bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning Theories
Authors: Isbell Dan
Published: October 2011

Effective music educators often recognize that there is more than one way to teach a musical objective and understand that a specific approach may be more appropriate than another in a given setting. To meet contemporary demands, music educators need to be smart—understanding the nuances of various theories of learning, savvy—understanding their own learning style and how that may affect teaching effectiveness, and sensitive—understanding that teaching is situated in particular contexts. The music teacher’s full potential may not be fully realized, however, unless that person is skilled enough to teach in a variety of ways. In this article, the author provides a basic overview and examples of diverse approaches to the classroom and offers practical suggestions for implementing these ideas in music classrooms.
School Music Goes Home
Authors: Kenney Susan Hobson
Published: October 2011

This article explores ways for music teachers to influence music making in the home. Often preschool music programs include parents in the music education process, but when children enter school, the parent connection is not usually continued with the same intensity. This article will serve as a catalyst for further conversations on ways to include parents as partners in our music education process.
Glatiramer acetate antibodies, gene expression and disease activity in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Sellebjerg F , Hedegaard CJ , Krakauer M , Hesse D , Lund H , Nielsen CH , Søndergaard HB , Sørensen PS
Published: October 2011

Background: Glatiramer acetate (GA) treatment suppresses disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The immunological response to treatment may differ in patients who are stable on GA therapy and patients with breakthrough disease activity, but the results of previous studies are inconsistent.

Objectives: We studied the immunological response to GA and its relationship with disease activity.

Methods: Anti-GA antibodies in plasma and the expression of genes encoding cytokines and T-cell-polarizing transcription factors in blood cells were analysed by flow cytometric bead array and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis in 39 untreated and 29 GA-treated relapsing–remitting MS patients. Definition of breakthrough disease was based on the occurrence of relapses, disability progression, or gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MRI.

Results: The expression of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 cytokines and transcription factors was reduced during long-term treatment, but there was no relationship between the expression of cytokines and transcription factors and anti-GA antibodies. High expression of mRNA encoding GATA3 and lymphotoxin-β (LT-β) was associated with low disease activity in Gd-enhanced MRI studies. None of the variables studied were associated with clinical disease activity. GA treatment resulted in the development of IgG and IgG4 anti-GA antibodies during the first months of treatment, persisting during long-term treatment.

Conclusions: The observed relationship between the expression of mRNA encoding GATA3 and LT-β expression and MRI disease activity deserves further analysis in future studies. The development of anti-GA antibodies was observed in all patients treated with GA, but this was not related with measures of cellular immunity, clinical or MRI disease activity.
The relation of medical conditions to depressive symptoms among Latinos: Leisure time physical activity as a mediator
Authors: Arredondo Elva M. , Mendelson Tamar , Elder John P. , Marshall Simon J. , Flair Lareina La , Ayala Guadalupe X.
Published: October 2011

Individuals with medical conditions report more depressive symptoms than those without such conditions. This study assessed whether physical activity (PA) plays a mediational role in the association between medical conditions and depressive symptoms among Latino adults. Adjusting for socioeconomic factors, those who reported having been diagnosed with diabetes, cardio-related disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, arthritis, or sleep problems endorsed more symptoms of depression. Vigorous PA mediated the relation between depressive symptoms and hypertension. In other words, people with hypertension who engaged in vigorous PA reported less depressive symptoms. PA may be a promising avenue for improving hypertension and depressive symptoms.
A positive affect intervention for people experiencing health-related stress: Development and non-randomized pilot test
Authors: Moskowitz Judith Tedlie , Hult Jen R. , Duncan Larissa G. , Cohn Michael A. , Maurer Stephanie , Bussolari Cori , Acree Michael
Published: October 2011

In this article we present background, theoretical rationale, and pilot data on the development of an intervention designed to increase positive affect in people living with serious health-related stress. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that a multiple-component positive affect intervention is feasible and acceptable for people newly diagnosed with HIV. Retention in the intervention and adherence to home practice were high. Participants reported significant increases in positive affect and significant decreases in negative affect. This positive affect intervention can serve as a template for programs to be developed to help people experiencing health-related and other types of life stress.
Complementary and alternative medicine: Exploring the gap between evidence and usage
Authors: Segar Julia
Published: October 2011

Debates over the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are highly polarized and have received much publicity of late. While ‘believers’ in CAM campaign for its integration into the NHS, ‘sceptics’ call for the withdrawal of any public funding for such services. These debates take place in the context of a steady rise in CAM usage both in the UK and abroad. Critics of CAM often point to the lack of scientific evidence demonstrating its efficacy. The lack of evidence gathered by means of randomized controlled trials is often used to make the claim that CAM is no more effective than placebo. This article examines some of the debates surrounding the use of evidence-based medicine to assess the efficacy of CAM. It also explores a number of issues pertaining to CAM and the placebo response including the moral questions surrounding the knowing use of placebo as therapy. The rest of the article presents material from a qualitative study carried out in northern England on the understandings of CAM efficacy. The material shows that CAM therapists and patients do not reflect the polarities evident in the public debate in their own understanding and usage of CAM. Rather they are pragmatic pluralists with clear ideas about when CAM treatment is appropriate and often have sophisticated insights into the placebo response. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the implications of these findings for future work in the growing field of CAM research.
Nevirapine-Associated Hepatotoxicity and Rash among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women in Kenya
Authors: Peters Philip J. , Polle Nicholas , Zeh Clement , Masaba Rose , Borkowf Craig B. , Oyaro Boaz , Omolo Paul , Ogindo Paul , Ndivo Richard , Angira Frank , Lando Richard , Fowler Mary Glenn , Weidle Paul J. , Thomas Timothy K.
Published: October 2011

Background: Few studies have evaluated the risk of nevirapine (NVP)-associated hepatotoxicity among HIV-infected pregnant women with a CD4 count ≥250 cells/mm3. Methods: We enrolled HIV-infected pregnant Kenyan women who initiated triple antiretroviral therapy (ART) at 34 weeks gestation. We compared the rates of severe hepatotoxicity (grades 3–4 hepatotoxicity) and rash-associated hepatotoxicity (rash with ≥grade 2 hepatotoxicity) with NVP and nelfinavir (NFV), respectively. Results: We initiated triple ART in 522 pregnant women; severe hepatotoxicity and rash-associated hepatotoxicity occurred in 14 (3%) and 9 (2%) women, respectively. Women who initiated NVP had higher rates of severe hepatotoxicity (5% vs 1%; P = .03) and rash-associated hepatotoxicity (4% vs 0%; P = .003) when compared with NFV. Among women who initiated NVP (n = 254), a baseline CD4 count ≥250 cells/mm3 was not associated with severe hepatotoxicity (5% vs 3%; P = .52) or rash-associated hepatotoxicity (4% vs 3%; P = .69). Conclusion: Nevirapine use but not CD4 count ≥250 cells/mm3 was associated with hepatotoxicity.
Circulating B-cell activating factor level predicts clinical response of chronic graft-versus-host disease to extracorporeal photopheresis
Authors: Whittle Robert , Taylor Peter C.
Published: October 2011

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an important therapeutic option in steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Few biomarkers predicting response exist. We measured serum B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in 46 cGVHD patients receiving ECP before and during treatment course. BAFF level at 1 month of ECP predicted 3- and 6-month skin disease response, with BAFF less than 4 ng/mL associated with significant skin improvement and complete resolution in 11 of 20 patients. High BAFF at 1-month ECP associated with a worsening median 6-month skin score and resolution in 1 of 10 patients. BAFF level at 3 months also predicted the likelihood of maintaining skin disease improvement at 6 months. BAFF level was not correlated directly with extracutaneous cGVHD response, although full cutaneous responders exhibited improved extracutaneous organ response rates compared with skin nonresponders (65% vs 35%). This study suggests that early BAFF measurement during ECP for cGVHD represents a potentially useful biomarker in prediction of treatment outcome.
Mining FDA drug labels using an unsupervised learning technique - topic modeling
Authors: Bisgin Halil , Liu Zhichao , Fang Hong , Xu Xiaowei , Tong Weida
Published: October 2011

Background

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug labels contain a broad array of information, ranging from adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to drug efficacy, risk-benefit consideration, and more. However, the labeling language used to describe these information is free text often containing ambiguous semantic descriptions, which poses a great challenge in retrieving useful information from the labeling text in a consistent and accurate fashion for comparative analysis across drugs. Consequently, this task has largely relied on the manual reading of the full text by experts, which is time consuming and labor intensive.

Method

In this study, a novel text mining method with unsupervised learning in nature, called topic modeling, was applied to the drug labeling with a goal of discovering “topics” that group drugs with similar safety concerns and/or therapeutic uses together. A total of 794 FDA-approved drug labels were used in this study. First, the three labeling sections (i.e., Boxed Warning, Warnings and Precautions, Adverse Reactions) of each drug label were processed by the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) to convert the free text of each label to the standard ADR terms. Next, the topic modeling approach with latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) was applied to generate 100 topics, each associated with a set of drugs grouped together based on the probability analysis. Lastly, the efficacy of the topic modeling was evaluated based on known information about the therapeutic uses and safety data of drugs.

Results

The results demonstrate that drugs grouped by topics are associated with the same safety concerns and/or therapeutic uses with statistical significance (P<0.05). The identified topics have distinct context that can be directly linked to specific adverse events (e.g., liver injury or kidney injury) or therapeutic application (e.g., antiinfectives for systemic use). We were also able to identify potential adverse events that might arise from specific medications via topics.

Conclusions

The successful application of topic modeling on the FDA drug labeling demonstrates its potential utility as a hypothesis generation means to infer hidden relationships of concepts such as, in this study, drug safety and therapeutic use in the study of biomedical documents.
Using highly variable warfarin dosing to identify patients at risk for adverse events
Authors: Marrast Lyndonna , Evans Mary , Ozonoff Al , Henault Lori E , Rose Adam J
Published: October 2011

Background

Patients who receive highly variable doses of warfarin may be at risk for poor anticoagulation control and adverse events. However, we lack a system to identify patients with the highest dose variability. Our objectives were to develop a scoring system to identify patients with high dose variability, and to validate this new measure by demonstrating that patients so identified have poor anticoagulation control and higher rates of adverse events (criterion validity).

Methods

We used a database of over 4, 000 patients who received oral anticoagulation in community practice between 2000-2002. We reviewed the charts of 168 patients with large warfarin dose variation and agreed on 18 risk factor definitions for high dose variability. We identified 109 patients with the highest dose variability (cases), as measured by coefficient of variation (CoV, SD/mean). We matched each case to two controls with low dose variability. Then, we examined all 327 charts, blinded to case/control status, to identify the presence or absence of the 18 risk factors for dose variability. We performed a multivariable analysis to identify independent predictors of high CoV. We also compared anticoagulation control, as measured by percent time in therapeutic range (TTR), and rates of adverse events between groups.

Results

CoV corresponded with other measures of anticoagulation control. TTR was 53% among cases and 79% among controls (p < 0.001). CoV also predicted adverse events. Six cases experienced a major hemorrhage versus 1 control (p < 0.001) and 3 cases had a thromboembolic event versus 0 control patients (p = 0.04). Independent predictors of high dose variability included hospitalization (OR = 21.3), decreased oral intake (OR = 12.2), use of systemic steroids (OR = 6.1), acetaminophen (OR = 4.0) and antibiotics (OR = 2.7; p < 0.05 for all).

Conclusion

CoV can be used to identify patients at risk for poor anticoagulation control and adverse events. This new measure has the potential to identify patients at high risk before they suffer adverse events.
Comparison of nickel silicide and aluminium ohmic contact metallizations for low-temperature quantum transport measurements
Authors: Polley Craig M , Clarke Warrick R , Simmons Michelle Y
Published: October 2011

We examine nickel silicide as a viable ohmic contact metallization for low-temperature, low-magnetic-field transport measurements of atomic-scale devices in silicon. In particular, we compare a nickel silicide metallization with aluminium, a common ohmic contact for silicon devices. Nickel silicide can be formed at the low temperatures (<400°C) required for maintaining atomic precision placement in donor-based devices, and it avoids the complications found with aluminium contacts which become superconducting at cryogenic measurement temperatures. Importantly, we show that the use of nickel silicide as an ohmic contact at low temperatures does not affect the thermal equilibration of carriers nor contribute to hysteresis in a magnetic field.
Friedreich's ataxia: the vicious circle hypothesis revisited
Authors: Bayot Aurélien , Santos Renata , Camadro Jean-Michel , Rustin Pierre
Published: October 2011

Friedreich's ataxia, the most frequent progressive autosomal recessive disorder involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, is mostly associated with unstable expansion of GAA trinucleotide repeats in the first intron of the FXN gene, which encodes the mitochondrial frataxin protein. Since FXN was shown to be involved in Friedreich's ataxia in the late 1990s, the consequence of frataxin loss of function has generated vigorous debate. Very early on we suggested a unifying hypothesis according to which frataxin deficiency leads to a vicious circle of faulty iron handling, impaired iron-sulphur cluster synthesis and increased oxygen radical production. However, data from cell and animal models now indicate that iron accumulation is an inconsistent and late event and that frataxin deficiency does not always impair the activity of iron-sulphur cluster-containing proteins. In contrast, frataxin deficiency appears to be consistently associated with increased sensitivity to reactive oxygen species as opposed to increased oxygen radical production. By compiling the findings of fundamental research and clinical observations we defend here the opinion that the very first consequence of frataxin depletion is indeed an abnormal oxidative status which initiates the pathogenic mechanism underlying Friedreich's ataxia.
Identification of an unique CXCR4 epitope whose ligation inhibits infection by both CXCR4 and CCR5 tropic human immunodeficiency type-I viruses
Authors: Adachi Tetsuya , Tanaka Reiko , Kodama Akira , Saito Mineki , Takahashi Yoshiaki , Ansari Aftab A , Tanaka Yuetsu
Published: October 2011

Background

Small chemical compounds which target chemokine receptors have been developed against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and are under investigation for use as anti-HIV-1 microbicides. In addition, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against chemokine receptors have also been shown to have anti-HIV-1 activities. The objective of the present study was to screen a panel of three anti-CXCR4 specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for their ability to block the HIV-1 infection usingin vitroactivated primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Results

PBMCs from normal donors were pre-activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs for 1 day, and aliquots were infected with a low dose of CCR5-tropic (R5), CXCR4 tropic (X4) or dual tropic (X4R5) HIV-1 isolates and cultured in the presence of a panel of anti-CXCR4 mAbs. The panel included clones A145 mAb against the N-terminus, A120 mAb against a conformational epitope consisting of extracellular loops (ECL)1 and ECL2, and A80 mAb against ECL3 of CXCR4. Among these mAbs, the A120 mAb showed the most potent inhibition of infection, by not only X4 but surprisingly also R5 and X4R5 HIV-1. The inhibition of R5 HIV-1 was postulated to result from the novel ability of the A120 mAb to induce the levels of the CCR5-binding β-chemokines MIP-1α, MIP-1β and/or RANTES, and the down modulation of CCR5 expression on activated CD4+T cells. Neutralizing anti-MIP-1α mAb significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of the A120 mAb on R5 HIV-1 infection.

Conclusions

Thedata described herein have identified a unique epitope of CXCR4 whose ligation not only directly inhibits X4 HIV-1, but also indirectly inhibits R5 HIV-1 infection by inducing higher levels of natural CCR5 ligands.
Superhydrophobic poly(L-lactic acid) surface as potential bacterial colonization substrate
Authors: Sousa Cláudia , Rodrigues Diana , Oliveira Rosário , Song Wenlong , Mano João F , Azeredo Joana
Published: October 2011

Hydrophobicity is a very important surface property and there is a growing interest in the production and characterization of superhydrophobic surfaces. Accordingly, it was recently shown how to obtain a superhydrophobic surface using a simple and cost-effective method on a polymer named poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA). To evaluate the ability of such material as a substrate for bacterial colonization, this work assessed the capability of different bacteria to colonize a biomimetic rough superhydrophobic (SH) PLLA surface and also a smooth hydrophobic (H) one. The interaction between these surfaces and bacteria with different morphologies and cell walls was studied using one strain of Staphylococcus aureus and one of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results showed that both bacterial strains colonized the surfaces tested, although significantly higher numbers of S. aureus cells were found on SH surfaces comparing to H ones. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy images showed an extracellular matrix produced by P. aeruginosa on SH PLLA surfaces, indicating that this bacterium is able to form a biofilm on such substratum. Bacterial removal through lotus leaf effect was also tested, being more efficient on H coupons than on SH PLLA ones. Overall, the results showed that SH PLLA surfaces can be used as a substrate for bacterial colonization and, thus, have an exceptional potential for biotechnology applications.
Cultivation-independent methods applied to the microbial prospection of oil and gas in soil from a sedimentary basin in Brazil
Authors: Miqueletto Paula B , Andreote Fernando D , Dias Armando CF , Ferreira Justo C , dos Santos Neto Eugênio V , de Oliveira Valéria M
Published: October 2011

The upper parts of oil field structures may leak gas which is supposed to be indirectly detected by the soil bacterial populations. Such microorganisms are capable of consuming this gas, supporting the Microbial Prospection of Oil and Gas (MPOG) methodology. The goal of the present work was to characterize microbial communities involved in short-chain alkane metabolism, namely methane, ethane and propane, in samples from a petroliferous (P) soil through clone libraries of the 16S rRNA gene of the Domains Bacteria and Archaea and the catabolic gene coding for the soluble di-iron monooxygenase (SDIMO) enzyme alpha subunit. The microbial community presented high abundance of the bacterial phylum Actinobacteria, which represented 53% of total clones, and the Crenarchaeota group I.1b from the Archaea Domain. The analysis of the catabolic genes revealed the occurrence of seven Operational Protein Families (OPF) and higher richness (Chao = 7; Ace = 7.5) and diversity (Shannon = 1.09) in P soil when compared with a non-petroliferous (Np) soil (Chao = 2; Ace = 0, Shannon = 0.44). Clones related to the ethene monooxygenase (EtnC) and methane monooxygenase (MmoX) coding genes occurred only in P soil, which also presented higher levels of methane and lower levels of ethane and propane, revealed by short-chain hydrocarbon measures. Real-time PCR results suggested that the SDIMO genes occur in very low abundance in the soil samples under study. Further investigations on SDIMOs genes in natural environments are necessary to unravel their still uncharted diversity and to provide reliable tools for the prospection of degrading populations.
Early diagnosis of candidemia in intensive care unit patients with sepsis: a prospective comparison of (1→3)-β-D-glucan assay, Candida score, and colonization index
Authors: Posteraro Brunella , De Pascale Gennaro , Tumbarello Mario , Torelli Riccardo , Pennisi Mariano Alberto , Bello Giuseppe , Maviglia Riccardo , Fadda Giovanni , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Antonelli Massimo
Published: October 2011

Introduction

The culture-independent serum (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BG) detection test may allow early diagnosis of invasive fungal disease, but its clinical usefulness needs to be firmly established. A prospective single-center observational study was conducted to compare the diagnostic value of BG assay, Candida score (CS), and colonization index in intensive care unit (ICU) patients at risk for Candida sepsis.

Methods

Of 377 patients, consecutively admitted to ICU for sepsis, 95 patients having an ICU stay of more than five days were studied. Blood specimens for fungal culture and BG measurement were obtained at the onset of clinical sepsis. For CS and colonization index calculations, surveillance cultures for Candida growth, and/or clinical data were recorded.

Results

Sixteen (16.8%) patients were diagnosed with proven invasive fungal infection, 14 with candidiasis (13 candidemia and 1 mediastinitis) and 2 with pulmonary aspergillosis or fusariosis. Of 14 invasive Candida-infection patients, 13 had a serum sample positive for BG, 10 had a CS value ≥3, and 7 a colonization index ≥0.5. In the 12 candidemic patients, a positive BG result was obtained 24 to 72 hrs before a culture-documented diagnosis of invasive candidiasis. The positive and negative predictive values for the BG assay were higher than those of CS and colonization index (72.2% versus 57.1% and 27.3%; and 98.7% versus 97.2% and 91.7%, respectively).

Conclusions

A single-point BG assay based on a blood sample drawn at the sepsis onset, alone or in combination withCS, may guide the decision to start antifungal therapy early in patients at risk for Candida infection.
Setting the Stage for Long-Term Recovery in Haiti
Authors: Olshansky Robert B. , Etienne Harley F.
Published: October 2011

This paper describes the first seven months of long-term recovery activities following the 12 January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. We describe the activities of a broad range of governmental and nongovernmental (NGO) actors, and we identify the organizations and institutions likely to drive the long-term recovery process. Much of the funding from recovery will come via up to $5.3 billion in international donations, which will be directed and monitored by the newly constituted Interim Haitian Reconstruction Commission (IHRC), but much of the work of recovery will be carried out by local and international NGOs. Finally, an important goal of the recovery process will be to improve governance and increase the capacity of the Haitian national government, and this may prove to be the most challenging task of all.
Transition from Response to Recovery: A Knowledge Commons to Support Decision Making following the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake
Authors: Comfort Louise K. , McAdoo Brian , Sweeney Patricia , Stebbins Sam , Siciliano Michael D. , Huggins Leonard J. , Serrant Ted , Scheinert Steve , Augenstein Jared , Krenitsky Nicole
Published: October 2011

The transition between disaster response operations and sustainable recovery represents a critical stage in rebuilding communities following disaster. We document this transition process following the 12 January 2010 earthquake in Haiti through direct field observation, review of documents and official situation reports, as well as interviews with key managers from organizations engaged in disaster operations in Haiti. Without an effective transition to recovery, disaster-stricken communities risk escalating failures in performance of key technical functions that underlie the provision of basic services in health, housing, education, commercial activity, and environmental restoration essential to building a resilient society. The interactions among social, environmental and technical systems are rarely tracked systematically, but are central to the longer-term economic, social, and technical development of a disaster-resilient community. We propose developing a “knowledge commons” infrastructure—multilingual, interdisciplinary, and interjurisdictional—to sustain a system-wide learning process as a primary goal for the reconstruction of Haiti.
Assessment of Residential Housing in Léogâne, Haiti, and Identification of Needs for Rebuilding after the January 2010 Earthquake
Authors: Mix Dustin , Kijewski-Correa Tracy , Taflanidis Alexandros A.
Published: October 2011

Two months after the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, a reconnaissance team from the University of Notre Dame traveled to Léogâne with a follow up trip in August 2010. The team sought to determine the failure modes for residential housing in the area and survey the structural systems, construction materials, building practices, and non-engineering constraints that dictate these practices. The failure modes observed were commonly initiated from undersized/under-reinforced columns, though even structures with adequately sized columns sustained significant damage due to shear forces transferred by stiff but brittle unreinforced masonry walls. Inadequate seismic detailing of reinforced concrete elements, deficient materials and construction practices, and lack of seismic considerations in the design of structural systems with sufficient lateral interconnectivity were also observed. Finally, strategies now being pursued by the authors will be showcased in an effort to develop multihazard-resilient housing that can be sustained locally.
Documenting Liquefaction and Lateral Spreading Triggered by the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake
Authors: Olson Scott M. , Green Russell A. , Lasley Samuel , Martin Nathaniel , Cox Brady R. , Rathje Ellen , Bachhuber Jeff , French James
Published: October 2011

The 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake (Mw 7.0) caused extensive damage to the Port-au-Prince region, including severe liquefaction failures along the Gulf of Gonâve coastline, along rivers north of Port-au-Prince draining into the Gulf, and a liquefaction-induced structural/bearing capacity failure of a three-story concrete hotel along the southern coast of the Gulf. During two reconnaissance missions, the authors documented ground conditions and performance at eight sites that liquefied and two sites that did not liquefy. Geotechnical characterization included surface mapping, dynamic cone penetration tests, hand auger borings, and laboratory index tests. The authors estimated median peak ground accelerations (PGAs) of approximately 0.17g to 0.48g at these sites using the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) relations summarized by Power et. al. (2008) . These case histories are documented here so that they can be used to augment databases of level-ground/near level-ground liquefaction, lateral spreading, liquefaction flow failure, and liquefaction-induced bearing capacity failure.
A Nonlinear Frequency Domain Model for Limit Cycles in Thermoacoustic Systems with Modal Coupling
Authors: Selimefendigil Fatih , Polifke Wolfgang
Published: October 2011

For prediction of limit cycle oscillations of linearly unstable thermo-acoustic systems, a frequency-domain, low-order system with explicit modal coupling is developed. To this purpose, a model for the nonlinear heat source dynamics is obtained from unsteady computational fluid dynamics in combination with feed-forward neural network identification. From the neural network, an equivalent representation for the input-output relation in Volterra series form is derived, where Volterra kernels are computed in terms of the weights of the neural network. Then the kernels are transformed into the frequency domain to obtain the higher order transfer functions, through which the modes are coupled. In this way nonlinear energy exchange among the modes can be described explicitly. Comparison with a Galerkin time domain simulation shows that deviations from purely sinusoidal behaviour in the limit cycle are captured correctly, while the computational cost is drastically reduced.
Cotranscriptional spliceosome assembly and splicing are independent of the Prp40p WW domain
Authors: Görnemann Janina , Barrandon Charlotte , Hujer Katja , Rutz Berthold , Rigaut Guillaume , Kotovic Kimberly M. , Faux Céline , Neugebauer Karla M. , Séraphin Bertrand
Published: October 2011

Complex cellular functions involve large networks of interactions. Pre-mRNA splicing and transcription are thought to be coupled by the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). In yeast, the U1 snRNP subunit Prp40 was proposed to mediate cotranscriptional recruitment of early splicing factors through binding of its WW domains to the Pol II CTD. Here we investigate the role of Prp40 in splicing with an emphasis on the role of the WW domains, which might confer protein–protein interactions among the splicing and transcriptional machineries. Affinity purification revealed that Prp40 and Snu71 form a stable heterodimer that stably associates with the U1 snRNP only in the presence of Nam8, a known regulator of 5′ splice site recognition. However, the Prp40 WW domains were dispensable for yeast viability. In their absence, no defect in splicing in vivo, U1 or U2 snRNP recruitment in vivo, or early splicing complex assembly in vitro was detected. We conclude that the WW domains of Prp40 do not mediate essential coupling between U1 snRNP and Pol II. Instead, delays in cotranscriptional U5 snRNP and Prp19 recruitment and altered spliceosome formation in vitro suggest that Prp40 WW domains assist in late steps of spliceosome assembly.
The role of mRNA decay in p53-induced gene expression
Authors: Melanson Brian D. , Bose Reetesh , Hamill Jeff D. , Marcellus Kristen A. , Pan Elysia F. , McKay Bruce C.
Published: October 2011

The p53 tumor suppressor is a DNA-damage-responsive sequence-specific transcriptional activator. The sustained activation of the p53 response is incompatible with cell growth and viability. To circumvent this issue, a variety of negative feedback loops exist to limit the duration of p53 activation. Despite our understanding of p53 regulation, very little is known about the effect of transient p53 activation on the long-term expression of p53 target genes. Here we used a temperature-sensitive variant of p53 and oligonucleotide microarrays to monitor gene expression during and following reversible p53 activation. The expression of most p53-induced transcripts was rapidly reversible, consistent with active mRNA decay. Representative 3′ UTRs derived from short-lived transcripts (i.e., DDB2 and GDF15) conferred instability on a heterologous mRNA, while 3′ UTRs derived from more stable transcripts (i.e., CRYABand TP53I3) did not. The 3′ UTRs derived from unstable p53-induced mRNAs were significantly longer than those derived from stable mRNAs. These 3′ UTRs had high uridine and low cytosine content, leading to a higher density of U-, AU-, and GU-rich sequences. Remarkably, short-lived p53 targets were induced faster, reaching maximum transcript levels earlier than the stable p53 targets. Taken together, the evidence indicates that the p53 transcriptional response has evolved with primarily short-lived target mRNAs and that post-transcription processes play a prominent role in the p53 response.
Leptin and the brain
Authors: Chowen Julie A. , Argente Jesús
Published: October 2011

Leptin, which comes from the Greek root leptos meaning thin, has been the focus of intense investigation since its discovery in 1994. This hormone belongs to the cytokine family and is produced by adipocytes and circulates in proportion to fat mass, thus serving as a satiety signal and informing central metabolic control centers as to the status of peripheral energy stores. However, it participates in numerous other functions both peripherally and centrally, as indicated by the wide distribution of its various receptor isoforms. Leptin is involved in brain development, most notably in development of hypothalamic centers that control metabolism, but also in other brain areas. It acts as a nutritional cue to indicate adequacy of energy stores for pubertal development and reproductive capacity. The effects of this hormone on behavior and cognition are less well studied, but it clearly is involved in specific aspects of these physiological phenomena. As obesity is a major health problem in many areas of the world, the search for pharmacological treatments to decrease appetite and increase energy expenditure is intense. Understanding the mechanisms of actions of all physiological effects of this hormone is of great interest in the pursuit of such treatment.
Corticosteroid receptor signalling modes and stress adaptation in the brain
Authors: Meijer Onno C.
Published: October 2011

Adrenal glucocorticoid hormones modulate neuronal activity to support an adaptive response to stress. They modulate brain circuitry mediating physiological responses, emotion and cognitive processing. Chronically elevated glucocorticoid exposure is however linked to the development of mental disease. Glucocorticoid effects depend on mineralo- and glucocorticoid receptors, which are powerful transcription factors, but also can act via a diversity of non-genomic mechanisms. Here, I review generic factors that determine neuronal glucocorticoid sensitivity, in relation to brain function. First, pre-receptor mechanisms determine ligand availability. Second, there may be considerable variation in the receptor splice- and translation variants. Third, other transcription factors and many transcriptional coregulators interact with steroid receptors, determining nature and magnitude of steroid responses, in part through epigenetic regulation of DNA accessibility. Which factors underlie adaptive and pathogenic effects of stress hormones is largely unknown. Genome-wide identification of the receptor-DNA interactions in specific behavioural and physiological contexts provides a way of assessing the complete genomic range of glucocorticoid modes of action. Novel ligands that induce selective activation of particular receptor signalling modes will aid our understanding of receptor signalling and may allow selective targeting of glucocorticoid effects in emotional or cognitive domains, in research and, hopefully, in clinical settings.
Shifting Legal Authority from the Ruler to the ῾Ulamā᾿: Rationalizing the Punishment for Drinking Wine During the Saljūq Period
Authors: Opwis Felicitas
Published: October 2011

This paper argues that the encroachment of the Saljūq political authorities onto the religious arena prompted jurists to tighten their legal arguments in order to bolster their legitimacy in determining the laws of Muslim society not established in the textual sources of the law. A key case in the ‘tug-of-war’ between the political and religious authorities over the sphere of law was the post-prophetic ruling on punishing the wine drinker. That this important ruling was established during the first caliphs provided a claim for secular authorities over jurisdiction of large areas of the law, including matters deemed of religious significance. This paper presents the different justifications given to this ruling by al-Juwaynī, al-Ghazālī, and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, showing how this post-prophetic ruling was successively incorporated into the religious law that derived its authority from being grounded in the textual sources of Islamic law. While al-Juwaynī rationalized the punishment for drinking wine with a counter-implication argument, al-Ghazālī made a first step toward deriving it in analogy (qiyās) to the authoritative texts, an intellectual move which was successfully completed by al-Rāzī. Their different rationalizations reflect the increasing use of Greek logic in legal reasoning during that time period. Furthermore, this case also mirrors the general efforts by legal theorists at that time to make Islamic law a viable alternative to secular legislation (siyāsa).
Reactive compatibilization of poly(lactic acid)/polyethylene octene copolymer blends with ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer
Authors: Pai Fang-Cheng , Chu Hou-Hsein , Lai Sun-Mou
Published: October 2011

A melt blending process was used to prepare poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/metallocene catalyzed polyethylene octene copolymer (POE) blends in order to toughen PLA. A commercialized ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (EGMA) was applied as a compatibilizer to improve the dispersion and interaction of dispersed POE to the PLA matrix. The results showed that chemical interaction seems to be the driving force for reinforcing the compatibility between PLA and POE, and also the dispersion of POE into the PLA matrix domain. With the incorporation of 10 phr EGMA in the blends, POE was well-dispersed at a sub-micrometer scale within the PLA matrix, indicating better interfacial compatibility between PLA and POE. The impact strength test revealed that POE could significantly toughen PLA containing EGMA in the blends, up to no-break level regarding unnotched Izod impact strength at 10 phr EGMA content. With the increase of EGMA content, the blends showed lower tensile strength, but higher elongation at break due to the elastomeric characteristics of EGMA. When 10 phr of the EGMA was incorporated into the blends, its elongation at break reached 54.5%, 10.7 times that of neat PLA at 5.1%. The melt viscosity of compatibilized blends containing 10 phr EGMA increased by more than 50% in comparison with the non-compatibilized blend, which implied a good interfacial interaction between the PLA and POE interface.
Effect of Chemical Modification of Al-Si Alloys on Thermal Diffusivity and Contact Heat Transfer at the Casting–Chill Interface
Authors: Prabhu K. Narayan , Jayananda  , Hegde Sathyapal
Published: October 2011

The heat flow during the unidirectional downward solidification of Al-7Si and Al-12Si alloys was analyzed using thermal analysis technique and inverse modeling. Chills instrumented with thermocouples were brought into contact with a small pool of liquid metal so as to minimize the effect of convection caused by pouring and temperature gradients. Modification melt treatment resulted in an increase in the cooling rate of the solidifying casting near the casting–chill interfacial region. The corresponding interfacial heat flux transients were also found to be higher. The thermal diffusivities of alloys were measured using a laser pulse technique and were found to be higher for modified alloys. However, the increase in the heat flux transients was attributed mainly to the improvement in the casting–chill interfacial thermal contact condition brought about by the decrease in the surface tension of the liquid metal upon the addition of sodium.
“SNP Snappy”: A Strategy for Fast Genome-Wide Association Studies Fitting a Full Mixed Model
Authors: Meyer Karin , Tier Bruce
Published: October 2011

A strategy to reduce computational demands of genome-wide association studies fitting a mixed model is presented. Improvements are achieved by utilizing a large proportion of calculations that remain constant across the multiple analyses for individual markers involved, with estimates obtained without inverting large matrices.
Decisões de preço em clima de incerteza: uma contribuição da análise Bayesiana
Authors: Motta Jorge
Published: October 2011

Os administradores brasileiros revelam muitas vezes ter dúvidas sobre fatores importantes que determinam o sucesso de uma estratégia de estipulação de preço. Quando o nível de incerteza é grande e suas origens são numerosas, problemas de precificação aparentemente singelos podem rapidamente tornar-se inadministráveis. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever e analisar um método, denominado análise bayesiana, para lidar com essa complexidade. Com o uso deste procedimento, facilita-se a compreensão de problemas complexos e possibilita-se aos administradores melhorar suas decisões de fixação de preços.
QFD - desdobramento da função qualidade - estruturando a satisfação do cliente
Authors: Abreu Fábio de Souza
Published: October 2011

Muito tem se falado sobre a importância para a empresa de focar o cliente e atender às suas necessidades, porém pouco se fez para mostrar como chegar a isso de forma eficiente. Empresas de porte mundial têm usado o Desdobramento da Função Qualidade - QFD (do inglês Quality Function Deployment para atender aos seus clientes, com sucesso em vendas e market share. A aplicação do QFD traz ainda outros benefícios, como redução no tempo e custo de desenvolvimento de produtos, maior eficiência nos processos de benchmarking, trabalho em equipes, desenvolvimento simultâneo e melhora na comunicação interdepartamental. O artigo apresenta uma explicação conceitual do funcionamento do QFD e comentários sobre a implantação do método na empresa.
Soil tillage systems: changes in soil structure and crop response
Authors: Mazurana Michael , Levien Renato , Müller Jônatan , Conte Osmar
Published: October 2011

The introduction and intensification of no-tillage systems in Brazilian agriculture in recent decades have created a new scenario, increasing concerns about soil physical properties. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different tillage systems on some physical properties of an Ultisol previously under native grassland. Five tillage methods were tested: no-tillage (NT), chiseling (Ch), no-tillage with chiseling every two years (NTCh2), chiseling using an equipment with a clod-breaking roller (ChR) and chiseling followed by disking (ChD). The bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity and total porosity, mechanical resistance to penetration, water infiltration into the soil and crop yields were evaluated. The values of soil bulk density, mechanical resistance to penetration and microporosity increased as macroporosity decreased. Soil bulk density was lower in tillage systems with higher levels of tillage/soil mobilization; highest values were observed in NT and the lowest in the ChD system. The water infiltration rate was highest in the ChR system, followed by the systems ChD, NT and NTCh2, while crop yields were higher in systems with less soil mobilization.
Determinação das propriedades hidráulicas do solo utilizando tensiômetros de polímeros em experimentos de evaporação
Authors: Durigon Angelica , Jong van Lier Quirijn de
Published: October 2011

O tensiômetro de polímeros é um equipamento recentemente desenvolvido que permite medir o potencial matricial da água no solo desde a saturação até condições mais secas do que o ponto de murcha permanente. Nesta nota descreve-se a utilização de tensiômetros de polímeros em experimentos de evaporação de cilindros com solo deformado, para determinar as propriedades hidráulicas do material. Nos experimentos foi utilizada terra da camada superficial de um Nitossolo Vermelho. O uso de tensiômetros de polímeros em experimentos de evaporação com colunas de solo permitiu a determinação das relações entre condutividade hidráulica, teor de água e potencial matricial na faixa de potenciais matriciais entre -1 e -150 m.
Electrical conductivity of soil irrigated with swine wastewater estimated by time-domain reflectometry¹
Authors: Soncela Rosimaldo , Sampaio Silvio Cesar , Vilas Boas Marcio Antonio , Tavares Maria Hermínia Ferreira , Souza Claudinei Fonseca , Soncela Adriana Smanhotto
Published: October 2011

Wastewater application to soil is an alternative for fertilization and water reuse. However, particular care must be taken with this practice, since successive wastewater applications can cause soil salinization. Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) allows for the simultaneous and continuous monitoring of both soil water content and apparent electrical conductivity and thus for the indirect measurement of the electrical conductivity of the soil solution. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of TDR for the indirect determination of the electrical conductivity (ECse) of the saturated soil extract by using an empirical equation for the apparatus TDR Trase 6050X1. Disturbed soil samples saturated with swine wastewater were used, at soil proportions of 0, 0.45, 0.90, 1.80, 2.70, and 3.60 m³ m-3. The probes were equipped with three handmade 0.20 cm long rods. The fit of the empirical model that associated the TDR measured values of electrical conductivity (EC TDR) to ECse was excellent, indicating this approach as suitable for the determination of electrical conductivity of the soil solution.