bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Pathways: Fumarate Hydratase-Deficient Kidney Cancer—Targeting the Warburg Effect in Cancer
Authors: Linehan W. Marston , Rouault Tracey A.
Published: May 2013

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is a hereditary cancer syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk for development of cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas and an aggressive form of type II papillary kidney cancer. HLRCC is characterized by germline mutation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme, fumarate hydratase (FH). FH-deficient kidney cancer is characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation and a metabolic shift to aerobic glycolysis, a form of metabolic reprogramming referred to as the Warburg effect. Increased glycolysis generates ATP needed for increased cell proliferation. In FH-deficient kidney cancer, levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular energy sensor, are decreased resulting in diminished p53 levels, decreased expression of the iron importer, DMT1, leading to low cellular iron levels, and to enhanced fatty acid synthesis by diminishing phosphorylation of acetyl CoA carboxylase, a rate-limiting step for fatty acid synthesis. Increased fumarate and decreased iron levels in FH-deficient kidney cancer cells inactivate prolyl hydroxylases, leading to stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and increased expression of genes such as VEGF and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) to provide fuel needed for rapid growth demands. Several therapeutic approaches for targeting the metabolic basis of FH-deficient kidney cancer are under development or are being evaluated in clinical trials, including the use of agents such as metformin, which would reverse the inactivation of AMPK, approaches to inhibit glucose transport, lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), the antioxidant response pathway, the heme oxygenase pathway, and approaches to target the tumor vasculature and glucose transport with agents such as bevacizumab and erlotinib. These same types of metabolic shifts, to aerobic glycolysis with decreased oxidative phosphorylation, have been found in a wide variety of other cancer types. Targeting the metabolic basis of a rare cancer such as FH-deficient kidney cancer will hopefully provide insights into the development of effective forms of therapies for other, more common forms of cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 19(13); 3345–52. ©2013 AACR.
Patterns of Emergency Medical Services Use and Its Association With Timely Stroke Treatment
Authors: Ekundayo Olaniyi James , Saver Jeffrey L. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Schwamm Lee H. , Xian Ying , Zhao Xin , Hernandez Adrian F. , Peterson Eric D. , Cheng Eric M.
Published: May 2013

Background—

Prior studies found that only about half of stroke patients arrived at hospitals via emergency medical services (EMSs), yet since then, there have been efforts to increase public awareness that time is brain. Using contemporary Get With the Guidelines-Stroke data, we assessed nationwide EMS use by stroke patients.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed data from 204 591 patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke admitted to 1563 Get With the Guidelines-Stroke participating hospitals with data on National Institute of Health Stroke Score and insurance status. Hospital arrival by EMSs was observed in 63.7% of patients. Older patients, those with Medicaid and Medicare insurance, and those with severe stroke were more likely to activate EMSs. In contrast, minority race and ethnicity and living in rural communities were associated with decreased odds of EMS use. EMS transport was independently associated with earlier arrival (onset-to-door time, ≤3 hours; adjusted odds ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.93–2.08), prompter evaluation (more patients with door-to-imaging time, ≤25 minutes; odds ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.78–2.00), more rapid treatment (more patients with door-to-needle time, ≤60 minutes; odds ratio, 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.28–1.63), and more eligible patients to be treated with tissue-type plasminogen activator if onset is ≤2 hours (67% versus 44%; odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.33–1.64).

Conclusions—

Although EMS use is independently associated with more rapid evaluation and treatment of stroke, more than one third of stroke patients fail to use EMSs. Interventions aimed at increasing EMS activation should target populations at risk, particularly younger patients and those of minority race and ethnicity.
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Overcomes the Intrinsic Axonal Growth–Inhibitory Signals in Stroke Rats
Authors: Zhao Shanshan , Zhao Mei , Xiao Ting , Jolkkonen Jukka , Zhao Chuansheng
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) improves functional outcome in patients with stroke possibly through structural plasticity. We hypothesized that CIMT could enhance axonal growth by overcoming the intrinsic growth–inhibitory signals, leading eventually to improved behavioral performance in stroke rats.

Methods—

Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by intracerebral injection of endothelin-1. Adult Wistar rats were divided into a sham-operated group, an ischemic group, and an ischemic group treated with CIMT. CIMT started at postoperative day 7 and continued for 3 weeks. Biotinylated dextran amine was injected into the contralateral sensorimotor cortex at postoperative day 14 to trace crossing axons at the cervical spinal cord. The expressions of Nogo-A, Nogo receptor, RhoA, and Rho-associated kinase in the peri-infarct cortex, and the expressions of biotinylated dextran amine, growth associated protein-43, synaptophysin, vGlut1, and postsynaptic density-95 in the denervated spinal cord were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blots. Behavioral recovery was analyzed at postoperative days 29 to 32.

Results—

Infarct volumes were not different between groups after stroke. CIMT significantly increased the length and the number of midline crossings of contralateral corticospinal axons to the denervated cervical spinal cord. CIMT significantly decreased the expressions of Nogo-A/Nogo receptor and RhoA/Rho-associated kinase in the peri-infarct cortex, and increased the expressions of growth associated protein-43, synaptophysin, vGlut1, and postsynaptic density-95 in the denervated cervical spinal cord. Behavioral performances assessed by the beam-walking test and the water maze test were improved significantly by CIMT.

Conclusions—

CIMT promoted poststroke synaptic plasticity and axonal growth at least partially by overcoming the intrinsic growth–inhibitory signaling, leading to improved behavioral outcome.
Factors Associated With Length of Hospitalization in Patients Admitted With Transient Ischemic Attack in United States
Authors: Qureshi Adnan I. , Adil Malik M. , Zacharatos Haralabos , Suri M. Fareed K.
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

Approximately 70% of all patients presenting with transient ischemic attack are admitted to the hospital in United States. The duration and cost of hospitalization and associated factors are poorly understood. This article seeks to identify the proportion and determinants of prolonged hospitalization and to determine the impact on hospital charges using nationally representative data.

Methods—

We determined the national estimates of length of stay, mortality, and charges incurred in patients admitted with transient ischemic attack (diagnosis-related code 524 or 069) using Nationwide Inpatient Sample data from 2002 to 2010. Nationwide Inpatient Sample is the largest all-payer inpatient care database in the United States and contains data from ≈1000 hospitals, which is a 20% stratified sample of US community hospitals. All the variables pertaining to hospitalization were compared in 3 groups on the basis of length of hospital stay (≤1, 2–6, and ≥7 days).

Results—

A total of 949 558 patients were admitted with the diagnosis of transient ischemic attack during the study period. The length of hospitalization was ≤1, 2 to 6, and ≥7 days in 232 732 (24.4%), 662 909 (70%), and 53 917 (5.6%) patients, respectively. The mean hospitalization charges were $10 876, $17 187, and $38 200 for patients hospitalized for ≤1, 2 to 6, and ≥7 days, respectively. The use of thrombolytics (0.03%, 0.09%, and 0.1%;
P
<0.0001) for ischemic stroke was very low among the 3 strata defined by length of hospitalization. In the multivariate analysis, the following factors were associated with length of hospitalization of ≥2 days: age >65 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.5), women (OR, 1.2), admission to teaching hospitals (OR, 1.1), renal failure (OR, 1.7), hypertension (OR, 1.1), diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.2), chronic lung disease (OR, 1.4), congestive heart failure (OR, 1.4), atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.5), ischemic stroke occurrence (OR, 1.4), Medicare/Medicaid insurance (OR, 1.3), and hospital location in Northeast US region (OR, 1.5; all
P
values <0.025).

Conclusions—

Approximately 75% of patients admitted with transient ischemic attack stay in the hospital for ≥2 days, with the most important determinants being pre-existing medical comorbidities. Longer duration of hospital stay is associated with 2- to 5-fold greater hospitalization charges.
Null Subjects in Old English
Authors: van Gelderen Elly
Published: May 2013

I review the proposal made by Sigurðsson (2011) that null arguments follow from third-factor principles, as in Chomsky 2005 . A number of issues remain unclear: for instance, the kind of topic that licenses null arguments in Modern Germanic, including Modern English. I argue that Old English is pro drop and add to the discussion Frascarelli (2007) started as to which topic licenses a null subject. I agree with Frascarelli and Hinterhölzl (2007) that the licensing topic in Modern Germanic and Old English is an aboutness-shift topic. I also argue that verb movement to C is necessary to license the empty argument in the modern Germanic languages (including Modern English), but not in Old English, since agreement is still responsible for licensing in that language, as in Italian.
Case and Licensing: Evidence from ECM+DOC
Authors: Rezac Milan
Published: May 2013

This remark argues for the Case-theoretic concept of Case as a syntactic licensing requirement of DPs related to their case morphology, against alternatives where DPs need no syntactic licensing, or where their case morphology is unrelated to it. The argument is made from constraints on combining exceptional Case marking (ECM) and the double object construction, where there is a single object Agree/Case locus for two DPs. The mechanisms and nature of Case are briefly examined. The appendix sketches an extension to wager-class ECM.
Depression riots and the calling of the 1897 West India Royal Commission
Authors: Richardson Bonham C.
Published: April 2013

Questions why the West India Royal Commission of 1897 was considered necessary when serious distress already existed in the 1880s. Author argues that riots caught the government's attention much more readily than statistical data. Even minor disturbances could have distracted London from its preoccupation with the newer, more important parts of the Empire.
Book Reviews
Authors: KITLV Redactie
Published: April 2013

-Robert B. Potter, Graham Dunn, The Barbadian male: sexual attitudes and practice. London and Basingstoke: Macmillan Publishers, 1987. x + 228 pp.-Robert B. Potter, Graham Dunn, The quality of life in Barbados. London and Basingstoke: Macmillan Publishers, 1984. xiv + 290 pp.-Sidney W. Mintz, David Watts, The West Indies: patterns of development, culture and environmental change since 1942. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987. xxii + 609 pp.
Some prominent features of Ndjuka Maroon medicine
Authors: Vernon Diane
Published: April 2013

Description of the health-care system of the Ndjuka Maroons. The author discusses such topics as diagnostist therapy, the mechanics of interpretation, obia, and payment. According to Vernon, 'perhaps the most outstanding feature of Ndjuka health-care is its complete immersion in the coherent socio-cultural whole, and the crucial role alotted to illness as the revealing mark of any troubled socio-economic relations'.
Two Attorneys and an Overseer
Authors: Turner Mary
Published: April 2013

[First paragraph]Plantation Jamaica 1750-1850: Capital and Control in a Colonial Economy. B.W. Higmgman. Kingston: University of the West Indies Press, 2005. xiv + 386 pp. (Cloth US$ 65.00)Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire: Thomas Thistlewood and His Slaves in the Anglo-Jamaican World. Trerevoror Bururnard. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2004. xii +320 pp. (Cloth US$ 45.00, Paper US$ 21.95)These two works from differing perspectives add significant new layers to our knowledge of plantation management in the Caribbean. Both focus on Jamaica, Higman straddling the pre- and postemancipation period (1750-1850) and dealing with the attorneys (i.e. agents, managers) who administered estates for absentee proprietors, and Burnard depicting in unique detail the life of an overseer, right-hand man for attorneys and resident planters alike, and his rise to landed proprietorship. The books usefully complement one another.
The search for history in the native Caribbean and South America
Authors: Whitehead Neil L.
Published: April 2013

[First paragraph]Bom to Die: Disease and New World Conquest, 1492-1650. NOBLE D. COOK. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. 248 pp. (Cloth US$ 54.95, Paper US$ 15.95)An Account of the Antiquities of the Indians. FRAY RAMÓN PANÉ. Edited by José J. Arrom, translated by Susan C. Griswold. Durham: Duke University Press, 1999. 72 pp. (Cloth US$ 39.95, Paper US$ 12.95)Some Recoveries in Guiana Indian Ethnohistory. GERRIT BOS. Amsterdam: VU Uitgeverij, 1998. 361 pp. (Paper NLG 85.00)Each of these three volumes reflects a particular approach to the history of the Native Caribbean and South America, but despite their distinct methodologies and approaches they share a rather restricted view of the historiographical possibilities for knowing that past. None makes use of native testimony, nor do they consider ethnographic materials on native historicity. As such they represent a style of historiographical reasoning that has largely been supplanted by a broad range of archaeological, textual, and ethnographic works which seek to properly integrate these kinds of materials to reveal not just a history of others but others' histories.
Coping with cannabis in a Caribbean country : from problem formulation to going public
Authors: Rubenstein Hymie
Published: April 2013

Analyzes the dialectic between problem discovery and formulation, ethical considerations, and the public dissemination of research results. Author describes his personal experience of fieldwork, the moral-ethical dilemmas it involved, and the circulation of research findings on cannabis production and consumption in St. Vincent. He became frustrated that his academic publications were only accessible to a tiny portion of St. Vincent's population and therefore decided to publish about cannabis in the local media.
Creolization redux : the plural society thesis and offshore financial services in the British Caribbean
Authors: Maurer Bill
Published: April 2013

Argues that the connection between political fragmentation and offshore financial services illustrate an increasingly common vision of the political and economic future among leaders of the British Caribbean who seek to carve out a place for their countries and territories in the new global economy. Their success is based on standing outside regional federations and providing services to parties wishing to conduct business between or around economic blocs.
Subordinate but proud: Curaçao's free blacks and mulattoes in the eighteenth century
Authors: Klooster Wim
Published: April 2013

Focuses on the socio-economic position of free non-whites in 18th-c. Curaçao. The manumission rate was relatively high and consequently a large group of free non-whites was created. Blacks and mulattoes enjoyed religious freedom as well as considerable economic freedom. Their growing numbers and social and economic assertiveness alarmed the whites, who gradually admitted the most successful mulattoes in their circles.
Sheikh Murād al-Bukhārī and the Expansion of the Naqshbandī-Mujaddidī Order in Istanbul
Authors: Abu-Manneh Butrus
Published: April 2013

The article offers a fresh look at the career of Murād al-Bukhārī (d. 1720), one of the most influential Sufi leaders of the Middle East in the late 17th/early 18th century. By origin from Samarqand, he was initiated into the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya by Aḥmad Sirhindī’s son  and became one of his most successful successors in spreading this Indian branch of the Naqshbandiyya in Syria and Istanbul and Anatolia. The reasons for the formidable followership of Murād among the Ottoman scholarly and bureaucratic elite, including some of the sultans’ close circles are elucidated, and it becomes clear that this new ṭarīqa profited from being untarnished by the bitter controversies between the Ottoman ṭuruq and their adversaries which had raged until the Vienna campaign (1683). By its strong attachment to the Sunna, and by its promise of renewal (tajdīd) it became obviously of great importance for the reforming circles at the top of the empire, and for the general rise of piety during that period, thus showing the Islamic colouring of what is otherwise often regarded as a first movement of Westernization during the so-called “Tulip period”.
Valoración del riesgo de reincidencia en violencia contra la mujer en las relaciones de pareja: importancia del apoyo social
Authors: Lila Marisol , Oliver Amparo , Lorenzo María-Victoria , Catalá Alba
Published: May 2013

Una de las estrategias preventivas recomendadas en el ámbito de la violencia contra la mujer en las relaciones de pareja, es la valoración del riesgo de reincidencia. Sin embargo, es escasa la investigación en torno a qué variables se relacionan con la valoración de riesgo realizada por los profesionales. En este trabajo, a partir de la información obtenida de 291 hombres penados por violencia de género, se analizaron las relaciones de diversas variables psicológicas, actitudinales y sociales, con dos medidas posibles de valoración de riesgo que pueden obtenerse a partir del SARA (Spousal Assault Risk Assessment); el Sumatorio de Factores de Riesgo de Reincidencia y la Valoración Global de Riesgo. El modelo de ecuaciones estructurales estimado mostró que las variables actitudinales y psicológicas utilizadas en el estudio se relacionaban significativamente con el Sumatorio de Factores de Riesgo, mientras que únicamente la impulsividad y las variables sociales se relacionaron significativamente con la Valoración Global de Riesgo. En la discusión se subraya la importancia del apoyo social y comunitario en la evaluación del riesgo de reincidencia.
El impacto psicosocial de los procesos transicionales en Chile: evaluación de los efectos de las Comisiones Nacional de “Verdad y Reconciliación” y “prisión política y tortura”
Authors: Cárdenas Manuel , Páez Darío , Rimé Bernard
Published: May 2013

Se analizan las emociones, clima emocional, actitud ante el pasado, confianza institucional y valoración de los procesos de justicia transicional en una muestra de personas afectadas y no afectadas por la violencia política en Chile (N = 1278). Las víctimas directas informan de más emociones negativas vinculadas al pasado y la actividad de las comisiones, perciben un clima emocional menos positivo, menor seguridad, confianza y esperanza colectiva, más desconfianza institucional, aunque mayor orgullo ante el pasado y mayores niveles de propósito vital. Las personas de derecha informan de menos culpa y vergüenza, más confianza institucional y valoración más crítica de las comisiones. Quienes valoran positivamente el trabajo de las comisiones de verdad creen que permitieron conocer la verdad, impulsar procesos de justicia, generaron una historia integradora, ayudan a prevenir hechos de violencia colectiva en el futuro, creen más en el perdón de las victimas a los perpetradores, perciben un clima emocional positivo, más confianza intergrupal y mayor confianza institucional.
CEO Narcissism, Audience Engagement, and Organizational Adoption of Technological Discontinuities
Authors: Gerstner Wolf-Christian , König Andreas , Enders Albrecht , Hambrick Donald C.
Published: May 2013

We examine the responses of major pharmaceutical firms to the advent of biotechnology over the period 1980 to 2008 to explain why established firms vary in their adoption of technological discontinuities. Combining insights from upper echelons theory, personality theory, and research on organizational responses to new technologies, we posit that narcissistic chief executive officers (CEOs) of established firms will be relatively aggressive in their adoption of technological discontinuities. We propose, however, that the effect of a CEO’s narcissism on organizational outcomes will be moderated by audience engagement—the degree to which observers view a phenomenon as noteworthy and provocative—which varies over time. When audience engagement is high, narcissistic CEOs will anticipate widespread admiration for their bold actions and thus will invest especially aggressively in a discontinuous technology. Drawing from work on managerial cognition, we further hypothesize that CEOs’ narcissism will influence their top managers’ attention to a discontinuous technology, an association that will also be moderated by audience engagement. Finally, we suggest that managerial attention to the discontinuous technology will subsequently be reflected in company investments in the new technological domain. Results provide considerable support for our hypotheses and highlight the role of narcissism in the context of radical organizational change, the influence of audience engagement on executive behavior, and the effect of executive personality on managerial attention.
Coping as Part of Motivational Resilience in School
Authors: Skinner Ellen , Pitzer Jennifer , Steele Joel
Published: May 2013

A study was designed to examine a multidimensional measure of children’s coping in the academic domain as part of a larger model of motivational resilience. Using items tapping multiple ways of dealing with academic problems, including five adaptive ways (strategizing, help-seeking, comfort-seeking, self-encouragement, and commitment) and six maladaptive ways (confusion, escape, concealment, self-pity, rumination, and projection), analyses of self-reports collected from 1,020 third through sixth graders in fall and spring of the same school year showed that item sets marking each way of coping were generally unidimensional and internally consistent; and confirmatory analyses showed that multidimensional models provided a good fit to the data for both adaptive and maladaptive coping at both time points. Of greatest interest were the connections of these ways of coping to the constructs from a model of motivational resilience. As predicted, adaptive coping was positively correlated with students’ self-system processes of relatedness, competence, and autonomy as well as their ongoing engagement and reengagement, and negatively correlated with their catastrophizing appraisals and emotional reactivity. Maladaptive coping showed the opposite pattern of correlations. The potential utility of the measure, the different scores derived from it, and the role of constructive coping in motivational resilience are discussed.
Three Design Principles of Language: The Search for Parsimony in Redundancy
Authors: Beekhuizen Barend , Bod Rens , Zuidema Willem
Published: May 2013

In this paper we present three design principles of language – experience, heterogeneity and redundancy – and present recent developments in a family of models incorporating them, namely Data-Oriented Parsing/Unsupervised Data-Oriented Parsing. Although the idea of some form of redundant storage has become part and parcel of parsing technologies and usage-based linguistic approaches alike, the question how much of it is cognitively realistic and/or computationally optimally efficient is an open one. We argue that a segmentation-based approach (Bayesian Model Merging) combined with an all-subtrees approach reduces the number of rules needed to achieve an optimal performance, thus making the parser more efficient. At the same time, starting from unsegmented wholes comes closer to the acquisitional situation of a language learner, and thus adds to the cognitive plausibility of the model.
The Desire for Parenthood
Authors: Murphy Dean A.
Published: May 2013

Gay men are becoming increasingly involved in reproduction despite significant barriers limiting their access to reproductive technologies or legal parentage in many jurisdictions. Based on in-depth interviews with gay men in the United States and Australia who have become parents through surrogacy, I explore how gay men understand their desire to have children and what frames their parenthood experiences. The notion of choice is widespread in understandings of gay parenthood and family formation. Most of the men in this study did not develop a “procreative consciousness” as a result of sexual and fertility-related events. The majority also initially accepted the notion that homosexuality was synonymous with childlessness. Awareness of the possibilities for parenthood emerged over time through the promotional activities of surrogacy agencies, through media, peers, and relationship partners. Additionally, men played with the symbols of kinship to negotiate and obscure biogenetic paternity.
Peer-Mediated Intervention for Preschoolers With ASD Implemented in Early Childhood Education Settings
Authors: Katz Esther , Girolametto Luigi
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of peer intervention on the social interactions of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this model, a speech-language pathologist and three early childhood educators trained typically developing peers to engage children with ASD in play. Three preschool children with ASD and six peers participated. The peer intervention took place in early childhood classrooms during play sessions with blocks and play dough. A single-subject multiple baseline design across subjects was used to determine the effects of the intervention. All three children with ASD demonstrated significant gains in the number and length of their interactions with peers, and maintained their gains. The results provided preliminary evidence supporting this model of intervention. Treatment fidelity and social validation measures are documented.
Value-of-Information Analysis within a Stakeholder-Driven Research Prioritization Process in a US Setting: An Application in Cancer Genomics
Authors: Carlson Josh J. , Thariani Rahber , Roth Josh , Gralow Julie , Henry N. Lynn , Esmail Laura , Deverka Pat , Ramsey Scott D. , Baker Laurence , Veenstra David L.
Published: May 2013

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of incorporating value-of-information (VOI) analysis into a stakeholder-driven research prioritization process in a US-based setting. Methods. Within a program to prioritize comparative effectiveness research areas in cancer genomics, over a period of 7 months, we developed decision-analytic models and calculated upper-bound VOI estimates for 3 previously selected genomic tests. Thirteen stakeholders representing patient advocates, payers, test developers, regulators, policy makers, and community-based oncologists ranked the tests before and after receiving VOI results. The stakeholders were surveyed about the usefulness and impact of the VOI findings. Results. The estimated upper-bound VOI ranged from $33 million to $2.8 billion for the 3 research areas. Seven stakeholders indicated the results modified their rankings, 9 stated VOI data were useful, and all indicated they would support its use in future prioritization processes. Some stakeholders indicated expected value of sampled information might be the preferred choice when evaluating specific study designs. Limitations. Our study was limited by the size and the potential for selection bias in the composition of the external stakeholder group, lack of a randomized design to assess effect of VOI data on rankings, and the use of expected value of perfect information v. expected value of sample information methods. Conclusions. Value of information analyses may have a meaningful role in research topic prioritization for comparative effectiveness research in the United States, particularly when large differences in VOI across topic areas are identified. Additional research is needed to facilitate the use of more complex value of information analyses in this setting.
The effect of kenaf fibre loadings on the properties of UV-cured unsaturated polyester composites
Authors: Hussein MA , Rozman HD , Tay GS
Published: May 2013

The main objective of this study was to produce ultraviolet curable unsaturated polyester which was then reinforced by variable percentage of kenaf fibre. Unsaturated polyester resin based on palm oil was prepared by the interaction of monoglyceride monomer with maleic anhydride. Gel fraction of the composites increased as the percentage of kenaf fibre was increased up to 10% then decreased with higher kenaf percentage. The effect of kenaf loading on the dimensional stability of unsaturated polyester-reinforced composite showed a significant trend. Morphological study of the composites showed the evidence of the enhancement of compatibility between fibre and polymer.
Thermophysical and fire properties of vakka natural fiber reinforced polyester composites
Authors: Ramanaiah K , Prasad AV Ratna , Reddy K Hema Chandra
Published: May 2013

Partially biodegradable green composites have been made by incorporating vakka fibers as reinforcement in the polyester matrix. The influence of fiber content and temperature on thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal diffusivity of composites was investigated. The transverse thermal conductivity of unidirectional composites was investigated experimentally by a guarded heat flow meter method. It was observed that the thermal conductivity of composite decreased with increase in fiber content and at maximum volume fraction of fiber, thermal conductivity of the composites was found to be 0.179 W/m · K. Moreover, the experimental results of thermal conductivity as a function of volume fraction were compared with theoretical model. Thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of the composite increased with temperature. The lowest thermal diffusivity of 0.55 × 10−7 m2/s for the composite was achieved at a temperature of 120℃. Fire behavior of vakka fiber composite and virgin polyester was investigated using cone calorimeter. The composite ignite earlier and emit lower values of heat release rate and peak heat release rate, when compared to neat polyester resin. Theoretical models were used to predict time to flashover and ignition temperature using cone calorimeter test results as input data.
‘I am a philosopher of the particular case’
Authors: Madsen Ole Jacob , Servan Johannes , Øyen Simen Andersen
Published: May 2013

When Ian Hacking won the Holberg International Memorial Prize 2009 his candidature was said to strengthen the legitimacy of the prize after years of controversy. Ole Jacob Madsen, Johannes Servan and Simen Andersen Øyen have talked to Ian Hacking about current questions in the philosophy and history of science.
Identification of pathogens in mastitis milk samples with fluorescent in situ hybridization
Authors: Gey Annerose , Werckenthin Christiane , Poppert Sven , Straubinger Reinhard K.
Published: May 2013

Traditionally, the bacteriological examination of mastitis milk samples is performed by culture followed by biochemical tests on the cultured bacteria to allow identification of the causative pathogen. Depending on the species involved, this classic identification is time-consuming compared to other techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), a culture-independent method that utilizes oligonucleotides (labeled with a fluorophore) that are specific to a string of target DNA/RNA. In the current study, the applicability of FISH was evaluated for the detection of mastitis pathogens directly in milk samples. To remove interfering lipids and proteins from mastitis milk samples prior to FISH, a previously published enzymatic treatment with savinase was evaluated. FISH was performed using oligonucleotides specific for Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Trueperella ( Arcanobacterium) pyogenes. The enzymatic pretreatment and the sensitivity of FISH were evaluated using spiked whole milk samples and mastitis milk samples with bacterial loads of less than 103 up to 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml. Bacteria were reliably detected in milk samples with bacterial numbers of 106 CFU/ml or higher. However, bacteria present in numbers below 106 CFU/ml were not detectable in all cases. The ability of FISH to identify mastitis-causing pathogens directly in milk samples, and therefore earlier than classical culture methods, can supplement the classic diagnostic procedures for mastitis milk samples.
A new semi-analytical solution for gap resonance between twin rectangular boxes
Authors: Liu Yong , Li Hua-Jun
Published: May 2013

This study gives a semi-analytical solution for gap resonance between twin fixed, partially immersed rectangular boxes based on the linear potential theory. The fluid region between and below the boxes is treated as dissipative domain. A new method is proposed to introduce energy dissipation into the dissipative domain by adding the artificial resistance force. Two different dissipative boundary conditions are imposed on the gap-free surface and the boundary between the dissipative domain and the non-dissipative domain. A complex dispersion relation is used to describe the wave motion in the dissipative domain with free surface. The newly developed semi-analytical solution is confirmed by previous analytical results, results by independently developed multi-domain boundary element method solution, experimental data and numerical results based on viscous fluid model. A simplified formula is developed to evaluate the resistance coefficient for the dissipative domain. The present model with artificial energy dissipation is simple and efficient and is expected to be valid for more relevant problems.
Juvenile female sex offenders: Offender and offence characteristics
Authors: Wijkman Miriam , Bijleveld Catrien , Hendriks Jan
Published: May 2013

Almost all research on juvenile sex offending pertains to adolescent males. This study comprises all female juveniles convicted for sexual offences in the Netherlands between 1993 and 2008 ( N = 66). From analysis of their court files and their criminal records, these female offenders are described in terms of demographics, family background, (psychiatric) disorders, victim characteristics and co-offending patterns. Heterogeneity in offending patterns and offending motives are studied, by using a reconstruction of the sexual offences. Almost 60 percent of the juvenile female sex offenders committed the abuse with someone else. Summarizing the offender motives as they emerged from offender and victim statements, five offender subtypes are identified. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for research and treatment.
Medullary Sponge Kidney and Medullary Nephrocalcinosis
Authors: Johnson Stephen
Published: May 2013

A 40-year-old female patient came to an outpatient sonography department for a follow-up scan of calculi in the right ureter that were originally found at another medical facility. The study was ordered to see if the stones caused hydronephrosis within the right kidney. Bilaterally, echogenic renal medullae were visualized, indicating a case of medullary sponge kidney and medullary nephrocalcinosis.
LAMP1/CD107a is required for efficient perforin delivery to lytic granules and NK-cell cytotoxicity
Authors: Krzewski Konrad , Gil-Krzewska Aleksandra , Nguyen Victoria , Peruzzi Giovanna , Coligan John E.
Published: May 2013

Key Points

LAMP1 silencing inhibits cytotoxicity of human NK cells. LAMP1 is important for perforin trafficking to the lytic granules and granule movement.
Macrophage environment turns otherwise MccJ25-resistant Salmonella into sensitive
Authors: Pomares María Fernanda , Corbalán Natalia S , Adler Conrado , de Cristóbal Ricardo , Farías Ricardo N , Delgado Mónica A , Vincent Paula A
Published: May 2013

Background

Microcin J25 (MccJ25) is a plasmid-encoded antibiotic peptide produced by Escherichia coli (E. coli). MccJ25 enters into the sensitive E. coli strains by the outer membrane receptor FhuA and the inner membrane proteins TonB, ExbB, ExbD and SbmA. The resistance of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) to MccJ25 is attributed to the inability of its FhuA protein to incorporate the antibiotic into the cell.

Results

In this work we demonstrate that S. Typhimurium becomes notably susceptible to MccJ25 when replicating within macrophages. In order to determine the possible cause of this phenomenon, we studied the sensitivity of S. Typhimurium to MccJ25 at conditions resembling those of the internal macrophage environment, such as low pH, low magnesium and iron deprivation. We observed that the strain was only sensitive to the antibiotic at low pH, leading us to attribute the bacterial sensitization to this condition. A MccJ25-resistant E. coli strain in which fhuA is deleted was also inhibited by the antibiotic at low pH. Then, we could assume that the MccJ25 sensitivity change observed in both E. coli fhuA and S. Typhimurium is mediated by a MccJ25 uptake independent of the FhuA receptor. Moreover, low pH incubation also sensitized S. Typhimurium to the hydrophobic antibiotic novobiocin, which does not affect enteric bacteria viability because it is unable to penetrate the bacterial outer membrane. This observation supports our hypothesis about low pH producing a modification in the bacterial membrane permeability that allows an unspecific MccJ25 uptake. On the other hand, MccJ25 inhibited S. Typhimurium when cells were preincubated in acidic pH medium and then treated at neutral pH with the antibiotic.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that acidic condition does not alter MccJ25 hydrophobicity but irreversibly modifies bacterial membrane permeability. This would allow an unspecific antibiotic uptake into the cell.

From our data it is possible to infer that intracellular pathogenic strains, which are in vitro resistant to MccJ25, could become susceptible ones in vivo. Therefore, the MccJ25 action spectrum would be broader than what in vitro experiments indicate.
Evidence for extensive heterotrophic metabolism, antioxidant action, and associated regulatory events during winter hardening in Sitka spruce
Authors: Collakova Eva , Klumas Curtis , Suren Haktan , Myers Elijah , Heath Lenwood S , Holliday Jason A , Grene Ruth
Published: May 2013

Background

Cold acclimation in woody perennials is a metabolically intensive process, but coincides with environmental conditions that are not conducive to the generation of energy through photosynthesis. While the negative effects of low temperatures on the photosynthetic apparatus during winter have been well studied, less is known about how this is reflected at the level of gene and metabolite expression, nor how the plant generates primary metabolites needed for adaptive processes during autumn.

Results

The MapMan tool revealed enrichment of the expression of genes related to mitochondrial function, antioxidant and associated regulatory activity, while changes in metabolite levels over the time course were consistent with the gene expression patterns observed. Genes related to thylakoid function were down-regulated as expected, with the exception of plastid targeted specific antioxidant gene products such as thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase, components of the reactive oxygen species scavenging cycle, and the plastid terminal oxidase. In contrast, the conventional and alternative mitochondrial electron transport chains, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and redox-associated proteins providing reactive oxygen species scavenging generated by electron transport chains functioning at low temperatures were all active.

Conclusions

A regulatory mechanism linking thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase action with “chloroplast dormancy” is proposed. Most importantly, the energy and substrates required for the substantial metabolic remodeling that is a hallmark of freezing acclimation could be provided by heterotrophic metabolism.
Malaria is an uncommon cause of adult sepsis in south-western Uganda
Authors: Auma Mary A , Siedner Mark J , Nyehangane Dan , Nalusaji Aisha , Nakaye Martha , Mwanga-Amumpaire Juliet , Muhindo Rose , Wilson L Anthony , Boum Yap , Moore Christopher C
Published: May 2013

Background

Malaria is often considered a cause of adult sepsis in malaria endemic areas. However, diagnostic limitations can make distinction between malaria and other infections challenging. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relative contribution of malaria to adult sepsis in south-western Uganda.

Methods

Adult patients with sepsis were enrolled at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital between February and May 2012. Sepsis was defined as infection plus ≥2 of the following: axillary temperature >37.5°C or <35.5°C, heart rate >90 or respiratory rate >20. Severe sepsis was defined as sepsis plus organ dysfunction (blood lactate >4 mmol/L, confusion, or a systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg). Sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data, including malaria PCR and rapid diagnostic tests, as well as acid fast bacteria sputum smears and blood cultures were collected. Patients were followed until in-patient death or discharge. The primary outcome of interest was the cause of sepsis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess predictors of mortality.

Results

Enrollment included 216 participants who were 51% female with a median age of 32 years (IQR 27–43 years). Of these, 122 (56%) subjects were HIV-seropositive of whom 75 (66%) had a CD4+ T cell count <100 cells/μL. The prevalence of malaria was 4% (six with Plasmodium falciparum, two with Plasmodium vivax). Bacteraemia was identified in 41 (19%) patients. In-hospital mortality was 19% (n = 42). In multivariable regression analysis, Glasgow Coma Score <9 (IRR 4.81, 95% CI 1.80-12.8) and severe sepsis (IRR, 2.07, 95% CI 1.03-4.14), but no specific diagnoses were statistically associated with in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

Malaria was an uncommon cause of adult sepsis in a regional referral hospital in south-western Uganda. In this setting, a thorough evaluation for alternate causes of disease in patients presenting with sepsis is recommended.
Semiquantitative proteomic analysis of human hippocampal tissues from Alzheimer’s disease and age-matched control brains
Authors: Begcevic Ilijana , Kosanam Hari , Martínez-Morillo Eduardo , Dimitromanolakis Apostolos , Diamandis Phedias , Kuzmanov Uros , Hazrati Lili-Naz , Diamandis Eleftherios P
Published: May 2013

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia affecting people over 65 years of age. The hallmarks of AD are the extracellular deposits known as amyloid β plaques and the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, both of which are the principal players involved in synaptic loss and neuronal cell death. Tau protein and Aβ fragment 1–42 have been investigated so far in cerebrospinal fluid as a potential AD biomarkers. However, an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers which will capture disease in the early stages and with better specificity remains. High-throughput proteomic and pathway analysis of hippocampal tissue provides a valuable source of disease-related proteins and biomarker candidates, since it represents one of the earliest affected brain regions in AD.

Results

In this study 2954 proteins were identified (with at least 2 peptides for 1203 proteins) from both control and AD brain tissues. Overall, 204 proteins were exclusively detected in AD and 600 proteins in control samples. Comparing AD and control exclusive proteins with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) literature-based proteome, 40 out of 204 AD related proteins and 106 out of 600 control related proteins were also present in CSF. As most of these proteins were extracellular/secretory origin, we consider them as a potential source of candidate biomarkers that need to be further studied and verified in CSF samples.

Conclusions

Our semiquantitative proteomic analysis provides one of the largest human hippocampal proteome databases. The lists of AD and control related proteins represent a panel of proteins potentially involved in AD pathogenesis and could also serve as prospective AD diagnostic biomarkers.
Application of a self-enhancing classification method to electromyography pattern recognition for multifunctional prosthesis control
Authors: Chen Xinpu , Zhang Dingguo , Zhu Xiangyang
Published: May 2013

Background

The nonstationary property of electromyography (EMG) signals usually makes the pattern recognition (PR) based methods ineffective after some time in practical application for multinational prosthesis. The conventional EMG PR, which is accomplished in two separate steps: training and testing, ignores the mismatch between training and testing conditions and often discards the useful information in testing dataset.

Method

This paper presents a novel self-enhancing approach to improve the classification performance of the electromyography (EMG) pattern recognition (PR). The proposed self-enhancing method incorporates the knowledge beyond the training condition to the classifiers from the testing data. The widely-used linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) are extended to self-enhancing LDA (SELDA) and self-enhancing QDA (SEQDA) by continuously updating their model parameters such as the class mean vectors, the class covariances and the pooled covariance. Autoregressive (AR) and Fourier-derived cepstral (FC) features are adopted. Experimental data in two different protocols are used to evaluate performance of the proposed methods in short-term and long-term application respectively.

Results

In protocol of short-term EMG, based on AR and FC, the recognition accuracy of SEQDA and SELDA is 2.2% and 1.6% higher than conventional that of QDA and LDA respectively. The mean results of SEQDA(C) and SEQDA (M) are improved by 2.2% and 0.75% for AR, and 1.99% and 1.1% for FC respectively when compared to QDA. The mean results of SELDA(C) and SELDA (M) are improved by 0.48% and 1.55% for AR, and 0.67% and 1.22% for FC when compared to LDA. In protocol of long-term EMG, the mean result of SEQDA is 3.15% better than that of QDA.

Conclusion

The experimental results show that the self-enhancing classifiers significantly outperform the original versions using both AR and FC coefficient feature sets. The performance of SEQDA is superior to SELDA. In addition, preliminary study on long-term EMG data is conducted to verify the performance of SEQDA.
Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma of an adult: a case report with review of the literature
Authors: Wang Mi , Wang Sheng , Yang Qun-Pei , Liu Yan-Mei , Gao Li-Min , Sun Hong , Liu Wei-Ping
Published: May 2013

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/7644172219178472

Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma (HVL) is a rare type of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive lymphoma of cytotoxic T-cell or natural killer cell origin that mainly affect children, characterized by a vesicopapular skin eruption that clinically resemble hydroa vacciniforme (HV). In current study, we report an adult patient with the tumor. The patient presented similar morphologic, immunophenotypic and genotypic changes of the disease with that occurred in children, whereas clinically, he showed a prolonged clinical course without hepatosplenomegaly or generalized lymphadenopathy. Whether there are some differences in biologic behavior between children and adults still remains unknown and it is necessary to collect more data to observe and to investigate in the future.