bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DEGREE DISTANCE AND MINIMUM DEGREE
Authors: MUKWEMBI S. , MUNYIRA S. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractLet G be a finite connected graph of order n, minimum degree δ and diameter d. The degree distance D′(G) of G is defined as ∑ {u,v}⊆V (G)(deg u+deg v) d(u,v), where deg w is the degree of vertex w and d(u,v) denotes the distance between u and v. In this paper, we find an asymptotically sharp upper bound on the degree distance in terms of order, minimum degree and diameter. In particular, we prove that \[ D^\prime (G)\le \frac {1}{4}\,dn\biggl (n-\frac {d}{3}(\delta +1)\biggr )^2+O(n^3). \] As a corollary, we obtain the bound D′ (G)≤n4 /(9(δ+1) )+O(n3) for a graph G of order n and minimum degree δ. This result, apart from improving on a result of Dankelmann et al. [‘On the degree distance of a graph’, Discrete Appl. Math.157 (2009), 2773–2777] for graphs of given order and minimum degree, completely settles a conjecture of Tomescu [‘Some extremal properties of the degree distance of a graph’, Discrete Appl. Math.98(1999), 159–163].
Pointwise-recurrent dendrite maps
Authors: NAGHMOUCHI ISSAM 
Published: July 2012

AbstractLet $D$ be a dendrite and $f:D\rightarrow D$ a continuous map. Denote by $E(D)$ and $B(D)$ the sets of endpoints and branch points of $D$, respectively. We show that if $E(D)$ is countable, then $f$ is pointwise-recurrent if and only if $f$ is a pointwise-periodic homeomorphism; also, if $B(D)$ is discrete, then $f$ is pointwise-recurrent if and only if every point in $D\backslash E(D)$is periodic.
Perception of audio-visual speech synchrony in Spanish-speaking children with and without specific language impairment
Authors: PONS FERRAN , ANDREU LLORENÇ , SANZ-TORRENT MONICA , BUIL-LEGAZ LUCÍA , LEWKOWICZ DAVID J. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTSpeech perception involves the integration of auditory and visual articulatory information, and thus requires the perception of temporal synchrony between this information. There is evidence that children with specific language impairment (SLI) have difficulty with auditory speech perception but it is not known if this is also true for the integration of auditory and visual speech. Twenty Spanish-speaking children with SLI, twenty typically developing age-matched Spanish-speaking children, and twenty Spanish-speaking children matched for MLU-w participated in an eye-tracking study to investigate the perception of audiovisual speech synchrony. Results revealed that children with typical language development perceived an audiovisual asynchrony of 666 ms regardless of whether the auditory or visual speech attribute led the other one. Children with SLI only detected the 666 ms asynchrony when the auditory component followed the visual component. None of the groups perceived an audiovisual asynchrony of 366 ms. These results suggest that the difficulty of speech processing by children with SLI would also involve difficulties in integrating auditory and visual aspects of speech perception.
Functional characterization of the rod visual pigment of the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), a basal mammal
Authors: BICKELMANN CONSTANZE , MORROW JAMES M. , MÜLLER JOHANNES , CHANG BELINDA S.W. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractMonotremes are the most basal egg-laying mammals comprised of two extant genera, which are largely nocturnal. Visual pigments, the first step in the sensory transduction cascade in photoreceptors of the eye, have been examined in a variety of vertebrates, but little work has been done to study the rhodopsin of monotremes. We isolated the rhodopsin gene of the nocturnal short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and expressed and functionally characterized the proteinin vitro. Three mutants were also expressed and characterized: N83D, an important site for spectral tuning and metarhodopsin kinetics, and two sites with amino acids unique to the echidna (T158A and F169A). Theλmaxof echidna rhodopsin (497.9 ± 1.1 nm) did not vary significantly in either T158A (498.0 ± 1.3 nm) or F169A (499.4 ± 0.1 nm) but was redshifted in N83D (503.8 ± 1.5 nm). Unlike other mammalian rhodopsins, echidna rhodopsin did react when exposed to hydroxylamine, although not as fast as cone opsins. The retinal release rate of light-activated echidna rhodopsin, as measured by fluorescence spectroscopy, had a half-life of 9.5 ± 2.6 min−1, which is significantly shorter than that of bovine rhodopsin. The half-life of the N83D mutant was 5.1 ± 0.1 min−1, even shorter than wild type. Our results show that with respect to hydroxylamine sensitivity and retinal release, the wild-type echidna rhodopsin displays major differences to all previously characterized mammalian rhodopsins and appears more similar to other nonmammalian vertebrate rhodopsins such as chicken and anole. However, our N83D mutagenesis results suggest that this site may mediate adaptation in the echidna to dim light environments, possiblyviaincreased stability of light-activated intermediates. This study is the first characterization of a rhodopsin from a most basal mammal and indicates that there might be more functional variation in mammalian rhodopsins than previously assumed.
A school-based supplementary food programme in rural Kenya did not reduce children's intake at home
Authors: Gewa Constance A , Murphy Suzanne P , Weiss Robert E , Neumann Charlotte G 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo examine changes in energy intake along with markers of dietary quality (animal-source energy and protein intakes) among household members in the presence of supplementary school feeding in rural Kenya.DesignA 2-year, longitudinal, randomized controlled feeding intervention study.SettingKyeni South Division, Embu District, Kenya.SubjectsA total of 182 schoolchildren and selected household members.ResultsThere was no evidence that schoolchildren who received supplementary snacks at school experienced reduced intakes at home or that intakes by other family members were increased at the expense of the schoolchild's intake.ConclusionsThis analysis highlights a number of factors useful in planning for supplementary feeding interventions in rural Kenya and similar communities.
SCRIPT WITHOUT BUDDHISM: BURMESE INFLUENCE ON THE TAY (SHAN) SCRIPT OF MÄNG2 MAAW2 AS SEEN IN A CHINESE SCROLL PAINTING OF 1407
Authors: Daniels Christian 
Published: July 2012

This article substantiates for the first time that Tay (Shan) script was written on a Ming dynasty scroll dated 1407. In the past, Tay scholars have assumed that early Tay script exhibited uniquely Tay characteristics from the outset, and only gradually acquired Burmese features after the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The data presented here demonstrates beyond doubt that the Tay borrowed heavily from the Burmese script to create their writing system before the fifteenth century. It also shows that the 1407 Tay script resembled the Ahom script more than the lik6 tho3 ngök6 script, and on the basis of this similarity concludes that lik6 tho3 ngök6 was not the progenitor of Tay scripts, as previously thought, and that the Ahom script preceded it.The impact of Burmese script on the Tay writing system from the outset raises the broader issue of borrowing from Burman culture during the Pagan and early Ava periods. The Tay of Mäng2 Maaw2 and surrounding polities turned to Pagan and Ava for a written script, but shunned Theravada Buddhism, the religious apparatus that we assume always accompanied the spread of writing. Their adoption of a writing system stands out as a rare case of script without Buddhism in northern continental Southeast Asia. To the Tay, Pagan and Ava were dominant political powers worthy of emulation, and the adoption of their writing system attests the magnitude of its influence. It is hypothesized that such borrowing arose out of Tay aspirations for self-strengthening their polities, possibly in an endeavour to rival the Burman monarchy. Tay script emerged in an age when the Burman language had just become predominant among the elites of Pagan and early Ava. Two features of this case stand out. First, the Tay borrowed at a time when Burmese script was relatively novel and still the preserve of the Burman elite, a fact which reinforces the notion of borrowing for prestige value as well as practical utility. Second, the Tay gravitated towards the northern parts of Pagan and Ava, rather than the southern areas where Mon language retained predominance in inscriptions.
Intraseasonal temperature variability in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere from the GPS radio occultation measurements
Authors: Tian Baijun , Ao Chi O. , Waliser Duane E. , Fetzer Eric J. , Mannucci Anthony J. , Teixeira Joao 
Published: July 2012

In this study, we examine the detailed spatiotemporal patterns and vertical structure of the intraseasonal temperature variability in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) associated with the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) using the temperature profiles from the recent Global Positioning System radio occultation (GPS RO) measurements including the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) mission. The MJO‐related temperature anomalies in the UTLS are smaller near the equator (<0.6 K) than over the subtropics and extratropics (>1.2 K). Near the equator, the temperature anomalies exhibit an eastward tilt with height from the upper troposphere (UT) to the lower stratosphere (LS) and their magnitudes and signs are determined by the strength of convective anomalies and vertical pressure level. The subtropical temperature anomalies have similar magnitudes and patterns at a given location between the UT (250 hPa to 150 hPa) and the LS (150 hPa to 50 hPa) except for opposite signs that change around 150 hPa. The subtropical warm (cold) anomalies in the UT and cold (warm) anomalies in the LS are typically collocated with the subtropical positive (negative) tropopause height anomalies/cyclones (anticyclones) and flank or lie to the west of equatorial enhanced (suppressed) convection. We also compare the intraseasonal temperature variability in the UTLS related to the MJO between the GPS RO and Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) measurements to highlight the new features of the GPS RO temperature anomalies and to evaluate the quality of the AIRS temperature in the UTLS considering the GPS RO temperature in the UTLS as the benchmark. Both AIRS and GPS RO have a very consistent vertical structure in the subtropical UTLS with a high correlation coefficient 0.92 and similar magnitudes. Both AIRS and GPS RO also show a generally consistent vertical structure of the intraseasonal temperature anomalies in the equatorial UTLS. However, GPS RO reveals many detailed fine‐scale vertical structures of the equatorial temperature anomalies between 150 and 50 hPa that are not well captured by AIRS. Furthermore, the equatorial temperature anomalies are about 40% underestimated in AIRS in comparison to GPS RO, over the equatorial Indian and western Pacific Oceans for 250 hPa and over all longitudes for 100 hPa. The low sampling within the optically thick clouds and low vertical resolution near the tropopause may both contribute to these deficiencies of AIRS.
Study of chemoresistant CD133+ cancer stem cells from human glioblastoma cell line U138MG using multiple assays
Authors: Warrier Sudha , Pavanram Prathyusha , Raina Dhruv , Arvind Milan 
Published: July 2012

AbstractGlioblastoma is one of the most common malignant tumours in adults, with an average life expectancy of less than 1 year. The high mortality of glioblastomas is attributed to its resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Numerous studies have established the presence of a cancer stem population within glioblastomas. These CSC (cancer stem cell) populations express the cell‐surface marker, CD133, and are tumorigenic and chemoresistant. Hence, CSCs make a potential target for anticancer therapies. We have focused on techniques that can reliably identify and isolate a viable CSC population, and studied their chemoresistant attributes. We show the presence of a CSC population within a slowly proliferating glioblastoma cell line, U138MG. An improvised neurosphere enrichment culture technique was developed for the isolation of CSC population. Stem cell neurospheres obtained by this protocol maintained their viability for several weeks, and could be redispersed for deriving colony‐forming units and secondary spheres from single‐cell suspensions. RT‐PCR (reverse transcription–PCR), cell surface localization by immunofluorescence and enumeration by FACS analysis showed that the sphere cultures of U138MG grown on agarose‐coated plates had elevated CD133 levels. Drug sensitivity assays indicated that these enriched spheres were more resistant to drug treatment than their non‐CSC controls. Drug‐resistant CSC had an increased expression of ABC (ATP‐binding‐cassette) drug transporters, such as ABCC2, ABCC4, ABCG2 and p‐glycoprotein, indicative of their role in the resistance mechanisms. These studies will facilitate the development of in vitro assays for the sparse CSC population and strategies for improved treatment regimens for glioblastomas.
Spoken Persuasive Discourse Abilities of Adolescents With Acquired Brain Injury
Authors: Moran Catherine , Kirk Cecilia , Powell Emma 
Published: July 2012

Purpose
The aim of this study was to examine the performance of adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI) during a spoken persuasive discourse task. Persuasive discourse is frequently used in social and academic settings and is of importance in the study of adolescent language.

Method
Participants included 8 adolescents with ABI and 8 peers without ABI who were matched for age, gender, and education. A spoken persuasive discourse task requiring participants to express their opinion on a topic was administered, and the 2 groups were compared on measures of language productivity, syntactic complexity, and language content. In addition, the relationship between working memory and discourse production was explored.

Results
There were no statistically significant group differences on measures of language productivity or syntactic complexity, with the exception of the use of mazes, which was more prevalent in the discourse of the group with ABI. However, there were significant differences in language content, with age-matched peers producing more than twice as many supporting reasons and far fewer tangentially related utterances than the adolescents with ABI.

Conclusions
Persuasive discourse production was affected following ABI. Given the importance of persuasive discourse in social and academic situations, further investigations into factors that influence discourse production in adolescents with ABI are warranted.
Auditory Training for Children With Auditory Processing Disorder and Language Impairment: A Response to Bellis, Chermak, Weihing, and Musiek
Authors: Fey Marc E. , Kamhi Alan G. , Richard Gail J. 
Published: July 2012

Purpose
We respond to Bellis, Chermak, Weihing, and Musiek’s (2012) criticisms of the evidence-based systematic review of Fey et al. (2011) on the effects of auditory training on auditory, spoken, and written language performance of children with auditory processing disorder or language impairment. In general, we argue that the conceptualizations and methods on which our review was based were well motivated, and that our original conclusions are valid given the limited evidence that is currently available from clinical studies of auditory training with school-age children with auditory processing disorder or language impairment.
Treatment with Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand reverses lung dendritic cell immunoparalysis and ameliorates zymosan-induced secondary lung injury in mice
Authors: Wang H W , Yang W , Lu J Y , Tian G , Li F , Wang X H , Kang J R , Yang Y 
Published: July 2012

SummaryDepletion and dysfunction of dendritic cells in the lung can induce local immunoparalysis, which often leads to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)-associated mortality. A therapeutic strategy that reverses this immunoparalysis is required. In the present study, we examined the effects of in vivo Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) treatment on zymosan (zym)-induced secondary lung injury and dendritic cell (DC) immunoparalysis. BALBc mice were divided randomly into four groups (20/group): (1) sham [intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline] + vehicle [subcutaneous (s.c.) 0·01% mouse serum albumin]; (2) sham + Flt3L (s.c.); (3) zym (i.p.) + vehicle; and (4) zym + Flt3L. Injections were for 9 consecutive days; 12 days later we examined: survival rate (monitored for 12 days); lung tissue histopathology (haematoxylin and eosin staining); plasma indices of lung function (pH, PaO2, PaCO2, HCO3–); DC subsets in lung tissue; and lung DCs production of interleukin (IL)-12p70 and IL-10. Zym administration resulted in increased mortality associated with significant lung histopathological changes and abnormal blood gas indices; however, these pathological changes were ameliorated by Flt3L treatment. Zym injections also resulted in significant reductions in DC subsets recovered from lungs [CD11c+major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II/I-Ad+, CD11c+CD11b+ and CD11c+B220+]. Importantly, in-vivo Flt3L treatment reversed these trends for DC immunoparalysis by increasing the percentages of recovered DC subsets concomitant with increased DC production of IL-12 p70 and decreased IL-10 production. These results suggest that Flt3L may have therapeutic potential for reversing DC immunoparalysis and ameliorating lung injury secondary to MODS.
Patterns of temporal community turnover are spatially synchronous across boreal lakes
Authors: ANGELER DAVID G. , JOHNSON RICHARD K. 
Published: July 2012

Summary1. Ecosystems are often exposed to broad‐scale environmental change, which can potentially synchronise community dynamics and biodiversity trends. Detection of temporal coherence may, however, depend on the metrics used and their sensitivity to detect change, requiring several lines of evidence to elucidate the full range of temporal responses to environmental change.2. Here, we tested whether the patterns of synchrony among littoral invertebrate communities of Swedish lakes over 20 years (1988–2007) differed when analysed using univariate (taxon richness, evenness, Shannon diversity and total abundance) or multivariate (temporal turnover in community composition) metrics. We included both culturally acidified and circumneutral lakes to examine whether anthropogenic stress influenced the patterns of synchrony.3. Average total abundance, taxon richness and temporal turnover in community composition changed monotonically with time, while evenness and Shannon diversity fluctuated around a long‐term mean. However, among‐lake variability was high, resulting in a weak temporal coherence. Only trends of temporal turnover changed synchronously across lakes, irrespective of their acidification history.4. Spatially synchronous trends in turnover across lakes were correlated with increasing water colour and decreasing sulphate concentrations, showing the importance of regional drivers of spatiotemporal coherence.5. Our results underpin an increasing body of evidence that the detection of diversity patterns varies among metrics that ignore (taxon richness, evenness, Shannon diversity) or consider (turnover) species identities. More generally, our results suggest that community‐level studies of synchrony are suitable for elucidating the role of intrinsic versus extrinsic factors in mediating complex community assembly processes in the long term. This, in turn, contributes to our understanding of temporal patterns of biodiversity.
A quantitative method for determining the antiwashout characteristics of cement‐based dental materials including mineral trioxide aggregate
Authors: Formosa L. M. , Mallia B. , Camilleri J. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimTo introduce and assess a novel method for measuring washout resistance of cement‐based dental materials, including mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), to qualitatively verify the results with a clinical simulation and to evaluate the washout resistance of a new root‐end filling material.MethodologyA method for assessment of washout resistance of root‐end filling materials was developed by adapting the CRD‐C 661‐06 (a method for evaluating the resistance of freshly mixed concrete to washout in water), to permit testing of dental cements. White Portland cement (PC), MTA‐Plus mixed with either water or a polymer‐based antiwashout gel (MTA‐AW), MTA‐Angelus, IRM and amalgam were tested with either distilled water or HBSS as washout media. Additionally, the washout resistance was tested qualitatively by spraying the test materials at the terminus of simulated canals with a metered jet of water.ResultsA mass loss of 2–7% for PC, 0.4–4% for MTA‐Plus, −0.9% for MTA‐AW, 5–10% for MTA‐Angelus and 0% for IRM and amalgam was recorded with the modified CRD‐C 661‐06 method. No significant difference was found between using water and HBSS as washout media for the same material. The results of the modified CRD‐C 661‐06 method were similar to those obtained on the simulated canals.ConclusionsThe modified CRD‐C 661‐06 method provided repeatable results that were comparable to the simulated clinical method. The antiwashout gel used with MTA‐Plus reduced the material washout and was similar to IRM and amalgam.
Institutional peer support mediates the impact of physical declines on depressive symptoms of nursing home residents
Authors: Yeung Dannii Y. , Kwok Sylvia Y.C. , Chung Annie 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimsThis paper tests the mediating effect of institutional peer support on the relationship between physical declines and depressive symptoms among nursing home residents.BackgroundAs the number of older adults living in nursing homes increases, peer support received from other residents in the institutions is critical to the psychological well‐being of residents who face physical declines and reduction in family support. This study tested whether institutional peer support would account for the detrimental effect of physical declines on depressive symptoms ofChinese older people residing in nursing homes.DesignA cross‐sectional design was used.MethodThe study was conducted between January–March 2009 by convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 187 nursing home residents, with 54 men and 133 women. Interviews were conducted by an experienced research assistant, and responses on physical abilities and institutional peer support were collected. Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms of each participant.ResultsParticipants with poor physical abilities reported more depressive symptoms. Institutional peer support was negatively correlated with physical declines and depressive symptoms. Results of the regression analysis showed that the effect of physical declines on depressive symptoms was no longer significant when the influence of institutional peer support was statistically controlled, indicating a full mediation of institutional peer support on depression of older people.ConclusionFindings of this study reveal that institutional peer support positively contributes to the psychological well‐being of nursing home residents.