bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decadal Rainfall Dipole Oscillation over Southern Africa Modulated by Variation of Austral Summer Land–Sea Contrast along the East Coast of Africa
Authors: Zhang Qiong , Holmgren Karin , Sundqvist Hanna
Published: February 2015

A rainfall dipole mode characterized by negative correlation between subtropical southern Africa and equatorial eastern Africa is identified in instrumental observation data in the recent 100 years. The dipole mode shows a pronounced oscillation signal at a time scale of about 18 years. This study investigates the underlying dynamical mechanisms responsible for this dipole pattern.

It is found that the southern African rainfall dipole index is highly correlated to the land–sea contrast along the east coast of Africa. When the land–sea thermal contrast strengthens, the easterly flow toward the continent becomes stronger. The stronger easterly flow, via its response to east coast topography and surface heating, leads to a low pressure circulation anomaly over land south of the maximum easterly flow anomalies and thus causes more rainfall in the south.

On a decadal time scale, an ENSO-like SST pattern acts to modulate this land–sea contrast and the consequent rainfall dipole. During a “wet in the south and dry in the north” dipole, there are warm SSTs over the central Indian Ocean and cold SSTs over the western Indian Ocean. The cold SSTs over the western Indian Ocean further enhance the land–sea contrast during austral summer. Moreover, these cold western Indian Ocean SSTs also play an important role in regulating land temperature, thereby suppressing clouds and warming the land via increased shortwave radiation over the less-cloudy land. This cloud–SST coupling acts to further strengthen the land–sea contrast.
Absolute and Convective Instability of the African Easterly Jet
Authors: Diaz Michael , Aiyyer Anantha
Published: February 2015

The stability of the African easterly jet (AEJ) is examined using idealized numerical simulations. It is found that a zonally homogeneous representation of the AEJ can support absolute instability in the form of African easterly waves (AEWs). This finding is verified through a local energy budget, which demonstrates the presence of both upstream and downstream energy fluxes. These energy fluxes allow unstable wave packets to spread upstream and downstream relative to their initial point of excitation. This finding is further verified by showing that the ground-relative group velocity of these wave packets has both eastward and westward components. In contrast with normal-mode instability theory, which emphasizes wave growth through energy extraction from the basic state, the life cycle of the simulated AEWs is strongly governed by energy fluxes. Convergent fluxes at the beginning of the AEW storm track generate new AEWs, whereas divergent fluxes at the end of the storm track lead to their decay. It is argued that, even with small normal-mode growth rates and a short region of instability, the presence of absolute instability allows AEWs to develop through the mixed baroclinic–barotropic instability mechanism, because upstream energy fluxes allow energy extracted through baroclinic and barotropic conversion to be recycled between successive AEWs.
Understanding Chinese Exceptionalism
Authors: Ho Benjamin
Published: February 2015

As a branch of Chinese political thought, Chinese exceptionalism has recently been the subject of renewed scholarly analysis. By stressing what is unique about China, claims about Chinese exceptionalism seek to provide a different approach to the challenge of global governance, one not dominated by the liberal traditions of the United States and the West more generally. This article argues that Chinese exceptionalism—as understood by the Chinese themselves—represents a nationalistic discourse that attempts to navigate the political and sociological contours concerning what it now means to be Chinese. By stressing what is “good” and “great” about China, Chinese exceptionalism seeks to provide Chinese policy makers substantial traction and legitimacy in the manner in which they choose to frame China’s interactions with the outside world.
What about the workers? The missing geographies of health care
Authors: Connell John , Walton-Roberts Margaret
Published: February 2015

Geographies of health have neglected relevant consideration of health human resources. Five developments in the sub-discipline are examined to demonstrate how health labour has been neglected. Three research themes, circulation, regulation and distribution, are then presented to indicate the value of a greater focus on health workers for the geography of health, and we suggest that deeper analytical engagement with labour and feminist geographies can support this. Each theme points to the increasingly global organization of health care and the need for health geographers to seriously examine the role of health workers during a period of health transformation, globalization, and privatization.
Legal geography II
Authors: Delaney David
Published: February 2015

In this report I assess progress in legal geography – past and potential – in terms of its contributions to two significant projects in contemporary critical geographic thought: the discernment and diagnosis of spatial injustice and the idea of the right to the city. I argue that conventional spatial imaginaries tend to invisibilize injustices, obscure the contingencies and causes of injustice, and uncouple injustice from responsibility. Conventional legal imaginaries commonly legitimize injustices or render them as mere misfortunes, if not deserved fates. Because traces of the legal are commonly constitutive of the spatialities of injustice – underpinning them, shaping relations of power with respect to them, rendering places meaningful in distinctively legal ways – then much of what legal geographers do is investigate the contingencies and constraints of spatial justice. I also draw attention to recent work by non-geographers and the increased penetration of critical spatial thought into legal scholarship as grounds for anticipating future progress.
Synthesis of functionalized graphene oxide nanoflakes using silane coupling agents
Authors: Ding Juan , Huang Ying , Han Tiaozheng , Wang Yanli
Published: February 2015

Carbon-based nanomaterials have captured significant interest in academics for decades. Recently, graphene has been found to be a promising nanomaterial. In this study, novel functionalized graphene oxide nanoflakes (FGONs) were successfully synthesized using silane coupling agents via a chemical approach and used as a reinforcement in cyanate ester (CE)/bismaleimide (BMI) copolymers. The curing mechanism and thermal properties of the FGONs/CE/BMI nanocomposites were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry. The results show that the addition of FGONs not only catalyzed the entire curing process but also increased the thermal stability of the nanocomposites. The flexural and impact strengths reached optimum values of 110 MPa and 10.98 kJ m−2 with a load of 1.0 wt% FGONs, respectively. Moreover, the glass transition temperature and dielectric properties of the nanocomposites were lower than those of the CE/BMI copolymer.
Coupled FE–CFD thermal analysis for a cooled turbine disk
Authors: Javiya Umesh , Chew John , Hills Nick , Scanlon Timothy
Published: February 2015

This paper presents transient aero-thermal analysis for a gas turbine disk and the surrounding air flows through a transient slam acceleration/deceleration “square cycle” engine test, and compares predictions with engine measurements. The transient solid–fluid interaction calculations were performed with an innovative coupled finite element (FE) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The computer model includes an aero-engine high pressure turbine (HPT) disk, adjacent structure, and the surrounding internal air system cavities. The model was validated through comparison with the engine temperature measurements and is also compared with industry standard standalone FE modelling. Numerical calculations using a 2D FE model with axisymmetric and 3D CFD solutions are presented and compared. Strong coupling between CFD solutions for different air system cavities and the FE solid model led to some numerical difficulties. These were addressed through improvement of the coupling algorithm. Overall performance of the coupled approach is very encouraging giving temperature predictions as good as a traditional model that had been calibrated against engine measurements.
Primary teachers as physical education curriculum change agents
Authors: Carse Nicola
Published: February 2015

There has been some exploration of the conceptualisation of teachers as change agents within educational change literature. While this body of work does consider how teachers understand, harness and influence the process of curriculum change, within the policy rhetoric and educational change literature there is limited reference made to how the change agent role is translated into practice. To illustrate the complex nature of the change process this paper explores the experiences of generalist primary teachers at the ‘chalk face’ as they initiate physical education curriculum change within their school contexts. This paper reports on the findings of a study investigating how five Scottish primary teachers with a postgraduate qualification in primary physical education construed and took forward curriculum change. A qualitative and interpretivist approach to the research was taken to analyse how the knowledge and skills the teachers gained from the professional development they had undertaken contributed to their agency to initiate curriculum change within their school contexts. Drawing on the work of Fullan, the concept of change agentry is used to analyse the experiences of the individual teachers as they exercised their agency to enact curriculum change. The paper concludes by reflecting on the findings of the study to suggest factors that may support and constrain teachers acting as change agents.
Use of a voice and video internet technology as an alternative to in-person urgent care clinic visits
Authors: Brunett Patrick H , DiPiero Albert , Flores Christine , Choi Dongseok , Kum Hayley , Girard Donald E
Published: February 2015

Summary

This study aimed to determine the feasibility of patient-initiated online Internet urgent care visits, and to describe patient characteristics, scope of care, provider adherence to protocols, and diagnostic and therapeutic utilization. A total of 456 unique patients were seen via Internet-based technology during the study period, generating 478 consecutive total patient visits. Of the 82 patients referred for an in-person evaluation, 75 patients (91.5%) reported to the clinic as instructed. None of the 82 patients recommended for in-person evaluation required an emergency department referral, hospital admission or urgent consultative referral. We conclude that real-time online primary and urgent care visits are feasible, safe and potentially beneficial in increasing convenient access to urgent and primary care.
Complementary Tools to Empower and Sustain Behavior Change
Authors: Sohl Stephanie Jean , Birdee Gurjeet , Elam Roy
Published: February 2015

Improving health behaviors is fundamental to preventing and controlling chronic disease. Health care providers who have a patient-centered communication style and appropriate behavioral change tools can empower patients to engage in and sustain healthy behaviors. This review highlights motivational interviewing and mindfulness along with other evidence-based strategies for enhancing patient-centered communication and the behavior change process. Motivational interviewing and mindfulness are especially useful for empowering patients to set self-determined, or autonomous, goals for behavior change. This is important because autonomously motivated behavioral change is more sustainable. Additional strategies such as self-monitoring are discussed as useful for supporting the implementation and maintenance of goals. Thus, there is a need for health care providers to develop such tools to empower sustained behavior change. The additional support of a new role, a health coach who specializes in facilitating the process of health-related behavior change, may be required to substantially influence public health.
An investigation of the effects of organomodified-fluoromica on mechanical and barrier properties of compatibilized high density polyethylene nanocomposite films
Authors: Mohamadi Mahboube , Garmabi Hamid , Keshavarzi Fatemeh
Published: February 2015

Nanocomposite sheets based on high density polyethylene and containing organically modified fluoromica and three different compatibilizers (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and two maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene (HDPE-g-MA) grades with different melt flow indices) were prepared by melt mixing processing in an internal mixer. In order to evaluate the direct relationship between different properties of compression molded sheets and their microstructures, mechanical and barrier properties of the final nanocomposites were examined. Fluoromica content, compatibilizer type, and compatibilizer to clay ratio were changed to study the effects of different material variables on the final nanocomposite properties. A second-order polynomial function fitted well on experimental results and showed that the compatibilizer molecular weight played an important role in the morphology and consequently, the nanocomposite properties. Reducing the compatibilizer molecular weight resulted in better delamination and subsequent enhancement in mechanical and barrier properties. Optimization of various properties was done over the 16 designed experiments and 42% improvement in Young’s modulus and 30% reduction of permeability, compared to pristine high density polyethylene, were obtained for the optimal sample.
Three-year follow-up of treatment-naïve and previously treated patients with CLL and SLL receiving single-agent ibrutinib
Authors: Byrd John C. , Furman Richard R. , Coutre Steven E. , Burger Jan A. , Blum Kristie A. , Coleman Morton , Wierda William G. , Jones Jeffrey A. , Zhao Weiqiang , Heerema Nyla A. , Johnson Amy J. , Shaw Yun , Bilotti Elizabeth , Zhou Cathy , James Danelle F. , O'Brien Susan
Published: February 2015

Key Points

Three-year follow-up of ibrutinib in CLL demonstrated continued activity with durable responses that improve in quality with extended treatment. Toxicity diminished over time with respect to grade ≥3 cytopenias, fatigue, infections, and adverse events leading to discontinuation.
Cellular fibronectin containing extra domain A promotes arterial thrombosis in mice through platelet Toll-like receptor 4
Authors: Prakash Prem , Kulkarni Paresh P. , Lentz Steven R. , Chauhan Anil K.
Published: February 2015

Key Points

Fn-EDA+ promotes arterial thrombosis. Platelet TLR4 mediates the prothrombotic effect of cellular Fn.
A case–control analysis of oral contraceptive use and breast cancer subtypes in the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium
Authors: Bethea Traci N , Rosenberg Lynn , Hong Chi-Chen , Troester Melissa A , Lunetta Kathryn L , Bandera Elisa V , Schedin Pepper , Kolonel Laurence N , Olshan Andrew F , Ambrosone Christine B , Palmer Julie R
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Recent oral contraceptive (OC) use has been consistently associated with increased risk of breast cancer, but evidence on specific breast cancer subtypes is sparse.

Methods

We investigated recency and duration of OC use in relation to molecular subtypes of breast cancer in a pooled analysis of data from the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium. The study included 1,848 women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, 1,043 with ER-negative (ER-) breast cancer (including 494 triple negative (TN) tumors, which do not have receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor 2), and 10,044 controls. Multivariable polytomous logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for exposure categories relative to never use, controlling for potential confounding variables.

Results

OC use within the previous 5 years was associated with increased risk of ER+ (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.81), ER- (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.43), and TN (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.53) breast cancer. The risk declined after cessation of use but was apparent for ER+ cancer for 15 to 19 years after cessation and for ER- breast cancer for an even longer interval after cessation. Long duration of use was also associated with increased risk of each subtype, particularly ER-.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that OC use, particularly recent use of long duration, is associated with an increased risk of ER+, ER-, and TN breast cancer in African American women. Research into mechanisms that explain these findings, especially the association with ER- breast cancer, is needed.
RANK-ligand (RANKL) expression in young breast cancer patients and during pregnancy
Authors: Azim Hatem A , Peccatori Fedro A , Brohée Sylvain , Branstetter Daniel , Loi Sherene , Viale Giuseppe , Piccart Martine , Dougall William C , Pruneri Giancarlo , Sotiriou Christos
Published: February 2015

Introduction

RANKL is important in mammary gland development during pregnancy and mediates the initiation and progression of progesterone-induced breast cancer. No clinical data are available on the effect of pregnancy on RANK/RANKL expression in young breast cancer patients.

Methods

We used our previously published dataset of 65 pregnant and 130 matched young breast cancer patients with full clinical, pathological, and survival information. 85% of patients had available transcriptomic data as well. RANK/RANKL expression by immunohistochemistry using H-score on the primary tumor and adjacent normal tissue was performed. We examined the difference in expression of RANK/RANKL between pregnant and non-pregnant patients and their association with clinicopathological features and prognosis. We also evaluated genes and pathways associated with RANK/RANKL expression on primary tumors.

Results

RANKL but not RANK expression was more prevalent in the pregnant group, both on the tumor and adjacent normal tissue, independent of other clinicopathological factors (both P <0.001). 18.7% of pregnant and 5.3% of non-pregnant patients had tumors showing ≥10% of cells with 3+ RANKL expression. RANKL expression was significantly higher in progesterone receptor-positive, and luminal A-like tumors, with negative correlation with Ki-67 (all P <0.001). On the contrary, RANK expression was higher in triple negative tumors (P <0.001). Using false discovery rate <0.05, 151 and 1,207 genes were significantly correlated with tumor-expressed RANKL and RANK expression by immunohistochemistry, respectively. High RANKL expression within primary tumor was associated with pathways related to mammary gland development, bone resorption, T-cell proliferation and regulation of chemotaxis, while RANK expression was associated with immune response and proliferation pathways. At a median follow-up of 65 months, neither RANK nor RANKL expression within tumor was associated with disease free survival in pregnant or non-pregnant group.

Conclusions

Pregnancy increases RANKL expression both in normal breast and primary tumors. These results could guide further development of RANKL-targeted therapy.
Unraveling heterogeneous susceptibility and the evolution of breast cancer using a systems biology approach
Authors: Castellanos-Martín Andrés , Castillo-Lluva Sonia , Sáez-Freire María del Mar , Blanco-Gómez Adrián , Hontecillas-Prieto Lourdes , Patino-Alonso Carmen , Galindo-Villardon Purificación , Pérez del Villar Luis , Martín-Seisdedos Carmen , Isidoro-Garcia María , Abad-Hernández María del Mar , Cruz-Hernández Juan Jesús , Rodríguez-Sánchez César Augusto , González-Sarmiento Rogelio , Alonso-López Diego , De Las Rivas Javier , García-Cenador Begoña , García-Criado Javier , Lee Do Yup , Bowen Benjamin , Reindl Wolfgang , Northen Trent , Mao Jian-Hua , Pérez-Losada Jesús
Published: February 2015

Background

An essential question in cancer is why individuals with the same disease have different clinical outcomes. Progress toward a more personalized medicine in cancer patients requires taking into account the underlying heterogeneity at different molecular levels.

Results

Here, we present a model in which there are complex interactions at different cellular and systemic levels that account for the heterogeneity of susceptibility to and evolution of ERBB2-positive breast cancers. Our model is based on our analyses of a cohort of mice that are characterized by heterogeneous susceptibility to ERBB2-positive breast cancers. Our analysis reveals that there are similarities between ERBB2 tumors in humans and those of backcross mice at clinical, genomic, expression, and signaling levels. We also show that mice that have tumors with intrinsically high levels of active AKT and ERK are more resistant to tumor metastasis. Our findings suggest for the first time that a site-specific phosphorylation at the serine 473 residue of AKT1 modifies the capacity for tumors to disseminate. Finally, we present two predictive models that can explain the heterogeneous behavior of the disease in the mouse population when we consider simultaneously certain genetic markers, liver cell signaling and serum biomarkers that are identified before the onset of the disease.

Conclusions

Considering simultaneously tumor pathophenotypes and several molecular levels, we show the heterogeneous behavior of ERBB2-positive breast cancer in terms of disease progression. This and similar studies should help to better understand disease variability in patient populations.
Alpha-synucleinopathy and neuropsychological symptoms in a population-based cohort of the elderly
Authors: Zaccai Julia , Brayne Carol , Matthews Fiona E , Ince Paul G ,   on behalf of the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Neuropathology Study
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Studies with strong selection biases propose that alpha-synucleinopathy (AS) spreads upwards and downwards in the neuraxis from the medulla, that amygdala-dominant AS is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and that a more severe involvement of the cerebral cortex is correlated with increasing risk of dementia. This study examines the association of AS patterns and observed neuropsychological symptoms in brains of a population-representative donor cohort.

Methods

Brains donated in 2 out of 6 cognitive function and ageing study cohorts (Cambridgeshire and Nottingham) were examined. Over 80% were >80 years old at death. The respondents were evaluated prospectively in life for cognitive decline and dementia. Immunocytochemistry for tau and alpha-synuclein (using LB509 by Zymed Laboratories) was carried out in 208 brains to establish Braak stage and the pattern and severity of AS following the dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) consensus recommendations. Dementia, specific neuropsychological measures as measured using the Cambridge cognitive examination, the presence of hallucinations and Parkinson’s disease were investigated.

Results

Four patterns of AS were observed: no AS pathology (n = 92), AS pathology following the DLB consensus guidelines (n = 33, of which five were ‘neocortical’), amygdala-predominant AS (n = 18), and other AS patterns (n = 33). Each group was subdivided according to high/low neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) Braak stage. Results showed no association between dementia and these patterns of AS, adjusting for the presence of NFT or not. The risk of visual hallucinations shows a weak association with AS in the substantia nigra (odds ratio (OR) = 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5 to 15.5; P = 0.09) and amygdala (OR = 3.0; 95% CI 0.7 to 12.3; P = 0.07). The analysis is similar for auditory hallucinations in subcortical regions.

Conclusions

Among the whole population of older people, AS does not increase the risks for dementia, irrespective of Braak stage of NFT pathology. There was no evidence that the pattern of AS pathology in cortical areas was relevant to the risk of hallucination. In general, the hypothesis that AS as measured using these methods per se is a key determinant of cognitive clinical phenotypes is not supported.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Efficacy and safety of atypical antipsychotic drug treatment for dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tan Lin , Tan Lan , Wang Hui-Fu , Wang Jun , Tan Chen-Chen , Tan Meng-Shan , Meng Xiang-Fei , Wang Chong , Yu Jin-Tai
Published: February 2015

Introduction

A wide variety of atypical antipsychotic drugs (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, ziprasidone and clozapine) are widely used in the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are commonly seen in dementia, but results from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy and safety of these agents are conflicting. We aimed to quantify the efficacy and safety of atypical antipsychotic drugs on neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for reports published before August 2014 were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials of atypical antipsychotic drugs therapy in patients with psychotic symptoms of dementia. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the trials and extracted information.

Results

Overall, 23 relevant RCTs with 5,819 participants were identified. This meta-analysis demonstrated a significant efficacy of atypical antipsychotics on psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions compared to placebo. In the meta-analysis, the weighted mean differences (WMDs) in change scores for psychiatric symptoms were in favor of aripiprazole (−4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) – 7.04 to −1.77) and risperidone (−1.48, 95% CI −2.35 to −0.61) compared to placebo. In cognitive effects, WMDs in change scores for the Clinical Global Impression-Change (CGI-C) were in favor of aripiprazole, risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine which ranged from a −0.30 points mean difference (95% CI:-0.59 to −0.01) in the aripiprazole trials to −0.43 (95% CI:-0.62 to −0.25) in the risperidone group. Patients receiving atypical antipsychotics showed no difference in risk for injuries or falls (P > 0.05), significantly higher risks (P < 0.05) for somnolence, urinary tract infection, edema and abnormal gait. However, there was no significant evidence for death reported.

Conclusion

Aripiprazole and risperidone are able to improve psychiatric symptoms and slow decline in cognition function at average 12 weeks in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. However, high adverse events may offset the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics in dementia.
Potential therapeutic effect of Allium cepa L. and quercetin in a murine model of Blomia tropicalis induced asthma
Authors: Oliveira Tatiane Teixeira , Campos Keina Maciele , Cerqueira-Lima Ana Tereza , Cana Brasil Carneiro Tamires , da Silva Velozo Eudes , Ribeiro Melo Ingrid Christie Alexandrino , Figueiredo Eugênia Abrantes , de Jesus Oliveira Eduardo , de Vasconcelos Darizy Flávia Silva Amorim , Pontes-de-Carvalho Lain Carlos , Alcântara-Neves Neuza Maria , Figueiredo Camila Alexandrina
Published: February 2015

Background

Asthma is an inflammatory condition characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and chronic inflammation. The resolution of inflammation is an essential process to treat this condition. In this study we investigated the effect ofAllium cepaL. extract (AcE) and quercetin (Qt) on cytokine and on smooth muscle contractionin vitroand its therapeutic potential in a murine model of asthma.

Methods

AcE was obtained by maceration ofAllium cepaL. and it was standardized in terms of quercetin concentration using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).In vitro, using AcE 10, 100 or 1000 μg/ml or Qt 3.5, 7.5, 15 μg/ml, we measured the concentration of cytokines in spleen cell culture supernatants, and the ability to relax tracheal smooth muscle from A/J mice.In vivo,Blomia tropicalis(BT)-sensitized A/J mice were treated with AcE 100, 1000 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg Qt. We measured cell influx in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) in lungs, serum levels of Bt-specific IgE, cytokines levels in BAL, and lung histology.

Results

We observed a reduction in the production of inflammatory cytokines, a relaxation of tracheal rings, and a reduction in total number of cells in BAL and EPO in lungs by treatment with AcE or Qt.

Conclusion

AcE and Qt have potential as antiasthmatic drugs, as they possess both immunomodulatory and bronchodilatory properties.
Metabolic effects of newly synthesized phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor 6-[4-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-4-oxobutoxy]-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one on rat adipocytes
Authors: Alinejad Bagher , Shafiee-Nick Reza , Sadeghian Hamid , Ghorbani Ahmad
Published: February 2015

Background

Clinical use of selective PDE3 inhibitors as cardiotonic agents is limited because of their chronotropic and lipolytic side effects. In our previous work, we synthesized a new PDE3 inhibitor named MC2 (6-[4-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-4-oxobutoxy]-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one) which produced a high positive inotropic action with a negative chronotropic effect. This work was done to evaluate the effects of MC2 on adipocytes and compare its effects with those of amrinone and cilostamide.

Methods

Preadipocytes were isolated from rat adipose tissue and differentiated to adipocyte in the presence of cilostamide, amrinone or MC2. Lipolysis and adipogenesis was evaluated by measuring glycerol level and Oil Red O staining, respectively. Adipocyte proliferation and apoptosis were determined with MTT assay and Annexin V/PI staining, respectively.

Results

Differentiation to adipocyte was induced by amrinone but not by cilostamide or MC2. Basal and isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis significantly increased by cilostamide (p < 0.05). Similarly, amrinone enhanced the stimulated lipolysis (p < 0.01). On the other hand, MC2 significantly decreased both adipogenesis (p < 0.05) and stimulated lipolysis (p < 0.001). Also, incubation of differentiated adipocytes with MC2 caused the loss of cell viability, which was associated with the elevation in apoptotic rate (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our data indicate that selective PDE3 inhibitors produce differential effects on adipogenesis and lipolysis. MC2 has proapoptotic and antilipolytic effects on adipocytes and does not stimulate adipogenesis. Therefore, in comparison with the clinically available selective PDE3 inhibitors, MC2 has lowest metabolic side effects and might be a good candidate for treatment of congestive heart failure.
Violent and non-violent crime against adults with severe mental
illness
Authors: Khalifeh H. , Johnson S. , Howard L. M. , Borschmann R. , Osborn D. , Dean K. , Hart C. , Hogg J. , Moran P.
Published: February 2015

Background

Little is known about the relative extent of crime against people with
severe mental illness (SMI).

Aims

To assess the prevalence and impact of crime among people with SMI
compared with the general population.

Method

A total of 361 psychiatric patients were interviewed using the national
crime survey questionnaire, and findings compared with those from 3138
general population controls participating in the contemporaneous national
crime survey.

Results

Past-year crime was experienced by 40% of patients v.
14% of controls (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.8, 95% CI 2.0–3.8); and
violent assaults by 19% of patients v. 3% of controls
(adjusted OR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.1–8.8). Women with SMI had four-, ten- and
four-fold increases in the odds of experiencing domestic, community and
sexual violence, respectively. Victims with SMI were more likely to
report psychosocial morbidity following violence than victims from the
general population.

Conclusions

People with SMI are at greatly increased risk of crime and associated
morbidity. Violence prevention policies should be particularly focused on
people with SMI.
Institutional Interests and Institutional Change. Poland on the Second Wave of Pension Reforms
Authors: Ząbkowicz Anna
Published: February 2015

The paper discusses mandatory funded pensions seen as a novelty of the first wave of "paradigmatic" pension reforms in emerging market economies and as an institutional device in the very centre of the recent post-2008 change. Evidence from Poland is examined in the context of the pension reform engineering. The central question is for whose welfare or benefit the open pension funds (OFEs) were introduced and why they have been scaled down recently. The perspective taken here is to explain the processes through reconstruction of major interests involved. Under the assumption that the state is the main force at play, the economic and political interests of this party are reconstructed and discussed. The proposition that rising deficits and debts within general government sector provided stimuli for both rise and decline of the OFEs is the very start of the diagnosis. The paper argues that apart from the undesirable outcome of current debt accounting there were fundamental reasons of strategic nature for which government lost its positive interest in the OFEs as an institutional (that is long-run) device.
Operations Performed by Business Environment Institutions in the Process of Foreign Investment Acquisition: a Case Study of Investor Service Centres
Authors: Lizińska Wiesława , Marks-Bielska Renata , Serocka Izabela
Published: February 2015

The quality of institutions is important for economic growth and inflow of foreign direct investment. Business environment institutions may introduce certain adaptations of the conditions as a response to foreign investors’ expectations. The main objective of the research was to evaluate business environment institutions, exemplified herein by Investor Service Centres, in terms of their active participation in the process of attracting foreign investors. The empirical investigation (using questionnaire forms, carried out in the first half of 2013) was completed by employees of 10 centres (62.5%). COI employees use most of the available sources of information about foreign investors. COIs are very active in their information search, and do not resort to the simplest possibilities, for example the Internet. Foreign investors contacted offices having previously found relevant information about chosen investment locations. COIs actively cooperate with other institutions in order to attract foreign investors. They undertake various activities to reach this aim, most of which demand a high degree of engagement. Most often COI employees promoted available investment sites themselves rather than delegate this task to agencies. In order to improve the efficiency of COIs, they should strive towards building relationships between institutions.
Effect of Income Inequality on Health Status in a Selection of Middle and Low Income Countries
Authors: Hajebi Elnaz , Razmi Mohammad Javad
Published: February 2015

The relationship between the public health status and income inequality has been taken into consideration in the last two decades. One of the important questions in this regard is that whether the changes in income inequality will lead to changes in health indicators or not. To answer this question, life expectancy is used as a health indicator and the Gini coefficient is used as an income inequality indicator. In this study, the relationship between income inequality and the public health has been investigated by panel data in Eviews software during 2000–2011 in 65 low-and middle-income countries. By using panel data and considering fixed effects and heterogeneity of sections, the relationship between income inequality and public health status is a significant negative relationship.
Alternative Views on Money in the First Half of the XX Century and Today
Authors: Brivers Ivars
Published: February 2015

The paper deals with the discussion on the alternative ideas on money, created by Silvio Gesell, Frederic Soddy and Karl Ballod. Particularly, the ideas of full-reserve banking, privilege of seigniorage and the principle of demurrage are discussed in the context of possible implementation of these ideas in a future economy. Large part of the paper is library-based, considering and briefly explaining the previously mentioned ideas, and supplementing them with the opinions of the modern economists. The discussion of the possible evolutionary way to implement those ideas is based on the logical analysis and conclusions, derived from the discussions of the author with academicians and financiers. The results lead to the conclusion that these ideas, which may seem unrealistic according the existing paradigm of growth, may turn out to be useful to form the basis of a new monetary and financial system within the new economic paradigm. The paper is an insight into unorthodox proposals on money, which may be useful to specialists and students, investigating monetary and financial systems.
Geochemical Assessment of Environmental Impact on Groundwater Quality in Coastal Arid Area, South Eastern Tunisia
Authors: Agoubi Belgacem , Kharroubi Adel , Abida Habib
Published: February 2015

Groundwater contamination has been recognized as one of the most serious problems in semi-arid and arid area (e.g. Zarzis aquifer, south-eastern Tunisia). The groundwater chemistry evolves rapidly and the salinity goes up considerably. A geochemical survey was carried out in which 23 groundwater samples were collected. EC, pH, TDS and major ions were measured and analyzed. Geochemical modeling, Piper Diagram, Q-mode hierarchical cluster and PCA were used to assess groundwater mineralization processes. Spatial variability of the different groundwater parameters was examined using semivariogram analysis. Results revealed that the Na-Cl-Ca-SO4-K is the dominant water type, suggesting rock-water interaction and dissolution of NaCl, CaSO4, 2H2O and KCl from sebkhas to be the main processes controlling groundwater mineralization in study area. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) showed that groundwater is grouped in two clusters: the first, located in the southern part of the study area, is influenced by salt depressions in which a high potassium concentration was found. The second cluster characterized by rock-water interaction is located in the northern par of study area. Spatial development of groundwater flow and TDS were analyzed using variographic analysis and kriged maps were plotted. The method has succeeded in effectively extracting useful information, and improving the analysis of salinity and piezometric level, thereby playing an important role in qualitative and quantitative predictions. No reversal of the hydraulic gradient is detected in the study area, which eliminates any assumption on seawater intrusion in the region.
Peran Gender dalam Pendidikan Islam
Authors: Putra Aris Try Andreas
Published: February 2015

Masalah gender merupakan isu yang sering didiskusikan pada semua aspek kehidupan, termasuk didalamnya pendidikan Islam. Istilah gender bukan hanya ditujukan kepada perempuan semata, tetapi juga kepada laki-laki. Secara faktual, perempuan mengalami posisi termarginalkan, sehingga pembahasan ini lebih banyak pada hak-hak perempuan. Sebaliknya, laki-laki dianggap berbagai orang yang memiliki tingkatan lebih tinggi di berbagai aspek kehidupan. Kesetaraan gender diharapkan dapat mendorong perubahan kerangka berpikir dalam berbagai segmen kehidupan sosial. Gender ditentukan oleh sejumlah faktor, diwujudkan, disosialisasikan, dan diimplementasikan melalui sosial dan agama. Pendidikan Islam di Indonesia diberikan kepada seluruh warga Negara. Artikel ini merupakan penjelasan tentang peran gender dalam pendidikan Islam di Indonesia.
An Estimate of the Average Number of Recessive Lethal Mutations Carried by Humans
Authors: Gao Ziyue , Waggoner Darrel , Stephens Matthew , Ober Carole , Przeworski Molly
Published: February 2015

The effects of inbreeding on human health depend critically on the number and severity of recessive, deleterious mutations carried by individuals. In humans, existing estimates of these quantities are based on comparisons between consanguineous and nonconsanguineous couples, an approach that confounds socioeconomic and genetic effects of inbreeding. To overcome this limitation, we focused on a founder population that practices a communal lifestyle, for which there is almost complete Mendelian disease ascertainment and a known pedigree. Focusing on recessive lethal diseases and simulating allele transmissions, we estimated that each haploid set of human autosomes carries on average 0.29 (95% credible interval [0.10, 0.84]) recessive alleles that lead to complete sterility or death by reproductive age when homozygous. Comparison to existing estimates in humans suggests that a substantial fraction of the total burden imposed by recessive deleterious variants is due to single mutations that lead to sterility or death between birth and reproductive age. In turn, comparison to estimates from other eukaryotes points to a surprising constancy of the average number of recessive lethal mutations across organisms with markedly different genome sizes.
MOLECULAR CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL THERMOSTABLE LIPASE FROM SHEWANELLA PUTREFACIENS AND USING ENZYMATIC BIODIESEL PRODUCTION
Authors: Akbas Fahri , Arman Kaifee , Aydin Sinirlioglu Zeynep , Sinirlioglu Deniz
Published: February 2015

A novel thermostable lipase from Shewanella putrefaciens was identified, expressed in Escherichia coli, characterized and used in biodiesel production. Enzyme characterization was carried out by enzyme assay, SDS-PAGE and other biochemical reactions. The recombinant lipase was found to have a molecular mass of 29 kDa and exhibited lipase activity when Tween 80 was used as the substrate. The purified enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 5.0 and at 80°C. The recombinant lipase was used for the transesterification of canola oil and waste oil. The enzyme retains 50% of its activity at 90°C for 30 minutes. It is also able to retain 20% of its activity even at 100 °C for 20 minutes. These properties of the obtained new recombinant thermostable lipase make it promising as a biocatalyst for industrial processes.
THE GLUCOSE EFFECT ON LINCOMYCIN PRODUCTION BY STREPTOMYCES LINCOLNENSIS VAR. LINCOLNENSIS DMS 40 355 ON SYNTHETIC MEDIA
Authors: Majerčíková Kamila , Labuda Roman , Jaunecker GÃ¼nter , Javoreková SoÅa
Published: February 2015

The objective of this study was to obtain the information about the lincomycin production by type strain Streptomyces lincolnensis var. lincolnensis DSM 40 355 on the synthetic medium. In order to improve the productivity, the ways of inoculation, effects of the medium components and fermentation time were investigated. The production of lincomycin was carried out at 30 °C on rotary shakers at 180 rpm and was tracked on 3rd, 7th, 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th day of cultivation by using HPLC analysis. The results show that the highest production was observed on 16th day of cultivation on production M2 medium at 30 ± 1 ˚C, after inoculation with 1 ml of preculture M1 medium, and after an additional supplementation of the media with 0.5 g of glucose per 50 ml medium on 7th day of cultivation. Preculture medium application and glucose addition had positive effect, resulting in a remarkable increase in the lincomycin production.
FUNCTIONAL MECHANISMS OF PROBIOTICS
Authors: Kumar Bajaj Bijender , J.J. Claes Ingmar , Lebeer Sarah
Published: February 2015

Probiotics are the live microorganisms which when ingested in adequate amounts confer health benefits. The strains most frequently used as probiotics include Lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria and yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. However, several other bacterial strains are being investigated for potential probiotic value viz. Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, among others. Significant therapeutic potential of probiotics has been demonstrated in several in vitro studies and that involving animal models and humans. Despite intense focus on probiotics research the mechanisms responsible for health benefits are not yet completely understood. Several important mechanisms have been proposed such as improvement of gut epithelial barrier function, Immunomodulatory effects, degradation of toxin receptors, competition for nutrients, production of inhibitory substances, antiproliferative effects, blocking of adhesion sites and modulation of gut microbiota. Bacterial cell components such as DNA or peptidoglycan may also be involved in functional mechanism of probiotics. Effectiveness of a probiotic for potential application as prophylactic or treatment agent for certain ailment is determined by its ability to possess all or most of these characteristic features. The current article describes the general functional mechanisms of probiotics.
PROPAGATION OF Portulaca oleracea L. IN LIQUID MEDIUM: IMPLICATIONS OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS IN CULTURE
Authors: S. Shekhawat Mahipal , Kannan N. , Manokari M.
Published: February 2015

Portulaca oleracea L. is a medicinal plant, growing in warm and moist regions of north hemisphere of the world. A protocol for in vitro propagation using nodal shoot segments as explants has been outlined. The percent shoot response with shoot induction rate, 6.4 ± 0.7 shoots per explant, was achieved when cultured on agar-gelled Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 2.0 mg/L of BAP (6-benzylaminopurine). The cultures were amplified by passages on MS medium with 1.0 mg/L each BAP and kinetin (Kn). The best shoot amplification (37.5±0.9 shoots per vessel) was achieved by subculturing of in vitro regenerated shoot clumps on liquid MS medium. Shoots regenerated in vitro by both the processes were rooted on ½ strength of MS medium + 2.0 mg/L of indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). Ninety six percent of the shoots rooted in vitro. The in vitro rooted plantlets were hardened under different regimes of temperature and humidity in the greenhouse. The hardened plantlets were transferred to mixture of soil and manure in polybags.
AUTOCHTHONOUS PHYTASE-PRODUCING BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACTS OF FOUR INDIAN FRESHWATER TELEOSTS: CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION
Authors: Kumar Dan Suhas , Banerjee Goutam , Nandi Ankita , Ghosh Pinki , Kumar Ray Arun
Published: February 2015

Phytase producing autochthonous bacteria have been isolated from the proximal intestine (PI) and distal intestine (DI) of three Indian major carps, rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) and one minor carp, bata (Labeo bata). In modified phytase screening medium (MPSM), phytase-producing strains were recorded at higher densities in the PI of rohu and minimum in the PI of bata. Out of 45 isolates, 4 bacterial strains were selected as potent phytase producers according to quantitative enzyme assay. Maximum phytase activity was detected in LRF5 isolated from the PI of L. rohita followed by CCF2 isolated from the PI of C. catla. Among the selected isolates, three (LRF5, LRH2 and CMH1) were Gram positive rods, whereas CCF2 was Gram positive coccus. All the four isolates could tolerate a wide range of temperature (25–42 °C) and pH (6.0-9.0). The isolate LRH2 was most thermostable as it was able to survive up to 55 oC. On the basis of 16SrDNA partial sequence analysis, isolates LRF5 and CCF2 were identified as Bacillus cereus (GenBank Accession no. KC894957.1) and Staphylococcus caprae (Accession no. KC894956.1), respectively. Whereas, the isolates LRH2 and CMH1 were most closely related to Bacillus licheniformis (Accession no. KF011267.1) and Lysinibacillus fusiformis (Accession No. KF011266.1), respectively.