bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building Mound A at Poverty Point, Louisiana: Monumental Public Architecture, Ritual Practice, and Implications for Hunter‐Gatherer Complexity
Authors: Ortmann Anthony L. , Kidder Tristram R.
Published: December 2012

Hunter‐gatherer societies are often characterized by limited complexity and social equality. Therefore, the construction of monumental architecture by hunter‐gatherers is seen as the manifestation of social and political inequality. The massive size and rapid construction of Mound A at Poverty Point (ca. 3261 cal. yr B.P.) in northeast Louisiana challenges these notions. Geoarchaeological investigations of stratigraphy at the macro‐ and micro‐levels shows there are no erosion events, natural episodes of soil formation, or cultural stages. We infer from these results that Mound A was constructed by a large labor force over a short period of time. There is no evidence, however, that the mound was constructed under the aegis of a ranked socio‐political system. We argue instead that the mound was constructed as a ritual feature and that leadership required to mobilize labor and resources was situational and emerged through ritual practice that developed because of the need to integrate a large population.
Monocyte/macrophage-elicited natural killer cell dysfunction in hepatocellular carcinoma is mediated by CD48/2B4 interactions
Authors: Wu Yan , Kuang Dong-Ming , Pan Wei-Dong , Wan Yun-Le , Lao Xiang-Ming , Wang Dian , Li Xue-Feng , Zheng Limin
Published: December 2012

Defects in natural killer (NK) cell functions are necessary for tumor immune escape, but their underlying regulatory mechanisms in human cancers remain largely unknown. Here we show, in detailed studies of NK cells in 294 untreated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), that accumulation of functional NK cells in HCC tissues could predict improved survival of patients. However, in patients with advanced-stage HCC, NK cells were significantly decreased in number with impaired tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production. High infiltration of peritumoral stroma monocytes/macrophages was positively correlated with impaired functional activities of NK cells in intratumoral areas. Further kinetic experiments revealed that soon after exposure to tumor-derived monocytes, NK cells underwent a rapid, transient activation, but then they became exhausted, and eventually died. The monocytes from HCC tissues, but not from nontumoral liver, strongly express CD48 proteins; and such monocyte-induced NK cell dysfunction was markedly attenuated by blocking CD48 receptor 2B4 on NK cells, but not by blockade of NKG2D and NKp30.

Conclusion
: These data reveal that human NK cells are regulated by a fine-tuned collaborative action between different types of immune cells, which may reflect a novel immune-escape mechanism by which tumors dynamically regulate their functions at distinct tumor microenvironments. (Hepatology 2013)
Influence of exposure and toxicokinetics on measures of aquatic toxicity for organic contaminants: A case study review
Authors: Landrum Peter F , Chapman Peter M , Neff Jerry , Page David S
Published: December 2012

This theoretical and case study review of dynamic exposures of aquatic organisms to organic contaminants examines variables important for interpreting exposure and therefore toxicity. The timing and magnitude of the absorbed dose change when the dynamics of exposure change. Thus, the dose metric for interpreting toxic responses observed during such exposure conditions is generally limited to the specific experiment and cannot be extrapolated to either other experiments with different exposure dynamics or to field exposures where exposure dynamics usually are different. This is particularly true for mixture exposures, for which the concentration and composition and, therefore, the timing and magnitude of exposure to individual components of different potency and potentially different mechanisms of action can vary. Aquatic toxicology needs studies that develop temporal thresholds for absorbed toxicant doses to allow for better extrapolation between conditions of dynamic exposure. Improved experimental designs are required that include high-quality temporal measures of both the exposure and the absorbed dose to allow better interpretation of data. For the short term, initial water concentration can be considered a conservative measure of exposure, although the extent to which this is true cannot be estimated specifically unless the dynamics of exposure as well as the toxicokinetics of the chemicals in the exposure scenario for the organism of interest are known. A better, but still limited, metric for interpreting the exposure and, therefore, toxicity is the peak absorbed dose, although this neglects toxicodynamics, requires appropriate temporal measures of accumulated dose to determine the peak concentration, and requires temporal thresholds for critical body residue for each component of the mixture. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2013; 9: 196–210. © 2012 SETAC
Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles: Electrospinning and calcination of hydroxyapatite/polyvinyl butyral nanofibers and growth kinetics
Authors: Zakaria Siti Maisurah , Sharif Zein Sharif Hussein , Othman Mohd. Roslee , Jansen John A.
Published: December 2012

Electrospinning of hydroxyapatite (HA)/polyvinyl butyral solution resulted in the formation of fibers with average diameter of 937–1440 nm. These fibers were converted into HA nanoparticles with size <100 nm after undergoing calcination treatment at 600°C. The diameter of the fiber was found to be influenced by applied voltage and spinning distance. The injection flowrate did not affect the diameter significantly. The electrospinning method successfully reduced the commercial HA particle size in the range of 400–1100 nm into <100 nm. The dispersion of the finally calcined HA nanoparticles was improved significantly after anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant was introduced. The experimental data of HA growth kinetics were subjected to the integral method of analysis, and the rate law of the reaction was found to follow the first order reaction. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.
Flag‐Transitive Point‐Primitive Symmetric (ν,κ,λ) Designs With λ at Most 100
Authors: Tian Delu , Zhou Shenglin
Published: December 2012

Letbe a symmetric (ν,κ,λ) design with λ ≤ 100. IfGis a flag‐transitive and point‐primitive automorphism group of, thenGmust be an affine or almost simple group.
3‐aryl‐6‐methoxy‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydroquinoline‐4‐carbonitriles as Solvent and pH Independent Green Fluorescent Dyes
Authors: Enoua Guy Crépin , Uray Georg , Stadlbauer Wolfgang
Published: December 2012

Highly fluorescent and stable 3‐aryl‐6‐methoxy‐2‐oxoquinoline‐4‐carbonitriles 6 (λexc = 408 nm and λem = 510 nm) were synthesized starting from appropriate arylmalonates 2. Ring closure reaction with p‐anisidine gave 4‐hydroxyquinolones 3, which could be bis‐chlorinated to yield quinolines 4. Regioselective hydrolysis produced reactive 4‐chloroquinolones 5, which were converted to green fluorescent 4‐cyano quinolones 6 using toluenesulfinates as catalysts.
Simple and Clean Procedure for Three‐Component Syntheses of Spiro{pyrido[2,1‐b]benzothiazole‐3,3′‐indolines} and Spiro{thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐7,3′‐indolines} in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Hussein Essam M. , El‐Khawaga Ahmed M.
Published: December 2012

A simple and efficient one‐pot three component synthesis of spiro{pyrido[2,1‐b]benzothiazole‐3,3′‐indoline} and/or spiro{thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐7,3′‐indoline} derivatives were carried out by the reaction of 2‐mercaptoaniline and/or mercaptoacetic acid, malononitrile, and a series of 2‐oxoindoline‐3‐ylidines in aqueous medium. This method is of great value because of its environmentally benign character, high yield processing, and easy handling.
Synthesis of Dendrimer‐Like Polyindolyl Compounds
Authors: Shiri Morteza , Zolfigol Mohammad Ali , Shamsian Atefeh , Dehghani‐Firouzabadi Ahmad Ali
Published: December 2012

Syntheses of polyindolyl compounds from the Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles and tri‐ or tetra‐aldehydes catalyzed by silica sulfuric acid are described. These dendrimeric supramolecules were effectively prepared at room temperature in quantitative yield. These novel products have potential in the synthesis of dyes and pigments and also in various pharmaceutical applications.
Synthesis, Structure of Zwitterionic 2‐Amino‐N′‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)benzohydrazides, and Their Transformation into 3‐(Imidazolidin‐2‐ylideneamino)quinazolin‐4(1H)‐one Derivatives
Authors: Kornicka Anita , Gdaniec Maria
Published: December 2012

The reaction of 2‐chloro‐4,5‐dihydroimidazole (5) with 2‐aminobenzohydrazides6a–eled to the formation of 2‐amino‐N′‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)benzohydrazides as zwitterions7a–e, which on treatment with carbon disulfide in the presence of triethylamine afforded 3‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylideneamino)‐2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones8a–e. Compounds8a–dwere further converted into the corresponding 3‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylideneamino)quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones9a–dusing hydrogen peroxide–sodium hydroxide solution. The structures of the compounds prepared were established by elemental analyses, IR and NMR spectra as well as X‐ray crystallographic analyses of7eand9a.
Solvent‐Free Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Novel 4‐Hetarylpyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazines
Authors: Insuasty Henry , Estrada Sandra , Quiroga Jairo , Insuasty Braulio , Abonia Rodrigo , Nogueras Manuel , Cobo Justo
Published: December 2012

A series of novel 4‐hetaryl substituted pyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazines were synthesized by microwave assisted reaction between O,S‐diethyl hetaroylimidothiocarbonates and 5‐amino‐3‐aryl‐1H‐pyrazoles under solvent‐free conditions. This procedure led to the formation of mixtures of two new pyrazolotriazine derivatives in a 1:4 ratio, which were separated by column chromatography being their corresponding structures unambiguously established by spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Comparison of the reactions mediated by microwave irradiation and by conventional heating in solution of DMF showed that both procedures afforded the same mixtures of products, but the first approach required shorter reaction times and gave higher yields than the second one.
Yb(OTf)3: An Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of 11‐Aryl‐7H‐cyclopenta[b][4,7]phenanthrolin‐10(11H)‐One Derivatives
Authors: Du Bai‐Xiang , Yin Ming‐Yue , Zhang Mei‐Mei , Li Yu‐Ling , Wang Xiang‐Shan
Published: December 2012

A mild and efficient method for the synthesis of 8,9‐dihydro‐11‐aryl‐7H‐cyclopenta[b][4,7]phenanthrolin‐10(11H)‐one derivatives via three‐component reaction of aromatic aldehyde, quinolin‐6‐amine and cyclopentane‐1,3‐dione is described catalyzed by Yb(OTf)3. The features of this procedure are mild reaction conditions, good to high yields, and operational simplicity.
New Highlights in the Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐1,4‐dihydropyrazines
Authors: He Jing‐Yu , Song Xiu‐Qing , Yan Hong , Zhong Ru‐Gang
Published: December 2012

The 4‐aryl‐1,4‐dihydropyrazines were prepared via the cyclization of N,N‐bisalkylated anilines with ammonium acetate. These reactions were aided by improvements in the synthesis of N,N‐bisalkylated anilines which were alkylated with anilines using ethyl 2‐diazo acetoacetate in a reaction catalyzed by rhodium acetate in the absence of oxygen. A possible mechanistic route is postulated on the basis of the isolation of the N‐alkylation intermediates, which were determined to be N‐aryloxamates by 1H NMR data and X‐ray diffraction.
An Expedient Phase Transfer Catalyst‐Mediated Synthesis of 2‐Alkyl/Aryl‐1,8‐phenanthrolines
Authors: Chakrabarty Manas , Mukherji Ajanta
Published: December 2012

Several 2‐alkyl and 2‐aryl‐1,8‐phenanthrolines were synthesized efficiently from 5‐aminoisoquinoline and seven α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes in aq. HCl–toluene mixture at 100°C using benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a phase transfer catalyst.
openEMS – a free and open source equivalent‐circuit (EC) FDTD simulation platform supporting cylindrical coordinates suitable for the analysis of traveling wave MRI applications
Authors: Liebig Thorsten , Rennings Andreas , Held Sebastian , Erni Daniel
Published: December 2012

In this paper, we present a free and open source platform by using the equivalent‐circuit finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method adapted to cylindrical coordinates to efficiently model cylindrically shaped objects. We will address the special characteristics of a cylindrical FDTD mesh such as the mesh singularity at r = 0 and discuss how cylindrical subgrids for small radii can reduce the simulation time considerably. Furthermore, we will demonstrate the applicability and advantages of this cylindrical equivalent‐circuit FDTD method to evaluate new types of conformal ring antennas used in the context of high‐field (7T) traveling wave magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simulation optimization to microwave components using neural network
Authors: Zhou Rigui , Nie Airong , Zhang Qijun , Cao Yizi
Published: December 2012

This paper proposes a new technique to train neural network (NN); with the result, we can solve some real‐world application problems such as microwave components modeling and optimization. Its major advance is achieved in avoiding the testing error falling into local minimum. After the generalization, the ability of three‐layer and four‐layer NN is also checked; our investigations show that four‐layer NN trained by the proposed training method can map the electromagnetic simulation of microwave components better than its counterpart. Besides, the modeling of microwave circuits and slotted patch antennas is examined to demonstrate the validity of this technique. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
One Size Does Not Fit All: Managing Radical and Incremental Creativity
Authors: Gilson Lucy L. , Lim Hyoun Sook , D'Innocenzo Lauren , Moye Neta
Published: December 2012

This research extends creativity theory by re‐conceptualizing creativity as a two‐dimensional construct (radical and incremental) and examining the differential effects of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic rewards, and supportive supervision on perceptions of creativity. We hypothesize and find two distinct types of creativity that are associated with different motivational factors. We further consider how combinations of motivational factors are linked to the different types of creativity. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
What Can be Done with an Egg? Creativity, Material Objects, and the Theory of Affordances
Authors: Glăveanu Vlad P.
Published: December 2012

This article offers a reflection on the role of material objects in the creative process and explores the potential links between creativity and the theory of affordances (Gibson, ), conceptualized from a sociocultural perspective. From this standpoint, creativity can be defined as a process of perceiving, exploiting, and “generating” novel affordances during socially and materially situated activities. Illustrations are offered for each of the above from a research project investigating traditional Easter egg decoration activities in rural Romania. This brief case study exemplifies the discovery of existing action potentials, the generation of objects with novel affordances, and the transgression of conventional procedures, all resulting in creative forms of expression. In the end, some conclusions are drawn regarding the ways in which an affordance theory of creativity can enrich our understanding of the phenomenon and contribute to the development of a new program of research concerned with situated and distributed creative acts.
Incident prioritisation using analytic hierarchy process (AHP): Risk Index Model (RIM)
Authors: Anuar Nor Badrul , Papadaki Maria , Furnell Steven , Clarke Nathan
Published: December 2012

The landscape of security threats continues to evolve, with attacks becoming more serious and the number of vulnerabilities rising. For these threats to be managed, many security studies have been undertaken in recent years, mainly focusing on improving detection, prevention and response efficiency. This paper proposes an incident prioritisation model, the Risk Index Model (RIM), which is based on risk assessment and the analytic hierarchy process. For incidents to be prioritised, the model uses indicators, such as criticality, as decision factors to calculate incidents' risk index. The model also adopts different strategies to enhance the prioritisation process. To evaluate the model, two stages of evaluation study were conducted. The first stage aims to validate the model by comparing its results with the Common Vulnerability Scoring System and Snort. The second stage aims to enhance RIM by analysing the effect of using different strategies in the model. The experimental results in the first stage have shown that 100% of incidents could be rated with RIM, compared with only 17.23% with the Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The experiments in the second stage have shown significant changes in the resultant risk index as well as some of the top‐priority incidents. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What eye movements can tell us about sentence comprehension
Authors: Vasishth Shravan , von der Malsburg Titus , Engelmann Felix
Published: December 2012

Eye movement data have proven to be very useful for investigating human sentence processing. Eyetracking research has addressed a wide range of questions, such as recovery mechanisms following garden‐pathing, the timing of processes driving comprehension, the role of anticipation and expectation in parsing, the role of semantic, pragmatic, and prosodic information, and so on. However, there are some limitations regarding the inferences that can be made on the basis of eye movements. One relates to the nontrivial interaction between parsing and the eye movement control system which complicates the interpretation of eye movement data. Detailed computational models that integrate parsing with eye movement control theories have the potential to unpack the complexity of eye movement data and can therefore aid in the interpretation of eye movements. Another limitation is the difficulty of capturing spatiotemporal patterns in eye movements using the traditional word‐based eyetracking measures. Recent research has demonstrated the relevance of these patterns and has shown how they can be analyzed. In this review, we focus on reading, and present examples demonstrating how eye movement data reveal what events unfold when the parser runs into difficulty, and how the parsing system interacts with eye movement control. WIREs Cogn Sci 2013, 4:125–134. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1209

This article is categorized under:

Linguistics > Computational Models of Language
P2Y receptors in the gastrointestinal epithelium
Authors: Larsen Casper K. , Leipziger Jens
Published: December 2012

P2Y receptors are widely expressed in all gastrointestinal (GI) epithelia. Commonly, one epithelial tissue or cell expresses several P2Y receptors, which are located in both the apical and basolateral membranes. In almost all studied GI tissues, stimulation of P2Y receptors activates ion secretion, either that of NaCl, KCl, NaHCO3, or KHCO3. In most GI epithelia, an apical P2Y2 receptor is responsible for these ion secretory effects. Major progress during the last 10 years now permits integrated concepts of purinergic regulation of epithelial function. Most importantly, the apical mucus layer can be viewed as a restricted space for local paracrine purinergic regulation of ion transport. Extracellular ATP is present in the mucus in sufficiently high concentrations to activate apical P2Y receptors. Several physiological stimuli have been identified or suggested to trigger ATP release into the luminal space. These include flow‐induced, primary cilium‐dependent ATP secretion into the bile, acidic intraluminal pH in the duodenum, and agonist‐activated secretion of ATP by secretory salivary and pancreatic acini as well as the intestinal crypts. A functional role of the intestinal alkaline phosphatase as ATP cleavage enzyme and thus signal termination is another novel discovery important for duodenal secretion. The overall functional consequence of apical P2Y receptor function is to provide an additional input signal to activate digestive fluid secretion when demanded for by a given physiological stimulus. WIREs Membr Transp Signal 2013, 2:27–36. doi: 10.1002/wmts.74

For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Counting to one: reducibility of one- and two-loop amplitudes at the integrand level
Authors: Kleiss Ronald H. P. , Malamos Ioannis , Papadopoulos Costas G. , Verheyen Rob
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Calculation of amplitudes in perturbative quantum field theory involve large loop integrals. The complexity of those integrals, in combination with the large number of Feynman diagrams, make the calculations very difficult. Reduction methods proved to be very helpful, lowering the number of integrals that need to be actually calculated. Especially reduction at the integrand level improves the speed and set-up of these calculations. In this article we demonstrate, by counting the numbers of tensor structures and independent coefficients, how to write such relations at the integrand level for one− and two−loop amplitudes. We clarify their connection to the so-called spurious terms at one loop and discuss their structure in the two−loop case. This method is also applicable to higher loops, and the results obtained apply to both planar and non-planar diagrams.
Clinical investigation and imaging
Authors: Studer Daniel
Published: December 2012

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) affects 2–4 % of children and is diagnosed between age 10 and skeletal maturity. The female to male ratio for mild curves less than 20° is 1.5:1; however, progression to a severe deformity occurs more often in females (Weinstein in JAMA 289(5):559–567, 2003 ). Despite significant ongoing research, including into the genetic basis for AIS, there are currently no identifiable causes, and therefore the disorder still remains a diagnosis of exclusion. History, physical examination and radiographic assessment must exclude other possible causes of spinal deformity and are crucial in predicting the risk of curve progression. History should focus on family history, menarche, presence or absence of pain, sports activities and neurologic changes. Physical examination concentrates on anthropometric data, pubertal staging, neurologic testing and specific investigation of the spine, with the Adams’ forward bending test being the most meaningful step to evaluate trunk rotation. Definitive diagnosis cannot be made without imaging. The gold standard remains plain radiography with assessment of the Cobb angle on a standing coronal radiograph of the entire spine. A lateral X-ray is used for assessing sagittal balance and for evaluating the deformity in the sagittal plane. If available, surface topography can accompany the follow-up in AIS, reducing the radiation exposure. The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in AIS is an ongoing matter of debate. Common indications for MRI are the presence of an atypical curve pattern and abnormal neurological findings.
Anterior surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Helenius Ilkka
Published: December 2012

Anterior open scoliosis surgery using the dual rod system is a safe and rather effective procedure for the correction of scoliosis (50–60 %). Thoracic hypokyphosis and rib hump correction with open anterior rather than posterior instrumentation appear to be the better approaches, although the latter is somewhat controversial with current posterior vertebral column derotation devices. In patients with Risser grade 0, hyperkyphosis and adding-on may occur with anterior thoracic spine instrumentation. Anterior thoracoscopic instrumentation provides a similar correction (65 %) with good cosmetic outcomes, but it is associated with a rather high risk of instrumentation (pull-out, pseudoarthrosis) and pulmonary complications. Approximately 80 % of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves of >70° have restrictive lung disease or smaller than normal lung volumes. AIS patients undergoing anterior thoracotomy or anteroposterior surgery will demonstrate a significant decrease in percentage of predicted lung volumes during follow-up. The thoracoabdominal approach and thoracoscopic approach without thoracoplasty do not produce similar changes in detrimental lung volume. In patients with severe AIS (>90°), posterior-only surgery with TPS provides similar radiographic correction of the deformity (44 %) with better pulmonary function outcomes than anteroposterior surgery. Vascular spinal cord malfunction after segmental vessel ligation during anterior scoliosis surgery has been reported. Based on the current literature, the main indication for open anterior scoliosis instrumentation is Lenke 5C thoracolumbar or lumbar AIS curve with anterior instrumentation typically between T11 and L3.
MeCP2 deficiency is associated with impaired microtubule stability
Authors: Delépine Chloé , Nectoux Juliette , Bahi-Buisson Nadia , Chelly Jamel , Bienvenu Thierry
Published: December 2012

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by MECP2 mutations. Previous studies performed on Mecp2‐deficient brain showed striking changes in neuronal maturation. We recently showed that MeCP2 deficiency affects microtubule (MT) dynamics in RTT astrocytes. Here, we analyze MT stability in primary fibroblast cultures from patients with RTT syndrome and identify a significant decrease in stability compared to controls. Furthermore, we found that MT stability was reduced both in cells expressing the mutant or the wild‐type allele in RTT fibroblasts, suggesting that mutated cells could damage wild‐type ones through a non‐cell‐autonomous pathway. These results suggest that MeCP2 has a stabilizing role on MT dynamics and that its deficiency could lead to impaired MT stability that may explain in part the dendritic abnormalities observed in RTT brains.
Sulfation of keratan sulfate proteoglycan reduces radiation‐induced apoptosis in human Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines
Authors: Nakayama Fumiaki , Umeda Sachiko , Ichimiya Tomomi , Kamiyama Shin , Hazawa Masaharu , Yasuda Takeshi , Nishihara Shoko , Imai Takashi
Published: December 2012

This study focuses on clarifying the contribution of sulfation to radiation‐induced apoptosis in human Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, using 3′‐phosphoadenosine 5′‐phosphosulfate transporters (PAPSTs). Overexpression of PAPST1 or PAPST2 reduced radiation‐induced apoptosis in Namalwa cells, whereas the repression of PAPST1 expression enhanced apoptosis. Inhibition of PAPST slightly decreased keratan sulfate (KS) expression, so that depletion of KS significantly increased radiation‐induced apoptosis. In addition, the repression of all three N‐acetylglucosamine‐6‐O‐sulfotransferases (CHST2, CHST6, and CHST7) increased apoptosis. In contrast, PAPST1 expression promoted the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and Akt in irradiated Namalwa cells. These findings suggest that 6‐O‐sulfation of GlcNAc residues in KS reduces radiation‐induced apoptosis of human Burkitt's lymphoma cells.
Effect of exercise on postprandial endothelial function in adolescent boys
Authors: Sedgwick Matthew J. , Morris John G. , Nevill Mary E. , Tolfrey Keith , Nevill Alan , Barrett Laura A.
Published: December 2012

The ingestion of high-fat meals induces a state of endothelial dysfunction in adults. This dysfunction is attenuated by prior exercise. The response of young people to these nutritional and physiological stressors has not been established. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate if a bout of moderate-intensity exercise influenced endothelial function (as indicated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD)) following the ingestion of a high-fat breakfast and lunch in adolescent boys (aged 12·6–14·3 years). Two, 2 d main trials (control and exercise) were completed by thirteen adolescent boys in a counter-balanced, cross-over design. Participants were inactive on day 1 of the control trial, but completed 60 min of walking at 60 % peak oxygen uptake in the exercise trial. On day 2, endothelial function was assessed via FMD prior to, and following, ingestion of a high-fat breakfast and lunch. There was no difference in fasting FMD between the control and exercise trial (P= 0·449). In the control trial, FMD was reduced by 32 % following consumption of the high-fat breakfast and by 24 % following lunch. In the exercise trial, the corresponding reductions were 6 and 10 %, respectively (main effect trial, P= 0·002). These results demonstrate that moderate-intensity exercise can attenuate the decline in FMD seen following the consumption of high-fat meals in adolescent boys.
Development of interspecific hybrids of cassava and paternity analysis with molecular markers
Authors: DE J. VIEIRA L. , DE Q. TAVARES FILHO L. F. , SOUZA F. V. D. , ALVES A. A. C. , DE OLIVEIRA E. J.
Published: December 2012

The present paper demonstrates the development of interspecific hybrids between Manihot esculenta Crantz ssp. esculenta (Mee) and M. esculenta Crantz ssp. flabellifolia (Mef) and paternity analysis using microsatellite markers [simple sequence repeat (SSR)]. Three Mef accessions (FLA005, FLA025V and FLA029V) were used for crosses with varieties of Mee: Saracura, Aipim Bravo, COL 1725, Aipim Rosa, Abóbora, Paraná and PER334. The paternity of the interspecific hybrids was investigated using 24 SSRs. The observed heterozygosity (Ho), polymorphic information content (PIC), probability of identity (PI) and paternity exclusion (PE) were evaluated. The rate of breeding success varied from 17 to 92%, and an average of two pollinations were required for each generated hybrid plant. The Ho value ranged from 0·11 to 0·92, and the PIC value ranged from 0·12 to 0·59. The uneven distribution of allele frequencies was accompanied by a high PI average (0·56). However, the combined PE for 21 loci was 0·99, which allows for the determination of the paternity of the hybrids with good discriminatory power. Of the 74 hybrids evaluated, 0·82 had their paternity confirmed using microsatellite markers. Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) indicated the presence of eight clusters, of which, one was composed of only Mef varieties and the supposed hybrid Fla52Sar-H7, which was a product of apomixis. The parent Mee and hybrids were allocated in the other seven clusters. The data obtained demonstrate that SSR markers can be routinely used in breeding programmes to verify the paternity of interspecific crosses of cassava.
Lingual dermoid cyst with congenital discharging sinus: a rare entity
Authors: Sun Z , Sun L , Gao Y , Ma X
Published: December 2012

Objective:

There have been few reports of lingual dermoid cysts with a congenital discharging fistula. We report such a case, which mimicked lipoma on computed tomography, and we discuss relevant clinical and radiological features.

Method:

We present a case report and a review of the English language literature concerning lingual dermoid cysts either mimicking lipoma or with a congenital discharging sinus.

Results:

A 35-year-old man presented with a lingual mass associated with a congenital fistula in the midline of the tongue dorsum, which discharged abnormal secretions. Computed tomography images showed that the lesion was well defined and contained homogeneous fatty tissue giving computed tomography attenuation values of −120 Hounsfield units.

Conclusion:

Lingual dermoid cysts may develop with a midline discharging fistula, and may exhibit radiological similarity to lipomas on computed tomography.
The possibility for a voltage measurement technique using paraelectric behavior of capacitively coupled plasmas
Authors: BURM K. T. A. L.
Published: December 2012

An argon plasma is created from a general capacitively coupled plasma source and monitored by optical emission spectroscopy. A relation between the line intensity and the applied voltage is obtained and discussed. The plasma shows paraelectric behavior. A linear relation exists between the electric capacity of the capacitively coupled plasma and the applied voltage. This linear relation can be used in a new voltage measurement technique in which the applied voltage can be calculated from the measured line intensity.
Emotional force of languages in multilingual speakers in Finland
Authors: RÄSÄNEN SANNA HEINI MARIA , PINE JULIAN M.
Published: December 2012

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the better recall of emotional words applies to both native and later-learned languages. In a mixed design, 41 native Finnish speakers, who were substantially less proficient in their later-learned languages, which were English (second language) and Swedish (third language), were shown negative/taboo, positive, and neutral words in the three languages. Their memory for the words was assessed in an unexpected free recall test preceded by a depth of processing task (deep or shallow). The results revealed that an emotion-word advantage was visible for negatively valenced words (negative/taboo) in the native language, Finnish, and the second language, English. However, the nature of the processing task had no significant effect on recall. Additional self-report measures indicated that English was perceived as more emotional and more frequently used than Swedish. These results suggest that the amount and frequency of everyday exposure to a particular language are two critical factors in determining the degree of emotionality of that language for the speaker.
Noun case suffix use by children with specific language impairment: An examination of Finnish
Authors: LEONARD LAURENCE B. , KUNNARI SARI , SAVINAINEN-MAKKONEN TUULA , TOLONEN ANNA-KAISA , MÄKINEN LEENA , LUOTONEN MIRJA , LEINONEN EEVA
Published: December 2012

A group of Finnish-speaking children with specific language impairment (N= 15,Mage = 5 years, 2 months [5;2]), a group of same-age typically developing peers (N= 15,Mage = 5;2), and a group of younger typically developing children (N= 15,Mage = 3;8) were compared in their use of accusative, partitive, and genitive case noun suffixes. The children with specific language impairment were less accurate than both groups of typically developing children in case marking, suggesting that their difficulties with agreement extend to grammatical case. However, these children were also less accurate in making the phonological changes in the stem needed for suffixation. This second type of error suggests that problems in morphophonology may constitute a separate problem in Finnish specific language impairment.
Fixed-choice word-association tasks as second-language lexical tests: What native-speaker performance reveals about their potential weaknesses—CORRIGENDUM
Authors: DRONJIC VEDRAN , HELMS-PARK RENA
Published: December 2012

The words “paradigmatic” and “syntagmatic” were transposed in the second sentence of the Abstract, which is reprinted herein. We regret this transposition and any problems it may have caused.
Quality assurance in medical microbiology
Authors: Snell J. J. S. , Hurley Rosalinde
Published: December 2012

Synopsis

National External Quality Assessment Schemes (NEQAS) in Microbiology have been established and operative in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. The essential components of such schemes with an account of the supporting expert advisory structures are described. Participation is voluntary and the primary aim is educational and designed to elevate standards of diagnostic practice generally through comparisons of performance within peer groups. The effect of such schemes on microbiological diagnostic performance is discussed.

The need for harmonisation within the European Community is addressed, together with an account of preliminary work relating to formulation of Directives in the field of medical devices.

The process of accreditation of diagnostic pathology laboratories through CPA (UK) Ltd. is briefly described.
THE SEQUENTIAL STOCHASTIC ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH POSTPONEMENT OPTIONS
Authors: Feng Tianke , Hartman Joseph C.
Published: December 2012

The sequential and stochastic assignment problem (SSAP) has wide applications in logistics, finance, and health care management, and has been well studied in the literature. It assumes that jobs with unknown values arrive according to a stochastic process. Upon arrival, a job's value is made known and the decision-maker must immediately decide whether to accept or reject the job and, if accepted, to assign it to a resource for a reward. The objective is to maximize the expected reward from the available resources. The optimal assignment policy has a threshold structure and can be computed in polynomial time. In reality, there exist situations in which the decision-maker may postpone the accept/reject decision. In this research, we study the value of postponing decisions by allowing a decision-maker to hold a number of jobs which may be accepted or rejected later. While maintaining this queue of arrivals significantly complicates the analysis, optimal threshold policies exist under mild assumptions when the resources are homogeneous. We illustrate the benefits of delaying decisions through higher profits and lower risk in both cases of homogeneous and heterogeneous resources.
Land use change and carbon fluxes in East Africa quantified using earth observation data and field measurements
Authors: PFEIFER M. , PLATTS P.J. , BURGESS N.D. , SWETNAM R.D. , WILLCOCK S. , LEWIS S. L. , MARCHANT R.
Published: December 2012

Carbon-based forest conservation requires the establishment of ‘reference emission levels’ against which to measure a country or region's progress in reducing their carbon emissions. In East Africa, landscape-scale estimates of carbon fluxes are uncertain and factors such as deforestation poorly resolved due to a lack of data. In this study, trends in vegetation cover and carbon for East Africa were quantified using moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover grids from 2002 to 2008 (500-m spatial resolution), in combination with a regional carbon look-up table. The inclusion of data on rainfall and the distribution of protected areas helped to gauge impacts on vegetation burning (assessed using 1-km spatial resolution MODIS active fire data) and biome trends. Between 2002 and 2008, the spatial extents of forests, woodlands and scrublands decreased considerably and East Africa experienced a net carbon loss of 494 megatonnes (Mt). Most countries in the area were sources of carbon emissions, except for Tanzania and Malawi, where the areal increase of savannah and woodlands counterbalanced carbon emissions from deforestation. Both Malawi and Tanzania contain large areas of planted forest. Vegetation burning was correlated with rainfall (forest only) and differed depending on land management. Freely available global earth observation products have provided ways to achieve rapid assessment and monitoring of carbon change hotspots at the landscape scale.
Carriage of virulence factors and molecular characteristics ofStaphylococcus aureusisolates associated with bloodstream, and skin and soft tissue infections in children
Authors: LI T. , YU X. , XIE J. , XU Y. , SHANG Y. , LIU Y. , HUANG X. , QIN Z. , PARSONS C. , HU L. , SALGADO C. , WANG L. , YU F.
Published: December 2012

We investigated the virulence gene carriage and molecular type characteristics ofStaphylococcus aureusisolates from bloodstream infections (BSIs) and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in children. A total of 71 isolates, 16 of which were methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA), were investigated by PCR for virulence-associated gene profiles, sequence type andspatype. This revealed that 76·7% and 53·7% of the SSTI and BSI isolates, respectively, exhibited simultaneous carriage of ⩾10 virulence genes. Compared to BSI isolates, carriage rates forhla,hlb,cna,clfA,seb,secandpvlgenes were significantly higher in SSTI isolates. By contrast, carriage ofeta,etbandseawas significantly higher for BSI isolates. Thirty-four sequence types (STs) and 36spatypes were identified in the 71 isolates and included 14 novel STs and four novelspatypes. ST59-MRSA-IV/V-t437 was the most common clone in the MRSA isolates. We concluded that virulence determinants are widely distributed in isolates ofS. aureusstrains from children with BSIs and SSTIs, with an unexpectedly high rate in SSTI isolates. Future profiling ofS. aureusvirulence determinants may allow the prediction of severity and outcome for children with these infections.
Hooded GrebePodiceps gallardoipopulation decreased by eighty per cent in the last twenty-five years
Authors: ROESLER IGNACIO , IMBERTI SANTIAGO , CASAÑAS HERNÁN , MAHLER BETTINA , REBOREDA JUAN CARLOS
Published: December 2012

We estimated the present population size of the Hooded GrebePodiceps gallardoiand compared it with the population in 1985. During the breeding seasons 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 we monitored 251 lakes on the main plateaus of Santa Cruz province, southern Patagonia, Argentina, where the entire population of Hooded Grebes spends the breeding season. During 2009/2010 we monitored 131 lakes and observed 521 Hooded Grebes in 16 lakes, while during 2010/2011 we monitored 186 lakes and observed 535 individuals in 14 lakes. At both breeding seasons five lakes contained near 85% of the population. We only observed 6 breeding colonies, two in 2009/2010 and four in 2010/2011, totalling 242 nesting attempts. Nearly 90% of the nests failed during egg stage, mainly due to strong winds and depredation by American minkNeovison vison. Only 28 nests hatched chicks, but none of the young survived to independence due to low temperatures. We compared the results of our 2010/2011 survey with one conducted during 1984/1985 and detected that the population diminished by approximately 80%. This decline was observed on all but one plateau (“Buenos Aires”) where most breeding attempts occurred. Our results show that at present Hooded Grebes are highly dependent on a few suitable lakes where they congregate to breed. We analyse possible causes for the decline of the population and propose conservation actions to protect this species.
Prediction of seed longevity: a modification of the shape of the Ellis and Roberts seed survival curves
Authors: Mead A. , Gray D.
Published: December 2012

The prediction of the viability of stored seeds is important both for the management of germplasm collections and for the management of commercial seed production and storage. The Ellis and Roberts model for seed viability during storage is examined, and an inadequacy of the model highlighted. A modification is proposed, based on the ‘control mortality’ probit model developed for insecticide bioassays, to take proper account of variation in initial viability. This new ‘control viability’ model, relating seed viability to storage time, is fitted to data from a carrot seed storage experiment and found to fit well for a range of storage environments. A relationship, similar to that proposed by Ellis and Roberts for the effects of storage conditions on the rate of loss of viability, is fitted to the estimated rates from this new model. Data from a second carrot seed storage experiment are used to validate this relationship.
Anomalous origin and course of the coronary arteries
Authors: Hlavacek Anthony , Loukas Marios , Spicer Diane , Anderson Robert H.
Published: December 2012

In the normal heart, the right and left coronary arteries arise from the aortic valvar sinuses adjacent to the pulmonary trunk. The right coronary artery then directly enters the right atrioventricular groove, whereas the main stem of the left coronary artery runs a short course before dividing to become the anterior interventricular and circumflex arteries. These arteries can have an anomalous origin from either the aorta or pulmonary trunk; their branches can have various anomalous origins relative to arterial pedicles. Other abnormal situations include myocardial bridging, abnormal communications, solitary coronary arteries, and duplicated arteries. Understanding of these variations is key to determining those anomalous patterns associated with sudden cardiac death. In the most common variant of an anomalous origin from the pulmonary trunk, the main stem of the left coronary artery arises from the sinus of the pulmonary trunk adjacent to the anticipated left coronary arterial aortic sinus. The artery can, however, arise from a pulmonary artery, or the right coronary artery can have an anomalous pulmonary origin. The key feature in the anomalous aortic origin is the potential for squeezing of the artery, produced by either the so-called intramural origin from the aorta, or the passage of the abnormal artery between the aortic root and the subpulmonary infundibulum.
Lessons in Emergency Evacuation from the Miamisburg Train Derailment
Authors: De Lorenzo Robert A. , Augustine James J.
Published: December 2012

Hazardous materials incidents result from the release of materials considered to be harmful or potentially harmful to human beings or the environment. This article describes a train derailment and subsequent hazardous materials release with the evacuation of approximately 50,000 citizens. The hazardous materials release took five days to control and resulted in 561 patient visits to local emergency departments for symptoms related to chemical exposure. The evacuation and emergency medical operations are described and serve as a model for developing community emergency preparedness plans and managing victims involved in hazardous materials incidents.
Oral Antipsychotic Update: A Brief Review of New and Investigational Agents for the Treatment of Schizophrenia
Authors: Citrome Leslie
Published: December 2012

This narrative review provides an overview of the three new oral second-generation antipsychotics that have become available in the US: iloperidone, asenapine and lurasidone. Although they are associated with less weight gain and fewer metabolic abnormalities than some of the older second-generation antipsychotics, iloperidone, asenapine and lurasidone have differences that make them unique from each other. Examples of these differences include dosing frequency, specific instructions on dosing with food, titration requirements, and potential association with sedation, extrapyramidal side effects, akathisia, and prolongation of the ECG QT interval. Additional information is provided regarding agents in late stage clinical development for the treatment of schizophrenia: cariprazine and brexpiprazole (both are dopamine D2 receptor partial agonists) and bitopertin (a glycine transport inhibitor that may have antipsychotic effects).
The effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy: A literature review
Authors: Read John , Bentall Richard
Published: December 2012

Aim – To review the literature on the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy [ECT], with a particular focus on depression, its primary target group. Methods – PsycINFO, Medline, previous reviews and meta-analyses were searched in an attempt to identify all studies comparing ECT with simulated-ECT [SECT]. Results – These placebo controlled studies show minimal support for effectiveness with either depression or ‘schizophrenia’ during the course of treatment (i.e. only for some patients, on some measures, sometimes perceived only by psychiatrists but not by other raters), and no evidence, for either diagnostic group, of any benefits beyond the treatment period. There are no placebo-controlled studies evaluating the hypothesis that ECT prevents suicide, and no robust evidence from other kinds of studies to support the hypothesis. Conclusions – Given the strong evidence (summarised here) of persistent and, for some, permanent brain dysfunction, primarily evidenced in the form of retrograde and anterograde amnesia, and the evidence of a slight but significant increased risk of death, the cost-benefit analysis for ECT is so poor that its use cannot be scientifically justified.

Declaration of Interest: Neither author has any financial conflicts of interest in relation to this paper.