bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Lycopodine Alkaloid from Huperzia Serrata
Authors: Shan Wei-Guang , Ren Feng-Yun , Ying You-Min , Tong Cui-Ping , Zhan Zha-Jun
Published: August 2012

A new lycopodine alkaloid, 6 α, 11 α-dihydroxylycopodine, and three known compounds L20, lycoposerramine K, and huperzine A were isolated from the stems of Huperzia serrata. The structure of the new alkaloid was established by spectroscopic methods, especially two-dimensional NMR techniques.
Microwave-Assisted Condensation of Kojic Acid with Aldehydes
Authors: Hu Pan-Pan , Zhu Chun-Feng , Zhou Tao
Published: August 2012

Kojic acid derivatives have been prepared in excellent yield by the condensation of two molecules of kojic acid and one molecule of an aldehyde using sodium carbonate as a base under microwave irradiation.
One-Pot Three-Component Synthesis of Highly Substituted Piperidines Using 1-Methyl-2-Oxopyrrolidinium Hydrogen Sulfate
Authors: Sajadikhah Seyed Sajad , Hazeri Nourallah , Maghsoodlou Malek Taher , Habibi-Khorassani Sayyed Mostafa , Beigbabaei Adel , Lashkari Mojtaba
Published: August 2012

1-Methyl-2-oxopyrrolidinium hydrogen sulfate ([Hpyro][HSO4]) is used as an ionic liquid catalyst for the one-pot three-component synthesis of highly substituted piperidines from aromatic aldehydes, anilines and β–ketoesters in refluxing ethanol. This homogeneous catalyst procedure has the advantages of easy work-up, no need for column chromatography, simple and readily available precursors, and good to high yields.
Solvent-Free Synthesis of 3,5-Di-Tert-Butylpyrazole and 3,5-Di-Substituted-Butylpyrazol-1-Ylethanol
Authors: van Wyk Juanita L. , Omondi Bernard , Appavoo Divambal , Guzei Ilia A. , Darkwa James
Published: August 2012

A high-yield, solvent-free approach to the synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles is reported. Four compounds, (3,5-di-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazole, (2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol, 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol, 2-(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol were readily prepared by solvent-free condensation of the appropriate dike-tone and the respective hydrazine. The crystal structures of the three pyrazolyl-ethanols are typical of N-substituted pyrazoles. All three pyrazolyl compounds show interesting inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. For the 3,5-dimethyl compound the molecules form discrete hydrogen bonded dimers within a unit cell, while for the others the hydrogen bonding is in a head-to-tail arrangement resulting in the formation of chains.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Benzothiazole Derivatives using Glycerol as Green Solvent
Authors: Zhang Xia-Zhong , Zhou Wen-Jun , Yang Min , Wang Jin-Xian , Bai Lin
Published: August 2012

A rapid method has been developed for the synthesis of benzothiazoles via the condensation of 2-aminothiophenol with aldehydes under CEM-focused microwave irradiation conditions. The reaction used glycerol as a green solvent without any catalyst, rendering this methodology valuable from both economic and environmental points of view.
Synthesis of Tricyclic Systems containing a fused thieno[3,4-d]pyrimidine nucleus
Authors: El-Telbany Farag A. , Hakeem Maha Abd El , Khalil Omneya M. , Mikhail Demiana S.
Published: August 2012

The synthesis and characterisation of novel tricyclic systems containing a fused thieno[3,4-d]pyrimidine nucleus starting from a useful synthon, ethyl-4-cyano-3-ethoxymethyleneamino-5-phenylamino-2-thiophenecarboxylate, are reported.
Photocatalysis—A Special Issue on a Unique Hybrid Area of Catalysis
Authors: Langford Cooper H.
Published: August 2012

An overview of the development of photocatalysis with an identification of contemporary areas of interest. Photocatalysis is placed in the broad field of catalysis. [...]
Synthesis, Structures and Properties of Molecular Conductors Based on Bis-Fused Donors Composed of (Thio)Pyran-4-ylidene-1,3-dithiole and Tetraselenafulvalene
Authors: Ishidzu Ken-ichi , Ashizawa Minoru , Watanabe Masaki , Shirahata Takashi , Misaki Yohji
Published: August 2012

Bis-fused donors composed of (thio)pyran-4-ylidene-1,3-dithiole and tetraselenafulvalene (1a, 2a) and their bis(methylthio) derivatives (1b, 2b) were synthesized. Cyclic voltamograms of all the donors consisted of four pairs of one-electron redox waves, and it was suggested that a positive charge of 1+• and 2+• distributed mainly on the (thio)pyran-4-ylidene-1,3-dithiole moiety. X-ray structure analysis revealed that (1b)PF6(C6H5Cl)0.5 and (2b)PF6(C6H5Cl) formed one-dimensional conducting stacks in which the donors were dimerized or tetramerized. In those salts, intramolecular charge disproportionation of the donors was suggested by X-ray structure analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculation with UB3LYP/6-31G(d) basis function. A tight-binding band calculation suggested that these materials were band insulators. All the donors gave highly conducting TCNQ (7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) complexes and I3− salts (σrt = 0.3–19 S cm−1 on a compressed pellet) with very low activation energies of 0.017–0.040 eV, while single crystals of (1b)PF6(C6H5Cl)0.5 and (2b)PF6(C6H5Cl) exhibited semiconductive behavior with large activation energies (Ea = 0.16–0.22 eV).
Effects of Medium and Temperature on Cellular Responses in the Superficial Zone of Hypo-Osmotically Challenged Articular Cartilage
Authors: Huttu Mari , Turunen Siru , Sokolinski Viktoria , Tiitu Virpi , Lammi Mikko , Korhonen Rami K.
Published: August 2012

Osmotic loading of articular cartilage has been used to study cell-tissue interactions and mechanisms in chondrocyte volume regulation in situ. Since cell volume changes are likely to affect cell’s mechanotransduction, it is important to understand how environmental factors, such as composition of the immersion medium and temperature affect cell volume changes in situ in osmotically challenged articular cartilage. In this study, chondrocytes were imaged in situ with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) through cartilage surface before and 3 min and 120 min after a hypo-osmotic challenge. Samples were measured either in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, without glucose and Ca2+) or in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM, with glucose and Ca2+), and at 21 °C or at 37 °C. In all groups, cell volumes increased shortly after the hypotonic challenge and then recovered back to the original volumes. At both observation time points, cell volume changes as a result of the osmotic challenge were similar in PBS and DMEM in both temperatures. Our results indicate that the initial chondrocyte swelling and volume recovery as a result of the hypo-osmotic challenge of cartilage are not dependent on commonly used immersion media or temperature.
Three New Myrsinol Diterpenes from Euphorbia prolifera and Their Neuroprotective Activities
Authors: Xu Jing , Jin Daqing , Guo Ping , Xie Chunfeng , Fang Lingzhi , Guo Yuanqiang
Published: August 2012

Three new myrsinol diterpenes were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia prolifera. Their structures were elucidated as 2α-O-isobutyryl-3β,5α,7β,10,15β-penta-O-acetyl-14α-O-benzoyl-10,18-dihydromyrsinol (1), 2α-O-isobutyryl-3β-O-propion-yl-5α,7β,10,15β-tetra-O-acetyl-10,18-dihydromyrsinol (2), and 2α,14α-di-O-benzoyl-3β,5α,7β,10,15β-penta-O-acetyl-10,18-dihydromyrsinol (3) on the basis of spectroscopic data analyses (IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR). Their neuroprotective activities were evaluated and compounds 1 and 2 showed neuroprotective effects against MPP+-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y cells.
Hologram QSAR Models of 4-[(Diethylamino)methyl]-phenol Inhibitors of Acetyl/Butyrylcholinesterase Enzymes as Potential Anti-Alzheimer Agents
Authors: De Souza Simone Decembrino , De Souza Alessandra Mendonça Teles , De Sousa Ana Carolina Corrêa , Sodero Ana Carolina Rennó , Cabral Lúcio Mendes , Albuquerque Magaly Girão , Castro Helena Carla , Rodrigues Carlos Rangel
Published: August 2012

Hologram QSAR models were developed for a series of 36 inhibitors (29 training set and seven test set compounds) of acetyl/butyrylcholinesterase (AChE/BChE) enzymes, an attractive molecular target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment. The HQSAR models (N = 29) exhibited significant cross-validated (AChE, q2 = 0.787; BChE, q2 = 0. 904) and non-cross-validated (AChE, r2 = 0.965; BChE, r2 = 0.952) correlation coefficients. The models were used to predict the inhibitory potencies of the test set compounds, and agreement between the experimental and predicted values was verified, exhibiting a powerful predictive capability. Contribution maps show that structural fragments containing aromatic moieties and long side chains increase potency. Both the HQSAR models and the contribution maps should be useful for the further design of novel, structurally related cholinesterase inhibitors.
Long-Term Stability of the SGA-WZ Strapdown Airborne Gravimeter
Authors: Cai Shaokun , Zhang Kaidong , Wu Meiping , Huang Yangming
Published: August 2012

Accelerometers are one of the most important sensors in a strapdown airborne gravimeter. The accelerometer’s drift determines the long-term accuracy of the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS), which is the primary and most critical component of the strapdown airborne gravimeter. A long-term stability test lasting 104 days was conducted to determine the characteristics of the strapdown airborne gravimeter’s long-term drift. This stability test was based on the first set of strapdown airborne gravimeters built in China, the SGA-WZ. The test results reveal a quadratic drift in the strapdown airborne gravimeter data. A drift model was developed using the static data in the two end sections, and then this model was used to correct the test data. After compensating for the drift, the drift effect improved from 70 mGal to 3.46 mGal with a standard deviation of 0.63 mGal. The quadratic curve better reflects the drift’s real characteristics. In comparison with other methodologies, modelling the drift as a quadratic curve was shown to be more appropriate. Furthermore, this method allows the drift to be adjusted throughout the course of the entire campaign.
A Survey on Clustering Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Liu Xuxun
Published: August 2012

The past few years have witnessed increased interest in the potential use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in a wide range of applications and it has become a hot research area. Based on network structure, routing protocols in WSNs can be divided into two categories: flat routing and hierarchical or clustering routing. Owing to a variety of advantages, clustering is becoming an active branch of routing technology in WSNs. In this paper, we present a comprehensive and fine grained survey on clustering routing protocols proposed in the literature for WSNs. We outline the advantages and objectives of clustering for WSNs, and develop a novel taxonomy of WSN clustering routing methods based on complete and detailed clustering attributes. In particular, we systematically analyze a few prominent WSN clustering routing protocols and compare these different approaches according to our taxonomy and several significant metrics. Finally, we summarize and conclude the paper with some future directions.
Political Economy of Arab Revolutions : analysis and prospects for North-African Countries
Authors: Mouhoub El Mouhoud
Published: August 2012

Des similitudes expliquent la diffusion du processus révolutionnaire arabe : une polarisation sectorielle des économies, une gestion rentière des ressources, des taux d’emplois faibles et des taux d’expatriation de qualifiés anormalement élevés. Enfin, un même pacte externe avec les puissances occidentales et interne entre les élites. Ces pactes ont implosé. Cet article propose de nouvelles directions pour ces économies, combinant intégration régionale et stratégie de rattrapage par les services.
Comprendre l'émergence économique : convergence sectorielle, autonomie compétitive et changement institutionnel
Authors: Rougier Éric , Piveteau Alain
Published: August 2012

L’hybridation des systèmes économiques émergents et les transformations profondes qui s’y opèrent souvent en dehors des prescriptions standards, offrent un matériau nouveau à l’analyse économique. L’articulation de la contrainte externe avec les dynamiques productive et sociale internes est une explication commune de l’existence de trajectoires d’émergence ouvertes et variées. Nous montrons ici qu’elles sont également conditionnées par les dynamiques sectorielles, la transformation interne des rapports sociaux et les dynamiques institutionnelles qui accompagnent les changements structurels profonds subis par les économies qui « émergent ».
Développement et émergence : nouvelle frontière de la gouvernance économique globale
Authors: Ben Hammouda Hakim , Sadni Jallab Mustapha
Published: August 2012

La création du G20 marque une avancée majeure en matière de gouvernance économique globale. En novembre 2008, pour la première fois, les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement du G20 se sont réunis. La question du développement y prenant une dimension nouvelle, l’objectif de cet article est de mieux comprendre les défis du monde en développement traités lors de la présidence française du G20 en 2011, ainsi que les politiques et les stratégies à mettre en place afin de faire de la crise et de cette période critique un nouveau départ pour soutenir les pays en développement, et particulièrement les plus pauvres dans leur processus d'émergence économique.
La stabilité macroéconomique conditionne-t-elle l'impact des IDE sur la croissance économique et l'émergence ?
Authors: Abdelmalki Lahsen , Gbakou Monnet Benoît Patrick , Sadni Jallab Mustapha , Sandretto René
Published: August 2012

Cette étude teste la relation entre les flux d’IDE entrants et la croissance économique pour des pays en développement distribués dans trois zones géographiques sur la période 1990-2005. La méthode des 3SLS est utilisée pour dériver nos résultats. Notre principale conclusion est que les IDE affectent positivement la croissance pour les pays d’Afrique et ceux d’Amérique latine/Caraïbes. A contrario , l’instabilité macroéconomique exerce une influence négative et limite l’effet des IDE en Afrique.
Evidence that web reduction by western black widow males functions in sexual communication
Authors: Scott Catherine , Vibert Samantha , Gries Gerhard
Published: August 2012

A well-accepted function of courtship in sexually dimorphic and cannibalistic spiders is suppression of female predatory responses. We quantitatively analysed courtship in the western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie (Araneae: Theridiidae), to determine the behavioural elements of the males’ courtship that are correlated with mating success and/or the females’ responses. The 58% of males that engaged in web reduction elicited fewer aggressive responses from females and induced female quiescence more quickly than did males not exhibiting web reduction behaviour. Our data suggest that web reduction by male L. hesperus functions in sexual communication, a context not previously explored.
Expansion of Effector Memory Regulatory T Cells Represents a Novel Prognostic Factor in Lower Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Authors: Mailloux Adam W. , Sugimori Chiharu , Komrokji Rami S. , Yang Lili , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P. , Sekeres Mikkael A. , Paquette Ronald , Loughran Thomas P. , List Alan F. , Epling-Burnette Pearlie K.
Published: August 2012

Myelodysplastic syndromes are premalignant diseases characterized by cytopenias, myeloid dysplasia, immune dysregulation with association to autoimmunity, and variable risk for acute myeloid leukemia transformation. Studies of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) indicate that the number and/or activation state may influence cancer progression in these patients. Focusing on patients with a lower risk for leukemia transformation, 18 (34.6%) of 52 patients studied displayed an altered Treg compartment compared with age-matched controls. Delineation of unique Treg subsets revealed that an increase in the absolute number of CD4+FOXP3+CD25+CD127lowCD45RA−CD27− Tregs (effector memory Tregs [TregEM]) was significantly associated with anemia (p = 0.046), reduced hemoglobin (p = 0.038), and blast counts ≥5% (p = 0.006). In healthy donors, this TregEM population constitutes only 2% of all Tregs (one to six Tregs per microliter) in peripheral blood but, when isolated, exhibit greater suppressive activity in vitro. With a median follow-up of 3.1 y (range 2.7–4.9 y) from sample acquisition, increased numbers of TregEM cells proved to have independent prognostic importance in survival estimates, suggesting that enumeration of this Treg subset may be a more reliable indicator of immunological escape than FOXP3+ T cells as a whole. Based on multivariate analyses, TregEM impacted survival independently from myeloblast characteristics, cytopenias, karyotype, and comorbidities. Based on these findings, TregEM cell expansion may be synonymous with human Treg activation and indicate microenvironmental changes conducive to transformation in myelodysplastic syndromes.
Constraints on instantaneous ozone production rates and regimes during DOMINO derived using in-situ OH reactivity measurements
Authors: Sinha V. , Williams J. , Diesch J. M. , Drewnick F. , Martinez M. , Harder H. , Regelin E. , Kubistin D. , Bozem H. , Hosaynali-Beygi Z. , Fischer H. , Andrés-Hernández M. D. , Kartal D. , Adame J. A. , Lelieveld J.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. In this study air masses are characterized in terms of their total OH reactivity which is a robust measure of the "reactive air pollutant loading". The measurements were performed during the DOMINO campaign (Diel Oxidant Mechanisms In relation to Nitrogen Oxides) held from 21/11/2008 to 08/12/2008 at the Atmospheric Sounding Station – El Arenosillo (37.1° N–6.7° W, 40 m a.s.l.). The site was frequently impacted by marine air masses (arriving at the site from the southerly sector) and air masses from the cities of Huelva (located NW of the site), Seville and Madrid (located NNE of the site). OH reactivity values showed strong wind sector dependence. North eastern "continental" air masses were characterized by the highest OH reactivities (average: 31.4 ± 4.5 s−1; range of average diel values: 21.3–40.5 s−1), followed by north western "industrial" air masses (average: 13.8 ± 4.4 s−1; range of average diel values: 7–23.4 s−1) and marine air masses (average: 6.3 ± 6.6 s−1; range of average diel values: below detection limit −21.7 s−1), respectively. The average OH reactivity for the entire campaign period was ~18 s−1 and no pronounced variation was discernible in the diel profiles with the exception of relatively high values from 09:00 to 11:00 UTC on occasions when air masses arrived from the north western and southern wind sectors. The measured OH reactivity was used to constrain both diel instantaneous ozone production potential rates and regimes. Gross ozone production rates at the site were generally limited by the availability of NOx with peak values of around 20 ppbV O3 h−1. Using the OH reactivity based approach, derived ozone production rates indicate that if NOx would no longer be the limiting factor in air masses arriving from the continental north eastern sector, peak ozone production rates could double. We suggest that the new combined approach of in-situ fast measurements of OH reactivity, nitrogen oxides and peroxy radicals for constraining instantaneous ozone production rates, could significantly improve analyses of upwind point sources and their impact on regional ozone levels.
Solar flares as proxy for the young Sun: satellite observed thermosphere response to an X17.2 flare of Earth's upper atmosphere
Authors: Krauss S. , Fichtinger B. , Lammer H. , Hausleitner W. , Kulikov Yu. N. , Ribas I. , Shematovich V. I. , Bisikalo D. , Lichtenegger H. I. M. , Zaqarashvili T. V. , Khodachenko M. L. , Hanslmeier A.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. We analyzed the measured thermospheric response of an extreme solar X17.2 flare that irradiated the Earth's upper atmosphere during the so-called Halloween events in late October/early November 2003. We suggest that such events can serve as proxies for the intense electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation environment of the Sun or other stars during their early phases of evolution. We applied and compared empirical thermosphere models with satellite drag measurements from the GRACE satellites and found that the Jacchia-Bowman 2008 model can reproduce the drag measurements very well during undisturbed solar conditions but gets worse during extreme solar events. By analyzing the peak of the X17.2 flare spectra and comparing it with spectra of young solar proxies, our results indicate that the peak flare radiation flux corresponds to a hypothetical Sun-like star or the Sun at the age of approximately 2.3 Gyr. This implies that the peak extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation is enhanced by a factor of about 2.5 times compared to today's Sun. On the assumption that the Sun emitted an EUV flux of that magnitude and by modifying the activity indices in the Jacchia-Bowman 2008 model, we obtain an average exobase temperature of 1950 K, which corresponds with previous theoretical studies related to thermospheric heating and expansion caused by the solar EUV flux.
Response of bacterioplankton community structure to an artificial gradient of pCO2 in the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Zhang R. , Xia X. , Lau S. C. K. , Motegi C. , Weinbauer M. G. , Jiao N.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. The influences of ocean acidification on bacterial diversity were investigated using DNA fingerprinting and clone library analysis of bacterioplankton samples collected from the largest CO2 manipulation mesocosm study that had been performed thus far. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the PCR amplicons of the 16S rRNA genes revealed that bacterial diversity, species richness and community structure varied with the time of incubation but not the degree of ocean acidification. The phylogenetic composition of the major bacterial assemblage after a 30-day incubation under various pCO2 concentrations did not show clear effects of pCO2 levels. However, the maximum apparent diversity and species richness which occurred during incubation differed in the high and low pCO2 treatments, in which different bacterial community structure harbored. In addition, total alkalinity was one of the contributing factors for the temporal variations in bacterial community structure observed during incubation. A negative relationship between the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and pCO2 levels was observed for samples at the end of the experiment. Our study suggested that ocean acidification affected the development of bacterial assemblages and potentially impacts the ecological function of the bacterioplankton in the marine ecosystem.
Dryland ecohydrology and climate change: critical issues and technical advances
Authors: Wang L. , D'Odorico P. , Evans J. P. , Eldridge D. J. , McCabe M. F. , Caylor K. K. , King E. G.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Drylands cover about 40% of the terrestrial land surface and account for approximately 40% of global net primary productivity. Water is fundamental to the biophysical processes that sustain ecosystem function and food production, particularly in drylands where a tight coupling exists between ecosystem productivity, surface energy balance, biogeochemical cycles, and water resource availability. Currently, drylands support at least 2 billion people and comprise both natural and managed ecosystems. In this synthesis, we identify some current critical issues in the understanding of dryland systems and discuss how arid and semiarid environments are responding to the changes in climate and land use. The issues range from societal aspects such as rapid population growth, the resulting food and water security, and development issues, to natural aspects such as ecohydrological consequences of bush encroachment and the causes of desertification. To improve current understanding and inform upon the needed research efforts to address these critical issues, we identify some recent technical advances in terms of monitoring dryland water dynamics, water budget and vegetation water use, with a focus on the use of stable isotopes and remote sensing. These technological advances provide new tools that assist in addressing critical issues in dryland ecohydrology under climate change.
LA CARRERAS DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA Y ZOOTECNIA DE LA FACULTAD DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA EN LA UNIVERSIDAD AGRARIA DE LA HABANA (UNAH) LOGRA LA CONDICIÓN DE EXCELENCIA
Authors: Del Pozo Pedro Pablo
Published: August 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v11i16.754 La Calera Vol. 11, No 16 p. 68-69/junio 2011
UN MENSAJE DE ESPERANZA A LOS PEQUEÑOS AGRICULTORES: LA RENTABILIDAD YA ESTÁ AL ALCANCE DE TODOS
Authors: Lacki Polan
Published: August 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v11i16.755 La Calera Vol. 11, No 16 p. 70-72/junio 2011
Analytical Solutions for the Flow of a Fractional Second Grade Fluid due to a Rotational Constantly Accelerating Shear
Authors: Kamran M. , Imran M. , Athar M.
Published: August 2012

Exact analytic solutions are obtained for the flow of a generalized second grade fluid in an annular region between two infinite coaxial cylinders. The fractional calculus approach in the governing equations of a second grade fluid is used. The exact analytic solutions are constructed by means of Laplace and finite Hankel transforms. The motion is produced by the inner cylinder which is rotating about its axis due to a constantly accelerating shear. The solutions that have been obtained satisfy both the governing equations and all imposed initial and boundary conditions. Moreover, they can be easily specialized to give similar solutions for second grade and Newtonian fluids. Finally, the influence of the pertinent parameters on the fluid motion, as well as a comparison between the three models, is underlined by graphical illustrations.
The Dietary Limitations Imposed by Mexico’s Social Structure
Authors: Piña Christina ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2012

Blaming the individual for poor dietary habits is much easier than changing the social structure. Although society frequently assumes that the individual is able to select a particular diet amongst an array of choices, this research shows that the societal structure has quite a determinative role. This research focuses on malnutrition in Mexico and the sociopolitical and economic histories that have contributed to and maintained Mexicans’ unhealthy status. The findings of this research support Weber’s and Bourdieu’s theories describing how individuals’ choices are limited by the societal structure. With this framework in mind, resolutions include fortification,supplementation, and education. From exploratory questionnaires, Mexicans living in Monterrey showed great interest in education. This suggests a starting point for further inquiry and gives insight into possible methods of attacking malnutrition. However, effective policy changes require committed political support to ensure both short-term and long-term success.
Telomers and the Ethics of Human Cloning
Authors: Allhoff Fritz ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2012

In search of a potential problem with cloning, I investigate the phenomenon of telomere shortening which is caused by cell replication; clones created from somatic cells will have shortened telomeres and therefore reach a state of senescence more rapidly. While genetic intervention might fix this problem at some point in the future, I ask whether, absent technological advances, this biological phenomenon undermines the moral permissibility of cloning.
PVS and the Terri Schiavo Case
Authors: Fuller Gary ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2012

Brad Mellon argues that persistent-vegetative-state cases, including the recent Terri Schiavo case, are ambiguous. By this he seems to mean that decisions about such cases are fraught with doubt and uncertainty and perhaps even that rational resolution of many such cases is impossible. Faced with such cases the most we can do is to live and cope with the ambiguity. I am more optimistic. With good will, and much clarification and discussion, rational agreement is possible in these cases, including the Schiavo case.
Pharmaceutical “Gift-Giving,” Medical Education, and Conflict of Interest
Authors: Murray Dale , Certain Heather ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2012

In this essay, we argue that the acceptance of gifts by health professionals from the pharmaceutical industry is morally problematic. We conclude that whether physicians view the receipt of items from drug detailers as entitlements or gifts, this practice is unacceptable, as it constitutes a conflict of interest. In addition, we argue that these gifts are particularly problematic in academic hospitals. Physicians-in-training are inculcated with the belief that receiving gifts is morally acceptable. The cumulative effect of these worries should be sufficient to warrant the serious attention of medical associations worldwide.
The Relevance of Speciesism to Life Sciences Practices
Authors: Wertheimer Roger ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2012

Animal protectionists condemn speciesism for motivating the practices protectionists condemn. This misconceives both speciesism and the morality condoning those practices. Actually, animal protectionists can be and generally are speciesists. The specifically speciesist aspects of people’s beliefs are in principle compatible with all but the most radical protectionist proposals. Humanity’s speciesism is an inclusivist ideal encompassing all human beings, not an exclusionary ethos opposing moral concern for nonhumans. Anti-speciesist rhetoric is akin to anti-racist rhetoric that condemned racists for regarding people as moral inferiors because of their skincolor. Actually, racists never thought that skin color is itself a reason for discounting someone’s interests, just as humans have never thought that only a human can be a proper object of moral concern. Some speciesists have great concern for animal suffering; some don’t. Animal protectionists have yet to show that a lack of concern is due to some false assumptions.
Atypical Visuospatial Processing in Autism: Insights from Functional Connectivity Analysis
Authors: McGrath Jane , Johnson Katherine , Ecker Christine , O'Hanlon Erik , Gill Michael , Gallagher Louise , Garavan Hugh
Published: August 2012

Atypical visuospatial processing is commonly described in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs); however the specific neurobiological underpinnings of this phenomenon are poorly understood. Given the extensive evidence suggesting ASDs are characterized by abnormal neural connectivity, this study aimed to investigate network connectivity during visuospatial processing in ASD. Twenty‐two males with ASD without intellectual disability and 22 individually matched controls performed a mental rotation task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in which two rotated stimuli were judged to be same (“Same Trials”) or mirror‐imaged (“Mirror Trials”). Behavioral results revealed a relative advantage of mental rotation in the ASD group—controls were slower responding to the more difficult Mirror Trials than Same Trials whereas the ASD group completed Mirror Trials and Same‐trials at similar speeds. In the ASD group, brain activity was reduced in frontal, temporal, occipital, striatal, and cerebellar regions and, consistent with previous literature, functional connectivity between a number of brain regions was reduced. However, some connections appeared to be conserved and were recruited in a qualitatively different way by the two groups. As task difficulty increased (on Mirror Trials), controls tended to increase connections between certain brain regions, whereas the ASD group appeared to suppress connections between these regions. There was an interesting exception to this pattern in the visual cortex, a finding that may suggest an advantage in early visual perceptual processing in ASD. Overall, this study has identified a relative advantage in mental rotation in ASD that is associated with aberrant neural connectivity and that may stem from enhanced visual perceptual processing. Autism Res 2012, 5: 314–330. © 2012 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using Eye Movements as an Index of Implicit Face Recognition in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Hedley Darren , Young Robyn , Brewer Neil
Published: August 2012

Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically show impairment on face recognition tasks. Performance has usually been assessed using overt, explicit recognition tasks. Here, a complementary method involving eye tracking was used to examine implicit face recognition in participants with ASD and in an intelligence quotient‐matched non‐ASD control group. Differences in eye movement indices between target and foil faces were used as an indicator of implicit face recognition. Explicit face recognition was assessed using old–new discrimination and reaction time measures. Stimuli were faces of studied (target) or unfamiliar (foil) persons. Target images at test were either identical to the images presented at study or altered by changing the lighting, pose, or by masking with visual noise. Participants with ASD performed worse than controls on the explicit recognition task. Eye movement‐based measures, however, indicated that implicit recognition may not be affected to the same degree as explicit recognition. Autism Res 2012, 5: 363–379. © 2012 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association of DVL2 and AXIN2 gene polymorphisms with cleft lip with or without cleft palate in a polish population
Authors: Mostowska Adrianna , Hozyasz Kamil K. , Wójcicki Piotr , Lasota Agnieszka , Dunin‐Wilczyńska Izabella , Jagodziński Paweł P.
Published: August 2012

BACKGROUND: Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is one of the most common congenital anomalies, with a complex and still not fully understood etiology. Given the important role of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway during craniofacial development, we decided to test the hypothesis that common polymorphic variants of the genes encoding crucial components of this signaling pathway might contribute to the risk of NSCL/P in the Polish population. METHODS: A set of 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APC, AXIN1, AXIN2, CTNNB1, DVL2, and GSK‐3β genes were analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism and high‐resolution melting curve methods in a group of 280 patients with NSCL/P and a properly matched control group (n = 330). RESULTS: Both single‐marker and haplotype analyses showed an association between SNPs in the DVL2 gene and the risk for NSCL/P. The strongest association was found under an overdominant model for the rs35594616 variant located in the exonic sequence of DVL2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37–2.62; p < 0.0001). Moreover, the gene‐gene interaction analysis revealed a significant epistatic interaction between DVL2 gene SNPs in the susceptibility to orofacial clefts. Borderline association with a decreased risk of NSCL/P was also observed for the AXIN2 rs3923087 variant (dominant model OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50–0.95; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that polymorphic variants of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway genes have a role in the susceptibility to orofacial clefts. The DVL2 and AXIN2 genes might be candidate genes for this craniofacial anomaly in the Polish population. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The independent value of a direct stenting strategy on early and late clinical outcomes in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Sardi Gabriel L. , Laynez‐Carnicero Ana , Torguson Rebecca , Xue Zhenyi , Suddath William O. , Kent Kenneth M. , Satler Lowell F. , Pichard Augusto D. , Lindsay Joseph , Waksman Ron
Published: August 2012

Objectives

This study aimed to compare percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with direct stenting (DS) to balloon predilatation (PD) for patients undergoing elective PCI to determine whether there is an independent value for DS with regard to clinical outcomes.

Background

The safety of PCI with DS has been established, but the independent advantages of this technique are not entirely clear.

Methods

Patients undergoing elective PCI from January 2000 to December 2010 were included. The postprocedural and late clinical outcomes of 444 patients who underwent PCI with DS were compared with a propensity‐matched population of 444 subjects treated with PD.

Results

The two groups were well matched to 27 baseline clinical, procedural, and angiographic characteristics, thus allowing for a more accurate evaluation of the independent value of the stenting technique. Intravascular ultrasound was used in more than 60% of interventions in both groups. PCI performed with PD were longer (DS 45 ± 19.28 vs. PD 56 ± 23.72 minutes, P = 0.001), used more contrast (DS 154 ± 65.88 vs. PD 186 ± 92.84 cc, P = 0.001), and more frequently used balloon postdilation (DS 0% vs. PD 27.3%, P = 0.001). The incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PPMI) was similar between DS‐ and PD patients (5.3% vs. 5.4%, P = 0.91). Likewise, the 1‐year rates of major adverse cardiac events (8.4% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.25), target lesion revascularization (3.9% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.24), and definite stent thrombosis (0.2% vs. 0.9%, P = 0.37) were similar among DS and PD patients, respectively.

Conclusion

During elective PCI, DS decreases overall procedure time and resource utilization, but fails to reveal an independent clinical advantage as there is no demonstrable benefit in regard to the incidence of PPMI, restenosis, or overall clinical outcomes up to 1‐year of follow‐up. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rank 1 real Wishart spiked model
Authors: Mo M. Y.
Published: August 2012

In this paper, we considerN‐dimensional real Wishart matricesYin the class\input amssym $W_{\Bbb R} (\Sigma ,M)$in which all but one eigenvalue of Σ is 1. Let the nontrivial eigenvalue of Σ be 1+τ; then asN, M→ ∞, withM/N→ γ2finite and nonzero, the eigenvalue distribution ofYwill converge into the Marchenko‐Pastur distribution inside a bulk region. When τ increases from 0, one starts to see a stray eigenvalue ofYoutside of the support of the Marchenko‐Pastur density. As this stray eigenvalue leaves the bulk region, a phase transition will occur in the largest eigenvalue distribution of the Wishart matrix.

In this paper we will compute the asymptotics of the largest eigenvalue distribution when the phase transition occurs. We will first establish the results that are valid for allNandMand will use them to carry out the asymptotic analysis. In particular, we have derived a contour integral formula for the Harish‐Chandra Itzykson‐Zuber integral$\int_{O(N)} {e^{{\rm tr}(XgYg^{\rm T} )} } g^{\rm T} dg$whenXandYare real symmetric andYis a rank 1 matrix. This allows us to write down a Fredholm determinant formula for the largest eigenvalue distribution and analyze it using orthogonal polynomial techniques. As a result, we obtain an integral formula for the largest eigenvalue distribution in the large‐Nlimit characterized by Painlevé transcendents. The approach used in this paper is very different from a recent paper by Bloemenal and Virág, in which the largest eigenvalue distribution was obtained using a stochastic operator method. In particular, the Painlevé formula for the largest eigenvalue distribution obtained in this paper is new. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A retrospective review of UroVysion fish interpretations over 8.6 years: A major shift in the patient test population
Authors: Denice Smith G. , Sangle Nikhil A. , Wilson Andrew , Chadwick Barbara E. , Bentz Joel S. , Gopez Evelyn V. , Pyne Michael T. , Tripp Sheryl R. , Layton Michelle , Pasi Alexandra , Jarboe Elke A. , Collins Brian T.
Published: August 2012

UroVysion FISH detects chromosomal aberrations associated with urothelial carcinoma. In our laboratory, UroVysion FISH was initially evaluated manually with a change to image‐aided interpretation using the BioView Duet imaging system. This retrospective study examined diagnostic findings over an 8.6 year period, with 1,869 manual interpretations over 4.8 years and 3,936 image‐aided interpretations over 3.8 years. Although the initial goal was to evaluate possible impacts of the imaging system on diagnostic interpretations, the most important finding was that the demographics of the test population changed significantly. Female specimens increased incrementally from an average of 29% compared to 43% of the samples during periods of manual interpretation versus image‐aided interpretation, respectively. The shift may reflect a gradual increase in the percentage of low‐risk hematuria patients being evaluated for initial diagnosis of bladder cancer, rather than bladder cancer recurrence. Interpretation rates, evaluated separately for males and females, changed significantly over the test period. Male interpretation results were negative (75.1 vs. 67%), positive (18.6 vs. 14.6%), unsatisfactory (5.0 vs. 16.9%), and equivocal (1.4 vs. 1.5%) during periods of manual versus image‐aided interpretation, respectively (Fisher Exact Test P‐value = <0.0001). For females, results were negative (86.1 vs. 79.3%), positive (9.2 vs. 11.1%), unsatisfactory (2.8 vs. 8.9%), and equivocal (1.8 vs. 0.7%) over the same periods (Fisher Exact Test P‐value = <0.0001). Logistic regression analysis identified the change in test population as the variable with the greatest impact on observed interpretation rate changes. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metastatic small cell osteosarcoma to the liver: A diagnostic pitfall for fine‐needle aspiration cytology
Authors: Ali Rola H. , Lee Cheng‐Han , Hayes Malcolm M.
Published: August 2012

We report the fine‐needle aspiration cytology of a case of metastatic small cell osteosarcoma to the liver with rosette formation, originating from distal femur, in a 36‐year‐old female. The aspirate of the liver metastases revealed a relatively monomorphic population of mitotically active small blue round cells arranged in clusters with prominent rosette formation simulating a neuroendocrine carcinoma or other rosette‐forming small round cell tumors such as Ewing sarcoma. No extracellular mineralized matrix material was present. Comparison of the liver aspirate with the biopsy from the distal femoral lesion was crucial in reaching the correct diagnosis of metastatic small cell osteosarcoma with rosette formation. This is a potential diagnostic pitfall, particularly if interpreted without the knowledge of a suspected primary bone tumor. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:161–164. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Eight cases of malignant mixed müllerian tumor (carcinosarcoma) of the uterus: Findings in surepath™ cervical cytology
Authors: Gupta Nalini , Dudding Nicholas , Smith J. H. F.
Published: August 2012

Malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT)/carcinosarcoma is a rare neoplasm of the female genital tract characterized by a mixture of epithelial and mesenchymal components. There are published reports of conventional cervical smear findings in uterine MMMT, but to the best of our knowledge the cytomorphology of MMMT in SurePath™ liquid‐based cytology samples has not been described.

We present a series of eight cases of uterine MMMT in SurePath™ cervical samples.

The mean age of the women was 65.5 years (range, 60–82 years) and the most common presenting symptom was postmenopausal bleeding. Three out of the eight cases had both epithelial and sarcomatous elements in highly cellular cervical samples. In two cases, abnormal glandular cell clusters were closely associated with the mesenchymal component. The glandular component was usually represented by three‐dimensional clusters of malignant glandular cells and a dispersed population of large, round to oval malignant epithelial cells with single prominent nucleoli. Necrosis or tumor diathesis was not seen in any cases. Six out of the eight cases were initially reported as adenocarcinoma, endometrial type, and two cases as normal. Five cases had an atrophic background and tiny atypical glandular clusters that could easily be overlooked.

Although cervical sample is not the method of choice for primary uterine carcinosarcoma screening, the possibility of the same should be kept in mind, when reporting a cervical sample from a woman with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:165–169. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Orthogonal Detection of Nitroaromatic Explosives via Direct Voltammetry Coupled to Enzyme‐Mediated Biocatalysis
Authors: O'Mahony Aoife M. , Valdés‐Ramírez Gabriela , Windmiller Joshua Ray , Samek Izabela A. , Wang Joseph
Published: August 2012

This article describes a rapid and reliable electrochemical/enzymatic method of verifying the presence of nitroaromatic explosives. The new technique leverages both conventional voltammetric analysis and biocatalytic conversion of TNT. The simultaneous use of independent measurement schemes, based on two distinct processes, dramatically increases the information content and offers substantially improved reliability while minimizing the occurrence of false alarms. This has been accomplished by coupling direct voltammetric analysis with the biocatalytic conversion of the TNT substrate via nitroreductase (NR), which reduces a nitro group of TNT using NADH as an electron donor. This chemical reduction (30 s timescale) can then be observed using square‐wave voltammetry by examination of the reductive and oxidative features. This novel protocol was found to be selective for TNT, not only when compared to DNT and NT, but also to other explosive species such as RDX and PETN. This unique dual‐mode detection strategy for measuring TNT at a single device holds considerable promise for improving the probability of explosive detection and hence for diverse security screening applications.
Chlorophacinone residues in mammalian prey at a black-tailed prairie dog colony
Authors: Vyas Nimish B. , Hulse Craig S. , Rice Clifford P.
Published: August 2012

Black-tailed prairie dogs (BTPDs), Cynomys ludovicianus, are an important prey for raptors; therefore, the use of the rodenticide Rozol (0.005% chlorophacinone active ingredient) to control BTPDs raises concern for secondary poisonings resulting from the consumption of contaminated prey by raptors. In the present study, the authors observed Rozol exposure and adverse effects to mammalian prey on 11 of 12 search days of the study. Mammalian hepatic chlorophacinone residues ranged from 0.44 to 7.56 µg/g. Poisoned prey availability was greater than previously reported. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 2513–2516. © 2012 SETAC
Direct soil contact values for ecological receptors exposed to weathered petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) fraction 2
Authors: Angell Robin A. , Kullman Steve , Shrive Emma , Stephenson Gladys L. , Tindal Miles
Published: August 2012

Ecological tier 1 Canada-wide standards (CWS) for petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) fraction 2 (F2; >nC10–C16) in soil were derived using ecotoxicological assessment endpoints (effective concentrations [ECs]/lethal concentrations [LCs]/inhibitory concentrations, 25% [IC25s]) with freshly spiked (fresh) fine- and coarse-grained soils. These soil standards might be needlessly conservative when applied to field samples with weathered hydrocarbons. The purpose of the present study was to assess the degradation and toxicity of weathered PHC F2 in a fine-grained soil and to derive direct soil contact values for ecological receptors. Fine-grained reference soils were spiked with distilled F2 and weathered for 183 d. Toxicity tests using plants and invertebrates were conducted with the weathered F2-spiked soils. Endpoint EC/IC25s were calculated and used to derive soil standards for weathered F2 in fine-grained soil protective of ecological receptors exposed via direct soil contact. The values derived for weathered F2 were less restrictive than current ecological tier 1 CWS for F2 in soil. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 2536–2544. © 2012 SETAC