bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring and Interpreting the Predictive Validity of Violence Risk Assessments: An Overview of the Special Issue
Authors: Singh Jay P. , Petrila John
Published: February 2013

Mental health professionals are routinely called upon to assess and testify concerning the violence risk of their patients. Expert opinion on risk assessment continues to influence decisions resulting in the long‐term denial of civil liberty or even death in the case of capital proceedings. Today, many clinicians use structured risk assessment tools to assist in these tasks. Although few would claim that violence can be predicted without error, all but the most skeptical would concede that our knowledge and ability to assess violence risk far exceeds that of three decades ago. This said, whether current practices are empirically, ethically, or legally valid remains a question of great importance given the consequences that may follow erroneous assessments. And while 30 years ago there was a broad (albeit often overstated) consensus that expert opinion on this topic was inherently suspect, today the field appears to operate on a broad (albeit often overstated) consensus that practices have improved to a sufficient extent to warrant the sizeable impact that violence risk assessments often have on individual liberty, levels of service, and resource allocation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification of protein mixture in chromatographic separation using multi‐wavelength UV spectra
Authors: Kamga Mark‐Henry , Woo Lee Hae , Liu Jay , Yoon Seongkyu
Published: February 2013

In therapeutic protein production, the protein purification with chromatographic processes is of high importance in separating the qualified proteins from the impurities for consistent product quality. Therefore, to aid real‐time monitoring of the protein purification processes, various kinds of methodologies have been proposed until now. However, the majority of them still rely on the use of a single ultraviolet (UV) absorbance or the utilization of expensive and time‐consuming instruments, thus requiring a simple, fast, and cost‐effective methodology for protein quantification. In this study, the feasibility of using multiwavelength UV spectroscopy was investigated as an alternative tool for the real‐time monitoring of the protein mixtures in protein purification. To this end, three different proteins were selected as a model system for the protein mixture, and the multivariate UV spectra were analyzed to construct the reliable quantification models for different proteins of interest. By using various chemometrics tools, such as partial least squares (PLS), the validity of estimating the protein concentration from the UV spectra of the mixture samples was rigorously analyzed with their prediction performance, and the results indicated that the multiwavelength UV spectra had sufficient sensitivity and accuracy to estimate the protein concentrations in mixture, demonstrating its usefulness for the rapid quantification of the protein mixtures in protein purification. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:664–671, 2013
Invisible Victims: Recorded Crime and Children in the UK
Authors: Bunting Lisa
Published: February 2013

While violence against children is a common occurrence only a minority of incidents come to the attention of the authorities. Low reporting rates notwithstanding, official data such as child protection referrals and recorded crime statistics provide valuable information on the numbers of children experiencing harm which come to the attention of professionals in any given year. In the UK, there has been a strong tendency to focus on child protection statistics while children as victims of crime remain largely invisible in annual crime reports and associated compendia. This is despite the implementation of a raft of policies aimed at improving the system response to victims and witnesses of crime across the UK. This paper demonstrates the utility of a more detailed analysis of crime statistics in providing information on the patterns of crime against children and examining case outcomes. Based on data made available by the Police Service for Northern Ireland, it highlights how violent crime differentially impacts on older children and how detection rates vary depending on case characteristics. It makes an argument for developing recorded crime practice to make child victims of crime more visible and to facilitate assessment of the effectiveness of current initiatives and policy developments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Children as victims of crime remain largely invisible in annual crime reports and associated compendia’

Key Practitioner Messages

UK recorded crime is not routinely disaggregated by age and there is limited consideration of the changing patterns of crime against children.

Practitioners working to reduce offending against children and to support victims through the criminal justice system are not being provided with the appropriate data to measure throughput through the system.

Lack of information on the reasons why cases remain undetected means that strategies to reduce case attrition are essentially ‘flying blind’.

‘The criminal justice system are not being provided with the appropriate data to measure throughput through the system’
Being Parents and Workers: Qualitative Insights from Child Protection Workers
Authors: O'Reilly Rebecca , Wilkes Lesley , Luck Lauretta , Jackson Debra
Published: February 2013

As a parent of their own children, balancing home and work for child protection workers (CPWs) can be difficult. This may contribute to the sustainability of the CPW role for those workers who are also parents, and to the complexity of establishing viable child protection services (CPSs). This paper explores CPWs experiences of being both a parent and a CPW. Findings, drawn from a larger case study which aimed to investigate CPW work practices and the challenges caused by them for workers, will be used to explicate this issue for workers and the organisation. Fifteen CPWs employed by a busy, moderate‐ to high‐risk CPS participated in the larger case study with 14 participants undertaking qualitative semi‐structured, open‐ended interviews. Data pertaining to the dual roles of being a parent and a CPW were categorised into categories, minor categories and sub‐categories. The two sub categories represented in this paper are: ‘CPWs: Life as a Parent’ and ‘CPWs: Parent as a Worker’. Being a parent and a CPW impacted on both professional practices and personal parenting experiences. Strategies by the organisation that supported parent workers in maintaining family‐work balance assisted CPWs to be able to maintain stability in their role. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Being a parent and a CPW impacted on both professional practices and personal parenting experiences’

Key Practitioner Messages

Balancing child protection roles with parenting roles is difficult.

CPW roles impact on parenting and parenting roles impact on child protection work.

Family‐friendly workplace policy for CPWs is required to benefit CPW health and promote sustainability in this role.
Transradial intervention for patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction with or without cardiogenic shock
Authors: Fujii Toshiharu , Masuda Naoki , Ijichi Takeshi , Kamiyama Yoshinari , Tanaka Shigemitsu , Nakazawa Gaku , Shinozaki Norihiko , Matsukage Takashi , Ogata Nobuhiko , Ikari Yuji
Published: February 2013

Objectives

To compare clinical outcomes between transradial (TRI) and transfemoral intervention (TFI) in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with or without shock.

Background

TRI for STEMI has benefits in TRI high volume centers. However, TRI has not been reported for STEMI with shock even in such centers.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 425 STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI. Patients were divided into four groups according to approach site and presence of cardiogenic shock, including TRI without shock (TR group, n = 273), TRI with shock (TRS group, n = 38), TFI without shock (TF group, n = 71), and TFI with shock (TFS group, n = 43).

Results

PCI success rates were similar among the four groups. The TR group was superior to the TF group in terms of shorter cath lab to first device activation time, and lower access site complications, and 30‐day mortality rates (1.1% vs. 11.3%, P < 0.001). In shock patients, cardiopulmonary arrest was commonly observed in both the TRS and TFS groups (42.1% and 51.2%, respectively). The TRS group showed a trend toward a shorter door to first device activation time compared to the TFS group and lower access site complications; however, 30‐day mortality rate was 28.9% in TRS and 25.6% in TFS group (P = 0.7).

Conclusions

In TRI high volume center, TRI for STEMI was safe and feasible as a default approach. TRI could be applied to severe shock patients with similar clinical outcome to TFI. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The relative exergy‐destroyed array: A new tool for control structure design
Authors: Munir M.T. , Yu W. , Young B.R.
Published: February 2013

Due to increasing energy demands, energy crises and strict environmental regulations, the eco‐efficiency of all industrial processes and plants has become vitally important. Control loop configuration or control system structure determination is a major and vitally important activity in the complex task of process control because a poorly structured control strategy can lose much energy from the process or plant when implemented. To save this loss of energy due to a poorly structured control strategy, engineers need to find a way to integrate control loop configuration and measurements of eco‐efficiency. In this paper, we present the relative exergy‐destroyed array (REDA), a new tool to measure the relative eco‐efficiency of a process. The REDA is a means to compare the eco‐efficiency of multi‐input multi‐output processes for different combinations of control structures. Based on steady state information, it is a simple tool for comparing eco‐efficiency. The results obtained from the REDA are interpreted and explained with the help of case studies involving a whole monochlorobenzene (MCB) plant and a heat exchanger network (HEN). The REDA may help guide the process designer to quickly find a control design with low operating costs and high eco‐efficiency.
Highly Efficient, Ultra‐Low Energy Consumption Process for Phenol Wastewater Treatment with Ultra‐Low Carbon Emission
Authors: Zhang Yalei , Li Deyi , Zhang Yonggang , Zhou Xuefei , Hong Jie , Jiang Ming
Published: February 2013

Phenol is one of the main pollutants in phenol wastewater and has been proved non‐biodegradable. In this study, based on strongly ring‐opening capability of boron doped diamond film electrode, a highly efficient and energy‐saving method with ultra‐low carbon emission is established through a combination of electrochemical oxidation and biological degradation. On one hand, electrochemical oxidation as pretreatment can solve the critical problem that phenol wastewater is a biological recalcitrant. On the other hand, the relatively low current efficiency during the late stage of electrochemical oxidation can be solved by follow‐up biological treatment, thus reduce the energy consumption and the cost significantly. More importantly, the carboxylic acids (oxidized from phenol) can be fully used as carbon source (no additional carbon source is added) for microbial growth instead of being oxidized to carbon dioxide and water through selecting optimizing sequencing batch reactor access time, so the carbon emission is greatly reduced. The results showed that it can save about 76.5% energy consumption and about 51.2% chemical oxygen demand can be used to maintain microorganism self‐reproduction. This is significant that this combined technology not only runs highly effectively at low cost, but also reduces the emission of greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, thus environment friendly with wide application prospects.
Perceptual uniformity in digital image representation and display
Authors: Poynton Charles , Funt Brian
Published: February 2013

Digital image representation is perceptually uniform if a small perturbation of a component value—such as the digital code value used to represent red, green, blue, or luminance—produces a change in light output at a display that is approximately equally perceptible across the range of that value. Most digital image coding systems—including sRGB (used in desktop graphics), BT.709 (used in high‐definition television, HD), Adobe RGB (1998) (used in graphics arts), and DCI P3 RGB (used in digital cinema)—represent colour component (pixel) values in a perceptually uniform manner. However, this behavior is not well documented and is often shrouded in confusion. This article surveys perceptual uniformity in digital imaging and attempts to clarify some widely misunderstood aspects of image coding. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 6–15, 2014
Pitavastatin Concentrations Are Not Increased by CYP3A4 Inhibitor Itraconazole in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Nakagawa Shunji , Gosho Masahiko , Inazu Yuji , Hounslow Neil
Published: February 2013

Itraconazole is a synthetic triazole antifungal agent which is known to be a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, and may cause drug–drug interactions with the many drugs metabolized by this route, including some statins. In this study, the influence of concomitant administration of a single oral dose of pitavastatin with itraconazole at steady state was investigated to determine the potential for pharmacokinetic interaction and any effects on safety. Eighteen subjects were enrolled into the study. The AUC and Cmax of pitavastatin alone were 138 ng h/mL and 63.8 ng/mL, and pitavastatin with itraconazole were 106 ng h/mL and 49.5 ng/mL, respectively. Comparison of the 90% confidence interval of the geometric mean ratio of AUC0–t and Cmax against a standard reference of 0.80–1.25 demonstrated that the lower limit was breached for both pitavastatin and its lactone metabolite (0.71–0.84 and 0.69–0.88 for AUC0–t and Cmax, respectively, for pitavastatin, 0.86–0.97 and 0.76–0.86 for AUC0–t and Cmax, respectively, for pitavastatin lactone). The safety and tolerability of pitavastatin was not affected by co‐administration with itraconazole. This study suggests that pitavastatin is not a CYP3A4 substrate in humans.
Market Responses to Firms' Voluntary Climate Change Information Disclosure and Carbon Communication
Authors: Lee Su‐Yol , Park Yun‐Seon , Klassen Robert D.
Published: February 2013

Despite the importance of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the question of how firms' voluntary carbon disclosure influences capital markets and shareholder value remains unanswered. Using the event study methodology with a sample of firms from the CDP Korea 2008 and 2009, this paper investigates market responses to firms' voluntary carbon information disclosure. The results suggest that the market is likely to respond negatively to firms' carbon disclosure, implying that investors tend to perceive carbon disclosure as bad news and thus are concerned about potential costs facing firms for addressing global warming. In addition, the study examines the moderating effect of frequent carbon communication on the relationship between carbon disclosure and shareholder value. The results suggest that a firm can mitigate negative market shocks from its carbon disclosure by releasing its carbon news periodically through the media in advance of its carbon disclosure. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Double Electrical Layer at the Plasma‐Solution Interface
Authors: Khlyustova A. , Maksimov A.
Published: February 2013

Plasma‐solution interface plays the important role in the systems of the electrical discharges with or in liquids (electrolyte solutions). Processes, which pass at this interface, influence on as plasma as liquid. In this paper, the theoretical and experimental results of studies of the double layer on the liquid surface are presented. Data of cathode region properties, kinetics of nonequilibrium vaporization, correlation between radiation intensity and fluxes from electrolyte cathode surface and energy consumptions per on one water molecule transfer are summarized. It is able to suggest the transfer mechanism at the plasma‐solution interface. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On the Role of Capacitance Determination Accuracy for the Electrical Characterization of Pulsed Driven Dielectric Barrier Discharges
Authors: Pipa A. V. , Hoder T. , Brandenburg R.
Published: February 2013

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of coaxial geometry has been investigated. The discharge cell was filled by 100 mbar of argon and driven by positive square voltage pulses with a rise time of 20 ns and 75 ns. The internal discharge characteristics such as the discharge current, the gas gap voltage, the instantaneous power and energy have been determined from measured current and voltage waveforms. The peculiarities of the experimental evaluation of the discharge parameters are discussed in detail. Special attention is paid to the accurate experimental determination of the key capacitance values of the DBD, namely the capacitance of the reactor cell Ccell and the capacitance of the dielectric barriers Cd. The influence of the capacitance value accuracy on precision of electrical characterization is demonstrated and it is shown that a small uncertainty in the Cd value leads to large errors in the evaluation of the gas gap voltage. Nevertheless, the obtained accuracy of the capacitance values allows the reliable comparison of the electrical DBD parameters. These are sensitive to the mode of discharge excitation. The shortening of the voltage rise time leads to the increase of the total and instantaneous energy as well as the peak power dissipated into the discharge. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Radiation Emission of Fast Electrons in Collisions with “Ion‐Sphere” in Dense Plasmas
Authors: Astapenko V. A. , Rosmej F. B. , Lisitsa V. S. , Li Xiangdong
Published: February 2013

Radiative emission of fast electrons in collision with an “ion‐sphere” electron distribution in dense plasmas is under consideration. The electron structure of the ion sphere is calculated ab initio using self‐consistent solution of both bound and free electron distribution inside the sphere. Two radiation channels are included: emission of the colliding electron itself in static potential (conventional or static Bremsstrahlung) and the emission of “ion sphere” medium due to its polarization by the colliding electron (polarization Bremsstrahlung). The last one is calculated in the frame of local plasma density approximation. Interference between conventional and polarization Bremsstrahlung is taken into account. It is shown that spectral cross section of the process has characteristic features depending on plasma density and ionization stage of plasma ions. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Heat‐shock–mediated conditional regulation of hedgehog/gli signaling in zebrafish
Authors: Shen Meng‐Chieh , Ozacar A. Tuba , Osgood Marcey , Boeras Crina , Pink Jochebed , Thomas Jeanne , Kohtz Jhumku D. , Karlstrom Rolf
Published: February 2013

Background: Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is required for embryogenesis and continues to play key roles postembryonically in many tissues, influencing growth, stem cell proliferation, and tumorigenesis. Systems for conditional regulation of Hh signaling facilitate the study of these postembryonic Hh functions. Results: We used the hsp70l promoter to generated three heat‐shock–inducible transgenic lines that activate Hh signaling and one line that represses Hh signaling. Heat‐shock activation of these transgenes appropriately recapitulates early embryonic loss or gain of Hh function phenotypes. Hh signaling remains activated 24 hr after heat shock in the Tg(hsp70l:shha‐EGFP) and Tg(hsp70l:dnPKA‐BGFP) lines, while a single heat shock of the Tg(hsp70l:gli1‐EGFP) or Tg(hsp70l:gli2aDR‐EGFP) lines results in a 6‐ to 12‐hr pulse of Hh signal activation or inactivation, respectively. Using both in situ hybridization and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we show that these lines can be used to manipulate Hh signaling through larval and juvenile stages. A ptch2 promoter element was used to generate new reporter lines that allow clear visualization of Hh responding cells throughout the life cycle, including graded Hh responses in the embryonic central nervous system. Conclusions: These zebrafish transgenic lines provide important new experimental tools to study the embryonic and postembryonic roles of Hh signaling. Developmental Dynamics 242:529–539, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non‐parallel recombination limits cre‐loxP‐based reporters as precise indicators of conditional genetic manipulation
Authors: Liu Jing , Willet Spencer G. , Bankaitis Eric D. , Xu Yanwen , Wright Chris V. E. , Gu Guoqiang
Published: February 2013

Cre/LoxP‐mediated recombination allows for conditional gene activation or inactivation. When combined with an independent lineage‐tracing reporter allele, this technique traces the lineage of presumptive genetically modified Cre‐expressing cells. Several studies have suggested that floxed alleles have differential sensitivities to Cre‐mediated recombination, which raises concerns regarding utilization of Cre‐reporters to monitor recombination of other floxed loci of interest. Here, we directly investigate the recombination correlation, at cellular resolution, between several floxed alleles induced by Cre‐expressing mouse lines. The recombination correlation between different reporter alleles varied greatly in otherwise genetically identical cell types. The chromosomal location of floxed alleles, distance between LoxP sites, sequences flanking the LoxP sites, and the level of Cre activity per cell all likely contribute to observed variations in recombination correlation. These findings directly demonstrate that, due to non‐parallel recombination events, commonly available Cre reporter mice cannot be reliably utilized, in all cases, to trace cells that have DNA recombination in independent‐target floxed alleles, and that careful validation of recombination correlations are required for proper interpretation of studies designed to trace the lineage of genetically modified populations, especially in mosaic situations. genesis 51:436–442. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
503unc, a small and muscle‐specific zebrafish promoter
Authors: Berger Joachim , Currie Peter D.
Published: February 2013

The muscle‐specific UNC‐45b assists in the folding of sarcomeric myosin. Analysis of the zebrafish unc‐45b upstream region revealed that unc‐45b promoter fragments reliably drive GFP expression after germline transmission. The muscle‐specific 503‐bp minimal promoter 503unc was identified to drive gene expression in the zebrafish musculature. In transgenic Tg(−503unc:GFP) zebrafish, GFP fluorescence was detected in the adaxial cells, their slow fiber descendants, and the fast muscle. At later stages, robust GFP fluorescence is eminent in the cardiac, cranial, fin, and trunk muscle, thereby recapitulating the unc‐45b expression pattern. We propose that the 503unc promoter is a small and muscle‐specific promoter that drives robust gene expression throughout the zebrafish musculature, making it a valuable tool for the exploration of zebrafish muscle. genesis 51:443–447. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reversible and tissue‐specific activation of MAP kinase signaling by tamoxifen in brafV637ERT2 mice
Authors: Ortiz Oskar , Wurst Wolfgang , Kühn Ralf
Published: February 2013

Deregulated MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling plays key roles in developmental and adult disease processes, but the experimental activation of MAPK is a currently unresolved task. For the reversible induction of MAPK signaling, we generated transgenic mice harboring a tamoxifen inducible BRAFV637EERT2 fusion protein. The expression of the inducible BRAF kinase can be directed by Cre/loxP‐mediated recombination to selected cell types and enables the highly specific activation of MAPK signalling in vivo. We show that MAPK signaling can be transiently activated in the brain, liver, or kidney of BrafV637EERT2 mice by a single injection of tamoxifen. BrafV637EERT2 mice provide a new versatile tool to study disease mechanisms elicited by MAPK activation, complementing gene knockout technology that is restricted to the analysis of loss‐of‐function phenotypes. genesis 51:448–455. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In Situ Recrystallization of Polyoxometalates: From 0D Architectures to 2D Inorganic–Organic Hybrids
Authors: Liu Xuan , An Haiyan , Chen Zhaofei , Zhang Hua , Hu Ying , Zhu Guibo , Geletii Yurii V. , Hill Craig L.
Published: February 2013

The compound (4‐H2pya)3[Al(OH)6Mo6O18]·5H2O (1) transforms into two 2D hybrid species (4‐Hpya)[(4‐Hpya)Ln(H2O)5]2[Al(OH)6Mo6O18]2·13H2O {Ln = Ce (2), La (3); 4‐Hpya = 3‐(4‐pyridyl)acrylic acid} in the mother liquor through crystal dissolution and recrystallization; this represents a rare example of in situ recrystallization involving polyoxometalate crystal systems. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compound 1 is a 0D architecture consisting of protonated 4‐H2pya ligands and [Al(OH)6Mo6O18]3– polyoxoanions, which are connected through hydrogen‐bonding and electrostatic interactions. Isostructural compounds 2 and 3 crystallize in the triclinic crystal system, space group P$\bar {1}$, and exhibit a unique 2D framework composed of [Al(OH)6Mo6O18]3– polyoxoanions and Ln‐4‐Hpya coordination complexes with a rare (3,4)‐connected net. The magnetic properties of compound 2 were studied by measuring its magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 2.0–300.0 K.
Exposure science, the exposome, and public health
Authors: Brunekreef Bert
Published: February 2013

This commentary discusses recent developments in exposure science and their potential contribution to improving public health. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 54:596‐598, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adsorption of basic dye onto raw and surface‐modified agricultural waste
Authors: Senthil Kumar P. , Palaniyappan M. , Priyadharshini M. , Vignesh A.M. , Thanjiappan A. , Sebastina Anne Fernando P. , Tanvir Ahmed R. , Srinath R.
Published: February 2013

The application of raw Bangalora (Totapuri) mango seed kernel powder (RMS) and surface‐modified Bangalora (Totapuri) mango seed kernel powder (SMMS) for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution was investigated under ambient conditions. The adsorbent was characterized by the FTIR and SEM analyses. Batch adsorption studies were conducted by varying the solution pH, adsorbent dose, initial MB dye concentration, and contact time. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of MB dye onto the adsorbent was found to be: pH (8.0), adsorbent dose (1.0 g: RMS and 0.4 g: SMMS), contact time (60 min: RMS and 30 min: SMMS), temperature of 30°C for an initial MB dye concentration of 100 mg/L. Adsorption isotherm data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin‐Radushkevich isotherm models. Experimental data was successfully applied to the Freundlich model than the Langmuir model, and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was found to be greater for SMMS than the RMS. Adsorption kinetics was tested with the pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models. The kinetic results show that the adsorption process followed the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. Adsorption kinetic data were further applied to the intraparticle diffusion, Boyd kinetic and shrinking core models to explain the adsorption mechanism. Adsorption mechanism results shows that the adsorption process was controlled by both internal and external diffusion. The results of this study show that the SMMS could be used as an effective and low‐cost adsorbent for the removal of dyes from aqueous solution. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 87–98, 2014
Nearshore circulation over transverse bar and rip morphology with oblique wave forcing
Authors: Houser Chris , Arnott Ryan , Ulzhöfer Steffen , Barrett Gemma
Published: February 2013

There is a paucity of field data to describe the transition in nearshore circulation between alongshore, meandering and rip current systems. A combination of in‐situ current meters and surf zone drifters are used to characterize the nearshore circulation over a transverse bar and rip morphology at Pensacola Beach, Florida in the presence of relatively low energy oblique waves. Current speeds vary in response to the relative wave height ratio (Hs/h), which defines the degree and extent of breaking over the shoal. In the absence of wave breaking the nearshore circulation was dominated by an alongshore current driven by the oblique waves. As waves begin to break across the shoal (0.2<Hs/ h<0.5) the nearshore circulation is characterized by a meandering alongshore current. As conditions became more dissipative (Hs/h>0.5), the meandering current is replaced by an unsteady rip circulation that moves offshore between the shoals before turning alongshore in the direction of wave advance outside the surf zone. The increase in wave dissipation is associated with an increase in very low frequency (VLF) variations in the current speed across the shoal and in the rip channel that caused the circulation to oscillate between an offshore and an alongshore flow. The unsteady nature of the nearshore circulation is responsible for 55% of all surf zone exits under these more dissipative conditions. In contrast, only 29% of the drifters released from the shoal exited the surf zone and bypassed the adjacent shoal with the alongshore‐meandering current. While the currents had a low velocity (maximum of ~0.4 m s‐1) and would not pose a significant hazard to the average swimmer, the results of this study suggest that the transverse bar and rip morphology is sufficient to create an alongshore variation in wave dissipation that forces alongshore meandering and low‐energy rip circulation systems under oblique wave forcing. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New functions of Müller cells
Authors: Reichenbach Andreas , Bringmann Andreas
Published: February 2013

Müller cells, the major type of glial cells in the retina, are responsible for the homeostatic and metabolic support of retinal neurons. By mediating transcellular ion, water, and bicarbonate transport, Müller cells control the composition of the extracellular space fluid. Müller cells provide trophic and anti‐oxidative support of photoreceptors and neurons and regulate the tightness of the blood‐retinal barrier. By the uptake of glutamate, Müller cells are more directly involved in the regulation of the synaptic activity in the inner retina. This review gives a survey of recently discoved new functions of Müller cells. Müller cells are living optical fibers that guide light through the inner retinal tissue. Thereby they enhance the signal/noise ratio by minimizing intraretinal light scattering and conserve the spatial distribution of light patterns in the propagating image. Müller cells act as soft, compliant embedding for neurons, protecting them in case of mechanical trauma, and also as soft substrate required for neurite growth and neuronal plasticity. Müller cells release neuroactive signaling molecules which modulate neuronal activity, are implicated in the mediation of neurovascular coupling, and mediate the homeostasis of the extracellular space volume under hypoosmotic conditions which are a characteristic of intense neuronal activity. Under pathological conditions, a subset of Müller cells may differentiate to neural progenitor/stem cells which regenerate lost photoreceptors and neurons. Increasing knowledge of Müller cell function and responses in the normal and diseased retina will have great impact for the development of new therapeutic approaches for retinal diseases.
Costs of diagnosing dementia: results from SveDem, the Swedish Dementia Registry
Authors: Wimo Anders , Religa Dorota , Spångberg Kalle , Edlund Ann‐Katrin , Winblad Bengt , Eriksdotter Maria
Published: February 2013

Objective

Diagnostic of different dementia disorders is an important part of dementia care. So far, there is limited knowledge about how dementia is diagnosed in clinical routine, and there are few reports on the costs of the dementia work‐up leading to a diagnosis. Here, we examine the costs of diagnostic dementia work‐up in Sweden.

Methods

The analyses were made on the data from the Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem) and included 11,561 dementia patients diagnosed during 2007–2010, mainly not only in specialist care (SC) (n = 53) but also some primary care centres (PC). We have studied differences in the use of investigations for dementia diagnostics such as cognitive tests, blood and cerebrospinal fluid analyses, radiological examinations and assessments of functions. Unit costs for each diagnostic investigation were combined with the use of these investigations for all cases in the database. Results are presented versus gender and stratified for age.

Results

The number of diagnostic tests performed was 2.8 in PC and 4.6 in SC. The average costs (€1 = SEK9 and US$1 = SEK7 in 2010) were SEK6777 in PC and SEK11,682 in SC. Age was the strongest cost predictor while there were no gender differences. There were also regional differences, ranging from SEK8231 to SEK14,734 in SC.

Conclusions

The SveDem database offers valuable information on the diagnostic procedures for dementia in daily clinical practice. The differences between PC and SC in diagnostic costs reflect national guidelines. The age effect needs to be studied more. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Executive functioning in older adults with hoarding disorder
Authors: Ayers Catherine R. , Wetherell Julie Loebach , Schiehser Dawn , Almklov Erin , Golshan Shahrokh , Saxena Sanjaya
Published: February 2013

Background

Hoarding disorder (HD) is a chronic and debilitating psychiatric condition. Midlife HD patients have been found to have neurocognitive impairment, particularly in areas of executive functioning, but the extent to which this is due to comorbid psychiatric disorders has not been clear.

Aims/Method

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine executive functioning in geriatric HD patients without any comorbid Axis I disorders (n = 42) compared with a healthy older adult comparison group (n = 25). We hypothesized that older adults with HD would perform significantly worse on measures of executive functioning (Wisconsin Card Sort Task [Psychological Assessment Resources, Lutz, Florida, USA] ( Psychological Assessment Resources, 2003) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐IV digit span and letter–number sequencing tests [Pearson, San Antonio, TX, USA]).

Results

Older adults with HD showed significant differences from healthy older controls in multiple aspects of executive functioning. Compared with healthy controls, older adults with HD committed significantly more total, non‐perseverative errors and conceptual level responses on the Wisconsin Card Sort Task and had significantly worse performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐IV digit span and letter–number sequencing tests. Hoarding symptom severity was strongly correlated with executive dysfunction in the HD group.

Conclusions

Compared with demographically‐matched controls, older adults with HD have dysfunction in several domains of executive functioning including mental control, working memory, inhibition, and set shifting. Executive dysfunction is strongly correlated with hoarding severity and is not because of comorbid psychiatric disorders in HD patients. These results have broad clinical implications suggesting that executive functioning should be assessed and taken into consideration when developing intervention strategies for older adults with HD. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Climate change impacts on global agricultural water deficit
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Cai Ximing
Published: February 2013

This paper assesses the change in crop water deficits (the difference between crop evapotranspiration and precipitation that is effective for crop growth) of 26 crops (including rainfed and irrigated) under current (1961–1990) and projected climates (2070–2099). We found that despite the universally rising mean temperature, crop water deficits are likely to decline slightly at the global scale, although changes vary by region. While the increasing precipitation and changing intra‐annual precipitation distribution in many areas can lead to more effective rainfall for crop growth, the declining diurnal temperature range will play a key role in offsetting the warming effect at the global scale. Regionally, Africa and China are likely to benefit from lower water requirements, but the impacts on other regions, including Europe, India, South America, and the United States, are subject to the land‐use types (rainfed or irrigated) and the uncertainty involved in the assessment approaches.
TerraSAR‐X interferometry reveals small‐scale deformation associated with the summit eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
Authors: Richter Nicole , Poland Michael P. , Lundgren Paul R.
Published: February 2013

On 19 March 2008, a small explosive eruption at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, heralded the formation of a new vent along the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. In the ensuing years, the vent widened due to collapses of the unstable rim and conduit wall; some collapses impacted an actively circulating lava pond and resulted in small explosive events. We used synthetic aperture radar data collected by the TerraSAR‐X satellite, a joint venture between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and EADS Astrium, to identify and analyze small‐scale surface deformation around the new vent during 2008–2012. Lidar data were used to construct a digital elevation model to correct for topographic phase, allowing us to generate differential interferograms with a spatial resolution of about 3 m in Kīlauea's summit area. These interferograms reveal subsidence within about 100 m of the rim of the vent. Small baseline subset time series analysis suggests that the subsidence rate is not constant and, over time, may provide an indication of vent stability and potential for rim and wall collapse—information with obvious hazard implications. The deformation is not currently detectable by other space‐ or ground‐based techniques.
Tetrahydrobiopterin in nitric oxide synthase
Authors: Tejero Jesús , Stuehr Dennis
Published: February 2013

Summary: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is a critical enzyme for the production of the messenger molecule nitric oxide (NO) from L‐arginine. NOS enzymes require tetrahydrobiopterin as a cofactor for NO synthesis. Besides being one of the few enzymes to use this cofactor, the role of tetrahydrobiopterin in NOS catalytic mechanism is different from other enzymes: during the catalytic cycle of NOS, tetrahydrobiopterin forms a radical species that is again reduced, thus effectively regenerating after each NO synthesis cycle. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge about the role of tetrahydrobiopterin in the structure, function, and catalytic mechanism of NOS enzymes. © 2013 IUBMB Life 65(4):358–365, 2013.
Foreign body giant cells and osteoclasts are TRAP positive, have podosome‐belts and both require OC‐STAMP for cell fusion
Authors: Khan Usman A. , Hashimi Saeed M. , Bakr Mahmoud M. , Forwood Mark R. , Morrison Nigel A.
Published: February 2013

Macrophages have the ability to fuse and form multinucleated giant cells such as Osteoclast (OCs) and FBGCs. Osteoclast stimulatory transmembrane protein (OC‐STAMP) is an important cell surface protein involved in the formation of OCs. This study sought to determine if OC‐STAMP also regulates formation of FBGCs using expression analysis and subsequent inhibition studies. qPCR and Western blot analysis showed that OC‐STAMP expression is significantly higher in FBGCs compared to control monocytes (P < 0.05). Four days following cell culture, OCs were positive for TRAP and F‐actin ring formation, but FBGCs were not. In contrast, FBGCs were positive for TRAP and showed podosome belts comprised of F‐actin on Day 8. FBGCs were subsequently plated onto dentine, but despite presenting some morphologic features of OCs (OC‐STAMP expression, TRAP reactivity, and podosome belts) they failed to resorb bone. To evaluate a role for OC‐STAMP in FBGCs, we inhibited this cell surface protein with anti‐OC‐STAMP antibody and observed that cell fusion and podosome belt formation was inhibited in both OCs and FBGCs. Our data support the hypothesis that OC‐STAMP is a regulatory molecule for FBGCs; and that they are functionally distinct from OCs, despite similarities in gene expression profile, podosome belt formation, and TRAP expression. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1772–1778, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cellular control of connective tissue matrix tension
Authors: Langevin Helene M. , Nedergaard Maiken , Howe Alan K.
Published: February 2013

The biomechanical behavior of connective tissue in response to stretching is generally attributed to the molecular composition and organization of its extracellular matrix. It also is becoming apparent that fibroblasts play an active role in regulating connective tissue tension. In response to static stretching of the tissue, fibroblasts expand within minutes by actively remodeling their cytoskeleton. This dynamic change in fibroblast shape contributes to the drop in tissue tension that occurs during viscoelastic relaxation. We propose that this response of fibroblasts plays a role in regulating extracellular fluid flow into the tissue, and protects against swelling when the matrix is stretched. This article reviews the evidence supporting possible mechanisms underlying this response including autocrine purinergic signaling. We also discuss fibroblast regulation of connective tissue tension with respect to lymphatic flow, immune function, and cancer. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1714–1719, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Treatment Preference among Suicidal and Self‐Injuring Women with Borderline Personality Disorder and PTSD
Authors: Harned Melanie S. , Tkachuck Mathew A. , Youngberg Kelly A.
Published: February 2013

Objectives

This study examined treatment preferences among suicidal and self‐injuring women with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and PTSD.

Method

Women (N = 42, Mage = 34) with BPD, PTSD and recent intentional self‐injury were evaluated upon entry into a psychotherapy outcome study.

Results

The majority preferred a combined dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and prolonged exposure (PE) treatment (73.8%), followed by DBT alone (26.2%), and PE alone (0%). Women who preferred the combined treatment were more likely to report a desire to obtain relief from PTSD and to receive specific DBT and PE treatment components as reasons underlying this preference. Few women (21.4%) reported concerns about PE, but those who did were more likely to prefer DBT alone. More severe PTSD re‐experiencing symptoms, a childhood index trauma, and less reduction in positive affect after a trauma interview predicted a preference for the combined treatment.

Conclusions

These results may help to inform treatment for these complex patients.
Drainage from water‐filled crevasses along the margins of Jakobshavn Isbræ: A potential catalyst for catchment expansion
Authors: Lampkin D. J. , Amador N. , Parizek B. R. , Farness K. , Jezek K.
Published: February 2013

Saturated crevasses occur in local depressions within the shear margins of Jakobshavn Isbræ at inflections in the ice stream's flow direction. Spatio‐temporal variability of seven distinctive saturated crevasse groups was examined during the 2007 melt season. The area of saturated crevasses reached its maximum extent, ~1.8 km2, in early July, and remained largely constant until early August. Filling rates are correlated with regional melt production, while drainage rates are highly correlated with areal extent. Estimates on potential drainage volume from the largest crevasse system are ~9.23 × 10−3 km3 ± 2.15 × 10−8 km3 and ~ 4.92 × 10−2 km3 ± 3.58 × 10−8 km3, respectively, over a 16 day interval and are more than required for a distributed basal hydrologic system across this area to temporarily flood bedrock obstacles believed to control basal sliding. Future drainage events, likely extending farther inland with warming, could result in enhanced lateral mass discharge into the ice stream, with implications for the dynamic evolution of the entire basin.
Terminal repeat retrotransposons as DNA markers in fungi
Authors: Santana Mateus Ferreira , Batista Aline Duarte , Ribeiro Lílian Emídio , de Araújo Elza Fernandes , de Queiroz Marisa Vieira
Published: February 2013

In this study, we demonstrate that ClIRAP primers designed using the transposable element RetroCl1 sequence from Colletotrichum lindemuthianum can be used to generate an efficient IRAP (inter‐retrotransposon amplified polymorphism) molecular marker to study intra‐ and inter‐species diversity in fungi. It has been previously demonstrated that primers generated from this TRIM‐like element can be used in the Colletotrichum species. We now prove that the RetroCl1 sequence can also be used to analyze diversity in different fungi. IRAP profiles were successfully generated for 27 fungi species from 11 different orders, and intra‐species genetic variability was detected in six species. The ClIRAP primers facilitate the use of the IRAP technique for a variety of fungi without prior knowledge of the genome.
Expression of Bacteroides fragilis hemolysins in vivo and role of HlyBA in an intra‐abdominal infection model
Authors: Lobo Leandro A. , Jenkins Audrey L. , Jeffrey Smith C. , Rocha Edson R.
Published: February 2013

Bacteroides fragilis is the most frequent opportunistic pathogen isolated from anaerobic infections. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the genetic and molecular aspects of gene expression of its virulence factors during extra‐intestinal infections. A potential virulence factor that has received little attention is the ability of B. fragilis to produce hemolysins. In this study, an implanted perforated table tennis “ping‐pong” ball was used as an intra‐abdominal artificial abscess model in the rat. This procedure provided sufficient infected exudate for gene expression studies in vivo. Real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to quantify the relative expression of hlyA, hlyB, hlyC, hlyD, hlyE, hlyF, hlyG, and hlyIII mRNAs. The hlyA mRNA was induced approximately sixfold after 4 days postinfection compared with the mRNA levels in the inoculum culture prior to infection. The hlyB mRNA increased approximately sixfold after 4 days and 12‐fold after 8 days postinfection. Expression of hlyC mRNA increased sixfold after 1 day, 45‐fold after 4 days, and 16‐fold after 8 days postinfection, respectively. The hlyD and hlyE mRNAs were induced approximately 40‐fold and 30‐fold, respectively, after 4‐days postinfection. The hlyF expression increased approximately threefold after 4‐days postinfection. hlyG was induced approximately fivefold after 4 and 8 days postinfection. The hlyIII mRNA levels had a steady increase of approximately four‐, eight‐, and 12‐fold following 1, 4, and 8 days postinfection, respectively. These findings suggest that B. fragilis hemolysins are induced and differentially regulated in vivo. Both parent and hlyBA mutant strains reached levels of approximately 3–8 × 109 cfu/mL after 1 day postinfection. However, the hlyBA mutant strain lost 2 logs in viable cell counts compared with the parent strain after 8 days postinfection. This is the first study showing HlyBA is a virulence factor which plays a role in B. fragilis survival in an intra‐abdominal abscess model.