bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turning Telomerase into a Jekyll and Hyde Case?
Authors: Wellinger Raymund J.
Published: January 2015

Summary: It may be possible to coerce telomerase to incorporate modified guanine nucleotides into telomeric repeat DNA, thereby seriously compromising the functionality of the telomeres. Thus, a guanine analogue such as 6-thio-dG could turn active telomerase into a chromosome de-protecting enzyme, the opposite of what it is normally, namely a chromosome-protecting enzyme. Cancer Discov; 5(1); 19–21. ©2015 AACR.

See related article by Mender et al., p. 82
Thirty Years of Experience with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas: From Discovery to International Consensus
Authors: Tanaka Masao
Published: January 2015

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is characterized by intraductal papillary proliferation of mucin-producing epithelial cells that exhibit various degrees of dysplasia. IPMN is classified as the main duct type (MD-IPMN) and the branch duct type (BD-IPMN) according to the location of involvement, and into four histological subtypes (gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary, and oncocytic) according to the histomorphological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Mucin core protein expression correlates with the biological behavior and prognosis of the tumor. DNA analysis has shown that IPMN is associated with a number of gene mutations, but the roles of many of these mutations require further investigation. Most patients with MD-IPMN undergo tumor resection. Patients with BD-IPMN who do not undergo resection may develop malignant change, and concomitant separate pancreatic cancer occurs in 2-10% of patients with IPMN. Patients with a strong family history may develop multiple BD-IPMNs as well as concomitant pancreatic cancer. Malignant changes are relatively easy to detect, especially by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), but the optimal surveillance protocol is currently unclear. Key Messages: The 2012 guidelines for the management of IPMN recommend that patients with ‘high-risk stigmata' (obstructive jaundice, enhanced solid component, and main pancreatic duct size ≥10 mm) should undergo resection. Patients with ‘worrisome features' (cyst size ≥3 cm, thickened enhanced cyst walls, non-enhanced mural nodules, main pancreatic duct size 5-9 mm, abrupt change in main pancreatic duct caliber with distal pancreatic atrophy, lymphadenopathy, and clinical acute pancreatitis) should be evaluated by EUS. EUS is a more sensitive test than computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging for the early detection of malignancy. Conclusions: Most patients with MD-IPMN should undergo tumor resection. Patients with BD-IPMN who do not undergo resection should undergo careful surveillance including EUS for the early detection of malignant change and separate pancreatic cancer.
Major Declines in Epoetin Dosing after Prospective Payment System Based on Dialysis Facility Organizational Status
Authors: Thamer Mae , Zhang Yi , Kaufman James , Kshirsagar Onkar , Cotter Dennis , Hernán Miguel A.
Published: January 2015

Background: Epoetin therapy used to treat anemia among ESRD patients has cost Medicare ∼$40 billion. Since January 2011, epoetin has been reimbursed via a new bundled prospective payment system (PPS). Our aim was to determine changes in epoetin dosing and hematocrit levels in response to PPS by different types of dialysis providers. Methods: Data from the USRDS were used to identify 187,591 and 206,163 Medicare-eligible ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis during January 2010 (pre-PPS) and December 2011 (post-PPS). Standardized weekly mean epoetin dose administered pre- and post-PPS and adjustment in dose (titration) based on previous hematocrit level in each facility was disaggregated by profit status, chain membership and size. Results: Major declines in epoetin use, dosing and achieved hematocrit levels were observed after PPS. Among the three largest dialysis chains, the decline in standardized epoetin dose was 29% at Fresenius, 47% at DaVita, and 52% at DCI. The standardized weekly epoetin dose among profit and nonprofit facilities declined by 38 and 42%, respectively. Changes in titration patterns suggest that a new hematocrit target of 30-33% was in place after PPS, replacing the erstwhile 33-36% hematocrit target used before PPS. Conclusion: Historically, important differences in anemia management were evident by dialysis organizational status. However, the confluence of financial incentives bundling epoetin payments and mounting scientific evidence linking higher hematocrit targets and higher epoetin doses to adverse outcomes have culminated in lower access to epoetin and lower doses across all dialysis providers in the first year after PPS.
MEN1, MEN4, and Carney Complex: Pathology and Molecular Genetics
Authors: Schernthaner-Reiter Marie Helene , Trivellin Giampaolo , Stratakis Constantine A.
Published: January 2015

Pituitary adenomas are a common feature of a subset of endocrine neoplasia syndromes, which have otherwise highly variable disease manifestations. We provide here a review of the clinical features and human molecular genetics of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1 and 4 (MEN1 and MEN4, respectively) and Carney complex (CNC). MEN1, MEN4, and CNC are hereditary autosomal dominant syndromes that can present with pituitary adenomas. MEN1 is caused by inactivating mutations in the MEN1 gene, whose product menin is involved in multiple intracellular pathways contributing to transcriptional control and cell proliferation. MEN1 clinical features include primary hyperparathyroidism, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours and prolactinomas as well as other pituitary adenomas. A subset of patients with pituitary adenomas and other MEN1 features have mutations in the CDKN1B gene; their disease has been called MEN4. Inactivating mutations in the type 1α regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA; the PRKAR1A gene), that lead to dysregulation and activation of the PKA pathway, are the main genetic cause of CNC, which is clinically characterised by primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease, spotty skin pigmentation (lentigines), cardiac and other myxomas and acromegaly due to somatotropinomas or somatotrope hyperplasia.
Projekt i realizacja bazy do „Atlasu gwar wschodniosłowiańskich Białostocczyzny”
Authors: Rembiszewska Dorota Krystyna
Published: January 2015

Project and realization of database for the "Atlas of East Slavic dialects of Bialystok Region”The article presents issues concerning the project of creation of the Atlas of East Slavic dialects of Bialystok Region (Atlas gwar wschodniosłowiańskich Białostocczyzny – AGWB) and its realization. The crucial issues are shown from linguistic, information and computer points of view, taking into account the special features of dialectal material. Information referring to the Atlas of East Slavic dialects of Bialystok Region, a publication significant for Slavic linguistic geography, is also presented.The consecutive stages of preparing the base, i.a. preliminary choice of computer tools, suggested database structure, its subsequent modifications along with the E­R model and initial stages of system implementation (export of data, the choice of database administration system), are presented in the text. The problem of creation/modification of the phonetic alphabet (so­called ZRCola typeface vs. AGWB typeface) and the aspect of sorting data saved in this alphabet constitute separate issues for consideration.Modifications of data representation system in relation to the initial objec­ tives are discussed in the article, taking into account the future needs of users (connection with GoogleMaps application, hipermedial connections with the system of scanned source materials, etc.).
Synonymy and search synonymy in an IR system (on the basis of linguistic terminology and the iSybislaw system)
Authors: Banasiak Jakub
Published: January 2015

Synonymy and search synonymy in an IR system (on the basis of linguistic terminology and the iSybislaw system)The paper focuses on some problems of synonymy in the linguistic terminology and solutions for the optimal representation of information in the structure of an IR language. Linguistic terms in addition to metalinguistic meaning also carry some meta-scientific information (e.g. on the methodological school). It is thus possible that two different terms refer to the same linguistic phenomenon within various research trends. The issue of usage is also addressed here (including idiolectal preferences). The above phenomena on the one hand and various user information needs on the other result in some significant difficulties in the work on the optimization of IR in iSybislaw.
Українська авторська термінологія в системі iSybislaw (дієслово)
Authors: Романюк [Romaniuk] Юлiя В. [IUliia V.]
Published: January 2015

Ukrainian authors’ terminology in the iSybislaw system (verb)The problem of authors’ terminology is well­-known to all iSybislaw developers. It inevitably forces them to find a compromise between their desire to represent the content of a document as fully as possible and the need to protect the system from being cluttered with non-­standard terminology.Recent publications in the journal Ukrainska mova (Ukrainian language) suggest that researchers are interested in a wide range of problems, in particular categorical-­functional descriptions of the verb. The article by S. Sokolova and O. Achylova discusses the problem of verb translation. The authors use the terms aspektualnist’ (aspectuality), rody diieslivnoi dii (lexical aspects, or Aktionsarten) and vydova neitralizatsiia (aspect neutralization). Modern Ukrainian dictionaries of linguistic terminology contain only the first two terms. In the iSybislaw system, the following keywords are used for this document: aspektualnist’ (aspectuality), diieslovo (verb) and fazovist’ (phasicity). The term vydova neitralizatsiia (aspect neutralization) is not included. This term is new and refers to a situation when the aspectual meaning of a verb is irrelevant in translation from Ukrainian into non-­Slavic languages. There is no need to include such terms in the iSybislaw system.The fact that the set of keywords used in iSybislaw relies on both the semantic potential of terms used in the indexed texts and terminological standards ensures efficient information retrieval.
Czym jest i co zawiera „Słownik mówionej polszczyzny pónocnokresowej”
Authors: Grek-Pabisowa Iryda , Biesiadowska-Magdziarz Beata , Jankowiak Mirosław , Ostrówka Małgorzata
Published: January 2015

What is ”A Dictionary of oral Polish language of the north-eastern borderland” and what does it include?A regional variety of the Polish language of the north-eastern borderland in both oral and written forms has been functioning in Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia (former Polish Livonia) for several centuries. In 2000, The Team for Research on the Polish Language of the North-Eastern Borderland of the Institute of Slavic Studies of PAS came up with an idea of creating A Dictionary of oral Polish language of the north-eastern borderland. First, publications containing patterns of the Polish language, credibly recorded, were collected. There were more and more new studies, and the material was enriched with many new lexemes as well as their new variants or better exemplifications. Therefore, the lexical collection continued and was completed in 2012. At the same time the team researchers carried out excerpting from earlier texts, choosing examples, searching for parallel forms of lexemes, blending the material in dictionary units, i.e. establishing the form of a dictionary entry. In this way the corpus of the dictionary was written, following a formula created by the team.The article presents methodology of creating the Dictionary, its material basis, short description of lexical items included and the content of an entry. Czym jest i co zawiera „Słownik mówionej polszczyzny pónocnokresowej”Regionalna odmiana polszczyzny północnokresowej w postaci języka mówionego i pisanego funkcjonowała na obszarze Białorusi, Litwy i Łotwy (dawne Inflanty Polskie) od kilku wieków.W roku 2000 w Zespole Badań Polszczyzny Północnokresowej IS PAN powstał pomysł opracowania Słownika mówionej polszczyzny północnokresowej. Przez pierwsze lata wyszukiwano i gromadzono publikacje zawierające zarejestrowane w sposób wiarygodny wzorce mowy polskiej na interesującym nas terenie. Nowych opracowań stale przybywało, materiał powiększał się o nowe leksemy lub ich nowe postaci czy lepszą egzemplifikację. Dlatego też uzupełnianie zbioru leksykalnego zamknięto datą publikacji wydanych w roku 2012. Równolegle z uzupełnieniami pochodzącymi z nowo pojawiających się prac prowadzono ekscerpcję z tekstów wcześniejszych, dobór przykładów, wyszukiwanie paralelnych postaci leksemów i scalanie materiałów w jednostki słownikowe, czyli ustalanie postaci hasła. W ten sposób powstał korpus Słownika, który opracowywano według ułożonej przez zespół formuły. Artykuł przedstawia metodologię tworzenia Słownika, jego podstawę materiałową, krótką charakterystykę leksyki, którą zawiera oraz zawartość artykułu hasłowego.
S3T Stability of the Homogeneous State of Barotropic Beta-Plane Turbulence
Authors: Bakas Nikolaos A. , Constantinou Navid C. , Ioannou Petros J.
Published: January 2015

Zonal jets and nonzonal large-scale flows are often present in forced–dissipative barotropic turbulence on a beta plane. The dynamics underlying the formation of both zonal and nonzonal coherent structures is investigated in this work within the statistical framework of stochastic structural stability theory (S3T). Previous S3T studies have shown that the homogeneous turbulent state undergoes a bifurcation at a critical parameter and becomes inhomogeneous with the emergence of zonal and/or large-scale nonzonal flows and that these statistical predictions of S3T are reflected in direct numerical simulations. In this paper, the dynamics underlying the S3T statistical instability of the homogeneous state as a function of parameters is studied. It is shown that, for weak planetary vorticity gradient β, both zonal jets and nonzonal large-scale structures form from upgradient momentum fluxes due to shearing of the eddies by the emerging infinitesimal flow. For large β, the dynamics of the S3T instability differs for zonal and nonzonal flows but in both the destabilizing vorticity fluxes decrease with increasing β. Shearing of the eddies by the mean flow continues to be the mechanism for the emergence of zonal jets while nonzonal large-scale flows emerge from resonant and near-resonant triad interactions between the large-scale flow and the stochastically forced eddies. The relation between the formation of large-scale structure through modulational instability and the S3T instability of the homogeneous state is also investigated and it is shown that the modulational instability results are subsumed by the S3T results.
Impact of Anomalous Northward Oceanic Heat Transport on Global Climate in a Slab Ocean Setting
Authors: L’Hévéder Blandine , Codron Francis , Ghil Michael
Published: January 2015

This paper explores the impact of anomalous northward oceanic heat transport on global climate in a slab ocean setting. To that end, the GCM LMDZ5A of the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique is coupled to a slab ocean, with realistic zonal asymmetries and seasonal cycle. Two simulations with different anomalous surface heating are imposed: 1) uniform heating over the North Atlantic basin and 2) concentrated heating in the Gulf Stream region, with a compensating uniform cooling in the Southern Ocean in both cases. The magnitudes of the heating and of the implied northward interhemispheric heat transport are within the range of current natural variability. Both simulations show global effects that are particularly strong in the tropics, with a northward shift of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) toward the heating anomalies. This shift is accompanied by a northward shift of the storm tracks in both hemispheres. From the comparison between the two simulations with different anomalous surface heating in the North Atlantic, it emerges that the global climate response is nearly insensitive to the spatial distribution of the heating. The cloud response acts as a large positive feedback on the oceanic forcing, mainly because of the low-cloud-induced shortwave anomalies in the extratropics. While previous literature has speculated that the extratropical Q flux may impact the tropics by the way of the transient eddy fluxes, it is explicitly demonstrated here. In the midlatitudes, the authors find a systematic northward shift of the jets, as well as of the associated Ferrel cells, storm tracks, and precipitation bands.
Quadrature-Free Implementation of a Discontinuous Galerkin Global Shallow-Water Model via Flux Correction Procedure
Authors: Nair Ramachandran D.
Published: January 2015

The discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretization relies on an integral (weak) formulation of the hyperbolic conservation law, which leads to the evaluation of several surface and line integrals for multidimensional problems. An alternative formulation of the DG method is possible under the flux reconstruction (FR) framework, where the equations are solved in differential form and the discretization is free from quadrature rules, resulting in computationally efficient algorithms. The author has implemented a quadrature-free form of the nodal DG method based on the FR approach combined with spectral differencing (SD), in a shallow-water (SW) model employing cubed-sphere geometry. The performance of the SD model is compared with the regular nodal DG variant of the SW model using several benchmark tests, including a viscous test case. A positivity-preserving local filter is tested for SD advection that removes spurious oscillations while being conservative and accurate. In this implementation, the SD formulation is found to be 18% faster than the DG method for inviscid SW tests cases and 24% faster for the viscous case. The results obtained by the SD formulation are on par with the regular nodal DG formulation in terms of accuracy and convergence.
Writing Through Bureaucracy
Authors: Leonard Rebecca Lorimer
Published: January 2015

Contemporary international migration produces a great deal of bureaucratic writing activity. This article reports on a study of one bureaucratic literacy practice—correspondence—of 25 international migrants in the United States. Contextual and practice-based analysis of data collected through literacy history interviews shows that (a) by virtue of living transnational lives, migrant writers develop correspondence practices that seem vernacular, but in fact take on the hegemonic qualities of modern bureaucracy, and (b) when composing everyday correspondence, migrant writers, rather than being subject to bureaucracy’s whims, take up bureaucratic roles that allow them to manage their own and others’ economic and geographic mobility. These findings complicate claims that migrant correspondence simply maintains relationships or fosters cultural cohesion. Migrant writers, while often corresponding to keep in touch with family and friends elsewhere, also adopt the practices of bureaucracy, becoming participants in the management of people on the move.
Framing the Future
Authors: Lane Kathleen Lynne , Carter Erik W.
Published: January 2015

Introduction to special series on perspectives of senior scholars regarding the future of issues related to special education.
Cultural Determinants of Optimal Breastfeeding Practices among Indigenous Mam-Mayan Women in the Western Highlands of Guatemala
Authors: Wren Hilary M. , Solomons Noel W. , Chomat Anne Marie , Scott Marilyn E. , Koski Kristine G.
Published: January 2015

Background:

Among indigenous Mam-Mayan women, breastfeeding practices may be intertwined with cultural influences during the early postpartum period.

Objectives:

Our study explored whether beliefs regarding transmission of emotions through breast milk, the feeding of agüitas or temascal (traditional sauna) use were associated with achievement of the World Health Organization infant feeding recommendations and if these cultural practices served as moderators of the relationship between optimal breastfeeding practices and infant anthropometry.

Methods:

We recruited 190 mother-infant dyads at infant age < 46 days. Data on breastfeeding and cultural practices were collected via questionnaire. Infant length, weight, and head circumference were measured and z scores were calculated. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine determinants of initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour, breastfeeding frequency, breastfeeding exclusivity, and infant weight-for-age z score (WAZ).

Results:

Mothers who delivered at the traditional midwife’s house (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5) and those who did not believe in the transmission of susto (fright) through breast milk (OR = 2.4) were more likely to initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour postpartum. Higher breastfeeding frequency was observed among mothers who spent more time in the temascal. Initiating early breastfeeding within 1 hour postpartum was the sole infant feeding practice positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding and WAZ.

Conclusions:

Our investigation in the Western Highlands of Guatemala has highlighted the link between cultural practices and beliefs during lactation, breastfeeding practices and infant growth. Public health practitioners need to understand how local cultural practices influence early initiation of breastfeeding to promote adequate infant weight.
Biology coming full circle: Joining the whole and the parts
Authors: Wikswo John P , Porter Andrew P
Published: January 2015

The new cover of Experimental Biology and Medicine features the hermeneutic circle of biology, a concept we have adapted from the hermeneutic principle that one understands the whole only in terms of each part and the parts only in terms of the whole. Our hermeneutic circle summarizes the course of experimental biology through 2500 years of the achievements of reductionist research (understanding the parts), which culminates in our ability to rapidly sequence the genome. Rather than returning along the same path in a constructionist approach that simply builds upon this knowledge, but in reverse, an alternative is to close the circle with synthetic constructions that seek to integrate the full complexity of biological and physiological systems (understanding the whole), of which organs-on-chips are one example. This closing of the circle cannot be a comprehensively accurate representation of biology, but it can be a synthetic one that effectively defines particular biological subsystems. The illustration of the hermeneutic circle of biology is also intended to suggest both the multiple cycles that may be required to reach such a synthesis and the expansion of the circle in an outward spiral as knowledge increases. Our commentary explains the symbolism of the new cover in a philosophical and scientific discussion.
A Genealogy of Identity
Authors: Nasir Muhammad Ali
Published: January 2015

There were various political discourses associated with the Islamic community in colonial India. These included trends that were later understood under the rubric of ‘Muslim’ nationalism and Indian nationalism, along with other critical stances that cannot be subsumed within either nationalism. This article explores one such trend: it reads genealogically the trajectories of concepts through which the problematic of Islamic political identity developed in the context of the post-1857 experience. In order to understand the way these arguments were formed the article analyses texts that both reflected on and were a reflection of socio-political dynamics. It concludes with a note on utilising such a genealogical approach in the study of trajectories in the development of political thought, and the possibilities of extending this approach to the sphere of entire cultures.
The Radcliffe Award Grant of Gurdaspur
Authors: Bhaumik Saurav
Published: January 2015

This article will present a sweeping new interpretation of the complex and seemingly contradictory nature of modern South Asian history regarding the Partition Award formulated by the Radcliffe Commission in 1947. The Commission, adhering to the mandates of the Indian Independence Act 1947, decided that Ferozepore and Gurdaspur were to be granted to the newly created dominion of West Punjab. However, due to a sudden amendment in the Partition Plan, Gurdaspur was granted to India despite having a manifest Muslim majority, which ultimately furnished India with a strategic lifeline to Jammu and Kashmir. It is pertinent to note that Gurdaspur was commercially and strategically important for both India and Pakistan. Its topographical position on the banks of river Ravi re-emphasised its viability in the sphere of irrigation for both East and West Punjab. The attempt of the article is to critically access some fundamental dimensions of the Partition Award from a historical perspective within the ambit of three specific parameters. The economic geography of Gurdaspur and its importance to the newly created dominions, the legal complexities associated with the Award and the leakage of the contents of the Award before it was made public.
WO3 nanoparticles anchored on titania nanotube films as efficient photoanodes
Authors: Momeni M. M. , Ghayeb Y. , Davarzadeh M.
Published: January 2015

Tungsten trioxide nanoparticles anchored on titania nanotube arrays (WTiNT) fabricated by a chemical bath deposition technique in combination with a pyrolysis process. The resulting films were characterised by SEM, EDX and XRD. Results showed that the nanomaterials film have the same ordered structure as titania nanotubes. Diffuse reflectance spectra showed an increase in the visible absorption relative to bare titania nanotubes. The tungsten trioxide was successfully anchored on the titania nanotubes, which enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the WTiNT, as indicated by the efficient removal of Rhodamine B and the production of hydrogen. The resultant hybrid nanotubes array showed better photoelectrochemical activity than the bare titania nanotubes (TiNT) under Xe illumination. These WTiNT nanostructured films are promising candidates for practical photochemical reactors that drive useful reactions, such as water reduction (H2 production) and oxidation of pollutants.
De novo assembly of bacterial transcriptomes from RNA-seq data
Authors: Tjaden Brian
Published: January 2015

Transcriptome assays are increasingly being performed by high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). For organisms whose genomes have not been sequenced and annotated, transcriptomes must be assembled de novo from the RNA-seq data. Here, we present novel algorithms, specific to bacterial gene structures and transcriptomes, for analysis of bacterial RNA-seq data and de novo transcriptome assembly. The algorithms are implemented in an open source software system called Rockhopper 2. We find that Rockhopper 2 outperforms other de novo transcriptome assemblers and offers accurate and efficient analysis of bacterial RNA-seq data. Rockhopper 2 is available at http://cs.wellesley.edu/~btjaden/Rockhopper.
Onion (Allium cepa L.) peel extract has anti-platelet effects in rat platelets
Authors: Ro Ju-Ye , Ryu Jin-Hyeob , Park Hwa-Jin , Cho Hyun-Jeong
Published: January 2015

The effects of onion peel extract (OPE) in collagen (5 μg/mL)-stimulated washed rat platelet aggregation were investigated. OPE inhibited platelet aggregationviainhibition of aggregation-inducing molecules, intracellular Ca2+and thromboxane A2(TXA2) by blocking cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and TXA2synthase (TXAS) activities in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, OPE elevated the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), aggregation-inhibiting molecule, but not cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of OPE revealed that OPE contains quercetin, one of the major flavonoids, which has anti-platelet effect. In conclusion, we suggest that OPE is an effective inhibitor of collagen-stimulated platelet aggregationin vitro. Therefore, it can be a promising and safe strategy for anti-cardiovascular diseases.
Physico-chemical characterization and pharmacological evaluation of sulfated polysaccharides from three species of Mediterranean brown algae of the genus Cystoseira
Authors: Hadj Ammar Hiba , Lajili Sirine , Ben Said Rafik , Le Cerf Didier , Bouraoui Abderrahman , Majdoub Hatem
Published: January 2015

Background

Seaweed polysaccharides are highly active natural substances having valuable applications. The present study was conducted to characterize the physico-chemical properties of sulphated polysaccharides from three Mediterranean brown seaweeds (Cystoseira sedoides, Cystoseira compressa and Cystoseira crinita) and to evaluate their anti-radical, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities.

Methods

The different rates of neutral sugars, uronic acids, L-fucose and sulphate content were determined by colorimetric techniques. The different macromolecular characteristics of isolated fucoidans were identified by size exclusion chromatography equipped with a triple detection: multiangle light scattering, viscometer and differential refractive index detectors, (SEC/MALS/VD/DRI). Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test in comparison to the references drugs Acetylsalicylate of Lysine and Diclofenac. The gastroprotective activity was determined using HCl/EtOH induced gastric ulcers in rats and to examine the antioxidant effect of fucoidans in the three species, the free radical scavenging activity was determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.

Results

The pharmacological evaluation of the isolated fucoidans for their anti-inflammatory, and their gastroprotective effect established that these products from C. sedoides, C. compressa and C. crinita exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory activity at a dose of 50 mg/kg, i.p; the percentages of inhibition of the oedema were 51%, 57% and 58% respectively. And, at the same dose, these fucoidans from C. sedoides and C. compressa showed a significant decrease of the intensity of gastric mucosal damages compared to a control group by 68%, whereas, the fucoidan from C. crinita produced a less gastroprotective effect. Furthermore, the isolated fucoidans exhibited a radical scavenging activity.

Conclusion

The comparative study of fucoidans isolated from three species of the genus Cystoseira showed that they have similar chemicals properties and relatives anti-radical, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities which are found to be promising.
The capacity-building and science-enabling activities of the IUGONET for the solar-terrestrial research community
Authors: Yatagai Akiyo , Sato Yuka , Shinbori Atsuki , Abe Shuji , UeNo Satoru ,   IUGONET project team
Published: January 2015

Background

This paper presents an overview of the capacity-building activities and science-enabling services of the Inter-university Upper atmosphere Global Observation NETwork (IUGONET) project. This Japanese program, which started in 2009, is building a metadata database (MDDB) of ground-based observations and is developing an analysis software to handle the data linked to the MDDB system for use by the solar-terrestrial physics community. Because the institutional members of the IUGONET are mainly universities in Japan, we explore tools that can contribute to advanced education as well as promote research activities.

Findings

In this paper, we describe the utilities of the IUGONET for education, including our capacity-building activities in developing countries. We have regularly facilitated training seminars for Japanese students on the use of our tools (IUGONET MDDB and the software), and we have held capacity-building seminars for young scientists in developing countries. In addition to the MDDB, we have prepared various ‘gateway’ tools for users who are unfamiliar with ‘keywords’ to search for data. One of these is a geographical display tool that uses Google Earth (KML file), which is included as supplemental material to this paper. The usefulness of the IUGONET has been proven over its first 5 years of operation by the increasing number of its users, which has led to the production of approximately 500 scientific papers, including 42 thesis papers.

Conclusions

The IUGONET community collaborates with the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics program, not only in its scientific activities, but also in the establishment of E-infrastructure and capacity building.
Neuroendocrine Causes of Amenorrhea—An Update
Authors: Fourman Lindsay T. , Fazeli Pouneh K.
Published: January 2015

Context:

Secondary amenorrhea—the absence of menses for three consecutive cycles—affects approximately 3–4% of reproductive age women, and infertility—the failure to conceive after 12 months of regular intercourse—affects approximately 6–10%. Neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea and infertility, including functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and hyperprolactinemia, constitute a majority of these cases.

Objective:

In this review, we discuss the physiologic, pathologic, and iatrogenic causes of amenorrhea and infertility arising from perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, including potential genetic causes. We focus extensively on the hormonal mechanisms involved in disrupting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.

Conclusions:

A thorough understanding of the neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea and infertility is critical for properly assessing patients presenting with these complaints. Prompt evaluation and treatment are essential to prevent loss of bone mass due to hypoestrogenemia and/or to achieve the time-sensitive treatment goal of conception.
Collaborative Decision Making
Authors: Owen Daniel
Published: January 2015

A synthesis of the work of three noted authors provides a framework for collaborative decisions built on the foundation of decision analysis. A Nobel Prize winner provides a psychological foundation for the framework, an authority on harnessing the collective wisdom of organizations argues for the necessity of a mechanism for the aggregation of the decision makers’ understandings, and a former senior executive for a Fortune 500 company describes a series of structured dialogues that supports the aggregation of understandings.

The resulting collaborative decision process aggregates, rather than compromises, the understandings of decision makers. It makes explicit the aggregation of individuals’ understandings of the frame of the decision to be made, the alternatives to be considered, the sources of value and risk, and, finally, the reasons for the resulting collaborative choice.

In collaborative decision making, we do not strive for an optimum, a compromise, or a satisficing solution. Rather, collaborative decision making results in a significantly more valuable choice than the alternatives envisioned by any of the decision makers through the aggregation understandings. Though the collaborative choice was not envisioned by the decision makers, each feels ownership of it and explicitly agrees to implement it.
Do Market Leaders Lead in Business Process Innovation? The Case(s) of E-business Adoption
Authors: McElheran Kristina
Published: January 2015

Are market leaders more likely to be early adopters of business process innovations? Although they tend to enjoy economies of scale in adoption, leaders may find that adjustment costs also increase with scale. Prior work has focused on how misalignment of incumbents’ internal capabilities may affect their technology strategy. However, technology-capability misalignment may exist outside the firm boundary as well. In this paper, I build on mainstream product innovation concepts to predict when market leaders will adopt certain business process innovations. I then test these predictions in a large data set on early e-business adoption, leveraging its novel insight into focal firms, their markets, and their customers. I find market leaders were significantly more likely to embrace new information technology-enabled practices—except when customer adjustment costs were a significant concern. These findings highlight the strategic significance of external capabilities in the face of technological change.

This paper was accepted by Bruno Cassiman, business strategy.
Ocupantes, casas ocupadas y la esfera residencial de los «pobres urbanos» en la ciudad de Buenos Aires
Authors: Verón Natalia
Published: January 2015

Las ocupaciones de inmuebles abandonados por parte de habitantes de escasos recursos expresan una práctica residencial característica de los barrios del centro y sur de la ciudad de Buenos Aires. Desde una perspectiva etnográfica se analiza la diversidad de normas sociales involucradas en las prácticas de acceso a cuartos en una ocupación histórica de la ciudad. Se discuten los alcances del concepto de mercado informal en el análisis de las prácticas de intercambio económico que rigen en esta esfera residencial.
Ocupaciones organizadas de tierras urbanas en Río de Janeiro en las décadas de 1980 y de 1990
Authors: LeitÃo Gerônimo , Delecave Jonas
Published: January 2015

Este artículo aborda la ocupación organizada de zonas urbanas no utilizadas, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro y adyacencias, en las décadas de 1980 y 1990. Estas ocupaciones, que contenían fuerte carácter político, se proponían a construir barrios populares fuera de la producción estatal de vivienda, desarrollando proyectos urbanos, parcelación de la tierra y registros de usuarios. Dos estudios de caso fueron seleccionados para esta investigación: la Comunidad Parque Esperança y Vila Getúlio Cabral.
Software defined radio platform with wideband tunable front end
Authors: Iancu Daniel , Glossner John , Nacer Gary , Stanley Stuart , Kolashnikov Vitaly , Hoane Joe
Published: January 2015

The paper presents a Software Defined Radio (SDR) development platform with wideband tunable RF (Radio Frequency) front end. The platform is based on the SB3500 Multicore Multithreaded Vector Processor and it is intended to be used for a wide variety of communication protocols as: Time Division Duplexing/Frequency Division Duplexing Long Term Evolution (TDD/FDD LTE), Global Positioning System (GPS), Global System for Mobile/General Packet Radio Service (GSM/GPRS), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Legacy Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX). As an example, we describe briefly the implementation of the LTE TDD/FDD communication protocol. As far as we know, this is the only LTE category 1 communication protocol entirely developed and executed in software (SW), without any hardware (HW) accelerators.
Dekonstruksi pendidikan Islam sebagai subsistem pendidikan nasional
Authors: Suyatno Suyatno
Published: January 2015

The dualism of the nationally educational system has become the object of debate in various forums and educational seminars. The dualism of the educational system is the continuity of history; both in history of the Muslims in particular and the history of Indonesian people in general. In addition, the discourse of dualism also gained back the education system due to political turmoil ideology. Whatever the reason, the dualism has some nationally negative impact to educational institutions in Indonesia mostly in Islamic educational institutions. Therefore, it was the time that education in Indonesia must be under the policy of the ministry of education to make one-policy of educational system.Dualisme sistem pendidikan nasional telah menjadi objek perdebatan di berbagaiforum dan seminar-seminar pendidikan. Dualisme sistem pendidikan merupakankesinambungan sejarah, baik sejarah umat Islam pada khususnya maupun sejarah bangsa Indonesia pada umumnya. Di samping itu, wacana dualisme sistem pendidikan juga menguat kembali akibat gejolak politik nasional yang bermuatan ideologi tertentu. Apapun alasannya, dualisme banyak berdampak negatif terhadap lembaga pendidikan di Indonesia terlebih lembaga pendidikan Islam. Oleh karena itu sudah saatnya pendidikan di Indonesia berada di bawah satu payung kementerian sehingga menjadi sistem pendidikan satu atap.
Perspektif pendidikan Islam dalam novel “Dan Damai Di Bumi!” karya Karl May
Authors: Ma’rifah Indriyani
Published: January 2015

Conflict and violence based on ethnic, religion, race and inter-groups (SARA) still become an inherent part of the historical life for Indonesian people. It is quitely clear that the Islamic education has not been effective enough to instill values of peace. Therefore, the reconstruction and renewal of the Islamic education should be done. It is necessary for us to begin with the reconstruction of the learning materials, and by using the novel as a medium. One of the novels that is loaded with the values of peace is “Dan Damai di Bumi!“ written by Karl MayKonflik dan kekerasan berbasis suku, agama, ras dan antar golongan (SARA)masih menjadi bagian yang inheren dalam sejarah kehidupan bangsa Indonesia.Tampak jelas bahwa pendidikan Islam belum cukup efektif menanamkan nilai-nilai perdamaian. Karenanya, rekonstruksi dan pembaharuan pendidikan Islam sudah saatnya dilakukan. Hal ini perlu dimulai dengan pembenahan materi pembelajaran,dan menggunakan novel sebagai medianya. Salah satu novel yang sarat dengan nilai-nilai perdamaian adalah “Dan Damai di Bumi!” karya Karl May.
Peningkatan mutu madrasah melalui penguatan partisipasi masyarakat
Authors: Rahman K.A.
Published: January 2015

Quality in the context of education is a process to do it right the first time andmake continuous improvements from setting the vision, mission, purpose, operation,monitoring, and evaluation of substances intended for meaningful education, that begins from input-process and out-put, up to the level of outcome. In the world of education,including the madrasa, community satisfaction will be realized when the madrasa’s’ quality has continuous benefit for society. Mutu dalam konteks pendidikan adalah sebuah proses untuk melakukan secarabenar sejak awal dan melakukan perbaikan secara terus menerus mulai daripenetapan visi-misi, tujuan, operasionalisasi, monitoring, dan evaluasi yangditujukan bagi substansi pendidikan yang bermakna, mulai dari input-proses,dan out-put, hingga ke tingkat outcome. Dalam dunia pendidikan, termasukmadrasah, kepuasan masyarakat akan terwujud bila madrasah menunjukkan mutu yang berkesinambungan dan lulusan madrasah dapat bermanfaat bagi masyarakat.
Deradikalisasi pendidikan Islam berbasis khazanah pesantren
Authors: Masduqi Irwan
Published: January 2015

Violence in the name of religion often happens in Indonesia. Pesantren is considered as a nest of terrorism because it has been being tought religious radicalism here. This study can be concluded that Islam is as a religion of universal love (rahmatan lil ‘alamin).Here, it is tought education that upholds the principle of mutual respect for differences,harmony, peace, civility, and other manifestations of noble character. But the teachings of “rahmatan lil ‘alamin” is often reduced to justify violence in the name of religion by sensible dogmatic radical groups. De-radicalizational steps are needed to develop Islamic education that is more humane. Kekerasan atas nama agama semakin marak terjadi di Indonesia. Bahkan pesantren dianggap sebagai sarang terorisme karena di sini diajarkan radikalisme agama.Penelitian ini pada simpulan bahwa Islam sebagai agama kasih sayang universal (rahmatan lil ‘alamin). Di sini, diajarkan pendidikan yang menjunjung tinggi prinsip saling menghargai perbedaan, kerukunan, perdamaian, kesantunan,dan manifestasi akhlak mulia yang lainnya. Namun ajaran rahmatan lil ‘alamin tersebut sering direduksi oleh kelompok dogmatik yang berpaham radikal untuk menjustifikasi aksi-aksi kekerasan atas nama agama. Langkah-langkah deradikalisasi diperlukan untuk membangun pendidikan Islam yang lebih humanis.
Respon Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) terhadap Wahabisme dan implikasinya bagi deradikalisasi pendidikan Islam
Authors: Shidqi Ahmad
Published: January 2015

The rise of Islamic radicalism action that is more expansive in Indonesia because ofWahhabism actions. This group often “mengkafirkan” “mensyirikkan”, “membid’ahkan” other groups of Muslim. The actions may grow Islamic radicalism. “NU” that is as one of other groups of Muslims who faithfully practice the number of religious rites such as “tahlil”, “ziarah kubur” (pilgrimage to grave), “maulid”, is often made as the target of this Wahhabi. Therefore, a number of people from both structural and cultural of “NU” have done the consolidation to response the expansion of Wahhabism. Maraknya aksi radikalisme Islam yang semakin ekspansif di Indonesia sebenarnya karena gerakan Wahhabisme. Kelompok ini kerap mengkafirkan, membid’ahkan dan mensyirikkan tindakan kelompok Islam lainnya. Hal ini menjadi landasan tumbuhnya benih-benih radikalisme Islam. NU sebagai salah satu kelompok umat Islam yang setia mengamalkan sejumlah ritus-ritus keagamaan seperti tahlil, ziarah kubur, maulid, kerap dijadikan sasaran dakwah kaum Wahhabi ini. Karena itu, baik dari struktural maupun dari kultural NU berkonsolidasi untuk meberikan respon terhadap ekspansi Wahhabisme.
Peace education dan deradikalisasi agama
Authors: Machali Imam
Published: January 2015

Peace education is a process of acquiring knowledge, development of attitudes, andbehaviors to be able to live mutually respectful, tolerant, peaceful, mutual aid and nonviolence. Peace education that is conducted by “FPUB” is to bring into reality the true brotherhood among the believers that are realized by tolerance-active attitude, honesty,respect for religious freedom and faith. The program is implemented in order to deradicalization of religious groups such as discussion and dialogue among religions, social solidarity action, peaceful action, and prayer together.Pendidikan perdamaian adalah sebuah proses untuk mendapatkan pengetahuan,pengembangan sikap, dan tingkah laku untuk dapat hidup saling menghormati,toleran, penuh perdamaian, saling membantu, dan anti kekerasan. Pendidikan perdamaian yang dilakukan oleh “FPUB” bertujuan untuk mewujudkan persaudaraan sejati antar umat beriman yang dilandasi dengan sikap toleransi-aktif, kejujuran, penghargaan terhadap kebebasan beragama dan berkeyakinan. Program yang dilaksanakan dalam rangka deradikalisasi umat beragama adalah diskusi dan dialog antar umat beragama, aksi solidaritas sosial, aksi damai, dan do’a bersama.
Pendidikan agama Islam berbasis anti terorisme di SMA
Authors: Wiyani Novan Ardy
Published: January 2015

“PAI” teachers are required to be able to create a healthy climate of religios to avoid the Islamic radicalism in high school. One effort that can be done by the”PAI” teachers is to practice the de-radicalization of Islamic education through the integration of education values on anti-terrorism in teching-learning of “PAI”. The educational values of antiterrorism that will be integrated in the teching-learning of “PAI” included citizenship,compassion, courtesy, fairness, moderation, respect for the other, respect for the creator,self control, and tolerance. Then, they are integrated into the learning objectives, learning materials, learning experiences, and evaluation of learning.Guru PAI dituntut untuk dapat menciptakan iklim keagaman yang sehat untukmenghindari paham radikalisme Islam di SMA. Salah satu upaya yang dapat dilakukan oleh guru PAI adalah dengan melakukan praktik deradikalisasi pendidikan Islam melalui pengintegrasian nilai-nilai pendidikan anti terorisme pada pembelajaran PAI. Nilai-nilai pendidikan anti terorisme yang diintegrasikan pada pembelajaran PAI meliputi citizenship, compassion, courtesy, fairness, moderation, respect for other,respect for the creator, self control, dan tolerance. Kemudian diintegrasikan ke dalam tujuan pembelajaran, materi pembelajaran, pengalaman belajar, dan evaluasi pembelajaran.