bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antenatal iron/folic acid supplements, but not postnatal care, prevents neonatal deaths in Indonesia: analysis of Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys 2002/2003–2007 (a retrospective cohort study)
Authors: Titaley Christiana Rialine , Dibley Michael John
Published: November 2012

Objective

This study aimed to assess the contribution of postnatal services to the risk of neonatal mortality, and the relative contributions of antenatal iron/folic acid supplements and postnatal care in preventing neonatal mortality in Indonesia.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

Data used in this study were the 2002–2007 Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys, nationally representative surveys. The pooled data provided survival information of 26 591 most recent live-born infants within the 5-years prior to each interview.

Primary outcomes

Primary outcomes were early neonatal mortality, that is, deaths in the first week, and all neonatal mortality, that is, deaths in the first month of life. Exposures were antenatal iron/folic acid supplementation and postnatal care from days 1 to 7. Potential confounders were community, socio-economic status and birthing characteristics and perinatal healthcare. Cox regression was used to assess the association between study factors and neonatal mortality.

Results

Postnatal care services were not associated with newborn survival. Postnatal care on days 1–7 after birth did not reduce neonatal death (HR=1.00, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.83, p=1.00) and early postnatal care on day 1 was associated with an increased risk of early neonatal death (HR=1.27, 95% CI 0.69 to 2.32, p=0.44) possibly reflecting referral of ill newborns. Early postnatal care on day 1 was not protective for neonatal deaths on days 2–7 whether provided by doctors (HR 3.61, 95% CI 1.54 to 8.45, p<0.01), or by midwives or nurses (HR 1.38, 95% CI 0.53 to 3.57, p=0.512). In mothers who took iron/folic acid supplements during pregnancy, the risk of early neonatal death was reduced by 51% (HR=0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.79, p<0.01).

Conclusions

We found no protective effect of postnatal care against neonatal deaths in Indonesia. However, important reductions in the risk of neonatal death were found for women who reported use of antenatal iron/folic acid supplements during pregnancy.
Discharge disposition disagreements and re-admission risk among older adults: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dinescu Anca , Korc-Grodzicki Beatriz , Farber Jeffrey , Ross Joseph S
Published: November 2012

Objectives

Re-admissions after hospitalisation are a burden for patients and costly. Our objective was to examine whether re-admissions were increased among older patients when they or their surrogates disagreed with the discharge disposition recommended by the clinical team at hospital discharge.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Large academic medical centre in New York, NY.

Participants

514 hospital discharges of older patients admitted to a geriatric inpatient service between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008.

Primary outcome measure and main independent variable

Re-admissions for any reason to any hospital within 30 days after discharge were identified. Agreement or disagreement with the discharge disposition recommended by the clinical team at hospital discharge was assessed.

Results

Among 514 hospital discharges of older patients, the mean age was 83.1 years (SD=8.3), 75.7% were women, and approximately 90% were living at home prior to hospitalisation, despite 47.1% having some degree of cognitive impairment and 56.4% requiring assistance for activities of daily living or independent activities of daily living. There were 42 (8.2%) disposition disagreements; the majority (n=25; 59.5%) were discharged home despite the clinical team's recommendation for discharge to an acute or subacute facility. Overall, 158 (30.7%) were re-admitted within 30 days. There was no difference in re-admission rates between discharges with and without disposition disagreements (33.3% (144 of 472) vs 30.5% (14 of 42), respectively; OR=1.14, 95% CI 0.57 to 2.19; p=0.71). Adjusted analyses were consistent with these findings.

Conclusions

Discharge disposition disagreements occurred relatively infrequently after hospitalisation among a group of older patients managed by a geriatrics inpatient service. In addition, we found no differences in re-admission when comparing patients who agreed or disagreed with the clinical team's recommended discharge disposition.
Self-reported treatment, workplace-oriented rehabilitation, change of occupation and subsequent sickness absence and disability pension among employees long-term sick-listed for psychiatric disorders: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Bryngelson Anna , Mittendorfer-Rutz Ellenor , Jensen Irene , Lundberg Ulrika , Åsberg Marie , Nygren Åke
Published: November 2012

Aim

To examine whether self-reported treatments, workplace-oriented rehabilitation and change of occupation were associated with subsequent sickness absence and disability pension among long-term sick-listed for psychiatric disorders.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

5200 employees (80% from the Swedish municipalities and county councils and 20% manual workers from the Swedish industry) were randomly selected who in 1999 in the register of AFA Insurance had a new spell of long-term sickness absence due to a psychiatric disorder. Of these, 99 were excluded (duplicates and deaths, persons living abroad, with protected personal information), and 5101 received a questionnaire in 2001. 3053 individuals responded (60%). After the exclusion of employees with no sick leave in 1999 according to the Swedish social insurance agency, aged 62 years and older, with disability pension 1999–2001, no self-reported treatment, and with missing information on the covariates, our final study group was 2324 individuals. Logistic regression analyses were performed.

Outcome measures

Sickness absence (>90 days) and disability pension (>0 day).

Results

45% had sickness absence and 18% a new disability pension in 2002. Drug treatment and physiotherapy, respectively, were associated with increased odds of sickness absence (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.90; OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.69), and disability pension (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.41; OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.18). Workplace-oriented rehabilitation and change of occupation, respectively, reduced the odds of sickness absence (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.83; OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.45).

Conclusions

We found a pattern of poorer outcome of drug treatment and physiotherapy compared with other treatments (psychotherapy, workplace-oriented rehabilitation and complementary or alternative medicine) in terms of increased odds of sickness absence and disability pension. Workplace-oriented rehabilitation and/or change of occupation were associated with reduced odds of sick leave. Studies with a randomised controlled trial design are needed to examine the effect on sick leave of a workplace-oriented intervention.
Isolated theory of mind deficits and risk for frontotemporal dementia: a longitudinal pilot study
Authors: Pardini Matteo , Emberti Gialloreti Leonardo , Mascolo Maria , Benassi Francesca , Abate Lucia , Guida Silvia , Viani Erica , Dal Monte Olga , Schintu Selene , Krueger Frank , Cocito Leonardo
Published: November 2012

Objective

Recent data suggest that theory of mind (ToM) deficits represent an early symptom of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, longitudinal data on the natural history of subjects presenting with isolated ToM deficits are lacking. The aim of the study was to verify if isolated ToM deficits represent an at-risk state for prefrontal dysfunction and bvFTD.

Methods

A population of healthy subjects (n=4150, age range: 50–60 years) completed a clinical and neuropsychological evaluation including the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), a widely used ToM task. From this group, we recruited a low-RMET group (n=83) including subjects with RMET scores lower than 2 SDs but an otherwise normal neuropsychological evaluation and a control group. All subjects underwent evaluation at baseline and after 2 years.

Results

Subjects in the low-RMET group showed decline in prefrontal functions at follow-up. Moreover, at follow-up 12 subjects in the low-RMET group presented with findings suggestive of bvFTD. Neuropsychological performance was stable in the control group.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that isolated ToM deficits could represent an at-risk situation for the development of future prefrontal dysfunction and bvFTD. ToM evaluation should be included in neuropsychological protocols aimed to evaluate the early phases of dementia.
Difficult catheter access to the occluded vessel during endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke is associated with worse clinical outcome
Authors: Ribo Marc , Flores Alan , Rubiera Marta , Pagola Jorge , Mendonca Nuno , Rodriguez-Luna David , Piñeiro Soco , Meler Pilar , Alvarez-Sabin Jose , Molina Carlos A
Published: November 2012

Background and aim

During endovascular procedures for acute ischemic stroke, catheter access to the occluded vessel may be technically difficult or impossible. The aim of this study was to access the impact of difficult catheter access to target the carotid artery on clinical outcome.

Methods

Anterior circulation stroke patients undergoing transfemoral endovascular procedures where studied. Patients were divided into four groups according to time from groin puncture to target carotid catheterization quartiles. Patients in quartile 4 (Q4) were considered difficult carotid access. We defined several outcome measures: recanalisation (final Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2a), time from groin puncture to recanalisation and favorable long term outcome (modified Rankin Scale score <3 at 3 months).

Results

Of 130 patients studied, carotid catheterization was impossible in seven patients (5.1%). These patients had significantly lower rates of recanalization (14.3% vs 80.5%; p<0.01) and favorable outcome (0% vs 36%; p=0.038). Among patients with an accessible carotid artery(n=123), median time from groin puncture to carotid catheterization was 20 min (IQR 10). A negative correlation between time to carotid access and recanalization was observed (r=−0.31; p<0.01). Patients in Q4 (>30 min) had lower rates of recanalization (60.7% vs 82.4%; p=0.02) and a lower favorable outcome (13.6% vs 41.3%; p=0.04). A logistic regression adjusted by age showed that baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR 0.8; 95% CI: 0.72 to 0.92 p<0.01) and having difficult access (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.3 to 20.1 p=0.018) independently predicted worse long term outcome.

Conclusions

Difficult catheter access to target the carotid is common during acute endovascular treatment of stroke patients and is associated with a worse clinical outcome. If transfemoral access appears difficult, alternative access such as direct carotid puncture could be explored.
A predictive model for reproductive performance following abortion in Thoroughbred mares
Authors: Schulman M. L. , Kass P. H. , Becker A. , Van der Merwe B.
Published: November 2012

Pregnancy losses include early embryonic death (EED) and later (postimplantation) abortion. Abortions, particularly Equid herpesvirus (EHV‐1) abortion epizootics, cause severe economic and production losses. The long‐term effects of EHV‐1 and other abortions on subsequent reproductive performance in broodmare populations, however, remain undefined. This study described the relationships of EED and abortion with the following reproductive outcomes in Thoroughbred systems: breeding efficiency, month of last breeding, subsequent pregnancy and live foal rates. A prospective cohort study in broodmare populations following EHV‐1 epizootics on two South African farms was used to develop predictive models of the relative influences and interactions of reproductive variables associated with EHV‐1 and other abortion causes on reproductive performance. EED predicted all the reproductive outcomes. Abortion predicted increased effort and month of breeding to establish pregnancy, but not becoming pregnant or foaling. Increasing age predicted decreased reproductive efficiency, and pregnancy and foaling probabilities. Mare reproductive status predicted breeding efficiency and the last month of breeding, but not establishing pregnancy. The last month of breeding predicted efficiency, pregnancy and foaling. Interestingly, breeding in the first month of the season was associated with an improved probability of pregnancy among barren mares.
Cold-induced vasodilatation response in the fingers at 4 different water temperatures
Authors: Mekjavic Igor B. , Dobnikar Uroš , Kounalakis Stylianos N.
Published: November 2012

We evaluated the cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) response at 4 different water temperatures. Nine healthy young male subjects immersed their right hands in 35 °C water for 5 min, and immediately thereafter for 30 min in a bath maintained at either 5, 8, 10, or 15 °C. The responses of finger skin temperatures, subjective ratings of thermal comfort and temperature sensation scores were compared between the 4 immersion trials. The number of subjects who exhibited a CIVD response was higher during immersion of the hand in 5 and 8 °C (100%) compared with 10 and 15 °C water (87.5% and 37.5%, respectively). The CIVD temperature amplitude was 4.2 ± 2.6, 3.4 ± 2.0, 2.1 ± 1.6, and 2.8 ± 2.0 °C at 5, 8, 10, and 15 °C trials, respectively; higher in 5 and 8 °C compared with 10 and 15 °C water (p = 0.003). No differences in CIVD were found between the 5 and 8 °C immersions. However, during immersion in 5 °C, subjects felt “uncomfortable” while in the other trials felt “slightly uncomfortable” (p = 0.005). The temperature sensation score was “cold” for 5 °C and “cool” for the other trials, but no statistical differences were observed. Immersion of the hand in 8 °C elicits a CIVD response of similar magnitude as immersion in 5 °C, but with less thermal discomfort.
Caffeine-containing energy drink improves physical performance of elite rugby players during a simulated match
Authors: Del Coso Juan , Ramírez Juan A. , Muñoz Gloria , Portillo Javier , Gonzalez-Millán Cristina , Muñoz Víctor , Barbero-Álvarez José C. , Muñoz-Guerra Jesús
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a caffeine-containing energy drink in enhancing rugby players' physical performance during a simulated match. A second purpose was to determine the urinary caffeine excretion derived from the energy drink intake. In a randomized and counterbalanced order, 26 elite rugby players (mean ± SD for age and body mass, 25 ± 2 y and 93 ± 15 kg) played 2 simulated rugby games (2 × 30 min) 60 min after ingesting (i) 3 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body mass in the form of an energy drink (Fure, ProEnergetics) or (ii) the same drink without caffeine (placebo). During the matches, the individual running distance and the instantaneous speed were measured, and the number of running actions above 20 km·h−1(i.e., sprints) were determined, using global positioning system devices. The number of impacts above 5 g during the matches was determined by accelerometry. The ingestion of the energy drink, compared with the placebo, increased the total distance covered during the match (4749 ± 589 vs 5139 ± 475 m, p < 0.05), the running distance covered at more than 20 km·h−1(184 ± 38 vs 208 ± 38 m, p < 0.05), and the number of sprints (10 ± 7 vs 12 ± 7, p < 0.05). The ingestion of the energy drink also resulted in a greater overall number of impacts (481 ± 352 vs 641 ± 366, p < 0.05) and a higher postexercise urine caffeine concentration (0.1 ± 0.1 vs 2.4 ± 0.9 μg·mL−1, p < 0.05). The use of an energy drink with a caffeine dose equivalent to 3 mg·kg−1considerably enhanced the movement patterns of rugby players during a simulated match.
Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria attenuate the proinflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells induced by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Carey Christine M. , Kostrzynska Magdalena
Published: November 2012

Inflammation is a physiological response to infections and tissue injury; however, abnormal immune responses can give rise to chronic inflammation and contribute to disease progression. Various dietary components, including probiotic lactic acid bacteria and prebiotics, have the potential to modulate intestinal inflammatory responses. One factor in particular, the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8, CXCL-8), is one of the major mediators of the inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to investigate modulation of the inflammatory host response induced by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 in the presence of selected probiotics and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from human sources, dairy products, and farm animals. IL-8 gene expression and protein production in HT-29 cells were evaluated by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Pre-incubation of HT-29 cells with Lactobacillus kefir IM002, Bifidobacterium adolescentis FRP 61, Bifidobacterium longum FRP 68 and FRP 69, Bifidobacterium breve FRP 334, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides IM080 significantly inhibited IL-8 secretion induced by Salmonella Typhimurium DT104. Co-culture of selected probiotics and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 reduced IL-8 production, while potential probiotics and LAB had no effect on IL-8 secretion in HT-29 cells preincubated with Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 prior to adding probiotics. Lactobacillus kefir IM002 supernatant also significantly reduced IL-8 production. In conclusion, our study suggests that probiotic bifidobacteria and LAB modulate cytokine induction and possess anti-inflammatory properties; however, the effectiveness is strain dependent.
Kalpaamruthaa ameliorates myocardial and aortic damage in cardiovascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Latha Raja , Shanthi Palanivelu , Sachdanandam Panchanadham
Published: November 2012

Myocardial and aortic damage in cardiovascular complications (CVD) associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the protective efficacy of Kalpaamruthaa (KA) are evaluated in this study. CVD developed in 8 weeks after type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by the administration of a high-fat diet for 2 weeks, and then with streptozotocin (2 × 35 mg·(kg body mass)–1, by intraperitonal injection, at 24 h intervals) in male Sprague–Dawley rats. CVD-induced rats were treated with KA at 200 mg·(kg body mass)–1·(day)–1 orally for 28 days. Increased oxidative stress in CVD-induced rats lowers antioxidant defense in the aorta. Treatment with KA reduced oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant status with decreased lipid peroxides in CVD-induced rats. Histological examination of the myocardium and aorta provided support for the cytoprotective effect of KA in CVD. Ultrastructural changes in the myocardium of CVD-induced rats were improved by KA treatment. Aortic damage was observed through decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase and increased NADPH oxidase mRNA expressions in CVD-induced rats. KA reduced the aortic damage by ameliorating these levels back to normal. KA treatment reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6 in CVD-induced rats. Immunohistochemical expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 were observed to be elevated in the myocardium of CVD-induced rats, but these were decreased by the administration of KA. This study demonstrates the cardiovascular protective effect of KA in type 2 diabetes.
Exploring polymorphisms and potential application roles of the bovine Nfix gene in breeding
Authors: Zhou Yang , Lan Xianyong , Xu Yao , Zhang Bao , Li Mijie , Huang Yongzhen , Sun Jiajie , Cai Hanfang , Lei Chuzhao , Chen Hong
Published: November 2012

The aim of this study was to detect mutations of the nuclear factor I/X (Nfix) gene and examine the association of its polymorphisms with growth traits in cattle. Six sequence variants (SVs) including five single-nucleotide mutations and an indel with multiple alleles were detected, among which four polymorphisms within the Nfix gene were identified in 1159 individuals of five cattle breeds by sequencing and forced PCR–RFLP methods. The results of haplotype analysis showed 14 haplotypes within the breeds. Three haplotypes were shared by the five cattle breeds. Hap1 (ACAI) was extremely predominant in all test populations, which suggested that individuals with Hap1 (ACAI) were more adapted to the steppe environment. Association analysis in Nanyang cattle showed that two SVs of the Nfix gene were significantly associated with growth traits at different ages. In addition, the locations of the SVs showed that the 3′ terminal of the bovine Nfix gene was unstable. Combining this instability with its characteristic of multiple alternative splicing, we conjectured that some SVs might have a relationship with the formation of the splices through which growth traits are modulated. This study will provide useful information for the selection and detection of multiple forms of alternative splicing of the bovine Nfix gene.
FLUCTUATIONS ASSISTED STATIONARY ENTANGLEMENT IN DRIVEN QUANTUM SYSTEMS
Authors: ANGELAKIS DIMITRIS , MANCINI STEFANO
Published: November 2012

We analyze quantum correlations arising in two coupled dimer systems in the presence of independent losses and driven by a fluctuating field. For the case of the interaction being of a Heisenberg exchange type, we first analytically show the possibility for stationary entanglement and then analyze its robustness as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio of the pump. We find that for a common fluctuating driving field, stochastic resonance effects appear as function of the ratio between field strength and noise strength. The effect disappears in the case of uncorrelated or separate pumps. Our result is general and could be applied to different quantum systems ranging from electron spins in solid state, to ions trap technologies and cold atom set ups.
CALCULATION OF ELECTRICAL SWITCHING AND MAGNETORESISTIVE PROPERTIES OF MOLECULAR TUNNEL JUNCTIONS
Authors: ANSARINO MASOUD , RAVAN BAHRAM ABEDI , AHMADIZADEH YADOLLAH
Published: November 2012

Switching properties of metal/polymer/metal junctions is studied under application of twist using a combination of the tight-binding and nonequilibrium Green function calculations. The junction is taken to be composed of a short chain of cis-polyacetylene sandwiched between two ferromagnetic electrodes. It is shown that the current flow across the polymer can effectively be controlled by torsion applied through rotating the the electrodes about the junction's axis. It is found out that twisting the polymer leads to widening of its HUMO–LOMO energy gap which, in consequence, hinders the electron tunneling. The ferromagnetic electrodes are assumed to be single-band and their tight-binding parameters are chosen so as to simulate the ab initio density functional calculations of the band structure of Fe along its [001] crystallographic direction. According to our calculations it is also possible to adjust tunneling magnetoresistance of the junction by applying specific amounts of torsion.
A STRONG PROPERTY OF THE WEAK SUBALGEBRA LATTICE FOR LOCALLY FINITE ALGEBRAS OF FINITE TYPE
Authors: PIÓRO KONRAD
Published: November 2012

The aim of this paper is to show that the weak subalgebra lattice uniquely determines the subalgebra lattice for locally finite algebras of a fixed finite type. However, this algebraic result turns out to be a very particular case of the following hypergraph result (which is interesting itself): A total directed hypergraph D of finite type is uniquely determined, in the class of all the directed hypergraphs of this type, by its skeleton up to the orientation of some pairwise edge-disjoint directed hypercycles and hyperpaths. The skeleton of D is a hypergraph obtained from D by omitting the orientation of all edges.
ELLAGIC ACID DIRECTED GROWTH OF Au–Pt BIMETALLIC NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR CATALYTIC APPLICATIONS
Authors: BARNABY STACEY N. , SARKER NAZMUL H. , BANERJEE IPSITA A.
Published: November 2012

In this work, we report the facile formation of bimetallic nanoparticles of Au–Pt in the presence of the plant polyphenol ellagic acid (EA). It was found that EA formed micro-fibrillar assemblies, which aggregated into micro-bundles under aqueous conditions. Those micro-bundles acted as templates for the growth of Au nanoparticles, as well as bimetallic Au–Pt nanoparticles biomimetically. At higher concentrations of EA, it was observed that in addition to forming fibrous micro-bundles, columnar assemblies of EA were formed in the presence of the metal nanoparticles. The formation of the assemblies was found to be concentration dependent. It appears that upon binding to metal ions and subsequent formation of the nanoparticles, morphological changes occur in the case of EA assemblies. The morphological changes observed were probed by electron microscopy. Further, the ability of the materials to degrade the toxic aromatic nitro compound 2-methoxy-4-nitroaniline was explored, where 50% degradation was observed within 15 min, indicating that such hybrid materials may have potential applications in environmental remediation.
Comparison of modern and geological observations of dynamic support from mantle convection
Authors: Jones Stephen M. , Lovell Bryan , Crosby Alistair G.
Published: November 2012

The topographies of Africa and Antarctica form patterns of interlocking swells. The relationship between topography and gravity indicates that these swells are dynamically supported by mantle convection, with swell diameters of 1850 ± 450 km and full heights between 800 and 1800 m. The implication is that mantle convection not only supports swells surrounding hotspots but also influences topography across the entire surface areas of Africa and Antarctica. We investigate whether dynamically supported swells are also observed throughout the geological record, focusing on intensively studied Mesozoic–Cenozoic sedimentary rocks around Britain and Ireland. Vertical motions of Britain and Ireland, a typical piece of continental lithosphere far from a destructive plate boundary, have been demonstrably affected by dynamic support for over half of the past 200 Ma period. The diameters and maximum heights of the Mesozoic British swells and the modern African and Antarctic swells are similar. The ancient British swells grew in 5–10 Ma and decayed over 20–30 Ma, suggesting vertical motion rates comparable with those estimated from geomorphological studies of Africa. Igneous production rate and swell height are not correlated in the modern and the geological records. Mantle convection should be considered as a common control on regional sea level.
U–Pb detrital zircon analysis of the lower allochthon of NW Iberia: age constraints, provenance and links with the Variscan mobile belt and Gondwanan cratons
Authors: Díez Fernández Rubén , Martínez Catalán José R. , Arenas Ricardo , Abati Jacobo , Gerdes Axel , Fernández-Suárez Javier
Published: November 2012

Detrital U–Pb laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zircon ages from six siliciclastic samples from the lower allochthon of NW Iberia are analysed to constrain their maximum sedimentation age and provenance, and to evaluate the connections to the adjacent tectonostratigraphic domains. Deposited in the external sections of the Gondwana platform, their maximum depositional age is latest Neoproterozoic (
c
. 560 Ma). Comparison of the age populations of the lower allochthon with those of the rest of the allochthonous and autochthonous units of NW Iberia suggests that the terranes located in the footwall of the Variscan suture should not be considered as exotic elements, but as contiguous pieces of the same continental margin transported onto the adjacent Gondwana mainland in Variscan times. The data are in agreement with the regional trend defined by the drop in Early Neoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic zircon content upward in the tectonic pile, which had been previously proposed as a marker of proximity to the eastern part of the West African Craton. Based on the age spectra, the palaeoposition for the time of sedimentation is placed in northern Africa, between the West African and Saharan cratons. Particular attention is paid to the occurrence of an Early Neoproterozoic input, probably derived from the Pan-African Hoggar suture.

Supplementary materials:

Isotope ratios and ages for the selected analyses are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18548
.
Interplay of proximal and distal sources in Devonian–Carboniferous sandstones of the Clair Basin, west of Shetland, revealed by detrital zircon U–Pb ages
Authors: Schmidt A. S. , Morton A. C. , Nichols G. J. , Fanning C. M.
Published: November 2012

The Clair Basin is one of the Devonian sedimentary basins formed as a result of extensional tectonics in the aftermath of the Caledonian orogeny. The Devonian to Carboniferous Clair Group was deposited directly on Archaean basement, providing an opportunity to consider contrasting proximal and distal provenances. New secondary ion mass spectrometry detrital zircon U–Pb data and complementary heavy mineral data allow for a reinterpretation of potential source areas. Detrital zircons from the Clair Group yield ages ranging from
c
. 400 to 3700 Ma. All samples contain a group of Archaean ages (
c
. 16–82%). However, many samples also contain a major group of Proterozoic zircons (
c
. 15%–78%), allowing subdivision into two types of samples: type 1, dominated by Proterozoic zircons, and type 2, dominated by Archaean zircons. Type 2 samples are mainly derived from local basement gneisses during phases of tectonic rejuvenation of the hinterland, whereas type 1 samples are most probably sourced from NE Greenland or, less likely, SW Scandinavia. Upper Clair Group (Unit VII–IX) sandstones have type 2 zircon spectra in association with staurolite- and garnet-rich heavy mineral assemblages and were probably derived from predominantly Archaean-sourced metasedimentary rocks on the Shetland Platform.

Supplementary materials:

Concordia diagrams and tables reporting zircon U–Pb data are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18542
.
Off-shelf sedimentary record of recurring global sea-level changes during the Plio-Pleistocene: evidence from the cyclic fills of exhumed slope systems in central Italy
Authors: Di Celma C. , Cantalamessa G.
Published: November 2012

The markedly cyclic sedimentary successions of four late Pliocene to early Pleistocene slope turbidite systems exposed in eastern central Italy have been resolved into 31 high-frequency sequences. Chronological constraints from biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy indicate that these successions form a composite, partially overlapping stratigraphic record and sequence-bounding surfaces can be convincingly correlated with glacial oxygen isotope stages G2–60 (
c
. 2.65–1.7 Ma) inclusive. The studied successions, therefore, preserve an extraordinary and legible record of recurring, orbitally dictated glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations and provide an unprecedented opportunity to examine the deep-water sedimentary response to such high-frequency changes from an outcrop perspective.

Supplementary material:

Sedimentological attributes of lithofacies identified in the studied successions are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18549
.
A comprehensive review of the MSC facies and their origins in the offshore Sirt Basin, Libya
Authors: Bowman S. A.
Published: November 2012

Interpretation of 2D long-offset multi-client seismic data acquired by CGGVeritas in 2004–5 has allowed the distribution and composition of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) facies to be mapped across the offshore Sirt Basin, Libya. The results reveal that only the Lower and Upper Evaporites are present within the marginal offshore Sirt Basin, with the middle halite unit confined to the deeper basin. The Upper Evaporites, ‘Lago Mare’, are characterized by a period of fluctuating base level and strong water salinity changes controlled by astronomical precession. They consist of interbedded evaporites and clastics with a total of seven precessional cycles recognized, each associated with erosional sub-aerial channels interpreted to have been created by the Eosahabi rivers sourced from the flooding of Neogene Lake Chad. The Lower Evaporites display a high relief, irregular topography which strongly controls the distribution of the overlying Lago Mare facies. They have an overall chaotic high amplitude response with very little internal structure and are interpreted to represent mass transport complex deposits of the Re-sedimented Lower Gypsum unit. There is a strong correlation between the distribution and composition of the MSC facies and the quality of seismic imaging.
Overview of the Palaeozoic–Neogene evolution of Neotethys in the Eastern Mediterranean region (southern Turkey, Cyprus, Syria)
Authors: Robertson Alastair H. F. , Parlak Osman , Ustaömer Timur
Published: November 2012

Valid palaeotectonic and palaeogeographical reconstructions of the easternmost Mediterranean and adjacent region involve a long-lived Tethys (Rheic, Palaeotethyan and Neotethyan oceans), northward subduction beneath Eurasia and rifting of continental fragments from Gondwana. Rifted microcontinents bordering Gondwana were separated (from south to north) by the Southern Neotethyan ocean, the Berit ocean (new name), the Inner Tauride ocean and the İzmir–Arkara–Erzincan ocean. Mid-Permian to Mid-Triassic pulsed rifting culminated in Late Triassic–Early Jurassic spreading of the Southern Neotethyan oceans (the main focus here). After Early–Mid-Jurassic passive subsidence, the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous was characterized by localized alkaline, within-plate magmatism related to plume activity or renewed rifting. Late Cretaceous ophiolites formed above subduction zones in several oceanic basins. Ophiolites were emplaced southwards onto the Tauride and Arabian platforms during the latest Cretaceous. The Southern Neotethys sutured with the Arabian margin during the Early–Middle Miocene, while oceanic crust remained in the Eastern Mediterranean further west. The leading edge of the North African continental margin, the Eratosthenes Seamount, collided with a subduction trench south of Cyprus during the Late Pliocene–Pleistocene, triggering rapid uplift. Coeval Plio-Quaternary uplift of the Taurides may relate to break-off or delamination of a remnant oceanic slab.
Play types of the deep-water Matruh and Herodotus basins, NW Egypt
Authors: Tari Gabor , Hussein Hussein , Novotny Bernhard , Hannke Kathy , Kohazy Robert
Published: November 2012

The offshore Matruh and Herodotus basins of NW Egypt represent an underexplored region of the Eastern Mediterranean with only two wells drilled along the margin to date. The Matruh Canyon segment in the broader Matruh Basin appears to be unique in Egypt having a large gravity-driven linked system detached on shale. The updip extension with blocks bounded by listric normal faults (rafts) in the onshore part of the system transitions into downdip contraction with toe-thrust imbrications in the ultra-deep water part of the Herodotus Basin. The structures above a prominent Cretaceous shale detachment level within the basin fill of the Matruh Canyon developed during two major periods. The Syrian Arc regional-scale inversional episodes appear to trigger and reactivate the gravity-driven linked system during the Santonian and the mid-Cenozoic. Whereas the Messinian unconformity post-dates the formation of the rafts, an offhore segment of the linked system shows neotectonic activity.
Chemical compaction of mudrocks in the presence of overpressure
Authors: Goulty N. R. , Ramdhan A. M. , Jones S. J.
Published: November 2012

In sedimentary basins, compaction disequilibrium generates overpressure during rapid burial of fine-grained sediments in the mechanical compaction regime, at temperatures below ~70°C. Mudstones behave differently at greater depths in the chemical compaction regime, at temperatures above ~100°C, where evidence suggests that porosity reduction with increasing depth and temperature continues independently of effective stress up to high values of overpressure. We offer an explanation for this behaviour. The horizontal alignment of clay mineral grains is enhanced during clay diagenesis, creating sub-horizontal, flat pores. Because of their flexibility, the flat pores tend to close even under low values of normal effective stress acting across them. Thus, chemical compaction can proceed unless the net expulsion of pore water from the mudstones is inhibited sufficiently for the flat pores to be held open, which necessarily requires the pore pressure to approach the lithostatic stress.

In the Lower Kutai Basin, density log reversals are encountered in mudstones in the chemical compaction regime at depths of 3–4 km, where the pore pressure is close to the lithostatic stress. We attribute these reversals to the inhibition of dewatering during clay diagenesis at shallower depths, when the pore pressure was already close to lithostatic stress. Porosity was preserved by the very high pore pressure holding the flat pores open while the mudstone matrix was being cemented by the products of clay diagenesis. We coin the term ‘chemical undercompaction’ for this process.
Market Microstructure and the Profitability of Currency Trading
Authors: Osler Carol
Published: November 2012

Currency trading is a vast and highly profitable business. This review examines the profitability of two popular currency trading strategies in light of currency-market microstructure research. The carry-trade strategy involves borrowing a low-interest currency and investing the proceeds in a high-interest currency. Technical trading strategies are determined exclusively on the basis of past asset prices and trading volumes. Under the efficient markets hypothesis, neither of these approaches to speculative trading should produce excess returns. The review shows that the profitability of carry-trade investing and technical trading strategies can represent rational long-run equilibria given the structure of currency markets and the incentives and constraints faced by traders.
A Survey of Systemic Risk Analytics
Authors: Bisias Dimitrios , Flood Mark , Lo Andrew W. , Valavanis Stavros
Published: November 2012

We provide a survey of 31 quantitative measures of systemic risk in the economics and finance literature, chosen to span key themes and issues in systemic risk measurement and management. We motivate these measures from the supervisory, research, and data perspectives in the main text and present concise definitions of each risk measure—including required inputs, expected outputs, and data requirements—in an extensive Supplemental Appendix. To encourage experimentation and innovation among as broad an audience as possible, we have developed an open-source Matlab® library for most of the analytics surveyed, which, once tested, will be accessible through the Office of Financial Research (OFR) at http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/wsr/ofr/Pages/default.aspx .
Interleukin-6 promotes myogenic differentiation of mouse skeletal muscle cells: role of the STAT3 pathway
Authors: Hoene Miriam , Runge Heike , Häring Hans Ulrich , Schleicher Erwin D. , Weigert Cora
Published: November 2012

Myogenic differentiation of skeletal muscle cells is characterized by a sequence of events that include activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and enhanced expression of its target gene Socs3. Autocrine effects of IL-6 may contribute to the activation of the STAT3-Socs3 cascade and thus to myogenic differentiation. The importance of IL-6 and STAT3 for the differentiation process was studied in C2C12 cells and in primary mouse wild-type and IL-6−/− skeletal muscle cells. In differentiating C2C12 myoblasts, the upregulation of IL-6 mRNA expression and protein secretion started after increased phosphorylation of STAT3 on tyrosine 705 and increased mRNA expression of Socs3 was observed. Knockdown of STAT3 and IL-6 mRNA in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts impaired the expression of the myogenic markers myogenin and MyHC IIb and subsequently myotube fusion. However, the knockdown of IL-6 did not prevent the induction of STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation. The IL-6-independent activation of STAT3 was verified in differentiating primary IL-6−/− myoblasts. The phosphorylation of STAT3 and the expression levels of STAT3, Socs3, and myogenin during differentiation were comparable in the primary myoblasts independent of the genotype. However, IL-6−/− cells failed to induce MyHC IIb expression to the same level as in wild-type cells and showed reduced myotube formation. Supplementation of IL-6 could partially restore the fusion of IL-6−/− cells. These data demonstrate that IL-6 depletion during myogenic differentiation does not reduce the activation of the STAT3-Socs3 cascade, while IL-6 and STAT3 are both necessary to promote myotube fusion.
Determination of the membrane topology of lemur tyrosine kinase 2 (LMTK2) by fluorescence protease protection
Authors: Nixon Alexander , Jia Ying , White Carl , Bradbury Neil A.
Published: November 2012

Lemur tyrosine kinase 2 (LMTK2) is a novel membrane-anchored kinase reported to be involved in several normal and pathophysiological conditions, including endosomal membrane recycling, prostate cancer, and neurodegeneration. In this study, we have investigated the topology and orientation of LMTK2 within cellular membranes utilizing fluorescence protease protection. Appending the green fluorescent protein to either the amino or carboxyl terminus of LMTK2, we were able to determine which side of intracellular membrane these regions were located. Our results indicate that LMTK2 is an integral membrane protein in which both the amino and carboxyl termini are exposed to the cytoplasm. Moreover, this topology places the kinase active site within the cytoplasm.
Nitrogen in dietary glutamate is utilized exclusively for the synthesis of amino acids in the rat intestine
Authors: Nakamura Hidehiro , Kawamata Yasuko , Kuwahara Tomomi , Torii Kunio , Sakai Ryosei
Published: November 2012

Although previous studies have shown that virtually the entire carbon skeleton of dietary glutamate (glutamate-C) is metabolized in the gut for energy production and amino acid synthesis, little is known regarding the fate of dietary glutamate nitrogen (glutamate-N). In this study, we hypothesized that dietary glutamate-N is an effective nitrogen source for amino acid synthesis and investigated the fate of dietary glutamate-N using [15N]glutamate. Fischer male rats were given hourly meals containing [U-13C]- or [15N]glutamate. The concentration and isotopic enrichment of several amino acids were measured after 0–9 h of feeding, and the net release of each amino acid into the portal vein was calculated. Most of the dietary glutamate-C was metabolized into CO2, lactate, or alanine (56, 13, and 12% of the dietary input, respectively) in the portal drained viscera (PDV). Most of the glutamate-N was utilized for the synthesis of other amino acids such as alanine and citrulline (75 and 3% of dietary input, respectively) in the PDV, and only minor amounts were released into the portal vein in the form of ammonia and glutamate (2 and 3% of the dietary input, respectively). Substantial incorporation of15N into systemic amino acids such as alanine, glutamine, and proline, amino acids of the urea cycle, and branched-chain amino acids was also evident. These results provide quantitative evidence that dietary glutamate-N distributes extensively to amino acids synthesized in the PDV and, consequently, to circulating amino acids.
Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of leptin receptors causes lethal heart failure in Cre-recombinase-mediated cardiotoxicity
Authors: Hall Michael E. , Smith Grant , Hall John E. , Stec David E.
Published: November 2012

Although disruption of leptin signaling is associated with obesity as well as cardiac lipid accumulation and dysfunction, it has been difficult to separate the direct effects of leptin on the heart from those associated with the effects of leptin on body weight and fat mass. Using Cre-loxP recombinase technology, we developed tamoxifen-inducible, cardiomyocyte-specific leptin receptor-deficient mice to assess the role of leptin in regulating cardiac function. Cre recombinase activation in the heart resulted in transient reduction in left ventricular systolic function which recovered to normal levels by day 10. However, when cardiomyocyte leptin receptors were deleted in the setting of Cre recombinase-induced left ventricular dysfunction, irreversible lethal heart failure was observed in less than 10 days in all mice. Heart failure after leptin receptor deletion was associated with marked decreases of cardiac mitochondrial ATP, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and AMP-activated kinase (pAMPK). Our results demonstrate that specific deletion of cardiomyocyte leptin receptors, in the presence of increased Cre recombinase expression, causes lethal heart failure associated with decreased cardiac energy production. These observations indicate that leptin plays an important role in regulating cardiac function in the setting of cardiac stress caused by Cre-recombinase expression, likely through actions on cardiomyocyte energy metabolism.
Phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin fromSpirulina platensisprotect against diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting oxidative stress
Authors: Zheng Jing , Inoguchi Toyoshi , Sasaki Shuji , Maeda Yasutaka , McCarty Mark F. , Fujii Masakazu , Ikeda Noriko , Kobayashi Kunihisa , Sonoda Noriyuki , Takayanagi Ryoichi
Published: November 2012

We and other investigators have reported that bilirubin and its precursor biliverdin may have beneficial effects on diabetic vascular complications, including nephropathy, via its antioxidant effects. Here, we investigated whether phycocyanin derived from Spirulina platensis, a blue-green algae, and its chromophore phycocyanobilin, which has a chemical structure similar to that of biliverdin, protect against oxidative stress and renal dysfunction in db/db mice, a rodent model for Type 2 diabetes. Oral administration of phycocyanin (300 mg/kg) for 10 wk protected against albuminuria and renal mesangial expansion in db/db mice, and normalized tumor growth factor-β and fibronectin expression. Phycocyanin also normalized urinary and renal oxidative stress markers and the expression of NAD(P)H oxidase components. Similar antioxidant effects were observed following oral administration of phycocyanobilin (15 mg/kg) for 2 wk. Phycocyanobilin, bilirubin, and biliverdin also inhibited NADPH dependent superoxide production in cultured renal mesangial cells. In conclusion, oral administration of phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin may offer a novel and feasible therapeutic approach for preventing diabetic nephropathy.