bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells: Implications in Reproductive Biology
Authors: Bhartiya Deepa , Unni Sreepoorna , Parte Seema , Anand Sandhya
Published: February 2013

The most primitive germ cells in adult mammalian testis are the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) whereas primordial follicles (PFs) are considered the fundamental functional unit in ovary. However, this central dogma has recently been modified with the identification of a novel population of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in the adult mammalian gonads. These stem cells are more primitive to SSCs and are also implicated during postnatal ovarian neo-oogenesis and primordial follicle assembly. VSELs are pluripotent in nature and characterized by nuclear Oct-4A, cell surface SSEA-4, and other pluripotent markers like Nanog, Sox2, and TERT. VSELs are considered to be the descendants of epiblast stem cells and possibly the primordial germ cells that persist into adulthood and undergo asymmetric cell division to replenish the gonadal germ cells throughout life. Elucidation of their role during infertility, endometrial repair, superovulation, and pathogenesis of various reproductive diseases like PCOS, endometriosis, cancer, and so on needs to be addressed. Hence, a detailed review of current understanding of VSEL biology is pertinent, which will hopefully open up new avenues for research to better understand various reproductive processes and cancers. It will also be relevant for future regenerative medicine, translational research, and clinical applications in human reproduction.
Analysis of Caputo Impulsive Fractional Order Differential Equations with Applications
Authors: Mahto Lakshman , Abbas Syed , Favini Angelo
Published: February 2013

We use Sadovskii's fixed point method to investigate the existence and uniqueness of solutions of Caputo impulsive fractional differential equations of order with one example of impulsive logistic model and few other examples as well. We also discuss Caputo impulsive fractional differential equations with finite delay. The results proven are new and compliment the existing one.
The Effect of Biceps Procedure on the Outcome of Rotator Cuff Reconstruction
Authors: Kukkonen Juha , Rantakokko Juho , Virolainen Petri , Äärimaa Ville
Published: February 2013

Purpose. Biceps long head pathology is often associated with rotator cuff tears. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of possible associated biceps procedure on the treatment outcome in rotator cuff repair. Methods. 148 consecutive shoulders operated for isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear were included. A biceps tenotomy or tenodesis was performed in cases of irritated/frayed and/or unstable biceps tendon. The patients were grouped into three groups according to the biceps procedure (no procedure, tenotomy, and tenodesis). The age-adjusted Constant score was used as an outcome measure. Results. 145 shoulders (98%) were available for final followup. Preoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference in Constant scores. At three months, there was a statistically significant positive change in Constant scores compared with preoperative status in the tenotomy group in women. At one year there was a statistically significant positive change in Constant scores in all groups in both genders. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at one year in either gender. Conclusion. Biceps procedure does not affect the final clinical treatment outcome after rotator cuff repair. Recovery from operative treatment may be faster in tenotomized female patients in cases of encountered biceps pathology.
Spondylodiscitis Occurring after Diagnostic Lumbar Puncture: A Case Report
Authors: Gürbüz Mehmet Sabri , Berkman Mehmet Zafer
Published: February 2013

Spondylodiscitis is a rare disease which is generally seen after long-term epidural catheterization. However, spondylidiscitis developing after diagnostic lumbar puncture is very rare. Early diagnosis has a crucial role in the management of the disease and inclines the morbidity rates. However, the diagnosis is often delayed due to the rarity and insidious onset of the disease usually presenting with low back pain which has a high frequency in the society. If it is diagnosed early before development of an abscess requiring surgery or neurological deficit, it responds to antimicrobial therapy quite well. We report 66-year-old male case of spondylodiscitis developing after diagnostic lumbar puncture. The patient was treated with antimicrobial therapy. After antimicrobial therapy, findings of spondylodiscitis were completely resolved and no recurrence was seen in the period of 9-month followup.
Single Top as Window on Heavy Quarks and Other New Physics
Authors: Giammanco Andrea
Published: February 2013

This paper discusses what the study of the electroweak production of single top quarks can tell us about additional quark generations, and how to distinguish the new quarks hypothesis from other kinds of new physics. We also suggest some new studies that become possible for the first time thanks to the large statistics of single top quarks produced at the LHC.
Homotopy Perturbation Method for Fractional Gas Dynamics Equation Using Sumudu Transform
Authors: Singh Jagdev , Kumar Devendra , Kılıçman A.
Published: February 2013

A user friendly algorithm based on new homotopy perturbation Sumudu transform method (HPSTM) is proposed to solve nonlinear fractional gas dynamics equation. The fractional derivative is considered in the Caputo sense. Further, the same problem is solved by Adomian decomposition method (ADM). The results obtained by the two methods are in agreement and hence this technique may be considered an alternative and efficient method for finding approximate solutions of both linear and nonlinear fractional differential equations. The HPSTM is a combined form of Sumudu transform, homotopy perturbation method, and He’s polynomials. The nonlinear terms can be easily handled by the use of He’s polynomials. The numerical solutions obtained by the proposed method show that the approach is easy to implement and computationally very attractive.
Enhancement of Ovarian Malignancy on Clinical Contrast Enhanced MRI Studies
Authors: Pannu Harpreet K. , Ma Weining , Zabor Emily Craig , Moskowitz Chaya S. , Barakat Richard R. , Hricak Hedvig
Published: February 2013

Purpose. To assess if there is a significant difference in enhancement of high grade serous carcinoma
of the ovary compared with other ovarian malignancies on clinically performed contrast enhanced MRI studies.
Methods. In this institutional-review–board-approved study, two radiologists reviewed contrast enhanced MRI scans in 37 patients with ovarian cancer. Readers measured the signal intensity (SI) of ovarian mass and gluteal fat pre- and postcontrast administration. Percentage enhancement (PE) was calculated as [(post-pre)/precontrast SI] × 100. Results. Pathology revealed 19 patients with unilateral and 18 patients with bilateral malignancies for a total of 55 malignant ovaries-high grade serous carcinoma in 25/55 ovaries (45%), other epithelial carcinomas in 12 ovaries (22%), nonepithelial cancers in 8 ovaries (14%), and borderline tumors in 10 ovaries (18%). Enhancement of high grade serous carcinoma was not significantly different from other invasive ovarian malignancies (Reader 1 ; Reader 2 ). Enhancement of invasive ovarian malignancies was more than borderline tumors but did not reach statistical significance (Reader 1; Reader 2 ). Conclusion. On clinically performed contrast enhanced MRI studies, enhancement of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma is not significantly different from other ovarian malignancies.
Translational Phase I Trial of Vorinostat (Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid) Combined with Cytarabine and Etoposide in Patients with Relapsed, Refractory, or High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Gojo Ivana , Tan Ming , Fang Hong-Bin , Sadowska Mariola , Lapidus Rena , Baer Maria R. , Carrier France , Beumer Jan H. , Anyang Bean N. , Srivastava Rakesh K. , Espinoza-Delgado Igor , Ross Douglas D.
Published: February 2013

Purpose: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat combined with fixed doses of cytarabine (ara-C or cytosine arabinoside) and etoposide in patients with poor-risk or advanced acute leukemia, to obtain preliminary efficacy data, describe pharmacokinetics, and in vivo pharmacodynamic effects of vorinostat in leukemia blasts.

Experimental Design: In this open-label phase I study, vorinostat was given orally on days one to seven at three escalating dose levels: 200 mg twice a day, 200 mg three times a day, and 300 mg twice a day. On days 11 to 14, etoposide (100 mg/m2) and cytarabine (1 or 2 g/m2 twice a day if ≥65 or <65 years old, respectively) were given. The study used a standard 3+3 dose escalation design.

Results: Eighteen of 21 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) treated on study completed planned therapy. Dose-limiting toxicities [hyperbilirubinemia/septic death (1) and anorexia/fatigue (1)] were encountered at the 200 mg three times a day level; thus, the MTD was established to be vorinostat 200 mg twice a day. Of 21 patients enrolled, seven attained a complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete platelet recovery, including six of 13 patients treated at the MTD. The median remission duration was seven months. No differences in percentage S-phase cells or multidrug resistance transporter (MDR1 or BCRP) expression or function were observed in vivo in leukemia blasts upon vorinostat treatment.

Conclusions: Vorinostat 200 mg twice a day can be given safely for seven days before treatment with cytarabine and etoposide. The relatively high CR rate seen at the MTD in this poor-risk group of patients with AML warrants further studies to confirm these findings. Clin Cancer Res; 19(7); 1838–51. ©2013 AACR.
Expression Defect Size among Unclassified MLH1 Variants Determines Pathogenicity in Lynch Syndrome Diagnosis
Authors: Hinrichsen Inga , Brieger Angela , Trojan Jörg , Zeuzem Stefan , Nilbert Mef , Plotz Guido
Published: February 2013

Purpose: Lynch syndrome is caused by a germline mutation in a mismatch repair gene, most commonly the MLH1 gene. However, one third of the identified alterations are missense variants with unclear clinical significance. The functionality of these variants can be tested in the laboratory, but the results cannot be used for clinical diagnosis. We therefore aimed to establish a laboratory test that can be applied clinically.

Experimental Design: We assessed the expression, stability, and mismatch repair activity of 38 MLH1 missense variants and determined the pathogenicity status of recurrent variants using clinical data.

Results: Four recurrent variants were classified as neutral (K618A, H718Y, E578G, V716M) and three as pathogenic (A681T, L622H, P654L). All seven variants were proficient in mismatch repair but showed defects in expression. Quantitative PCR, pulse-chase, and thermal stability experiments confirmed decreases in protein stability, which were stronger in the pathogenic variants. The minimal cellular MLH1 concentration for mismatch repair was determined, which corroborated that strongly destabilized variants can cause repair deficiency. Loss of MLH1 tumor immunostaining is consistently reported in carriers of the pathogenic variants, showing the impact of this protein instability on these tumors.

Conclusions: Expression defects are frequent among MLH1 missense variants, but only severe defects cause Lynch syndrome. The data obtained here enabled us to establish a threshold for distinguishing tolerable (clinically neutral) from pathogenic expression defects. This threshold allows the translation of laboratory results for uncertain MLH1 variants into pathogenicity statements for diagnosis, thereby improving the targeting of cancer prevention measures in affected families. Clin Cancer Res; 19(9); 2432–41. ©2013 AACR.
The Impact of Adverse Life Events on Clinical Features and Interaction with Gene Variants in Mood Disorder Patients
Authors: Serretti Alessandro , Souery Daniel , Antypa Niki , Calati Raffaella , Sentissi Othman , Amital Daniela , Moser Ulrike , Kasper Siegfried , Zohar Joseph , Mendlewicz Julien
Published: February 2013

Background: Adverse life events are precipitating and maintenance factors for mood and anxiety disorders. However, the impact of such events on clinical features and treatment response is still unclear. Sampling and Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate whether specific adverse events (early parental loss and physical abuse) influence clinical features in a sample of 1,336 mood disorder patients, and whether genetic parameters interact with adverse events to influence treatment outcomes in a subsample of 252 subjects. Participants were collected in the context of a European multicenter study and treated with antidepressants at adequate doses for at least 4 weeks. We focused on two genes (BDNF and CREB1) due to prior evidence of association with treatment outcomes in the same sample. Results: Patients with a history of physical abuse had higher suicidal risk (including history of attempts), comorbid panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence compared to non-abused patients. Experience of early parental loss was a less detrimental type of life stressor. Treatment response was not affected by adverse events. No gene-environment interaction was found with genetic variations, using a corrected significance level. Conclusions: A limitation of the present study is that the subsample is too small for detecting gene-environment interactions. The clinical message of our findings is that mood disorder patients with a history of physical abuse showed a worse clinical profile, characterized by higher comorbid Axis I psychopathology and increased suicidal behavior.
Initial ‘TTP Map-Defect’ of Computed Tomography Perfusion as a Predictor of Hemorrhagic Transformation of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Shinoyama Mizuya , Nakagawara Jyoji , Yoneda Hiroshi , Suzuki Michiyasu , Ono Hidetoshi , Kunitsugu Ichiro , Kamiyama Kenji , Osato Toshiaki , Nakamura Hirohiko
Published: February 2013

Background: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) following acute ischemic stroke is a major problem, especially for the indication of reperfusion therapy including intravenous administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA). The specific predictive factors of HT have not yet been established. The present study evaluated the findings of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) images as predictors of subsequent HT to identify patients with low HT risk for reperfusion therapy such as IV rt-PA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 68 consecutive stroke patients (41 males; mean age 72.9 years) with steno-occlusive lesions in the major trunk, including 10 patients who underwent IV rt-PA. Each HT was detected on a follow-up T2*-weighted magnetic resonance image until 2 weeks after stroke onset and categorized into four groups [hemorrhagic infarction (HI) type 1 and 2, and parenchymal hematoma (PH) type 1 and 2] according to the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS) classification. We assessed clinical features and radiological findings between the HT and non-HT groups or the PH2 and non-PH2 groups. The efficacy of initial time to peak (TTP) mapping of CTP for predicting HT or PH2 was evaluated. Results: Thirty-four patients (50%) developed subsequent HT: 18 (52.9%) had HI and 16 (47.1%) had PH, including 9 PH2 patients (13.2%). IV rt-PA was not significantly associated with HT or PH2 occurrence. Forty of the 68 patients (59%) revealed defect areas on the initial TTP mapping (TTP map-defect), and 34 of these 40 patients (85%) developed secondary HT and 9 patients (22.5%) developed PH2. Initial ‘TTP map-defect’ was significantly associated with the occurrence of HT (p < 0.0001) and PH2 (p = 0.0070). Thirty of the 34 patients (88.2%) in the HT group experienced delayed recanalization of the occluded vessels, in contrast to only 8 of the 34 patients (23.6%) in the non-HT group. All patients of the PH2 group showed recanalization (p = 0.0042). In 40 ‘TTP map-defect’-positive patients, delayed recanalization was associated with the occurrence of HT (p < 0.0001) and PH2 (p = 0.0491). All 28 patients without ‘TTP map-defect’ did not develop HT, including 8 patients (28.6%) with delayed recanalization. Conclusions: Initial ‘TTP map-defect’ of CTP could accurately predict HT risk including PH2 risk and identify low-risk patients even in the delayed period.
DNA Damage in Alzheimer Disease Lymphocytes and Its Relation to Premature Centromere Division
Authors: Živković Lada , Spremo-Potparević Biljana , Siedlak Sandra L. , Perry George , Plećaš-Solarović Bosiljka , Milićević Zorana , Bajić Vladan P.
Published: February 2013

While Alzheimer disease (AD) is considered a neurodegenerative disorder, the importance of chromosome instability in non-neuronal cells is equally important, not only for shedding light on the etiology of the disease, but also for possible diagnostic purposes and monitoring the progress of the disease. Here, we evaluated the frequency of DNA damage and expression of premature centromere division (PCD) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of sporadic AD patients, age-matched and young controls. The results show that in male patients with AD, the frequencies of PCD and DNA damage were significantly greater (88%, p < 0.01 and 38%, p < 0.05, respectively) than in age-matched control group. AD females had significantly increased frequency of PCD (134%, p < 0.01) as well as a higher frequency of DNA damage (37%, p < 0.05). Ageing per se, both in males and females, shows significant increase of percentages of PCD (2.3 times, p < 0.01 and 2.8 times, p < 0.01, respectively) and DNA damage (63%, p < 0.01 and 50%, p < 0.01, respectively) comparing with young controls. In addition, a strong (R2 = 0.873, n = 6) and significant (p < 0.01) correlation between the frequencies of PCD and DNA damage was found in all examined groups. We may conclude that the increases in both parameters evaluated in this study are not only associated with normal ageing processes, but are markedly and significantly intensified in AD pathogenesis. Thus, our data support the view that AD is a generalized systemic disease, at least as for the increased DNA damage and PCD incidence in peripheral blood cells.
Multimodal CT versus MRI in Selecting Acute Stroke Patients for Endovascular Treatment
Authors: García-Bermejo Pablo , Castaño Carlos , Dávalos Antonio
Published: February 2013

Arterial revascularization is the most effective therapy for acute stroke patients. Systemic thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator based on baseline non-contrast CT (NCCT) imaging criteria is the only treatment approved to date, which is limited by severe timing and medical restrictions, and a narrow efficacy. The simple imaging methodology required contrast with the current wide range of imaging modalities available, which permits the physician to rapidly obtain an estimation of the most relevant pathophysiological factors involved in an acute stroke, overcoming the limited capability of NCCT. Multimodal CT and MRI combine techniques that aim to depict the neurovasculature and the status of the brain parenchyma, including the presence of hemorrhage and infarction, as well as the viability of the cerebral ischemic areas involved. These additional imaging procedures have been explored in clinical studies and trials to guide intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke patients beyond the currently established time windows, with inconclusive results. However, emergent endovascular materials and techniques are evolving, showing promising results with increasing rates of arterial recanalization with an acceptable safety profile, therefore becoming a potential alternative and complimentary treatment, although the current lack of a high level of evidence is limiting their use in routine clinical practice. Nevertheless, these advanced neuroimaging methods can be used to improve the selection of candidates for these novel invasive therapies and, moreover, to help the interventionist to design a faster and safer procedure. In this article, we review the basic aspects of both CT and MRI modalities and the state of the evidence of these imaging tools to guide endovascular therapy, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
Creation and Utilization of a Digital Database for Nasal Prosthesis Models
Authors: Reitemeier Bernd , Götzel Bela , Schöne Christine , Stockmann Frank , Müller Rainer , Lexmann Jana , Meissner Heike
Published: February 2013

Background: The study describes the development and implementation of a digital nose database in order to provide patients with nasal prostheses following rhinectomy. Mirrored data for computer-aided design (CAD) cannot be used due to the unpaired structure of the nose. Materials and Methods: The faces of 202 people were digitized using a 3-dimension (3D) scanner. The noses were scaled, measured and classified according to objective criteria. The physician, the patient and the anaplastologist can collaborate in order to select an appropriate nose from the multitude of existing nose types and sizes. Virtual ‘fittings’ and an individual adaptation of the nose are feasible. For this purpose the epiTecture software was applied. The selected nose is then created on a 3D printer as a thermopolymer model. This model can be fitted and corrected as a physical model on the patient. The remaining steps are identical to conventional prosthesis production. Results: A digital nose database was developed at the University Hospital Dresden with the help of the epiTecture software. Instructions for usage are illustrated using the example of a patient. Conclusions: The process of providing nasal prostheses described in this paper is different from conventional processes. This is primarily due to the elimination of physical modeling, causing substantially less strain for the patient.
Review of 36,537 Patient Records for Tooth Health and Longevity of Dental Restorations
Authors: Suni J. , Vähänikkilä H. , Päkkilä J. , Tjäderhane L. , Larmas M.
Published: February 2013

To develop an automatic system for utilizing electronic dental records, a data mining system to extract the diagnostic and treatment codes from the records for an intermediate file and automatic drawing of Kaplan-Meier-type survival curves was first created. Then this intermediate file was analyzed with SAS software for the scientific determination of Kaplan-Meier survival of tooth/surface-specific healthy time and survival of restorations in each permanent tooth, health center, and age cohort and also combined. All patients born in 1985, 1990 or 1995 in 28 health centers in Finland were analyzed. Patients classified as caries-active were those who had caries in any first permanent molar under the age of 8 years, while resistant patients did not have caries in these teeth before 10 years. In the younger age cohorts, a shortening of survival of caries-free teeth was seen. The shortest caries-free survival was seen in mandibular and maxillary molars in the youngest age cohort. Occlusal surfaces of molars determined their caries onsets and proximal caries occurred equally in molars, incisors and premolars, whereas canines or mandibular incisors did not have caries in these age cohorts. Caries-prone subjects had the shortest survival in all their teeth. The median longevity of all restorations was 11.7 years, with great variation between health centers and teeth. Because of the great variation between individual teeth, the tooth-specific approach seems appropriate in both caries epidemiology and material sciences.
New cave-dwelling spiders of the family Nesticidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from China
Authors: LIU JIE , LI SHUQIANG
Published: February 2013

Nine new species of the family Nesticidae, collected from caves in Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan and Yunnan Provinces of China, are diagnosed, described and illustrated: Nesticella apiculata n. sp., Nesticella arcuata n. sp., Nesticella falcata n. sp., Nesticella gracilenta n. sp., Nesticella semicircularis n. sp., Nesticella shanlinensis n. sp., Nesticella verticalis n. sp., Nesticus globosus n. sp. and Nesticus navicellatus n. sp. Nesticella mogera (Yaginuma, 1972), from Guizhou, is described and compared to the new species.
A new orb-weaving spider from the Argentinean flooding pampas grasses: Aculepeira morenoae new species (Araneae, Araneidae)
Authors: RUBIO GONZALO D. , IZQUIERDO MATÍAS A. , PIACENTINI LUIS N.
Published: February 2013

A new species of the orb-weaving spider genus Aculepeira Chamberling & Ivie 1942, A. morenoae new species, is de-scribed and illustrated based on male and female specimens from the Argentinean natural flooding pampas grasses.
Integrative taxonomy allows the identification of synonymous species and the erection of a new genus of Echiniscidae (Tardigrada, Heterotardigrada)
Authors: VICENTE FILIPE , FONTOURA PAULO , CESARI MICHELE , REBECCHI LORENA , GUIDETTI ROBERTO , SERRANO ARTUR , BERTOLANI ROBERTO
Published: February 2013

The taxonomy of tardigrades is challenging as these animals demonstrate a limited number of useful morphological char-acters, therefore several species descriptions are supported by only minor differences. For example, Echiniscus oihonnae and Echiniscus multispinosus are separated exclusively by the absence or presence of dorsal spines at position Bd. Doubts were raised on the validity of these two species, which were often sampled together. Using an integrative approach, based on genetic and morphological investigations, we studied two new Portuguese populations, and compared these with ar-chived collections. We have determined that the two species must be considered synonymous with Echiniscus oihonnae the senior synonym. Our study showed generally low genetic distances of cox1 gene (with a maximum of 4.1%), with specimens displaying both morphologies sharing the same haplotype, and revealed character Bd to be variable. Addition-ally, a more detailed morphological and phylogenetic study based on the 18S gene uncovered a new evolutionary line within the Echiniscidae, which justified the erection of Diploechiniscus gen. nov. The new genus is in a sister group rela-tionship with Echiniscus and is, for the moment, composed of a single species.
Ctenarytaina bipartita sp. n. (Hemiptera, Psylloidea), a new eucalypt psyllid from Southeast Australia
Authors: BURCKHARDT DANIEL , FARNIER KEVIN , QUEIROZ DALVA L. , TAYLOR GARY S. , STEINBAUER MARTIN J.
Published: February 2013

Ctenarytaina bipartita sp.n., associated with Eucalyptus kitsoniana and E. viminalis, is described from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. It differs from other described Ctenarytaina species in the paramere which bears a small posterior lobe. Taxonomically relevant morphological details are illustrated and the species is diagnosed from other eucalypt inhabiting congeners. Information on the biology is also given. C. bipartita has the po-tential to become an exported pest species to countries with significant eucalypt plantations.
Determination of Extratropical Tropopause Height in an Idealized Gray Radiation Model
Authors: Zurita-Gotor Pablo , Vallis Geoffrey K.
Published: February 2013

This paper investigates the mechanisms that determine the extratropical tropopause height, extending previous results with a Newtonian cooling model. A primitive equation model forced by a meridional gradient of incoming solar radiation, with the outgoing infrared radiation calculated using a simple gray radiation scheme, is now used. The tropopause is defined as the top of the boundary layer over which dynamical heat transport moves the temperature away from radiative equilibrium, and its height is estimated from the isentropic mass flux. Depending on parameters, this tropopause may or may not be associated with a sharp stratification change, and it may or may not be possible to define a thermal tropopause. The mass flux and thermal tropopause display similar sensitivity to external parameters when the latter can be defined; this is a sensitivity in good agreement with predictions by a radiative constraint. In some contrast to the Newtonian model, the radiative constraint is now quite effective in preventing adjustment to marginal criticality with realistic parameters.

The meridional structure of the thermal tropopause displays a jump in height at the jet latitude, which appears to be due to the formation of a mixing barrier at the jet maximum when baroclinicity has a finite vertical scale. As meridional potential vorticity mixing is inhibited across the jet, a discontinuity is created between weakly stratified air on its warm side and strongly stratified air on its cool side. The meridional stratification contrast is created by adiabatic cooling and warming by the residual circulation, as this circulation must be deflected vertically to avoid the mixing barrier at the jet maximum.
Evaluation of CMIP3 and CMIP5 Wind Stress Climatology Using Satellite Measurements and Atmospheric Reanalysis Products
Authors: Lee Tong , Waliser Duane E. , Li Jui-Lin F. , Landerer Felix W. , Gierach Michelle M.
Published: February 2013

Wind stress measurements from the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) satellite and two atmospheric reanalysis products are used to evaluate the annual mean and seasonal cycle of wind stress simulated by phases 3 and 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3 and CMIP5). The ensemble CMIP3 and CMIP5 wind stresses are very similar to each other. Generally speaking, there is no significant improvement of CMIP5 over CMIP3. The CMIP ensemble–average zonal wind stress has eastward biases at midlatitude westerly wind regions (30°–50°N and 30°–50°S, with CMIP being too strong by as much as 55%), westward biases in subtropical–tropical easterly wind regions (15°–25°N and 15°–25°S), and westward biases at high-latitude regions (poleward of 55°S and 55°N). These biases correspond to too strong anticyclonic (cyclonic) wind stress curl over the subtropical (subpolar) ocean gyres, which would strengthen these gyres and influence oceanic meridional heat transport. In the equatorial zone, significant biases of CMIP wind exist in individual basins. In the equatorial Atlantic and Indian Oceans, CMIP ensemble zonal wind stresses are too weak and result in too small of an east–west gradient of sea level. In the equatorial Pacific Ocean, CMIP zonal wind stresses are too weak in the central and too strong in the western Pacific. These biases have important implications for the simulation of various modes of climate variability originating in the tropics. The CMIP as a whole overestimate the magnitude of seasonal variability by almost 50% when averaged over the entire global ocean. The biased wind stress climatologies in CMIP not only have implications for the simulated ocean circulation and climate variability but other air–sea fluxes as well.
A Framework for Bridging Cultural Barriers in Suicide Risk Assessment
Authors: Rogers James R. , Russell Elizabeth J.
Published: February 2013

The incidence and prevalence of death by suicide and nonlethal suicidal behaviors such as suicide attempts, thoughts, and feelings are increasing in the United States and throughout the world. Efforts to prevent suicide deaths and suicide attempts, and reduce the likelihood that suicidal thoughts and feelings will lead to those outcomes, rest on the accuracy of suicide risk assessments primarily conducted in the context of clinical interviews. Despite being armed with lists of empirically derived “correlates” of suicide (i.e., risk factors), suicide risk assessment continues to be a challenging task faced by counseling psychologists and other mental health professionals on a daily basis. As Shea (1999) has suggested, this challenge in a large part is a function of differing values and beliefs regarding suicide between the clinician and the client that create barriers to accurate assessment. The thesis of this contribution to the Major Contribution is that the barriers to suicide risk assessment are much broader than values and beliefs when in the context of cultural differences between the clinician and client. Thus, we present an argument for the adoption of a set of compatibility heuristics as a framework for suicide risk assessment in the cross-cultural suicide risk assessment environment.
Improvement of the mechanical properties of carbon black-filled ethylene propylene diene monomer using a metallic acrylate salt as filler
Authors: Shokrzadeh A , Naderi G , Bakhshandeh GR , Zohuriaan-Mehr MJ , Esmizadeh E
Published: February 2013

The effects of aluminum triacrylate on vulcanization, mechanical and morphological properties of filled peroxide-cured ethylene-propylene-diene rubber reinforced with carbon black are investigated. Curing kinetics is studied by rheometer and the results indicate that the curing characteristics are influenced by combination of conventional filler (carbon black) and reactive filler (aluminum triacrylate), because the former one enhances the physical cross-linking and the latter one introduces the ionic cross-linking. The results obtained show that the tensile strength, modulus, hardness and cross-link density were tremendously increased with increase of aluminum triacrylate loading in carbon black–filled ethylene propylene diene monomer. Moreover, the observation on the compounds showed that introduction of aluminum triacrylate reduces the elongation at break, resilience and abrasion of carbon black–filled ethylene propylene diene monomer. Morphology of the fractured surfaces of ethylene propylene diene monomer/carbon black/aluminum triacrylate composites was studied by scanning electron microscope. The morphological study indicates that interaction between the fillers and ethylene propylene diene monomer matrix has been improved by substitution of aluminum triacrylate filler with carbon black. Thus, the formation of ionic cross-links structures from both homo-polymerization aluminum triacrylate and graft co-polymerization of it onto the ethylene propylene diene monomer were the main reasons for the significant improvement in mechanical properties of ethylene propylene diene monomer/carbon black composites.
Odontoblastic Syncytium through Electrical Coupling in the Human Dental Pulp
Authors: Ikeda H. , Suda H.
Published: February 2013

We have previously reported a dye-coupling network between odontoblasts (OBs). However, it is still unclear how the information detected by the odontoblasts is transmitted. The aim of this study was to characterize the odontoblastic syncytium electrophysiologically in the human dental pulp. Pulpal cells were freshly isolated from human premolars immediately after extraction. Under a light microscope, coupled or small clusters (3-20) of odontoblasts, each of which had a monopolar process (95-280 µm) and an oval cell body, were easily observed to be lined up in parallel. Cells were used for electrophysiological recording within 3 hrs in the dual patch-clamp configuration. Electrical couplings were found between odontoblasts (37/40 pairs). Voltage gating showed directional independence between pairs of odontoblasts. The time constant to a current decay increased with the number of clustered odontoblasts. Nine of 37 pairs isolated from young patients were electrically coupled, but could not be voltage-clamped. Transjunctional currents were blocked by octanol. These results suggest that odontoblasts form a syncytium that is directionally independent via symmetric gap junction channels in the odontoblastic layer. Young odontoblasts with a high electrical conductance to neighboring cells may be related to high potential of information transmission or calcification.
Reckless endangerment warfare
Authors: Cronin Bruce
Published: February 2013

This article examines how military organizations that are generally committed to following the laws and customs of war exploit what the author terms ‘the collateral damage exemption’, by employing legally-sanctioned war-fighting strategies that result in significant numbers of civilian casualties. This exemption shields combatants from legal liability for ‘incidental’ or ‘inadvertent’ civilian losses and the destruction of civilian objects that may occur during lawful actions. The author argues that military strategies which promote the use of overwhelming force under conditions that are likely to adversely affect the civilian population on a significant scale push the boundaries of legal behavior. Under these conditions, collateral damage is not inadvertent, but the calculated results of policy decisions. Most academics, journalists, and political leaders focus on blatant violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), for example, deliberate attacks on civilian populations. However, these actions are in many ways the least interesting from both a policy and scholarly perspective. This is because such violations are usually unambiguous, easily detected, and difficult to defend. More insidious are practices that deliberately straddle the line between legitimate action and violation by exploiting the collateral damage exception to IHL. This article demonstrates that high rates of civilian casualties that occur under the shroud of legality threaten the integrity of the laws and customs of armed conflict.
The Development of an Undergraduate Study Abroad Program
Authors: Shupe Ellen I.
Published: February 2013

In its recent report outlining principles for teaching undergraduate students in psychology, the American Psychological Association Board of Educational Affairs recommended including experiential learning in the curriculum and identified study abroad opportunities as being particularly valuable. Unfortunately, although American universities offer hundreds of faculty-led study abroad programs, only a handful of the programs offer coursework in psychology. In this article, I describe a program in Nicaragua on the psychology of social inequality I developed and have been leading for the past 10 years. I begin by describing the structure of the program and discuss my pedagogical approach and goals for the program. I then discuss research related to the value of short-term study abroad and provide evidence for the success of the Nicaragua program. Finally, I outline some initial steps in the program development process and urge faculty members to consider designing new study abroad programs in psychology.
Professor–Student Rapport Scale
Authors: Wilson Janie H. , Ryan Rebecca G.
Published: February 2013

Rapport between students and teachers leads to numerous positive student outcomes, including attitudes toward the teacher and course, student motivation, and perceived learning. The recent development of a Professor–Student Rapport scale offers assessment of this construct. However, a Cronbach’s α of .96 indicated item redundancy, and the 34-item scale is unwieldy in a survey-heavy culture. In addition, the most valuable outcome of student learning is actual grades, which remained to be assessed. In the current study, we relied on principal component analysis to reduce the number of items on the Professor–Student Rapport scale and examine predictive power of fewer items. We measured traditional student outcomes such as attitudes, motivation, and perceived learning. We also assessed end-of-semester grades to remove any potential student bias in learning or grade reporting. Six rapport items concerning student engagement and enjoyment of a course predicted all student outcomes, including course grades.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Treatment for Scrupulosity in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Dehlin John P. , Morrison Kate L. , Twohig Michael P.
Published: February 2013

This study evaluated acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for scrupulosity-based obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Five adults were treated with eight sessions of ACT, without in-session exposure, in a multiple baseline across participants design. Daily monitoring of compulsions and avoided valued activities were tracked throughout the study. The Obsessive Compulsive Inventory–Revised, Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity, Beck Depression Inventory–II, Quality of Life Scale, Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire, and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II were completed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. The Treatment Evaluation Inventory was completed at posttreatment. Average daily compulsions reduced as follows: pretreatment = 25.0, posttreatment = 5.6, and follow-up = 4.3. Average daily avoided valued activities reduced as follows: pretreatment = 6.0, posttreatment = 0.7, and follow-up = 0.5. Other measures showed similar patterns. Religious faith only slightly declined: 4% at posttreatment and 7% at follow-up. Treatment acceptability was high.
Early and later experience with one younger sibling affects face processing abilities of 6-year-old children
Authors: Cassia Viola Macchi , Proietti Valentina , Pisacane Antonella
Published: February 2013

Available evidence indicates that experience with one face from a specific age group improves face-processing abilities if acquired within the first 3 years of life but not in adulthood. In the current study, we tested whether the effects of early experience endure at age 6 and whether the first 3 years of life are a sensitive period for the effects of experience on perceptual learning. To this end, we compared the effects of early (before age 3) and later (after age 5) experience with one younger sibling on 6-year-olds’ processing of adult and infant faces. Unlike children without siblings, those with a younger sibling were equally skilled at differentiating faces of the two ages and showed a generalized inversion effect for both face ages, irrespective of when exposure to the sibling face began. Results indicate that face representation retains flexibility in response to extensive exposure to one facial identity even after age 3, and perceptual learning engendered by early experience continues to affect face-processing skills at 6 years.
The big society: Rediscovery of ‘the social’ or rhetorical fig-leaf for neo-liberalism?
Authors: Corbett Steve , Walker Alan
Published: February 2013

This paper subjects to critical scrutiny the idea of the ‘big society’ which, at present, is the UK Coalition government’s big idea and the personal mission of the Prime Minister David Cameron. First of all the concept is explained, with reference to some of the rhetoric surrounding it. Then the philosophical foundations of the ‘big society’ are unpacked, with particular reference to Red Toryism and libertarian paternalism. This is followed by an assessment of the big society and reference to the other major plank in the government’s social policy agenda, large cuts in public expenditure, that reflects the neo-liberal engine driving the strategy – the hollowing-out of the state – which has implications for the community initiatives and NGOs favoured by the big society’s promoters but which are entirely unacknowledged by them. Then a comparison is made between the present big society idea and Margaret Thatcher’s denial of the existence of society, which reveals many similarities in substance despite the rhetorical distancing. The final part of the paper examines the parallel Blue Labour analysis and suggests an alternative participatory democratic approach.
Can a novel word repetition task be a language-neutral assessment tool? Evidence from Welsh–English bilingual children
Authors: Sharp Kathryn M , Gathercole Virginia C Mueller
Published: February 2013

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of a need for a general, non-language-specific assessment tool that could be used to evaluate general speech and language abilities in children, especially to assist in identifying atypical development in bilingual children who speak a language unfamiliar to the assessor. It has been suggested that a non-word repetition task (NWRT) may be a suitable candidate to fill this role, as it does not rely on knowledge of particular words for performance, and it may be possible to devise non-words that are not specific to any given language. The current study reports performance on a Welsh non-word repetition task by typically developing Welsh–English bilingual children with varying levels of exposure to Welsh in the home (Only Welsh at Home, Only English at Home, or Welsh and English at Home). The focus of the study was on repetition of initial consonants and consonant clusters in novel words. Both quantitative and qualitative differences were found across groups, according to level of exposure to Welsh, on sounds unique to Welsh, but not on sounds shared by Welsh and English. The data suggest that level of knowledge of the language tested has an important impact on children’s performance on non-word repetition and that the use of the NWRT as a universal speech and language assessment tool should be adopted with caution.
Multilingual children with hearing loss: Factors contributing to language use at home and in early education
Authors: Crowe Kathryn , McKinnon David H , McLeod Sharynne , Ching Teresa YC
Published: February 2013

Understanding the relationship between children’s cultural and linguistic diversity and child, caregiver, and environmental characteristics is important to ensure appropriate educational expectations and provisions. As part of the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study, children’s caregivers and educators completed questionnaires on demographic characteristics, including the communication mode (oral, manual, or mixed) and languages used in home and early educational environments. This article reports an exploratory analysis to examine factors associated with language use and communication mode of children at 3 years of age. A Chi Square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analysis was performed on data from 406 children to examine factors influencing communication mode and oral language use. The factor that most influenced children’s communication mode at home was the communication mode used by their female caregiver. Children’s communication mode in their early education environment was most related to the communication mode they used at home, and then related to the presence of additional needs in the children, female caregivers’ level of education and the male caregivers’ use of languages other than English (LOTEs). A second exploratory CHAID analysis of data for children from multilingual families ( n = 106) indicated that female caregivers’ use of English at home significantly influenced whether children used a LOTE at home. Finally, the use of a LOTE at home was associated with the use of a LOTE in the early education environment. These findings serve as an initial description of the factors that were associated with the communication mode and language use of children with hearing loss.