bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulatory MiR‐148a‐ACVR1/BMP circuit defines a cancer stem cell‐like aggressive subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Lian , Liu Yuexin , Guo Yan , Liu Ben , Zhao Yanrui , Li Pei , Song Fengju , Zheng Hong , Yu Jingpu , Song Tianqiang , Niu Ruifang , Li Qiang , Wang Xin Wei , Zhang Wei , Chen Kexin
Published: October 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and the third most common cancer in Asia. HCC has heterogeneous etiologic and molecular profiles and a varied response to therapeutics. The high recurrence rate and curtailed survival in this cancer are attributed to its resistance to therapy. The ultimate goal is to develop a more effective personalized therapeutic strategy for HCC, but the first step is to develop a system for classifying the disease on the basis of molecular biomarkers. To that end, we performed mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling in 100 HCC tissues. Clustering analysis of informative genes identified two robust subtypes, which were validated by an independent dataset. The subtype characterized by a cancer stem cell‐like signature was clinically aggressive and associated with poor survival. Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression in this subtype showed that miR‐148a was expressed at a significantly lower level in these tumors than in the other subtype. MiR‐148a has been shown to directly suppress the expression of activin A receptor type 1 (ACVR1), a key receptor in the signaling pathway of the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which regulate many stem cell markers as well as the clinically important cytokine interleukin‐8 (IL‐8). Increased expression of ACVR1 and its downstream genes EPCAM, CD24, CD90, and IL‐8 was associated with shorter survival in a larger cohort of 227 HCC cases. Introduction of miR‐148a resulted in suppressed tumor phenotypes both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: We identified a clinically aggressive stem cell‐like subtype of HCC that is characterized by an miR‐148a‐ACVR1‐BMP‐Wnt circuit. We propose that miR‐148a may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for this subtype of HCC. (Hepatology 2015;61:574‐584)
Bicarbonate transport in health and disease
Authors: Alka Kumari , Casey Joseph R.
Published: October 2014

Bicarbonate (HCO3−) has a central place in human physiology as the waste product of mitochondrial energy production and for its role in pH buffering throughout the body. Because bicarbonate is impermeable to membranes, bicarbonate transport proteins are necessary to enable control of bicarbonate levels across membranes. In humans, 14 bicarbonate transport proteins, members of the SLC4 and SLC26 families, function by differing transport mechanisms. In addition, some anion channels and ZIP metal transporters contribute to bicarbonate movement across membranes. Defective bicarbonate transport leads to diseases, including systemic acidosis, brain dysfunction, kidney stones, and hypertension. Altered expression levels of bicarbonate transporters in patients with breast, colon, and lung cancer suggest an important role of these transporters in cancer. © 2014 IUBMB Life, 66(9):596–615, 2014
The Expression of Depressive Symptomatology in Korean American Undergraduates: Sex and Generational Differences
Authors: Castellanos Jeanett , Gloria Alberta M. , Kim Sara Cho , Park Yong S.
Published: October 2014

This study examined the influence of acculturation and perception of the university environment on the depressive symptomatology of 228 Korean American undergraduates, with a focus on sex and generational differences. Perceptions of the university environment and perceived barriers were positive predictors of depressive symptomatology in respective regression equations by sex and generation. Study limitations and counseling practice implications are discussed.
Arab Americans With Disabilities and Their Families: A Culturally Appropriate Approach for Counselors
Authors: Al Khateeb Jamal M. , Al Hadidi Muna S. , Al Khatib Amal J.
Published: October 2014

The authors present a brief introduction to Americans of Arab descent and a brief overview of Arab culture. Then, culturally appropriate counseling considerations related to family, attitudes toward disability, religion, communication, acculturation, help‐seeking behaviors, and stereotypes are highlighted. In the last section, the authors provide conclusions and recommendations for culturally appropriate considerations in working with Arab Americans with disabilities and their families.

Los autores presentan una breve introducción sobre los americanos de origen árabe y un breve resumen de la cultura árabe. Después, se destacan consideraciones para la consejería culturalmente apropiada relacionadas con la familia, actitudes sobre discapacidad, religión, comunicación, aculturación, comportamientos de búsqueda de ayuda, y estereotipos. En la última sección, los autores proporcionan conclusiones y recomendaciones para consideraciones culturalmente apropiadas a la hora de trabajar con americanos de origen árabe con discapacidades y sus familias.
Connexin 43 Channels Are Essential for Normal Bone Structure and Osteocyte Viability
Authors: Xu Huiyun , Gu Sumin , Riquelme Manuel A , Burra Sirisha , Callaway Danielle , Cheng Hongyun , Guda Teja , Schmitz James , Fajardo Roberto J , Werner Sherry L , Zhao Hong , Shang Peng , Johnson Mark L , Bonewald Lynda F , Jiang Jean X
Published: October 2014

Connexin (Cx) 43 serves important roles in bone function and development. Targeted deletion of Cx43 in osteoblasts or osteocytes leads to increased osteocyte apoptosis, osteoclast recruitment, and reduced biomechanical properties. Cx43 forms both gap junction channels and hemichannels, which mediate the communication between adjacent cells or between cell and extracellular environments, respectively. Two transgenic mouse models driven by a DMP1 promoter with the overexpression of dominant negative Cx43 mutants were generated to dissect the functional contribution of Cx43 gap junction channels and hemichannels in osteocytes. The R76W mutant blocks the gap junction channel, but not the hemichannel function, and the Δ130-136 mutant inhibits activity of both types of channels. Δ130-136 mice showed a significant increase in bone mineral density compared to wild-type (WT) and R76W mice. Micro–computed tomography (µCT) analyses revealed a significant increase in total tissue and bone area in midshaft cortical bone of Δ130-136 mice. The bone marrow cavity was expanded, whereas the cortical thickness was increased and associated with increased bone formation along the periosteal area. However, there is no significant alteration in the structure of trabecular bone. Histologic sections of the midshaft showed increased apoptotic osteocytes in Δ130-136, but not in WT and R76W, mice which correlated with altered biomechanical and estimated bone material properties. Osteoclasts were increased along the endocortical surface in both transgenic mice with a greater effect in Δ130-136 mice that likely contributed to the increased marrow cavity. Interestingly, the overall expression of serum bone formation and resorption markers were higher in R76W mice. These findings suggest that osteocytic Cx43 channels play distinctive roles in the bone; hemichannels play a dominant role in regulating osteocyte survival, endocortical bone resorption, and periosteal apposition, and gap junction communication is involved in the process of bone remodeling. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Determination of Anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide Based on Biotin–Streptavidin‐Amplified Time‐Resolved Fluoroimmunoassay
Authors: Sheng Huiming , Hu Zhi‐Gang , Liu Jie , Yuan Fenghong , Li Mei , Zou Yaohong , Chen Yu
Published: October 2014

Background

A rapid and sensitive time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) based on the biotin–streptavidin amplification system was developed for the determination of anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐CCP).

Methods

Europium‐labeled streptavidin derivatives combined with europium and anhydride of diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid were used to label streptavidin, biotin was coupled with rabbit anti‐human IgG to form a biotin–anti‐human IgG bridge between streptavidin–europium and the anti‐CCP antibody in the immunoassay. The anti‐CCP assay was carried out by measuring the fluorescence of Eu3+–streptavidin at 615 nm.

Results

The presented method produced a wide linear range from 0.58 to 9,463 U/ml, while it was only 591.4–18.48 U/ml when using an ELISA kit, and featured a detection limit up to 0.5 U/ml for anti‐CCP. The values determined by the biotin–streptavidin–TRFIA and ELISA correlated well (R2 = 0.8927). The method was applied to determine anti‐CCP in serum samples with satisfied recoveries of 96.45–104.63%.

Conclusion

The assay results obtained by the present method showed that biotin–streptavidin‐amplified TRFIA improve the traditional ELISA kit for anti‐CCP detection. Therefore, it offers a better alternative immunoassay in rheumatoid arthritis management.
Immunogold labeling shows that glycine‐cysteine‐rich beta‐proteins are deposited in the Oberhäutchen layer of snake epidermis in preparation to shedding
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo
Published: October 2014

Shedding in snakes is cyclical and derives from the differentiation of an intraepidermal shedding complex made of two different layers, termed clear and Oberhäutchen that determine the separation between the outer from the inner epidermal generation that produces a molt. The present comparative immunocytochemical study on the epidermis and molts of different species of snakes shows that a glycine‐cysteine‐rich corneous beta‐protein in a snake is prevalently accumulated in cells of the Oberhäutchen layer and decreases in those of the beta‐layer. The protein is variably distributed in the mature beta‐layer of species representing some snake families when the beta‐layer merges with the Oberhäutchen but disappears in alpha‐layers. Therefore, this protein represents an early marker of the transition between the outer and the inner epidermal generations in the epidermis of snakes in general. It is hypothesized that specific gene activation for glycine‐cysteine‐rich corneous beta‐proteins occurs during the passage from the clear layer of the outer epidermal generation to the Oberhäutchen layer of the replacing inner epidermal generation. It is suggested that in the epidermis of most species glycine‐cysteine‐rich corneous beta‐proteins form part of the dense corneous material that rapidly accumulates in the differentiating Oberhäutchen cells but decreases in the following beta‐layer of the inner epidermal generation destined to be separated from the previous outer generation in the process of shedding. The regulation of the synthesis of these and other proteins is, therefore, crucial in timing the different stages of the shedding cycle in lepidosaurian reptiles. J. Morphol. 276:144–151, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In situ confocal micro‐Raman spectroscopic investigation of rearrangement kinetics and phase evolution of UHMWPE during annealing
Authors: He Guoxu , Lu Peidong
Published: October 2014

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene was investigated using in situ confocal micro‐Raman spectroscopy during annealing at 110.0 °C. Based on the Raman spectra, crystalline, amorphous, and all‐trans noncrystalline fractions were recognized to evaluate rearrangement kinetics during isothermal annealing at 110.0 °C and phase evolution during cooling from 110.0 to 30.0 °C. For the crystalline fraction, a substantial increase from 0.600 ± 0.001 to 0.639 ± 0.008 was observed during the first 24.2 min of annealing; a very gradual increase from 0.639 ± 0.001 to 0.679 ± 0.001 occurred during the following 114.6 min. For the amorphous phase fraction, conversely, a sharp decrease from 0.240 ± 0.000 to 0.213 ± 0.004 was exhibited during the first 24.2 min of annealing, and then, a flat decrease happened from 0.213 ± 0.004 to 0.192 ± 0.001 as time expanded to 138.8 min. For the all‐tans noncrystalline fraction, a gradual decrease was shown from 0.160 ± 0.000 at 0.0 min to 0.128 ± 0.001 at 138.8 min. The rearrangement rate constant K was obtained to be 0.632 by an Avrami equation. During cooling from 110.0 to 30.0 °C, there were two phase evolution regions: region 1 from 110.0 to 90.0 °C and region 2 from 90.0 to 30.0 °C. The crystal lamella thickened faster in region 1 than in region 2. The amorphous layer continually decreased in content in the combined region of 1 and 2. The all‐trans noncrystalline phase obviously decreased in region 1 and then almost maintained a constant level in region 2. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beta‐cryptoxanthin as a source of vitamin A
Authors: Burri Betty J
Published: October 2014

Beta‐cryptoxanthin is a common carotenoid that is found in fruit, and in human blood and tissues. Foods that are rich in beta‐cryptoxanthin include tangerines, persimmons and oranges. Beta‐cryptoxanthin has several functions that are important for human health, including roles in antioxidant defense and cell‐to‐cell communication. Most importantly, beta‐cryptoxanthin is a precursor of vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient needed for eyesight, growth, development and immune response. We evaluate the evidence for beta‐cryptoxanthin as a vitamin A‐forming carotenoid in this paper. Observational, in vitro, animal model and human studies suggest that beta‐cryptoxanthin has greater bioavailability from its common food sources than do alpha‐ and beta‐carotene from theirs. Although beta‐cryptoxanthin appears to be a poorer substrate for beta‐carotene 15,15′ oxygenase than is beta‐carotene, animal model and human studies suggest that the comparatively high bioavailability of beta‐cryptoxanthin from foods makes beta‐cryptoxanthin‐rich foods equivalent to beta‐carotene‐rich foods as sources of vitamin A. These results mean that beta‐cryptoxanthin‐rich foods are probably better sources of vitamin A, and more important for human health in general, than previously assumed. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Citrulline reduces glyceroneogenesis and induces fatty acid release in visceral adipose tissue from overweight rats
Authors: Joffin Nolwenn , Jaubert Anne‐Marie , Durant Sylvie , Bastin Jean , De Bandt Jean‐Pascal , Cynober Luc , Moinard Christophe , Coumoul Xavier , Forest Claude , Noirez Philippe
Published: October 2014

Scope

High‐fat diet (HFD) increases visceral adipose tissue (AT). Our aim was to evaluate whether citrulline (CIT) affected nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) metabolism in AT from HFD‐fed rats.

Methods and results

Rats were fed for 8 weeks with either a control diet (CD) or HFD. Retroperitoneal AT explants were exposed to 2.5 mmol/L CIT for 24 h. We analyzed lipolysis, beta‐oxidation, glyceroneogenesis, and the expression of the key associated enzymes. CIT doubled NEFA release selectively in HFD AT. Phosphorylation of hormone‐sensitive lipase was upregulated 50 and 100% by CIT in CD and HFD AT, respectively. Under CIT, beta‐oxidation increased similarly whatever the diet, whereas glyceroneogenesis, which permits NEFA re‐esterification, was downregulated 50 and 80% in CD and HFD AT, respectively. In the latter, the important decrease in re‐esterification probably explains the rise of NEFA release. A pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N ω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester abolished CIT effects.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate direct lipolytic and antiglyceroneogenic effects of CIT on CD and HFD AT. The selective CIT‐mediated NEFA release from HFD AT was probably the consequence of the drastic decrease in glyceroneogenesis and nitric oxide was a mediator of CIT effects. These results provide evidence for a direct action of CIT on AT to reduce overweight.
Radiofrequency pulse design using nonlinear gradient magnetic fields
Authors: Kopanoglu Emre , Constable R. Todd
Published: October 2014

Purpose

An iterative k‐space trajectory and radiofrequency (RF) pulse design method is proposed for excitation using nonlinear gradient magnetic fields.

Theory and Methods

The spatial encoding functions (SEFs) generated by nonlinear gradient fields are linearly dependent in Cartesian coordinates. Left uncorrected, this may lead to flip angle variations in excitation profiles. In the proposed method, SEFs (k‐space samples) are selected using a matching pursuit algorithm, and the RF pulse is designed using a conjugate gradient algorithm. Three variants of the proposed approach are given: the full algorithm, a computationally cheaper version, and a third version for designing spoke‐based trajectories. The method is demonstrated for various target excitation profiles using simulations and phantom experiments.

Results

The method is compared with other iterative (matching pursuit and conjugate gradient) and noniterative (coordinate‐transformation and Jacobian‐based) pulse design methods as well as uniform density spiral and EPI trajectories. The results show that the proposed method can increase excitation fidelity.

Conclusion

An iterative method for designing k‐space trajectories and RF pulses using nonlinear gradient fields is proposed. The method can either be used for selecting the SEFs individually to guide trajectory design, or can be adapted to design and optimize specific trajectories of interest. Magn Reson Med 74:826–839, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sequential expression of miR‐182 and miR‐503 cooperatively targets FBXW7, contributing to the malignant transformation of colon adenoma to adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Lihua , Sarver Aaron L , Khatri Rohini , Hajeri Praveensingh B , Kamenev Iris , French Amy J , Thibodeau Stephen N , Steer Clifford J , Subramanian Subbaya
Published: October 2014

Genetic changes in colon cancer are known to parallel the tissue abnormalities associated with the disease, namely adenoma and adenocarcinoma. The role of microRNA dysregulation in dysplastic progression, however, is not well understood. Here, we show that miR‐182 and miR‐503 undergo sequential up‐regulation and drive the progression of colon adenoma to adenocarcinoma by cooperatively down‐regulating the tumour suppressor FBXW7. We identified that increased expression of miR‐182 is a feature of adenomas. A subsequent increase in miR‐503 expression works cooperatively with miR‐182 to induce transformation of an adenoma to adenocarcinoma. We show that introducing miR‐503 into AAC1 cells, which are derived from a benign adenoma, confers tumourigenic potential. We also demonstrated that blocking both miR‐182 and miR‐503 in HCT116 colon cancer cells resulted in increased FBXW7 expression and significantly reduced tumour size in xenograft models. We confirmed relevance of these results in patients by examining the expression levels of miR‐182 and miR‐503 in over 200 colon cancer patients with 12 year survival outcome data. Decreased patient survival was correlated with elevated expression of both miRNAs, suggesting that elevated levels of both miR‐182 and miR‐503 define a novel prognostic biomarker for colon cancer patients. In conclusion, we show that a sequential expression of miR‐182 and miR‐503 in benign adenoma cooperatively regulates the tumour suppressor FBXW7, contributing to the malignant transformation of colon adenoma to adenocarcinoma and miR‐182 and miR‐503 may prove to be novel therapeutic targets. Array data are available at: http://www.oncomir.umn.edu/ Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Beyond microstructures: Using the Kerr Effect to characterize the macrostructures of synthetic polymers
Authors: Gurarslan Rana , Hardrict Shauntrece , Roy Debashish , Galvin Casey , Hill Megan R. , Gracz Hanna , Sumerlin Brent S. , Genzer Jan , Tonelli Alan
Published: October 2014

The macrostructures of synthetic polymers are essentially the complete molecular chain architectures, including the types and amounts of constituent short‐range microstructures, such as the regio‐ and stereosequences of the inserted monomers, the amounts and sequences of monomers found in co‐, ter‐, and tetra‐polymers, branching, inadvertent, and otherwise, etc. Currently, the best method for characterizing polymer microstructures uses high field, high resolution 13C‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy observed in solution. However, even 13C‐NMR is incapable of determining the locations or positions of resident polymer microstructures, which are required to elucidate their complete macrostructures. The sequences of amino acid residues in proteins, or their primary structures, cannot be characterized by NMR or other short‐range spectroscopic methods, but only by decoding the DNA used in their syntheses or, if available, X‐ray analysis of their single crystals. Similarly, there are currently no experimental means to determine the sequences or locations of constituent microstructures along the chains of synthetic macromolecules. Thus, we are presently unable to determine their macrostructures. As protein tertiary and quaternary structures and their resulting ultimate functions are determined by their primary sequence of amino acids, so too are the behaviors and properties of synthetic polymers critically dependent on their macrostructures. We seek to raise the consciousness of both synthetic and physical polymer scientists and engineers to the importance of characterizing polymer macrostructures when attempting to develop structure–property relations. To help achieve this task, we suggest using the electrical birefringence or Kerr effects observed in their dilute solutions. The molar Kerr constants of polymer solutes contributing to the birefringence of their solutions, under the application of a strong electric field, are highly sensitive to both the types and locations of their constituent microstructures. As a consequence, we may begin to characterize the macrostructures of synthetic polymers by means of the Kerr effect. To simplify implementation of the Kerr effect to characterize polymer macrostructures, we suggest that NMR first be used to determine the types and amounts of constituent microstructures present. Subsequent comparison of observed Kerr effects with those predicted for different microstructural locations along the polymer chains can then be used to identify the most likely macrostructures. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 155–166
Idealized large‐eddy simulations of nocturnal low‐level jets over subtropical desert regions and implications for dust‐generating winds
Authors: Heinold Bernd , Knippertz Peter , Beare Robert J.
Published: October 2014

Nocturnal low‐level jets (LLJs) are maxima in the wind profile, which often form above the stable nocturnal boundary layer. Over the Sahara, the world's largest source of mineral dust, this phenomenon is of particular importance to the emission and transport of desert aerosol. We present the first ever detailed large‐eddy simulations of dust‐generating LLJs. Using sensitivity studies with the UK Met Office large‐eddy model (LEM), two key controls of the nocturnal LLJ are investigated: surface roughness and the Coriolis force. Functional relationships derived from the LEM results help to identify optimal latitude–roughness configurations for a maximum LLJ enhancement. Ideal conditions are found in regions between 20 and 27°N with roughness lengths >0.0001 m providing long oscillation periods and large jet amplitudes. Typical LLJ enhancements reach up to 3.5 m s−1 for geostrophic winds of 10 m s−1. The findings are largely consistent with results from a theoretical LLJ model applied for comparison. The results demonstrate the importance of latitude and roughness in creating regional patterns of LLJ influence. Combining the functional relationships with high‐resolution roughness data over northern Africa gives good agreement with the location of morning dust uplift in satellite observations. It is shown that shear‐induced mixing plays an important role for the LLJ evolution and surface gustiness. With decreasing latitude the LLJ oscillation period is longer and, thus, shear‐induced mixing is weaker, allowing a more stable nocturnal stratification to develop. This causes a later and more abrupt LLJ breakdown in the morning with stronger gusts, which can compensate for the slower LLJ evolution that leads to a weaker jet maximum. The findings presented here can serve as the first step towards a parametrization to improve the representation of the effects of nocturnal LLJs on dust emission in coarser‐resolution models.
Bayesian ROC curve estimation under verification bias
Authors: Gu Jiezhun , Ghosal Subhashis , Kleiner David E.
Published: October 2014

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve has been widely used in medical science for its ability to measure the accuracy of diagnostic tests under the gold standard. However, in a complicated medical practice, a gold standard test can be invasive, expensive, and its result may not always be available for all the subjects under study. Thus, a gold standard test is implemented only when it is necessary and possible. This leads to the so‐called ‘verification bias’, meaning that subjects with verified disease status (also called label) are not selected in a completely random fashion. In this paper, we propose a new Bayesian approach for estimating an ROC curve based on continuous data following the popular semiparametric binormal model in the presence of verification bias. By using a rank‐based likelihood, and following Gibbs sampling techniques, we compute the posterior distribution of the binormal parameters intercept and slope, as well as the area under the curve by imputing the missing labels within Markov Chain Monte‐Carlo iterations. Consistency of the resulting posterior under mild conditions is also established. We compare the new method with other comparable methods and conclude that our estimator performs well in terms of accuracy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance of three‐dimensional power Doppler angiography as third‐step assessment in differential diagnosis of adnexal masses
Authors: Utrilla‐Layna J. , Alcázar J. L. , Aubá M. , Laparte C. , Olartecoechea B. , Errasti T. , Juez L. , Mínguez J. Á. , Guerriero S. , Jurado M.
Published: October 2014

Objective

To evaluate the contribution of three‐dimensional (3D) power Doppler angiography (3D‐PDA) to the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses.

Methods

This was a prospective study in women diagnosed with a persistent adnexal mass and subsequently scheduled for surgery in a tertiary university hospital. All women were evaluated by transvaginal/transrectal ultrasound according to a predetermined three‐step protocol, with transabdominal ultrasound being performed in some cases. First, morphological evaluation of the mass was performed using gray‐scale ‘pattern recognition’ (first step). Lesions diagnosed as having a benign pattern were considered as being at low risk of malignancy whereas tumors with solid components, ascites and/or signs of carcinomatosis were considered as being at high risk of malignancy. In both cases no further test was performed and a decision regarding clinical management, either for follow‐up or surgery, was taken. Tumors with solid components but without signs of ascites or carcinomatosis were considered as being at intermediate risk of malignancy. These lesions were assessed by two‐dimensional (2D) PDA to evaluate tumor vascularity (color score) (second step). Solid tumors with a color score of 1 or 2 were considered as benign and no further test was performed, while tumors with a color score of 2, 3 or 4 within solid components or a color score of 3 or 4 in the case of a solid tumor were considered as malignant. The latter group underwent 3D‐PDA assessment (third step). Vascularization index (VI) was calculated in a 1‐mL sphere of the most vascularized area of the tumor. When a VI ≥ 24.015% was found, the tumor was considered as malignant. All masses were removed surgically and definitive histological diagnosis was used as the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity for each strategy were calculated and compared. In the case of bilateral tumors, only the more suspicious one was used for analysis.

Results

A total of 367 adnexal masses diagnosed in 367 women (mean age, 46.5 (range, 18–80) years) were evaluated during the study period. Of these, 86 masses were malignant and 281 were benign. The sensitivity and specificity for each assessment strategy were as follows: one‐step, 97.7% and 78.6%; two‐step, 94.2% and 97.9% (P < 0.001 for specificity when compared with that of one‐step); three‐step, 90.7% and 98.9% (not statistically significant when compared with that of two‐step).

Conclusions

The addition of 2D‐PDA in the differential diagnosis of an adnexal mass significantly increases specificity while sensitivity remains high; however performing subsequent 3D‐PDA does not provide additional information or further improve diagnostic performance subsequent to 2D‐PDA. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Accuracy of ultrasonography performed by examiners with varied training and experience in predicting specific pathology of adnexal masses
Authors: Sayasneh A. , Kaijser J. , Preisler J. , Smith A. A. , Raslan F. , Johnson S. , Husicka R. , Ferrara L. , Stalder C. , Ghaem‐Maghami S. , Timmerman D. , Bourne T.
Published: October 2014

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic performance of subjective assessment by Level II ultrasound examiners in predicting the specific histology of adnexal masses.

Methods

The women included in this prospective multicenter cross‐sectional study were older than 16 years of age and had at least one adnexal mass. They underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) performed by Level II examiners, all of whom were familiar with the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) group definitions of ultrasound features of ovarian masses. The final outcome was histology. Specific diagnoses were categorized into 16 groups. Agreement between subjective assessment and final histology was measured using unweighted kappa coefficients. Sensitivities and specificities were obtained for subjective assessment.

Results

Of the 1279 women who underwent TVS, 313 were included in the final analysis. Overall agreement (16 × 16 table) between subjective assessment and histology was moderate, with a Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.59 (95% CI, 0.53–0.65). The specificity of subjective assessment ranged between 91% and 100% for all histological subgroups. Highest sensitivities were achieved in the diagnosis of simple cysts (100% (95% CI, 61–100%)), hydrosalpinges (100% (95% CI, 34–100%)), mature teratomas (88% (95% CI, 74–96%)), endometriomas (75% (95% CI, 61–85%)), ovarian fibromas (88% (95% CI, 47–100%)), tubo‐ovarian abscesses (88% (95% CI, 47–100%)) and serous cystadenocarcinomas (82% (95% CI, 66–93%)). Serous cystadenomas were misdiagnosed most commonly (40.5%). The sensitivity of subjective assessment in diagnosing adnexal torsion was 54% (95% CI, 25–81%); the 17 confirmed and/or suspected cases of adnexal torsion were not included in the 313 cases examined and analyzed for diagnostic performance.

Conclusion

Overall, subjective assessment by Level II examiners was good for the detection of simple cysts, endometriomas, mature teratomas, hydrosalpinges, fibroma, tubo‐ovarian abscess and serous cystadenocarcinomas. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Identification of a pentatricopeptide repeat RNA editing factor in Physcomitrella patens chloroplasts
Authors: Ichinose Mizuho , Uchida Masato , Sugita Mamoru
Published: October 2014

The moss Physcomitrella patens has two RNA editing sites in the chloroplasts. Here we identified a novel DYW‐subclass pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein, PpPPR_45, as a chloroplast RNA editing factor in P. patens. Knockdown of the PpPPR_45 gene reduced the extent of RNA editing at the chloroplast rps14‐C2 site, whereas over‐expression of PpPPR_45 increased the levels of RNA editing at both the rps14‐C2 site and its neighboring C site. This indicates that the expression level of PpPPR_45 affects the extent of RNA editing at the two neighboring sites.
A dual-tube model for gas dynamics in fractured nanoporous shale formations
Authors: Lunati I. , Lee S. H.
Published: October 2014

Gas flow through fractured nanoporous shale formations is complicated by a hierarchy of structural features (ranging from nanopores to microseismic and hydraulic fractures) and by several transport mechanisms that differ from the standard viscous flow used in reservoir modelling. In small pores, self-diffusion becomes more important than advection; also, slippage effects and Knudsen diffusion might become relevant at low densities. We derive a nonlinear effective diffusion coefficient that describes the main transport mechanisms in shale-gas production. In dimensionless form, this coefficient depends only on a geometric factor (or dimensionless permeability) and on the kinetic model that describes the gas. To simplify the description of the complex structure of fractured shales, we observe that the production rate is controlled by the flow from the shale matrix (which has the smallest diffusivity) into the fracture network, which is assumed to produce instantaneously. Therefore, we propose to model the flow in the shale matrix and estimate the production rate with a simple bundle-of-dual-tubes model (BoDTM), in which each tube is characterized by two diameters (one for transport and the other for storage). The solution of a single tube is approximately self-similar at early time, but not at late time, when the gas flux decays exponentially owing to the finite length of the tube. To construct a BoDTM, a reliable estimate of the joint statistics of the matrix-porosity parameters is required. This can be either inferred from core measurements or postulated on the basis of somea prioriassumptions when information from laboratory and field measurements is scarce. By comparison with field production data from the Barnett shale-gas field, we demonstrate that BoDTM can be calibrated to estimate structural parameters of the shale formation and to predict the cumulative production of shale gas. Our framework has enough flexibility to construct models of increasing complexity that can be employed in the presence of a complex dataset or when more information is available.
CONSTITUTIONALIZING RELIGION: THE PYRRHIC SUCCESS OF RELIGIOUS RIGHTS IN POSTCOLONIAL SRI LANKA
Authors: Schonthal Benjamin
Published: October 2014

This article argues for a different reading of the history of law and religion in independent Sri Lanka, one that does not associate the persistence of religious tension with the failure of law, but, somewhat counterintuitively, with the legalization of religion in the first instance. I argue that it is not law's failure that adds to the intensity of religious tensions on the island, but its pyrrhic success. Sri Lanka's success in drafting, ratifying, and deploying legal regimes of religious rights has led to the further ossification of the very conflicts they were intended to arbitrate. Through a condensed overview of the history of debating, drafting, and adjudicating constitutional religious rights in Sri Lanka, this article demonstrates how, in turning to law to resolve religious disputes, Sri Lankans have deepened and hardened the very lines of conflict that those laws were meant to resolve.
Gradual Institutional Change in Congressional Ethics: Endogenous Pressures toward Third-Party Enforcement
Authors: Saint-Martin Denis
Published: October 2014

Ethics reform in Congress is expected to display extensive instability and “cycling.” Members hold conflicting views about ethics, and parties have weak capacities to order their preferences. The trend is for legislators to resist change until a scandal erupts and forces them to act. As a result, ethics reforms in Congress have typically developed through a layering of short-term and piecemeal institutional responses to the scandal of the moment. But the accumulation over time of seemingly small adjustments to the ethics process has been more path-dependent than anticipated in theories of disjointed pluralism. Legislators have had to commit to more open and collaborative forms of self-enforcement because of the feedback effects of ethics rules on Congress and the “tight-coupling” of standards of conduct between the executive and legislative branches of government. With each new scandal and partisan abuse of the process, pressures for a more independent mechanism to enforce ethics rules has grown stronger over time. The more ethics became governed by impersonal rules, the more it undermined Congress's past trajectory of political self-discipline. It is in this changing balance between positive and negative feedback effects that we can locate the mechanism that is gradually transforming ethics self-regulation in Congress into a new form of “co-regulation” with outsiders in the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).
The Eisenhower Transition: Labor Policy in the New Political Economy
Authors: Weatherford M. Stephen
Published: October 2014

Eisenhower is credited with steering a course between ideological extremes, his “presidency of consolidation” implying that his economic policy traced a smooth, unitary path. Instead, I argue that his is a twofold legacy. Eisenhower's most frequently cited actions, such as modifying Social Security and unemployment insurance, involved moderating the pace but maintaining the direction of past policy. But in relation to the New Deal labor policy regime, his actions carried a quite different developmental significance. When it came to the federal government's posture toward unions and labor organizing, Eisenhower reversed both the direction of policy and the future capacity of institutions to fulfill the New Deal's goals. As with any presidency, the first two years of Eisenhower's term were crucial in setting the agenda and determining priorities. Two initiatives, amending the Taft-Hartley Act and shaping the membership and decisions of the National Labor Relations Board, show how Eisenhower's ideas and policy tactics developed. The success of his administrative strategy had the effect of consolidating the potential inherent in the Taft-Hartley Act and—long before Reagan's “war on labor”—altering the developmental trajectory of the political economy of labor policy.
Metaanalyse–praktische Schritte und Entscheidungen im Umsetzungsprozess
Authors: Schewe Anna F. , Hülsheger Ute R. , Maier Günter W.
Published: October 2014

In diesem Beitrag wird der Durchführungsprozess metaanalytischer Techniken nach Hunter und Schmidt (2004) Schritt für Schritt beschrieben. In Form eines Tutoriums geben wir evidenzbasierte Empfehlungen, verweisen auf relevante Quellen und Hilfsmittel und bewerten alternative Vorgehensweisen in Bezug auf ihre Güte und Akzeptanz. Wir wenden uns an Forschende, die eine Metaanalyse mit der Besonderheit der Artefaktkorrekturen nach Hunter und Schmidt durchführen wollen und geben Anregungen für die Verbreitung metaanalytischer Ergebnisse sowohl im Wissenschaftskontext als auch im Austausch mit Praktikern.
Push and Pull Motivations for Quitting
Authors: Semmer Norbert K. , Elfering Achim , Baillod Jürg , Berset Martial , Beehr Terry A.
Published: October 2014

We report a new analysis of data from a multi-year study, some of which were previously published in the current journal. A longitudinal sample of 380 computer specialists was followed over two years, yielding three measures each of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions, as well as actual turnover, and reasons for leaving, at Times 2 and 3. Career paths were more diverse than the classical distinction between stayers and leavers implies. Furthermore, although the largest single group of leavers cited “push” reasons, conforming to the classical withdrawal model, a sizable number were attracted to another job (“pull motivation”). In a three-wave structural equation model, job (dis)satisfaction predicted turnover, while organizational commitment exerted its influence only via its association with job satisfaction. As expected, however, attitudes predicted turnover only for participants with push motivation. Quitting, in turn, predicted an improvement in both satisfaction and commitment, indicating that it paid off for the individual. The necessity to study consequences of turnover and to distinguish between different subgroups of stayers and leavers is emphasized.
Orthographic and Morphemic Effects in the Written Syllable Counting Task
Authors: Chetail Fabienne , Quémart Pauline
Published: October 2014

According to a recent hypothesis, the organization of letters into groups of successive consonants and vowels (i.e., CV pattern) constrains the orthographic structure of words. Here, we examined to what extent the morphological structure of words modifies the influence of the CV pattern in a syllable counting task. Participants were presented with written words matched for the number of syllables and comprising either one vowel cluster less than the number of syllables (hiatus words, e.g., création) or the same number of vowel clusters (control words, e.g., crépiter). Participants were slower and less accurate for hiatus than control stimuli, be it words (Experiments 1, 3) or pseudowords (Experiment 2). More importantly, this hiatus effect was present even when the stimuli had a morphemic boundary falling within the hiatus (e.g., ré-agir). The results suggest that the CV pattern of items more strongly influences performance in the syllable counting task than the morphological structure.
Is Elapsing Time Really Recoded Into Spatial Linear Representation in Working Memory?
Authors: Ding Xianfeng , Cheng Xiaorong , Fan Zhao , Liu Huashan
Published: October 2014

A growing body of evidence suggested that elapsing time is tightly associated with space in a specific way (e.g., Spatial Temporal Association of Response Codes or STARC effect). However, existing findings cannot justify a hypothesis that elapsing time is recoded directly into a spatial linear representation in working memory. The present study addresses this fundamental question by using three modified STARC-related working memory paradigms. In different experiments, participants were asked to give order judgment, order-irrelevant STM recognition judgment, or motor-related free-choice judgment, immediately after successive presentation of a set of disparate stimuli. Results show that responses to early stimuli were faster or more often with the left key and responses to late stimuli were faster or more often with the right key. These findings clearly support the hypothesis that elapsing time is directly and automatically recoded into a spatial linear representation in working memory.
Distraction by Deviance
Authors: Leiva Alicia , Parmentier Fabrice B. R. , Andrés Pilar
Published: October 2014

We report the results of oddball experiments in which an irrelevant stimulus (standard, deviant) was presented before a target stimulus and the modality of these stimuli was manipulated orthogonally (visual/auditory). Experiment 1 showed that auditory deviants yielded distraction irrespective of the target’s modality while visual deviants did not impact on performance. When participants were forced to attend the distractors in order to detect a rare target (“target-distractor”), auditory deviants yielded distraction irrespective of the target’s modality and visual deviants yielded a small distraction effect when targets were auditory (Experiments 2 & 3). Visual deviants only produced distraction for visual targets when deviant stimuli were not visually distinct from the other distractors (Experiment 4). Our results indicate that while auditory deviants yield distraction irrespective of the targets’ modality, visual deviants only do so when attended and under selective conditions, at least when irrelevant and target stimuli are temporally and perceptually decoupled.
Spectroscopy of Reperfused Tissue after Stroke Reveals Heightened Metabolism in Patients with Good Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Bivard Andrew , Krishnamurthy Venkatesh , Stanwell Peter , Yassi Nawaf , Spratt Neil J , Nilsson Michael , Levi Christopher R , Davis Stephen , Parsons Mark W
Published: October 2014

The aim of acute stroke treatment is to reperfuse the penumbra. However, not all posttreatment reperfusion is associated with a good outcome. Recent arterial spin labeling (ASL) studies suggest that patients with hyperperfusion after treatment have a better clinical recovery. This study aimed to determine whether there was a distinctive magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) metabolite profile in hyperperfused tissue after stroke reperfusion therapy. We studied 77 ischemic stroke patients 24 hours after treatment using MRS (single voxel spectroscopy, point resolved spectroscopy, echo time 30 ms), ASL, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy voxels were placed in cortical tissue that was penumbral on baseline perfusion imaging but had reperfused at 24 hours (and did not progress to infarction). Additionally, 20 healthy age matched controls underwent MRS. In all, 24 patients had hyperperfusion; 36 had reperfused penumbra without hyperperfusion, and 17 were excluded due to no reperfusion. Hyperperfusion was significantly related to better 3-month clinical outcome compared with patients without hyperperfusion ( P = 0.007). Patients with hyperperfusion showed increased glutamate ( P<0.001), increased N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) ( P = 0.038), and increased lactate ( P<0.002) in reperfused tissue compared with contralateral tissue and healthy controls. Hyperperfused tissue has a characteristic metabolite signature, suggesting that it is more metabolically active and perhaps more capable of later neuroplasticity.
Distinct temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition in forest organic layer and mineral soil
Authors: Xu Wenhua , Li Wei , Jiang Ping , Wang Hui , Bai Edith
Published: October 2014

The roles of substrate availability and quality in determining temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil carbon (C) decomposition are still unclear, which limits our ability to predict how soil C storage and cycling would respond to climate change. Here we determined Q10 in surface organic layer and subsurface mineral soil along an elevation gradient in a temperate forest ecosystem. Q10 was calculated by comparing the times required to respire a given amount of soil C at 15 and 25°C in a 350-day incubation. Results indicated that Q10 of the organic layer was 0.22–0.71 (absolute difference) higher than Q10 of the mineral soil. Q10 in both the organic layer (2.5–3.4) and the mineral soil (2.1–2.8) increased with decreasing substrate quality during the incubation. This enhancement of Q10 over incubation time in both layers suggested that Q10 of more labile C was lower than that of more recalcitrant C, consistent with the Arrhenius kinetics. No clear trend of Q10 was found along the elevation gradient. Because the soil organic C pool of the organic layer in temperate forests is large, its higher temperature sensitivity highlights its importance in C cycling under global warming.
Anomalous refraction of airborne sound through ultrathin metasurfaces
Authors: Tang Kun , Qiu Chunyin , Ke Manzhu , Lu Jiuyang , Ye Yangtao , Liu Zhengyou
Published: October 2014

Similar to their optic counterparts, acoustic components are anticipated to flexibly tailor the propagation of sound. However, the practical applications, e.g. for audible sound with large wavelengths, are frequently hampered by the issue of device thickness. Here we present an effective design of metasurface structures that can deflect the transmitted airborne sound in an anomalous way. This flat lens, made of spatially varied coiling-slit subunits, has a thickness of deep subwavelength. By elaborately optimizing its microstructures, the proposed lens exhibits high performance in steering sound wavefronts. Good agreement has been demonstrated experimentally by a sample around the frequency 2.55 kHz, incident with a Gaussian beam at normal or oblique incidence. This study may open new avenues for numerous daily life applications, such as controlling indoor sound effects by decorating rooms with light metasurface walls.