bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complementary colors theory of color vision: Physiology, color mixture, color constancy and color perception
Authors: Pridmore Ralph W.
Published: September 2011

I describe complementary colors' physiology and functional roles in color vision, in a three‐stage theory (receptor, opponent color, and complementary color stages). 40 specific roles include the complementary structuring of: S and L cones, opponent single cells, cardinal directions, hue cycle structure, hue constancy, trichromatic color mixture, additive/subtractive primaries, two unique hues, color mixture space, uniform hue difference, lightness‐, saturation‐, and wavelength/hue‐discrimination, spectral sensitivity, chromatic adaptation, metamerism, chromatic induction, Helson‐Judd effect, colored shadows, color rendering, warm‐cool colors, brilliance, color harmony, Aristotle's flight of colors, white‐black responsivity, Helmholtz‐Kohlrausch effect, rainbows/halos/glories, dichromatism, spectral‐sharpening, and trimodality of functions (RGB peaks, CMY troughs whose complementarism adapts functions to illuminant). The 40 specific roles fall into 3 general roles: color mixture, color constancy, and color perception. Complementarism evidently structures much of the visual process. Its physiology is evident in complementarism of cones, and opponent single cells in retina, LGN, and cortex. Genetics show our first cones were S and L, which are complementary in daylight D65, giving a standard white to aid chromatic adaptation. M cone later split from L to oppose the nonspectral (red and purple) hues mixed from S+L. Response curves and wavelength peaks of cones L, S, and (S+L), M, closely resemble, and lead to, those of opponent‐color chromatic responses y, b, and r, g, a bimodal system whose summation gives spectral‐sharpened trimodal complementarism (RGB peaks, CMY troughs). Spectral sharpening demands a post‐receptoral, post‐opponent‐colors location, hence a third stage. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2011
Reduction Potentials and Acidity Constants of Mn Superoxide Dismutase Calculated by QM/MM Free‐Energy Methods
Authors: Heimdal Jimmy , Kaukonen Markus , Srnec Martin , Rulíšek Lubomír , Ryde Ulf
Published: September 2011

We used two theoretical methods to estimate reduction potentials and acidity constants in Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), namely combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) thermodynamic cycle perturbation (QTCP) and the QM/MM‐PBSA approach. In the latter, QM/MM energies are combined with continuum solvation energies calculated by solving the Poisson–Boltzmann equation (PB) or by the generalised Born approach (GB) and non‐polar solvation energies calculated from the solvent‐exposed surface area. We show that using the QTCP method, we can obtain accurate and precise estimates of the proton‐coupled reduction potential for MnSOD, 0.30±0.01 V, which compares favourably with experimental estimates of 0.26–0.40 V. However, the calculated potentials depend strongly on the DFT functional used: The B3LYP functional gives 0.6 V more positive potentials than the PBE functional. The QM/MM‐PBSA approach leads to somewhat too high reduction potentials for the coupled reaction and the results depend on the solvation model used. For reactions involving a change in the net charge of the metal site, the corresponding results differ by up to 1.3 V or 24 pKa units, rendering the QM/MM‐PBSA method useless to determine absolute potentials. However, it may still be useful to estimate relative shifts, although the QTCP method is expected to be more accurate.
Is Universal, Simple Melting Point Prediction Possible?
Authors: Preiss Ulrich P. , Beichel Witali , Erle Anna M. T. , Paulechka Yauheni U. , Krossing Ingo
Published: September 2011

An investigation of the melting points of 520 organic 1:1 salts is presented with the aim of developing a universal, simple, physically well‐founded prediction scheme. The general reliability and reproducibility of the recorded experimental data are discussed with respect to purity, phase behavior, disorder and thermal history of a given substance. Additionally, mistakes, systematic errors, or lack of conventions can lead to considerable differences in the experimental measurements. A rough error bar for the reproducibility of the melting points of organic salts of ±5 to ±15 °C can be assigned. With this restraint, we developed two simple, semiempirical, five‐ and nine‐parameter schemes with easy‐to‐calculate quantities. With these, we could predict the melting temperature of a given organic salt in the temperature range of −25 to +300 °C with an average error of 33.5 °C and a relative error of 9.3 %. All calculated quantities are assessed with the help of conventional DFT, COSMO and COSMO‐RS calculations, and are currently implemented into the IL‐Prop module of the upcoming version of COSMOtherm. These prediction schemes are suitable for high‐throughput computational screening of substances in the context of “computer‐aided synthesis”. Therefore, they are valuable tools to find a compound with a suitable melting point before its first synthesis.
Atypical development of resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia in children at high risk for depression
Authors: Gentzler Amy L. , Rottenberg Jonathan , Kovacs Maria , George Charles J. , Morey Jennifer N.
Published: September 2011

Compromised respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA, i.e., low cardiac vagal control) frequently characterizes clinically depressed adults and also has been detected in infants of depressed mothers; however, its existence has not been established in older at‐risk offspring. We investigated developmental patterns of RSA in a sample of 163 5‐ to 14‐year‐old children, who were either at high risk for depression (due to having a parent with a childhood‐onset mood disorder) or low‐risk for depression. We hypothesized that high‐risk children have lower resting RSA than do low‐risk children, which could reflect atypical developmental trajectories. Children's RSA was assessed during resting baseline periods on multiple occasions, typically 1‐year apart. Linear growth modeling indicated a group by age interaction. Low‐risk children (but not the high‐risk children) exhibited a significantly increasing trajectory in resting RSA with age. Mood disorders in offspring did not account for the Group X Age interaction effect. Our study provides new evidence that children at high risk for depression have an atypical developmental trajectory of RSA across late childhood. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals,Inc. Dev Psychobiol 54: 556–567, 2012.
Comparison of embryonic expression within multigene families using the flyexpress discovery platform reveals more spatial than temporal divergence
Authors: Konikoff Charlotte E. , Karr Timothy L. , McCutchan Michael , Newfeld Stuart J. , Kumar Sudhir
Published: September 2011

Background: Overlaps in spatial patterns of gene expression are frequently an initial clue to genetic interactions during embryonic development. However, manual inspection of images requires considerable time and resources impeding the discovery of important interactions because tens of thousands of images exist. The FlyExpress discovery platform was developed to facilitate data‐driven comparative analysis of expression pattern images from Drosophila embryos. Results: An image‐based search of the BDGP and Fly‐FISH datasets conducted in FlyExpress yields fewer but more precise results than text‐based searching when the specific goal is to find genes with overlapping expression patterns. We also provide an example of a FlyExpress contribution to scientific discovery: an analysis of gene expression patterns for multigene family members revealed that spatial divergence is far more frequent than temporal divergence, especially after the maternal to zygotic transition. This discovery provides a new clue to molecular mechanisms whereby duplicated genes acquire novel functions. Conclusions: The application of FlyExpress to understanding the process by which new genes acquire novel functions is just one of a myriad of ways in which it can contribute to our understanding of developmental and evolutionary biology. This resource has many other potential applications, limited only by the investigator's imagination. Developmental Dynamics 241:150–160, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Axial protocadherin (AXPC) regulates cell fate during notochordal morphogenesis
Authors: Yoder Michael D. , Gumbiner Barry M.
Published: September 2011

The separation and specification of mesoderm into the notochord and somites involves members of the non‐clustered δ‐protocadherins. Axial (AXPC) and paraxial (PAPC) protocadherins are expressed in the early dorsal mesoderm and later become refined to the developing notochordal and somitic mesoderm, respectively. The role of PAPC in this process has been studied extensively, but the role of AXPC is poorly understood. Partial knockdown of AXPC causes a specific bent‐axis phenotype, while more severe knockdown results in the loss of notochord formation. The inability of these embryos to develop a notochord is not due to a cell‐sorting event via changes in cell adhesion during gastrulation, but rather this defect is manifested through the loss of axial mesoderm specification, but not general mesoderm induction. The results presented here show that AXPC functions in notochord morphogenesis by directing cell‐fate decisions rather than cell‐cell adhesion. Developmental Dynamics 240:2495–2504, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A fine‐grained analysis of eating behavior in women with bulimia nervosa
Authors: Mitchell James E. , Karr Trisha M. , Peat Christina , Wonderlich Stephen , Crosby Ross D. , Engel Scott , Simonich Heather
Published: September 2011

Objective:

In the current study, we were interested in developing a typology of eating in patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) based on the size of the eating episode, whether the episode was followed by self‐induced vomiting, and the degree of loss of control (LOC) self‐reported by participants.

Method:

Twenty‐one women with BN, purging type, were evaluated using the Nutritional Data System for Research, the Eating Disorders Examination, and the Matrix.

Results:

The most common type of episode resembled what might be termed “normal” eating, which involved the consumption of <1,000 kcal with no sense of LOC and no vomiting. There was an increase in severity of self‐assessed LOC in objectively large eating episodes with vomiting. Self‐reported hunger prior to eating episodes did not seem to be predictive of subsequent behavior. Most people were engaged in other behaviors while eating.

Discussion:

The results of this study suggest a typology that included primarily four types of eating episodes. The results also suggest that when LOC is assessed on a Likert‐scale rather than as a dichotomous variable, there is considerable variability in self‐assessed degree of LOC. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012)
Cooperative Catalysis with First‐Row Late Transition Metals
Authors: van der Vlugt Jarl Ivar
Published: September 2011

Cooperative catalysis with first‐row transition metals holds much promise for future developments regarding sustainable, selective transformations, including e.g. alkenes, dienes and a variety of small molecules such as CO2, N2 and water. This non‐exhaustive analysis of the current state‐of‐the‐art aims to give a comprehensive overview of the various design strategies and applications of first‐row transition metal cooperative reactivity and to provide leads for new research initiatives in order to expand this emerging field. The main aspects covered involve bimetallic cooperativity, redox‐noninnocent ligands in combination with first‐row transition metal complexes, otherwise reactive or noninnocent scaffolds that can induce metal‐ligand bifunctional substrate activation and the design of adaptive ligands and complexes thereof, wherein hemilability is a key factor for selective reactivity. The metals under review are primarily the late transition metals Fe, Co, Ni and Cu.
Selective and Rapid Room Temperature Detection of H2S Using Gold Nanoparticle Chain Arrays
Authors: Lee Joun , Mubeen Syed , Hangarter Carlos M. , Mulchandani Ashok , Chen Wilfred , Myung Nosang V.
Published: September 2011

A novel conductometric hydrogen sulfide (H2S) sensor was fabricated by AC dielectrophoretic assembly of amino acid mediated grown gold nanoparticles across microfabricated gold electrodes. Excellent sensing performance toward hydrogen sulfide, including a sensitivity of 29.84 % ppm−1, a lower detection limit in the sub‐ppm level, the upper detection limit of 2 ppm, and a response time of<20 s for 10 ppm H2S was achieved at room temperature. In addition, excellent selectivity was demonstrated toward CO and SO2 with minimum interference from NH3. Enhanced sensor performance may be attributed to the use of amino acid capped gold nanoparticles compared to thiolated gold nanoparticles and optimized assembly conditions to control the density of gold nanoparticle chains and electron transport properties.
Relationship between symptoms of depression and agitation in nursing home residents with dementia
Authors: Volicer Ladislav , Frijters Dinnus H.M. , Van der Steen Jenny T.
Published: September 2011

Objective

The aim of this study is to analyze modifiable factors related to agitation of nursing home residents with dementia.

Methods

Relationship of agitation with three modifiable factors (depression, psychosis, and pain) was explored using longitudinal Minimum Data Set (MDS) information from 2032 residents of Dutch nursing homes. Presence of agitation and depression was ascertained using validated scales based on MDS information. Presence of psychosis and pain was ascertained from the individual MDS items.

Results

There was a significant correlation between MDS depression and agitation scores. Depression scores increased in residents whose agitation worsened and decreased in residents whose agitation improved. Psychosis scores (combination of delusions and hallucinations) also correlated with MDS depression scores, and psychosis scores increased in residents whose agitation worsened. Pain scores correlated with agitation scores, but the pain scores did not change with changes in agitation. Depression symptoms were present in 51% of residents, while psychotic symptoms were present only in 15% of residents, and two‐thirds of these residents were also depressed.

Conclusion

These results indicate that depression may be the most common factor associated with agitation in nursing home residents with dementia. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of climate, water content and leaching on seasonal variations in potential water repellence
Authors: Hardie Marcus A. , Cotching William E. , Doyle Richard B. , Lisson Shaun
Published: September 2011

Seasonal variation in potential water repellence has not been widely reported in the literature, and little is known of the processes that cause changes in potential water repellence. In this study, the severity and stability of potential water repellence varied seasonally from being weakly hydrophobic in July 2009 (water drop penetration time, 0.19 min; water entry potential, 0.0 cm) to severely hydrophobic (water drop penetration time, 54 min; water entry potential, 14.3 cm) in May 2009. Seasonal variation in the stability of potential water repellence was significantly correlated with cumulative rainfall, air temperature and soil water deficit, which indicated that the accumulation of water‐repellent compounds, presumably polar waxes, resulted from microbial or plant inputs to the soil. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that saturating and mixing the soil resulted in a two to three order of magnitude reduction in the stability of potential water repellence, even after oven drying at 40 °C and 60 °C. Repeated leaching resulted in sequential reduction in both the stability and severity of water repellence. The significant correlation between soil water repellence and dissolved organic carbon content of the leachate, together with pedological evidence of organic staining of ped faces in the clay subsoil indicate that seasonal rainfall leached soluble water‐repellent compounds from the topsoil. The reestablishment of water repellence after saturation and leaching required the input of new water‐repellent compounds. These findings suggest that the use of surfactants before sowing may assist to leach water‐repellent compounds from the topsoil, allowing improved infiltration and reduced runoff through the remainder of the cropping season. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ecohydrological evolution model on riparian vegetation in hyperarid regions and its validation in the lower reach of Tarim River
Authors: Liu Dengfeng , Tian Fuqiang , Hu Heping , Lin Mu , Cong Zhentao
Published: September 2011

The evolution of the ecohydrological system driven by external climatic forcing and internal feedbacks between vegetation and hydrology, which is more remarkable in arid and semiarid regions, has attracted substantial research attention in recent years. To examine critically the state‐of‐the‐art assumptions and dynamic equations used in the evolution study of an ecohydrological system, the rule of proceeding from simplicity to complexity should be followed. The riparian vegetation ecohydrological system in hyperarid regions (e.g. the lower Tarim River) can serve as a starting point given its simplicity, which has been seldom examined before in terms of system evolution. Further, the water transfer practice from 2000 to 2006 in the lower Tarim River serves as a valuable prototype experiment for model validation. This is because the remarkable changes in groundwater and vegetation in the area have taken place within a shorter period and thus can be easily observed. In the present study, the ecohydrological evolution model on riparian vegetation (ERV model) in hyperarid regions was proposed by coupling groundwater movement and vegetation dynamics. In the ERV model, the groundwater table serves as a critical feedback variable that determines the vegetation dynamics (colonization and mortality) and is determined by vegetation transpiration other than groundwater movement. The monitored groundwater table by wells and satellite‐observed vegetation coverage from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer are used for model validation. The simulation results show the good performance of the ERV model with uncalibrated parameters. It was also calibrated manually using a multiobjective method, and the fine‐tuned parameters are close to the uncalibrated ones, indicating the robustness of the model. The analysis shows further that the increased evapotranspiration is substantially due to the water transfer and thus the vegetation growth, which implies the importance of ecohydrological coupling for long‐term hydrological modelling. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Water storage at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed, Georgia, USA
Authors: Peters Norman E. , Aulenbach Brent T.
Published: September 2011

Storage is a major component of a catchment water balance particularly when the water balance components are evaluated on short time scales, that is, less than annual. We propose a method of determining the storage–discharge relation using an exponential function and daily precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET) and baseflow during the dormant season when evapotranspiration (ET) is low. The method was applied to the 22‐year data series of the 0.41‐ha forested Panola Mountain Research Watershed, Georgia. The relation of cumulative daily precipitation minus daily runoff and PET versus baseflow was highly significant (r2 = 0.92, p < 0.0001), but the initial storage for each year varied markedly. For the 22‐year study period, annual precipitation and runoff averaged 1240 and 380 mm, respectively, whereas the absolute catchment storage range was ~400 mm, averaging 219 mm annually, which is attributed to contributions of soil water and groundwater. The soil moisture of a catchment average 1‐m soil depth was evaluated and suggests that there was an active (changes in soil storage during stormflow) and passive (a longer‐term seasonal cycle) soil water storage with ranges of 40–70 and 100–120 mm, respectively. The active soil water storage was short term on the order of days during and immediately after rainstorms, and the passive or seasonal soil storage was highest during winter when ET was lowest and lowest during summer when ET was highest. An estimate of ET from daily changes in soil moisture (ETSM) during recessions was comparable with PET during the dormant season (1.5 mm day−1) but was much lower during the growing season (June through August); monthly average SMET and PET ranged from 2.8 to 4.0 mm day−1 and from 4.5 to 5.5 mm day−1, respectively. The growing season difference is attributed to the overestimation of PET. ETSM estimates were comparable with those derived from hillslope water balances during sprinkling experiments. Master recession curves derived from the storage–discharge relation adjusted seasonally for ET (1.5 and 4.0 mm day−1 during the dormant and growing seasons, respectively) fit actual recessions extremely well. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrochemical and sedimentary responses of paired High Arctic watersheds to unusual climate and permafrost disturbance, Cape Bounty, Melville Island, Canada
Authors: Lewis Ted , Lafrenière Melissa J. , Lamoureux Scott F.
Published: September 2011

High Arctic river responses to changing hydroclimatic and landscape processes are poorly understood. In non‐glacierized basins, snowmelt and rainfall generate river discharge, which provides first order control over fluxes. Further factors include the seasonality of precipitation, seasonal active layer development, and permafrost disturbance. These controls were evaluated in terms of sedimentary and biogeochemical fluxes from paired catchments at Cape Bounty, Melville Island, Nunavut during 2006–2009. Results indicate that the source of runoff can be more important than the amount of runoff for sediment, solutes, and organic yields. Although the snowmelt period is typically the most important time for these yields, heavy late summer precipitation events can create disproportionately large yields. Rainfall increases yields because it hydrologically connects areas otherwise isolated. Inorganic solute yields from late summer rainfall are higher because the thick active layer maximizes hydrologic interactions with mineral soils and generates high solute concentrations. Results also indicate that while the catchments are broadly similar, subtle topographic differences result in important inter‐catchment differences in runoff and suspended and dissolved loads. The East watershed, which had less extensive permafrost disturbance, consistently had higher concentrations of dissolved solids. These higher dissolved fluxes cannot therefore be explained by thermokarst features, but rather by deeper active layer development, due to a greater proportion of south‐facing slopes. Although warm temperatures in 2007 led to extensive active layer disturbance in the West watershed, because the disturbances were largely hydrologically disconnected, the total disturbed area was small, and inter‐annual variability in discharge was high, there was no detectable response in dissolved loads to disturbances. Sediment availability increased after 2007, but yields have largely returned to pre‐disturbance levels. Results indicate that seasonality and frequency‐magnitude characteristics of projected increases in precipitation must be considered along with active layer changes to predict the fluvial sedimentary and biogeochemical response to regional climate change. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of artificial subsurface drainage on groundwater travel times and baseflow discharge in an agricultural watershed, Iowa (USA)
Authors: Schilling Keith E. , Jindal Priyanka , Basu Nandita B. , Helmers Matthew J.
Published: September 2011

Pollutant delivery through artificial subsurface drainage networks to streams is an important transport mechanism, yet the impact of drainage tiles on groundwater hydrology at the watershed scale has not been well documented. In this study, we developed a two‐dimensional, steady‐state groundwater flow model for a representative Iowa agricultural watershed to simulate the impact of tile drainage density and incision depth on groundwater travel times and proportion of baseflow contributed by tile drains. Varying tile drainage density from 0 to 0.0038 m−1, while maintaining a constant tile incision depth at 1.2 m, resulted in the mean groundwater travel time to decrease exponentially from 40 years to 19 years and increased the tile contribution to baseflow from 0% to an upper bound of 37%. In contrast, varying tile depths from 0.3 to 2.7 m, while maintaining a constant tile drainage density of 0.0038 m−1, caused mean travel times to decrease linearly from 22 to 18 years and increased the tile contribution to baseflow from 30% to 54% in a near‐linear manner. The decrease in the mean travel time was attributed to decrease in the saturated thickness of the aquifer with increasing drainage density and incision depth. Study results indicate that tile drainage affects fundamental watershed characteristics and should be taken into consideration when evaluating water and nitrate export from agricultural regions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ovarian cancer risk factors by histologic subtypes in the NIH‐AARP diet and health study
Authors: Yang Hannah P. , Trabert Britton , Murphy Megan A. , Sherman Mark E. , Sampson Joshua N. , Brinton Louise A. , Hartge Patricia , Hollenbeck Albert , Park Yikyung , Wentzensen Nicolas
Published: September 2011

Data suggest that risk factors for ovarian carcinoma vary by histologic type, but findings are inconsistent. We prospectively evaluated risk factors by histological subtypes of incident ovarian cancer (n = 849) in a cohort of 169,391 women in the NIH‐AARP Diet and Health Study. We constructed Cox models of individual exposures by comparing case subtypes to the entire non‐case group and assessed p‐heterogeneity in case–case comparisons using serous as the reference category. Substantial risk differences between histologic subtypes were observed for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use, oral contraceptive (OC) use, parity and body mass index (p‐heterogeneity = 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.03, respectively). MHT users were at increased risk for all histologic subtypes except for mucinous carcinomas, where risk was reduced (relative risk (RR) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 0.80). OC users were only at significantly decreased risk for serous cancers (RR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.85). Although parity was inversely associated with risk of all subtypes, the RRs ranged from 0.28 (clear cell) to 0.83 (serous). Obesity was a significant risk factor only for endometrioid cancers (RR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.70). Our findings support a link between etiological factors and histological heterogeneity in ovarian carcinoma.
Surface ultrastructure of the gill filaments and the secondary lamellae of the catfish,Rita rita, and the carp, Cirrhinus mrigala
Authors: Kumari Usha , Mittal Swati , Mittal Ajay Kumar
Published: September 2011

Surface ultrastructures of gill filaments and secondary lamellae of Rita rita and Cirrhinus mrigala, inhabiting different ecological habitat, were investigated to unravel adaptive modifications. R. rita is a sluggish, bottom dwelling carnivorous catfish, which inhabits regions of river with accumulations of dirty water. It retains its viability for long time if taken out of water. C. mrigala is an active bottom dwelling Indian major carp, which lives in relatively clean water and dies shortly after taken out of water. In R. rita, gill septa between gill filaments are reduced. Microridges on epithelial cells covering gill filaments are often continuous and arranged concentrically. Secondary lamellae are extensive. The epithelium appears corrugated, show irregular elevations and shallow depressions, and microridges on epithelial cells appear fragmented. In C. mrigala, in contrast, the gill septa are extensive. Microridges on epithelial cells covering gill filaments are fragmented. Secondary lamellae are less extensive. The epithelium appears smooth and microridges on epithelial cells are relatively inconspicuous. These differences have been considered adaptive modification in relation to habit and ecological niches inhabited by two fish species. Presence of mucous goblet cells on gill filaments is discussed in relation to their functions including precipitation of the sediments and preventing clogging of gill filaments. Infrequent mucous goblet cells in the epithelium of secondary lamellae in two fish species are considered an adaptation, minimizing thickness of the epithelium to reduce barrier between blood and water for favoring gasses exchange with increased efficiency. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
POVERTY IN RURAL INDIA: VARIATIONS IN FACTORS INFLUENCING DYNAMICS OF CHRONIC POVERTY
Authors: Dhamija Nidhi , Bhide Shashanka
Published: September 2011

The article studies the dynamics of chronic poverty in rural India. The article attempts to analyse the factors influencing the incidence and mobility of poverty and the changes in the influence of these factors over time. This article uses the household panel survey data collected by NCAER. It examines whether there has been change in the influence of factors such as village level infrastructure, household size and composition, and economic growth on poverty dynamics in different periods of time. The impact of a number of factors changes over time implying that the strategies for poverty reduction would have to take into account the changing economic environment. The article further presents an analysis of growth rate of per capita expenditure for the same set households to analyse the extent of consumption growth, which is also an indicator of poverty reduction for rural India. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolic changes in early childhood using LCModel with corrected water scaling method
Authors: Takanashi Jun‐ichi , Somazawa Fuminori , Maruyama Katsuya , Terada Hitoshi , Xu Duan , Barkovich A. James
Published: September 2011

Purpose:

To examine metabolic changes of the brain in early infancy measured by the LCModel with the water scaling method (LCModel‐WS), and to determine whether the unsuppressed water signal (UWS) on the MR console and the area of the unsuppressed water peak (AUW) in the LCModel can be used to correct metabolite concentrations.

Materials and Methods:

MR spectroscopy was performed on a 1.5 Tesla MR scanner. To determine whether UWS and AUW increases linearly with PD and exp(‐TE/T2), these values were measured using three phantoms with different PD and T2 values. UWS and AUW were also measured (PRESS, TR = 5000 ms, TE = 30 ms, VOI = 4.5 mL) in 57 pediatric controls (aged 2 weeks to 15 years).

Results:

Phantom studies revealed UWS and AUW increases linearly with PD and exp(‐TE/T2). UWS and AUW were high in controls younger than 2 years of age, but gradually decreased to become almost constant after 4 years (UWS = 504 × 103, AUW = 2.05 × 107). AUW was linearly proportional to UWS in controls. These indicated that metabolite concentrations should be multiplied by the ratio of UWS/504 × 103 or AUW/2.05 × 107. Age dependent metabolite concentrations corrected by the ratio were obtained.

Conclusion:

Both UWS and AUW can be used to correct metabolite concentrations; these corrections can significantly improve quantification of metabolites' concentration in early childhood. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:174‐180. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fine‐resolution (25 m) topoclimatic grids of near‐surface (5 cm) extreme temperatures and humidities across various habitats in a large (200 × 300 km) and diverse region
Authors: Ashcroft Michael B. , Gollan John R.
Published: September 2011

The development of fine‐resolution climate grids is an important priority in explaining species' distributions at the regional scale and predicting how species may respond to variable and changing climates. Recent studies have demonstrated advantages of producing these grids using large networks of inexpensive climate loggers, as the resulting grids can capture local climatic variations over a range of environments. In this study we extend these methods to develop innovative fine‐resolution (25 m) climate grids for a large region (∼200 × 300 km) of New South Wales, Australia. The key aspects of these grids is that they: (1) are based on near‐surface (5 cm) observations to better reflect where many species live; (2) cover a wide variety of habitats including forests, woodlands and grasslands so that they are broadly applicable; (3) include both temperature and humidity, the latter of which has often been neglected in similar studies; (4) are developed using a variety of climate‐forcing factors rather than relying only on elevation and geographic location; and (5) they focus on the extreme temperatures and humidities regardless of when these occur. Analyses showed that elevation was the dominant factor explaining mild temperatures (low maximums, high minimums), but cold air drainage, distance from coast, canopy cover and topographic exposure had more effect on the extreme maximum and minimum temperatures. Humidities were predominately determined by distance to coast, elevation, canopy cover and topography; however, the relationships were nonlinear and varied in both shape and effect size between dry and moist extremes. Extreme climates occur under specific weather conditions, and our results highlight how averaging climates over seasons or periods of consecutive days will include different weather patterns and obscure important trends. Regional‐scale climate grids can potentially be further improved through a better understanding of how the effects of different climate‐forcing factors vary under different weather conditions. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Trends in the distributions of aggregated monthly precipitation over the La Plata Basin
Authors: Doyle Moira E. , Saurral Ramiro I. , Barros Vicente R.
Published: September 2011

Positive trends in annual rainfall in the La Plata Basin (LPB), south of 20°S observed in the last four decades of the twentieth century were not reversed and became more statistically significant when calculated until 2005. These trends were part of a more general change in the monthly precipitation distribution including extreme precipitation.

Precipitation in dry and extremely dry months (below the 35th percentile) has been decreasing in the whole LPB region south of 22°S. On the contrary, precipitation in the above normal (between the 65th and 90th percentile) and the extremely high rainfall (above the 90th percentile) ranges has been increasing accounting for most of the annual precipitation trends. More than a steady trend, there has been an abrupt change in extreme monthly precipitation concentrated between 1977 and 1983.

The analysis of intensity and frequency of extreme events was done fitting Generalized Extreme Values (GEV) and Poisson distributions. Each distribution was fitted with and without trends in the location parameter and tested to determine the best fit in each case. The regions where GEV with a positive trend was the best fit coincide with areas affected by extensive floods during the last decades. Spatially aggregated results highlight the signal of change towards higher maximum monthly precipitations for a wide span of return periods.

The atmospheric circulation associated with cases where extreme monthly precipitation was observed in most of the stations was studied through the integrated water vapour transport in the lower troposphere and its associated divergence. During warm months, an intense northern low‐level water vapour flow with two convergence nuclei, one over eastern Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay, and the other over western Argentina, along with a weakened south Atlantic Convergence Zone was associated with the more extreme precipitation months favouring the occurrence of Mesoscale Convective Systems. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
OSL chronology of sand deposits and climate change of last 18 ka in Gurbantunggut Desert, northwest China
Authors: Li Sheng‐Hua , Fan Anchuan
Published: September 2011

The development of the Gurbantunggut Desert is mainly controlled by the Westerly wind, and at present has little influence from Indian and Southeast Asian monsoons. A combined study using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) surveys and climatic proxies analysis was carried out in the southern part of the desert. The chronology extends back to 18 ka and is constructed based on 16 OSL ages from boreholes in the linear dune body and the inter‐dune area. The chronology suggests that sand deposition in the last 18 ka experienced two rapid accumulation phases at 11 and 2.5 ka ago which were also evident from the GPR surveys. These periods relate to increased aridity in the region. Five climate phases are identified from the last 18 ka, based on the OSL chronology and climatic proxy analysis with grain size and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The deglacial period (18.3–10.4 ka) is characterized by climate instability and possible glacial melting events. The Holocene Optimum peaked 8.5 ka and terminated 3.6 ka ago, when the regional climate became arid. OSL samples from the dune body cluster around 2.5 ka, which indicates rapid advance/extension of dune bodies at this time. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis: Evaluation of radiological and pathological response
Authors: Facciuto Marcelo E. , Singh Manoj K. , Rochon Caroline , Sharma Jyoti , Gimenez Cecilia , Katta Umadevi , Moorthy Chitti R. , Bentley‐Hibbert Stuart , Rodriguez‐Davalos Manuel , Wolf David C.
Published: September 2011

Background

Loco‐regional therapies for cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are awaiting liver transplantation (OLT) attempt to prevent tumor progression. However, there is limited data regarding the efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as loco‐regional treatment.

Methods

From 2006 to 2009, 27 HCC patients (AJCC I, II) listed for OLT underwent SBRT. Thirty‐nine lesions were treated and 27 assessed radiologically. Seventeen patients had OLT, liver explants were analyzed and 22 lesions underwent pathological evaluation.

Results

In a cumulative analysis of all imaging, 30% had complete response, 7% had partial response, 56% were stable, and 7% had progression of disease. Of the 22 pathologically evaluated lesions, 37% were responders: 14% with complete response, 23% with partial response, and 63% with no response. Side effects from SBRT were recorded in three patients, which included nausea in two and liver decompensation in one.

Conclusion

SBRT achieves total or partial radiological response in 37% of patients and total or partial pathological response in 37% of patients with early HCC in the setting of cirrhosis. SBRT may be a safe and effective alternative for local tumor control in patients with HCC and cirrhosis awaiting OLT. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:692–698. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Physical Properties of Biodegradable Films of Soy Protein Concentrate/Gelling Agent Blends
Authors: Kim Jun Tae , Netravali Anil N.
Published: September 2011

Soy protein concentrate (SPC) is modified by blending with gelling agents such as agar, Agargel, and Phytagel and the properties of the blended films are characterized. Gelling agent addition significantly improves the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and moisture resistance. SPC blended with 30% PG show over 180% increase in the tensile stress and Young's modulus and the moisture regain decreases from 17.9 to 13.9%. The glass transition temperature of the SPC films increases from 132 to 148 °C after blending with Agargel and Phytagel. IPN‐like structure formation after adding gelling agents is responsible for the improvements. The results also suggest that the gelling agent chemistry determines the amount of gelling agent required to form IPN‐like structures.

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Mathematical Modeling of the Response of Polymer Gel Dosimeters to HDR and LDR Brachytherapy Radiation
Authors: Nasr Abdullah T. , Schreiner L. John , McAuley Kim B.
Published: September 2011

A model is developed to simulate the response of polyacrylamide gel (PAG) dosimeters to single spherical brachytherapy seeds. The model predicts the amount of polymer formed and crosslink density as a function of radial distance and time, using either a HDR Ir192 seed or a LDR I125 seed. Results indicate that PAG dosimeters should provide accurate dosimetry when used for HDR brachytherapy at distances larger than 4 mm from the center of the seed and that PAG dosimeters will give poor results for LDR dosimetry because of the long time available for the monomer and crosslinker to diffuse toward the seed during polymerization.

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Mechanisms of weight maintenance under high‐ and low‐protein, low‐glycaemic index diets
Authors: Rubio‐Aliaga Isabel , Marvin‐Guy Laure F. , Wang Ping , Wagniere Sandrine , Mansourian Robert , Fuerholz Andreas , Saris Wim H. M. , Astrup Arne , Mariman Edwin C. M. , Kussmann Martin
Published: September 2011

Scope: Weight maintenance after intended weight loss is a challenge in an obesogenic environment. In a large multicentre dietary intervention study (DiOGenes), it has recently been demonstrated that a high‐protein/low‐glycaemic index (HP/LGI) diet was slightly more efficient in maintaining weight loss than low‐protein/LGI or high‐GI (LP/LGI or HGI) diets. Here, we use a proteomic approach to assess the molecular mechanisms behind this positive effect.

Methods and results: A subset of the most successful (weight loser, n=12) and unsuccessful (weight re‐gainer, n=12) individuals consuming the LGI diets with either high‐ or low‐protein content (HP or LP/LGI), following an initial calorie deficit run‐in weight loss phase, were analyzed at the plasma protein level. Proteomic analysis revealed 18 proteins regulated after 6 months of the dietary weight maintenance phase. Furthermore, 12 proteins were significantly regulated as a function of success rate under an HP diet, arising as candidate biomarkers of mechanisms of successful weight maintenance under an HP/LGI diet. Pregnancy‐zone protein (PZP) and protein S (PROS1) were revealed as novel biomarkers of weight maintenance showing opposite effects.

Conclusion: Semantic network analysis of the 12 regulated proteins revealed that under an HP/LGI an anti‐atherogenic effect and alterations of fat metabolism were associated with the success of maintaining the initial weight loss.
miR‐34a predicts survival of Ewing's sarcoma patients and directly influences cell chemo‐sensitivity and malignancy
Authors: Nakatani Fumihiko , Ferracin Manuela , Manara Maria Cristina , Ventura Selena , del Monaco Valentina , Ferrari Stefano , Alberghini Marco , Grilli Andrea , Knuutila Sakari , Schaefer Karl‐Ludwig , Mattia Gianfranco , Negrini Massimo , Picci Piero , Serra Massimo , Scotlandi Katia
Published: September 2011

Identification of factors to detect chemotherapy‐resistant tumours at diagnosis is a first priority for risk‐adapted therapy in the oncology of children and young adults, where more individualized, effective, and less toxic treatments are highly desirable. In this study, we analysed the miRNAs discriminating Ewing's sarcoma (EWS) patients with different clinical outcomes in order to identify new indicators of prognosis. miRNA expression was investigated in 49 primary EWSs by using the Agilent human miRNA microarray v.2 and/or qRT‐PCR. Statistical power of the samples studied for miRNA expression was verified, indicating adequate sample size. Microarray analysis defined a signature of five miRNAs (miR‐34a, miR‐23a, miR‐92a, miR‐490‐3p, and miR‐130b) as an independent predictor of risk for disease progression and survival. Validation analysis in the extended sample set indicated that both miR‐34a and miR‐490‐3p achieved sufficient statistical power to predict prognosis. Results were particularly robust for miR‐34a, which appeared associated with either event‐free or overall survival and emerged as a significant predictor also after multivariate analysis. Patients with the highest expression of miR‐34a did not experience adverse events in 5 years; in contrast, patients with the lowest expression recurred within 2 years. High expression of miR34a can be detected also in paraffin‐embedded tissues by in situ hybridization, thus contributing to an easy routine evaluation of this miRNA. Functional analysis of miR‐34a in EWS cell lines indicated that when miR‐34a expression was enforced, cells were less proliferative, less malignant, and sensitized to doxorubicin and vincristine. Expression of miR‐34a could be increased in p53wt cells by treatment with nutlin‐3a. Accordingly, nutlin‐3a synergizes with doxorubicin. Overall, our data indicate that miR‐34a expression is a strong predictor of outcome in EWS. Restoration of miR‐34a activity may be useful to decrease malignancy and increase tumour sensitivity to current drugs, so sparing excessive long‐term toxicity to EWS patients. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recipient‐derived EDA fibronectin promotes cardiac allograft fibrosis
Authors: Booth Adam J , Wood Sherri C , Cornett Ashley M , Dreffs Alyssa A , Lu Guanyi , Muro Andrés F , White Eric S , Bishop D Keith
Published: September 2011

Advances in donor matching and immunosuppressive therapies have decreased the prevalence of acute rejection of cardiac grafts; however, chronic rejection remains a significant obstacle for long‐term allograft survival. While initiating elements of anti‐allograft immune responses have been identified, the linkage between these factors and the ultimate development of cardiac fibrosis is not well understood. Tissue fibrosis resembles an exaggerated wound healing response, in which extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules are central. One such ECM molecule is an alternatively spliced isoform of the ubiquitous glycoprotein fibronectin (FN), termed extra domain A‐containing cellular fibronectin (EDA cFN). EDA cFN is instrumental in fibrogenesis; thus, we hypothesized that it might also regulate fibrotic remodelling associated with chronic rejection. We compared the development of acute and chronic cardiac allograft rejection in EDA cFN‐deficient (EDA−/−) and wild‐type (WT) mice. While EDA−/− mice developed acute cardiac rejection in a manner indistinguishable from WT controls, cardiac allografts in EDA−/− mice were protected from fibrosis associated with chronic rejection. Decreased fibrosis was not associated with differences in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy or intra‐graft expression of pro‐fibrotic mediators. Further, we examined expression of EDA cFN and total FN by whole splenocytes under conditions promoting various T‐helper lineages. Conditions supporting regulatory T‐cell (Treg) development were characterized by greatest production of total FN and EDA cFN, though EDA cFN to total FN ratios were highest in Th1 cultures. These findings indicate that recipient‐derived EDA cFN is dispensable for acute allograft rejection responses but that it promotes the development of fibrosis associated with chronic rejection. Further, conditions favouring the development of regulatory T cells, widely considered graft‐protective, may drive production of ECM molecules which enhance deleterious remodelling responses. Thus, EDA cFN may be a therapeutic target for ameliorating fibrosis associated with chronic cardiac allograft rejection. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.