bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of gadoxetate DCE‐MRI as a biomarker of hepatobiliary transporter inhibition
Authors: Ulloa Jose L. , Stahl Simone , Yates James , Woodhouse Neil , Kenna J. Gerry , Jones Huw B. , Waterton John C. , Hockings Paul D.
Published: April 2013

Drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) is a clinically important adverse drug reaction, which prevents the development of many otherwise safe and effective new drugs. Currently, there is a lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers that can be used to predict, assess and manage this toxicity. The aim of this work was to evaluate gadoxetate‐enhanced MRI as a potential novel biomarker of hepatobiliary transporter inhibition in the rat. Initially, the volume fraction of extracellular space in the liver was determined using gadopentetate to enable an estimation of the gadoxetate concentration in hepatocytes. Using this information, a compartmental model was developed to characterise the pharmacokinetics of hepatic uptake and biliary excretion of gadoxetate. Subsequently, we explored the impact of an investigational hepatobiliary transporter inhibitor on the parameters of the model in vivo in rats. The investigational hepatobiliary transporter inhibitor reduced both the rate of uptake of gadoxetate into the hepatocyte, k1, and the Michaelis–Menten constant, Vmax, characterising its excretion into bile, whereas KM values for biliary efflux were increased. These effects were dose dependent and correlated with effects on plasma chemistry markers of liver dysfunction, in particular bilirubin and bile acids. These results indicate that gadoxetate‐enhanced MRI provides a novel functional biomarker of inhibition of transporter‐mediated hepatic uptake and clearance in the rat. Since gadoxetate is used clinically, the technology has the potential to provide a translatable biomarker of drug‐induced perturbation of hepatic transporters that may also be useful in humans to explore deleterious functional alterations caused by transporter inhibition. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interpenetrating polymer network structured thermosets prepared from epoxidized soybean oil/diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A
Authors: Tan Seah Guan , Ahmad Zulkifli , Chow Wen Shyang
Published: April 2013

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO)/diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) in various blend ratios (i.e. 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50) was thermally cured using methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride in the presence of 2‐ethyl‐4‐methylimidazole catalyst. The tensile properties and fracture toughness of the ESO/DGEBA thermoset blends were determined. Thermal properties of the blends were characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Blending of ESO and DGEBA gave synergistic effects on the modulus, strength, glass transition temperature and thermal stability. However, the fracture toughness and elongation at break of ESO/DGEBA blends are lower than those of ESO, as expected. The enhancement in certain mechanical and thermal properties of ESO/DGEBA can be associated with the crosslink density, gel content and possible interpenetrating network of the resulting thermoset blends. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Black hole's quantum N‐portrait
Authors: Dvali G. , Gomez C.
Published: April 2013

We establish a quantum measure of classicality in the form of the occupation number, N, of gravitons in a gravitational field. This allows us to view classical background geometries as quantum Bose‐condensates with large occupation numbers of soft gravitons. We show that among all possible sources of a given physical length, N is maximized by the black hole and coincides with its entropy. The emerging quantum mechanical picture of a black hole is surprisingly simple and fully parameterized by N. The black hole is a leaky bound‐state in form of a cold Bose‐condensate of N weakly‐interacting soft gravitons of wave‐length √N times the Planck length and of quantum interaction strength 1/N. Such a bound‐state exists for an arbitrary N. This picture provides a simple quantum description of the phenomena of Hawking radiation, Bekenstein entropy as well as of non‐Wilsonian UV‐self‐completion of Einstein gravity. We show that Hawking radiation is nothing but a quantum depletion of the graviton Bose‐condensate, which despite the zero temperature of the condensate produces a thermal spectrum of temperature T = 1/(√N). The Bekenstein entropy originates from the exponentially growing with N number of quantum states. Finally, our quantum picture allows to understand classicalization of deep‐UV gravitational scattering as 2 → N transition. We point out some fundamental similarities between the black holes and solitons, such as a t'Hooft‐Polyakov monopole. Both objects represent Bose‐condensates of N soft bosons of wavelength √N and interaction strength 1/N. In short, the semi‐classical black hole physics is 1/N‐coupled large‐N quantum physics.
Investigating hydrophobic ligand–receptor interactions in parathyroid hormone receptor using peptide probes
Authors: Cupp M. E. , Song B. , Kibler P. , Raghavender U. S. , Nayak S. K. , Thomsen W. , Galande A. K.
Published: April 2013

With an increasing number of new chemical entities entering clinical studies, and an increasing share of the market, peptides and peptidomimetics constitute one of the most promising classes of therapeutics. The success of synthetic peptides as therapeutics relies on the lead optimization step in which the lead candidates are modified to improve drug‐like properties of peptides related to potency, pharmacokinetics, solubility, and stability, among others. Peptidomimetics based on the N‐terminal stretch of the first 11 amino acids of the PTH have been investigated as potential lead compounds for the treatment of osteoporosis. On the basis of a peptide reported in the literature, referred to here as the Parent Peptide (H‐Aib‐Val‐Aib‐Glu‐Ile‐Gln‐Leu‐Nle‐His‐Gln‐Har‐NH2), we conducted systematic SAR analyses to investigate the effects of altering peptide hydrophobicity on PTH receptor functional potency as measured by the cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) accumulation and β‐arrestin recruitment assays. Among hydrophobic residues, we found that the Val2 position shows the least flexibility in terms of the SAR studies, whereas the Leu7 position appeared to be most flexible. Through circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies, we were able to establish that changes in hydrophobic residues significantly change the extent of peptide helicity and that the helical character correlates well with receptor agonist activity. Here, we report several novel PTH 1–11 peptidomimetics that show comparable or enhanced potency to stimulate Gs‐signaling over β‐arrestin recruitment as compared with such properties of PTH 1–34 and the Parent Peptide. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Rough Programming Model Based on the Greatest Compatible Classes and Synthesis Effect
Authors: Li Fachao , Jin Chenxia , Jing Ying , Wilamowska‐Korsak Marzena , Bi Zhuming
Published: April 2013

The globalization connects different parts of the world tightly, one region can be closely interacted by another region. The globalized environment can become dynamic and turbulent, thus brings uncertainties into decision making. A critical challenge in system science is to deal with the uncertainties such as fuzziness, randomness and roughness of information. In this paper, a programming model in rough sets is presented. First, the characteristics and limitations of the existing rough programming methods are analysed systematically. Second, the necessity and feasibility of developing a new rough programming model is discussed, and the model is developed on the basis of the greatest compatible classes and synthesis effect. Finally, the effectiveness and characteristics of the newly developed model are validated through a case study. The result illustrates that the new programming model is of significance in practical applications, and it makes it possible to take decision preferences into account of the decision‐making processes effectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple atmospheric boundary layer model applied to large eddy simulations of wind turbine wakes
Authors: Troldborg Niels , Sørensen Jens N. , Mikkelsen Robert , Sørensen Niels N.
Published: April 2013

A simple model for including the influence of the atmospheric boundary layer in connection with large eddy simulations of wind turbine wakes is presented and validated by comparing computed results with measurements as well as with direct numerical simulations. The model is based on an immersed boundary type technique where volume forces are used to introduce wind shear and atmospheric turbulence. The application of the model for wake studies is demonstrated by combining it with the actuator line method, and predictions are compared with field measurements. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
When does depression become a disorder? Using recurrence rates to evaluate the validity of proposed changes in major depression diagnostic thresholds
Authors: Wakefield Jerome C. , Schmitz Mark F.
Published: April 2013

High community prevalence estimates of DSM‐defined major depressive disorder (MDD) have led to proposals to raise MDD's diagnostic threshold to more validly distinguish pathology from normal‐range distress. However, such proposals lack empirical validation. We used MDD recurrence rates in the longitudinal 2‐wave Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study to test the predictive validity of three proposals to narrow MDD diagnosis: a) excluding “uncomplicated” episodes (i.e., episodes that last no longer than 2 months and do not include suicidal ideation, psychotic ideation, psychomotor retardation, or feelings of worthlessness); b) excluding mild episodes (i.e., episodes with only five to six symptoms); and c) excluding nonmelancholic episodes. For each proposal, we used lifetime MDD diagnoses at wave 1 to distinguish the group proposed for exclusion, other MDD, and those with no MDD history. We then compared these groups’ 1‐year MDD rates at wave 2. A proposal was considered strongly supported if at wave 2 the excluded group's MDD rate was not only significantly lower than the rate for other MDD but also not significantly greater than the no‐MDD‐history group. Results indicated that all three excluded groups had significantly lower recurrence rates than other MDD (uncomplicated vs. complicated, 3.4% vs. 14.6%; mild vs. severe, 9.6% vs. 20.7%; nonmelancholic vs. melancholic, 10.6% vs. 19.2%, respectively). However, only uncomplicated MDD's recurrence rate was also not significantly greater than the MDD occurrence rate for the no‐MDD‐history group (3.4% vs. 1.7%, respectively). This low recurrence rate resulted from an interaction between uncomplicated duration and symptom criteria. Multiple‐episode uncomplicated MDD did not entail significantly elevated recurrence over single‐episode cases (3.7% vs. 3.0%, respectively). Uncomplicated MDD's general‐distress symptoms, transient duration, and lack of elevated recurrence suggest it may generally represent nonpathologic intense sadness that should be addressed in treatment guidelines and considered for exclusion from MDD diagnosis to increase the validity of the MDD/normal sadness boundary.
Supported employment: cost‐effectiveness across six European sites
Authors: Knapp Martin , Patel Anita , Curran Claire , Latimer Eric , Catty Jocelyn , Becker Thomas , Drake Robert E. , Fioritti Angelo , Kilian Reinhold , Lauber Christoph , Rössler Wulf , Tomov Toma , van Busschbach Jooske , Comas‐Herrera Adelina , White Sarah , Wiersma Durk , Burns Tom
Published: April 2013

A high proportion of people with severe mental health problems are unemployed but would like to work. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) offers a promising approach to establishing people in paid employment. In a randomized controlled trial across six European countries, we investigated the economic case for IPS for people with severe mental health problems compared to standard vocational rehabilitation. Individuals (n=312) were randomized to receive either IPS or standard vocational services and followed for 18 months. Service use and outcome data were collected. Cost‐effectiveness analysis was conducted with two primary outcomes: additional days worked in competitive settings and additional percentage of individuals who worked at least 1 day. Analyses distinguished country effects. A partial cost‐benefit analysis was also conducted. IPS produced better outcomes than alternative vocational services at lower cost overall to the health and social care systems. This pattern also held in disaggregated analyses for five of the six European sites. The inclusion of imputed values for missing cost data supported these findings. IPS would be viewed as more cost‐effective than standard vocational services. Further analysis demonstrated cost‐benefit arguments for IPS. Compared to standard vocational rehabilitation services, IPS is, therefore, probably cost‐saving and almost certainly more cost‐effective as a way to help people with severe mental health problems into competitive employment.
Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis of Enhanced Recovery After Pancreatic Surgery with Particular Emphasis on Pancreaticoduodenectomies
Authors: Coolsen M. M. E. , van Dam R. M. , van der Wilt A. A. , Slim K. , Lassen K. , Dejong C. H. C.
Published: April 2013

Background

In the past decade, Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been implemented in several fields of surgery. With these protocols, a faster recovery and shorter hospital stay can be accomplished without an increase in morbidity or mortality. The purpose of this study was to review systematically the evidence for implementation of an ERAS protocol in pancreatic resections, with particular emphasis on pancreaticoduodenectomies (PDs).

Methods

A systematic search was performed in Medline, Embase, Pubmed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane library for papers describing an ERAS program in adult patients undergoing elective pancreatic surgery published between January 1966 and December 2012. The primary outcome measure was postoperative length of stay. Secondary outcome measures were time to recovery of normal function, overall postoperative complication rates, readmissions, and mortality. Subsequently, a meta‐analysis of outcome measures focusing on PD was conducted. This systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed according to the PRISMA statement.

Results

The literature search produced 248 potentially relevant papers. Of these, eight papers met the predefined inclusion criteria: five case‐control studies, two retrospective studies, and one prospective study, describing a total of 1,558 patients. Only three of the studies reported data on discharge criteria and assessed time to recovery and return to normal function. Implementation of an ERAS protocol led in four of five comparative studies to a significant decrease in length of stay (reduction of 2–6 days in different studies). Meta‐analysis of four studies focusing on PDs showed that there was a significant difference in complication rates in favor of the ERAS group (absolute risk difference 8.2 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.0–14.4, p = 0.008). Introduction of an ERAS protocol did not result in an increase in mortality or readmissions. Delayed gastric emptying and incidence of pancreatic fistula did not differ significantly between groups. All studies reporting on hospital costs showed a decrease after implementation of ERAS.

Conclusions

This systematic review suggests that using an ERAS protocol in pancreatic resections may help to shorten hospital length of stay without compromising morbidity and mortality. This seemed to apply to distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy, and PD. Meta‐analysis was performed for those studies focusing on PD and showed that there were no differences in readmission or mortality. Morbidity rates were significantly lower for patients managed according ERAS principles.
New‐onset diabetes mellitus developing in Asian adult living donor liver transplant recipients: a single‐center experience
Authors: Harada Nobuhiro , Sugawara Yasuhiko , Akamatsu Nobuhisa , Kaneko Junichi , Tamura Sumihito , Aoki Taku , Sakamoto Yoshihiro , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Yamashiki Noriyo , Kokudo Norihiro
Published: April 2013

Background

New‐onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) after liver transplantation is a common complication with a potentially negative impact on patient outcome.

Methods

To evaluate the incidence of NODM and its impact on Asian adult living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients, we investigated 369 adult LDLT cases in our institute.

Results

Preoperative diabetes mellitus (DM) was diagnosed in 38 (9 %) patients. NODM was observed in 128/331 (38 %) patients, 56 (44 %) with persistent NODM and 72 (56 %) with transient NODM. The mean interval between LDLT and the development of NODM was 0.6 ± 1.8 (range 0—1.4) months. Multivariate analyssis revealed that older age, being male and having a higher body mass index were independent risk factors among recipients for developing NODM, while hepatitis C virus infection was not a significant risk factor, and DM had no impact on patient outcome.

Conclusions

Although the long‐term effect of DM on outcome remains to be investigated, the presence of DM after liver transplant, whether it was NODM or preexisting DM, had no impact on LDLT recipients' outcomes in mid‐term.
Etiology of biliary atresia as a developmental anomaly: recent advances
Authors: Nakamura Kazuaki , Tanoue Akito
Published: April 2013

Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive fibro‐obliterative cholangiopathy affecting the extra‐ and intrahepatic biliary tree to various degrees and resulting in obstructive bile flow, cholestasis and icterus in neonates. It is the most common cause of pediatric liver transplantation. The etiology of BA is still unclear, although there is some evidence pointing to viral, toxic, and multiple genetic factors. For new therapeutic options other than liver transplantation to be developed, a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of BA is indispensable. The fact that the pathology of BA develops during a period of biliary growth and remodeling suggests an involvement of developmental anomalies. Recent studies indicate an association of the etiology of BA with some genetic factors such as laterality genes, epigenetic regulation and/or microRNA function. In this paper, we present an overview of recent advances in the understanding of the disease focusing on bile duct developmental anomaly.
Evolutionary community ecology of plant‐associated arthropods in terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: Utsumi Shunsuke
Published: April 2013

In the 21st century, researchers have attempted a synthesis between community ecology and evolutionary biology. This emerging research area, which aims to synthesize community ecology and evolutionary biology, is evolutionary community ecology. Evolutionary community ecology addresses how intraspecific trait variation in community members is essential for predicting community properties and, how community properties are a key component of the selective forces that determine genetic and phenotypic variation in a community member. In this paper, I review recent findings in evolutionary community ecology in plant‐associated arthropods in terrestrial ecosystems. I discuss roles of both genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity as a source of trait variation in plants in shaping plant‐associated arthropod communities. Also, I discuss effects of genetic variation in herbivores on plant‐associated arthropod communities. Furthermore, I highlight community context evolution in which multiple species interactions and community composition affect trait evolution of a community member. Finally, I argue that future studies should investigate a feedback loop between community and evolutionary dynamics beyond unidirectional studies on effects of evolution on a community or vice versa. This approach will provide major insights into mechanistic principles for making predictions of community ecology.
Screening pregnant women for group B streptococcus infection between 30 and 32 weeks of pregnancy in a population at high risk for premature birth
Authors: Horváth Boldizsar , Grasselly Magdolna , Bödecs Tamás , Boncz Imre , Bódis József
Published: April 2013

Objective

To assess the benefits of a chemoprophylaxis program based on screening women for group B streptococcus (GBS) infection between 30 and 32 weeks of pregnancy in a population with a high rate of premature births.

Methods

From 1995 to 2011, 24 950 women were screened for GBS infection between 30 and 32 weeks of pregnancy at Markusovszky Teaching Hospital, Szombathely, Hungary. Those who tested positive, and those who tested negative but were at risk of infecting their newborns, underwent intrapartum prophylaxis. Neonatal outcomes were compared with those of a historical cohort that underwent no screening or treatment, and with those published in CDC/ACOG guidelines recommending screening closer to term.

Results

There were 63 infected newborns (0.2%) in the study cohort, and 1 of 8 with sepsis died. There were 149 infected newborns (0.7%) in the historical cohort, and 29 of 31 with sepsis died.

Conclusion

Screening women early in a population with a high rate of premature births may simplify preterm labor management. It results, however, in a higher incidence of early onset neonatal GBS disease than when screening is done closer to term.
Fostering political understanding using The West Wing: Analyzing the pedagogical benefits of film in high school civics classrooms
Authors: Journell Wayne , Buchanan Lisa Brown
Published: April 2013

This study describes one high school civics teacher's use of film as a way to improve his students’ understanding of politics. Using episodes of The West Wing, an award-winning political drama, over the course of a semester, the teacher was able to create an authentic context for political instruction that allowed his students to practice thinking politically, better understand real-life political events, and make connections across the formal curriculum. The findings from this study offer several implications for both the teaching of politics in secondary education as well as the use of film in secondary social studies courses.
Politics in the Mind's Eye: Imagination as a Link between Social and Political Cognition
Authors: PETERSEN MICHAEL BANG , AARøe LENE
Published: April 2013

How do modern individuals form a sense of the vast societies in which they live? Social cognition has evolved to make sense of small, intimate social groups, but in complex mass societies, comparable vivid social cues are scarcer. Extant research on political attitudes and behavior has emphasized media and interpersonal networks as key sources of cues. Extending a classical argument, we provide evidence for the importance of an alternative and internal source: imagination. With a focus on social welfare, we collected survey data from two very different democracies, the United States and Denmark, and conducted several studies using explicit, implicit, and behavioral measures. By analyzing the effects of individual differences in imagination, we demonstrate that political cognition relies on vivid, mental simulations that engage evolved social and emotional decision-making mechanisms. It is in the mind's eye that vividness and engagement are added to people's sense of mass politics.
The dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitor, nepicastat, suppresses chocolate self-administration and reinstatement of chocolate seeking in rats
Authors: Zaru Alessandro , Maccioni Paola , Colombo Giancarlo , Gessa Gian Luigi
Published: April 2013

Craving for chocolate is a common phenomenon, which may evolve to an addictive-like behaviour and contribute to obesity. Nepicastat is a selective dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) inhibitor that suppresses cocaine-primed reinstatement of cocaine seeking in rats. We verified whether nepicastat was able to modify the reinforcing and motivational properties of a chocolate solution and to prevent the reinstatement of chocolate seeking in rats. Nepicastat (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) produced a dose-related inhibition of operant self-administration of the chocolate solution in rats under fixed-ratio 10 (FR10) and progressive-ratio schedules of reinforcement, measures of the reinforcing and motivational properties of the chocolate solution, respectively. The effect of nepicastat on the reinstatement of chocolate seeking was studied in rats in which lever-responding had been extinguished by removing the chocolate solution for approximately 8 d. Nepicastat dose-dependently suppressed the reinstatement of lever-responding triggered by a ‘priming’ of the chocolate solution together with cues previously associated with the availability of the reward. In a separate group of food-restricted rats trained to lever-respond for regular food pellets, nepicastat reduced FR10 lever-responding with the same potency as for the chocolate solution. Spontaneous locomotor activity was not modified by nepicastat doses that reduced self-administration of the chocolate solution and regular food pellets and suppressed the reinstatement of chocolate seeking. The results indicate that nepicastat reduces motivation to food consumption sustained by appetite or palatability. Moreover, the results suggest that DBH inhibitors may be a new class of pharmacological agents potentially useful in the prevention of relapse to food seeking in human dieters.
Serum lipid-improving effect of soyabean β-conglycinin in hyperlipidaemic menopausal women
Authors: Ma Defu , Taku Kyoko , Zhang Yumei , Jia Meng , Wang Yang , Wang Peiyu
Published: April 2013

To evaluate the effect of treatment with β-conglycinin, a major soyabean protein, on blood lipids in menopausal women, we recruited 100 hyperlipidaemic women aged 40–60 years old. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups: placebo group (n 34, four casein tablets/d); low dose group (n 33, four tablets containing 2·3 g β-conglycinin/d); high-dose group (n 33, eight tablets containing 4·6 g β-conglycinin/d). The mean serum TAG concentration was significantly reduced after 6 and 12 weeks of β-conglycinin intervention by 0·44 (sd 0·20) and 0·78 (sd 1·03) mmol/l in the low-dose group, and by 0·46 (sd 0·17) and 1·25 (sd 1·06) mmol/l in the high-dose group, respectively. One-way ANOVA revealed that serum TAG concentrations in the low-dose and high-dose groups were significantly lowered compared with the placebo group at weeks 6 and 12 (P< 0·05). The low dose and high dose consumptions of β-conglycinin significantly decreased the LDL-cholesterol concentration by 0·46 (sd 0·72) and 0·52 (sd 0·97) mmol/l at week 12, respectively (P< 0·05). Compared with the changes from baseline in the placebo group, apoB and NEFA were significantly lowered in both the low-dose and high-dose β-conglycinin groups (P< 0·05). In conclusion, the results suggest that β-conglycinin intake significantly decreases serum TAG and LDL-cholesterol levels.
Stochastic patterns of polymorphism after a selective sweep over a subdivided population
Authors: KIM YUSEOB
Published: April 2013

The geographic structure of a population, which is modelled as a network of several small random-mating populations or demes exchanging migrants between them, limits the rapid spread of a beneficial allele under strong directional selection to the entire population. This weakens or modifies the hitchhiking effect of the beneficial allele on the pattern of genetic variation at linked neutral loci. Previous studies suggested that the characteristic patterns of polymorphism arise with selective sweeps in such a subdivided population. However, they did not fully address the stochastic pattern, as expected in an actual sample of DNA sequence, of such patterns. This study uses a novel method of individual-based forward-in-time simulation to generate multi-locus neutral polymorphism after a selective sweep in a moderately subdivided population. Population subdivision is shown to cause frequency spectrum to shift slightly such that Tajima'sDbecomes less negative than expected under a panmictic population. Similarly, the pattern of linkage disequilibrium showed very small change due to population subdivision. On the other hand, the value of Wright'sFSTat closely linked neutral loci relative to that at unlinked loci greatly increased by population subdivision as predicted by previous studies. Finally, the distribution of the gradient of heterozygosity along the migration path of beneficial mutation, previously suggested to allow the inference of the direction of spread, was investigated. The variance of difference in heterozygosity was much larger than the mean, suggesting that such an inference may not be practical.
Patterns of sandy-beach macrofauna production
Authors: Petracco Marcelo , Cardoso Ricardo Silva , Turra Alexander
Published: April 2013

Using data available from the literature, patterns of biomass, production and productivity of sandy-beach macrofauna populations were examined, considering environmental (temperature, exposure, grain size and beach slope) and biological variables (life span and mean body mass) and feeding and taxonomic groups. A total of 102 estimates of both production and biomass and 105 estimates of P/B ratios were collected from 52 studies carried out between 42°46′S and 54°05′N, for 83 sandy-beach macrofauna populations. The negative relationship between P/B ratio and beach slope for the supralittoral amphipods agrees with the Habitat Safety Hypothesis, according to which these forms would show higher mortality in dissipative than in reflective beaches. The observed higher production of filter-feeders in exposed than in sheltered beaches suggests that more food is available for filter-feeders in exposed beaches. The higher production of filter-feeders (represented by bivalves and decapods), than of scavengers/predators (peracarids and gastropods) showed the importance of filter-feeders in the food web of sandy beaches. The P/B ratios were strongly related to life span, but weakly or not related to the mean body mass. The high amphipod P/B ratio was attributed to the short life span of these crustaceans; conversely, gastropods showed the lowest P/B ratio, in accordance with their longer life span. The observed differences in biomass, production and P/B ratios within crustaceans and molluscs were attributed to differences in life-history traits and feeding mode.
Algorithms for Sparse Network-based RTK GPS Positioning and Performance Assessment
Authors: Tang Weiming , Meng Xiaolin , Shi Chuang , Liu Jingnan
Published: April 2013

The average inter-station distances in most established network Real Time Kinematic (RTK) systems are constrained to around 50 km. A sparse network RTK system with an average inter-station distance of up to 300 km would have many appealing advantages over a conventional one, including a significant reduction in the development and maintenance costs. The first part of this paper introduces the key approaches for sparse network RTK positioning technology. These include long-range reference baseline ambiguity resolution and real-time kinematic ambiguity resolution for the rover receivers. The proposed method for long-range kinematic ambiguity resolution can overcome the network weaknesses through three procedures: application of the interpolated corrections from the sparse network only to wide-lane combination; searching the ambiguities of wide-lane combination; and searching L1 ambiguities with wide-lane combination and ionosphere-free observables. To test these techniques, a network including ten reference stations was created from the Ordnance Survey's Network (OS NetTM) that covers the whole territory of the United Kingdom (UK). The average baseline length of this sparse network is about 300 km. To assess the positioning performance, nine rover stations situated inside and outside the network were also selected from the OS Net™. Finally, the accuracy of interpolated corrections, the positioning accuracy and the initialization time required for precise positioning were estimated and analysed. From the observed performance of each rover receiver, and the accuracy of interpolated network corrections, it can be concluded that it is feasible to use a sparse reference station network with an average inter-station distance up to 300 km for achieving similar performance to traditional network RTK positioning. The proposed approach can provide more cost-efficient use of network RTK (NRTK) positioning for engineering and environmental applications that are currently being delivered by traditional network RTK positioning technology.
The epidemiology of gonorrhoea in London: a Bayesian spatial modelling approach
Authors: Le POLAIN De WAROUX O. , HARRIS R. J. , HUGHES G. , CROOK P. D.
Published: April 2013

Data obtained from genitourinary medicine clinics through a comprehensive surveillance system were used in a Bayesian mixed-effects Poisson regression model to explore socio-demographic individual and ecological risk factors for gonorrhoea in London, as well as its spatial clustering. The spatial analysis was performed at the Middle-layer Super Output Area level (median population size 7200). A total of 12452 individuals were diagnosed during the 2-year study period (2009–2010). The study confirmed the presence of ‘core areas’ of high incidence, and identified ‘core’ high-risk groups, in particular young adults (16–29 years), males, black Caribbeans and more deprived areas. The individual (age, sex, ethnicity) and area-level (deprivation, teenage pregnancies, students) model covariates accounted for 48% of the variance. Most of the remaining variance was explained by the spatial effect, thus capturing other spatially distributed factors associated with gonorrhoea, such as local sexual networks. These findings will be useful in identifying areas for targeted interventions, such as STI testing and health promotion.
Functional analysis of TaABF1 during abscisic acid and gibberellin signalling in aleurone cells of cereal grains
Authors: Harris Lauren J. , Martinez Sarah A. , Keyser Benjamin R. , Dyer William E. , Johnson Russell R.
Published: April 2013

The wheat transcription factor TaABF1 physically interacts with the protein kinase PKABA1 and mediates both abscisic acid (ABA)-induced and ABA-suppressed gene expression. In bombarded aleurone cells of imbibing grains, the effect of TaABF1 in down-regulating the gibberellin (GA)-inducedAmy32bpromoter was stronger in the presence of exogenous ABA. As these grains contained low levels of endogenous ABA, the effect of TaABF1 may also be mediated by ABA-induced activation even in the absence of exogenous ABA. Levels of TaABF1 protein decreased slightly during imbibition of afterripened grains. However, TaABF1 levels (especially in aleurone layers) were not substantially affected by exogenous ABA or GA, indicating that changes in TaABF1 protein level are not an important part of regulating its role in hormone signalling. We found that TaABF1 was phosphorylatedin vivoin aleurone cells, suggesting a role for post-translational modification in regulating TaABF1 activity. Induction ofAmy32bby overexpression of the transcription factor GAMyb could not be prevented by TaABF1, indicating that TaABF1 acts upstream ofGAMybtranscription in the signalling pathway. Supporting this view, knockdown of TaABF1 by RNA interference resulted in increased expression from theGAMybpromoter. These results are consistent with a model in which TaABF1 is constitutively present in aleurone cells, while its ability to down-regulateGAMybis regulated in response to ABA.
Pharmacotherapies for treating opioid use disorder
Authors: Nguyen Thomas A. , Hahn Jennie H. , Strakowski Stephen M.
Published: April 2013

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major public health problem in the United States. It has resulted in devastating consequences for people with this condition, including psychosocial and legal problems, in addition to contraction of infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. Furthermore, this disease can cause fatalities from drug overdoses and drug–drug interactions. OUD shatters families and destroys relationships. Effective treatment is crucial in order to curtail the consequences of this condition. The objective of this article is to provide a review of the pharmacotherapies currently being used to treat OUD.
Place and food insecurity: a critical review and synthesis of the literature
Authors: Carter Megan Ann , Dubois Lise , Tremblay Mark S
Published: April 2013

Objective

In some high-income countries, a sizeable proportion of households are estimated to be food insecure. It is well known that food insecurity varies between countries and is strongly tied to household income level. The local environment may be another level of influence, which has been relatively understudied. The present review sought to synthesize and critically appraise the existing literature examining local environmental characteristics in relation to individual/household-level food insecurity in the general population.

Design

A systematic search strategy was used to search MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-process and Other Non-indexed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Social Services Abstracts and Sociological Abstracts databases for studies examining local place characteristic(s) in relation to self-reported food insecurity.

Setting

Studies could be experimental or observational, but had to be published in a peer-reviewed journal in French or English, and involve individuals from developed countries. ‘Place’ was defined locally, as ranging from the street to the county level.

Subjects

The target population for the review included non-institutionalized individuals in the general population.

Results

After obtaining full-text articles, eighteen primary studies met the eligibility criteria. Most studies were conducted in the USA and all but one was cross-sectional. Seven of the eleven studies that examined location of residence found that rural living was inversely associated with food insecurity. Mixed results were seen for other place measures such as social capital and distance to food stores.

Conclusions

Studies were heterogeneous and had various limitations that preclude definitive conclusions from being drawn. Recommendations for future research are provided.
Efficacy of a store-based environmental change intervention compared with a delayed treatment control condition on store customers’ intake of fruits and vegetables
Authors: Ayala Guadalupe X , Baquero Barbara , Laraia Barbara A , Ji Ming , Linnan Laura
Published: April 2013

Objective

The present store-based intervention was designed to promote sales of fruits and vegetables (F&V) to increase intake among store customers – specifically customers of tiendas, small-to-medium-sized Latino food stores.

Design

Four tiendas were randomized to a 2-month environmental change intervention or a delayed treatment control condition. Employees and managers were trained to promote F&V sales, including how to implement a food marketing campaign and installing store equipment to promote fresh fruits and vegetables. The primary outcome was self-reported daily intake of F&V among a convenience sample of customers (at least forty per store) collected at baseline prior to randomization and then 4 months later. In addition, changes in availability of F&V in the tiendas, using unobtrusive observational methods, provided evidence of intervention fidelity.

Setting

Tiendas in central North Carolina.

Subjects

Participants included 179 customers who were recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Results

A group-by-time interaction approached significance on daily servings of F&V; intervention customers reported an increase in F&V intake over time and as a function of the intervention (P ≤ 0·06). Unexpectedly, self-efficacy for consuming more fruits (P ≤ 0·01) and more vegetables (P ≤ 0·06) decreased. In our store-level analyses, a group-by-time interaction was observed for availability of fresh and canned vegetables; the intervention increased availability of vegetables but not fruit.

Conclusions

Environmental change strategies to promote healthy eating are needed given the rates of obesity and diabetes in the Latino population. A store-based intervention was moderately effective at increasing customers’ reported F&V intake. Such strategies can have a public health impact on underserved populations.
Does availability of informal care within the household impact hospitalisation?
Authors: Weaver France M. , Weaver Bryce A.
Published: April 2013

This study assesses the effect of having informal support available at home on inpatient care use in Switzerland. The main contributions are to consider the availability of care regardless of its source, measured by multiple-adult living arrangements, and to examine this effect by type of inpatient care and source of potential support. A two-part model with region and time fixed effects is estimated to determine the impact of informal care availability on the likelihood of hospitalisation and length of stay, conditional on hospitalisation. The analysis is conducted on a sample of individuals aged 18+ from four waves of the Swiss Household Panel survey (2004–2007). Overall, availability of informal care has no impact on the likelihood of hospitalisation but does significantly reduce length of stay by 1.9 days. Available support has no effect on the shortest stays (up to 10 days), but has a significant impact on acute care stays up to 30 days and longer stays. Additionally, the effect does not significantly vary whether the source of informal support is a spouse only, a spouse and other adults, or other adults only. These results indicate that social changes leading to an expansion in the proportion of one-person households may increase future inpatient care use.
MODEL THEORY OF MEASURE SPACES AND PROBABILITY LOGIC
Authors: KUYPER RUTGER , TERWIJN SEBASTIAAN A.
Published: April 2013

We study the model-theoretic aspects of a probability logic suited for talking about measure spaces. This nonclassical logic has a model theory rather different from that of classical predicate logic. In general, not every satisfiable set of sentences has a countable model, but we show that one can always build a model on the unit interval. Also, the probability logic under consideration is not compact. However, using ultraproducts we can prove a compactness theorem for a certain class of weak models.
Twin–Twin Transfusion Syndrome and Twin Anemia–Polycythemia Sequence in a Monochorionic Triamniotic Pregnancy
Authors: Davidoff Dahlia F. , Dickinson Jan E. , Warner Teresa , Pennell Craig E.
Published: April 2013

Twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is an antenatal complication of monochorionic multiple gestations. There have been few studies exploring the role of laser photocoagulation or outcomes following treatment in monochorionic triplet pregnancies with TTTS. We present a case where TTTS and twin anemia–polycythemia sequence (TAPS) complicated a monochorionic triplet pregnancy. Following the laser photocoagulation to treat the TTTS between the triplets, an intra-uterine death occurred in one triplet and TAPS developed in the remaining two triplets. Intervention in this case resulted in a 2-week prolongation of pregnancy and a positive outcome for the remaining fetuses. This case and other published data reviewed in this article suggest that laser photocoagulation has a potential role for TTTS in monochorionic triplet pregnancies.
A Behavioral Genetic Analysis of Alexithymia and the Dark Triad Traits of Personality
Authors: Cairncross Molly , Veselka Livia , Schermer Julie Aitken , Vernon Philip A.
Published: April 2013

The present study is the first to assess phenotypic correlations between alexithymia and the Dark Triad traits of personality in a community sample, as well as the common genetic and environmental factors underlying these correlations. Participants were 232 North American adult twin pairs who completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, the MACH-IV, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results revealed that alexithymia correlates significantly and positively with psychopathy and Machiavellianism, and negatively with narcissism. Subsequent bivariate behavioral genetic analysis demonstrated that these phenotypic correlations were primarily attributable to common genetic and common non-shared environmental factors. The implication of these findings regarding the maladaptive functions of alexithymia within the antisocial realm of behavior and the need for replication are discussed.
How Phenotype and Developmental Stage Affect the Genes We Find:GABRA2and Impulsivity
Authors: Dick Danielle M. , Aliev Fazil , Latendresse Shawn , Porjesz Bernice , Schuckit Marc , Rangaswamy Madhavi , Hesselbrock Victor , Edenberg Howard , Nurnberger John , Agrawal Arpana , Bierut Laura , Wang Jen , Bucholz Kathy , Kuperman Samuel , Kramer John
Published: April 2013

Context:The detection and replication of genes involved in psychiatric outcome has been notoriously difficult. Phenotypic measurement has been offered as one explanation, although most of this discussion has focused on problems with binary diagnoses.Objective:This article focuses on two additional components of phenotypic measurement that deserve further consideration in evaluating genetic associations: (1) the measure used to reflect the outcome of interest, and (2) the developmental stage of the study population. We focus our discussion of these issues around the construct of impulsivity and externalizing disorders, and the association of these measures with a specific gene,GABRA2.Design, Setting, and Participants:Data were analyzed from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism Phase IV assessment of adolescents and young adults (ages 12–26;N= 2,128).Main Outcome Measures:Alcohol dependence, illicit drug dependence, childhood conduct disorder, and adult antisocial personality disorder symptoms were measured by psychiatric interview; Achenbach youth/adult self-report externalizing scale; Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking scale; Barratt Impulsivity scale; NEO extraversion and consciousness.Results: GABRA2was associated with subclinical levels of externalizing behavior as measured by the Achenbach in both the adolescent and young adult samples. Contrary to previous associations in adult samples, it was not associated with clinical-level DSM symptom counts of any externalizing disorders in these younger samples. There was also association with sensation-seeking and extraversion, but only in the adolescent sample. There was no association with the Barratt impulsivity scale or conscientiousness.Conclusions:Our results suggest that the pathway by whichGABRA2initially confers risk for eventual alcohol problems begins with a predisposition to sensation-seeking early in adolescence. The findings support the heterogeneous nature of impulsivity and demonstrate that both the measure used to assess a construct of interest and the age of the participants can have profound implications for the detection of genetic associations.
Synthesis and X-ray structural characterization of the (chlorochalcogeno)phosphonium cations R2R′PSCl+ and R2R′PSeCl+ as their AuCl4− salts
Authors: Upmann Daniel , Jones Peter G.
Published: April 2013

The salts [R2R′PECl]+ [AuCl4]−, obtained by the stepwise chlorination of R2R′PEAuCl with PhICl2, are the first stable compounds involving P–E–Cl moieties (E = S, Se).