bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro Antifungal Activity of Dehydrozingerone and its Fungitoxic Properties
Authors: Kubra I. Rahath , Murthy Pushpa S. , Rao L. Jagan Mohan
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  The efficacy of Dehydrozingerone (DZ; dehydroderivative of zingerone) as an antifungal agent and its mode of action against food spoilage fungal pathogens was studied and presented. DZ is a constituent of ginger (Zingiber officinale rhizomes) and structural half analogue of curcumin. Its efficacy against Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium chrysogenum was evaluated. Effect of DZ on the growth and sporulation of A. ochraceus was also studied. The fungal species were susceptible to DZ and the minimum inhibitory concentration and fungicidal concentration ranged from 755 to 911 μM and 880 to 1041 μM respectively. The mycelial and spore germination was significantly inhibited; reduction in the weight of the cell mass, carbohydrate, protein, DNA and RNA constituents in the cells isolated from cultures of A. ochraceus grown with DZ were observed. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed morphological observations such as cell lysis, inhibition and morphological alterations in hyphae and sporulation in A. ochraceus on treatment with DZ.

Practical application:  Current investigations revealed that DZ is a potential antifungal agent and can find application as an additive or adjuvant in food and pharmaceutical industries after appropriate toxicological studies.
Preparation of Recombined Milk Using Modified Butterfats Containing α‐Linolenic Acid
Authors: Shin Jung‐Ah , Yang Dan , Gan Lujing , Hong Soon‐Taek , Lee Eui Suk , Park Sang Hyun , Lee Ki‐Teak
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  Modified butterfats (MBFs) were produced by lipase‐catalyzed interesterification with 2 substrate blends (6:6:8 and 4:6:10, by weight) of anhydrous butterfat (ABF), palm stearin, and flaxseed oil in a stirred‐batch type reactor after short path distillation. The 6:6:8 and 4:6:10 MBF contained 21.7% and 26.5%α‐linolenic acid, respectively. Total saturated fatty acids of the MBFs ranged from 41.4% to 47.4%. The cholesterol contents of the 6:6:8 and 4:6:10 MBFs were 21.0 and 12.1 mg/100 g, respectively. In addition, the melting points of the 6:6:8 and 4:6:10 MBFs were 32 °C and 31 °C, respectively. After preparation of recombined milks (oil‐in‐water emulsions) with MBFs, the stability of emulsions prepared with the MBFs (6:6:8 and 4:6:10) was compared to those with ABF during 10‐d storage at 30 °C. Skim milk powder (containing 1% protein) was added to prepare emulsions as an emulsifier. Microstructures of emulsions freshly prepared with the ABF and the MBFs consisted of uniform fat globules with no flocculation during 10‐d storage. With respect to fat globule size distribution, the volume‐surface mean droplet diameter (d32) of the 6:6:8 and 4:6:10 MBF emulsions ranged between 0.33 and 0.34 μm, which was similar to the distribution in ABF emulsion.

Practical Application:  Milk, an expensive dairy food, has been widely used in various milk‐derived food products. Modified butterfats (MBFs) contain α‐linolenic acid as an essential fatty acid. Emulsion stability of recombined milks (oil‐in‐water emulsions) with MBFs was similar to that in anhydrous butterfat emulsion during 10‐d storage. They may be a promising alternative for reconstituted milks to use in processed milk‐based products.
Mineralogical and Geochemical Constraints on the Genesis of the Carbonate‐Hosted Jebel Ghozlane Pb–Zn Deposit (Nappe Zone, Northern Tunisia)
Authors: Jemmali Nejib , Souissi Fouad , Carranza Emmanuel John M. , Vennemann Torsten W.
Published: December 2012

The Pb–Zn deposit at Jebel Ghozlane, in the Nappe zone (northern Tunisia), is hosted by Triassic dolostones and Eocene limestones and is located along faults and a thrust‐sheet boundary. The sulfide mineralization of the deposit consists mainly of galena and sphalerite and occurs as vein, stockwork, breccia, dissemination and replacement ores. Three hydrothermal stages are involved in the formation of the ores: stage I is dominated by celestite‐barite, hydrothermal dolomite DII, colloform sphalerite, and galena I; stage II consist of galena II; and stage III contains calcite. Galena in the deposit yielded average 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb ratios of 18.705, 15.667 and 38.734, respectively, suggesting a single upper crustal source reservoir for metals. Trace element data indicate the presence of Zn‐ and As‐free galena and As‐rich galena (with 0.2–0.5% As). Sphalerite contains 0.4% As, 0.7–0.9% Cd and 0.1–1.5% Fe. Microthermometric analysis of fluid inclusions in celestite shows that the deposit formed from fluids composed of heterogeneous mixtures of saline (19.5 ± 1 wt% NaCl eq.) aqueous solutions sourced from basinal brines, and gaseous CO2‐rich phases bearing low amounts of CH4, N2 and/or H2S, at temperatures of 172 ± 5°C.
Sorkhe‐Dizaj Iron Oxide–Apatite Ore Deposit in theCenozoicAlborz‐Azarbaijan Magmatic Belt,NW Iran
Authors: Nabatian Ghasem , Ghaderi Majid , Daliran Farahnaz , Rashidnejad‐Omran Nematollah
Published: December 2012

TheSorkhe‐Dizaj iron oxide–apatite deposit in theCenozoicAlborz‐Azarbaijan magmatic belt,NW Iran, is hosted mainly by aLateEocene toOligocene quartz‐monzonitic body, and subordinately in theEocene volcanic and volcanoclastic sequences. TheSorkhe‐Dizaj intrusive body is anI‐type granitoid of the calc‐alkaline series. Mineralization is associated with actinolization,K‐feldspar, sericitic, propylitic, and tourmaline alteration types. The orebodies are massive, banded, stockwork, and breccia in shape and occur mainly along the fault zones within the quartz‐monzonitic intrusion, volcanic, and volcanoclastic rocks. Ore minerals dominantly comprise magnetite, apatite, and monazite, as well as minor amounts of chalcopyrite, bornite, and pyrite. Four major paragenetic stages are discriminated in the mineralization including early, oxide, sulfide, and late stage. TheSorkhe‐Dizaj deposit is similar in the aspects of host rock lithology, alteration, and mineralogy to theKiruna‐type deposits associated with minorCusulfide minerals. Spatial and temporal association of the mineralization with theLateEocene–EarlyOligocene quartz‐monzonite intrusive body suggests that the ore fluid was probably related to magmatic activity.
Tracing the introduction history of a potentially invasive ornamental shrub: variation in frost hardiness and climate change
Authors: Skou Anne‐Marie T. , Pauleit Stephan , Kollmann Johannes
Published: December 2012

Nursery catalogues have recently been used as a method for tracing the introduction history of invasive plants. Information on species, cultivars, plant size and price can help quantify historical changes in propagule pressure. Propagule pressure of invasive ornamentals has to be combined with climatic data to understand shifting distribution patterns of (potentially) invasive plants. In this study the spread of Ilex aquifolium L. cultivars was investigated at the edge of its distribution margin in Denmark. Danish nursery catalogues from 1841–2007 were studied to 1) reconstruct the introduction history of potentially invasive ornamental genotypes of I. aquifolium in Denmark; 2) explore potential factors that could explain naturalization of the species, i.e. nursery location, plant size, hardiness, price and year; 3) investigate whether or not marketing has been more common inside the historical range of the species in western Denmark; and 4) test the hypothesis that marketing of this frost‐sensitive species has increased parallel with higher temperatures in the past 100 years. Price, plant size, hardiness, location, and year were recorded for a total of 3213 entries. Through time, increasing prices and the availability of frost‐hardy cultivars were the most significant factors contributing to the sale of I. aquifolium in Denmark. The number of nurseries per area, and hence propagule pressure, was higher in eastern Denmark, outside the natural range of the species. The proportion of very frost‐hardy cultivars increased with milder winter temperatures. The main conclusion from this combined nursery catalogue and climate study are that nurseries in an indirect way play an important role in increasing the propagule pressure of potentially invasive ornamentals and thus can affect distribution of native species.
Reproductive biology and reproductive output assessment in natural and introduced subpopulations of Apium bermejoi, a ‘Critically Endangered’ endemic plant from Menorca (western Mediterranean)
Authors: Cursach Joana , Rita Joan
Published: December 2012

Apium bermejoiis a critically endangered species that is native to Menorca, an island of 702 km2located in the western Mediterranean basin. We investigated the reproductive biology of this species and evaluated flowering/fruiting phenology and reproductive output in wild subpopulations over four years (2007–2010). We used ex situ cultivated plants to study floral biology and performed bagging experiments to elucidate the breeding system. We addressed the role of ants in seed dispersal/predation in wild subpopulations by analysing the presence ofA. bermejoiseeds in the waste accumulated on the refuse piles of all anthills. Our observations indicated that flowers are protandrous but that there is no dichogamy between flowers within and among umbels of the same individual. Moreover, individuals are mixed in the field because the close germination of several seeds and the plant’s caespitose habit promote cross‐pollination. Bagging experiments demonstrated that the species is autogamous, and seeds from selfing (bagged with muslin) showed high final germination (>80%). However, the fruit set of selfed umbels (0.3–0.4 per 1) was lower than that of open‐pollinated umbels (0.6–0.8 per 1), and the high pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio (3641±133,n= 30) was also indicative of xenogamy. Plants bagged with muslin, bagged with tulle or barred from contact from ants exhibited similar fruit sets, lower than those observed in isolated and control groups, suggesting that anemophily and pollination by flying insects were less effective than ant‐based pollination. We identified eight species of floral visitors, and we noted that ants were the most frequent visitors. Although we found someA. bermejoiseeds in the refuse piles ofMessor bouvierianthills, most of the seeds were not damaged (99.1%), and the number of seeds found represents only a small proportion of the overall fruit production. Because sexual reproduction is the main reproductive mechanism of these plants, despite their high potential for space colonisation and vegetative propagation, the reproductive output for each year determines the subpopulation configuration in the following year.
Parietaria taiwania sp. nov. (Urticaceae) from Taiwan
Authors: Peng Sheu‐Cheng , Hsieh Szu‐I , Lee Chi‐Te , Ho Gi‐Gang , Leou Chong‐Sheng , Yeh Ching‐Long
Published: December 2012

A new species of Urticaceae, Parietaria taiwania C. L. Yeh & C. S. Leou is described and illustrated. The new species is related to P. micrantha Ledebour, but can be distinguished from it by being a perennial herb with climbing or pendulous stems, leaves that are sparsely pubescent on the adaxial side, unisexual flowers, male flowers without bracts and female flowers with a bract. This is the first record of a species of Parietaria in Taiwan.
Corporate Commitment to Sustainability – Is it All Hot Air? An Australian Review of the Linkage between Executive Pay and Sustainable Performance
Authors: Deegan Craig , Islam Muhammad Azizul
Published: December 2012

Across time, companies have increasingly made public commitments to sustainable development and to reducing their impacts on climate change. Management remuneration plans (MRPs) are a key mechanism to motivate managers to achieve corporate goals. We review the MRPs negotiated with key management personnel in a sample of large Australian carbon‐intensive companies. Our results show that, as in past decades, the companies in our sample have MRPs in place that continue to fixate on financial performance. We argue that this provides evidence of a disconnection, or ‘decoupling’, between the sustainability‐related rhetoric of the sample companies, and their ‘real’ organisational practices and priorities.
Accountability Beyond the Headlines: Why Not‐for‐profit Organisations Need to Communicate Their Own Expenditure Stories
Authors: Ryan Christine , Irvine Helen
Published: December 2012

This paper analyses the expenditure patterns of 97 Australian international aid and development organisations, and examines the extent to which they disclose information about their expenditure in order to discharge their accountability. Not‐for‐profit (NFP) expenditure attracts media attention, with perceptions of excessive costs potentially damaging stakeholder trust in NFP organisations. This makes it important for organisations to be proactive in communicating their expenditure stories to stakeholders, rather than being judged on their performance by standardised expenditure metrics. By highlighting what it costs to ensure longer‐term operational capability, NFP organisations will contribute to the discharge of their financial accountability and play a part in educating all stakeholders about the dangers of relying on a single metric.
Some Implications of IFRS Adoption for Accounting Education
Authors: Jackling Beverley , Howieson Bryan , Natoli Riccardo
Published: December 2012

This paper addresses challenges accounting educators face in their teaching following the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). We use Australia as an example of a developed nation and 2005 adopter of IFRS, the United States as a potential adopter, and Romania as an emerging economy with a history of harmonisation and adoption initiatives. Accounting educators globally need to strengthen their engagement with the principles‐based approach to teaching IFRS. Teaching resources, educational research and Continuing Professional Development activities related to a principles‐based approach to teaching IFRS are necessary for educators to enrich the learning experience of students given the move from a rules‐based to a principles‐based set of accounting standards.
Ten Years of IFRS: Practitioners’ Comments and Suggestions for Research
Authors: Brown Philip , Tarca Ann
Published: December 2012

A growing body of research is evaluating the widespread adoption of IFRS. The aim of this paper is to link the findings of academic research with feedback from practitioners about whether the hoped‐for benefits of adoption are being realised. In addition, we present comments from practitioners about IFRS research and we identify areas that may be usefully explored in future research. Our review complements the papers included in part one of this forum (Australian Accounting Review, September 2012), which describe events in the development of global standards over the last 10 years.
Effects of Ozone on Leaf Senescence, Photochemical Efficiency and Grain Yield in Two Winter Wheat Cultivars
Authors: Burkart S. , Bender J. , Tarkotta B. , Faust S. , Castagna A. , Ranieri A. , Weigel H.‐J.
Published: December 2012

The adverse effects of tropospheric ozone (O3) on crop photosynthesis, growth and yield have been documented in numerous studies over the last decades, but little information from field experimentation exists on how modern European winter wheat cultivars respond to O3. Two winter wheat cultivars (Astron and Pegassos) differing in development characteristics were exposed to non‐filtered ambient air or non‐filtered air plus 30 ppb and non‐filtered air plus 60 ppb O3 (8 h day−1) in open‐top field chambers. At several dates during growth, green leaf area was determined by destructive harvests. Leaf gas exchange, pigment content and xanthophyll cycle activity, and photochemical efficiency by chlorophyll a fluorescence were measured. O3 exposure induced accelerated senescence with no difference between cultivars. Photosynthesis declined especially in Pegassos; however, stomatal conductance was hardly affected by O3. Pigment contents were reduced by O3 exposure, and de‐epoxidation index increased. Photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) declined, whereas actual quantum yield (ΦPSII) did not respond to O3. O3 exposure reduced grain yield in both cultivars. However, yield of Pegassos was more affected by O3 exposure than yield of Astron, suggesting a higher O3 sensitivity of Pegassos. The data presented in this manuscript indicate a need to test whether high‐yield varieties such as Pegassos are particularly sensitive to O3 exposure.
In Situ Synchrotron X‐Ray Diffraction Study of the Cubic to Rhombohedral Phase Transformation in Ln6WO12 (Ln = Y,Ho,Er,Yb)
Authors: Apostolov Zlatomir D. , Sarin Pankaj , Haggerty Ryan P. , Kriven Waltraud M.
Published: December 2012

The fcc‐to‐rhombohedral phase transformation in Ln6WO12 (Ln = Y, Ho, Er, Yb) was investigated by in situ high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction. The transformation was determined to be an irreversible, first‐order, diffusional ordering process, which occurred over a temperature range starting at 1240°C. The transformation can be described as a shape change in the rhombohedral unit cell in the parent fcc phase, determined as elongation along the [111] axis and contraction in the (111) plane, resulting in an overall volume decrease on heating. A discontinuity in both volume per formula unit and rhombohedral angle α was observed across the transformation region for all four compositions. Trends in lattice parameters, ΔV and Δα at room and transformation temperatures were established according to Ln cation type and were found to closely mirror the cationic radii sequence of the corresponding rare earth elements.
Is reaction time variability in ADHD mainly at low frequencies?
Authors: Karalunas Sarah L. , Huang‐Pollock Cynthia L. , Nigg Joel T.
Published: December 2012

Background:  Intraindividual variability in reaction times (RT variability) has garnered increasing interest as an indicator of cognitive and neurobiological dysfunction in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recent theory and research has emphasized specific low‐frequency patterns of RT variability. However, whether group differences are specific to low frequencies is not well examined.

Method:  Two studies are presented. The first is a quantitative review of seven previously published studies that have examined patterns of RT variability in ADHD. The second provides new data from a substantially larger sample of children than in prior studies (NControl = 42; NADHD = 123). The children completed a choice RT task as part of a traditional go/stop task. Fast‐Fourier transform analyses were applied to assess patterns of variability.

Results:  Quantitative review of previous studies indicated that children with ADHD demonstrate more low‐frequency variability than non‐ADHD controls (Hedge’s g = .39; 95% CI: .16–.62), but an equivalent excess variability in a faster frequency comparison band (g = .36; 95% CI: .03–.69), with a trivial and nonsignificant difference between ESs in each band. New data replicated results of the quantitative review with nearly identical effects in the low‐frequency (g = .39; 95% CI: .05–.75) and faster frequency comparison bands (g = .40; 95% CI: .04–.74) and no evidence of diagnosis × frequency interaction (p = .954).

Conclusions:  Results suggest that theories of RT variability in ADHD that focus on low‐frequency variability will need to be modified to account for the presence of variability at a broader range of frequencies.
Challenges in achieving optimal glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients with declining renal function: The Southeast Asia perspective
Authors: CC Chow Francis , Chan Siew‐Pheng , Hwu Chii‐Min , Suwanwalaikorn Sompongse , Wu Akira YT , Gan Susan Yu , Zacarias Manuel B
Published: December 2012

It is well recognised that Asia is at the epicenter of the global type 2 diabetes epidemic. Driven by socioeconomic changes involving industrialization, urbanization and adoption of Western lifestyles, the unprecedented increases in the prevalence of diabetes are particularly evident in Southeast Asia. The impact of diabetes is immense, and despite evidence of the benefit of optimal glucose control in reducing the risk of disease progression and development of macrovascular and microvascular complications, many individuals in this region remain poorly controlled. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly common diabetes‐associated complication in Asian patients. Furthermore, Southeast Asia has one of the highest rates of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) in the world. Consequently, CKD in diabetes is associated with considerable morbidity and cardiovascular‐related mortality, highlighting the need to screen and assess patients early in the course of the disease. The management of type 2 diabetes patients with declining renal function represents a significant challenge. Many of the older antidiabetic agents, such as metformin and sulfonylureas, are limited in their utility in CKD as a result of contraindications or hypoglycemic episodes. In contrast, dipeptidyl‐peptidase IV inhibitors have provided a welcome addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for achieving glycemic control in these special populations. With comparable efficacy to and more favorable pharmacokinetic and side‐effect profiles than traditional therapies, agents in this drug class, such as linagliptin, offer a more tailored approach to disease control in type 2 diabetes patients with declining renal function.
Rapid identification of Sporothrix schenckii in biopsy tissue by PCR
Authors: Liu X. , Zhang Z. , Hou B. , Wang D. , Sun T. , Li F. , Wang H. , Han S.
Published: December 2012

Background  The dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii is the etiological agent of sporotrichosis, an important cutaneous mycosis with a worldwide distribution. At present, it is challenging to rapidly discover and identify Sporothrix schenckii in biopsy tissues nowadays.

Aims  To explore new methods for rapid diagnosis of sporotrichosis.

Materials and Methods  We screened specific primers for Sporothrix schenckii using 50 clinical isolates from patients with sporotrichosis. DNA was extracted from the lesions of 30 cases of clinically suspected sporotrichosis using the Graham s method of CTAB and amplified by PCR using the screened specific primers.

Results  The primer S2‐R2 was applicable for the identification of S. schenckii from different geographic areas and clinical types with high specificity and sensitivity. Twenty‐five out of the thirty cases (83.3%) amplified using the primer S2‐R2 showed positive bands. Further positive bands were observed in 95.6% of cases tested positive by fungal culture.

Conclusions  Using the PCR technique and specific primers, we developed a new diagnostic method that can rapidly diagnose sporotrichosis with tissues obtained from clinical biopsies.
In vitro antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from acne patients: an Egyptian university hospital‐based study
Authors: Abdel Fattah N.S.A. , Darwish Y.W.
Published: December 2012

Background  Antibiotics have been used for more than 40 years against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the most common agent of acne. Antibiotic resistance to this bacterium becomes a worldwide problem in recent years. No studies are available on antibiotic susceptibility patterns of P. acnes among Egyptian acne patients.

Objective  To determine antibiotic susceptibility patterns of P. acnes isolated from acne patients attending the Dermatology outpatient clinic of an Egyptian university hospital to the most commonly prescribed antibiotics and to determine the difference in relation to age of patients, disease duration and previous antibiotic therapy for acne.

Methods  Cutaneous samples were obtained from pustular acne lesions on the face of 115 patients, which were cultured in anaerobic media to demonstrate the presence of P. acnes. Antibiotic susceptibility tests of isolated P. acnes were then performed to clindamycin, erythromycin, azithromycin, oxytetracycline and doxycycline by disk diffusion method.

Results  Propionibacterium acnes was isolated from 98 patients. Eighty‐nine isolates were susceptible to azithromycin, followed by doxycycline and oxytetracycline isolated from 82 and 72 patients respectively. Resistance of P. acnes to clindamycin was detected in 65 patients, followed by erythromycin in 48 patients. Comparing the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of P. acnes isolated from patients with and without previous antibiotic therapy for acne revealed statistically non‐significant differences as regards any of the antibiotics tested except for clindamycin and erythromycin. Statistically non‐significant differences existed between antibiotic susceptibility patterns of P. acnes to all tested antibiotics regarding age of patients (< or ≥20 years) and disease duration (< or ≥2 years).

Conclusion  Propionibacterium acnes in vitro susceptibility patterns differed among Egyptian patients to the commonly prescribed antibiotics with the highest to lowest resistance to clindamycin, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline and azithromycin.
Mortality of bullous pemphigoid in the first year after diagnosis: a retrospective study in a Spanish medical centre
Authors: Gual A. , Mascaró J.M. , Rojas‐Farreras S. , Guilabert A. , Julià M. , Iranzo P.
Published: December 2012

Background  Prognosis of patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) is controversial, with a 1‐year mortality rate ranging from 6% to 48%.

Objective  To determine the mortality rate of a large cohort of patients with BP and to identify prognostic factors associated with early mortality.

Methods  Patients diagnosed with BP between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2010 in a referral unit for blistering skin diseases at a university hospital in Spain were studied retrospectively. Outcome measures were mortality rate during the first year after diagnosis, standardized mortality rate and poor prognostic factors.

Results  A total of 101 patients were included in the study. The mean patient age at diagnosis was 77.8 years, and 52 (51.5%) were men. Overall mortality during the first year was 12.9%. We found a standardized mortality ratio of 2.33 [CI95 = (1.25–4.03)]. Advanced age (patient group >80 years old) was the only risk factor for lethal outcome found, with a multivariate risk estimate of 1.09 [CI95 = (1.02–1.16)]. No significant association with mortality was detected for comorbidities, hospitalization history or treatment received for BP.

Conclusions  We found an increased mortality of our BP patients compared with the general population. The mortality rate of BP patients was 2.3 times the expected rate. Observed mortality rate was lower than described in previous European studies. Advanced age impacts the prognosis of patients with BP. Specific treatment for BP appeared not to influence survival.
Patterns of cranial ontogeny in lacertid lizards: morphological and allometric disparity
Authors: Urošević A. , Ljubisavljević K. , Ivanović A.
Published: December 2012

We explored the ontogenetic dynamics of the morphological and allometric disparity in the cranium shapes of twelve lacertid lizard species. The analysed species (Darevskia praticola, Dinarolacerta mosorensis, Iberolacerta horvathi, Lacerta agilis, L. trilineata, L. viridis, Podarcis erhardii, P. melisellensis, P. muralis, P. sicula, P. taurica and Zootoca vivipara) can be classified into different ecomorphs: terrestrial lizards that inhabit vegetated habitats (habitats with lush or sparse vegetation), saxicolous and shrub‐climbing lizards. We observed that there was an overall increase in the morphological disparity (MD) during the ontogeny of the lacertid lizards. The ventral cranium, which is involved in the mechanics of jaw movement and feeding, showed higher levels of MD, an ontogenetic shift in the morphospace planes and more variable allometric patterns than more conserved dorsal crania. With respect to ecology, the allometric trajectories of the shrub‐climbing species tended to cluster together, whereas the allometric trajectories of the saxicolous species were highly dispersed. Our results indicate that the ontogenetic patterns of morphological and allometric disparity in the lacertid lizards are modified by ecology and functional constraints and that the identical mechanisms that lead to intraspecific morphological variation also produce morphological divergence at higher taxonomic levels.
Activity‐dependent secretion of alpha‐synuclein by enteric neurons
Authors: Paillusson Sébastien , Clairembault Thomas , Biraud Mandy , Neunlist Michel , Derkinderen Pascal
Published: December 2012

There is growing evidence supporting a role of extracellular alpha‐synuclein in the spreading of Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. Recent pathological studies have raised the possibility that the enteric nervous system (ENS) is one of the initial sites of alpha‐synuclein pathology in PD. We therefore undertook this survey to determine whether alpha‐synuclein can be secreted by enteric neurons. Alpha‐synuclein secretion was assessed by immunoblot analysis of the culture medium from primary culture of ENS. We show that alpha‐synuclein is physiologically secreted by enteric neurons via a conventional, endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi‐dependent exocytosis, in a neuronal activity‐regulated manner. Our study is the first to evidence that enteric neurons are capable of secreting alpha‐synuclein, thereby providing new insights into the role of the ENS in the pathophysiology of PD.
Reduced audiovisual integration in synesthesia – evidence from bimodal speech perception
Authors: Sinke Christopher , Neufeld Janina , Zedler Markus , Emrich Hinderk M. , Bleich Stefan , Münte Thomas F. , Szycik Gregor R.
Published: December 2012

Recent research suggests synesthesia as a result of a hypersensitive multimodal binding mechanism. To address the question whether multimodal integration is altered in synesthetes in general, grapheme‐colour and auditory‐visual synesthetes were investigated using speech‐related stimulation in two behavioural experiments. First, we used the McGurk illusion to test the strength and number of illusory perceptions in synesthesia. In a second step, we analysed the gain in speech perception coming from seen articulatory movements under acoustically noisy conditions. We used disyllabic nouns as stimulation and varied signal‐to‐noise ratio of the auditory stream presented concurrently to a matching video of the speaker. We hypothesized that if synesthesia is due to a general hyperbinding mechanism this group of subjects should be more susceptible to McGurk illusions and profit more from the visual information during audiovisual speech perception. The results indicate that there are differences between synesthetes and controls concerning multisensory integration – but in the opposite direction as hypothesized. Synesthetes showed a reduced number of illusions and had a reduced gain in comprehension by viewing matching articulatory movements in comparison to control subjects. Our results indicate that rather than having a hypersensitive binding mechanism, synesthetes show weaker integration of vision and audition.
Laboratory methods and biomarkers in the evaluation of bisphosphonate effects on body tissues: a literature review
Authors: Vasconcelos Ana Carolina Uchoa , de Azambuja Berti‐Couto Soraya , Figueiredo Maria Antonia , Salum Fernanda Gonçalves , Lopes Tiago Giuliani , Cherubini Karen
Published: December 2012

Bisphosphonates are extensively used to treat bone metabolism disorders; meanwhile, these drugs have important side effects such as jaw osteonecrosis and femoral fracture. Therefore, studies have been conducted aimed at better understanding their mechanism of action and determining a course of action to avoid these side effects. We present here a literature review focusing on the laboratory methods available for investigating bisphosphonate effects on body tissues. There are many different methods available for this purpose, but the appropriate application of these methods and knowledge of their limitations are crucial for understanding the effects of bisphosphonates.
Promoting the Positive Development of Boys in High‐Poverty Neighborhoods: Evidence From Four Anti‐Poverty Experiments
Authors: Snell Emily K. , Castells Nina , Duncan Greg , Gennetian Lisa , Magnuson Katherine , Morris Pamela
Published: December 2012

This study uses geocoded address data and information about parents' economic behavior and children's development from four random‐assignment welfare and anti‐poverty experiments conducted during the 1990s. We find that the impacts of these welfare and anti‐poverty programs on boys' and girls' developmental outcomes during the transition to early adolescence differ as a function of neighborhood poverty levels. The strongest positive impacts of these programs are among boys who lived in high‐poverty neighborhoods at the time their parents enrolled in the studies, with smaller or nonstatistically significant effects for boys in lower‐poverty neighborhoods and for girls across all neighborhoods. This research informs our understanding of how neighborhood context and child gender may interact with employment‐based policies to affect children's well‐being.
Testing Alternative Explanations for the Associations Between Parenting and Adolescent Suicidal Problems
Authors: Boeninger Daria K. , Masyn Katherine E. , Conger Rand D.
Published: December 2012

Although studies have established associations between parenting characteristics and adolescent suicidality, the strength of the evidence for these links remains unclear, largely because of methodological limitations, including lack of accounting for possible child effects on parenting. This study addresses these issues by using autoregressive cross‐lag models with data on 802 adolescents and their parents across 5 years. Observed parenting behaviors predicted change in adolescent suicidal problems across 1‐year intervals even after controlling for adolescents' effects on parenting. Nurturant‐involved parenting continued to demonstrate salutary effects after controlling for adolescent and parent internalizing psychopathology: over time, observed nurturant‐involved parenting reduced the likelihood of adolescent suicidal problems. This study increases the empirical support implicating parenting behaviors in the developmental course of adolescent suicidality.
Prognostic value of biochemical liver parameters in neonatal sepsis‐associated cholestasis
Authors: Oswari Hanifah , Widjaja Ruth Karisma , Rohsiswatmo Rinawati , Cleghorn Geoffrey
Published: December 2012

Aims

The aim of the study was to evaluate the significance of total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase and gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) for predicting outcome in sepsis‐associated cholestasis.

Methods

A retrospective cohort review of the hospital records was performed in 181 neonates admitted to the Neonatal Care Unit. A comparison was performed between subjects with low and high liver values based on cut‐off values from ROC analysis. We defined poor prognosis to be when a subject had prolonged cholestasis of more than 3.5 months, developed severe sepsis, septic shock or had a fatal outcome.

Results

The majority of the subjects were male (56%), preterm (56%) and had early onset sepsis (73%). The poor prognosis group had lower initial values of GGT compared with the good prognosis group (P = 0.003). Serum GGT (cut‐off value of 85.5 U/L) and AST (cut‐off value of 51 U/L) showed significant correlation with the outcome following multivariate analysis. The odds ratio (OR) of low GGT and high AST were OR 4.3 (95% CI:1.6 to11.8) and OR 2.9 (95% CI:1.1 to 8), respectively, for poor prognosis. In subjects with normal AST values, those with low GGT value had relative risk of 2.52 (95% CI:1.4 to 3.5) for poorer prognosis compared with those with normal or high GGT.

Conclusion

Serum GGT and AST values can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with sepsis‐associated cholestasis.
Outcome of hepatobiliary scanning: preterm versus full‐term cholestatic infants
Authors: Siu Luen Yee , Wong Ka Nin , Li Ka Wah , Kwong Ngai Shan
Published: December 2012

Objectives

The aims of this study were to evaluate the specificity of a non‐draining hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) for biliary atresia (BA) in preterm and full‐term babies, to verify the relationship between non‐draining scan and higher levels of direct bilirubin and to find an objective criterion to guide the time in performing HBS.

Methods

A total of 175 infants (113 males and 62 females, median age of 45 days) with 181 HBS performed in Tuen Mun Hospital between January 1998 and May 2010 were retrospectively analysed. A ‘non‐draining’ scan was defined as one showing no excretion of radiolabelled tracer into the small bowel 24 h after injection. The disease category, epidemiological and laboratory data were compared between infants having non‐draining and draining scans. In addition, the predictive value of a negative scan for BA was compared between preterm and full‐term infants.

Results

Twenty infants (11.4%) were surgically confirmed to have BA. A non‐draining scan was found to be 100% sensitive for BA, and the specificity was 96% and 78% among full‐term infants and preterm infants, respectively. The mean direct bilirubin values of infants with BA and intrahepatic cholestasis were 141.9 and 111.3 μmol/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than 67.2 μmol/L seen in infants with draining scans. This analysis shows that using direct bilirubin ≥63 μmol/L as an objective criterion in guiding the time to perform HBS is most cost‐effective.

Conclusion

Our data supported that using direct bilirubin ≥63 μmol/L as an objective criterion in guiding the time to perform HBS will avoid unnecessary scans.
PETROPHYSICS OF LOWER CRETACEOUS PLATFORM CARBONATE OUTCROPS IN PROVENCE (SE FRANCE): IMPLICATIONS FOR CARBONATE RESERVOIR CHARACTERISATION
Authors: Borgomano J. , Masse J.‐P. , Fenerci‐Masse M. , Fournier F.
Published: December 2012

High resolution petrophysical analyses were carried out on Urgonian (Lower Cretaceous) carbonates from outcrops in Provence, SE France. Porosity and permeability were measured on 541 plug samples selected from grain‐supported carbonates analogous to those in the age‐equivalent Shu'aiba and Kharaib Formation reservoirs in the eastern Arabian Plate. The sampling strategy allowed property heterogeneities from centimetre to kilometre scales to be investigated, as well as correlations between porosity and permeability in several different reservoir rock types. Property spatial modelling sensitivity analyses were also undertaken.

The relative abundance of microporosity, grain size and sedimentary‐diagenetic anisotropy were the main geological parameters which controlled the petrophysical characteristics of the grainstones studied. Increasing microporosity decreased permeability but resulted in an increase in the homogeneity of the reservoir rocks and therefore in their predictability. An increase in grain size, from fine sand to gravel, and in the amount of intergranular pores, enhanced permeability significantly but resulted in a decrease in the homogeneity (and therefore predictability) of the reservoir rock.

At a plug scale, poro‐perm relationships are very good and can be used predictively for fine grainstones dominated by microporosity; but relationships are moderate to weak for coarse rudstones with mixed pore types, including intraskeletal pores. In grainstone units, weak sedimentary anisotropy, such as decametre‐scale cross‐bedding, did not prevent the prediction of the horizontal property distribution from vertical data over a few hundreds of metres. In these units, the lateral correlation of rock properties follows periodic variograms with a 7 m wavelength. The lateral distribution of properties in coarse‐grained and heterogeneous rudstones with complex pore types and intense sedimentary heterogeneities, such as channel structures, was however more difficult to predict from a vertical data set.

Upscaling poroperm data from plug scale to reservoir scale is linear in the case of grainstones with intergranular microporosity, but is non‐linear in the case of skeletal rudstones with coarser pore types including skeletal porosity.
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY OF THE FULA SUB‐BASIN, MUGLAD BASIN, SUDAN
Authors: Lirong Dou , Dingsheng Cheng , Zhi Li , Zhiwei Zhang , Jingchun Wang
Published: December 2012

The Fula sub‐basin is a fault‐bounded depression located in the NE of the Muglad Basin, Sudan, and covers an area of about 3560 km2. Eleven oilfields and oil‐bearing structures have been discovered in the sub‐basin. The Lower Cretaceous Abu Gabra shales (Barremian – Aptian), deposited in a deep‐water lacustrine environment, are major source rocks. Reservoir targets include interbedded sandstones within the Abu Gabra Formation and sandstones in the overlying Bentiu and Aradeiba Formations (Albian – Cenomanian and Turonian, respectively).

Oil‐source correlation indicates that crude oils in the Aradeiba and Bentiu Formations are characterized by low APIs (<22°), low sulphur contents (<0.2%), high viscosity and high Total Acid Number (TAN: >6 mg KOH/g oil on average). By contrast, API, viscosity and TAN for oils in the Abu Gabra Formation vary widely. These differences indicate that oil migration and accumulation in the Fula sub‐basin is more complicated than in other parts of the Muglad Basin, probably as a result of regional transtension and inversion during the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary.

The Aradeiba‐Bentiu and Abu Gabra Formations form separate exploration targets in the Fula sub‐basin. Four play fairways are identified: the central oblique anticline zone, boundary fault zone, fault terrance zone and sag zone. The most prospective locations are probably located in the central oblique anticline zone.
Congenital pyloric mucosal fold resulting in an antral valve outflow obstruction in a bull terrier
Authors: Pazzi P. , Hartman M. J. , Schoeman J. P.
Published: December 2012

An under‐sized three‐month‐old female bull terrier was referred with a history of regurgitation since three days of age. Thoracic radiographs were unremarkable, while abdominal radiographs showed a distended stomach, despite a 12 hour fast. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed gastric outflow obstruction of unclear aetiology. Coeliotomy was performed, during which an excessive mucosal fold at the pyloric antrum was excised. Histopathology of the pyloric fold revealed mild oedema and fibrosis of the mucosal tissue. The dog made a complete recovery, with resolution of regurgitation and grew to within the expected breed size. In the authors’ opinion, this is the first canine report of congenital antral mucosal valve resulting in gastric outflow obstruction, and only the second report in any species.
Thelazia callipaeda ocular infection in two dogs in Belgium
Authors: Caron Y. , Premont J. , Losson B. , Grauwels M.
Published: December 2012

Nematode worms were retrieved from the left eyes of two dogs presented for unilateral ocular discharge in Belgium. Morphological and molecular identification were performed and the parasites were identified as Thelazia callipaeda. The history suggested that the infection had been acquired in south‐western France and southern Italy where the disease has been observed regularly for the last 6 and 12 years, respectively. In these two regions, the disease is considered endemic and spreading. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report of canine thelaziosis in Belgium.
IL28RA polymorphism is associated with early hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment failure in human immunodeficiency virus‐/HCV‐coinfected patients
Authors: Jiménez‐Sousa M. A. , Berenguer J. , Rallón N. , Guzmán‐Fulgencio M. , López J. C. , Soriano V. , Fernández‐Rodríguez A. , Cosín J. , Restrepo C. , García‐Álvarez M. , Miralles P. , Benito J. M. , Resino S.
Published: December 2012

Due to the poor rate of response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) with pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment in HCV/HIV coinfected patients, key factors for predicting failure would be useful. We performed a retrospective study on 291 patients on HCV treatment, who had early virological response (EVR) data. IL28B and IL28RA polymorphisms were performed using the GoldenGate® assay. Unfavourable genotypes at IL28B (rs12980275 AG/GG and rs8099917 GT/GG) and an unfavourable allele at IL28RA (rs10903035 G) were associated with early treatment failure. However, only the rs12980275 AG/GG genotype and rs10903035 G allele remained independently associated with early failure in the overall population (OR = 4.15 (95% CI = 1.64–10.54) and OR = 2.00 (95% CI = 1.19–3.36), respectively) as well as in GT1/4 patients (OR = 5.07 (95% CI = 1.81–14.22) and OR = 2.03 (95% CI = 1.13–3.66), respectively). Next, a decision tree showed early treatment failure increased from 37.1% to 65.5% when the unfavourable rs12980275 AG/GG and rs10903035 AG/GG genotypes and HCV‐RNA≥ 500.000 IU/mL were taken into account in GT1/4 patients. In contrast, the failure rate decreased from 37.1% to 11.9% when the favourable rs12980275 AA and rs10903035 AA genotypes were detected. The percentage of patients correctly classified was 78.4%, and AUROC was 0.802 ± 0.028. Regarding GT3 patients, the presence of the GCGCA haplotype (all unfavourable alleles) was associated with early treatment failure, while no association was observed for the IL28B polymorphisms. In conclusion, the IL28RA polymorphism was associated with early treatment failure independently of the IL28B SNPs. The combination of IL28B and IL28RA polymorphisms might be a valuable tool for predicting early treatment failure before starting HCV treatment.
Nebivolol treatment increases splanchnic blood flow and portal pressure in cirrhotic rats via modulation of nitric oxide signalling
Authors: Reiberger Thomas , Payer Berit Anna , Schwabl Philipp , Hayden Hubert , Horvatits Thomas , Jäger Bernhard , Hummel Thomas , Mitterhauser Markus , Trauner Michael , Fuhrmann Valentin , Angermayr Bernhard , Peck‐Radosavljevic Markus ,   Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab
Published: December 2012

Background

We evaluated the effects of nebivolol, a third generation beta‐blocker capable of increasing NO‐bioavailability on portal pressure, and on splachnic and systemic haemodynamics in a cirrhotic portal hypertensive rat model.

Methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent sham operation (SO) or bile duct ligation (BDL). When cirrhosis was fully developed, the animals were orally treated with low‐dose (5 mg/kg) or high‐dose (10 mg/kg) nebivolol (NEBI) or vehicle (VEH) for 7 days. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), portal pressure (PP) and superior mesenteric artery blood flow (SMABF) were measured. Portosystemic collateral blood flow (PSCBF) was quantified using radioactive microspheres. Hepatic and splanchnic NOx levels and GSH/GSSG ratios (RedOx state) were determined using commercially available kits.

Results

BDL‐VEH rats showed increased HR, PP and PSCBF, whereas MAP was decreased compared to SO‐VEH rats. Nebivolol significantly reduced HR both in SO (P < 0.001) and BDL (P < 0.001) rats. BDL‐NEBI animals had significantly higher PP (15.5 vs. 12.6 mmHg; P = 0.006) and SMABF (5.3 vs. 3.7 ml/min/100g; P = 0.016) than BDL‐VEH animals. The increase in PP and SMABF was noted both in low‐dose and high‐dose BDL‐NEBI rats. While no beneficial effects on hepatic RedOx state were observed, splanchnic NOx levels were significantly increased by NEBI treatment in a dose‐dependent manner. Nebivolol treatment did not affect PSCBF in SO and BDL animals.

Conclusion

Nebivolol increases portal pressure in cirrhotic animals by increasing splanchnic blood flow via modulation of NO signalling. Porto‐systemic collateral blood flow remained unchanged. These data do not support the use of Nebivolol for treatment of cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.