bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Astronomy with Radioactivities
Authors: Diehl Roland , Lugaro Maria
Published: May 2012

Cosmic radioactivity represents a cross-disciplinary theme and an interesting alternate viewpoint on cosmic nuclear astrophysics. Radioactive isotopes and their decay provide unique messages from sites of cosmic nucleosynthesis, as the decay is mediated by weak interaction physics and independent of environmental conditions. The radioactive clock of various isotopes traces stellar mixing processes and the process of solidification of bodies when the solar system was formed. Isotopic abundances directly reflect the conditions of their formation in the nucleosynthesis site, which is unobservable otherwise. Measurements range from meteorites and their included stardust grain compositions through to cosmic rays and electromagnetic radiation from infrared to gamma ray wavelengths. Thus, various astronomical disciplines with their different messengers of cosmic nucleosynthesis as seen through unstable, decaying isotopes are linked to the physics of nuclear reactions, and to theories and models of the variety of cosmic nucleosynthesis sites and of cosmic isotopic evolution.
Theoretical Study of the Oxidation Mechanism of Hematoxylin in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Namazian Mansoor , Zare Hamid R. , Coote Michelle L.
Published: May 2012

The oxidation of the two catechol rings A and B in the chemical structure of hematoxylin in aqueous solution has been studied theoretically in order to identify the mechanism of oxidation. In a recent experimental study, the oxidation mechanism of hematoxylin was designated an ErCiEr process in which an irreversible chemical reaction (Ci) followed the reversible chemical electrochemical oxidation (Er) of the catechol unit connected to the six-membered ring of the molecule (ring A). The theoretical results presented herein indicate that the electrochemical oxidation of ring B is actually slightly more favoured than ring A, although the potential separation is so small that they were unable to be distinguished in the experimental study. We therefore suggest that the most likely mechanism is ErErCiEr, in which two reversible electrochemical oxidation reactions (Er) occur preceding the irreversible chemical reaction (Ci), though we cannot rule out a contribution from ErCiEr. The calculated oxidation potential (0.719 V v. standard hydrogen electrode) is in close accord with the experimental value (0.759 V v. standard hydrogen electrode). The deprotonation of five hydroxyl groups of hematoxylin in aqueous solution is also studied and the order of acidic strength of these groups has been identified.
Reduction of Copper(II) to Copper(I) in the Copper-Curcumin Complex Induces Decomposition of Curcumin
Authors: Leung Mandy H. M. , Mohan Pravena , Pukala Tara L. , Scanlon Denis B. , Lincoln Stephen F. , Kee Tak W.
Published: May 2012

We report the decomposition of curcumin due to reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i). Cu(ii) binds tightly with curcumin to form a complex which exhibits a high stability in methanol, but it decomposes readily in acetonitrile and in SDS micelles in the presence of ascorbic acid, coincident with reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i). In this study, the UV-Vis absorption of the Cu-curcumin complex shows a monotonic decrease as a function of time, consistent with the decomposition of curcumin. At a high copper : curcumin molar ratio of 10 : 1, the UV-Vis absorption spectrum of the Cu(ii)-curcumin complex in acetonitrile exhibits a substantial blue shift of the absorption maximum from 420 nm to 350 nm, which is indicative of a significant decrease in conjugation length of curcumin in the presence of Cu(ii). Time-dependent mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data are also consistent with the decomposition of curcumin as a consequence of reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i).
Livestock production in a changing climate: adaptation and mitigation research in Australia
Authors: Henry Beverley , Charmley Ed , Eckard Richard , Gaughan John B. , Hegarty Roger
Published: May 2012

Climate change presents a range of challenges for animal agriculture in Australia. Livestock production will be affected by changes in temperature and water availability through impacts on pasture and forage crop quantity and quality, feed-grain production and price, and disease and pest distributions. This paper provides an overview of these impacts and the broader effects on landscape functionality, with a focus on recent research on effects of increasing temperature, changing rainfall patterns, and increased climate variability on animal health, growth, and reproduction, including through heat stress, and potential adaptation strategies. The rate of adoption of adaptation strategies by livestock producers will depend on perceptions of the uncertainty in projected climate and regional-scale impacts and associated risk. However, management changes adopted by farmers in parts of Australia during recent extended drought and associated heatwaves, trends consistent with long-term predicted climate patterns, provide some insights into the capacity for practical adaptation strategies.
Animal production systems will also be significantly affected by climate change policy and national targets to address greenhouse gas emissions, since livestock are estimated to contribute ~10% of Australia’s total emissions and 8–11% of global emissions, with additional farm emissions associated with activities such as feed production. More than two-thirds of emissions are attributed to ruminant animals. This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities facing livestock industries in Australia in adapting to and mitigating climate change. It examines the research needed to better define practical options to reduce the emissions intensity of livestock products, enhance adaptation opportunities, and support the continued contribution of animal agriculture to Australia’s economy, environment, and regional communities.
Sources of energy for gating by neurotransmitters in acetylcholine receptor channels
Authors: Purohit Prasad , Bruhova Iva , Auerbach Anthony
Published: May 2012

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) mediate signaling in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The AChR gating conformational change is powered by a low- to high-affinity change for neurotransmitters at two transmitter binding sites. We estimated (from single-channel currents) the components of energy for gating arising from binding site aromatic residues in the α-subunit. All mutations reduced the energy (TyrC1>>TrpB≈TyrC2>TyrA), with TyrC1 providing ∼40% of the total. Considered one at a time, the fractional energy contributions from the aromatic rings were TrpB ∼35%, TyrC1 ∼28%, TyrC2 ∼28%, and TyrA ∼10%. Together, TrpB, TyrC1, and TyrC2 comprise an “aromatic triad” that provides much of the total energy from the transmitter for gating. Analysis of mutant pairs suggests that the energy contributions from some residues are nearly independent. Mutations of TyrC1 cause particularly large energy reductions because they remove two favorable and approximately equal interactions between the aromatic ring and the quaternary amine of the agonist and between the hydroxyl and αLysβ7.
Nucleostemin prevents telomere damage by promoting PML-IV recruitment to SUMOylated TRF1
Authors: Hsu Joseph K. , Lin Tao , Tsai Robert Y.L.
Published: May 2012

Continuously dividing cells must be protected from telomeric and nontelomeric DNA damage in order to maintain their proliferative potential. Here, we report a novel telomere-protecting mechanism regulated by nucleostemin (NS). NS depletion increased the number of telomere damage foci in both telomerase-active (TA+) and alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) cells and decreased the percentage of damaged telomeres associated with ALT-associated PML bodies (APB) and the number of APB in ALT cells. Mechanistically, NS could promote the recruitment of PML-IV to SUMOylated TRF1 in TA+ and ALT cells. This event was stimulated by DNA damage. Supporting the importance of NS and PML-IV in telomere protection, we demonstrate that loss of NS or PML-IV increased the frequency of telomere damage and aberration, reduced telomeric length, and perturbed the TRF2ΔBΔM-induced telomeric recruitment of RAD51. Conversely, overexpression of either NS or PML-IV protected ALT and TA+ cells from telomere damage. This work reveals a novel mechanism in telomere protection.
Local anesthetic inhibition of a bacterial sodium channel
Authors: Lee Sora , Goodchild Samuel J. , Ahern Christopher A.
Published: May 2012

Recent structural breakthroughs with the voltage-gated sodium channel from Arcobacter butzleri suggest that such bacterial channels may provide a structural platform to advance the understanding of eukaryotic sodium channel gating and pharmacology. We therefore set out to determine whether compounds known to interact with eukaryotic NaVs could also inhibit the bacterial channel from Bacillus halodurans and NaChBac and whether they did so through similar mechanisms as in their eukaryotic homologues. The data show that the archetypal local anesthetic (LA) lidocaine inhibits resting NaChBac channels with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 260 µM, and channels displayed a left-shifted steady-state inactivation gating relationship in the presence of the drug. Extracellular application of QX-314 to expressed NaChBac channels had no effect on sodium current, whereas internal exposure via injection of a bolus of the quaternary derivative rapidly reduced sodium conductance, consistent with a hydrophilic cytoplasmic access pathway to an internal binding site. However, the neutral derivative benzocaine applied externally inhibited NaChBac channels, suggesting that hydrophobic pathways can also provide drug access to inhibit channels. Alternatively, ranolazine, a putative preopen state blocker of eukaryotic NaVs, displayed a Kd of 60 µM and left-shifted the NaChBac activation-voltage relationship. In each case, block enhanced entry into the inactivated state of the channel, an effect that is well described by a simple kinetic scheme. The data suggest that although significant differences exist, LA block of eukaryotic NaVs also occurs in bacterial sodium channels and that NaChBac shares pharmacological homology to the resting state of vertebrate NaV homologues.
Global Bond Markets
Authors: Smith Roy C. , Walter Ingo , Delong Gayle
Published: May 2012

This chapter discusses the global bond market, which provides medium- to long-term financing. In the international arena, Eurobonds are the principal form of such financing. Eurobonds are outside the regulatory reach of national markets (they are sold through banks or as unregistered private placements in them) and may be issued easily, quickly and at relatively low cost. The Eurobond market is the world’s only unregulated capital market. However, it imposes strict self-regulation, because reputations are very important in this market. The process of securitization is introduced in this chapter, whereby lenders bundle similar types of loans and then sell bonds based on the cash flows of the underlying securities.
Privatizations
Authors: Smith Roy C. , Walter Ingo , Delong Gayle
Published: May 2012

Privatization has been the principal means through which governments sell shares to the public of state-owned enterprises. Beginning with Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, privatization spread to the developing world and then to the formerly communist societies seeking large-scale economic transformation in a relatively short period of time. Privatization work has become globalized. The agents and brokers who are capable of providing advice and guidance to their government or buy-side clients and governments seeking to use the marketplace in privatization offerings are the bankers with the infrastructure, the trained personnel, and the contacts with the worldwide corporate and financial market community. Privatizations, through public offering, trade sales, or other methods, have been an attractive and continuing source of revenue for investment banks and will continue to be so, especially in developing and transition economies, in the future.
Hedge Funds, Private Equity, and Alternative Investment Vehicles
Authors: Smith Roy C. , Walter Ingo , Delong Gayle
Published: May 2012

Hedge funds, private equity investments, and other forms of alternative investments that offer the possibility of enhanced portfolio returns on a risk-adjusted basis have been available to sophisticated investors and institutions for many years. In the early 2000s, trillions of dollars of new investment funds that flowed into alternative investments and contributed to the bubbles of the 2004–2007 markets suffered proportionately when the bubble burst. Banks were attracted to and participated in the surge in alternative investments in many ways, as lenders, agents, and as principal investors in funds distributed to clients. The multiple exposures of banks to mortgage-backed and nonmortgage asset-backed securities, and to hedge funds and private equity funds caused them a high degree of distress, forced writedowns of assets, and compelled banks to raise additional capital. Consequently, many banks that were once active in alternative asset investments became much less so as the industry deleveraged and lost momentum. By 2010, only a few banks were still active as major players in this industry.
Prosodic units
Authors: Labrune Laurence
Published: May 2012

This chapter is devoted to the prosodic units of Japanese, the mora, the syllable, the foot, the prosodic word, and the prosodic hierarchy. It reviews the evidence demonstrating the central role played by the mora in Japanese phonology. It then proceeds to a re-examination of the status of the syllable, which has been argued in a number of recent works to be an indispensable prosodic unit, alongside the mora and the foot, although it has been absent from the work of most native Japanese phonologists who have always been content with the mora. Taking as a basis the author’s extensive research on the subject, this chapter argues that the syllable is not a relevant unit in the phonology of Japanese, and it shows how all the phenomena which have been inputed to the action of the syllable can be accounted for with exclusive reference to the mora and the foot.
Individual Criminal Responsibility in International Law
Authors: Elies van Sliedregt
Published: May 2012

This book examines the concept of individual criminal responsibility for serious violations of international law, i.e., aggression, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Such crimes are rarely committed by single individuals. Rather, international crimes generally connote a plurality of offenders, particularly in the execution of the crimes, which are often orchestrated and masterminded by individuals behind the scene of the crimes who can be termed ‘intellectual perpetrators’. For a determination of individual guilt and responsibility, a fair assessment of the mutual relationships between those persons is indispensable. By setting out how to understand and apply concepts such as joint criminal enterprise, superior responsibility, duress, and the defence of superior orders, this work provides a framework for that assessment. It does so by bringing to light the roots of these concepts, which lie not merely in earlier phases of development of international criminal law but also in domestic law and legal doctrine. The book also critically reflects on how criminal responsibility has been developed in the case law of international criminal tribunals and courts. It thus illuminates and analyses the rules on individual responsibility in international law.
Part 1 Introduction, 1 Criminal Responsibility in International Law
Authors: Elies van Sliedregt
Published: May 2012

The reality of warfare has changed considerably over time. While most, if not all, armed conflicts were once fought between states, many are now fought within states. Particularly since the end of the Cold War the world has witnessed an outbreak of non-international armed conflicts, often of an ethnic nature. Since the laws of war are for the most part still premised on the concept of classic international armed conflict, it proved difficult to fit this law into ‘modern’ war crimes trials dealing with crimes committed during non-international armed conflicts. The criminal law process has therefore ‘updated’ the laws of war. The international criminal judge has brought the realities of modern warfare into line with the purpose of the laws of war (the prevention of unnecessary suffering and the enforcement of ‘fair play’). It is in war crimes law that international humanitarian law has been
further developed. This chapter discusses the shift from war crimes law to international criminal law, the concept of state responsibility for individual liability for international crimes, and the nature and sources of international criminal law.
Part 1 Introduction, 3 Parameters of Criminal Responsibility
Authors: Elies van Sliedregt
Published: May 2012

While the Nuremberg and Tokyo judgments and the subsequent proceedings are important sources of law and indispensable in developing the concept of individual responsibility in international criminal law, they do not provide us with a system of criminal law and doctrine. For that, we need to turn to municipal law. National criminal law and doctrine not only serves as guidance and inspiration in developing a theory of individual responsibility in international criminal law, it also assists in understanding and describing international criminal law. This chapter begins with a brief discussion of terminology which has proved useful at the tribunals to analyze individual and superior responsibility. It then describes the mental element and material element in civil law systems.
Part 2 Attributing Criminal Responsibility, 4 Perpetration and Participation
Authors: Elies van Sliedregt
Published: May 2012

National criminal law has been an important source for drafting provisions of individual criminal responsibility in international law. Notions that we know from national criminal law, such as aiding/abetting, conspiracy and instigation, are used to refer to modalities of criminal responsibility. To gain a better insight into the modalities of participating in international crime as codified in international statutes, they need to be analyzed in light of national criminal law. This chapter discusses five models of participation in crime and international models of participation.
Part 2 Attributing Criminal Responsibility, 7 Crime‐Specific and Leadership Modalities
Authors: Elies van Sliedregt
Published: May 2012

This chapter discusses crime-specific modes of liability and theories of liability that are referred to as ‘leadership modalities’. The former regard complicity in genocide and inchoate crimes of genocide. The latter concern liability theories that have been conceptualized or developed specifically to apply to political and military leadership. Leadership modalities, such as joint criminal enterprise at the leadership level and indirect (co-)perpetration, address the responsibility of intellectual perpetrators, those who are considered ‘most responsible’ for international crimes while being far removed from the scene of the crimes.
3 Polybius, Thucydides, and the First Punic War
Authors: Rood Tim
Published: May 2012

This chapter argues that Polybius engaged with Thucydides in a far more extensive and suggestive way than has been appreciated. It focuses on a particularly rich set of correspondences between two sections of Polybius (his account of the First Punic War and his analysis of the Roman constitution) and two sections of Thucydides (his analysis of the causes of the Peloponnesian War and his account of Athens' doomed invasion of Sicily). It also argues that Polybius picks up Thucydides' broader depiction (in both speech and narrative) of the Athenian and Spartan characters. By exploring these various intertexts, the chapter offers a new way of understanding Polybius' portrayal of Roman expansionism. It suggests that the links discussed are not mere literary ornaments but part of a deeper historiographical patterning of great expeditions which encourages readers to reflect on shifting patterns in space and time, especially with regard to the role of Sicily.
6Deditio in Fidem: The Ptolemaic Conquest of Asia Minor
Authors: Meadows Andrew
Published: May 2012

This chapter explores the nature of the acquisition of the overseas territories in Asia Minor by Ptolemy II Philadelphus. It takes as its focus one inscription (SEG 28.1224), which apparently contains a record of a diplomatic exchange between the king and the city of Telmessos in Lycia. It argues that inscription dates to the moment of Ptolemaic acquisition and provides evidence for the willing subordination (Deditio) of the city to Ptolemaic power by its citizens in order to escape worse conditions under their existing suzerain, Lysimachus, and his family. This model of bloodless transferral of power, it is suggested, may help to explain the lack of any evidence for a military conquest of the region by Ptolemaic forces in the 280s.
11 ‘In Part a Roman Sea’: Rome and the Adriatic in the Third Century bc
Authors: Čašule Nikola
Published: May 2012

This chapter analyses the evidence for Roman integration in networks of trade and communication in the Adriatic Sea during the third century bc, and its impact upon modern interpretations of the Romans' military intervention in the Greek east. New archaeological evidence for the character and function of trans-Adriatic networks based around a regional cult to the Greek hero Diomedes confirms that the third century Adriatic was an interconnected entity whose polities enjoyed strong links with each other and the wider Mediterranean world. Numismatic finds and the occurrence of Roman and Latin names in the epigraphic record of the eastern Adriatic demonstrate that Romans were active participants in these networks, with individual Romans becoming substantially integrated in the civic life of the region. These findings demand a reassessment of recent scholarship which has argued that the Romans were unfamiliar with the eastern Adriatic at the time of their first military intervention there in 229 bc.
Europe à la carte? European citizenship and its dimensions from the perspective of national elites
Authors: Cotta Maurizio , Russo Federico
Published: May 2012

This chapter explores the position of national political and economic elites with regard to a series of crucial issues that help define the nature and content of European citizenship. Citizenship is viewed as a multifaceted phenomenon related to both the political identity of a community and the rights, entitlements, and duties that pertain to its citizens. The positions of national elites on European citizenship are analysed according to the dimensions of identity, representation, and scope of governance. Overall, while the political and economic elites surveyed by the IntUne project seem to back European integration, they also display rather variable combinations of positions depending on whether they are expressing their views concerning the nature of European polity, its institutional configuration, or different sets of policy goals. Rather than aligning along a simple pro-European/anti-European dimension, they seem to prefer variable ‘menus’ of European integration which probably provide the best answers to their preferences.
Ready to run Europe? Perspectives of a supranational career among EU national elites
Authors: Hubé Nicolas , Verzichelli Luca
Published: May 2012

Centred on the notion of supranational career, this chapter explores IntUne elite survey data to determine attitudes to rewards and career opportunities in a supranational context. After describing variance within the sample of economic and political elites concerning willingness for a supranational-level career, more intensive research on national political elites leads to a typology of different ‘career orientations’. From the emerging fragmented and differentiated scenario, few politicians seem clearly oriented towards a career in Europe, but few explicitly exclude the perspective. Most national political elite tend to evaluate the supranational perspective positively, while being neither highly informed nor particularly committed to it. Country and party-specific factors seem to determine the compound framework of ambitions that marks the world of European national elites. However, other intervening factors, such as type of elite skills, social background, and perception of the distance between EU polity and traditional national institutions also have explanatory potential.
The elites–masses gap in European integration
Authors: Müller Wolfgang C. , Jenny Marcelo , Ecker Alejandro
Published: May 2012

The chapter makes one conceptual and one empirical contribution to the study of the elite–masses gap in European integration. While most research focuses on substantive representation of voter opinions by MPs, under the ‘issue congruence paradigm’ we consider the entire chain of delegation from voters, to MPs, to governments. Representation gaps are measured as resulting from the two-step aggregation process of preferences typical for party democracies (first step within and the second between political parties). Specifically, the chapter looks at key projects towards a fully integrated Europe, such as common European foreign-, defence-, social security-, and tax-policy, and EU cohesion policy, that are already in place, agreed in principle, or are prominent when deepening European integration is the aim. Of the 15 countries covered in this book, the gaps are particularly large in Britain, Denmark, Germany, and Austria in Western Europe, and Estonia and Poland in Eastern Europe.
Elite foundations of European integration: a causal analysis
Authors: Best Heinrich
Published: May 2012

This chapter examines the causes of variation in the Europeanness of European economic and political elites. It shows that attachment to Europe (emotion), the wish to strengthen European integration (cognition), and to strive for a common foreign policy (conation) are loosely coupled and vary strongly between European countries, between elites and the general population, and between economic and political elites. This challenges the thesis that European integration is based on a pan-European consensus within elites and between elites and non-elites. Results of analyses show weak and fragmented evidence for the impact of elites’ situs, status, previous biographical experience, and religious affiliation on their Europeanness, whereas a consistent impact comes from the level of Europeanness of other elite groups, indicating a strong effect of mutual cue-taking and peer-pressure at national level. The impact of these and other findings on the future of the process of European integration is discussed.
8 The British Empire in North America after 1783
Authors: Marshall Peter J.
Published: May 2012

Quebec and Nova Scotia were the most important North American colonies which remained British after 1783. Both attracted loyalists who had opposed the Revolution. Ambitious initial hopes that these colonies would prosper within the empire and would become show cases to the United States for the virtues of British constitutional government proved difficult to realise. Rather than separation from the Americans, informal links across the international border developed. Nova Scotia and its offshoot the new colony of New Brunswick were governed according to old established models of colonial government. In the 1791 Canada Act Quebec was divided to give the loyalists their own colony separate from the French majority and attempts were made to strengthen imperial authority in both the new colonies.
11 Crossing the Ocean
Authors: Marshall Peter J.
Published: May 2012

War cut off migration into America except for those British and German soldiers who elected to stay there. After the war, there were few effective restrictions on moving from Britain to the United States of America. To the dismay of most British opinion, emigration quickly began again on its pre‐war scale. Irish people mostly looking to improve their lot rather than the victims of impoverishment or persecution, were by far the largest element. Emigration from Scotland was slower to resume and initially tended to be to British colonies. The ending of the war enabled Americans to visit Britain as before and loyalists fled from from America to Britain, including some of African origin who later went on to Sierra Leone.
Epilogue
Authors: Clark David
Published: May 2012

The epilogue summarizes the book's argument and points out some contemporary parallels and resonances.
Neurological disorders
Authors: Johnston Wendy , Simon Jessica
Published: May 2012

This chapter contains a number of case studies to illustrate the desired skills, attitudes, and expertise required to manage neurological disorders in palliative patients. It considers several issues such as: What are the common options for feeding after a stroke? How to establish the goals of care? How does amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) present at the time of diagnosis? What are the most common decisions that ALS patients need to make about their long-term care? When to consider initiating non-invasive ventilation?
Ideology and the Study of Judicial Behavior
Authors: Epstein Lee , Martin Andrew D. , Quinn Kevin M. , Segal Jeffrey A.
Published: May 2012

This chapter explores the role of ideology in the study of judicial behavior. From the antecedents of the attitudinal model to newer strategic accounts, ideology plays a key role in political science explanations of judging. Measuring ideology in this context is quite difficult. This chapter describes the strengths and weaknesses of various strategies, including the political party of the judges, exogenous measures developed by Segal and Cover from newspaper editorials, and endogenous measures developed by Martin and Quinn using observed behavior. Empirical studies employing these measures show strong patterns of ideological behavior on the U.S. Supreme Court, with mixed findings for the lower courts.
Dualization and Institutional Complementarities
Authors: Palier Bruno , Thelen Kathleen
Published: May 2012

The French and German political economies have been significantly reconfigured over the past two decades. Although the changes have often been more piecemeal than revolutionary, their cumulative effects are profound. The chapter characterizes the changes that have taken place as involving a process of dualization, and argues that what gives contemporary developments a different character from the past is that they are now explicitly underwritten by state policy. It emphasizes complementarities across institutional realms, and show how these linkages have facilitated the spread of dualization – beginning in the field of industrial relations, moving into labor market dynamics, and finally finding institutional expression in welfare state reforms. The result in France and Germany has been the institutionalization, with state support, of an apparently stable but distinctly less egalitarian model.
SURGICAL TECHNIQUE FOR REMOVAL OF A CAPSULAR TENSION RING FROM THE VITREOUS CAVITY
Authors: Tarigopula Sweta , Pokroy Russell , Desai Uday R. , Ahmed Shareef B. , Goldman David J.
Published: May 2012

Purpose:

To describe a surgical technique for removing a posteriorly dislocated capsular tension ring (CTR).

Methods:

Retrospective interventional case report.

Case Report:

A 68-year-old African American man underwent cataract surgery. Early in the procedure, a CTR was placed at the equator of the lens capsule. Subsequently, the posterior capsule ruptured. The CTR was left in place, and an intraocular lens was placed in the sulcus. On postoperative Day 6, the CTR subluxated into the vitreous cavity and was removed without complication by pars plana vitrectomy, using the CTR inserter.

Conclusion:

The technique of using the CTR inserter to remove the CTR from the vitreous cavity appears to be safe and effective.
HUMAN HERPES VIRUS-6 AS A CAUSE OF RECURRENT POSTERIOR UVEITIS IN A HIV-POSITIVE PATIENT
Authors: Malamos Panagiotis , Maselos Stelios , Andrianopoulos Konstantinos , Georgalas Ilias , Chryssos Georgios , Markomichelakis Nikos N.
Published: May 2012

Purpose:

To report a case of bilateral recurrent posterior uveitis caused by human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) in a human immunodeficiency virus–positive individual.

Methods:

Comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including imaging with optical coherence tomography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and adequate laboratory tests were performed. A human immunodeficiency virus–positive patient without any AIDS defining condition, with a history of recurrent bilateral posterior uveitis referred to us with the diagnosis of retinal detachment.

Results:

Vitreous polymerase chain reaction detected an aberrant band for herpes viruses, which proved to be human herpes virus-6 by repeated polymerase chain reactions. Serum antibodies titer was positive for human herpes virus-6. The patient responded well to antiviral therapy with valacyclovir.

Conclusion:

This is the first case of human herpes virus-6–related bilateral posterior uveitis in a human immunodeficiency virus–positive individual without clinical manifestations of AIDS.
Altered Chloroplast Development and Delayed Fruit Ripening Caused by Mutations in a Zinc Metalloprotease at the lutescent2 Locus of Tomato
Authors: Barry Cornelius S. , Aldridge Georgina M. , Herzog Gal , Ma Qian , McQuinn Ryan P. , Hirschberg Joseph , Giovannoni James J.
Published: May 2012

The chloroplast is the site of photosynthesis in higher plants but also functions as the center of synthesis for primary and specialized metabolites including amino acids, fatty acids, starch, and diverse isoprenoids. Mutants that disrupt aspects of chloroplast function represent valuable tools for defining structural and biochemical regulation of the chloroplast and its interplay with whole-plant structure and function. The lutescent1 (l1) and l2 mutants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) possess a range of chlorophyll-deficient phenotypes including reduced rates of chlorophyll synthesis during deetiolation and enhanced rates of chlorophyll loss in leaves and fruits as they age, particularly in response to high-light stress and darkness. In addition, the onset of fruit ripening is delayed in lutescent mutants by approximately 1 week although once ripening is initiated they ripen at a normal rate and accumulation of carotenoids is not impaired. The l2 locus was mapped to the long arm of chromosome 10 and positional cloning revealed the existence of a premature stop codon in a chloroplast-targeted zinc metalloprotease of the M50 family that is homologous to the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) gene ETHYLENE-DEPENDENT GRAVITROPISM DEFICIENT AND YELLOW-GREEN1. Screening of tomato germplasm identified two additional l2 mutant alleles. This study suggests a role for the chloroplast in mediating the onset of fruit ripening in tomato and indicates that chromoplast development in fruit does not depend on functional chloroplasts.
The effect of dispersal and temperature on the early life history of a temperate marine fish
Authors: TRACEY SEAN R. , HARTMANN KLAAS , HOBDAY ALISTAIR J.
Published: May 2012

Understanding the mechanisms that influence the successful recruitment of marine species is one of the great challenges in marine science, particularly for species that undergo a protracted larval phase. Here we apply a bio‐physical individual‐based model (IBM) which couples data from a high‐resolution oceanographic model with temperature‐related survival characteristics for the early life stage of a temperate marine fish. The IBM was run retrospectively for the years 1993–2007 with spawning locations occurring around Tasmania, Australia. Meso‐scale oceanographic features led to individuals spawned on the west coast, and to a lesser extent the south coast, being washed ashore prior to achieving a competent size to actively influence their migratory paths. Individuals spawned on the east coast had significantly higher survival rates. Temperature‐induced mortality was relatively consistent across years. This indicates that the dispersal envelopes, of pre‐flexion larvae, across all years are predominately within the thermal niche of this species. To further understand the effect of temperature on survival we integrated global climate model warming scenarios into the model. The results indicated that around the year 2050 the predicted warming would have a minor positive effect on the survival of individuals but by 2100 the pejus temperature will frequently be exceeded leading to a significant decline in survival, particularly towards the northern end of the dispersal range.
Flower movement increases pollinator preference for flowers with better grip
Authors: Alcorn Katrina , Whitney Heather , Glover Beverley
Published: May 2012

1.Conical cells in the petal epidermis are common across many diverse flowering plant species, and it was recently shown that in difficult‐to‐handle flowers, pollinators prefer conical cells because they increase grip. However, this does not explain the prevalence of conical cells amongst other, simpler, flowers.

2.The movement of objects is an integral part of the world and is of particular importance to bees because the relative motion of objects is essential to a bee's 3D vision. The motion of flowers can increase pollinator attraction; however, it also makes flowers more difficult for a bee to handle. This makes foraging more metabolically expensive. To explore whether conical petal cells make handling moving flowers easier, we tested bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) preference for conical‐ or flat‐celled Petunia (Petunia hybrida) flowers under different conditions of motion. We also used differently coloured Petunia flowers to test how colour and visibility interact with tactile cues to form a pollinator's preferences.

3.Bees preferred to visit conical‐celled Petunia flowers except when the conical‐celled flowers were harder to detect visually. The bees then favoured flowers that were easier to detect. But when flowers were moving and more difficult to handle, bees always learned to favour conical‐celled flowers, irrespective of visual difficulty.

4.By providing easier handling through better grip from conical cells, the plant can benefit from the natural visual attractant of flowers moving in the wind without losing pollinator preference for easier‐to‐handle flowers. Bee preference for conical‐celled flowers when flowers are moving shows how plants can use conical petal cells to take advantage of an attractant that would otherwise decrease pollinator preference by making handling difficult (movement). The selective pressure from pollinators choosing conical‐celled flowers when flowers are moving in the wind provides an explanation for the persistence of conical cells in so many diverse angiosperm species across evolutionary time.
The impact of sport on children with haemophilia
Authors: Khair K. , Littley A. , Will A. , von Mackensen S.
Published: May 2012

Sport is nowadays perceived as beneficial for children with haemophilia, as good muscle strength supports joints and may reduce bleed frequency; by contrast psychological benefits are less known. This study introduces the impact of sport on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical performance in children with haemophilia. A cross‐sectional, multi‐site, study of boys aged 6–17 years with haemophilia A or B of any severity, current or past inhibitor, which assessed physical performance, sporting activity and HRQoL using age appropriate questionnaires including KINDL, Haemo‐QoL and HEP‐Test‐Q. Eighty‐four haemophilic boys (23 mild, 19 moderate, 42 severe) with a mean age of 11.52 years (SD = 3.4) were enrolled from two haemophilia centres in the United Kingdom. 28.4% were overweight/obese according to their BMI/age and had a good orthopaedic status (M = 1.55, SD = 3.3). Boys watching < 1–2 h of TV/PC/day had fewer days lost (M = 3, SD = 3.2) than those with a more sedentary lifestyle (M = 9.40, SD = 7.1) (P < 0.032). 90.5% participated in regular sporting activity; 79.9% at least twice a week. HRQoL in children was generally good, with highest impairments in boys aged 8–12 years. Boys aged 8–16 years reported good physical performance (M = 80.0, SD = 16.0) with highest impairments in the dimensions ‘endurance’ and ‘mobility’. Boys doing sport had a significant better physical performance and HRQoL than boys not doing sport. Sedentary life styles had a negative impact on the subjective physical performance and number of days lost of children. Encouraging haemophilic boys to participate in sport will have a direct impact on their overall HRQoL.
Grading breast cancer on microarray samples: comparison with Nottingham grade, and use of boosting classification
Authors: Dalton Leslie , Page David L
Published: May 2012

Dalton L & Page D L  (2012) Histopathology 61, 497–508

Grading breast cancer on microarray samples: comparison with Nottingham grade, and use of boosting classification

Aims:  Nottingham breast cancer grade (NG) is a subjective morphological assessment based on evaluation of the entire tumour. The value of many novel immunohistochemical and molecular markers is being assessed on tiny microarray samples of tumour and compared with NG. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tumour morphology in microarray samples would correlate with NG.

Methods and results:  We examined over 40 morphological features in each of 568 breast tumour samples on a microarray obtained from the US National Cancer Institute. Evaluations were subjective, and features were recorded as being present or absent in each tumour. Subsequently, on the basis of binary results, a boosting classification algorithm was implemented to help assign a ‘microarray score’ and ‘microarray grade’ to each tumour. Microarray grade was significantly correlated with NG (P < 0.01). High‐grade versus low‐grade discrepancies were rare (five of 568 samples).

Conclusions:  The strong correlation of microarray grade with NG supports pathologist reproducibility in subjective evaluations.
Analysis of the frequency and nature of hyaline ring granulomas in inflammatory odontogenic cysts
Authors: Henriques Á. C. G. , Pereira J. S. , Nonaka C. F. W. , Freitas R. A. , Pinto L. P. , Miguel M. C. C.
Published: May 2012

Aim

To determine the prevalence of hyaline ring granulomas (HRGs) in a large case series of inflammatory odontogenic cysts, and to investigate the nature of these structures.

Methodology

All records from the patients diagnosed with inflammatory odontogenic cysts between January 1970 and April 2009 were reviewed. Histologic sections were evaluated by light microscopy and cases with HRGs for which sufficient biological material was available were submitted to histochemical analysis (Masson's trichrome) and immunohistochemistry (CD34, CD68 and collagen IV).

Results

Twenty‐two (3.3%) of the 661 cases of inflammatory odontogenic cysts diagnosed during the study period presented HRGs. The relative frequency of HRGs was higher amongst residual radicular cysts (6.1%), followed by paradental cysts (5.6%) and radicular cysts (3.0%). HRGs appeared as roughly circular homogeneous/fibrillar masses in 14 (63.6%) cases and as round structures enclosing amorphous material in 3 (13.6%) cases. Most (77.8%) roughly circular homogeneous/fibrillar masses were positive for collagen, whereas all (100.0%) round structures enclosing amorphous material were negative for this protein. Immunohistochemistry showed that most mononucleated cells and all multinucleated giant cells were positive for CD68, but negative for CD34, in all cases. In addition, collagen IV immunostaining was negative in amorphous structures and weakly positive in homogeneous/fibrillar masses.

Conclusions

The present results suggest a very low frequency of HRGs in inflammatory odontogenic cysts and support the hypothesis that these structures arise from the implantation of foreign material, most likely food particles of plant or vegetable origin. The diverse microscopic features of HRG possibly represent different developmental stages of this structure.
Combined oral midazolam–ketamine better than midazolam alone for sedation of young children: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: MOREIRA THIAGO ANDERSON , COSTA PAULO SUCASAS , COSTA LUCIANE REZENDE , JESUS‐FRANÇA CRISTIANA MARINHO , ANTUNES DENISE ESPÍNDOLA , GOMES HUGO SÉRGIO OLIVEIRA , NETO ONOFRE ALVES
Published: May 2012

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 207–215

Background.  There is a lack of clinical trials on paediatric dental sedation.

Aim.  We investigated whether young children’s behaviour improves during dental treatment with oral ketamine/midazolam compared with midazolam alone or no sedation.

Design.  Healthy children under 36 months of age, presenting early childhood caries were randomly assigned to receive protective stabilization plus: combined oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and ketamine (3 mg/kg) (MK), or oral midazolam (1.0 mg/kg) (MS), or no sedative (PS). One observer scored children’s behaviour using the Ohio State University Behavior Rating Scale (OSUBRS) at determined points in a dental exam (no sedative) and treatment session. Data were analysed using nonparametric bivariate tests.

Results.  Forty‐one children were included. In the dental exam session, the sum of OSUBRS scores was similar for the three groups (P = 0.81). In the treatment session, the MK produced more cooperative behaviour than MS and PS (P = 0.01), longer sessions (P = 0.04), and a pattern of homogeneous OSUBRS scores from the reception area (before sedative administration) to the end of the session (P = 0.06). No immediate and post‐discharge side effects were observed in groups MK and MS.

Conclusions.  The combination of oral midazolam and ketamine is efficacious for guiding the behaviour of children under 3 years old.
The relationship between value incongruence and individual and organizational well‐being outcomes: an exploratory study among Catalan nurses
Authors: Bao Yuanjie , Vedina Rebekka , Moodie Scott , Dolan Simon
Published: May 2012

Bao Y, Vedina R, Moodie S & Dolan S (2013) The relationship between value incongruence and individual and organizational well‐being outcomes: An exploratory study among Catalan nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing 69(3), 631–641. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2648.2012.06045.

Aims.  To report a correlational study of the relations of value incongruence to the individual and organizational well‐being variables of self‐rated health, turnover intention, and accident propensity, as mediated by burnout.

Background.  Previous literature found that value incongruence may lessen individual and organizational well‐being through the psychological mechanism of burnout. Empirical investigation is needed to validate these claims.

Design.  A cross‐sectional between‐cases correlational design was used.

Methods.  A survey was conducted in one of the largest university hospitals in a large metropolitan city in Spain in the spring of 2009, using a cross‐sectional design. A total of 234 nurses participated in the study. Stepwise regression was used to test the direct and mediation relationships.

Results.  Hypotheses were confirmed for certain axes of values and outcome variables. In particular, Economical and Ethical value incongruence were found to be correlated with burnout. Economical, Ethical, and Emotional value incongruence were found to be correlated with turnover intention. Ethical and Emotional value incongruence were found to be correlated with accident propensity. Burnout partially mediated the relationship between Economical and Ethical value incongruence and turnover intention and fully mediated the relationship between Ethical value incongruence and accident propensity.

Conclusion.  The purported mediation of burnout on the relationship between value incongruence and individual and organizational well‐being outcomes is valid on certain axes of values and outcome variables. This calls for caution when discussing value incongruence in organizations. Instead of advocating broad organizational culture congruence, we should target specific axes of values.