bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Confocal Imaging of Trans‐epithelial Trafficking by Immune and Umbilical Cord Stem Cells in the Neonatal Porcine Intestine
Authors: Miller D. , Packthongsuk K. , Rathbun T. , Boyle D. , Troyer D. , Davis D. L.
Published: November 2012

Maternal colostral leucocytes (CL) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) enter the neonatal circulation after ingestion in pigs and cattle. Porcine umbilical cord matrix stem cells (PUCs) are relatively non‐immunogenic after initial allogeneic transplantation. Using intestinal explant cultures incubated with labelled cells and confocal microscopy, we demonstrated trans‐epithelial trafficking of exogenous CL, PBMC and PUCs below the luminal surface after 72 h of culture. We orally administered PBMC and PUCs to pre‐colostral neonatal pigs and tracked their location 8 or 24 h later. Both PBMC and PUCs were found in the intestinal wall of all samples. Exposure to 25% of acellular colostrum had no detected effect on trafficking. Labelled PUCs and PBMC were detected on the surface of the epithelium and in the lamina propria 8 h post‐treatment and PBMC were also in the superficial submucosa. At 24 h, PUCs and PBMC were observed on the surface of the epithelium, in the lamina propria, superficial submucosa and deep submucosa. Our findings show the potential of PUCs for allogeneic engraftment in the neonatal intestine and may lead to cell‐based delivery of therapeutics.
Influence of phonotactic probability/neighbourhood density on lexical learning in late talkers
Authors: MacRoy‐Higgins Michelle , Schwartz Richard G. , Shafer Valerie L. , Marton Klara
Published: November 2012

Background

Toddlers who are late talkers demonstrate delays in phonological and lexical skills. However, the influence of phonological factors on lexical acquisition in toddlers who are late talkers has not been examined directly.

Aims

To examine the influence of phonotactic probability/neighbourhood density on word learning in toddlers who were late talkers using comprehension, production and word recognition tasks.

Methods & Procedures

Two‐year‐olds who were late talkers (n = 12) and typically developing toddlers (n = 12) were exposed to 12 novel pseudo‐words for unfamiliar objects in ten training sessions. Pseudo‐words contained high or low phonotactic probability English sound sequences. The toddlers’ comprehension, speech production and detection of mispronunciation of the newly learned words were examined using a preferential looking paradigm.

Outcomes & Results

Late talkers showed poorer performance than toddlers with typical language development in all three tasks: comprehension, production and detection of mispronunciations. The toddlers with typical language development showed better speech production and more sensitivity to mispronunciations for high than low phonotactic probability/neighbourhood density sequences. Phonotactic probability/neighbourhood density did not influence the late talkers’ speech production or sensitivity to mispronunciations; they performed similarly for pseudo‐words with high and low phonotactic probability/neighbourhood density sound sequences.

Conclusions & Implications

The results indicate that some late talkers do not recognize statistical properties of their language, which may contribute to their slower lexical learning.
PAY SECRECY AND EFFORT PROVISION
Authors: NOSENZO DANIELE
Published: November 2012

Pay secrecy is often justified on the ground of concerns about the detrimental consequences of intra‐firm pay comparisons for work morale and performance. Surprisingly, however, there is only limited empirical evidence that the availability of pay comparison information is detrimental for effort provision. In this paper, I study pay comparison effects in a gift‐exchange game laboratory experiment where an employer is matched with two symmetric employees. I compare effort choices made by employees in a “pay secrecy” treatment and in two “public wages” treatments where employees are informed of the wage paid to the co‐worker. In one “public wages” treatment the employer can choose both wages she pays to the employees, while in the other treatment the wage paid to one employee is regulated exogenously. I show that pay disclosure can be detrimental for effort provision if employees are treated unequally. (JEL A13, C92, J31)
The Institution ofHukou‐based Social Exclusion: A Unique Institution Reshaping the Characteristics of Contemporary UrbanChina
Authors: Zhang Mingqiong , Zhu Cherrie Jiuhua , Nyland Chris
Published: November 2012

This conceptual article contributes to institutional analysis and the neo‐institutional theory literature by identifying and analysing the linked rules, values, norms and patterned practices that surround and structure the way rural migrant workers are treated in urban areas ofChina in terms of Scott's integrated model of institutions. It argues that thesehukou‐based rules, values, norms and patterned practices that discriminate against rural migrants can be considered to be a unique institution — the institution ofhukou‐based social exclusion (IHSE).IHSEhas dominatedChinese urban society for 3 decades and significantly shaped the lives of millions of rural migrant workers, the character of contemporaryChina and the nature of managerial practices amongChinese firms. This is the first article to examine the social exclusion of rural workers from the perspective of neo‐institutionalism, providing the first systematic analysis of the regulative, normative and cognitive dimensions that together socially exclude migrants in urban areas ofChina. It presents a holistic picture of the newly identified institution that offers new insights intoChina's urban society and management, and a new starting point for research.
Specifying the Arena of Possibilities: Post‐structuralist Narrative Analysis and theEuropean Commission's Legitimation Strategies
Authors: Biegoń Dominika
Published: November 2012

Throughout its history, the legitimacy of theEuropeanUnion has constantly been challenged. Eroding levels of political support have not left political elites unaffected. This article focuses on legitimation strategies formulated by theCommission between 1973 and 1994 and applies a post‐structuralist framework to account for the development of legitimation strategies over time. The formulation of legitimation strategies becomes possible within distinct discourses while other plans of action to generate political support remain unthinkable. Narrative analysis is proposed as a useful methodological tool to analyze structures of meaning that restrain theCommission in its choice of legitimation strategies.
Improving Compliance with European Union Law via Agencies: The Case of the European Railway Agency
Authors: Versluis Esther , Tarr Erika
Published: November 2012

European Union agencies are increasingly used to stimulate domestic compliance with EU law, without concrete evidence for whether and how these bodies actually realize this. Through in‐depth analysis of the European Railway Agency, this article enhances our empirical understanding of the working and functioning of EU agencies, and advances our thinking about compliance in international settings. It leads us to the insight that – in order to be capable of stimulating domestic compliance – agencies should be flexible to resort to a mix of compliance strategies in order to be able to cope with the varying domestic compliance situations.
Integrating frugivory and animal movement: a review of the evidence and implications for scaling seed dispersal
Authors: Côrtes Marina Corrêa , Uriarte María
Published: November 2012

General principles about the consequences of seed dispersal by animals for the structure and dynamics of plant populations and communities remain elusive. This is in part because seed deposition patterns emerge from interactions between frugivore behaviour and the distribution of food resources, both of which can vary over space and time. Here we advocate a frugivore‐centred, process‐based, synthetic approach to seed dispersal research that integrates seed dispersal ecology and animal movement across multiple spatio‐temporal scales. To guide this synthesis, we survey existing literature using paradigms from seed dispersal and animal movement. Specifically, studies are discussed with respect to five criteria: selection of focal organisms (animal or plant); measurement of animal movement; characterization of seed shadow; animal, plant and environmental factors included in the study; and scales of the study. Most studies focused on either frugivores or plants and characterized seed shadows directly by combining gut retention time with animal movement data or indirectly by conducting maternity analysis of seeds. Although organismal traits and environmental factors were often measured, they were seldom used to characterize seed shadows. Multi‐scale analyses were rare, with seed shadows mostly characterized at fine spatial scales, over single fruiting seasons, and for individual dispersers. Novel animal‐ and seed‐tracking technologies, remote environmental monitoring tools, and advances in analytical methods can enable effective implementation of a hierarchical mechanistic approach to the study of seed dispersal. This kind of mechanistic approach will provide novel insights regarding the complex interplay between the factors that modulate animal behaviour and subsequently influence seed dispersal patterns across spatial and temporal scales.
The effectiveness of a soil bioengineering solution for river bank stabilisation during flood and drought conditions: two case studies from East Anglia
Authors: Anstead Lenka , Boar Rosalind R , Tovey N Keith
Published: November 2012

The increasing frequency of extreme flow events as a consequence of climate change could potentially impact the stability of lowland clay streams in East Anglia. Some of these rivers act as conveyors of additional water that is pumped downstream to satisfy the growing demand for water in this dry region. To accommodate the additional flows, the river channels have been deepened and straightened and the combined effect is that riverbanks are becoming more unstable. Willow spiling, a bioengineering stabilisation measure, could be an effective and sustainable mitigation option for managing riverbank erosion. There is a growing interest in understanding the performance of such interventions, particularly under changing climatic conditions. Two willow spiling projects were implemented in March 2009 and studied for their biological and geomorphological function during the first year after installation. This study shows that droughts and floods can impact the effectiveness of these measures, but through careful design, implementation and post‐project monitoring this method can be effective in withstanding such stresses and protecting riverbanks.
Textiles screen‐printed with photochromic ethyl cellulose–spirooxazine composite nanoparticles
Authors: Feczkó Tivadar , Samu Krisztián , Wenzel Klára , Neral Branko , Voncina Bojana
Published: November 2012

Photochromic compounds change colour on exposure to light, while the reversion may be attributable either to radiation or may be thermal. The use of photochromism on fabrics can provide new opportunities to develop smart textiles; for example, sensors and active protective clothes. Ethyl cellulose‐1,3‐dihydro‐1,3,3,4,5 (and 1,3,3,5,6) ‐pentamethyl‐spiro‐[2H‐indole‐2,3′‐(3H)naphtha(2,1‐b)(1,4)oxazine] composites were prepared by an oil‐in‐water emulsion, solvent evaporation method in order to form easily suspendable and fatigue‐resistant photochromic nanoparticles in screen‐printing paste. Their size was well below 1 μm and did not change substantially over a wide range of dye concentrations. After screen‐printing, a homogenous photochromic layer was built on a cotton substrate surface, which represented substantial blue colour development in CIELab colour space measurements because of ultraviolet light, even at a dye concentration of 0.045% w/w. The addition of a photodegradation inhibitor, Tinuvin 144, further increased the coloration of the printed fabric.
Lethal Effects of Water Quality on Threatened California Salamanders but Not on Co‐Occurring Hybrid Salamanders
Authors: RYAN MAUREEN E. , JOHNSON JARRETT R. , FITZPATRICK BENJAMIN M. , LOWENSTINE LINDA J. , PICCO ANGELA M. , SHAFFER H. BRADLEY
Published: November 2012

Biological invasions and habitat alteration are often detrimental to native species, but their interactions are difficult to predict. Interbreeding between native and introduced species generates novel genotypes and phenotypes, and human land use alters habitat structure and chemistry. Both invasions and habitat alteration create new biological challenges and opportunities. In the intensively farmed Salinas Valley, California (U.S.A.), threatened California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) have been replaced by hybrids between California tiger salamander and introduced barred tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium). We conducted an enclosure experiment to examine the effects habitat modification and relative frequency of hybrid and native California tiger salamanders have on recruitment of salamanders and their prey, Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris regilla). We tested whether recruitment differed among genetic classes of tiger salamanders (hybrid or native) and pond hydroperiod (seasonal or perennial). Roughly 6 weeks into the experiment, 70% (of 378 total) of salamander larvae died in 4 out of 6 ponds. Native salamanders survived (n = 12) in these ponds only if they had metamorphosed prior to the die‐offs. During die‐offs, all larvae of native salamanders died, whereas 56% of hybrid larvae died. We necropsied native and hybrid salamanders, tested water quality, and queried the California Department of Pesticide Regulation database to investigate possible causes of the die‐offs. Salamander die‐offs, changes in the abundance of other community members (invertebrates, algae, and cyanobacteria), shifts in salamander sex ratio, and patterns of pesticide application in adjacent fields suggest that pesticide use may have contributed to die‐offs. That all survivors were hybrids suggests that environmental stress may promote rapid displacement of native genotypes.

Efectos Letales de la Calidad del Agua sobre Salamandras de California Amenazadas pero no sobre Salamandras Híbridas Concurrentes
The Wicked Problem of China's Disappearing Coral Reefs
Authors: HUGHES TERRY P. , HUANG HUI , YOUNG MATTHEW A. L.
Published: November 2012

We examined the development of coral reef science and the policies, institutions, and governance frameworks for management of coral reefs in China in order to highlight the wicked problem of preserving reefs while simultaneously promoting human development and nation building. China and other sovereign states in the region are experiencing unprecedented economic expansion, rapid population growth, mass migration, widespread coastal development, and loss of habitat. We analyzed a large, fragmented literature on the condition of coral reefs in China and the disputed territories of the South China Sea. We found that coral abundance has declined by at least 80% over the past 30 years on coastal fringing reefs along the Chinese mainland and adjoining Hainan Island. On offshore atolls and archipelagos claimed by 6 countries in the South China Sea, coral cover has declined from an average of >60% to around 20% within the past 10–15 years. Climate change has affected these reefs far less than coastal development, pollution, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices. Ironically, these widespread declines in the condition of reefs are unfolding as China's research and reef‐management capacity are rapidly expanding. Before the loss of corals becomes irreversible, governance of China's coastal reefs could be improved by increasing public awareness of declining ecosystem services, by providing financial support for training of reef scientists and managers, by improving monitoring of coral reef dynamics and condition to better inform policy development, and by enforcing existing regulations that could protect coral reefs. In the South China Sea, changes in policy and legal frameworks, refinement of governance structures, and cooperation among neighboring countries are urgently needed to develop cooperative management of contested offshore reefs.

El Problema Malvado de la Desaparición de los Arrecifes de Coral en China
Who Wants a Deliberative Public Sphere?1
Authors: Evans Michael S.
Published: November 2012

Democratic theorists and social scientists suggest that a deliberative public sphere would be good for democracy by maximizing emancipatory possibilities and providing broad legitimacy to political decision making. But do ordinary Americans actually want a deliberative public sphere? I examine this question in the context of four contentious “religion and science” debates. Through a multidimensional evaluation exercise with 62 ordinary respondents, I find that evaluation of public representatives in these debates tends to favor open‐mindedness and ongoing debate. Further, respondents explicitly discount elected representatives who participate in public debate precisely because they are seen as violating deliberative norms through their affiliation with electoral politics. Respondents want a deliberative public sphere. However, this desire reflects an understanding of the public sphere and institutional politics as disconnected arenas with incompatible rules and objectives, raising multiple questions for democratic theory and for political sociology.
Interaction Ritual Chains and Religious Participation1
Authors: Wollschleger Jason
Published: November 2012

This article explores congregational‐level influences on religious participation by adding a distinctively sociological approach to the debate through the application of Collins’s interaction ritual chain theory—a reinterpretation and integration of Durkheim and Goffman—at a congregational level of analysis. Arguing that the congregational worship service can be understood as an interaction ritual, this article offers an initial exploration of the role of effective ritual in increasing religious participation rates. Using the National Congregation Study (1998) data set, the findings from the multiple regression analysis offer support for both interaction ritual chains and religious economies predictors on a congregational attendance ratio.
100‐Percenting It: Videogame Play Through the Eyes of Devoted Gamers1
Authors: Khanolkar Preeti R. , McLean Paul D.
Published: November 2012

We describe salient aspects of the idioculture of videogame play, based on interviews conducted with 20 devoted videogame players and several hours of observation of small‐group game play. We explore the meaningfulness of videogame play for participants, specifically through an examination of the social quality of play, interaction during play, the enactment of status differences in and through play, and players’ desire to play games perfectly and/or completely. We elicit players’ comments about acceptable and unacceptable forms of cheating, and we explore their management of the stigma attached to playing violent games and playing excessively. We conclude by highlighting game players’ penchant for finding moral content in their favorite games and game characters.
Going Against the Flow: A Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Cognitive Skills and Gender Beliefs on Occupational Aspirations and Outcomes1
Authors: Baird Chardie L.
Published: November 2012

Occupational sex segregation persists in part due to cultural beliefs in the existence of gender differences in skills. This article explores potential resistance to the gender‐typical aspirations and outcomes that re‐create occupational sex segregation: cognitive skills in gender‐atypical areas (i.e., math skills for women and verbal skills for men) and beliefs about women’s prioritization of family over paid work. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort, I find that individuals with skills in areas considered gender atypical have less traditional occupational aspirations and outcomes than their otherwise‐similar counterparts. This process varies by gender, however. The results reflect the differential valuation of math and verbal skills. I conclude that programs designed to encourage women to pursue gender‐atypical occupations that align with their gender‐atypical skills are focusing on the least resistant group.
The State of Research in Latino Academic Attainment
Authors: Ayala María Isabel
Published: November 2012

In this essay, I present an interdisciplinary examination of the state of research in Latino education, addressing not only the cultural forces influencing Latinos’ educational attainment, but also the structural conditions faced by them—as a racialized minority group—throughout their schooling and that have a cumulative effect on their academic attainment. Overall, I suggest that by engaging in a critical review of the literature on Latinos’ educational attainment, the reader will acknowledge that the racially driven hierarchical structural arrangements are highly responsible for the patterns observed.
A prospective, non comparative, multicenter study to investigate the effect of cadexomer iodine on bioburden load and other wound characteristics in diabetic foot ulcers
Authors: Schwartz Jamie A , Lantis John C , Gendics Cynthia , Fuller Amy M , Payne Wyatt , Ochs Diane
Published: November 2012

Few studies regarding wound treatment with topical antimicrobials evaluate change in the bacterial bioburden of the wound with treatment. This study sought out to determine the in vivo effect of cadexomer iodine antibacterial dressing on diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) that were infected or achieved a critical level of colonisation, looking specifically at wound progression in relation to bioburden. Fifteen patients corresponding to 16 total DFUs met criteria of displaying clinical signs of infection or critical colonisation and were suitable for a topical antibacterial dressing. They underwent weekly treatment for 6 weeks. Cultures were taken at week 0, 3 and 6 as appropriate. At week 6 median log10 bacterial count reduction of 1.0 was observed from baseline (p = 0·025). At week 3‐ a median log10 bacterial count reduction of 0.3 was observed from baseline (p = 0·049). Over the study period there was a 53.6% median reduction of the wound surface area. There were no patients that completely healed their ulcer over the 6 week study period. There was a statistically significant median reduction in the bacterial load over the 6 week period (p = 0·025) as well as 3 weeks (p = 0·049). This was accompanied by a median reduction of 53.6% in ulcer surface area and 50% in ulcer depth from baseline to final.
Effects of potassium apigenin and verbena extract on the wound healing process of SKH‐1 mouse skin
Authors: Lopez‐Jornet Pia , Camacho‐Alonso Fabio , Gómez‐Garcia Francisco , Molina Miñano Francisco , Cañas Xabier , Serafín Ana , Castillo Julian , Vicente‐Ortega Vicente
Published: November 2012

Tissue repair is a complex process, which may be favoured or inhibited by different factors. Potassium apigenin (AP) and other flavonoids present in verbena extract (PLX®) possess powerful anti‐inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of topical treatment with AP and PLX gels on wounds inflicted on SKH‐1/CRL mice. Forty‐eight SKH‐1 mice were used (4 groups with 12 animals each), which were subjected to wound excision with a round scalpel, 4 mm in diameter, on the dorsal skin. The animals were divided into four groups: Group I received topical applications of apigenin gel; Group II received PLX gel; Group III received vehicle gel; Group IV acted as control. Wound contraction, reepithelialisation, inflammation and neovascularisation (by means of immunohistochemical staining with anti‐laminin) were recorded at study periods established at 2, 7 and 14 days. Reepithelialisation was faster in Groups I and II at 7 days (56·25% grade 3 and 43·75% grade 4) compared with the other groups. The degree of inflammation showed improvement with a tendency towards statistical significance in Groups I and II at 2 and 7 days. Anti‐laminin staining was more intense in the group treated with PLX at the 2‐ and 7‐day periods. Topical treatment with PLX gel improved the degree of reepithelialisation and inflammation, and favoured neo‐vascularisation of the wounds at 2 and 7 days following surgery.
Evaluation of Urinary Catheters Coated with Sustained‐Release Varnish of Chlorhexidine in Mitigating Biofilm Formation on Urinary Catheters in Dogs
Authors: Segev G. , Bankirer T. , Steinberg D. , Duvdevani M. , Shapur N.K. , Friedman M. , Lavy E.
Published: November 2012

Background

Biofilm formation occurs commonly on urinary catheters.

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of urinary catheters coated with sustained‐release varnish of chlorhexidine in decreasing catheter‐associated biofilm formation in dogs.

Animals

Thirty client‐owned dogs.

Methods

Prospective study. Thirteen dogs were catheterized with urinary catheters coated with sustained‐release varnish of chlorhexidine (study group), and 13 dogs were catheterized with an untreated urinary catheter (control group). Presence and intensity of biofilm formation on the urinary catheters were assessed and compared between the groups by evaluating colony‐forming units (CFU) of biofilm bacteria, and semiquantitatively, using confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy.

Results

None of the dogs experienced adverse effects associated with the presence of the urinary catheters. Median CFU count of biofilm bacteria at all portions of the urinary catheter was significantly (P < .001) lower in the study compared with the control group. The degree of biofilm formation on the urinary catheters, as evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy, was significantly lower in the study compared with the control group. Electron microscopy examination identified crystals on some of the urinary catheters. The proportion of catheters on which crystals were observed was significantly lower on the distal part of the urinary catheter in the study group compared with the control group (16.7% versus 66.7%, respectively; P = .04).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Chlorhexidine sustained‐release varnish‐coated urinary catheters effectively decrease urinary catheter‐associated biofilm formation in dogs.
Dynamic epiglottic retroversion as a cause of abnormal inspiratory noise in six adult horses
Authors: Terrón‐Canedo N. , Franklin S.
Published: November 2012

This case report describes the endoscopic findings and outcome in 6 horses diagnosed with dynamic epiglottic retroversion (ER) during exercise. Horses included 2 showjumpers, one eventer, one pleasure riding horse and 2 Thoroughbred racehorses. All were adults (age range: 4–10 years). Dorsal angulation of the epiglottis was identified at rest in one horse. However, resting endoscopy was unremarkable in the remaining 5 horses. Exercising endoscopy was performed during high‐speed treadmill exercise in 3 horses and during ridden exercise in the other 3. IntermittentERoccurred during inspiration in all horses and the frequency increased with increasing speed. In 2 horses the epiglottis retroverted beyond therima glottidis. All horses made an abnormal respiratory noise described as a ‘grunt’ when retroversion of the epiglottis occurred. Poll flexion was found to be an exacerbating factor in the nonracehorses. Two horses continued in work but abnormal inspiratory noise persisted. Surgical treatment, in the form of subepiglottic resection, was attempted in one horse. However, it never raced again after the procedure. Of the remaining horses, 2 were retired and the third was subjected to euthanasia.
Identification of distinct body mass index trajectories in Australian children
Authors: Magee C. A. , Caputi P. , Iverson D. C.
Published: November 2012

What is already known about this subject

Recent studies have identified distinct trajectories of obesity development in children, but more research is required to further explore these trajectories.

Several socio‐demographic variables such as parental education and obesity are associated with these trajectories.

What this study adds

This study further demonstrates that there are distinct trajectories of body mass index in children.

The use of raw body mass index values is more sensitive to changes in body composition compared with body mass index categories (e.g. lean vs. overweight). Hence the present results provide a more detailed insight into development patterns of obesity.

The socio‐demographic predictors of the trajectories offer potential avenues for future obesity interventions.

Background

A limited number of studies have demonstrated that there may be distinct developmental trajectories of obesity during childhood.

Objective

To identify distinct trajectories of body mass index (BMI) in a large sample of Australian children.

Methods

Participants included 4601 children aged 4–5 years at baseline, who were followed up at ages 6–7 years, 8–9 years and 10–11 years. Height and weight were measured at each of these time points, and used to calculate BMI. Growth Mixture Modelling was used to identify the presence of distinct BMI trajectories.

Results

Four distinct trajectories were identified (i) High Risk Overweight; (ii) Early Onset Overweight; (iii) Later Onset Overweight and (iv) Healthy Weight. Further analyses indicated that factors such as parental overweight, parent education, parent smoking and child birth weight were significant predictors of these trajectories.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that different patterns of BMI development exist in children, which may require tailored interventions.
Strengthening of Ti3(Si,Al)C2 by Doping with Tungsten
Authors: Zheng Liya Y. , Wang Jingyang Y. , Chen Jixin X. , Zhou Yanchun C.
Published: November 2012

Improving the high‐temperature strength and stiffness of Ti3SiC2 is the task of many investigations. However, methods for high‐temperature strengthening have not been established although various ways are applicable to enhance the room‐temperature mechanical properties of Ti3SiC2. In this work, we report that significant strengthening was realized at both room and high temperatures by incorporating a small amount of W into Ti3(Si, Al)C2. The onsite temperature for the rapid degradation of stiffness and strength moved more than 150°C upward to over 1200°C. The flexural strength of 5 at.% W‐doped Ti3(Si, Al)C2 is 632.9 MPa at RT and 285 MPa at 1200°C, being 176% and 170% of those for baseline material, respectively.
Colossal Permittivity in Microwave‐Sintered Barium Titanate and Effect of Annealing on Dielectric Properties
Authors: Han Hyuksu , Ghosh Dipankar , Jones Jacob L. , Nino Juan C.
Published: November 2012

Colossal permittivity (ε′ = 301,484 at room temperature and 1 kHz) of barium titanate was induced in ceramics synthesized using the microwave sintering method. Three different sintering processes (conventional, spark plasma, and microwave) were performed to better understand colossal permittivity in sintered barium titanate. The dielectric permittivity measurements revealed that the appearance of colossal permittivity has strong dependence on the sintering temperature and atmosphere, and less on the grain size of the sintered ceramics. However, the as‐sintered barium titanate samples produced by microwave sintering show high dielectric loss (tanδ > 1) consistent with oxygen reduction during the microwave sintering process and consequent accumulation of oxygen vacancies and associated charge carriers at the grain boundary. Since the highly conductive state of as‐sintered ceramics precludes their use in dielectric applications, thermal annealing at different conditions was performed to recover insulating characteristics. Microwave‐sintered barium titanate with post annealing process (950°C for 12 h in air) showed low dielectric loss (tanδ = 0.045) at room temperature and 1 kHz, while still showing a much higher permittivity (ε′ = 36,055) than conventionally sintered barium titanate (ε′ = 3500).
An Algorithm to Measure Beat‐to‐Beat Cycle Lengths for Assessment of Atrial Electrogram Rate and Regularity During Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: LEE SEUNGYUP , RYU KYUNGMOO , WALDO ALBERT L. , KHRESTIAN CELEEN M. , DURAND DOMINIQUE M. , SAHADEVAN JAYAKUMAR
Published: November 2012

AF Cycle Length Detection Analysis. Introduction: Experimental models have demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) may be due to one or more rapid drivers (source) producing AF. These drivers may be characterized by rapid and regular cycle lengths (CLs), producing fibrillatory conduction to the rest of the atria. The ability to reliably identify such drivers would be invaluable. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a CL variability detection (CLVD) analysis capable of accurately determining beat‐to‐beat CLs of atrial electrograms (AEGs) during AF, and then to compare this analysis with dominant frequency (DF) analysis.

Methods and Results:
We analyzed 6 episodes of AF in 6 dogs (sterile pericarditis model) due either to a single, stable left atrial reentrant circuit, or unstable reentrant circuits causing fibrillatory conduction to the rest of the atria. During AF, AEGs were recorded simultaneously from 400 to 420 electrodes on both atria. CLs from over 20,000 AEGs were manually measured, and compared to CLs detected using both the CLVD and DF analyses. There was significant correlation between (1) CLs measured manually and the CLVD analysis (mean CL: correlation coefficient [CC]= 0.96, standard deviation [SD]: CC = 0.89); and (2) mean CL measured manually and the DF analysis (CC = 0.84). However, there was poor correlation between SD of CLs measured manually and the organization index (OI) by DF analysis (CC =–0.59).

Conclusion:
The CLVD analysis was validated as being accurate for detecting both rate and degree of regularity of AEGs during AF, and more accurate than DF analysis. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 199‐206, February 2013)
Noninvasive Electrocardiomapping Facilitates Previously Failed Ablation of Right Appendage Diverticulum Associated Life‐Threatening Accessory Pathway
Authors: HOCINI MÉLÈZE , SHAH ASHOK J. , COCHET HUBERT , MAURY PHILIPPE , DENIS ARNAUD , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL
Published: November 2012

Electrocardiomapping in Right Atrial Diverticulum and Accessory Pathway

Combination of structural (CT‐scan) and functional (3D electrocardiomapping) imaging methods helped successfully accomplish ablation of a life‐threatening manifest accessory pathway in association with a complex right atrial anomaly after previous unsuccessful attempts of endo‐epicardial ablation guided by the invasive electroanatomic system in an adolescent female. Such a system has a potential to facilitate the ablation procedure and impact its outcome through accurate localization of the arrhythmogenic substrate. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 583–585, May 2013)
Ultrasound‐Assisted Infrared Drying of Pear Slices: Textural Issues
Authors: Dujmić Filip , Brnčić Mladen , Karlović Sven , Bosiljkov Tomislav , Ježek Damir , Tripalo Branko , Mofardin Irena
Published: November 2012

The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of high‐intensity ultrasound as pretreatment on the duration of drying and texture characteristics of infrared‐dried pear slices using different amplitudes. Ultrasound device with a power capacity of 400 W, working at a frequency of 24 kHz and amplitudes of 25, 50, 75 and 100%, was used for pretreatment. Drying was performed in an infrared dryer at 70C. The results obtained showed how application of ultrasound with various amplitudes influenced the shortening of the drying time and allows the elimination of more water from the pear slices. The results showed that hardness of samples gradually decreased (from untreated sample [104.72 N], 50% of amplitude [93.461 N] to 100% amplitude [62.206 N]) with an increase in ultrasound intensity and that all process parameters had significant influence on the textural properties of pear slices (hardness, elasticity and work required for chewing).

Practical Applications

Drying in food technology is usually based on the use of conventional methods such as heat exchange by conduction or convection, which may have negative effects on textural issues of final products. In order to achieve final products of high quality, new and sophisticated techniques for food treatment are required. One of such methods is the power ultrasound‐aided drying. This method is proven efficient for preserving main characteristics and quality of products, and additionally leads to shortened drying time.
Uncertainty of design water levels due to combined bed form and vegetation roughness in the Dutch River Waal
Authors: Warmink J.J. , Straatsma M.W. , Huthoff F. , Booij M.J. , Hulscher S.J.M.H.
Published: November 2012

Two‐dimensional hydrodynamic models are frequently used for flood protection studies to compute inundation patterns and to estimate potential economic damage. However, the modelling of river processes involves numerous uncertainties. Knowledge of the type and magnitude of uncertainties is crucial for a meaningful interpretation of the model outcomes and its usefulness in decision making. The objective of this study was to quantify the uncertainty in the design water levels due to uncertain bed form and vegetation roughness for the Dutch River Waal. We quantified and combined these sources of uncertainty by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. The results showed that the 95% confidence interval of the design water levels is 0.49 m, 0.34 m and 0.12 m for bed form, vegetation classification and vegetation roughness parameterisation, respectively, and approximately 0.68 m for the combined roughness. These uncertainties are significant in view of Dutch river management practice.
Alexithymic and somatisation scores in patients with temporomandibular pain disorder correlate with deficits in facial emotion recognition
Authors: Haas J. , Eichhammer P. , Traue H. C. , Hoffmann H. , Behr M. , Crönlein T. , Pieh C. , Busch V.
Published: November 2012

Current studies suggest dysfunctional emotional processing as a key factor in the aetiology of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Investigating facial emotion recognition (FER) may offer an elegant and reliable way to study emotional processing in patients with TMD. Twenty patients with TMD and the same number of age‐, sex‐ and education‐matched controls were measured with the Facially Expressed Emotion Labelling (FEEL) test, the 26‐item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐26), the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms (SOMS‐2a), the German Pain Questionnaire and the 21‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). The patients had significantly lower Total FEEL Scores (P = 0·021) as compared to the controls, indicating a lower accuracy of FER. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate significant group differences with respect to the following issues: patients were more alexithymic (P = 0·006), stated more somatoform symptoms (P < 0·004) and had higher depressive scores in the HAMD (P < 0·003). The factors alexithymia and somatisation could explain 31% (adjusted 27%) of the variance of the FEEL Scores in the sample. The estimation of the standardised regression coefficients suggests an equivalent influence of TAS‐26 and SOMS‐2a on the FEEL Scores, whereas ‘group’ (patients versus healthy controls) and depressive symptoms did not contribute significantly to the model. Our findings highlight FER deficits in patients with TMD, which are partially explained by concomitant alexithymia and somatisation. As suggested previously, impaired FER in patients with TMD may further point to probable aetiological proximities between TMD and somatoform disorders.
Consumption of bee pollen affects rat ovarian functions
Authors: Kolesarova A. , Bakova Z. , Capcarova M. , Galik B. , Juracek M. , Simko M. , Toman R. , Sirotkin A. V.
Published: November 2012

The aim of this study was to examine possible effects of bee pollen added to the feed mixture (FM) on rat ovarian functions (secretion activity and apoptosis). We evaluated the bee pollen effect on the release of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) and steroid hormones (progesterone and estradiol), as well as on the expression of markers of apoptosis (Bcl‐2, Bax and caspase‐3) in rat ovarian fragments. Female rats (n = 15) were fed during 90 days by FM without or with rape seed bee pollen in dose either 3 kg/1000 kg FM or 5 kg/1000 kg FM. Fragments of ovaries isolated from rats of each group (totally 72 pieces) were incubated for 24 h. Hormonal secretion into the culture medium was detected by RIA. The markers of apoptosis were evaluated by Western blotting. It was observed that IGF‐I release by rat ovarian fragments was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased; on the other hand, progesterone and estradiol secretion was increased after bee pollen treatment at dose 5 kg/1000 kg FM but not at 3 kg/1000 FM. Accumulation of Bcl‐2 was increased by bee pollen added at 3 kg/1000 kg FM, but not at higher dose. Accumulation of Bax was increased in ovaries of rats fed by bee pollen at doses either 3 or 5 kg/1000 kg FM, whilst accumulation of caspase‐3 increased after feeding with bee pollen at dose 5 kg/1000 kg FM, but not at 3 kg/1000 kg FM. Our results contribute to new insights regarding the effect of bee pollen on both secretion activity (release of growth factor IGF‐I and steroid hormones progesterone and estradiol) and apoptosis (anti‐ and pro‐apoptotic markers Bcl‐2, Bax and caspase‐3). Bee pollen is shown to be a potent regulator of rat ovarian functions.
The planetesimal bow shock model for chondrule formation: A more quantitative assessment of the standard (fixed Jupiter) case
Authors: HOOD Lon L. , WEIDENSCHILLING Stuart J.
Published: November 2012

Abstract– One transient heating mechanism that can potentially explain the formation of most meteoritic chondrules 1–3 Myr after CAIs is shock waves produced by planetary embryos perturbed into eccentric orbits via resonances with Jupiter following its formation. The mechanism includes both bow shocks upstream of resonant bodies and impact vapor plume shocks produced by high‐velocity collisions of the embryos with small nonresonant planetesimals. Here, we investigate the efficiency of both shock processes using an improved planetesimal accretion and orbital evolution code together with previous simulations of vapor plume expansion in the nebula. Only the standard version of the model (with Jupiter assumed to have its present semimajor axis and eccentricity) is considered. After several hundred thousand years of integration time, about 4–5% of remaining embryos have eccentricities greater than about 0.33 and shock velocities at 3 AU exceeding 6 km s−1, currently considered to be a minimum for melting submillimeter‐sized silicate precursors in bow shocks. Most embryos perturbed into highly eccentric orbits are relatively large—half as large as the Moon or larger. Bodies of this size could yield chondrule‐cooling rates during bow shock passage compatible with furnace experiment results. The cumulative area of the midplane that would be traversed by highly eccentric embryos and their associated bow shocks over a period of 1–2 Myr is <1% of the total area. However, future simulations that consider a radially migrating Jupiter and alternate initial distributions of the planetesimal swarm may yield higher efficiencies.
The Global Response of Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133 to UVA Stress, Assessed in a Temporal DNA Microarray Study
Authors: Soule Tanya , Gao Qunjie , Stout Valerie , Garcia‐Pichel Ferran
Published: November 2012

Cyanobacteria in nature are exposed not only to the visible spectrum of sunlight but also to its harmful ultraviolet components (UVA and UVB). We used Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133 as a model to study the UVA response by analyzing global gene expression patterns using genomic microarrays. UVA exposure resulted in the statistically detectable differential expression of 573 genes of the 6903 that were probed, compared with that of the control cultures. Of those genes, 473 were up‐regulated, while only 100 were down‐regulated. Many of the down‐regulated genes were involved in photosynthetic pigment biosynthesis, indicating a significant shift in this metabolism. As expected, we detected the up‐regulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and the sunscreen, scytonemin. However, a majority of the up‐regulated genes, 47%, were unassignable bioinformatically to known functional categories, suggesting that the UVA stress response is not well understood. Interestingly, the most dramatic up‐regulation involved several contiguous genes of unassigned metabolism on plasmid A. This is the first global UVA stress response analysis of any phototrophic microorganism and the differential expression of 8% of the genes of the Nostoc genome indicates that adaptation to UVA in Nostoc has been an evolutionary force of significance.
A Theoretical Investigation of Two Typical Two‐Photon pH Fluorescent Probes
Authors: Xu Zhong , Ren Ai‐Min , Guo Jing‐Fu , Liu Xiao‐Ting , Huang Shuang , Feng Ji‐Kang
Published: November 2012

Intracellular pH plays an important role in many cellular events, such as cell growth, endocytosis, cell adhesion and so on. Some pH fluorescent probes have been reported, but most of them are one‐photon fluorescent probes, studies about two‐photon fluorescent probes are very rare. In this work, the geometrical structure, electronic structure and one‐photon properties of a series of two‐photon pH fluorescent probes have been theoretically studied by using density functional theory (DFT) method. Their two‐photon absorption (TPA) properties are calculated using the method of ZINDO/sum‐over‐states method. Two types of two‐photon pH fluorescent probes have been investigated by theoretical methods. The mechanisms of the Photoinduced Charge Transfer (PCT) probes and the Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) probes are verified specifically. Some designed strategies of good two‐photon pH fluorescent probes are suggested on the basis of the investigated results of two mechanisms. For the PCT probes, substituting a stronger electron‐donating group for the terminal methoxyl group is an advisable choice to increase the TPA cross section. For the PET probes, the TPA cross sections increase upon protonation.