bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forecasting Success on Large Projects: Developing Reliable Scales to Predict Multiple Perspectives by Multiple Stakeholders over Multiple Time Frames
Authors: Turner Rodney , Zolin Roxanne
Published: September 2012

Our aim is to develop a set of leading performance indicators to enable managers of large projects to forecast during project execution how various stakeholders will perceive success months or even years into the operation of the output. Large projects have many stakeholders who have different objectives for the project, its output, and the business objectives they will deliver. The output of a large project may have a lifetime that lasts for years, or even decades, and ultimate impacts that go beyond its immediate operation. How different stakeholders perceive success can change with time, and so the project manager needs leading performance indicators that go beyond the traditional triple constraint to forecast how key stakeholders will perceive success months or even years later. In this article, we develop a model for project success that identifies how project stakeholders might perceive success in the months and years following a project. We identify success or failure factors that will facilitate or mitigate against achievement of those success criteria, and a set of potential leading performance indicators that forecast how stakeholders will perceive success during the life of the project's output. We conducted a scale development study with 152 managers of large projects and identified two project success factor scales and seven stakeholder satisfaction scales that can be used by project managers to predict stakeholder satisfaction on projects and so may be used by the managers of large projects for the basis of project control.
Some things change, some things stay the same: a longitudinal analysis of cancer caregivers' unmet supportive care needs
Authors: Girgis Afaf , Lambert Sylvie D. , McElduff Patrick , Bonevski Billie , Lecathelinais Christophe , Boyes Allison , Stacey Fiona
Published: September 2012

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify caregivers' unmet needs and the psychosocial variables associated with unmet need count within the first 24 months post‐survivor diagnosis.

Methods

Caregivers completed a comprehensive survey measuring the primary outcome, psychosocial variables, and demographics of interest at 6 (n = 547), 12 (n = 519), and 24 (n = 443) months post‐survivor diagnosis.

Results

Although prevalence of unmet needs significantly decreased over time, almost a third of caregivers still reported unmet needs at 24 months. Unmet needs were more prevalent among caregivers of lung cancer survivors, at 6 and 24 months. Top ranking unmet needs across time included ‘managing concerns about cancer coming back’, ‘reducing stress in the person with cancer's life’, ‘understanding the experience of the person with cancer’, and ‘accessible hospital parking’. At 24 months, some of the top ranking unmet needs were related to caregivers' well‐being and relationships. Increased interference in activities due to caregiving, anxiety, depression, avoidant and active coping, and out‐of‐pocket expenses was associated with reporting more unmet needs. Less involvement in caregiving roles and increased physical well‐being and social support were associated with reporting less unmet needs. For some variables (e.g. anxiety and depression), association with unmet needs strengthened over time.

Conclusions

This is the first longitudinal analysis of caregivers' unmet needs as they enter early and extended survivorship. Findings provide valuable insights into caregiver's unmet needs over time and identified a sub‐group of caregivers at risk of experiencing unmet needs, extending previous research and informing the timing and content of psychosocial services. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two‐dimensional numerical analysis of nanoscale junctionless and conventional Double Gate MOSFETs including the effect of interfacial traps
Authors: Chebaki Elasaad , Djeffal Fayçal , Bentrcia Toufik
Published: September 2012

This paper deals with the immunity behavior of the junctionless DG MOSFET device against the hot carrier degradation effect. The junctionless device is highly privileged because of its easy fabrication procedure, homogeneity along the channel axe in addition to its promising electrical characteristics compared to the conventional DG MOSFET with PN junction at the source and the drain sides. As a result, we demonstrate that junctionless DG MOSFET can be a viable option to enhance the immunity performances of nanoscale CMOS‐based devices technology for nanoelectronics digital applications (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Exploring polysilicon deposition conditions through a laboratory CVD prototype
Authors: Ramos Alba , del Cañizo Carlos , Valdehita Javier , Zamorano Juan Carlos , Rodríguez Araceli , Luque Antonio
Published: September 2012

Cost and energy consumption related to obtaining polysilicon impact significantly on the total photovoltaic module cost and its energy payback time. Process simplifications can be performed, leading to cost reductions. Nowadays, among several approaches currently pursued to produce the so called Solar Grade Silicon, the chemical route, named Siemens process, is the dominant one. At the Instituto de Energía Solar research on this topic is focused on the chemical route, in particular on the polysilicon deposition step by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) from Trichlorosilane through a laboratory prototype. Valuable information about the phenomena involved in the polysilicon deposition process and the operating conditions is obtained from our experiments. A particular feature of our system is the inclusion of a mass spectrometer. The present work comprises spectra characterization of the polysilicon deposition chemical reaction, temperature and inlet gas mixture composition influence on the deposition rate and analysis of polysilicon deposition conditions for the ‘pop‐corn' phenomenon to appear, based on experimental experience (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Defect engineering during the contact co‐firing step in an industrial belt furnace
Authors: Peral Ana , Lelièvre Jean François , Recart Federico , del Cañizo Carlos
Published: September 2012

This work implements an optimization of the phosphorus gettering effect during the contact co‐firing step by means of both simulations and experiments in an industrial belt furnace. An optimized temperature profile, named ‘extended co‐firing step’, is presented. Simulations show that the effect of the short annealing on the final interstitial iron concentration depends strongly on the initial contamination level of the material and that the ‘extended co‐firing’ temperature profile can enhance the gettering effect within a small additional time. Experimental results using sister wafers from the same multicrystalline silicon ingot confirm these trends and show the potential of this new defect engineering tool to improve the solar cell efficiency (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
How much effect of different antihypertensive medications on cardiovascular outcomes is attributable to their effects on blood pressure?
Authors: Proschan Michael , Ford Charles E. , Cutler Jeffrey A. , Graumlich James F. , Pavlik Valory , Cushman William C. , Davis Barry R. , Alderman Michael H. , Gordon David , Furberg Curt D. , Franklin Stanley S. , Blumenthal Samuel S. , Castaldo Richard S. , Preston Richard A. ,   ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group
Published: September 2012

The debate over whether certain antihypertensive medications have benefits beyond what would be expected from their blood pressure lowering spurred the Antihypertensive and Lipid‐Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial, which randomized 42,418 participants to chlorthalidone (15,255), amlodipine (9048), lisinopril (9054), or doxazosin (9061). We compared chlorthalidone, the active control, with each of the other three agents with respect to the primary outcome, fatal coronary heart disease or nonfatal myocardial infarction, and several other clinical endpoints. The arms were similar with respect to the primary endpoint, although some differences were found for other endpoints, most notably heart failure. Although the desire was to achieve similar blood pressure reductions in the four arms, we found some systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure differences. A natural question is to what degree can observed treatment group differences in cardiovascular outcomes be attributed to these blood pressure differences. The purpose of this paper was to delineate the problems inherent in attempting to answer this question, and to present analyses intended to overcome these problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Jerome Cornfield's contributions to early large randomized clinical trials and some reminiscences from the years of the slippery doorknobs
Authors: Wittes Janet
Published: September 2012

This paper briefly describes Jerome Cornfield's approach to Bayesian statistics, his discomfort with frequentist inference, and his contribution to two major clinical trials, the University Group Diabetes Program and the Coronary Drug Project. I mention the role of Bayesian statistics in current randomized clinical trials and conjecture why Cornfield's contributions to Bayesian methods are not more widely cited today. I then provide some personal recollections of Jerry as a role model and mentor and conclude with a recommendation that biostatisticians read his seminal papers because of their thoughtfulness, insight, wit, and clarity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Colorimetric Detection of Mercury Ions Based on Plasmonic Nanoparticles
Authors: Du Jianjun , Jiang Lin , Shao Qi , Liu Xiaogang , Marks Robert S. , Ma Jan , Chen Xiaodong
Published: September 2012

The development of rapid, specific, cost‐effective, and robust tools in monitoring Hg2+ levels in both environmental and biological samples is of utmost importance due to the severe mercury toxicity to humans. A number of techniques exist, but the colorimetric assay, which is reviewed herein, is shown to be a possible tool in monitoring the level of mercury. These assays allow transforming target sensing events into color changes, which have applicable potential for in‐the‐field application through naked‐eye detection. Specifically, plasmonic nanoparticle‐based colorimetric assay exhibits a much better propensity for identifying various targets in terms of sensitivity, solubility, and stability compared to commonly used organic chromophores. In this review, recent progress in the development of gold nanoparticle‐based colorimetric assays for Hg2+ is summarized, with a particular emphasis on examples of functionalized gold nanoparticle systems with oligonucleotides, oligopeptides, and functional molecules. Besides highlighting the current design principle for plasmonic nanoparticle‐based colorimetric probes, the discussions on challenges and the prospect of next‐generation probes for in‐the‐field applications are also presented.
Multi‐Reservoir Bioadhesive Microdevices for Independent Rate‐Controlled Delivery of Multiple Drugs
Authors: Chirra Hariharasudhan D. , Desai Tejal A.
Published: September 2012

A variety of oral administrative systems such as enterically coated tablets, capsules, particles, and liposomes have been developed to improve oral bioavailability of drugs. However, they suffer from poor intestinal localization and therapeutic efficacy due to the various physiological conditions and high shear fluid flow. Fabrication of novel microdevices combined with the introduction of controlled release, improved adhesion, selective targeting, and tissue permeation may overcome these issues and potentially diminish the toxicity and high frequency of conventional oral administration. Herein, thin, asymmetric, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microdevices are fabricated with multiple reservoirs using photolithography and reactive ion etching. They are loaded with different individual model drug in each reservoir. Enhanced bioadhesion of the microdevices is observed in the presence of a conjugated of targeting protein (tomato lectin) to the PMMA surface. As compared to drug encompassing hydrogels, an increase in drug permeation across the caco‐2 monolayer is noticed in the presence of a microdevice loaded with the same drug–hydrogel system. Also, the release of multiple drugs from their respective reservoirs is found to be independent from each other. The use of different hydrogel systems in each reservoir shows differences in the controlled release of the respective drugs over the same release period. These results suggest that, in the future, microfabricated unidirectional multi‐drug releasing devices will have an impact on the oral administration of a broad range of therapeutics.
Multiple Facets of the DNA Damage Response Contribute to the Radioresistance of Mouse Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Lines
Authors: Sugrue Tara , Brown James A.L. , Lowndes Noel F. , Ceredig Rhodri
Published: September 2012

The regeneration of the hematopoietic system following total body irradiation is supported by host-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) within the bone marrow. The mechanisms used by MSCs to survive radiation doses that are lethal to the hematopoietic system are poorly understood. The DNA damage response (DDR) represents a cohort of signaling pathways that enable cells to execute biological responses to genotoxic stress. Here, we examine the role of the DDR in mediating the resistance of MSCs to ionizing radiation (IR) treatment using two authentic clonal mouse MSC lines, MS5 and ST2, and primary bulk mouse MSCs. We show that multiple DDR mechanisms contribute to the radio-resistance of MSCs: robust DDR activation via rapid γ-H2AX formation, activation of effective S and G2/M DNA damage checkpoints, and efficient repair of IR-induced DNA double-strand breaks. We show that MSCs are intrinsically programmed to maximize survival following IR treatment by expressing high levels of key DDR proteins including ATM, Chk2, and DNA Ligase IV; high levels of the anti-apoptotic, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL; and low levels of the pro-apoptotic, Bim and Puma. As a result, we demonstrate that irradiated mouse MSCs withstand IR-induced genotoxic stress, continue to proliferate, and retain their capacity to differentiate long-term along mesenchymal-derived lineages. We have shown, for the first time, that the DDR plays key roles in mediating the radioresistance of mouse MSCs which may have important implications for the study and application of MSCs in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, graft-versus-host disease, and cancer treatment.
A novel isoflurane anesthesia induction system for raccoons
Authors: Bentler Kevin T. , Gossett Daniel N. , Root J. Jeffrey
Published: September 2012

We developed a novel small‐volume (24‐L) conical‐shaped isoflurane anesthesia induction chamber for use in a den chamber and tested it along with 3 conventional stand‐alone induction chambers (2 clear acrylic plastic chambers and a cylindrical‐shaped chamber) to determine utility for daily short‐duration manipulations of captive raccoons (Procyon lotor). Although the conventional chambers were valuable, the majority of inductions were performed using the cone chamber in a pen setting. With the novel device, we were able to minimize the need for pre‐anesthetic handling of animals and eliminate the need for injectable anesthesia agents. As a result, side effects normally associated with injectable agents were avoided. Mean anesthesia induction time using the cone chamber was 3.4 min (SD = 0.90). When used as designed, conventional chambers worked well, with induction times ranging from 2.7 min to 5.4 min. Because the stand‐alone chambers were not reliant upon den chambers for use, they may provide greater utility for field work. The conical‐shaped induction chamber, however, provides an option for safe short‐duration anesthetization of captive raccoons and could perhaps be used with other species and in other research settings. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Solvothermal Synthesis of One‐dimensional Chalcogenides Containing Group 13 Elements
Authors: Ewing Sarah J. , Romero M. Lucia , Hutchinson Jack , Powell Anthony V. , Vaqueiro Paz
Published: September 2012

The solvothermal synthesis and characterisation of [C6H16N2][GaS2]2 (1), [C6H16N2][Ga2Se3(Se2)] (2), and mixed‐metal phases with composition [C6H16N2][Ga2–xInxSe3(Se2)] (0 < x < 2)(3–5), is described. These materials have been characterised by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The materials contain one‐dimensional anionic chains. In 1, these chains consist of edge‐linked GaS4 tetrahedra, whilst in 2–5, the chains contain perselenide (Se2)2– units and comprise alternating four‐membered [M2Se2] and five‐membered [M2Se3] rings (where M = Ga, In). Compounds 3–5 represent the first examples of ternary mixed‐metal [M2Se3(Se2)]2– chains.
Preparation, Crystal Structure, and Thermal Decomposition of the Energetic Compound [Co(IMI)4(PA)](PA) (IMI = Imidazole and PA = Picrate)
Authors: Wu Bi‐Dong , Zhang Tong‐Lai , Yang Li , Zhang Jian‐Guo , Zhou Zun‐Ning
Published: September 2012

The novel multi‐ligand coordination compound [Co(IMI)4(PA)](PA) (1) was synthesized by using imidazole (IMI) and picrate (PA) and characterized by elemental analysis and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure was determined by X‐ray single crystal diffraction and the crystallographic data showed that the compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P$\bar{1}$ (α = 8.839(2) Å, b = 13.550(3) Å, c = 13.840(3) Å, α = 68.386(6)°, β = 88.349(9)°, and γ = 87.494(9)°). Furthermore, the CoII ion is six‐coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from four imidazole ligands and two oxygen atoms from a PA group. Its thermal decomposition mechanism was determined based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry‐derivative thermogravimetry (TG‐DTG) analysis. The kinetic parameters of the first exothermic process were studied by using Kissinger's and Ozawa's method, respectively. The energy of combustion and the enthalpy of formation were measured and calculated. They showed good combustion performance of the compound. Additionally, the sensitivity properties were determined with standard methods. The results of all these studies showed that [Co(IMI)4(PA)](PA) has potential application as ignition composition.
Flat vs. Folded Chelate Rings in cis‐PtIIa2 (a = NH3, a2 = en, a2 = 2, 2′‐bpy) Complexes of Twofold Substituted Diazine Ligands
Authors: von Grebe Philipp , Sanz Miguel Pablo J. , Lippert Bernhard
Published: September 2012

Acid‐base and ligating properties of three bis(substituted)pyrazine (pz) and pyrimidine (pym) ligands (pyrazine‐2, 5‐dicarboxylic acid, 2, 5‐pzdcH2, 2, 3‐bis(pyridine‐2‐yl)pyrazine, 2, 3‐bppz, pyrimidine‐4, 6‐dicarboxylic acid, 4, 6‐pmdcH2) toward cis‐PtIIa2 (a = NH3, a2 = en, a2 = 2, 2′‐bpy) have been studied. Combinations of pz‐N/pym‐N with donor atoms of the substituents lead to 5‐membered platinum chelates, but exclusive N, N‐coordination through the pyridyl substituents of 2, 3‐bppz can lead to a 7‐membered platinum chelate with a characteristic L‐shape of the resulting cation. It is observed for PtII(2, 2′‐bpy), yet not for PtII(en), and is a consequence of differences in sterical interactions between the 2, 3‐bppz ligand and the coligands of PtII.
Self‐expandable Metallic Stents in Patients with Stage IV Obstructing Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Lamazza Antonietta , Fiori Enrico , Schillaci Alberto , DeMasi Ercole , Pontone Stefano , Sterpetti Antonio V.
Published: September 2012

Background

The aim of the present study was to analyze the results of our experience with elective placement of self‐expandable metallic stents (SEMS) in patients with stage IV obstructing colorectal cancer. A systematic review of the literature was also carried out to analyze the factors influencing the results of SEMS placement and to determine if there has been any improvement in the more recent period.

Materials and methods

The results of a personal series of 100 patients were analyzed. There was no case of mortality or major morbidity. The systematic review included 27 articles published from April 2007 to December 2011.

Results

In our experience the technical success rate was 96 % and the clinical success rate was 92 %. During the follow‐up period a repeat colonoscopy was needed in 31 % of the patients for recurrent symptoms of obstruction due to fecal impaction (19 %), tumor growth (8 %), or stent dislodgment (4 %). Review of the literature showed similar results, with a significant improvement in the reports of the last 6 years; procedures performed on an emergency basis had poorer results.

Conclusions

Self‐expandable metallic stent placement offers a valid alternative to surgery in patients with obstructing stage IV colorectal cancer, but careful follow‐up is required.
Transcriptional Regulation of Desaturase Genes in Pichia pastoris GS115
Authors: Yu Ai‐Qun , Shi Tong‐Lei , Zhang Biao , Xing Lai‐Jun , Li Ming‐Chun
Published: September 2012

Here we investigated the regulation of Pichia pastoris desaturase genes by low temperature and exogenous fatty acids in the late‐exponential phase at the transcriptional level. Time‐course studies of gene expression showed that mRNA levels of four desaturase genes were rapidly and transiently enhanced by low temperature and suppressed by exogenous oleic acid. Stearic acid showed no obvious repression of mRNA levels of Fad12 and Fad15 and a slight increase in Fad9A and Fad9B mRNA levels. Using a promoter–reporter gene construct, we demonstrated that the pFAD15 promoter activity was induced by low temperature in a time‐dependent manner and reduced in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner by unsaturated fatty acids. Also, there was no absolute correlation between mRNA abundance and production of corresponding fatty acids. Disruption of Spt23 resulted in a decrease in transcript levels of Fad9A and Fad9B, but had little effect on the other desaturase genes. Consistent with these observations, a decrease in the relative amount of oleic acid (OLA) and an increase in the relative content of linoleic acid and ALA with different degrees were clearly observed in the stationary phase cells of ΔSpt23 mutant. Further analysis showed that the effect of low‐temperature activation and OLA inhibition on expression of Fad9A and Fad9B seemed to disappear after disruption of the Spt23 gene, which indicated that Spt23p is essential for the expression of two Δ9‐desaturase genes internally and probably involved in the regulation of Δ9‐desaturase genes transcription in response to external stimuli, and thereby plays a role in the synthesis of OLA.
Association of secondhand smoke exposure with mental health in men and women: Cross-sectional and prospective analyses using the UK Health and Lifestyle Survey
Authors: Lam E. , Kvaavik E. , Hamer M. , Batty G.D.
Published: September 2012

Objectives:

We examine cross-sectional and prospective associations between objectively measured SHS exposure and mental health using data from the Health and Lifestyle Survey (HALS), a large, UK-wide, general population-based, prospective cohort study with measurements of carbon monoxide or salivary cotinine levels.

Methods:

Mental health was assessed using the 30-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Multivariate logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, height, body mass index, alcohol intake, social status, and longstanding illness were used to analyze the association between exposure to SHS (exhaled CO and salivary cotinine categories) and psychological distress (≥ 5 GHQ).

Results:

Fully adjusted cross-sectional analysis revealed a positive relationship between exhaled carbon monoxide and psychological distress among smokers (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.04-1.78) but not among non-smoking adults. In a similar cross-sectional analysis between cotinine level and psychological distress, non-significant associations were found among smokers and non-smokers. Prospective analyses of the cotinine-psychological distress relationship among participants without psychological distress at baseline showed no significant increased risk of psychological distress among both smokers and non-smokers. In a prospective analysis of poor mental health outcome with respect to self-report smoking and SHS status, smokers had an increased risk of psychological distress while SHS and non-smokers did not.

Conclusions:

A non-significant association between objectively measured SHS exposure and poor mental health was found in this study. Our findings show discrepancies with recent studies suggesting the need for additional future research in this growing field of study.
The microtubule associated protein syntabulin is required for glucose‐stimulated and cAMP‐potentiated insulin secretion
Authors: Ying Ying , Li Lingyun , Cao Wen , Yan Dan , Zeng Qing , Kong Xiangchen , Lu Lina , Yan Meng , Xu Xiaohui , Qu Junle , Su Qingning , Ma Xiaosong
Published: September 2012

Syntabulin is a microtubule‐associated protein that mediates anterograde transport of vesicles to neuronal processes. Here, we found that syntabulin was expressed in mouse pancreas and insulin‐secreting β‐cells, and that it partially co‐localized with microtubule and insulin‐containing granules. The association of syntabulin with these organelles increased upon glucose stimulation. Knock‐down of syntabulin by shRNA reduced both basal and glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion, and diminished cAMP‐Epac2 and cAMP‐PKA potentiated insulin secretion. Additionally, syntabulin was preferentially phosphorylated by the Epac2 agonist 8‐pCPT‐2′‐O‐Me‐cAMP, suggesting that syntabulin could be a novel effector of Epac2 and play a critical role in cAMP‐enhanced insulin secretion.
Constitutive autotaxin transcription by Nmyc‐amplified and non‐amplified neuroblastoma cells is regulated by a novel AP‐1 and SP‐mediated mechanism and abrogated by curcumin
Authors: Farina Antonietta R. , Cappabianca Lucia , Ruggeri Pierdomenico , Di Ianni Natalia , Ragone Marzia , Merolle Stefania , Sano Kimihiko , Stracke Mary L. , Horowitz Jonathan M. , Gulino Alberto , Mackay Andrew R.
Published: September 2012

The motility, angiogenesis and metastasis‐stimulating factor Autotaxin (Atx), over expressed by human neuroblastomas (NB), is constitutively expressed by human Nmyc‐amplified SK‐N‐BE and non‐Nmyc‐amplified SH‐SY5Y NB cells. Here, we characterise a novel Atx transcriptional mechanism, utilised by both cell lines, that is restricted to the first 285 bp of the Atx promoter and involves AP‐1 and SP transcription factors, acting through a CRE/AP‐1‐like element at position −142 to −149 and a GAbox at position −227 to −235 relative to the Atx translational start site. This novel transcriptional mechanism can be inhibited by internally initiated SP‐3 and the natural phenol curcumin.
Does time fly when you're counting down? The effect of counting direction on subjective time judgment
Authors: Shalev Edith , Morwitz Vicki G.
Published: September 2012

We show that counting downward while performing a task shortens the perceived duration of the task compared to counting upward. People perceive that less time has elapsed when they were counting downward versus upward while using a product (Studies 1 and 3) or watching geometrical shapes (Study 2). The counting direction effect is obtained using both prospective and retrospective time judgments (Study 3), but only when the count range begins with the number “1” (Study 2). Furthermore, the counting direction affects peoples' attitude toward the product, their likelihood of using it again, and their purchase intentions. We test several plausible accounts for the counting direction effect, including task difficulty, numerical anchoring, and arousal. We find preliminary evidence that downward counting feels shorter because it is more arousing than upward counting.
The ‘zoo’ of secondary instabilities precursory to stratified shear flow transition. Part 2 The influence of stratification
Authors: Mashayek A. , Peltier W. R.
Published: September 2012

The linear stability analyses described in Mashayek & Peltier (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 708, 2012, 5–44, hereafter MP1) are extended herein in an investigation of the influence of stratification on the evolution of secondary instabilities to which an evolving Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) wave is susceptible in an initially unstable parallel stratified shear layer. We show that over a wide range of background stratification levels, the braid shear instability has a higher probability of emerging at early stages of the flow evolution while the secondary convective instability (SCI), which occurs in the eyelids of the individual Kelvin ‘cats eyes’, will remain a relevant and dominant instability at high Reynolds numbers. The evolution of both modes is greatly influenced by the background stratification. Various other three-dimensional secondary instabilities are found to exist over a wide range of stratification levels. In particular, the stagnation point instability (SPI), which was discussed in detail in MP1, may be of great potential importance providing alternate routes for transition of an initially two-dimensional KH wave into fully developed turbulence. The energetics of the secondary instabilities revealed by our simulations are analysed in detail and the preturbulent mixing properties are studied.
Bidwill of Wide Bay
Authors: Read Stuart
Published: September 2012

John Carne Bidwill was born in 1815 in England and died in Queensland in 1853. His short life is relevant to Australia's garden history, botany, the horticultural use of Australian plants in European gardens and the colonial history of Sydney, New Zealand, Wide Bay and Maryborough. He may have been the first to introduce plant breeding into Australia. In a short life, and working in his spare time, he contributed more than many full-time and longer-lived horticulturists. This included discovering new species, crossing new hybrids (specific and inter-generic), and propagating and promulgating plants for the nursery trade and gardeners. His efforts are marked by his name gracing many Australian and New Zealand plants, exotic plant hybrids and modern suburbs of Sydney and Maryborough. This brief biography outlines Bidwill's time in Australasia and Queensland.
Averages of shifted convolutions ofd3(n)
Authors: Baier S. , Browning T. D. , Marasingha G. , Zhao L.
Published: September 2012

We investigate the first and second moments of shifted convolutions of the generalized divisor functiond3(n).
Child undernutrition in affluent societies: what are we talking about?
Authors: Wright Charlotte M. , Garcia Ada L.
Published: September 2012

In this paper we set out to explore the prevalence of child undernutrition found in community studies in affluent societies, but a preliminary literature review revealed that, in the absence of a gold standard method of diagnosis, the prevalence largely depends on the measure, threshold and the growth reference used, as well as age. We thus go on to explore describe the common clinical ‘syndromes’ of child undernutrition: wasting, stunting and failure to thrive (weight faltering) and how we have used data from two population-based cohort studies, this paper to explore how much these different ‘syndromes’ overlap and the extent to which they reflect true undernutrition. This analysis revealed that when more than one definition is applied to the same children, a majority are below the lower threshold for only one measure. However, those with both weight faltering and low BMI in infancy, go on in later childhood to show growth and body composition patterns suggestive of previous undernutrition. In older children there is even less overlap and most children with either wasting or low fat seem to be simply growing at one extreme of the normal range. We conclude that in affluent societies the diagnosis of undernutrition is only robust when it relies on a combination of both, that is decline in weight or BMI centile and wasting.
Anxiety is related to Alzheimer cerebrospinal fluid markers in subjects with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Ramakers I. H. G. B. , Verhey F. R. J. , Scheltens P. , Hampel H. , Soininen H. , Aalten P. , Rikkert M. Olde , Verbeek M. M. , Spiru L. , Blennow K. , Trojanowski J. Q. , Shaw L. M. , Visser P. J. ,   the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and DESCRIPA Investigators
Published: September 2012

Background

Anxiety, apathy and depression are common in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and may herald Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated whether these symptoms correlated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers for AD in subjects with MCI.

Method

Subjects with MCI (n=268) were selected from the ‘Development of screening guidelines and criteria for pre-dementia Alzheimer's disease’ (DESCRIPA) and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) studies. We measured amyloid β(1-42)protein (Aβ42) and total tau (t-tau) in CSF. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

Results

Depressive symptoms were reported by 55 subjects (21%), anxiety by 35 subjects (13%) and apathy by 49 subjects (18%). The presence of anxiety was associated with abnormal CSF Aβ42 [odds ratio (OR) 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–3.3] and t-tau (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.9–3.6) concentrations and with the combination of abnormal concentrations of both Aβ42 and t-tau (OR 3.1, 95% CI 2.0–4.7). The presence of agitation and irritability was associated with abnormal concentrations of Aβ42 (agitation: OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.3; irritability: OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.3). Symptoms of depression and apathy were not related to any of the CSF markers.

Conclusions

In subjects with MCI, symptoms of anxiety, agitation and irritability may reflect underlying AD pathology, whereas symptoms of depression and apathy do not.
They wrote on wood. The case for a hieroglyphic scribal tradition on wooden writing boards in Hittite Anatolia
Authors: Waal Willemijn
Published: September 2012

The wooden writing boards frequently mentioned in Hittite texts have given rise to much debate, mostly regarding the scale on which they were used and the type of script that was written on them (cuneiform or hieroglyphs). In this paper, the evidence for the use of wooden writing boards in Hittite Anatolia will be (re-)evaluated. It will be argued that they were used for private and economic documents, and that they were written on in Anatolian hieroglyphs. Important indications of this are the distinct terms consistently used in connection with writing on wood, which point to a separate scribal tradition. Further, the form and nature of the hieroglyphic script itself and the fact that it survived after the fall of the Hittite empire confirm that the script must have been widely employed. It is thus proposed that two parallel scribal traditions existed in Hittite Anatolia: a (lost) hieroglyphic tradition on wooden writing boards used for private and daily economic records, and a Hittite cuneiform tradition reserved for palace administration.
Highland gods: rock-cut votive reliefs from the Pisidian Survey
Authors: Smith Tyler Jo
Published: September 2012

Between 1982 and 1996 a group of rock-cut votive reliefs was discovered during archaeological survey in Pisidia under the direction of Stephen Mitchell and the sponsorship of the British Institute (of Archaeology) at Ankara. The types represented include a horseman deity, perhaps Kakasbos, the Dioscuri with ‘goddess’ and the moon-god Men. The reliefs are discussed according to their cults and iconography, and their contribution to art and religion both locally and beyond. As a religious phenomenon, they are further considered in relation to both regional traditions and empire-wide practices. It is suggested that reliefs of this type, that are associated with the protection of mortals, should also be viewed as part of the history of devotional art and added to discussions of rock art that extend beyond the Greek and Roman worlds. A detailed catalogue of the reliefs, organised by iconographic type, concludes the article.
Regional Incomes in Portugal: Industrialisation, Integration and Inequality, 1890-1980
Authors: Badia-Miró Marc , Guilera Jordi , Lains Pedro
Published: September 2012

The analysis of the evolution of the location of economic activity in Portugal between 1890 and 1980 depicts a strong concentration of productive activity in the coastal regions. We estimate data for regional GDP per capita, which show that the evolution of regional inequality followed an inverted U-curve, in line with that observed in other regions of Europe, but with a rather late peak, in 1970. The reasons for this behaviour may be found in the limits to industrialisation in the interior regions and the benefits generated by the agglomeration economies in the more developed coastal regions.
Antigenic differences between vaccine and circulating wild-type mumps viruses decreases neutralization capacity of vaccine-induced antibodies
Authors: ŠANTAK M. , LANG-BALIJA M. , IVANCIC-JELECKI J. , KOŠUTIĆ-GULIJA T. , LJUBIN-STERNAK S. , FORCIC D.
Published: September 2012

A recent resurgence of mumps in doubly vaccinated cohorts has been observed, identifying genotype G as the current predominant genotype. In this study, the neutralization efficacy of guinea pig sera immunized with three vaccine viruses: L-Zagreb, Urabe AM9 and JL5, was tested against seven mumps viruses: three vaccine strains and four wild-type strains (two of genotype G, one of genotype C, one of genotype D) isolated during 1998–2011. All sera neutralized all viruses although at different levels. The neutralization efficiency of sera decreases several fold by temporal order of virus isolation. Therefore, we concluded that gradual evolution of mumps viruses, rather than belonging to a certain genotype, results in an antigenic divergence from the vaccine strains that decrease the neutralization capacity of vaccine-induced antibodies. Moreover, the amino-acid sequence alignment revealed three new potentially relevant regions for escape from neutralization, i.e. 113–130, 375–403 and 440–443.
Disentangling accent from comprehensibility
Authors: TROFIMOVICH PAVEL , ISAACS TALIA
Published: September 2012

The goal of this study was to determine which linguistic aspects of second language speech are related to accent and which to comprehensibility. To address this goal, 19 different speech measures in the oral productions of 40 native French speakers of English were examined in relation to accent and comprehensibility, as rated by 60 novice raters and three experienced teachers. Results showed that both constructs were associated with many speech measures, but that accent was uniquely related to aspects of phonology, including rhythm and segmental and syllable structure accuracy, while comprehensibility was chiefly linked to grammatical accuracy and lexical richness.
The endocrine disruptor mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate promotes adipocyte differentiation and induces obesity in mice
Authors: Hao Chanjuan , Cheng Xuejia , Xia Hongfei , Ma Xu
Published: September 2012

The environmental obesogen hypothesis proposes that exposure to endocrine disruptors during developmental ‘window’ contributes to adipogenesis and the development of obesity. MEHP [mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate], a metabolite of the widespread plasticizer DEHP [di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate], has been found in exposed organisms and identified as a selective PPARγ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ) modulator. However, implication of MEHP on adipose tissue development has been poorly investigated. In the present study, we show the dose-dependent effects of MEHP on adipocyte differentiation and GPDH (glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) activity in the murine 3T3-L1 cell model. MEHP induced the expression of PPARγ as well as its target genes required for adipogenesis in vitro. Moreover, MEHP perturbed key regulators of adipogenesis and lipogenic pathway in vivo. In utero exposure to a low dose of MEHP significantly increased b.w. (body weight) and fat pad weight in male offspring at PND (postnatal day) 60. In addition, serum cholesterol, TAG (triacylglycerol) and glucose levels were also significantly elevated. These results suggest that perinatal exposure to MEHP may be expected to increase the incidence of obesity in a sex-dependent manner and can act as a potential chemical stressor for obesity and obesity-related disorders.
Expression of cyclin A, B1 and D1 after induction of cell cycle arrest in the Jurkat cell line exposed to doxorubicin
Authors: Żuryń Agnieszka , Litwiniec Anna , Gackowska Lidia , Pawlik Andrzej , Grzanka Aleksandra Antonina , Grzanka Alina
Published: September 2012

Jurkat human lymphoblastoid cells were incubated in increasing concentrations of doxorubicin (0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 μM) to induce cell death, and their expression of cyclin A, B1 and D1 was evaluated by flow cytometry (cell cycle progression, Annexin V assay, percentages and levels of each of the cyclins), transmission electron microscopy (ultrastructure) and confocal fluorescence microscopy (expression and intracellular localization of cyclins). After low‐dose doxorubicin treatment, Jurkat cells responded mainly by G2/M arrest, which was related to increased cyclin B1, A and D1 levels, a low level of apoptosis and/or mitotic catastrophe. The influence of doxorubicin on levels and/or localization of selected cyclins was confirmed, which may in turn contribute to the G2/M arrest induced by the drug.
Heart rate variability in healthy subjects is related to age and gender
Authors: JENSEN‐URSTAD K. , STORCK N. , BOUVIER F. , ERICSON M. , LINDBLAND L. E. , JENSEN‐URSTAD M.
Published: September 2012

The effects of age and gender on heart rate variability as measured by spectral and time domain analysis of 24 h ECG recordings were evaluated in 101 healthy subjects, 49 men and 52 women (20‐69 years of age). In the frequency domain, total power, very low‐frequency power, low‐frequency power and high‐frequency power were negatively correlated to age (P < 0.001 for all variables). Total power decreased by 30% between 20‐29 and 60‐69 years of age. In the time domain, SDNN‐index, the mean of the standard deviations of all normal R‐R intervals for all 5 min segments of a 24 h ECG recording, was negatively correlated to age (P <0.001). Total power, very low‐frequency power, low‐frequency power and the low‐frequency/high‐frequency ratio were lower in women (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01), although the absolute differences were much smaller than for age. There was a pronounced circadian variation; at night total power increased in all age groups (P < 0.01). The results show that age, and to a lesser degree gender, are important determinants of heart rate variability in healthy subjects. Heart rate variability is a valuable tool for risk stratification in cardiovascular disease, but the physiological effects of ageing, with diminishing heart rate variability in older age groups, must also be taken into account.
On the tokamak first wall response to the edge localized mode bursts
Authors: Marenkov E. D. , Krasheninnikov S. I. , Pisarev A. A. , Tsvetkov I. V.
Published: September 2012

The effects of wall outgassing on the H-mode pedestal recovery after edge localized mode (ELM) crash is examined with a simplified model of hydrogen adsorption/desorption processes. The parameters governing the dynamics of the wall response to the ELM crash are found. It is shown that within adopted hydrogen adsorption/desorption model a significant impact of the wall outgassing on the pedestal recovery can be observed for the wall surface temperature range between 500 K and 800 K.
Implementation of the multireference Brillouin-Wigner and Mukherjee's coupled cluster methods with non-iterative triple excitations utilizing reference-level parallelism
Authors: Bhaskaran-Nair Kiran , Brabec Jiří , Aprà Edoardo , van Dam Hubertus J. J. , Pittner Jiří , Kowalski Karol
Published: September 2012

In this paper we discuss the performance of the non-iterative state-specific multireference coupled cluster (SS-MRCC) methods accounting for the effect of triply excited cluster amplitudes. The corrections to the Brillouin-Wigner and Mukherjee's MRCC models based on the manifold of singly and doubly excited cluster amplitudes (BW-MRCCSD and Mk-MRCCSD, respectively) are tested and compared with exact full configuration interaction results for small systems (H2O, N2, and Be3). For the larger systems (naphthyne isomers) the BW-MRCC and Mk-MRCC methods with iterative singles, doubles, and non-iterative triples (BW-MRCCSD(T) and Mk-MRCCSD(T)) are compared against the results obtained with single reference coupled cluster methods. We also report on the parallel performance of the non-iterative implementations based on the use of processor groups.
Nonadiabatic quantum Liouville and master equations in the adiabatic basis
Authors: Jang Seogjoo
Published: September 2012

A compact form of nonadiabatic molecular Hamiltonian in the basis of adiabatic electronic states and nuclear position states is presented. The Hamiltonian, which includes both the first and the second derivative couplings, is Hermitian and thus leads to a standard expression for the quantum Liouville equation for the density operator. With the application of a projection operator technique, a quantum master equation for the diagonal components of the density operator is derived. Under the assumption that nuclear states are much more short ranged compared to electronic states and assuming no singularity, a semi-adiabatic approximation is invoked, which results in expressions for the nonadiabatic molecular Hamiltonian and the quantum Liouville equation that are much more amenable to advanced quantum dynamics calculation. The semi-adiabatic approximation is also applied to a resonance energy transfer system consisting of a donor and an acceptor interacting via Coulomb terms, and explicit detailed expressions for exciton-bath Hamiltonian including all the non-adiabatic terms are derived.
Magnetizability tensors from auxiliary density functional theory
Authors: Zuniga-Gutierrez Bernardo , Geudtner Gerald , Köster Andreas M.
Published: September 2012

The working equations for the calculation of the magnetizability tensor in the framework of auxiliary density functional theory with gauge including atomic orbitals (ADFT-GIAO) are derived. Unlike in the corresponding conventional density functional theory implementations the numerical integration of the GIAOs is avoided in ADFT-GIAO. Our validation shows that this simplification has no effect on the accuracy of the methodology. As a result, a reliable and efficient implementation for the calculation of magnetizabilities of systems with more than 1000 atoms and 14 000 basis functions is presented.