bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of disulfide linkages in recombinant human granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor
Authors: Mo Jingjie , Tymiak Adrienne A. , Chen Guodong
Published: April 2013

RATIONALE

Recombinant human G granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (rhG‐CSF) produced in Escherichia coli is a non‐glycosylated polypeptide containing five cysteine residues. The reported major disulfide (S‐S) linkages in mature human G‐CSF are C36–C42 and C64–C74, leaving C17 as a free cysteine, which could potentially result in S‐S scrambling. The purpose of this work is to illustrate different mass spectrometry (MS) approaches for characterization of S‐S linkages in therapeutic proteins including S‐S scrambling using rhG‐CSF as a model protein.

METHODS

Peptide mapping analysis of both non‐reduced and reduced digests of rhG‐CSF was performed to demonstrate the presence of S‐S linked peptides and their corresponding reduced peptides. High mass accuracy measurements of these peptides provided the initial identifications of S‐S linkages. Collision‐induced dissociation (CID) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) were used to fragment these peptides in order to obtain further sequence information and identify S‐S linkages.

RESULTS

S‐S linked peptides and their corresponding reduced peptides correlating with major S‐S linkages were observed. Peptides that correlated with other S‐S linkages as a result of S‐S scrambling were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of the reported major S‐S linkages in rhG‐CSF was confirmed. S‐S scrambling was also observed in which C18 was involved in S‐S linkages and C37, C65 or C75 were present as free cysteines. This study demonstrates the practical utility of combining different MS methods for characterization of S‐S linkages in therapeutic proteins. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mass spectra of methyl esters of brominated fatty acids and their presence in soft drinks and cocktail syrups
Authors: Bendig Paul , Maier Lisa , Lehnert Katja , Knapp Holger , Vetter Walter
Published: April 2013

RATIONALE

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is frequently used as a solubility transmitter in soft drinks. Being banned in Europe and Japan but permitted in the United States and Canada, there is a need for analytical methods suitable for use in food control. Brominated fatty acids in BVO are usually determined by gas chromatography (GC) after their conversion into the corresponding methyl esters.

METHODS

GC with mass spectrometry (MS) was used to record the electron ionization (EI) and negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mass spectra of relevant brominated fatty acid methyl esters synthesized for this purpose. Brominated fatty acids obtained from transesterified BVO from soft drink and syrup samples were also analyzed.

RESULTS

GC/NICI‐MS was the most sensitive method for the detection of brominated fatty acids but GC/EI‐MS was found to be more suited for quantification due to the formation of more selective fragment ions in the higher mass range. Suitable ions were selected for determination of the methyl esters of brominated fatty acids in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Artifacts produced by the transesterification of BVO with boron trifluoride were observed and discussed. BVO was also quantified in three syrup samples commercially produced for use in cocktails/long drinks. In one of the syrup samples that tested positive, BVO was not labelled in the ingredient list. Bromination experiments produced evidence that one or more Br2‐18:0 isomers identified as a shoulder peak of threo‐9,10‐dibromooctadecanoic acid in several soft drink and syrup samples originated from the bromination of partly hydrogenated plant oil.

CONCLUSIONS

BVO was determined for the first time in syrup samples. Attention should be paid to the problem of BVO occurring unlabeled in soft drinks and cocktail syrups imported from North America. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel magnet focusing plate for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization analysis of magnetic bead‐bound analytes
Authors: Gode David , Volmer Dietrich A.
Published: April 2013

RATIONALE

Magnetic beads are often used for serum profiling of peptide and protein biomarkers. In these assays, the bead‐bound analytes are eluted from the beads prior to mass spectrometric analysis. This study describes a novel matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) technique for direct application and focusing of magnetic beads to MALDI plates by means of dedicated micro‐magnets as sample spots.

METHODS

Custom‐made MALDI plates with magnetic focusing spots were made using small nickel‐coated neodymium micro‐magnets integrated into a stainless steel plate in a 16 × 24 (384) pattern. For demonstrating the proof‐of‐concept, commercial C‐18 magnetic beads were used for the extraction of a test compound (reserpine) from aqueous solution. Experiments were conducted to study focusing abilities, the required laser energies, the influence of a matrix compound, dispensing techniques, solvent choice and the amount of magnetic beads.

RESULTS

Dispensing the magnetic beads onto the micro‐magnet sample spots resulted in immediate and strong binding to the magnetic surface. Light microscope images illustrated the homogeneous distribution of beads across the surfaces of the magnets, when the entire sample volume containing the beads was pipetted onto the surface. Subsequent MALDI analysis of the bead‐bound analyte demonstrated excellent and reproducible ionization yields. The surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) properties of the strongly light‐absorbing γ‐Fe2O3‐based beads resulted in similar ionization efficiencies to those obtained from experiments with an additional MALDI matrix compound.

CONCLUSIONS

This feasibility study successfully demonstrated the magnetic focusing abilities for magnetic bead‐bound analytes on a novel MALDI plate containing small micro‐magnets as sample spots. One of the key advantages of this integrated approach is that no elution steps from magnetic beads were required during analyses compared with conventional bead experiments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing of data‐centric and event‐based dynamic service compositions
Authors: Hummer Waldemar , Raz Orna , Shehory Onn , Leitner Philipp , Dustdar Schahram
Published: April 2013

This paper addresses integration testing of data‐centric and event‐based dynamic service compositions. The compositions under test define abstract services that are replaced by concrete candidate services at runtime. Testing all possible instantiations of a composition leads to combinatorial explosion and is often infeasible. We consider data dependencies between services as potential points of failure and introduce the k‐node data flow test coverage metric, which helps to significantly reduce the number of test combinations. We formulate a combinatorial optimization problem for generating minimal sets of test cases. On the basis of this formalization, we present a mapping to the model of FoCuS, a coverage analysis tool. FoCuS efficiently computes near‐optimal solutions, which are used to automatically generate test instances. The proposed approach is applicable to various composition paradigms. We illustrate the end‐to‐end practicability based on an integrated scenario, which uses two diverse composition techniques: on the one hand, the Web Services Business Process Execution Language and on the other hand, WS‐Aggregation, a platform for event‐based service composition. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
“But Before I Go to My Next Step”: A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent English Language Learners' Transitional Devices in Oral Presentations
Authors: Kibler Amanda K. , Salerno April S. , Palacios Natalia
Published: April 2013

This multiple case study examines patterns in the oral second language use of three Spanish‐speaking English language learners in rehearsed presentations produced annually over 4 years (Grades 9–12) in a U.S. high school. Analysis focuses on students' changing use of transitional devices called frame markers (Hyland, 2005) as a lens for understanding language used by school‐aged immigrant students in academic settings, the nature of classroom presentations, and the role of a range of contextual factors from a longitudinal perspective. Students produced relatively complex structures to mark transitions, even at early proficiency levels, likely due to opportunities for rehearsal and use of supporting written texts. Despite notable commonalities, students took varied paths in language use, responding individually to presentational environments. Such findings provide evidence that both context and individual variation contribute to oral second language use in school settings and provide a rationale for research that attends to academic and presentational settings in which students produce oral language.
Robotic‐assisted pancreatic surgery
Authors: Fernandes E. , Giulianotti P.C.
Published: April 2013

Background

Pancreatic surgery is a challenging application of minimally invasive surgery. Due to the complexity of the surgical technique, requiring dissection along major abdominal vessels as well as delicate reconstruction involving biliary, pancreatic and enteric anastomoses, reports on laparoscopic pancreatic surgery have been scanty. With the advent of robotic‐assisted surgery, however, the increased dexterity granted by endo‐wristed instruments, the improved three‐dimensional vision and the computer filtration of the surgeon's movements have brought minimally invasive pancreatic surgery into a new era.

Methods

As the surgical group which has performed the highest number of robotic‐assisted pancreatic procedures worldwide, we review the state of the art of minimally invasive robotic‐assisted pancreatic surgery. Clinical results from all major robotic‐assisted pancreatic surgery series are considered.

Results

Preliminary reports from the published major pancreatic surgery series show encouraging results, with morbidity and mortality comparable to open surgery. Preliminary data on cancer survival rates also appear to be similar to open series.

Conclusion

Robotic‐assisted pancreatic surgery is safe and feasible for all pancreatic diseases. The complexity of pancreatic procedures warrant them to be carried out in specialised centres, where short‐ and long‐term outcomes seem to be similar to the ones achieved in open surgery.
When Context Matters: Assessing Geographical Heterogeneity of Get-Out-The-Vote Treatment Effects Using a Population Based Field Experiment
Authors: Fieldhouse Edward , Cutts David , John Peter , Widdop Paul
Published: April 2013

The presence of heterogeneity in treatment effects can create problems for researchers employing a narrow experimental pool in their research. In particular it is often questioned whether the results of a particular experiment can be extrapolated outside the specific location of the study. In this article, we use a population-based field experiment in order to test the extent to which treatment effects for impersonal mobilisation techniques (direct mail and telephone) are sensitive to where they are carried out (geography) and the context of the election in which they were conducted. We find that on the whole it does not much matter where an experiment is conducted: the treatment effects are to all intents and purposes geographically uniform. This has important implications for the external validity of get-out-the-vote field studies more generally, especially where single locations are used. However, there is one important exception to this: experiments carried out in high turnout locations at high salience elections may show larger effects than those carried out in low turnout areas.
Medical student interest in academic medical careers: a multi-institutional
study
Authors: Greenberg Ruth B. , Ziegler Craig H. , Borges Nicole J. , Elam Carol L. , Stratton Terry D. , Woods Sheila
Published: April 2013

Little is known about how medical students view academic medicine. This
multi-institutional study explored student perceptions of this career path. During
2009–2010, third- and fourth-year students at three United States medical schools
completed a 30-item online survey. In total, 239 students completed the questionnaire
(37 % response rate). Significant predictors of students’ desires for academic medical
careers included interest in teaching (γ = 0.74), research (γ = 0.53), interprofessional
practice (γ = 0.34), administration (γ = 0.27), and community service opportunities
(γ = 0.16). A positive correlation existed between accumulated debt and interest in
academic medicine (γ = 0.20). Student descriptions of the least and most appealing
aspects of academic medicine were classified into five categories: professional,
research, personal, teaching and mentoring, and patients/patient care. Students are more
likely to be interested in a career in academic medicine if they have participated in
research or were influenced by a mentor. Factors that may also influence a medical
student’s decision to pursue a career in academic medicine include age and debt
accumulated prior to medical school. Professional aspects of academic medicine (cutting
edge environment, resources) and the opportunity to teach were the most appealing
aspects.
The discourse of generational segmentation and the implications for postgraduate
medical education
Authors: Jamiu O. Busari Jamiu O.
Published: April 2013

The growing demands for easily accessible, cost effective and efficient health
care services are hindering many medical training programs in delivering well prepared
physicians, equipped with the competencies to tackle new and complex health care
problems. In addition to this, many medical institutions are finding it difficult to
design curricula that would prepare today’s physicians adequately for the ongoing
changes in health care. Targeted customer service is a growing phenomenon in health
care, where healthcare institutions are operating as retail service providers, design
experiences and deliver care around the convenience of consumers rather than the
preferences of providers. Gradually finding its way into medical education, this concept
entails investing in understanding the beliefs and values of consumers as a result of
their different expectations and differences. Defined by the experiences that create
common values among the members of a specific group, the discourse of generation
segmentation has proven to be a helpful way of understanding consumer differences. There
are four known generations currently impacting the pattern and distribution of
healthcare services and in the coming decade, the future of medical education In this
paper, medical education is re-examined in the light of this phenomenon of generation
segmentation and whether today’s physicians are being effectively prepared to practice
in a fast changing world. The analysis provided in this paper presents a recommendation
for the medical curriculum of a new millennium based on the changing needs and
expectations of different generations of consumers.
Friendship networks and social status
Authors: BALL BRIAN , NEWMAN M.E.J.
Published: April 2013

In empirical studies of friendship networks, participants are typically asked, in interviews or questionnaires, to identify some or all of their close friends, resulting in a directed network in which friendships can, and often do, run in only one direction between a pair of individuals. Here we analyze a large collection of such networks representing friendships among students at US high and junior-high schools and show that the pattern of unreciprocated friendships is far from random. In every network, without exception, we find that there exists a ranking of participants, from low to high, such that almost all unreciprocated friendships consist of a lower ranked individual claiming friendship with a higher ranked one. We present a maximum-likelihood method for deducing such rankings from observed network data and conjecture that the rankings produced reflect a measure of social status. We note in particular that reciprocated and unreciprocated friendships obey different statistics, suggesting different formation processes, and that rankings are correlated with other characteristics of the participants that are traditionally associated with status, such as age and overall popularity as measured by total number of friends.
Diffusion and contagion in networks with heterogeneous agents and homophily
Authors: JACKSON MATTHEW O. , LÓPEZ-PINTADO DUNIA
Published: April 2013

We study the diffusion of an idea, a product, a disease, a cultural fad, or a technology among agents in a social network that exhibits segregation or homophily (the tendency of agents to associate with others similar to themselves). Individuals are distinguished by their types—e.g., race, gender, age, wealth, religion, profession—which, together with biased interaction patterns, induce heterogeneous rates of adoption or infection. We identify the conditions under which a behavior or disease diffuses and becomes persistent in the population. These conditions relate to the level of homophily in a society and the underlying proclivities of various types for adoption or infection. In particular, we show that homophily can facilitate diffusion from a small initial seed of adopters.
Mastitis detection in dairy cows: the application of support vector machines
Authors: MIEKLEY B. , TRAULSEN I. , KRIETER J.
Published: April 2013

The current investigation analysed the applicability of support vector machines (SVMs), a sub-discipline in the field of artificial intelligence, for the early detection of mastitis. Data used were recorded on the Karkendamm dairy research farm (Kiel, Germany) between January 2010 and December 2011. Data from 215 cows in their first 200 days in milk (DIM) were analysed. Mastitis was specified according to veterinary treatments and defined as disease blocks. The two different definitions used varied solely in the sequence length of the blocks. Only the days before the treatment were included in the blocks. The following parameters were used for the recognition of mastitis: milk electrical conductivity (MEC), milk yield (MY), stage of lactation, month, mastitis history during lactation, deviation from the 5-day moving average of MEC as well as MY, and the 5-day moving standard deviations of the same traits. To develop and verify the model of the SVMs, the mastitis dataset was divided into training and test datasets. Support vector machines are tools for statistical pattern recognition, focusing on algorithms capable of learning and adapting the structure of the input parameters based on the training dataset. The results show that the block sensitivity of mastitis detection considering both mastitis definitions was 84·6%, while specificity was 71·6 and 78·3%, respectively. Showing feasible features for pattern recognition of biological data, SVMs can principally be applied for disease detection. However, without further performance improvement or different study settings (e.g. other indicator variables) SVMs cannot be easily implemented into practical usage.
CONSOLIDATED HEALTH ECONOMIC EVALUATION REPORTING STANDARDS (CHEERS) STATEMENT
Authors: Husereau Don , Drummond Michael , Petrou Stavros , Carswell Chris , Moher David , Greenberg Dan , Augustovski Federico , Briggs Andrew H , Mauskopf Josephine , Loder Elizabeth
Published: April 2013

Economic evaluations of health interventions pose a particular challenge for reporting. There is also a need to consolidate and update existing guidelines and promote their use in a user friendly manner. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance. The primary audiences for the CHEERS statement are researchers reporting economic evaluations and the editors and peer reviewers assessing them for publication.

The need for new reporting guidance was identified by a survey of medical editors. A list of possible items based on a systematic review was created. A two round, modified Delphi panel consisting of representatives from academia, clinical practice, industry, government, and the editorial community was conducted. Out of 44 candidate items, 24 items and accompanying recommendations were developed. The recommendations are contained in a user friendly, 24 item checklist. A copy of the statement, accompanying checklist, and this report can be found on the ISPOR Health Economic Evaluations Publication Guidelines Task Force website (www.ispor.org/TaskForces/EconomicPubGuidelines.asp).

We hope CHEERS will lead to better reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the CHEERS statement is being co-published across 10 health economics and medical journals. We encourage other journals and groups, to endorse CHEERS. The author team plans to review the checklist for an update in five years.
New capabilities in warfare: an overview of contemporary technological developments and the associated legal and engineering issues in Article 36 weapons reviews
Authors: Backstrom Alan , Henderson Ian
Published: April 2013

The increasing complexity of weapon systems requires an interdisciplinary approach to the conduct of weapon reviews. Developers need to be aware of international humanitarian law principles that apply to the employment of weapons. Lawyers need to be aware of how a weapon will be operationally employed and use this knowledge to help formulate meaningful operational guidelines in light of any technological issues identified in relation to international humanitarian law. As the details of a weapon's capability are often highly classified and compartmentalized, lawyers, engineers, and operators need to work cooperatively and imaginatively to overcome security classification and compartmental access limitations.
Dense electron-positron plasmas and bursts of gamma-rays from laser-generated quantum electrodynamic plasmas
Authors: Ridgers C. P. , Brady C. S. , Duclous R. , Kirk J. G. , Bennett K. , Arber T. D. , Bell A. R.
Published: April 2013

In simulations of a 12.5 PW laser (focussed intensity I=4×1023Wcm−2) striking a solid aluminum target, 10% of the laser energy is converted to gamma-rays. A dense electron-positron plasma is generated with a maximum density of 1026m−3, seven orders of magnitude denser than pure e− e+ plasmas generated with 1PW lasers. When the laser power is increased to 320 PW (I=1025Wcm−2), 40% of the laser energy is converted to gamma-ray photons and 10% to electron-positron pairs. In both cases, there is strong feedback between the QED emission processes and the plasma physics, the defining feature of the new “QED-plasma” regime reached in these interactions.
Magnetoplasmonic crystals based on commercial digital discs
Authors: Grunin A. A. , Chetvertukhin A. V. , Dolgova T. V. , Ezhov A. A. , Fedyanin A. A.
Published: April 2013

Transversal magneto-optical Kerr effect (TKE) controlled by surface plasmon-polariton resonances is studied in nickel and combined silver/nickel magnetoplasmonic crystals fabricated on the base of commercial digital discs with periods of 320 nm, 740 nm, and 1500 nm. Wood's anomaly is observed in visible and near IR spectral ranges due to fulfilment of phase-matching conditions between surface plasmons and −1, −2, and +1 diffraction orders for the samples with these periods, respectively. Strong asymmetrical Fano-shape resonances are observed in TKE spectra in the vicinity of surface plasmons' resonances.
Determination of the elastic properties of SiO2 nanotubes templated from organic amphiphilic self-assemblies through inorganic transcription
Authors: Houmadi S. , Dedovets D. , Si S. , Tamoto R. , Oda R. , Delville M. H. , Bergaud C.
Published: April 2013

Amorphous SiO2 nanotubes (NTs) with outer and inner diameters of 35 ± 4 nm and 10 ± 4 nm, respectively, were synthesized through inorganic transcription using organic amphiphilic self-assemblies as templates. By performing three-point bending tests on suspended SiO2 NTs using an atomic force microscope, their elastic modulus was determined to be 73.3 ± 6.7 GPa which is comparable to that of bulk SiO2 as well as amorphous SiO2 nanowires obtained using chemical vapor deposition. These measurements were validated using finite element method calculations and show the crucial role played by the clamping conditions to determine the actual Young's modulus.
Role of lone-pair electrons in Sb-doped amorphous InGaZnO4: Suppression of the hole-induced lattice instability
Authors: Nahm Ho-Hyun , Kim Yong-Sung
Published: April 2013

Transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors (TAOS's) are of practical importance for applications including oxide electronics and displays. Here we show the lone-pair s-electrons incorporated by for example Sb-doping can suppress the hole-induced lattice instability, which has been a major obstacle to commercial application of the TAOS-based thin film transistors. The Sb(III)-O spσ* hybridization in the top-most valence states makes the lone-pair s-electrons to capture the excited holes, the Sb(V)O6 octahedral bonding configuration by which formed is easily dissociated into the stable lone-pair Sb(III) state by recapturing conduction electrons.
Sympatric Polymorphism in Lake Trout: The Coexistence of Multiple Shallow‐Water Morphotypes in Great Bear Lake
Authors: Chavarie Louise , Howland Kimberly L. , Tonn William M.
Published: April 2013

Polymorphism in northern fishes is common, but the extent to which polymorphism occurs in Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush, a species generally associated with low intraspecific variation, is not well known. This study examined the polymorphism of Lake Trout inhabiting the shallow‐water zones (≤30 m) of Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories. We combined an analysis of classical morphometric and traditional linear measures with shape analysis (geometric morphometrics) to quantify morphological differences in body shape, head shape, and fin and body length measurements among 558 adult and 55 juvenile shallow‐water Lake Trout from Great Bear Lake. A UPGMA cluster analysis on adult Lake Trout distinguished three different morphs that coexist in the shallow‐water habitat. The most important differences among adult morphotypes were associated with head and fin measurements, whereas body shape variation was less distinct. A fourth, albeit rarer, morph was supported by a multivariate ANOVA that indicated significant differences in head and fin characteristics among the four groups. The divergent morphologies among the shallow‐water Lake Trout of Great Bear Lake are consistent with traits generally associated with feeding and swimming. In contrast to adult trout, no consistent patterns were found for juveniles, suggesting that phenotypic differences develop at a later stage. This unusual level of endemic diversity in the shallow‐water habitat expands our knowledge of Lake Trout diversity beyond the predominant focus on shallow‐ versus deepwater forms.
Benefits of Dramatherapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Analysis of Feedback from Parents and Teachers of Clients Attending Roundabout Dramatherapy Sessions in Schools
Authors: Godfrey Emma , Haythorne Deborah
Published: April 2013

Objective. To investigate parent/carer and teacher feedback on dramatherapy provided by Roundabout dramatherapists for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in schools. Design. A qualitative study of written feedback from parents/carers collected after treatment had finished. Methods. Forty-two comments on dramatherapy were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results. Five themes emerged from the data and were reported using verbatim quotes under the following headings: Feelings: a safe place to explore; Peers: being included and making friends; Social skills: role play provides a short cut to learning about and practising social skills; Structure: predictability lessens anxiety; and Families: supporting the whole system. There were no negative comments about the dramatherapy treatment recorded on the feedback forms. Conclusion. The findings revealed overwhelming support from parents/carers and teachers for the use of dramatherapy for children and young people with ASD. These results are encouraging and indicate that further study of dramatherapy treatment is warranted in order to build the evidence base for such interventions in this client group.
Dramatherapy with Children and Young People who Have Autistic Spectrum Disorders: An Examination of Dramatherapists’ Practices
Authors: Andersen-Warren Madeline
Published: April 2013

In this article the author examines responses to a questionnaire circulated to dramatherapists designed to elicit information about whether dramatherapy can be an effective intervention for children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders and allied mental health and psychological difficulties. The author outlines the process of analysing the data and the construction of resultant themes that inform dramatherapy practice, including the structures, content and process.
Sampling Sufficiency for Fish Assemblage Surveys of Tropical Atlantic Forest Streams, Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Freitas Terra Bianca , Hughes Robert M , Araújo Francisco Gerson
Published: April 2013

Knowledge of the adequacy of field sampling protocols is critical for detecting species and assessing biological conditions. Several studies have been conducted to determine the appropriate electrofishing distance for estimating fish assemblage richness in temperate North American streams. We tested whether electrofishing 40 times the mean wetted channel width was sufficient for estimating species richness and developing precise metrics for Atlantic Forest streams in southeastern Brazil. We sampled 32 sites with differing gradients, substrates, and anthropogenic pressures. Our results show that 40 channel widths were not sufficient to estimate species richness in those systems, presumably because of the high number of rare species. However, 40 channel widths were sufficient for applying other metrics of assemblage condition (e.g., number of common species, percentage of tolerant individuals, percentage of Characiform species, percentage of Siluriform species, percentage of water column species, percentage benthic species, Shannon diversity, dominance). This suggests that 40 channel widths are an appropriate sampling distance for applying environmental assessment protocols to Atlantic Forest streams.

RESUMEN

el conocimiento sobre la pertinencia de protocolos de muestreo es un aspecto clave para detectar especies y evaluar condiciones biológicas. Se han llevado a cabo numerosos estudios encaminados a determinar la distancia más adecuada para la electro-pesca, aplicada a la estimación de riqueza de ensambles de peces en ríos templados de Norte América. En esta contribución se probó si la electro-pesca aplicada a una distancia de 40 veces el ancho promedio del canal de inundación, era suficiente como para estimar la riqueza específica y desarrollar medidas precisas para los ríos del bosque tropical del Atlántico, en el sureste de Brasil. Se muestrearon 32 sitios con diferentes gradientes, sustratos y grados de presión antropogénica. Nuestros resultados muestran que en esos sistemas, usar 40 veces el ancho del canal no era suficiente como para estimar la riqueza, presumiblemente porque el alto número de especies raras. Sin embargo, 40 veces el ancho sí fue suficiente para conocer otros indicadores de la condición de los ensambles (e.g. número de especies comunes, porcentaje de individuos tolerantes, porcentaje de especies Caraciformes, porcentaje de especies Siluriformes, porcentaje de especies que habitan la columna de agua, porcentaje de especies bentónicas, diversidad de Shannon, dominancia). Esto sugiere que 40 veces el ancho del canal de inundación es una distancia apropiada de muestreo para aplicarla en protocolos de evaluación ambiental en ríos de los bosques tropicales del Atlántico.
Microtubule-dependent endosomal sorting of clathrin-independent cargo by Hook1
Authors: Maldonado-Báez Lymarie , Cole Nelson B. , Krämer Helmut , Donaldson Julie G.
Published: April 2013

Many plasma membrane (PM) proteins enter cells nonselectively through clathrin-independent endocytosis (CIE). Here, we present evidence that cytoplasmic sequences in three CIE cargo proteins—CD44, CD98, and CD147—were responsible for the rapid sorting of these proteins into endosomal tubules away from endosomes associated with early endosomal antigen 1 (EEA1). We found that Hook1, a microtubule- and cargo-tethering protein, recognized the cytoplasmic tail of CD147 to help sort it and CD98 into Rab22a-dependent tubules associated with recycling. Depletion of Hook1 from cells altered trafficking of CD44, CD98, and CD147 toward EEA1 compartments and impaired the recycling of CD98 back to the PM. In contrast, another CIE cargo protein, major histocompatibility complex class I, which normally traffics to EEA1 compartments, was not affected by depletion of Hook1. Loss of Hook1 also led to an inhibition of cell spreading, implicating a role for Hook1 sorting of specific CIE cargo proteins away from bulk membrane and back to the PM.
Identifying gene locus associations with promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies using immuno-TRAP
Authors: Ching Reagan W. , Ahmed Kashif , Boutros Paul C. , Penn Linda Z. , Bazett-Jones David P.
Published: April 2013

Important insights into nuclear function would arise if gene loci physically interacting with particular subnuclear domains could be readily identified. Immunofluorescence microscopy combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (immuno-FISH), the method that would typically be used in such a study, is limited by spatial resolution and requires prior assumptions for selecting genes to probe. Our new technique, immuno-TRAP, overcomes these limitations. Using promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML NBs) as a model, we used immuno-TRAP to determine if specific genes localize within molecular dimensions with these bodies. Although we confirmed a TP53 gene–PML NB association, immuno-TRAP allowed us to uncover novel locus-PML NB associations, including the ABCA7 and TFF1 loci and, most surprisingly, the PML locus itself. These associations were cell type specific and reflected the cell’s physiological state. Combined with microarrays or deep sequencing, immuno-TRAP provides powerful opportunities for identifying gene locus associations with potentially any nuclear subcompartment.
Poly[bis(μ-5-iodoisophthalato)(methanol)dilead(II)] exhibiting a novel centrosymmetric rhombus-shaped I4unit
Authors: Luo Shao-Hua
Published: April 2013

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Pb2(C8H3IO4)2(CH4O)]n, contains two PbIIatoms, two 5-iodoisophthalate (5-IIP2−) ligands and one coordinated methanol molecule. One Pb atom is eight-coordinated, surrounded by seven carboxylate O atoms from five 5-IIP2−ligands and one O atom from the terminal methanol ligand. The other Pb atom is seven-coordinated in a hemidirected geometry, surrounded by seven carboxylate O atoms from five 5-IIP2−ligands. Both Pb atoms are connected by carboxylate groups to form a one-dimensional infinite rod along theaaxis; neighbouring rods are further linked by the aromatic rings of 5-IIP2−to generate the final three-dimensional structure with channels in theadirection. An O—H...O hydrogen bond between the methanol ligand and one of the carboxylate groups of a 5-IIP2−ligand stablizes the three-dimensional framework. Interestingly, a centrosymmetric rhombus-shaped I4unit is formed by four 5-IIP2−ligands, with I...I distances of 3.8841 (8) and 3.9204 (8) Å.
The Multiple Meanings of ‘Resilience’: An Overview of the Literature
Authors: Reid Richard , Botterill Linda Courtenay
Published: April 2013

‘resilience is in danger of becoming a vacuous buzzword from overuse and ambiguity’ (Rose 2007: 384)

‘Resilience’ is widely used in public policy debate in Australia in contexts as diverse as drought policy, mental fitness in the Australian Defence Force, and in discussion around the Australian economy's performance during the global financial crisis. The following paper provides an overview of the use of the term ‘resilience’ in the academic literature in both the natural and social sciences. The key conclusion from this research is that the term is highly ambiguous, it is used for different purposes in different contexts and in some cases the understandings of the term are diametrically opposed. The malleability of the term suggests that it might be politically risky if employed in policy debate unless clearly defined in each instance.
A Cautionary Tale: Council Amalgamation in Tasmania and the Deloitte Access Economics Report
Authors: Drew Joseph , Kortt Michael A. , Dollery Brian
Published: April 2013

Contemporary Australian public policy has come to rely increasingly on technical reports produced by commercial consultants in contrast to the traditional approach, which employed disinterested public servants to generate the specialist information required to inform decision makers. This approach is fraught with problems, not least the fact that ‘hired guns’ have strong incentives to create the ‘answers’ sought by their employers. By way of a ‘cautionary tale’, this paper examines the empirical evidence adduced in favour of radical amalgamation of Tasmanian local authorities in Local Government Structural Reform in Tasmania, produced by Deloitte Access Economics (DAE) (2011), and commissioned by the Property Council of Tasmania. In particular, the paper provides a critical analysis of the econometric modelling undertaken in the DAE (2011) Report. We find that if the DAE model is re‐estimated – employing alternative functional forms – then the empirical evidence in support of Tasmania council merges evaporates.
Identity as Constraint and Resource in Interest Group Evolution: A Case of Radical Organizational Change
Authors: Halpin Darren , Daugbjerg Carsten
Published: April 2013

Research Highlights and Abstract

demonstrates that the tools of Historical Institutionalism are valuable for interest group scholars in assessing change offers a way to conceptualize and empirically differentiate between radical and routine change within interest group organisations shows that a group's founding mission is both a constraint and a resource for radical group change.

While group scholars have long noted instances of change in overall organisational form—say from amateur scientific group to environmental campaign group—the literature is short on persuasive accounts of the mechanism(s) that drive or constrain such radical types of change. How can we explain groups getting from form A to form B? In this article we explore how tools from the historical institutionalism literature might aid in the analytical process. Specifically we focus on the combination of focussing events, internal challengers to the status quo, and the capability of challengers to demonstrate to key audiences that the ‘radical’ change is in some way consistent with the founding identity of the group. We demonstrate the application of this approach by examining a case of radical change—a shift in overall form—in a well-known UK interest group, the Soil Association.
Light drinking versus abstinence in pregnancy – behavioural and cognitive outcomes in 7‐year‐old children: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Kelly Y , Iacovou M , Quigley MA , Gray R , Wolke D , Kelly J , Sacker A
Published: April 2013

Objective

To assess whether light drinking in pregnancy is linked to unfavourable developmental outcomes in children.

Design

Prospective population‐based cohort.

Setting

UK.

Population

Ten thousand five hundred and thirty‐four 7‐year‐olds.

Methods

Quasi‐experimental using propensity score matching (PSM) to compare children born to light (up to 2 units per week) and non‐drinkers.

Main outcome measures

Behavioural difficulties rated by parents and teachers; cognitive test scores for reading, maths and spatial skills.

Results

Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and PSM analyses are presented. For behavioural difficulties, unadjusted estimates for percentage standard deviation (SD) score differences ranged from 2 to 14%. On adjustment for potential confounders, differences were attenuated, with a loss of statistical significance, except for teacher‐rated boys' difficulties. For boys, parent‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −11.5; OLS, −4.3; PSM, −6.8; teacher‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −13.9; OLS, −9.6; PSM, −10.8. For girls, parent‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −9.6; OLS, −2.9; PSM, −4.5; teacher‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −2.4; OLS, 4.9; PSM, 3.9. For cognitive test scores, unadjusted estimates for differences ranged between 12 and 21% of an SD score for reading, maths and spatial skills. After adjustment for potential confounders, estimates were reduced, but remained statistically significantly different for reading and for spatial skills in boys. For boys, reading: unadjusted, 20.9; OLS, 8.3; PSM, 7.3; maths: unadjusted, 14.7; OLS, 5.0; PSM, 6.5; spatial skills: unadjusted, 16.2; OLS, 7.6; PSM, 8.1. For girls, reading: unadjusted, 11.6; OLS, −0.3; PSM, −0.5; maths: unadjusted, 12.9; OLS, 4.3; PSM, 3.9; spatial skills: unadjusted, 16.2; OLS, 7.7; PSM, 6.4.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that light drinking during pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems in mid‐childhood. These findings support current UK Department of Health guidelines on drinking during pregnancy.
Physical health of patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Young A. H. , Grunze H.
Published: April 2013

Objective

This article reviews the characteristics of bipolar disorder and approaches to minimise physical health risks, as well as treatment options, and their influence on patient quality of life (QoL).

Method

The content of this article is based on the proceedings of a 1‐day standalone symposium in November 2011 exploring how to establish a bipolar clinic within the context of existing services in the UK's National Health Service.

Results

Bipolar disorder is a common mental disorder and often under‐recognised in patients with major depressive episodes. Patients are largely dependent on family and carers to lead normal lifestyles and have difficulties maintaining relationships. Mental health and physical health are closely linked, with risk factors such as weight gain, metabolic syndrome, smoking and diabetes contributing to cardiovascular disease and early death. Antipsychotics may induce treatment‐related comorbidities, thus further contributing to a low QoL of patients. Symptoms of comorbidity or depression are frequently relieved through self‐medication and substance abuse, thus increasing patient health and suicide risk. Therefore, regular health monitoring and patient education in risk factor minimisation are required.

Conclusion

Early pharmacotherapeutic and psychoeducational interventions are required to improve treatment outcomes, as well as improving patient understanding of ways to minimise comorbidity development.
Could pramipexole induce acute mania? A case report
Authors: Bet Pierre M , Franken Linda GW , Klumpers Ursula MH
Published: April 2013

Objective

In patients with bipolar disorder, olanzapine is commonly used to prevent episodes of acute mania. The drug pramipexole can, in theory, undermine the protective effect of olanzapine. Olanzapine is a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist and pramipexole is a mixed dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist. These drugs may therefore theoretically counteract their pharmacological effects. To date, there are no known cases in the literature where this interaction has been described.

Methods

We report on a case where a patient with bipolar disorder developed mania after taking pramipexole in combination with olanzapine, and describe the pharmacological background of this interaction.

Results

A patient with bipolar I disorder was hospitalized with a manic episode characterized by agitation and insomnia after taking pramipexole for restless leg syndrome (RLS) in combination with olanzapine. Co‐medication, i.e., lithium and mirtazapine, and other circumstances are not likely to have contributed to this effect.

Conclusion

There is a probable interaction between pramipexole and olanzapine, where pramipexole undermines the protective effect of olanzapine, provoking an episode of acute mania and hospitalization. This interaction is of clinical importance since pramipexole is the treatment of choice for RLS, a condition often seen in end‐stage renal disease, and has also been investigated as an antidepressant therapy in patients with bipolar disorder.
School burnout and engagement in the context of demands–resources model
Authors: Salmela‐Aro Katariina , Upadyaya Katja
Published: April 2013

Background

A four‐wave longitudinal study tested the demands–resources model in the school context.

Aim

To examine the applicability of the demands–resources to the school context.

Method

Data of 1,709 adolescents were gathered, once during the transition from comprehensive to post‐comprehensive education, twice during post‐comprehensive education, and once 2 years later.

Results

The hypotheses were supported, path analysis showing that study demands were related to school burnout a year later, while study resources were related to schoolwork engagement. Self‐efficacy was positively related to engagement and negatively to burnout. School burnout predicted schoolwork engagement negatively 1 year later. Engagement was positively related to life satisfaction 2 years later, while burnout was related to depressive symptoms. Finally, burnout mediated the relationship between study demands and mental health outcomes.

Conclusions

The demands–resources model can usefully be applied to the school context, including the associations between school‐related burnout and engagement among adolescents. The model comprises two processes, the energy‐depleting process and the motivational process.
Cardiovascular responses to retigabine in conscious rats – under normotensive and hypertensive conditions
Authors: Fretwell L V , Woolard J
Published: April 2013

Background and Purpose

Retigabine is a recently approved antiepileptic agent which activates Kv7.2–7.5 potassium channels. It is emerging that these channels have an important role in vascular regulation, but the vascular effects of retigabine in the conscious state are unknown. Hence, in the present study we assessed the regional haemodynamic responses to retigabine in conscious rats.

Experimental Approach

Male Sprague Dawley rats were chronically instrumented with pulsed Doppler flow probes to measure regional haemodynamic responses to retigabine under control conditions and during acute hypertension induced by infusion of angiotensin II and arginine vasopressin. Further experiments were performed, using the β‐adrenoceptor antagonists CGP 20712A, ICI 118551 and propranolol, to elucidate the roles of β‐adrenoceptors in the responses to retigabine in vivo and in vitro.

Key Results

Under normotensive conditions, retigabine induced dose‐dependent hypotension and hindquarters vasodilatation, with small, transient renal and mesenteric vasodilatations. In the acutely hypertensive state, the renal and mesenteric, but not hindquarters, vasodilatations were enhanced. The response of the hindquarters vascular bed to retigabine was mediated, in part, by β2‐adrenoceptors. However, in vitro experiments confirmed that retigabine did not act as a β‐adrenoceptor agonist.

Conclusions and Implications

We demonstrated that retigabine causes regionally specific vasodilatations, which are different under normotensive and hypertensive conditions, and are, in part, mediated by β2‐adrenoceptors in some vascular beds but not in others. These results broadly support previous findings and further indicate that Kv7 channels are a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular diseases associated with inappropriate vasoconstriction.