bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Een Cognitieve Methode Voor Het Leren Van Nederlandse Intonatie
Authors: 't Hart J.
Published: March 2014

The "Cursus Nederlandse Intonatie" (course in Dutch intonation) is a first attempt to teach the intonation of a second language according to a cognitive method, i.e. to provide the students with conscious control of the various patterns of the target language and of the different shapes in which these patterns actually appear. A necessary requirement for achieving this is to convey analytic knowledge about all the important pitch variations. Thanks to profound investigations in this field, such knowledge is now sufficiently available. The main technique applied in these investigations consisted of replacing the natural variation of F in an utterance by a stylized, much simpler artificial pitch contour whilst maintaining the overall melodic impression. This has been done for a great number of utterances; thus, it became possible to make an inventory of the essential ingredients of the artificial contours.
The course is expected to be helpful not only to students of Dutch as a second language. Also to those native speakers who professionally study Dutch language and literature, it might be useful to become acquainted with this explicit description of the intonation system which they know already, but only in an implicit way.
Recently, in investigation of the intonation of British English has been initiated, using the same technique as the one applied for Dutch intonation. The results obtained so far justify the expectation that a cognitive course of English intonation can be developed as well. This would be an efficient device for the numerous people who learn English as a second language.
Visuele Terugkoppeling Van Engelse Intonatie;
Authors: de Bot Kees
Published: March 2014

A description is given of an experiment in which we tried to show that visual feedback is more effective in intonation learning than auditory feedback. The factors in the experiment were feedback mode and practice time.
The results showed a significant effect of visual feedback over auditory feedback, whereas amount of practice time doesn't seem to be a major factor. An analysis of learning behaviour of the subjects in the experiment revealed that feedback mode influences learning behaviour: subjects with visual feedback tend to practise more intensively than subjects with auditory feedback.
Future research will concentrate on various factors related to intonation learning and the effectiveness of visual feedback, such as the role of age, mothertongue and degree of fluency in the second language.
Engels In Nederlandse Oren
Authors: Broeders A.
Published: March 2014

This paper discusses some of the results of an investigation into pronunciation preference among two groups of first-year students of English in the Netherlands. Our aim was to establish in how far RP, the accent that is used almost universally in Dutch secondary and tertiary education, appeals to these learners as a pronunciation model as compared with a number of other English accents (General American, Cockney, Yorkshire General Australian, Scots English and 'near-native Dutch RP'). The inves-tigation was prompted by the suspicion that the presence of a large number of American features in the English accent of beginning first-year students of English might be an indication of the popularity of an American style accent among these students. The test consisted of seven versions of an animal fable, read by seven different speakers, illustrating the seven accents. Students were asked to score these accents for appeal on a five-point scale. The scores revealed that, contrary to our expectations, the RP version was rated significantly higher than the American version. This may, however, have been due to the rather staid, middle generation character of the accent involved. Scots, Yorkshire, Gen Australian and Cockney appeared to have very little appeal, while the 'Dutch RP' version had roughly the same appeal as the American accent. Apart from this general trend, the appeal-scores showed interesting differences for the various subgroups. It was also attempted to establish to what attributes of the seven accents the preference scores could be related. It appeared that two factors, social status and personal attractiveness, correlated highly with the preference scores. Future research will be aimed at developing scales which will more accurately determine to what attributes preference is related. It will also be attempted to establish the 'covert' as opposed 'overt' prestige of certain English accents for Dutch learners.
Synthesis By Rule En Uitspraakonderwijs Van Het Engels
Authors: van Buuren Luuk
Published: March 2014

The article contains a synthesis of the locution R+0+ teaching|English|pronunciation|| F++0- can be|a sheer|waste|of time|||
Such a synthesis is an output of a system of generative phonetic rules, covering both features of timing and of articulation. The rules operate on phonological outputs: transcriptions. In the example, the transcription and the constants were typed in beforehand, the variables then had to be filled in by hand. Students of English at Amsterdam University are regular-ly given such assignments in order to develop their theoretical knowledge of English pronunciation.
The synthesis is explained in some detail. The main points that emerge are that the approach is parametric not segmental, functional not real-izational (i.e. from phonetics to phonology, not vice versa), exhaustive not eclectic, specific not differentiating, and articulatory not acoustic. As stated, it rests on the mechanical application of generative rules.
Some account is given of the use made of the theory in practical pronun-ciation teaching. The rules themselves could not all be given within the scope of the article: only those for phonation are stated in full, for purposes of illustration. In conclusion, their operation in a short text is then dealt with from the point of view of the Dutch student of English.
Sexe-Invloeden Bij De Beoordeling Van Stem En Uitspraak
Authors: van Herpt L.W.A. , Fagel W.P.F.
Published: March 2014

In an attempt to develop a standardized instrument to measure subjective voice and pronunciation quality a sample op 35 bipolar seven-point scales was selected and tested for reliability among raters by a preliminary pencil-and-paper investigation.
Different groups of subjects were asked to rate the ideal male voice, the ideal female voice, and their own voice on each of the 35 items. The contribution of different subject factors to the variance in the ratings of each concept on each scale separately was established. One of those factors was sex of the rater.
For practical reasons, we want this nascent instrument to be equally applicable for male and female speakers. We therefore studied the differences between mean ratings for ideal male speaker and ideal female speaker on each of the scales as well.
The results show (1) many significant differences between perceived ideal male and ideal female voice, which qualitatively are rather inde-pendent of the sex of the informant; quantitatively female raters show a tendency to make smaller differences between male and female ideal speaker on the rating scales; (2) male and female raters often differ significantly in their judgment of ideal male voice alone or of ideal female voice alone; where this is the case, the mean judgment of the female raters practically always stands on a more 'extreme' point of the rating scale; (3) male and female raters often differ significantly in the ratings of their own voice; in general, the differences between own voice ratings by males and females on the 35 rating scales are qualitatively the same as those between ratings of male and female ideal voice respectively.
These results were compared with Kramer's (1977) study on perceptions of (typical) male and female speech. It is concluded that the same stereo-types play a part in our subject's ideal and self ratings as in the 'typical speech' ratings of Kramer's subjects.
Experimentele Fonetiek En Uitspraakonderwijs
Authors: Schouten M.E.H.
Published: March 2014

In spite of a mutual desire for closer relations, it has to be concluded that modern experimental phonetics has little to offer to the pronunciation teacher, apart from a number of technical appliances. Pronunciation teaching is only concerned with what can be heard with the naked ear and therefore does not need experimental support.
De Uitspraak Van Internationale Woorden In Het Duits
Authors: van Os Charles
Published: March 2014

This paper presents a description of a plan of research on the pronun-ciation of international words by Dutch-speaking advanced learners of German as a foreign language. Pronunciation teachers have often found learners, even those who have a good 'overall' accent, to have problems with the pronunciation of international words. In order to effect more efficient learning and Leaching of the pronunciation of these words a research design is proposed which consists of (1) an inventory of the international words in German and Dutch, combined with a contrastive description of the nature and degree of phonetic adaptation, and (2) a study of the nature and size of the problems encountered by the group of Dutch learners mentioned above, based on an analysis of utterances elicited by means of various tests.
Hypocoristics in New Zealand and Australian English
Authors: Bardsley Dianne , Simpson Jane
Published: March 2014

New Zealand and Australia share a propensity to create new words and hypocoristic forms of existing words by adding -ie and -o suffixes (among others) to a base which is usually monosyllabic. While the creation of new words is driven by the need to refer quickly to new things, the creation of hypocoristic alternatives is driven partly by the desire to identify with a group’s particular way of talking. The distribution of hypocoristic forms is similar across both countries, except for the greater use of the -o ending in Australia, especially in naming occupations and in fishing. Across different semantic domains there is a greater range of suffixes to be found in proper names (personal, geographic and institutional) than in common nouns.
Structure of theReston ebolavirusVP30 C-terminal domain
Authors: Clifton Matthew C. , Kirchdoerfer Robert N. , Atkins Kateri , Abendroth Jan , Raymond Amy , Grice Rena , Barnes Steve , Moen Spencer , Lorimer Don , Edwards Thomas E. , Myler Peter J. , Saphire Erica Ollmann
Published: March 2014

The ebolaviruses can cause severe hemorrhagic fever. Essential to the ebolavirus life cycle is the protein VP30, which serves as a transcriptional cofactor. Here, the crystal structure of the C-terminal, NP-binding domain of VP30 fromReston ebolavirusis presented. Reston VP30 and Ebola VP30 both form homodimers, but the dimeric interfaces are rotated relative to each other, suggesting subtle inherent differences or flexibility in the dimeric interface.
1.15 Å resolution structure of the proteasome-assembly chaperone Nas2 PDZ domain
Authors: Singh Chingakham R. , Lovell Scott , Mehzabeen Nurjahan , Chowdhury Wasimul Q. , Geanes Eric S. , Battaile Kevin P. , Roelofs Jeroen
Published: March 2014

The 26S proteasome is a 2.5 MDa protease dedicated to the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins in eukaryotes. The assembly of this complex containing 66 polypeptides is assisted by at least nine proteasome-specific chaperones. One of these, Nas2, binds to the proteasomal AAA-ATPase subunit Rpt5. The PDZ domain of Nas2 binds to the C-terminal tail of Rpt5; however, it does not require the C-terminus of Rpt5 for binding. Here, the 1.15 Å resolution structure of the PDZ domain of Nas2 is reported. This structure will provide a basis for further insights regarding the structure and function of Nas2 in proteasome assembly.
Overexpression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the ectoine hydroxylase fromSphingopyxis alaskensis
Authors: Hoeppner Astrid , Widderich Nils , Bremer Erhard , Smits Sander H. J.
Published: March 2014

The ectoine hydroxylase (EctD) is a member of the non-haem-containing iron(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase superfamily. Its mononuclear iron centre is a prerequisite for the activity of this enzyme and promotes the O2-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxoglutarate, which is coupled to a two-electron oxidation of the substrate ectoine to yield 5-hydroxyectoine. An expression and purification protocol for the EctD enzyme fromSphingopyxis alaskensiswas developed and the protein was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. This resulted in two different crystal forms, representing the apo and iron-bound forms of the enzyme.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of ArsH fromSynechocystissp. strain PCC 6803
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Xue Xi-Mei , Yan Yu , Ye Jun
Published: March 2014

ArsH is an NADPH-dependent flavin mononucleotide reductase and is frequently encoded as part of anarsoperon. The function of thearsHgene remains to be characterized. Crystallization and structural studies may contribute to elucidating the specific biological function of ArsH associated with arsenic resistance. ArsH fromSynechocystissp. strain PCC 6803 was overproduced, purified and crystallized. Crystals were obtained by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. Diffraction data were collected and processed to a resolution of 1.6 Å. The crystals belonged to the tetragonal space groupI4122, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 127.94,c= 65.86 Å and one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Size-exclusion chromatography and molecular-replacement results showed that the ArsH formed a tetramer. Further structural analysis and comparison with ArsH fromSinorhizobium melilotiwill provide information about the oligomerization of ArsH.
Frq2 fromDrosophila melanogaster: cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis
Authors: Baños-Mateos Soledad , Chaves-Sanjuán Antonio , Mansilla Alicia , Ferrús Alberto , Sánchez-Barrena María José
Published: March 2014

Drosophila melanogastercontains two calcium-binding proteins, Frq1 and Frq2, in the nervous system that control the number of synapses and the probability of release. To understand the differential function of the two proteins, whose sequence is only 5% dissimilar, the crystal structures of Frq1 and Frq2 are needed. Here, the cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of Frq2 are presented. The full-length protein was purified using a two-step chromatographic procedure. Two different diffracting crystal forms were obtained using a progressive streak-seeding method and detergents.
Sustainable manufacturing: a critical discipline for the twenty-first century
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide an introduction to sustainable manufacturing concepts and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following an introduction to sustainable manufacturing, this article first considers various government programmes and information sources. It then discusses life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques and standards and certain product design issues. The benefits of sustainable manufacturing concepts are then identified, together with some examples of applications. Finally, brief conclusions are drawn.

Findings

– Sustainable manufacturing involves a multitude of practices which seek to minimise the impact of a product or process on the environment. It encompasses the entire product cycle from “cradle to grave” and many standards and techniques have been developed to assist in its implementation, including LCA. In addition to meeting growing consumer demands for “greener” products, sustainable manufacturing can yield operational and financial benefits, including reduced material use, improved designs, lower energy consumption and reduced waste and scrap levels.

Originality/value

– This article provides a timely review of sustainable manufacturing principles, practices and benefits.
Extraction of elementary siphons in a class of generalized Petri nets using graph theory
Authors: Hou YiFan , Li ZhiWu , Zhao Mi , Liu Ding
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Siphon-based deadlock control in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) suffers from the problems of computational and structural complexity since the number of siphons grows exponentially with respect to the size of its Petri net model. In order to reduce structural complexity of a supervisor, a set of elementary siphons derived from all strict minimal siphons (SMS) is explicitly controlled. The purpose of this paper is through fully investigating the structure of a class of generalized Petri nets, WS3PR, to compute all SMS and a compact set of elementary siphons.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on graph theory, the concepts of initial resource weighted digraphs and restricted subgraphs are proposed. Moreover, the concept of augmented siphons is proposed to extend the application of elementary siphons theory for WS3PR. Consequently, the set of elementary siphons obtained by the proposed method is more compact and well suits for WS3PR.

Findings

– In order to demonstrate the proposed method, an FMS example is presented. All SMS and elementary siphons can be derived from initial resource weighted digraphs. Compared with those obtained by the method in Li and Zhou, the presented method is more effective to design a structural simple liveness-enforcing supervisor for WS3PR.

Originality/value

– This work presents an effective method of computing SMS and elementary siphons for WS3PR. Monitors are added for the elementary siphons only, and the controllability of every dependent siphon is ensured by properly supervising its elementary ones. A same set of elementary siphons can be admitted by different WS3PR with isomorphic structures.
A multiple sequence alignment method with sequence vectorization
Authors: Ji Guoli , Zeng Yong , Yang Zijiang , Ye Congting , Yao Jingci
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The time complexity of most multiple sequence alignment algorithm is O(N2) or O(N3) (N is the number of sequences). In addition, with the development of biotechnology, the amount of biological sequences grows significantly. The traditional methods have some difficulties in handling large-scale sequence. The proposed Lemk_MSA method aims to reduce the time complexity, especially for large-scale sequences. At the same time, it can keep similar accuracy level compared to the traditional methods.

Design/methodology/approach

– LemK_MSA converts multiple sequence alignment into corresponding 10D vector alignment by ten types of copy modes based on Lempel-Ziv. Then, it uses k-means algorithm and NJ algorithm to divide the sequences into several groups and calculate guide tree of each group. A complete guide tree for multiple sequence alignment could be constructed by merging guide tree of every group. Moreover, for large-scale multiple sequence, Lemk_MSA proposes a GPU-based parallel way for distance matrix calculation.

Findings

– Under this approach, the time efficiency to process multiple sequence alignment can be improved. The high-throughput mouse antibody sequences are used to validate the proposed method. Compared to ClustalW, MAFFT and Mbed, LemK_MSA is more than ten times efficient while ensuring the alignment accuracy at the same time.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes a novel method with sequence vectorization for multiple sequence alignment based on Lempel-Ziv. A GPU-based parallel method has been designed for large-scale distance matrix calculation. It provides a new way for multiple sequence alignment research.
Understanding CSR in the Maldivian context
Authors: Shareef Fareeha , Arunachalam Murugesh , Sodique Hamid , Davey Howard
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The objective of this study is to examine CSR practices in the Maldives.

Design/methodology/approach

– The perceptions of business and non-business stakeholders were analysed in order to identify CSR practices that are idiosyncratic to the Maldives and to reflect on the relevance of current mainstream CSR agenda for the Maldives. Surveys and in-depth interviews were used to draw the perceptions of a sample of 52 businesses and 36 non-business stakeholders. The study adopts an interpretive methodology to analyse the perceptions and to reflect on extant CSR theories.

Findings

– The paper suggests mediocre CSR practices of businesses and lukewarm responses from non-business stakeholders in the Maldives. There is a difference between what businesses consider ought to be CSR practices (the normative) and their actual CSR practices. Businesses prefer to keep their CSR practices discreet as publicity may cause increasing demands from local communities for financial and other assistance. CSR practices in the Maldives are also influenced by the local Islamic culture. The meaning of CSR prevalent in the context of more advanced western economies may prove to be superfluous in the context of the Maldives, a small and developing Islamic country struggling to meet the basic needs of its people.

Originality/value

– This study represents the first research on CSR activities in the Maldives. It contributes to existing literature by challenging the relevance of mainstream CSR practices to a developing economy.
Drivers of corporate community involvement and challenges in measuring its impact
Authors: I. Arli Denni , Cadeaux Jack
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to explore drivers of corporate community involvement (CCI) initiatives and the challenges faced by companies in measuring the social impact of their initiatives in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with various corporate social responsibility (CSR) or CCI managers from Australian companies and their not-for-profit (NFP) partners. The final sample consists of 27 managers from a mix of industries.

Findings

– The study shows that stakeholder's salience may have an impact on CCI activities, especially in the area of measurements and reporting activities. Moreover, while some companies have attempted to measure the social impact of their initiatives, a large number of companies have not. This is all the more surprising given the recent focus in marketing on accountability and measurement. The results show three challenges: lack of interest, lack of resources and lack of consensus. Subsequently, the authors offer some research propositions to underline these challenges.

Originality/value

– This study focuses on CCI which is one of the most visible parts of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It draws on interviews with various managers in charge of companies' CSR or CCI.
Common incentives for teamwork – the unspoken contract's significance
Authors: M. Berlin Johan
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper was to identify and study common incentives for teamwork.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was designed as a case study. The case consists of teamwork at a university hospital. At the hospital, ten psychiatric teams were studied for a period of four years (2008-2011). Each team was followed for 12-18 months. Data were collected through interviews (n=48) and observations (n=52) of the teamwork at treatment conferences.

Findings

– The common incentives identified consist of shared responsibility, appreciation and long-sightedness. The incidence of a silent contract is highlighted as an explanation for the team's cohesion.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is conducted in a public organisation within one field. The results should therefore be interpreted with some caution.

Practical implications

– The study is useful for practitioners to understand the importance of common incentives as a collective driving force. By developing well-adapted common incentives, the practical work can be developed, refined and improved.

Originality/value

– The significance of common incentives and the unspoken contract in the team is identified.
Malnutrition coding shortfalls in Australian and New Zealand hospitals
Authors: Agarwal Ekta , Ferguson Maree , Banks Merrilyn , Bauer Judith , Capra Sandra , Isenring Elisabeth
Published: March 2014

Aim

The International Classification of Diseases, version 10, Australian modification (ICD‐10‐AM) is used to classify diseases in hospital patients in Australia and New Zealand. ICD‐10‐AM defines malnutrition as ‘[body mass index] BMI <18.5 kg/m2 or unintentional weight loss of ≥5% with evidence of suboptimal intake resulting in subcutaneous fat loss and/or muscle wasting’. The Australasian Nutrition Care Day Survey (ANCDS) is the most comprehensive survey to evaluate malnutrition prevalence in acute care patients from Australian and New Zealand hospitals. This study determined if malnourished participants were assigned malnutrition‐related codes according to ICD‐10‐AM.

Methods

The ANCDS recruited acute care patients from 56 hospitals. Hospital‐based dietitians evaluated participants' nutritional status using BMI and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). In keeping with the ICD‐10‐AM definition, malnutrition was defined as BMI <18.5 kg/m2, SGA‐B (moderately malnourished) or SGA‐C (severely malnourished). After 3 months, in this prospective cohort study, staff members from each hospital's health information/medical records department provided coding results for malnourished participants.

Results

Malnutrition was prevalent in 30% (n = 869) of the cohort (n = 2976) and a significantly small number of malnourished patients were coded for malnutrition (n = 162, 19%, P < 0.001). In 21 hospitals, none of the malnourished participants were coded.

Conclusions

This is the largest study to provide a snapshot of malnutrition coding in Australian and New Zealand hospitals. Findings highlight gaps in malnutrition documentation and/or subsequent coding, which could potentially result in significant loss of casemix‐related revenue for hospitals. Dietitians must lead the way in developing structured processes for malnutrition identification, documentation and coding.
Is it okay to tell? Children's judgements about information disclosure
Authors: Kim Sunae , Harris Paul L. , Warneken Felix
Published: March 2014

The present research investigates how young children evaluate and reason about the disclosure of private information. Using story vignettes, children aged 4–5 and 7–8 years were asked to evaluate an individual who passed on information from a peer revealing that he or she had broken a rule (e.g., stolen a cookie; rule type) or lacked a skill (e.g., could not ride a bicycle; competence type). These negative valence stories were compared with positive valence stories in which the peer had followed a rule or possessed a skill. Younger children approved the sharing of positive, but not negative, information, irrespective of type (rule vs. competence). Older children disapproved the disclosure of someone's incompetence, whereas they approved the disclosure of a rule violation. Children justified their evaluations by reference to social rules in the rule‐type vignettes and to an individual's feelings in the competence‐type vignettes. The findings suggest that young children are concerned about the disclosure of negative information about other people, but with age they become increasingly concerned about protecting the social order even at the cost of individual privacy.
Circumcision and prostate cancer: a population‐based case‐control study in Montréal, Canada
Authors: Spence Andrea R. , Rousseau Marie‐Claude , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Parent Marie‐Élise
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To investigate the possible association between circumcision and prostate cancer risk, to examine whether age at circumcision influences prostate cancer risk, and to determine whether race modifies the circumcision–prostate cancer relationship.

Subjects and Methods

PROtEuS (Prostate Cancer and Environment Study), a population‐based case‐control study set amongst the mainly French‐speaking population in Montréal, Canada, was used to address study objectives. The study included 1590 pathologically confirmed prostate cancer cases diagnosed in a Montréal French hospital between 2005 and 2009, and 1618 population controls ascertained from the French electoral list, frequency‐matched to cases by age. In‐person interviews elicited information on sociodemographic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between circumcision, age at circumcision and prostate cancer risk, adjusting for age, ancestry, family history of prostate cancer, prostate cancer screening history, education, and history of sexually transmitted infections.

Results

Circumcised men had a slightly lower risk, albeit not statistically significant, of developing prostate cancer than uncircumcised men (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.76–1.04). Circumcision was found to be protective in men circumcised aged ≥36 years (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.30–0.98). A weaker protective effect was seen among men circumcised within 1 year of birth (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.72–1.04). The strongest protective effect of circumcision was recorded in Black men (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19–0.86, P‐value for interaction 0.02) but no association was found with other ancestral groups.

Conclusion

Our findings provide novel evidence for a protective effect of circumcision against prostate cancer development, especially in those circumcised aged ≥36 years; although circumcision before the age of 1 year may also confer protection. Circumcision appeared to be protective only among Black men, a group that has the highest rate of disease. Further research into the differences in effect of circumcision on prostate cancer risk by ancestry is warranted, as is the influence of age at circumcision.
Evaluation of 0.6% sodium alginate as a submucosal injection material in endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer
Authors: Kusano Toru , Etoh Tsuyoshi , Akagi Tomonori , Ueda Yoshitake , Shiroshita Hidefumi , Yasuda Kazuhiro , Satoh Masahiro , Inomata Masafumi , Shiraishi Norio , Kitano Seigo
Published: March 2014

Background and Aim

We have focused on sodium alginate (SA) solution as a potential submucosal injection material for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). A previous SA solution had high viscosity and problems such as difficult handling. After its properties were adjusted, SA solution was examined in vitro and its clinical safety was evaluated.

Methods

With 0.4% sodium hyaluronate (SH) solution as a control, catheter injectability and mucosa‐elevating capacity of 0.3–0.8% SA solutions were evaluated. Next, 0.6% SA solution was used for ESD in 10 patients with early gastric cancer in a prospective clinical study.

Results

Compared with 0.4% SH solution, 0.6% SA solution exhibited no significant difference in catheter injectability but significant superiority in mucosa‐elevating capacity. In the clinical study, no adverse events were observed in any patient.

Conclusion

The safety of 0.6% SA solution as a submucosal injection material was confirmed and it is suggested that its efficacy should be investigated in a larger number of cases.
The role of glutamate in the morphological and physiological development of dendritic spines
Authors: Mattison Hayley A. , Popovkina Dina , Kao Joseph P. Y. , Thompson Scott M.
Published: March 2014

Dendritic spines form the postsynaptic half of the synapse but how they form during CNS development remains uncertain, as are the factors that promote their morphological and physiological maturation. One hypothesis posits that filopodia, long motile dendritic processes that are present prior to spine formation, are the precursors to spines. Another hypothesis posits that they form directly from the dendritic shaft. We used microphotolysis of caged glutamate to stimulate individual dendritic processes in young hippocampal slice cultures while recording their morphological and physiological responses. We observed that brief trains of stimuli delivered to immature processes triggered morphological changes within minutes that resulted, in about half of experiments, in a more mature, spine‐like appearance such as decreased spine neck length and increased spine head width. We also observed that glutamate‐induced inward currents elicited from immature processes were mostly or entirely mediated by NMDARs, whereas responses in those processes with a more mature morphology, regardless of actual developmental age, were mediated by both AMPARs and NMDARs. Consistent with this observation, glutamate‐induced morphological changes were largely, but not entirely, prevented by blocking NMDARs. Our observations thus favor a model in which filopodia in the developing nervous system sense and respond to release of glutamate from developing axons, resulting in physiological and morphological maturation.
Decoding the individual finger movements from single‐trial functional magnetic resonance imaging recordings of human brain activity
Authors: Shen Guohua , Zhang Jing , Wang Mengxing , Lei Du , Yang Guang , Zhang Shanmin , Du Xiaoxia
Published: March 2014

Multivariate pattern classification analysis (MVPA) has been applied to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to decode brain states from spatially distributed activation patterns. Decoding upper limb movements from non‐invasively recorded human brain activation is crucial for implementing a brain–machine interface that directly harnesses an individual's thoughts to control external devices or computers. The aim of this study was to decode the individual finger movements from fMRI single‐trial data. Thirteen healthy human subjects participated in a visually cued delayed finger movement task, and only one slight button press was performed in each trial. Using MVPA, the decoding accuracy (DA) was computed separately for the different motor‐related regions of interest. For the construction of feature vectors, the feature vectors from two successive volumes in the image series for a trial were concatenated. With these spatial–temporal feature vectors, we obtained a 63.1% average DA (84.7% for the best subject) for the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex and a 46.0% average DA (71.0% for the best subject) for the contralateral primary motor cortex; both of these values were significantly above the chance level (20%). In addition, we implemented searchlight MVPA to search for informative regions in an unbiased manner across the whole brain. Furthermore, by applying searchlight MVPA to each volume of a trial, we visually demonstrated the information for decoding, both spatially and temporally. The results suggest that the non‐invasive fMRI technique may provide informative features for decoding individual finger movements and the potential of developing an fMRI‐based brain–machine interface for finger movement.
B‐type natriuretic peptide predicts stroke of presumable cardioembolic origin in addition to coronary artery calcification
Authors: Kara K. , Gronewold J. , Neumann T. , Mahabadi A. A. , Weimar C. , Lehmann N. , Berger K. , Kälsch H. I. M. , Bauer M. , Broecker‐Preuss M. , Möhlenkamp S. , Moebus S. , Jöckel K.‐H. , Erbel R. , Hermann D. M.
Published: March 2014

Background and purpose

B‐type natriuretric peptide (BNP) is a marker of cardiac dysfunction that is released from myocytes in response to ventricular wall stress. Previous studies suggested that BNP predicts stroke events in addition to classical risk factors. It was suggested that the BNP‐associated risk results from coronary atherosclerosis or atrial fibrillation.

Methods

Three thousand six hundred and seventy five subjects from the population‐based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (45–75 years; 47.6% men) without previous stroke, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarcts, open cardiac valve surgery, pacemakers and defibrillators were followed up over 110.1 ± 23.1 months. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to examine BNP as a stroke predictor in addition to vascular risk factors (age, gender, systolic blood pressure, low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, diabetes, smoking), renal insufficiency, atrial fibrillation/known heart failure and coronary artery calcification.

Results

Eighty‐nine incident strokes occurred (80 ischaemic, 9 hemorrhagic). Subjects suffering stroke had significantly higher BNP values at baseline than the remaining subjects [26.3 (Q1; Q3 = 12.9; 51.0) vs. 17.4 (9.4; 31.4); P < 0.001]. In a multivariable regression, log10BNP was an independent stroke predictor [hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–3.41; P = 0.017] in addition to age (1.24 per 5 years, CI 1.04–1.49; P = 0.016), systolic blood pressure (1.25 per 10 mmHg, CI 1.14–1.38; P < 0.001), smoking (2.05, CI 1.24–3.39; P = 0.005), atrial fibrillation/heart failure (2.25, CI 1.05–4.83; P = 0.037) and computed‐tomography‐based log10(coronary artery calcification + 1) (1.47, CI 1.15–1.88; P = 0.002). Log10BNP predicted stroke in men but not women, both in subjects ≤65 and >65 years. In subsequent analyses, BNP discriminated the incidence of cardioembolic stroke (P for trend = 0.001), but not stroke of macroangiopathic (P = 0.555), microangiopathic (P = 0.809) or unknown (P = 0.367) origin.

Conclusions

BNP predicts presumable cardioembolic stroke independent of coronary calcification.
Federalism with Bicameralism
Authors: Grazzini Lisa , Petretto Alessandro
Published: March 2014

We analyse how bicameralism can affect national fiscal policies in a federal country when vertical and horizontal externalities interact. Conditions are provided to show when, at equilibrium, the two chambers agree or disagree on the choice of a national capital tax rate, depending on whether or not the pivotal voter in the two chambers is the same.
Prevalence of human papillomavirus in men who have sex with men in the era of an effective vaccine; a call to act
Authors: Sadlier C , Rowley D , Morley D , Surah S , O'Dea S , Delamere S , O'Leary J , Smyth P , Clarke S , Sheils O , Bergin C
Published: March 2014

Objectives

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated anal cancer is increasing. Men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly those coinfected with HIV, are disproportionately affected. Documenting the molecular epidemiology of HPV infection is important in guiding policy makers in formulating universal and/or targeted vaccine guidelines.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted. HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative MSM > 18 years old were invited to participate. Provider‐performed anal swabs were collected and anal HPV infection was detected using consensus primer solution phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by type‐specific PCR for high‐risk (HR)‐HPV types 16, 18 and 31. Between‐group differences were analysed using χ2 tests and Wilcoxon rank tests.

Results

One hundred and ninety‐four MSM [mean (standard deviation (SD)) age 36 (10) years; 51% HIV‐positive) were recruited. The median number of sexual contacts in the preceding 12 months was 4 (interquartile range 2‐10). HIV‐positive subjects had a mean (SD) CD4 count of 557 (217) cells/μL, and 84% were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Thirty‐one samples were B‐globin negative and thus excluded from further analysis. A total of 113 subjects (69%) had detectable HPV DNA. Sixty‐eight subjects (42%) had an HR‐HPV type detected. HR HPV type 16 was detected in 44 samples (27%), HR‐HPV type 18 in 26 samples (16%) and HR‐HPV type 31 in 14 samples (23%). Twenty‐eight subjects (17%) had more than one type of HR‐HPV type detected. When HPV and HR‐HPV were stratified by age, those > 35 years had a higher prevalence (P = 0.001 and P = 0.028, respectively). HIV‐positive subjects were more likely than HIV‐negative subjects to have any detectable HPV (77% vs. 61%, respectively; P = 0.04), to have HR‐HPV type 18 or 31 (P = 0.05 and P = 0.006, respectively) and to be infected with more than one HR‐HPV type (31% vs. 3%, respectively; P < 0.001). Within the HIV‐positive group, the prevalence of HPV was higher in those not on HAART (P = 0.041), although it did not differ when stratified by CD4 count.

Conclusions

The identified prevalence of anal HPV infection was high. Emerging patterns of HPV‐related disease strengthen the call for universal vaccination of boys and girls with consideration of catch‐up and targeted vaccination of high‐risk groups such as MSM and those with HIV infection.
Assessing the quality and effectiveness of an updated preventive home visit programme for ambulatory frail older Japanese people: research protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kono Ayumi , Izumi Kyoko , Kanaya Yukiko , Tsumura Chieko , Rubenstein Laurence Z.
Published: March 2014

Aim

To describe the programme and research protocol of our updated preventive home visit programme for ambulatory frail older adults in the Japanese Long‐Term Care Insurance system.

Background

Our previous trials have shown that the nature of recommendations during preventive home visits is a key issue. The present programme has updated our previous one by including a unique structured assessment with treatment recommendations tied to an ongoing programme for quality assurance.

Design

A randomized, controlled trial.

Methods

Eligible participants (n = 360) will be randomly assigned to home visit (n = 179) and control (n = 181) groups in three suburban municipalities. Nurses provide recommendations based on structured assessments to participants in visit group every 3 months from September 2011–October 2013. The primary outcomes are parameters related to quality of life, including activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, depression, cognitive capacity, daily‐life satisfaction and self‐efficacy for health promotion; these are collected by mail at baseline, 12 and 24 months. The secondary outcome is long‐term care use over the study period. To evaluate the visit process, we are qualitatively analysing documentation data from the assessment sheet and chart.

Conclusion

This study is collecting and analysing evidence regarding the process and outcomes of preventive home visits based on structured care‐need assessments.

Trial registration: The study protocol was registered for the UMIN clinical registry approved by ICMJE (No. UMIN000006463, October 04, 2011).
Facultative adjustment of pre‐fledging mass recession by nestling chimney swifts Chaetura pelagica
Authors: Goodpaster Sagan , Ritchison Gary
Published: March 2014

In species susceptible to mass‐dependent flight costs, mass recession prior to fledging may ensure that fledglings have appropriate wing loading. Our objectives were to determine if mass recession by chimney swift Chaetura pelagica nestlings is intrinsically controlled or facultatively adjusted by nestlings, and if mass recession is driven by changes in parental (i.e. reduced provisioning rates) or nestling (i.e. reduced begging) behavior. Nestling swifts (n = 50 in 17 broods) were divided into three treatment groups: controls, half‐weighted, or weighted. Half‐weighted and weighted nestlings had 0.6–0.7 or 1.2–1.3‐g lead weights, respectively, glued to body feathers on their backs during the period from 16 to 26 d post‐hatching. Weighted nestlings lost more mass than control and half‐weighted nestlings. After accounting for the added weights, control nestlings also had a higher wing loading than weighted nestlings. Video recordings revealed that provisioning rates of adult swifts did not vary throughout the nestling period, but the percent time nestlings spent begging increased slightly with age. Differences in mass recession among nestlings in different treatment groups resulted in convergence toward similar wing loading values likely optimal for flight efficiency. Mechanism(s) involved in this process remain unclear because provisioning rates were similar (from day 12 to 26 post‐hatching) whereas percent begging time by nestlings tended to increase with nestling age. However, weighted nestlings may have lost more mass than control nestlings by soliciting less food from adults than siblings, being more active, losing more water due to tissue maturation, or through some combination of two or more of these factors.
Dermatosis in children with oedematous malnutrition (Kwashiorkor): a review of the literature
Authors: Heilskov S. , Rytter M.J.H. , Vestergaard C. , Briend A. , Babirekere E. , Deleuran M.S.
Published: March 2014

Children with oedematous malnutrition, known as kwashiorkor, may develop a characteristic skin lesion, named ‘Dermatosis of Kwashiorkor’ (DoK). Only a few studies have been concerned with this condition, and the reason for the development of DoK remains unexplained. This study review the existing studies concerning DoK, including its clinical manifestations, histopathology, suggested pathophysiology, current treatment and prognosis for children of the age of 6 months to 5 years. Standardized clinical studies are needed to further understand the implications of DoK. Such studies would suffer from the lack of consistency concerning the terminology and scoring of the lesions in DoK. We therefore stress the need for a standardized scoring of the degree of DoK. This would facilitate valid and comparable studies and the development of better treatment for this vulnerable group of patients.
Characterization of γδT cells in naïve and HIV‐infected chimpanzees and their responses to T‐cell activators in vitro
Authors: Hodara Vida L. , Parodi Laura M. , Chavez Deborah , Smith Lisa M. , Lanford Robert , Giavedoni Luis D.
Published: March 2014

Background

γδT cells are effector cells that eliminate cancer and virus‐infected cells. Chimpanzees are an endangered species that can naturally and experimentally be infected with SIV and HIV, respectively, but no information about the functionality of γδT cells during chronic lentiviral infection is currently available.

Methods

Healthy and HIV‐infected chimpanzee γδT cells were characterized by flow cytometry. γδT subsets were studied after stimulation with T‐cell activators, and the release of cytokines was analyzed by Luminex assay.

Results

γδT‐cell subsets, Vδ1 and Vδ2Vγ9, showed different patterns in the expression of CD4, CD195, CD159a, and CD159c. Stimulation of γδT cells resulted in increased levels of CD4 and HLA‐DR, which is more pronounced in Vδ1 T cells. Distinct cytokine patterns were found between healthy and HIV‐infected chimpanzees.

Conclusions

Analyses of major chimpanzee γδT subsets show similarities to human γδT cells and suggest different functionality and roles in their immune response against HIV infection.