bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio is involved in regulating lipid metabolism and inflammation in pigs
Authors: Duan Yehui , Li Fengna , Li Lili , Fan Juexin , Sun Xiaoming , Yin Yulong 
Published: August 2013

The objective of the present study was to investigate the optimal dietaryn-6:n-3 PUFA ratios that regulate lipid metabolism and inflammation in pigs. A total of ninety-six cross-bred (Large White × Landrace) growing-finishing pigs (73·8 (sem1·6) kg) were chosen and fed one of the four isoenergetic diets withn-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 1:1, 2·5:1, 5:1 and 10:1. The growth performance of pigs fed the diet with ann-6:n-3 PUFA ratio of 5:1 was the best, but the group fed the diet with ann-6:n-3 PUFA ratio of 1:1 had the highest muscle mass and the lowest adipose tissue mass (P< 0·05). The concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1β of pigs fed the diet with ann-6:n-3 PUFA ratio of 1:1 were decreased compared with those of the other groups (P< 0·05). The concentration of adiponectin of pigs fed the diet with ann-6:n-3 PUFA ratio of 1:1 was also markedly decreased, but the concentration of leptin was increased compared with that of the groups fed the diets withn-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 5:1 and 10:1 (P< 0·05). Additionally, the optimal dietary ratios ofn-6:n-3 PUFA of 1:1 and 5:1 markedly suppressed the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes and proteins such as phosphoinositide-3-kinase-α, fatty acid transport protein-1 and PPARγ. They also significantly suppressed the expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6. The results indicated that the optimaln-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 1:1 and 5:1 exerted beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and inflammatory system, leading to the availability of more energy and nutrients for high performance and homeostatic pathways.
Phenotypic variation of the housefly,Musca domestica: amounts and patterns of wing shape asymmetry in wild populations and laboratory colonies
Authors: Ludoški J. , Djurakic M. , Pastor B. , Martínez-Sánchez A. I. , Rojo S. , Milankov V. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractMusca domesticaL. (Diptera: Muscidae) is a vector of a range variety of pathogens infecting humans and animals. During a year, housefly experiences serial population bottlenecks resulted in reduction of genetic diversity. Population structure has also been subjected to different selection regimes created by insect control programs and pest management. Both environmental and genetic disturbances can affect developmental stability, which is often reflected in morphological traits as asymmetry. Since developmental stability is of great adaptive importance, the aim of this study was to examine fluctuating asymmetry (FA), as a measure of developmental instability, in both wild populations and laboratory colonies ofM. domestica. The amount and pattern of wing shape FA was compared among samples within each of two groups (laboratory and wild) and between groups. Firstly, the amount of FA does not differ significantly among samples within the group and neither does it differ between groups. Regarding the mean shape of FA, contrary to non-significant difference within the wild population group and among some colonies, the significant difference between groups was found. These results suggest that the laboratory colonies and wild samples differ in buffering mechanisms to perturbations during development. Hence, inbreeding and stochastic processes, mechanisms dominating in the laboratory-bred samples contributed to significant changes in FA of wing shape. Secondly, general patterns of left–right displacements of landmarks across both studied sample groups are consistent. Observed consistent direction of FA implies high degrees of wing integration. Thus, our findings shed light on developmental buffering processes important for population persistence in the environmental change and genetic stress influence onM. domestica.
Limiting cases of Boardman's five halves theorem
Authors: Crabb Michael C. , Pergher Pedro L. Q. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe famous five halves theorem of Boardman states that, if T: Mm → Mm is a smooth involution defined on a non-bounding closed smooth m-dimensional manifold Mm (m > 1) and ifis the fixed-point set of T, where Fj denotes the union of those components of F having dimension j, then 2m ≤ 5n. If the dimension m is written as m = 5k − c, where k ≥ 1 and 0 ≤ c < 5, the theorem states that the dimension n of the fixed submanifold is at least β(m), where β(m) = 2k if c = 0, 1, 2 and β(m) = 2k − 1 if c = 3, 4. In this paper, we give, for each m > 1, the equivariant cobordism classification of involutions (Mm, T), for which the fixed submanifold F attains the minimal dimension β(m).
Does Risk-Neutral Skewness Predict the Cross-Section of Equity Option Portfolio Returns?
Authors: Bali Turan G. , Murray Scott 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe investigate the pricing of risk-neutral skewness in the stock options market by creating skewness assets comprised of two option positions (one long and one short) and a position in the underlying stock. The assets are created such that exposure to changes in the underlying stock price (delta), and exposure to changes in implied volatility (vega) are removed, isolating the effect of skewness. We find a strong negative relation between risk-neutral skewness and the skewness asset returns, consistent with a positive skewness preference. The returns are not explained by well-known market, size, book-to-market, momentum, short-term reversal, volatility, or option market factors.
Sheffield suction holder clips for endolaryngeal laser surgery
Authors: Manickavasagam J , Jebreel A 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackground:There has been a major evolution in laryngeal surgery, largely due to an improved understanding of disease pathogenesis and advances in technology, especially the introduction of lasers.Method and results:Continuous laser plume evacuation during endolaryngeal surgery improves visualisation of the surgical field. Hence, microlaryngoscopes are fitted with smoke evacuation channels on their sides. We have devised a new, simple and efficient suction holder clip for endolaryngeal surgery that has distinct advantages over other suction holders.
Unusual cryptosporidiosis cases in Swedish patients: extended molecular characterization ofCryptosporidium viatorumandCryptosporidiumchipmunk genotype I
Authors: LEBBAD MARIANNE , BESER JESSICA , INSULANDER MONA , KARLSSON LILLEMOR , MATTSSON JENS G. , SVENUNGSSON BO , AXÉN CHARLOTTE 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYMost human cases of cryptosporidiosis are caused byCryptosporidium parvumorCryptosporidium hominis, but the use of molecular diagnostic methods has revealed that several other less common species or genotypes can also be involved. Here, we describe two unusual causes of cryptosporidiosis, one being the recently described speciesCryptosporidium viatorumand the otherCryptosporidiumchipmunk genotype I. Two Swedish patients who were infected withC. viatorumhad travelled to Kenya and Guatemala, respectively, and two others had been infected withCryptosporidiumchipmunk genotype I in Sweden. None of these four patients were immunocompromised, and all four showed classical symptoms of cryptosporidiosis. We performed extensive molecular characterization, including analysis of four loci. The twoC. viatorumisolates were found to differ slightly at the 70-kDa heat shock protein locus, which may indicate a local geographical variation in this species that has previously been described exclusively on the Indian subcontinent.
Modelling the cost-effectiveness of preventing major depression in general practice patients
Authors: Hunter R. M. , Nazareth I. , Morris S. , King M. 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundThe prevention of depression is a key public health policy priority. PredictD is the first risk algorithm for the prediction of the onset of major depression. Our aim in this study was to model the cost-effectiveness of PredictD in depression prevention in general practice (GP).MethodA decision analytical model was developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of two approaches, each of which was compared to treatment as usual (TAU) over 12 months: (1) the PredictD risk algorithm plus a low-intensity depression prevention programme; and (2) a universal prevention programme in which there was no initial identification of those at risk. The model simulates the incidence of depression and disease progression over 12 months and calculates the net monetary benefit (NMB) from the National Health Service (NHS) perspective.ResultsProviding patients with PredictD and a depression prevention programme prevented 15 (17%) cases of depression in a cohort of 1000 patients over 12 months and had the highest probability of being the optimal choice at a willingness to pay (WTP) of £20 000 for a quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Universal prevention was strongly dominated by PredictD plus a depression prevention programme in that universal prevention resulted in less QALYs than PredictD plus prevention for a greater cost.ConclusionsUsing PredictD to identify primary-care patients at high risk of depression and providing them with a low-intensity prevention programme is potentially cost-effective at a WTP of £20 000 per QALY.
English L2 personas and the imagined global community of English users
Authors: Seilhamer Mark F. 
Published: August 2013

I have Danish parents, grown up in France, lived in the UK for 10 years and now living in Holland for the past 9 years. I am a different person in each language, adapting myself to the culture of the people who speak it. I have always wondered how the language could affect the message so much. It also affects my tone of voice and my emotions. [Christina, on July 27th, 2011]I find myself being more self-depreciating and less likely to accept praise when speaking in Japanese than when speaking English. Furthermore, a colleague once told me that even if he can't hear, he can tell which language I am using from 10-15 metres away, by looking at my posture, gestures and general body language. [Tim, on July 27th, 2011]My friends once told me that when I switch to Russian even my facial features change, becoming colder and harsher – set jaw, narrow eyes, speaking in a low voice, but with an intensity that makes everyone else listen. [Julia, on July 30th, 2011]
The above quotations represent just a small portion of blogosphere postings from bilingual and multilingual individuals commenting on how they perceive and appear to have very distinct and separate personalities when speaking the different languages in their linguistic repertoires. Many such postings, like the first one above by Christina, explicitly attribute this phenomenon to attempts on the part of speakers to assimilate to the cultural norms of the countries where the languages are traditionally spoken. Scholarly treatments of the same phenomenon (e.g., Bryant, 1984; Hu & Reiterer, 2009; Zukowski/Faust, 1997) generally do likewise, often citing Schumann's (1978, 1986) Acculturation Model, which equates L2 proficiency with the extent to which a learner is able to adopt the culture of a target language group, and Guiora's (1967, 1979) concept of Language Ego, in which the permeability of one's L1 identity determines receptiveness to taking on new linguistic identities. According to these theories, a learner of Korean, for example, would be likely to develop a distinctly Korean L2 persona (as well as linguistic proficiency) if he or she has both a high level of affinity for Korean culture and a very permeable L1 language ego. Such arguments still, no doubt, apply to languages such as Korean or Japanese that are intrinsically associated with specific countries and cultures. Given the status of English as an international lingua franca in today's world, however, it can no longer be assumed that learners of English have any motive or desire to acculturate into traditionally English-speaking cultures, such as those of the US, England, or Australia. If learners/users of English associate the language not with such traditionally English-speaking cultures, but instead with an imagined global community of English users, do they still develop English L2 personas that are distinct from their L1 personas and feel ‘like a different person’ when speaking English?
Homeowners' Activism in Beijing: Leaders with Mixed Motivations
Authors: Cai Yongshun , Sheng Zhiming 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIt is commonly accepted that leaders play a crucial role in collective action. Existing literature has suggested a number of factors that contribute to the emergence of leaders including, among others, personality, sense of moral responsibility, community pressure, self-interest and institutional exclusion. However, current research tends to suggest that activists are driven by a particular reason to become leaders and that their motivation is static. Based on intensive fieldwork in residential communities in Beijing, this article illustrates that leaders' motivations can be mixed or multiple and that leaders may re-prioritize or adjust their objectives over the course of collective action. The re-prioritizing tends to alter the leaders' behaviour and affect group solidarity and interactions with other group members.
Species diversity and changes of communities of heterotrophic flagellates (protista) in response to glacial melt in King George Island, the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Authors: Tikhonenkov Denis 
Published: August 2013

AbstractGlacial melt has a great influence on biological communities of the Antarctic Peninsula. Annual changes in heterotrophic flagellates from March 2008–March 2009 and effects of glacial melting on heterotrophic flagellates from December 2008–March 2009 were studied within the coastal zone of King George Island. The maximum abundance and biomass occurred in November and December (950.6–1236.2 individuals ml-1; 0.02–0.035 μg C ml-1), and the minimum in May and June (419.8–456.8 individuals ml-1; 0.018–0.019 μg C ml-1). Forty-five species were identified. The diversity of choanoflagellates, euglenids, bicosoecids, kinetoplastids and incertae sedis flagellates was greatest. Glacial melt between December and April resulted in the freshening of the surface water at the Collins Bay, giving rise to a vertical gradient of salinity (from 26‰ at the surface to 34‰ at the near-bottom layer). The trophic, size and species structure of the heterotrophic flagellates was simplified due to freshening of the surface waters. Eurybiontic and cosmopolitan species were significantly enriched in the freshened surface layer, with prevalence of small-sized mobile bacterio-detritovorous forms. The simplification of structure of the assemblage of heterotrophic flagellates can affect the stability of biological communities.
Early Adolescent Cortical Thinning Is Related to Better Neuropsychological Performance
Authors: Squeglia Lindsay M. , Jacobus Joanna , Sorg Scott F. , Jernigan Terry L. , Tapert Susan F. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAdolescence is characterized by significant neuromaturation, including extensive cortical thinning, particularly in frontal regions. The goal of this study was to examine the behavioral correlates of neurostructural development in early adolescence. Participants were 185 healthy 12- to 14-year-olds (44% female) recruited from local schools. Participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and magnetic resonance imaging session. Cortical surface reconstruction and thickness estimates were performed via FreeSurfer. Age and cortical thickness were negatively correlated in 10 brain regions, 7 of which were in frontal areas (β = −.15 to −.25, ps ≤ .05). Hierarchical linear regressions examined the influence of cortical thickness on working memory, attention, verbal learning and memory, visuospatial functioning, spatial planning and problem solving, and inhibition, controlling for age and intracranial volume. Thinner parietal cortices predicted better performances on tests of verbal learning and memory, visuospatial functioning, and spatial planning and problem solving (β = −.14 to −.24, ps ≤ .05). Age, spanning from 12 to 14 years, accounted for up to 6% of cortical thickness, suggesting substantial thinning during early adolescence, with males showing more accelerated thinning than females between ages 12 and 14. For both males and females, thinner parietal association cortices corresponded with better neurocognitive functioning above and beyond age alone. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–9)
An overview of augmented and virtual reality applications in radiotherapy and future developments enabled by modern tablet devices
Authors: Cosentino F. , John N. W. , Vaarkamp J. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractPurposeWe review augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications in radiotherapy as found in the scientific literature and highlight future developments enabled by the use of small mass-produced devices and portability of techniques developed in other fields to radiotherapy.AnalysisThe application of AR and VR within radiotherapy is still in its infancy, with the notable exception of training and teaching applications. The relatively high cost of equipment needed to generate a realistic 3D effect seems one factor that has slowed down its use, but also the sheer amount of image data is relatively recent, were radiotherapy professionals are only beginning to explore how to use this to its full potential. This increased availability of 3D data in radiotherapy will drive the application of AR and VR in radiotherapy to efficiently recognise and extract key features in the data to act on in clinical decision making.ConclusionThe development of small mass-produced tablet devices coming on the market will allow the user to interact with computer-generated information more easily, facilitating the application of AR and VR. The increased connectivity enabling virtual presence of remote multidisciplinary team meetings heralds significant changes to how radiotherapy professionals will work, to the benefit of our patients.
Responses of the coastal bacterial community to viral infection of the algae Phaeocystis globosa
Authors: Sheik Abdul R , Brussaard Corina P D , Lavik Gaute , Lam Phyllis , Musat Niculina , Krupke Andreas , Littmann Sten , Strous Marc , Kuypers Marcel M M 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The release of organic material upon algal cell lyses has a key role in structuring bacterial communities and affects the cycling of biolimiting elements in the marine environment. Here we show that already before cell lysis the leakage or excretion of organic matter by infected yet intact algal cells shaped North Sea bacterial community composition and enhanced bacterial substrate assimilation. Infected algal cultures of Phaeocystis globosa grown in coastal North Sea water contained gamma- and alphaproteobacterial phylotypes that were distinct from those in the non-infected control cultures 5 h after infection. The gammaproteobacterial population at this time mainly consisted of Alteromonas sp. cells that were attached to the infected but still intact host cells. Nano-scale secondary-ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) showed ∼20% transfer of organic matter derived from the infected 13C- and 15N-labelled P. globosa cells to Alteromonas sp. cells. Subsequent, viral lysis of P. globosa resulted in the formation of aggregates that were densely colonised by bacteria. Aggregate dissolution was observed after 2 days, which we attribute to bacteriophage-induced lysis of the attached bacteria. Isotope mass spectrometry analysis showed that 40% of the particulate 13C-organic carbon from the infected P. globosa culture was remineralized to dissolved inorganic carbon after 7 days. These findings reveal a novel role of viruses in the leakage or excretion of algal biomass upon infection, which provides an additional ecological niche for specific bacterial populations and potentially redirects carbon availability.
NLRP3 inflammasome activation in coronary artery disease: results from prospective and randomized study of treatment with atorvastatin or rosuvastatin
Authors: Satoh Mamoru , Tabuchi Tsuyoshi , Itoh Tomonori , Nakamura Motoyuki 
Published: August 2013

The NLRP-3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3) inflammasome has recently emerged as a pivotal regulator of chronic inflammation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether NLRP3 inflammasome is expressed in patients with CAD (coronary artery disease) and whether statins (atorvastatin or rosuvastatin) might affect NLRP3 levels. In an in vitro study, human THP-1 cells treated with statins were analysed for NLRP3 inflammasome levels. The present study included 60 patients with CAD and 30 subjects without CAD (non-CAD). Patients with CAD randomly received either 8 months of treatment with atorvastatin or rosuvastatin. PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were obtained from peripheral blood at baseline and after 8 months of statin therapy. Levels of NLRP3 inflammasome, IL (interleukin)-1β and IL-18 were measured by real-time RT–PCR (reverse transcription–PCR) and FACS. Levels of NLRP3 inflammasome were higher in the CAD group than in the non-CAD group. There was a positive correlation between NLRP3 inflammasome and cytokines (IL-1β and IL-18) levels. A randomized clinical study has shown that atorvastatin markedly diminished NLRP3 inflammasome levels, whereas rosuvastatin had no impact on these levels. Levels of NLRP3 inflammasome decreased in THP-1 cells treated with statins compared with those treated with vehicle, and the fold changes in NLRP3 inflammasome were higher in THP-1 cells treated with atorvastatin compared with those treated with rosuvastatin. The present study suggests that atorvastatin down-regulates NLRP3 inflammasome expression in CAD, possibly contributing to the inhibitory effects of atorvastatin on chronic inflammation and atherogenic progression in this disorder.
Low‐power high‐speed full adder for portable electronic applications
Authors: Tung C.‐K. , Shieh S.‐H. , Cheng C.‐H. 
Published: August 2013

A low‐power, high‐speed full adder (FA), abbreviated as LPHS‐FA, is presented as an elegant way to reduce circuit complexity and improve the performance thereof. Employing as few as 15 MOSFETs in total, an LPHS‐FA requires 60–73% fewer transistors than other existing FAs with drivability. For validation purpose, HSPICE simulations are conducted on all the proposed and referenced FAs based on the TSMC 0.18‐μm CMOS process technology. The LPHS‐FA is found to provide a 20.4–21.2% power saving, a 12.3–67.0% delay time reduction and a 35–102% reduction in power delay product compared with the referenced FAs. In short, an LPHS‐FA is presented in a concise form as a high‐performance FA in practical applications.
Hybrid differential transmission line bend to suppress common‐mode noise
Authors: Guan S.W. , Kuo C.W. , Wang H.Y. , Hsu C.S. , Wu S.M. , Wang C.C. 
Published: August 2013

A new type of differential transmission line with a bend is proposed to reduce differential‐to‐common‐mode conversion noise for high‐speed digital circuits. The hybrid structure consists of alternating edge‐coupled and broadside‐coupled transmission line sections which has the effect of reducing the mode conversion noise by at least 20 dB up to 10 GHz, whereas the differential insertion loss remains low. In addition, in the time domain, the common‐mode noise is lower than the conventional edge‐coupled differential transmission line bend. The performance of the proposed structure with a bend is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally. The measurement results agree very well with the simulation results from the three‐dimensional full‐wave solver.