumi , Kaze Naoki , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Watanabe Yomi
Published: May 2013

Pure 2‐monochloro‐1,3‐propanediol (2‐MCPD) was successfully synthesized, identified, and first quantified by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fettwissenschaft (DGF) standard method C‐VI 18 (10), with a calculable detection sensitivity relative to 3‐monochloro‐1,2‐propanediol (3‐MCPD) of 3.26‐fold, using a QP‐2010 GC/MS instrument. The detection sensitivities of other GC/MS instruments can be determined using the individual ion‐ratio of the fragment to the precursor of 3‐MCPD‐d5 as a reference. Quantification of 2‐MCPD is possible using conventional 3‐MCPD‐d5 esters as internal‐standards, without a calibration curve of pure 2‐MCPD. The dynamics of 2‐MCPD during DGF standard methods C‐VI 18 (10) were directly analyzed using NMR and indirectly using GC/MS. 2‐MCPD was partly converted to glycidol under basic conditions of the transesterification step, and the glycidol was reconverted to 2‐MCPD under acidic conditions of the extraction step. 2‐MCPD spiked in soybean oil was detected as 98 mol% 2‐MCPD and 2 mol% 3‐MCPD from the area ratio in GC/MS. In contrast, glycidyl stearate spiked in soybean oil was detected as 5.5–5.7 mol% 2‐MCPD and 94.3–94.5 mol% 3‐MCPD from the corrected area ratio in GC/MS.
Rapid IgG heavy chain cleavage by the streptococcal IgG endopeptidase IdeS is mediated by IdeS monomers and is not due to enzyme dimerization
Authors: Vindebro Reine , Spoerry Christian , von Pawel-Rammingen Ulrich
Published: May 2013

Streptococcus pyogenes employs an IgG specific endopeptidase, IdeS, to counteract the effector functions of specific IgG. The physiological significant step in disarming specific IgG is the cleavage of one IgG heavy chain. So far, characterizations of IdeS enzymatic activity have employed techniques that failed to differentiate between the first and the second cleavage step. The present data demonstrate that IdeS is active as a monomer and that IdeS activity follows classical Michaelis–Menten kinetics arguing against the previously proposed formation of a functional IdeS dimer. Our results show that IdeS inactivates IgG 100‐fold faster than previously reported.
Physical interaction between calcineurin and Cav3.2 T‐type Ca2+ channel modulates their functions
Authors: Huang Ching-Hui , Chen Yong-Cyuan , Chen Chien-Chang
Published: May 2013

Cav3.2 T‐type Ca2+ channel is required for the activation of calcineurin/NFAT signaling in cardiac hypertrophy. We aimed to investigate how Cav3.2 and calcineurin interact. We found that Ca2+ and calmodulin modulate the Cav3.2/calcineurin interaction. Calcineurin binding to Cav3.2 decreases the enzyme's phosphatase activity and diminishes the channel's current density. Phenylephrine‐induced hypertrophy in neonatal cardiac myocytes is reduced by a cell‐permeable peptide with the calcineurin binding site sequence. These data suggest that Cav3.2 regulates calcineurin/NFAT pathway through both the Ca2+ influx and calcineurin binding. Our findings unveiled a reciprocal regulation of Ca2+ signaling which contributes to our understanding of cardiac hypertrophy.
The most important thing is the tail: Multitudinous functionalities of intrinsically disordered protein termini
Authors: Uversky Vladimir N.
Published: May 2013

Many functional proteins do not have well‐folded structures in their substantial parts, representing hybrids that possess both ordered and disordered regions. Disorder is unevenly distributed within these hybrid proteins and is typically more common at protein termini. Disordered tails are engaged in a wide range of functions, some of which are unique for termini and cannot be found in other disordered parts of a protein. This review covers some of the key functions of disordered protein termini and emphasizes that these tails are not simple flexible protrusions but are evolved to serve.
In search of novel highly active mitochondria‐targeted antioxidants: Thymoquinone and its cationic derivatives
Authors: Severina Inna I. , Severin Fedor F. , Korshunova Galina A. , Sumbatyan Natalya V. , Ilyasova Tatyana M. , Simonyan Ruben A. , Rogov Anton G. , Trendeleva Tatyana A. , Zvyagilskaya Renata A. , Dugina Vera B. , Domnina Lidia V. , Fetisova Elena K. , Lyamzaev Konstantin G. , Vyssokikh Mikhail Yu , Chernyak Boris V. , Skulachev Maxim V. , Skulachev Vladimir P. , Sadovnichii Viktor A.
Published: May 2013

Since the times of the Bible, an extract of black cumin seeds was used as a medicine to treat many human pathologies. Thymoquinone (2‐demethylplastoquinone derivative) was identified as an active antioxidant component of this extract. Recently, it was shown that conjugates of plastoquinone and penetrating cations are potent mitochondria‐targeted antioxidants effective in treating a large number of age‐related pathologies. This review summarizes new data on the antioxidant and some other properties of membrane‐penetrating cationic compounds where 2‐demethylplastoquinone substitutes for plastoquinone. It was found that such a substitution significantly increases a window between anti‐ and prooxidant concentrations of the conjugates. Like the original plastoquinone derivatives, the novel compounds are easily reduced by the respiratory chain, penetrate through model and natural membranes, specifically accumulate in mitochondria in an electrophoretic fashion, and strongly inhibit H2O2‐induced apoptosis at pico‐ and nanomolar concentrations in cell cultures. At present, cationic demethylplastoquinone derivatives appear to be the most promising mitochondria‐targeted drugs of the quinone series.
Calretinin mediates apoptosis in small cell lung cancer cells expressing tetraspanin CD9
Authors: He Ping , Kuhara Hanako , Tachibana Isao , Jin Yingji , Takeda Yoshito , Tetsumoto Satoshi , Minami Toshiyuki , Kohmo Satoshi , Hirata Haruhiko , Takahashi Ryo , Inoue Koji , Nagatomo Izumi , Kida Hiroshi , Kijima Takashi , Naka Tetsuji , Morii Eiichi , Kawase Ichiro , Kumanogoh Atsushi
Published: May 2013

A majority of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells lack a metastasis suppressor, tetraspanin CD9, and CD9 expression promotes their apoptosis. By a proteomics‐based approach, we compared an SCLC cell line with its CD9 transfectant and found that a calcium‐binding neuronal protein, calretinin, is upregulated in CD9‐positive SCLC cells. Ectopic or anticancer drug‐induced CD9 expression upregulated calretinin, whereas CD9 knockdown down‐regulated calretinin in SCLC cells. When calretinin was knocked down, CD9‐positive SCLC cells revealed increased Akt phosphorylation and decreased apoptosis. These results suggest that CD9 positively regulates the expression of calretinin that mediates proapoptotic effect in SCLC cells.
Time‐changed Lévy jump processes with GARCH model on reverse convertibles
Authors: Simi Wei W. , Wang Xiaoli
Published: May 2013

For decades, financial institutions have been very motivated in creating structured high‐yield financial products, especially in the economic environment of lower interest rates. Reverse convertible notes (RCNs) are the type of financial instruments, which in recent years first in Europe and then in the US – have become highly desirable financial structured products. They are complex financial structured products because they are neither plain bonds nor stocks. Instead, they are structured products embedding equity options, which involve a significant amount of asset returns' uncertainty. Given this fact, pricing of reverse convertible notes becomes a really big challenge, where both the general Black–Scholes option pricing model and the compound Poisson jump model which are designed to catch large crashes, are not suitable in valuing these kinds of products. In this paper, we propose a new asset‐pricing framework for reverse convertible notes by extending the pure Brownian increments to Lévy jump risks for the underlying stock return movements. Our framework deals with time‐changing volatilities of stock options with Lévy jump processes by considering the stocks' infinite‐jump possibilities. We then use a discrete‐time GARCH with time‐changed dynamics Lévy Jump processes in order to derive the assets' valuations. The results from our new model are close to the market's valuations, especially with the normal‐inverse‐Gaussian model of the Lévy jump family.
Morphological and molecular characterization of adult worms of Leucochloridium paradoxum Carus, 1835 and L. perturbatum Pojmańska, 1969 (Digenea: Leucochloridiidae) from the great tit, Parus major L., 1758 and similarity with the sporocyst stages
Authors: Rząd I. , Hofsoe P. , Panicz R. , Nowakowski J.K.
Published: May 2013

Unlike the sporocyst stages, adult leucochloridiid digeneans are difficult to differentiate. Sporocyst broodsacs can be identified on the basis of their colour and banding pattern, but in the absence of broodsacs and when experimental infection cannot be performed, tentative morphological identification needs to be verified, and molecular techniques offer a tool to do this. In this study, adult leucochloridiid digeneans were collected from the great tit (Parus major) found dead at three localities at or near the Baltic Sea coast (Hel, Bukowo-Kopań and Szczecin) in northern Poland. On the basis of differences in their morphological characters, Hel specimens were tentatively assigned to Leucochloridium perturbatum, Bukowo-Kopań and Szczecin specimens being identified tentatively as L. paradoxum. Subsequent ribosomal DNA sequence analysis confirmed the identification of these leucochloridiid flukes. Nucleotide sequences discriminating between the two species were identical to those used by earlier authors as characteristic of two distinctly different sporocyst broodsacs representing L. perturbatum and L. paradoxum.
Comparative host–parasite population genetic structures: obligate fly ectoparasites on Galapagos seabirds
Authors: LEVIN IRIS I. , PARKER PATRICIA G.
Published: May 2013

Parasites often have shorter generation times and, in some cases, faster mutation rates than their hosts, which can lead to greater population differentiation in the parasite relative to the host. Here we present a population genetic study of two ectoparasitic flies,Olfersia spiniferaandOlfersia aenescenscompared with their respective bird hosts, great frigatebirds (Fregata minor) and Nazca boobies (Sula granti).Olfersia spiniferais the vector of a haemosporidian parasite,Haemoproteus iwa, which infects frigatebirds throughout their range. Interestingly, there is no genetic differentiation in the haemosporidian parasite across this range despite strong genetic differentiation between Galapagos frigatebirds and their non-Galapagos conspecifics. It is possible that the broad distribution of this oneH. iwalineage could be facilitated by movement of infectedO. spinifera. Therefore, we predicted more gene flow in both fly species compared with the bird hosts. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data from three genes per species indicated that despite marked differences in the genetic structure of the bird hosts, gene flow was very high in both fly species. A likely explanation involves non-breeding movements of hosts, including movement of juveniles, and movement by adult birds whose breeding attempt has failed, although we cannot rule out the possibility that closely related host species may be involved.
Reduced parahippocampal cortical thickness in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis
Authors: Tognin S. , Riecher-Rössler A. , Meisenzahl E. M. , Wood S. J. , Hutton C. , Borgwardt S. J. , Koutsouleris N. , Yung A. R. , Allen P. , Phillips L. J. , McGorry P. D. , Valli I. , Velakoulis D. , Nelson B. , Woolley J. , Pantelis C. , McGuire P. , Mechelli A.
Published: May 2013

Background

Grey matter volume and cortical thickness represent two complementary aspects of brain structure. Several studies have described reductions in grey matter volume in people at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis; however, little is known about cortical thickness in this group. The aim of the present study was to investigate cortical thickness alterations in UHR subjects and compare individuals who subsequently did and did not develop psychosis.

Method

We examined magnetic resonance imaging data collected at four different scanning sites. The UHR subjects were followed up for at least 2 years. Subsequent to scanning, 50 UHR subjects developed psychosis and 117 did not. Cortical thickness was examined in regions previously identified as sites of neuroanatomical alterations in UHR subjects, using voxel-based cortical thickness.

Results

At baseline UHR subjects, compared with controls, showed reduced cortical thickness in the right parahippocampal gyrus (p < 0.05, familywise error corrected). There were no significant differences in cortical thickness between the UHR subjects who later developed psychosis and those who did not.

Conclusions

These data suggest that UHR symptomatology is characterized by alterations in the thickness of the medial temporal cortex. We did not find evidence that the later progression to psychosis was linked to additional alterations in cortical thickness, although we cannot exclude the possibility that the study lacked sufficient power to detect such differences.
Effect of interferon-αon cortical glutamate in patients with hepatitis C: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
Authors: Taylor M. J. , Godlewska B. , Near J. , Christmas D. , Potokar J. , Collier J. , Klenerman P. , Barnes E. , Cowen P. J.
Published: May 2013

Background

The development of depressive symptomatology is a recognized complication of treatment with the cytokine interferon-α(IFN-α) and has been seen as supporting inflammatory theories of the pathophysiology of major depression. Major depression has been associated with changes in glutamatergic activity and recent formulations of IFN-induced depression have implicated neurotoxic influences that could also lead to changes in glutamate function. The present study used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure glutamate and its major metabolite glutamine in patients with hepatitis C who received treatment with pegylated IFN-αand ribavirin.

Method

MRS measurements of glutamate and glutamine were taken from a 25 × 20 × 20 mm voxel including the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in 12 patients before and after 4–6 weeks of treatment with IFN.

Results

IFN treatment led to an increase in cortical levels of glutamine (p = 0.02) and a significant elevation in the ratio of glutamine to glutamate (p < 0.01). Furthermore, changes in glutamine level correlated significantly with ratings of depression and anxiety at the time of the second scan.

Conclusions

We conclude that treatment with IFN-αis associated with MRS-visible changes in glutamatergic metabolism. However, the changes seen differ from those reported in major depression, which suggests that the pathophysiology of IFN-induced depression may be distinct from that of major depression more generally.
Whatever next? Predictive brains, situated agents, and the future of cognitive science
Authors: Clark Andy
Published: May 2013

Brains, it has recently been argued, are essentially prediction machines. They are bundles of cells that support perception and action by constantly attempting to match incoming sensory inputs with top-down expectations or predictions. This is achieved using a hierarchical generative model that aims to minimize prediction error within a bidirectional cascade of cortical processing. Such accounts offer a unifying model of perception and action, illuminate the functional role of attention, and may neatly capture the special contribution of cortical processing to adaptive success. This target article critically examines this “hierarchical prediction machine” approach, concluding that it offers the best clue yet to the shape of a unified science of mind and action. Sections 1 and 2 lay out the key elements and implications of the approach. Section 3 explores a variety of pitfalls and challenges, spanning the evidential, the methodological, and the more properly conceptual. The paper ends (sections 4 and 5) by asking how such approaches might impact our more general vision of mind, experience, and agency.
Skull-bound perception and precision optimization through culture
Authors: Paton Bryan , Skewes Josh , Frith Chris , Hohwy Jakob
Published: May 2013

Clark acknowledges but resists the indirect mind–world relation inherent in prediction error minimization (PEM). But directness should also be resisted. This creates a puzzle, which calls for reconceptualization of the relation. We suggest that a causal conception captures both aspects. With this conception, aspects of situated cognition, social interaction and culture can be understood as emerging through precision optimization.
The problem with brain GUTs: Conflation of different senses of “prediction” threatens metaphysical disaster
Authors: Anderson Michael L. , Chemero Tony
Published: May 2013

Clark appears to be moving toward epistemic internalism, which he once rightly rejected. This results from a double over-interpretation of predictive coding's significance. First, Clark argues that predictive coding offers a Grand Unified Theory (GUT) of brain function. Second, he over-reads its epistemic import, perhaps even conflating causal and epistemic mediators. We argue instead for a plurality of neurofunctional principles.
Attention and perceptual adaptation
Authors: Block Ned , Siegel Susanna
Published: May 2013

Clark advertises the predictive coding (PC) framework as applying to a wide range of phenomena, including attention. We argue that for many attentional phenomena, the predictive coding picture either makes false predictions, or else it offers no distinctive explanation of those phenomena, thereby reducing its explanatory power.
Extending predictive processing to the body: Emotion as interoceptive inference
Authors: Seth Anil K. , Critchley Hugo D.
Published: May 2013

The Bayesian brain hypothesis provides an attractive unifying framework for perception, cognition, and action. We argue that the framework can also usefully integrate interoception, the sense of the internal physiological condition of the body. Our model of “interoceptive predictive coding” entails a new view of emotion as interoceptive inference and may account for a range of psychiatric disorders of selfhood.
Unraveling the mind
Authors: Gerrans Philip
Published: May 2013

A radical interpretation of the predictive coding approach suggests that the mind is “seamless” – that is, that cancellation of error signals can propagate smoothly from highest to lowest levels of the control hierarchy, dissolving a distinction between belief and perception. Delusions of alien control provide a test case. Close examination suggests that while they are evidence of predictive coding within the cortex, they are not evidence for the seamless interpretation.
Maximal mutual information, not minimal entropy, for escaping the “Dark Room”
Authors: Little Daniel Ying-Jeh , Sommer Friedrich Tobias
Published: May 2013

A behavioral drive directed solely at minimizing prediction error would cause an agent to seek out states of unchanging, and thus easily predictable, sensory inputs (such as a dark room). The default to an evolutionarily encoded prior to avoid such untenable behaviors is unsatisfying. We suggest an alternate information theoretic interpretation to address this dilemma.
Interactively human: Sharing time, constructing materiality
Authors: Roepstorff Andreas
Published: May 2013

Predictive processing models of cognition are promising an elegant way to unite action, perception, and learning. However, in the current formulations, they are species-unspecific and have very little particularly human about them. I propose to examine how, in this framework, humans can be able to massively interact and to build shared worlds that are both material and symbolic.
Early word segmentation in infants acquiring Parisian French: task-dependent and dialect-specific aspects
Authors: NAZZI THIERRY , MERSAD KARIMA , SUNDARA MEGHA , IAKIMOVA GALINA , POLKA LINDA
Published: May 2013

Six experiments explored Parisian French-learning infants' ability to segment bisyllabic words from fluent speech. The first goal was to assess whether bisyllabic word segmentation emerges later in infants acquiring European French compared to other languages. The second goal was to determine whether infants learning different dialects of the same language have partly different segmentation abilities, and whether segmenting a non-native dialect has a cost. Infants were tested on standard European or Canadian French stimuli, in the word–passage or passage–word order. Our study first establishes an early onset of segmentation abilities: Parisian infants segment bisyllabic words at age 0;8 in the passage–word order only (revealing a robust order of presentation effect). Second, it shows that there are differences in segmentation abilities across Parisian and Canadian French infants, and that there is a cost for cross-dialect segmentation for Parisian infants. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding word segmentation processes.
Evaluating sustainability of fisheries bycatch mortality for marine megafauna: a review of conservation reference points for data-limited populations
Authors: MOORE J. E. , CURTIS K. A. , LEWISON R. L. , DILLINGHAM P. W. , COPE J. M. , FORDHAM S. V. , HEPPELL S. S. , PARDO S. A. , SIMPFENDORFER C. A. , TUCK G. N. , ZHOU S.
Published: May 2013

Fisheries bycatch threatens populations of marine megafauna such as marine mammals, turtles, seabirds, sharks and rays, but fisheries impacts on non-target populations are often difficult to assess due to factors such as data limitation, poorly defined management objectives and lack of quantitative bycatch reduction targets. Limit reference points can be used to address these issues and thereby facilitate adoption and implementation of mitigation efforts. Reference points based on catch data and life history analysis can identify sustainability limits for bycatch with respect to defined population goals even when data are quite limited. This can expedite assessments for large numbers of species and enable prioritization of management actions based on mitigation urgency and efficacy. This paper reviews limit reference point estimators for marine megafauna bycatch, with the aim of highlighting their utility in fisheries management and promoting best practices for use. Different estimators share a common basic structure that can be flexibly applied to different contexts depending on species life history and available data types. Information on demographic vital rates and abundance is required; of these, abundance is the most data-dependent and thus most limiting factor for application. There are different approaches for handling management risk stemming from uncertainty in reference point and bycatch estimates. Risk tolerance can be incorporated explicitly into the reference point estimator itself, or probability distributions may be used to describe uncertainties in bycatch and reference point estimates, and risk tolerance may guide how those are factored into the management process. Either approach requires simulation-based performance testing such as management strategy evaluation to ensure that management objectives can be achieved. Factoring potential sources of bias into such evaluations is critical. This paper reviews the technical, operational, and political challenges to widespread application of reference points for management of marine megafauna bycatch, while emphasizing the importance of developing assessment frameworks that can facilitate sustainable fishing practices.