bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of humic acid on plutonium sorption to gibbsite: Determination of Pu-humic acid complexation constants and ternary sorption studies
Authors: Zimmerman Trevor , Zavarin Mavrik , Powell Brian A.
Published: June 2014

In this work stability constants describing Pu(IV), Th(IV), and Np(V)
binding to Leonardite humic acid (HA) were determined using a discrete
pK
a
model. A hybrid ultra-filtration/equilibrium dialysis, ligand
exchange technique was used to generate the partitioning
data. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used as a reference
ligand to allow the aqueous chemistry of the Pu(IV)-HA system to be
examined over a range of pH values, while minimizing the possibility
of precipitation of Pu(IV). The conditional stability constant for
Pu(IV) complexation with HA determined as part of this work is
log β
112 = 6.76 ± 0.14 based on the equation:
Pu4+ + HL3 + 2H2O ↔ Pu(OH)2L3+ + 3H+
where HA is represented by HL3 (a binding site on the HA with a pK
a

value of 7). This value is three orders of magnitude higher than the
Th(IV)-HA constant and between six and eight orders of magnitude
higher than the Np(V)-HA complex. The magnitude of the stability
constants and the general trend of increasing complexation strength
with increasing pH is consistent with previous observations.
The Pu(IV)-HA stability constants were used to model sorption of
Pu(IV) to gibbsite in the presence of HA. Assuming only aqueous Pu-HA
complexes and AlOH-Pu surface complexes, the model was unable to
predict the observed data which exhibited greater sorption at pH 4
relative to pH 6; a phenomenon which does not occur in the absence of
HA. Therefore, this study demonstrates that ternary Pu-HA-gibbsite
complexes may form under low pH conditions and exhibit greater
sorption than that observed in the absence of HA. Although the
presence of HA may increase the solubility/aqueous concentrations of
Pu in the absence of a solid phase, formation of ternary complexes may
indeed retard the subsurface migration of Pu. The corollary to this
finding is that increased mobility may occur if the ternary surface
complex forms on a mobile colloid rather than part of the subsurface
matrix
Evaluation of new GFRTP and CFRTP using epsilon caprolactam as matrix fabricated with VaRTM
Authors: Ben Goichi , Hirabayashi Akiko , Sakata Kazuhiro , Nakamura Koichi , Hirayama Norio
Published: June 2014

Thermoplastic resins used as a matrix of fiber reinforced thermoplastics (FRTPs) are composed of high polymers that remain highly viscous even at a higher temperature than their melting points. As a result, they need an even higher temperature, a higher pressure and a longer processing time to allow them to bond with fibers that require large and specialized equipment. In contrast, fiber-reinforced thermoset plastics (FRPs) can be easily molded owing to the use of lower viscosity liquid resin as the matrix using simpler devices. In this paper, a new fabrication method of FRTPs using in situ polymerizable ε caprolactam as the matrix is presented. This method uses vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding without the need for large and specialized equipment. The ε-caprolactam molecules were converted from their monomer form into a polyamide 6 resin, with ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam during the molding process at a lower temperature than its melting temperature. The two kinds of FRTPs obtained using ε-caprolactam as the matrix had neither voids nor unfilled parts because ε-caprolactam had a very low viscosity before the polymerization. These FRTPs not only exhibit superior bending properties but also are suitable for high-speed molding, namely, within a few minutes of process time.
Seven Demotic Votive Inscriptions on Various Objects from the Tuna al-Gebel Necropolis
Authors: Ebeid Mahmoud
Published: June 2014

Publication of seven Demotic votive inscriptions written on various materials, from the Tuna al-Gebel necropolis, now kept in the Tuna al-Gebel magazine, the Mallawi Museum, and al-Ashmunein magazine.
Splitting the sḏm.n⸗f? A Discussion of Written Forms in Coffin Texts
Authors: Stauder Andréas
Published: June 2014

This is the first part of a study discussing the written forms of II.red (e.g. Ꜣmm) in Coffin Texts adduced in support of a recent hypothesis of two morphologically distinct forms of the sḏm.n⸗f. As a result of a review of each individual written form, it is concluded that none supports the hypothesis (just as none contradicts it). The first part of the argument centers around how verbal stems are represented in writing, in II.red-ult.n, II.red-ult.Ꜣ, and II.red-ult.m. Early New Kingdom spellings of the same verbs are also reevaluated. (The second part of the study is to appear in the next issue of this journal.)
Sulfur: Chemical Analysis of Fossil Fuel Products
Authors: Nadkarni Kishore R. A.
Published: June 2014

Description

This unique, new ASTM monograph covers the analytical techniques for sulfur determination in crude oil, fuels and lubricants, coal, oil shale, gaseous fuels, and biofuels. It also addresses proficiency testing for sulfur.

ASTM’s monograph on sulfur deals with the analysis of:
The Formal and the Foreign
Authors: Wierzbicki Kaye
Published: June 2014

Kaye Wierzbicki, “The Formal and the Foreign: Sarah Orne Jewett’s Garden Fences and the Meaning of Enclosure” (pp. 56-91)

This essay argues that Sarah Orne Jewett theorizes garden design—particularly the question of whether or not a garden should be fenced—in order to theorize the aesthetic and social implications of her local color genre. Specifically, Jewett’s polemical defense of the garden fence is central to her ability to incorporate foreignness into her fictional landscapes. By placing Jewett’s garden-centric writing into the context of American garden history, this essay counters the prevailing notion that garden fences are transhistorical symbols of rigid protectionism and cultural exclusivity. Instead, Jewett’s garden fences should also be read as theoretically loaded and historically specific sites in the late-nineteenth-century debate between the fence-dismantling garden naturalists and the Colonial Revivalists who sought to preserve or re-erect these fences. As Jewett’s participation in this debate reveals, a garden fence can become a mechanism for defining “the local” as a formal practice that embraces foreignness, in contrast to competing definitions of “the local” that privilege native plants and native persons. Ultimately, Jewett uncovers new theoretical possibilities in the fenced, formal, Colonial Revivalist garden in order to make a case for the cultural expansiveness permitted by local color writing.
The impact of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibition on incretin effect, glucose tolerance, and gastrointestinal-mediated glucose disposal in healthy subjects
Authors: Rhee N A , Østoft S H , Holst J J , Deacon C F , Vilsbøll T , Knop F K
Published: June 2014

Objective

Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is thought to intensify the physiological effects of the incretin hormones. We investigated the effects of DPP4 inhibition on plasma levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), incretin effect, glucose tolerance, gastrointestinal-mediated glucose disposal (GIGD) and gastric emptying in healthy subjects.

Design

A randomised, controlled and open-labelled study.

Methods

Ten healthy subjects (six women; age, 40±5 years (mean±s.e.m.); BMI, 24±3 kg/m2; fasting plasma glucose, 5.1±0.2 mmol/l and HbA1c, 34±1 mmol/mol (5.3±0.1%)) were randomised to two-paired study days comprising a 4-h 50 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with paracetamol (A) and an isoglycaemic intravenous (i.v.) glucose infusion (B), with (A1+B1) and without (A2+B2) preceding administration of the DPP4 inhibitor sitagliptin.

Results

Isoglycaemia was obtained in all subjects on the paired study days. Significant increases in fasting levels and OGTT-induced responses of active GLP1 and GIP were seen after DPP4 inhibition. No significant impact of DPP4 inhibition on fasting plasma glucose (5.1±0.1 vs 4.9±0.1 mmol/l,P=0.3), glucose tolerance (area under the curve (AUC) for plasma glucose, 151±35 vs 137±26 mmol/l×min,P=0.7) or peak plasma glucose during OGTT (8.5±0.4 vs 8.1±0.3 mmol/l,P=0.3) was observed. Neither incretin effect (40±9% (without DPP4 inhibitor) vs 40±7% (with DPP4 inhibitor),P=1.0), glucagon responses (1395±165 vs 1223±195 pmol/l×min,P=0.41), GIGD (52±4 vs 56±5%,P=0.40) nor gastric emptying (Tmaxfor plasma paracetamol: 86±9 vs 80±12 min,P=0.60) changed following DPP4 inhibition.

Conclusions

These results suggest that acute increases in active incretin hormone levels do not affect glucose tolerance, GIGD, incretin effect, glucagon responses or gastric emptying in healthy subjects.
Transcriptomes and Proteomes Define Gene Expression Progression in Pre-meiotic Maize Anthers
Authors: Zhang Han , Egger Rachel L , Kelliher Timothy , Morrow Darren , Fernandes John , Nan Guo-Ling , Walbot Virginia
Published: June 2014

Plants lack a germ line; consequently, during reproduction adult somatic cells within flowers must switch from mitotic proliferation to meiosis. In maize (Zea mays L.) anthers, hypoxic conditions in the developing tassel trigger pre-meiotic competence in the column of pluripotent progenitor cells in the center of anther lobes, and within 24 hr these newly specified germinal cells have patterned their surrounding neighbors to differentiate as the first somatic niche cells. Transcriptomes were analyzed by microarray hybridization in carefully staged whole anthers during initial specification events, after the separation of germinal and somatic lineages, during the subsequent rapid mitotic proliferation phase, and during final pre-meiotic germinal and somatic cell differentiation. Maize anthers exhibit a highly complex transcriptome constituting nearly three-quarters of annotated maize genes, and expression patterns are dynamic. Laser microdissection was applied to begin assigning transcripts to tissue and cell types and for comparison to transcriptomes of mutants defective in cell fate specification. Whole anther proteomes were analyzed at three developmental stages by mass spectrometric peptide sequencing using size-fractionated proteins to evaluate the timing of protein accumulation relative to transcript abundance. New insights include early and sustained expression of meiosis-associated genes (77.5% of well-annotated meiosis genes are constitutively active in 0.15 mm anthers), an extremely large change in transcript abundances and types a few days before meiosis (including a class of 1340 transcripts absent specifically at 0.4 mm), and the relative disparity between transcript abundance and protein abundance at any one developmental stage (based on 1303 protein-to-transcript comparisons).
The Genetics of Sex: Exploring Differences
Authors: Arbeitman Michelle N , Kopp Artyom , L. Siegal Mark , Van Doren Mark
Published: June 2014

In this commentary, Michelle Arbeitman et al., examine the topic of the Genetics of Sex as explored in this month's issues of GENETICS and G3: Genes |Genomes |Genetics. These inaugural articles are part of a joint Genetics of Sex collection (ongoing) in the GSA journals.
Would Fred Sanger Get Funded Today?
Authors: Fields Stanley
Published: June 2014

Fred Sanger developed technologies that won him two Nobel Prizes and revolutionized biological research. Yet, in spite of this record, the question has been raised as to whether, in the current scientific climate, he might be unsuccessful in obtaining a grant because of a productivity that would be viewed as too limited. In imagining how a National Institutes of Health study section today might treat a proposal from Sanger to sequence DNA, we can ask whether there are lessons from his career that suggest changes to the grant review process.
Adverse Childhood Experiences of Low-Income Urban Youth
Authors: Wade Roy , Shea Judy A. , Rubin David , Wood Joanne
Published: June 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Current assessments of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may not adequately encompass the breadth of adversity to which low-income urban children are exposed. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the range of adverse childhood experiences faced by young adults who grew up in a low-income urban area.

METHODS:

Focus groups were conducted with young adults who grew up in low-income Philadelphia neighborhoods. Using the nominal group technique, participants generated a list of adverse childhood experiences and then identified the 5 most stressful experiences on the group list. The most stressful experiences identified by participants were grouped into a ranked list of domains and subdomains.

RESULTS:

Participants identified a range of experiences, grouped into 10 domains: family relationships, community stressors, personal victimization, economic hardship, peer relationships, discrimination, school, health, child welfare/juvenile justice, and media/technology. Included in these domains were many but not all of the experiences from the initial ACEs studies; parental divorce/separation and mental illness were absent. Additional experiences not included in the initial ACEs but endorsed by our participants included single-parent homes; exposure to violence, adult themes, and criminal behavior; personal victimization; bullying; economic hardship; and discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS:

Gathering youth perspectives on childhood adversity broadens our understanding of the experience of stress and trauma in childhood. Future work is needed to determine the significance of this broader set of adverse experiences in predisposing children to poor health outcomes as adults.
The Association of Telomere Length With Family Violence and Disruption
Authors: Drury Stacy S. , Mabile Emily , Brett Zoë H. , Esteves Kyle , Jones Edward , Shirtcliff Elizabeth A. , Theall Katherine P.
Published: June 2014

BACKGROUND:

To enhance the understanding of biological mechanisms connecting early adversity and negative health, we examine the association between family interpersonal violence and disruption and telomere length in youth. These specific exposures were selected because of their established links with negative health consequences across the life-course.

METHODS:

Children, age 5 to 15, were recruited from the greater New Orleans area, and exposure to family disruption and violence was assessed through caregiver report. Telomere length, from buccal cell DNA (buccal telomere length [bTL]), was determined by using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association between bTL and adversity exposure was tested (n = 80).

RESULTS:

Cumulative exposure to interpersonal violence and family disruption was correlated with bTL. Controlling for other sociodemographic factors, bTL was significantly shorter in children with higher exposure to family violence and disruption. Witnessing family violence exerted a particularly potent impact. A significant gender interaction was found (β = −0.0086, SE = 0.0031, z test= −2.79, P = .0053) and analysis revealed the effect only in girls.

CONCLUSIONS:

bTL is a molecular biomarker of adversity and allostatic load that is detectable in childhood. The present results extend previous studies by demonstrating that telomeres are sensitive to adversity within the overarching family domain. These findings suggest that the family ecology may be an important target for interventions to reduce the biological impact of adversity in the lives of children.
Well-Child Care Clinical Practice Redesign for Serving Low-Income Children
Authors: Coker Tumaini R. , Moreno Candice , Shekelle Paul G. , Schuster Mark A. , Chung Paul J.
Published: June 2014

Our objective was to conduct a rigorous, structured process to create a new model of well-child care (WCC) in collaboration with a multisite community health center and 2 small, independent practices serving predominantly Medicaid-insured children. Working groups of clinicians, staff, and parents (called “Community Advisory Boards” [CABs]) used (1) perspectives of WCC stakeholders and (2) a literature review of WCC practice redesign to create 4 comprehensive WCC models for children ages 0 to 3 years. An expert panel, following a modified version of the Rand/UCLA Appropriateness Method, rated each model for potential effectiveness on 4 domains: (1) receipt of recommended services, (2) family-centeredness, (3) timely and appropriate follow-up, and (4) feasibility and efficiency. Results were provided to the CABs for selection of a final model to implement. The newly developed models rely heavily on a health educator for anticipatory guidance and developmental, behavioral, and psychosocial surveillance and screening. Each model allots a small amount of time with the pediatrician to perform a brief physical examination and to address parents' physical health concerns. A secure Web-based tool customizes the visit to parents' needs and facilitates previsit screening. Scheduled, non–face-to-face methods (text, phone) for parent communication with the health care team are also critical to these new models of care. A structured process that engages small community practices and community health centers in clinical practice redesign can produce comprehensive, site-specific, and innovative models for delivery of WCC. This process, as well as the models developed, may be applicable to other small practices and clinics interested in practice redesign.
Monolithic Liquid Chemical Sensing Systems
Authors: Martin Steven M. , Strong Timothy D. , Brown Richard B.
Published: June 2014

The miniaturization of electrochemical transducers is crucial for the development of implantable biosensors, wearable microdetectors, and remote sensing networks due to the small dimensions required in these applications. As sensors scale, the analytical response degrades and integrated instrumentation is required to maintain acceptable detection limits. This work details the development of CMOS-integrated liquid chemical sensors. The sensors were cost-effectively post-processed on top of foundry-fabricated CMOS electronics using thin-film techniques. CMOS-integrated voltammetric sensors demonstrated a 25x improvement in detection limit/electrode area versus passive sensors. CMOS-integrated, ion-selective electrodes demonstrated a 50x improvement in lifetime and a 200x improvement in response time versus passive sensors. With their improved performance, these smart sensors can be used in a wide range of applications and can additionally serve as enabling technologies for more complex, chip-scale systems.
Oficina Terapêutica de Mosaico de Papel: o lugar da materialidade no campo da Terapia Ocupacional
Authors: Corrêa Maria Cecilia Martins Ribeiro
Published: June 2014

Este artigo versa sobre uma experiência clínica denominada Oficina Terapêutica de Mosaico de Papel, concebida para atendimento grupal de pessoas com deficiência física, em situação de exclusão e vulnerabilidade social. Esta intervenção, ainda em curso, ocorre no âmbito da Terapia Ocupacional, orientando-se no pensamento psicanalítico, sobretudo em Winnicott. O artigo discute os temas: escolha e uso dos materiais na terapia ocupacional, análise do potencial terapêutico e alcance deste enquadre clínico. Aproxima-se destas questões por meio da narrativa da construção coletiva do primeiro quadro da oficina. Os encontros abriram novas dimensões da experiência da clínica e das condições existenciais e dos sofrimentos experimentados pelos participantes. A efetividade terapêutica dessa intervenção, que transita na interface entre arte e produção de saúde, mostra-se pela possibilidade de novos fazeres, de novos papéis diante do outro, de participar mais de perto da vida comunitária.
O estabelecimento de padrões de referência altimétrica utilizando o nivelamento geométrico para a definição de alvos altos e inacessíveis
Authors: Seixas Andréa de , Gama Luciene Ferreira , Moraes João Naves de , Souza Angela Maria Barbosa de
Published: June 2014

As estruturas geodésicas altimétricas são fundamentais para os projetos de Engenharia. Neste contexto, pode-se utilizar a tecnologia do nível digital para a determinação de pontos de referência altimétrica através do método do nivelamento geométrico. Outra solução é a utilização da tecnologia da estação total para a determinação de altitudes em pontos situados em locais altos e inacessíveis nas estruturas arquitetônicas, como por exemplo, alvos em estrutura de edificação situados em torres de igrejas e para a realização de uma estrutura geodésica através do método de nivelamento trigonométrico. As estruturas geodésicas altimétricas, implantadas e determinadas pelo método do nivelamento geométrico, materializam, neste trabalho, pontos para o estabelecimento de padrões de referência altimétrica e para a determinação altimétrica de alvos altos e inacessíveis. As estruturas geodésicas foram implantadas e determinadas, no Sítio Histórico de Olinda, empregando-se nível digital de alta precisão e mira de ínvar com código de barras. Este trabalho tem como objetivo definir padrões de referência altimétrica utilizando o método de nivelamento geométrico, resultando na implantação e análise da qualidade de estruturas geodésicas altimétricas.
Digital elevation model validation with no ground control: application to the topodata dem in Brazil
Authors: Polidori Laurent , El Hage Mhamad , Valeriano Márcio De Morisson
Published: June 2014

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) validation is often carried out by comparing the data with a set of ground control points. However, the quality of a DEM can also be considered in terms of shape realism. Beyond visual analysis, it can be verified that physical and statistical properties of the terrestrial relief are fulfilled. This approach is applied to an extract of Topodata, a DEM obtained by resampling the SRTM DEM over the Brazilian territory with a geostatistical approach. Several statistical indicators are computed, and they show that the quality of Topodata in terms of shape rendering is improved with regards to SRTM.
A benchmark process for measuring consumer perceptions of total quality
Authors: Noël Noel Mark
Published: June 2014

Researchers and business practitioners have made much progress in the last several decades towards both the measurement and management of the many aspects of quality. However, a standardised and comprehensive methodology for the measurement of consumer perceptions of total quality has remained elusive for a variety of reasons. This article proposes an illustrative pilot study that applies magnitude estimation (psychophysics) as a valid and convenient method to benchmark consumer perceptions of the various marketing dimensions that come to define total quality. The magnitude estimation approach allows specific quality-related information to be generalised and extended to other similar studies using small-size samples of targeted respondents. The ability to validate and generalise these findings across studies allows researchers and managers to observe functional relationships between existing and new marketing stimuli for related patterns and potential innovations. The observation and analysis of treatment effects over time allows management to implement a consumer-driven quality improvement programme. An empirical pilot study is presented for illustration of the methodology.
The origin and success of qualitative research
Authors: Bailey Lawrence F.
Published: June 2014

Qualitative research has at last achieved full respectability in the academic sphere, and the success of commercial qualitative market research is demonstrably substantial. This article traces the history of qualitative research back to the time when both strands meet, in an academic source aware of the commercial value of applied psychology, drawing upon techniques that seek to explore and explain human behaviour. It is argued that the modern understanding of qualitative research comprises a ‘package’ of component parts, and that the essential elements of these were first identifiable, beginning in 1925, in the work and advocacy of the psychologist, Paul Felix Lazarsfeld.
Sentiment Analysis: A Market-Relevant and Reliable Measure of Public Feeling?
Authors: Gunter Barrie , Koteyko Nelya , Atanasova Dimitrinka
Published: June 2014

This paper critically examines emergent research with sentiment analysis tools to assess their current status and relevance to applied opinion and behaviour measurement. The rapid spread of online news and online chatter in blogs, micro-blogs and social media sites has created a potentially rich source of public opinion. Waves of public feeling are vented spontaneously on a wide range of issues on a minute-by-minute basis in the online world. These online discourses are continually being refreshed, and businesses and advertisers, governments and policy makers have woken up to the fact that this universe of self-perpetuating human sentiment could represent a valuable resource to guide political and business decisions. The massive size of this repository of emotional content renders manual analysis of it feasible only for tiny portions of its totality, and even then can be labour intensive. Computer scientists have however produced software tools that can apply linguistic rules to provide electronic readings of meanings and emotions. These tools are now being utilised by applied social science and market researchers to yield sentiment profiles from online discourses created within specific platforms that purport to represent reliable substitutes for more traditional, offline measures of public opinion. This paper considers what these tools have demonstrated so far and where caution in their application is still called for.
Reviewing Encyclopaedia Authority
Authors: Rasoamampianina Vanessa Aliniaina
Published: June 2014

As traditional encyclopaedias appear to be loosing the favour of the general public, the current paper investigates the extent to which encyclopaedias are still presented as authoritative texts. Here, authority in texts is mostly construed from the theory of cognitive authority according to Józef Maria Bochenski, Richard De George, and Patrick Wilson; in particular from their reflections on the roles, measures and bases of cognitive authority. The content of 80 book reviews on science and technology encyclopaedias is analysed in order to highlight comments pertaining to encyclopaedia authority. Although many aspects of cognitive authorities are covertly discussed within these book reviews, encyclopaedias are not explicitly presented as absolute authorities.
Crowdsourcing Knowledge Interdiscursive Flows from Wikipedia into Scholarly Research
Authors: Lindgren Simon
Published: June 2014

Information increasingly flows from smart online knowledge systems, based on ‘collective intelligence’, and to the more traditional form of knowledge production that takes place within academia. Looking specifically at the case of Wikipedia, and at how it is employed in scholarly research, this study contributes new knowledge about the potential role of user-generated information in science and innovation. This is done using a dataset collected from the Scopus research database, which is processed with a combination of bibliometric techniques and qualitative analysis. Results show that there has been a significant increase in the use of Wikipedia as a reference within all areas of science and scholarship. Wikipedia is used to a larger extent within areas like Computer Science, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities, than in Natural Sciences, Medicine and Psychology. Wikipedia is used as a source for a variety of knowledge and information as a replacement for traditional reference works. A thematic qualitative analysis showed that Wikipedia knowledge is recontextualised in different ways when it is incorporated into scholarly discourse. In general, one can identify two forms of framing where one is unmodalised, and the other is modalised. The unmodalised uses include referring to Wikipedia as a complement or example, as a repository, and as an unproblematic source of information. The modalised use is characterised by the invocation of various markers that emphasise – in different ways – that Wikipedia can not be automatically trusted. It has not yet achieved full legitimacy as a source.
Store Norske Leksikon: Defining a New Role for an Edited Encyclopaedia
Authors: Kjøll Georg , Godal Marit
Published: June 2014

Store norske leksikon (SNL) [Great Norwegian Encyclopaedia] is an edited, online encyclopaedia that strives towards radical transparency. Our aim is for as many parts of text production as possible to be visible to everyone, much like in the model that Wikipedia has pioneered. Unlike Wikipedia, however, contributors to SNL are required to use their full name, and encouraged to supply biographies that explain their background and qualifications within a field or topic.
Proteomic Analysis of Embryogenesis and the Acquisition of Seed Dormancy in Norway Maple (Acer platanoides L.)
Authors: Staszak Aleksandra , Pawłowski Tomasz
Published: June 2014

The proteome of zygotic embryos of Acer platanoides L. was analyzed via high-resolution 2D-SDS-PAGE and MS/MS in order to: (1) identify significant physiological processes associated with embryo development; and (2) identify changes in the proteome of the embryo associated with the acquisition of seed dormancy. Seventeen spots were identified as associated with morphogenesis at 10 to 13 weeks after flowering (WAF). Thirty-three spots were associated with maturation of the embryo at 14 to 22 WAF. The greatest changes in protein abundance occurred at 22 WAF, when seeds become fully mature. Overall, the stage of morphogenesis was characterized by changes in the abundance of proteins (tubulins and actin) associated with the growth and development of the embryo. Enzymes related to energy supply were especially elevated, most likely due to the energy demand associated with rapid growth and cell division. The stage of maturation is crucial to the establishment of seed dormancy and is associated with a higher abundance of proteins involved in genetic information processing, energy and carbon metabolism and cellular and antioxidant processes. Results indicated that a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein and proteasome proteins may be directly involved in dormancy acquisition control, and future studies are warranted to verify this association.
HSPC117 Is Regulated by Epigenetic Modification and Is Involved in the Migration of JEG-3 Cells
Authors: Ma Hong , Qi Mei-Yu , Zhang Xu , Zhang Yue-Ling , Wang Liang , Li Zhong-Qiu , Fu Bo , Wang Wen-Tao , Liu Di
Published: June 2014

The human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell 117 (HSPC117) protein is an essential component of protein complexes and has been identified to be involved in many important functions. However, how this gene expression is regulated and whether the HSPC117 gene affects cell migration is still unknown. The aim of this study was to identify whether HSPC117 mRNA expression is regulated by epigenetic modification and whether HSPC117 expression level affects the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP 2), matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP 14), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP 2), and further affects human placenta choriocarcinoma cell (JEG-3) migration speed. In our epigenetic modification experiment, JEG-3 cells were cultured in medium with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA), or both inhibitors. Then, the HSPC117 mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot assay. The results showed that, compared to the control, HSPC117 mRNA expression was increased by TSA or 5-aza-dC. The highest HSPC117 expression level was found after treatment with both 5-aza-dC and TSA. Further, in order to investigate the effect of HSPC117 on MMP 2, MMP 14, and TIMP 2 mRNA expressions, pEGFP-C1-HSPC117 plasmids were transfected into JEG-3 cells to improve the expression of HSPC117 in the JEG-3 cells. Then, the mRNA expression levels of MMP 2, MMP 14, TIMP 2, and the speed of cell migration were assessed using the scratch wound assay. The results showed that over-expression of HSPC117 mRNA reduced MMP 2 and MMP 14 mRNA expression, while TIMP 2 mRNA expression was up-regulated. The scratch wound assay showed that the migration speed of JEG-3 cells was slower than the non-transfected group and the C1-transfected group. All of these results indicate that HSPC117 mRNA expression is regulated by epigenetic modification; over-expression of HSPC117 decreases MMP 2 and MMP 14 transcription, reduces cell migration speed, and increases TIMP 2 transcription.
Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Body Mass Index in a Large Sample of Middle-Aged Australian Men and Women
Authors: Charlton Karen , Kowal Paul , Soriano Melinda , Williams Sharon , Banks Emily , Vo Kha , Byles Julie
Published: June 2014

Dietary guidelines around the world recommend increased intakes of fruits and non-starchy vegetables for the prevention of chronic diseases and possibly obesity. This study aimed to describe the association between body mass index (BMI) and habitual fruit and vegetable consumption in a large sample of 246,995 Australian adults aged 45 + year who had been recruited for the “45 and Up” cohort study. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed using validated short questions, while weight and height were self-reported. Multinomial logistic regression was used, by sex, to assess the association between fruit and vegetable intake and BMI. Compared to the referent normal weight category (BMI 18.5 to 24.9), the odds ratio (OR) of being in the highest vegetable intake quartile was 1.09 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.14) for overweight women (BMI 25.0–29.9) and 1.18 (95% CI 1.12–1.24) for obese women. The association was in the opposite direction for fruit for overweight (OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.80–0.90) and obese women (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.69–0.80). Obese and overweight women had higher odds of being in the highest intake quartile for combined fruit and vegetable intake, and were more likely to meet the “2 and 5” target or to have five or more serves of fruit and vegetables per day. In contrast, overweight men were less likely to be in high intake quartiles and less likely to meet recommended target of 5 per day, but there was no consistent relationship between obesity and fruit and vegetable intake. Underweight women and underweight men were less likely to be in the highest intake quartiles or to meet the recommended targets. These data suggest that improving adherence to dietary targets for fruit and vegetables may be a dietary strategy to overcome overweight among men, but that overweight and obese women are already adhering to these targets. The association between fruit and vegetable intake and underweight in adults suggests that improving fruit and vegetables intakes are important for the overall dietary patterns of people in this group.
A Critical Review of Research on Reuse of Mechanically Recycled FRP Production and End-of-Life Waste for Construction
Authors: Yazdanbakhsh Ardavan , Bank Lawrence
Published: June 2014

For the last three decades, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials have been widely used in major engineering industries. Managing FRP waste is becoming an important issue due to the growth in the production of FRP composite materials. In this article, the issue of FRP waste management is discussed and the commonly used methods for the handling of FRP waste are reviewed. One potentially viable use of FRP waste is in the partial replacement of fillers or aggregates in cementitious materials (particularly portland cement mortar and concrete). A number of important prior investigations performed on the use of FRP waste in concrete and mortar are reviewed. The results from most of those investigations suggest that FRP aggregates significantly reduce the strength of cementitious materials with little significant effect on durability. Recommendations for future research in this area are provided for producing stronger mortars and concretes incorporating FRP production and end-of-life waste.
Remote Sensing Assessment of Forest Disturbance across Complex Mountainous Terrain: The Pattern and Severity of Impacts of Tropical Cyclone Yasi on Australian Rainforests
Authors: Negrón-Juárez Robinson , Chambers Jeffrey , Hurtt George , Annane Bachir , Cocke Stephen , Powell Mark , Stott Michael , Goosem Stephen , Metcalfe Daniel , Saatchi Sassan
Published: June 2014

Topography affects the patterns of forest disturbance produced by tropical cyclones. It determines the degree of exposure of a surface and can alter wind characteristics. Whether multispectral remote sensing data can sense the effect of topography on disturbance is a question that deserves attention given the multi-scale spatial coverage of these data and the projected increase in intensity of the strongest cyclones. Here, multispectral satellite data, topographic maps and cyclone surface wind data were used to study the patterns of disturbance in an Australian rainforest with complex mountainous terrain produced by tropical cyclone Yasi (2011). The cyclone surface wind data (H*wind) was produced by the Hurricane Research Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (HRD/NOAA), and this was the first time that this data was produced for a cyclone outside of United States territory. A disturbance map was obtained by applying spectral mixture analyses on satellite data and presented a significant correlation with field-measured tree mortality. Our results showed that, consistent with cyclones in the southern hemisphere, multispectral data revealed that forest disturbance was higher on the left side of the cyclone track. The highest level of forest disturbance occurred in forests along the path of the cyclone track (±30°). Levels of forest disturbance decreased with decreasing slope and with an aspect facing off the track of the cyclone or away from the dominant surface winds. An increase in disturbance with surface elevation was also observed. However, areas affected by the same wind intensity presented increased levels of disturbance with increasing elevation suggesting that complex terrain interactions act to speed up wind at higher elevations. Yasi produced an important offset to Australia’s forest carbon sink in 2010. We concluded that multispectral data was sensitive to the main effects of complex topography on disturbance patterns. High resolution cyclone wind surface data are needed in order to quantify the effects of topographic accelerations on cyclone related forest disturbances.
Sparse Fusion Imaging for a Moving Target in T/R-R Configuration
Authors: Chai Shougang , Chen Weidong , Chen Chang
Published: June 2014

For high resolution imaging of a non-cooperative moving target, this paper proposes a sparse fusion imaging method. The imaging system contains two radar stations, which are separated by a certain bistatic angle and configured in a transmitter/receiver-receiver (T/R-R) manner. Consequently, two synthetic apertures are obtained at the same time from different aspect angles. By coherently fusing the echoes of the two radars, a virtual aperture spanned by these two sub-apertures can be constructed, which is larger than either of the sub-apertures; thus, the cross-range resolution of the image is enhanced. Moreover, the fusion of the echoes is realized by exploiting the sparse scattering property of the target. Then, based on the maximum a posteriori (MAP) criterion, the T/R-R fusion imaging problem is converted into a sparse signal recovery problem with unknown parameters. Finally, it is solved in an iterative manner, which contains two steps, i.e., sparse imaging and parameter estimation. Simulation results show that the proposed sparse fusion imaging method can improve the cross-range resolution significantly compared to inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) within the same coherent processing interval (CPI).
Species-Specific Variations in the Nutritional Quality of Southern Ocean Phytoplankton in Response to Elevated pCO2
Authors: Wynn-Edwards Cathryn , King Rob , Davidson Andrew , Wright Simon , Nichols Peter , Wotherspoon Simon , Kawaguchi So , Virtue Patti
Published: June 2014

Increased seawater pCO2 has the potential to alter phytoplankton biochemistry, which in turn may negatively affect the nutritional quality of phytoplankton as food for grazers. Our aim was to identify how Antarctic phytoplankton, Pyramimonas gelidicola, Phaeocystis antarctica, and Gymnodinium sp., respond to increased pCO2. Cultures were maintained in a continuous culture setup to ensure stable CO2 concentrations. Cells were subjected to a range of pCO2 from ambient to 993 µatm. We measured phytoplankton response in terms of cell size, cellular carbohydrate content, and elemental, pigment and fatty acid composition and content. We observed few changes in phytoplankton biochemistry with increasing CO2 concentration which were species-specific and predominantly included differences in the fatty acid composition. The C:N ratio was unaffected by CO2 concentration in the three species, while carbohydrate content decreased in Pyramimonas gelidicola, but increased in Phaeocystis antarctica. We found a significant reduction in the content of nutritionally important polyunsaturated fatty acids in Pyramimonas gelidicola cultures under high CO2 treatment, while cellular levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid 20:5ω3, EPA, in Gymnodinium sp. increased. These changes in fatty acid profile could affect the nutritional quality of phytoplankton as food for grazers, however, further research is needed to identify the mechanisms for the observed species-specific changes and to improve our ability to extrapolate laboratory-based experiments on individual species to natural communities.
Use of Dexamethasone in Patients with High-Grade Glioma: A Clinical Practice Guideline
Authors: Kostaras X. , Cusano F. , Kline G.A. , Roa W. , Easaw J. ,   CNS Tumour Team the Alberta Provincial
Published: June 2014

Background: Dexamethasone is the corticosteroid most commonly used for the management of vasogenic edema and increased intracranial pressure in patients with brain tumours. It is also used after surgery (before embarking on radiotherapy), particularly in patients whose tumours exert significant mass effect. Few prospective clinical trials have set out to determine the optimal dose and schedule for dexamethasone in patients with primary brain tumours, and subsequently, fewer clinical practice guideline recommendations have been formulated. Method: A review of the scientific literature published to November 2012 considered all publications that addressed dexamethasone use in adult patients with brain tumours. Evidence was selected and reviewed by a working group comprising 3 clinicians and 1 methodologist. The resulting draft guideline underwent internal review by members of the Alberta Provincial cns Tumour Team, and feedback was incorporated into the final version of the guideline. Recommendations: Based on the evidence available to date, the Alberta Provincial cns Tumour Team makes these recommendations: Treatment with dexamethasone is recommended for symptom relief in adult patients with primary high-grade glioma and cerebral edema. After surgery, a maximum dose of 16 mg daily, administered in 4 equal doses, is recommended for symptomatic patients. This protocol should ideally be started by the neurosurgeon. A rapid dexamethasone tapering schedule should be considered where appropriate. Patients who have high-grade tumours, are symptomatic, or have poor life expectancy, can be maintained on a 0.5–1.0 mg dose of dexamethasone daily. Side effects with dexamethasone are common, and they increase in frequency and severity with increased dose and duration of therapy. Patients should be carefully monitored for endocrine, muscular, skeletal, gastrointestinal, psychiatric, and hematologic complications, and for infections and other general side effects.
Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy Compared with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Alone for the Treatment of Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Controlled Study
Authors: Liang Z. , Zhu X. , Li L. , Qu S. , Liang X. , Liang Z. , Su F. , Li Y. , Zhao W.
Published: June 2014

Objective: We evaluated the survival benefit of providing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (ccrt) plus adjuvant chemotherapy compared with ccrt alone to patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: This retrospective study included 130 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with ccrt plus adjuvant chemotherapy from June 2005 to December 2010. Another 130 patients treated with ccrt alone during the same period were matched on age, sex, World Health Organization histology, T stage, N stage, and technology used for radiotherapy. The endpoints included overall survival, locoregional failure-free survival, distant metastasis failure-free survival, and failure-free survival. Results: At a mean follow-up of 42.1 months (range: 8–85 months), the observed hazard ratios for the group receiving ccrt plus adjuvant chemotherapy compared with the group receiving ccrt alone were: for overall survival, 0.77 [95% confidence interval (ci): 0.37 to 1.57]; for locoregional failure-free survival, 1.00 (95% ci: 0.37 to 2.71); for distant metastasis failure-free survival, 1.15 (95% ci: 0.56 to 2.37); and for failure-free survival, 1.26 (95% ci: 0.69 to 2.28). There were no significant differences in survival between the groups. After stratification by disease stage, ccrt plus adjuvant chemotherapy provided a borderline significant benefit for patients with N2–3 disease (hazard ratio: 0.35; 95% ci: 0.11 to 1.06; p = 0.052). Multivariate analyses indicated that only tumour stage was a prognostic factor for overall survival. Conclusions: Patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma received no significant survival benefit from the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy to ccrt. However, patients with N2–3 disease might benefit from the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy to ccrt.
Survivorship Care Plans: A Work in Progress
Authors: Daudt H.M.L. , van Mossel C. , Dennis D.L. , Leitz L. , Watson H.C. , Tanliao J.J.
Published: June 2014

Background: Health agencies across the world have echoed the recommendation of the U.S. Institute of Medicine (iom) that survivorship care plans (scps) should be provided to patients upon completion of treatment. To date, reviews of scps have been limited to the United States. The present review offers an expanded scope and describes how scps are being designed, delivered, and evaluated in various countries. Methods: We collected scps from Canada, the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. We selected for analysis the scps for which we could obtain the actual scp, information about the delivery approach, and evaluation data. We conducted a content analysis and compared the scps with the iom guidelines. Results: Of 47 scps initially identified, 16 were analyzed. The scps incorporated several of the iom’s guidelines, but many did not include psychosocial services, identification of a key point of contact, genetic testing, and financial concerns. The model of delivery instituted by the U.K. National Cancer Survivorship Initiative stands out because of its unique approach that initiates care planning at diagnosis and stratifies patients into a follow-up program based on self-management capacities. Summary: There is considerable variation in the approach to delivery and the extent to which scps follow the original recommendations from the iom. We discuss the implications of this review for future care-planning programs and prospective research. A holistic approach to care that goes beyond the iom recommendations and that incorporates care planning from the point of diagnosis to beyond completion of treatment might improve people’s experience of cancer care.