bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of a Primary Culture Model of Mouse Uterine and Vaginal Stroma for Studying In Vitro Estrogen Effects
Authors: Inada Keiko , Hayashi Shinji , Iguchi Taisen , Sato Tomomi
Published: July 2017

Effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on uterine and vaginal epithelial cell proliferation could be mediated by stromal cell-derived paracrine factors. To study the epithelial-stromal interactions in mice, an in vitro model of uterine and vaginal stromal cells of immature mice is essential. Therefore, we established a primary culture model of stromal cells both from uterus and vagina and examined the effect of E2 on proliferation of cultured stromal cells. We found that E2 stimulated proliferation of stromal cells from both organs in vitro, showing an increase in the number of cells and the percentage of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyurldine (BrdU)-labeled cells. Interestingly, vaginal stromal cells responded to lower E2 than uterine stromal cells in proliferation (10−12 M vs. 10−8 M) and BrdU labeling (10−14 -10−10 M vs. 10−10 - 10−6 M). To examine the effect of E2 in vivo, cells were grafted into the subrenal capsule of the host mice and grown for 2 weeks. The BrdU labeling in cultured stromal cells was increased by E2 in vivo. To examine the effect of cultured stromal cells on epithelial cell proliferation, uterine and vaginal epithelium of adult mice were separated, recombined with the cultured stromal cells, and grafted under the renal capsule of hosts for 3 weeks. Epithelial cells recombined with cultured stromal cells showed simple columnar morphology in uterine grafts and stratified and keratinized morphology in vaginal grafts under the influence of the hormonal environment of the hosts. The BrdU labeling in epithelial cells was increased by E2, suggesting that cultured stromal cells can stimulate epithelial cell proliferation. In conclusion, we established a primary culture model of uterine and vaginal stromal cells, which can be mitogenically stimulated by E2 in vitro and in vivo after being grafted under the renal capsule. This culture system will be useful for investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of uterine and vaginal epithelial-stromal interactions.
Role of Nitric Oxide in Cardiovascular Adaptation to Intermittent Hypoxia
Authors: Manukhina Eugenia B. , Downey H. Fred , Mallet Robert T.
Published: July 2017

Hypoxia is one of the most frequently encountered stresses in health and disease. The duration, frequency, and severity of hypoxic episodes are critical factors determining whether hypoxia is beneficial or harmful. Adaptation to intermittent hypoxia has been demonstrated to confer cardiovascular protection against more severe and sustained hypoxia, and, moreover, to protect against other stresses, including ischemia. Thus, the direct and cross protective effects of adaptation to intermittent hypoxia have been used for treatment and prevention of a variety of diseases and to increase efficiency of exercise training. Evidence is mounting that nitric oxide (NO) plays a central role in these adaptive mechanisms. NO-dependent protective mechanisms activated by intermittent hypoxia include stimulation of NO synthesis as well as restriction of NO overproduction. In addition, alternative, nonenzymic sources of NO and negative feedback of NO synthesis are important factors in optimizing NO concentrations. The adaptive enhancement of NO synthesis and/or availability activates or increases expression of other protective factors, including heat shock proteins, antioxidants and prostaglandins, making the protection more robust and sustained. Understanding the role of NO in mechanisms of adaptation to hypoxia will support development of therapies to prevent and treat hypoxic or ischemic damage to organs and cells and to increase adaptive capabilities of the organism.
Bacteriophage Endolysins as a Novel Class of Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Borysowski Jan , Weber-Dąbrowska Beata , Górski Andrzej
Published: July 2017

Endolysins are double-stranded DNA bacteriophage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases produced in phage-infected bacterial cells toward the end of the lytic cycle. They reach the peptidoglycan through membrane lesions formed by holins and cleave it, thus, inducing lysis of the bacterial cell and enabling progeny virions to be released. Endolysins are also capable of degrading peptidoglycan when applied externally (as purified recombinant proteins) to the bacterial cell wall, which also results in a rapid lysis of the bacterial cell. The unique ability of endolysins to rapidly cleave peptidoglycan in a generally species-specific manner renders them promising potential antibacterial agents. Originally developed with a view to killing bacteria colonizing mucous membranes (with the first report published in 2001), endolysins also hold promise for the treatment of systemic infections. As potential antibacterials, endolysins possess several important features, for instance, a novel mode of action, a narrow antibacterial spectrum, activity against bacteria regardless of their antibiotic sensitivity, and a low probability of developing resistance. However, there is only one report directly comparing the activity of an endolysin with that of an antibiotic, and no general conclusions can be drawn regarding whether lysins are more effective than traditional antibiotics. The results of the first preclinical studies indicate that the most apparent potential problems associated with endolysin therapy (e.g., their immunogenicity, the release of proinflammatory components during bacteriolysis, or the development of resistance), in fact, may not seriously hinder their use. However, all data regarding the safety and therapeutic effectiveness of endolysins obtained from preclinical studies must be ultimately verified by clinical trials. This review discusses the prophylactic and therapeutic applications of endolysins, especially with respect to their potential use in human medicine. Additionally, we outline current knowledge regarding the structure and natural function of the enzymes in phage biology, including the most recent findings.
Novel Mechanisms for Estrogen-Induced Neuroprotection
Authors: Singh Meharvan , Dykens James A. , Simpkins James W.
Published: July 2017

Estrogens are gonadal steroid hormones that are present in the circulation of both males and females and that can no longer be considered within the strict confines of reproductive function. In fact, the bone, the cardiovascular system, and extrahypothalamic regions of the brain are now well-established targets of estrogens. Among the numerous aspects of brain function regulated by estrogens are their effects on mood, cognitive function, and neuronal viability. Here, we review the supporting evidence for estrogens as neuroprotective agents and summarize the various mechanisms that may be involved in this effect, focusing particularly on the mitochondria as an important target. On the basis of this evidence, we discuss the clinical applicability of estrogens in treating various age-related disorders, including Alzheimer disease and stroke, and identify the caveats that must be considered.
Diversities of Podocyte Molecular Changes Induced by Different Antiproteinuria Drugs
Authors: Xing Yan , Ding Jie , Fan Qingfeng , Guan Na
Published: July 2017

Nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, and α-actinin-4 are important podocyte proteins that help maintain the integrity of the slit diaphragm and prevent proteinuria. Studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, glucocorticoids, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) have antiproteinuric effects. However, it is still unclear whether these drugs, with different pharmacological mechanisms, lead to a reduction in proteinuria by changing the expression and distribution of these important podocyte proteins. In this study, changes in the expression and distribution of nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, and α-actinin-4 were dynamically detected in Adriamycin-induced nephrotic (ADR) rats treated with three different drugs: lisinopril, prednisone, and ATRA. Nephropathy was induced by an intravenous injection of Adriamycin. After Adriamycin injection, rats received lisinopril, prednisone, and ATRA treatment, respectively. Renal tissues were collected at Days 3, 7, 14, and 28. The distribution and the expression of messenger RNA and protein of nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, and a-actinin-4 were detected by indirect immunofluorescence, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting, respectively. With the intervention of lisinopril, prednisone, and ATRA, changes in the expression of nephrin, podocin, and CD2AP were diverse, which was different from that detected in ADR rats. After lisinopril and prednisone intervention, podocin exhibited prominent earlier changes compared with those of nephrin and CD2AP, whereas CD2AP showed more prominent changes after ATRA intervention. There was no change in the expression of α-actinin-4 molecule. In summary, we conclude that the antiproteinuric effects of lisinopril, prednisone, and ATRA were achieved by changes in the expression and distribution of the important podocyte molecules nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, and α-actinin-4. The pattern in the change of podocyte molecules after lisinopril and prednisone intervention was similar, but the pattern in the change of podocyte molecules after ATRA intervention was different from that of lisinopril or prednisone intervention.
Effect of Apple Extracts on NF-κB Activation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Davis Paul A. , Polagruto John A. , Valacchi Giuseppe , Phung Anh , Soucek Karel , Keen Carl L. , Gershwin M. Eric
Published: July 2017

The mechanisms by which foods, such as fruit, are able to reduce the risk of chronic disease are still unclear. Several fruit products, including apples and apple juice, that are flavonoid-rich are reported to increase antioxidant levels in human subjects. This is supported by the finding from our previous studies that the chronic consumption of apple juice by human subjects reduced ex vivo low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation; we hypothesized that this was due to the flavonoid in the apple juice, which, as we reported earlier, reduced in vitro LDL oxidation. To further explore whether the mixture of flavonoids and other phytochemicals in apples are biologically relevant antioxidants, we tested the effects of this flavonoid-rich apple extract (AE) on oxidant-related pathways in a model of the endothelium: human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). The effects of AE on oxidant-responsive (i.e., tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α-induced) nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling in cell culture were assessed in transfected HUVECs by using a construct that expressed luciferase under the control of NF-κB. Incubation of HUVEC for 24 hrs with up to 10 mM (as gallic acid equivalents) of AE demonstrated no cytotoxicity, as determined by lactate dehydrogenase release, caspase 3 activation, and apoptosis marker–based FACS analysis. AE after a 24-hr incubation period at either 200 or 2000 nM showed a complex pattern of decreased basal and TNF-α-stimulated NF-κB signaling (63% maximal decrease) as assessed by luciferase activity in the transfected HUVECs, as well as by reduced levels of IκBα protein phosphorylation detected by Western blot analysis. We suggest that AE downregulates NF-κB signaling and that this is indicative of an antioxidant effect of the flavonoids present in AE.
Preparing K-12 Students for the New Interdisciplinary World of Science
Authors: Hulse Russell A.
Published: July 2017

The increasing importance of interdisciplinary science brings with it the need to consider what impact this has on the educational process. Such considerations extend even to the earliest educational years of K-12, and also exhibit a strong overlap with many issues involved in improving science education across the board. I will offer some general remarks, followed by a focus on three educational objectives of importance to interdisciplinary science as well as to improved science education as a whole. I will close with a brief discussion of the challenges involved in implementing such ideas in the educational system.
Intracellular Protein Degradation: From a Vague Idea Thru the Lysosome and the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and onto Human Diseases and Drug Targeting*
Authors: Ciechanover Aaron
Published: July 2017

Between the 1950s and 1980s, scientists were focusing mostly on how the genetic code is transcribed to RNA and translated to proteins, but how proteins are degraded has remained a neglected research area. With the discovery of the lysosome by Christian de Duve it was assumed that cellular proteins are degraded within this organelle. Yet, several independent lines of experimental evidence strongly suggested that intracellular proteolysis is largely non-lysosomal, but the mechanisms involved remained obscure. The discovery of the ubiquitin-proteasome system resolved the enigma. We now recognize that degradation of intracellular proteins is involved in regulation of a broad array of cellular processes, such as cell cycle and division, regulation of transcription factors, and assurance of the cellular quality control. Not surprisingly, aberrations in the system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of human disease, such as malignancies and neurodegenerative disorders, which led subsequently to an increasing effort to develop mechanism-based drugs.
PPARγ Ligand Troglitazone Lowers Cholesterol Synthesis in HepG2 and Caco-2 Cells via a Reduced Concentration of Nuclear SREBP-2
Authors: Klopotek Anett , Hirche Frank , Eder Klaus
Published: July 2017

Cholesterol synthesis in animal cells is regulated by sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-2. The objective of this study was to investigate whether activation of peroxisome proliferator-activatedreceptor (PPAR)-γ influences the SREBP-2 dependent cholesterol synthesis in liver and intestinal cells. Therefore, HepG2 and Caco-2 cells were incubated with and without 10 or 30 μM of troglitazone, a synthetic PPARγ agonist, for 4 hrs. Incubation with 10 or 30 μM of troglitazone caused a significant, dose-dependent reduction of cholesterol synthesis in both HepG2 and Caco-2 cells (P < 0.05). HepG2 and Caco-2 cells incubated with 10 or 30 μM of troglitazone had also lower mRNA concentrations and lower nuclear protein concentrations of SREBP-2 than untreated control cells (P < 0.05). mRNA concentrations of the SREBP-2 target genes HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor were also reduced in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells treated with 30 μM of troglitazone compared to control cells (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that PPARγ activation by troglitazone lowers the cholesterol synthesis in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells by reducing the concentration of nuclear SREBP-2 and successive downregulation of its target genes involved in cholesterol synthesis.
Biochemical and Ultrastructural Lung Damage Induced by Rhabdomyolysis in the Rat
Authors: Rodrigo Ramón , Trujillo Sergio , Bosco Cleofina
Published: July 2017

Rhabdomyolysis-induced oxidative stress is associated with morphological and functional damage to the kidney and other organs, but applications of this model in the lung are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and the morphological changes occurring in the lungs of rats subjected to rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis was induced by intramuscular glycerol injection (50% v/v, 10 ml/kg), and the control group was injected with saline vehicle. Arterial blood samples were drawn at 0, 2, 4, and 6 hrs for measurement of arterial gases, creatine kinase activity, and plasma free F2-isoprostane levels. Six hours later, the lungs were removed to determine the wet-to-dry weight ratio, reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSH disulfide (GSSG) levels, and activity of antioxidant enzymes (cataiase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and GSH peroxidase [GSH-Px]). Protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation were assessed in the lungs by measurement of carbonyl and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage, cell counts, and lung ultrastructural studies were also performed. Six hours after glycerol injection, arterial PO2 and PCO2 were 23% and 38% lower, respectively, and plasma free F2-isoprostane levels were 72% higher, compared with control values. In lungs, protein carbonyl and MDA production were 58% and 12% higher, respectively; the GSH:GSSG ratio and GSH-Px activity were 43% and 60% lower, respectively; and activities of CAT and SOD showed no significant differences compared with controls. Rhabdomyolysis-induced ultrastructural impairment of the lung showed Type II cell damage, extracytoplasmic lamellar bodies and lack of tubular myelin reorganization, endothelial cellular edema, and no disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier. These results provide evidence that rhabdomyolysis could induce tissue injury associated with increased oxidative stress, suggesting the contribution of oxidative stress to the pathogenic mechanism of acute lung injury.
Mitochondrial Gene Expression: Influence of Nutrients and Hormones
Authors: Berdanier Carolyn D.
Published: July 2017

Mitochondrial gene transcription research has exploded over the last decade. Nuclear-encoded proteins, nutrients, and hormones all work to regulate the transcription of this genome. To date, very few of the transcription factors have been shown to have negative effects on mitochondrial gene expression, although there are likely conditions where such downregulation may occur.
Beyond Words: Using Qualitative Video Methods for Researching Occupation With Young Children
Authors: Lynch Helen , Stanley Mandy
Published: July 2017

Researching with children is fundamental for furthering our understanding of children’s occupational worlds. Furthermore, researching occupation from a transactional perspective is important for gaining a deeper understanding. However historically, most approaches to researching with children do not capture the transactional nature of occupation. The use of video methods in qualitative research is proposed as a potential solution. This article illustrates how videography can be used as an effective, inclusive qualitative research method, and uses a study of infant play occupation to illuminate video techniques. Drawing on a longitudinal study with five infants and their families, methodological challenges are presented. We discuss key considerations in data generation and analysis when utilizing videography and outline insights gained regarding infant occupational development and meaning-making in the physical environment. Video methods are an effective means of researching from a transactional perspective and have potential to strengthen occupation-centered research particularly with infants.
Who’s Been Served and How?
Authors: Orsi Rebecca , Lee Chris , Winokur Marc , Pearson Amanda
Published: July 2017

Child welfare systems were created to protect maltreated children. However, adolescents today can be involved with child welfare for reasons other than maltreatment, including behavior issues. Such youth are also commonly involved in the youth corrections system. This study examines youth characteristics and risk factors which predict attaining permanency at case closure for youth involved in child welfare primarily for behavioral reasons. The sample consists of 5,691 youth aged 10–17 served in Colorado between 2007 and 2013. A multinomial logit model identified predictors of nonpermanent outcomes and of placement with return home, compared to remaining home throughout case involvement. Results show that the following characteristics and risks have a positive relationship with nonpermanent outcomes: longer case duration, prior child welfare placement, felony involvement, crimes against persons or property, truancy, running away, and gang membership. Services provided by the child welfare system are negatively related to nonpermanent outcomes.
The Participant as Transcriptionist: Methodological Advantages of a Collaborative and Inclusive Research Practice
Authors: Grundy Annabelle L. , Pollon Dawn E. , McGinn Michelle K.
Published: July 2017

This article documents an innovative approach to interview-based research known as the participant-as-transcriptionist method. In the participant-as-transcriptionist method, the participant serves as the transcriptionist, with editorial control to create the transcript from an interview. In the article, we address three key methodological advantages of the participant-as-transcriptionist method. First, the participant-as-transcriptionist method is inclusive for a range of researchers, disabled or otherwise. Second, the participant-as-transcriptionist method can incorporate a sense of collaboration in the researcher-participant relationship. Third, participant-transcriptionists can create quality transcripts that represent the participant's voice. Throughout the discussion, we interweave quotes from fieldnotes taken by the interviewer (the first author) and a participant-transcriptionist (the second author) as they describe their experiences using the participant-as-transcriptionist method in a research study.
Using Event Structure Analysis to Understand Planned Social Change
Authors: Stevenson William , Zinzow Heidi , Sridharan Sanjeev
Published: July 2017

In this article, the authors explore the application of Event Structure Analysis in understanding the linkages between events in planned social change. An illustrative example from the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Offenders is used to highlight the key features of Event Structure Analysis.
In Search of Moral Coherence: Reconciling Uneasy Histories and Identities
Authors: Campbell Katy , Fenwick Tara , Gibb Tara , Hamdon Evelyn , Jamal Zenobia
Published: July 2017

Through an autoethnographic account the authors explore the various entanglements, ambiguities, and conflicts inherent in the research relationships of institutionally marginalized communities. Agency and moral coherence are constructs with which personal, political, and sociocultural dimensions of negotiating a research identity are framed. They use a feminist lens to examine relations, autoethnography to reflexively examine these relations, and poststructuralist notions to illuminate cultural influences on the shifting identity of one actor.
Developing the Therapeutic Use of Self in the Health Care Professional through Autoethnography: Working with the Borderline Personality Disorder Population
Authors: Jones Kimberly Ann
Published: July 2017

Frequently stigmatized, misdiagnosed, improperly treated, and discounted is the suffering of the patient with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and it can be a serious, agonizing, tenacious, and draining mental illness. Present-day research illustrates that patients with BPD are in fact the largest consumers of mental health services, utilizing every treatment genre more frequently and in greater quantities than any other mental health taxonomy. They experience more complex and destructive symptoms, more perpetual misery and encumbrance, an unpredictable usage of outpatient services, and extensive treatment modalities and psychiatric admissions. A review of current literature reveals this consistent notion: the attitudes of health care professionals toward patients diagnosed with this elaborate disorder tend to be disparaging. The aim of this article is to critically analyze the prospect that autoethnography (or narrative research) is a strategic, useful tool for mental health professionals to improve empathy and identification with patients suffering with BPD. As a qualitative research method, autoethnography is advantageous for creating connections between care provider and patient. It can deepen their mutual and divergent experiences while generating empirical knowledge from the professional's narrative reflection and through the therapeutic use of self with the patient.
Examining the Nexus between Grounded Theory and Symbolic Interactionism
Authors: Milliken P. Jane , Schreiber Rita
Published: July 2017

Grounded theory is inherently symbolic interactionist; however, not all grounded theory researchers appreciate its importance or benefit from its influence. Elsewhere, we have written about the intrinsic relationship between grounded theory and symbolic interactionism, highlighting the silent, fundamental contribution of symbolic interactionism to the methodology. At the same time, there are significant insights to be had by bringing a conscious awareness of the philosophy of symbolic interactionism to grounded theory research. In this article we discuss the symbolic interactionist concepts of mind, self, and society, and their applicability in grounded theorizing. Our purpose is to highlight foundational concepts of symbolic interactionism and their centrality in the processes of conducting grounded theory research.
Reliability sensitivity numerical analysis of mechanical structure based on gamma processes
Authors: Zhang Yanshan , Yang Zhengmao
Published: July 2017

Using random variables to describe uncertain parameters in structural systems, its initial strength and the evolution process of the strength degradation is regarded as the Gamma process. In this article, we propose a new method on reliability sensitivity numerical analysis of mechanical structure based on Gamma processes. Then, we use the fourth moment method based on frequency curve of Pearson to solve the problem of reliability calculation with random parameters of arbitrary distributions. Formulas for calculating the reliability sensitivity with respect to the mean and the variance of the random variables are derived. The reliability analysis of the welded box girders of crane is taken as an example to verify the proposed method. The results show that the method can effectively solve the problem of the reliability sensitivity of structural systems with strength degradation.
Extended state observer–based nonlinear cascade proportional–integral–derivative control of the nano quadrotor
Authors: Li Xiaoran , Chen Mou
Published: July 2017

The nano quadrotor is a nonlinear multi-input and multi-output system with strong coupling, which causes difficulties in control law design. In order to achieve a favorable performance, an extended state observer–based nonlinear cascade proportional–integral–derivative controller is proposed in this article. First, the nano quadrotor platform is built, and the dynamic model is established. Second, a novel and practical measuring method is given to obtain model parameters. Then, based on the active disturbance rejection control method, the design procedure of the extended state observer–based nonlinear cascade proportional–integral–derivative controller is presented. In the developed controller, a tracking differentiator is involved to extract the signals of gyroscope, and extended state observer is used to estimate the disturbance. To obtain a better performance of tracking differentiator and extended state observer, a systematic parameter-tuning method is studied. Finally, simulation results are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed controller.
Generation of tooth profile for Roots rotor based on virtual linkage associated with Assur group
Authors: Cai Yingjie , Yao Ligang , Wei Guowu
Published: July 2017

This article, for the first time, presents the generation of Roots rotor tooth profiles based on an Assur-group-associated virtual linkage method. Taking the original Roots rotor as an example, structure and geometry of the Roots rotor are introduced, and based on the principle of inversion, an equivalent virtual linkage is identified for generating dedendum tooth profile of the rotor. Using linkage decomposition associated with elemental Assur groups, algorithm for computing the tooth curve is constructed leading to the explicit expression of rotor profile and the corresponding numerical simulation, verifying the validity of the proposed approach. For demonstration purpose, the virtual linkage method is then extended to the generation of tooth profiles for the variants of Roots rotors with arc-cycloidal curves and arc-involute curves. Integrated with computer-aided design, computer-aided engineering and computer-aided manufacturing software platforms, as well as the three-dimensional printing technology, this article provides an efficient and intuitive approach for Roots rotor system design, analysis and development.
Research on chain-model transition identification of magnetic dipole theory for magneto-rheological fluid
Authors: Dong Xiaomin , Duan Chi , Yu Jianqiang
Published: July 2017

Chain formation model is very useful to characterize the magneto-rheological phenomenon and prepare good magneto-rheological fluids. The single-chain model is common to explain the process of chain formation for ferromagnetic particles under magnetic field. With the increment of magnetic field and ferromagnetic particle content, the chain will transit from the single chain to multi-chains. However, there are few literatures involved in this phenomenon. This study investigates the effect of magnetic field and ferromagnetic particles content on the transition. The static yield stresses at different magnetic fields were measured under quasi-static mode for different magneto-rheological fluid samples. The results show that the transition of chain model can be identified on two parameters including the amplitude of static yield angle, [Formula: see text], and the inclined angles distribution, [Formula: see text]. The single-chain model is only effective under low magnetic field and ferromagnetic particles below content of 30% volume. With the increment of magnetic field and ferromagnetic particles content, the transition from single chain to multiple chains will be observed, which validates that there is a transition from the single chain to multi-chains.
Interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control for a compass-like biped robot
Authors: de-León-Gómez VÍctor , Santibañez Víctor , Sandoval Jesús
Published: July 2017

A novel procedure for designing an interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control to perform different walking gaits of a compass-like biped robot is presented. The interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control method is often used to achieve asymptotic stability of the closed-loop desired equilibrium point in underactuated systems. Nevertheless, in this article, for the first time, this method is used to shape the kinetic energy of the robot and thus perform different gaits by modifying its limit cycle. One degree of underactuation of the compass-like biped robot is considered, and a suitable change of coordinates is made in order to design the proposed control law. The effectiveness of this controller and some advantages with respect to another similar approach are shown through a deep numerical simulation study.
A plug and produce framework for industrial collaborative robots
Authors: Schou Casper , Madsen Ole
Published: July 2017

Collaborative robots are today ever more interesting in response to the increasing need for agile manufacturing equipment. Contrary to traditional industrial robots, collaborative robots are intended for working in dynamic environments alongside the production staff. To cope with the dynamic environment and workflow, new configuration and control methods are needed compared to those of traditional industrial robots. The new methods should enable shop floor operators to reconfigure the robot. This article presents a plug and produce framework for industrial collaborative robots. The article focuses on the control framework enabling quick and easy exchange of hardware modules as an approach to achieving plug and produce. To solve this, an agent-based system is proposed building on top of the robot operating system. The framework enables robot operating system packages to be adapted into agents and thus supports the software sharing of the robot operating system community. A clear separation of the hardware agents and the higher level task control is achieved through standardization of the functional interface, a standardization maintaining the possibility of specialized function features. A feasibility study demonstrates the validity of the framework through a series of reconfigurations performed on a modular collaborative robot.
Toward fully autonomous mobile manipulation for industrial environments
Authors: Dömel Andreas , Kriegel Simon , Kaßecker Michael , Brucker Manuel , Bodenmüller Tim , Suppa Michael
Published: July 2017

This work presents a concept for autonomous mobile manipulation in industrial environments. Utilizing autonomy enables an unskilled human worker to easily configure a complex robotics system in a setup phase before carrying out fetch and carry operations in the execution phase. In order to perform the given tasks in real industrial production sites, we propose a robotic system consisting of a mobile platform, a torque-controlled manipulator, and an additional sensor head. Multiple sensors are attached which allow for perception of the environment and the objects to be manipulated. This is essential for coping with uncertainties in real-world application. In order to provide an easy-to-use and flexible system, we present a modular software concept which is handled and organized by a hierarchical flow control depending on the given task and environmental requirements. The presented concept for autonomous mobile manipulation is implemented exemplary for industrial manipulation tasks and proven by real-world application in a water pump production site. Furthermore, the concept has also been applied to other robotic systems and other domains for planetary exploration with a rover.
Online semantic mapping of logistic environments using RGB-D cameras
Authors: Himstedt Marian , Maehle Erik
Published: July 2017

Automated guided vehicles require spatial representations of their working spaces in order to ensure safe navigation and carry out high-level tasks. Typically, these models are given by geometric maps. Even though these enable basic robotic navigation, they off-the-shelf lack the availability of task-dependent information required to provide services. This article presents a semantic mapping approach augmenting existing geometric representations. Our approach demonstrates the automatic annotation of map subspaces on the example of warehouse environments. The proposals of an object recognition system are integrated in a graph-based simultaneous localization and mapping framework and eventually propagated into a global map representation. Our system is experimentally evaluated in a typical warehouse consisting of common object classes expected for this type of environment. We discuss the novel achievements and motivate the contribution of semantic maps toward the operation of automated guided vehicles in the context of Industry 4.0.
Mobile robot wall-following control using a fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller with group-based strategy bacterial foraging optimization
Authors: Lin Cheng-Jian , Lin Hsueh-Yi
Published: July 2017

In this study, a fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller based on group-based strategy bacterial foraging optimization is proposed for mobile robot wall-following control. In fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller, the inputs are the distance between the sonar and the wall, and the outputs are the angular velocity of two wheels. The proposed group-based strategy bacterial foraging optimization learning algorithm is used to adjust the parameters of fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller model. The proposed group-based strategy bacterial foraging optimization has the advantages of global search, evolutionary strategies, and group evolution to speed up the convergent rate. A new fitness function is defined to evaluate the performance of mobile robot wall-following control. The fitness function includes four assessment factors which are defined as follows: (1) maintaining safe distance between the mobile robot and the wall, (2) ensuring successfully running a cycle, (3) avoiding mobile robot collisions, and (4) mobile robot running at a maximum speed. The experimental results show that the proposed group-based strategy bacterial foraging optimization obtains a better wall-following control than other methods in unknown environments.
Mechanisms of the analgesic effect of calcitonin on chronic pain by alteration of receptor or channel expression
Authors: Ito Akitoshi , Yoshimura Megumu
Published: July 2017

The polypeptide hormone calcitonin is well known clinically for its ability to relieve osteoporotic back pain and neuropathic pain such as spinal canal stenosis, diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and complex regional pain syndrome. Because the analgesic effects of calcitonin have a broad range, the underlying mechanisms of pain relief by calcitonin are largely unknown. However, recent studies using several types of chronic pain models combined with various methods have been gradually clarifying the mechanism. Here, we review the mechanisms of the analgesic action of calcitonin on ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic and neuropathic pain. The analgesic action of calcitonin may be mediated by restoration of serotonin receptors that control selective glutamate release from C-afferent fibers in ovariectomized rats and by normalization of sodium channel expression in damaged peripheral nerves. Serotonin receptors are reduced or eliminated by the relatively rapid reduction in estrogen during the postmenopausal period, and damaged nerves exhibit hyperexcitability due to abnormal expression of Na+ channel subtypes. In addition, in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, inhibition of signals related to transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 and melastatin-8 is proposed to participate in the anti-allodynic action of calcitonin. Further, an unknown calcitonin-dependent signal appears to be present in peripheral nervous tissues and may be activated by nerve injury, resulting in regulation of the excitability of primary afferents by control of sodium channel transcription in dorsal root ganglion neurons. The calcitonin signal in normal conditions may be non-functional because no target is present, and ovariectomy or nerve injury may induce a target. Moreover, it has been reported that calcitonin reduces serotonin transporter but increases serotonin receptor expression in the thalamus in ovariectomized rats. These data suggest that calcitonin could alleviate lower back pain in patients with osteoporosis or neuropathic pain by the alteration in receptor or channel expression.
Whither Psychology
Authors: Halpern Diane F.
Published: July 2017

Contemporary psychology is experiencing tremendous growth in neuroscience, and there is every indication that it will continue to gain in popularity notwithstanding the scarcity of academic positions for newly minted Ph.Ds. Despite the general perception that brain correlates “explain” or “cause” the mind and behavior, these correlates have not yet proven useful in understanding psychological processes, although they offer the possibility of early identification of some disorders. Other recent developments in psychology include increased emphasis on applications and more global representation among researchers and participants. In thinking about the way we want psychology to evolve, psychologists need to pay more than lip service to the idea that complex questions in psychology require multiple levels of analysis with contributions from biological (brain, hormones, and genetics), individual differences and social and cultural perspectives. Early career psychologists who can attain a breadth of knowledge will be well-positioned for a team approach to psychological inquiry. Finally, I offer the belief that an emphasis on enhancing critical thinking skills at all levels of education offers the best hope for the future.
Is Psychology Headed in the Right Direction?
Authors: Kross Ethan
Published: July 2017

Is psychology headed in the right direction? In this essay, I share my views on the answer to this question. I begin by describing how recent advances in technology, heightened levels of interdisciplinary collaboration, a renewed emphasis on considering the broader implications of basic psychological research, and field-wide efforts to encourage optimal research practices have combined to tilt psychology’s trajectory upward. I then offer three suggestions for how to maintain the field’s upward slanting course: (a) collaborate more to build cumulative knowledge, (b) improve the way we communicate contextual factors in psychological research, and (c) examine the psychological effects of technology. I conclude by offering a single piece of advice for new researchers and a few closing comments.
Arab women in news headlines during the Arab Spring: Image and perception in Germany
Authors: Mustafa-Awad Zahra , Kirner-Ludwig Monika
Published: July 2017

This article reports on the first stage of a research project on German university students’ conceptualization of Arab women and to what extent it is affected by the latters’ representation in the Western press during the Arab Spring. We combined discourse analysis and corpus-linguistic approaches to investigate the relationship between lexical items used by the students to express their attitudes toward Arab women and those featuring in news headlines about them published in British, American, and German news media. Results show that the portrayal of Arab women in Western news headlines has a clear impact on German students’ opinions of them. The findings also show that our participants tend to be aware of this effect, which could be partly due to their familiarity with discourse analysis as students of linguistics. These results have implications for incorporating media education systematically in general university courses.
A functional view on the expression of emotion – the case of Spanish emigration and the media: Politics, manipulation and stance
Authors: Márquez Aurelia Carranza
Published: July 2017

The expression of emotion works as an argumentative tool in the case of Spanish emigration and its depiction in the media. I have made a comparative analysis of two different political contexts to observe different social parameters at work: the current democratic system and the post-Spanish Civil War dictatorial regime. In both cases, they are exploited by third parties to validate a particular political stance. The analysis made in this work draws on Edwards’ ‘emotion in use’ and the lexical framework within Martin and White’s ‘appraisal model’. The way emigration is emotionally verbalized determines issues such as responsibility. Negative emotion remarks require some agent to be blamed, normally the government for its economic policies, whereas the positive ones have a reinforcement effect and work as a bonding mechanism to the system. Judgment and Affect are found to be interrelated. More specifically, and following Martin and White’s terminology, Affect may work as a graduation instrument in the expression of Judgment.
Anarchy and International Relations theory: A reconsideration
Authors: Havercroft Jonathan , Prichard Alex
Published: July 2017

In this introduction to the Special Issue, we undertake a little ground clearing in order to make room in International Relations for thinking differently about anarchy and world politics. Anarchy’s roots in, and association with, social contract theory and the state of nature has unduly narrowed how we might understand the concept and its potential in International Relations. Indeed, such is the consensus in this regard that anarchy is remarkably uncontested, considering its centrality to the field. Looking around, both inside and outside International Relations, for alternative accounts, we find ample materials for helping us think anew about the nature of and possibilities for politics in anarchy. In the second part of the introduction, we show how our contributors develop and expand on these resources and what we hope the Special Issue brings to International Relations.
Evaluation of a successful aging promotion intervention program for middle-aged adults in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Hui-Chuan , Chuang Shu-Hui , Hsu Shang-Wei , Tung Ho-Jui , Chang Shu-Ching , Lee Ming-Ming , Wang Jiun-Yi , Kuo Li-Ting , Tseng Fang-Ya , Po An-Ting
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

This study was to implement and evaluate a successful aging intervention program for middle-aged private insurance beneficiaries.

Methods:

The participants were recruited from the staff and middle-aged clients for the experimental and control groups of a private insurance company. The two client (experimental and control) groups were matched by comparable age groups, gender, education, and purchased insurance types. The intervention program provided for the staff and the experimental group consisted of a series of educational courses on the topics about successful aging and preparation for 4 months. In total, there were 40 staff members, in addition to the 74 members of the experimental group and 60 members of the control group participating in the study.

Results:

After the intervention, the rate of physical activity and exercise significantly improved for the staff and for the intervention group. There were significant improvements in behaviors associated with doing exercise and living a less sedentary lifestyle and in the utilization of health examinations, and improvements in fitness and blood pressure.

Conclusion:

The successful aging intervention program significantly improved awareness of successful aging, exercise behavior and fitness.
Uruguayan secondary school students speak up about tobacco: results from focus group discussions in and around Montevideo
Authors: Peterson Erin , Harrell Melissa , Springer Andrew , Medina José , Martinez Lucía , Perry Cheryl , Estol Diego
Published: July 2017

This qualitative research study investigated intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors that shape young adolescent tobacco use behaviors in Uruguay. Focus groups were conducted in the summer of 2012 and fall of 2013 in four secondary schools in Montevideo, Uruguay, including two private schools and two public schools. A total of four focus groups were led in each school, composed of 4–6 students each, 16 focus groups in total. Data analysis utilized NVivo software and included deductive and inductive content analysis. Overwhelmingly, students reported that the onset of smoking occurred in the second year of secondary school. The primary intrapersonal factors that were found to be universal among respondents identified that smoking was a performance in groups, to garner attention from their peers. Students interviewed most often stated that the greatest interpersonal factors for smoking were to look older, as a rite of passage, and for group membership. Environmental factors cited most often indicate that they smoked during unsupervised time, either at night or around the short Uruguayan school day. Focus group interviews revealed that adolescents had easy access to cigarettes for purchase through small family owned grocery stores, even though laws exist preventing the sale of cigarettes to minors. Few differences were cited between strata related to cigarette use in adolescents. The differences that do exist are most apparent across gender, though there were a few observed differences when stratified by public and private school. Findings from this study indicate that key factors across ecological levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental) should be taken into consideration when designing tobacco prevention programs for youth in Uruguay. A multiple-component approach which addresses risk factors at all of these levels, implemented in schools, may be particularly well-suited to this setting.