bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pyopericardium complicated with cardiac tamponade: an unusual presenting manifestation of primary pyomyositis
Authors: Kumar Susheel , Sharma Navneet , Singh Rajveer , Bhalla Ashish , Varma Subhash
Published: April 2013

Primary pyomyositis is an infective condition mainly involving the skeletal muscles. Various cardiac complications reported are acute bacterial endocarditis, pyogenic pericarditis, pancarditis and, very rarely, pyopericardium presenting as cardiac tamponade. We report a case of 15-year-old boy presenting with complaints of fever, progressive shortness of breath and retrosternal pleuritic chest pain. He also complained of painful swellings of left arm, left side of neck and left thigh extending up to the knee joint. Ultrasonography showed collections in the: bilateral sternocleidomastoid; subclavius; left thigh muscles; and left knee joint. Echocardiography showed evidence of cardiac tamponade. He underwent emergent pericardiocentesis and frank pus was drained. Pus culture grew Methicillin resistant Staphylococcous aureus. With drainage and the appropriate antibiotics, he improved.
Diffusion, Mediation, Suppression: India’s Varied Strategy towards the Tamil Insurgency in Sri Lanka
Authors: Sengupta Debjani , Ganguly Rajat
Published: April 2013

India’s strategy towards the Tamil insurgency in Sri Lanka shifted over the course of the conflict from a strategy of diffusion to a strategy of mediation and then finally to a strategy of suppression—each strategy marking a distinct phase in the conflict. While India’s strategy shifted at different phases in the Sri Lankan conflict, the foundation on which the strategies were based—considerations of national security—remained constant. The central argument of the article is that consideration of national security, in both its internal and external dimensions, has been the main driver of India’s strategy towards the Tamil insurgency in Sri Lanka. The empirical analysis confirms the strength of the realist dictum that national interest understood primarily in terms of national security plays the pivotal role in states’ foreign policy behaviour.
Scleral buckling versus vitrectomy for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment as accessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: a retrospective observational case series
Authors: Huang Chunmei , Fu Te , Zhang Tonghe , Wu Xinyi , Ji Qiang , Tan Ruili
Published: April 2013

Background

Scleral buckling surgery and pars plana vitrectomy are competing methods in the treatment of retinal detachment. The recent development of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) has dramatically improved the visualization of the photoreceptor layer relative to conventional OCT, and offers new opportunities to investigate the discordances between anatomic and functional outcomes after retinal detachment surgery. Hence, the study aim was to use SD-OCT to compare the postoperative macular recovery between scleral buckling and vitrectomy for macular-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Methods

In this retrospective observational case series, we observed 32 patients who underwent scleral buckling surgery (group 1) and 26 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (group 2) as the primary surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. OCT was used to examine microstructural changes in the macular area.

Results

The mean visual acuity improvement was 0.4 ± 0.8 logMAR in group 1 and 0.7 ± 0.9 logMAR in group 2. As detected by SD-OCT, subretinal fluid was present in 26 of the group 1 eyes (81.3%) and 5 of the group 2 eyes (19.2%) at 8 weeks postoperatively.

This difference was statistically significant (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05). Moreover, detection by SD-OCT revealed epiretinal membranes in 5 of the group 1 eyes (15.6%) and 11 of the group 2 eyes (42.3%), a difference that was statistically significant (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Macular recovery and the mean visual acuity differed between the 2 groups of patients. With the help of SD-OCT, we observed that subretinal fluids could persist for a relatively longer period after scleral buckling. Based on our results, we conclude that primary vitrectomy surgery is a better choice for macular recovery of the macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
A member of the CPW-WPC protein family is expressed in and localized to the surface of developing ookinetes
Authors: Kangwanrangsan Niwat , Tachibana Mayumi , Jenwithisuk Rachaneeporn , Tsuboi Takafumi , Riengrojpitak Suda , Torii Motomi , Ishino Tomoko
Published: April 2013

Background

Despite the development of malaria control programs, billions of people are still at risk for this infectious disease. Recently, the idea of the transmission-blocking vaccine, which works by interrupting the infection of mosquitoes by parasites, has gained attention as a promising strategy for malaria control and eradication. To date, a limited number of surface proteins have been identified in mosquito-stage parasites and investigated as potential targets for transmission-blocking vaccines. Therefore, for the development of effective transmission-blocking strategies in epidemic areas, it is necessary to identify novel zygote/ookinete surface proteins as candidate antigens.

Methods

Since the expression of many zygote/ookinete proteins is regulated post-transcriptionally, proteins that are regulated by well-known translational mediators were focused. Through in silico screening, CPW-WPC family proteins were selected as potential zygote/ookinete surface proteins. All experiments were performed in the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium yoelii XNL. mRNA and protein expression profiles were examined by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively, over the course of the life cycle of the malaria parasite. Protein function was also investigated by the generation of gene-disrupted transgenic parasites.

Results

The CPW-WPC protein family, named after the unique WxC repeat domains, is highly conserved among Plasmodium species. It is revealed that CPW-WPC mRNA transcripts are transcribed in gametocytes, while CPW-WPC proteins are expressed in zygote/ookinete-stage parasites. Localization analysis reveals that one of the CPW-WPC family members, designated as PyCPW-WPC-1, is a novel zygote/ookinete stage-specific surface protein. Targeted disruption of the pycpw-wpc-1 gene caused no obvious defects during ookinete and oocyst formation, suggesting that PyCPW-WPC-1 is not essential for mosquito-stage parasite development.

Conclusions

It is demonstrated that PyCPW-WPC-1 can be classified as a novel, post-transcriptionally regulated zygote/ookinete surface protein. Additional studies are required to determine whether all CPW-WPC family members are also present on the ookinete surface and share similar biological roles during mosquito-stage parasite development. Further investigations of CPW-WPC family proteins may facilitate understanding of parasite biology in the mosquito stage and development of transmission-blocking vaccines.
Socioeconomic deprivation as a determinant of cancer mortality and the Hispanic paradox in Texas, USA
Authors: Philips Jr Billy U , Belasco Eric , Markides Kyriakos S , Gong Gordon
Published: April 2013

Introduction

We have recently reported that delayed cancer detection is associated with the Wellbeing Index (WI) for socioeconomic deprivation, lack of health insurance, physician shortage, and Hispanic ethnicity. The current study investigates whether these factors are determinants of cancer mortality in Texas, the United States of America (USA).

Methods

Data for breast, colorectal, female genital system, lung, prostate, and all-type cancers are obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry. A weighted regression model for non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and African Americans is used with age-adjusted mortality (2004–2008 data combined) for each county as the dependent variable while independent variables include WI, percentage of the uninsured, and physician supply.

Results

Higher mortality for breast, female genital system, lung, and all-type cancers is associated with higher WI among non-Hispanic whites and/or African Americans but with lower WI in Hispanics after adjusting for physician supply and percentage of the uninsured. Mortality for all the cancers studied is in the following order from high to low: African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics. Lung cancer mortality is particularly low in Hispanics, which is only 35% of African Americans’ mortality and 40% of non-Hispanic whites’ mortality.

Conclusions

Higher degree of socioeconomic deprivation is associated with higher mortality of several cancers among non-Hispanic whites and African Americans, but with lower mortality among Hispanics in Texas. Also, mortality rates of all these cancers studied are the lowest in Hispanics. Further investigations are needed to better understand the mechanisms of the Hispanic Paradox.
Interaction of occupational manganese exposure and alcohol drinking aggravates the increase of liver enzyme concentrations from a cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Deng Qi , Liu Jing , Li Qing , Chen Kangcheng , Liu Zhenfang , Shen Yuefei , Niu Piye , Yang Yiping , Zou Yunfeng , Yang Xiaobo
Published: April 2013

Background

Over exposure to manganese (Mn) can damage the human central nervous system and potentially cause liver toxicity. Alcohol drinking is also one of the well-known harmful factors to hepatic organism. The interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption to liver function was investigated in this study.

Methods

A total of 1112 on-the-spot workers were included in the cross-sectional survey from a large scale of manganese exposed workers healthy cohort (MEWHC) in a ferro-manganese refinery company. A questionnaire was used to collect the demographic information, occupational history, and alcohol drinking habits. Occupational health examination was carried out for each worker. The five key serum indices, including total bilirubin (TBILI), direct bilirubin (DBILI), indirect bilirubin (IBILI), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), were determined to evaluate the liver function of each subject.

Results

Workers exposed to high levels of Mn had significantly elevated serum concentrations of liver enzymes (DBILI: 3.84±1.20 μmol/L, ALT: 27.04±19.12 IU/L, and AST: 29.96±16.68 IU/L), when compared to those in the low-exposure group (DBIL: 3.54±0.85 μmol/L, ALT: 20.38±10.97 IU/L, and AST: 26.39±8.07 IU/L), all P<0.01. These serum indices had a significantly increasing trend with the elevation of Mn exposure level (P
trend <0.01). In addition, the workers with alcohol drinking also showed higher concentrations of liver enzymes than those non-drinkers, especially, and there was significant interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption in terms of these three indices (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Occupational exposure to Mn can lead to a dose-dependent increase of liver enzyme concentrations, and interact with alcohol drinking to potentially aggravate the liver damage. It will be important for Mn exposed workers to control drinking and also assess liver function in the occupational health examination.
Biomimetic one-pot synthesis of gold nanoclusters/nanoparticles for targeted tumor cellular dual-modality imaging
Authors: Lin Jing , Zhou Zhijun , Li Zhiming , Zhang Chunlei , Wang Xiansong , Wang Kan , Gao Guo , Huang Peng , Cui Daxiang
Published: April 2013

Biomimetic synthesis has become a promising green pathway to prepare nanomaterials. In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated gold nanoclusters/nanoparticles were successfully synthesized in water at room temperature by a protein-directed, solution-phase, green synthetic method. The synthesized BSA-Au nanocomplexes have fluorescence emission (588 nm) of gold nanoclusters and surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles. The BSA-Au nanocomplexes display non-cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility on MGC803 gastric cancer cells. After conjugation of folic acid molecules, the obtained BSA-Au nanocomplexes showed highly selective targeting for MGC803 cells and dual-modality dark-field and fluorescence imaging.
The “fossilized” mitochondrial genome of Liriodendron tulipifera: ancestral gene content and order, ancestral editing sites, and extraordinarily low mutation rate
Authors: Richardson Aaron O , Rice Danny W , Young Gregory J , Alverson Andrew J , Palmer Jeffrey D
Published: April 2013

Background

The mitochondrial genomes of flowering plants vary greatly in size, gene content, gene order, mutation rate and level of RNA editing. However, the narrow phylogenetic breadth of available genomic data has limited our ability to reconstruct these traits in the ancestral flowering plant and, therefore, to infer subsequent patterns of evolution across angiosperms.

Results

We sequenced the mitochondrial genome ofLiriodendron tulipifera, the first from outside the monocots or eudicots. This 553,721 bp mitochondrial genome has evolved remarkably slowly in virtually all respects, with an extraordinarily low genome-wide silent substitution rate, retention of genes frequently lost in other angiosperm lineages, and conservation of ancestral gene clusters. The mitochondrial protein genes inLiriodendronare the most heavily edited of any angiosperm characterized to date. Most of these sites are also edited in various other lineages, which allowed us to polarize losses of editing sites in other parts of the angiosperm phylogeny. Finally, we added comprehensive gene sequence data for two other magnoliids,Magnolia stellataand the more distantly relatedCalycanthus floridus,to measure rates of sequence evolution inLiriodendronwith greater accuracy. TheMagnoliagenome has evolved at an even lower rate, revealing a roughly 5,000-fold range of synonymous-site divergence among angiosperms whose mitochondrial gene space has been comprehensively sequenced.

Conclusions

UsingLiriodendronas a guide, we estimate that the ancestral flowering plant mitochondrial genome contained 41 protein genes, 14 tRNA genes of mitochondrial origin, as many as 7 tRNA genes of chloroplast origin, >700 sites of RNA editing, and some 14 colinear gene clusters. Many of these gene clusters, genes and RNA editing sites have been variously lost in different lineages over the course of the ensuing ∽200 million years of angiosperm evolution.
The Th17/Treg balance and the expression of related cytokines in Uygur cervical cancer patients
Authors: Chen Zhifang , Ding Jianbing , Pang Nannan , Du Rong , Meng Wei , Zhu Yuejie , Zhang Yi , Ma Cailing , Ding Yan
Published: April 2013

Background

The fine balance of Th17/Treg is crucial for maintenance of immune homeostasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the balance of Th17/Treg and the expression of related cytokines in Uighur cervical cancer patients.

Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from 65 cases of cervical cancer patients, 42 cases of cervical CIN patients and 40 healthy people. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentages of T cell subsets, including CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, Treg cells and Th17 cells. ELISA assay was conducted to detect expression levels of TGF-β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23 and IFN-γ.

Results

There were no significant difference in the levels of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ among the cervical cancer group, the CIN group and the healthy control group. However, compared with the healthy control group, the percentages of CD4+ CD25+ Treg, CD4+CD25+CD127- Treg, CD4+IL17+ Th17, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+, CD8+CD25+CD127-Treg and CD8+CD25+Foxp3 were significantly higher in the cervical cancer group and the CIN group. Similar results were also found in the Th17/Treg ratio and the related cytokines. There was no significant difference between the cervical cancer group and the CIN group. Additionally, Th17 cell levels were positively correlated with IL-6, IL-23 and IL-17. Also, Treg cell levels were positively correlated with TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-6. Contrarily, Treg cell levels and IFN-γ were negatively correlated.

Conclusions

Our data indicated that the Th17/Treg balance was broken in peripheral blood of cervical cancer patients. Analysis of Th17/Treg balance may have a significant implication in diagnosing cervical cancer.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1813823795931511
Retroperitoneal composite pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Hu Jinchen , Wu Jitao , Cai Li , Jiang Lei , Lang Zhiqiang , Qu Guimei , Liu Houcai , Yao Weidong , Yu Guohua
Published: April 2013

Composite pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma is a rare tumor with elements of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma and neurogenic tumor. Most were located in the adrenal glands, and extra-adrenal composite pheochromocytoma is extremely rare. Only 4 cases in the retroperitoneum have been described in the online database PUBMED. Here, we report a case of retroperitoneal extra-adrenal composite pheochromocytoma and review the related literature.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1700539911908679
Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys of the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China)
Authors: Kang Yongxiang , Łuczaj Łukasz , Kang Jin , Zhang Shijiao
Published: April 2013

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate knowledge and use of wild food plants in two mountain valleys separated by Mount Taibai – the highest peak of northern China and one of its biodiversity hotspots, each adjacent to species-rich temperate forest vegetation.

Methods

Seventy two free lists were collected among the inhabitants of two mountain valleys (36 in each). All the studied households are within walking distance of primary forest vegetation, however the valleys differed in access to urban centers: Houzhenzi is very isolated, and the Dali valley has easier access to the cities of central Shaanxi.

Results

Altogether, 185 wild food plant species and 17 fungi folk taxa were mentioned. The mean number of freelisted wild foods was very high in Houzhenzi (mean 25) and slightly lower in Dali (mean 18). An average respondent listed many species of wild vegetables, a few wild fruits and very few fungi. Age and male gender had a positive but very low effect on the number of taxa listed.

Twelve taxa of wild vegetables (Alliumspp.,Amaranthusspp.,Caryopteris divaricata,Helwingia japonica,Matteucia struthiopteris,Pteridium aquilinum,Toona sinensis,Cardamine macrophylla,Celastrus orbiculatus,Chenopodium album,Pimpinellasp.,Staphylea bumalda&S. holocarpa), two species of edible fruits (Akebia trifoliata,Schisandra sphenanthera) and none of the mushrooms were freelisted by at least half of the respondents in one or two of the valleys.

Conclusion

The high number of wild vegetables listed is due to the high cultural position of this type of food in China compared to other parts of the world, as well as the high biodiversity of the village surroundings. A very high proportion of woodland species (42%, double the number of the ruderal species used) among the listed taxa is contrary to the general stereotype that wild vegetables in Asia are mainly ruderal species.

The very low interest in wild mushroom collecting is noteworthy and is difficult to explain. It may arise from the easy access to the cultivatedAuriculariaandLentinulamushrooms and very steep terrain, making foraging for fungi difficult.
A comparative dosimetric study for treating left-sided breast cancer for small breast size using five different radiotherapy techniques: conventional tangential field, filed-in-filed, Tangential-IMRT, Multi-beam IMRT and VMAT
Authors: Jin Guang-Hua , Chen Li-Xin , Deng Xiao-Wu , Liu Xiao-Wei , Huang Ying , Huang Xiao-Bo
Published: April 2013

Background and purposes

To compare the dosimetry for the left-sided breast cancer treatment using five different radiotherapy techniques.

Materials and methods

Twenty patients with left sided breast cancer were treated with conservative surgery followed by radiotherapy. They were planned using five different radiotherapy techniques, including: 1) conventional tangential wedge-based fields (TW); 2) field-in-field (FIF) technique; 3) tangential inverse planning intensity-modulated radiation therapy (T-IMRT); 4) multi-field IMRT (M-IMRT); and 5) volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). The CTV, PTV and OARs including the heart, the regions of coronary artery (CA), the contralateral breast, the left and right lung were delineated. The PTV dose was prescribed 50Gy and V47.5≥95%. Same dose constraint was used for all five plans. The planned volumetric dose of PTV and PRV-OARs were compared and analyzed.

Results

Except VMAT (Average V47.5 was 94.72%±1.2%), all the other four plans were able to meet the V95% (V47.5) requirement. T-IMRT plan improved the PTV dose homogeneity index (HI) by 0.02 and 0.03 when compared to TW plan and VMAT plan, and decreased the V5, V10 and V20 of all PRV-OARs. However, the high dose volume (≥ 30Gy) of the PRV-OARs in T-IMRT plan had no statistically significant difference compared with the other two inverse plans. In all five plans, the dose volume of coronary artery area showed a strong correlation to the dose volume of the heart (the correlation coefficients were 0.993, 0.996, 1.000, 0.995 and 0.986 respectively).

Conclusion

Compared to other techniques, the T-IMRT technology reduced radiation dose exposure to normal tissues and maintained reasonable target homogeneity, VMAT is not recommended for left-sided breast cancer treatment. In five techniques, the dose-volume histogram (DVH) of the heart can be used to predict the dose-volume histogram (DVH) of the coronary artery.
Feline vector-borne pathogens in the north and centre of Portugal
Authors: Vilhena Hugo , Martinez-Díaz Verónica L , Cardoso Luís , Vieira Lisete , Altet Laura , Francino Olga , Pastor Josep , Silvestre-Ferreira Ana C
Published: April 2013

Background

In recent years, several clinical cases and epidemiological studies of feline vector-borne diseases (FVBD) have been reported worldwide. Nonetheless, information on FVBD agents and their prevalence in Portugal is scarce.

Methods

Three-hundred and twenty domestic cats presented to 30 veterinary medical centres in the north and centre regions of Portugal were randomly sampled. Blood was assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for genera Anaplasma/Ehrlichia, genus Babesia, Hepatozoon canis, Hepatozoon felis, Leishmania infantum and the genus Rickettsia. Babesia-positive samples were further tested for Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli.

Results

Eighty (25.0%) out of the 320 cats were positive to at least one vector-borne agent, including seven (2.2%) cats co-infected with two agents. Two cats (0.6%) were infected with Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., four (1.3%) with B. canis, 26 (8.1%) with B. vogeli, 50 (15.6%) with H. felis, one (0.3%) with L. infantum and four (1.3%) with Rickettsia spp. No cat tested positive for H. canis. One cat (0.3%) was co-infected with B. canis and B. vogeli, three (0.9%) with B. vogeli and H. felis, one (0.3%) with H. felis and L. infantum, and two (0.6%) with H. felis and Rickettsia spp.

Conclusions

A considerable prevalence of infection with vector-borne pathogens among the domestic feline population of the north and centre of Portugal has been revealed by the present study. Additionally, this is the first detection of B. vogeli in cats from Europe and of H. felis in cats from Portugal.
Epithelium and stroma from nasal polyp mucosa exhibits inverse expression of TGF-β1 as compared with healthy nasal mucosa
Authors: Balsalobre Leonardo , Pezato Rogério , Perez-Novo Claudina , Alves Maria Teresa S , Santos Rodrigo P , Bachert Claus , Weckx Luc LM
Published: April 2013

Objective

To evaluate TGF-β1 expression in polypoid mucosa (epithelium and stroma) of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP).

Methods

Cross-sectional study with two groups: 17 patients with nasal polyposis and 11 controls. Polyps and normal nasal mucosa were processed by immunohistochemical methods for TGF-β1 visualization. Then, the percentage of TGF-β1 expression in stroma and epithelium was objectively quantified using UT Morph software.

Results

A lower percentage of positive expression was found in the epithelium of CRSwNP patients (32.44%) versus normal controls (55.91%) (p < 0.05), and a higher percentage of positive expression in the stroma of CRSwNP patients (23.24%) versus controls (5.88%) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The lower percentage of TGF-β1 expression in the nasal epithelium of CRSwNP patients may have an impact on epithelium-directed topical treatments employed in this patient population.
NAC changes the course of cerebral small vessel disease in SHRSP and reveals new insights for the meaning of stases - a randomized controlled study
Authors: Bueche Celine Zoe , Garz Cornelia , Kropf Siegfried , Bittner Daniel , Li Wenjie , Goertler Michael , Heinze Hans-Jochen , Reymann Klaus , Braun Holger , Schreiber Stefanie
Published: April 2013

Background

N-Acetylcystein (NAC) reduces the reperfusion injury and infarct size in experimental macroangiopathic stroke. Here we now investigate the impact of NAC on the development of the histopathology of microangiopathic cerebrovascular disease including initial intravasal erythrocyte accumulations, blood–brain-barrier (BBB)-disturbances, microbleeds and infarcts.

Methods

Spontaneously Hypertensive Stroke-Prone Rats (SHRSP) were treated with NAC (12 mg/kg body weight, daily oral application for three to 30 weeks) and compared to untreated SHRSP. In all rats the number of microbleeds, thromboses, infarcts and stases were quantified by HE-staining. Exemplary brains were stained against von Willebrand factor (vWF), IgG, Glutathione and GFAP.

Results

NAC animals exhibited significant more microbleeds, a greater number of vessels with BBB-disturbances, but also an elevation of Glutathione-levels in astrocytes surrounding small vessels. NAC-treatment reduced the numbers of thromboses, infarcts and arteriolar stases.

Conclusions

NAC reduces the frequency of thromboses and infarcts to the expense of an increase of small microbleeds in a rat model of microangiopathic cerebrovascular disease. We suppose that NAC acts via an at least partial inactivation of vWF resulting in an insufficient sealing of initial endothelial injury leading to more small microbleeds. By elevating Glutathione-levels NAC most likely exerts a radical scavenger function and protects small vessels against extended ruptures and subsequent infarcts. Finally, it reveals that stases are mainly caused by endothelial injuries and restricted thromboses.
Verse as a semiotic system
Authors: Lotman Mihhail
Published: April 2013

Poetry is an important challenge for semiotics, and a special area of study for the Tartu-Moscow semiotic school, since the first volume of Sign Systems Studies was Juri Lotman’s monograph Lectures on Structural Poetics (1964). From then on the concept of poetry as one of the secondary modelling systems has evolved, since in relation to poetry, the primary modelling system is natural language. In this paper, the concept of semiotic system has been re-examined and the treatment of primary and secondary semiotic systems has been significantly revised. A semiotic system can be characterized not only by its internal structure and other systems to which it is related, but also by the field upon what it is realized. The latter aspect has gained almost no attention in any treatment of semiotics; the execution of a sign is understood in the spirit of Saussure and Hjelmslev as a material realization of an abstract element (for instance, a chess piece knight can be realized with wood or plastic, but it can also remain purely virtual). At first, distinction is made between language and sign system. Every sign system consists of language and field. There are three different kinds of fields: 1) just a background – footprints on sand are a sign on the background of sand; 2) a material structured field (a football ground or a chess board in the game called Chapayev) and 3) an abstract structured field, which in its turn consists of other fields (for instance, the chess board which consists of 64 fields). Differently from a football ground, a chess board can be a purely virtual one on which virtual pieces are moved (for instance, in case of blindfold or correspondence chess). The field in its turn can be language and one language can use another language as its field. In this case we speak of primary and secondary sign systems. For instance, the prosodic system of language is a field for a verse metre, while the semantic system of language is a field for a narrative.
Maximilian Voloshin's classical metres
Authors: Karlovsky Igor
Published: April 2013

Maximilian Voloshin turned to classical metres after he moved to Crimea that in his consciousness had associations with Hellas. Also, his friendship with Vyacheslav Ivanov became an important stimulus. Initially, Voloshin used the same metres that can be found in Ivanov's collection of poems Кормчие звезды. However, their form shows that Voloshin was well familiar with classical poetry.
Goethe's glosses to translation
Authors: Gorlée Dinda L.
Published: April 2013

The logical and illogical unity of translation with a triadic approach was mediated by Peirce's three-way semiotics of sign, object, and interpretant. Semiotranslation creates a dynamic network of Peircean interpretants, which deal with artificial but alive signs progressively growing from undetermined ("bad") versions to higher determined ("good") translations. The three-way forms of translation were mentioned by Goethe. He imitated the old Persian poetry of Hafiz (14th Century) to compose his German paraphrase of West-östlicher Divan (1814–1819). To justify the liberties of his own translation/paraphrase, Goethe furnished notes in Noten und Abhandlungen and Paralipomena (1818–1819). Through his critical glosses, he explained information, adaptation, and reproduction of the foreign culture and literature (old Persian written in Arabic script) to become transplanted into the "equivalent" in German 19th Century verse. As critical patron of translation and cultural agent, Goethe's Divan notes are a parody mixing Orient and Occident. He built a (lack of) likeness, pointing in the pseudo-semiosis of translation to first and second degenerate types of object and sign.
The mythopoetical model and logic of the concrete in Quechua culture: Cultural and transcultural translation problems
Authors: Almeida Ileana , Haidar Julieta
Published: April 2013

This article deals mainly with problems of cultural/transcultural translation between the Quechua and Spanish cultures, analysing these on the basis of some ideas by Juri Lotman and Peeter Torop. The process of translation implies considering the Quechua semiosphere’s internal borders as well as the external borders related to the cultures that existed at the time of Tahuantin Suyo, and all changes that have come from the Spanish conquest of Latin America. In the case of the Quechua culture, the problems are numerous and conflicting in several dimensions. First of all, Quechua is an agglutinating language that creates problems for translation into a flexional language such as Spanish. Secondly, and more importantly, there exists a mythopoetical model of the world that has been built in this culture, which does not use concepts of rational logic, but poetic images integrated into mythical thinking: it represents a  different cognitive pattern. Thirdly, the presence of the logic of the concrete in Quechua culture, articulated with the mythopoetical model, makes translation from Western abstract formal logic difficult. Reflections on these issues provide new analytical possibilities.
‘Distinction’ in the third sector
Authors: Macmillan Rob
Published: April 2013

Claims for the distinctiveness of third sector organisations are a relatively widespread and familiar feature of third sector commentary and analysis. This paper reviews relevant theoretical and empirical research to examine the idea of distinctiveness, arguing that such claims remain inconclusive. Informed by a view of the third sector as a contested ‘field’, and drawing on Bourdieu's notion of ‘distinction’, the paper suggests that research attention should focus additionally on the strategic purpose of claims for distinctiveness, rather than simply continue what might be a ‘holy grail’ search for its existence. The paper uses this argument to complicate and extend the idea of the third sector as a ‘strategic unity’, and concludes by suggesting some further lines of enquiry for third sector research.
Understanding financial vulnerability in UK third sector organisations: methodological considerations and applications for policy, practice and research
Authors: Dayson Chris
Published: April 2013

Financial vulnerability describes a non-profit organisation's susceptibility to crisis in the wake of financial turbulence, particularly if such crises are likely to culminate in an organisation failing to deliver its mission. As a concept, ‘financial vulnerability’ has particular resonance in times of economic upheaval and uncertainty and it has emerged as one of the pervading discourses of non-profit–state relations in the United Kingdom (UK) during the past four years. Despite this apparent importance, it has been paid relatively little attention by researchers of the UK third sector. This article draws on lessons from research on the financial vulnerability of non-profit organisations in the United States and UK pilot studies to discuss the benefits, applications and methodological challenges of undertaking such research on the UK third sector, and to set out steps that need to be taken if financial vulnerability in the third sector is to become a clearly defined topic for future research.
Modelling and Simulation Heat Transfer in Wheat Stored in a Simulated Sealed Pit
Authors: Stenning Brian C.
Published: April 2013

A mathematical model was developed to predict the change of temperature distribution with time in the radial and axial directions in a simulated sealed cylindrical pit. The finite difference method was used in the model to calculate the conductive heat transfer. The model can predict the grain temperatures in the pit during the storage period using input data of initial grain temperature, storage time and number of spatial elements in both radial and axial directions. Other input data include the finite difference spatial increment in both directions, the finite time increment, temperatures of soil surrounding the pit and the physical properties of grain, pit wall material and surrounding soil. To validate the model, predicted temperatures were compared with measured data for wheat of Apollo variety being stored in a simulated sealed pit for a period of 70 days. The wheat was stored in a cylindrical mild steel tank with 0.6 m in both diameter and height. The initial grain temperature was 15°C. Both measured and predicted wheat temperatures attained equilibrium state within a short period of storage (2 to 6 days) and the equilibrium was maintained throughout the experiment period. The conductive heat transfer model predicted the grain temperatures accurately and within the bounds of the experimental error. The standard error of estimate between measured and predicted was 0.12°C -0.25°C.
The Digestibility and Thermal Properties of Fermented Flaxseed Protein
Authors: Wu Min , Wang Li-jun , Li Dong , Wang Yong , Mao Zhi-huai , Chen Xiao Dong
Published: April 2013

The effects of solid fermentation conditions such as the incubation period, fermentation temperature, initial pH, and inoculum concentration on protease production and in vitro digestibility of flaxseed protein with Aspergillus oryzae 3.951 were reported. From 72h of fermentation at 30 °C, protease activity and protein digestibility were significantly increased. Maximum protease activity was obtained for high temperature-pressed flaxseed meal (HFM) and cold-pressed flaxseed meal (CFM) with initial pH 4.4-5.2, inoculum concentration 0.5×106 spores /mL. The results showed that the melting temperature (Td) increased by 4.8 °C and 7.6 °C for fermented CFM and HFM, respectively. In DSC tests, the enthalpy value is defined as the quantity of heat absorbed by samples during warming process. Results indicate that the enthalpy value of fermented samples significantly reduced from 186.5 J/g to 148.9 J/g (CFM) and from 187.0 J/g to 163.3 J/g (HFM). The result suggests that the lower molecular weight protein was degraded by protease, and the remaining were globulin with greater thermal stability and higher molecular weight.
Image inpainting via variational approximation of
a Dirichlet problem with free discontinuity
Authors: Carriero Michele , Leaci Antonio , Tomarelli Franco
Published: April 2013

We study the variational approximation of an
inpainting model for 2-dimensional images which are locally damaged. The scheme provides Γ-convergence of elliptic functionals to a Dirichlet problem with free discontinuity and free gradient discontinuity.
Visible shoreline results for staircase paths in ℝd
Authors: Breen Marilyn
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Let S be a staircase convex orthogonal polytope in ℝd. For every d and j; 1 ≤ d and 0 ≤ j ≤ d - 1, let ƒ(d; j) denote the smallest number n such that the following holds: For P ⊆ ℝd\(int S), if every n points of P see a common j-dimensional subset of bdry S via staircase paths in ℝd\(int S), then all points of P see a common j-dimensional subset of bdry S via such paths. When S belongs to a certain class of orthogonal polytopes called elementary, it follows that

• ƒ(d; d - 1) = 2d for d ≥ 1,

• ƒ(d; j) ≤ 2d for d ≥ 2; 0 ≤ j ≤ d - 2,

• ƒ(2; j) = 4 for 0 ≤ j ≤ 1, and

• ƒ(3; j) = 6 for 0 ≤ j ≤ 2.
Topsy-Turvy World: Circular Motion, Contrariety, and Aristotle’s Unwinding Spheres
Authors: Noble Christopher Isaac
Published: April 2013

In developing his theory of aether in De Caelo 1, Aristotle argues, in DC 1.4, that one circular motion cannot be contrary to another. In this paper, I discuss how Aristotle can maintain this position and accept the existence of celestial spheres that rotate in contrary directions, as he does in his revision of the Eudoxan theory in Metaphysics 12.8.
Incentive Effects of Parents’ Transfers to Children: An Artefactual Field Experiment
Authors: Sinan Unur A. , Peters Elizabeth , Messer Kent D. , Schulze William D.
Published: April 2013

The standard altruism model within the family predicts that transfers will be inversely related to the recipient’s income. Thus, parents will implicitly insure children against bad luck. This insurance may cause children to take undesirable risks. Anticipating this moral hazard, parents may alter their transfers. Using an artefactual field experiment, we show that parents use transfers to compensate for differences between their teenage children when incomes are independent of children’s actions. However, when a potential incentive problem is introduced, parents generally move away from compensating transfers. In addition, we find that the teenage children are more likely to take unfair bets when their behavior is not detectable by their parents.
Neurokinin receptors in the gastrointestinal muscle wall: cell distribution and possible roles
Authors: Vannucchi Maria Giuliana , Evangelista Stefano
Published: April 2013

The neurokinin receptors are G-protein-linked receptors; three distinct molecules, called neurokinin-1, neurokinin-2, and neurokinin-3 receptors, have been identified. Their physiological ligands are the tachykinins, which, in the mammalian gut, correspond to substance P, neurokinin A, and neurokinin B. In this apparatus, the main source of tachykinins is represented by intrinsic neurons located either in the myenteric plexus and projecting mainly to the muscle coat, or in the submucous plexus and projecting to the mucosa and submucosal blood vessels. The availability of specific antibodies has allowed identifying the sites of distribution of the neurokinin receptors in the gut, and important differences have been found among cell types and animal species. The complexity of the receptor distribution, either intraspecies or interspecies, is in agreement with the variegated picture coming out from physiological and pharmacological experiments. Interestingly, most of the knowledge on the tachykinin systems has been obtained from pathological conditions. Here, we tried to collect the main information available on the cellular distribution of the neurokinin receptors in the gut wall in the attempt to correlate their cell location with the several roles the tachykinins seem to play in the gastrointestinal apparatus.
Recent introduction of Gracilaria parvispora (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) in Baja California, Mexico
Authors: García-Rodríguez Luis Daniel , Riosmena-Rodríguez Rafael , Kim Su Yeon , López-Meyer Melina , Orduña-Rojas Javier , López-Vivas Juan Manuel , Boo Sung Min
Published: April 2013

Gracilaria parvispora is reported for the first time as an invasive species in northwestern Mexico based on morphological, anatomical and molecular data. The species is widely distributed in the region, where it colonizes sandy and rocky habitats from intertidal areas down to a depth of 1.5 m. The morphological and anatomical data from the Mexican specimens matched the circumscription of the species in Hawaiian waters. Two molecular markers (rbcL and cox1) showed that the Mexican populations were closer to the Hawaiian populations than the Korean populations, which may relate to a similarity in seawater temperatures between Hawaii and Baja California. Gracilaria parvispora formed extensive mats together with Gracilaria vermiculophylla. It was found in stomach samples from a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the coastal lagoons of Baja California Sur. The ecological impacts of the two alien Gracialria species on other native species and communities have yet to be determined. This is the first demonstration of a second invasive Gracilaria species, following the introduction of G. vermiculophylla into the northwestern Mexico region.
Biological variation and reference change values of common clinical chemistry and haematologic laboratory analytes in the elderly population
Authors: Pineda-Tenor Daniel , Laserna-Mendieta Emilio José , Timón-Zapata Jesús , Rodelgo-Jiménez Laura , Ramos-Corral Raquel , Recio-Montealegre Antonio , Reus Manuel Gómez-Serranillos
Published: April 2013

Background: Biological variation (BV) and reference change values (RCVs) have been widely described for the general population, but the use of these data derived from adults in the elderly population is a controversial issue. We determined the within- and between-subject BV and RCV in both elderly and young people and compared them with previously published analyses.

Methods: Samples were collected from 135 volunteers over 80 years of age at weekly intervals over 4 weeks. Eighteen biochemical and eight haematological analytes were measured. The Fraser and Harris methods were used to calculate the components of BV and RCV. To perform a comparative analysis, a reference group of 118 young subjects was studied under the same conditions.

Results: The obtained coefficients of BV showed statistical differences in many cases, but in general, both the elderly and young patient data fall within the ranges previously described for the general population. The indexes of individuality for the analytes investigated did not exceed 1.4 in any case and were <0.6 for some analytes. The RCVs derived from elderly subjects were similar to those published in the young population, both in healthy and diseased individuals.

Conclusions: The strong individuality observed supports the preferential use of RCVs rather than population-based reference intervals in elderly people. For most of the analytes studied, data from the young population can be applied to elderly people, but the specific elderly coefficients of BV and RCVs are a recommended option.
Can current analytical quality performance of UK clinical laboratories support evidence-based guidelines for diabetes and ischaemic heart disease? – A pilot study and a proposal
Authors: Jassam Nuthar , Yundt-Pacheco John , Jansen Rob , Thomas Annette , Barth Julian H.
Published: April 2013

Background: The implementation of national and international guidelines is beginning to standardise clinical practice. However, since many guidelines have decision limits based on laboratory tests, there is an urgent need to ensure that different laboratories obtain the same analytical result on any sample. A scientifically-based quality control process will be a pre-requisite to provide this level of analytical performance which will support evidence-based guidelines and movement of patients across boundaries while maintaining standardised outcomes. We discuss the finding of a pilot study performed to assess UK clinical laboratories readiness to work to a higher grade quality specifications such as biological variation-based quality specifications.

Methods: Internal quality control (IQC) data for HbA1c, glucose, creatinine, cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were collected from UK laboratories participating in the Bio-Rad Unity QC programme. The median of the coefficient of variation (CV%) of the participating laboratories was evaluated against the CV% based on biological variation.

Results: Except creatinine, the other four analytes had a variable degree of compliance with the biological variation-based quality specifications. More than 75% of the laboratories met the biological variation-based quality specifications for glucose, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. Slightly over 50% of the laboratories met the analytical goal for HBA1c. Only one analyte (cholesterol) had a performance achieving the higher quality specifications consistent with 5σ.

Conclusions: Our data from IQC do not consistently demonstrate that the results from clinical laboratories meet evidence-based quality specifications. Therefore, we propose that a graded scale of quality specifications may be needed at this stage.
Isolated IgE reactivity to native walnut vicilin-like protein (nJug r 2) on ISAC™ microarray is due to cross-reactive carbohydrate epitopes
Authors: Villalta Danilo , Conte Mariaelisabetta , Asero Riccardo , Da Re Mirella , Stella Sergio , Martelli Paola
Published: April 2013

Background: The last version of the microarray-based testing ImmunoCAP ISAC 112TM includes the native walnut (Junglans regia) molecules 2S albumin (nJug r 1), vicilin (nJug r 2) and lipid transfer protein (nJug r 3). In view of the many unexpected cases of isolated positivity to nJug r 2 occurring in daily practice, we evaluated the association of these reactivities with clinical symptoms, as well as the relationship between sIgE and nJug r 2 and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs).

Methods: Sera from 320 consecutive allergic outpatients tested by ImmuoCAP ISAC™ 112 were considered. The medical records of all nJug r 2 positive patients were reviewed to assess clinical symptoms related to walnut allergy. A linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between nJug r 2 and CCDs (nMUXF3) sIgE values, and a CAP inhibition assay was carried out to confirm the possible cross-reactivity between CCDs and nJug r 2.

Results: Thirty-seven out of 320 sera tested (11.6%) were positive to nJug r 2. Among them three (8.1%) and eight (21.6%) scored positive for nJug r 1 and nJug r 3 as well, respectively. Twenty-seven (73%) sera showed isolated nJug r 2 positivity. Only nJug r 1 reactors had symptoms referred to walnut allergy. Twenty-five/37 nJug r 2-positive sera (67.6%) showed a simultaneous positivity to nMUXF3 and a significant correlation (p<0.0001) between the IgE levels to nJug r2 and nMUXF3 (r2=0.787). After incubation with nMUXF3 a complete inhibition of sIgE reactivity to both nMUXF3 and nJug r 2 was shown.

Conclusions: The unexpected isolated sIgE reactivity to nJug r 2 found by ImmunoCAP ISAC™ 112 is frequently related to reactivity to cross-reactive carbohydrate epitopes and it is lacking clinical significance.