bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BCG Revaccination to Combat Tuberculosis Infection: an Evidence Based Case Report
Authors: Rifa Alissa , Qomarasandhi Johan
Published: July 2024

An elderly man came to the Emergency Room with labored breathing with a history of prior tuberculosis infection and BCG vaccination when he was an infant. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis reinfection with negative microbiology result. This study aims to see whether revaccination of BCG vaccination will positively impact suppressing the rate of tuberculosis infection. A literature search was conducted on three databases: PubMed, Cochrane, and EBSCOhost. Of the searches, three articles were selected for further critical appraisal using the criteria provided by the University of Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine. The first study shows that BCG Revaccination does not become a protective factor against tuberculosis reinfection with OR 0.92 (0.80 – 1.05) in all populations yet interestingly yielded OR 0.77 (0.59-1.00) in HIV-negative patients, while the second study shows that BCG Revaccination can prevent conversion of QFT with the study showing p <0.05, thus believed to lower tuberculosis infection rates, the third study shows that BCG revaccination yield modest protection against TB infection after 15 years (Hazard Ratio 0.64 95% CI 0.46-0.89). The main difference between the studies is the main population, which the first study also includes HIV-positive patients. In conclusion, BCG Revaccination may be considered to be given and be considered as protective factor against tuberculosis reinfection in HIV-negative patients.
Epistemic Justice in Nature Reserves Management: Exploring Intersecting Indigeneity and Politics of Belonging in Dwesa, South Africa
Authors: Donald Nyamahono James
Published: July 2024

Natural resource management through nature reserves and protected areas has sparked great interest among a variety of stakeholders. Global institutions, as well as national governments and policies, acknowledge the importance of institutionalizing natural resource management to achieve sustainable development goals. However, the literature frequently ignores the consequences of epistemic inequalities caused by stakeholders’ varying indigeneity and politics of belonging. These injustices emerge when stakeholders do not have equal control over resource management and exploitation. This research focuses on two distinct stakeholder groups with opposing views on environment conservation: indigenous peoples and the legally recognized management of Dwesa Nature Reserve in South Africa (referred to as DNR from here onwards). The main aim of this study was to understand how these two sets of stakeholders perceive one another with regards to epistemic disparities, indigeneity, and politics of belonging. This enabled the exploration of the extent to which these perceptions have an impact on DNR management. Data were obtained from 96 community members from four villages located along DNR using focus group discussions. Additionally, one representative from DNR management participated in a key-informant interview offer an ‘official’ perspective. The study revealed significant differences in indigeneity, politics of belonging, and epistemic standings among stakeholders. However, these differences do not inherently lead to epistemic injustice in the management of the DNR, as each group views the other as epistemic outsiders, thus balancing potential unfair treatment. Despite their distinct epistemic and cultural backgrounds, all stakeholders engage in nature conservation through different terminologies and frameworks. The study highlights the intersection of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Euro-American Knowledge Systems, demonstrating their interdependence and effective communication within their respective contexts. Both knowledge systems help to achieve the common objective of protecting the DNR. The study also reveals overlaps between stakeholders’ indigeneity and epistemic knowledge, demonstrating that, while their techniques differ, their shared goal is sustainable conservation. The research advocates for more inclusive conservation frameworks that acknowledge and embrace the diverse epistemic contributions of all stakeholders. Addressing social and epistemic disparities can make conservation initiatives in DNR sustainable.
Selection And CBT Treatment Pilot Program Final Evaluation Using IORNS in Macedonian Male Prison Population
Authors: Dimitrovska Aleksandra
Published: July 2024

The treatment or the resocialization is the most important part of the prison sentence which methods can be individual and group. Motivated inmates and less resistance for the treatment are the main precondition for effective treatment. Appropriate behavior of personnel is the main factor for that result. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as the most effective evidence based psychotherapy approach for offender population is a type for inmate treatment. CBT is a result of Aaron Beck pioneering work in the 1960s. CBT model is based on the triangle relationships between cognition, emotions and behavior. The cognition is defined as a product of the three levels: cognitive schemas, negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional thinking or thinking errors. The inventory of risk, need and strengths (IORNS), an risk assessment instrument, based on Risk, need and responsivity (RNR) model, was used for selection of (N=27) inmates and CBT treatment pilot program final evaluation, in Macedonian prison Bitola. The evaluation was done by comparing pre and post test measures in (N=12) male inmates, as optimal number for group psychotherapy treatment. According to the RNR model the treatment program needs to be oriented to the inmates needs. Implementing CBT treatment program for group psychotherapy and IORNS as short screening tool in Macedonian prisons was the aim of the project supported by the Council of Europe in this work. The results showed significant lower Procriminal attitudes but higher Aggression because of higher Aggressive behavior in the post measures. Results and instrument can be used in next CBT programs evaluations for better rehabilitation of prison inmates and reducing recidivism.
Primarias abiertas legales en Chile. Reflexiones a diez (agitados y convulsivos) años de su sanción formal
Authors: Gallo Ariadna , Díaz Esterio Rodrigo
Published: July 2024

Objective/context: This paper examines the open legal primary rule in Chile for the selection of the presidential candidate, established in 2012 through Law 20640. This rule contains elements shared with similar legislation in the region as well as specific characteristics. Methodology: Through a case study, we will investigate the results and consequences of the application of primaries on the three occasions they were implemented (2013, 2017, and 2021). We will review the formal changes adopted and the political events that occurred in the interim, considering the main variables that typically intervene in electoral events of this nature, drawn from the existing debate and literature. Conclusions: The case of Chile shows that the combination of an open legal primary system with voluntary internal voting, incomplete simultaneity, and the absence of stable political groupings produces effects that do not align with either the general aspirations for the implementation of primaries or the theoretical purposes outlined by the ideologists of Chilean legislation. Originality: This study contributes to the emerging literature addressing open legal primaries in their dual aspect, both as a nomination mechanism and as an electoral rule.
Interpreting roles of mutations associated with the emergence of S. aureus USA300 strains using transcriptional regulatory network reconstruction
Authors: Poudel Saugat , Hyun Jason , Hefner Ying , Monk Jon , Nizet Victor , Palsson Bernhard O
Published: July 2024

The
Staphylococcus aureus
clonal complex 8 (CC8) is made up of several subtypes with varying levels of clinical burden; from community-associated methicillin resistant
S. aureus
(CA-MRSA) USA300 strains to hospital-associated (HA-MRSA) USA500 strains and ancestral methicillin susceptible (MSSA) strains. This phenotypic distribution within a single clonal complex makes CC8 an ideal clade to study the emergence of mutations important for antibiotic resistance and community spread. Gene level analysis comparing USA300 against MSSA and HA-MRSA strains have revealed key horizontally acquired genes important for its rapid spread in the community. However, efforts to define the contributions of point mutations and indels have been confounded by strong linkage disequilibrium resulting from clonal propagation. To break down this confounding effect, we combined genetic association testing with a model of the transcriptional regulatory network (TRN) to find candidate mutations that may have led to changes in gene regulation. First, we used a De Bruijn graph genome-wide association study (DBGWAS) to enrich mutations unique to the USA300 lineages within CC8. Next, we reconstructed the TRN by using Independent Component Analysis on 670 RNA sequencing samples from USA300 and non-USA300 CC8 strains which predicted several genes with strain-specific altered expression patterns. Examination of the regulatory region of one of the genes enriched by both approaches,
isdH,
revealed a 38 base pair deletion containing a Fur binding site and a conserved Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) which likely led to the altered expression levels in USA300 strains. Taken together, our results demonstrate the utility of reconstructed TRNs to address the limits of genetic approaches when studying emerging pathogenic strains.
An Intranet of Things approach for adaptable control of behavioral and navigation-based experiments
Authors: Bowler John C , Zakka George , Yong Hyun Choong , Li Wenke , Rao Bovey , Liao Zhenrui , Priestley James B , Losonczy Attila
Published: July 2024

Investigators conducting behavioral experiments often need precise control over the timing of the delivery of stimuli to subjects and to collect precise times of subsequent behavioral responses. Furthermore, investigators want fine-tuned control over how various multi-modal cues are presented. behaviorMate takes an ‘Intranet of Things’ approach, using a networked system of hardware and software components for achieving these goals. The system outputs a file with integrated timestamp–event pairs that investigators can then format and process using their own analysis pipelines. We present an overview of the electronic components and GUI application that make up behaviorMate as well as mechanical designs for compatible experimental rigs to provide the reader with the ability to set up their own system. A wide variety of paradigms are supported, including goal-oriented learning, random foraging, and context switching. We demonstrate behaviorMate’s utility and reliability with a range of use cases from several published studies and benchmark tests. Finally, we present experimental validation demonstrating different modalities of hippocampal place field studies. Both treadmill with burlap belt and virtual reality with running wheel paradigms were performed to confirm the efficacy and flexibility of the approach. Previous solutions rely on proprietary systems that may have large upfront costs or present frameworks that require customized software to be developed. behaviorMate uses open-source software and a flexible configuration system to mitigate both concerns. behaviorMate has a proven record for head-fixed imaging experiments and could be easily adopted for task control in a variety of experimental situations.
behaviorMate: An Intranet of Things Approach for Adaptable Control of Behavioral and Navigation-Based Experiments
Authors: Bowler John C , Zakka George , Yong Hyun Choong , Li Wenke , Rao Bovey , Liao Zhenrui , Priestley James B , Losonczy Attila
Published: July 2024

Investigators conducting behavioral experiments often need precise control over the timing of the delivery of stimuli to subjects and to collect the precise times of the subsequent behavioral responses. Furthermore, investigators want fine-tuned control over how various multi-modal cues are presented. behaviorMate takes an “Intranet of Things” approach, using a networked system of hardware and software components for achieving these goals. The system outputs a file with integrated timestamp-event pairs that investigators can then format and process using their own analysis pipelines. We present an overview of the electronic components and GUI application that make up behaviorMate as well as mechanical designs for compatible experimental rigs to provide the reader with the ability to set up their own system. A wide variety of paradigms are supported, including goal-oriented learning, random foraging, and context switching. We demonstrate behaviorMate’s utility and reliability with a range of use cases from several published studies and benchmark tests. Finally, we present experimental validation demonstrating different modalities of hippocampal place field studies. Both treadmill with burlap belt and virtual reality with running wheel paradigms were performed to confirm the efficacy and flexibility of the approach. Previous solutions rely on proprietary systems that may have large upfront costs or present frameworks that require customized software to be developed. behaviorMate uses open-source software and a flexible configuration system to mitigate both concerns. behaviorMate has a proven record for head-fixed imaging experiments and could be easily adopted for task control in a variety of experimental situations.
Recognition of inscribed cursive Pashtu numeral through optimized deep learning
Authors: Syed Sibtain , Khan Khalil , Khan Maqbool , Khan Rehan Ullah , Aloraini Abdulrahman
Published: July 2024

Pashtu is one of the most widely spoken languages in south-east Asia. Pashtu Numerics recognition poses challenges due to its cursive nature. Despite this, employing a machine learning-based optical character recognition (OCR) model can be an effective way to tackle this issue. The main aim of the study is to propose an optimized machine learning model which can efficiently identify Pashtu numerics from 0–9. The methodology includes data organizing into different directories each representing labels. After that, the data is preprocessed i.e., images are resized to 32 × 32 images, then they are normalized by dividing their pixel value by 255, and the data is reshaped for model input. The dataset was split in the ratio of 80:20. After this, optimized hyperparameters were selected for LSTM and CNN models with the help of trial-and-error technique. Models were evaluated by accuracy and loss graphs, classification report, and confusion matrix. The results indicate that the proposed LSTM model slightly outperforms the proposed CNN model with a macro-average of precision: 0.9877, recall: 0.9876, F1 score: 0.9876. Both models demonstrate remarkable performance in accurately recognizing Pashtu numerics, achieving an accuracy level of nearly 98%. Notably, the LSTM model exhibits a marginal advantage over the CNN model in this regard.
Assessment of Genetic Variation for Seed Yield and Quality Attributing Characters in Indian Rapeseed and Mustard
Authors: Barman Sikha , Sarmah Bhaswati , Barua Meghali , Barua P. K. , Phukan Aradhana
Published: July 2024

During Rabi 2019-20 and 2020-21, a set of five yellow sarson, five toria and ten Indian mustard genotypes were used to analyse and estimate the genetic variability for seed quality and yield attributing traits. A wide range of variations among genotypes for seed quality and yield-related characters were observed. In the majority of the characters, environment and genotype-environment interaction variation was found significant. The highest GCV, PCV, and heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for the seed yield per hectare and germination index. Among the yellow sarson genotypes B9 (highest yielder), BNYS-1 and BNYS-2; among the toria lines TS-46 (highest yielder), Jeuti, TS-38 and TS-67 and among the Indian mustard genotypes JMM-TM2-36 (highest yielder), NRCHB-101, TM-2 and JMM-TM2-34 were found superior for the seed quality and yield attributing parameters. Genetic diversity based on seed quality traits showed five distinct clusters among the 20 rapeseed and Indian mustard genotypes.
Lack of Achievement of a Full Score on the Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale by Healthy Four‐Year‐Olds and Those Recovering From Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Authors: Quiñones Rebecca , Morgan Gabrielle A. , Amoruso Maria , Field Regina , Huang Chiang‐Ching , Pachman Lauren M.
Published: May 2013

Objective

To test 4‐year‐olds, using 14 maneuvers of the Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale (CMAS), comparing healthy children with those with juvenile dermatomyositis (DM).

Methods

Healthy 4‐year‐olds (n = 28) completed the CMAS. Their scores were compared with children with juvenile DM (n = 18) who had a muscle Disease Activity Score (DAS‐M) of 0.

Results

The healthy children achieved a mean ± SD CMAS score of 46.6 ± 2.3 (interquartile range 46–47). There were no significant differences between boys and girls, and the scores were not significantly associated with height or weight. The greatest variation involved items that assessed endurance. Item 1, neck raise, yielded a mean ± SD score of 28.2 ± 19.3 seconds, with a mean ± SD CMAS score of 2.5 ± 0.9 (maximum score 5). Item 3, leg lift, yielded a mean ± SD score of 55.5 ± 37.3 seconds, with a mean ± SD CMAS score of 3.1 ± 1.1 (maximum score 5). Item 5, sit‐ups maneuver, yielded a mean ± SD score of 5.3 ± 1.1 sit‐ups. Almost identical data were obtained for the 18 treated children with juvenile DM who had normal strength on the DAS‐M.

Conclusion

Healthy children ages 4 years do not achieve the total CMAS score of 52 attained by older children. Both boys and girls were remarkably consistent, with a mean CMAS score of 46.6. Children ages 4 years with juvenile DM with a DAS‐M of 0 also achieved a CMAS score of 46.6. We conclude that half of 4‐year‐old children achieve a mean CMAS score of 46 or 47, not a total CMAS score of 52, suggesting that weakness may be overdiagnosed in 4‐year‐olds with an inflammatory myopathy.
Analysis on development of magnetite hollow spheres through one‐pot solvothermal process
Authors: Nguyen Dung T. , Kim Kyo‐Seon
Published: May 2013

Monodisperse magnetite nanospheres with hollow interior structure were synthesized through one‐pot solvothermal process, in an isothermal environment at 200°C for 12 h, using a sole iron precursor (FeCl3.6H2O) and without any template. We demonstrated the development of hollow structure of magnetite spheres by characterizing systematically the changes of morphology and crystal structure for different processing times. We also provided the cross‐sectional images of the Fe3O4 spheres at different processing times to visualize the hollowing process inside the spheres with time. A detailed process mechanism to form the hollow structure of magnetite spheres was proposed, combining the formation of numerous tiny grains, the spherical assembly of those grains and the chemical conversion of the Fe (III) compounds to generate Fe3O4 simultaneously coupled with the Ostwald ripening process within the magnetite spheres. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3594–3600, 2013
Non‐isothermal degradation kinetics of N,N′‐bismaleimide‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane/barbituric acid based polymers in the presence of hydroquinone
Authors: Pham Quoc‐Thai , Hsu Jung‐Mu , Pan Jing‐Pin , Wang Tsung‐Hsiung , Chern Chorng‐Shyan
Published: May 2013

The non‐isothermal degradation kinetics of the cured polymer samples of N,N′‐bismaleimide‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane/barbituric acid [BMI/BTA = 2/1 (mol/mol)] based polymers in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) and native BMI/BTA was investigated by the thermogravimetric (TG) technique. By adding 5 wt % HQ into the BMI/BTA polymerization, the activation energy (Ea) of the thermal degradation process increased significantly in comparison with native BMI/BTA. Thus, the thermal stability of the cured polymer sample in the presence of HQ was greatly improved. The thermal degradation process exhibits three distinct stages. The key kinetic parameters associated with these stages were attained via the model‐fitting method. For the sample of native BMI/BTA, the thermal degradation process was primarily controlled by nucleation, followed by the multi‐decay law in the first stage. In contrast, the reaction order model adequately described the thermal degradation kinetics in the second stage. As to the last stage, the complex processes were described satisfactorily by the best‐fitted reaction model. For the sample of BMI/BTA/5 wt % HQ, the degradation process was controlled by the nucleation mechanism, followed by the multi‐molecular decay law in the first stage. In contrast, the second stage was controlled by the mixed mode of the competitive reaction order mechanism and 3‐D diffusion mechanism. In the third stage, the complex processes were also adequately described by the best‐fitted reaction model. All the experimental results illustrated that incorporation of 5 wt % HQ into the BMI/BTA based polymer resulted in the best thermal stability. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1923–1930, 2013
Ceramic sheet hybrid kenaf reinforced polypropylene biocomposites
Authors: Sim I Na , Han Seong Ok , Jang Young Hun , Yoo Yoon Jong
Published: May 2013

Hybrid biocomposites are one of the emerging fields in polymer composites. The purpose of this study is the development and characterization of ceramic sheet (CS) hybrid polypropylene (PP) biocomposites for broadening of the field of potential applications of biocomposites. Hybrid PP biocomposites were manufactured with 20 wt % loadings of kenaf and the addition of a CS (single or double sided) by melting and compression molding. The effects of the CS on the mechanical and thermal properties of the hybrid PP biocomposites were analyzed in terms of tensile, flexural, and impact properties, and inflammability, smoke optical density, and toxicity of the combustion gas. Also, the surface morphology of fractured hybrid PP biocomposites was observed by SEM and AFM. In spite of the brittle properties of the ceramic, the mechanical properties of the hybrid PP biocomposites were improved and, also, the inflammability of the hybrid PP biocomposites with the CS was highly improved. As a result, full impregnation of CSs into the kenaf reinforced biocomposite can contribute to the improvement of both the mechanical properties and the inflammability of biocomposites, resulting in a broadening of the field of potential applications of biocomposites such as aerospace. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1917–1922, 2013
Sphingosine 1‐Phosphate Counteracts the Effects of Interleukin‐1β in Human Chondrocytes
Authors: Stradner Martin H. , Gruber Gerald , Angerer Hannes , Huber Verena , Setznagl Daniela , Kremser Marie‐Luise , Moazedi‐Fürst Florentine C. , Windhager Reinhard , Graninger Winfried B.
Published: May 2013

Objective

The lipid mediator sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) is found in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritis (OA) patients. S1P protects bovine cartilage by counteracting the effects of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). This study was undertaken to examine the interaction of S1P and IL‐1β in human OA chondrocytes.

Methods

Human cartilage was obtained from patients undergoing total knee joint replacement. Chondrocytes were cultured in monolayer and treated with IL‐1β and S1P. Expression of S1P receptor subtypes and genes involved in cartilage degradation was evaluated using real‐time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. S1P signaling was evaluated using inhibitors of S1P receptors and small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of the S1P2 receptor. Phosphorylation of MAP kinases and NF‐κB in response to IL‐1β and S1P was detected by Western blotting.

Results

S1P2 was identified as the most prevalent S1P receptor subtype in human OA cartilage and chondrocytes in vitro. S1P reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in IL‐1β–treated chondrocytes. Reduction of ADAMTS‐4 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 expression by S1P correlated with S1P2 expression. Pharmacologic inhibition of the S1P2 receptor, but not the S1P1 and S1P3 receptors, abrogated the inhibition of iNOS expression. Similar results were observed using siRNA knockdown. S1P signaling inhibited IL‐1β–induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.

Conclusion

In human chondrocytes, S1P reduces the induction of catabolic genes in the presence of IL‐1β. Activation of the S1P2 receptor counteracts the detrimental phosphorylation of p38 MAPK by IL‐1β.
Interleukin‐7 Enhances the Th1 Response to Promote the Development of Sjögren's Syndrome–like Autoimmune Exocrinopathy in Mice
Authors: Jin Jun‐O , Kawai Toshihisa , Cha Seunghee , Yu Qing
Published: May 2013

Objective

Although elevated interleukin‐7 (IL‐7) levels have been reported in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), the role of IL‐7 in this disease remains unclear. We undertook this study to characterize the previously unexplored role of IL‐7 in the development and onset of primary SS using the C57BL/6.NOD‐Aec1Aec2 (B6.NOD‐Aec) mouse model, which recapitulates human primary SS.

Methods

For gain‐of‐function studies, recombinant IL‐7 or control phosphate buffered saline was injected intraperitoneally (IP) into 12‐week‐old B6.NOD‐Aec mice for 8 weeks. For loss‐of‐function studies, anti–IL‐7 receptor α‐chain (anti–IL‐7Rα) antibody or its isotype control IgG was administered IP into 16‐week‐old B6.NOD‐Aec mice. Salivary flow measurement, histologic and flow cytometric analysis of salivary glands, and serum antinuclear antibody assay were performed to assess various disease parameters.

Results

Administration of exogenous IL‐7 accelerated the development of primary SS, whereas blockade of IL‐7Rα signaling almost completely abolished the development of primary SS, based on salivary gland inflammation and apoptosis, autoantibody production, and secretory dysfunction. IL‐7 positively regulated interferon‐γ (IFNγ)–producing Th1 and CD8+ T cells in the salivary glands without affecting IL‐17. Moreover, IL‐7 enhanced the expression of CXCR3 ligands in a T cell– and IFNγ‐dependent manner. Accordingly, IFNγ induced a human salivary gland epithelial cell line to produce CXCR3 ligands. IL‐7 also increased the level of tumor necrosis factor α, another Th1‐associated cytokine that can facilitate tissue destruction and inflammation.

Conclusion

IL‐7 plays a pivotal pathogenic role in SS, which is underpinned by an enhanced Th1 response and IFNγ/CXCR3 ligand–mediated lymphocyte infiltration of target organs. These results suggest that targeting the IL‐7 pathway may be a potential future strategy for preventing and treating SS.
DNASE1L3Mutations in Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome
Authors: Özçakar Z. Birsin , Foster Joseph , Diaz‐Horta Oscar , Kasapcopur Ozgur , Fan Yao‐Shan , Yalçınkaya Fatoş , Tekin Mustafa
Published: May 2013

Objective

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is characterized by recurrent urticaria along with dermal vasculitis, arthritis, and glomerulonephritis. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develops in >50% of patients with HUVS, although the pathogenesis is unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the causative DNA mutations in 2 families with autosomal‐recessive HUVS, in order to reveal the pathogenesis and facilitate the laboratory diagnosis.

Methods

Autozygosity mapping was combined with whole‐exome sequencing.

Results

In a family with 3 affected children, we identified a homozygous frameshift mutation, c.289_290delAC, inDNASE1L3. We subsequently identified another homozygousDNASE1L3mutation leading to exon skipping, c.320+4delAGTA, in an unrelated family. The detected mutations led to loss of function, via either nonsense‐mediated messenger RNA decay or abolished endonuclease activity, as demonstrated by a plasmid nicking assay.

Conclusion

These results show that HUVS is caused by mutations inDNASE1L3, encoding an endonuclease that previously has been associated with SLE.
Information on the go: A case study of Europeana mobile users
Authors: Nicholas David , Clark David , Rowlands Ian , Jamali Hamid R.
Published: May 2013

According to estimates the mobile device will soon be the main platform for searching the web, and yet our knowledge of how mobile consumers use information, and how that differs from desktops/laptops users, is imperfect. The paper sets out to correct this through an analysis of the logs of a major cultural website, Europeana. The behavior of nearly 70,000 mobile users was examined over a period of more than a year and compared with that for PC users of the same site and for the same period. The analyses conducted include: size and growth of use, time patterns of use; geographical location of users, digital collections used; comparative information‐seeking behavior using dashboard metrics, clustering of users according to their information seeking, and user satisfaction. The main findings were that mobile users were the fastest‐growing group and will rise rapidly to a million by December 2012 and that their visits were very different in the aggregate from those arising from fixed platforms. Mobile visits could be described as being information “lite”: typically shorter, less interactive, and less content viewed per visit. Use took a social rather than office pattern, with mobile use peaking at nights and weekends. The variation between different mobile devices was large, with information seeking on the iPad similar to that for PCs and laptops and that for smartphones very different indeed. The research further confirms that information‐seeking behavior is platform‐specific and the latest platforms are changing it all again. Websites will have to adapt.
Opportunities for and limitations of the Book Citation Index
Authors: Gorraiz Juan , Purnell Philip J. , Glänzel Wolfgang
Published: May 2013

This article offers important background information about a new product, the Book Citation Index (BKCI), launched in 2011 by Thomson Reuters. Information is illustrated by some new facts concerning The BKCI's use in bibliometrics, coverage analysis, and a series of idiosyncrasies worthy of further discussion. The BKCI was launched primarily to assist researchers identify useful and relevant research that was previously invisible to them, owing to the lack of significant book content in citation indexes such as the Web of Science. So far, the content of 33,000 books has been added to the desktops of the global research community, the majority in the arts, humanities, and social sciences fields. Initial analyses of the data from The BKCI have indicated that The BKCI, in its current version, should not be used for bibliometric or evaluative purposes. The most significant limitations to this potential application are the high share of publications without address information, the inflation of publication counts, the lack of cumulative citation counts from different hierarchical levels, and inconsistency in citation counts between the cited reference search and the book citation index. However, The BKCI is a first step toward creating a reliable and necessary citation data source for monographs — a very challenging issue, because, unlike journals and conference proceedings, books have specific requirements, and several problems emerge not only in the context of subject classification, but also in their role as cited publications and in citing publications.
Effect of chemico‐mineralogical composition on color of natural and calcined kaolins
Authors: Bouzidi Nedjima , Siham Aissou , Concha‐Lozano Nicolas , Gaudon Pierre , Janin Gerard , Mahtout Laila , Merabet Djoudi
Published: May 2013

A total of six washed French and Algerian kaolins were studied. Kaolinite, halloysite, muscovite, feldspars, anatase, rutile, gibbsite, goethite, and todorokite were present. The thermal behavior of the samples was studied and the transformation heats were determined and quantified by differential thermal analysis. Calcined samples from 900°C to 1400°C are studied by X‐ray diffraction, the results show that the crystallite sizes of mullite rises as the temperature rises. The calcined samples showed an inverse correlation of L* and the crystallite sizes of mullite due to the incorporation of chromophore elements (Fe3+, Ti4+, and Mn2+) in its structure. Muscovite and rutile phases decreased lightness and increased chromaticity. The reduction state of Fe3+/Fe2+ and Mn4+/Mn2+ at 1400°C enhanced lightness leading to the diminution of the b* parameter. The CIELAB color parameters were significantly affected with mineralogy and chemical compositions of the samples. Lightness of the natural kaolins is decreased (L* < 59) when organic matters beside manganese and iron oxides are present. L* was not affected when only iron (Fe2+) is present in the kaolin; however, the chromaticity is increased (b* > 22). Whiteness and tint indices (W10, Tw,10) revealed that only one kaolin could be considered white (limits of CIE Colorimetry, 1986), though upon calcination, this number is enhanced to two. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 499–505, 2014
Color composition in postmodern western architecture
Authors: Serra Juan , Codoñer Ángela García
Published: May 2013

This research aims to know some of the most innovative aspects of color in composition of postmodern architecture in Europe, approximately between 1960 and 2000. We describe the main chromatic trends in this period following historian JA. Ramírez's formal classification: the new utopias (‘60s), neo‐illuminist rationalism (‘70s), figurative postmodernity (‘80s), and deconstructivism (‘90s). For each trend, we point out some color composition features; analyze a case study building; and reflect on later influence on contemporary colored architecture. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 399–412, 2014
TomusBlobs: scalable data‐intensive processing on Azure clouds
Authors: Costan Alexandru , Tudoran Radu , Antoniu Gabriel , Brasche Goetz
Published: May 2013

The emergence of cloud computing has brought the opportunity to use large‐scale compute infrastructures for a broader and broader spectrum of applications and users. As the cloud paradigm gets attractive for the ‘elasticity’ in resource usage and associated costs (the users only pay for resources actually used), cloud applications still suffer from the high latencies and low performance of cloud storage services. As Big Data analysis on clouds becomes more and more relevant in many application areas, enabling high‐throughput massive data processing on cloud data becomes a critical issue, as it impacts the overall application performance. In this paper, we address this challenge at the level of cloud storage. We introduce a concurrency‐optimized data storage system (called TomusBlobs), which federates the virtual disks associated to the Virtual Machines running the application code on the cloud. We demonstrate the performance benefits of our solution for efficient data‐intensive processing by building an optimized prototype MapReduce framework for Microsoft's Azure cloud platform on the basis of TomusBlobs. Finally, we specifically address the limitations of state‐of‐the‐art MapReduce frameworks for reduce‐intensive workloads, by proposing MapIterativeReduce as an extension of the MapReduce model. We validate the aforementioned contributions through large‐scale experiments with synthetic benchmarks and with real‐world applications on the Azure commercial cloud by using resources distributed across multiple data centers; they demonstrate that our solutions bring substantial benefits to data‐intensive applications compared with approaches relying on state‐of‐the‐art cloud object storage. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analyses of magnetic field distributions for the measurement of magnetic resonance signals using optically pumped atomic magnetometers
Authors: Tsuchida Masahiro , Oida Takenori , Kobayashi Tetsuo
Published: May 2013

In ultralow‐ﬁeld MRI with an optically pumped atomic magnetometer (OPAM), it is required for the direct detection of MR signals with high sensitivity to match the resonant frequency of potassium to that of protons. A ferrite shield box, which has high permeability and high electric resistance, can be utilized to match the resonant frequencies. In this study, analyses of magnetic ﬁeld distributions in the vicinities of the sample and the potassium vapor cell of an OPAM were carried out. In addition, the uniformities of the magnetic ﬁelds in the areas of the sample and the potassium vapor cell of the OPAM and the magnetic ﬁeld caused by MR signals were evaluated. These analyses indicated that the resonant frequencies of protons and potassium were matched by using the ferrite shield box with a number of combinations of height and thickness. The uniformities of the magnetic ﬁelds applied to a sample were found to be improved by placing the ferrite shield box far from the sample. Furthermore, regardless of the height, the magnetic ﬁeld caused by the MR signals could be measured. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 96(6): 49–56, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11455 3
Vitamin A notches up CD11bhiDC development
Authors: Stock Angus T. , Bedoui Sammy
Published: May 2013

Vitamin A and its metabolite retinoic acid influence various aspects of immunity. Although the capacity of vitamin A to condition intestinal CD103+ DCs to imprint tissue‐specific homing programs onto activated lymphocytes is well documented, it is unclear whether vitamin A also regulates DC populations in other tissues. A study published in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Beijer et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2013. 43: 1608–1616] now demonstrates that vitamin A exerts profound effects on the subset composition of splenic DCs. By resolving that splenic ESAMhi CD11bhi DCs are preferentially responsive to regulation by vitamin A, these novel insights not only further support the notion that ESAM expression marks two distinct lineages of splenic CD11bhi DCs, but also provide an important extension to our understanding of how vitamin A influences the immune system.
Sterically Encumbered Amidinates and Guanidinates of Calcium and Strontium
Authors: Glock Carsten , Loh Claas , Görls Helmar , Krieck Sven , Westerhausen Matthias
Published: May 2013

An attempt to prepare Tmp‐C(NDipp)2Li by treatment of lithium tetramethylpiperidide (Li‐Tmp) with N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)carbodiimide (Dipp‐N=C=N‐Dipp) failed, and ether degradation occurred instead, allowing the isolation of a few crystals of O=CH–CH=C(NH‐Dipp)2 (1) after hydrolytic work‐up. We then investigated calcium and strontium compounds. Metalation of PrisoH [Priso = iPr2N–C(N‐Dipp)2] with [(thf)2Ca{N(SiMe3)2}2] in refluxing hexane for 18 h yielded [{(Me3Si)2N}(thf)Ca(Priso)] (2). At room temperature, very few crystals of [Ca(Priso)2]·hexane (3) precipitated after several months from a saturated hexane solution of 2. KN(SiMe3)2 was added to a THF solution of [(thf)4CaI2] and PrisoH and heated to 60 °C for several hours yielding [(thf)Ca(Priso)(μ‐I)]2 (4). Metalation of PrisoH with [(thf)2Sr{N(SiMe3)2}2] led to formation of [Sr(Priso)2] (5) regardless of the applied stoichiometry. The reaction of N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)benzamidine with KN(SiMe3)2 and [(thf)4CaI2] in THF followed by recrystallization from 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (dme) solution yielded [(dme)Ca{(Dipp‐N)2C–Ph}2] (6). The molecular structures of these compounds are discussed and compared with those of other encumbered complexes of divalent metal ions.
A simple and facile method for the synthesis of 1‐octacosanol
Authors: Kunkuma Vijaya Lakshmi , Kaki Shiva Shanker , Rao Bhamidipati V. S. K. , Prasad Rachapudi B. N. , Prabhavathi Devi Bethala L. A.
Published: May 2013

An efficient synthetic method was developed for the preparation of 1‐octacosanol (C28‐alcohol) from commercially available lipid‐based intermediates namely sebacic acid (decanedioic acid) and stearyl alcohol. The key step in the synthesis is the preparation of tert‐butyl dimethyl octacos‐10‐enyloxy silane from 10‐tert‐butyl dimethyl silanyloxy decanal and octadecyl triphenylphosphonium bromide salt employing Witting reaction. This product on simultaneous hydrogenation of double bond and deprotection of tert‐butyldimethylsilyl protecting group in a single step on treatment with Pd/C and H2 in methanol at ambient temperature resulted octacosanol in 95% yields. The products were characterised by IR, 1H NMR, and GC–MS analysis.
Design of a Solid‐State Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor for Detection of PML/RARα Fusion Gene Using Ru(bpy)${{{2+\hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$‐AuNPs Aggregations on Gold Electrode
Authors: Lei Yun , Lin Yajing , Zheng Yanjie , Dai Ming , Wang Kun , Lin Xinhua
Published: May 2013

A solid‐state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on special ferrocene‐labeled molecular beacon (Fc‐MB) for highly sensitive detection of promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML/RARα) fusion gene was developed successfully using Ru(bpy)${{{2+\hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$/2‐(dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE) as detecting pattern. Such a special sensor involves two main parts, an ECL substrate and an ECL intensity switch. The ECL substrate was made by modifying the complex of Ruthenium (II) tris‐(bipyridine) and Au nanoparticles (Ru(bpy)${{{2+\hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$‐AuNPs) onto the Au electrode (AuE) surface. The molecular beacon probe in which the ferrocene tag could effectively quench the ECL of the Ru(bpy)${{{2+\hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$acted as ECL intensity switch. The molecular beacon probe was designed with special base sequence, which could hybridize with its complementary target DNA. In the absence of a target, the hairpin structure of the probe forced the ferrocene (Fc) into close proximity with the ECL substrate, thus reducing ECL intensity. Target binding allowed the Fc away from the ECL substrate and resulted in an obvious increment in ECL intensity due to the decreased Fc quenching effect. The effect of the amount of Ru(bpy)${{{2+\hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$ and the mixing procedure of Ru(bpy)${{{2+\hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$ and AuNPs solution on the fabrication of ECL film had been investigated. As a result, the change of ECL intensity had a direct relationship with the logarithm of PML/RARα fusion gene concentration in the range of 0.05–500 pM with a detection limit of 7 fM, and the developed biosensor possessed good molecular recognizability in human serum. Thus, the approach holds promise for the early diagnostics and prognosis monitoring of APL and other diseases.
Assessing bioavailability of DDT and metabolites in marine sediments using solid-phase microextraction with performance reference compounds
Authors: Bao Lian-Jun , Jia Fang , Crago J. , Zeng Eddy Y. , Schlenk D. , Gan Jay
Published: May 2013

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has often been used to estimate the freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) of organic contaminants in sediments. A significant limitation in the application of SPME for Cfree measurement is the requirement for attaining equilibrium partition, which is often difficult for strongly hydrophobic compounds such as DDT. A method was developed using SPME with stable isotope-labeled analogues as performance reference compounds (PRCs) to measure Cfree of DDT and metabolites (DDTs) in marine sediments. Six 13C-labeled or deuterated PRCs were impregnated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber before use. Desorption of PRCs from PDMS fibers and absorption of DDTs from sediment were isotropic in a range of sediments evaluated ex situ under well-mixed conditions. When applied to a historically contaminated marine sediment from a Superfund site, the PRC-SPME method yielded Cfree values identical to those found by using a conventional equilibrium SPME approach (Eq-SPME), wherease the time for mixing was reduced from 9 d to only 9 h. The PRC-SPME method was further evaluated against bioaccumulation of DDTs by Neanthes arenaceodentata in the contaminated sediment with or without amendment of activated carbon or sand. Strong correlations were consistently found between the derived equilibrium concentrations on the fiber and lipid-normalized tissue residues for DDTs in the worms. Results from the present study clearly demonstrated the feasibility of coupling PRCs with SPME sampling to greatly shorten sampling time, thus affording much improved flexibility in the use of SPME for bioavailability evaluation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1946–1953. © 2013 SETAC
Functional properties of Ditaxis heterantha proteins
Authors: Espino‐Sevilla Ma T. , Jaramillo‐Flores Maria E. , Hernández‐Gutiérrez Rodolfo , Mateos‐Díaz Juan C. , Espinosa‐Andrews Hugo , Barba de la Rosa Ana P. , Rodiles‐López Jose O. , Villanueva‐Rodríguez Socorro , Lugo‐Cervantes Eugenia C.
Published: May 2013

Ditaxis heterantha is a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family that grows in semiarid regions of Mexico. It produces yellow pigmented seeds that are used for coloring of foods. The seeds contain about 20% of proteins. Proteins of D. heterantha were extracted and fractionated on the basis of solubility. Three main protein fractions were obtained: glutelins, 488 ± 0.5; albumins, 229 ± 2; and total globulins, 160 ± 1 g/kg. The amino acid profile was evaluated for each fraction and protein isolated, where the protein isolate contains essential amino acids such as Val, Phe, Tyr, and Leu. A calorimetric study showed that globulins and glutelins have a high denaturing temperature between 100 and 106°C, while albumins showed a denaturing temperature at 76°C. The protein isolate and its fractions exhibited functional properties: the isolated protein demonstrated good oil‐holding capacity of 40.7 g/kg. Foam capacity (FC) and foam stability (FS) were observed principally in glutelins and globulins where FC maximum was 330% and the FS was 28 min. The emulsifying capacity was observed in the same fractions of glutelins and globulins, followed by albumins. However, the glutelin fraction in particular was the only fraction that exhibited emulsifying stability at pH 5, 6, and 7. Gelling capacity was observed in albumins and globulins. This study indicated that protein isolated from D. heterantha could be used in food formulations due to its essential amino acid profile. Glutelin could be used as an emulsifying additive. Additionally, glutelin and globulin were stable at temperatures above 100°C; this is an important factor in food industry, principally in heat processes.
Discriminating the tectonic and non‐tectonic contributions in the ionospheric signature of the 2011, Mw7.1, dip‐slip Van earthquake, Eastern Turkey
Authors: Rolland Lucie M. , Vergnolle Mathilde , Nocquet Jean‐Mathieu , Sladen Anthony , Dessa Jean‐Xavier , Tavakoli Farokh , Nankali Hamid Reza , Cappa Frédéric
Published: May 2013

It has previously been suggested that ionospheric perturbations triggered by large dip‐slip earthquakes might offer additional source parameter information compared to the information gathered from land observations. Based on 3D modeling of GPS‐ and GLONASS‐derived total electron content signals recorded during the 2011 Van earthquake (thrust, intra‐plate event, Mw = 7.1, Turkey), we confirm that coseismic ionospheric signals do contain important information about the earthquake source, namely its slip mode. Moreover, we show that part of the ionospheric signal (initial polarity and amplitude distribution) is not related to the earthquake source, but is instead controlled by the geomagnetic field and the geometry of the Global Navigation Satellite System satellites constellation. Ignoring these non‐tectonic effects would lead to an incorrect description of the earthquake source. Thus, our work emphasizes the added caution that should be used when analyzing ionospheric signals for earthquake source studies.