bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs), Receptors for AGEs and Their Correlation with Inflammatory Markers in Middle School-Age Children
Authors: Accacha S. , Rosenfeld W. , Jacobson A. , Michel L. , Schnurr F.J. , Shelov S. , Ten S. , Boucher-Berry C. , Carey D.E. , Speiser P.W. , Lowell B. , Conroy R. , Klein M. , Fennoy I. , Rapaport R. , Rosenbaum M.
Published: November 2013

Aim: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and/or their receptors (RAGE) are significantly positively correlated with adiposity, inflammation, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in adults. However, the relationships between AGEs, RAGE, and adiposity-related comorbidites in children have not been well studied. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 88 children (age 11-15 years) from the New York area enrolled in the Reduce Obesity and Diabetes (ROAD) study, we examined the correlation of the AGE Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), soluble RAGE (sRAGE), and endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) with adiposity, inflammatory markers [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α], adiponectin, lipids, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretory capacity. Results: Pediatric CML levels were ∼20% below average adult levels. CML was significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with age and insulin sensitivity and negatively with adiposity, dyslipidemia and IL-6. sRAGE correlated positively with esRAGE and negatively with adiposity and IL-6. Both sRAGE and esRAGE correlated negatively with insulin secretory capacity. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that unlike adults, CML is negatively associated with adiposity and adiposity-related comorbidity risk in children. As in adults, sRAGE and esRAGE were, to varying degrees, negatively correlated with body fatness and risk factors for adiposity-related comorbidities.
Multicentre validation of the Geneva Risk Score for hospitalised medical patients at risk of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Nendaz Mathieu , Spirk David , Aujesky Drahomir , Hayoz Daniel , Beer Jürg H. , Husmann Marc , Frauchiger Beat , Korte Wolfgang , Wuillemin Walter A. , Jäger Kurt , Righini Marc , Bounameaux Henri , Kucher Nils
Published: November 2013

There is a need to validate risk assessment tools for hospitalised medical patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We investigated whether a predefined cut-off of the Geneva Risk Score, as compared to the Padua Prediction Score, accurately distinguishes low-risk from high-risk patients regardless of the use of thromboprophylaxis. In the multicentre, prospective Explicit ASsessment of Thromboembolic RIsk and Prophylaxis for Medical PATients in SwitzErland (ESTIMATE) cohort study, 1,478 hospitalised medical patients were enrolled of whom 637 (43%) did not receive thromboprophylaxis. The primary endpoint was symptomatic VTE or VTE-related death at 90 days. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01277536. According to the Geneva Risk Score, the cumulative rate of the primary endpoint was 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2–4.6%) in 962 high-risk vs 0.6% (95% CI 0.2–1.9%) in 516 low-risk patients (p=0.002); among patients without prophylaxis, this rate was 3.5% vs 0.8% (p=0.029), respectively. In comparison, the Padua Prediction Score yielded a cumulative rate of the primary endpoint of 3.5% (95% CI 2.3–5.3%) in 714 high-risk vs 1.1% (95% CI 0.6–2.3%) in 764 lowrisk patients (p=0.002); among patients without prophylaxis, this rate was 3.2% vs 1.5% (p=0.130), respectively. Negative likelihood ratio was 0.28 (95% CI 0.10–0.83) for the Geneva Risk Score and 0.51 (95% CI 0.28–0.93) for the Padua Prediction Score. In conclusion, among hospitalised medical patients, the Geneva Risk Score predicted VTE and VTE-related mortality and compared favourably with the Padua Prediction Score, particularly for its accuracy to identify low-risk patients who do not require thromboprophylaxis.
Tendering the Flesh: The ABCs of Dave St-Pierre's Contemporary Utopias
Authors: Thain Alanna , Preston VK
Published: November 2013

Montreal choreographer Dave St-Pierre's La Pornographie des âmes (2004) launched his controversial dance-theatre trilogy, Sociology and Other Contemporary Utopias. His signature abecedery from Pornographie (A for Affect, B for Bruise, etc.) is remobilized to deploy the affective commotion of his remappings of social relations in provocative stagings of queerness, dis/ability, and desire.
Medieval Street Performers Speak
Authors: Carlson Marvin
Published: November 2013

The recent discovery of three 13th-century plays by the Egyptian dramatist Ibn Dāniyāl offers many new insights into the medieval theatre. The second of these plays provides detailed scripts and scenarios for street performers of this era, a type of record that does not exist for similar performances in Europe.
Ecological Re-orientations in NVA's Half Life
Authors: Zerdy Joanne
Published: November 2013

The site-specific landworks that were part of NVA's Half Life: Journey into the Neolithic (2007) continue to erode into their surroundings in Argyll. These artifacts are not only compelling remains but also an ongoing ecological performance comprised of the land, its Neolithic inhabitants, NVA, and those who wander through.
Staging the Twitter War: Toneelgroep Amsterdam's Roman Tragedies
Authors: Ball James R.
Published: November 2013

During the same week in November 2012, hostilities erupted between Israel and the Gaza Strip and Toneelgroep Amsterdam brought Roman Tragedies to the stage in Brooklyn. As the conflict in the Middle East took on digital dimensions via Twitter, the play's own engagement with that technology staged contemporary geopolitical spectatorship.
Does Greater Autonomy Improve School Performance? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Analysis in Chicago
Authors: Steinberg Matthew P.
Published: November 2013

School districts throughout the United States are increasingly providing greater autonomy to local public (non-charter) school principals. In 2005–06, Chicago Public Schools initiated the Autonomous Management and Performance Schools program, granting academic, programmatic, and operational freedoms to select principals. This paper provides evidence on how school leaders used their new autonomy and its impact on school performance. Findings suggest that principals were more likely to exercise autonomy over the school budget and curricular/instructional strategies than over professional development and the school's calendar/schedule. Utilizing regression discontinuity methods, I find that receipt of greater autonomy had no statistically significant impact on a school's average math or reading achievement after two years of autonomy. I do find evidence that autonomy positively affected reading proficiency rates at the end of the second year of autonomy. These findings are particularly relevant for policy makers considering the provision of greater school-based autonomy in their local school districts.
Revision of the Empis subgenus Enoplempis Bigot, east of the Rocky Mountains (Diptera: Empididae)
Authors: SINCLAIR BRADLEY J. , BROOKS SCOTT E. , CUMMING JEFFREY M.
Published: November 2013

The Empis subgenus Enoplempis Bigot, east of the Rocky Mountains of North America is revised. A total of 19 species are recorded from this region including seven new species: E. (En.) amytis Walker, E. (En.) appalachicola Sinclair sp. nov., E. (En.) arthritica Melander, E. (En.) ctenonema Melander, E. (En.) enodis Melander, E. (En.) gladiator Melander, E. (En.) gulosa Coquillett, E. (En.) loripedis Coquillett, E. (En.) montywoodi Brooks sp. nov., E. (En.) nodipoplitea Steyskal, E. (En.) nuda Loew, E. (En.) pectinata Sinclair sp. nov., E. (En.) penicillata Brooks sp. nov., E. (En.) prodigiosa Cumming sp. nov., E. (En.) snoddyi Steyskal, E. (En.) stenoptera Loew, E. (En.) tridentata Coquillett, E. (En.) vockerothi Cumming sp. nov., E. (En.) volsella Sinclair sp. nov. The following new synonymies are designated: E. (En.) longipes Loew, E. (En.) longeoblita Steyskal, E. (En.) deterra Walley = E. (En.) amytis; E. (En.) cacuminifer Melander = E. (En.) gulosa. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: E. (En.) arthritica, E. (En.) cacuminifer, E. (En.) ctenonema, E. (En.) enodis, E. (En.) gladiator, E. (En.) loripedis, E. (En.) stenoptera and E. (En.) tridentata. A key to eastern species is presented and distributions illustrated. The form of nuptial gift presentation displayed within this group, including the use of balloons (with or without prey) and unwrapped prey are indicated for species when known.
Morphology of a neglected large-sized species of Geophilus from Iran (Chilopoda: Geophilidae)
Authors: ZAREI ROGHAIEH , RAHIMIAN HASSAN , BONATO LUCIO
Published: November 2013

Geophilus gigas was described briefly by Attems in 1951 from two sites in Iran, but neither reported nor cited subsequently. The original description is inadequate to understand the full morphology and the taxonomic position of the species. Thus it is here redescribed and figured in detail based on the examination of a syntype and newly collected specimens. Furthermore it is compared with the most similar species of the genus Geophilus. G. gigas can be reliably distinguished from other related species for the maximum body size (more than 6 cm), the arrangement and extent of the sternal pore-fields (with additional groups of pores), the coxal pores number and distribution (tens, scattered), and the size of the ultimate legs (swollen in both sexes).
Review of the largest species group of the New World seed beetle genus Sennius Bridwell (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), with host plant associations
Authors: VIANA JÉSSICA HERZOG , RIBEIRO-COSTA CIBELE STRAMARE
Published: November 2013

Sennius Bridwell is a New World genus of Bruchinae. Most species are placed in eight groups. In this study the species of the S. abbreviatus group are reviewed based on characters of the external morphology and the male genitalia. The group includes 14 species, two of which are new: Sennius abbreviatus (Say, 1824), S. bondari (Pic, 1929), S. durangensis Johnson & Kingsolver, 1973, S. lawrencei Johnson, 1977, S. lebasi (Fåhraeus, 1839), S. leucostauros Johnson & Kingsolver, 1973, S. lojaensis (Pic, 1933), S. medialis (Sharp, 1885), S. nappi Ribeiro-Costa & Reynaud, 1998, S. rufomaculatus (Motschulsky, 1874), S. transversesignatus (Fåhraeus, 1839), S. trinotaticollis (Pic, 1930), S. vivi sp. nov. and S. flinte sp. nov. The S. abbreviatus group differs from other groups by the pattern of sclerites and the shape of the internal sac of the male genitalia, and has three subgroups, defined here. The lectotype of S. lebasi is designated. New host plant records are presented for S. lojaensis and S. transversesignatus, and new distribution records for S. lawrencei, S. lojaensis and S. trinotaticollis.
Temporal Trend Analyses of Alpine Data Using North American Regional Reanalysis and In Situ Data: Temperature, Wind Speed, Precipitation, and Derived Blowing Snow
Authors: Hoover Jamie D. , Doesken Nolan , Elder Kelly , Laituri Melinda , Liston Glen E.
Published: November 2013

Across the globe, wind speed trends have shown a slight decline for in situ meteorological datasets. Yet few studies have assessed long-term wind speed trends for alpine regions or how such trends could influence snow transport and distribution. Alpine-region meteorological stations are sparsely distributed, and their records are short. To increase spatial and temporal coverage, use of modeled data is appealing, but the level of agreement between modeled and in situ data is unknown for alpine regions. Data agreement, temporal trends, and the potential effects on snow distribution were evaluated using two in situ sites in an alpine region [Niwot Ridge in Colorado and the Glacier Lakes Ecological Experiments Station (GLEES) in Wyoming] and the corresponding grid cells of the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR). Temperature, precipitation, and wind speed variables were used to assess blowing-snow trends at annual, seasonal, and daily scales. The correlation between NARR and in situ datasets showed that temperature data were correlated but that wind speed and precipitation were not. NARR wind speed data were systematically lower when compared with in situ data, yet the frequency of wind events was captured. Overall, there were not many significant differences between NARR and in situ wind speed trends at annual, seasonal, and daily scales, aside from GLEES daily values. This finding held true even when trends presented opposite signatures and slopes, which was likely a result of low trend slopes. The lack of agreement between datasets prohibited the use of NARR to broaden analyses for blowing-snow dynamics in alpine regions.
Reply to “Comment on ‘Bias Correction, Quantile Mapping, and Downscaling: Revisiting the Inflation Issue’”
Authors: Maraun Douglas
Published: November 2013

In his comment, G. Bürger criticizes the conclusion that inflation of trends by quantile mapping is an adverse effect. He assumes that the argument would be “based on the belief that long-term trends and along with them future climate signals are to be large scale.” His line of argument reverts to the so-called inflated regression. Here it is shown, by referring to previous critiques of inflation and standard literature in statistical modeling as well as weather forecasting, that inflation is built upon a wrong understanding of explained versus unexplained variability and prediction versus simulation. It is argued that a sound regression-based downscaling can in principle introduce systematic local variability in long-term trends, but inflation systematically deteriorates the representation of trends. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that inflation by construction deteriorates weather forecasts and is not able to correctly simulate small-scale spatiotemporal structure.
Failure to Detect Critical Auditory Alerts in the Cockpit
Authors: Dehais Frédéric , Causse Mickaël , Vachon François , Régis Nicolas , Menant Eric , Tremblay Sébastien
Published: November 2013

Objective:

The aim of this study was to test whether inattentional deafness to critical alarms would be observed in a simulated cockpit.

Background:

The inability of pilots to detect unexpected changes in their auditory environment (e.g., alarms) is a major safety problem in aeronautics. In aviation, the lack of response to alarms is usually not attributed to attentional limitations, but rather to pilots choosing to ignore such warnings due to decision biases, hearing issues, or conscious risk taking.

Method:

Twenty-eight general aviation pilots performed two landings in a flight simulator. In one scenario an auditory alert was triggered alone, whereas in the other the auditory alert occurred while the pilots dealt with a critical windshear.

Results:

In the windshear scenario, 11 pilots (39.3%) did not report or react appropriately to the alarm whereas all the pilots perceived the auditory warning in the no-windshear scenario. Also, of those pilots who were first exposed to the no-windshear scenario and detected the alarm, only three suffered from inattentional deafness in the subsequent windshear scenario.

Conclusion:

These findings establish inattentional deafness as a cognitive phenomenon that is critical for air safety. Pre-exposure to a critical event triggering an auditory alarm can enhance alarm detection when a similar event is encountered subsequently.

Application:

Case-based learning is a solution to mitigate auditory alarm misperception.
Parenting and Depression
Authors: Pace Garrett T. , Shafer Kevin
Published: November 2013

Few empirical studies have examined the association between parenthood and psychological well-being. Using NLSY79 data ( n = 6,297), we examined how various parental roles, or specific parent–child relationship types, were associated with depressive symptoms in adults. We hypothesized that less traditional and more complex parental roles would be associated with higher depressive symptoms. Ordinary least squares regression results revealed that having a stepchild was associated with higher depressive symptoms, regardless of the stepchild’s residential status. Additionally, certain combinations of parental roles were a risk factor for depressive symptoms, including having a biological child residing in the home and another biological child residing outside the home simultaneously, a biological child and a stepchild residing together (with or without a new biological child), and having more than two combined parental roles in general. Findings suggested certain parental roles are indeed associated with higher depressive symptoms, while others may be null relationships.
Problems with recall-based attachment style priming paradigms
Authors: Sakaluk John Kitchener
Published: November 2013

Attachment styles are often primed by having participants recall and describe a relationship that is prototypical of a given attachment style. Researchers may exclude participants who cannot recall such a relationship or who describe relationships that do not conform to the assigned prime. I suggest that excluding participants is untenable and may threaten a study’s validity. In the present research, I examine predictors of exclusion from an attachment-priming study. Priming insecure attachment resulted in greater odds of exclusion relative to a control condition. Female participants with greater sexual experience also had lesser odds of exclusion. These results suggest that attachment-priming procedures contribute to participant exclusion that compromise internal and external validity. Discussion focuses on directions for future attachment-priming research.
Calculation of optimal jaw geometry for an electronic bond pull test
Authors: Symons Digby D , Chen Jialiang , Alton Padraig
Published: November 2013

A bond pull test is used to determine the strength of the bond of an electronic interconnect to a circuit board. A standard test consists of clamping and pulling the interconnect with a pair of microscopic jaws. In a successful test, the maximum pulling force registered by the jaws will be the failure load of the interconnect to circuit board bond. However, if the interconnect itself deforms before the bond has failed, then this would constitute an unsuccessful test. This paper reports on a theoretical analysis of the optimal geometry for gripping of a cylindrical interconnect. Upper and lower-bound plasticity models have been used to determine the jaw proportions that will maximize the load for the deformation of the interconnect and that should, therefore, be most likely to allow successful measurement of the bond strength. This theoretical analysis is compared to 2D and 3D non-linear finite element calculations. The 2D finite element models are axi-symmetric approximations of a pull test on a cylindrical interconnect. 3D finite element models take into account the actual jaw geometry and allow simulation of both clamping and pulling stages. The maximum calculated pull forces for both 2D and 3D simulations are in good agreement with the plasticity theory. Preliminary validation of the theory and finite element results has been accomplished through experimental clamping and pulling tests on cylindrical metal rods.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal evaluation of bone mass and quality in children and young adults with juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE): role of bone mass determinants analyzed by DXA, PQCT and QUS
Authors: Stagi S , Cavalli L , Bertini F , Cerinic M Matucci , Brandi M Luisa , Falcini F
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Stefano Stagi and Loredana Cavalli contributed equally to the manuscript; Maria Luisa Brandi and Fernanda Falcini contributed equally to the manuscript. There are few prospective data on bone mass and quality in patients with juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). There are also few studies analyzing bone mass and quality determinants by using at the same time dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS).

Objective

The objective of this paper is to evaluate cross-sectionally and longitudinally bone mass and quality determinants in adolescents and young adults with JSLE, and to identify the main predictors of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality using these techniques.

Methods

Fifty-six patients with JSLE (mean age 18.5 ± 5.7 years) entered the study. In all subjects DXA scan at the lumbar spine, radius pQCT and phalangeal QUS were performed the same day. Of these, 46 patients (mean age 23.1 ± 6.2 years) were revaluated with a second DXA, pQCT and QUS. The data obtained were compared with 72 and 80 age- and sex- matched healthy controls.

Results

At the first evaluation, JSLE patients had a reduced spine BMAD SDS ( p < 0.001), and significantly lower levels of TrabBMD ( p < 0.0001), SSIp ( p < 0.05), AD-SoS and QUS z-score ( p < 0.005) but not reduced muscleCSA and CBA values. CortBMD and FatCSA were significantly increased ( p < 0.0001). These data were confirmed at longitudinal evaluation regarding spine BMAD SDS ( p < 0.001), TrabBMD ( p < 0.0001), FatCSA ( p < 0.005), AD-SoS ( p < 0.001), and QUS z-score ( p < 0.005) but not muscle CSA ( p ≤ 0.05) and CBA ( p < 0.0001). SSIp and CortBMD longitudinal evaluation showed that JSLE patients did not present significant differences in comparison to controls.

Conclusions

Patients with JSLE have a low bone mass without catch-up growth over time, causing a reduction of peak bone mass with high risk of osteoporosis in early adulthood. To reduce the risk, close monitoring of BMD, better control of disease activity, physical activity and dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D are advocated to ameliorate the loss of bone mass. In patients with proved osteoporosis therapeutic approaches including bisphosphonates should be considered.
Partial parasagittal patellectomy: a novel method for augmenting surgical correction of patellar luxation in four cats
Authors: Rutherford Lynda , Arthurs Gareth I
Published: November 2013

We describe a novel surgical technique used to correct feline patellar luxation (PL) where abnormal patellar tracking persists despite conventional corrective surgery. An anatomical difference between feline and canine stifles is that the feline patella is wider relative to the trochlear sulcus. This results in less constrained patellar tracking. Therefore, patellar subluxation is common in normal cats. It was noticed that in some feline cases with clinically significant PL, PL persisted intraoperatively despite performing the standard corrective procedures. We report a novel surgical technique – partial parasagittal patellectomy – to address the wide shape of the feline patella relative to the sulcus. This technique has been successfully performed in four cats with good outcomes. However, the immediate risks and long-term effects of partial parasaggital patellectomy are not known. We reserve this technique for surgical cases where PL cannot be controlled by conventional means.
Feline reference intervals for the Sysmex XT-2000iV and the ProCyte DX haematology analysers in EDTA and CTAD blood specimens
Authors: Granat Fanny , Geffré Anne , Bourgès-Abella Nathalie , Mortier Jeremy , Théron Marie-Laure , Fauchon Emilie , Braun Jean-Pierre , Trumel Catherine
Published: November 2013

Laser-based haematology analysers are routinely used in veterinary clinical pathology laboratories, and are available to practitioners. However, feline haematological reference intervals (RIs) determined according to international recommendations are, to our knowledge, not available. Furthermore, platelet count RI is difficult to establish in cats because of the frequent occurrence of platelet aggregation in blood specimens. The purpose of this study was to establish feline haematological RIs with the Sysmex XT-2000iV and ProCyte DX analysers, in ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and in citrate, theophylline, adenosine and dipyridamole (CTAD), which is a combination of anticoagulants limiting platelet aggregation. Blood specimens from 120 healthy cats were analysed in duplicate, and the degree of platelet aggregation was assessed on blood smears. After exclusion of inadequate specimens, 81 sets of results (from 44 males and 37 females, aged from 6 to 116 months) were available for the determination of RIs by the non-parametric method. The effects of the anticoagulant, analyser and aggregation score were assessed. When the aggregation effect was significant, the RIs were determined using the subgroup of blood specimens with no or little aggregation. The effects of sex, age and weight were also investigated, but were moderate. The different RIs obtained with the Sysmex XT-2000iV and ProCyte DX analysers, and the two anticoagulants, were very similar to previous RIs established in EDTA with the ADVIA 120, another laser-based analyser, except for the platelet count in CTAD specimens. Its lower reference limit was higher in CTAD vs EDTA specimens, which confirms the interest in this anticoagulant in cats.
Negative emotions and stigma associated with a human papillomavirus test result: A comparison between human papillomavirus–positive men and women
Authors: Daley Ellen M , Vamos Cheryl A , Wheldon Christopher W , Kolar Stephanie K , Baker Elizabeth A
Published: November 2013

Human papillomavirus has largely been framed as a women’s health issue, and the psychosocial impact of human papillomavirus among men remains unclear. In this study, we found that women infected with human papillomavirus ( n = 154) experienced a greater degree of negative emotions and stigma than human papillomavirus–infected men ( n = 190). Among women, younger age and less education were associated with greater expression of negative emotions and stigma. Conversely, being single was significantly associated with a greater degree of negative emotions and stigma beliefs among men. These findings suggest the need to re-frame messages that both men and women receive regarding human papillomavirus.
Parents’ first concerns about toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: Effect of sibling status
Authors: Herlihy Lauren , Knoch Kelley , Vibert Bethany , Fein Deborah
Published: November 2013

Symptoms of autism spectrum disorders may appear as early as 6 months, but parent concern, which can precipitate evaluation, often lags significantly. The presence of typical or atypical older siblings can change parents’ sensitivity to departures from typical development. This study investigated type and age of parent’s first concerns in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder, prior to diagnosis. Participants had (1) at least one older sibling with autism spectrum disorder (Sibs-ASD); (2) only typically developing older siblings (Sibs-TD), or (3) were only/oldest (No-Sibs). Specific autism spectrum disorder diagnoses and symptom severity were similar among groups. Developmentally, No-Sibs showed the largest delays, followed by Sibs-TD, followed by Sibs-ASD. Mean age of first concern was 16 months for No-Sibs, 14 months for Sibs-TD, and 10 months for Sibs-ASD. Age of first concern differed significantly by group, even after controlling for mother’s age and education. Concern about language was prevalent in all groups. Thus, the presence of an older child with typical or, especially, atypical development was associated with earlier concerns for the affected child, despite milder developmental delays. These findings underscore the importance of encouraging parents to report concerns to pediatricians, routine standardized screening for autism spectrum disorder, and the need for pediatrician vigilance, especially for only or oldest children.
Effects of coupled dose and rhythm manipulation of plasma cortisol levels on leukocyte transcriptional response to endotoxin challenge in humans
Authors: Kamisoglu Kubra , Sleight Kirsten , Nguyen Tung T , Calvano Steve E , Coyle Susette M , Corbett Siobhan A , Androulakis Ioannis P
Published: November 2013

Severe traumas are associated with hypercortisolemia due to both disruption of cortisol secretion rhythm and increase in its total concentration. Understanding the effects of altered cortisol levels and rhythms on immune function is of great clinical interest, to prevent conditions such as sepsis from complicating the recovery. This in vivo study assesses the responses of circulating leukocytes to coupled dose and rhythm manipulation of cortisol, preceding an immune challenge induced by endotoxin administration. Through continuous infusion, plasma cortisol concentration was increased to and kept constant at a level associated with major physiologic stress. In response, transcriptional programming of leukocytes was altered to display a priming response before endotoxin exposure. Enhanced expression of a number of receptors and signaling proteins, as well as lowered protein translation and mitochondrial function indicated a sensitization against potential infectious threats. Despite these changes, response to endotoxin followed very similar patterns in both cortisol and saline pre-treated groups except one cluster including probe sets associated with major players regulating inflammatory response. In sum, altered dose and rhythm of plasma cortisol levels engendered priming of circulating leukocytes when preceded an immune challenge. This transcriptional program change associated with stimulated surveillance function and suppressed energy-intensive processes, emphasized permissive actions of cortisol on immune function.
Fatigue behaviour of Al–25Zn–3Cu alloy
Authors: Savaşkan T. , Tan H. O.
Published: November 2013

In the present study, Al–25Zn–3Cu alloy was prepared by permanent mould casting. Fatigue behaviour of the alloy was investigated using a rotating bending fatigue test machine after determining its microstructural features and mechanical properties. It was observed that as-cast microstructure of the Al–25Zn–3Cu alloy consisted of aluminium rich α dendrites, eutectoid α+ η phases and θ particles. Homogenisation and T6 heat treatment removed the dendritic microstructure of the alloy and produced a large grained microstructure together with zinc rich precipitates. Both heat treatments increased the hardness and strengths of the alloy, but reduced its ductility. The Al–25Zn–3Cu alloy exhibited the lowest and the highest fatigue strengths in the as-cast and T6 heat treated conditions respectively. The fatigue strength of the Al–25Zn–3Cu alloy was found to be much greater than that of the Al–12Si alloy. It was observed that the fatigue behaviour of Al–25Zn–3Cu alloy can be expressed by the Basquin equation.
CoMAGC: a corpus with multi-faceted annotations of gene-cancer relations
Authors: Lee Hee-Jin , Shim Sang-Hyung , Song Mi-Ryoung , Lee Hyunju , Park Jong C
Published: November 2013

Background

In order to access the large amount of information in biomedical literature about genes implicated in various cancers both efficiently and accurately, the aid of text mining (TM) systems is invaluable. Current TM systems do target either gene-cancer relations or biological processes involving genes and cancers, but the former type produces information not comprehensive enough to explain how a gene affects a cancer, and the latter does not provide a concise summary of gene-cancer relations.

Results

In this paper, we present a corpus for the development of TM systems that are specifically targeting gene-cancer relations but are still able to capture complex information in biomedical sentences. We describe CoMAGC, a corpus with multi-faceted annotations of gene-cancer relations. In CoMAGC, a piece of annotation is composed of four semantically orthogonal concepts that together express 1) how a gene changes, 2) how a cancer changes and 3) the causality between the gene and the cancer. The multi-faceted annotations are shown to have high inter-annotator agreement. In addition, we show that the annotations in CoMAGC allow us to infer the prospective roles of genes in cancers and to classify the genes into three classes according to the inferred roles. We encode the mapping between multi-faceted annotations and gene classes into 10 inference rules. The inference rules produce results with high accuracy as measured against human annotations. CoMAGC consists of 821 sentences on prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. Currently, we deal with changes in gene expression levels among other types of gene changes. The corpus is available at http://biopathway.org/CoMAGCunder the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0).

Conclusions

The corpus will be an important resource for the development of advanced TM systems on gene-cancer relations.
Effects of carvedilol treatment on cardiac cAMP response element binding protein expression and phosphorylation in acute coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis
Authors: Li-Sha Ge , Yi-He Chen , Na-Dan Zhou , Teng Zhang , Yue-Chun Li
Published: November 2013

Background

The role of β-adrenergic stimulation on viral myocarditis has been investigated in animal models of viral myocarditis. Excess stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors by catecholamines causes phosphorylation/activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) by the cAMP signaling pathway. CREB as an important regulator of gene expression mediates the cardiovascular remodeling process and promotes anti-inflammatory immune responses. However, the CREB expression and phosphorylation have not been studied, and the effects of carvedilol (a nonselective β-adrenoceptor antagonist) on the CREB has not been investigated in the setting of acute viral myocarditis.

Methods

This study was therefore designed to examine the effects of carvedilol on the transcriptional factor CREB in a murine model of acute viral myocarditis. In a coxsackievirus B3 murine myocarditis model (Balb/c), effects of carvedilol on plasma noradrenaline, heart rate and blood pressure, myocardial histopathological changes and fibrosis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, cardiac CREB and phosphorylated CREB, cytokine levels, and viral RNA were studied.

Results

The expression and phosphorylation of CREB were decreased with concomitant increase of IL-6 and TNF-α in murine coxsackievirus-induced acute viral myocarditis. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were correlated with the expression of CREB or phosphorylated CREB. Carvedilol increased the cardiac CREB expression and phosphorylation and decreased the plasma catecholamine levels and the production of IL-6 and TNF-α with amelioration of acute viral myocarditis.

Conclusion

These results show that CREB may be involved in the pathophysiology of viral myocarditis and carvedilol exerts some of its beneficial effects by increasing the CREB expression and phosphorylation.
Molecular memory with atomically smooth graphene contacts
Authors: Umair Ahmad , Raza Tehseen Z , Raza Hassan
Published: November 2013

We report the use of bilayer graphene as an atomically smooth contact for nanoscale devices. A two-terminal bucky-ball (C60) based molecular memory is fabricated with bilayer graphene as a contact on the polycrystalline nickel electrode. Graphene provides an atomically smooth covering over an otherwise rough metal surface. The use of graphene additionally prohibits the electromigration of nickel into the C60 layer. The devices exhibit a low-resistance state in the first sweep cycle and irreversibly switch to a high-resistance state at 0.8 to 1.2 V bias. In the subsequent cycles, the devices retain the high-resistance state, thus making it write-once read-many memory.
The lactic acid bacteria metabolite phenyllactic acid inhibits both radial growth and sporulation of filamentous fungi
Authors: Svanström Åsa , Boveri Silvio , Boström Emma , Melin Petter
Published: November 2013

Background

Food spoilage caused by molds is a severe problem. In food and feed, e.g. dairy products, sourdough bread and silage, lactic acid bacteria are used as starter cultures. Besides lactic and acetic acid, some strains produce other low molecular weight compounds with antifungal activities. One of these metabolites is phenyllactic acid (PLA), well known for its antifungal effect. The inhibitory effect of PLA has only partially been investigated, and the objective of this study was to elucidate in detail the antifungal properties of PLA.

Results

We investigated the outgrowth of individual conidia fromAspergillus niger,Cladosporium cladosporioidesandPenicillium roqueforti, and observed the morphologies of resulting colonies on solid media using different acid concentrations. We found that PLA inhibits molds similar to weak acid preservatives. Furthermore, it has an additional activity: at sub-inhibitory concentrations, fungal colonies displayed slower radial growth and inhibited sporulation. The L isoform of PLA is a more potent inhibitor than the D form. Increased expression ofphiAwas observed during PLA treatment. This gene was initially identified as being induced byStreptomyces-produced macrolide antibiotics, and is shown to be a structural protein in developed cells. This suggests that PhiA may act as a general stress protectant in fungi.

Conclusion

From a food protection perspective, the results of this study support the usage of lactic acid bacteria strains synthesizing PLA as starter cultures in food and feed. Such starter cultures could inhibit spore synthesis, which would be beneficial as many food borne fungi are spread by airborne spores.
Yersinia pestissurvival and replication within human neutrophil phagosomes and uptake of infected neutrophils by macrophages
Authors: Spinner Justin L , Winfree Seth , Starr Tregei , Shannon Jeffrey G , Nair Vinod , Steele-Mortimer Olivia , Hinnebusch B Joseph
Published: November 2013

Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of plague, is transmitted by fleas. The bite of an infected flea deposits Y. pestis into the dermis and triggers recruitment of innate immune cells, including phagocytic PMNs. Y. pestis can subvert this PMN response and survive at the flea-bite site, disseminate, and persist in the host. Although its genome encodes a number of antiphagocytic virulence factors, phagocytosis of Y. pestis by PMNs has been observed. This study tests the hypotheses that Y. pestis, grown at the ambient temperature of the flea vector (21°C), where the major antiphagocytic virulence factors are not produced, can survive and replicate within human PMNs and can use PMNs as a route to infect macrophages subsequently. We show that Y. pestis is localized within PMN phagosomes, predominately as individual bacteria, and that intracellular bacteria can survive and replicate. Within 12 h of infection, ∼70% of infected PMNs had PS on their surface and were plausibly competent for efferocytosis. With the use of live cell confocal imaging, we show that autologous HMDMs recognize and internalize infected PMNs and that Y. pestis survives and replicates within these HMDMs following efferocytosis. Addition of HMDMs to infected PMNs resulted in decreased secretion of inflammatory cytokines (compared with HMDMs incubated directly with pCD1−Y. pestis) and increased secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ra. Thus, Y. pestis can survive and replicate within PMNs, and infected PMNs may be a route for noninflammatory infection of macrophages.
COUP-TFI controls activity-dependent tyrosine hydroxylase expression in adult dopaminergic olfactory bulb interneurons
Authors: Bovetti Serena , Bonzano Sara , Garzotto Donatella , Giannelli Serena Gea , Iannielli Angelo , Armentano Maria , Studer Michèle , De Marchis Silvia
Published: November 2013

COUP-TFI is an orphan nuclear receptor acting as a strong transcriptional regulator in different aspects of forebrain embryonic development. In this study, we investigated COUP-TFI expression and function in the mouse olfactory bulb (OB), a highly plastic telencephalic region in which continuous integration of newly generated inhibitory interneurons occurs throughout life. OB interneurons belong to different populations that originate from distinct progenitor lineages. Here, we show that COUP-TFI is highly expressed in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic interneurons in the adult OB glomerular layer (GL). We found that odour deprivation, which is known to downregulate TH expression in the OB, also downregulates COUP-TFI in dopaminergic cells, indicating a possible correlation between TH- and COUP-TFI-activity-dependent action. Moreover, we demonstrate that conditional inactivation of COUP-TFI in the EMX1 lineage results in a significant reduction of both TH and ZIF268 expression in the GL. Finally, lentiviral vector-mediated COUP-TFI deletion in adult-generated interneurons confirmed that COUP-TFI acts cell-autonomously in the control of TH and ZIF268 expression. These data indicate that COUP-TFI regulates TH expression in OB cells through an activity-dependent mechanism involving ZIF268 induction and strongly argue for a maintenance rather than establishment function of COUP-TFI in dopaminergic commitment. Our study reveals a previously unknown role for COUP-TFI in the adult brain as a key regulator in the control of sensory-dependent plasticity in olfactory dopaminergic neurons.
Application of Homogeneous Liquid–Liquid Microextraction via Flotation Assistance Followed by Gas Chromatography for Determination of Butachlor in Water Samples
Authors: Haddadi Hedayat , Rezaee Mohammad , Semnani Abolfazl , Mashayekhi Hossein Ali
Published: November 2013

In this article, a new method using homogeneous liquid–liquid microextraction via flotation assistance (HLLME-FA) combined with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) for the determination of butachlor in water samples was developed. In this research, a special extraction cell was designed to facilitate collection of the low-density solvent extraction. No centrifugation was required in this procedure. The water sample solution was added into the extraction cell which contained an appropriate mixture of extraction and homogeneous solvents. By using air flotation, the organic solvent was collected at the conical part of the designed cell. The effect of different parameters on the efficiency of the extraction such as kind and the volume of extraction and homogeneous solvents, ionic strength, and extraction time were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 1.0–200 µg L−1 with the detection limit of 0.2 µg L−1. The results show that HLLME-FA is a simple, rapid, sensitive, and efficient analytical method for the determination of butachlor in water samples, and satisfactory results were obtained.
Synthesis of α-Hydroxy Ketones from Vicinal Diols by Selective Dehydrogenation over Ir–ReOx/SiO2 Catalyst
Authors: Sato Hiraku , Tamura Masazumi , Nakagawa Yoshinao , Tomishige Keiichi
Published: November 2013

Rhenium oxide-modified Ir/SiO2 (Ir–ReOx/SiO2) catalyst shows high activity and selectivity for the dehydrogenation of trans-1,2-cyclohexanediol to 2-hydroxycyclohexanone in water solvent under Ar. Linear vicinal diols bearing two secondary hydroxy groups or both a primary hydroxy group and a secondary hydroxy group can also be transformed to the corresponding α-hydroxy ketones in high selectivities. Ir–ReOx/SiO2 can be reused at least four times without loss of activity and selectivity.
The Heat of Deeds: A true crime history of penal Newcastle
Authors: Murray David
Published: November 2013

The penal outstation of Newcastle, New South Wales was an early nineteenth-century British experiment in secondary punishment. Its twenty years of operation from 1804 to 1821 encompassed the Rum Rebellion of 1807, the expansive governorship of Lachlan Macquarie and a population boom of convicts and free settlers following the Napoleonic wars. Defined by contemporary methods of corporal punishment, penology and martial law, it would establish itself as a productive hard labour settlement that at various times provided the new colony – especially Sydney Town – with coal, timber, salt and building lime. It was also a uniquely intimate and human world that housed, fed, broke and occasionally redeemed its motley crew of gaolers and reoffending convicts, whose original population of 100 peaked at a 1000 by 1820. It is also the setting for ‘The Heat of Deeds’, a creative nonfiction, true crime narrative experiment by Dr Murray, which reconstructs the incomplete, archival traces of some of its residents into stories grounded in the squalor, violence, resilience, desperation and grace of the lived, convict experience. The following extract refers to the outstation’s final years as a penal facility.
The treachery of pixels: Reconsidering feelies in an era of digital play
Authors: Kocurek Carly A.
Published: November 2013

This article interrogates the importance of feelies for game design and game history, making the case for considering feelies not as ephemera, but as essential game components. Feelies have often been treated as supplementary aspects of game design, as evidenced by the reissue and even archiving of games without feelies. However, researchers would do well to consider carefully the impact feelies have on player experience, particularly as practices established around these early games continue to inform game design; too much attention to the digital components of games can efface the physicality of video games and artificially simplify interpretations.
Synthesis of Responsive Polymer Brushes on Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Suthar Kamlesh J. , Mowat Joseph E. , Balasubramanian Shankar , Ghantasala Muralidhar K. , Mancini Derrick C.
Published: November 2013

We report a simple synthesis technique to attached poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) on magnetic nanoparticles. Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were prepared using co-precipitation method. Nearly monodisperse nanoparticles were separated by terminating surface of Fe3O4 with dopamine followed by careful centrifugation and decantation. NHS/EDC coupling chemistry was employed to attached the carboxylic acid terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) to amine end of dopamine on surface of the magnetic particles. Analysis of the polymer brush layers was conducted using UV-Vis spectroscopy, ATR−FTIR, and Transmission electron microscopy techniques. The magnetic property was investigated using direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC-SQUID) method.
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is higher in patients with Paget's disease of bone compared with age-matched controls
Authors: Griz Luiz , Bandeira Francisco , Diniz Erik Trovão , Cabral Marcelo , Freese Eduardo
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in patients with Paget's disease of bone (PDB) than in age-matched controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We measured serum 25-OHD in 28 untreated patients with PDB and two control groups: 284 elderly men from an ongoing cohort from our department, and 151 postmenopausal women seen in our outpatient clinic for routine medical evaluation. RESULTS: The mean ± SD serum 25-OHD was significantly lower in subjects with PDB (23.76 ± 6.29 ng/mL) than in the control groups of elderly men (27.86 ± 13.52 ng/mL) and postmenopausal women (30.30 ± 9.59 ng/mL), p = 0.015. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency considering a cut-off point of serum 25-OHD < 30 ng/mL was 85.7% in patients with PDB, and in elderly men and postmenopausal women it was 66.7 % and 54.3%, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with Paget's disease living in the tropics.