bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of an Automated Bolus Calculator in MDI-Treated Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Schmidt Signe , Meldgaard Merete , Serifovski Nermin , Storm Camilla , Christensen Tomas Møller , Gade-Rasmussen Birthe , Nørgaard Kirsten
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of flexible intensive insulin therapy (FIIT) and an automated bolus calculator (ABC) in a Danish type 1 diabetes population treated with multiple daily injections. Furthermore, to test the feasibility of teaching FIIT in a 3-h structured course.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The BolusCal Study was a 16-week randomized, controlled, open-label, three-arm parallel, clinical study of 51 adults with type 1 diabetes. Patients aged 18–65 years in poor metabolic control (HbA1c 8.0–10.5%) were randomized to the Control (n = 8), CarbCount (n = 21), or CarbCountABC (n = 22) arm. During a 3-h group teaching, the Control arm received FIIT education excluding carbohydrate counting. CarbCount patients were taught FIIT and how to count carbohydrates. CarbCountABC group teaching included FIIT and carbohydrate counting and patients were provided with an ABC.

RESULTS

At 16 weeks, the within-group change in HbA1c was −0.1% (95% CI −1.0 to 0.7%; P = 0.730) in the Control arm, −0.8% (−1.3 to −0.3%; P = 0.002) in the CarbCount arm, and −0.7% (−1.0 to −0.4%; P < 0.0001) in the CarbCountABC arm. The difference in change in HbA1c between CarbCount and CarbCountABC was insignificant. Adjusting for baseline HbA1c in a regression model, the relative change in HbA1c was −0.6% (−1.2 to 0.1%; P = 0.082) in CarbCount and −0.8% (−1.4 to −0.1%; P = 0.017) in CarbCountABC. Treatment satisfaction measured by the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (status version) improved in all study arms, but the improvement was significantly greater in CarbCountABC.

CONCLUSIONS

FIIT and carbohydrate counting were successfully taught in 3 h and improved metabolic control and treatment satisfaction. Concurrent use of an ABC improved treatment satisfaction further.
Self-Handicapping and Burnout
Authors: Akin Ahmet
Published: February 2012

Self-handicapping is a process containing strategies of externalization in which an individual can excuse failure and internalize success. This study investigated the relationship of self-handicapping with measures of burnout. The Self-handicapping Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were administered to 309 university students. Self-handicapping was positively correlated to emotional exhaustion, lowered personal accomplishment, and depersonalization. A structural equation model fit the data well and accounted for 20% of the variance in emotional exhaustion, 14% in lowered personal accomplishment, and 10% in depersonalization.
Studies of Transformational Leadership in Consumer Service: Leadership Trust and the Mediating-Moderating Role of Cooperative Conflict Management
Authors: Yang Yi-Feng
Published: February 2012

This is the third in a series of studies evaluating how transformational leadership is associated with related variables such as job satisfaction, change commitment, leadership trust, cooperative conflict management, and market orientation. The present paper evaluates the effects of transformational leadership and cooperative conflict management along with their mediating and moderating of leadership trust in the life insurance industry for two sample groups, sales managers and sales employees. The main effect of leadership trust was mediated and moderated by cooperative conflict management. Cooperative conflict management made a more important contribution than transformational leadership or the moderating effect (interaction), but these three together were the most important variables predicting highest leadership trust. Transformational leadership has an indirect influence on leadership trust. This work summarizes the specific contribution and importance of building successful leadership trust associations with employees in relation to leadership and satisfaction with change commitment.
Empathy with Fictional Stories: Reconsideration of the Fantasy Scale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index
Authors: Nomura Kohei , Akai Seiki
Published: February 2012

The present research compared empathy for real people with empathy for fictional characters. 95 university students (53 men, 42 women) ages 18–22 years ( M = 19.5, SD = 1.9) completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Fictional IRI. The IRI is a widely used measure of human empathy, and the Fictional IRI contains items from the original IRI that have been modified to investigate empathy for fictional characters. Empathy for characters in fictional stories was found to correlate statistically significantly with empathy for real people on all but a few factors. The results of the present study indicate that empathy for real people and empathy for fictional characters are similar, suggesting that the Fantasy subscale of the IRI, which is limited to fictional stories, should be reconsidered.
Gender Role Conflict Scale: Validation for a Sample of Gay Men and Lesbian Women
Authors: Herdman Kevin J. , Fuqua Dale R. , Choi Namok , Newman Jody L.
Published: February 2012

This study tested the oblique four-factor model of the Gender Role Conflict Scale for a sample of gay men and lesbian women residing in the United States. 400 gay men and 292 lesbian women recruited from university and college gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender LISTSERVs participated. The internal consistency reliability of the Gender Role Conflict Scale scores was high, but low means on the expressive dimension of gender role conflict were noted. The results of two separate sets of confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the four-factor model's fit to the data could be enhanced for both groups by applying item parceling to lower the number of indicators per factor, suggesting that the actual structural validity of the Gender Role Conflict Scale may be better than suggested by the reported fit indices.
Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of a Short-Form of the EMBU among Chinese Adolescents
Authors: Li Zhongquan , Wang Li , Zhang Lisong
Published: February 2012

The present study used a sample of Chinese adolescents and validated a short-form of the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran: One's Memories of Upbringing (s-EMBU) assessing perceived parental rearing styles. A Chinese revision of the s-EMBU by the authors was administered to a total of 779 high school students, ages 11 to 19 years. Exploratory factor analysis with half of the sample yielded a three-factor solution of Rejection, Emotional Warmth, and Overprotection, accounting for 47.1% of the total variance on the father form and 48.8% of the total variance on the mother form. Then, confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit of the three-factor model to the data in the other half of the sample. The three subscales consisted of 6, 6, and 7 items, respectively. Scores on these subscales had Cronbach alphas ranging from .71 to .81, indicating adequate internal consistency. These psychometric properties suggest its applicability for research with Chinese adolescents.
Aphenomenological Study of Spontaneous Spiritual and Paranormal Experiences in a 21st-Century Sample of Normal People
Authors: Woodard Fredrick James
Published: February 2012

This paper presents a phenomenological study using the methodology of Woodard's phenomenological and perceptual research. This method examines individuals' internal meanings during spontaneous spiritual and paranormal experiences, as described from their point of view. A group of 40 adults was phenomenologically interviewed after they responded to a newspaper announcement in New Hampshire asking for volunteers who had had spiritual and paranormal experiences. Using the method, Six Individual Situated Structures and a General Structure were identified and examined. Nine major themes were explicated during the participants' spontaneous experiencing: unexpectedness, contrariness to belief, certainty, contradictory experiencing, language as a barrier to expression, external influences, internal dialogue, evil as separateness, and some social psychological influences. Several themes observed in hypnotic experiencing, such as the characteristics of the Adequate Personality in Perceptual Psychology, are interpreted and discussed. This research illustrates how subjective experience can be adequately researched in a qualitative manner outside the confines of the laboratory setting. Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research are given.
Convergent Validity of the Arabic Scale of Mental Health
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M.
Published: February 2012

To estimate the convergent validity of the Arabic Scale of Mental Health, three convenience separate samples ( ns = 162, 168, 138) of volunteer Kuwaiti college students, ages 19 to 32 years, responded anonymously to several scales measuring psychopathology Analyses showed total ratings for the scale correlated negatively with those of the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale, Factorial Arabic Neuroticism Scale, Somatic Symptoms Inventory, Arabic Scale of Insomnia, the nine subscales of the Symptom Checklist-90—R, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the seven subscales of the General Health Questionnaire. Three separate correlation matrices were subjected to principal components analyses for which a single bipolar factor, Mental health versus psychopathology, was retained in all three matrices. Loadings for the Arabic Scale of Mental Health were −.76, −.64, and −.76. It was concluded that this scale has suitable convergent validity.
Self-Esteem among College Students from Four Arab Countries
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M. , Korayem Adel Shokry , El-Nayal Mayssah A.
Published: February 2012

This study had three objectives: (a) to compare undergraduates from four Arab countries on self-esteem, (b) to explore the sex-related differences in self-esteem in these four Arab countries, and (c) to examine the association of self-esteem with both per-capita income and unemployment rate. Four samples of 2,643 students were recruited from Egypt ( n = 576), Kuwait ( n = 674), Lebanon ( n = 826), and Oman ( n = 567). They responded to the Arabic version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Kuwaiti and Omani men had a significantly higher mean score on self-esteem than did Egyptian and Lebanese men. Egyptian women scored significantly lower than the Omani women, but the effect size was small. Regarding the sex-related differences in self-esteem, Kuwaiti men had a significantly higher mean score than did their female peers, but the effect size was small, whereas there were no significant sex differences in the other samples. The sex-related difference in self-esteem is a controversial result and it may not be replicable in different countries. It was suggested that self-esteem is associated with high per-capita income and low unemployment rate.
Recognition of Emotional Facial Expressions: The Role of Facial and Contextual Information in the Accuracy of Recognition
Authors: Chóliz Mariano , Fernández-Abascal Enrique G.
Published: February 2012

Recognition of emotional facial expressions is a central area in the psychology of emotion. This study presents two experiments. The first experiment analyzed recognition accuracy for basic emotions including happiness, anger, fear, sadness, surprise, and disgust. 30 pictures (5 for each emotion) were displayed to 96 participants to assess recognition accuracy. The results showed that recognition accuracy varied significantly across emotions. The second experiment analyzed the effects of contextual information on recognition accuracy. Information congruent and not congruent with a facial expression was displayed before presenting pictures of facial expressions. The results of the second experiment showed that congruent information improved facial expression recognition, whereas incongruent information impaired such recognition.
Trait Empathy as a Predictor of Individual Differences in Perceived Loneliness
Authors: Beadle Janelle N. , Keady Brian , Brown Vanessa , Tranel Daniel , Paradiso Sergio
Published: February 2012

Loneliness has been shown to be inversely correlated with empathy in younger adults. The present study extends previous research by investigating the association between empathy and loneliness across the adult lifespan and examining the role of relevant demographic and personality factors. 110 community-dwelling adults (18 to 81 years old) completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Empathy Quotient. Empathy scores were inversely associated with rated loneliness and predicted 8.7% of variance in loneliness scores after accounting for sex, age, relationship status, education, and neuroticism. The Social Skills factor of the Empathy Quotient was the strongest predictor of the association between perceived empathy and loneliness. Previous research is extended by the finding that rated loneliness was inversely associated with empathy scores across the adult lifespan. Underlying this relationship may be negative perceptions of personal social proclivity as a function of difficulty in understanding the mental states of others and high trait neuroticism.
Negative Pragmatic Transfer in Chinese Students' Complimentary Speech Acts
Authors: Ren Juanjuan , Gao Xiaofang
Published: February 2012

This study was designed to examine negative pragmatic transfer of the speech act of English compliments by Chinese who learn English as a foreign language and to estimate the correlation between the amount of negative pragmatic transfer and English proficiency of the Chinese learners. Frequencies of students' performance showed that both in the favored compliments and the response strategies, differences were evident between Chinese English learners and native English speakers. This indicated that Chinese learners had trouble with the “slang” or “idioms” of the target language and tended to transfer negatively their L1 pragmatic norms to their L2 communication. Moreover, the favored compliment response strategies used by two groups of Chinese learners—who had different levels of English proficiency—differed, and negative pragmatic transfer decreased as proficiency in English increased.
Forming Impressions from English and French First Names: Is there an In-Group Effect in Québec?
Authors: Heuvelink Christine , McKelvie Stuart , Drumheller Andrea
Published: February 2012

Using the Name Connotation Profile, English Canadian and French Canadian university students rated their impressions of people with English or French first names. Both the English and French students formed a more favorable impression of people who had names from their own linguistic group. These results are consistent with social identity theory, according to which people define themselves in part by groups to which they belong, with the contact hypothesis, according to which people feel more positively towards those with whom they have interacted more, and perhaps with the mere exposure effect, according to which liking for an object increases with the frequency with which it is presented.
Influence of Motion on Face Recognition
Authors: Bonfiglio Natale S. , Manfredi Valentina , Pessa Eliano
Published: February 2012

The influence of motion information and temporal associations on recognition of non-familiar faces was investigated using two groups which performed a face recognition task. One group was presented with regular temporal sequences of face views designed to produce the impression of motion of the face rotating in depth, the other group with random sequences of the same views. In one condition, participants viewed the sequences of the views in rapid succession with a negligible interstimulus interval (ISI). This condition was characterized by three different presentation times. In another condition, participants were presented a sequence with a 1-sec. ISI among the views. That regular sequences of views with a negligible ISI and a shorter presentation time were hypothesized to give rise to better recognition, related to a stronger impression of face rotation. Analysis of data from 45 participants showed a shorter presentation time was associated with significantly better accuracy on the recognition task; however, differences between performances associated with regular and random sequences were not significant.
The Children's Behavior Questionnaire very Short Scale: Psychometric Properties and Development of a One-Item Temperament Scale
Authors: Sleddens Ester F. C. , Hughes Sheryl O. , O'Connor Teresia M. , Beltran Alicia , Baranowski Janice C. , Nicklas Theresa A. , Baranowski Tom
Published: February 2012

Little research has been conducted on the psychometrics of the very short scale (36 items) of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire, and no one-item temperament scale has been tested for use in applied work. In this study, 237 United States caregivers completed a survey to define their child's behavioral patterns (i.e., Surgency Negative Affectivity, Effortful Control) using both scales. Psychometrics of the 36-item Children's Behavior Questionnaire were examined using classical test theory, principal factor analysis, and item response modeling. Classical test theory analysis demonstrated adequate internal consistency and factor analysis confirmed a three-factor structure. Potential improvements to the measure were identified using item response modeling. A one-item (three response categories) temperament scale was validated against the three temperament factors of the 36-item scale. The temperament response categories correlated with the temperament factors of the 36-item scale, as expected. The one-item temperament scale may be applicable for clinical use.
Frequently Cited Journals in Forensic Psychology
Authors: Black Steve
Published: February 2012

Works cited in six forensic psychology journals published 2008–2010 were counted to identify the most frequently cited journals. The sample of works cited ( N = 21,776) was not a definitive ranked list of important journals in forensic psychology, but was large enough to indicate high-impact journals. The list of frequently cited publications included more general psychiatry and psychology journals than titles specific to forensic psychology. The implications of the proportion of general versus specific titles for collections supporting research in forensic psychology were discussed.
Nocturnal Polysomnographic Correlates of Daytime Sleepiness
Authors: Killgore William D. S. , Capaldi Vincent F. , Guerrero Melanie L.
Published: February 2012

The relations of nighttime Polysomnographic sleep variables with daytime sleepiness scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were assessed in a retrospective chart review of 38 patients referred to a sleep clinic. Of the variables assessed, only slow wave sleep was statistically significantly correlated with daytime sleepiness, regardless of whether the analysis was based on absolute minutes of slow wave sleep or percentage of total sleep time spent in slow wave sleep. Stepwise linear regression suggested that other Polysomnographic variables did not provide additional predictive value beyond the two indices of slow wave sleep. Apparently, reduced quantity of slow wave sleep was weakly but significantly related to increased daytime sleepiness among these sleep-clinic patients.
Associations between Television Viewing and Love Styles: An Interpretation Using Cultivation Theory
Authors: Hetsroni Amir
Published: February 2012

This study evaluated the associations between television viewing and love styles. The Love Attitudes Scale (LAS), based on Lee's love style taxonomy, was administered to a sample of 338 unmarried Israeli students along with questions about TV viewing habits, current involvement in a serious romantic relationship, and marital intentions. A confirmatory factor analysis of the LAS indicated that the expected six-factor solution adequately fit the data. Correlations between individual love styles and TV viewing were small to moderate, ranging from .12 to .29. Scores for Ludus love style correlated positively with viewing of news and general programming. Those for Pragma love style correlated positively with news viewing and negatively with viewing genres frequently including love themes such as soap operas and family drama, while scores for Eros love style positively correlated with watching these love abundant genres. No significant association was found for TV viewing with Storge, Mania, and Agape love styles. Hierarchical regression using demographic variables, love status, and viewing habits mirrored these results, with the unique R2 for Ludus, Pragma, and Eros ranging from 1.8% to 8%, while the total variance accounted for by the models ranged from 12% to 21%. The findings can be interpreted as support for a weak cultivation effect, in which habits in long-term TV viewing among young adults correspond to small to moderate tendencies for particular love styles that thematically relate them. However, because they are correlational, the findings could equally be interpreted in terms of tendencies that exist due to modeling within families and socialization during development.
Protective effect of placenta extracts against nitrite-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes
Authors: Rozanova Svitlana , Cherkashina Yana , Repina Svitlana , Rozanova Katherina , Nardid Oleg
Published: February 2012

Aqueous-saline human placenta extract (HPE) is known to possess antioxidant activity due to the high concentration of bioactive substances. This fact allows its application in clinical practice in order to treat oxidation-induced diseases. Extract antioxidant activity is mainly conditioned by proteins. Freezing of extracts has been shown to lead to their antioxidant activity increasing due to protein conformation changes.

Different biological models are widely used in order to evaluate efficacy of novel antioxidants and mechanisms of their action. One such model appears to be erythrocytes under nitrite-induced oxidative stress. Nitrite is known to be able to penetrate erythrocyte membrane and to oxidize hemoglobin. In order to investigate whether HPE is able to decrease nitrite-induced oxidative injuries and to evaluate the protein contribution to this process, spectrophotometric and electron spin resonance (ESR) assays were used.

Experimental data have revealed that antioxidant activity of extracts and of some of their fractions correlates with methemoglobin concentration lowering. Preliminary erythrocyte incubation with an extract fraction of 12 kDa allows preservation of the structural-dynamic cytosol state the closest to the control.
Effect of intraoperative subthalamic nucleus DBS on human single-unit activity in the ipsilateral and contralateral subthalamic nucleus
Authors: Toleikis J. Richard , Metman Leo Verhagen , Pilitsis Julie G. , Barborica Andrei , Toleikis Sandra C. , Bakay Roy A. E.
Published: February 2012

Object

Insight may be gained into the physiological mechanisms of deep brain stimulation (DBS) by analyzing local and contralateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) single-unit activity during activation of previously placed DBS electrodes. Special techniques are required to perform such analysis due to the presence of a large stimulus artifact. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of DBS stimulation on single unit activity acquired from patients undergoing new or revised DBS placements.

Methods

Subthalamic nucleus single unit activity was acquired from awake patients during activation of a previously implanted STN DBS electrode. Stimulation was contralateral to the recording site in 4 cases and ipsilateral in 3. Data were acquired at stimulation frequencies of 30, 60, and 130 Hz and with other stimulation parameters at clinically effective settings. Cells were included if they showed kinesthetic activity before and after the stimulation paradigm and if their action potential morphology was maintained throughout the experiment. Analysis of single-unit activity acquired before, during, and after stimulation was performed employing a time-domain algorithm to overcome the stimulus artifact.

Results

Both ipsilateral and contralateral acute stimulation resulted in reversible STN firing rate suppression. The degree of suppression became greater as stimulus frequency increased and was significant at 60 Hz (t-test, p < 0.05) and 130 Hz (p < 0.01). Suppression with ipsilateral 130-Hz stimulation ranged between 52.8% and 99.8%, whereas with similar contralateral STN stimulation, the range was lower (1.9%–50.3%). Return to baseline activity levels typically occurred within seconds after stimulation ended.

Conclusions

Stimulation of the STN at clinically effective frequencies has an acute suppressive rather than an excitatory effect on STN single-unit activity. The effect is bilateral, even though the degree of suppression is greater on the ipsilateral than the contralateral STN. The authors' algorithm helps reveal this effect in human patients.
Risk for leptomeningeal seeding after resection for brain metastases: implication of tumor location with mode of resection
Authors: Ahn Jun Hyong , Lee Sang Hyun , Kim Sohee , Joo Jungnam , Yoo Heon , Lee Seung Hoon , Shin Sang Hoon , Gwak Ho-Shin
Published: February 2012

Object

Surgical spillage has been one of the causative factors for the development of leptomeningeal seeding (LMS) after resection of brain metastases. In this paper, the authors' goal was to define the factors related to the development of LMS and to evaluate the difference according to tumor location.

Methods

The authors retrospectively analyzed 242 patients who had undergone resection for brain metastases. The factors investigated included tumor location with proximity to the CSF pathway (that is, contacting, involved with, or separated from the CSF pathway), the method of resection, and the use of the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA).

Results

A total of 39 patients (16%) developed LMS at a median of 6.0 months (range 1–42 months) after resection. The risk of developing LMS was significantly higher in patients whose tumors were resected piecemeal than in those whose tumors were removed en bloc, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 4.08 (p < 0.01). The incidence of LMS was significantly higher in patients in whom the CUSA was used, and the HR was 2.64 (p < 0.01). The proximity of tumor to the CSF pathway in the involved group conferred an increased risk of LMS compared with the separated group (HR 11.36, p < 0.01). The risk of piecemeal resection for LMS was significant only in involved lesions (p < 0.01), and the use of the CUSA in both contact and involved lesions increased the incidence of LMS (p < 0.01 and p < 0.03, respectively).

Conclusions

The authors suggest that piecemeal resection using the CUSA should be limited because of the risk of postsurgical LMS, especially when the tumor is in contact with the CSF pathway.
The occipital lobe convexity sulci and gyri
Authors: Alves Raphael V. , Ribas Guilherme C. , Párraga Richard G. , de Oliveira Evandro
Published: February 2012

Object

The anatomy of the occipital lobe convexity is so intricate and variable that its precise description is not found in the classic anatomy textbooks, and the occipital sulci and gyri are described with different nomenclatures according to different authors. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the anatomy of the occipital lobe convexity and clarify its nomenclature.

Methods

The configurations of sulci and gyri on the lateral surface of the occipital lobe of 20 cerebral hemispheres were examined in order to identify the most characteristic and consistent patterns.

Results

The most characteristic and consistent occipital sulci identified in this study were the intraoccipital, transverse occipital, and lateral occipital sulci. The morphology of the transverse occipital sulcus and the intraoccipital sulcus connection was identified as the most important aspect to define the gyral pattern of the occipital lobe convexity.

Conclusions

Knowledge of the main features of the occipital sulci and gyri permits the recognition of a basic configuration of the occipital lobe and the identification of its sulcal and gyral variations.
Placement of C-7 intralaminar screws: a quantitative anatomical and morphometric evaluation
Authors: Şenoğlu Mehmet , Özkan Fuat , Çelik Mustafa
Published: February 2012

Object

Crossing laminar screws at C-7 have been recently described as a method for the fixation of C-7. In this study the authors measured locations on axial CT scans to determine the feasibility of placing a screw in the C-7 lamina, and they evaluated the reliability of the surface of the dorsal arch of C-7 as a landmark for determining the optimal site of screw entry.

Methods

A total of 207 axial CT scans of C-7 spines were evaluated, and 4 critical measurements were determined for screw entry points, trajectories, and lengths for placement of intralaminar screws.

Results

The mean width of the right C-7 lamina was 5.9 mm (range 4.2–9.3 mm). The mean width of the left C-7 lamina was 6.0 mm (range 4.2–10.2 mm). The laminar width was too small (< 5.5 mm) in 37.7% of cases to accommodate a 3.5-mm diameter screw, given the desire for at least 1 mm of play on each side of the screw.

Conclusions

These measurements provide guidelines for operating on the posterior aspect of C-7 and enhance the confidence of the surgeon. Viewing the anatomy of the C-7 laminae in detail through preoperative CT scanning can greatly assist the surgeon in choosing the fixation method. The width of the C-7 lamina is sufficient for intralaminar screw placement in more than 60% of patients.
Mechanism and Regioselectivity of the 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Methyleneamine N-Oxide with Cyclopent-3-Ene-1,2-Dione and its Aza, Oxa and Thia Analogues: A Dft Approach
Authors: Emamian Saeed Reza , Zahedi Ehsan
Published: February 2012

A theoretical study on the regioselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between methyleneamine N-oxide (nitrone) and cyclopent-3-Ene-1,2-Dione (DPhl), pyrrole-2,3-dione (DPh2), furan-2,3-dione (DPh3) and thiophene-2,3- dione (DPh4) has been carried out by means of several theoretical approaches, namely, activation energies, Houk's rule based on FMO theory and DFT reactivity indices. The calculations were performed at the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory using Gaussian 03. The present analysis shows that these reactions have an NED character. Moreover, the results obtained from energetic and electronic approaches, with the exception of Gazquez - Mendez rule based on NPA analysis, confirm that 1,5-regioisomer is the major product.
Kinetic and Mechanistic Study of the Interaction of Diethyldithiocarbamate Anion with Diaquaethylenediamineplatinum(Ii) Ion in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Mallick Subhasis , Mandal Arup , Bera Biplab K. , Karmakar Pamajyoti , Mondal Subala , Ghosh Alak K
Published: February 2012

The interaction of diethyldithiocarbamate (Et2DTC) with diaquaethylenediamineplatinum(II) has been studied spectrophotometrically in aqueous medium as a function of [substrate complex], [ligand], temperature and pH at constant ionic strength. The reaction proceeds via rapid outer-sphere association complex formation followed by two consecutive steps: the first is ligand dependent and second is assigned to intramolecular ring closure. The low enthalpy and negative entropy of activation indicate an associative mode of activation for both steps.
Application of Genetic Control with Adaptive Scaling Scheme to Signal Acquisition in Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver
Authors: Chang Chung-Liang , Shou Ho-Nien
Published: February 2012

This paper presents a genetic-based control scheme that not only utilizes evolutionary characteristics to find the signal acquisition parameters, but also employs an adaptive scheme to control the search space and avoid the genetic control converging to local optimal value so as to acquire the desired signal precisely and rapidly. Simulations and experiment results show that the proposed method can improve the precision of signal parameters and take less signal acquisition time than traditional serial search methods for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals.
On the Electrophilic Character of Molecules Through Its Relation with Electronegativity and Chemical Hardness
Authors: Islam Nazmul , Ghosh Dulal C.
Published: February 2012

Electrophilicity is an intrinsic property of atoms and molecules. It probably originates logistically with the involvement in the physical process of electrostatics of soaked charge in electronic shells and the screened nuclear charge of atoms. Motivated by the existing view of conceptual density functional theory that similar to electronegativity and hardness equalization, there should be a physical process of equalization of electrophilicity during the chemical process of formation of hetero nuclear molecules, we have developed a new theoretical scheme and formula for evaluating the electrophilicity of hetero nuclear molecules. A comparative study with available bench marking reveals that the hypothesis of electrophilicity and equalization, and the present method of evaluating equalized electrophilicity, are scientifically promising.
Using Support Vector Machine and Evolutionary Profiles to Predict Antifreeze Protein Sequences
Authors: Zhao Xiaowei , Ma Zhiqiang , Yin Minghao
Published: February 2012

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are ice-binding proteins. Accurate identification of new AFPs is important in understanding ice-protein interactions and creating novel ice-binding domains in other proteins. In this paper, an accurate method, called AFP_PSSM, has been developed for predicting antifreeze proteins using a support vector machine (SVM) and position specific scoring matrix (PSSM) profiles. This is the first study in which evolutionary information in the form of PSSM profiles has been successfully used for predicting antifreeze proteins. Tested by 10-fold cross validation and independent test, the accuracy of the proposed method reaches 82.67% for the training dataset and 93.01% for the testing dataset, respectively. These results indicate that our predictor is a useful tool for predicting antifreeze proteins. A web server (AFP_PSSM) that implements the proposed predictor is freely available.
Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Is a Target in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Authors: Pohanka Miroslav
Published: February 2012

Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is an important part of the cholinergic nerve system in the brain. Moreover, it is associated with a cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the termination of the parasympathetic nervous system. Antagonists of α7 nAChR are a wide group represented by conotoxin and bungarotoxin. Even Alzheimer’s disease drug memantine acting as an antagonist in its side pathway belongs in this group. Agonists of α7 nAChR are suitable for treatment of multiple cognitive dysfunctions such as Alzheimer’s disease or schizophrenia. Inflammation or even sepsis can be ameliorated by the agonistic acting compounds. Preparations RG3487, SEN34625/WYE-103914, SEN12333, ABT-107, Clozapine, GTS-21, CNI-1493, and AR-R17779 are representative examples of the novel compounds with affinity toward the α7 nAChR. Pharmacological, toxicological, and medicinal significance of α7 nAChR are discussed throughout this paper.
Generation of Nutrients and Detoxification: Possible Roles of Yeasts in Leaf-Cutting Ant Nests
Authors: Mendes Thais D. , Rodrigues André , Dayo-Owoyemi Ifeloju , Marson Fernando A. L. , Pagnocca Fernando C.
Published: February 2012

The possible roles played by yeasts in attine ant nests are mostly unknown. Here we present our investigations on the plant polysaccharide degradation profile of 82 yeasts isolated from fungus gardens of Atta and Acromyrmex species to demonstrate that yeasts found in ant nests may play the role of making nutrients readily available throughout the garden and detoxification of compounds that may be deleterious to the ants and their fungal cultivar. Among the yeasts screened, 65% exhibited cellulolytic enzymes, 44% exhibited pectinolytic activity while 27% and 17% possess enzyme systems for the degradation of protease and amylase, respectively. Galacturonic acid, which had been reported in previous work to be poorly assimilated by the ant fungus and also to have a negative effect on ants’ survival, was assimilated by 64% and 79% of yeasts isolated from nests of A. texana and Acromyrmex respectively. Our results suggest that yeasts found in ant nests may participate in generation of nutrients and removal of potentially toxic compounds, thereby contributing to the stability of the complex microbiota found in the leaf-cutting ant nests.
Ovatoxin-a and Palytoxin Accumulation in Seafood in Relation to Ostreopsis cf. ovata Blooms on the French Mediterranean Coast
Authors: Amzil Zouher , Sibat Manoella , Chomerat Nicolas , Grossel Hubert , Marco-Miralles Francoise , Lemee Rodolphe , Nezan Elisabeth , Sechet Veronique
Published: February 2012

Dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis are known to cause (often fatal) food poisoning in tropical coastal areas following the accumulation of palytoxin (PLTX) and/or its analogues (PLTX group) in crabs, sea urchins or fish. Ostreopsis spp. occurrence is presently increasing in the northern to north western Mediterranean Sea (Italy, Spain, Greece and France), probably in response to climate change. In France, Ostreopsis. cf. ovata has been associated with toxic events during summer 2006, at Morgiret, off the coast of Marseille, and a specific monitoring has been designed and implemented since 2007. Results from 2008 and 2009 showed that there is a real danger of human poisoning, as these demonstrated bioaccumulation of the PLTX group (PLTX and ovatoxin-a) in both filter-feeding bivalve molluscs (mussels) and herbivorous echinoderms (sea urchins). The total content accumulated in urchins reached 450 µg PLTX eq/kg total flesh (summer 2008). In mussels, the maximum was 230 µg eq PLTX/kg (summer 2009) compared with a maximum of 360 µg found in sea urchins during the same period at the same site. This publication brings together scientific knowledge obtained about the summer development of Ostreopsis spp. in France during 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Impact of Halogen Substituents on Interactions between 2-Phenyl-2,3-dihydroqulinazolin-4(1H)-one Derivatives and Human Serum Albumin
Authors: Liu Feng , Wang Yi , Lv Cong , Wang Lei , Ou Junjun , Wang Min , Liu Shangzhong
Published: February 2012

A novel type of 2-(un)substituted phenyl-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (DQL) derivatives were designed and synthesized to study the impact of halogen substituents on interactions between DQL and human serum albumin (HSA) by comparison methodology. The interactions between DQL and HSA were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The intrinsic fluorescence of human serum albumin was quenched by DQL through a static quenching mechanism. Site marker competitive experiments showed that DQL bound to HSA in site II (subdomain IIIA). The binding constants, the numbers of binding sites and the thermodynamic parameters were measured too. The results indicated that the interactions were spontaneous, mainly through hydrophobic forces, and the substitution by halogen atoms in the benzene ring could increase the interactions between DQL and HSA. Furthermore, the binding affinity was enhanced gradually with the increasing of halogen atomic number.
Chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear microsatellites from the southern Appalachian hornwort, Nothoceros aenigmaticus (Dendrocerotaceae)
Authors: Villarreal Juan Carlos , Forrest Laura L. , McFarland Ken , Goffinet Bernard
Published: February 2012

• Premise of the study: New microsatellite primers were developed for testing genetic differentiation within Nothoceros aenigmaticus and their potential use in other Nothoceros species. The microsatellites are designed to investigate partitioning of genetic variation in a taxon with a peculiar sex allopatry in the southern Appalachian Mountains and relationships with conspecific sexual populations from Mexico.

• Methods and Results: We used two methods for microsatellite development: an enriched library and second‐generation shotgun sequence reads. From these two methods, a total of nine primer pairs were selected and tested on 89 southern Appalachian N. aenigmaticus accessions, nine Mexican accessions, and 16 N. vincentianus accessions. Three mitochondrial loci were recovered from the enriched library method and six loci from 454 shotgun sequencing: three were from the chloroplast and three from the nucleus. The primers amplified repeats with two to 20 alleles per locus.

• Conclusions: New microsatellite primers were developed for testing genetic differentiation within N. aenigmaticus and potentially for use in other Nothoceros species. We present one of the first reports of highly polymorphic mitochondrial microsatellites in plants.
Development of microsatellite markers for Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae), a typical species of the Brazilian cerrado
Authors: Ritter Lia Maris Orth , Bajay Miklos Maximiliano , Monteiro Mariza , Souza Renata G. V. C. , Moreno Maria Andréia , Kageyama Paulo Yoshio
Published: February 2012

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed to investigate genetic diversity and population structure of Qualea grandiflora, a typical species of the Brazilian cerrado.

• Methods and Results: Eight microsatellite loci were isolated using an enrichment cloning protocol. These loci were tested on a population of 110 individuals of Q. grandiflora collected from a cerrado fragment in São Paulo State, Brazil. The loci polymorphism ranges from seven to 19 alleles and the average heterozygosity value is 0.568, while the average polymorphic information content is 0.799.

• Conclusions: The developed markers were found to be highly polymorphic, indicating their applicability to studies of population genetic diversity in Q. grandiflora.
Martha Nussbaum et les usages de la littérature en philosophie morale
Authors: Chavel Solange
Published: February 2012

Résumé Martha Nussbaum, à l’instar de Cavell ou de Murdoch, appuie sa pratique de la philosophie morale sur une analyse précise de textes littéraires. Dans cet article, on montre que ce recours à la littérature n’est pas illustratif, mais est cohérent avec un ensemble de thèses substantielles sur la nature même de la pensée morale et sur la méthode adaptée à la philosophie morale. C’est parce qu’elle accorde un poids particulier aux êtres et aux objets particuliers en éthique, ainsi qu’aux conflits, et à la portée cognitive des émotions que Nussbaum peut considérer certains textes littéraires particuliers comme des exemples de philosophie morale. Cela explique également certaines caractéristiques de son propre style philosophique, en particulier son usage particulier du « je ».
RDA, el nuevo código de catalogación: cambios y desafíos para su aplicación
Authors: Picco Paola , Ortiz Repiso Virginia
Published: February 2012

Se estudia el nuevo código de catalogación Descripción y Acceso a los Recursos (RDA) y su adecuación a la situación tecnológica de la actualidad. Se analiza la forma en que se originó, qué representa y qué puede significar para la catalogación y para el desarrollo de los catálogos. Se hace un breve recorrido por la situación del control bibliográfico y su relación con la tecnología para continuar con los antecedentes que le dan origen al nuevo código. Asimismo se estudian sus características, los cambios que propone y qué beneficios aporta el hecho de estar basado en el modelo FRBR. Se muestran sus implementaciones en la comunidad internacional. Y, por último, se destacan los aciertos y los desafíos que supone y las dudas más relevantes que suscita. Se realiza una amplia revisión bibliográfica que ha permitido identificar los aspectos más importantes de este cambio de normalización catalográfica así como sus aciertos e inconvenientes. Asimismo se lleva a cabo un análisis minucioso de los Requisito Funcionales para Registros Bibliográficos (FRBR), de los Requisitos Funcionales para los Datos de Autoridad (FRAD) y de las instrucciones del nuevo código los que ha permitido detectar las conexiones que existen entre ellos.
Indicadores para la evaluación de las instituciones universitarias: validación a través del método Delphi
Authors: García-Aracil Adela , Palomares-Montero Davinia
Published: February 2012

Evaluar el desempeño de las universidades es complicado ya que se trata de una institución multidimensional que desarrolla numerosas actividades en base a sus tres principales misiones: docencia, investigación y transferencia de conocimiento. En este contexto, diversas metodologías de evaluación de las universidades han sido propuestas en base al uso de indicadores, existiendo intensos debates acerca de qué indicadores son los más apropiados. Esta situación hace que resulte indispensable sistematizar la diversidad de indicadores para obtener una evaluación más rigurosa de las instituciones universitarias. El presente trabajo profundiza en esta cuestión, identificando un listado de indicadores relacionados con la evaluación de las universidades. El sistema de indicadores propuesto ha sido validado a través del método Delphi que ha permitido alcanzar cierto consenso entre los expertos participantes. La identificación realizada sirve de ayuda para tomar decisiones en torno a qué indicadores deben ser incluidos en los modelos de evaluación universitaria. Sin embargo, los resultados del estudio ponen de manifiesto que entre los gestores universitarios continúa habiendo discrepancias en cuanto a la identificación de los indicadores tanto a qué misión representan como en su tipología y grado de importancia.
Hybrid Model for e-Learning Quality Evaluation
Authors: Savic Suzana M. , Stankovic Miomir S. , Janackovic Goran Lj.
Published: February 2012

E-learning is becoming increasingly important for the competitive advantage of economic organizations and higher education institutions. Therefore, it is becoming a significant aspect of quality which has to be integrated into the management system of every organization or institution. The paper examines e-learning quality characteristics, standards, criteria and indicators and presents a multi-criteria hybrid model for e-learning quality evaluation based on the method of Analytic Hierarchy Process, trend analysis, and data comparison.
Adaptive E-learning System in Secondary Education
Authors: Tosheva Sofija , Martinovska Cveta
Published: February 2012

In this paper we describe an adaptive web application E-school, where students can adjust some features according to their preferences and learning style. This e-learning environment enables monitoring students progress, total time students have spent in the system, their activity on the forums, the overall achievements in lessons learned, tests performed and solutions to given projects. Personalized assistance that teacher provides in a traditional classroom is not easy to implement. Students have regular contact with teachers using e-mail tools and conversation, so teacher get mentoring role for each student. The results of exploitation of the e-learning system show positive impact in acquiring the material and improvement of studentâ??s achievements.
Self-Evaluation of Distance Learning Study Program as a Part of Internal Quality Assurance
Authors: Krneta Radojka , Milosevic Danijela , Bozovic Maja , Mitrovic Andjelija
Published: February 2012

This paper features quality assurance of specific distance learning master study program through self-evaluation. This unique program involving e-learning as the program content, as well as delivery method, is presented in the paper from the aspects of its quality assurance. Student evaluation of this study program as a part of the internal quality assurance is performed at the end of every school year in the aim of its quality assurance. Results and conclusions of self-evaluation conducted in this school year by known SEVAQ+ evaluation tool are presented here.