bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute glycemic and blood lipid response to the ingestion of a candy bar–like protein supplement compared with its candy bar counterpart
Authors: Dugan Kristin , Campbell Bill , Dufour Fanny , Roman Sara , Woodall Caleb , McAdams Mallory , White Andrew , Taylor Lem W. , Wilborn Colin D.
Published: April 2013

Candy bar–like protein supplements are sometimes consumed for their sugar alcohol content, which lowers the glycemic response. The purpose of this study was to determine the acute glycemic and blood lipid response to the ingestion of a candy bar–like protein supplement compared with its candy bar counterpart. In a crossover design, 5 males and 5 females (N = 10; age, 24 ± 5.5 years; height, 174 ± 8.3 cm; weight, 80 ± 21.9 kg) consumed a candy bar (CBR) or a similar protein bar (PBR) after a 10-h fast. Blood draws occurred at baseline and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after consumption and were analyzed for blood glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles. A 2×5 ANOVA was used, with Student's t tests for significant interactions. A significant (p < 0.05) blood glucose time effect occurred in both groups, with a more profound glucose response from the CBR at 15 min (CBR: 6.2 ± 0.8 mmol·L−1; PBR: 4.9 ± 0.5 mmol·L−1). Triglycerides increased significantly (p < 0.05), independent of group, peaking at 60 min (Δ CBR: 0.8 ± 0.3 mmol·L−1; Δ PBR: 1.3 ± 0.3 mmol·L−1). Insulin increased significantly (p < 0.05), independent of group, peaking at 15 min (Δ CBR: 42 ± 27 μIU·mL−1; Δ PBR: 25 ± 11 μIU·mL−1). No significant change (p > 0.05) was observed in total cholesterol. Blood glucose, triglycerides, and insulin all increased significantly in response to both CBR and PBR consumption. The CBR elicited a greater effect on blood glucose; however, the PBR had a strong impact on serum triglycerides and insulin.
Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical study of diiron organometallic derivatives of 2,6-dibutyl-4,8-dimethyl-1,5-dihydro-s-indacene
Authors: Amshumali M.K. , Arancibia Veronica , Manriquez Juan M. , Chavez Ivonne
Published: April 2013

A new fused ring compound, 2,6-dibutyl-4,8-dimethyl-1,5-dihydro-s-indacene (VII) (H2L), has been synthesized from 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dibromomethylbenzene in almost quantitative yield. Two organomtallic binuclear complexes, [Cp*Fe-L-FeCp*] (1) and the mixed-valence compound [Cp*Fe-L-FeCp*]+ BF–4 (2), have been characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 exhibits a potential difference of 668 mV between two redox peaks and the UV-vis-NIR spectra of compound 2 shows an intervalance charge transfer band at 1794 nm. The information gathered by these techniques indicates that the studied binuclear complex has strong interaction between the two metal centres.
INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTINUOUS-TIME RANDOM WALK
Authors: FA KWOK SAU , WANG K. G.
Published: April 2013

The continuous-time random walk (CTRW) model is a useful tool for the description of diffusion in nonequilibrium systems, which is broadly applied in nature and life sciences, e.g., from biophysics to geosciences. In particular, the integro-differential equations for diffusion and diffusion-advection are derived asymptotically from the decoupled CTRW model and a generalized Chapmann–Kolmogorov equation, with generic waiting time probability density function (PDF) and external force. The advantage of the integro-differential equations is that they can be used to investigate the entire diffusion process i.e., covering initial-, intermediate- and long-time ranges of the process. Therefore, this method can distinguish the evolution detail for a system having the same behavior in the long-time limit but with different initial- and intermediate-time behaviors. An integro-differential equation for diffusion-advection is also presented for the description of the subdiffusive and superdiffusive regime. Moreover, the methods of solving the integro-differential equations are developed, and the analytic solutions for PDFs are obtained for the cases of force-free and linear force.
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF THE XB2(X = Ag, Au) COMPOUNDS: A FIRST-PRINCIPLES STUDY
Authors: OZISIK HAVVA BOGAZ , COLAKOGLU KEMAL , DELIGOZ ENGIN
Published: April 2013

The thermodynamic properties of AgB 2 and AuB 2 compounds in AlB 2 and OsB 2-type structures are investigated from first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) using projector augmented waves (PAW) potentials within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for modeling exchange-correlation effects, respectively. Specifically, using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, the effects of pressure and temperature, up to 100 GPa and 1400 K, on the bulk modulus, Debye temperature, thermal expansion, heat capacity and the Grüneisen parameter are calculated successfully and trends are discussed.
DELAYS INDUCE DIFFERENT SWITCH IN A STOCHASTIC SINGLE GENETIC REGULATION SYSTEM WITH A POSITIVE AUTOREGULATORY FEEDBACK LOOP
Authors: WANG CAN-JUN
Published: April 2013

The steady properties of a stochastic single genetic regulation system with the different time delays, which appear in the deterministic and fluctuating forces, are investigated based on the small delay time approximation method. Using the approximation probability density approach, the delayed Fokker–Planck equation is obtained. The effects of two different time delays on the stationary probability distribution and the mean value are discussed. It is found that with the time delay τ1in the deterministic force increasing, the TF-A monomer concentration shifts from "off" state to "on" state. However, with the time delay τ2in the fluctuating force increasing, the TF-A monomer concentration shifts from "on" state to "off" state. In the switch process, two kinds of time delays play an opposite role. The theoretical predictions are found to be in good agreement with numerical results.
EXTENDED HAZARD RATE MODELS FOR SOFTWARE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT WITH EFFECT AT CHANGE-POINT
Authors: INOUE SHINJI , HAYASHIDA SHIHO , YAMADA SHIGERU
Published: April 2013

A software hazard rate model is known as one of the important and useful mathematical models for describing the software failure occurrence phenomenon observed in a testing phase. It is difficult to say that the testing environment always constant during a testing phase due to changing the specification and fault target and so forth. Therefore, taking into consideration of the effect of the change in software reliability growth modeling is expected to conduct more accurate software reliability assessment. In this paper, we develop extended software hazard rate models based on well-known Jelinski–Moranda and Moranda models, by considering with a change of testing environment. Especially in this paper, we incorporate the uncertainty of the effect of the change on the software reliability growth process into the software hazard rate modeling. Finally, we show numerical examples for our models and results of model comparisons by using actual data.
Malaysia's Perspective of Inclusive Growth
Authors: ROSLI Firdaos , HWA En Ning
Published: April 2013

Since independence, Malaysia has pursued inclusive development for all its economic and social long-term plans. The success of its past national plans for economic development can be assessed by the progress of its Millennium Development Goals. The country now faces greater challenges in achieving inclusive economic and social development before it could become a high income nation by 2020. The authors suggest that inclusive development can also be incorporated in regional frameworks and programmes.
Inclusive Growth in Indonesia: Myth or Reality?
Authors: HADI Syamsul
Published: April 2013

This paper highlights some of the pro-poor policies exercised by the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) government which directly impact the lives of the people, which were in turn politically directed to mobilise popular support towards the regime. The paper shows how the SBY government has failed to draw a real positive correlation between economic growth and job creation, and between the development of financial sector and real (productive) sectors and economic growth with actual poverty reduction.
Cambodia's Inclusive Growth Strategy
Authors: SISOWATH Doung Chanto
Published: April 2013

Cambodia faces many challenges in implementing social inclusion policies. Cambodia's Constitution stipulates the rights of citizens to inclusive growth. At present, Cambodia adopts the market economy system and allows it to play a key role in social development and delivery of public goods and services. The market system is fed into various inclusive development frameworks. As a result, Cambodia's inclusive growth policy, targeting at the poor and vulnerable, is progressing and being implemented at different stages.
The braincase of
Prestosuchus chiniquensis
(Archosauria: Suchia)
Authors: Mastrantonio Bianca Martins , Schultz Cesar L. , Desojo Julia B. , Garcia Juliana Bittencourt
Published: April 2013

The osteology of an almost complete braincase of the rauisuchian archosaur
Prestosuchus chiniquensis
from the Middle Triassic of Brazil is described for first time, based on two specimens (UFRGS-PV-0629-T and UFRGS-PV-0156-T)
.
A comparative description with other taxa of rauisuchians is presented that forms the basis of a phylogenetic analysis. To perform the phylogenetic analysis, we describe and discuss each character codification for a modified version of the recent matrices of
Gower (2002)
,
Gower & Nesbitt (2006)
and

Brusatte
et al.
(2010)

. The analysis resulted in two most parsimonious trees that differ from the topologies recovered by
Gower (2002)
in a few aspects within Rauisuchia, and
Prestosuchus chiniquensis
was unequivocally depicted as deeply nested within Pseudosuchia, as the sister taxon of
Batrachotomus kuperferzellensis
in both topologies, supported by a single synapomorphy: the reduced to small fissure of the post-temporal fenestra between parietal, supraoccipital and exoccipital-opisthotic.
The Late Triassic dinosauromorph
Sacisaurus agudoensis
(Caturrita Formation; Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil): anatomy and affinities
Authors: Langer Max C. , Ferigolo Jorge
Published: April 2013

Silesauridae is an exclusively Triassic group of dinosauromorphs, knowledge on the diversity of which has increased dramatically in the last few years. Silesaurid relationships are still contentious, as a result in part of different homology statements, particularly regarding the typical edentulous mandible tip of these animals. One of the most complete silesaurids yet discovered is
Sacisaurus agudoensis
from the Caturrita Formation (Late Triassic: Norian) of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, represented by numerous isolated bones recovered from a single site. The anatomy of
S. agudoensis
is fully described for the first time here, and comparisons are provided to other basal dinosauromorphs.
S. agudoensis
is a small-bodied animal (less than 1 m in length) that possesses a dentition consisting of leaf-shaped crowns with large denticles in the carinae, a plesiomorphic propubic pelvis with an almost fully closed acetabulum, elongate distal hindlimbs suggesting well-developed cursorial ability, and a laterally projected outer malleolus in the tibia. All previous numerical phylogenies supported a non-dinosaur dinosauromorph affinity for Silesauridae, but the reanalysis of one of those studies suggests that a position within Dinosauria is not unlikely, with silesaurids forming the basal branch of the ornithischian lineage.
Developmental androgen excess programs sympathetic tone and adipose tissue dysfunction and predisposes to a cardiometabolic syndrome in female mice
Authors: Nohara Kazunari , Waraich Rizwana S. , Liu Suhuan , Ferron Mathieu , Waget Aurélie , Meyers Matthew S. , Karsenty Gérard , Burcelin Rémy , Mauvais-Jarvis Franck
Published: April 2013

Among women, the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is considered a form of metabolic syndrome with reproductive abnormalities. Women with PCOS show increased sympathetic tone, visceral adiposity with enlarged adipocytes, hypoadiponectinemia, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, increased inactive osteocalcin, and hypertension. Excess fetal exposure to androgens has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Previously, we showed that neonatal exposure to the androgen testosterone (NT) programs leptin resistance in adult female mice. Here, we studied the impact of NT on lean and adipose tissues, sympathetic tone in cardiometabolic tissues, and the development of metabolic dysfunction in mice. Neonatally androgenized adult female mice (NTF) displayed masculinization of lean tissues with increased cardiac and skeletal muscle as well as kidney masses. NTF mice showed increased and dysfunctional white adipose tissue with increased sympathetic tone in both visceral and subcutaneous fat as well as increased number of enlarged and insulin-resistant adipocytes that displayed altered expression of developmental genes and hypoadiponectinemia. NTF exhibited dysfunctional brown adipose tissue with increased mass and decreased energy expenditure. They also displayed decreased undercarboxylated and active osteocalcin and were predisposed to obesity during chronic androgen excess. NTF showed increased renal sympathetic tone associated with increased blood pressure, and they developed glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Thus, developmental exposure to testosterone in female mice programs features of cardiometabolic dysfunction, as can be observed in women with PCOS, including increased sympathetic tone, visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, prediabetes, and hypertension.
The Quasireversibility Regularization Method for Identifying the Unknown Source for the Modified Helmholtz Equation
Authors: Li Xiao-Xiao , Yang Fan , Liu Jie , Wang Lan
Published: April 2013

This paper discusses the problem of determining an unknown source which depends only on one variable for the modified Helmholtz equation. This problem is ill-posed in the sense that the solution (if it exists) does not depend continuously on the data. The regularization solution is obtained by the quasireversibility regularization method. Convergence estimate is presented between the exact solution and the regularization solution. Moreover, numerical results are presented to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of this method.
A Novel Ultrawideband Planar Inverted-F Antenna with Capacitive Ground Plane
Authors: Liu Haixia , Wang Fei , Yang Yang , Shi Xiaowei , Li Long
Published: April 2013

With the trend of the miniaturization, broadband, and integration of multisystems of wireless communication terminals, a new ultrawideband planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) with capacitive ground plane is proposed in this paper. The capacitive ground plane is composed of a sheet of metal islands, which makes a major contribution to ultra-wideband from 2.3 GHz to 9.0 GHz by applying the capacitive compensation for input impedance of the PIFA in high-order modes frequency bands. The effect of geometric parameters of capacitive ground plane and antenna height on antenna performance is analyzed. It is found that the radiation pattern in free space and the gain of the proposed antenna also meet the demands of the wireless communication terminals. The reported antenna was fabricated and measured, and the experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results.
Certain Rheological Aspects of Functionalized Guar Gum
Authors: Kapoor Meenu , Khandal Dhriti , Gupta Ruchi , Arora Pinklesh , Seshadri Geetha , Aggarwal Saroj , Khandal Rakesh Kumar
Published: April 2013

Guar gum and its derivatives are highly important industrial hydrocolloids as they find applications in various industrial sectors. Guar is a polymer of high molecular weight and its aqueous solutions exhibit unique rheological properties, which has led to its wide acceptance by the industry. In certain industrial applications low molecular weight guar and its derivatives are needed, and conventionally chemical depolymerisation of guar is carried out for this purpose. Radiation processing is a novel and green technology for carrying out depolymerization and can be an ideal substitute for chemical depolymerisation technique. In order to study the effect of radiation on guar derivatives, three types of derivatives have been taken in the present study: carboxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, and methyl guar. The effect of 1–50 KGy radiation dose on the rheological behavior of these derivatives has been studied, and the results have been described in the present paper. The effect on storage and loss modulus with respect to frequency and effect on viscosity with respect to shear rate have been discussed in detail.
Headache and Status Epilepticus in the Postpartum Period; Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome or Cerebral Venous Thrombosis?
Authors: Zis Panagiotis , Tavernarakis Antonios
Published: April 2013

We report a case of a young woman, with a history of a miscarriage and a molar pregnancy, who developed headache and status epilepticus in postpartum day three. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) can present with identical clinical picture; however, the imaging findings can help the clinician to make the correct diagnosis and initiate the appropriate treatment. Both PRES and CVST are medical emergencies and fully reversible entities especially when treatment initiation is immediate.
RNA Editing and Drug Discovery for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Huang Wei-Hsuan , Tseng Chao-Neng , Tang Jen-Yang , Yang Cheng-Hong , Liang Shih-Shin , Chang Hsueh-Wei
Published: April 2013

RNA editing is vital to provide the RNA and protein complexity to regulate the gene expression. Correct RNA editing maintains the cell function and organism development. Imbalance of the RNA editing machinery may lead to diseases and cancers. Recently, RNA editing has been recognized as a target for drug discovery although few studies targeting RNA editing for disease and cancer therapy were reported in the field of natural products. Therefore, RNA editing may be a potential target for therapeutic natural products. In this review, we provide a literature overview of the biological functions of RNA editing on gene expression, diseases, cancers, and drugs. The bioinformatics resources of RNA editing were also summarized.
Fuzzy Multiobjective Reliability Optimization Problem of Industrial Systems Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Garg Harish
Published: April 2013

The present work investigates the reliability optimization problem of the repairable industrial
systems by utilizing uncertain, limited, and imprecise data. In many practical situations where reliability enhancement is involved, the decision making is complicated because of the presence of several mutually conflicting objectives. Moreover, data collected or available for the systems are vague, ambiguous, qualitative, and imprecise in nature due to various practical constraints and hence create some difficulties in optimizing the design problems. To handle these problems, this work presents an interactive method for solving the fuzzy multiobjective optimization decision-making problem, which can be used for the optimization decision making of the reliability with two or more objectives. Based on the preference of the decision makers toward the objectives, fuzzy multi-objective optimization problem is converted into crisp optimization problem and then solved with evolutionary algorithm. The proposed approach has been applied to the decomposition unit of a urea fertilizer plant situated in the northern part of India producing 1500–2000 metric tons per day.
Brain Connectivity Plasticity in the Motor Network after Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Jiang Lin , Xu Huijuan , Yu Chunshui
Published: April 2013

The motor function is controlled by the motor system that comprises a series of cortical and subcortical areas interacting via anatomical connections. The motor function will be disturbed when the stroke lesion impairs either any of these areas or their connections. More and more evidence indicates that the reorganization of the motor network including both areas and their anatomical and functional connectivity might contribute to the motor recovery after stroke. Here, we review recent studies employing models of anatomical, functional, and effective connectivity on neuroimaging data to investigate how ischemic stroke influences the connectivity of motor areas and how changes in connectivity relate to impaired function and functional recovery. We suggest that connectivity changes constitute an important pathophysiological aspect of motor impairment after stroke and important mechanisms of motor recovery. We also demonstrate that therapeutic interventions may facilitate motor recovery after stroke by modulating the connectivity among the motor areas. In conclusion, connectivity analyses improved our understanding of the mechanisms of motor recovery after stroke and may help to design hypothesis-driven treatment strategies and sensitive measures for outcome prediction in stroke patients.
Microenvironmental Induced Essentiality of Autophagy
Authors: Singleton Dean C. , Harris Adrian L.
Published: April 2013

Angiogenesis inhibitors cause increased hypoxia in tumors and this results in the induction of cytoprotective autophagy. Targeting this adaptation using autophagy inhibitors can overcome resistance to antiangiogenic therapy and enhance the antitumor effects. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 2791–3. ©2013 AACR.
Mitochondrial Quality Control: Impact on Aging and Life Span - A Mini-Review
Authors: Osiewacz Heinz D. , Bernhardt Dominik
Published: April 2013

A fundamental impact of mitochondria on biological aging has been suggested decades ago. One prominent theory explains aging as the result of the age-related accumulation of random molecular damage of biomolecules resulting from the reaction of reactive oxygen species, the majority of which are generated in mitochondria. Although this concept appeared to be very attractive and strongly influenced aging research, in recent years more and more data accumulated which seem to contradict this theory. However, since these data are derived from reductionist approaches and do not integrate the various components and pathways which are affected as a result of a primary experimental intervention, they are prone to misinterpretation and have to be taken with some caution. Here, after a general introduction of mitochondrial function, we discuss the relevance of various pathways which are involved in keeping mitochondria functional over time. Moreover, we provide examples which emphasize the importance of a critical interpretation of experimental data and the necessity for a holistic analysis of the aging process. The success of such a systems biology approach is strongly dependent on the development of methods for data mining and an efficient analysis and modeling of the huge data sets that are raised.
Evolving Spiking Networks with Variable Resistive Memories
Authors: Howard Gerard , Bull Larry , de Lacy Costello Ben , Gale Ella , Adamatzky Andrew
Published: April 2013

Neuromorphic computing is a brainlike information processing paradigm that requires adaptive learning mechanisms. A spiking neuro-evolutionary system is used for this purpose; plastic resistive memories are implemented as synapses in spiking neural networks. The evolutionary design process exploits parameter self-adaptation and allows the topology and synaptic weights to be evolved for each network in an autonomous manner. Variable resistive memories are the focus of this research; each synapse has its own conductance profile which modifies the plastic behaviour of the device and may be altered during evolution. These variable resistive networks are evaluated on a noisy robotic dynamic-reward scenario against two static resistive memories and a system containing standard connections only. The results indicate that the extra behavioural degrees of freedom available to the networks incorporating variable resistive memories enable them to outperform the comparative synapse types.
Praecisio and Conjecture: Cusanus’ Ball Game and the ‘Learned Ignorance’ of the World
Authors: Angelini Annarita
Published: April 2013

Nicholas Cusanus’ De Ludo Globi (1463) is not about tennis, nor does it pave the way for the achievements of the so-called Scientific Revolution. Nevertheless, in a broad sense Cusanus might be viewed as a progenitor of the ‘scientific’ ball player: beyond any impossible, vain, or metaphysical guarantee, scientific knowledge of the finite physical world consists in making conjectures (coniecturas), and making conjectures means literally to throw (conicere). Throwing balls and projectiles toward a target, however, eludes infinity. I will follow in Cusanus’s wake in interpreting ludus not as a pastime, but as a speculationis figuratio, keeping in mind two interpretations of this “ball game” that may be viewed as opposite to each other: Pierre Duhem’s hypothesis that Cusanus was proposing a formulation of the Galilean notion of inertia, and Hermann Hesse’s linking of the “prehistory” of The Glass Bead Game to Cusanus.
Uncertainty in Climate Change Projections of the Hadley Circulation: The Role of Internal Variability
Authors: Kang Sarah M. , Deser Clara , Polvani Lorenzo M.
Published: April 2013

The uncertainty arising from internal climate variability in climate change projections of the Hadley circulation (HC) is presently unknown. In this paper it is quantified by analyzing a 40-member ensemble of integrations of the Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3), under the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B scenario over the period 2000–60. An additional set of 100-yr-long time-slice integrations with the atmospheric component of the same model [Community Atmosphere Model, version 3.0 (CAM3)] is also analyzed.

Focusing on simple metrics of the HC—its strength, width, and height—three key results emerge from the analysis of the CCSM3 ensemble. First, the projected weakening of the HC is almost entirely confined to the Northern Hemisphere, and is stronger in winter than in summer. Second, the projected widening of the HC occurs only in the winter season but in both hemispheres. Third, the projected rise of the tropical tropopause occurs in both hemispheres and in all seasons and is, by far, the most robust of the three metrics.

This paper shows further that uncertainty in future trends of the HC width is largely controlled by extratropical variability, while those of HC strength and height are associated primarily with tropical dynamics. Comparison of the CCSM3 and CAM3 integrations reveals that ocean–atmosphere coupling is the dominant source of uncertainty in future trends of HC strength and height and of the tropical mean meridional circulation in general. Finally, uncertainty in future trends of the hydrological cycle is largely captured by the uncertainty in future trends of the mean meridional circulation.
Executive Privilege or Parliamentary Proviso? Exploring the Sources of Parliamentary War Powers
Authors: Peters Dirk , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: April 2013

Parliamentary oversight of the military constitutes an important element of the civilian control of the armed forces. However, the strength of parliaments in this realm varies greatly across democracies and little is known about the sources of this variation. We propose an explanation for one key aspect of this variation: why does parliament enjoy veto power over military deployments in some democracies but not in others? Our analysis of data from forty-nine democracies around the world suggests that at least three factors account for parliamentary strength or weakness in this realm: the external threat to which a country is exposed, its constitutional tradition, and the experience of severe military failure in the past.
Democratization and Alliance Commitment
Authors: Jung Sung Chul
Published: April 2013

This study aims to analyze the effects of democratic transition on alliance commitment, focusing on political leaders’ types and civil–military relations. This work expects to find that democratizers are more likely to be faithful to their existing alliance partner when their political leaders are old elites who are reluctant to initiate drastic domestic reforms and when their political leaders try to reduce military’s influence on domestic affairs. By tracing the process of three US allies’ participation (or nonparticipation) in the US-led multinational coalition against Iraq during the Persian Gulf War period, this study explores whether and how the domestic conditions affect alliance policies. The case studies on South Korea, Turkey, and the Philippines provide some support for the nexus approach which links domestic circumstances to foreign conditions.
Specificity of Change Management in Public Organizations
Authors: Kickert Walter J. M.
Published: April 2013

This article is about the specificity of change management in public organizations. We analyze change management in a core-governmental type of public organization, that is, ministerial departments. Using six case studies of ministerial reorganizations, we address the question what specific characteristics the conditions for successful organizational change can have there. The case studies show that some of the success conditions did apply to these public organizations, some could be refined and specified, and others did not apply. The case studies also show that the conditions for successful organizational change were not the major explanations for success and failure of change. Change management in this type of public organization is not simply a straightforward application of generic management science insights.
The unbecoming subject of sex: Performativity, interpellation, and the politics of queer theory
Authors: Bunch Mary
Published: April 2013

This paper elaborates a theory of ‘unbecoming’ to explore how a queering of the subject might transform oppressive social conditions. In this analysis of the subject’s deconstructive relation to the law I take up the interpellation scenario forwarded by Louis Althusser and Judith Butler’s theory of performativity to argue that being ‘unbecoming’ potentially not only alters subjectivity, it also alters the very law that hails the subject into being. First, I deconstruct both subject and law in their relation to each other as performatives, for it is at this threshold of undecidability that the possibilities for political transformation emerge. Second, I demonstrate the creative and transformative political force of queer performativity to show that our agency as political beings lies not merely in affirmative representations of identity. Political agency also emerges in the creative force of a becoming that is also an unbecoming, where in and through our abjection from the social order we critique and transform it.
Hypospadias surgery in a West African context: The surgical (re-)construction of what?
Authors: Kraus Cynthia
Published: April 2013

Since the late 1980s, intersex adults and activists have critiqued the clinical recommendations defined in the 1950s to treat children born with ‘ambiguous genitalia’ with normalising medicine. While their struggles continue, in particular to halt the practice of genital surgery in early infancy, some European surgeons travel to African countries to transfer standards of care that have become highly controversial in the North, including in the medical community. Simple disapproval of these tours as ‘surgical safaris’ forecloses the possibility of analysing more complex situations in which the so-called transfer of competence involves surgeons who promote ‘less cutting and more talking’. Such is the case – and the interest – of the surgical missions in West Africa in which I conducted recent fieldwork, accompanying a team of paediatric surgeons from a European university hospital collaborating with a renowned international NGO. This article analyses the ways in which a variation of sex development called hypospadias is framed and managed in this context through what I call a surgical script for hypospadias. I examine the conditions of (im-)possibility for Northern surgeons to operationalise, and sometimes revise, this script at the missions (but also closer to home). I discuss what the surgeons do in practice to reflect critically on the normative work of the surgical script for hypospadias as a social script on morphological ideals of sex, gender and reproductive heterosexuality. I consider in what sense genital surgery can be said to (re-)construct ‘normal’-looking genitalia, but also, fundamentally, the very idea of genitalia.
The U.S. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child: What’s the hold-up?
Authors: Hagues Rachel
Published: April 2013

It took teaching a family policy course for me to realize just how behind the United States is on ratifying international treaties – especially those pertaining to human rights. Though the U.S. expresses a commitment to human rights, has helped draft treaties that proclaim such, and has even signed many of these documents, this means nothing within the continental U.S. if the Senate does not ratify them. Herein, I discuss some of the reasons the U.S. has held back ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Findings

Of important human rights instruments the U.S. has ratified, it has taken an average of nearly 30 years after signing for the Senate to ratify each. Though the U.S. often sets a precedent and example for other countries to follow, it has yet to ratify the CRC. Every other country (minus Somalia) has ratified the Convention. Yet, these countries may not see the importance of enforcing it if the U.S. does not value ratifying it.
Rituximab causes a polarization of B cells that augments its therapeutic function in NK-cell–mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
Authors: Rudnicka Dominika , Oszmiana Anna , Finch Donna K. , Strickland Ian , Schofield Darren J. , Lowe David C. , Sleeman Matthew A. , Davis Daniel M.
Published: April 2013

Key Points

Rituximab causes a polarization of B cells, involving a reorganization of CD20, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and moesin, and orientation of the microtubule organizing center. The polarization of B cells induced by rituximab augments its therapeutic role in triggering ADCC by effector NK cells.
Effect of physical training on airway inflammation in animal models of asthma: a systematic review
Authors: Luks Vanessa , Burkett Andrew , Turner Lucy , Pakhale Smita
Published: April 2013

Background

There is little data on the effect of exercise on markers of airway inflammation in human asthmatics. The main objective of this review is to determine the effects of physical training on markers of airway inflammation in animal models of asthma.

Methods

A peer reviewed search was applied to Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and DARE databases. Data extraction was performed in a blinded fashion.

Results

From the initial 2336 studies, a total of 10 studies were selected for the final analysis. All were randomized controlled trials with low to moderate intensity training on ovalbumin-sensitized mice. In the exercised group of mice, there was a reduction in BAL eosinophils and Th-2 cytokines, no change in Th-1 cytokines, an increase in IL-10, and a reversal of airway remodeling. The data was not pooled owing to significant heterogeneity between studies, and a funnel plot test for publication bias was not performed because there were few studies reporting on any one outcome measure. The asthma models differed between studies in age and gender of mice, as well as in timing of physical training after sensitization. The risk of bias was unclear for some studies though this may not influence outcome measures. The accuracy of data extracted from graphics is unknown.

Conclusions

Physical training improves airway inflammation in animal asthma models.
Mining FDA drug labels for medical conditions
Authors: Li Qi , Deleger Louise , Lingren Todd , Zhai Haijun , Kaiser Megan , Stoutenborough Laura , Jegga Anil G , Cohen Kevin Bretonnel , Solti Imre
Published: April 2013

Background

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) has built the initial Natural Language Processing (NLP) component to extract medications with their corresponding medical conditions (Indications, Contraindications, Overdosage, and Adverse Reactions) as triples of medication-related information ([(1) drug name]-[(2) medical condition]-[(3) LOINC section header]) for an intelligent database system, in order to improve patient safety and the quality of health care. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug labels are used to demonstrate the feasibility of building the triples as an intelligent database system task.

Methods

This paper discusses a hybrid NLP system, called AutoMCExtractor, to collect medical conditions (including disease/disorder and sign/symptom) from drug labels published by the FDA. Altogether, 6,611 medical conditions in a manually-annotated gold standard were used for the system evaluation. The pre-processing step extracted the plain text from XML file and detected eight related LOINC sections (e.g. Adverse Reactions, Warnings and Precautions) for medical condition extraction. Conditional Random Fields (CRF) classifiers, trained on token, linguistic, and semantic features, were then used for medical condition extraction. Lastly, dictionary-based post-processing corrected boundary-detection errors of the CRF step. We evaluated the AutoMCExtractor on manually-annotated FDA drug labels and report the results on both token and span levels.

Results

Precision, recall, and F-measure were 0.90, 0.81, and 0.85, respectively, for the span level exact match; for the token-level evaluation, precision, recall, and F-measure were 0.92, 0.73, and 0.82, respectively.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that (1) medical conditions can be extracted from FDA drug labels with high performance; and (2) it is feasible to develop a framework for an intelligent database system.
Comparison of the differential expression miRNAs in Wistar rats before and 10 days after S.japonicum infection
Authors: Han Hongxiao , Peng Jinbiao , Hong Yang , Zhang Min , Han Yanhui , Fu Zhiqiang , Shi Yaojun , Xu Jinjun , Tao Jianping , Lin Jiaojiao
Published: April 2013

Background

When compared to the murine permissive host of Schistosoma japonicum, Wistar rats are less susceptible to Schistosoma japonicum infection, and are considered to provide a less suitable microenvironment for parasite growth and development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), are a class of endogenous, non-coding small RNAs, that impose an additional, highly significant, level of gene regulation within eukaryotes.

Methods

To investigate the regulatory mechanisms provided by miRNA in the schistosome-infected rat model, we utilized a miRNA microarray to compare the progression of miRNA expression within different host tissues both before and 10 days after cercarial infection, in order to identify potential miRNAs with roles in responding to a schistosome infection.

Results

Among the analysed miRNAs, 16 within the liver, 61 within the spleen and 10 within the lung, were differentially expressed in infected Wistar rats. Further analysis of the differentially expressed miRNAs revealed that many important signal pathways are triggered after infection with S. japonicum in Wistar rats. These include the signal transduction mechanisms associated with the Wnt and MAPK signaling pathways, cellular differentiation, with a particular emphasis on adipocyte and erythroid differentiation.

Conclusions

The results presented here include the identification of specific differentially expressed miRNAs within the liver, lungs and spleen of Wistar rats. These results highlighted the function of host miRNA regulation during an active schistosome infection. Our study provides a better understanding of the regulatory role of miRNA in schistosome infection, and host–parasite interactions in a non-permissive host environment.
Teaching undergraduate students to draw phylogenetic trees: performance measures and partial successes
Authors: Young Aimee K , White Brian T , Skurtu Tara
Published: April 2013

Background

An in-depth understanding of the process and products of evolution is an essential part of a complete biology education. Phylogenetic trees are a very important tool for understanding evolution and presenting evolutionary data. Previous work by others has shown that undergraduate students have difficulty reading and interpreting phylogenetic trees. However, little is known about students’ ability to construct phylogenetic trees.

Methods

This study explores the ability of 160 introductory-level biology undergraduates to draw a correct phylogenetic tree of 20 familiar organisms before, during and after a General Biology course that included several lectures and laboratory activities addressing evolution, phylogeny and ‘tree thinking’. Students’ diagrams were assessed for the presence or absence of important structural features of a phylogenetic tree: connection of all organisms, extant taxa at branch termini, a single common ancestor, branching form, and hierarchical structure. Diagrams were also scored for how accurately they represented the evolutionary relationships of the organisms involved; this included separating major animal groups and particular classification misconceptions.

Results

Our analyses found significant improvement in the students’ ability to construct trees that were structured properly, however, there was essentially no improvement in their ability to accurately portray the evolutionary relationships between the 20 organisms. Students were also asked to describe their rationale for building the tree as they did; we observed only a small effect on this of the curriculum we describe.

Conclusions

Our results provide a measure, a benchmark, and a challenge for the development of effective curricula in this very important part of biology.
Evaluation of androgen-induced effects on the uptake of [18F]FDG, [11C]choline and [11C]acetate in an androgen-sensitive and androgen-independent prostate cancer xenograft model
Authors: Emonds Kimy M , Swinnen Johannes V , Lerut Evelyne , Koole Michel , Mortelmans Luc , Mottaghy Felix M
Published: April 2013

Background

Androgen deprivation (AD) is generally used as a first-line palliative treatment in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after primary therapy. To acquire an accurate detection of tumour viability following AD with positron emission tomography (PET), an androgen-independent uptake of tracers would be advantageous. Several metabolic PET tracers are employed for detecting recurrent PCa. We evaluated the effect of AD on the uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose ([18F]FDG), [11C]choline and [11C]acetate in vivo.

Methods

An [18F]FDG, [11C]choline and [11C]acetate baseline micro(μ)PET/μ computed tomography (CT) scan was subsequently performed in xenografts of androgen-sensitive (LAPC-4) and androgen-independent (22Rv1) tumours in nude mice. An untreated control group was compared to a surgical castration group, i.e. androgen-deprived group. μPET/μCT imaging with the above-mentioned tracers was repeated 5 days after the start of treatment. The percentage change of SUVmax and SUVmeanTH in the tumours was calculated.

Results

AD did not significantly affect the uptake of [18F]FDG and [11C]choline in LAPC-4 tumours as compared with the uptake of both tracers in untreated tumours. In control 22Rv1 tumours, [11C]choline and [18F]FDG uptake increased over time. However, compared with the uptake in control tumours, AD significantly decreased the uptake of [11C]choline and tended to decrease [18F]FDG uptake. [11C]acetate uptake remained unaffected by AD in both PCa xenograft models.

Conclusions

[18F]FDG and especially [11C]choline PET, which is currently used for the detection of recurrent PCa, could miss or underestimate the presence of local recurrent PCa following AD therapy. [11C]acetate uptake occurs independently of androgens and thus may be more favourable for detecting tumour viability during or following AD.
Systematic biases in DNA copy number originate from isolation procedures
Authors: van Heesch Sebastiaan , Mokry Michal , Boskova Veronika , Junker Wade , Mehon Rajdeep , Toonen Pim , de Bruijn Ewart , Shull James D , Aitman Timothy J , Cuppen Edwin , Guryev Victor
Published: April 2013

Background

The ability to accurately detect DNA copy number variation in both a sensitive and quantitative manner is important in many research areas. However, genome-wide DNA copy number analyses are complicated by variations in detection signal.

Results

While GC content has been used to correct for this, here we show that coverage biases are tissue-specific and independent of the detection method as demonstrated by next-generation sequencing and array CGH. Moreover, we show that DNA isolation stringency affects the degree of equimolar coverage and that the observed biases coincide with chromatin characteristics like gene expression, genomic isochores, and replication timing.

Conclusion

These results indicate that chromatin organization is a main determinant for differential DNA retrieval. These findings are highly relevant for germline and somatic DNA copy number variation analyses.
Lamsas, Cacwl, and the South–south Midland Dialect Boundary in Nineteenth-Century North Carolina
Authors: Ellis Michael , Montgomery Michael
Published: April 2013

This article investigates the dialect boundary that separates the eastern and western halves of North Carolina using data collected by two very different projects, the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States (LAMSAS) and the Corpus of American Civil War Letters (CACWL). Using LAMSAS data collected in the 1930s from speakers born in the late-nineteenth century, Hans Kurath posited that such a boundary extended across North Carolina northward into Virginia and southwestward into South Carolina and that it demarcated the South Midland speech region from the South. An analysis of lexical and grammatical variants in the 2,299 letters (representing one million words) of the CACWL North Carolina sample provides important real-time confirmation of Kurath's claim for the boundary. It also suggests that the boundary was established well before the beginning of the Civil War. No doubt the South–South Midland boundary in North Carolina was in large part a consequence of the migration of Scotch-Irish and German settlers from Pennsylvania into the western half of the state before the end of the eighteenth century. However, while the Scotch-Irish influence appears to have remained strong and perhaps even spread in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the German influence was already on the decline toward the end of the antebellum period and had almost disappeared by the time the LAMSAS fieldwork was carried out.
Provoking progress: a new chapter
Authors: Siegel Vivian
Published: April 2013

Journals do more than publish collections of research articles and reviews; they also create community, influence standards for community behavior and ‘provoke progress’ in a particular field. In this Editorial, founding Editor-in-Chief Vivian Siegel compares launching a journal to raising a child, and reflects on the choices and successes of her tenure at DMM as she passes the leadership of the journal to new editors.