bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
They Can’t Shoot Everyone
Authors: Corsino Louis
Published: May 2013

Force and intimidation have always played a significant role in the success of the Chicago Outfit. Yet, violence is a highly inefficient mechanism for running illegal operations. A far more stable resource is social capital. This study examines these social capital processes by focusing upon the Chicago Heights “boys,” a critical component of the Chicago Outfit since the 1920s. Drawing upon interviews, newspaper accounts, census materials, and FBI files, I attempt to demonstrate that for the greater part of the 20th century, Italians in Chicago Heights experienced an abiding social, economic, and political discrimination. This resulted in a social and geographic isolation in Chicago Heights. This isolation inhibited the mobility of Italians along traditional routes but created a store of social capital which Italians used to organize labor unions, mutual aid societies, ethnic enterprises—and an organized crime empire. Specifically, leaders in the Chicago Heights Outfit acquired a social capital advantage because they could draw upon the closed networks in the Italian community and, at the same time, envision a range of illegal opportunities because they occupied a series of “structural holes.”
Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting the H19 gene inhibits cell proliferation and apoptosis in human choriocarcinoma cell line JAR
Authors: Yu Li-Li , Chang Kai , Lu Lin-Shan , Zhao Dan , Han Jian , Zheng Ying-Ru , Yan Yao-Hua , Yi Ping , Guo Jian-Xin , Zhou Yuan-Guo , Chen Ming , Li Li
Published: May 2013

Background

H19 is a paternally imprinted gene that has been shown to be highly expressed in the trophoblast tissue. Results from previous studies have initiated a debate as to whether noncoding RNA H19 acts as a tumor suppressor or as a tumor promotor in trophoblast tissue. In the present study, we developed lentiviral vectors expressing H19-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) to specifically block the expression of H19 in the human choriocarcinoma cell line JAR. Using this approach, we investigated the impact of the H19 gene on the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of JAR cells. Moreover, we examined the effect of H19 knockdown on the expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), hairy and enhancer of split homologue-1 (HES-1) and dual-specific phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) genes.

Results

H19 knockdown inhibited apoptosis and proliferation of JAR cells, but had no significant impact on cell invasion. In addition, H19 knockdown resulted in significant upregulation of HES-1 and DUSP5 expression, but not IGF2 expression in JAR cells.

Conclusions

The finding that H19 downregulation could simultaneously inhibit proliferation and apoptosis of JAR cells highlights a putative dual function for H19 in choriocarcinoma and may explain the debate on whether H19 acts as a tumor suppressor or a tumor promotor in trophoblast tissue. Furthermore, upregulation of HES-1 and DUSP5 may mediate H19 downregulation-induced suppression of proliferation and apoptosis of JAR cells.
Identification of miRNAs associated with sexual maturity in chicken ovary by Illumina small RNA deep sequencing
Authors: Kang Li , Cui Xinxing , Zhang Yujie , Yang Chunhong , Jiang Yunliang
Published: May 2013

Background

MicroRNAs have been suggested to play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in various biological processes. To investigate the function of miRNAs in chicken ovarian development and folliculogenesis, two small RNA libraries constructed from sexually mature (162-day old) and immature (42-day old) ovary tissues of Single Comb White Leghorn chicken were sequenced using Illumina small RNA deep sequencing.

Results

In the present study, 14,545,100 and 14,774,864 clean reads were obtained from sexually mature (162-d) and sexually immature (42-d) ovaries, respectively. In total, 202 known miRNAs were identified, and 93 of them were found to be significantly differentially expressed: 42 miRNAs were up-regulated and 51 miRNAs were down-regulated in the mature ovary compared to the immature ovary. Among the up-regulated miRNAs, gga-miR-1a has the largest fold-change (6.405-fold), while gga-miR-375 has the largest fold-change (11.345-fold) among the down-regulated miRNAs. The three most abundant miRNAs in the chicken ovary are gga-miR-10a, gga-let-7 and gga-miR-21. Five differentially expressed miRNAs (gga-miR-1a, 21, 26a, 137 and 375) were validated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, the expression patterns of the five miRNAs were analyzed in different developmental stages of chicken ovary and follicles of various sizes.

Conclusion

The present study provides the first miRNA profile in sexually immature and mature chicken ovaries. Some miRNAs such as gga-miR-1a and gga-miR-21are expressed differentially in immature and mature chicken ovaries as well as among different sized follicles, suggesting an important role in the follicular growth or ovulation mechanism in the chicken.
Maternal carotid remodeling and increased carotid arterial stiffness in normal late-gestational pregnancy as assessed by radio-frequency ultrasound technique
Authors: Yuan Li-Jun , Xue Dan , Duan Yun-You , Cao Tie-Sheng , Zhou Ning
Published: May 2013

Background

The adaption of elastic arteries to transient increase in hemodynamic load in normal pregnancy (NP) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the NP carotid remodeling and regional arterial stiffness before and after parturition.

Methods

Fifty-one NP women and 30 age-matched non-pregnant women were included. All women underwent right common carotid artery (RCCA) measurements with MylabTwice ultrasound instrument (Esaote, Italy). Carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV, m/s), distensibility coefficient (DC, 1/KPa), α, β, augmentation index (AIx, %) and carotid arterial pressure were obtained by the newly developed ultrasound vascular wall tracking methods: automatic QAS (Quality Arterial Stiffness) and QIMT (Quality Intima-Medial Thickness) Follow up study was performed.

Results

Compared to the non-pregnant controls, the arterial pressures were significantly increased and RCCA diameter was significantly enlarged in late gestational NP women. Twenty months after parturition, carotid diameter, DC, AIx, PWV and arterial wall tension were significantly decreased and had no significant difference with those in non-pregnant controls.

Conclusions

Carotid arterial remodeling and stiffening could be seen in the normal pregnant women, which seems to be a physiological adaption and could be recovered post partum. QIMT and QAS together could provide a comprehensive assessment of the maternal carotid arterial changes during pregnancy.
Experiences and barriers to implementation of clinical practice guideline for depression in Korea
Authors: Yang Jaewon , Han Changsu , Yoon Ho-Kyoung , Pae Chi-Un , Kim Min-Jeong , Park Sun-Young , Ahn Jeonghoon
Published: May 2013

Background

Clinical guidelines can improve health-care delivery, but there are a number of challenges in adopting and implementing the current practice guidelines for depression. The aim of this study was to determine clinical experiences and perceived barriers to the implementation of these guidelines in psychiatric care.

Methods

A web-based survey was conducted with 386 psychiatric specialists to inquire about experiences and attitudes related to the depression guidelines and barriers influencing the use of the guidelines. Quantitative data were analyzed, and qualitative data were transcribed and coded manually.

Results

Almost three quarters of the psychiatrists (74.6%) were aware of the clinical guidelines for depression, and over half of participants (55.7%) had had clinical experiences with the guidelines in practice. The main reported advantages of the guidelines were that they helped in clinical decision making and provided informative resources for the patients and their caregivers. Despite this, some psychiatrists were making treatment decisions that were not in accordance with the depression guidelines. Lack of knowledge was the main obstacle to the implementation of guidelines assessed by the psychiatrists. Other complaints addressed difficulties in accessing the guidelines, lack of support for mental health services, and general attitudes toward guideline necessity. Overall, the responses suggested that adding a summary booklet, providing teaching sessions, and improving guidance delivery systems could be effective tools for increasing depression guideline usage.

Conclusion

Individual barriers, such as lack of awareness and lack of familiarity, and external barriers, such as the supplying system, can affect whether physicians’ implement the guidelines for the treatment of depression in Korea. These findings suggest that further medical education to disseminate guidelines contents could improve public health for depression.
Celastrol induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by miR-146a inhibition of NF-κB activity
Authors: Sha Min , Ye Jun , Zhang Li-xin , Luan Zheng-yun , Chen Ya-bao
Published: May 2013

Background

Celastrol, a plant triterpene, is known to play important role in inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. In the present study, the mechanism of celastrol on gastric cancer cells apoptosis was examined.

Methods

We assessed effect of celastrol on NF-κB signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells using western blot and luciferase reporter assay. The real-time PCR was used to evaluate the effect of celastrol on miR-146a expression, and miR-146a mimic to evaluate whether over-expression of miR-146a can affect NF-κB activity. Finally, the effect of miR-146a on celastrol-induced anti-tumor activity was assessed using miR-146a inhibitor.

Results

Celastrol decreased gastric cancer cells viability in a dose-dependent. Celastrol also reduced IκB phosphorylation, nuclear P65 protein levels and NF-κB activity. Furthermore, Celastrol could increase miR-146a expression and up-regulation of miR-146a expression could suppress NF-κB activity. More important, down-regulation of miR-146a expression can reverse the effect of celastrol on NF-κB activity and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.

Conclusions

In this study, we demonstrated that the effect of celastrol on apoptosis is due to miR-146a inhibition of NF-κB activity.
Chronic treatment with krill powder reduces plasma triglyceride and anandamide levels in mildly obese men
Authors: Berge Kjetil , Piscitelli Fabiana , Hoem Nils , Silvestri Cristoforo , Meyer Ingo , Banni Sebastiano , Di Marzo Vincenzo
Published: May 2013

We have previously shown that treatment of Zucker rats and mice with diet-induced obesity with dietary docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids in the form of krill oil reduces peripheral levels of endocannabinoids, ectopic fat formation and hyperglycemia. We reported that such treatment reduces plasma endocannabinoid levels also in overweight and obese human individuals, in whom high triglycerides may correlate with high circulating endocannabinoid levels. In this study, we report the effects of krill powder, which contains proteins (34%) in addition to krill oil (61.8%), on these two parameters. We submitted 11 obese men (average BMI of 32.3 kg/m2, age of 42.6 years and plasma triglycerides of 192.5 ± 96.3 mg/dl) to a 24 week dietary supplementation with krill powder (4 g/day per os) and measured anthropometric and metabolic parameters, as well as blood endocannabinoid (anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol) and esterified DHA and EPA levels. Six subjects were included as control subjects and not given any supplements. The treatment produced, after 12 and 24 weeks, a significant increase in DHA and EPA in total plasma, a 59 and 84% decrease in anandamide plasma levels, and a 22.5 and 20.6% decrease in triglyceride levels, respectively. There was also a significant decrease in waist/hip ratio and visceral fat/skeletal muscle mass ratio at 24 weeks, but no change in body weight. These data confirm that dietary krill powder reduces peripheral endocannabinoid overactivity in obese subjects, and might ameliorate some parameters of the metabolic syndrome.
The Caregiver Burden Questionnaire for Heart Failure (CBQ-HF): face and content validity
Authors: Humphrey Louise , Kulich Karoly , Deschaseaux Celine , Blackburn Steven , Maguire Laura , Strömberg Anna
Published: May 2013

Background

A new caregiver burden questionnaire for heart failure (CBQ-HF v1.0) was developed based on previously conducted qualitative interviews with HF caregivers and with input from HF clinical experts. Version 1.0 of the CBQ-HF included 41 items measuring the burden associated with caregiving in the following domains: physical, emotional/psychological, social, and impact on caregiver’s life. Following initial development, the next stage was to evaluate caregivers’ understanding of the questionnaire items and their conceptual relevance.

Methods

To evaluate the face and content validity of the new questionnaire, cognitive interviews were conducted with caregivers of heart failure patients. The cognitive interviews included a “think aloud” exercise as the patient completed the CBQ-HF, followed by more specific probing questions to better understand caregivers’ understanding, interpretation and the relevance of the instructions, items, response scales and recall period.

Results

Eighteen caregivers of heart failure patients were recruited. The mean age of the caregivers was 50 years (SD = 10.2). Eighty-three percent of caregivers were female and most commonly the patient was either a spouse (44%) or a parent (28%). Among the patients 55% were NYHA Class 2 and 45% were NYHA Class 3 or 4. The caregiver cognitive interviews demonstrated that the CBQ-HF was well understood, relevant and consistently interpreted. From the initial 41 item questionnaire, fifteen items were deleted due to conceptual overlap and/or item redundancy. The final 26-item CBQ-HF (v3.0) uses a 5-point Likert severity scale, assessing 4 domains of physical, emotional/psychological, social and lifestyle burdens using a 4-week recall period.

Conclusions

The CBQ-HF (v3.0) is a comprehensive and relevant measure of subjective caregiver burden with strong content validity. This study has established that the CBQ-HF (v3.0) has strong face and content validity and should be valuable as an outcomes measure to help understand and monitor the relationship between patient heart failure severity and caregiver burden. A Translatability AssessmentSM of the measure has since been performed confirming the cultural appropriateness of the measure and psychometric validation is planned for the future to further explore the reliability, and validity of the new questionnaire in a larger caregiver sample.
Laparoscopic technique and safety experience with barbed suture closure for pelvic cavity after abdominoperineal resection
Authors: Matsuhashi Nobuhisa , Takahashi Takao , Nonaka Kenichi , Tanahashi Toshiyuki , Imai Hisashi , Sasaki Yoshiyuki , Tanaka Yoshihiro , Okumura Naoki , Yamaguchi Kazuya , Osada Shinji , Yoshida Kazuhiro
Published: May 2013

Background

Between April 2005 and December 2012, we performed laparoscopic colorectal resection with regional lymph node dissection on 273 cases of colorectal cancer patients. However, Laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery requires a high degree of skill. Any surgeon who is going to embark on these difficult resections should have at a minimum laparoscopic suturing skills in order to be able to close the peritoneal defect.

Methods

In laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, the intracorporeal suture technique required to close the pelvic cavity is very difficult. Barbed sutures have recently been proposed to facilitate laparoscopic suturing. Two patients with rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (APR) with intracorporeal closure of the pelvic cavity from September to October 2012 were enrolled in this study.

Results

We present our initial experience of two consecutive cases of intracorporeal closure of the pelvic cavity by totally laparoscopic APR. After clinical follow-up, the two patients have no complaints and have shown no signs of recurrence.

Conclusions

We hypothesized that barbed sutures could potentially improve the efficiency of intracorporeal closure of the pelvic cavity after laparoscopic APR. Further, we expect that use of the V-Loc™ will reduce intra-operative stress on the endoscopic surgeon.
Identification of canine parvovirus with the Q370R point mutation in the VP2 gene from a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Authors: Guo Ling , Yang Shao-lin , Chen Shi-jie , Zhang Zhihe , Wang Chengdong , Hou Rong , Ren Yupeng , wen Xintian , Cao Sanjie , Guo Wanzhu , Hao Zhongxiang , Quan Zifang , Zhang Manli , Yan Qi-gui
Published: May 2013

Background

In this study, we sequenced and phylogenetic analyses of the VP2 genes from twelve canine parvovirus (CPV) strains obtained from eleven domestic dogs and a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China. A novel canine parvovirus (CPV) was detected from the giant panda in China.

Results

Nucleotide and phylogenetic analysis of the capsid protein VP2 gene classified the CPV as a new CPV-2a type. Substitution of Gln for Arg at the conserved 370 residue in CPV presents an unusual variation in the new CPV-2a amino acid sequence of the giant panda and is further evidence for the continuing evolution of the virus.

Conclusions

These findings extend the knowledge on CPV molecular epidemiology of particular relevance to wild carnivores.
Evaluation of the degree of mycophilia-mycophobia among highland and lowland inhabitants from Chiapas, Mexico
Authors: Ruan-Soto Felipe , Caballero Javier , Martorell Carlos , Cifuentes Joaquín , González-Esquinca Alma Rosa , Garibay-Orijel Roberto
Published: May 2013

Background

Mushrooms generate strong and contrasting feelings ranging from extreme aversion to intense liking. To categorize these attitudes, Wasson and Wasson coined the dichotomic terms “mycophilia” and “mycophobia” in 1957. In Mesoamerica these categories have been associated to ecological regions. Highland peoples are viewed as mycophiles, whereas lowland inhabitants are considered mycophobes. However, this division is based on little empirical evidence and few indicators. This study questioned whether mycophilia and mycophobia are indeed related to ecological regions through the evaluation of 19 indicators tested in the highlands and lowlands of Chiapas, Mexico.

Methods

The heterogeneity of attitudes toward mushrooms was explored in terms of ecological region and sociocultural variables. Information was obtained through structured interviews in 10 communities in Los Altos de Chiapas (highlands) and the Selva Lacandona (lowlands). We analyzed indicators separately through χ2 tests and multivariate techniques. The Mycophilia-Mycophobia Index was also used in the analysis. To assess which factors better explain the distribution of attitudes, we built 11 models using the Beta probability-density function and compared them with the Akaike Information Criterion.

Results

Most people had positive attitudes in both ecological regions. The classification and ordination analyses found two large groups comprising both highland and lowland towns. Contrary to expectation if mycophilia and mycophobia were mutually exclusive, all the fitted probability distributions were bell-shaped; indicating these attitudes behave as a continuous variable. The model best supported by data included occupation and ethnicity. Indigenous peasants had the highest degree of mycophilia.

Discussion

Results suggest the studied populations tend to be mycophilic and that their attitudes are not dichotomic, but rather a gradient. Most people occupied intermediate degrees of mycophilia. Despite the remarkable similarity in the degree of mycophilia between ecological regions, the Principle-Coordinates Analysis shows differences in the specific way in which people from either region establishes a cultural relationship with mushrooms. The comparison of models suggests that sociocultural variables explains the differences better than ecological regions do. The obtained results are evidence of mycophilia among lowlands inhabitants in the Mayan region and of the fact that the mycophilia-mycophobia phenomenon is not expressed as a bimodal frequency distribution.
Transapical extirpation of a left ventricular thrombus in takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Authors: Suzuki Ryo , Kudo Tomoaki , Kurazumi Hiroshi , Takahashi Masaya , Shirasawa Bungo , Mikamo Akihito , Hamano Kimikazu
Published: May 2013

A 58-year-old Japanese female was referred to our hospital. Although the electrocardiogram showed ST elevation, coronary angiography showed intact coronary artery. We diagnosed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and a left ventricular thrombus. Anticoagulation was administered; however, the left ventricular thrombus had become mobile and protrusive. We extirpated the left ventricular thrombus via trans-apical approach. Left ventricular thrombus is rare in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but these patients are at a higher risk of thromboembolism, especially if the thrombi are mobile and protruding.
Behçet’s disease: new insight into the relationship between procoagulant state, endothelial activation/damage and disease activity
Authors: Fernández-Bello Ihosvany , López-Longo Francisco J , Arias-Salgado Elena G , Jiménez-Yuste Víctor , Butta Nora V
Published: May 2013

Background

Behçet disease (BD) is associated with a prothrombotic state of unknown origin that may lead to life-threatening events. Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT) and Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) are two global haemostasis assays that may reveal new insights into the physiopathological mechanisms of the disease and its procoagulant condition.

Methods

23 BD patients who had no signs or symptoms of current thrombosis and 33 age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. We performed ROTEM and CAT tests and assessed erythrocyte count, platelet count, platelet contribution to clot formation and plasma levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), D-dimer and E-selectin (ES).

Results

Both ROTEM and CAT tests showed a hypercoagulable state in the BD patients. Plasma levels of PAI-1, fibrinogen, TAT, CRP and ES were significantly increased in this group compared to controls. The disease activity (DA) was significantly correlated with levels of ES and the maximum clot firmness, and this last one, in turn, correlated with rising levels of ES, PAI-1, CRP and fibrinogen. CAT parameters did not correlate with DA or ES.

Conclusions

Both ROTEM and CAT tests reveal that patients with BD have a procoagulant state even in the absence of thrombosis. ROTEM test indicates that increased levels of fibrinogen and PAI-1 may be involved in the prothrombotic state of this pathology, while platelets do not significantly contribute. Moreover, CAT assay demonstrate that plasma from BD patients is able to generate more thrombin than controls in response to the same stimulus and that this effect is independent of the DA and the endothelial impairment suggesting the involvement of another factor in the hypercoagulable state observed in BD patients. This study also shows that endothelium activation/damage may be a contributing factor in both the procoagulant and clinical conditions of BD, as shown by the direct correlation between ES levels, ROTEM parameters and DA.
Mechanistic study of a diazo dye degradation by Soybean Peroxidase
Authors: Kalsoom Umme , Ashraf Syed Salman , Meetani Mohammed A , Rauf Muhammad A , Bhatti Haq Nawaz
Published: May 2013

Background

Enzyme based remediation of wastewater is emerging as a novel, efficient and environmentally-friendlier approach. However, studies showing detailed mechanisms of enzyme mediated degradation of organic pollutants are not widely published.

Results

The present report describes a detailed study on the use of Soybean Peroxidase to efficiently degrade Trypan Blue, a diazo dye. In addition to examining various parameters that can affect the dye degradation ability of the enzyme, such as enzyme and H2O2 concentration, reaction pH and temperature, we carried out a detailed mechanistic study of Trypan Blue degradation. HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS studies were carried out to confirm dye degradation and analyze the intermediate metabolites and develop a detailed mechanistic dye degradation pathway.

Conclusion

We report that Soybean peroxidase causes Trypan Blue degradation via symmetrical azo bond cleavage and subsequent radical-initiated ring opening of the metabolites. Interestingly, our results also show that no high molecular weight polymers were produced during the peroxidase-H2O2 mediated degradation of the phenolic Trypan Blue.
Post-exercise left ventricular dysfunction measured after a long-duration cycling event
Authors: Serrano Ostariz Enrique , López Ramón Marta , Cremades Arroyos Daniel , Izquierdo Álvarez Silvia , Catalán Edo Pilar , Baquer Sahún Cristina , Legaz Arrese Alejandro
Published: May 2013

Background

In this research, an extension to our previous work published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine in 2009, we studied subjects that differed in terms of age and training status and assessed the impact of prolonged exercise on systolic and left ventricular diastolic function and cardiac biomarkers levels, recognized as identifiers of cardiac damage and dysfunction. We also assessed the possible influence of event duration, exercise intensity and weight loss (dehydration) on left ventricular diastolic function.

Findings

Ninety-one male cyclists were assessed by echocardiography and serum biomarkers before and after the 2005 Quebrantahuesos cycling event (206 km long and with an accumulated slope of 3800 m). Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers were assessed in blood serum. Echocardiograms measured left ventricular internal dimension during diastole and systole, left ventricular posterior wall thickness during diastole, interventricular septum thickness during diastole, left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic filling. The heart rate of 50 cyclists was also monitored during the race to evaluate exercise intensity. Echocardiograph results indicated that left ventricular diastolic and systolic function decreased after the race, with systolic function reduced to a significant degree. Left ventricular ejection fraction was below 55% in 29 cyclists. The decrease in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function did not correlate with age, training status, race duration, weight loss or exercise intensity.

Conclusions

Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function was reduced and cardiac biomarkers were increased after the cycling event, but the mechanisms behind such outcomes remain unclear.
The effect of sulfuric acid, oxalic acid, and their combination on the size and regularity of the porous alumina by anodization
Authors: Keshavarz Alireza , Parang Zohreh , Nasseri Ahmad
Published: May 2013

Porous alumina template was prepared by constant voltage in three different electrolytes (0.45 M sulfuric acid, 0.3 M oxalic acid, and mixed solution of 0.45 M sulfuric and 0.3 M oxalic acids). In this paper, the effects of the electrolyte type on the morphology is studied, so the anodization is carried out in an oxalic acid, sulfuric acid, and a mixture of oxalic and sulfuric acids. The effect of these three different electrolytes was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Results show that in sulfuric acid, the pore structure is smaller than the oxalic and a mixture of oxalic and sulfuric acid. Density of holes in sulfuric acid was higher than other electrolytes; however, arrangement of pores in oxalic acid was more regular than that of the others.
Fractional action cosmology: some dark energy models in emergent, logamediate, and intermediate scenarios of the universe
Authors: Debnath Ujjal , Chattopadhyay Surajit , Jamil Mubasher
Published: May 2013

In the framework of fractional action cosmology, we have reconstructed the scalar potentials and scalar fields, namely, quintessence, phantom, tachyon, k-essence, Dirac-Born-Infeld-essence, hessence, dilaton field, and Yang-Mills field. To get more physical picture of the variation of the scalar field and potential with time, we express a scale factor in emergent, logamediate, and intermediate scenarios, under which the universe expands differently.

PACS

98.80.Cq, 95.36.+x
Viscosity approximation to a common solution of variational inequality problems and fixed point problems for Lipschitzian semigroup in Banach spaces
Authors: Kumam Poom , Plubtieng Somyot , Katchang Phayap
Published: May 2013

We introduce a new iterative algorithm based on a viscosity approximation method for finding the common solution of variational inequality problems for an inverse strongly accretive operator and the solution of fixed point problems for Lipschitzian semigroup mappings in Banach spaces. In controlling suitable conditions, strong convergence theorems are proven. Our results extend and improve the recent results of some authors in the literature in this field.

MSC 2000

47H10; Secondary 47H09, 43A07, 47H20, 47J20
Inactive or moderately active human promoters are enriched for inter-individual epialleles
Authors: Gemma Carolina , Ramagopalan Sreeram V , Down Thomas A , Beyan Huriya , Hawa Mohammed I , Holland Michelle L , Hurd Paul J , Giovannoni Gavin , David Leslie R , Ebers George C , Rakyan Vardhman K
Published: May 2013

Background

Inter-individual epigenetic variation, due to genetic, environmental or random influences, is observed in many eukaryotic species. In mammals, however, the molecular nature of epiallelic variation has been poorly defined, partly due to the restricted focus on DNA methylation. Here we report the first genome-scale investigation of mammalian epialleles that integrates genomic, methylomic, transcriptomic and histone state information.

Results

First, in a small sample set, we demonstrate that non-genetically determined inter-individual differentially methylated regions (iiDMRs) can be temporally stable over at least 2 years. Then, we show that iiDMRs are associated with changes in chromatin state as measured by inter-individual differences in histone variant H2A.Z levels. However, the correlation of promoter iiDMRs with gene expression is negligible and not improved by integrating H2A.Z information. We find that most promoter epialleles, whether genetically or non-genetically determined, are associated with low levels of transcriptional activity, depleted for housekeeping genes, and either depleted for H3K4me3/enriched for H3K27me3 or lacking both these marks in human embryonic stem cells. The preferential enrichment of iiDMRs at regions of relative transcriptional inactivity validates in a larger independent cohort, and is reminiscent of observations previously made for promoters that undergo hypermethylation in various cancers, in vitro cell culture and ageing.

Conclusions

Our work identifies potential key features of epiallelic variation in humans, including temporal stability of non-genetically determined epialleles, and concomitant perturbations of chromatin state. Furthermore, our work suggests a novel mechanistic link among inter-individual epialleles observed in the context of normal variation, cancer and ageing.
Adult monozygotic twins discordant for intra-uterine growth have indistinguishable genome-wide DNA methylation profiles
Authors: Souren Nicole YP , Lutsik Pavlo , Gasparoni Gilles , Tierling Sascha , Gries Jasmin , Riemenschneider Matthias , Fryns Jean-Pierre , Derom Catherine , Zeegers Maurice P , Walter Jörn
Published: May 2013

Background

Low birth weight is associated with an increased adult metabolic disease risk. It is widely discussed that poor intra-uterine conditions could induce long-lasting epigenetic modifications, leading to systemic changes in regulation of metabolic genes. To address this, we acquire genome-wide DNA methylation profiles from saliva DNA in a unique cohort of 17 monozygotic monochorionic female twins very discordant for birth weight. We examine if adverse prenatal growth conditions experienced by the smaller co-twins lead to long-lasting DNA methylation changes.

Results

Overall, co-twins show very similar genome-wide DNA methylation profiles. Since observed differences are almost exclusively caused by variable cellular composition, an original marker-based adjustment strategy was developed to eliminate such variation at affected CpGs. Among adjusted and unchanged CpGs 3,153 are differentially methylated between the heavy and light co-twins at nominal significance, of which 45 show sensible absolute mean β-value differences. Deep bisulfite sequencing of eight such loci reveals that differences remain in the range of technical variation, arguing against a reproducible biological effect. Analysis of methylation in repetitive elements using methylation-dependent primer extension assays also indicates no significant intra-pair differences.

Conclusions

Severe intra-uterine growth differences observed within these monozygotic twins are not associated with long-lasting DNA methylation differences in cells composing saliva, detectable with up-to-date technologies. Additionally, our results indicate that uneven cell type composition can lead to spurious results and should be addressed in epigenomic studies.
Insights into snoRNA biogenesis and processing from PAR-CLIP of snoRNA core proteins and small RNA sequencing
Authors: Kishore Shivendra , Gruber Andreas R , Jedlinski Dominik J , Syed Afzal P , Jorjani Hadi , Zavolan Mihaela
Published: May 2013

Background

In recent years, a variety of small RNAs derived from other RNAs with well-known functions such as tRNAs and snoRNAs, have been identified. The functional relevance of these RNAs is largely unknown. To gain insight into the complexity of snoRNA processing and the functional relevance of snoRNA-derived small RNAs, we sequence long and short RNAs, small RNAs that co-precipitate with the Argonaute 2 protein and RNA fragments obtained in photoreactive nucleotide-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) of core snoRNA-associated proteins.

Results

Analysis of these data sets reveals that many loci in the human genome reproducibly give rise to C/D box-like snoRNAs, whose expression and evolutionary conservation are typically less pronounced relative to the snoRNAs that are currently cataloged. We further find that virtually all C/D box snoRNAs are specifically processed inside the regions of terminal complementarity, retaining in the mature form only 4-5 nucleotides upstream of the C box and 2-5 nucleotides downstream of the D box. Sequencing of the total and Argonaute 2-associated populations of small RNAs reveals that despite their cellular abundance, C/D box-derived small RNAs are not efficiently incorporated into the Ago2 protein.

Conclusions

We conclude that the human genome encodes a large number of snoRNAs that are processed along the canonical pathway and expressed at relatively low levels. Generation of snoRNA-derived processing products with alternative, particularly miRNA-like, functions appears to be uncommon.
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine is an essential intermediate of active DNA demethylation processes in primary human monocytes
Authors: Klug Maja , Schmidhofer Sandra , Gebhard Claudia , Andreesen Reinhard , Rehli Michael
Published: May 2013

Background

Cytosine methylation is a frequent epigenetic modification restricting the activity of gene regulatory elements. Whereas DNA methylation patterns are generally inherited during replication, both embryonic and somatic differentiation processes require the removal of cytosine methylation at specific gene loci to activate lineage-restricted elements. However, the exact mechanisms facilitating the erasure of DNA methylation remain unclear in many cases.

Results

We previously established human post-proliferative monocytes as a model to study active DNA demethylation. We now show, for several previously identified genomic sites, that the loss of DNA methylation during the differentiation of primary, post-proliferative human monocytes into dendritic cells is preceded by the local appearance of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Monocytes were found to express the methylcytosine dioxygenase Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) 2, which is frequently mutated in myeloid malignancies. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of this enzyme in primary monocytes prevented active DNA demethylation, suggesting that TET2 is essential for the proper execution of this process in human monocytes.

Conclusions

The work described here provides definite evidence that TET2-mediated conversion of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine initiates targeted, active DNA demethylation in a mature postmitotic myeloid cell type.
Genome-wide analysis of functional sirtuin chromatin targets in yeast
Authors: Li Mingguang , Valsakumar Veena , Poorey Kunal , Bekiranov Stefan , Smith Jeffrey S
Published: May 2013

Background

The sirtuins are a conserved family of NAD+-dependent histone/protein deacetylases that regulate numerous cellular processes, including heterochromatin formation and transcription. Multiple sirtuins are encoded by each eukaryotic genome, raising the possibility of cooperativity or functional overlap. The scope and variety of chromatin binding sites of the sirtuins in any specific organism remain unclear.

Results

Here we utilize the ChIP-seq technique to identify and functionally characterize the genome-wide targets of the sirtuins, Sir2, Hst1 to Hst4, and the DNA binding partner of Hst1, Sum 1, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Unexpectedly, Sir2, Hst1 and Sum1, but not the other sirtuins, exhibit co-enrichment at several classes of chromatin targets. These include telomeric repeat clusters, tRNA genes, and surprisingly, the open reading frames (ORFs) of multiple highly expressed RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes that function in processes such as fermentation, glycolysis, and translation. Repression of these target genes during the diauxic shift is specifically dependent on Sir2/Hst1/Sum1 binding to the ORF and sufficiently high intracellular NAD+ concentrations. Sir2 recruitment to the ORFs is independent of the canonical SIR complex and surprisingly requires Sum1. The shared Sir2/Hst1/Sum1 targets also significantly overlap with condensin and cohesin binding sites, where Sir2, Hst1, and Sum1 were found to be important for condensin and cohesin deposition, suggesting a possible mechanistic link between metabolism and chromatin architecture during the diauxic shift.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the existence of overlap in sirtuin function, and advances our understanding of conserved sirtuin-regulated functions, including the regulation of glycolytic gene expression and condensin loading.
Mutations within lncRNAs are effectively selected against in fruitfly but not in human
Authors: Haerty Wilfried , Ponting Chris P
Published: May 2013

Background

Previous studies in Drosophila and mammals have revealed levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) sequence conservation that are intermediate between neutrally evolving and protein-coding sequence. These analyses compared conservation between species that diverged up to 75 million years ago. However, analysis of sequence polymorphisms within a species' population can provide an understanding of essentially contemporaneous selective constraints that are acting on lncRNAs and can quantify the deleterious effect of mutations occurring within these loci.

Results

We took advantage of polymorphisms derived from the genome sequences of 163 Drosophila melanogaster strains and 174 human individuals to calculate the distribution of fitness effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms occurring within intergenic lncRNAs and compared this to distributions for SNPs present within putatively neutral or protein-coding sequences. Our observations show that in D.melanogaster there is a significant excess of rare frequency variants within intergenic lncRNAs relative to neutrally evolving sequences, whereas selection on human intergenic lncRNAs appears to be effectively neutral. Approximately 30% of mutations within these fruitfly lncRNAs are estimated as being weakly deleterious.

Conclusions

These contrasting results can be attributed to the large difference in effective population sizes between the two species. Our results suggest that while the sequences of lncRNAs will be well conserved across insect species, such loci in mammals will accumulate greater proportions of deleterious changes through genetic drift.
Cycloaddition of 1,4-Diaryl-1,3-butadiynes with Nitriles: An Atom-economic One-pot Approach to Benzo[f]quinazolines
Authors: Yang Lichen , Hua Ruimao
Published: May 2013

A one-pot synthesis of benzo[f]quinazoline by a novel cycloaddition of 1,4-diaryl-1,3-butadiynes with nitriles in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid at 120 °C is developed.
A Heterobifunctional Linker Bearing Azide-reactive Alkyne and Thiol-reactive Maleimide Connected with N-(2-Nitrobenzyl)imide to Synthesize Photocleavable Diblock Copolymers
Authors: Yamamoto Shota , Nakahama Seiichi , Yamaguchi Kazuo
Published: May 2013

A novel heterobifunctional linker 1 connected with photocleavable N-(2-nitrobenzyl)imide has been developed. Hydrophobic polystyrene (PS), hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) containing thiol or azide at the terminal, synthesized by a living radical polymerization or a transformation of terminal functional groups, were coupled with the alkyne and maleimide protected as the furan adduct at both terminals of 1 to synthesize three types of photocleavable diblock copolymers in high yields.
Quaternary Ammonium Hydroxide-assisted Solvothermal Synthesis of Monodispersed ITO Nanoparticles with a Cubic Shape
Authors: Kanie Kiyoshi , Sasaki Takafumi , Nakaya Masafumi , Muramatsu Atsushi
Published: May 2013

Quaternary ammonium hydroxides were first applied for the solvothermal synthesis of monodispersed ITO nanoparticles controlled in cubic morphology. The formation of a gel-like intermediate was the decisive factor for the precise control of size and shape. Their blue-colored compacts exhibited low resistivity as a transparent conductive oxide.
Using the balanced scorecard to mobilize human resources in organizational transformation
Authors: Tsasis Peter , Harber Bruce
Published: May 2013

Traditionally, the balanced scorecard (BSC) has been an effective tool in linking measurement to strategy. However, what is least understood is how the BSC can be used to redefine organizational relationships, re-engineer fundamental processes and transform organizational culture, for superior performance in an organization with the same people, services and technology that previously delivered dismal performance. This paper highlights the process and uses York Central Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as an illustrative example.
Environmental scanning as a moderator of strategy–performance relationships: an empirical analysis of physical therapy facilities
Authors: Davis Mark A , Miles Grant , McDowell William C
Published: May 2013

To date, strategic management research in health care is largely confined to the acute care sector of the industry. This research examines the linkages among environmental scanning, competitive strategy and performance in physical therapy facilities. Nontrivial differences between acute and subacute care firms suggest the role of environmental scanning may change in non-acute care settings. Consistent with previous research, these results indicate that the frequency of internal and external scanning is related to the strategic orientation of physical therapy facilities. Contrary to the expectations, broader scope of scanning is positively related to an increasing market-focused and increasing efficiency strategic orientation. A key objective of the research is to test the impact of strategy/scanning alignment on facility performance. These findings support predictions on the moderating role of scanning activities in the strategy–performance relationship. However, a para-doxical pattern of results has possible implications for clinician managers in subacute care settings as well as the interpretation of scanning activities.
Language death and revival: Cornish as a minority language in UK
Authors: Renkó-Michelsén Zsuzsanna
Published: May 2013

The paper introduces the worldwide phenomenon of language death, and briefly elaborates on the arguments for saving endangered languages. The main focus of the paper is revived Cornish. Cornish is a Celtic language that was spoken in Cornwall, UK between the 7th and 16th century. Due to Anglicisation, it became gradually endangered and finally died out as a community language during the 18th century. The revival of Cornish started with the publication of Henry Jenner's Handbook of the Cornish Language in 1904. Today Cornish is recognised by UNESCO as a 'critically endangered' language. The paper presents an analysis of revived Cornish along Fishman's Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (GIDS).
Identification and Classification of Diseases: Fundamental Problems in Medical Ontology and Epistemology
Authors: Nordenfelt Lennart
Published: May 2013

During the last three centuries there has been remarkable development in the area of the identification and classification of diseases. The taxonomic systems adopted in the 18th century by, for instance, Sauvages and Linnaeus bare no resemblance to the modern nomenclatures for pathological phenomena. The aim of this paper is to give a brief historical presentation, but also a critical analysis, of a number of crucial ideas and theories behind the construction of certain major disease classifications. My focus in the second half of the paper is on the most influential modern systems of classification, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) and the International Systematized Nomenclature of Human and Veterinary Medicine (SNOMED). The former is the official classification adopted by the World Health Organization and is used mainly for clinical and administrative purposes. The latter is a highly complex system of classification which has recently been developed for a variety of purposes (including medical research) and is meant to be read and handled by computers. ICD, although widely used all over the world, has salient and well-known logical deficiencies. SNOMED has been introduced partly to remedy these deficiencies. I conclude, however, that SNOMED, in spite of its sophisticated resources, cannot completely replace ICD. For many clinical and administrative purposes there is need of a relatively simple system that can be handled by the ordinary doctor and the ordinary health-care administrator.
How to Respect the Will of Mentally Ill Persons?
Authors: Rehbock Theda
Published: May 2013

In this article I oppose the current account of autonomy and informed consent in bioethics through criticising the four underlying prejudices of an objectivistic, dualistic, rationalistic and individualistic misunderstanding of the will. With special regard to the case of patients with dementia I argue for the thesis that the principle of autonomy, as moral principles in general, has unconditional and universal validity, but has to be applied differently in the face of specific situations and circumstances by means of the power of judgment (Urteilskraft). As the philosophical resp. anthropological basis of my argument I develop a broad understanding of the will in an Aristotelian and phenomenological sense. The practical consequences of my thesis consist in the ethical requirement of equal respect for the will of mentally ill patients.