bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismo‐tectonic behavior of the Pernicana Fault System (Mt Etna): A gauge for volcano flank instability?
Authors: Ruch J. , Pepe S. , Casu F. , Solaro G. , Pepe A. , Acocella V. , Neri M. , Sansosti E.
Published: July 2013

Flank instability at basaltic volcanoes is often related to repeated dike intrusions along rift zones and accompanied by surface fracturing and seismicity. These processes have been mostly studied during specific events, and the lack of longer‐term observations hinders their better understanding. Here we analyze ~20 years of deformation of the Pernicana Fault System (PFS), the key structure controlling the instability of the eastern flank of Mt. Etna. We exploit East‐West and vertical components of mean deformation velocity, as well as corresponding time series, computed from ERS/ENVISAT (1992–2010) and COSMO‐SkyMed (2009–2011) satellite radar sensors via Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry techniques. We then integrate and compare this information with field, seismic, and leveling data, collected between 1980 and 2012. We observe transient displacements accompanied by seismicity, overprinted on a long‐term background eastward motion (~2 cm/yr). In the last decades, these transient events were preceded by a constant amount of accumulated strain near the PFS. The time of strain accumulation varies between a few years and a few decades, also depending on magma emplacement within the nearby North East Rift, which may increase the strain along the PFS. These results suggest that the amount of deformation near the PFS may be used as a gauge to forecast the occurrence of instability transients on the eastern flank of Etna. In this context, the PFS may provide an ideal, small‐scale structure to test the relations between strain accumulation, stress loading, and seismic energy release.
Environmental impact and seroepidemiology of HTLV in two communities in the eastern Brazilian amazon
Authors: Magno Falcão Luiz Fábio , Fuzii Hellen Thais , Feio Libonati Rosana Maria , de Souza Aarão Tinara Leila , Moura Guimarães André Gustavo , Martins Luisa Carício , Simões Quaresma Juarez Antônio
Published: July 2013

The objective of this study was to detect antibodies for human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) in subjects residing in two communities located in the eastern Brazilian Amazon and on the shores of the Tucuruí hydroelectric power plant. A total of 657 serum samples were analysed using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with an anti‐HTLV antibody (Symbiosis™, São Paulo, Brazil), demonstrating a virus prevalence of 4.7%. Most individuals with HTLV were aged over 30 years (P = 0.013), were unmarried (P = 0.019), resided in the area for more than 10 years (P = 0.001), had a low level of education (P = 0.015), and had a family income of up to $305 (100%). In contrast, there was no significant association between infection and sex, city of birth, haemotransfusion, or previous surgery. The prevalence observed in these communities suggests that the residents should be concerned about HTLV infection, and that some areas may become endemic for HTLV. J. Med. Virol. 85:1585–1590, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on immune response to pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in healthy adults
Authors: Wald Anna , Selke Stacy , Magaret Amalia , Boeckh Michael
Published: July 2013

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been implicated in immunosenescence. To examine the influence of CMV on ability of healthy adults to respond to a novel influenza antigen, the rate of seroconversion and the magnitude of titers to pandemic 2009 H1N1 vaccine was assessed. The clinical trial was stratified by age; 52 persons aged 18–64 and 55 aged 65 and older were enrolled. Among the younger group, 33% had CMV antibody compared with 62% among the older group. No differences by CMV seropositivity in the proportion of participants achieving a seroprotective titer 21 days following the second immunization were noted. However, the geometric mean titer in hemagglutination inhibition assay was significantly higher among CMV seronegative younger participants compared with CMV seropositive younger participants (385 vs. 142, P = 0.013). In contrast, among the older group, CMV serostatus was not associated with differential antibody titers (53 vs. 63, P = 0.75). These data suggest that CMV may shape immune response to neoantigens among younger persons; these groups should be included in future studies of immunosenescence and CMV. J. Med. Virol. 85:1557–1560, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Different norovirus genotypes in patients with gastroenteritis in Kuwait
Authors: Al‐Rashidi Amirah , Chehadeh Wassim , Szücs György G. , Albert M. John
Published: July 2013

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. The importance of this virus infection in Kuwait is not known. Eight out of 100 stool samples (8.0%) from children up to 5 years of age with gastroenteritis studied during 2006–2007 from one hospital, and 6 out of 70 stool samples (8.5%) from similar children studied from another hospital during 2010–2011 were positive for norovirus by RT‐PCR. Out of these 170 samples studied from both hospitals, 10 samples were positive for norovirus when tested by ELISA. Phylogenetic tree analysis of norovirus strains showed that 50% of the norovirus strains belonged to genotype GII.4, and the predominant strain was GII.4 2006b. Other detected genotypes were GII.12, GII.b, GII.3, GII.8, and GII.7. This study highlights the importance of screening for norovirus infection in acute gastroenteritis and having a reporting system to understand better the epidemiology of norovirus infection in Kuwait. J. Med. Virol. 85:1611–1618, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against AAV serotype 1 in healthy subjects in China: Implications for gene therapy and vaccines using AAV1 vector
Authors: Liu Qiang , Huang Weijin , Zhao Chenyan , Zhang Li , Meng Shufang , Gao Dongying , Wang Youchun
Published: July 2013

Recombinant adeno‐associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) has attracted tremendous interest as a promising vector for gene therapy and vaccine applications. However, the presence of AAV1 neutralizing antibodies as a consequence of exposure to wild type AAV1 can limit significantly effective gene transfer for biologics based AAV1 vector. Prior studies have reported that a prevalence of AAV1 neutralizing antibodies ranged from 10% to 50% in different countries around the world, and up to 79% in Dutch subjects. However, few studies have reported on the AAV1 neutralizing antibody prevalence in Chinese subjects. In this study, a high‐throughput luciferase‐based virus neutralization assay was established and standardized for critical parameters, including the appropriate cell line, and the optimal viral infection dose, and the infection time with homologous AAV1 vaccinated mice and guinea pig sera. Then, a total of 500 healthy individual serum samples from two separate regions of China were screened for the AAV1 neutralizing antibodies by conducting a non‐randomized, cross‐sectional analysis. Interestingly, a high prevalence of AAV1 neutralizing antibody (69.8%) was found in all individuals. There was significant difference observed for prevalence by gender (P = 0.042), age range (P = 0.011) and geographic origin (P < 0.001). The percentage of positive AAV1 neutralizing antibodies (NT50 > 10) in teenagers (year <18, as of 2012) was significant lower than that of adults (19–56, as of 2012) (P = 0.011), indicating the optimal vaccination period of childhood. The current study provides a useful insight for the future development of AAV1‐based vaccination and gene therapy strategies in Beijing and Anhui provinces of China. J. Med. Virol. 85:1550–1556, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intratypic variants of human papillomavirus type 16 and risk of cervical Neoplasia in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Ya‐Ju , Chen Hui‐Chi , Pan Mei‐Hung , Lee Bor‐Heng , You San‐Lin , Lin Ching‐Yu , Chou Yi‐Chun , Hsieh Chang‐Yao , Cheng Yu‐Juen , Liaw Kai‐Li , Hsing Ann W. , Schiffman Mark , Chen Chien‐Jen ,   for the CBCSP‐HPV Study Group
Published: July 2013

The associations between variants of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and risk of cervical neoplasia have been reported, but nucleotide variations of HPV 16 in Asian populations and their association with cervical neoplasia have not been evaluated extensively. During 1991–1992, 11,923 women from seven townships in Taiwan were enrolled. The HPV DNA in cervical cells was detected and genotyped using EasyChip HPV blot. Nucleotide variations in the long control region (LCR), E6, and E7 genes were determined using DNA sequencing for 170 HPV 16‐positive cervical samples. The Asian variant was the most prevalent variant (81.8%) of HPV 16 in Taiwan, and was also associated with increased prevalence of histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse, showing an age‐adjusted odds ratio (exact confidence limits) of 10.70 (1.62–451.05; P = 0.0049) compared to the HPV 16 European variant. Similar significant associations with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse were also observed for distinct nucleotide substitutions, including T178A/G, A647G, A7730C/G, T7781C, G7842A, and C24T/G. These results demonstrate that non‐European variants (non‐E) of HPV 16, predominantly Asian variants, are associated with increased risk for severe cervical neoplasia, compared with European variants. Molecular mechanisms accounting for varied cervical neoplasia risk among different HPV 16 variants warrant further investigation. J. Med. Virol. 85:1567–1576, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in women in some cities and regions of Bulgaria
Authors: Kovachev Stefan , Slavov Victor , Slavova Kremena
Published: July 2013

This aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among women (aged 15–55 years) in four of the biggest cities and regions in Bulgaria (viz., Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas), as well as in two other smaller cities (viz., Pleven and Vidin). Furthermore, study aimed to identify the prevalence of the 12 high‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) genotypes in 2012, and to predict the benefits of a future national vaccination campaign for 12‐year‐old girls in Bulgaria. This HPV genotypes prevalence study covered 2,331,341 women from these cities and regions, representing 61.7% of the female population of Bulgaria. DNA‐sorb‐AM nucleic acid extraction kit was used to analyze the HPV status in cervical samples collected during a 4‐year period (2008–2011) from 1,120 women aged 15–55 years (divided into four age groups) who had visited 47 gynecological clinics across the study sites. HR‐HPV infections were confirmed in 435 (38.8%) of the women examined. The remaining 685 (61.2%) women were found to be HR‐HPV negative. The most common genotype in all 435 infected women was HPV16, which was found in 200 women (46%), followed by HPV56 in 86 women (19.8%), HPV31 in 53 women (12.2%), and HPV33 in 50 women (11.5%). This is the first study to have established the prevalence of HR‐HPV infections in the larger Bulgarian regions and cities (including the capital), and to have drawn attention to the unusually high proportion of the different HR‐HPV genotypes. J. Med. Virol. 85:1577–1584, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coinfection of hepatitis B and hepatitis delta virus in Belgium: A multicenter BASL study. Prospective epidemiology and comparison with HBV mono‐infection
Authors: Ho E. , Deltenre P. , Nkuize M. , Delwaide J. , Colle I. , Michielsen P. ,   Belgian Association for the Study of the Liver
Published: July 2013

Epidemiological data on hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in Belgium are lacking. A multicenter questionnaire‐based registry on HDV infection was collated between March 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009. It consisted of patients coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV. The data samples were compared to those of a concurrent registry on HBV infection. Prospective data of patients with HBV–HDV coinfection were collected. Active HBV replication is defined as HBeAg positivity or HBV DNA > 2,000 IU/ml. Forty‐four patients from 15 centers were registered. A comparison of 29 patients infected with HDV (registered in the concurrent HBV registry) was made against 785 HBV mono‐infected patients. The seroprevalence of patients coinfected with HBV and HDV in Belgium is reported to be 3.7% (29/785), consisting solely of the HBV–HDV coinfected patients in the HBV registry. This rises to 5.5% (44/800) if all patients infected with HDV from the two registries combined are included. The patients coinfected with HBV and HDV had higher (P < 0.05) ALT values and more advanced liver disease (Metavir score ≥F2), but had less active HBV replication and lower HBV DNA titers when compared with the patients infected only with HBV. Additionally, the majority of HBV–HDV coinfected patient was male, and 13.6% (6/44) of the patients that were coinfected HBV and HDV were also infected with HCV. In conclusion, this study provided much needed epidemiological data on the current state of HDV infection in Belgium. J. Med. Virol. 85:1513–1517, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Long‐term efficacy of the hepatitis B Vaccine in a high‐risk group
Authors: Al Ghamdi Sarah S. , Fallatah Hind I. , Fetyani Dina M. , Al‐Mughales Jamil A. , Gelaidan Abdulhadi T.
Published: July 2013

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global health problem. In an attempt to control infection, worldwide HBV vaccination programs have been established. Saudi Arabia, an endemic area for HBV infection, established an HBV immunization program in 1989. This cross‐sectional study evaluates the long‐term protection of HBV vaccination 14–24 years after primary immunization in a high‐risk group (clinical year medical students) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All participants had complete HBV immunization at birth or in early childhood. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‐HBs) levels were obtained. An anti‐HBs titer of <10 mIU/ml indicated no protection, while a titer of >10 mIU/ml was considered to represent protective immune status. A total of 238 students were included; they were predominantly females (n = 182, 76.5%). Mean age was 22.2 ± 1.1 years. Duration since primary vaccination was 19.8 ± 2.3 years. Female students were more likely to maintain long‐term protection compared to males (62.1% and 58.8%, respectively). Anti‐HBs levels were significantly low in many students after primary immunization. Testing medical students for anti‐HBs levels may be warranted as they represent a high‐risk population. The higher rate of vaccine failure in males than females requires further investigation as it may explain the higher prevalence of HBV in the male population. J. Med. Virol. 85:1518–1522, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of the automated multianalyte point‐of‐care mariPOC® test for the detection of influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus
Authors: Tuuminen Tamara , Suomala Päivi , Koskinen Janne O.
Published: July 2013

The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of the new mariPOC® method against the direct fluorescent antibody assay (DFA) as the primary reference method for rapid virus detection from nasopharyngeal aspirates and swab samples. The study was an open prospective evaluation during the seasonal winter epidemics in the Mikkeli Central Hospital, Finland. Altogether, 283 samples were analyzed; 124 (43.8%) were from young children (<5 years old). Discrepant samples were resolved by PCR. With nasopharyngeal aspirate samples, the sensitivity and clinical specificity of the mariPOC® assay for influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus, were 85.7% (CI 69.7–95.2) and 90% (CI 52.0–80.5), and 100% and 99.5%, respectively. The mariPOC® performed less well with swab samples having sensitivities at 77.3% (CI 54.6–92.2) and 67.4% (CI 52–80.5), respectively. The specificities were as for nasopharyngeal aspirates. Importantly, similar performance was observed regardless of the cohort age group. In conclusion, the mariPOC® test system has a high potential and utility in duty units because it is fast, simple, and multianalyte. The importance of personnel training for proper sample collection should be emphasized. J. Med. Virol. 85:1598–1601, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence and quantitation of adenovirus DNA from human tonsil and adenoid tissues
Authors: Alkhalaf Moustafa Alissa , Guiver Malcolm , Cooper Robert J
Published: July 2013

In this study, real‐time PCR was used to quantify adenovirus DNA in cell suspensions prepared from 106 right and left tonsils and 10 adenoids obtained from 57 patients who underwent routine tonsillectomies and/or adenoidectomies. Eighty‐four (72.4%) tonsils and adenoids samples were positive for HAdV by real‐time PCR. The viral load ranged from 2.8 × 102 to 2.6 × 106 copies/107 cells and varied up to sixfold between the right and left tonsils. In some cases, only one tonsil was positive and the viral load was lower in older children. Seventy‐eight of 84 positive samples could be typed by sequencing of the hexon L1 region. Species C (types 1, 2, and 5) were detected in 84.1% of the patients followed by types 3 and 7 of species B (6.8%), HAdV‐E4 (6.8%), and HAdV‐F41 (2.3%). In one patient adenovirus C2 was found in the left tonsil and adenovirus C5 in the right tonsil. No DNA methylation was detected in either the E1A promoter or the major late promoter region of adenovirus DNA from six tonsils and adenoids samples and two clinical isolates. J Med. Virol. 85:1947–1954, 2013.. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evidence of ljungan virus specific antibodies in humans and rodents, Finland
Authors: Jääskeläinen Anne J. , Kolehmainen Pekka , Voutilainen Liina , Hauffe Heidi C. , Kallio‐Kokko Hannimari , Lappalainen Maija , Tolf Conny , Lindberg A. Michael , Henttonen Heikki , Vaheri Antti , Tauriainen Sisko , Vapalahti Olli
Published: July 2013

Ljungan virus (LV, genus Parechovirus, family Picornaviridae) is considered currently to be a rodent‐borne virus. Despite suggested human disease associations, its zoonotic potential remains unclear. To date, LV antibody prevalence in both humans and rodents has not been studied. In this study, two different LV immunofluorescence assays (LV IFAs) were developed with LV genotypes 1 (LV strain 87‐012G) and 2 (LV strain 145SLG), and cross‐neutralization and ‐reaction studies were carried out with LV strain 145SLG. Finally, a panel of 37 Finnish sera was screened for anti‐LV antibodies using two different LV IFAs (LV 145SLG and LV 87‐012G) and a neutralization (NT) assay (LV 145SLG), and 50 samples from Myodes glareolus by LV IFA (LV 145SLG). The LV seroprevalence study showed 38% and 18% positivity in humans and M. glareolus, respectively. LV IFAs and NT assays were compared, and the results were in good agreement. The data are the first evidence of humans and rodents coming into contact with LV in Finland. Additional studies are required in order to acquire a better understanding of the prevalence, epidemiological patterns and possible disease association of LV infections. J Med. Virol. 85:2001–2008, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An attenuated temperature‐sensitive strain of cytomegalovirus (tsm5) establishes immunity without development of CD8+ T cell memory inflation
Authors: Beswick Mark , Pachnio Annette , Al‐Ali Abdulaziz , Sweet Clive , Moss Paul A.
Published: July 2013

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a widely prevalent herpesvirus that is well tolerated by an immune competent host yet establishes a state of chronic infection. The virus is thought to undergo frequent subclinical episodes of reactivation which leads to an unusually large accumulation of CMV‐specific CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, a phenomenon termed “memory inflation.” The high magnitude of the CMV T cell response has been implicated in impaired immunity to heterologous pathogens such as EBV, influenza and West Nile virus. Here, using murine CMV (MCMV), we show that memory inflation of virus‐specific CD8+ T cells is avoided if mice are infected with a replication defective virus called temperature‐sensitive mutant 5 (tsm5), which carries an attenuating mutation within the DNA primase gene. Mice infected with tsm5 do generate primary T cell responses towards viral proteins but these do not amass to skew the memory repertoire of CD8+ T cells. Therefore, attenuation of the virus replication machinery may be valuable in future CMV vaccine designs because the virus remains immunogenic but does not contribute to CMV associated T cell immune senescence. J Med. Virol. 85:1968–1974, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High cardiovascular risk profile in patients with sleep apnea
Authors: Herrscher Tobias E. , Overland Britt , Sandvik Leiv , Westheim Arne S. , Akre Harriet
Published: July 2013

Objectives/Hypothesis

Sleep apnea is associated with hypertension and diabetes, putting these patients at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease. The goal of this study was to identify the individual cardiovascular risk profile and to detect premature and undiagnosed disease in patients with various degrees of sleep apnea.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional.

Methods

Over a 6‐month period, we consecutively characterized all patients referred to our sleep laboratory for an initial evaluation of sleep apnea. Clinical history; blood tests with oral glucose tolerance test, when appropriate; test for microalbuminuria; and an electrocardiogram (ECG) were performed. The Framingham general cardiovascular risk score was assessed in each patient.

Results

A total of 255 patients were evaluated. Of those, 190 (75%) were diagnosed with sleep apnea. Patients with sleep apnea had a significantly higher Framingham risk score than patients without sleep apnea. Adjusted for age and gender, severe sleep apnea was associated with a 60% increased cardiovascular risk compared with not having sleep apnea. In sleep apnea patients without previously diagnosed hypertension, an additional 45% had significant elevated blood pressure. Among sleep apnea patients without known diabetes, we tested 48% with a pathological glucose disposal. Twenty percent of sleep apnea patients without known heart disease had significant ECG changes.

Conclusions

High Framingham score, undiagnosed hypertension, and pathological glucose disposal were highly prevalent in patients with sleep apnea. Appropriate screening routines are important to detect cardiovascular risk factors in patients with sleep apnea.

Level of Evidence

2b. Laryngoscope, 124:306–310, 2014
Comparison of laser‐induced damage with forward‐firing and diffusing optical fiber during laser‐assisted lipoplasty
Authors: Kim Changhwan , Park Hoyong , Lee Ho
Published: July 2013

Background and Objectives

Laser‐assisted lipoplasty is made possible by using an optical fiber that delivers light endoscopically to subcutaneous fat tissue. Most optical fibers for laser‐assisted lipoplasty are designed to be irradiated in a forward direction. In this study, we compared forward‐firing fiber and diffusing fiber for use in laser‐assisted lipoplasty. The effective parameters of the ablation pattern which resulted from the laser‐induced damage are discussed for both systems. In particular, we note the effect resulting from the different beam emission patterns and the contours of laser fluence.

Methods

We used two different laser delivery systems (a forward‐firing fiber and a diffusing fiber) to examine how the beam emission pattern affects the laser‐assisted coagulation and damage pattern of in vitro fat tissues. A porcine liver tissue (water‐rich tissue) was used as a secondary laser target to investigate how the laser‐assisted coagulation pattern depends on both the type of tissue (water‐rich and lipid‐rich tissue) as well as the delivery system. An evaluation using a digital camera and a thermal camera was conducted for the tissue ablation processes in order to observe the generated heat transfer in fat and liver.

Results

The overall shape of the laser‐assisted coagulation zone was different from the beam emission pattern in the case where a forward‐firing fiber was used within fat tissue. The center of the laser‐affected zone is characterized by the formation of a reservoir of melted fat. In the thermal image analysis, there existed a discrepancy between the temperature distribution of the fat tissue and the liver tissue during the forward‐firing fiber irradiation. In the liver tissue ablation process, the temperature distribution during the laser ablation also demonstrated an elongated ellipse that matches well with the laser‐induced damage zone. The temperature distribution in fat tissue adhered to a more discoid pattern that corresponded to the laser‐induced damage zone.

Conclusions

Based on our findings, we have proposed mechanisms that can explain the laser‐induced damage in both tissues when a forward firing fiber is employed as the delivery system. In the case of fat tissue, the ablation mechanism can be characterized by the reservoir formation of melted lipids while the ablation is characterized as the well‐known drilling effect for liver tissue. Lasers Surg. Med. 45:437–449, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimization of Polymer Solar Cells Based on the Conjugated Copolymer of Poly(phenylenevinylene‐alt‐4,7‐diphenyl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole) (PP‐DBT)
Authors: Liu Leijing , Pei Jianing , Wen Shanpeng , Li Jiyang , Yao Bin , Tian Wenjing
Published: July 2013

Polymer solar cells based on poly(phenylenevinylene‐alt‐4,7‐diphenyl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole) (PP‐DBT):[6,6]‐phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl‐ester (PC71BM) blend films are optimized. The results show that the solar cell has a better performance at a 1:4 blend ratio than at 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:5 blend ratios, due to the higher hole mobility of active layer and the optimized morphology. The device prepared from chlorobenzene (CB) has a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than the devices prepared from chloroform and o‐dichlorobenzene, because the former has a much higher short‐circuit current density (Jsc) resulting from the morphology with proper phase separation. The solar cell modified with two layers of ZnO nanocrystals achieves the best performance with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.9 V, a Jsc of 7.46 mW cm−2, fill factor (FF) of 0.50, and PCE of 3.36%.

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Analysis of genome‐wide association study‐linked loci in Parkinson's disease of Mainland China
Authors: Liu Jun , Xiao Qin , Wang Ying , Xu Zhi‐Min , Wang Ying , Yang Qiong , Wang Gang , Tan Yu‐Yan , Ma Jian‐Fang , Zhang Jin , Huang Wei , Chen Sheng‐Di
Published: July 2013

Background

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can modulate the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods

We investigated the association of previously identified loci in a Mainland Chinese population to identify a possible ethnic‐specific effect with GWAS analysis. Seventeen SNPs were genotyped from those loci using case–control methodology to analyze a total of 1,737 individuals.

Results

Strong evidence of an association for reference SNP 894278 (rs894278) and rs11931074 on 4q22 throughout the α synuclein (SNCA) region was observed in our study. The SNP rs894278 confers risk via a dominant model and an additive model, whereas the minor allele G of rs11931074 reduces the risk of PD progression. The minor allele frequency of rs11724635 produced weaker signals for PD, but this was not replicated in the genotype after adjusting for age and sex.

Conclusions

This study yields new clues about GWAS‐linked data in patients with PD from Mainland China. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Locality, Mobility and Governmentality in Colonial/Postcolonial New Caledonia: The case of the Kouare tribe (xûâ Xârâgwii), Thio (Cöö)
Authors: Le Meur Pierre‐Yves
Published: July 2013

The colonial history of New Caledonia has been one of dispossession, alienation, and racial segregation. Indigenous people did not experience a life of all‐embracing confinement and immobility. Instead, Kanak localities were historically shaped by the interplay of colonial projects, ideas, tensions, power relations, practices, representations, values, norms, and emotions. Based on the example of Thio, located on the south‐east coast of New Caledonia, this article explores these transformations, focusing on processes of localization and mobility in the colonial and postcolonial eras. The first section focuses on the encounter with and the interplay between different organisations in Thio: the missionary, mining, pastoral, and administrative frontiers. The second section explores the multilayered history of the landscape and settlement patterns in Xârâgwii/Kouare (a tribe located in the mountainous part of Thio), and the third section analyses the interplay of locality and mobility since World War II. The final section examines the ‘invention’ of the tribe as part of colonial governmental projects. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the meaning of this evolving dialectic in the current context of decolonization.
Chinese school teachers' organizational citizenship behavior (OCB): Predictors and outcomes
Authors: Li Xia
Published: July 2013

Teacher's organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is a multifaceted construct that is critical to school effectiveness and to the education enterprise. Four hundred ninety‐three teachers in eight different cities on the Chinese mainland were surveyed using the OCB scale developed by Bo Shiuan Cheng, a Taiwanese scholar. The antecedent and outcome variables of OCB were examined in this study. The results showed that the teachers' attitudinal characteristics of career satisfaction and career commitment, and the dispositional characteristic of locus of control, influenced teachers' OCB. In addition, teachers' OCB influenced their work performance as well as their career and organizational turnover intention. The implications of this study suggest a base of knowledge from which school administrators could enhance their school's organizational function and retain teachers.
The Importance of Natural Variability in Lake Areas on the Detection of Permafrost Degradation: A Case Study in the Yukon Flats, Alaska
Authors: Chen Min , Rowland Joel C. , Wilson Cathy J. , Altmann Garrett L. , Brumby Steven P.
Published: July 2013

Long‐term lake area change has previously been measured to detect the temporal rate and spatial extent of permafrost degradation. However, the natural intra‐ and interannual variability of lake areas has not been considered explicitly and quantitatively, which can substantially interfere with the detection of long‐term lake area change associated with permafrost degradation. In order to better understand the natural background variability of lake areas, we used Landsat 7 images obtained on 11 dates from 1999 to 2002 to quantify the intra‐ and interannual lake area variability for a 4224 km2 study area within the Yukon Flats, Alaska. Total lake areas ranged from 179 km2 (22 August 1999) to 326 km2 (6 June 2000). Even within a single year (year 2000), the total lake area decreased by 42 per cent from 6 June to 16 August, well exceeding the previously reported trends for long‐term decrease (14% and 18%) for the Yukon Flats. Both intra‐ and interannual area variability in August and September were smaller than in June and July, suggesting that images from later in summer are more reliable for detecting long‐term change in lake area. Variability of no‐closure lakes was twice that of closed‐basin lakes. Intra‐annual area changes in closed‐basin lakes can be explained by the intra‐annual water balance, defined as cumulative precipitation minus evaporation between two consecutive dates within the same year. For a given period, the total lake area was correlated more strongly with the water balance since the preceding October than with the water balance in the preceding 12 months. Spatial heterogeneity in the intra‐annual area change of individual lakes was observed, which might be caused by different topographical, geological and permafrost characteristics around and beneath the lakes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanoscale analyses of modified polypropylene microtubes internal surface: an approach covering topographical and force spectroscopic parameters
Authors: Barbosa Eduardo F. , Silva Luciano P.
Published: July 2013

A nanoscale characterization of modified and unmodified polypropylene (PP) microtubes internal surface was performed to investigate their structural, chemical, and physical properties. Nanoroughness, stiffness, elasticity, attraction behavior, adhesion forces, and chemical environment were investigated to test some manufacturer statements regarding Axygen MAXYMum Recovery® products. They announced that this class of material presented special features, originated from a modification to the original PP resin and by using a diamond polished mould, providing lower retention and minor interference on laboratorial tests, such as low roughness and little interaction tendency. Then, in this study, modified and control internal surfaces of PP microtubes were compared by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Nanoroughness and force spectroscopy parameters assessed by atomic force microscopy showed out as a sensible and high‐resolution technique, crucial to discriminate differences between the surfaces. This type of investigation can be considered as a promising approach that can be applied to other polymeric systems, considering nanoscale properties, physical/chemical modifications, and as an alternative route for quality control checking concerning polymeric surfaces. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parallel Fabrication of Plasmonic Nanocone Sensing Arrays
Authors: Horrer Andreas , Schäfer Christian , Broch Katharina , Gollmer Dominik A. , Rogalski Jan , Fulmes Julia , Zhang Dai , Meixner Alfred J. , Schreiber Frank , Kern Dieter P. , Fleischer Monika
Published: July 2013

A fully parallel approach for the fabrication of arrays of metallic nanocones and triangular nanopyramids is presented. Different processes utilizing nanosphere lithography for the creation of etch masks are developed. Monolayers of spheres are reduced in size and directly used as masks, or mono‐ and double layers are employed as templates for the deposition of aluminum oxide masks. The masks are transferred into an underlying gold or silver layer by argon ion milling, which leads to nanocones or nanopyramids with very sharp tips. Near the tips the enhancement of an external electromagnetic field is particularly strong. This fact is confirmed by numerical simulations and by luminescence imaging in a confocal microscope. Such localized strong fields can amongst others be utilized for high‐resolution, high‐sensitivity spectroscopy and sensing of molecules near the tip. Arrays of such plasmonic nanostructures thus constitute controllable platforms for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. A thin film of pentacene molecules is evaporated onto both nanocone and nanopyramid substrates, and the observed Raman enhancement is evaluated.
Maturity assessment and process improvement for information security management in small and medium enterprises
Authors: Cholez Hervé , Girard Frédéric
Published: July 2013

Information security is a central concern inside organisations, but it remains quite difficult for most small entities to implement and maintain information security. In this context, the Public Research Centre Henri Tudor and the Luxembourg's Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade decided to enhance information security awareness and management in Luxembourg's small and medium enterprises. Therefore, our research work aims to propose a method adapted to small and medium enterprises to conduct a first assessment of the enterprises information security maturity and improve their process accordingly. This paper describes the framework developed and presents its validation in industry. The results of applying the method in industry are positive and show a lack in organisational maturity for the information security. The future challenge of this assessment method is to be integrated into an information security web platform and use the large amount of statistics to continuously improve and contextualise the proposed tool. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biliary tree stem cells, precursors to pancreatic committed progenitors: Evidence for possible life-long pancreatic organogenesis
Authors: Wang Yunfang , Lanzoni Giacomo , Carpino Guido , Cui Cai-Bin , Dominguez-Bendala Juan , Wauthier Eliane , Cardinale Vincenzo , Oikawa Tsunekazu , Pileggi Antonello , Gerber David , Furth Mark E. , Alvaro Domenico , Gaudio Eugenio , Inverardi Luca , Reid Lola M.
Published: July 2013

Peribiliary glands (PBGs) in bile duct walls, and pancreatic duct glands (PDGs) associated with pancreatic ducts, in humans of all ages, contain a continuous, ramifying network of cells in overlapping maturational lineages. We show that proximal (PBGs)-to-distal (PDGs) maturational lineages start near the duodenum with cells expressing markers of pluripotency (NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2), proliferation (Ki67), self-replication (SALL4), and early hepato-pancreatic commitment (SOX9, SOX17, PDX1, and LGR5), transitioning to PDG cells with no expression of pluripotency or self-replication markers, maintenance of pancreatic genes (PDX1), and expression of markers of pancreatic endocrine maturation (NGN3, MUC6, and insulin). Radial-axis lineages start in PBGs near the ducts' fibromuscular layers with stem cells and end at the ducts' lumens with cells devoid of stem cell traits and positive for pancreatic endocrine genes. Biliary tree-derived cells behaved as stem cells in culture under expansion conditions, culture plastic and serum-free Kubota's Medium, proliferating for months as undifferentiated cells, whereas pancreas-derived cells underwent only approximately 8–10 divisions, then partially differentiated towards an islet fate. Biliary tree-derived cells proved precursors of pancreas' committed progenitors. Both could be driven by three-dimensional conditions, islet-derived matrix components and a serum-free, hormonally defined medium for an islet fate (HDM-P), to form spheroids with ultrastructural, electrophysiological and functional characteristics of neoislets, including glucose regulatability. Implantation of these neoislets into epididymal fat pads of immunocompromised mice, chemically rendered diabetic, resulted in secretion of human C-peptide, regulatable by glucose, and able to alleviate hyperglycemia in hosts. The biliary tree-derived stem cells and their connections to pancreatic committed progenitors constitute a biological framework for life-long pancreatic organogenesis.
Student Letter Supporting Heliophysics Research
Authors: Cohen Ian J.
Published: July 2013

Key Points

Students support funding for heliophysics research

Heliophysics research is integral to our modern society

Heliophysics research is key to understanding the effects of space weather
System Security Requirements Analysis:A Smart Grid Case Study
Authors: Zafar Nauman , Arnautovic Edin , Diabat Ali , Svetinovic Davor
Published: July 2013

One of the main concerns in development and operation of mission‐critical systems is system security. It is of critical importance to properly specify and implement system security requirements. In this paper, we apply a system security requirements analysis method to elicit, specify, categorize, and prioritize the system security requirements on the smart grid as a complex system‐of‐systems case study. In particular, we apply the Security Quality Requirements Engineering (SQUARE) method as a representative system security requirements analysis method. The main contributions of this research are the smart grid customer domain security requirements specification and its analysis from the system‐of‐systems perspective. We elicited a large proportion of system and system‐of‐systems vulnerabilities and requirements, and used them to specify secure smart grid intersystem interactions.
Service‐Oriented Architecture (SOA) Instantiation within a Hard Real‐Time, Deterministic Combat System Environment
Authors: Moreland James D. , Sarkani Shahram , Mazzuchi Thomas
Published: July 2013

This article investigates the instantiation of a Service‐Oriented Architecture (SOA) within a hard real‐time (stringent time constraints), deterministic (maximum predictability) combat system (CS) environment. There are numerous stakeholders across the U.S. Department of the Navy who are affected by this development and who have a direct or indirect influence on the system requirements. The research focuses on two‐way, transparent, secure track data exchange between the command and control (C2) and CS domains. Exchange and management of data between these domain networks is accomplished using configurable universal gateway capabilities. These capabilities include the provision for data mediation and boundary defense requirements within a web services publish‐and‐subscribe framework. The gateways’ performance is assessed with respect to operational loading, architecture and provisioning requirements to evaluate gateway component performance, and resource utilization. The universal gateway prototype evaluated in this limited technology experiment (LTE) demonstrated interoperability as a key step in satisfying Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 criteria, based on its successful performance in a representative environment. Data latency was minimal at the largest message loads with typical end‐to‐end gateway latencies under 15 milliseconds with the application of rule set filters on message queues, and data throughput across the universal gateway was not limited by universal gateway components. These results allow proven architectural principles to be applied in new ways to enable rapid development and insertion of new capabilities, lower‐risk system integration and evolution, and more reliable operations. At the same time, multiple integrators and vendors can actively design and compete for business, lowering acquisition and life‐cycle costs.
A novel method to improve low‐voltage ride‐through capability of wind turbine generators
Authors: Cheng Miao‐miao , Kato Shuhei , Shimada Ryuichi
Published: July 2013

With increasing penetration of wind farms, power grids have responded by developing specific grid codes to maintain their stability. One of the main grid codes is the low‐voltage ride‐through (LVRT) capability, which requires the wind generator to remain connected when the grid voltage sags for a certain time period. A wind farm with squirrel cage induction generators suffers this LVRT problem the most because of their direct connection to the grid and reactive power consumption. In this paper, a new method is proposed to solve this problem by shunt‐connecting a motor‐driven mechanical load to the cage wind generator. For driving mechanical loads, the induction motor is most widely used in industries. This paper studies the terminal voltage holding effect of an induction machine during grid voltage sag due to the magnetic flux holding effect and the saturation characteristic. Taking advantage of this effect, the induction motor that is used for driving mechanical load is then proposed to improve the LVRT capability of wind turbine generators. Furthermore, the change of the rotating speed or slip of the induction machine is found to have a great impact on improving the LVRT. By adding some inertia to the motor‐driven mechanical load, an enhanced voltage holding effect, and therefore LVRT improvement, is expected for the wind farm. Both simulation and experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Theoretical studies of nucleic acids folding
Authors: Kara Mahmut , Zacharias Martin
Published: July 2013

The mechanism of how RNA and DNA molecules fold into defined three‐dimensional (3D) structures is still not well understood. Molecular simulation approaches are increasingly being used to study structure formation processes of nucleic acids and to understand the driving forces for folding. It is possible to use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on a classical force field to follow the dynamics of nucleic acids at atomic resolution and high time resolution and including surrounding solvent molecules and ions explicitly. Recent studies indicate that it is possible to investigate folding of small motifs such as hairpin structures using MD simulations. However, this approach is still limited by the currently accessible time scales and force field accuracy. Advanced sampling methods such as the replica‐exchange MD (REMD) approach allow significant enhancement of conformational sampling of nucleic acids and could help to systematically study structure formation processes and to refine force fields. In case of large RNAs or RNA containing macromolecular structures, coarse‐grained representations can help to overcome current computational limitations. In combination with experimentally derived constraints and predicted secondary structure, several approaches have been developed to fold RNA molecules into possible 3D structures. Such structural model can often be helpful to plan experiments or to interpret experimental results.

This article is categorized under:

Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory
Mathematical modeling of kidney transport
Authors: Layton Anita T.
Published: July 2013

In addition to metabolic waste and toxin excretion, the kidney also plays an indispensable role in regulating the balance of water, electrolytes, nitrogen, and acid–base. In this review, we describe representative mathematical models that have been developed to better understand kidney physiology and pathophysiology, including the regulation of glomerular filtration, the regulation of renal blood flow by means of the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanisms and of the myogenic mechanism, the urine concentrating mechanism, epithelial transport, and regulation of renal oxygen transport. We discuss the extent to which these modeling efforts have expanded our understanding of renal function in both health and disease. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:557–573. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1232

This article is categorized under:

Analytical and Computational Methods > Computational Methods

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological Models

Physiology > Physiology of Model Organisms
Synthese und Struktur von N,N′‐Diisopropylamidinat‐substituierten Oligogallanen GanRnI2 (n ≤ 4)
Authors: Zessin Thomas , Anton Julian , Linti Gerald
Published: July 2013

The reaction of galliumsubiodide with lithiumamidinates Li(NR)2CR′ results in formation of oligogallanes Gan{(NR)2CR′}nI2. The chains are built from up to four gallium atoms depending on the steric demand of the amidinates. All new compounds were characterized by NMR and crystal structure analysis and DFT calculations were used to evaluate structural variations.
Exploration of the spontaneous fluctuating activity of single enzyme molecules
Authors: Schwabe Anne , Maarleveld Timo R. , Bruggeman Frank J.
Published: July 2013

Single enzyme molecules display inevitable, stochastic fluctuations in their catalytic activity. In metabolism, for instance, the stochastic activity of individual enzymes is averaged out due to their high copy numbers per single cell. However, many processes inside cells rely on single enzyme activity, such as transcription, replication, translation, and histone modifications. Here we introduce the main theoretical concepts of stochastic single‐enzyme activity starting from the Michaelis–Menten enzyme mechanism. Next, we discuss stochasticity of multi‐substrate enzymes, of enzymes and receptors with multiple conformational states and finally, how fluctuations in receptor activity arise from fluctuations in signal concentration. This paper aims to introduce the exciting field of single‐molecule enzyme kinetics and stochasticity to a wider audience of biochemists and systems biologists.