bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Remarks on Speaking the Same Language
Authors: Brewer John M.
Published: January 2012

Guidance by Any Other Name This communication from John M. Brewer speaks for itself. In it Professor Brewer speaks for himself. It was inspired—if that is the right word—by Harry D. Kitson's article in the February issue of this magazine entitled “Individualized Education.” Readers will recall Professor Brewer's plea, “Let's All Speak the Same Language,” in the May 1934 issue of Occupations.
COORDINATED GUIDANCE: Some Suggestions for a Program of Pupil Personnel Work
Authors: Myers George E.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of “pupil personnel work,” according to Professor Myers, is to help the schools help the pupils to obtain the greatest possible educational benefit from the schools. He lists eight activities which in his view properly come under the head of pupil personnel work. “Probably no activity in the entire list,” he says, “suffers so much from lack of a coordinated program as does guidance, and especially the counseling part of it.” Professor Myers discusses the steps that may be taken in overcoming this handicap. It is in the gathering and recording of information about pupils—one method of which is described by Dr. Wood in the preceding article—that the need of coordination is most clearly indicated.
THE COUNSELOR'S OFFICE
Authors: McNamara Marie
Published: January 2012

So much interest was shown in the counselor's office as demonstrated at the Atlantic City convention of the NVGA, and so many questions were asked concerning equipment, tools, techniques, and procedures, that an article for the Counselor's Corner seemed indicated. Miss McNamara says: “The writer recognizes that an inner and an outer office arrangement would be more satisfactory, but since the majority of counselors have but one room, a single‐room office is described.”
Why Men Fail—or Succeed: Personality Analysis and Improvement as a Means of Occupational Adjustment
Authors: Hoopingarner Newman L.
Published: January 2012

Many other factors than measurable abilities, aptitudes, and interests enter into the question of success in vocational life. There is growing recognition of the rôle of personality traits in vocational adjustment and success. Some of these traits are measurable, or at least subject to test methodology, and are found to bear a determinable relation to performance and satisfaction on the job. Moreover, personality is improvable. Here Professor Hoopingarner describes a project which he has conducted with adults in the field of Personality Analysis and Improvement, and gives along with his findings certain implications for education and vocational guidance. This article has been adapted from an address delivered by Professor Hoopingarner before the Psychology Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Plumbing in Prose Style: A Readability Test for Occupational Abstracts
Authors: Clarke James Mitchell
Published: January 2012

How can occupational descriptions be made more readable? NOC, in common with occupational research workers throughout the country, has wondered. During the past summer two experiments have been undertaken. The abstract of available literature on plumbing, prepared by Charles A. and William L. Prosser and published in the March, 1935, issue of Occupations, was handed to two professional writers. James Mitchell Clarke was asked to substitute straight prose style for the encyclopedic organization of the material prescribed by NOC for the original abstract, and to add as much interest as possible without distorting facts or making the occupation appear more attractive than it really is. Alvin F. Harlow, co‐author of Schoolhouse in the Foothills, was asked to put the same material into biographical or narrative form with the same objective in view. Both authors were asked to keep the vocabulary within the range of junior high school students.

The results are presented herewith for the benefit of readers who are interested in the presentation of occupational information, and who may wish to be guided in part by the results of NOC's experiment. Mr. Clarke has reported that rewriting in prose form is laborious but entirely feasible. Mr. Harlow reports finding it exceedingly difficult to combine instruction and narration in a publication of this length. NOC will be grateful for comments and criticisms from readers, indicating their reactions to the desirability of attempting similar rewriting of other occupational abstracts which have been prepared or are in course of preparation for NOC, a few of which have appeared in previous issues of this magazine.
Letter Box: High School Scholarships and Federal Aid: to the Editor of Occupations
Authors: Everett Edith M.
Published: January 2012

In the following communication, the Director of the White‐Williams Foundation, Philadelphia, who is also Chairman of the NVGA Committee on Scholarships, has something decidedly timely and important to say about making the most of federal aid for high school students under the National Youth Administration program.
News of the National Vocational Guidance Association
Authors: McNamara Marie
Published: January 2012

Secretaries of the branches are requested to send reports to Miss McNamara, Troup junior High School, Edgewood Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, promptly after each meeting or other event.
“And Gladly Teach”
Authors: HERLINGER HARRY V.
Published: January 2012

Only 10,000 new teachers were graduated from teachers colleges or normal schools in June, 1944, as compared with the normal quota of 50,000. Approximately 100,000 teachers are in the Armed Forces. The teacher shortage is acute; the National Education Association is conducting an intensive teacher recruiting campaign. This article is therefore, especially timely.—Ed.
The “HER2–PI3K/Akt–FASN Axis” Regulated Malignant Phenotype of Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Nan , Bu Xiaodong , Wu Peng , Wu Pingping , Huang Peilin
Published: January 2012

Recent evidence suggests that HER2 (ErbB2; Her‐2/neu) and the related PI3K/Akt signaling pathway substantially affect the malignant phenotype of colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, fatty acid synthase (FASN), which mediates de‐novo fatty acid synthesis, is crucially important in the carcinogenesis process of a variety of cancers, including colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the malignant phenotype regulation of colorectal cancer cells via the “HER2–PI3K/Akt–FASN axis”. Caco‐2 cells with high expression of HER2 and FASN and high transfection efficiency were selected for functional characterization. The cells were transfected with either HER2‐specific RNAi plasmid or negative control RNAi plasmid, followed by Q‐RT‐PCR and western blot assays to examine expression of HER2, PI3K, Akt, and FASN. MTT and colony‐formation assays were used to assess proliferation. Migration was investigated by use of the transwell assay, and apoptosis and cell cycle were assayed by use of flow cytometry. Expression of HER2, PI3K, Akt, and FASN were downregulated when HER2 was silenced. Proliferation decreased after downregulation of HER2, which was consistent with increased apoptosis. Migration of HER2‐silenced cells was also impaired. Loss of HER2 inhibits the activity of the “HER2–PI3K/Akt–FASN axis” of Caco‐2 cells, and reduced activity of this axis alters the malignant behavior of Caco‐2 cells.
Tougher rules for mercury and other toxics
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: January 2012

A new rule on mercury and air toxics standards, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 21 December, will reduce emissions of heavy metals and acid gases from power plants. The rule, which gives existing sources of pollution up to 4 years to comply with the new standards, will affect about 1400 existing “units,” including 1100 coal‐fired units and 300 oilfired units, at about 600 power plants. EPA notes that more than half of all coal‐fired plants already deploy pollution‐control technologies. Power plants are the largest U.S. source of several pollutants—accounting for about 50% of mercury emissions and 77% of acid gas emissions—and emit the largest amounts of arsenic and other toxics, according to EPA.
PASSion: a pattern growth algorithm-based pipeline for splice junction detection in paired-end RNA-Seq data
Authors: Zhang Yanju , Lameijer Eric-Wubbo , 't Hoen Peter A. C. , Ning Zemin , Slagboom P. Eline , Ye Kai
Published: January 2012

Motivation: RNA-seq is a powerful technology for the study of transcriptome profiles that uses deep-sequencing technologies. Moreover, it may be used for cellular phenotyping and help establishing the etiology of diseases characterized by abnormal splicing patterns. In RNA-Seq, the exact nature of splicing events is buried in the reads that span exon–exon boundaries. The accurate and efficient mapping of these reads to the reference genome is a major challenge.

Results: We developed PASSion, a pattern growth algorithm-based pipeline for splice site detection in paired-end RNA-Seq reads. Comparing the performance of PASSion to three existing RNA-Seq analysis pipelines, TopHat, MapSplice and HMMSplicer, revealed that PASSion is competitive with these packages. Moreover, the performance of PASSion is not affected by read length and coverage. It performs better than the other three approaches when detecting junctions in highly abundant transcripts. PASSion has the ability to detect junctions that do not have known splicing motifs, which cannot be found by the other tools. Of the two public RNA-Seq datasets, PASSion predicted ∼ 137 000 and 173 000 splicing events, of which on average 82 are known junctions annotated in the Ensembl transcript database and 18% are novel. In addition, our package can discover differential and shared splicing patterns among multiple samples.

Availability: The code and utilities can be freely downloaded from https://trac.nbic.nl/passion and ftp://ftp.sanger.ac.uk/pub/zn1/passion

Contact:  y.zhang@lumc.nl; k.ye@lumc.nl

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Male primer endocrine responses to preovulatory female cyprinids under natural conditions in Sweden
Authors: Stacey N. E. , Van Der Kraak G. J. , Olsén K. H.
Published: January 2012

This study investigated two related aspects of male‐female reproductive interactions in the family Cyprinidae: (1) whether ovulating female rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (subfamily Leuciscinae) induce endocrine and gonadal priming responses in conspecific males, a phenomenon which has been described only in species from the subfamily Cyprininae such as goldfish, Carassius auratus, crucian carp Carassius carassius and common carp, Cyprinus carpio and (2) whether the stimuli mediating these responses are species‐specific. Field studies of three sympatric European cyprinids, two leuciscins (S. erythrophthalmus and white bream Blicca bjoerkna) and one cyprinin (C. carassius), were conducted on fishes captured in Sweden in the spawning season and held in net pens under natural conditions. As previously reported in C. carassius, male S. erythrophthalmus increased milt (sperm and seminal fluid) volume and plasma concentrations of the sperm maturation hormone 4‐pregnen‐17,20β‐diol‐3‐one (17,20β‐P) when they were held with female S. erythrophthalmus induced to ovulate by injection of Ovaprim (GnRH analogue plus dopamine antagonist). Male S. erythrophthalmus had larger milt volumes than male C. carassius prior to and following exposure to ovulatory conspecifics, but exhibited a smaller proportional milt increase in response to stimulation, suggesting species differences in sperm allocation at spawning. The presence of female S. erythrophthalmus and B. bjoerkna did not affect milt volumes of C. carassius under two experimental conditions: (1) ovulating S. erythrophthalmus and B. bjoerkna did not increase the milt volumes of C. carassius and (2) S. erythrophthalmus and B. bjoerkna did not interfere with the milt volume increase induced in male C. carassius by ovulating conspecifics. These results suggest that, as in C. auratus, C. carassius and C. carpio (subfamily Cyprininae), female S. erythrophthalmus (subfamily Leuciscinae) release a preovulatory pheromone that exerts priming effects on male hormones and sperm allocation. The findings also indicate that C. carassius discriminate between the reproductive odours of conspecifics and heterospecifics.
A SPATIAL EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF JAPAN'S ELECTRIC POWER NETWORK
Authors: Akiyama Shu‐ichi , Hosoe Nobuhiro
Published: January 2012

A key intention of the regulatory reform of transmission charge schemes for Japan's electric power market was to promote inter‐regional competition between regional power companies by lowering long‐distance transmission charges with postage‐stamp pricing. Such a reform was expected to cause extensive use of inter‐regional links and cause congestion. Congestion segments the nationwide market into several regional markets, making the reform less successful. We develop a nine‐region spatial equilibrium model to simulate the reform during the peak‐load hours. We find that the reform would lead to significant increases of inter‐regional transmission and cause congestion at the links between the 50‐ and 60‐Hz areas.
R&D Spillovers through Student Flows, Institutions, and Economic Growth: What can we Learn from African Countries?
Authors: Le Thanh
Published: January 2012

Using modern panel cointegration estimation techniques, this paper examines whether tertiary student flows can effectively transmit technological knowledge from industrialized countries to African countries. The results obtained lend strong support to this hypothesis. In addition, this paper extends the analysis to include institutional variables such as the ease of doing business, legal origins, and religious majority to see if institutional characteristics have any impact on the way knowledge diffusion affecting total factor productivity (TFP). However, it is not clear that institutional differences are important factors that influence the degree of R&D spillovers and, hence, the TFP of African countries.
Human capital formation, learning by doing and the government in the process of economic growth
Authors: Greiner Alfred
Published: January 2012

We present an endogenous growth model with human capital and learning by doing. Human capital is not an input factor in the production process of final output but it affects the ability to build up knowledge capital as a by‐product of cumulated investment (learning by doing). Human capital is formed in the schooling sector that is financed by the government. The government may run into debt but obeys the inter‐temporal budget constraint. The article analyzes the structure of the model and studies the effects of different budgetary policies as regards the balanced growth rate, transition dynamics and with respect to welfare.
Correlation between genetic polymorphisms and stroke recovery: Analysis of the GAIN Americas and GAIN International Studies
Authors: Cramer S. C. , Procaccio V. ,   for the GAIN Americas and GAIN International Study Investigators
Published: January 2012

Background and purpose:  Recovery after stroke occurs on the basis of specific molecular events. Genetic polymorphisms associated with impaired neural repair or plasticity might reduce recovery from stroke and might also account for some of the intersubject variability in stroke recovery. This study hypothesized that the ApoE ε4 polymorphism and the val66met polymorphism for brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are each associated with poorer outcome after stroke. Associations with mitochondrial genotype were also explored.

Methods:  Genotypes were determined in 255 stroke patients who also received behavioral evaluations in the Glycine Antagonist In Neuroprotection (GAIN) clinical trials. The primary outcome measure was recovery during the first month post‐stroke, as this is the time when neural repair is at a maximum and so when genetic influences might have their largest impact. Two secondary outcome measures at 3 months post‐stroke were also examined.

Results:  Genotype groups were similar acutely post‐stroke. Presence of the ApoE ε4 polymorphism was associated with significantly poorer recovery over the first month post‐stroke (P = 0.023) and with a lower proportion of subjects with minimal or no disability (modified Rankin score 0–1, P = 0.01) at 3 months post‐stroke. Indeed, those with this polymorphism were approximately half as likely to achieve minimal or no disability (18.2%) versus those with polymorphism absent (35.5%). Findings were confirmed in multivariate models. Results suggested possible effects from the val66met BDNF polymorphism and from the R0 mitochondrial DNA haplotype.

Conclusions:  Genetic factors, particularly the ApoE ε4 polymorphism, might contribute to variability in outcomes after stroke.
Between Embodied Subjects and Objects: Narrative Somaesthetics
Authors: Jolles Marjorie
Published: January 2012

Michel Foucault's ethics of embodiment, focusing upon care of the self, has motivated feminist scholars to pursue promising models of embodied resistance to disciplinary normalization. Cressida Heyes, in particular, has advocated that these projects adopt practices of “somaesthetics,” following a program of body consciousness developed by Richard Shusterman. In exploring Shusterman's somaesthetics proposal, I find that it does not account for the subjective challenges of resisting normalization. Based on narrative theories of subjectivity, the role narrative plays in normalization, and a commitment to developing concrete, feminist practices of embodied ethics, I develop a model of “narrative somaesthetics” based on an updated consciousness‐raising model that emphasizes group heterogeneity and narrative conflict that deals with these challenges. Through an analysis of interviews with self‐identified femme lesbians and a “female to femme” transition support group featured in the documentary film, FtF: Female to Femme, I argue that narrative somaesthetics enables the analytical, genealogical work required to identify and weaken normalization's constraints on embodied feminist ethics.
Dermal mast cells affect the development of sunlight‐induced skin tumours
Authors: Sarchio Seri N.E. , Kok Lai‐Fong , O’Sullivan Clare , Halliday Gary M. , Byrne Scott N.
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation contained in sunlight is considered a major risk in the induction of skin cancer. While mast cells are best known for their role in allergic responses, they have also been shown to play a crucial role in suppressing the anti‐tumour immune response following UV exposure. Evidence is now emerging that UV may also trigger mast cell release of cutaneous tissue remodelling and pro‐angiogenic factors. In this review, we will focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which UV recruits and then activates mast cells to initiate and promote skin cancer development.
Genetic lessons learned from X‐linked Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases
Authors: Bustamante Jacinta , Picard Capucine , Boisson‐Dupuis Stéphanie , Abel Laurent , Casanova Jean‐Laurent
Published: January 2012

Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is a rare syndrome conferring predisposition to clinical disease caused by weakly virulent mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccines and nontuberculous, environmental mycobacteria (EM). Since 1996, MSMD‐causing mutations have been found in six autosomal genes involved in IL‐12/23–dependent, IFN‐γ–mediated immunity. The aim of this review is to provide the description of the two described forms of X‐linked recessive (XR) MSMD. Germline mutations in two genes, NEMO and CYBB, have long been known to cause other human diseases—incontinentia pigmenti (IP) and anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (EDA‐ID) (NEMO/IKKG), and X‐linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) (CYBB)—but specific mutations in either of these two genes have recently been shown to cause XR‐MSMD. NEMO is an essential component of several NF‐κB–dependent signaling pathways. The MSMD‐causing mutations in NEMO selectively affect the CD40‐dependent induction of IL‐12 in mononuclear cells. CYBB encodes gp91phox, which is an essential component of the NADPH oxidase in phagocytes. The MSMD‐causing mutation in CYBB selectively affects the respiratory burst in macrophages. Mutations in NEMO and CYBB may therefore cause MSMD by selectively exerting their deleterious impact on a single signaling pathway (CD40–IL‐12, NEMO) or a single cell type (macrophages, CYBB). These experiments of Nature illustrate how specific germline mutations in pleiotropic genes can dissociate signaling pathways or cell lineages, thereby resulting in surprisingly narrow clinical phenotypes.
Clinicohematologic analysis of pancytopenia: Study in a tertiary care centre
Authors: Kumar Deepak B. , Raghupathi A. R.
Published: January 2012

Background and aim: A study was carried out to analyze the presentation, to identify the causes and to find out the bone marrow morphology in cases of pancytopenia. Pancytopenia was an indication for bone marrow examination in 48 out of a total of 100 cases (48%) for which a bone marrow examination was requested. Methods: The data regarding the various signs and symptoms, the causes and the bone marrow findings were obtained and analyzed using simple statistical methods. All age groups were included for the study. Results: Generalized weakness (70.83%) was the commonest symptom and pallor (45.83%) was the predominant sign. Anisocytosis (79.1%) was the most important peripheral blood finding in pancytopenic patients followed by microcytosis (52.08%). The commonest cause of pancytopenia in the present study was hypoplastic marrow (33.33%), followed by normoblastic erythroid hyperplasia (27.08%), megaloblastic marrow (18.75%), and myelodysplastic syndrome (8.33%). Normal bone marrow and dry tap accounted for three cases each (6.25%). Of the various cases of myelodysplastic syndrome, one was refractory anemia; two were refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia and one myelodysplastic syndrome unclassified. Dry tap was seen in three cases of pancytopenia. Bone marrow biopsy was done in one, which showed features of myelofibrosis. Conclusions: A thorough evaluation of the pancytopenic patients is necessary as it has varied causes.
Effect of the Degree of Ionization on the Insertion of Polyvinylpyridinium Salts into Bentonite
Authors: Zenasni Mohamed Amine , Benfarhi Said , Meroufel Bahia
Published: January 2012

The present work reports the effect of the degree of α ionization of poly(4-vinylpyridinium) salts (P4VPS) on the insertion of these polymer salts into bentonite. Nanocomposite materials made of a Na-montmorillonite mineral with poly(4-vinylpyridinium) salts (P4VPS) have been synthesised and characterised. The modified samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The basic spacing of unmodified montmorillonite, determined by XRD, was measured to be 1.38 nm; it was found to increase after modification up to 1.50 nm. The insertion capacity of P4VPS into bentonite increased with the increasing degree of quaternisated nitrogen sites in the polymer.
On the Existence of Variational Principles for a Class of the Evolutionary Differential-Difference Equations
Authors: Kolesnikova I. A. , Savchin V. M.
Published: January 2012

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of variational principles for a given wide class of evolutionary differential-difference operator equation are obtained. The theoretic results are illustrated by two examples.
crinkled reveals a new role for Wingless signaling in Drosophila denticle formation
Authors: Bejsovec Amy , Chao Anna T.
Published: January 2012

The specification of the body plan in vertebrates and invertebrates is controlled by a variety of cell signaling pathways, but how signaling output is translated into morphogenesis is an ongoing question. Here, we describe genetic interactions between the Wingless (Wg) signaling pathway and a nonmuscle myosin heavy chain, encoded by the crinkled (ck) locus in Drosophila. In a screen for mutations that modify wg loss-of-function phenotypes, we isolated multiple independent alleles of ck. These ck mutations dramatically alter the morphology of the hook-shaped denticles that decorate the ventral surface of the wg mutant larval cuticle. In an otherwise wild-type background, ck mutations do not significantly alter denticle morphology, suggesting a specific interaction with Wg-mediated aspects of epidermal patterning. Here, we show that changing the level of Wg activity changes the structure of actin bundles during denticle formation in ck mutants. We further find that regulation of the Wg target gene, shaven-baby (svb), and of its transcriptional targets, miniature (m) and forked (f), modulates this ck-dependent process. We conclude that Ck acts in concert with Wg targets to orchestrate the proper shaping of denticles in the Drosophila embryonic epidermis.
Novel oral anticancer drugs: a review of adverse drug reactions, interactions and patient adherence
Authors: Bartal Alexandra , Mátrai Zoltán , Szűcs Attila , Belinszkaja Galina , Langmár Zoltán , Rosta András
Published: January 2012

Each aspect of oncological care is widely affected by the spread of oral anticancer agents, which raises several questions in terms of safe medication use and patient adherence. Over the past decade targeted therapies have appeared in clinical practice and revolutionized the pharmacological treatment of malignancies. Regular patient – doctor visits and proper patient education is crucial in order to comply with the therapy previously agreed upon with the oncologist, to increase patient adherence, to detect and to treat adverse effects in early stages. Since the information on the new medicines in Hungarian language is sparse it is the intention of the authors to give an overview of the basic knowledge, patient safety issues, adverse effects and interactions. Official drug information summaries and data on pharmacokinetics, interactions and adverse effects from the literature are reviewed as the basis for this overview. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 66–78.
Frasier syndrome diagnosed in a 4-year-old girl
Authors: Miloševic Biljana , Bogdanović Radovan , Kostić Mirjana , Stojanović Vesna
Published: January 2012

The authors present the case of a girl with Frasier syndrome that was diagnosed at the age of 4 years. At 3.5 years, she was diagnosed a steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The girl presented with female phenotype and male genotype (46XY) as well with gonadal dysgenesis. Genetic analysis confirmed the +2T>C mutation in the intron 9 of the WT1 gene. She developed end-stage renal disease at 14 years, culminating in renal transplantation. The liver biopsy revealed a post-transplantation lymph-proliferative disease.
Delayed Diagnosis of a Right-Sided Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture
Authors: Kučera Alexandr , Rygl Michal , Šnajdauf Jiří , Kavalcová Lucie , Petrů Ondřej , Ritchelová Vlasta , Kynčl Martin
Published: January 2012

Right-sided traumatic diaphragmatic rupture in childhood is a very rare injury. Diaphragmatic rupture often manifests itself later, after an organ progressively herniates into the pleural cavity. When the patient is tubed, the ventilation pressure does not allow herniation of an organ, which occurs when the patient is ex-tubed. We present a patient with a delayed diagnose of right sided diaphragmatic rupture with a complicated post-operation state.
Ginsenoside-Rb1 Induces ARPE-19 Proliferation and Reduces VEGF Release
Authors: Betts Brandi S. , Parvathaneni Kalpana , Yendluri Bharat B. , Grigsby Jeffery , Tsin Andrew T. C.
Published: January 2012

Rb1, a ginsenoside from ginseng root extract, possesses antiangiogenic effects, but its role on ocular cells has not been studied. We hypothesize that Rb1 inhibits the production of the angiogenic cytokine VEGF from ARPE-19 cells, leading to a significant reduction in the proliferation of ocular vasculatures. Data from our experiments show that Rb1 induced an increase in the number of ARPE cells in culture, while VEGF release (pg/10,000 viable cells) was significantly reduced. Treatment with VEGF and cotreatment with Rb1 and VEGF showed that this Rb1-induced cell proliferation was mediated by VEGF. Because VEGF from RPE plays a major role in promoting angiogenesis in ocular vasculatures. Our finding that Rb1 inhibits the release of VEGF from RPE cells suggests that Rb1 has a significant role in the eye to protect against angiogenic diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.
Simulation of Monsoon Precipitation over South-Asia Using RegCM3
Authors: Basit Abdul , Raza S. Shoaib , Irfan N. , Avila R.
Published: January 2012

The objective of this study is to explore the capability of the Regional Climate Model (RegCM3), to predict the extreme weather events in south-Asian region with particular reference to precipitation during monsoon season (July, August and September) over northern mountainous and southern plain regions of Pakistan. Different cumulus parameterization schemes in RegCM3 for prediction of convective precipitation are tested for monsoon period during the years 1998 and 2001. The model results are compared with the Climate Research Unit (CRU) observational data and the surface synoptic data of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The year 1998 was a dry year and proved to be the beginning of a severe drought lasted up to the year 2000. While in year 2001 the precipitation over some parts of the country exceeded the normal, especially the northern parts of the country observed exceptionally high rainfall rate. The results indicate that some convective parameterization schemes of RegCM3 well captured the summer monsoon precipitation over Pakistan. However, the schemes need to be selected carefully depending upon the region of interest. It was found that the Grell scheme with both closures: Arakawa-Schubert (AS) and Fritsch-Chappell (FC) satisfactorily captured the monsoon phenomenon in Pakistan specially for the northern mountainous regions.
Mechanism of Gas Permeation in Processed HNBR/Nanoclay Composites
Authors: Cadambi Rahul M. , Ghassemieh Elaheh
Published: January 2012

The influence of the layered silicate clay platelets on the nitrogen permeation properties of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR)/nanoclay nanocomposites has been investigated. Nanocomposites of HNBR modified with different percentages of the organoclay are processed through various routes. Commercially available organoclay (CLOISITE 15A) and various silane‐coupling agents are used to improve the dispersion of the nanoclay in HNBR. A total of 10 different formulations of nanocomposites are manufactured. The addition of the organoclay has resulted in a significant enhancement of the nitrogen barrier properties of the manufactured nanocomposite. The mechanism of the reduction in the permeability is explained through the changes in the morphology and its bond to the filler. These changes are confirmed through examination of the morphology using x‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. There has been a drastic reduction up to 55.7% in nitrogen permeability. The reduction in gas permeation in HNBR is attributed to uniformly exfoliated clay platelets. Finally, three different permeability models, namely, the Nielsen model, modified Nielsen model, and Cussler model, have also been considered to predict the permeability behavior of nanocomposites with different volume filler fractions. The experimental values of gas permeability have been compared with theoretical models. It is observed that the modified Nielsen model closely matches with the measured permeation behavior. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 32: E103–E118, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.20275
Surfactant chain length effects on nanoparticles of biodegradable polymers for targeted drug delivery
Authors: Liu Yutao , Feng Si‐Shen
Published: January 2012

Folic acid‐conjugated nanoparticles (NPs) of biodegradable polymer poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA), which were emulsified by long‐chain D‐α‐tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (vitamin E TPGS or simply TPGS) for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs, are prepared. The NPs were characterized for their size and size distribution, surface morphology, surface charge, drug encapsulation efficiency, and surface chemistry. The cellular uptake and the cytotoxicity of the drug‐loaded PLGA NPs were assessed in vitro with MCF7 breast cancer cells in close comparison with the corresponding Short‐chain TPGS (TPGS2k)‐coated PLGA NPs and the original drug. The long‐chain TPGS 2000 (TPGS2k)‐emulsified PLGA NPs showed great advantages over the short‐chain TPGS 1000 (TPGS1k)‐emulsified and the nude PLGA NPs. The folic acid‐conjugated TPGS2k‐emulsified PLGA NPs showed significant advantages in cellular uptake and therapeutic effects in vitro. The IC50 value showed 90.4% less than that of the original drug. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Reaction mechanism and kinetics for the catalytic coupling reaction from carbon monoxide to diethyl oxalate
Authors: Zhu Ya‐Ping , Luo Zheng‐Hong
Published: January 2012

A comprehensive reaction mechanism was proposed for the gas‐phase catalytic coupling reaction from carbon monoxide to diethyl oxalate over supported metal catalyst Pd‐Zr/Al2O3 at atmospheric pressure. Based on the reaction mechanism, two assumptions of rate‐controlling step, namely the adsorption of carbon monoxide and the surface reaction between adsorbed species over the catalyst were investigated. Two simplified hyperbola‐like kinetic models corresponding to the respective rate‐controlling steps were derived accordingly, and the kinetic parameters were determined by fitting the experimental data. The statistic test and the comparison between experimental and simulated data showed that the kinetic model with rate controlled by surface reaction outperformed the one controlled by adsorption. Finally, the optimization of principal operating conditions was applied to the appropriate kinetic model. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and luminescence properties of lanthanide complexes with a new tripodal ligand featuring N‐thenylsalicylamide arms
Authors: Song Xue‐Qin , Zheng Qing‐Fang , Wang Li , Liu Wei‐Sheng
Published: January 2012

To explore the relationship between the structure of the ligands and the luminescent properties of the lanthanide complexes, luminescent lanthanide complexes of a new tripodal ligand, featuring N‐thenylsalicylamide arms, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and TGA measurements. Photophysical properties of the complexes were studied by means of UV − visible absorption and steady‐state luminescence spectroscopy. The results of UV − vis spectra indicate that metal binding does not disturb the electronic structure of the ligand. Excited‐state luminescence lifetimes and quantum yields of the complexes were determined. The photoluminescence analysis suggested that there is an efficient ligand − Ln(III) energy transfer for the Tb(III) complex, and the ligand is an efficient 'antenna' for Tb(III). From a more general perspective, the results demonstrated the potential application of the lanthanide complex as luminescent materials in material chemistry. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oriented and selective enzyme immobilization on functionalized silica carrier using the cationic binding module Zbasic2: Design of a heterogeneous D‐amino acid oxidase catalyst on porous glass
Authors: Bolivar Juan M. , Nidetzky Bernd
Published: January 2012

D‐Amino acid oxidase from Trigonopsis variabilis (TvDAO) is applied in industry for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates. Because free TvDAO is extremely sensitive to exposure to gas–liquid interfaces, biocatalytic processing is usually performed with enzyme immobilizates that offer enhanced stability under bubble aeration. We herein present an “Immobilization by Design” approach that exploits engineered charge complementarity between enzyme and carrier to optimize key features of the immobilization of TvDAO. A fusion protein between TvDAO and the positively charged module Zbasic2 was generated, and a corresponding oppositely charged carrier was obtained by derivatization of mesoporous glass with 3‐(trihydroxysilyl)‐1‐propane‐sulfonic acid. Using 250 mM NaCl for charge screening at pH 7.0, the Zbasic2 fusion of TvDAO was immobilized directly from E. coli cell extract with almost absolute selectivity and full retention of catalytic effectiveness of the isolated enzyme in solution. Attachment of the homodimeric enzyme to the carrier was quasi‐permanent in low‐salt buffer but fully reversible upon elution with 5 M NaCl. Immobilized TvDAO was not sensitive to bubble aeration and received substantial (≥tenfold) stabilization of the activity at 45°C as compared to free enzyme, suggesting immobilization via multisubunit oriented interaction of enzyme with the insoluble carrier. The Zbasic2 enzyme immobilizate was demonstrated to serve as re‐usable heterogeneous catalyst for D‐amino acid oxidation. Zbasic2‐mediated binding on a sulfonic acid group‐containing glass carrier constitutes a generally useful strategy of enzyme immobilization that supports transition from case‐specific empirical development to rational design. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1490–1498. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A model for rural trauma care
Authors: McSwain N , Rotondo M , Meade P , Duchesne J
Published: January 2012

Background

In the United States and many other countries, there has been limited attempt to develop a trauma system that addresses the unique trauma situations that occur in rural areas. Rather the planners have attempted to simply extend the urban based trauma system into rural communities. This extension does not address the needs of the majority of patients who are injured in rural communities.

Methods

A review of the types of patients seen in the rural communities, the volume of these patients and the destination protocols used in the rural communities as taught by the ACS/ATLS and the implications of the CDC Guidelines for Field Triage of Injured Patients Recommendations of the National Expert Panel on Field Triage were reviewed, assessed and compared to the needs in the rural areas for a rural trauma system. In addition, a quality assessment tool was used from a major trauma centre whereby the frequency of patients transported to the centre that were inappropriate for the trauma centre was indicated by the volume that were discharged in 6 h.

Results

Most of the patients injured in the rural communities can be treated in the critical access and rural hospital (> 90 per cent) and can be provided with good care without the need for emergency medical service (EMS) transportation long distances to the trauma centre, inappropriate use of air EMS vehicles thus circumventing families having to travel long distances to see patients, incurring expense and inconvenience, and avoiding loss of revenue to the local hospitals and the overload of urban trauma centres. Rather triage criteria can be taught as per the EMS systems, training given to rural hospital personnel, hospital administrators instructed as to the benefit of such a system, citizens educated as to the advantage of keeping their loved ones closer to home and trauma system registries used to enhance the correct use of the trauma system.

Conclusion

Only 5–10 per cent of trauma injuries require the resources of a trauma centre. Proper triage and medical provider education can be used for the benefit of the patient, the EMS system, the rural and urban hospital, and proper quality assurance to assure that the ‘right patient is treated at the right hospital at the right time’, for the benefit of the patient.
Determination of lipoic acid, Trolox methyl ether and tocopherols in human plasma by liquid‐chromatography and ion‐trap tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Montero Olimpio , Ramírez María , Sánchez‐Guijo Alberto , González Constancio
Published: January 2012

A method for the simultaneous determination of lipoic acid and/or Trolox methyl ether, along with α‐, γ‐ and δ‐tocopherol was developed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with negative electrospray ionization (HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS) in an ion‐trap mass spectrometer. Detection and quantification were accomplished by a multiple reaction monitoring method, using specific transitions from precursor ion to product ion for each analyte. Chromatographic separation was achieved in a 12 min run using a C18‐bonded phase and methanol–aqueous ammonium acetate elution gradient. Linear correlations of the chromatographic peak area (r.u. × s−1) to the injected amount (ng) gave the slope values (r.u. × s−1 × ng−1) 2.34 × 104 for α‐tocopherol, 5.05 × 104 for γ‐tocopherol, 1.27 × 105 for δ‐tocopherol, 8.86 × 105 for lipoic acid and 1.23 × 105 for Trolox methyl ether. The lower limit of quantification ranged between 0.02 and 1.22 ng for Trolox methyl ether and lipoic acid. MS3 experiments of γ‐ and δ‐tocopherol suggest ion‐radical reactions and dependence of the tocopherol fragmentation pattern on the phenolic ring methylation degree. The method is shown to be applicable to measurement of these metabolites in human serum after extraction. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hemichannels: permeants and their effect on development, physiology and death
Authors: Chandrasekhar Anjana , Bera Amal Kanti
Published: January 2012

Hemichannels, which are one half of the gap junction channels, have independent physiological roles. Although hemichannels consisting of connexins are more widely documented, hemichannels of pannexins, proteins homologous to invertebrate gap junction proteins also have been studied. There are at least 21 different connexin and three pannexin isotypes. This variety in isotypes results in tissue‐specific hemichannels, which have been implicated in varied events ranging from development, cell survival, to cell death. Hemichannel function varies with its spatio‐temporal opening, thus demanding a refined degree of regulation. This review discusses the activity of hemichannels and the molecules released in different physiological states and their impact on tissue functioning. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Large‐Scale Honeycomb Microstructures Constructed by Platinum–Acetylide Gelators through Supramolecular Self‐Assembly
Authors: Xu Xing‐Dong , Zhang Jing , Chen Li‐Jun , Zhao Xiao‐Li , Wang De‐Xian , Yang Hai‐Bo
Published: January 2012

A series of new platinum–acetylide complexes 4 a–4 c and 6 a–6 c were synthesized and characterized. The gelation properties of these compounds were investigated by the “stable‐to‐inversion‐of‐test‐tube” method. Unlike compounds 4 a–4 c, amides 6 b and 6 c can gelate a variety of nonpolar alkyl solvents; this result indicates that the hydrogen bonds between amide groups play an important role in the formation of metallic organogels. Interestingly, compared to the typical morphologies of known organogels or metallic organogels, compounds 6 b and 6 c exhibited highly ordered honeycomb patterns on a large‐scale (determined by SEM analysis). To investigate the driving forces for the self‐assembly process, concentration‐dependent 1H NMR spectroscopy and a competitive experiment between hydrogen bonds were used to confirm that intermolecular hydrogen bonding play an essential role during the formation of supramolecular aggregates.
Socioeconomic status and the risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Doubeni Chyke A. , Laiyemo Adeyinka O. , Major Jacqueline M. , Schootman Mario , Lian Min , Park Yikyung , Graubard Barry I. , Hollenbeck Albert R. , Sinha Rashmi
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND:

No previous prospective US study has examined whether the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is disproportionately high in low socioeconomic status (SES) populations of both men and women. This study examined the relationship between both individual and area‐level SES and CRC incidence, overall and by tumor location.

METHODS:

Data were obtained from the ongoing prospective National Institutes of Health‐AARP Diet and Health Study of persons (50‐71 years old) who resided in 6 US states and 2 metropolitan areas at baseline in 1995‐1996. Incident CRCs were ascertained from tumor registries through December 2006. SES was measured by self‐reported education and census‐tract socioeconomic deprivation. Baseline and follow‐up questionnaires collected detailed information on individual‐level CRC risk factors including family history and health behaviors.

RESULTS:

Among 506,488 participants analyzed, 7676 were diagnosed with primary invasive colorectal adenocarcinomas: 46.6% in the right colon, 26.7% in the left colon, and 25.9% in the rectum. The overall incidence of CRC was significantly higher among people who had low educational level or lived in low‐SES neighborhoods, relative to respective highest‐SES groups, even after accounting for other risk factors. These associations were stronger in the rectum than in left or right colon. In the right colon, there were no significant SES differences by either SES measure after accounting for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS:

SES, assessed by either individual‐level education or neighborhood measures, was associated with risk of CRC even after accounting for other risk factors. The relationship between SES and CRC was strongest in the rectum and weakest in the right colon. Cancer 2012;3636–3644. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Assessment of the pathologic inclusion criteria from contemporary adjuvant clinical trials for predicting disease progression after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Kim Simon P. , Crispen Paul L. , Thompson R. Houston , Weight Christopher J. , Boorjian Stephen A. , Costello Brian A. , Lohse Christine M. , Leibovich Bradley C.
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the pathologic inclusion criteria from all contemporary adjuvant trials in predicting disease progression (DP) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS:

A retrospective review was conducted on 1363 patients treated surgically for M0 RCC at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), from 1990 to 2001. Clinicopathologic features were reviewed to determine eligibility for the following trials: ARISER, ASSURE, EVEREST, PROTECT, SORCE, and S‐TRAC. DP was defined as local recurrence or distant metastasis after surgery. The ability of each trial's inclusion criteria to accurately predict DP was evaluated by the c (concordance) index.

RESULTS:

From the Mayo Clinic cohort, we determined that 41%, 45%, 45%, 33%, 47%, and 23% of the patients would have been eligible for the ARISER, ASSURE, EVEREST, PROTECT, SORCE, and S‐TRAC clinical trials, respectively. Overall, 23% of all patients experienced DP (n = 317). Among eligible patients, 53%, 44%, 44%, 57%, 43%, and 59% developed DP during follow‐up and 10%, 6%, 6%, 13%, 6%, and 18% went onto DP while not being eligible for the ARISER, ASSURE, EVEREST, PROTECT, SORCE, and S‐TRAC trials, respectively. The c index of each trial to accurately predict DP from the pathologic inclusion criteria of ARISER, ASSURE, EVEREST, PROTECT, SORCE, and S‐TRAC were 0.751, 0.751, 0.751, 0.742, 0.745, and 0.691, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although the pathologic inclusion criteria of contemporary adjuvant trials have notable differences, all 6 adjuvant trials demonstrated high predictive accuracy of DP. Overall, 43% to 59% of patients included for the adjuvant trials would develop DP, whereas 6% to 18% of patients excluded from the trials would develop DP during follow‐up. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.