bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
El proyecto político indígena ecuatoriano. Convergencia y divergencias con su entorno político
Authors: Massal Julie
Published: June 2012

This paper addresses the contradictions between the indigenous political project in Ecuador and of those projects of both the central government and the external actors. The promotion of collective rights has arisen as a central claim of the indigenous groups who aim to participate in the definition of the national economic and politic development model facing ambiguous opponents. This complex interaction is analyzed in order to reveal how an apparent convergence of discourses around the promotion of decentralization and participative democracy hides a huge diversity of social and political change projects.
Con bastones de mando o en el tarjetón. Movilizaciones políticas indígenas en Colombia
Authors: Laurent Virginie
Published: June 2012

This article describes different stages of the indigenous political mobilizations in Colombia, stages which reflect their particular combination of struggle strategies and their different degrees of articulation to the State: self-government, direct action, use of legal resources, and electoral participation. It shows how the Colombian opening to multiculturalism, which took place in 1991 and has been associated with a relative institutionalization of indigenous demands formulated since the seventies, does not prevent the permanence—or revitalization—of practices of resistance, as in the case of those called Mingas. In a transversal manner, the emphasis is put on how specific claims based on Indianness go hand in hand with alliances and broader claims in favor of the construction of another society, one being inclusive and equitable.
Transformaciones constitucionales en Bolivia. Estado indígena y conflictos regionales
Authors: Gamboa Rocabado Franco
Published: June 2012

This article analyzes the main problems that the new Political Constitution of Bolivia is facing before being implemented, once it was approved on February 2009. In addition, it also studies how the constitutional provisions were negotiated in order to make the constitutional referendum viable. What were the political conflicts in the critical juncture 2008-2009, and what kind of reflection should be considered as to how the new emerging regional and local governments—together with its decentralized structures—are able to renew democracy in Bolivia within the framework of the Plurinational State? The multiple challenges ahead are highly difficult to confront from democratic theory perspectives.
¿Crisis internacional o crisis del capitalismo?
Authors: Hawkins Daniel
Published: June 2012

The present global recession that sprung out of the US banking and Real Estate sectors in 2007 has its roots in the massive State and financial upheavals implemented in the face of the 1970s crisis of over accumulation. These transformations had as their objective the reneging of the Keynesian, tripartite model of regulation and its association with the ‘Welfare State’. As such, the post-1970 neo-liberal financial order can be best seen as a ‘class project’ to reassert the dominance of grand capital, especially financial capital, both in the political and economic fields. Examining the intricate links between the present crisis and the structural governance changes enacted over the past 30 years, principally in the United States, the fallacies of ultra-growth and the speculative model become obvious as do their class dimensions and impact. However, despite the seeming ideological death of neo-liberalism, on close inspection, the policies so far enacted by the Obama administration make no concerted move out of the past era of financial sector hegemony.
Entre santos y ‘traquetos’. El narcotráfico en la frontera colomboecuatoriana
Authors: Moreano Hernán
Published: June 2012

This article describes the situation of people living in the Ecuadorian provinces of Esmeraldas, Carchi and Sucumbios, which abut the Colombian departments of Nariño and Putumayo. Nowadays this place is considered a war zone due to the high presence of illegal armed groups linked to the drug trade and other related activities. As a result, both states conducted daily monitoring operations to deter the presence of coca leaf crops, cocaine laboratories and clandestine bases of guerrillas and paramilitaries. This study had the cooperation of residents that lived within the 725 km border, who recounted how their daily lives were and what their demands were to reduce their vulnerability to illegal activity. In addition was a brief description of the historical context of drug trafficking in the Andean region and the influence of the anti-drug policy of the United States.
Contradicciones y posibilidades del liberalismo utilitarista como ideología moderna
Authors: López Rivera Jorge Andrés
Published: June 2012

As a modern ideology, utilitarian liberalism emerges under the act of establishing objective criteria of secular morality. The greatest happiness principle is taken as the main principle for guiding action; nevertheless, its expression and application differs into versions of utilitarian liberalism. Hence, in this text, the author presents how different epistemological proposals, which intent to give background to moral objective principles and to interpret social relations, affect utilitarian liberalism as an ideology. In other words, in a wide sense, utilitarianism is taken as a coherent set of values and ideas that constitutes sense of social reality. Consequently, and taking the works of Mill and Bentham, an analysis of modern utilitarianism is done. According to it, the author argues that Bentham´s formulation embeds an aporia due to unilateral use of instrumental rationality, which restricts its capacity to constitute sense. The aporia can only be overcome by the introduction of ethical principles, as Mill does, that allows the validation of utilitarian liberalism as an ideology.
Las supervivencias y aversiones de los revolucionarios colombianos. Preferencias estratégicas de grupos guerrilleros ante la posibilidad de negociar la paz
Authors: Chinchilla Fernando A.
Published: June 2012

Why did certain Colombian armed groups such as the M-19, the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), the Workers’ Revolutionary Party (PRT) and the Socialist Renovation Current (CRS) decide to sign a peace agreement while others, such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) refused to do so? Based on a historical analysis of the political behavior of these armed groups, this essay shows that willingness to negotiate depends, at least partly, on the belligerents’ extremism or moderation, which varies as a function of the balance of power between ‘hardliners’ and ‘softliners’ (distribution of political, economic, and strategic resources) within each collective actor. The essay identifies four strategic choices: recognition of the adversary, acceptance of negotiation as a valid political tool for conflict resolution, calls for defining the rules of peace negotiations, and sending costly signals in favor of peace, which help to distinguish a moderate from an extremist. The essay concludes that the use of political violence is not necessarily an indicator of extremism.
El multilateralismo estratégico en la política exterior de China. Estudios de caso: el Foro Regional de ASEAN y la disputa por las islas Spratly
Authors: Rubiolo María Florencia
Published: June 2012

In 1991, Qian Chen, then Minister of Foreign Relations of the People’s Republic of China, attended the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. This event set the beginning of China’s opening to multilateralism in the region. After the financial crisis of 1997, this trend became accentuated when Beijing took on a role that involved more leadership and initiative in multilateral bodies. In this article we are interested in exploring the role China plays in strategic multilateral regional initiatives.
El problema del procesamiento de información en la selección de tutelas por la Corte Constitucional, con especial atención al papel de las insistencias
Authors: Jaramillo Sierra Isabel Cristina , Barreto Rozo Antonio
Published: June 2012

This paper, in contrast to mainstream judicial politics literature in the United States and Latin America, proposes an approach to study judicial behavior that takes into account the problem of information processing. From this perspective the authors provide an account of the process of agenda setting through the selection of tutelas by the Colombian Constitutional Court. The authors conclude that the processing of information concerning tutelas by the Court prevents learning by assigning the first reading and selection of cases to very young and inexperienced clerks, by failing to study systematically the results of different approaches to the issues and and by denying Justices and clerks access to information about other justices’ and officials’ opinions as well as on who will decide the case after it is chosen for review. The insistence mechanism partially corrects these defects.
Migración, codesarrollo y capital social. Lineamientos para una estrategia de integración de dos mundos
Authors: Roll David , Leal-Castro Diego
Published: June 2012

The present article attempts to relate three main concepts: migration, codevelopment and social capital, using analytical frameworks of political science and sociology. Those concepts enable the construction of theoretical principles for a strategy, based on empirical evidence, intended for linking the worlds within which migrants live and develop themselves and their societies.
Survey of health status and complications among propionic acidemia patients
Authors: Pena Loren , Burton Barbara K.
Published: June 2012

Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare organic acidemia that is due to deficiency in the enzyme propionyl‐coA carboxylase. Complications are currently described mostly in the form of case reports. We sampled a population of affected individuals in order to estimate the frequency of complications amongst the sample. The study is a cross‐sectional retrospective review with a survey instrument and recruitment through the Propionic Acidemia Foundation. Responses for 58 individuals were tabulated for each question as how frequently the complication was reported among responders. Commonly reported findings included seizures, arrhythmia, leucopenia, and anemia. Developmental and cognitive disabilities were reported in the majority of individuals. Heart failure or cardiomyopathy was reported in over half of deceased individuals at time of death. Pancreatitis was reported in a minority of the sample, yet more than half of these reported a recurrence. These results update and extend our current knowledge of recognized complications among individuals with PA. The results also provide new information regarding developmental outcomes and previously unreported morbidity from cardiac and gastrointestinal complications. Longitudinal studies exploring associated biochemical and clinical parameters are necessary to further our understanding of the pathophysiology of PA and its complications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recurrent mutations in the CDKL5 gene: Genotype–phenotype relationships
Authors: Bahi‐Buisson Nadia , Villeneuve Nathalie , Caietta Emilie , Jacquette Aurélia , Maurey Helene , Matthijs Gert , Van Esch Hilde , Delahaye Andrée , Moncla Anne , Milh Mathieu , Zufferey Flore , Diebold Bertrand , Bienvenu Thierry
Published: June 2012

Mutations in the cyclin‐dependent kinase‐like 5 gene (CDKL5) have been described in epileptic encephalopathies in females with infantile spasms with features that overlap with Rett syndrome. With more than 80 reported patients, the phenotype of CDKL5‐related encephalopathy is well‐defined. The main features consist of seizures starting before 6 months of age, severe intellectual disability with absent speech and hand stereotypies and deceleration of head growth, which resembles Rett syndrome. However, some clinical discrepancies suggested the influence of genetics and/or environmental factors. No genotype–phenotype correlation has been defined and thus there is a need to examine individual mutations. In this study, we analyzed eight recurrent CDKL5 mutations to test whether the clinical phenotype of patients with the same mutation is similar and whether patients with specific CDKL5 mutations have a milder phenotype than those with other CDKL5 mutations. Patients bearing missense mutations in the ATP binding site such as the p.Ala40Val mutation typically walked unaided, had normocephaly, better hand use ability, and less frequent refractory epilepsy when compared to girls with other CDKL5 mutations. In contrast, patients with mutations in the kinase domain (such as p.Arg59X, p.Arg134X, p.Arg178Trp/Pro/Gln, or c.145 + 2T > C) and frameshift mutations in the C‐terminal region (such as c.2635_2636delCT) had a more severe phenotype with infantile spasms, refractory epileptic encephalopathy, absolute microcephaly, and inability to walk. It is important for clinicians to have this information when such patients are diagnosed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Titanium complex bearing 8‐anilino‐1‐naphthalenesulfonate ligand: Synthesis and catalytic behavior toward ethylene (co‐)polymerization
Authors: Zhang Hao , Zhang He‐Xin , Cai Xiao‐Ping , Zhang Xue‐Quan
Published: June 2012

A novel titanium complex bearing 8‐anilino‐1‐naphthalenesulfonic acid was synthesized. The effects of cocatalyst and reaction conditions on ethylene polymerization were studied. The synthesized titanium complex exhibited high polymerization activity in the presence of MAO cocatalyst. The synthesized titanium complex/MAO catalyst system showed a uniform active site and was very stable at high polymerization temperature. In addition, the copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene was investigated. With the introduction of norbornene, the catalyst activity slightly decreased with MAO as cocatalyst but increased with TEA as cocatalyst. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Relationship between the morphology and interfacial tension of polypropylene and ethylene propylene diene monomer blends: The effect of repetitive extrusion
Authors: Lee Yun Kyun , Lee Han Ki , Yoo Tae Wook , Yoon Ho Gyu , Kim Woo Nyon
Published: June 2012

In this study, the effects of repeated extrusion on the mechanical properties, morphology, and interfacial tension of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) (80/20) blends were investigated. For the PP/EPDM (80/20) blends, the impact strength of the blends increased with repeated extrusion, which could be attributed to the interaction between the PP and the EPDM. The interfacial tension of the PP/EPDM (80/20) blends, which was determined using the Palierne and Choi–Schowalter models, decreased with an increase in the number of repeated extrusion. Based on the results of the mechanical properties and morphology, the interaction between the PP and the EPDM with repeated extrusion contributed to the reduction of interfacial tension between the PP and the EPDM, which consequently improved the impact strength of the PP/EPDM (80/20) blends. The results for the nuclear magnetic resonance studies supported the increase in impact strength of the PP/EPDM (80/20) blends with repeated extrusion. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Differential microemulsion polymerization as a new root for entrapment of drugs
Authors: Moustafa A. B. , Sobh R. A. , Rabie A. M. , Nasr H. E. , Ayoub M. M. H.
Published: June 2012

Nanosized particles derived from poly(methyl methacrylate) as well as copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were synthesized by differential microemulsion technique in the presence of ammonium persulfate as water‐soluble initiator. The polymerization was stabilized by adding biologically safe emulsifiers namely the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) either alone or in conjunction with polyethylene glycol. The turbidity measurements, surface tension, ζ potential, and morphological characterizations of the obtained nanosized poly MMA and its copolymer with HEMA in different monomer feed compositions were investigated. It is found that increasing HEMA content leads to increase in the particle size, turbidity measurements but the negatively charged ζ potential decreased. However, when SDS is used, the surface tension of the prepared lattices increased, whereas it is decreased by using PVP. Kinetic studies of (MMA/HEMA) in ratio of 95/5 wt % in the presence of SDS or PVP revealed that the emulsifier concentration has a considerable effect on the rate of polymerization and the power of the emulsifier. The entrapment of drug was investigated using two active molecules different in water solubility (sodium warfarin and ibuprofen). It is noted that entrapment efficiency is independent of HEMA content in the monomer feed composition but dependent on type of drug and the amount of drug introduced. Hence, higher entrapment efficiency was attained for sodium warfarin (more hydrophilic) than that of ibuprofen (more hydrophobic) and they were 95.5 and 85%, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synergistic effect of plasma‐modified halloysite nanotubes and carbon black in natural rubber—butadiene rubber blend
Authors: Poikelispää Minna , Das Amit , Dierkes Wilma , Vuorinen Jyrki
Published: June 2012

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were investigated concerning their suitability for rubber reinforcement. As they have geometrical similarity with carbon nanotubes, they were expected to impart a significant reinforcement effect on the rubber compounds but the dispersion of the nanofillers is difficult. In this work, HNTs were surface‐modified by plasma polymerization to change their surface polarity and chemistry and used in a natural rubber/butadiene rubber blend in the presence of carbon black. The aim of the treatment was to improve the rubber–filler interaction and the dispersion of the fillers. A thiophene modification of HNTs improved stress–strain properties more than a pyrrole treatment. The surface modification resulted in a higher bound rubber content and lower Payne effect indicating better filler–polymer interaction. Scanning electron microscopy measurements showed an increased compatibility of elastomers and fillers. As visualized by transmission electron microscopy, the thiophene‐modified HNTs formed a special type of clusters with carbon black particles, which was ultimately reflected in the final mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The addition of HNTs increased loss angle. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Preparation and characterization of melt‐blended graphene nanosheets–poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites with enhanced properties
Authors: El Achaby M. , Arrakhiz F. Z. , Vaudreuil S. , Essassi E. M. , Qaiss A. , Bousmina M.
Published: June 2012

Nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with chemically reduced graphene nanosheets (GNs) were prepared by melt mixing method and their structure and morphology characterized by SEM analysis. The addition of GNs in the PVDF matrix resulted in changes of the crystallization and melting behaviors. Furthermore, increasing GNs content led to improved thermal stability of the PVDF nanocomposites in air and nitrogen, as well as significant increase in tensile and flexural properties. The nanocomposites' rheological behavior is also affected by the GNs' content. Using oscillatory rheology to monitor the GNs' dispersion, it was found that as the GNs loading increase, the Newtonian behavior disappears at low frequency. This suggests a viscoelastic behavior transition from liquid‐like to solid‐like, with greater GNs content and more homogeneous dispersion resulting in a stronger solid‐like and nonterminal behavior. By using the melt mixing method to disperse GNs, the properties of PVDF are enhanced due to the better dispersion and distribution of GNs throughout the matrix. This improvement could broaden the applications for PVDF nanocomposites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synthesis, characterization, and antifungal activity of nystatin—gum arabic conjugates
Authors: Stefanovic Jovana , Jakovljevic Dragica , Gojgic‐Cvijovic Gordana , Lazic Miodrag , Vrvic Miroslav
Published: June 2012

Nystatin, a polyene tetraene antibiotic widely used in the treatment of mycoses, was coupled with oxidized polysaccharide gum Arabic, by forming Schiff base structures between amine groups of antibiotics and aldehyde groups of modified carbohydrate. Imine conjugates synthesized in this way were reduced with sodium borohydride to secondary amines. Two imine and two amine conjugates were obtained with different nystatin content. The conjugates were characterized by UV–Vis, FTIR, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Solubility in water, unlike nystatin, and significant activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger with minimum inhibitory concentrations in range of 3.125–6.25 μg mL−1 and 6.25–25 μg mL−1, respectively, indicate that the chemical integrity and the biological function of these compounds were retained. A comparison of stability of the conjugates in the dry form, solution and under different pH values showed that the conjugates exhibited better stability than pure drug. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Canine Oral Mucosal Fibroblasts Differentiate into Osteoblastic Cells in Response to BMP‐2
Authors: Umehara Kohsuke , Iimura Tadahiro , Sakamoto Kei , Lin Zayar , Kasugai Shohei , Igarashi Yoshimasa , Yamaguchi Akira
Published: June 2012

Several lines of evidence show that transplantation of osteoblastic cells or genetically engineered nonosteogenic cells expressing osteoblast‐related genes into bone defects effectively promotes bone regeneration. To extend this possibility, we investigated whether oral mucosal fibroblasts are capable of differentiating into osteoblastic cells by conducting in vitro and in vivo experiments. We investigated the effects of bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) on osteoblast differentiation of cultured fibroblasts isolated from canine buccal mucosa. We also transplanted green fluorescence protein (GFP)‐expressing fibroblasts with gelatin/BMP‐2 complexes into the subfascial regions of athymic mice, and investigated the localization of GFP‐positive cells in the ectopically formed bones. The cultured canine buccal mucosal fibroblasts differentiated into osteoblastic cells by increasing their alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Osteocalcin, Runx2, and Osterix mRNA expression levels in response to BMP‐2. Transplantation experiments of GFP‐expressing oral mucosal fibroblasts with gelatin/BMP‐2 complexes revealed that 17.1% of the GFP‐positive fibroblasts differentiated into ALP‐positive cells, and these cells accounted for 6.2% of total ALP‐positive cells in the ectopically formed bone. This study suggests that oral mucosal fibroblasts can differentiate into osteogenic cells in response to BMP‐2. Thus, these cells are potential candidates for cell‐mediated bone regeneration therapy in dentistry. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Morphological and Quantitative Study of the Myenteric Plexus in the Human Tenia Coli
Authors: Hanani Menachem , Grossman Sivan , Nissan Aviram , Eid Ahmed
Published: June 2012

The longitudinal muscle in the large intestine in humans and some other mammalian species is concentrated in regions known as “tenia coli.” The myenteric plexus under the tenia is believed to be highly developed to control the adjacent large muscle mass, however, data on the innervation of this region are very scarce. We used whole mount preparations of human colon to characterize the organization of the myenteric plexus under the tenia coli (UT) and compared it with the plexus between the tenia (BT). Using histochemical staining for NADPH diaphorase, we found that the meshwork UT was 50% denser than BT, and that the ganglia UT were 30% wider. The density and size of the NADPH‐d positive neurons UT were similar to those of BT. We conclude that the myenteric plexus UT is considerably more developed than BT, and suggest to understand the control of colonic motility, the myenteric plexus UT needs to be further investigated. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A primer in macromolecular linguistics
Authors: Searls David B.
Published: June 2012

Polymeric macromolecules, when viewed abstractly as strings of symbols, can be treated in terms of formal language theory, providing a mathematical foundation for characterizing such strings both as collections and in terms of their individual structures. In addition this approach offers a framework for analysis of macromolecules by tools and conventions widely used in computational linguistics. This article introduces the ways that linguistics can be and has been applied to molecular biology, covering the relevant formal language theory at a relatively nontechnical level. Analogies between macromolecules and human natural language are used to provide intuitive insights into the relevance of grammars, parsing, and analysis of language complexity to biology. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 99: 203–217, 2013.
ACCF/SCAI/AATS/AHA/ASE/ASNC/HFSA/HRS/SCCM/SCCT/SCMR/STS 2012 appropriate use criteria for diagnostic catheterization
Authors: Patel Manesh R. , Bailey Steven R. , Bonow Robert O. , Chambers Charles E. , Chan Paul S. , Dehmer Gregory J. , Kirtane Ajay J. , Wann L. Samuel , Ward R. Parker , Douglas Pamela S. , Patel Manesh R. , Bailey Steven R. , Altus Philip , Barnard Denise D. , Blankenship James C. , Casey Donald E. , Dean Larry S. , Fazel Reza , Gilchrist Ian C. , Kavinsky Clifford J. , Lakoski Susan G. , Le D. Elizabeth , Lesser John R. , Levine Glenn N. , Mehran Roxana , Russo Andrea M. , Sorrentino Matthew J. , Williams Mathew R. , Wong John B. , Wolk Michael J. , Bailey Steven R. , Douglas Pamela S. , Hendel Robert C. , Kramer Christopher M. , Min James K. , Patel Manesh R. , Shaw Leslee , Stainback Raymond F. , Allen Joseph M.
Published: June 2012

The American College of Cardiology Foundation, in collaboration with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and key specialty and subspecialty societies, conducted a review of common clinical scenarios where diagnostic catheterization is frequently considered. The indications (clinical scenarios) were derived from common applications or anticipated uses, as well as from current clinical practice guidelines and results of studies examining the implementation of noninvasive imaging appropriate use criteria. The 166 indications in this document were developed by a diverse writing group and scored by a separate independent technical panel on a scale of 1 to 9, to designate appropriate use (median 7 to 9), uncertain use (median 4 to 6), and inappropriate use (median 1 to 3). Diagnostic catheterization may include several different procedure components. The indications developed focused primarily on 2 aspects of diagnostic catheterization. Many indications focused on the performance of coronary angiography for the detection of coronary artery disease with other procedure components (e.g., hemodynamic measurements, ventriculography) at the discretion of the operator. The majority of the remaining indications focused on hemodynamic measurements to evaluate valvular heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and other conditions, with the use of coronary angiography at the discretion of the operator. Seventy‐five indications were rated as appropriate, 49 were rated as uncertain, and 42 were rated as inappropriate. The appropriate use criteria for diagnostic catheterization have the potential to impact physician decision making, healthcare delivery, and reimbursement policy. Furthermore, recognition of uncertain clinical scenarios facilitates identification of areas that would benefit from future research. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Molecular and organismal changes in offspring of male mice treated with chemical stressors
Authors: Shiao Yih‐Horng , Leighty Robert M. , Wang Cuiju , Ge Xin , Crawford Erik B. , Spurrier Joshua M. , McCann Sean D. , Fields Janet R. , Fornwald Laura , Riffle Lisa , Driver Craig , Kasprzak Kazimierz S. , Quiñones Octavio A. , Wilson Ralph E. , Travlos Gregory S. , Alvord W. Gregory , Anderson Lucy M.
Published: June 2012

Both gene methylation changes and genetic instability have been noted in offspring of male rodents exposed to radiation or chemicals, but few specific gene targets have been established. Previously, we identified the gene for ribosomal RNA, rDNA, as showing methylation change in sperm of mice treated with the preconceptional carcinogen, chromium(III) chloride. rDNA is a critical cell growth regulator. Here, we investigated the effects of paternal treatments on rDNA in offspring tissue. A total of 93 litters and 758 offspring were obtained, permitting rigorous mixed‐effects models statistical analysis of the results. We show that the offspring of male mice treated with Cr(III) presented increased methylation in a promoter sequence of the rDNA gene, specifically in lung. Furthermore polymorphic variants of the multi‐copy rDNA genes displayed altered frequencies indicative of structural changes, as a function of both tissue type and paternal treatments. Organismal effects also occurred: some groups of offspring of male mice treated with either Cr(III) or its vehicle, acidic saline, compared with those of untreated mice, had altered average body and liver weights and levels of serum glucose and leptin. Males treated directly with Cr(III) or acidic saline presented serum hormone changes consistent with a stress response. These results establish for the first time epigenetic and genetic instability effects in a gene of central physiological importance, in offspring of male mice exposed preconceptionally to chemicals, possibly related to a stress response in these males. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The accessibility of vulnerable groups to health services in Greece: a Delphi study on the perceptions of health professionals
Authors: Karamitri Ioanna , Bellali Thalia , Galanis Petros , Kaitelidou Daphne
Published: June 2012

Background

Problems of accessibility to healthcare services notably affect certain population groups such as poor and unemployed people, migrants and minorities, thus having a negative impact on their health. The aim of this study was to investigate these problems from the perspective of health professionals and to formulate empirically informed suggestions to solve the issue.

Methods

Primary data were collected in 2010–2011 by using a panel of 36 experienced health professionals around Greece. A two‐round Delphi method was undertaken to achieve the objectives of the study. The first questionnaire investigated the factors that hinder accessibility to health services. The second round aimed at determining the relative importance of each of the factors emerging in the first round.

Results

The group of experts identified 345 factors in the first round, which were grouped in 55 statements. Consensus was achieved in 22 statements. The study revealed important issues, and health professionals proposed a number of actions to eliminate the accessibility problems.

Conclusions

The use of medical interpreters and cultural mediators, transcultural education and stronger linkages among medical facilities are important to reduce accessibility problems. Restructuring primary healthcare and better documenting of the beneficiaries could also improve the quality of provided healthcare services. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regional evapotranspiration rate of oasis and surrounding desert
Authors: Jia Jihong , Zhao Wenzhi , Li Shoubo
Published: June 2012

The surface energy balance algorithm for land method was used in this study to calculate the evapotranspiration (ET) rate for the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin, Gansu Province, China, to analyse ET distribution within the oasis and the surrounding desert and, especially, on the edge zone of the oasis. Five profile graphs were created vertical to the river. Because of the inverse humidity phenomenon, the least amount of evapotranspiration occurred on the desert close to the oasis. The average evapotranspiration rate was roughly proportioned from the edge of the oasis to inside and outside its boundary. Two meteorological ground stations located close to the oasis edge showed a notable difference in net radiation flux that led to the difference found in ET. The primary reason for the significant differences observed in net radiation may be largely the result of differences in flux reflectivity and surface temperature. Meteorological data show that water supply also played an important role. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fine scale variations of surface water chemistry in an ephemeral to perennial drainage network
Authors: Zimmer Margaret A. , Bailey Scott W. , McGuire Kevin J. , Bullen Thomas D.
Published: June 2012

Although temporal variation in headwater stream chemistry has long been used to document baseline conditions and response to environmental drivers, less attention is paid to fine scale spatial variations that could yield clues to processes controlling stream water sources. We documented spatial and temporal variation in water composition in a headwater catchment (41 ha) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH, USA. We sampled every 50 m along an ephemeral to perennial stream network as well as groundwater from seeps and 35 shallow wells across varying flow conditions. Groundwater influences on surface water in this region have not been considered to be important in past studies as relatively coarse soils were assumed to be well drained in steep catchments with flashy runoff response. However, seeps displayed perennial discharge, upslope accumulated areas (UAA) smaller than those for channel initiation sites and higher pH, Ca and Si concentrations than streams, suggesting relatively long groundwater residence time or long subsurface flow paths not bound by topographic divides. Coupled with a large range in groundwater chemistry seen in wells, these results suggest stream chemistry variation reflects the range of connectivity with, and quality of, groundwater controlled by hillslope hydropedological processes. The magnitude of variations of solute concentrations seen in the first order catchment was as broad as that seen at the fifth order Hubbard Brook Valley (3519 ha). Reduction in variation in solute concentrations with increasing UAA suggested a representative elementary area (REA) value of less than 3 ha in the first order catchment, compared with 100 ha for the fifth order basin. Thus, the REA is not necessarily an elementary catchment property. Rather, the partitioning of variation between highly variable upstream sources and relatively homogenous downstream characteristics may have different physical significance depending on the scale and complexity of the catchment under examination. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Entrapment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 3T3 fibroblast cells into blue light cured hydrogels
Authors: Mishra Swati , Scarano Frank J. , Calvert Paul
Published: June 2012

Hydrogels, containing yeast cells or fibroblast cells, were fabricated using blue light‐induced polymerization technique. The cell‐loaded prepolymer formulation was comprised of poly(ethyleneglycol) diacrylate (more than or equal to 50% v/v), 0.5 wt % Eosin Y and 0.5 wt % triethanolamine as the base oligomer, photo‐initiator, and co‐initiator, respectively. The two model cell lines, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts maintained high viability pre‐ and post‐processing. Several bioassays have demonstrated the unaffected intracellular and extracellular activities of the cells entrapped within the hydrogels. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the proliferation of S. cerevisiae cells that were entrapped and cultivated for 48 h in growth media, which validated the favorable microenvironment and nutrient transport in these gels. Upon entrapment, fibroblast cells remain viable upto 12 h, however they failed to attach within the crosslinked network, thus no further proliferation was observed. The tunable properties of this hydrogel system project it as a useful matrix for specialized biohybrids. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A 100A:2829–2838, 2012.
Caudatin inhibits carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell growth and angiogenesis through modulating GSK3β/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Fei Hong‐Rong , Cui Li‐Yuan , Zhang Zhao‐Rui , Zhao Ying , Wang Feng‐Ze
Published: June 2012

In this study, we investigate the anti‐cancer activity of caudatin in carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell line A549 and anti‐angiogenic activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We show that caudatin impairs the cell viability and induces G0/G1 phase arrest in A549 cells with a dose dependent manner. A549 cells, not HUVECs, dealing with caudatin exhibited typical characteristics of apoptosis, which were accompanied by activation of caspase‐3, caspase‐9 and Poly(ADP–Ribose) Polymerase (PARP). In addition, caudatin treatment resulted in a decrease of β‐catenin and increase of phosphorylation of β‐catenin, and inhibited phosphorylation levels of GSK3β (Ser 9) in A549 cells. Conditional medium of A549 cells‐induced or growth factors‐induced tube formation of HUVECs was markedly inhibited by caudatin treatment, which was associated with the inhibiting VEGF secretion from A549 cells by caudatin. Our findings suggest that caudatin inhibits carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell growth and angiogenesis by targeting GSK3β/β‐catenin pathway and suppressing VEGF production. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3403–3410, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dioscoreanone suppresses LPS‐induced nitric oxide production and inflammatory cytokine expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages by NF‐κB and ERK1/2 signaling transduction
Authors: Itharat Arunporn , Hiransai Poonsit
Published: June 2012

Dioscoreanone, a 1,4‐phenanthraquinone isolated from an ethanolic extract of the rhizome of Dioscorea membranacea, Pierre ex Prain & Burkill, a plant which has been used to treat inflammation and cancer in Thai Traditional Medicine. In this study, the mechanisms of dioscoreanone on LPS‐induced NO production and cytokine expression through the activation of NF‐κB and ERK1/2 are demonstrated in RAW 264.7 cells. Through measurement with Griess reagent, dioscoreanone was found to reduce NO levels with an IC50 value of 2.50 ± 0.64 µM, due to the significant suppression of LPS‐induced iNOS mRNA expression, as well as IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels at a concentration of 6 µM. At the signal transduction level, using the pNFκB‐Luciferase reporter system, dioscoreanone significantly inhibited NF‐κB transcriptional activity, which resulted from the prevention of IκBα degradation. In addition, dioscoreanone in the range of 1.2–5 µM significantly enhanced LPS‐induced ERK1/2 activation and dioscoreanone alone induced the activation of ERK1/2 proteins in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent response. The activation of ERK1/2 proteins by dioscoreanone was due to both an arylating reaction, which was suppressed by N‐acetyl cysteine, and a redox cycling reaction of NQOR, which was inhibited by dicoumarol. In conclusion, the mechanisms of dioscoreanone on the inhibition of NO production and mRNA expression of iNOS, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 were due to both the inhibition of NF‐κB activation and the activation of ERK1/2 proteins. The activation of dioscoreanone may in turn inhibit the binding of NF‐κB to pro‐inflammatory gene promoters in LPS‐induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3427–3435, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wedelolactone inhibits adipogenesis through the ERK pathway in human adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Lim Seyoung , Jang Hyun‐Jun , Park Eun Hee , Kim Jung Kuk , Kim Jung‐Min , Kim Eung‐Kyun , Yea Kyungmoo , Kim Yun‐Hee , Lee‐Kwon Whaseon , Ryu Sung Ho , Suh Pann‐Ghill
Published: June 2012

Wedelolactone is an herbal medicine that is used to treat septic shock, hepatitis and venom poisoning. Although in differentiated and cancer cells, wedelolactone has been identified as anti‐inflammatory, growth inhibitory, and pro‐apoptotic, the effects of wedelolactone on stem cell differentiation remain largely unknown. Here, we report that wedelolactone inhibits the adipogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). Wedelolactone reduced the formation of lipid droplets and the expression of adipogenesis‐related proteins, such as CCAAT enhancer‐binding protein‐α (C/EBP‐α), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and adipocyte fatty acid‐binding protein aP2 (aP2). Wedelolactone mediated this process by sustaining ERK activity. In addition, inhibition of ERK activity with PD98059 resulted in reversion of the wedelolactone‐mediated inhibition of adipogenic differentiation. Taken together, these results indicate that wedelolactone inhibits adipogenic differentiation through ERK pathway and suggest a novel inhibitory effect of wedelolactone on adipogenic differentiation in hAMSCs. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3436–3445, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identifying Hypothesis Confirmation Behaviors in a Simulated Murder Investigation: Implications for Practice
Authors: Wastell Colin , Weeks Nicole , Wearing Alexander , Duncan Piers
Published: June 2012

Investigators have been shown to be prone to accessing information that confirms their preferred hypothesis. This tendency has been termed hypothesis confirmation. Hypothesis confirmation behaviour was explored in two studies using a computer administered simulation of a murder investigation. In Study 1, hypothesis confirmation behaviour did not differentiate successful and unsuccessful participants. However, unsuccessful participants stored more confirmatory information than non‐confirmatory information. Successful participants did not show this pattern. In Study 2, unsuccessful participants tended to settle early on a suspect and then acquired information that supported their decision. Successful participants tended to consider a number of suspects for longer and accessed a greater diversity of information. Taken together, these findings are highly suggestive of the role of information acquisition as an important component of hypothesis confirmatory behaviour, which is associated with unsuccessful information processing in the context of a simulated murder investigation. Implications for practice are presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Winter temperature extremes in China and their possible causes
Authors: You Qinglong , Ren Guoyu , Fraedrich Klaus , Kang Shichang , Ren Yuyu , Wang Pengling
Published: June 2012

Cold and warm temperature extremes predominantly occurring in winter gained much more attention than mean temperatures. On the basis of daily maximum and minimum surface air temperature records at 303 meteorological stations in China, the spatial and temporal distributions of five indices for winter (DJF: December, subsequent January and February) temperature extremes are analysed during 1961–2003. For the majority of stations, the frequency of cold days/nights decreases by − 1.33/− 2.98 and warm days/nights increases by 0.92/2.35 d/decade, respectively. Cold days/nights are significantly negatively correlated with the Arctic Oscillation (AO) index, while warm days/nights are positively correlated with the AO. The diurnal temperature range (DTR) has a declining trend with rate of − 0.25 °C/decade and positive correlation with the AO index. Compared with other regions in China, stations in the northern China have larger trend magnitudes and stronger correlations with the AO index, and the AO can explain more than 50% of winter temperature extreme change in China. Compared with the annual basis, the winter temperature extremes have larger trend magnitudes, which reflect the rapid warming. During strongly positive AO index years, enhanced contrast tropospheric temperature (defined as the average of air temperature vertically integrated between 200 hPa and 1000 hPa based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis) between the north of China and the southern China weakens the East Asian winter monsoon which in turn reduces cold outbreaks in the northern and eastern China. The composites of large‐scale atmospheric circulation are consistent with the asymmetrical changes of the geopotential height, zonal and meridional winds at high and mid latitudes at troposphere. Meanwhile, the linkage between the AO and solar activity also modulates the winter temperature extremes, while the mechanism needs to be investigated. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Important factors for long‐term change in ENSO transitivity
Authors: Ohba Masamichi
Published: June 2012

El Niño and La Niña exhibit significant asymmetry in their duration. El Niño tends to turn rapidly into La Niña after the mature, while La Niña tends to persist for up to 2 years. Reconstructed historical sea surface temperatures (SST) show a significantly increase in the intensity of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) asymmetry, particularly El Niño transitivity, during the last six decades. Atmospheric observational data have shown that the relationship between El Niño and surface zonal wind anomalies over the equatorial Western Pacific (WP) has strengthened, and anomalous WP easterlies have appeared after the 1970s climate regime shift. To investigate the dependency of ENSO transitivity on its amplitude, a suite of idealized experiments using an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) is performed by imposing 12 different ENSO‐related SST anomalies exhibiting equal spatiotemporal distribution but different amplitude. Our AGCM experiments show strong nonlinearity in the WP zonal wind against the amplitude of the warm phase. In the strong (weak) El Niño state, the WP response tends to accelerate (prevent) the transition from El Niño to La Niña; however, this relationship is not applicable to the La Niña phase. The asymmetry in transitivity/persistency is found to differ in terms of their sensitivity to the ENSO amplitude; this difference is also detected in the long‐term control simulation of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory‐Climate Model version 2.1. The long‐term variation in El Niño transitivity in this model correlates strongly with the decadal variation in the ENSO amplitude and Indo‐Pacific interbasin coupling. However, this result is not apparent in the opposite phase. The results of this study indicate that the decadal change in ENSO amplitude and Indian Ocean feedback could be significantly related to the decadal change in the cyclic nature of ENSO and should be discussed separately for El Niño and La Niña. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Determination of the disorder profile in an ion‐implanted silicon carbide single crystal by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Linez F. , Canizares A. , Gentils A. , Guimbretiere G. , Simon P. , Barthe M.‐F.
Published: June 2012

Silicon carbide is an interesting material for GEN IV fission reactor projects because of its excellent properties. However, these properties will be altered under extreme conditions such as irradiation because of accumulation of damage. Mechanisms playing a role in defect formation require further studies in the case of high energy heavy ion irradiations. In this work a silicon carbide single crystal slice has been implanted with 20 MeV Au ions and probed by using Raman spectrometry. The resulting Raman spectra recorded as a function of depth clearly show a damaged zone, in which the width is in agreement with the projected range of the incident ions (Rp) calculated by using SRIM code. In this area, three damaged zones have been brought to light because of the high spatial resolution of the Raman spectrometry technique. The existence of these zones is discussed with regard to the different energy loss regimes of the implanted ions such as the electronic and nuclear ones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.