bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High cortisol and cortisone levels are associated with breast milk dioxin concentrations in Vietnamese women
Authors: Kido Teruhiko , Dao Tung Van , Ho Manh Dung , Duc Dang Nhu , Pham Ngoc Thien , Okamoto Rie , Pham Tai The , Maruzeni Shoko , Nishijo Muneko , Nakagawa Hidewaki , Honma Seijiro , Le Son Ke , Nguyen Hung Ngoc
Published: October 2013

Objective

Dioxin (polychlorinated dibenzodioxins+polychlorinated dibenzofurans) is one of the most toxic chemical substances known. Although it is suspected to cause endocrine disruption, very few epidemiological studies have been carried out on its effects on human steroid hormones. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of dioxin exposure with steroid hormone levels in the saliva and serum of Vietnamese women.

Study design

Two areas, namely Phu Cat (hot spot) and Kim Bang (nonexposed area), were selected for the study. The study subjects consisted of 51 and 58 women respectively. Saliva, blood, and breast milk samples were collected from the subjects in both the areas.

Methods

Cortisol, cortisone, DHEA, androstenedione, estrone, and estradiol levels in serum and saliva were determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; dioxin concentrations in breast milk were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

Results

Dioxin concentrations in the breast milk of women from the dioxin hot spot were three to four times higher than those in the breast milk of women from the nonexposed area. Good correlations were found between the levels of six steroid hormones in saliva and those in serum respectively. Salivary and serum cortisol and cortisone levels in women from the dioxin hot spot were significantly higher than those in women from the nonexposed area (P<0.001) and those in all the subjects were positively associated with dioxin concentrations in Vietnamese women (P<0.01).

Conclusion

These results suggest that dioxin influences steroidogenesis in humans. Saliva samples can be used for hormone analysis and are therefore excellent specimens in epidemiological studies.
AKT is involved in granulosa cell autophagy regulation via mTOR signaling during rat follicular development and atresia
Authors: Choi JongYeob , Jo MinWha , Lee EunYoung , Choi DooSeok
Published: October 2013

In this study, we examined whether granulosa cell autophagy during follicular development and atresia was regulated by the class I phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway, which is known to control the activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a major negative regulator of autophagy. Ovaries and granulosa cells were obtained using an established gonadotropin-primed immature rat model that induces follicular development and atresia. Autophagy was evaluated by measuring the expression level of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II) using western blots and immunohistochemistry. The activity of AKT and mTOR was also examined by observing the phosphorylation of AKT and ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) respectively. After gonadotropin injection, LC3-II expression was suppressed and phosphorylation of AKT and S6K increased in rat granulosa cells. By contrast, gonadotropin withdrawal by metabolic clearance promoted LC3-II expression and decreased phosphorylation of AKT and S6K. In addition,in-vitroFSH treatment of rat granulosa cells also indicated inhibition of LC3-II expression accompanied by a marked increase in phosphorylation of AKT and S6K. Inhibition of AKT phosphorylation using AKT inhibitor VIII suppressed FSH-mediated phosphorylation of S6K, followed by an increase in LC3-II expression. Furthermore, co-treatment with FSH and AKT inhibitor increased the levels of apoptosis and cell death of granulosa cells compared with the single treatment with FSH. Taken together, our findings indicated that AKT-mediated activation of mTOR suppresses granulosa cell autophagy during follicular development and is involved in the regulation of apoptotic cell death.
Developing Monolithically Integrated CdTe Devices Deposited by AP-MOCVD
Authors: Rugen-Hankey S.L. , Barrioz V. , Clayton A. J. , Kartopu G. , Irvine S.J.C. , White C. , Rutterford G. , Foster-Turner G.
Published: October 2013

Thin film deposition process and integrated scribing technologies are key to forming large area Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) modules. In this paper, baseline Cd1-xZnxS/CdTe solar cells were deposited by atmospheric-pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition (AP-MOCVD) onto commercially available ITO coated boro-aluminosilicate glass substrates. Thermally evaporated gold contacts were compared with a screen printed stack of carbon/silver back contacts in order to move towards large area modules. P2 laser scribing parameters have been reported along with a comparison of mechanical and laser scribing process for the scribe lines, using a UV Nd:YAG laser at 355 nm and 532 nm fiber laser.
Observation of Sodium Diffusion in CIGS Solar Cells with Mo/TCO/Mo Hybrid Back Contacts
Authors: Kamikawa Yukiko , Komaki Hironori , Furue Shigenori , Yamada Akimasa , Ishizuka Shogo , Matsubara Koji , Shibata Hajime , Niki Shigeru
Published: October 2013

CIGS solar cells were fabricated on a hybrid back contact comprised of a TCO layer (ZnO:Ga (GZO)) and Mo layers. It was discovered that an additional Mo layer introduced underneath the TCO layer promotes sodium diffusion through the TCO back contact into the upper CIGS absorber layer. Improvement in VOC and JSC values relative to those of sodium-free solar cells was achieved with the Mo/GZO/Mo hybrid back contact as a result of the enhanced sodium diffusion.
Modification of the Optical and Electrical Properties CdS Films by Annealing in Neutral and Reducing Atmospheres
Authors: Pantoja Enriquez J. , Pérez Hernandez G. , Mathew X. , Ibáñez Duharte G. , Moreira J. , Reyes Nava J. A. , Barrionuevo J. J. , Hernandez L. A. , Castillo R. , Sebastian P. J.
Published: October 2013

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) films were deposited onto glass substrates by chemical bath deposition (CBD) from a bath containing cadmium acetate, ammonium acetate, thiourea, and ammonium hydroxide. The CdS thin films were annealed in argon (neutral atmosphere) or hydrogen (reducing atmosphere) for 1 h at various temperatures (300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 °C). The changes in optical and electrical properties of annealed treated CdS thin films were analyzed. The results showed that, the band-gap and resistivity depend on the post-deposition annealing atmosphere and temperatures. Thus, it was found that these properties of the films, were found to be affected by various processes with opposite effects, some beneficial and others unfavorable. The energy gap and resistivity for different annealing atmospheres was seen to oscillate by thermal annealing. Recrystallization, oxidation, surface passivation, sublimation and materials evaporation were found the main factors of the heat-treatment process responsible for this oscillating behavior. Annealing over 400 °C was seen to degrade the optical and electrical properties of the film.
Electroluminescence of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells and modules
Authors: Rau U. , Müller T. C. M. , Tran T. M. H. , Pieters B. E. , Gerber A.
Published: October 2013

Fundamental aspects of (electro-)luminescence of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells and modules are investigated by means of spectrally and spatially resolved measurements. The validity of the reciprocity relation between spectrally resolved electroluminescence emission and photovoltaic quantum efficiency is verified for the case of industrially produced ZnO/CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 heterojunction solar cells. Further we find that photo- and electroluminescent emission in these devices obey a superposition principle only in a limited range of the applied electrical or illumination bias. This range depends on the light soaking history of the sample and extends up to an injected current density of approximately 15 mAcm-2 after 3 h of light soaking at a temperature of 400 K. In the state prior to light soaking this range is limited to 4 mAcm-2. At higher bias, a characteristic discrepancy between electroluminescence and electro-modulated photoluminescence appears. We attribute this anomaly to a potential barrier behavior close to the CdS/ Cu(In,Ga)Se2 interface. Metastable defect reactions induced by holes injected into the space charge region partly reduce this barrier. We further find that the luminescence efficiency is enhanced by a factor of 3 by light soaking at 400 K. Spatially resolved electroluminescence measurements conducted during application of voltage or current bias at ambient temperature in the dark are qualitatively compatible with the conclusions drawn from the spectrally resolved measurements.
Analysis of NaF precursor layers during the different stages of the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 coevaporation process
Authors: Edoff M. , Salomé P.M.P. , Hultqvist A. , Fjällström V.
Published: October 2013

NaF precursor layers used for providing Na to Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) grown on Na-free substrates have been studied. The NaF layers were deposited on top of the Mo back contact prior to the CIGS co-evaporation process. The co-evaporation process was interrupted after the preheating steps, and after part of the CIGS layer was grown. Completed samples were also studied. After the preheating, the NaF layers were analyzed with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and after growing part and all of the CIGS film, the Mo/NaF/CIGS stack was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The NaF layers were found to be stable in thickness and composition during the pre-heating in selenium containing atmosphere before the CIGS process. The TEM analyses on the partly grown samples show a layer at the CIGS/Mo interface, which we interpret as a partly consumed NaF layer. This is corroborated by the SIMS analysis. In finalized samples the results are less clear, but TEM images show an increased porosity at the position of the NaF layer.
Normal straight gays
Authors: Bogetić Ksenija
Published: October 2013

This paper is aimed at contributing to the sociolinguistic study of gender and sexuality by investigating collocation patterns in a corpus of Serbian gay teenagers’ online personal ads. Lexical collocations of words denoting masculinity and non-masculinity are found to index the dominant values among the ad writers, revealing strong associations of masculinity with positive characteristics, and effeminacy with a range of negative properties. It is argued that in such subtle but salient ways the ideological construct of hegemonic masculinity is perpetuated by these teenagers, while the cultural stigma associated with homosexuality is discursively shifted only to non-masculine gay men. A process here termed recursive marginalization is used to account for these patterns. The article also aims to make a methodological point by demonstrating that corpus-based collocation analysis offers a productive means for understanding ideology, as lexical co-occurrence may shed new light on complex webs of identities, discourses and social representations in a community.
Patrick Olivelle, Janice Leoshko and Himanshu Prabha Ra (eds), Reimagining Asoka: Memory and History
Authors: Guruge Ananda W. P.
Published: October 2013

Patrick Olivelle, Janice Leoshko and Himanshu Prabha Ra (eds), Reimagining Asoka: Memory and History. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2012. xiv + 450pp. INR2065.00. ISBN 0-19-807800-5 (hardback).
Romila Thapar, Sakuntala: Texts, Reading, Histories
Authors: Sengupta Saswati
Published: October 2013

Romila Thapar, Sakuntala: Texts, Reading, Histories. New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. xii + 271 pp. $29. ISBN: 978-0-231-15655-4 (paperback).
Tracy Pintchman and Rita D. Sherma (eds), Woman and Goddess in Hinduism: Reinterpretations and Re-envisionings
Authors: Ferrari Fabrizio M.
Published: October 2013

Tracy Pintchman and Rita D. Sherma (eds), Woman and Goddess in Hinduism: Reinterpretations and Re-envisionings. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. Ix + 243 pp. £55.00. ISBN 9780230113695 (hardback).
Sparrows and Lions
Authors: Nesbitt Eleanor
Published: October 2013

Given that the Sikhs’ scriptures – the utterances of their Gurus - are works of poetry, this article majors on the daily presence of insects, birds, fish and mammals in the recitation of the image-rich poesy that makes up the Guru Granth Sahib. Appreciation of this imagery requires understanding of the rural Punjabi context and also of earlier Indic compositions, whether sacred or secular. The introduction of certain birds and animals in Sikh parables and miracles will receive attention, and – inevitably in view of the equation of male Sikhs with Singhs (lions, or is it tigers?) – ‘big cats’ will be centre-stage. A (Quaker) poet’s bidding ‘Do not observe, become…’ will provide a stimulus to understand the more than symbolic animal presence in the Sikh universe. So too will ethical issues, centred on dietary discipline (vegetarian or non-vegetarian) and the legitimacy of hunting (the pursuit of two Gurus). Here consideration of Sikh’s relationship to the older, wider Indic matrix calls for discussion, and highlights the differentiation of groupings within the Panth with regard to meat-eating, cow-slaughter etc. Sikh tradition affords creative resources for reconnecting with the environment in the era of a dawning ecumenical attention to ecological distress, whilst at the same time Sikhs, especially in diaspora, are increasingly distanced, culturally and linguistically, from the Gurus’ imagery and from interaction with non-human animals.
Physical activity indicators in adults from a state capital in the South of Brazil: a comparison between telephone and face-to-face surveys
Authors: Del Duca Giovâni Firpo , Nahas Markus Vinicius , Silva Diego Augusto Santos , Hallal Pedro Curi , Malta Deborah Carvalho , Peres Marco Aurélio
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to compare estimates of prevalence of physical activity indicators and associated sociodemographic factors obtained from telephone and face-to-face interviews with adults. Data from a cross-sectional populationbased survey of adults living in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil was compared to data collected through the telephonic system VIGITEL. There was no significant difference between the results from telephone interviews (n = 1,475) and face-to-face interviews (n = 1,720) with respect to prevalence of sufficient leisure time physical activity (19.3% versus 15.5%, respectively), sufficient leisure time and/or commuting physical activity (35.1% versus 29.1%, respectively) and physical inactivity (16.2% versus 12.6%, respectively). Some differences were observed with respect to the sociodemographic factors associated with leisure time and/or commuting physical activity and physical inactivity. The two techniques yielded generally similar results with respect to prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated to physical activity indicators.
A parkable piezoprobe for measuring cv at shallow depths for offshore design
Authors: CHATTERJEE S. , RANDOLPH M.F. , WHITE D.J.
Published: October 2013

The coefficient of consolidation (cv) at shallow depth is an important parameter for the design of many offshore facilities, particularly pipelines. This paper sets out the concept, operation and interpretation of a new simple tool for measuring cv in situ at shallow depths. This tool is a large cylindrical penetrometer with a hemispherical tip, which is embedded statically under self-weight, for example from a winch. After embedment, the tool is ‘parked' – not requiring support from a drill-string – and the pore pressure dissipation is monitored. This ‘parkable' feature allows the tool to be added to conventional drilling or penetrometer systems and used in parallel. The operation of the tool has been simulated using large-deformation finite-element analysis with the Cam Clay plasticity soil model. Results in the form of the normalised undrained penetration response and pore water pressure dissipation–time history are presented. The penetration response indicates the weight requirement of the device. The dissipation curves allow cv to be determined from field measurements of pore pressure.
Diagnostic view of road projects in Malawi
Authors: Emuze Fidelis , Kadangwe Samuel
Published: October 2013

In sub-Saharan Africa, road is the dominant mode of transportation. As such, government and developmental agencies in the region usually invest in road projects significantly. However, the delivery of road projects that are supposed to act as the catalyst for socioeconomic development is fast becoming an uphill task in Malawi. A number of problems have been reported in the media. This development led to a preliminary diagnostic study that was aimed at examining the barriers that are hindering the successful execution of road projects in Malawi in 2012. The investigation that was conducted among engineers who are employed by the agency responsible for road projects in Malawi and civil engineering contractors used a self-administered questionnaire for data collection. Salient findings suggest that delayed payment by clients severely marginalises contractor performance and delivered projects are seldom defect free. Considering Malawi's heavy dependence on roads as a means of transportation, it is crucial that these barriers be addressed without delay.
Rethinking the Vulnerability of Minority Populations in Research
Authors: Rogers Wendy , Lange Margaret Meek
Published: October 2013

The Belmont Report, produced in 1979 by a United States government commission, includes minority populations among its list of vulnerable research participants. In this article, we consider some previous attempts to understand the vulnerability of minorities in research, and then provide our own account.

First we examine the question of the representation of minorities in research. Then we argue that the best understanding of minorities, vulnerability, and research will begin with a broad understanding of the risk of individual members of minority groups to poor health outcomes. We offer a typology of vulnerability to help with this task.

Finally, we show how researchers should be guided by this broad analysis in the design and execution of their research.
Suicide Mortality Following Nursing Home Discharge in the Department of Veterans Affairs Health System
Authors: McCarthy John F. , Szymanski Benjamin R. , Karlin Bradley E. , Katz Ira R.
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We assessed suicide rates up to 6 months following discharge from US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nursing homes.

Methods. In VA Minimum Data Set (MDS) records, we identified 281 066 live discharges from the 137 VA nursing homes during fiscal years 2002 to 2008. We used MDS and administrative data to assess resident age, gender, behaviors, pain, and indications of psychoses, bipolar disorder, dementia, and depression. We identified vital status and suicide mortality within 6 months of discharge through National Death Index searches.

Results. Suicide rates within 6 months of discharge were 88.0 per 100 000 person-years for men and 89.4 overall. Standardized mortality ratios relative to age- and gender-matched individuals in the VA patient population were 2.3 for men (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9, 2.8) and 2.4 overall (95% CI = 2.0, 2.9). In multivariable proportional hazards regression analyses, resident characteristics, diagnoses, behaviors, and pain were not significantly associated with suicide risk.

Conclusions. Suicide risk was elevated following nursing home discharge. This underscores the importance of ongoing VA efforts to enhance discharge planning and timely postdischarge follow-up.
Social Cohesion and Mortality: A Survival Analysis of Older Adults in Japan
Authors: Inoue Sachiko , Yorifuji Takashi , Takao Soshi , Doi Hiroyuki , Kawachi Ichiro
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We examined the association between social cohesion and mortality in a sample of older adults in Japan.

Methods. Data were derived from a cohort study of elderly individuals (65–84 years) in Shizuoka Prefecture; 14 001 participants were enrolled at baseline (1999) and followed up in 2002, 2006, and 2009. Among the 11 092 participants for whom we had complete data, 1427 had died during follow-up. We examined the association between social cohesion (assessed at both the community and individual levels) and subsequent mortality after control for baseline and time-varying covariates. We used clustered proportional hazard regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs).

Results. After control for individual characteristics, individual perceptions of community cohesion were associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.73, 0.84) as well as mortality from cardiovascular disease (HR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.67, 0.84), pulmonary disease (HR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.58, 0.75), and all other causes (HR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.66, 0.89). However, no statistically significant relationship was found between community cohesion and mortality risk.

Conclusions. Among the elderly in Japan, more positive individual perceptions of community cohesion are associated with reduced risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality.
Biomarker Evidence of Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Children Participating in Lead Screening
Authors: Joseph Anne , Spector Logan , Wickham Katherine , Janis Gregory , Winickoff Jonathan , Lindgren Bruce , Murphy Sharon
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We assessed tobacco smoke exposure (TSE), defined according to detection of cotinine, in dried blood spots collected from children for lead screening.

Methods. Dried blood spots collected from a national sample of 1541 Black and White children and submitted to a commercial laboratory for lead analysis were analyzed for cotinine. We used an anonymous administrative data set including information on children's characteristics to conduct univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results. Cotinine was detected in 61% of dried blood spots; 17% of samples had cotinine levels above 3 nanograms per gram. Median cotinine levels were significantly higher among Black than White children (0.66 ng/g vs 0.30 ng/g) and among Medicaid recipients (0.94 ng/g vs < 0.3 ng/g). In multivariate analyses, significant increases in cotinine levels were associated with Black (vs White) race, older age, Medicaid coverage, higher state smoking rate, and higher average winter temperature. Detectable cotinine levels were significantly associated with higher lead levels.

Conclusions. TSE is highly prevalent among children undergoing lead screening, and exposure levels are greater among Black children and children on Medicaid. TSE may contribute to lead exposure. Concurrent lead screening and biological screening for TSE may be a feasible approach to increasing childhood TSE detection.
Ethical Issues in Conducting Research With Deaf Populations
Authors: McKee Michael , Schlehofer Deirdre , Thew Denise
Published: October 2013

Deaf American Sign Language (ASL) users represent a small population at risk for marginalization from research and surveillance activities resulting from cultural, language, and ethical challenges. The Deaf community’s view of deafness as a cultural identity, rather than a disability, contradicts the medical community’s perception of deafness as a disease or deficiency in need of correction or elimination.

These differences continue to have significant cultural and social implications within the Deaf community, resulting in mistrust of research opportunities. Two particularly contentious ethical topics for the Deaf community are the absence of community representation in genetic research and the lack of accessible informed consents and research materials.

This article outlines a series of innovative strategies and solutions to these issues, including the importance of community representation and collaboration with researchers studying deaf populations.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D in the Range of 20 to 100 ng/mL and Incidence of Kidney Stones
Authors: Nguyen Stacie , Baggerly Leo , French Christine , Heaney Robert P. , Gorham Edward D. , Garland Cedric F.
Published: October 2013

Objectives. Increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels can prevent a wide range of diseases. There is a concern about increasing kidney stone risk with vitamin D supplementation. We used GrassrootsHealth data to examine the relationship between vitamin D status and kidney stone incidence.

Methods. The study included 2012 participants followed prospectively for a median of 19 months. Thirteen individuals self-reported kidney stones during the study period. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to assess the association between vitamin D status and kidney stones.

Results. We found no statistically significant association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and kidney stones (P = .42). Body mass index was significantly associated with kidney stone risk (odds ratio = 3.5; 95% confidence interval = 1.1, 11.3).

Conclusions. We concluded that a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 20 to 100 nanograms per milliliter has no significant association with kidney stone incidence.
Evaluation of routine hematology profile results and fructosamine, thyroxine, insulin, and proinsulin concentrations in lean, overweight, obese, and diabetic cats
Authors: Hoenig Margarethe , Traas Anne M. , Schaeffer David J.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To compare results of hematologic testing in nondiabetic and diabetic cats to identify possible indicators of alterations in long-term glucose control.

Design—Cross-sectional study.

Animals—117 client-owned cats (76 nondiabetic cats [25 with normal body condition, 27 overweight, and 24 obese] and 41 naïve [n = 21] and treated [20] diabetic cats).

Procedures—Signalment and medical history, including data on feeding practices, were collected. A body condition score was assigned, and feline body mass index was calculated. Complete blood counts and serum biochemical analyses, including determination of fructosamine, thyroxine, insulin, and proinsulin concentrations, were performed. Urine samples were obtained and analyzed.

Results—Glucose and fructosamine concentrations were significantly higher in the naïve and treated diabetic cats than in the nondiabetic cats. Insulin and proinsulin concentrations were highest in the obese cats but had great individual variation. Few other variables were significantly different among cat groups. Most cats, even when obese or diabetic, had unlimited access to food.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that cats at risk of developing diabetes (ie, overweight and obese cats) could not be distinguished from cats with a normal body condition on the basis of results of isolated hematologic testing. A longitudinal study is indicated to follow nondiabetic cats over a period of several years to identify those that eventually develop diabetes. Findings also suggested that dietary education of cat owners might be inadequate.
Association between β-hydroxybutyrate concentration at surgery for correction of left-displaced abomasum in dairy cows and removal from the herd after surgery
Authors: Croushore William S. , Ospina Paula A. , Welch David C. , Zawisza Daniel J. , Nydam Daryl V.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To estimate the sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and predictive values of blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations in dairy cows immediately prior to surgical correction of left-displaced abomasum (LDA) for determining associations between BHB concentration and removal from the herd ≤ 30 days after surgery and to evaluate postsurgical risk of removal for cows with the BHB concentration that had highest sensitivity and specificity for predicting this outcome.

Design—Prospective cohort study.

Animals—136 dairy cows with LDA diagnosed between 5 and 30 days in lactation (ie, days in milk).

Procedures—Blood BHB concentration was measured immediately prior to surgery. All cows underwent surgical correction of LDA while standing. Follow-up information was obtained ≥ 30 days after surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to estimate a critical threshold value for BHB concentration that was associated with removal from the herd, and this value was used in Poisson regression to estimate risk ratio for the same outcome.

Results—While controlling for parity in the model, cows with a BHB concentration < 1.2 mmol/L at the time of LDA surgery were 2.5 times as likely (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 5.0) to be removed from the herd ≤ 30 days after surgery, compared with cows that had a BHB concentration ≥ 1.2 mmol/L.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that blood BHB concentration in dairy cows undergoing surgical correction of LDA may potentially be a useful prognostic indicator for the likelihood of removal from the herd ≤ 30 days after surgery. Further research is needed to evaluate other risk factors that may be associated with this outcome.
Factors affecting use of veterinarians by small-scale food animal operations
Authors: Beam Andrea L. , Thilmany Dawn D. , Garber Lindsey P. , Van Metre David C. , Pritchard Randy W. , Kopral Christine A. , Olea-Popelka Francisco J.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To identify factors associated with use of a veterinarian by small-scale food animal operations.

Design—Cross-sectional descriptive survey.

Sample—16,000 small-scale farm or ranch operations in all 50 states.

Procedures—Surveys were conducted via mail or telephone during 2011 for small-scale operations (gross annual agricultural sales between $10,000 and $499,999) in which an animal or animal product comprised the highest percentage of annual sales.

Results—8,186 (51.2%) operations responded to the survey; 7,849 surveys met the inclusion criteria. For 6,511 (83.0%) operations, beef cattle were the primary animal species. An estimated 82.1% of operations (95% confidence interval [CI], 81.1% to 83.0%) had a veterinarian available ≤ 29 miles away; 1.4% (95% CI, 1.2% to 1.7%) did not have a veterinarian available within 100 miles of the operation. Operations for which the nearest veterinarian was ≥ 100 miles away or for which a veterinarian was not available were located in 40 US states. Overall, 61.7% of operations (95% CI, 60.6% to 62.9%) had used a veterinarian during the 12 months prior to the survey. Producers with college degrees were significantly more likely to use a veterinarian (675%) versus those who did not complete high school (52.9%).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results of this study indicated most small-scale operations had adequate access to veterinarians during 2011, but there seemed to be localized shortages of veterinarians in many states.
Celecoxib confinement within mesoporous silicon for enhanced oral bioavailability
Authors: Wang Feng , Barnes Timothy J. , Prestidge Clive A.
Published: October 2013

We investigate the physicochemical characteristics of celecoxib (CEL) entrapped within particles of an oxidized porous silicon matrix (pSiox); determine the oral dose response of CEL compared to pure drug and innovator formulation; develop in vivo-in vitro correlation (IVIVC). CEL was loaded into a pSiox matrix by solvent partitioning, with the physical state of the CEL characterized by FTIR, DSC, TGA and XRD, and correlated with in vitro dissolution behavior. Single dose pharmacokinetic parameters of orally dosed CEL were determined in fasted rats for aqueous suspensions of pure CEL, Celebrexr and CEL-pSiox microparticles. Physicochemical testing of CEL-pSiox formulation confirmed the entrapment of CEL within porous nanostructure in an amorphous or non-crystalline form. CEL-pSiox demonstrated superior pharmacokinetics compared with CEL particles or Celebrexr, i.e. increased absolute bioavailability (96.2% vs. 65.2% vs. 88.1%), increased Cmax (0.91 ± 0.09 μg/mL vs. 0.50 ± 0.16 μg/mL vs. 0.73 ± 0.23 μg/mL) and reduced Tmax (1.0 ± 0.0 h vs. 2.8 ± 0.8 h vs. 3.4 ± 1.0 h). Single point correlation was established between in vitro dissolution efficiency (% DE) and in vivo absolute bioavailability or Cmax . Porous silicon microparticles can be formulated as an effective orally dosed solid dispersion preparation for celecoxib
Lessons Learned from Swinburne: A Critique of Richard Swinburne's Revelation: From Metaphor to Analogy
Authors: McLean B.H.
Published: October 2013

Abstract:

At the outset of his book Revelation: From Metaphor to Analogy (1992), Richard Swinburne differentiates between “sentences” and “statements,” a distinction that disengages his quest for rational revelation from biblical studies and the latter's historical treatment of biblical texts. Not only does this strategy reinstate the obsolete traditional form/content binarism, and presumes a correspondence account of truth, it also ignores the specific socio-cultural contexts and strategic aims behind all biblical texts. Swinburne's assertion that any God, being “God,” would reveal “himself” through prophets, perform miracles, and become incarnate as an atoning saviour, arises out of the culturally specific, Western, Christian tradition. His understanding of biblical miracles as violations of the laws of nature is based on a seventeenth-century understanding of miracles, as propounded by the British empiricist John Locke. His “four tests of [true] revelation” simultaneously grant preferential treatment to the Christian revelation, while facilitating the dismissal of [what he terms] “non-Christian” religions. His newly added section (2007) entitled “Moral Teaching” demonstrates how Swinburne's “revelation” (as a discursive practice) participates in non-discursive apparatuses of power and domination over women and lgbtq communities. Thus, in the end, this neo-conservative philosophical discourse on “revelation” employs the illusion of truth to extend itself as power over those who have been customarily marginalized by traditional forms of Christianity.
'I Am Muslim but I Am the European One'
Authors: Zadrozna Anna
Published: October 2013

Muslims have been present in the Republic of Macedonia for more than five hundred years, yet they remain constantly under discussion. Contemporary Muslims negotiate various ethnic or national identifications and differently evaluate their past. Moreover, while many Macedonian Muslims migrate to Western Europe and thus engage in transnational practices, many of them are trying to place themselves between what they conceive of as 'modern-European' and 'religious-traditional'. In this essay I present some of the everyday practices and narratives in which Muslims from the western part of the Republic of Macedonia discuss their religious identities. Based on my ethnographic fieldwork, I describe vernacular perspectives on 'Muslim identity' in relation to nationality, ethnicity, gender and local tradition, and I analyse the ways in which different modes of identifications are being performed and presented. By illustrating various contexts in which Muslim belonging is being emphasised and labelled by social actors, I envisage its symbolic meanings in perspective of local and global hegemonies.
On the Asphalt Path to Divinity
Authors: Kołczyńska Marta
Published: October 2013

This article presents one of the many faces of contemporary Islam in the Balkans, that of the Bektashi community in Albania, and specifically the Sari Saltik teqe (sanctuary) on Kruja mountain. In so doing, it sheds light on the role of religion in 'post-atheist' Albania, while taking into account major changes to the religious landscape in the post-communist, and arguably post-transformation context. The essay ethnographically examines the challenges posed by societal changes for the Kruja teqe, which is undergoing its own micro-scale technological revolution in the form of a newly constructed asphalt road to the top of the mountain, which will likely have far-reaching consequences for the shrine and the whole local community. The essay thus illustrates how Albanian society has become entangled with the turbulent processes of modernisation, increased mobility and the globalising world.
Salen–Cu(II) Complex Catalysed N-Arylation of Pyrazole under Mild Conditions
Authors: Liu Yan , Liu Wei , Zhang Qin , Liu Ping , Xie Jian-Wei , Dai Bin
Published: October 2013

Three inexpensive and air-/moisture-stable complexes (Salden)Cu (Salden = N, N’-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-dimethylethylenediamine), (Saldch)Cu (Saldch = N, N’-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexenediamine), and (Salph)Cu (salph = N, N’-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine) were synthesised and evaluated as catalysts for the N-arylation of pyrazole with aryl halides. A variety of aryl iodides and bromides underwent coupling with pyrazole, promoted by the (Saldch)Cu complex, in moderate to excellent yields without the protection by an inert gas.
Pattern-Guided k-Anonymity
Authors: Bredereck Robert , Nichterlein André , Niedermeier Rolf
Published: October 2013

We suggest a user-oriented approach to combinatorial data anonymization. A data matrix is called k-anonymous if every row appears at least k times—the goal of the NP-hard k-ANONYMITY problem then is to make a given matrix k-anonymous by suppressing (blanking out) as few entries as possible. Building on previous work and coping with corresponding deficiencies, we describe an enhanced k-anonymization problem called PATTERN-GUIDED k-ANONYMITY, where the users specify in which combinations suppressions may occur. In this way, the user of the anonymized data can express the differing importance of various data features. We show that PATTERN-GUIDED k-ANONYMITY is NP-hard. We complement this by a fixed-parameter tractability result based on a “data-driven parameterization” and, based on this, develop an exact integer linear program (ILP)-based solution method, as well as a simple, but very effective, greedy heuristic. Experiments on several real-world datasets show that our heuristic easily matches up to the established “Mondrian” algorithm for k-ANONYMITY in terms of the quality of the anonymization and outperforms it in terms of running time.
Biocatalysis for Biobased Chemicals
Authors: De Regil Rubén , Sandoval Georgina
Published: October 2013

The design and development of greener processes that are safe and friendly is an irreversible trend that is driven by sustainable and economic issues. The use of Biocatalysis as part of a manufacturing process fits well in this trend as enzymes are themselves biodegradable, require mild conditions to work and are highly specific and well suited to carry out complex reactions in a simple way. The growth of computational capabilities in the last decades has allowed Biocatalysis to develop sophisticated tools to understand better enzymatic phenomena and to have the power to control not only process conditions but also the enzyme’s own nature. Nowadays, Biocatalysis is behind some important products in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and bulk chemicals industry. In this review we want to present some of the most representative examples of industrial chemicals produced in vitro through enzymatic catalysis.
Protein Glutathionylation in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Pastore Anna , Piemonte Fiorella
Published: October 2013

The perturbation of thiol-disulfide homeostasis is an important consequence of many diseases, with redox signals implicated in several physio-pathological processes. A prevalent form of cysteine modification is the reversible formation of protein mixed disulfides with glutathione (S-glutathionylation). The abundance of glutathione in cells and the ready conversion of sulfenic acids to S-glutathione mixed disulfides supports the reversible protein S-glutathionylation as a common feature of redox signal transduction, able to regulate the activities of several redox sensitive proteins. In particular, protein S-glutathionylation is emerging as a critical signaling mechanism in cardiovascular diseases, because it regulates numerous physiological processes involved in cardiovascular homeostasis, including myocyte contraction, oxidative phosphorylation, protein synthesis, vasodilation, glycolytic metabolism and response to insulin. Thus, perturbations in protein glutathionylation status may contribute to the etiology of many cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy and atherosclerosis. Various reports show the importance of oxidative cysteine modifications in modulating cardiovascular function. In this review, we illustrate tools and strategies to monitor protein S-glutathionylation and describe the proteins so far identified as glutathionylated in myocardial contraction, hypertrophy and inflammation.
The Synthesis of α-MoO3 by Ethylene Glycol
Authors: Chiang Tzu , Yeh Hung
Published: October 2013

This study investigated the use of ethylene glycol to form α-MoO3 (molybdenum trioxide) from ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate at various sintering temperatures for 1 h. During the sintering process, the morphologies of the constituents were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to explain the reaction process. In this work, the results obtained using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XRD) demonstrated that, when the molybdenum trioxide powder was treated thermally at 300 °C, the material exhibited crystallinity. The peaks were indexed to correspond with the (110), (040), (021), (111), and (060) crystallographic planes, and the lattice parameters of a, b, and c were about 3.961, 13.876, and 3.969 Å. Using these observations, we confirmed that orthorhombic α-MoO3 was formed for sintering temperatures from 300 to 700 °C. Pattern images were obtained by the selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED) technique, and the d distance of the high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images were almost 0.39 and 0.36 nm, and the Mo 3d5/2, Mo 3d3/2, and O 1s of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were located at 233.76, 237.03, and 532.19 eV, which also demonstrated that α-MoO3 powder had been synthesized.
Endogenous Protection Derived from Activin A/Smads Transduction Loop Stimulated via Ischemic Injury in PC12 Cells
Authors: Mang Jing , Mei Chun-Li , Wang Jiao-Qi , Li Zong-Shu , Chu Ting-Ting , He Jin-Ting , Xu Zhong-Xin
Published: October 2013

Activin A (ActA), a member of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b) super- family, affects many cellular processes, including ischemic stroke. Though the neuroprotective effects of exogenous ActA on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury have already been reported by us, the endogenous role of ActA remains poorly understood. To further define the role and mechanism of endogenous ActA and its signaling in response to acute ischemic damage, we used an OGD model in PC12 cells to simulate ischemic injury on neurons in vitro. Cells were pre-treated by monoclonal antibody against activin receptor type IIA (ActRII-Ab). We found that ActRII-Ab augments ischemic injury in PC12 cells. Further, the extracellular secretion of ActA as well as phosphorylation of smad3 in PC12 cells was also up-regulated by OGD, but suppressed by ActRII-Ab. Taken together, our results show that ActRII-Ab may augment ischemic injury via blocking of transmembrane signal transduction of ActA, which confirmed the existence of endogenous neuroprotective effects derived from the ActA/Smads pathway. ActRIIA plays an important role in transferring neuronal protective signals inside. It is highly possible that ActA transmembrance signaling is a part of the positive feed-back loop for extracellular ActA secretion.
The Open Access Divide
Authors: Xia Jingfeng
Published: October 2013

This paper is an attempt to review various aspects of the open access divide regarding the difference between those academics who support free sharing of data and scholarly output and those academics who do not. It provides a structured description by adopting the Ws doctrines emphasizing such questions as who, what, when, where and why for information-gathering. Using measurable variables to define a common expression of the open access divide, this study collects aggregated data from existing open access as well as non-open access publications including journal articles and extensive reports. The definition of the open access divide is integrated into the discussion of scholarship on a larger scale.
Varying Scale and Capability of Envisat ASAR-WSM, TerraSAR-X Scansar and TerraSAR-X Stripmap Data to Assess Urban Flood Situations: A Case Study of the Mekong Delta in Can Tho Province
Authors: Kuenzer Claudia , Guo Huadong , Schlegel Inga , Tuan Vo , Li Xinwu , Dech Stefan
Published: October 2013

Earth Observation is a powerful tool for the detection of floods. Microwave sensors are typically favored as they deliver data enabling water detection independent of solar illumination or cloud cover conditions. However, scale issues play an important role in radar based flood mapping. Depending on the flood related phenomenon under investigation, some sensors might be more suitable than others. In this study, we elucidate flood mapping at different spatial scale investigating the capability of Envisat ASAR Wide Swath Mode data at 150 m spatial resolution, as well as TerraSAR-X Scansar and Stripmap data at 8.25 m and 2.5 m resolution to especially assess urban flooding. For this purpose, we evaluate the results of automated multi-temporal water extraction from data sources of different scale against other parameters, such as settlement density, also taking a highly accurate building layer digitized from Quickbird data into consideration. Results reveal that while Envisat ASAR WSM derived flood maps are suitable to support the understanding of general flood patterns in a larger region, high resolution data of sensors such as TerraSAR-X is needed to truly assess urban flooding. However, even radar data of high spatial resolution still shows limitations; mainly in regions with a dense accumulation of corner reflectors leading to effects of layover, foreshortening, and shadowing, and hence the “over radiation” of flood affected areas.
A Deviation-Time-Space-Thermal (DTS-T) Method for Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)-Based Earthquake Anomaly Recognition: Criterions and Quantify Indices
Authors: Qin Kai , Wu Lixin , Zheng Shuo , Liu Shanjun
Published: October 2013

The particular process of LCA (Lithosphere-Coversphere-Atmosphere) coupling referring to local tectonic structures and coversphere conditions is very important for understanding seismic anomaly from GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems). The LCA coupling based multiple-parameters analysis should be the foundation for earthquake prewarning. Three improved criterions: deviation notable enough, time quasi-synchronism, and space geo-adjacency, plus their quantify indices are defined for earthquake anomaly recognition, and applied to thermal parameters as a DTS-T (Deviation-Time-Space-Thermal) method. A normalized reliability index is preliminarily defined considering three quantify indices for deviation-time-space criterions. As an example, the DTS-T method is applied to the Ms 7.1 Yushu earthquake of 14 April 2010 in China. Furthermore, combining with the previous analysis of six recent significant earthquakes in the world, the statistical results regarding effective parameters, the occurrence of anomaly before the main shocks and a reliability index for each earthquake are introduced. It shows that the DTS-T method is reasonable and can be applied for routine monitoring and prewarning in the tectonic seismicity region.