bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First‐generation college students' information seeking: Their personality traits and source use behavior in coursework‐related context
Authors: Tsai Tien‐I , Kim Kyung‐Sun
Published: January 2013

This study examines first‐generation college (FGC) students' information seeking in coursework‐related situations and the relationship between personality and source use behavior. A web survey was used to collect data. Four‐hundred and fifty FGC students participated in the study. A two‐step cluster analysis was used to identify three subgroups of personality profiles from the sample. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Results show that extroverts used human sources more frequently across all coursework‐related situations and tended to consult peers in the same course in their information seeking processes. Conscientious students tended to consult professors and advisors in their coursework‐related information seeking processes. Calm and open‐minded extroverts consulted human sources (both experts and non‐experts) more often and used more diverse sources than nervous and close‐minded introverts. The study enriches FGC student literature in information behavior and further incorporates personality traits as predictors of information use. The study also implies that universities and academic libraries should support orientation programs and organizations that can help FGC students, especially introverts, develop their social networks and have an easy transition into college.
Do I trust google? An exploration of how people form trust in cloud computing
Authors: Kim Sarah , Yoon Ayoung
Published: January 2013

The present study explores individual end‐users' perspectives of cloud computing, especially issues regarding their trust/distrust of cloud services. While current cloud computing service development focuses on adoption by enterprises and organizations, individual end‐users who use cloud services in their everyday lives also constitute an important consumer group. Challenges of trust in cloud computing have gained social and scholarly attention accompanied with the rise of privacy and data security concerns. Studies that investigate individual end‐users' views of trust in cloud services, however, are rare. Using semi‐structured interviews and a survey questionnaire, the present study aims to capture how ordinary individuals think about cloud computing and how they form their trust/distrust of cloud services and service providers. In this poster, authors present preliminary results of analysis of interview data.
Habitat Tracker: Engaging students with scientific inquiry through technology and curriculum support
Authors: Alemanne Nicole D. , Sampson Victor , Marty Paul F. , Kazmer Michelle M. , Douglas Ian , Clark Amanda , Southerland Sherry A. , Mendenhall Anne
Published: January 2013

This poster presents preliminary results from the second year of a three‐year project designed to help elementary students learn about scientific inquiry and become active participants in their own science education. Florida State University has developed a set of technologies (an iPad application and website) integrated with a standards‐based nature of science and scientific inquiry curriculum called Habitat Tracker. Preliminary analysis of the students' task engagement shows that this project has the potential to support student engagement during field trips to natural wildlife centers. Current results will inform future iterations of the project, and improve support for science teachers integrating museum field trips and classroom activities.
Health information needs on diseases: A coding schema development for analyzing health questions in social Q&A
Authors: Oh Sanghee , Zhang Yan , Park Min Sook
Published: January 2013

Health‐related questions users posted on social Q&A sites are a representation of consumers' real‐life needs for health information. To tap into this source for a deeper understanding of general people's health information needs and information searching behavior, this poster reports an attempt to develop a coding schema for analyzing disease‐related questions in social Q&A sites. The developed schema could serve as a basis for analyzing a wide range of topics in health. It could also guide the implementation of automatic data mining approaches to analyze the vast amount of data generated on social media platforms.
Library anxiety among international graduate students
Authors: Lu Yunhui , Adkins Denice
Published: January 2013

While few studies have explored library anxiety among international graduate students in the United States, Jiao and Onwuegnuzie's study (1999) of international graduate and undergraduate students identified mechanical barriers as the greatest source of library anxiety among international students. Building on this, the current pilot study investigated the level of library anxiety among 15 international graduate students in the United States, using a modified version of Bostick's (1992) Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) with a proposed Language & Cultural Barriers subscale. Findings from the pilot study revealed that mechanical barriers were the smallest source of library anxiety, and affective and staff barriers were the greatest sources of library anxiety. No significant gender or disciplinary differences were found in terms of the level of library anxiety among international graduate students. The results of this pilot study also provided the basis for the refinement of instrument.
Someone's loss might be your gain: A case of negative results publications in science
Authors: Curty Renata G. , Tang Jian
Published: January 2013

This poster reports a research in progress which investigates the academic influence of a scientific journal dedicated to publishing negative results. Based on a case study of Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine (JNRBM), this research examines the academic influence of this journal through citation impact, authors' productivity, and authorship international diversity. Preliminary findings show that JNRBM has an active participation of international scholars with high productivity in their academic disciplines, while citation counts of published articles are still polarized. These results imply that journals publishing negative results are beneficial for triggering discussions and debates on current models, and tenets or dogmas, although they still gain limited attention from the academic community.
Uncovering visualization properties that confuse
Authors: Oh Kyong Eun , Bemis Karen , Ma Xiaojuan , Tremaine Marilyn , Silver Deborah
Published: January 2013

Three dimensional visualizations are becoming one of the popular web visualization techniques; however, studies show that for some users, comprehending 3D visualizations is not easy. This research investigated what makes 3D visualizations difficult to understand with the purpose of using this knowledge to develop training to improve visualization literacy. In particular, we focused on the difficulties that individuals have with orientation problems in which they are asked to re‐orient themselves to a visual scene from a different viewpoint, something that happens quite often in 3D information visualizations. For our research, we used complex 3D cubes as our experiment problems and sliced the cubes in different ways such that the slices matched the visual orientation a person would naturally take when viewing the slice or required the person to take a different orientation to best determine the features of the slice being made. We then compared performance on recognizing slices that matched a viewer's orientation to that of slices that required a re‐orientation. Our results indicated that the problems requiring a reorientation were significantly less accurate.
Studying scatter/gather browsing for web search
Authors: Gong Xuemei , Ke Weimao , Khare Ritu
Published: January 2013

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Scatter/Gather browsing for information retrieval. We conduct a within‐subject study of 24 subjects, in which each user conducts searches on a Scatter/Gather system and a classic web search system, and provides feedback and comments. Eleven out of twenty four subjects consider that Scatter/Gather system helps them complete the tasks more effectively as it sorts the results and filters out useless information. We discuss strengths and weaknesses of Scatter/Gather compared to a classic web search interface and examine influences of topic characteristics on Scatter/Gather effectiveness. It is suggested that topic familiarity and specificity have significantly influences on several categories of user perceived retrieval effectiveness. The influences appear to be greater with the Scatter/Gather system. We find that viewing time has a moderate positive correlation with relevance and usefulness of a web page, which are highly correlated to each other.
Searcher's perceptions for query reformulation behavior on the web
Authors: Na Kyoungsik , Park Min Sook
Published: January 2013

With the aim of better understanding for query reformulation behavior in Information Retrieval (IR), this study is to investigate searcher's perceptions for query reformulation behavior in information search process on the Web using Google search engine as a tested in exploring what factors might affect searcher's query reformulation behavior. The study employed two survey questionnaires and a search task. Twenty seven subjects were recruited to participate in this study. Based on the findings, precision and relevance seem to be two key factors for subjects to reformulate previous queries as well as to compare between search results. Interestingly, search satisfaction and confidence might be other factors for subjects when considering query reformulations. Query reformulations might have not only broadened the search depending upon the quality of query reformulations, but may also have provided opportunities to learn and come up with new ideas. The findings of this study expect to promote understanding of searcher's query reformulation behavior in order to be of better assistance to both searchers and system developers.
The changes in Japanese researchers' usage and perception of electronic resources: Result of SCREAL Survey 2011
Authors: Sato Yoshinori , Mine Shinji , Itsumura Hiroshi , Tutiya Syun , Koyama Kenji , Kurata Keiko , Takeuchi Hiroya
Published: January 2013

The Standing Committee for Research on Academic Libraries (SCREAL), in cooperation with 45 institutions in Japan, conducted a questionnaire survey from October to December 2011. As a result, 3,922 valid responses across various fields were collected. Following up this survey, we attempt here to clarify how usage and perception of e‐journals and scholarly articles among researchers and graduate students in Japan changed. The basic findings were as follows. 1) More than 90% of respondents in natural sciences, including pharmaceutical science, chemistry, biology, physics and medicine, reported that they used e‐journals at least once or twice a month. 2) E‐journals were not as heavily used in humanities and social sciences as in natural sciences, but the proportion of regular users turned out to be more than 4 times that of the 2001 survey. 3) This difference in e‐journals usage by discipline is strongly associated with the degree of dependence on domestic documents written in Japanese. The two groups of respondents, users of international documents and users of domestic documents, showed a statistically significant difference in answering the question concerning “Frequency of e‐journals use.” 4) Attitude to the necessity of printed version drastically transmuted. 62.3% of respondents in natural sciences and 53.6% in humanities and social sciences thought “printed journals are unnecessary when e‐journals are accessible.” 5) Use of digital devices for e‐books was not popular as yet, but the respondents expressed their high interest in the future use. Some preliminary discussion is made to identify the factors affecting the usage and/or perception of electronic resources by Japanese researchers.
Happiness: Exploring relationship with information and place in information science research and education
Authors: Agarwal Naresh
Published: January 2013

Research in information seeking behavior has looked at the way a person goes about looking for information when faced with a need for information. However, the relationship between happiness and information and how this information impacts happiness is often left out of the picture. Also, higher education in the field has not explored happiness as a learning outcome even though research has shown that a person can learn and practice to be happy. This paper discusses the concepts of information and happiness. Though a listing of my 7 commandments in life, a preliminary attempt will be made to highlight the possible inter‐relationships between happiness and information. This is a step in the direction to try and find synergies between information and happiness. Also, the possible role of happiness in Information Science research and in Information Science education will be discussed. By recognizing happiness as a construct and taking up the teaching and learning of happiness, we should be able to bring about transformative learning.
An investigation of search processes in collaborative exploratory web search
Authors: Yue Zhen , Han Shuguang , He Daqing
Published: January 2013

This paper presents a user study aiming to investigate search processes in collaborative exploratory Web search. Our analysis of search processes focuses on the distribution and transition of user search actions captured in a collaborative web search system called CollabSearch. The results show that a large proportion of users' actions in collaborative searches were related to explicit communication, which is one of the sources for users to obtain query ideas. This paper concludes with some insights on the range of behaviors and activities that a collaborative search system should support.
Stab Marks Possibly from a Spear (Yari) on a Skull Excavated from the Mediaeval Zaimokuza Site, Kamakura City
Authors: Fujita H.
Published: January 2013

Ancient human skeletal remains with stab injuries were excavated from the Zaimokuza site in Kamakura City, Japan. These excavated remains are considered to be those of warriors who died in action during the fall of the Kamakura shogunate in 1333. The specimen in the present study was most likely a male soldier (bushi) of early middle age. In this manuscript, the possible circumstances of injury and weapons that may have been used to inflict the injury are discussed. The size, shape and angle of the wound strongly suggested that it was caused by a spear (yari) rather than a sword, dagger or arrow. In Japan, spears (yari) were used beginning in the late Kamakura period. Computed tomographic scans revealed that the injury extended into the intracranial cavity, and it likely penetrated the dura mater and damaged the frontal lobe. Studies of injury marks in ancient skeletal remains can reveal details about ancient wars and what types of weapons were used. This field should be advanced with the collaboration of physical anthropology and philological history. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐yield membrane protein expression from E. coli using an engineered outer membrane protein F fusion
Authors: Su Pin‐Chuan , Si William , Baker Deidre L. , Berger Bryan W.
Published: January 2013

Obtaining high yields of membrane proteins necessary to perform detailed structural study is difficult due to poor solubility and variability in yields from heterologous expression systems. To address this issue, an Escherichia coli‐based membrane protein overexpression system utilizing an engineered bacterial outer membrane protein F (pOmpF) fusion has been developed. Full‐length human receptor activity‐modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) was expressed using pOmpF, solubilized in FC15 and purified to homogeneity. Using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy, purified full‐length RAMP1 is composed of approximately 90% α‐helix, and retains its solubility and structure in FC15 over a wide range of temperatures (20–60°C). Thus, our approach provides a useful, complementary approach to achieve high‐yield, full‐length membrane protein overexpression for biophysical studies.
Electrochemical profiling of heterostructures with multiple quantum wells InGaN/GaN
Authors: Zubkov Vasily , Kucherova Olga , Frolov Dmitry , Zubkova Anna
Published: January 2013

A method of electrochemical capacitance‐voltage profiling is used to characterize InGaN/GaN heterostructures with multiple quantum wells. Implementation of pulsed electrochemical etching allowed getting good planarity of etched surface despite of the high density of dislocations in GaN. The quality of etching, optimization of its parameters and independent check of etched depth were controlled by AFM measurements. Concentration profiles of InGaN/GaN QWs structures were evaluated then from capacitance‐voltage measurements revealing several quantum wells with a period of 17 nm. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects of the V/III ratio on the quality of aluminum nitride grown on (0001) sapphire by high temperature hydride vapor phase epitaxy
Authors: Coudurier N. , Boichot R. , Fellmann V. , Claudel A. , Blanquet E. , Crisci A. , Coindeau S. , Pique D. , Pons M.
Published: January 2013

A High Temperature Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy reactor (HT‐HVPE) was used to grow 5 µm‐thick (0001) epitaxial AlN layers on sapphire. The experimental set‐up consists of a vertical cold‐wall quartz reactor working at low pressure in which the reactions take place on a graphite susceptor heated by induction. The reactants used are ammonia (NH3) and aluminum chlorides (AlClx) in situ formed via chlorine (Cl2) reaction with high purity aluminum pellets. As‐grown AlN layers have been characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction rocking curves (XRC) and Raman spectroscopy. First, the influence of the V/III ratio in the gas phase on surface morphology, crystalline quality and strain into the material is investigated in order to improve the quality of epitaxial AlN layers grown at high temperature. Parameters were adjusted to keep constant growth rate of about 5 µm/h. Second, a protective layer (growth of a 200 nm‐thick AlN layer at 1200 °C) was deposited before the main growth of a 5µm layer of AlN at 1500°C. A 430 arcsec FWHM value for the 0002 reflection of the AlN layer has been obtained for such experimental conditions. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Search behavior of the diversified firm: The impact of fit on innovation
Authors: Kim Sang Kyun , Arthurs Jonathan D. , Sahaym Arvin , Cullen John B.
Published: January 2013

This paper provides a new approach to account for the relationship between diversification and innovation by integrating insights concerning strategic fit. We argue that the type of diversification strategy leads to greater innovation output when the appropriate technological search strategy is employed. Using a longitudinal study of the patenting activity of 258 manufacturing firms, we find that strategic fit is important for innovation output. More specifically, a related diversification strategy leads to greater innovation when firms use a narrow technological search strategy. In contrast, an unrelated diversification strategy leads to greater innovation when a broader technological search strategy is used. Implications for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deletion of the NMDA‐NR1 receptor subunit gene in the mouse nucleus accumbens attenuates apomorphine‐induced dopamine D1 receptor trafficking and acoustic startle behavior
Authors: Glass Michael J. , Robinson Danielle C. , Waters Elizabeth , Pickel Virginia M.
Published: January 2013

The nucleus accumbens (Acb) contains subpopulations of neurons defined by their receptor content and potential involvement in sensorimotor gating and other behaviors that are dysfunctional in schizophrenia. In Acb neurons, the NMDA NR1 (NR1) subunit is coexpressed not only with the dopamine D1 receptor (D1R), but also with the µ‐opioid receptor (µ‐OR), which mediates certain behaviors that are adversely impacted by schizophrenia. The NMDA‐NR1 subunit has been suggested to play a role in the D1R trafficking and behavioral dysfunctions resulting from systemic administration of apomorphine, a D1R and dopamine D2 receptor agonist that impacts prepulse inhibition to auditory‐evoked startle (AS). Together, this evidence suggests that the NMDA receptor may regulate D1R trafficking in Acb neurons, including those expressing µ‐OR, in animals exposed to auditory startle and apomorphine. We tested this hypothesis by combining spatial‐temporal gene deletion technology, dual labeling immunocytochemistry, and behavioral analysis. Deleting NR1 in Acb neurons prevented the increase in the dendritic density of plasma membrane D1Rs in single D1R and dual (D1R and µ‐OR) labeled dendrites in the Acb in response to apomorphine and AS. Deleting NR1 also attenuated the decrease in AS induced by apomorphine. In the absence of apomorphine and startle, deletion of Acb NR1 diminished social interaction, without affecting novel object recognition, or open field activity. These results suggest that NR1 expression in the Acb is essential for apomorphine‐induced D1R surface trafficking, as well as auditory startle and social behaviors that are impaired in multiple psychiatric disorders. Synapse, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A spontaneous deletion of α‐Synuclein is associated with an increase in CB1 mRNA transcript and receptor expression in the hippocampus and amygdala: Effects on alcohol consumption
Authors: López‐Jiménez Alejandro , Walter Nicole A.R. , Giné Elena , Santos Ángel , Echeverry‐Alzate Victor , Bühler Kora‐Mareen , Olmos Pedro , Giezendanner Stéphanie , Moratalla Rosario , Montoliu Lluis , Buck Kari J. , López‐Moreno Jose Antonio
Published: January 2013

α‐Synuclein (α‐syn) protein and endocannabinoid CB1 receptors are primarily located in presynaptic terminals. An association between α‐syn and CB1 receptors has recently been established in Parkinson's disease, but it is completely unknown whether there is an association between these two proteins in alcohol addiction. Therefore, we aimed to examine the α‐syn mRNA transcript and protein expression levels in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, amygdala and hippocampus. These brain regions are the most frequently implicated in alcohol and other drug addiction. In these studies, we used C57BL/6 mice carrying a spontaneous deletion of the α‐syn gene (C57BL/6Snca‐/‐) and their respective controls (C57BL/6Snca+/+). These animals were monitored for spontaneous alcohol consumption (3–10%) and their response to a hypnotic‐sedative dose of alcohol (3 g kg−1) was also assessed. Compared with the C57BL/6Snca+/+ mice, we found that the C57BL/6Snca‐/‐ mice exhibited a higher expression level of the CB1 mRNA transcript and CB1 receptor in the hippocampus and amygdala. Furthermore, C57BL/6Snca‐/‐ mice showed an increase in alcohol consumption when offered a 10% alcohol solution. There was no significant difference in sleep time after the injection of 3 g/kg alcohol. These results are the first to reveal an association between α‐syn and the CB1 receptor in the brain regions that are most frequently implicated in alcohol and other drug addictions. Synapse 00:000–000, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Study of the Motivational Patterns of Learners of English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Authors: Abrar‐ul‐Hassan Shahid
Published: January 2013

Learner motivation is considered a vital factor in second language instruction. An analysis of motivation types and degrees can reveal learners' expectations and learning objectives. The present study analyzes the motivational patterns of a group of English for academic and professional purposes (EAPP) learners while focusing on types and degrees of motivation. The sample comprised 37 participants who were students in the EAPP program at a graduate school in California. The types of motivation were classified as intrinsic, extrinsic, or both, and the degrees of motivation were determined as low, medium, or high. The participants rated statements related to motivation type and degree on two Likert‐type scales in a self‐report questionnaire. The study reveals that most of the students had both types of motivation and their motivation degree was at a medium level according to the measurement scale. The results can help course instructors and administrators make informed decisions and choices in planning and revising the curriculum.
Early fetoscopic tracheal occlusion for extremely severe pulmonary hypoplasia in isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia: preliminary results
Authors: Ruano R. , Peiro J. L. , da Silva M. M. , Campos J. A. D. B. , Carreras E. , Tannuri U. , Zugaib M.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To evaluate the effect of early fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) (22–24 weeks' gestation) on pulmonary response and neonatal survival in cases of extremely severe isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods

This was a multicenter study involving fetuses with extremely severe CDH (lung‐to‐head ratio < 0.70, liver herniation into the thoracic cavity and no other detectable anomalies). Between August 2010 and December 2011, eight fetuses underwent early FETO. Data were compared with nine fetuses that underwent standard FETO and 10 without fetoscopic procedure from January 2006 to July 2010. FETO was performed under maternal epidural anesthesia, supplemented with fetal intramuscular anesthesia. Fetal lung size and vascularity were evaluated by ultrasound before and every 2 weeks after FETO. Postnatal therapy was equivalent for both treated fetuses and controls. Primary outcome was infant survival to 180 days and secondary outcome was fetal pulmonary response.

Results

Maternal and fetal demographic characteristics and obstetric complications were similar in the three groups (P > 0.05). Infant survival rate was significantly higher in the early FETO group (62.5%) compared with the standard group (11.1%) and with controls (0%) (P < 0.01). Early FETO resulted in a significant improvement in fetal lung size and pulmonary vascularity when compared with standard FETO (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Early FETO may improve infant survival by further increases of lung size and pulmonary vascularity in cases with extremely severe pulmonary hypoplasia in isolated CDH. This study supports formal testing of the hypothesis with a randomized controlled trial. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Utilization of nitrate abolishes the “Custers effect” inDekkera bruxellensisand determines a different pattern of fermentation products
Authors: Galafassi Silvia , Capusoni Claudia , Moktaduzzaman Md , Compagno Concetta
Published: January 2013

Nitrate is one of the most abundant nitrogen sources in nature. Several yeast species have been shown to be able to assimilate nitrate and nitrite, but the metabolic pathway has been studied in very few of them. Dekkera bruxellensis can use nitrate as sole nitrogen source and this metabolic characteristic can render D. bruxellensis able to overcome S. cerevisiae populations in industrial bioethanol fermentations. In order to better characterize how nitrate utilization affects carbon metabolism and the yields of the fermentation products, we investigated this trait in defined media under well-controlled aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Our experiments showed that in D. bruxellensis, utilization of nitrate determines a different pattern of fermentation products. Acetic acid, instead of ethanol, became in fact the main product of glucose metabolism under aerobic conditions. We have also demonstrated that under anaerobic conditions, nitrate assimilation abolishes the “Custers effect”, in this way improving its fermentative metabolism. This can offer a new strategy, besides aeration, to sustain growth and ethanol production for the employment of this yeast in industrial processes.
Structural white matter changes in adolescents and young adults with maple syrup urine disease
Authors: Klee D. , Thimm E. , Wittsack H. J. , Schubert D. , Primke R. , Pentang G. , Schaper J. , Mödder U. , Antoch A. , Wendel U. , Cohnen M.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To get insight into the nature of magnetic resonance (MR) white matter abnormalities of patients with classic maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) under diet control.

Methods

Ten patients with classic MSUD and one with a severe MSUD variant (mean age 21.5 ± 5.1 years) on diet and 11 age and sex‐matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Apart from standard MR sequences, diffusion weighted images (DWI), diffusion tensor images (DTI), and magnetization transfer images (MT) were obtained and comparatively analyzed for apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), tensor fractional anisotropy (FA) and MT maps in 11 regions of interest (ROI) within the white matter.

Results

In MSUD patients DWI, DTI and FA showed distinct signal changes in the cerebral hemispheres, the dorsal limb of internal capsule, the brain stem and the central cerebellum. Signal intensity was increased in DWI with a reduced ADC and decreased values for FA. MT did not reveal differences between patients and control subjects.

Conclusion

Signal abnormalities in the white matter of adolescents and young adults under diet control may be interpreted as consequence of structural alterations like dysmyelination. The reduced ADC and FA in the white matter with preserved MT indicate a reduction in fiber tracks.
Genetic Counseling Training and Certification in Australasia
Authors: McEwen A. R. , Young M. A. , Wake S. A.
Published: January 2013

The development of standards for training and certification is essential to the credibility and integrity of a developing profession. Training and certification of genetic counselors in Australasia has undergone a detailed review during the past few years, resulting in changes to the way certification is obtained. This paper presents an overview of the process of developing a robust training and certification program which reflects the social and cultural environment of genetic counselors working in Australasia. A brief history of the development of the profession in Australasia is provided, followed by a detailed discussion of the recent development of Masters programs and a portfolio of work required for certification. The importance of consultation within the profession and with our colleagues in the field of human genetics is considered, and we provide a discussion of defining moments that occurred during the review. This paper is intended to provide a detailed description of genetic counselor training and certification in Australasia. We anticipate that our insights into the process of redevelopment of training and certification guidelines may be helpful for genetic counselors working in countries where certification requirements are being developed.
Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) in the Thoracic and Thoracolumbar Spine: Technical Report and Early Outcomes
Authors: Meredith Dennis S. , Kepler Christopher K. , Huang Russel C. , Hegde Vishal V.
Published: January 2013

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated the distinct advantages of thoracoscopically assisted spinal fusion compared to traditional open thoracotomy. However, these techniques are limited by a steep learning curve, prolonged operative time, and lack of three-dimensional visualization of the surgical field.

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe our initial experience with an adaptation of the extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) technique allowing access to the anterior aspect of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine with specific reference to (1) early pulmonary complications, (2) non-pulmonary complications, and (3) ability of this technique to successfully achieve spinal decompression and fusion at the operative level.

Methods

Clinical and radiographic data were reviewed for the entire perioperative period. A total of 18 patients (72% females; mean age, 56.8 years) underwent a thoracic XLIF procedure for spinal pathologies including disc herniation, fracture, tumor, pseudoarthrosis, and proximal junctional kyphosis. A total of 32 levels were treated, with the majority located at the thoracolumbar junction. Twelve of the procedures were done as part of a combined anterior/posterior surgery.

Results

The mean estimated blood loss was 577 ml and the mean length of stay was 12 days. At a mean follow-up of 14 months, all patients except for one (who died of widely metastatic disease) had achieved radiographic evidence of fusion. Two patients developed pulmonary effusions requiring medical intervention. Six patients had seven non-pulmonary complications: incidental durotomy (two), infection (one), instrumentation pullout (one), cardiac arrhythmia (two), and death from metastatic disease (one).

Conclusions

The XLIF technique can be utilized for access to the anterior column of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine. The advantages of this minimally invasive technique include avoidance of the need for an access surgeon and for lung deflation during surgery as well as excellent visualization of the spinal pathology.
Use of birth weight threshold for macrosomia to identify fetuses at risk of shoulder dystocia among Chinese populations
Authors: Cheng Yvonne K.‐Y. , Lao Terence T. , Sahota Daljit S. , Leung Viola K.‐T. , Leung Tak Y.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To assess the incidence of macrosomia and the influence of birth weight on shoulder dystocia risk among a cohort of Chinese women.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 80 953 singleton deliveries recorded at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, between 1995 and 2009. The incidences of macrosomia (birth weight ≥ 4000 g) and shoulder dystocia were assessed by birth weight; risk factors for shoulder dystocia were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

The incidence of macrosomia was 3.4%. The overall incidence of shoulder dystocia was 0.3%; however, the incidence rose with increasing birth weight. The odds ratio (OR) for a birth weight of 4000–4199 g was 22.40, while the OR for a birth weight of 4200 g or above was 76.10. Other independent risk factors for shoulder dystocia included instrumental delivery (OR 12.11), short stature (OR 2.16), maternal diabetes mellitus (OR 1.78), and obesity (OR 1.58).

Conclusion

Although the overall incidences of macrosomia and shoulder dystocia were low, the risk of shoulder dystocia was strongly linked to increasing birth weight. International guidelines for elective cesarean delivery in suspected cases of macrosomia may not, therefore, apply to Chinese women.
West Nile virus lineage 2 in Sardinian wild birds in 2012: a further threat to public health
Authors: SAVINI G. , PUGGIONI G. , DI GENNARO A. , DI FRANCESCO G. , ROCCHIGIANI A. M. , POLCI A. , MARINI V. , PINONI C. , ROLESU S. , MARRUCHELLA G. , LORUSSO A. , MONACO F.
Published: January 2013

West Nile virus (WNV) strains belonging to lineage 2 were detected and isolated from the tissues of a goshawk and two carrion crows in Sardinia in August 2012. According to NS3 sequence analysis, the Sardinian isolates shared a high level of similarity with those of Italian lineage 2 strains which circulated in 2011 and with the homologous sequence of the 2004 Hungarian isolate. Following the human fatality reported in 2011 in Olbia, this study is the first to report the spread and enzootic circulation of WNV lineage 2 in Sardinia.
The Adolescent Girls’ Anaemia Control Programme: a decade of programming experience to break the inter-generational cycle of malnutrition in India
Authors: Aguayo Víctor M , Paintal Kajali , Singh Gayatri
Published: January 2013

Objective

To document the scale-up of India's Adolescent Girls’ Anaemia Control Programme following a knowledge-centred framework for scaling up nutrition interventions and to identify the critical elements of and lessons learned from a decade of programme experience for the control of anaemia in adolescent girls.

Design

We reviewed all articles, programme and project reports, and baseline and endline assessments published between 1995 and 2012 regarding the control of anaemia through intermittent iron and folic acid supplementation; key programme specialists and managers were interviewed to complete or verify information wherever needed.

Setting

India.

Subjects

Adolescent girls.

Results

The scale-up of India's Adolescent Girls’ Anaemia Control Programme followed a knowledge-centred programme cycle comprising five phases: Evidence, Innovation, Evaluation, Replication and Universalization. By the end of 2011, the programme was being rolled out in thirteen states and was reaching 27·6 million adolescent girls of whom 16·3 million were school-going girls and 11·3 million were out-of-school girls. Building on the critical elements of and lessons learned from the programme, the Government of India launched in 2012 the national Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme to universalize the benefits of anaemia control to the overall population of Indian adolescents.

Conclusions

The Adolescent Girls’ Anaemia Control Programme in India provides a good example of how a knowledge-centred approach can successfully guide the scaling up of public health nutrition interventions and facilitate intersectoral convergence among different government departments and development partners to break the inter-generational cycle of undernutrition and deprivation.
Development of a mid range automotive radar sensor for future driver assistance systems
Authors: Schnabel Raik , Hellinger Raphael , Steinbuch Dirk , Selinger Joachim , Klar Michael , Lucas Bernhard
Published: January 2013

Radar sensors are key components of modern driver assistance systems. The application of such systems in urban environments for safety applications is the primary goal of the project “Radar on Chip for Cars” (RoCC). Major outcomes of this project will be presented and discussed in this contribution. These outcomes include the specification of radar sensors for future driver assistance systems, radar concepts, and integration technologies for silicon-germanium (SiGe) MMICs, as well as the development and evaluation of a system demonstrator. A radar architecture utilizing planar antennas and highly integrated components will be proposed and discussed with respect to system specifications. The developed system demonstrator will be evaluated in terms of key parameters such as field of view, distance, and angular separability. Finally, as an outlook a new mid range radar (MRR) will be introduced incorporating several concepts and technologies developed in this project.
Bacterial colonization of Hydra hatchlings follows a robust temporal pattern
Authors: Franzenburg Sören , Fraune Sebastian , Altrock Philipp M , Künzel Sven , Baines John F , Traulsen Arne , Bosch Thomas C G
Published: January 2013

Animals are colonized by complex bacterial communities. The processes controlling community membership and influencing the establishment of the microbial ecosystem during development are poorly understood. Here we aimed to explore the assembly of bacterial communities in Hydra with the broader goal of elucidating the general rules that determine the temporal progression of bacterial colonization of animal epithelia. We profiled the microbial communities in polyps at various time points after hatching in four replicates. The composition and temporal patterns of the bacterial communities were strikingly similar in all replicates. Distinct features included high diversity of community profiles in the first week, a remarkable but transient adult-like profile 2 weeks after hatching, followed by progressive emergence of a stable adult-like pattern characterized by low species diversity and the preponderance of the Betaproteobacterium Curvibacter. Intriguingly, this process displayed important parallels to the assembly of human fecal communities after birth. In addition, a mathematical modeling approach was used to uncover the organizational principles of this colonization process, suggesting that both, local environmental or host-derived factor(s) modulating the colonization rate, as well as frequency-dependent interactions of individual bacterial community members are important aspects in the emergence of a stable bacterial community at the end of development.
Genomic island genes in a coastal marine Synechococcus strain confer enhanced tolerance to copper and oxidative stress
Authors: Stuart Rhona K , Brahamsha Bianca , Busby Kayla , Palenik Brian
Published: January 2013

Highly variable regions called genomic islands are found in the genomes of marine picocyanobacteria, and have been predicted to be involved in niche adaptation and the ecological success of these microbes. These picocyanobacteria are typically highly sensitive to copper stress and thus, increased copper tolerance could confer a selective advantage under some conditions seen in the marine environment. Through targeted gene inactivation of genomic island genes that were known to be upregulated in response to copper stress in Synechococcus sp. strain CC9311, we found two genes (sync_1495 and sync_1217) conferred tolerance to both methyl viologen and copper stress in culture. The prevalence of one gene, sync_1495, was then investigated in natural samples, and had a predictable temporal variability in abundance at a coastal monitoring site with higher abundance in winter months. Together, this shows that genomic island genes can confer an adaptive advantage to specific stresses in marine Synechococcus, and may help structure their population diversity.
Pseudobond parameters for QM/MM studies involving nucleosides, nucleotides, and their analogs
Authors: Chaudret Robin , Parks Jerry M. , Yang Weitao
Published: January 2013

In biological systems involving nucleosides, nucleotides, or their respective analogs, the ribose sugar moiety is the most common reaction site, for example, during DNA replication and repair. However, nucleic bases, which comprise a sizable portion of nucleotide molecules, are usually unreactive during such processes. In quantum mechanical/molecular simulations of nucleic acid reactivity, it may therefore be advantageous to describe specific ribosyl or ribosyl phosphate groups quantum mechanically and their respective nucleic bases with a molecular mechanics potential function. Here, we have extended the pseudobond approach to enable quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulations involving nucleotides, nucleosides, and their analogs in which the interface between the two subsystems is located between the sugar and the base, namely, the C(sp3)–N(sp2) bond. The pseudobond parameters were optimized on a training set of 10 molecules representing several nucleotide and nucleoside bases and analogs, and they were then tested on a larger test set of 20 diverse molecules. Particular emphasis was placed on providing accurate geometries and electrostatic properties, including electrostatic potential, natural bond orbital (NBO) and atoms in molecules (AIM) charges and AIM first moments. We also tested the optimized parameters on five nucleotide and nucleoside analogues of pharmaceutical relevance and a small polypeptide (triglycine). Accuracy was maintained for these systems, which highlights the generality and transferability of the pseudobond approach.
Endstation for ultrafast magnetic scattering experiments at the free-electron laser in Hamburg
Authors: Müller L. , Gutt C. , Streit-Nierobisch S. , Walther M. , Schaffert S. , Pfau B. , Geilhufe J. , Büttner F. , Flewett S. , Günther C. M. , Eisebitt S. , Kobs A. , Hille M. , Stickler D. , Frömter R. , Oepen H. P. , Lüning J. , Grübel G.
Published: January 2013

An endstation for pump–probe small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments at the free-electron laser in Hamburg (FLASH) is presented. The endstation houses a solid-state absorber, optical incoupling for pump–probe experiments, time zero measurement, sample chamber, and detection unit. It can be used at all FLASH beamlines in the whole photon energy range offered by FLASH. The capabilities of the setup are demonstrated by showing the results of resonant magnetic SAXS measurements on cobalt-platinum multilayer samples grown on freestanding $\rm Si_3N_4$ Si 3N4 membranes and pump-laser-induced grid structures in multilayer samples.
Mechanical properties of β-Si3N4 thin layers in basal plane under tension: A molecular dynamics study
Authors: Lu Xuefeng , Chen Meng , Fan Lei , Wang Chao , Wang Hongjie , Qiao Guanjun
Published: January 2013

The mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of the β-Si3N4 thin layers in basal plane under uniaxial tension are investigated by using molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the thin layers display a nonlinear stress-strain relationship first at ε < 0.06, and then a linear response at 0.06 < ε < 0.09, and finally the stresses increase nonlinearly with the strains until fracture occurs. The fracture stresses and strains increase with increasing the side lengths of the thin layers, and the trend is same for Young's moduli accompanying little anisotropy. The deterioration in mechanical properties derives from the N6h-Si bonds where the fracture is initiated.
Development of a diffuse air-argon plasma source using a dielectric-barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure
Authors: Tang Jie , Jiang Weiman , Zhao Wei , Wang Yishan , Li Shibo , Wang Haojing , Duan Yixiang
Published: January 2013

A stable diffuse large-volume air plasma source was developed by using argon-induced dielectric-barrier discharges at atmospheric pressure. This plasma source can be operated in a filamentary discharge with the average areal power density of 0.27 W/cm2 and the gas temperature of 315±3 K. Spatial measurement of emission spectrum and temperature indicates that this plasma is uniform in the central region along the transverse direction. It is also found that the formation of diffuse air plasma mainly lies in the creation of sufficient seed electrons by the Penning effect through collisions between two argon or nitrogen metastables at low electric fields.
Purple photochromism in Sr2SnO4:Eu3+ with layered perovskite-related structure
Authors: Kamimura Sunao , Yamada Hiroshi , Xu Chao-Nan
Published: January 2013

We report photochromism (PC) in Sr2SnO4:Eu3+ with layered perovskite-related structure. The Sr2SnO4:Eu3+ turned purple upon irradiation with UV light (λ < 350 nm), and the colored Sr2SnO4:Eu3+ returned to its initial colorless state when visible light (λ = 400–700 nm) was irradiated. Furthermore, the PC was strongly dependent on the firing temperature; purple color upon UV irradiation can be enhanced by increasing the firing temperature, which was attributed to an increase of the Sr vacancies in the host lattice from the results of crystal structure analysis. This suggests that controlling the lattice defect plays an important role for enhancing the PC performance.
Coercivity and its thermal dependence in microsized magnetic particles: Influence of grain boundaries
Authors: Marín P. , Aragón A. M. , Escorial A. García , Lieblich M. , Crespo P. , Hernando A.
Published: January 2013

Fe73.5Si13.5B9Nb3Cu1 powder particles have been obtained by gas atomization. Magnetization curves and coercivity were studied for particles ranging in size up to 1000 μm. The overall magnetic behavior of such material is a consequence of compositional heterogeneity of the microstructure as a whole. Anomalous temperature variation of coercivity (Hc) (i.e., a decrease in Hc with decreasing temperature) together with a decrease of saturation magnetization has been observed for less than 25 μm size. The origin of this behavior has been ascribed to metastable FeCu and FeNbSi phases in combination with an Fe-rich one. Making magnetic powders with coercive fields of the order of mOe remains a challenge for researchers. Our experiment has allowed us, at low temperature, achieving a coercive field of 9 Oe, much lower than those observed so far in this type of materials. This behaviour has been related with a FeCu phase present on grain boundaries.