bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of sub‐segmental visual scoring for the quantification of ischemic and nonischemic myocardial fibrosis using late gadolinium enhancement MRI
Authors: Fine Nowell M. , Tandon Shruti , Kim Han W. , Shah Dipan J. , Thompson Terry , Drangova Maria , White James A.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

To determine the accuracy and reproducibility of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI scar quantification using visual sub‐segmental analysis (VSSA) versus signal threshold‐based analysis in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

Materials and Methods

One‐hundred sixty‐one patients with abnormal LGE imaging underwent VSSA and signal threshold‐based analysis. VSSA was performed using a 68 sub‐segmental model. Signal threshold‐based analysis was performed using cutoffs of ≥2, ≥3, and ≥5 standard deviations (SD) above the mean signal of normal myocardium. Comparison of VSSA and signal threshold‐based analysis was performed by linear regression and Bland Altman plots.

Results

Seventy (44%) patients had ischemic scar, 76 (47%) had nonischemic scar, and 15 (9%) had a combined pattern. Correlation coefficients for VSSA versus signal threshold‐based analysis at ≥2, ≥3, and ≥5SD thresholds were r = 0.63, r = 0.79, r = 0.81 (P < 0.001) for all patients, r = 0.74, r = 0.81, r = 0.81 (P < 0.001) in those with ischemic scar, and r = 0.46, r = 0.69, r = 0.72 (P < 0.001) in those with nonischemic scar. Bland Altman analysis revealed no significant bias in total scar volume among all patients (−4.3 ± 7.9%), those with ischemic scar (−4.8 ± 7.8%), or those with nonischemic scar (−2.6 ± 7.6%). Intra‐observer and inter‐observer variability of the VSSA technique was excellent with a mean difference in total percent scar of 0.3% (−8.3–8.9%) and −0.4% (−9.5–8.5%), respectively.

Conclusion

A VSSA‐based model of myocardial scar quantification is accurate and reproducible in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:1369–1376. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of reduced k‐space acquisition on pathologic detectability for volumetric MR spectroscopic imaging
Authors: Sabati Mohammad , Zhan Jiping , Govind Varan , Arheart Kristopher L. , Maudsley Andrew A.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

To assess the impact of accelerated acquisitions on the spectral quality of volumetric magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and to evaluate their ability in detecting metabolic changes with mild injury.

Materials and Methods

The implementation of a generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) method for a high‐resolution whole‐brain echo planar SI (3D‐EPSI) sequence is first described and the spectral accuracy of the GRAPPA‐EPSI method is investigated using lobar and voxel‐based analyses for normal subjects and patients with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). The performance of GRAPPA was compared with that of fully encoded EPSI for five datasets collected from normal subjects at the same scanning session, as well as on 45 scans (20 normal subjects and 25 mTBI patients) for which the reduced k‐space sampling was simulated. For comparison, a central k‐space lower‐resolution 3D‐EPSI acquisition was also simulated. Differences in individual metabolites and metabolite ratio distributions of the mTBI group relative to those of age‐matched control subjects were statistically evaluated using analyses divided into hemispheric brain lobes and tissue types.

Results

GRAPPA‐EPSI with 16‐minute scan time yielded robust and similar results in terms of MRSI quantitation, spectral fitting, and accuracy with that of fully sampled 3D‐EPSI acquisitions and was more accurate than central k‐space acquisition. Primary findings included high correlations (accuracy of 92.6%) between the GRAPPA and fully sampled results.

Conclusion

Although the reduced encoding method is associated with lower signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) that impacts the quality of spectral analysis, the use of the parallel imaging method can lead to the same diagnostic outcomes as the fully sampled data when using the sensitivity‐limited volumetric MRSI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;39:224–234. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Global detection and identification of components from Yunnan Baiyao based on liquid chromatography hybrid ion trap time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Dai Chen , Liang Yan , Hao Haiping , Zheng Xiao , Xie Lin , Guan Tianye , Zhou Yuanyuan , Wang Guangji
Published: April 2013

Yunnan Baiyao is a widely used herbal prescription in traditional medicine for the treatment of bleeding and hematological diseases, while its chemical profile remains elusive. In this work, a novel methodology combining polarity‐directed extraction technique with a diagnostic ion filtering strategy based on LC hybrid ion trap TOF‐MS analysis was developed for global, efficient, and rapid characterization of components in Yunnan Baiyao. Di‐ethyl ether, n‐butanol, and ethanol/water (70:30, v/v) covering low‐to‐high polarity ranges were chosen as the extraction solvent, respectively. The results clearly showed that, compared with conventional single extraction solvent, collaboratively using extraction solvents with different polarities can effectively increase the number of detected peaks and enrich the product ions information in multistage mass spectra analysis. By further matching diagnostic ions and fragmental pathways, a total of 34 components were successfully identified. Our work clearly demonstrates that integrating polarity‐directed extraction and diagnostic ion filtering techniques is a powerful and reliable strategy for global detection and identification of complex chemicalome from herbal prescriptions, and may open new avenues for chemical analysis in other complex mixtures.
Effect of fungicides on epiphytic yeasts associated with strawberry
Authors: Debode Jane , Van Hemelrijck Wendy , Creemers Piet , Maes Martine
Published: April 2013

We studied the effect of two commonly used fungicides on the epiphytic yeast community of strawberry. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted applying Switch (cyprodinil plus fludioxonil) or Signum (boscalid plus pyraclostrobin) to strawberry plants. Yeasts on leaves and fruits were assessed on treated and untreated plants at several time points via plating and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. The yeast counts on plates of the treated plants were similar to the control plants. Unripe fruits had 10 times larger yeast concentrations than ripe fruits or leaves. Some dominant yeast types were isolated and in vitro tests showed that they were at least 10 times less sensitive to Switch and Signum as compared with two important fungal strawberry pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum acutatum, which are the targets for the fungicide control. DGGE analysis showed that the applied fungicides had no effect on the composition of the yeast communities, while the growing system, strawberry tissue, and sampling time did affect the yeast communities. The yeast species most commonly identified were Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, and Sporobolomyces. These results point toward the potential applicability of natural occurring yeast antagonists into an integrated disease control strategy for strawberry diseases.
Palaeobiology of the Medieval Population of Albano (Rome, Italy): A Combined Morphological and Biomolecular Approach
Authors: Ciaffi R. , Lelli R. , Müldner G. , Stantcheva K. , Fischetti A. L. , Ghini G. , Craig O. E. , Milano F. , Rickards O. , Arcudi G. , Martínez‐Labarga C.
Published: April 2013

Recent years have seen increased interest in skeletal populations from the Imperial Roman Age in Italy, but much less is known about diet and standards of living in the subsequent medieval period. To fill this gap, we conducted a morphological analysis of human remains from Albano, an Italian town near Rome, as well as a stable isotope analysis of bone collagen to reconstruct diet. The sample was recovered from a Medieval cemetery (1040–1220 cal. yr. BP) located in the gardens of the historicalPalazzo Doria Pamphiliin Albano. A minimum number of 40 individuals (31 adults and 9 sub‐adults) were examined using standard methods. Though the general health status of the population was good, signs ofcribra orbitaliaand diffuse enthesopathies were noted during the morphological examination.

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of the bone collagen from 24 adult humans and three faunal bones indicate that the diet of the population may be described as predominantly terrestrial and C3‐plant based although the data for some of the individuals suggest a modest consumption of C4‐(millet) based or aquatic proteins. No evidence of significant dietary differences between the sexes was found.

The comparison of the isotope data from Albano with those from populations recovered in the same region is consistent with a shift from a terrestrial, possibly plant foods‐dominated subsistence in the Early Middle Ages to a diet with a higher contribution from animal proteins, both terrestrial and aquatic, in the Later Middle Ages. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Applications of asymptotic confidence intervals with continuity corrections for asymmetric comparisons in noninferiority trials
Authors: Soulakova Julia N. , Bright Brianna C.
Published: April 2013

A large‐sample problem of illustrating noninferiority of an experimental treatment over a referent treatment for binary outcomes is considered. The methods of illustrating noninferiority involve constructing the lower two‐sided confidence bound for the difference between binomial proportions corresponding to the experimental and referent treatments and comparing it with the negative value of the noninferiority margin. The three considered methods, Anbar, Falk–Koch, and Reduced Falk–Koch, handle the comparison in an asymmetric way, that is, only the referent proportion out of the two, experimental and referent, is directly involved in the expression for the variance of the difference between two sample proportions. Five continuity corrections (including zero) are considered with respect to each approach. The key properties of the corresponding methods are evaluated via simulations. First, the uncorrected two‐sided confidence intervals can, potentially, have smaller coverage probability than the nominal level even for moderately large sample sizes, for example, 150 per group. Next, the 15 testing methods are discussed in terms of their Type I error rate and power. In the settings with a relatively small referent proportion (about 0.4 or smaller), the Anbar approach with Yates’ continuity correction is recommended for balanced designs and the Falk–Koch method with Yates’ correction is recommended for unbalanced designs. For relatively moderate (about 0.6) and large (about 0.8 or greater) referent proportion, the uncorrected Reduced Falk–Koch method is recommended, although in this case, all methods tend to be over‐conservative. These results are expected to be used in the design stage of a noninferiority study when asymmetric comparisons are envisioned. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Furanodiene Presents Synergistic Anti‐proliferative Activity With Paclitaxel Via Altering Cell Cycle and Integrin Signaling in 95‐D Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Xu Wen‐Shan , Dang Yuan‐Ye , Chen Xiu‐Ping , Lu Jin‐Jian , Wang Yi‐Tao
Published: April 2013

Furanodiene (FUR) is a natural terpenoid isolated from Rhizoma Curcumae, a well‐known Chinese medicinal herb that presents anti‐proliferative activities in several cancer cell lines. Recently, we found that the combined treatment of FUR with paclitaxel (TAX) showed synergetic anti‐proliferative activities in 95‐D lung cancer cells. Herein, we showed that FUR reduced the cell numbers distributed in mitosis phase induced by TAX while increased those in G1 phase. The protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin B1, CDK6 and c‐Myc were all down‐regulated in the group of combined treatment. The dramatically down‐regulated expression of integrin β4, focal adhesion kinase and paxillin might partially contribute to the synergic effect. Though FUR alone obviously induced endoplasmic reticulum stress, this signaling pathway may not contribute to the synergetic anti‐proliferative effect as the protein expression of CHOP and BIP was similar in FUR alone and combined treatment group. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SEM in Central Asia: A Look at Professional Needs in the Region
Authors: Chekmareva Larissa M.
Published: April 2013

Private tuition‐dependent universities in Central Asia compete for fee‐paying students not only within the country and the region, but also internationally—in the CIS, East Asia, Europe, and the United States. In the universities where state financial support is limited or unavailable, steady student enrollment is the key to budget, development, and survival. Administrative units managing enrollment processes face a variety of issues, but in Central Asia, there are specific ones. This article highlights the issues of SEM staffing, as well as available resources for professional knowledge and qualifications in the region.
Superlubricity behaviors of Si3N4/DLC Films under PAO oil with nano boron nitride additive lubrication
Authors: Zeng Qunfeng , Yu Fei , Dong Guangneng
Published: April 2013

The tribological properties of Si3N4 ball sliding against diamond‐like carbon (DLC) films were investigated using a ball‐on‐disc tribometer under dry friction and oil lubrications, respectively. The influence of nano boron nitride particle as lubricant additive in poly‐α‐olefin (PAO) oil on the tribological properties of Si3N4/DLC films was evaluated. The microstructure of DLC films was measured by Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental results show coefficient of friction (COF) of Si3N4/DLC films was as low as 0.035 due to the formation of graphite‐like transfer films under dry friction condition. It also indicates that the tribological properties of Si3N4/DLC films were influenced significantly by the viscosity of oil and the content of nano boron nitride particle in PAO oil. COF increases with the viscosity of PAO oil increasing. Si3N4/DLC films exhibit the superlubricity behaviors (μ=0.001 and nonmeasurable wear) under PAO 6 oil with 1.0 wt% nano boron nitride particle lubrication, indicating that the improved boundary lubrication behaviors have indeed been responsible for the significantly reduced friction. Nano boron nitride additive is used as solid lubricant‐like nano scale ball bearing to the pointlike contact and a soft phase bond with the weak van der Waals interaction force on the contact surface to improve the lubrication behaviors of Si3N4/DLC films. The potential usefulness of nano boron nitride as lubricant additive in PAO oil for Si3N4/DLC films has been demonstrated under oil lubrication conditions. The present work will extend the wide application of nano particle additive and introduce a new approach to superlubricity under boundary lubrication in future technological areas. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The pit transition potential in the repassivation of aluminium alloys
Authors: Comotti Ilaria M. , Trueba Monica , Trasatti Stefano P.
Published: April 2013

This paper reports a systematic investigation of corrosion in 0.6 mol/l NaCl of freshly polished 1050‐H24, 6082‐T6, 2024‐T3 and 7075‐T6 Al alloys by single‐cycle anodic polarization using different anodic current limits for scan reversal (irev). For all alloys but Al 1050‐H24, an inflection point was repeatedly identified in the reverse curve in most experimental conditions. This feature was correlated with constricted localized attack other than classical pitting, as complemented by corrosion morphology analysis. Characteristic electrochemical parameters such as pitting (Epit) and protection (Eprot) potentials, as well as the potential at the inflection point (Eptp) and the corresponding current density (iptp), were determined with statistical significance. Empirical relationships were derived as a function of irev. Eptp was found to be independent of the surface state condition, changing little with the amount of corrosion, differently from Epit and Eprot. Conversely, iptp increases markedly with irev, which points to a transition related to repassivation kinetics. This was quantified as a function of corrosion extent by the relationship between the steepness of potential decrease with current below Eptp as a function of log iptp. The kinetics of the active/passive sequence in a given local environment is determined by the bulk properties of a given Al alloy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Bayesian semiparametric model for bivariate sparse longitudinal data
Authors: Das Kiranmoy , Li Runze , Sengupta Subhajit , Wu Rongling
Published: April 2013

Mixed‐effects models have recently become popular for analyzing sparse longitudinal data that arise naturally in biological, agricultural and biomedical studies. Traditional approaches assume independent residuals over time and explain the longitudinal dependence by random effects. However, when bivariate or multivariate traits are measured longitudinally, this fundamental assumption is likely to be violated because of intertrait dependence over time. We provide a more general framework where the dependence of the observations from the same subject over time is not assumed to be explained completely by the random effects of the model. We propose a novel, mixed model‐based approach and estimate the error–covariance structure nonparametrically under a generalized linear model framework. We use penalized splines to model the general effect of time, and we consider a Dirichlet process mixture of normal prior for the random‐effects distribution. We analyze blood pressure data from the Framingham Heart Study where body mass index, gender and time are treated as covariates. We compare our method with traditional methods including parametric modeling of the random effects and independent residual errors over time. We conduct extensive simulation studies to investigate the practical usefulness of the proposed method. The current approach is very helpful in analyzing bivariate irregular longitudinal traits. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Feature extraction across individual time series observations with spikes using wavelet principal component analysis
Authors: Røislien Jo , Winje Brita
Published: April 2013

Clinical studies frequently include repeated measurements of individuals, often for long periods. We present a methodology for extracting common temporal features across a set of individual time series observations. In particular, the methodology explores extreme observations within the time series, such as spikes, as a possible common temporal phenomenon. Wavelet basis functions are attractive in this sense, as they are localized in both time and frequency domains simultaneously, allowing for localized feature extraction from a time‐varying signal. We apply wavelet basis function decomposition of individual time series, with corresponding wavelet shrinkage to remove noise. We then extract common temporal features using linear principal component analysis on the wavelet coefficients, before inverse transformation back to the time domain for clinical interpretation. We demonstrate the methodology on a subset of a large fetal activity study aiming to identify temporal patterns in fetal movement (FM) count data in order to explore formal FM counting as a screening tool for identifying fetal compromise and thus preventing adverse birth outcomes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
IFN-γ and TNF-α Synergistically Induce Mesenchymal Stem Cell Impairment and Tumorigenesis via NFκB Signaling
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhao Yinghua , Liu Yi , Akiyama Kentaro , Chen Chider , Qu Cunye , Jin Yan , Shi Songtao
Published: April 2013

An inflammatory microenvironment may cause organ degenerative diseases and malignant tumors. However, the precise mechanisms of inflammation-induced diseases are not fully understood. Here, we show that the proinflammatory cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) synergistically impair self-renewal and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-mediated activation of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (SMAD7) in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. More interestingly, a long-term elevated levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α result in significantly increased susceptibility to malignant transformation in MSCs through NFκB-mediated upregulation of the oncogenes c-Fos and c-Myc. Depletion of either IFN-γ or TNF-α in OVX mice abolishes MSC impairment and the tendency toward malignant transformation with no NFκB-mediated oncogene activation. Systemic administration of aspirin, which significantly reduces the levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, results in blockage of MSC deficiency and tumorigenesis by inhibition of NFκB/SMAD7 and NFκB/c-FOS and c-MYC pathways in OVX mice. In summary, this study reveals that inflammation factors, such as IFN-γ and TNF-α, synergistically induce MSC deficiency via NFκB/SMAD7 signaling and tumorigenesis via NFκB-mediated oncogene activation.
Hochrateabscheidung mit einem Mikrowellenplasma
Authors: Merli Stefan , Schulz Andreas , Walker Matthias , Stroth Ulrich , Hirth Thomas
Published: April 2013

Die Entwicklung eines plasmatechnologischen Beschichtungsprozesses für den Kratzschutz auf Kunststoffen am Beispiel von Polycarbonat (PC) muss die Rahmenbedingungen der Großflächigkeit und der Hochrateabscheidung erfüllen. Der Beitrag präsentiert ein plasmatechnologisches Konzept, basierend auf dem skalierbaren Mikrowellenplasmaprinzip der Duo‐Plasmaline, das durch die hohe Plasmadichte eine sehr hohe stationäre Beschichtungsrate von mindestens 20 μm/min bei hoher Schichtqualität bereitstellt. Die abgeschiedenen Schutzschichten erzielen die Kratzfestigkeiten von Fensterglas.
Three‐Dimensional Metabolic and Radiologic Gathered Evaluation Using VR‐RENDER Fusion: A Novel Tool to Enhance Accuracy in the Localization of Parathyroid Adenomas
Authors: D’Agostino Jacopo , Diana Michele , Vix Michel , Nicolau Stephane , Soler Luc , Bourhala Khalil , Hassler Stephanie , Wu Hurng‐Sheng , Marescaux Jacques
Published: April 2013

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a novel imaging modality, three‐dimensional (3D) metabolic and radiologic gathered evaluation (MeRGE), for localizing parathyroid adenomas (PAs).

Methods

Consecutive patients presenting with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent both thin‐slice cervical computed tomography (CT) and 99mTc‐sestamibi (MIBI) scanning were included. 3D‐CT reconstruction was obtained using VR‐RENDER, which was used to perform 3D virtual neck exploration (3D‐VNE). The MIBI scan was then fused with the 3D reconstruction to obtain 3D‐MeRGE. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were assessed. Parathyroid gland volume and preoperative parathormone (PTH) levels were analyzed as predictive factors of correct localization (i.e., correct quadrant).

Results

A total of 108 cervical quadrants (27 patients) were analyzed. Sensitivities were 79.31, 75.86, 65.51, and 58.61 % with 3D‐MeRGE, 3D‐VNE, MIBI, and CT, respectively. Specificity was highest with CT (94.93 %) followed by 3D‐VNE (92.4 %). MIBI and 3D‐MeRGE had the same specificity (88.6 %). 3D‐MeRGE and 3D‐VNE achieved higher accuracy than MIBI or CT alone. Mean PTH values were significantly higher in patients with lesions that were correctly identified (true positive, TP) than in those whose lesions were missed (false negative, FN) with 3D‐VNE (219.60 ± 212.77 vs. 98.75 ± 12.76 pg/ml; p = 0.01) and 3D‐MeRGE (217.69 ± 213.76 vs. 09.75 ± 20.48 pg/ml; p = 0.02). The mean parathyroid gland volume difference between TP and FN was statistically significant with all modalities except CT.

Conclusions

3D‐MeRGE and 3D‐VNE showed high accuracy for localization of PAs. 3D‐MeRGE performed better than MIBI or CT alone for detecting small adenomas and those with a low PTH level.
Results of a follow‐up study to the randomized Alzheimer's Disease Anti‐inflammatory Prevention Trial (ADAPT)
Authors:   The Alzheimer's Disease Anti‐inflammatory Prevention Trial Research Group
Published: April 2013

Objectives

The Alzheimer's Disease Anti‐inflammatory Prevention Trial Follow‐up Study (ADAPT‐FS) was designed to evaluate the efficacy of naproxen and celecoxib for the primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD) several years after cessation of treatment in ADAPT.

Methods

ADAPT was a randomized, double‐masked, multicenter clinical trial of naproxen or celecoxib vs placebo (1:1:1.5 assignment ratio) at six U.S.‐based clinics. The trial enrolled 2528 people between 2001 and 2004. Treatments were discontinued in December 2004 and participants were monitored regularly until 2007. In 2010 and 2011, ADAPT‐FS screened 1537 participants by telephone and, if indicated, examined them in person using standardized clinical assessments. The primary outcome was time to diagnosis of AD. Death index searches were performed for participants not located.

Results

Eighty‐nine additional AD events were identified (24 celecoxib, 25 naproxen, and 40 placebo) yielding a total of 161 events (48 [6.6% of randomized participants] celecoxib, 43 [6.0%] naproxen, and 70 [6.5%] placebo) across ADAPT and ADAPT‐FS. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) comparing each treatment with placebo showed no overall reduction in risk of AD: HR celecoxib vs placebo, 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72–1.50; P = .86); HR naproxen vs placebo, 0.92 (95% CI, 0.62–1.35; P = .66). There were 349 deaths (110 [15.2%] celecoxib, 96 [13.4%] naproxen, and 143 [13.2%] placebo). Risk of death was similar for the naproxen‐ and placebo‐assigned groups (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.76–1.28; P = .93) and slightly higher for celecoxib compared with the placebo‐assigned group (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.90–1.48; P = .27).

Conclusions

These results acquired during a follow‐up of approximately 7 years (which included a median of less than 1.5 years of treatment) do not support the hypothesis that celecoxib or naproxen prevent AD in adults with a family history of dementia.
Association of diabetes with amnestic and nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Roberts Rosebud O. , Knopman David S. , Geda Yonas E. , Cha Ruth H. , Pankratz V. Shane , Baertlein Luke , Boeve Bradley F. , Tangalos Eric G. , Ivnik Robert J. , Mielke Michelle M. , Petersen Ronald C.
Published: April 2013

Background

Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) through Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related and vascular pathology and may also increase the risk of nonamnestic MCI (naMCI) through vascular disease mechanisms. We examined the association of type 2 diabetes with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and MCI subtype (aMCI and naMCI) overall and by sex.

Methods

Participants were Olmsted County, Minnesota residents (70 years and older) enrolled in a prospective, population‐based study. At baseline and every 15 months thereafter, participants were evaluated using the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a neurological evaluation, and neuropsychological testing for a diagnosis of normal cognition, MCI, and dementia by a consensus panel. Type 2 diabetes was ascertained from the medical records of participants at baseline.

Results

Over a median 4.0 years of follow‐up, 348 of 1450 subjects developed MCI. Type 2 diabetes was associated (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) with MCI (1.39 [1.08–1.79]), aMCI (1.58 [1.17–2.15]; multiple domain: 1.58 [1.01–2.47]; single domain: 1.49 [1.09–2.05]), and the hazard ratio for naMCI was elevated (1.37 [0.84–2.24]). Diabetes was strongly associated with multiple‐domain aMCI in men (2.42 [1.31–4.48]) and an elevated risk of multiple domain naMCI in men (2.11 [0.70–6.33]), and with single domain naMCI in women (2.32 [1.04–5.20]).

Conclusions

Diabetes was associated with an increased risk of MCI in elderly persons. The association of diabetes with MCI may vary with subtype, number of domains, and sex. Prevention and control of diabetes may reduce the risk of MCI and Alzheimer's disease.
Microbleeds in the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia
Authors: Whitwell Jennifer L. , Jack Clifford R. , Duffy Joseph R. , Strand Edythe A. , Gunter Jeffrey L. , Senjem Matthew L. , Murphy Matthew C. , Kantarci Kejal , Machulda Mary M. , Lowe Val J. , Josephs Keith A.
Published: April 2013

Background

Microbleeds have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), although it is unclear whether they occur in atypical presentations of AD, such as the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA). We aimed to assess the presence and clinical correlates of microbleeds in lvPPA.

Methods

Thirteen lvPPA subjects underwent 3T T2*‐weighted and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging and Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography imaging. Microbleeds were identified on manual review and assigned a regional location. Total and regional white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden was measured.

Results

Microbleeds were observed in four lvPPA subjects (31%), most commonly in the frontal lobe. Subjects with microbleeds were older, more likely female, and had a greater burden of WMH than those without microbleeds. The regional distribution of microbleeds did not match the regional distribution of WMH. All cases were PiB positive.

Conclusions

Microbleeds occur in approximately one third of subjects with lvPPA, with older women at the highest risk.
A Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) ophthalmosaurid (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) from the Tuxedni Formation, Alaska and the early diversification of the clade
Authors: DRUCKENMILLER PATRICK S. , MAXWELL ERIN E.
Published: April 2013

Ophthalmosauridae is a clade of derived thunniform ichthyosaurs that are best known from Callovian (late Middle Jurassic) to Cenomanian-aged (Late Cretaceous) deposits in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Ophthalmosaurids arose prior to the Early–Middle Jurassic boundary, however, very little is known about their diversity and distribution in the earliest phase of their evolutionary history during the Aalenian–Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) interval. Here we describe new diagnostic ophthalmosaurid material from the Early Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of Alaska. The specimen, UAMES 3411, is a partial disarticulated skull that was discovered in the Middle Jurassic Tuxedni Formation, which was deposited in shallow marine settings outboard of the then-accreting Wrangellia composite terrane. The new material is significant in that it is the first Jurassic ichthyosaur described from Alaska, one of the oldest ophthalmosaurids known and the only Middle Jurassic ophthalmosaurid described from the Northern Hemisphere. The new material adds to a rapidly growing data set on ophthalmosaurid diversity and suggests that the clade was geographically widespread by the Early Bajocian, very early in its evolutionary history.
Do Melastomataceae perform CAM photosynthesis? A survey of neotropical species using carbon isotope ratios
Authors: Ocampo Gilberto , Almeda Frank
Published: April 2013

Leaf anatomical and carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) data from previous studies suggest that the species of the Melastomataceae perform C3 photosynthesis and that leaf anatomical features of some epiphytic taxa resemble the characteristics found in CAM plants. The δ13C values of 67 species of neotropical Melastomataceae (including epiphytes) were obtained from herbarium material deposited at the California Academy of Sciences for assessing the presence of the CAM pathway. The δ13C values obtained from leaves (−23.4‰ to −34.5‰) were congruent with C3 photosynthesis (< −20‰), and the δ13C data from terrestrial (56 samples) and epiphytic species (11 samples) were not statistically different. Our results suggest that CAM photosynthesis is not found in neotropical Melastomataceae. The leaf anatomical features found in some species of Melastomataceae represent adaptations to cope with water stress and are not necessarily correlated with CAM photosynthesis. Photosynthetic pathways can be assessed with the use of leaf anatomical and δ13C data, but further biochemical assays are warranted to corroborate the absence of the CAM pathway in the Melastomataceae.
‘Honourable Men’: West German Industrialists and the Role of Honour and Honour Courts in the Adenauer Era
Authors: GRÜNBACHER ARMIN
Published: April 2013

This article argues that traditional conceptions of honour and the social practices based on them were both persistent yet at the same time very fragile and changeable amongst post-war German steel industrialists. After a brief overview of how bourgeois honour developed up to the early 1950s, a study of the honour court case of one of the leading men of heavy industry, Hermann Reusch of Gutehoffnungshütte, which ran from 1947 to 1949, will be presented. This is followed by a description of the ultimately unsuccessful attempt by the Wirtschaftsvereinigung Eisen und Stahl to establish honour councils to enforce a price policy across the association. Both cases highlight the rapidly changing social and economic culture in West Germany in the early 1960s.
Sex and Socialism
Authors: HEALEY DAN
Published: April 2013

Dagmar Herzog's Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History is an astonishingly rich synthesis for a work just short of 225 pages. Its vigorous narrative and energetic arguments never flag, and the wider contours of the continent's twentieth-century history are always in view. This is a book that has the lucidity, and the sophistication, to instruct students and tutors alike.
Language dominance and inhibition abilities in bilingual older adults
Authors: GORAL MIRA , CAMPANELLI LUCA , SPIRO AVRON
Published: April 2013

This study aimed to examine the so-called bilingual advantage in older adults’ performance in three cognitive domains and to identify whether language use and bilingual type (dominant vs. balanced) predicted performance. The participants were 106 Spanish–English bilinguals ranging in age from 50 years to 84 years. Three cognitive domains were examined (each by a single test): inhibition (the Simon task), alternating attention (the Trail Making test), and working memory (Month Ordering). The data revealed that age was negatively correlated to performance in each domain. Bilingual type – balanced vs. dominant – predicted performance and interacted with age only on the inhibition measure (the Simon task). Balanced bilinguals showed age-related inhibition decline (i.e., greater Simon effect with increasing age); in contrast, dominant bilinguals showed little or no age-related change. The findings suggest that bilingualism may offer cognitive advantage in older age only for a subset of bilinguals.
The dynamic bacterial communities of a melting High Arctic glacier snowpack
Authors: Hell Katherina , Edwards Arwyn , Zarsky Jakub , Podmirseg Sabine M , Girdwood Susan , Pachebat Justin A , Insam Heribert , Sattler Birgit
Published: April 2013

Snow environments can occupy over a third of land surface area, but little is known about the dynamics of snowpack bacteria. The effect of snow melt on bacterial community structure and diversity of surface environments of a Svalbard glacier was examined using analyses of 16S rRNA genes via T-RFLP, qPCR and 454 pyrosequencing. Distinct community structures were found in different habitat types, with changes over 1 week apparent, in particular for the dominant bacterial class present, Betaproteobacteria. The differences observed were consistent with influences from depositional mode (snowfall vs aeolian dusts), contrasting snow with dust-rich snow layers and near-surface ice. Contrary to that, slush as the decompositional product of snow harboured distinct lineages of bacteria, further implying post-depositional changes in community structure. Taxa affiliated to the betaproteobacterial genus Polaromonas were particularly dynamic, and evidence for the presence of betaproteobacterial ammonia-oxidizing bacteria was uncovered, inviting the prospect that the dynamic bacterial communities associated with snowpacks may be active in supraglacial nitrogen cycling and capable of rapid responses to changes induced by snowmelt. Furthermore the potential of supraglacial snowpack ecosystems to respond to transient yet spatially extensive melting episodes such as that observed across most of Greenland’s ice sheet in 2012 merits further investigation.
Long-lived frequency shifts observed in a magnetic resonance force microscope experiment following microwave irradiation of a nitroxide spin probe
Authors: Chen Lei , Longenecker Jonilyn G. , Moore Eric W. , Marohn John A.
Published: April 2013

We introduce a spin-modulation protocol for force-gradient detection of magnetic resonance that enables the real-time readout of longitudinal magnetization in an electron spin resonance experiment involving fast-relaxing spins. We applied this method to observe a prompt change in longitudinal magnetization following the microwave irradiation of a nitroxide-doped perdeuterated polystyrene film having an electron spin-lattice relaxation time of T1∼1ms. The protocol allowed us to discover a large, long-lived cantilever frequency shift. Based on its magnitude, lifetime, and field dependence, we tentatively attribute this persistent signal to deuteron spin magnetization created via transfer of polarization from nitroxide spins.
All the solutions of the form M2 × WΣd − 2 for Lovelock gravity in vacuum in the Chern-Simons case
Authors: Oliva Julio
Published: April 2013

In this paper we classify a certain family of solutions of Lovelock gravity in the Chern-Simons (CS) case, in arbitrary (odd) dimension, d ⩾ 5. The spacetime is characterized by admitting a metric that is a warped product of a two-dimensional spacetime M2 and an (a priori) arbitrary Euclidean manifold Σd−2 of dimension d − 2. We show that the solutions are naturally classified in terms of the equations that restrict Σd−2. According to the strength of such constraints we found the following branches in which Σd−2 has to fulfill: a Lovelock equation with a single vacuum (Euclidean Lovelock Chern-Simons in dimension d − 2), a single scalar equation that is the trace of an Euclidean Lovelock CS equation in dimension d − 2, or finally a degenerate case in which Σd−2 is not restricted at all. We show that all the cases have some degeneracy in the sense that the metric functions are not completely fixed by the field equations. This result extends the static five-dimensional case previously discussed in Dotti et al. [Phys. Rev. D 76, 064038 (2007)]10.1103/PhysRevD.76.064038, and it shows that in the CS case, the inclusion of higher powers in the curvature does not introduce new branches of solutions in Lovelock gravity. Finally, we comment on how the inclusion of a non-vanishing torsion may modify this analysis.
Elevated temperature, nano-mechanical testing in situ in the scanning electron microscope
Authors: Wheeler J. M. , Michler J.
Published: April 2013

A general nano-mechanical test platform capable of performing variable temperature and variable strain rate testing in situ in the scanning electron microscope is described. A variety of test geometries are possible in combination with focused ion beam machining or other fabrication techniques: indentation, micro-compression, cantilever bending, and scratch testing. The system is intrinsically displacement-controlled, which allows it to function directly as a micro-scale thermomechanical test frame. Stable, elevated temperature indentation/micro-compression requires the indenter tip and the sample to be in thermal equilibrium to prevent thermal displacement drift due to thermal expansion. This is achieved through independent heating and temperature monitoring of both the indenter tip and sample. Furthermore, the apex temperature of the indenter tip is calibrated, which allows it to act as a referenced surface temperature probe during contact. A full description of the system is provided, and the effects of indenter geometry and of radiation on imaging conditions are discussed. The stabilization time and temperature distribution throughout the system as a function of temperature is characterized. The advantages of temperature monitoring and thermal calibration of the indenter tip are illustrated, which include the possibility of local thermal conductivity measurement. Finally, validation results using nanoindentation on fused silica and micro-compression of ⟨100⟩ silicon micro-pillars as a function of temperature up to 500 °C are presented, and procedures and considerations taken for these measurements are discussed. A brittle to ductile transition from fracture to splitting then plastic deformation is directly observed in the SEM for silicon as a function of temperature.
Thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of CO2 oligomers
Authors: Dunlap Brett I. , Schweigert Igor V. , Purdy Andrew P. , Snow Arthur W. , Hu Anguang
Published: April 2013

Density-functional and coupled cluster calculations suggest that the stability, against unimolecular dissociation, of the cyclic D3h trimer of CO2, 1,3,5-trioxetanetrione, is greater than all but one other chemically bound oligomer of CO2. It requires far less energy to produce, on a per CO2 basis, than the low-symmetry cyclic 1,2 dioxetanedione dimer, but its kinetic stability against unimolecular dissociation is much lower. The extreme stability of the dimer, which makes it an excellent intermediate in chemiluminescence, is caused by an extreme range of geometric change to its transition state leading to a trapezoidal potential energy surface. The thermodynamically more stable trimer affords a low pressure pathway from molecular carbon dioxide to the extended covalent structure at high pressure.
Effect of Ge and Al substitutions on exchange bias in Ni-Mn-Sb alloy
Authors: Lee M. K. , Xu L. S. , Marchenkov V. V. , Wang R. L. , Chen R. J. , Guo S. , Yang C. P. , Huang J. C. A.
Published: April 2013

Magnetic properties, martensitic transition, and exchange bias in Ni50Mn36Sb14, Ni50Mn36Sb12Ge2, and Ni50Mn36Sb12Al2 alloys have been investigated. The results reveal that the martensitic transition temperatures and blocking temperature shift to low temperature for Ge substitution and shift to high temperature for Al substitution. The exchange bias field decreases/increases in case of Ge/Al substitution below blocking temperature. All the results can be ascribed to the increase/decrease of ferromagnetic interaction.
Analysis of the structure, configuration, and sizing of Cu and Cu oxide nanoparticles generated by fs laser ablation of solid target in liquids
Authors: Santillán J. M. J. , Videla F. A. , Fernández van Raap M. B. , Schinca D. C. , Scaffardi L. B.
Published: April 2013

We report on the analysis of structure, configuration, and sizing of Cu and Cu oxide nanoparticles (Nps) produced by femtosecond (fs) laser ablation of solid copper target in liquids. Laser pulse energy ranged between 500 μJ and 50 μJ. Water and acetone were used to produce the colloidal suspensions. The study was performed through optical extinction spectroscopy using Mie theory to fit the full experimental spectra, considering free and bound electrons size dependent contributions to the metal dielectric function. Raman spectroscopy and AFM technique were also used to characterize the sample. Considering the possible oxidation of copper during the fabrication process, two species (Cu and Cu2O) arranged in two structures (bare core or core-shell) and in two configuration types (Cu-Cu2O or Cu2O-Cu) were considered for the fitting depending on the laser pulse energy and the surrounding media. For water at high energy, it can be observed that a Cu-Cu2O configuration fits the experimental spectra of the colloidal suspension, while for decreasing energy and below a certain threshold, a Cu2O-Cu configuration needs to be included for the optimum fit. Both species coexist for energies below 170 μJ for water. On the other hand, for acetone at high energy, optimum fit of the full spectrum suggests the presence a bimodal Cu-Cu2O core-shell Nps distribution while for decreasing energy and below a 70 μJ threshold energy value, Cu2O-Cu core-shell Nps must be included, together with the former configuration, for the fit of the full spectrum. We discuss possible reasons for the changes in the structural configuration of the core-shell Nps.
Efficiency scaling of non-coherent upconversion in a one-dimensional model system
Authors: Zimmermann Jochen , Mulet Roberto , Wellens Thomas , Scholes Gregory D. , Buchleitner Andreas
Published: April 2013

A very promising approach to obtain efficient upconversion of light is the use of triplet-triplet annihilation of excitations in molecular systems. In real materials, besides upconversion, many other physical processes take place – fluorescence, phosphorescence, non-radiative decay, annihilation, diffusion – and compete with upconversion. The main objective of this work is to design a proof of principle model that can be used to shed light on the interplay between these processes. Ultimately, we want to establish general principles that may guide experimentalists toward the design of solid state materials with maximum efficiency. Here we show, in a one-dimensional model system, that upconversion can be optimized by varying the ratio between the two molecular species used in triplet-triplet-annihilation based upconversion systems, even in the presence of undesired losses through phosphorescence, non-radiative decay, or annihilation. We derive scaling laws for this ratio and for the maximum efficiency of upconversion, as a function of the diffusion rate J, as well as of the creation and of the decay rate of the excitations.
Magnetic properties of MgO-[Co/Pt] multilayers with a CoFeB insertion layer
Authors: Ishikawa S. , Sato H. , Yamanouchi M. , Ikeda S. , Fukami S. , Matsukura F. , Ohno H.
Published: April 2013

Magnetic properties of MgO-[Co/Pt] multilayers with a CoFeB insertion layer were investigated and the structure was adopted as a recording layer in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with perpendicular magnetic easy-axis to attain a high thermal stability. Perpendicular easy-axis was obtained with the Pt thickness range of 0.6–1.2 nm and the CoFeB thickness range of 0.6–1.5 nm. As-made MTJs employing the CoFeB-[Co/Pt] multilayer structure as a recording layer showed tunnel magnetoresistance of 40% on average. A high thermal stability factor over 200 was obtained in the MTJs with the size of 25 nm in diameter.
NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe/MnIr spin valves studied by ferromagnetic resonance
Authors: Timopheev A. A. , Sobolev N. A. , Pogorelov Y. G. , Bunyaev S. A. , Teixeira J. M. , Cardoso S. , Freitas P. P. , Kakazei G. N.
Published: April 2013

Ion-beam deposited (Glass/Ta/NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe/MnIr/Ta) spin valves (SVs) with a Cu-spacer thickness (tCu) varying from 14 to 28 Å have been studied by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and magnetoresistance (MR) measurements. With respect to the interlayer coupling strength between the free and fixed ferromagnetic layers, the samples have been divided in those with a weak coupling (for tCu > 16 Å) and a strong coupling regimes (for tCu ≤ 16 Å). The FMR behavior in these two regimes is quite different. For the weakly coupled series, there are two well-defined FMR peaks stemming from the free and fixed layers. Their in-plane angular dependences exhibit 180° and 360° symmetries, respectively. For the strongly coupled SVs, the resonance modes are hybridized and possess features of both layers simultaneously. The main coupling mechanism between the two layers, as concluded from the FMR and MR measurements, is the Néel “orange-peel” magnetostatic interaction, accompanied by a direct exchange due to pinholes in the Cu spacer for tCu < 17 Å.