bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new optimal control law for the semi-active suspension system considering the nonlinear magneto-rheological damper model
Authors: Khiavi Arash Motavali , Mirzaei Mehdi , Hajimohammadi Sayad
Published: June 2013

In this study, an optimal nonlinear tracking control law is analytically developed for the semi-active suspension system by the response prediction of the quarter car model, which includes the nonlinear magneto-rheological (MR) damper model. Before this, the skyhook model optimized by the genetic algorithm is presented as a desired model to be tracked by the controller. The optimum parameters of the skyhook reference model are found by minimization of the difference between the root mean square values of acceleration obtained by the power spectral density of an actual random road excitation, and the boundary values specified by the ISO2631 standard at different effective frequencies. The effectiveness of the proposed control system is investigated in the presence of model uncertainties through simulation studies conducted by random road excitations in the time domain. The optimal property of the control law provides the possibility of limiting the input current to the MR damper, as the control input, to the physically admissible range by compromising with other conflicting objectives, that is, ride quality and handling performance. The results indicate that a satisfactory dynamic performance for the suspension system through a reduced input current to the MR damper can be achieved by the proposed control law.
Modeling and enhancement of mechanical sensitivity of vibration sensor
Authors: Ghemari Zine , Saad Salah
Published: June 2013

In this paper, the mechanical sensitivity of a vibration sensor is investigated by developing a mathematical model with the function of a relative movement modulus and measurement error. This model enables mechanical sensitivity to be improved by enhancing the performance of the vibration sensor. The purpose of the present work is to reduce measurement error by choosing the right damping rate that enables vibration sensor sensitivity to be optimized. The presented model is validated by computer simulation and experimental tests. The obtained results have shown that correct choice of damping rate and frequency range keeps the mechanical sensitivity constant.
“Salt Peanuts”
Authors: Davis Amira Millicent
Published: June 2013

In this poem, I theorize a bebop methodology: an approach to research in communities of African descent that is simultaneously creative, improvisational, and spontaneous while reflecting dexterity, virtuosity, and brilliance. Research methods should be informed by the communities they’re intended to serve. As both the observer and the observed, I understand Diasporan Black communities as being modern colonies suffering economic, social, political, and cultural oppression. However, these homeplaces, as hooks calls them, are not without genius, beauty, and pockets of self-determining autonomy. Bebop emerged as a radical, transformative aesthetic during World War II. Through their instruments, men like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie channeled the soul-sounds of people longing to be free. A bebop methodology reverberates with the forward-leaning, socially just bent in the “Ninth Moment” (Denzin and Lincoln, 2006) of qualitative research. This work is about the poetics of research, the poetics of struggle, and the politics of hope.
An experiment-based investigation on surface corrosion resistance behaviors of aluminum alloy 7050-T7451 after end milling
Authors: Wan Y , Cheng K , Fu XL , Liu ZQ
Published: June 2013

High-strength aluminum alloys are widely used in the aeronautic industry because of their excellent combined performance including good corrosion resistance. In this paper, an experiment-based study on the surface characteristics is presented including residual stress and surface defects induced by end milling processes. Salt-spray corrosion tests are carried out on the end machined surfaces and corrosion morphologies during different corrosion periods are achieved. Observations from microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) analysis support the existence of micro-cracks, leading to occluded corrosion cells, which accelerate the corrosion. It is found that residual stress, micro-cracks and their combination are important to the corrosion resistance performance of machined aluminum alloy parts. Experiments show that while feed speed vf = 750 mm/min and rotational speed n = 4500 rpm, larger compressive stresses and lower corrosion depths are achieved.
Measuring the electoral mobilization of ethnic parties
Authors: Strijbis Oliver , Kotnarowski Michal
Published: June 2013

Measurement of the electoral mobilization of ethnic parties has posed a considerable challenge to those performing comparative research on the political mobilization of ethnic groups. To address this issue, we propose indicators that estimate the electoral mobilization of ethnic parties by combining administrative and survey data. Specifically, we propose two measures: an absolute one, fully isolable from context, and a relative one, which corrects for turnouts. Furthermore, we show that a particular indicator based entirely on more widely available administrative data is valid when a narrow definition of ethnic parties is applied. Our indicators for the electoral mobilization of ethnic parties allow for valid comparisons across ethnic parties in different countries and regions at different points in time. We expect these new indicators to trigger further comparative studies on ethnic parties.
‘To the left, to the right’
Authors: Campbell Rosie , Childs Sarah
Published: June 2013

The study of conservative women is expanding to compensate for the historic over-emphasis of gender and politics research on left-wing women. We add to this burgeoning literature and assess the extent to which the modern gender gap in political attitudes – where women have moved to the left of men – is evident among supporters of the British Conservative Party. We find that, like women party members, women Conservative supporters are noticeably to the left of men, but only on economic issues. This sex gap cannot simply be accounted for by women’s employment in the public sphere, lesser interest in politics or because they are more morally conservative than male Conservatives. These findings are likely to have serious implications for intra-party discipline, the support for the Conservative Party at the next British general election and, if replicated elsewhere, speak to what it means to ‘represent’ the interests of right-wing women.
Accentuation of bias in jury decision-making
Authors: Takada Masami , Murata Koji
Published: June 2013

We investigated the bias accentuation effect of group decision-making. Previous studies have shown that individuals were more likely to endorse the guilty verdict when the prosecution evidence was presented in a temporal order (story condition) than when the same evidence was presented in a nontemporal order (witness condition). We expected that group deliberation would accentuate this biasing effect of evidence order through a majority-wins process. Sixty-six 3-person groups engaged in a mock jury task either in the story or witness condition. As predicted, group deliberation accentuated the difference in the verdict judgments between the two conditions through a majority-wins/leniency asymmetry process. This accentuation effect was not moderated by how juries deliberated (evidence-driven vs. verdict-driven). Some theoretical and practical implications of these findings were discussed.
Biomechanical optimal control of human arm motion
Authors: Maas R , Leyendecker S
Published: June 2013

As both ordinary and well-trained human motion is mostly planned and controlled unconsciously by the central nervous system (CNS), human control mechanisms remain relatively obscure. Despite, they are an interesting topic, for example, with regard to improve protheses or athletic motion. To learn and understand more about the control of human motion, we use rigid multibody systems to represent bones and joints and formulate an optimal control problem (OCP) with the goal to minimise a physiologically motivated cost function, while the equations of motion and further nonlinear constraints have to be fulfilled. The investigated biomechanical movements are induced either via joint torques or via Hill-type muscle forces. We compare several cost functions known from literature to another one concerning the impact on the joints by involving the constraint forces. A direct transcription method called DMOCC (discrete mechanics and optimal control for constraint systems) is used to solve the OCP, whereby we benefit from its structure preserving formulation, as the resulting optimal discrete trajectories are symplectic-momentum preserving.
Commentators on daily news or communicators of scholarly achievements? The role of researchers in Danish news media
Authors: Wien Charlotte
Published: June 2013

The objective of this article is to analyze the role played by researchers in news media. The method is a quantitative content analysis of 640 newspaper articles combined with two surveys: of journalists ( N = 362) and researchers ( N = 342) respectively. The conclusions are that researchers from the soft disciplines mainly contribute to hard news or background items, where their role is to comment on daily events as public experts. They do this because they consider it career enhancing. The journalists who use them as sources are often inexperienced journalists. However, they set the agenda. Both parties perceive the cooperation positively although researchers tend to be more reserved than the journalists.
Towards a better understanding of how radical non-official sources approach media relations: The case of the British anti-war movement
Authors: Taylor Ian
Published: June 2013

Studies of how non-official challenger sources engage with the media have, for analytical reasons, often distinguished between ‘over-determined’ and ‘under-determined’ explanations of news production processes (Greenberg et al., 2006; Ryan, 1991), and furthermore have tended to assume that activists’ understandings of the workings of the media will largely shape the media relations strategies they pursue. This article, which examines how the local branches of the anti-war movement in Britain assessed and understood the workings of local newspapers, challenges the simple binarism between the ‘over-determined’ and the ‘under-determined’ to present an alternative, intermediate model that I develop here and have labelled the ‘conditional paradigm’. Activists whose understandings of the media chime with the tenets of the ‘conditional paradigm’ conceptualise the pursuit of favourable and advantageous coverage as being dependent upon: a) their own actions and pronouncements – they were, for example, aware of how unruly behaviour and extravagant rhetoric at demonstrations could often lead to negative press coverage; and b) a series of factors largely outside their control, such as the fluctuating levels of interest in their cause and the state of public opinion. The article also presents evidence to suggest that activists’ understandings of the workings of the media – and in particular whether their position could best be described as ‘over-determined’ or ‘conditional’ – bore a complex and merely loose relationship to the extent to which they prioritised their dealings with local newspapers.
Creativity and cooking: Motherhood, agency and social change in everyday life
Authors: McCabe Maryann , de Waal Malefyt Timothy
Published: June 2013

Creativity in the kitchen is a normal part of everyday life in US homes. This article explores improvisation by mothers in home cooking as exemplary of the creative process. Western analyses of creativity have typically examined innovation after-the-fact, and showed how something innovative constitutes something novel that is discontinuous with the past. This is reading creativity “backward” in terms of outcomes. We provide a “forward” reading of creativity that examines the conditions and constraints which give rise to improvisation. This offers insight into cooking as a form of personal and social creativity that is grounded in the familiar, and infused with cultural values of self-expression and pleasing the family. This article thus discusses how improvisation is shaped by individual agency and social structure. Creative behavior is limited yet inspired by the material, social and symbolic constraints of the context in which it occurs, including in this case the broader context of the politics of food. Our forward reading of creative cooking practices indicates how cultural production leads to social change through the mediation of agency and structure.
‘You know how tough I am?’ Discourse analysis of US Midwestern congresswomen’s self-presentation
Authors: Lee Jayeon
Published: June 2013

Drawing on gender-role theories and considering the potential new media environments brought to the dynamics of strategic political communication, this study explores the nature of US Midwestern congresswomen’s strategic online self-presentations in comparison to those of congressmen. The discourse analysis presented in this study shows that in their official online biographies, that is, as given on websites provided by the US government, congresswomen devoted more space to describing their own personal traits than did congressmen. In particular, women tended to stress the masculine aspects of their personalities by using so-called masculine words such as tough and fighter much more than their male counterparts did. Such masculine terminology was scarcely evident in the biographies of male House members in the same states and committees as the female members. These findings imply that female politicians are more active in strategically presenting themselves as tough leaders in what appears to be a self-conscious effort to counteract detrimental gender stereotypes.
One NASN State Affiliate’s Perspective of Legislative Advocacy
Authors: Hundemer Kathy , Durando Diane
Published: June 2013

At the end of the 2011 legislative session in California, the California School Nurses Organization (CSNO), a state affiliate of NASN, was looking for a new way that school nurses could garner legislative support, in a visible and positive manner, as strong advocates for pupil health. When California State Assembly Member Susan Bonilla (who currently represents the 14th Assembly District) offered to sponsor a state bill to help improve the student-to-school nurse ratio in California’s public schools (which several sources between 2007 and 2011 estimated as being between 1:2,187 and 1:4,000), the CSNO’s Government Relations Committee (GRC) sprang into action. The committee reviewed NASN’s list of strategic plans for legislative advocacy for guidance. Upon learning that one of NASN’s legislative priorities was the passage of H.R. 2229 (C. McCarthy), the Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act of 2011, the GRC crafted and subsequently worked to successfully pass a California resolution bill, Assembly Joint Resolution No. 24, in support. Such legislative advocacy efforts may well be viewed as a model for other NASN state affiliate organizations.
Accounting Faculty Internships
Authors: Christopher Jill , Schertzer Clinton B. , Schertzer Susan M. B.
Published: June 2013

Accounting professionals, business college accrediting bodies, and even accounting academics themselves acknowledge that there is a disconnect between academe and the rigors and requirements of the accounting profession. Among the suggestions proposed in the literature to reduce this gap is the faculty internship, where accounting faculty members work within the field as accountants. Heretofore, individual case studies report benefits of such internships that accrue to a variety of stakeholder groups beyond just the faculty intern and include the academic institution, students, and accounting profession through faculty internships. This research seeks wider support for these benefits. This descriptive study involved surveying a sample of accounting faculty members to get their opinions about the benefits and drawbacks of faculty internships, and to determine the level of use of faculty internships in accounting. In all, 128 usable responses were obtained, representing a 14.6% response rate. The results of this study reveal that although most faculty members acknowledge the benefits cited in the literature, too few take advantage of faculty internships.
Houses and Hierarchies: Economic and Social Relations in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Southernmost Scandinavia
Authors: Brink Kristian
Published: June 2013

Research on Late Neolithic–Early Bronze Age society in southernmost Scandinavia has to a large extent focused on the creation of social hierarchy and on elite networks upheld by individuals. This has meant that the importance of collective strategies has been underplayed. In the south-west corner of Sweden, about eighty house remains from the Late Neolithic and the earliest Bronze Age have been excavated within a small area. It is the largest concentration of houses from the period so far excavated in southern Scandinavia. The settlement pattern reveals both single farms and one site, Almhov, with a concentration of several contemporary farms with large houses. The aim of this article is to highlight collective aspects, recognizing that both collective and individual strategies are important in the formation of hierarchical societies. House remains as well as graves and their placement in relation to each other within the local landscape are the archaeological material in focus, regarded as materializations of economic and social relations. It is argued that collective strategies were an important part of creating and maintaining economic and social position.
Assembly in North West Europe: Collective Concerns for Early Societies?
Authors: Semple Sarah , Sanmark Alexandra
Published: June 2013

The archaeological study of assembly practices in the medieval west is often met with scepticism. The reliance on late documentary records and place-names, and the difficulties inherent in defining what actually constituted an ‘assembly’, are just some of the issues that face researchers. This paper brings together some of the first collated and excavated evidence by the HERA TAP project 1, and offers a cross-European perspective, drawing attention to the great variety of systems and types of structure created for the purpose of assembly in the late prehistoric and medieval eras. Selected case studies emphasize the chronological variations in the inception and life-span of assembly places and underline the diverse relationships of designated assembly sites to pre-existing landscapes, resource patterns, and social structures. Connections between the ‘architecture’ and location of these sites, and their role in the creation, maintenance, and signalling of collective identities are suggested.
Overview of the clay mineralogy studies presented at the ‘Clays in natural and engineered barriers for radioactive waste confinement’ meeting, Montpellier, October 2012
Authors: Landais P. , Dohrmann R. , Kaufhold S.
Published: June 2013

The present special issue of Clay Minerals contains 19 full papers of scientific studies presented at the 5th conference on “Clays in natural and engineered barriers for radioactive waste confinement” held at Montpellier 2012. Since 2002, ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency, developed this conference into the most important event for all kinds of scientists from all over the world dealing with the disposal of highly and longlived radioactive waste (HLRW). With these conferences, ANDRA contributed significantly to the outstanding scientific level of European research in this field. Therefore, Clay Minerals is happy to be able to provide the present compilation of recent HLRW disposal research articles in clay mineralogy. The 19 papers published in this special Montpellier 2012 issue were classified according to different areas within the field of HLRW disposal research.
Influence of alkaline (pH 8.3–12.0) and saline solutions on chemical, mineralogical and physical properties of two different bentonites
Authors: Heikola T. , Kumpulainen S. , Vuorinen U. , Kiviranta L. , Korkeakoski P.
Published: June 2013

The interaction of two different bulk bentonites (Na- and Ca-types) with three types of simulated cement waters (pH 9.7, 11.3 and 12.0) and one saline groundwater simulate (pH 8.3) as a reference, was studied in batch reactors at 25°C. The solution pH was monitored in order to keep the pH as steady as possible by replacing the leaching solution with fresh one when needed. After 554 days, one set of parallel samples was removed from the experiment in order to investigate the possible changes in the bentonite materials.

The buffering capacity of bentonite was clearly observed, especially at the beginning of the high-pH experiments, as the pH of the leaching solutions decreased quite dramatically due to interaction with bentonite. The solution chemistry results showed a decrease of Ca content in all leachate samples, but especially in pH 12.0 experiments. Small amounts of silica were released throughout the experiment. Both bentonites in pH 12.0 experiments also released detectable amounts of Al, while in the lower pH experiments the levels were below detection limit. These observations were also supported by chemical analyses of the bentonite materials. Only minor changes were detected in the mineralogy, and they were mainly concentrated on experiments at pH 11.3 and pH 12.0. The measured swelling pressure showed an increase in pH 12.0 experiments. The results obtained in this research may facilitate modelling of bentonite interaction with high-pH solutions.
Coupled chemical-hydraulic-mechanical modelling of long-term alteration of bentonite
Authors: Ishii T. , Yahagi R. , Owada H. , Kobayashi I. , Takazawa M. , Yamaguchi K. , Takayama Y. , Tsurumi S. , Iizuka A.
Published: June 2013

In order to evaluate the long-term behaviour of the engineered barriers in geological disposal sites for transuranic element-bearing (TRU) waste, an evaluation by numerical analysis is required. Although chemical and hydraulic/mechanical analyses have been conducted independently until now, essentially both type of phenomena occur simultaneously and produce synergistic effects. Therefore, we focused attention on the buffer (bentonite) engineered barrier and conducted a study of which involved incorporating hydraulic/mechanical phenomena into the chemical analysis of bentonite alteration. The simulations employed weakly-coupled chemical and hydraulic/mechanical effects to study the behaviour in one dimension.

The results showed that the dissolution of the montmorillonite is suppressed in the buffer section nearest the cement material. Moreover, in order to achieve a fully coupled analysis in future, the present study also identifies issues that need to be resolved.
Elucidating the role of interleukin-17F in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Authors: Krejsgaard Thorbjørn , Litvinov Ivan V. , Wang Yang , Xia Lixin , Willerslev-Olsen Andreas , Koralov Sergei B. , Kopp Katharina L. , Bonefeld Charlotte M. , Wasik Mariusz A. , Geisler Carsten , Woetmann Anders , Zhou Youwen , Sasseville Denis , Odum Niels
Published: June 2013

Key Points

The Jak/Stat3 pathway promotes the expression of IL-17F in malignant CTCL cells. IL-17F is highly expressed in a subset of CTCL patients and associated with progressive disease.
Potent inhibition of DOT1L as treatment of MLL-fusion leukemia
Authors: Daigle Scott R. , Olhava Edward J. , Therkelsen Carly A. , Basavapathruni Aravind , Jin Lei , Boriack-Sjodin P. Ann , Allain Christina J. , Klaus Christine R. , Raimondi Alejandra , Scott Margaret Porter , Waters Nigel J. , Chesworth Richard , Moyer Mikel P. , Copeland Robert A. , Richon Victoria M. , Pollock Roy M.
Published: June 2013

Key Points

EPZ-5676 is a potent DOT1L inhibitor that causes tumor regressions in a rat xenograft model of MLL-rearranged leukemia.
Study of surgical indication for knee arthroplasty by cartilage analysis in three compartments using data from Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI)
Authors: Yamabe Eiko , Ueno Teruko , Miyagi Ryo , Watanabe Atsuya , Guenzi Christine , Yoshioka Hiroshi
Published: June 2013

Background

Bicompartmental or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (BKA, UKA) is currently advocated as an alternative solution to conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in order to preserve bone stock and ligaments for limited osteoarthritis (OA) with intact anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL, PCL). However, the actual rate of UKA or BKA compared to TKA procedures in OA patients has not been reported. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed preoperative MRI of the knee in subjects who underwent knee arthroplasty and assessed the potential for UKA or BKA as an alternative treatment.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) public use data set, which included 4,796 subjects, ages 45–79. 3.0 Tesla MRI scanners were dedicated to imaging the knees of OAI participants annually from February 2004 to March 2010. Extensive quantitative measurements of the knee MRI were performed on 87 patients who underwent knee arthroplasty during follow-up visits. We assessed the cartilage thickness and defect size in the medial femorotibial joint (FTJ), lateral FTJ, and patellofemoral joint (PFJ) as well as ligamentous injury, bone marrow edema, and subchondral cyst size from 2D coronal turbo spin echo (TSE), 2D sagittal TSE, 3D coronal T1-weighted water-excitation fast low angle shot (FLASH), and 3D sagittal water-excitation double echo steady-state (DESS) with axial and coronal reformat images.

Results

Eighty-five subjects (97.7%) were subjected to TKA, while only 2 subjects (2.3%) received UKA from the OAI database. Based on the preoperative MRI findings criteria, 51 of 87 subjects (58.6%) met the indication for TKA including the 2 UKA subjects above. This rate was significantly lower (p<0.001) than the actual TKA rate received. Among 85 subjects who actually underwent TKA, 31 subjects (36.5%) and 5 subjects (5.9%) met the indication for BKA and UKA, respectively.

Conclusions

Many medial or lateral compartmental OA subjects, with or without patellar compartment defects have undergone TKA. The results of this study suggest the indication for partial arthroplasty, such as UKA or BKA, may increase when cartilage in each compartment, as well as ligaments and subchondral bone status are comprehensively evaluated.
Expiratory model-based method to monitor ARDS disease state
Authors: van Drunen Erwin J , Chiew Yeong Shiong , Chase J Geoffrey , Shaw Geoffrey M , Lambermont Bernard , Janssen Nathalie , Damanhuri Nor Salwa , Desaive Thomas
Published: June 2013

Introduction

Model-based methods can be used to characterise patient-specific condition and response to mechanical ventilation (MV) during treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Conventional metrics of respiratory mechanics are based on inspiration only, neglecting data from the expiration cycle. However, it is hypothesised that expiratory data can be used to determine an alternative metric, offering another means to track patient condition and guide positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) selection.

Methods

Three fully sedated, oleic acid induced ARDS piglets underwent three experimental phases. Phase 1 was a healthy state recruitment manoeuvre. Phase 2 was a progression from a healthy state to an oleic acid induced ARDS state. Phase 3 was an ARDS state recruitment manoeuvre. The expiratory time-constant model parameter was determined for every breathing cycle for each subject. Trends were compared to estimates of lung elastance determined by means of an end-inspiratory pause method and an integral-based method. All experimental procedures, protocols and the use of data in this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Liege Medical Faculty.

Results

The overall median absolute percentage fitting error for the expiratory time-constant model across all three phases was less than 10 %; for each subject, indicating the capability of the model to capture the mechanics of breathing during expiration. Provided the respiratory resistance was constant, the model was able to adequately identify trends and fundamental changes in respiratory mechanics.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a proof of concept study that shows the potential of continuous monitoring of respiratory mechanics in clinical practice. Respiratory system mechanics vary with disease state development and in response to MV settings. Therefore, titrating PEEP to minimal elastance theoretically results in optimal PEEP selection. Trends matched clinical expectation demonstrating robustness and potential for guiding MV therapy. However, further research is required to confirm the use of such real-time methods in actual ARDS patients, both sedated and spontaneously breathing.
Effects of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1A and -4A on pancreatic stone protein/regenerating protein and C-reactive protein gene expression: implications for maturity-onset diabetes of the young
Authors: Kyithar Ma P , Bonner Caroline , Bacon Siobhan , Kilbride Seán M , Schmid Jasmin , Graf Rolf , Prehn Jochen HM , Byrne Maria M
Published: June 2013

Background

There is a significant clinical overlap between patients with hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1A and HNF4A maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), two forms of monogenic diabetes. HNF1A and HNF4A are transcription factors that control common and partly overlapping sets of target genes. We have previously shown that elevated serum pancreatic stone protein / regenerating protein A (PSP/reg1A) levels can be detected in subjects with HNF1A-MODY. In this study, we investigated whether PSP/reg is differentially regulated by HNF1A and HNF4A.

Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting were used to validate gene and protein expression in cellular models of HNF1A- and HNF4A-MODY. Serum PSP/reg1A levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured by ELISA in 31 HNF1A- and 9 HNF4A-MODY subjects. The two groups were matched for age, body mass index, diabetes duration, blood pressure, lipid profile and aspirin and statin use.

Results

Inducible repression of HNF1A and HNF4A function in INS-1 cells suggested that PSP/reg induction required HNF4A, but not HNF1A. In contrast, crp gene expression was significantly reduced by repression of HNF1A, but not HNF4A function. PSP/reg levels were significantly lower in HNF4A subjects when compared to HNF1A subjects [9.25 (7.85-12.85) ng/ml vs. 12.5 (10.61-17.87) ng/ml, U-test P = 0.025]. hsCRP levels were significantly lower in HNF1A-MODY [0.22 (0.17-0.35) mg/L] compared to HNF4A-MODY group [0.81 (0.38-1.41) mg/L, U-test P = 0.002], Parallel measurements of serum PSP/reg1A and hsCRP levels were able to discriminate HNF1A- and HNF4A-MODY subjects.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that two distinct target genes, PSP/reg and crp, are differentially regulated by HNF1A and HNF4A, and provides clinical proof-of-concept that serum PSP/reg1A and hsCRP levels may distinguish HNF1A-MODY from HNF4A-MODY subjects.
Location estimation using RSS measurements with unknown path loss exponents
Authors: Zeytinci Musa Bora , Sari Veli , Harmanci Frederic Kerem , Anarim Emin , Akar Mehmet
Published: June 2013

The location of a mobile station (MS) in a cellular network can be estimated using received signal strength (RSS) measurements that are available from control channels of nearby base stations. Most of the recent RSS-based location estimation methods that are available in the literature rely on the rather unrealistic assumption that signal propagation characteristics are known and independent of time variations and the environment. In this paper, we propose an RSS-based location estimation technique, so-called multiple path loss exponent algorithm (RSS-MPLE), which jointly estimates the propagation parameters and the MS position. The RSS-MPLE method incorporates antenna radiation pattern information into the signal model and determines the maximum likelihood estimate of unknown parameters by employing the Levenberg-Marquardt method. The accuracy of the proposed method is further examined by deriving the Cramer-Rao bound. The performance of the RSS-MPLE algorithm is evaluated for various scenarios via simulation results which confirm that the proposed scheme provides a practical position estimator that is not only accurate but also robust against the variations in the signal propagation characteristics.
Correlation of dynamic changes in γ-H2AX expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes from head and neck cancer patients with radiation-induced oral mucositis
Authors: Li Ping , Du Cheng-run , Xu Wen-cai , Shi Ze-liang , Zhang Qing , Li Zhao-bin , Fu Shen
Published: June 2013

Background

To evaluate the role of γ-H2AX in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) as a predictive biomarker of the severity of oral mucositis (OM) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients with receiving radiotherapy.

Methods

In vitro assays for evaluating DNA damage and repair kinetics were performed on blood samples withdrawn from 25 HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy before radiotherapy. As for the in vivo study, blood samples were also withdrawn before radiotherapy, and 1 hour after radiotherapy on the fourth and last days. Flow cytometry was used to assess the expression of γ-H2AX in PBLs. OM was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) scores twice a week and correlated with the expression of γ-H2AX.

Results

The in vitro assay results showed that patients with severe OM had higher γ-H2AX-specific relative fluorescence at various irradiation doses in the damage kinetics assay, with significantly higher γ-H2AX expression at 8 Gy (p = 0.039), and also at 24 hours after irradiation at a dose of 2 Gy in the repair kinetics assay, compared to the patients with mild OM (p = 0.008). The optimal cutoff value for relative fluorescence of γ-H2AX was 0.960, 24 hours post-irradiation. However, there were no significant differences in γ-H2AX expression at different times between the two groups, as assessed with the in vivo assay.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the damage and repair kinetics of γ-H2AX from PBLs in the in vitro study may have predictive value for identifying the grades of OM among HNC patients prior to radiotherapy.
Consensus and conflict cards for metabolic pathway databases
Authors: Stobbe Miranda D , Swertz Morris A , Thiele Ines , Rengaw Trebor , van Kampen Antoine HC , Moerland Perry D
Published: June 2013

Background

The metabolic network of H. sapiens and many other organisms is described in multiple pathway databases. The level of agreement between these descriptions, however, has proven to be low. We can use these different descriptions to our advantage by identifying conflicting information and combining their knowledge into a single, more accurate, and more complete description. This task is, however, far from trivial.

Results

We introduce the concept of Consensus and Conflict Cards (C2Cards) to provide concise overviews of what the databases do or do not agree on. Each card is centered at a single gene, EC number or reaction. These three complementary perspectives make it possible to distinguish disagreements on the underlying biology of a metabolic process from differences that can be explained by different decisions on how and in what detail to represent knowledge. As a proof-of-concept, we implemented C2CardsHuman, as a web application http://www.molgenis.org/c2cards, covering five human pathway databases.

Conclusions

C2Cards can contribute to ongoing reconciliation efforts by simplifying the identification of consensus and conflicts between pathway databases and lowering the threshold for experts to contribute. Several case studies illustrate the potential of the C2Cards in identifying disagreements on the underlying biology of a metabolic process. The overviews may also point out controversial biological knowledge that should be subject of further research. Finally, the examples provided emphasize the importance of manual curation and the need for a broad community involvement.
Sexual maturation in hens is not associated with increases in serum leptin and the expression of leptin receptor mRNA in hypothalamus
Authors: Ni Yingdong , Lv Jinfang , Wang Shaoqing , Zhao Ruqian
Published: June 2013

Background

In mammals, leptin is an attractive candidate for mediating the metabolic signal and the reproductive function via the specific receptor in hypothalamus. However, till now, the role of leptin on reproduction in birds is less well established. This experiment was conducted to elucidate the role of leptin on the onset of reproduction in bird, as a first step, to detect the changes of peripheral leptin and leptin receptor mRNA expression in hypothalamus between mature and immature hens at the same age. 120 ISA brown pullets at D60 were allocated randomly into two groups, long light (LL) group being raised under artificial light regimes with incrementally increased light phase (from 8 L:16D to 14 L:12D) and short light (SL) group raised on consistent light (8 L:16D) for 12 wk.

Results

The results showed that pullets in LL group reached sexual maturation 15 d earlier than those in SL group. Serum E2 showed a significant increase with age, but no difference was observed between two groups. Serum leptin concentration decreased significantly from D112 to D136 in LL, and was markedly higher in LL group than that in SL at D112, while there was no significant difference between two groups at D136. Leptin receptor and GnRH-I mRNA expression in hypothalamus were significantly increased with age, yet there was no significant difference between SL and LL chickens at the same age. The expression of FSH-β and LH-β mRNA in pituitary was increased with age but did not show significant difference between LL and SL group. GnRH-I mRNA expression was very rich in pineal gland, and decreased from D112 to D136 in LL but not in SL group, and there was no difference between two groups at the same age.

Conclusions

These results indicate that the earlier sexual maturation in hens induced by long-light regime is not accompanied with an increase in serum leptin or leptin receptor gene expression in hypothalamus, or genes expression in HPG axis.
FMNL1 promotes proliferation and migration of leukemia cells
Authors: Favaro Patricia , Traina Fabiola , Machado-Neto João Agostinho , Lazarini Mariana , Lopes Matheus Rodrigues , Pereira João Kleber Novais , Costa Fernando Ferreira , Infante Elvira , Ridley Anne J , Saad Sara Teresinha Olalla
Published: June 2013

The human FMNL1 is expressed predominantly in hematopoietic cells and has been described previously as overexpressed in hematopoietic malignancies. However, it is not known whether FMNL1 contributes to leukemogenesis. Here, we investigate the FMNL1 function using two different human leukemia models: Namalwa and K562 cell lines. FMNL1 depletion reduced cell proliferation and colony formation in both leukemic cell types, as well as a decrease in the tumor growth of FMNL1-depleted Namalwa cell xenografts. In addition, there was a decrease in migration and in TEM in FMNL1-depleted Namalwa cells. FMNL1 endogenously associates with Rac1, and FMNL1 silencing resulted in an increased Rac1 activity. The reduced migration observed in FMNL1-depleted cells was restored by inhibiting Rac activity. Our results indicate that FMNL1 stimulates leukemia cell proliferation as well as migration. This suggests that FMNL1 contributes to leukemogenesis and could act in part through Rac1 regulation.
1,4-Dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid fromPropionibacterium freudenreichiireduces inflammation in interleukin-10-deficient mice with colitis by suppressing macrophage-derived proinflammatory cytokines
Authors: Okada Yoshikiyo , Tsuzuki Yoshikazu , Narimatsu Kazuyuki , Sato Hirokazu , Ueda Toshihide , Hozumi Hideaki , Sato Shingo , Hokari Ryota , Kurihara Chie , Komoto Shunsuke , Watanabe Chikako , Tomita Kengo , Kawaguchi Atsushi , Nagao Shigeaki , Miura Soichiro
Published: June 2013

The anti-inflammatory mechanism of prebiotics has recently been shown to have an impact on the host immune system. DHNA from Propionibacterium freudenreichii is known to promote the proliferation of Bifidobacterium and can ameliorate colitis, although its mode of action remains unknown. In this study, we investigated whether DHNA attenuates inflammation in piroxicam-treated IL-10−/− mice, particularly focusing on the changes of the host immune mechanism. DHNA was administered to IL-10−/− mice with colitis, and the expression of adhesion molecules and mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines were determined. DHNA pretreatment attenuated the piroxicam-induced histological changes. The increased F4/80-positive cell infiltration and VCAM-1 expression were decreased by DHNA administration. The increased mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines were also suppressed by DHNA. In in vitro experiments, increased mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines after endotoxin exposure were decreased significantly by DHNA pretreatment in RAW264.7, a macrophage cell line, and IL-10−/− mice BMMs, whereas the expression of VCAM-1 in bEnd.3 cells, a endothelial cell line, was not affected. Taken together, these findings suggest that administration of DHNA is useful for the treatment of colitis in piroxicam-treated IL-10−/− mice and that attenuation of colitis by DHNA may partly be a result of its direct action on intestinal macrophages to inhibit proinflammatory cytokine production.
The responses of neural stem cells to the level of GSK-3 depend on the tissue of origin
Authors: Holowacz Tamara , Alexson Tania O. , Coles Brenda L. , Doble Bradley W. , Kelly Kevin F. , Woodgett James R. , Van Der Kooy Derek
Published: June 2013

Neural stem cells (NSCs) can be obtained from a variety of sources, but not all NSCs exhibit the same characteristics. We have examined how the level of glycogen synthase kinase-3 activity regulates NSCs obtained from different sources: the mouse embryonic striatum, embryonic hippocampus, and mouse ES cells. Growth of striatal NSCs is enhanced by mild inhibition of GSK-3 but not by strong inhibition that is accompanied by Wnt/TCF transcriptional activation. In contrast, the growth of hippocampal NSCs is enhanced by both mild inhibition of GSK-3 as well as stronger inhibition. Active Wnt/TCF signaling, which occurs normally in the embryonic hippocampus, is required for growth of neural stem and progenitor cells. In the embryonic striatal germinal zone, however, TCF signaling is normally absent and its activation inhibits growth of NSCs from this region. Using a genetic model for progressive loss of GSK-3, we find that primitive ES cell-derived NSCs resemble striatal NSCs. That is, partial loss of GSK-3 alleles leads to an increase in NSCs while complete ablation of GSK-3, and activation of TCF-signaling, leads to their decline. Furthermore, expression of dominant negative TCF-4 in the GSK-3-null background was effective in blocking expression of Wnt-response genes and was also able to rescue neuronal gene expression. These results reveal that GSK-3 regulates NSCs by divergent pathways depending on the tissue of origin. The responses of these neural precursor cells may be contingent on baseline Wnt/TCF signaling occurring in a particular tissue.
The Hippo pathway acts via p53 and microRNAs to control proliferation and proapoptotic gene expression during tissue growth
Authors: Zhang Wei , Cohen Stephen M.
Published: June 2013

The Hippo pathway has a central role in coordinating tissue growth and apoptosis. Mutations that compromise Hippo pathway activity cause tissue overgrowth and have been causally linked to cancer. In Drosophila, the transcriptional coactivator Yorkie mediates Hippo pathway activity to control the expression of cyclin E and Myc to promote cell proliferation, as well as the expression of bantam miRNA and DIAP1 to inhibit cell death. Here we present evidence that the Hippo pathway acts via Yorkie and p53 to control the expression of the proapoptotic gene reaper. Yorkie further mediates reaper levels post-transcriptionally through regulation of members of the miR-2 microRNA family to prevent apoptosis. These findings provide evidence that the Hippo pathway acts via several distinct routes to limit proliferation-induced apoptosis.
Analysis of the cartilage proteome from three different mouse models of genetic skeletal diseases reveals common and discrete disease signatures
Authors: Bell Peter A. , Wagener Raimund , Zaucke Frank , Koch Manuel , Selley Julian , Warwood Stacey , Knight David , Boot-Handford Raymond P. , Thornton David J. , Briggs Michael D.
Published: June 2013

Pseudoachondroplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia are genetic skeletal diseases resulting from mutations in cartilage structural proteins. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry previously showed that the appearance of the cartilage extracellular matrix ECM in targeted mouse models of these diseases is disrupted; however, the precise changes in ECM organization and the pathological consequences remain unknown. Our aim was to determine the effects of matrilin-3 and COMP mutations on the composition and extractability of ECM components to inform how these detrimental changes might influence cartilage organization and degeneration.

Cartilage was sequentially extracted using increasing denaturants and the extraction profiles of specific proteins determined using SDS-PAGE/Western blotting. Furthermore, the relative composition of protein pools was determined using mass spectrometry for a non-biased semi-quantitative analysis.

Western blotting revealed changes in the extraction of matrilins, COMP and collagen IX in mutant cartilage. Mass spectrometry confirmed quantitative changes in the extraction of structural and non-structural ECM proteins, including proteins with roles in cellular processes such as protein folding and trafficking. In particular, genotype-specific differences in the extraction of collagens XII and XIV and tenascins C and X were identified; interestingly, increased expression of several of these genes has recently been implicated in susceptibility and/or progression of murine osteoarthritis.

We demonstrated that mutation of matrilin-3 and COMP caused changes in the extractability of other cartilage proteins and that proteomic analyses of Matn3 V194D, Comp T585M and Comp DelD469 mouse models revealed both common and discrete disease signatures that provide novel insight into skeletal disease mechanisms and cartilage degradation.
Forecasting Adoption of Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicles Using Bayes Estimates of a Multinomial Probit Model and the GHK Simulator
Authors: Daziano Ricardo A. , Achtnicht Martin
Published: June 2013

In this paper we use Bayes estimates of a multinomial probit model with fully flexible substitution patterns to forecast consumer response to ultra-low-emission vehicles. In this empirical application of the probit Gibbs sampler, we use stated-preference data on vehicle choice from a Germany-wide survey of potential light-duty-vehicle buyers using computer-assisted personal interviewing. We show that Bayesian estimation of a multinomial probit model with a full covariance matrix is feasible for this medium-scale problem and provides results that are very similar to maximum simulated likelihood estimates. Using the posterior distribution of the parameters of the vehicle choice model as well as the GHK simulator, we derive the choice probabilities of the different alternatives. We first show that the Bayes point estimates of the market shares reproduce the observed values. Then we define a base scenario of vehicle attributes that aims to represent an average of the current vehicle choice situation in Germany. Consumer response to qualitative changes in the base scenario is subsequently studied. In particular, we analyze the effect of increasing the network of service stations for charging electric vehicles as well as for refueling hydrogen. The result is the posterior distribution of the choice probabilities that represent adoption of the energy-efficient technologies.