bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Tobacco Control Intervention for Teachers in India: Results of the Bihar School Teachers Study
Authors: Sorensen Glorian , Pednekar Mangesh S. , Sinha Dhirendra N. , Stoddard Anne M. , Nagler Eve , Aghi Mira B. , Lando Harry A. , Viswanath Kasisomayajula , Pawar Pratibha , Gupta Prakash C.
Published: September 2013

Objectives. We assessed a school-based intervention designed to promote tobacco control among teachers in the Indian state of Bihar.

Methods. We used a cluster-randomized design to test the intervention, which comprised educational efforts, tobacco control policies, and cessation support and was tailored to the local social context. In 2009 to 2011, we randomly selected 72 schools from participating school districts and randomly assigned them in blocks (rural or urban) to intervention or delayed-intervention control conditions.

Results. Immediately after the intervention, the 30-day quit rate was 50% in the intervention and 15% in the control group (P = .001). At the 9-month postintervention survey, the adjusted 6-month quit rate was 19% in the intervention and 7% in the control group (P = .06). Among teachers employed for the entire academic year of the intervention, the adjusted 6-month abstinence rates were 20% and 5%, respectively, for the intervention and control groups (P = .04).

Conclusions. These findings demonstrate the potent impact of an intervention that took advantage of social resources among teachers, who can serve as role models for tobacco control in their communities.
Work-Related Injury Surveillance in Vietnam: A National Reporting System Model
Authors: Marucci-Wellman Helen , Wegman David H. , Leamon Tom B. , Tuyet Binh Ta Thi , Diep Nguyen Bich , Kriebel David
Published: September 2013

Developing nations bear a substantial portion of the global burden of injury. Public health surveillance models in developing countries should recognize injury risks for all levels of society and all causes and should incorporate various groups of workers and industries, including subsistence agriculture. However, many developing nations do not have an injury registration system; current data collection methods result in gross national undercounts of injuries, failing to distinguish injuries that occur during work. In 2006, we established an active surveillance system in Vietnam’s Xuan Tien commune and investigated potential methods for surveillance of work-related injuries. On the basis of our findings, we recommend a national model for work-related injury surveillance in Vietnam that builds on the existing health surveillance system.
Overcoming Legal Liability Concerns for School-Based Physical Activity Promotion
Authors: Zimmerman Sara , Kramer Karen , Trowbridge Matthew J.
Published: September 2013

Schools have been identified as a priority environment for physical activity promotion as a component of efforts to help prevent childhood obesity.

A variety of school-based environmental and programmatic strategies have been proven effective in promoting physical activity both on-site and in the surrounding community. However, many schools are deterred by fears of increased risk of legal liability for personal injuries.

We examine 3 school-based strategies for promoting physical activity—Safe Routes to School programs, joint use agreements, and playground enhancement—from a tort liability perspective, and describe how schools can substantially minimize any associated liability risk through injury prevention and other strategies. We also recommend approaches to help schools overcome their liability concerns and adopt these critically needed healthy school policies.
Attitudes Toward Mental Illness in Adults by Mental Illness–Related Factors and Chronic Disease Status: 2007 and 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Authors: Kobau Rosemarie , Zack Matthew M.
Published: September 2013

Objectives. We examined how attitudes toward mental illness treatment and its course differ by serious psychological distress, mental illness treatment, chronic disease, and sociodemographic factors using representative state-based data.

Methods. Using data from jurisdictions supporting the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’s Mental Illness and Stigma Module (35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico), we compared adjusted proportions of adults agreeing that “Treatment can help people with mental illness lead normal lives” (treatment effectiveness) and that “People are generally caring and sympathetic to people with mental illness” (supportive environment), by demographic characteristics, serious psychological distress, chronic disease status, and mental illness treatment.

Results. Attitudes regarding treatment effectiveness and a supportive environment for people with mental illness varied within and between groups. Most adults receiving mental illness treatment agreed that treatment is effective. Fewer adults with serious psychological distress than those without such distress agreed that treatment is effective. Fewer of those receiving treatment, those with psychological distress, and those with chronic disease perceived the environment as supportive.

Conclusions. These data can be used to target interventions for population subgroups with less favorable attitudes and for surveillance.
Linking Research to Global Health Equity: The Contribution of Product Development Partnerships to Access to Medicines and Research Capacity Building
Authors: Pratt Bridget , Loff Bebe
Published: September 2013

Certain product development partnerships (PDPs) recognize that to promote the reduction of global health disparities they must create access to their products and strengthen research capacity in developing countries.

We evaluated the contribution of 3 PDPs—Medicines for Malaria Venture, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, and Institute for One World Health—according to Frost and Reich’s access framework. We also evaluated PDPs’ capacity building in low- and middle-income countries at the individual, institutional, and system levels.

We found that these PDPs advance public health by ensuring their products’ registration, distribution, and adoption into national treatment policies in disease-endemic countries. Nonetheless, ensuring broad, equitable access for these populations—high distribution coverage; affordability, particularly for the poor; and adoption at provider and end-user levels—remains a challenge.
Reduction in Male Suicide Mortality Following the 2006 Russian Alcohol Policy: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Authors: Pridemore William Alex , Chamlin Mitchell B. , Andreev Evgeny
Published: September 2013

Objectives. We took advantage of a natural experiment to assess the impact on suicide mortality of a suite of Russian alcohol policies.

Methods. We obtained suicide counts from anonymous death records collected by the Russian Federal State Statistics Service. We used autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) interrupted time series techniques to model the effect of the alcohol policy (implemented in January 2006) on monthly male and female suicide counts between January 2000 and December 2010.

Results. Monthly male and female suicide counts decreased during the period under study. Although the ARIMA analysis showed no impact of the policy on female suicide mortality, the results revealed an immediate and permanent reduction of about 9% in male suicides (Ln ω0 = −0.096; P = .01).

Conclusions. Despite a recent decrease in mortality, rates of alcohol consumption and suicide in Russia remain among the highest in the world. Our analysis revealed that the 2006 alcohol policy in Russia led to a 9% reduction in male suicide mortality, meaning the policy was responsible for saving 4000 male lives annually that would otherwise have been lost to suicide. Together with recent similar findings elsewhere, our results suggest an important role for public health and other population level interventions, including alcohol policy, in reducing alcohol-related harm.
Families Matter! Presexual Risk Prevention Intervention
Authors: Miller Kim S. , Lasswell Sarah M. , Riley Drewallyn B. , Poulsen Melissa N.
Published: September 2013

Parent-based HIV prevention programming may play an important role in reaching youths early to help establish lifelong patterns of safe and healthy sexual behaviors. Families Matter! is a 5-session, evidence-based behavioral intervention designed for primary caregivers of children aged 9 to 12 years to promote positive parenting and effective parent–child communication about sexuality and sexual risk reduction. The program’s 5-step capacity-building model was implemented with local government, community, and faith-based partners in 8 sub-Saharan African countries with good intervention fidelity and high levels of participant retention. Families Matter! may be useful in other resource-constrained settings.
Attitudes Toward Dying and Death: A Comparison of Recreational Groups among Older Men
Authors: Griffith James D. , Toms Ali , Reese Joey , Hamel Michael , Gu Lucy L. , Hart Christian L.
Published: September 2013

Previous research reports examining the relationship between attitudes toward dying, death, and involvement in death-related occupations have provided mixed findings as no clear pattern has been identified. Examination of the relationship between attitudes toward dying, death, and recreational activity has not received much attention. The current study examined attitudes toward dying and death of older men categorized into four groups defined by recreational activities. The groups included skydivers (high death risk), nursing home residents (high death exposure), volunteer firefighters (high death risk and high death exposure), and a control group. The analyses found that skydivers reported the least fear of death, while nursing home residents reported the highest level. In addition, skydivers and firefighters had higher death acceptance scores than nursing home residents and the control group for the confrontation dimension, whereas skydivers had higher death acceptance scores than all groups, and firefighters were more accepting of death than nursing home residents for the integration dimension.
An Exploratory Study of Death Anxiety and Trainees' Choice of Theoretical Orientation
Authors: Belviso Francesco , Gaubatz Michael D.
Published: September 2013

This study investigated the association between therapist trainees' death anxiety and their preference for “objective” (i.e., quantitative and rational) over “subjective” (i.e., experiential and symbolic) theoretical orientations. In this correlational investigation, 303 clinical psychology and counseling trainees at a Midwestern school of professional psychology completed instruments assessing their fear of personal death and their endorsement of superordinate dimensions of psychotherapy orientations. As hypothesized, trainees who reported higher levels of death anxiety displayed a stronger preference for objective over subjective orientations, a relationship that was found in post hoc analyses to be particularly salient for male trainees. These findings suggest that trainees' death anxiety, and their attempts to control it, could influence their choice of a theoretical orientation. Potential implications for training institutions are discussed.
Iron-chromium-carbon-vanadium white cast irons: Microstructure and properties
Authors: Filipovic Mirjana
Published: September 2013

The as-cast microstructure of Fe-Cr-C-V white irons consists of M7C3 and
vanadium rich M6C5 carbides in austenitic matrix. Vanadium changed the
microstructure parameters of phase present in the structure of these alloys,
including volume fraction, size and morphology. The degree of martensitic
transformation also depended on the content of vanadium in the alloy. The
volume fraction of the carbide phase, carbide size and distribution has an
important influence on the wear resistance of Fe-Cr-C-V white irons under
low-stress abrasion conditions. However, the dynamic fracture toughness of
Fe-Cr-C-V irons is determined mainly by the properties of the matrix. The
austenite is more effective in this respect than martensite. Since the
austenite in these alloys contained very fine M23C6 carbide particles, higher
fracture toughness was attributed to a strengthening of the austenite during
fracture. Besides, the secondary carbides which precipitate in the matrix
regions also influence the abrasion behaviour. By increasing the matrix
strength through a dispersion hardening effect, the fine secondary carbides
can increase the mechanical support of the carbides. Deformation and
appropriate strain hardening occur in the retained austenite of Fe-Cr-C-V
alloys under repeated impact loading. The particles of precipitated M23C6
secondary carbides disturb dislocations movement and contribute to increase
the effects of strain hardening in Fe-Cr-C-V white irons.
Hepatic Insulin Clearance Is Closely Related to Metabolic Syndrome Components
Authors: Pivovarova Olga , Bernigau Wolfgang , Bobbert Thomas , Isken Frank , Möhlig Matthias , Spranger Joachim , Weickert Martin O. , Osterhoff Martin , Pfeiffer Andreas F.H. , Rudovich Natalia
Published: September 2013

OBJECTIVE

Insulin clearance is decreased in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for unknown reasons. Subjects with metabolic syndrome are hyperinsulinemic and have an increased risk of T2DM. We aimed to investigate the relationship between hepatic insulin clearance (HIC) and different components of metabolic syndrome and tested the hypothesis that HIC may predict the risk of metabolic syndrome.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Individuals without diabetes from the Metabolic Syndrome Berlin Brandenburg (MeSyBePo) study (800 subjects with the baseline examination and 189 subjects from the MeSyBePo recall study) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with assessment of insulin secretion (insulin secretion rate [ISR]) and insulin sensitivity. Two indices of HIC were calculated.

RESULTS

Both HIC indices showed lower values in subjects with metabolic syndrome (P < 0.001) at baseline. HIC indices correlate inversely with waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, and OGTT-derived insulin secretion index. During a mean follow-up of 5.1 ± 0.9 years, 47 individuals developed metabolic syndrome and 33 subjects progressed to impaired glucose metabolism. Both indices of HIC showed a trend of an association with increased risk of metabolic syndrome (HICC-peptide odds ratio 1.13 [95% CI 0.97–1.31], P = 0.12, and HICISR 1.38 [0.88–2.17], P = 0.16) and impaired glucose metabolism (HICC-peptide 1.12 [0.92–1.36], P = 0.26, and HICISR 1.31 [0.74–2.33] P = 0.36), although point estimates reached no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

HIC was associated with different components of metabolic syndrome and markers of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. Decreased HIC may represent a novel pathophysiological mechanism of the metabolic syndrome, which may be used additionally for early identification of high-risk subjects.
Linagliptin Lowers Albuminuria on Top of Recommended Standard Treatment in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Renal Dysfunction
Authors: Groop Per-Henrik , Cooper Mark E. , Perkovic Vlado , Emser Angela , Woerle Hans-Juergen , von Eynatten Maximilian
Published: September 2013

OBJECTIVE

Preclinical data suggest that linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, may lower urinary albumin excretion. The ability of linagliptin to lower albuminuria on top of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition in humans was analyzed by pooling data from four similarly designed, 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trials.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A pooled analysis of four completed studies identified 217 subjects with type 2 diabetes and prevalent albuminuria (defined as a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR] of 30−3,000 mg/g creatinine) while receiving stable doses of RAAS inhibitors. Participants were randomized to either linagliptin 5 mg/day (n = 162) or placebo (n= 55). The primary end point was the percentage change in geometric mean UACR from baseline to week 24.

RESULTS

UACR at week 24 was reduced by 32% (95% CI −42 to −21; P < 0.05) with linagliptin compared with 6% (95% CI −27 to +23) with placebo, with a between-group difference of 28% (95% CI −47 to −2; P = 0.0357). The between-group difference in the change in HbA1c from baseline to week 24 was −0.61% (−6.7 mmol/mol) in favor of linagliptin (95% CI −0.88 to −0.34% [−9.6 to −3.7 mmol/mol]; P < 0.0001). The albuminuria-lowering effect of linagliptin, however, was not influenced by race or HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP) values at baseline or after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Linagliptin administered in addition to stable RAAS inhibitors led to a significant reduction in albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal dysfunction. This observation was independent of changes in glucose level or SBP. Further research to prospectively investigate the renal effects of linagliptin is underway.
Risk for End-Stage Renal Disease Over 25 Years in the Population-Based WESDR Cohort
Authors: LeCaire Tamara J. , Klein Barbara E.K. , Howard Kerri P. , Lee Kristine E. , Klein Ronald
Published: September 2013

OBJECTIVE

In the population-based Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) cohort, we sought to examine whether a decline in the prevalence and incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was evident with increasing calendar year of type 1 diabetes diagnosis among people followed for 25 years. Factors associated with the hazard of incident ESRD that may mediate a decline were also investigated.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants were examined at baseline in 1980 (n = 996) and at 4–25 years of follow-up. ESRD was defined by self-reported renal transplant or dialysis. Cumulative incidence with competing risk of death was determined. Incident ESRD was modeled by period of diagnosis, adjusting for other known risk factors using discrete time hazard models.

RESULTS

When diabetes was diagnosed during 1970–1980, the unadjusted cumulative incidence of ESRD at 25 years was 9.3%. The unadjusted hazard of ESRD was reduced by 70% (P < 0.001), compared with those diagnosed with diabetes in 1922–1969; however, the association was attenuated by glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure, and antihypertensive use (hazard ratio [HR] 0.89 [95% CI 0.55–1.45]). HbA1c, age, and male sex remained associated with ESRD hazard after adjustment for kidney function and proliferative retinopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

A lower incidence of ESRD among those more recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes was explained by improvements in glycemic and blood pressure control over the last several decades. Intensive diabetes management, especially for glycemic control, remains important even in long-standing diabetes as it may delay the development of ESRD.
Is Neighborhood Green Space Associated With a Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes? Evidence From 267,072 Australians
Authors: Astell-Burt Thomas , Feng Xiaoqi , Kolt Gregory S.
Published: September 2013

OBJECTIVE

Lifestyle interventions for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are best positioned for success if participants live in supportive neighborhood environments. Deprived neighborhoods increase T2DM risk. Parks and other “green spaces” promote active lifestyles and therefore may reduce T2DM risk. We investigated association between neighborhood green space and the risk of T2DM in a large group of adult Australians.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Multilevel logit regression was used to fit associations between medically diagnosed T2DM and green space exposure among 267,072 participants in the 45 and Up Study. Green space data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and exposure was calculated using a 1-km buffer from a participant’s place of residence. Odds ratios (ORs) were controlled for measures of demographic, cultural, health, diet, active lifestyles, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood circumstances.

RESULTS

The rate of T2DM was 9.1% among participants in neighborhoods with 0–20% green space, but this rate dropped to approximately 8% for participants with over 40% green space within their residential neighborhoods. The risk of T2DM was significantly lower in greener neighborhoods, controlling for demographic and cultural factors, especially among participants residing in neighborhoods with 41–60% green space land use (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.83–0.92). This association was consistent after controlling for other explanatory variables and did not vary according to neighborhood circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS

People in greener surroundings have a lower risk of T2DM. Planning, promoting, and maintaining local green spaces is important in multisector initiatives for addressing the T2DM epidemic.
Islet Transplantation Stabilizes Hemostatic Abnormalities and Cerebral Metabolism in Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: D’Addio Francesca , Maffi Paola , Vezzulli Paolo , Vergani Andrea , Mello Alessandra , Bassi Roberto , Nano Rita , Falautano Monica , Coppi Elisabetta , Finzi Giovanna , D’Angelo Armando , Fermo Isabella , Pellegatta Fabio , La Rosa Stefano , Magnani Giuseppe , Piemonti Lorenzo , Falini Andrea , Folli Franco , Secchi Antonio , Fiorina Paolo
Published: September 2013

OBJECTIVE

Islets after kidney transplantation have been shown to positively affect the quality of life of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) by reducing the burden of diabetes complications, but fewer data are available for islet transplantation alone (ITA). The aim of this study was to assess whether ITA has a positive impact on hemostatic and cerebral abnormalities in individuals with T1D.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Prothrombotic factors, platelet function/ultrastructure, and cerebral morphology, metabolism, and function have been investigated over a 15-month follow-up period using ELISA/electron microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and neuropsychological evaluation (Profile of Mood States test and paced auditory serial addition test) in 22 individuals with T1D who underwent ITA (n = 12) or remained on the waiting list (n = 10). Patients were homogeneous with regard to metabolic criteria, hemostatic parameters, and cerebral morphology/metabolism/function at the time of enrollment on the waiting list.

RESULTS

At the 15-month follow-up, the group undergoing ITA, but not individuals with T1D who remained on the waiting list, showed 1) improved glucose metabolism; 2) near-normal platelet activation and prothrombotic factor levels; 3) near-normal cerebral metabolism and function; and 4) a near-normal neuropsychological test.

CONCLUSIONS

ITA, despite immunosuppressive therapy, is associated with a near-normalization of hemostatic and cerebral abnormalities.
Towards dynamical network biomarkers in neuromodulation of episodic migraine
Authors: Dahlem Markus , Rode Sebastian , May Arne , Fujiwara Naoya , Hirata Yoshito , Aihara Kazuyuki , Kurths Jürgen
Published: September 2013

Computational methods have complemented experimental and clinical neurosciences and led to improvements in our understanding of the nervous systems in health and disease. In parallel, neuromodulation in form of electric and magnetic stimulation is gaining increasing acceptance in chronic and intractable diseases. In this paper, we firstly explore the relevant state of the art in fusion of both developments towards translational computational neuroscience. Then, we propose a strategy to employ the new theoretical concept of dynamical network biomarkers (DNB) in episodic manifestations of chronic disorders. In particular, as a first example, we introduce the use of computational models in migraine and illustrate on the basis of this example the potential of DNB as early-warning signals for neuromodulation in episodic migraine.
microRNA s (9, 138, 181A, 221, and 222) and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in developing brains
Authors: Ashhab Muhammad , Omran Ahmed , Gan Na , Kong Huimin , Peng Jing , Yin Fei
Published: September 2013

Background: Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted much attention as novel players in the pathogenesis of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) in mature and developing brains. This study aimed to investigate the expression dynamics of miR-9, miR-138, miR-181a, miR-221, and miR-222 in the hippocampus of an immature rat model during the three stages of MTLE development and in children with MTLE. Methodology: qPCR was used to measure expression levels during the three stages of MTLE development (2 h, 3, and 8 weeks after induction of lithium-pilocarpine status epilepticus, representing the acute, latent, and chronic stages, respectively. Expression levels were also measured in hippocampi obtained from children with MTLE and normal controls. Results: In the rat model, miR-9 was significantly upregulated during the acute and chronic stages relative to controls, but not during the latent stage. MiR-138, miR-221 and miR-222 were all downregulated during all three stages of MTLE development. MiR-181a was downregulated during the acute stage, upregulated during the chronic stage, and unaltered during the latent stage. In children, miR-9 and miR-181a were upregulated, while miR-138, miR-221, and miR-222 were downregulated. Conclusion: Modulation of these miRNAs may be a new strategy in designing antiepileptic and anticonvulsant therapies for the developing brain.
Understanding Vocalization Might Help to Assess Stressful Conditions in Piglets
Authors: Da Silva Cordeiro Alexandra , De Alencar Nääs Irenilza , Oliveira Stanley , Violaro Fabio , De Almeida Andréia , Neves Diego
Published: September 2013

Assessing pigs’ welfare is one of the most challenging subjects in intensive pig farming. Animal vocalization analysis is a noninvasive procedure and may be used as a tool for assessing animal welfare status. The objective of this research was to identify stress conditions in piglets reared in farrowing pens through their vocalization. Vocal signals were collected from 40 animals under the following situations: normal (baseline), feeling cold, in pain, and feeling hunger. A unidirectional microphone positioned about 15 cm from the animals’ mouth was used for recording the acoustic signals. The microphone was connected to a digital recorder, where the signals were digitized at the 44,100 Hz frequency. The collected sounds were edited and analyzed. The J48 decision tree algorithm available at the Weka® data mining software was used for stress classification. It was possible to categorize diverse conditions from the piglets’ vocalization during the farrowing phase (pain, cold and hunger), with an accuracy rate of 81.12%. Results indicated that vocalization might be an effective welfare indicator, and it could be applied for assessing distress from pain, cold and hunger in farrowing piglets.
Phylogenomics of MADS-Box Genes in Plants — Two Opposing Life Styles in One Gene Family
Authors: Gramzow Lydia , Theißen Günter
Published: September 2013

The development of multicellular eukaryotes, according to their body plan, is often directed by members of multigene families that encode transcription factors. MADS (for MINICHROMOSOME MAINTENANCE1, AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS and SERUM RESPONSE FACTOR)-box genes form one of those families controlling nearly all major aspects of plant development. Knowing the complete complement of MADS-box genes in sequenced plant genomes will allow a better understanding of the evolutionary patterns of these genes and the association of their evolution with the evolution of plant morphologies. Here, we have applied a combination of automatic and manual annotations to identify the complete set of MADS-box genes in 17 plant genomes. Furthermore, three plant genomes were reanalyzed and published datasets were used for four genomes such that more than 2,600 genes from 24 species were classified into the two types of MADS-box genes, Type I and Type II. Our results extend previous studies, highlighting the remarkably different evolutionary patterns of Type I and Type II genes and provide a basis for further studies on the evolution and function of MADS-box genes.
Long Non-Coding RNAs and Complex Human Diseases
Authors: Li Jing , Xuan Zhenyu , Liu Changning
Published: September 2013

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a heterogeneous class of RNAs that are generally defined as non-protein-coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. Recently, an increasing number of studies have shown that lncRNAs can be involved in various critical biological processes, such as chromatin remodeling, gene transcription, and protein transport and trafficking. Moreover, lncRNAs are dysregulated in a number of complex human diseases, including coronary artery diseases, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and various cancers, which indicates their important roles in these diseases. Here, we reviewed the current understanding of lncRNAs, including their definition and subclassification, regulatory functions, and potential roles in different types of complex human diseases.
Thermally Activated Composite with Two-Way and Multi-Shape Memory Effects
Authors: Basit Abdul , L'Hostis Gildas , Pac Marie , Durand Bernard
Published: September 2013

The use of shape memory polymer composites is growing rapidly in smart structure applications. In this work, an active asymmetric composite called “controlled behavior composite material (CBCM)” is used as shape memory polymer composite. The programming and the corresponding initial fixity of the composite structure is obtained during a bending test, by heating CBCM above thermal glass transition temperature of the used Epoxy polymer. The shape memory properties of these composites are investigated by a bending test. Three types of recoveries are conducted, two classical recovery tests: unconstrained recovery and constrained recovery, and a new test of partial recovery under load. During recovery, high recovery displacement and force are produced that enables the composite to perform strong two-way actuations along with multi-shape memory effect. The recovery force confirms full recovery with two-way actuation even under a high load. This unique property of CBCM is characterized by the recovered mechanical work.
Anti-Peroxyl Radical Quality and Antibacterial Properties of Rooibos Infusions and Their Pure Glycosylated Polyphenolic Constituents
Authors: Simpson Madeline , Hjelmqvist Daisy , López-Alarcón Camilo , Karamehmedovic Nadja , Minehan Thomas , Yepremyan Akop , Salehani Baback , Lissi Eduardo , Joubert Elizabeth , Udekwu Klas , Alarcon Emilio
Published: September 2013

The anti-peroxyl radical quality of two aqueous rooibos infusions and solutions of their most abundant glycosylated polyphenols was evaluated using pyrogallol red and fluorescein-based oxygen radical absorbance ratios. It was observed that the artificial infusions, prepared using only the most abundant polyphenols present in rooibos and at concentrations similar to those found in the natural infusions, showed greater antioxidant quality than the latter infusions, reaching values close to those reported for tea infusions. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of the natural and artificial infusions was assessed against three species of bacteria: Gram (+) Staphylococus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus and Gram (−) Escherichia coli. When compared to the natural infusions the artificial beverages did not demonstrate any bacterostatic/cidal activity, suggesting that the antibacterial activity of rooibos is related to compounds other than the glycosylated polyphenols employed in our study.
Absorption of Vitamin A and Carotenoids by the Enterocyte: Focus on Transport Proteins
Authors: Reboul Emmanuelle
Published: September 2013

Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in most developing countries, especially in children and pregnant women. It is thus a priority in health policy to improve preformed vitamin A and/or provitamin A carotenoid status in these individuals. A more accurate understanding of the molecular mechanisms of intestinal vitamin A absorption is a key step in this direction. It was long thought that β-carotene (the main provitamin A carotenoid in human diet), and thus all carotenoids, were absorbed by a passive diffusion process, and that preformed vitamin A (retinol) absorption occurred via an unidentified energy-dependent transporter. The discovery of proteins able to facilitate carotenoid uptake and secretion by the enterocyte during the past decade has challenged established assumptions, and the elucidation of the mechanisms of retinol intestinal absorption is in progress. After an overview of vitamin A and carotenoid fate during gastro-duodenal digestion, our focus will be directed to the putative or identified proteins participating in the intestinal membrane and cellular transport of vitamin A and carotenoids across the enterocyte (i.e., Scavenger Receptors or Cellular Retinol Binding Proteins, among others). Further progress in the identification of the proteins involved in intestinal transport of vitamin A and carotenoids across the enterocyte is of major importance for optimizing their bioavailability.
A Real-Time Optimization Framework for the Iterative Controller Tuning Problem
Authors: Bunin Gene , François Grégory , Bonvin Dominique
Published: September 2013

We investigate the general iterative controller tuning (ICT) problem, where the task is to find a set of controller parameters that optimize some user-defined performance metric when the same control task is to be carried out repeatedly. Following a repeatability assumption on the system, we show that the ICT problem may be formulated as a real-time optimization (RTO) problem, thus allowing for the ICT problem to be solved in the RTO framework, which is both very flexible and comes with strong theoretical guarantees. In particular, we propose the use of a recently released RTO solver and outline a simple procedure for how this solver may be configured to solve ICT problems. The effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by successfully applying it to four case studies—two experimental and two simulated—that cover the tuning of model-predictive, general fixed-order and PID controllers, as well as a system of controllers working in parallel.
Geo-Correction of High-Resolution Imagery Using Fast Template Matching on a GPU in Emergency Mapping Contexts
Authors: Lemoine Guido , Giovalli Martina
Published: September 2013

The increasing availability of satellite imagery acquired by existing and new sensors allows a wide variety of new applications that depend on the use of diverse spectral and spatial resolution data sets. One of the pre-conditions for the use of hybrid image data sets is a consistent geo-correction capacity. We demonstrate how a novel fast template matching approach implemented on a graphics processing unit (GPU) allows us to accurately and rapidly geo-correct imagery in an automated way. The key difference with existing geo-correction approaches, which do not use a GPU, is the possibility to match large source image segments (8,192 by 8,192 pixels) with relatively large templates (512 by 512 pixels) significantly faster. Our approach is sufficiently robust to allow for the use of various reference data sources. The need for accelerated processing is relevant in our application context, which relates to mapping activities in the European Copernicus emergency management service. Our new method is demonstrated over an area northwest of Valencia (Spain) for a large forest fire event in July 2012. We use the Disaster Monitoring Constellation’s (DMC) DEIMOS-1 and RapidEye imagery for the delineation of burnt scar extent. Automated geo-correction of each full resolution image set takes approximately one minute. The reference templates are taken from the TerraColor data set and the Spanish national ortho-imagery database, through the use of dedicated web map services. Geo-correction results are compared to the vector sets derived in the Copernicus emergency service activation request.
Analytic Performance Prediction of Track-to-Track Association with Biased Data in Multi-Sensor Multi-Target Tracking Scenarios
Authors: Tian Wei , Wang Yue , Shan Xiuming , Yang Jian
Published: September 2013

An analytic method for predicting the performance of track-to-track association (TTTA) with biased data in multi-sensor multi-target tracking scenarios is proposed in this paper. The proposed method extends the existing results of the bias-free situation by accounting for the impact of sensor biases. Since little insight of the intrinsic relationship between scenario parameters and the performance of TTTA can be obtained by numerical simulations, the proposed analytic approach is a potential substitute for the costly Monte Carlo simulation method. Analytic expressions are developed for the global nearest neighbor (GNN) association algorithm in terms of correct association probability. The translational biases of sensors are incorporated in the expressions, which provide good insight into how the TTTA performance is affected by sensor biases, as well as other scenario parameters, including the target spatial density, the extraneous track density and the average association uncertainty error. To show the validity of the analytic predictions, we compare them with the simulation results, and the analytic predictions agree reasonably well with the simulations in a large range of normally anticipated scenario parameters.
Hommes-femmes, l'introuvable égalité. La place contradictoire des femmes dans la société française
Authors: Bihr Alain , Pfefferkorn Roland
Published: September 2013

La situation des femmes au sein de la société française est fondamentalement contradictoire. Au terme de quatre décennies de bouleversements importants, les acquis sont réels, mais restent fragiles. Les limites doivent d’emblée être soulignées en raison notamment du succès d’une rhétorique convenue sur la «féminisation des moeurs» ou sur l’émancipation des femmes qui serait «désormais réalisée», en raison aussi de l’accent mis tout au long des débats de ces dernières années sur la parité et sur les inégalités dans la représentation politique. Le brouillage idéologique empêche trop souvent de prendre l’exacte mesure des inégalités persistantes entre les sexes. C’est pourquoi on tentera de brosser, certes à gros traits, un tableau de la place contradictoire des femmes dans la société française d’aujourd’hui, en mettant l’accent plus particulièrement sur l’espace domestique qui reste l’épicentre de la domination masculine.
Le contrôle parental du risque de délinquance juvénile
Authors: Mucchielli Laurent
Published: September 2013

L’actualité sociale et politique des années quatre-vingt-dix a vu se développer le thème de la « démission parentale » face à la délinquance juvénile. Ce second article (voir Recherches et Prévisions, 2000, n° 61) vise à clarifier le rôle de la famille dans la genèse et l’enracinement de la délinquance. S’appuyant sur le dépouillement des recherches empiriques menées ces quinze dernières années, l’auteur estime que, sauf dans une minorité de cas liés à une reproduction intergénérationnelle de la violence (ou de pratiques délinquantes) et caractérisés souvent par des manifestations infantiles précoces, la famille ne joue pas un rôle direct dans l’apparition de la délinquance. La plupart du temps, la délinquance apparaît à la préadolescence ou à l’adolescence, en liaison avec un contexte psychosocial spécifique (la relégation sociale et spatiale, la marginalisation scolaire, la perception du racisme), et sous l’influence directe des groupes de pairs. Dans cette situation, face au risque de renforcement de la délinquance, la famille joue un rôle de prévention et de contrôle. Toutefois, il arrive que les parents - notamment le père - ne soient pas en mesure de jouer efficacement ce rôle en raison d’une situation de précarité économique et de repli social qui dégrade l’ensemble des relations familiales et discrédite le discours normatif des parents.
La construction du rôle maternel à l'arrivée du premier enfant [Travail, égalité du couple et transformations de soi]
Authors: Cicchelli Vincenzo
Published: September 2013

En dépit d’avancées indéniables de la condition féminine, l’activité professionnelle des femmes reste largement conditionnée, en France comme en Europe, par l’expérience de la maternité. En partant du constat que la parentalité et l’investissement professionnel sont sexués, cet article se penche sur les arrangements et tiraillements déjà en oeuvre à la naissance du premier enfant dans un échantillon de soixante-dix femmes. Les entretiens recueillis se structurent en faisant référence à trois « matrices » ou registres discursifs. La première matrice est utilisée pour décrire l’injonction à se centrer exclusivement sur le bébé, la deuxième est employée pour juger l’équité de la répartition de cette charge entre les conjoints, la troisième renvoie aux degrés de changements de soi depuis la naissance. Quatre portraits illustrent la combinaison de ces trois matrices en décrivant la façon dont les femmes primipares construisent leur rôle maternel et l’articulent avec le maintien, assorti ou non d’aménagements, ou l’abandon d’une activité professionnelle.
L'évaluation des fonds de solidarité logement
Authors: Gesnest Sigrine , Depriester Marc
Published: September 2013

Situé dans le cadre de la réflexion engagée par la Caisse nationale des allocations familiales sur l’évaluation des politiques publiques, cet article est un bilan des évaluations des fonds de solidarité logement. Il a pour objet de rendre lisibles les processus d’évaluation, la place qu’y occupent les caisses d’Allocations familiales, et de dégager les apports et les limites des différentes démarches d’évaluation engagées. Le regard sur ces démarches, à la fois rétrospectif et transversal, met en relief les figures d’évaluation très différentes apparues en fonction des périodes d’évolution de la politique et des orientations nationales qui les ont initiées. En dégageant en quoi et comment ces démarches ont permis d’ajuster ces politiques et les moyens mis en oeuvre, l’article met à jour leurs constantes et leurs différences. Elles-mêmes sont perçues comme des analyseurs pertinents de la façon dont cette politique publique a été conduite.
Des assistantes maternelles à la ludothèque : du jeu dans la professionnalisation
Authors: Brougère Gilles , Roucous Nathalie , Chanu Laurence
Published: September 2013

La professionnalisation des métiers de la petite enfance et plus particulièrement celle des assistantes maternelles est sans doute, aujourd’hui, un enjeu essentiel de l’amélioration de la qualité de l’accueil du jeune enfant. Encadrement institutionnel et formations sont proposés pour accompagner ce processus qui se retrouve également dans l’activité quotidienne. Cet aspect est peu pris en compte et n’a pas fait, à notre connaissance, l’objet de recherche. L’exemple des ludothèques fréquentées par les assistantes maternelles permet de mettre en valeur l’importance de situations informelles dans ce processus. La question du jeu et du jouet peut ainsi être au centre de la reconnaissance professionnelle des assistantes maternelles. Il s’avère que la professionnalisation se joue aussi dans la pratique quotidienne de l’activité et n’est pas nécessairement incompatible avec la référence maternelle.
Les Françaises font toujours plus d'enfants que les Allemandes de l'Ouest [Une esquisse d’interprétation ]
Authors: Fagnani Jeanne
Published: September 2013

Les Françaises continuent à avoir plus d’enfants que les Allemandes de l’Ouest alors que les différences entre les taux d’activité des mères se sont progressivement atténuées. En comparant deux pays dont les politiques sociales et familiales présentent des similarités, on se propose d’aller au delà des explications les plus couramment admises. En France, contrairement à l’Allemagne de l’Ouest, les normes régissant l’éducation des jeunes enfants ont évolué en phase avec les changements affectant les comportements des femmes sur le marché du travail. Il est devenu légitime socialement pour les Françaises de travailler à plein temps tout en faisant garder son enfant. Les Allemandes de l’Ouest, par contre, intériorisent toujours fortement la norme selon laquelle l’éducation d’un jeune enfant nécessite la présence permanente de sa mère. Mais, de plus en plus éduquées, elles sont amenées à accorder la priorité à leur maintien dans l’emploi et à renoncer à la maternité. Pour mieux comprendre les différences de fécondité entre les deux pays, il semble donc fructueux de se focaliser sur les interactions à l’oeuvre entre leurs politiques familiales, les valeurs auxquelles adhèrent la majorité des couples concernant l’éducation des jeunes enfants et les attitudes des femmes face au travail rémunéré.
Politique sociale et égalité entre les sexes en Suède
Authors: Morel Nathalie
Published: September 2013

Le système suédois de protection sociale est généralement réputé pour sa générosité et pour ses politiques sociales particulièrement progressistes. La Suède est également présentée comme un modèle pour l’égalité entre les sexes: « le modèle égalitaire suédois ». En effet, l’Etat a déployé beaucoup d’efforts pour permettre aux femmes de s’investir sur le marché du travail de façon continue tout au long de leur vie d’adulte, et d’être ainsi financièrement autonomes par rapport au lien conjugal. Pour cela, l’Etat a développé des mesures particulièrement généreuses de conciliation entre vie familiale et vie professionnelle, articulées autour de l’assurance parentale et de services publics de garde d’enfants. Comme le montre l’analyse de l’élaboration et du fonctionnement de ces mesures, le souci de promouvoir une plus grande égalité entre les sexes est toujours présent. Cela passe notamment par des efforts pour rééquilibrer la division traditionnelle des tâches domestiques et de soins des femmes vers les hommes, mais aussi de la famille vers la collectivité.
Les jeunes adultes comme objet théorique
Authors: Cicchelli Vincenzo
Published: September 2013

Il serait abusif de renvoyer l’usage de l’expression « jeunes adultes » à l’existence d’un nouvel âge de la vie. Les recherches présentées dans cet article ne le prétendent pas. En assignant aux nouvelles catégories d’âge la tâche d’introduire des distinctions plus fines dans le cycle de vie, les interprétations disponibles ont toujours opposé l’être inachevé (adolescent, post adolescent ou jeune) à l’être achevé (adulte). Il s’agit, en revanche, de nommer une situation que les termes « adolescent » ou « jeune » ne peuvent suffisamment décrire, en proposant une approche fondée sur l’étude des interdépendances entre les générations. Cette approche se veut historique, constructiviste et relationnelle. On doit également être conscient, en utilisant le terme « jeune adulte », de l’influence du débat social sur la production sociologique, tout comme on ne peut ignorer l’histoire des disciplines qui ont construit de nouveaux âges de la vie au croisement des nouveaux contextes historiques, des débats sociaux et de nouvelles découvertes empiriques.
L'évolution de la catégorie jeune dans l'action publique depuis vingt-cinq ans
Authors: Labadie Francine
Published: September 2013

L’allongement de la jeunesse n’est pas un phénomène naturel. Au cours des vingt-cinq dernières années, les politiques publiques ont largement contribué à configurer « l’état de jeunesse » et à construire une catégorie « jeune » à travers l’élaboration de réponses spécifiques. Le postulat était que cette fraction de la population devait connaître ou générer des « problèmes » particuliers en raison de son âge. Il est permis de s’interroger, aujourd’hui, sur la pertinence de ce mode de traitement de la question jeune qui aboutit, en considérant les jeunes pour eux-mêmes, à les mettre à l’écart de la société et, ainsi, à méconnaître les profondes mutations sociales actuelles. Le moment est venu de porter un nouveau regard car, à travers la « question jeune », ce qui est en jeu, c’est bien notre capacité à organiser la reproduction et le changement de la société, de génération en génération.