bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of cultural conditions on antrodin C production by basidiomycete Antrodia camphorata in solid‐state fermentation
Authors: Xia Yongjun , Wang Yuanlong , Zhang Bobo , Xu Ganrong , Ai Lianzhong
Published: February 2014

Antrodia camphorata is a medicinal fungus and antrodin C is one of the main bioactive components of A. camphorata in the submerged fermentation (SmF). To optimize the culture conditions, the factors influencing the production of antrodin C by A. camphorata under solid‐state fermentation (SSF) were investigated in this study. Different solid substrates and external nitrogen sources were tested for their efficiency in producing antrodin C. The response surface methodology was applied to evaluate the influence of several variables, namely, the concentrations of soybean meal, initial moisture content, and inoculum density on antrodin C production in solid‐state fermentation. The experimental results show that the optimum fermentation medium for antrodin C production by A. camphorata was composed of 0.578 g soybean meal, 0.05 g Na2HPO4, 0.05 g MgSO4 for 100 g rice, with 51.83% initial moisture content, 22 day culture time, 28 °C culture temperature, and 35.54% inoculum density. At optimized conditions, 6,617.36 ± 92.71 mg kg−1 yield of antrodin C was achieved. Solid‐state fermentation is one good cultural method to improve the production of antrodin C by A. camphorata.
The Role of Subsidies in Coordination Games with Interconnected Risk
Authors: Gong Min , Heal Geoffrey , Krantz David H. , Kunreuther Howard , Weber Elke U.
Published: February 2014

Can subsidies promote Pareto‐optimum coordination? We found that partially subsidizing the cooperative actions for two out of six players in a laboratory coordination game usually produced better coordination and higher total social welfare with both deterministic and stochastic payoffs. Not only were the subsidized players more likely to cooperate (choose the Pareto‐optimum action), but the unsubsidized players increased their expectations on how likely others would cooperate, and they cooperated more frequently themselves. After removal of the subsidy, high levels of coordination continued in most groups with stochastic payoffs but declined in deterministic ones. This carry‐over disparity between the deterministic and stochastic settings was consistent with the economic theories that agents were more likely to keep the status quo option under uncertainty than without uncertainty. Hence, players with stochastic payoffs were more likely to keep the high coordination level (status quo) brought by the subsidy in the previous subsidy session. A post‐game survey also indicated that with stochastic payoffs, players focused on risk reduction. Temporary subsidies promoted lasting coordination because even after subsidy was removed, players still assumed that others players would prefer reduced risks from cooperation. With deterministic payoffs, however, the subsidy might crowd out other rationales for coordination, with many players indicating that the subsidy was the only reason for anyone to cooperate. Hence, the coordination level dropped when the subsidy was removed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is low iron status a risk factor for neural tube defects?
Authors: Molloy Anne M. , Einri Caitriona Nic , Jain Divyanshu , Laird Eamon , Fan Ruzong , Wang Yifan , Scott John M. , Shane Barry , Brody Lawrence C. , Kirke Peadar N. , Mills James L.
Published: February 2014

Background

Folic acid supplements can protect against neural tube defects (NTDs). Low folate and low vitamin B12 status may be maternal risk factors for having an NTD affected pregnancy. However, not all NTDs are preventable by having an adequate folate/ B12 status and other potentially modifiable factors may be involved. Folate and vitamin B12 status have important links to iron metabolism. Animal studies support an association between poor iron status and NTDs, but human data are scarce. We examined the relevance of low iron status in a nested NTD case–control study of women within a pregnant population‐based cohort.

Methods

Pregnant women were recruited between 1986 and 1990, when vitamin or iron supplementation in early pregnancy was rare. Blood samples, taken at an average of 14 weeks gestation, were used to measure ferritin and hemoglobin in 64 women during an NTD affected pregnancy and 207 women with unaffected pregnancies.

Results

No significant differences in maternal ferritin or hemoglobin concentrations were observed between NTD affected and nonaffected pregnancies (case median ferritin 16.9 µg/L and hemoglobin 12.4 g/dl versus 15.4 µg/L and 12.3g/dl in controls). As reported previously, red cell folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were significantly lower in cases. Furthermore, there was no significant association of iron status with type of NTD lesion (anencephaly or spina bifida).

Conclusion

We conclude that low maternal iron status during early pregnancy is not an independent risk factor for NTDs. Adding iron to folic acid for periconceptional use may improve iron status but is not likely to prevent NTDs. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:100–106, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of hydroxysafflor yellow A in biological fluids of patients with traumatic brain injury by UPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS after injection of Xuebijing
Authors: Guo Yong , Wang Yang , Huang Xi. , Lv Huiying , Fan Rong , Huang Wei , Gan Pingping , Liu Wei , Yan Kuipo , Xia Zian , Liu Jinfang
Published: February 2014

A simple, novel, specific, rapid and reproducible ultra‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the determination of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) in biological fluids (plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid) of patients with traumatic brain injury after intravenous injection of Xuebijing (XBJ). Liquid–liquid extraction was performed, and separation was carried out on an Acquity UPLC™ BEH C18 column, with gradient elution using a mobile phase composed of methanol and 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. A triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization was used for the detection of HSYA. The mass transition followed was m/z 611.0 → 491. The retention time was less than 3.0 min. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range from 2 to 6125 ng/mL for cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and urine. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were <10%, and the relative standard deviation of recovery was <15% for HSYA in biological matrices. The method was successfully applied for the first time to quantify HSYA in the biological fluids (especially in cerebrospinal fluid) of patients with traumatic brain injury following intravenous administration of XBJ. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Internet Child Sex Offenders' Concerns about Online Security and their Use of Identity Protection Technologies: A Review
Authors: Balfe Myles , Gallagher Bernard , Masson Helen , Balfe Shane , Brugha Ruairi , Hackett Simon
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this article is to review what is known about the technologies that internet child sex offenders use to abuse or exploit children, offenders' attitudes towards online security and surveillance risk, and their use of identity protection tactics and technologies. The peer‐reviewed literature on internet sex offenders published between 2000 and 2011 was surveyed. Internet child sex offenders use a mixture of new and old technologies to abuse children. Offenders' awareness of internet‐related risk appears to exist along a continuum. A number of psychological and demographic factors may influence offenders' perceptions of online security risk and their willingness to take security precautions. A surprisingly large number of apprehended offenders in the time period examined by this review did not seem to use any technologies to disguise their identities. A major research programme into internet offenders' use of identity protection technologies, and their use of technologies in general, is needed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Internet child sex offenders use a mixture of new and old technologies to abuse children.’

Key Practitioner Messages:

Internet child sex offenders use a variety of commonly available technologies, such as social networking sites and peer‐to‐peer platforms, to abuse children.

Offenders are a diverse group when it comes to how they perceive risk and act on those perceptions. The risk perceptions and risk management behaviours of individual offenders can be dynamic.

In the period surveyed by this review (2000–11), some studies found that surprisingly few offenders used technological measures to protect their identities.

‘Surprisingly few offenders used technological measures to protect their identities.’
ReshapedSequential Replacementfor variable selection in QSPR: comparison with other reference methods
Authors: Grisoni F. , Cassotti M. , Todeschini R.
Published: February 2014

The objective of the present work was to compare the Reshaped Sequential Replacement (RSR) algorithm with other well‐known variable selection techniques in the field of Quantitative Structure–Property Relationship (QSPR) modelling. RSR algorithm is based on a simple sequential replacement procedure with the addition of several ‘reshaping’ functions that aimed to (i) ensure a faster convergence upon optimal subsets of variables and (ii) reject models affected by chance correlation, overfitting and other pathologies. In particular, three reference variable selection methods were chosen for the comparison (stepwise forward selection, genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization), aiming to identify benefits and drawbacks of RSR with respect to these methods. To this end, several QSPR datasets regarding different physical–chemical properties and characterized by different objects/variables ratios were used to build ordinary least squares models; in addition, some well‐known (Y‐scrambling) and more recent (R‐based functions) statistical tools were used to analyse and compare the results. The study highlighted the good capability of RSR to find optimal subsets of variables in QSPR modelling, comparable or better than those found by the other reference variable selection methods. Moreover, RSR resulted to be faster than some of the analysed variable selection techniques, despite its extensive exploration of the variables space. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Arnol′d Diffusion in a Pendulum Lattice
Authors: Kaloshin Vadim , Levi Mark , Saprykina Maria
Published: February 2014

The main model studied in this paper is a lattice of pendula with a nearest‐neighbor coupling. If the coupling is weak, then the system is near‐integrable and KAM tori fill most of the phase space. For all KAM trajectories the energy of each pendulum stays within a narrow band for all time. Still, we show that for an arbitrarily weak coupling of a certain localized type, the neighboring pendula can exchange energy. In fact, the energy can be transferred between the pendula in any prescribed way. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TaskLocalRandom: a statistically sound substitute to pseudorandom number generation in parallel java tasks frameworks
Authors: Passerat‒Palmbach Jonathan , Mazel Claude , Hill David R. C.
Published: February 2014

Several software efforts have been produced over the past few years in various programming languages to help developers handle pseudorandom streams partitioning. Parallel and distributed stochastic simulations can obviously benefit from this kind of high‒level tools. The latest release of the Java Development Kit (JDK 7) tries to tackle this problem by providing facilities to partition a pseudorandom stream across various threads thanks to the new class ThreadLocalRandom. Meanwhile, Java 7 offers a framework to split a problem in a divide and conquer way through the new class called ForkJoinPool. As any other Java thread pool, ForkJoin exploits threads as workers and manipulates the tasks that will be run on the workers. In ThreadLocalRandom, pseudorandom number generation is handled at a thread level. As a consequence, a scientific application taking advantage of a Java thread pool to parallelize its computation may suffer from a bad pseudorandom stream partitioning due to the behavior of ThreadLocalRandom. The present work introduces TaskLocalRandom, a task‒level alternative to ThreadLocalRandom that solves this partitioning problem and assigns an independent pseudorandom stream to each task run in the thread pool. TaskLocalRandom is compatible with existing Java thread pools such as Executors or ForkJoin. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of heavy doping with donors on CZ silicon properties
Authors: Porrini M. , Duchini J. , Bazzali A.
Published: February 2014

This work reports a detailed characterization of 200 mm silicon wafers heavily doped with antimony, arsenic or phosphorus, in the range 1–50 mΩ•cm, corresponding to 7 × 1019 – 2 × 1017 at·cm−3. Grown‐in voids (revealed as light‐scattering objects on the wafer surface) are shown to be controlled by the dopant concentration. For As‐doped wafers the voids show a pronounced increase in their density up to [As] = 1.7 × 1019 cm−3, but at higher concentration the void density drops sharply. The same behaviour was found for P‐doped wafers where a sharp drop occurs at [P] > 2.9 × 1019 cm−3. In the case of antimony, the explored concentration range was sufficient only to reveal the increasing side of the curve. AFM characterization confirmed the morphology of voids as also seen in lightly‐doped silicon. Both single and double voids were observed. The oxygen precipitate density (BMD) was measured after submitting the wafers to a stabilization and growth thermal cycle. Overall it ranges from 1 × 106 ( = detection limit) to 1.5 × 1010 counts/cm3. The relationship between BMD density and oxygen concentration follows the classical S‐shaped curve, indicating that also for heavily doped N+ type wafers the oxygen content plays a major role on BMD formation.
Amyloid‐rich low grade adenocarcinoma of the parotid: Fine‐needle aspiration cytology with histologic correlations
Authors: Yang Grace C. H. , Kuhel William I. , Scognamiglio Theresa
Published: February 2014

Amyloid deposits are unexpected in salivary gland tumors. A 60‐year‐old woman presented with a 1.8 cm, slow‐growing parotid mass. Both fine‐needle aspiration and frozen section were misinterpreted as pleomorphic adenoma. The final pathology was amyloid‐rich low grade adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland. The aspirates consisted of three components: mucin, amyloid, and tumor cells. The mucin was unusually thick, stringy, and metachromatic. The amyloid presented as innumerable concretions scattered solitarily or in small jigsaw puzzle‐like aggregates, individually wrapped by tumor cells. The tumor cells had bland oval nuclei and scant‐to‐abundant cytoplasm, arranged in loosely cohesive small sheets. On histology, the tumor cells were arranged in interconnecting monolayered glands of a wide range of size with small patches of cellular regions composed of plump tumor cells. As the luminal mucin and amyloid deposits enlarged, the lining tumor cells became thin and flat. The glandular lumen molded amyloid concretions into different shapes and sizes. Atrophic or pyknotic tumor cells outlined the amyloid concretions with concentric laminations, reminiscent of corpora amylacea. Alcian blue positive luminal mucin, associated with newly formed amyloid, was present in mucinous regions of the tumor. This is the first description of cytologic features of amyloid‐rich low grade adenocarcinoma of the parotid and the second case in the pathology literature. The literature of amyloid‐rich tumors was reviewed and the implication of the presence of abundant amyloid on the death of tumor cells suggested. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:798–801. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hypercalcitoninemia and thyroid nodules
Authors: Giovanella Luca , Giugliano Gioacchino , Maffini Fausto A. , Chiesa Fausto , Bongiovanni Massimo
Published: February 2014

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) can assume various cytomorphological and architectural forms, mimicking other thyroid and extra‐thyroid tumors and rendering the cytological and histological diagnosis challenging. Consequently, measurement of calcitonin (CT) levels is generally considered to be more accurate than cytology in diagnosing MTC. Here, we report on a patient with a multinodular goiter and significantly elevated basal CT levels; based on cytology examination and CT immunocytostains, neither MTC nor C‐cell hyperplasia was detected upon final histopathological examination. CT testing has a high false‐positive rate and low positive predictive value for detecting clinically relevant MTC. Judicious integration of cytological examination with immunocytochemical stains (when needed) may be useful for selecting the most appropriate therapy and avoiding overtreatment (i.e., central neck lymph node dissection in the present case). This case demonstrates that cytological examination with ancillary techniques is still valuable in patients with thyroid nodules and suspicious MTC. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:970–973. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma, clear cell type, of the parotid gland
Authors: Udager Aaron M. , Rungta Shilpa A.
Published: February 2014

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), clear cell type, is a commonly encountered metastatic tumor that can present at unusual anatomic sites many years after the primary tumor resection. Noncutaneous metastasis to the parotid gland is unusual; however, a number of cases of parotid RCC metastasis have been reported. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is regularly utilized during the evaluation of salivary gland lesions, where it has a high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy; however, the identification and definitive diagnosis of primary and metastatic clear cell neoplasms is a potential diagnostic pitfall for salivary gland FNAB. Here, we describe a case of RCC, clear cell type, metastatic to the parotid gland that was diagnosed entirely from FNAB cell block material, which is the first such reported case to our knowledge. We review the literature for cases of parotid RCC metastasis and focus on the utility of FNAB for synchronous versus metachronous presentations. Finally, we evaluate the differential diagnosis of clear cell parotid lesions, including ancillary histologic studies, and propose an algorithmic approach to clear cell neoplasms of the salivary gland. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:974–983. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cribriform adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland: A report of two cases with an emphasis on cytology
Authors: Gailey Michael P. , Bayon Rodrigo , Robinson Robert A.
Published: February 2014

Cribriform adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland (CAMSG) is a recently characterized low grade salivary gland malignancy that most commonly presents as a mass in the base of the tongue, frequently with regional lymph node metastasis. Given its relative rarity and overlapping cytomorphology, CAMSG may be confused with polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) in minor salivary gland sites and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in cervical metastasis, in both fine‐needle aspiration and excisional specimens. As there are no cytology reports in the literature, we present two new cases of CAMSG and describe the aspiration cytology of the tumor taken from bench top aspirates, compare it with the histomorphology, and discuss the features that may help one avoid misdiagnosis of PTC in the setting of cervical lymph node metastasis. We found that like PTC, aspirates of CAMSG contain polymorphic fragments of epithelial cells arranged in monolayer sheets, papillary fronds and tips, and occasional cribriform configurations, and metachromatic stromal fragments, which may be misinterpreted as colloid. A background of myxoid/mucoid material also reminiscent of colloid was prominent. Differentiation from PLGA is more difficult based strictly on cytology. A review of the most current literature in relation to the molecular and immunohistochemical profiles, therapeutic options, and prognosis is also presented. It is critical for pathologists and clinicians to be aware of this tumor when presented with patients having a cervical lymph node mass in the absence of a primary tumor. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:1085–1090. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Atypical squamous cells in the urine revealing endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with squamous cell differentiation: A case report
Authors: Wang Yinong , Otis Christopher N. , Florence Roxanne R.
Published: February 2014

Urine cytology is mainly used to detect urothelial carcinoma (UC), especially for high‐grade lesions including urothelial carcinoma in situ. Benign squamous cells are often seen in the urine specimens of women, they are either exfoliated from the trigone area of the bladder, the urethra, or the cervicovaginal region. However, abnormal squamous cells in the urine raise concerns of abnormalities of the urinary tract and cervicovaginal area which range from squamous metaplasia of the urothelium, a cervicovaginal squamous intraepithelial lesion, condyloma acuminatum of the bladder, UC with squamous differentiation, and squamous cell carcinoma. We present here a unique case of atypical squamous cells (ASCs) in the urine subsequently leading to the diagnosis of endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with squamous differentiation. The presence of ASCs in voided urine is a rare finding that may indicate an underlying malignancy. Careful evaluation of squamous cells in the urine is an important part of our daily cytopathology practice. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:49–52. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved zeolite regeneration processes for preparing saturated branched‐chain fatty acids
Authors: Ngo Helen L.
Published: February 2014

Ferrierite zeolite solid is an excellent catalyst for the skeletal isomerization of unsaturated linear‐chain fatty acids (i.e., oleic acid) to unsaturated branched‐chain fatty acids (i.e.,iso‐oleic acid) follow by hydrogenation to give saturated branched‐chain fatty acids (i.e., isostearic acid). In order for the isomerization process to be cost effective, the spent zeolite catalyst must be capable of regeneration for subsequent uses. We report a much improved zeolite regeneration protocol. The Ferrierite zeolite is efficiently regenerated by heating at 115 °C for 20 h after each use and treatment with an acid solution after every 5th or 6th use. This approach allows the catalyst to be successfully used at least 20 times without significant decrease in conversion and selectivity. The unused and regenerated catalysts have been thoroughly characterized by various analytical techniques. The improved catalyst regeneration protocol should enable cost effective, large scale production of isostearic acid via zeolite‐catalyzed skeletal isomerization.
Constructing load‐balanced virtual backbones in probabilistic wireless sensor networks via multi‐objective genetic algorithm
Authors: He Jing (Selena) , Ji Shouling , Beyah Raheem , Xie Ying , Li Yingshu
Published: February 2014

A connected dominating set (CDS) is used as a virtual backbone (VB) for efficient routing and broadcasting in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Currently, almost all existing works focus on constructing minimum‐sized CDS under the deterministic network model. However, because of the existence of many probabilistic lossy links in WSNs, it is more practical to obtain a VB under the realistic probabilistic network model (PNM). Moreover, load‐balance factor cannot be neglected when constructing a VB to prolong network lifetime. Hence, in this paper, we propose a multi‐objective genetic algorithm to construct a load‐balanced VB under PNM. Through simulations, we demonstrate that our proposed methods extend network lifetime by 69% on average compared with the existing state‐of‐the‐art approaches. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Commodity Strategies Based on Momentum, Term Structure, and Idiosyncratic Volatility
Authors: Fuertes Ana‐Maria , Miffre Joëlle , Fernandez‐Perez Adrian
Published: February 2014

This article demonstrates that momentum, term structure, and idiosyncratic volatility signals in commodity futures markets are not overlapping, which inspires a novel triple‐screen strategy. We show that simultaneously buying contracts with high past performance, high roll‐yields, and low idiosyncratic volatility, and shorting contracts with poor past performance, low roll‐yields, and high idiosyncratic volatility yields a Sharpe ratio over the 1985 to 2011 period that is five times that of the S&P‐GSCI. The triple‐screen strategy dominates the double‐screen and individual strategies and this outcome cannot be attributed to overreaction, liquidity risk, transaction costs, or the financialization of commodity futures markets. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 35:274–297, 2015
Ha‐ras and β‐catenin oncoproteins orchestrate metabolic programs in mouse liver tumors
Authors: Unterberger Elif B. , Eichner Johannes , Wrzodek Clemens , Lempiäinen Harri , Luisier Raphaëlle , Terranova Rémi , Metzger Ute , Plummer Simon , Knorpp Thomas , Braeuning Albert , Moggs Jonathan , Templin Markus F. , Honndorf Valerie , Piotto Martial , Zell Andreas , Schwarz Michael
Published: February 2014

The process of hepatocarcinogenesis in the diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiation/phenobarbital (PB) promotion mouse model involves the selective clonal outgrowth of cells harboring oncogene mutations in Ctnnb1, while spontaneous or DEN‐only‐induced tumors are often Ha‐ras‐ or B‐raf‐mutated. The molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying these different tumor sub‐types are not well characterized. Their identification may help identify markers for xenobiotic promoted versus spontaneously occurring liver tumors. Here, we have characterized mouse liver tumors harboring either Ctnnb1 or Ha‐ras mutations via integrated molecular profiling at the transcriptional, translational and post‐translational levels. In addition, metabolites of the intermediary metabolism were quantified by high resolution 1H magic angle nuclear magnetic resonance. We have identified tumor genotype‐specific differences in mRNA and miRNA expression, protein levels, post‐translational modifications, and metabolite levels that facilitate the molecular and biochemical stratification of tumor phenotypes. Bioinformatic integration of these data at the pathway level led to novel insights into tumor genotype‐specific aberrant cell signaling and in particular to a better understanding of alterations in pathways of the cell intermediary metabolism, which are driven by the constitutive activation of the β‐Catenin and Ha‐ras oncoproteins in tumors of the two genotypes.
Northeast India: An important region with a rich biodiversity of Rotifera
Authors: Sharma Bhushan Kumar , Sharma Sumita
Published: February 2014

This study extends our previous work to investigate the planktonic rotifers of floodplain lakes (locally called as beels or pats) of Northeast India (NEI) and reviews the known rotifer diversity from the seven states of this region. To do this we examined plankton samples from numerous sites from different states, including 30 floodplain lakes (beels) of Assam and 15 floodplain lakes (pats) of Manipur. This survey yielded 238 species, making the region of NEI one of the most specious and diverse (50 genera and 23 families) of the Indian subcontinent. Occurrence of four Australian and Asian, 10 Oriental, 13 Paleotropical, two Holarctic, two Indian pandemics, 12 Eastern Hemisphere elements, and several species of regional distribution importance are distinctive features of this rotifer assemblage. The beels or pats of NEI are Rotifera rich habitats with Deepor Beel and Loktak Lake (two Ramsar sites) as globally important wetlands, and Assam (>50.0% of the Indian species) recorded highest richness amongst all states of this country. While explaining some 63–74% of the variation of the rotifer assemblage along two axes, Canonical Correspondence Analysis yielded little insight regarding the influence of individual abiotic parameters on their diversity. This study from Northeast India, a part of the Himalayan and Indo‐Myanmar “hotspots,” is of special biodiversity interest.
Effect of circadian cycle and prey density on the demography of the predator Asplanchna silvestrii (Rotifera)
Authors: Jiménez‐Contreras Jorge , Sarma S. S. S. , Nandini S. , Urquieta‐Ordóñez Ariadna
Published: February 2014

We studied the demographic responses (average lifespan (ALS), gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (NRR), generation time (GT) and the rate of population increase per day (r) of the predatory rotifer A. silvestrii cultured under five different durations of light conditions (L:D = 24:0, 18:6, 12:12, 6:18, and 0:24 in a 24 h cycle) and under two prey (Plationus patulus) densities (0.5 and 5.0 ind. mL−1). Our data showed that regardless of prey density, the survivorship of A. silvestrii was affected by the duration of photoperiod; the longest ALS was under complete darkness. For any given prey density, lowest GRR was recorded at 24L:0D. The NRR was lower under continuous light (24L:0D) regime. The longest GT was recorded when Asplanchna silvestrii was fed on high prey density and under total dark regime. The r ranged from 0.15 (24L:0D photoperiod in low prey density) to 0.6 day−1 (18L:6D and high prey density) and for the rest of treatments, the values remained within this range.
As Little as Needed: The Extraordinary Case of a Mild Recessive Osteopetrosis Owing to a Novel Splicing Hypomorphic Mutation in the TCIRG1 Gene
Authors: Sobacchi Cristina , Pangrazio Alessandra , Lopez Antonio González-Meneses , Gomez Diego Pascual-Vaca , Caldana Maria Elena , Susani Lucia , Vezzoni Paolo , Villa Anna
Published: February 2014

Mutations in the TCIRG1 gene, coding for a subunit of the osteoclast proton pump, are responsible for more than 50% of cases of human malignant autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (ARO), a rare inherited bone disease with increased bone density owing to a failure in bone resorption. A wide variety of mutations has been described, including missense, nonsense, small deletions/insertions, splice-site mutations, and large genomic deletions, all leading to a similar severe presentation. So far, to the best of our knowledge, no report of a mild phenotype owing to recessive TCIRG1 mutations is present neither in our series of more than 100 TCIRG1-dependent ARO patients nor in the literature. Here we describe an 8-year-old patient referred to us with a clinical diagnosis of ARO, based on radiological findings; of note, no neurological or hematological defects were present in this girl. Surprisingly, we identified a novel nucleotide change in intron 15 of the TCIRG1 gene at the homozygous state, leading to the production of multiple aberrant transcripts, but also, more importantly, of a limited amount of the normal transcript. Our results show that a low level of normal TCIRG1 protein can dampen the clinical presentation of TCIRG1-dependent ARO. On this basis, a small amount of protein might be sufficient to rescue, at least partially, the severe ARO phenotype, and this is particularly important when gene therapy approaches are considered. In addition, we would also recommend that the TCIRG1 gene be included in the molecular diagnosis of mild forms of human ARO. © 2014 Italian National Research Council. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The Importance of Previous Fracture Site on Osteoporosis Diagnosis and Incident Fractures in Women
Authors: Morin Suzanne N , Lix Lisa M , Leslie William D
Published: February 2014

Previous fracture increases the risk of subsequent fractures regardless of the site of the initial fracture. Fracture risk assessment tools have been developed to guide clinical management; however, no discrimination is made as to the site of the prior fracture. Our objective was to determine which sites of previous nontraumatic fractures are most strongly associated with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, defined by a bone mineral density (BMD) T-score of ≤ −2.5 at the femoral neck, and an incident major osteoporotic fracture. Using administrative health databases, we conducted a retrospective historical cohort study of 39,991women age 45 years and older who had BMD testing with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Logistic regression and Cox proportional multivariate models were used to test the association of previous fracture site with risk of osteoporosis and incident fractures. Clinical fractures at the following sites were strongly and independently associated with higher risk of an osteoporotic femoral neck T-score after adjustment for age: hip (odds ratio [OR], 3.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.04–4.21), pelvis (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.66–3.0), spine (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.77–2.62), and humerus (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.49–2.02). Cox proportional hazards models, with adjustment for age and femoral neck BMD, showed the greatest increase in risk for a major osteoporotic fracture for women who had sustained previous fractures of the spine (hazard ratio [HR], 2.08; 95% CI, 1.72–2.53), humerus (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.44–2.01), patella (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.10–2.18), and pelvis (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.04–2.02). In summary, our results confirm that nontraumatic fractures in women are associated with osteoporosis at the femoral neck and that the site of previous fracture impacts on future osteoporotic fracture risk, independent of BMD. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Neuropeptide Y Attenuates Stress-Induced Bone Loss Through Suppression of Noradrenaline Circuits
Authors: Baldock PA , Lin S , Zhang L , Karl T , Shi Y , Driessler F , Zengin A , Hörmer B , Lee NJ , Wong IPL , Lin EJD , Enriquez RF , Stehrer B , During MJ , Yulyaningsih E , Zolotukhin S , Ruohonen ST , Savontaus E , Sainsbury A , Herzog H
Published: February 2014

Chronic stress and depression have adverse consequences on many organ systems, including the skeleton, but the mechanisms underlying stress-induced bone loss remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that neuropeptide Y (NPY), centrally and peripherally, plays a critical role in protecting against stress-induced bone loss. Mice lacking the anxiolytic factor NPY exhibit more anxious behavior and elevated corticosterone levels. Additionally, following a 6-week restraint, or cold-stress protocol, Npy-null mice exhibit three-fold greater bone loss compared to wild-type mice, owing to suppression of osteoblast activity. This stress-protective NPY pathway acts specifically through Y2 receptors. Centrally, Y2 receptors suppress corticotropin-releasing factor expression and inhibit activation of noradrenergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus. In the periphery, they act to control noradrenaline release from sympathetic neurons. Specific deletion of arcuate Y2 receptors recapitulates the Npy-null stress response, coincident with elevated serum noradrenaline. Importantly, specific reintroduction of NPY solely in noradrenergic neurons of otherwise Npy-null mice blocks the increase in circulating noradrenaline and the stress-induced bone loss. Thus, NPY protects against excessive stress-induced bone loss, through Y2 receptor-mediated modulation of central and peripheral noradrenergic neurons. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Thin Client: New Cost Savings?
Authors: Fanning Kurt
Published: February 2014

Information technology (IT) costs can be a major headache for cost managers. To cut costs, companies replaced desktop PCs with what are called thin clients: a software program, actual computer, or other device that relies on another computer to do most of the computing. While the expected cost savings didn't happen in all cases, the thin‐client model still achieved significant cost savings and became a large portion of IT spending. But all this has taken place over the past two decades, so why is there now a new interest now in using thin clients?
Business Risks All Identified? If You're Using a Spreadsheet, Think Again
Authors: Dzuranin Ann C. , Slater Robert D.
Published: February 2014

Spreadsheet use is pervasive in many organizations. Useful as they are, the risk exposure posed by spreadsheets can be enormous. This article discusses how companies can better understand those risks by using the company's business objectives to inventory and classify spreadsheets according to their business purpose.
IFRS Convergence: Learning from Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina
Authors: Steinbach Kevin D. , Tang Roger Y. W.
Published: February 2014

Many countries have adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for domestic listed companies. In the United States, a major concern about the adoption of IFRS has been the cost of implementation. However, worldwide acceptance of IFRS would eliminate the extra costs of dissimilar accounting standards. Overall, what can we learn from countries that have already adopted IFRS?
Influence of Leadership on Job Satisfaction: The Moderating Effects of Follower Individual‐Level Masculinity–Femininity Values
Authors: Mustafa Ghulam , Lines Rune
Published: February 2014

The current study examined whether employee individual‐level masculinity–femininity values moderate the relationship between leadership styles (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic) and employee job satisfaction. Overall, the research provided support for the impact of individual‐level masculinity–femininity on follower reactions to various leadership behaviors. The findings indicated that followers who scored high on feminine orientation perceived a weaker relationship between all leadership behaviors and job satisfaction. Followers with more masculine values associated more perceptions of job satisfaction with human resource, political, and symbolic leadership and viewed leaders' structural behaviors as less important for satisfaction at work.
That “Most Inexhaustible of All Topics”: Reflections on the Leadership Studies Curriculum at the Jepson School
Authors: Peart Sandra J.
Published: February 2014

The curriculum at the University of Richmond's Jepson School of Leadership Studies draws upon the liberal arts to advance the understanding of leadership and the challenges of ethical and effective engagement in society. We examine leadership questions using a diverse set of disciplinary lenses, weave the study of ethics throughout the curriculum, and emphasize that leadership is contextual: leaders operate within a complex set of culturally determined norms.
An automatized homogenization procedure via pairwise comparisons with application to Argentinean temperature series
Authors: Hannart Alexis , Mestre Olivier , Naveau Philippe
Published: February 2014

We describe a fully automatized homogenization procedure and illustrate it on Argentinean weather station temperature series. The procedure relies on multiple pairwise comparisons between a candidate station and its surrounding stations. The main advantage of this approach is to get around the difficulty of defining a reliable reference series; its main drawback is to often require visual attribution and grouping of shifts resulting in too high a cost in human time for implementation on large datasets. Here, we fully automatize these two steps by using a probabilistic metric of similarity between shifts which is leveraged within two optimized clustering schemes. Simulation results show performance improvements versus both visual inspection and the automatized procedure of Menne MJ, Williams CN, Jr. 2009. Homogenization of temperature series via pairwise comparisons. J. Clim. 22: 1700–1717. Implementation on Argentinean temperature series results in the identification and removal of numerous inhomogeneities; corrected series reveal stronger and spatially smoother warming trends.
Quality of life in cochlear implantees: Comparing utility values obtained through the Medical Outcome Study Short‐Form Survey‐6D and the Health Utility Index Mark 3
Authors: Arnoldner Christoph , Lin Vincent Y. , Bresler Richard , Kaider Alexandra , Kuthubutheen Jafri , Shipp David , Chen Joseph M.
Published: February 2014

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate the changes in health‐related quality of life in unilateral adult cochlear implant patients using the Medical Outcome Study Short‐Form Survey‐36 (SF‐36) and the Health Utility Index Mark 3 (HUI‐3). To do so, a health utility index was obtained by converting the SF‐36 to the Medical Outcome Study Short‐Form Survey‐6D (SF‐6D) to permit comparison with HUI‐3 scores in the context of health preference as measured by quality‐adjusted life years.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

Eighty‐one postlingually deaf adult patients undergoing cochlear implantation completed the SF‐36 and HUI‐3 preoperatively and at a median of 1.4 years (range, 11 months–5 years) after cochlear implantation.

Results

The SF‐36 improvement was statistically significant in two domains. The SF‐36 data were converted to SF‐6D. Preoperatively, the mean SF‐6D utility score was 0.575 ± 0.056. One year postoperatively this score increased to 0.590 ± 0.064. The improvement of 0.015 ± 0.082 was not statistically significant (P = .1118). Of the HUI‐3 attributes, two showed improvement between preoperative and postoperative evaluations. The overall HUI‐3 score increased from 0.464 ± 0.207 preoperatively to 0.611 ± 0.190 postoperatively. The gain of 0.146 ± 0.19 was statistically significant (P < .0001). The intraclass correlation coefficient between the SF‐6D and HUI‐3 showed a very small correlation, both pre‐ and postoperatively.

Conclusions

Against the backdrop of diminishing resources for healthcare, cost‐effective analysis is fast becoming an important tool. There remains a strong need for health‐related quality‐of‐life instruments that can truly reflect the benefit of cochlear implantation, in which utility estimates are fundamentally important. The SF‐36 scores, when converted to SF‐6D, do not correlate well with HUI‐3 scores in a cohort of adult cochlear implant recipients. The HUI‐3 remains the most appropriate tool for this patient group.

Level of Evidence

4Laryngoscope, 124:2586–2590, 2014
A clinical and biological evaluation of a novel, noninvasive radiofrequency device for the long‐term reduction of adipose tissue
Authors: Boisnic Sylvie , Divaris Marc , Nelson Andrew A. , Gharavi Nima M. , Lask Gary P.
Published: February 2014

Background and Objective

A novel, noninvasive technology, utilizing suction‐coupled radiofrequency (RF) heating and ultra‐short pulse duration, high‐voltage electrical pulses was studied for its efficacy and safety on adipose tissue reduction.

Methods

Twenty‐one subjects underwent treatment of their abdominal fat once weekly for 6 weeks. Clinical outcomes including abdominal circumference, adipose tissue thickness (measured by ultrasound), adipose tissue weight, body weight, and clinical photographs were obtained at visits 1 and 3 months after last treatment. Adverse events were recorded. Three subjects, who were undergoing a future elective abdominoplasty, were treated with the same protocol, but on only one side of the abdomen before abdominoplasty. Biopsies from the RF‐treated and untreated sides were harvested during abdominoplasty and cultured; measurements of adipocyte size and shape, rate of apoptosis, collagen production, and dermal thickness were determined.

Results

Significant clinical improvements (P < 0.05) were observed for the following clinical outcomes: reduction of abdominal circumference (113.4–110.7 cm), reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (40.5–38.5 mm), and reduction in adipose tissue weight (32.2–30.7 kg) at 3‐month follow‐up visits. Overall patient weight also decreased, which was statistically significant at 1‐month follow‐up, but was not statistically significant at 3‐month follow‐up (73.9–73.3 kg, P = 0.609). Histologically, adipocytes were observed to have decreased size and withered shape, with increased levels of apoptosis; increased collagen synthesis, with compaction and reorganization of the dermis was also observed. Only minor, transient side effects were reported.

Conclusions

This novel, noninvasive RF device was effective for improving subcutaneous fat, reducing abdominal circumference and reducing subcutaneous fat layer thickness. Histologically, these improvements appear to be partly related to increased adipocyte apoptosis. Lasers Surg. Lasers Surg. Med. 46:94–103, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Late hepatic artery thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation: A cross-sectional study of 34 patients
Authors: Kivelä Jesper M. , Kosola Silja , Kalajoki-Helmiö Teija , Mäkisalo Heikki , Jalanko Hannu , Holmberg Christer , Pakarinen Mikko P. , Lauronen Jouni
Published: February 2014

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation (LT) increases patient morbidity and mortality. Early HAT is considered to occur within the first month after LT, whereas late HAT occurs after the first month. Few studies have addressed late HAT after LT, especially in pediatric patients. Between 1987 and 2007, 99 patients (age < 18 years) underwent deceased donor LT. Thirty-four of 66 eligible patients (52%) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to protocol. On the basis of MRI findings, the patients were grouped as those who experienced late HAT and those who did not. Additionally, potential risk factors for late HAT were analyzed retrospectively. P values were adjusted for multiplicity. The median age at LT was 1.7 years [interquartile range (IQR) = 1.0-9.6 years], and the median follow-up time at MRI was 9.5 years (IQR = 4.0-16.4 years). Late HAT was diagnosed in 15 of the 34 patients [44%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 29%-61%] undergoing MRI and in 3 of these patients with angiography preceding MRI. Ultrasonography revealed late HAT in 6 of these 15 patients with a sensitivity of 40% (95% CI = 20%-64%). The donor/recipient weight ratio remained significantly higher for the patients with late HAT versus the patients without late HAT after P values were adjusted (5.4 versus 1.9, P = 0.03). No marked differences were observed in laboratory or liver histology parameters between the groups. In conclusion, late HAT is common after pediatric LT. The donor/recipient weight ratio was higher for patients with late HAT, and this was attributable to the lower weight of the recipients. No salient features of late HAT were observed with respect to laboratory or histological parameters, at least in terms of our study's cross-sectional period. Liver Transpl 20:591–600, 2014. © 2014 AASLD.
Helical Substituted Polyacetylene‐Derived Fluorescent Microparticles Prepared by Precipitation Polymerization
Authors: Huang Huajun , Chen Chunni , Zhang Dongyue , Deng Jianping , Wu Youping
Published: February 2014

This article reports the first fluorescent microparticles (MPs, approximately 600 nm in diameter) constructed using helical substituted polyacetylene and prepared via a precipitation polymerization approach. The MPs judiciously combine this interesting helical conjugated acetylene, fluorescent material and polymeric particles in one entity. The monomer containing a dansyl group undergoes precipitation polymerization in butanone/n‐heptane mixed solvent, with (nbd)Rh+B−(C6H5)4 as a catalyst. MPs with a regular morphology are formed in a high yield (>80 wt%). UV‐vis spectroscopy demonstrates that the polymer chains making up the MPs adopt helical structures. The MPs show considerable fluorescence emission (λmax, 500 nm; excited at 340 nm). Based on SEM and fluorescence images, the formation mechanism of the MPs is proposed. This methodology opens up new ways to prepare functional microstructured materials derived from substituted polyacetylenes, and may also result in opportunities for new practical applications of polyacetylene and its derivatives.

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