bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of cannabinoid receptor ligands in tissues natively expressing cannabinoid CB2 receptors
Authors: Marini Pietro , Cascio Maria‐Grazia , King Angela , Pertwee Roger G , Ross Ruth A
Published: March 2013

Background and Purpose

Although cannabinoid CB2 receptor ligands have been widely characterized in recombinant systems in vitro, little pharmacological characterization has been performed in tissues natively expressing CB2 receptors. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacology of CB2 receptor ligands in tissue natively expressing CB2 receptors (human, rat and mouse spleen) and hCB2‐transfected CHO cells.

Experimental Approach

We tested the ability of well‐known cannabinoid CB2 receptor ligands to stimulate or inhibit [35S]GTPγS binding to mouse, rat and human spleen membranes and to hCB2‐transfected CHO cell membranes. cAMP assays were also performed in hCB2‐CHO cells.

Key Results

The data presented demonstrate that: (i) CP 55,940, WIN 55,212‐2 and JWH 133 behave as CB2 receptor full agonists both in spleen and hCB2‐CHO cells, in both [35S]GTPγS and cAMP assays; (ii) JWH 015 behaves as a low‐efficacy agonist in spleen as well as in hCB2‐CHO cells when tested in the [35S]GTPγS assay, while it displays full agonism when tested in the cAMP assay using hCB2‐CHO cells; (iii) (R)‐AM 1241 and GW 405833 behave as agonists in the [35S]GTPγS assay using spleen, instead it behaves as a low‐efficacy inverse agonist in hCB2‐CHO cells; and (iv) SR 144528, AM 630 and JTE 907 behave as CB2 receptor inverse agonists in all the tissues.

Conclusion and Implications

Our results demonstrate that CB2 receptor ligands can display differential pharmacology when assays are conducted in tissues that natively express CB2 receptors and imply that conclusions from recombinant CB2 receptors should be treated with caution.
IL‐22 in tissue‐protective therapy
Authors: Mühl Heiko , Scheiermann Patrick , Bachmann Malte , Härdle Lorena , Heinrichs Anika , Pfeilschifter Josef
Published: March 2013

IL‐22, a member of the IL‐10 cytokine family, has recently gained significant attention as a protective agent in murine models of diseases driven by epithelial injury. Like its biochemical and functional sibling IL‐10, IL‐22 elicits cellular activation primarily by engaging the STAT3 signalling pathway. Exclusively produced by leukocytes, but targeting mostly cells of epithelial origin, IL‐22 has been proposed as a specialized cytokine messenger acting between leukocytic and non‐leukocytic cell compartments. A lack of response in leukocytes to IL‐22 mirrors tightly controlled IL‐22 receptor expression and probably explains the apparent lack of instant adverse effects after systemic IL‐22 administration to mice. Anti‐apoptotic, pro‐proliferative and pro‐regenerative characteristics the major biological properties of this cytokine. Specifically, application of IL‐22 is associated with tissue protection and/or regeneration in murine models of infection/microbe‐driven inflammation at host/environment interfaces, ventilator‐induced lung injury, pancreatitis and liver damage. Overall, preclinical studies would support therapeutic administration of seemingly well‐tolerated recombinant IL‐22 for treatment of an array of acute diseases manifested in epithelial tissues. However, the feasibility of prolonged administration of this cytokine is expected to be restricted by the tumourigenic potential of the IL‐22/STAT3 axis. IL‐22, moreover, apparently displays an inherent context‐specific capacity to amplify distinct aspects of autoimmune inflammation. Here, the prospects, expectations and restrictions of IL‐22 administration in tissue‐protective therapy are discussed.
Nucleoporin Nup188 is required for chromosome alignment in mitosis
Authors: Itoh Go , Sugino Shiro , Ikeda Masanori , Mizuguchi Mayumi , Kanno Shin‐ichiro , Amin Mohammed A. , Iemura Kenji , Yasui Akira , Hirota Toru , Tanaka Kozo
Published: March 2013

Most cancer cells are aneuploid, which could be caused by defects in chromosome segregation machinery. Nucleoporins (Nup) are components of the nuclear pore complex, which is essential for nuclear transport during interphase, but several nucleoporins are also known to be involved in chromosome segregation. Here we report a novel function of Nup188, one of the nucleoporins regulating chromosome segregation. Nup188 localizes to spindle poles during mitosis, through the C‐terminal region of Nup188. In Nup188‐depleted mitotic cells, chromosomes fail to align to the metaphase plate, which causes mitotic arrest due to the spindle assembly checkpoint. Both the middle and the C‐terminal regions were required for chromosome alignment. Robust K‐fibers, microtubule bundles attaching to kinetochores, were hardly formed in Nup188‐depleted cells. Significantly, we found that Nup188 interacts with NuMA, which plays an instrumental role in focusing microtubules at centrosomes, and NuMA localization to spindle poles is perturbed in Nup188‐depleted cells. These data suggest that Nup188 promotes chromosome alignment through K‐fiber formation and recruitment of NuMA to spindle poles.
The association between diabetes and an episode of depressive symptoms in the 2002 World Health Survey: an analysis of 231 797 individuals from 47 countries
Authors: Mommersteeg P. M. C. , Herr R. , Pouwer F. , Holt R. I. G. , Loerbroks A.
Published: March 2013

Aims

Depression is common in people with diabetes and increases the risk of poor health outcomes, including premature mortality. We explored the association between diabetes and an episode of depressive symptoms in a cross‐sectional multinational study, which included a large number of low‐ and middle‐income non‐Western countries.

Methods

Data from 47 countries of the 2002 World Health Organization World Health Survey were used, including 231 797 adults (mean age 41 years, 53% female). Diabetes was assessed by self‐report of diagnosis or treatment. The presence of an episode of depressive symptoms was assessed by self‐report using an algorithm based on DSM‐IV criteria. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to quantify associations between diabetes and episodes of depressive symptoms in the entire sample and for countries aggregated into four continents: Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. Odds ratios were adjusted for age, sex, education, BMI, smoking and physical activity level.

Results

The prevalence of diabetes (mean 3.6%, range 0.2–13%) and episodes of depressive symptoms (mean 7.9%, range 0.4–38%) differed widely across countries. Globally, individuals with diabetes had increased odds of an episode of depressive symptoms compared with those without diabetes (adjusted odds ratio 2.36, 95% confidence interval 1.91–2.92). Similar associations were found in South America, Asia and Europe (odds ratio > 1.97), but not in Africa (odds ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.54–1.37).

Conclusions

Globally, diabetes is associated with a twofold increased prevalence of an episode of depressive symptoms, except in Africa. Given the worldwide rise in diabetes in the coming decades, and the increased risk of poor diabetes outcomes associated with co‐morbid depression, studies examining mechanisms and interventions are necessary.
Preventing Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: women's experiences and implications for diabetes prevention interventions
Authors: Lie M. L. S. , Hayes L. , Lewis‐Barned N. J. , May C. , White M. , Bell R.
Published: March 2013

Aims

To explore factors influencing post‐natal health behaviours following the experience of gestational diabetes, and to elicit women's views about the feasibility of lifestyle intervention to prevent diabetes during the first 2 years after childbirth.

Methods

Qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews with women who had gestational diabetes. In phase 1 (31 women), interviews explored the experience of gestational diabetes, ideas about future risk of diabetes and factors influencing post‐natal health‐related behaviours. Statements were developed summarizing women's views of lifestyle change to prevent diabetes. In phase 2 (14 women), interviews explored how the passage of time had contributed to changes in health behaviour, and the statements were used to develop views about diabetes interventions.

Results

Women were aware of their risk of developing diabetes, but did not always act on such knowledge. Pregnancy motivated behaviour changes to benefit the unborn child, but after delivery these changes were often not maintained. Tiredness, maternal attachment and childcare demands were prominent barriers in the early post‐natal months. Later, work, family and child development became more significant barriers. Many women became more receptive to healthy eating messages around the time of weaning. Women were positive about long‐term support for self‐management to reduce their diabetes risk.

Conclusions

There is potential to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes post‐natally among women with gestational diabetes. Interventions need to be developed that take into account contextual factors and competing demands, are flexible and respond to women's individual circumstances. Randomized trials of such interventions are warranted.
The effects of repetitive haemarthrosis on postural balance in children with haemophilia
Authors: Souza F. M. B. , McLaughlin P. , Pereira R. P. , Minuque N. P. , Mello M. H. M. , Siqueira C. , Villaça P. , Tanaka C.
Published: March 2013

Sensory information from visual, vestibular and proprioceptive systems is necessary to control posture and balance. Impairment in proprioception due to repetitive joints bleeding may lead to a deficit in postural balance which, in turn, leads to high joint stress and risk of bleeding recurrence. Despite the increase in attention in this field during the past few years, the data concerning to how bleeds can affect postural control in children with haemophilia (CWH) remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the postural balance in CWH. Twenty CWH Haemophilia Group (HG) and 20 age‐matched children Control Group (CG) were recruited to this study. A force plate was used to record centre of pressure (COP) displacement under four different postural conditions during quiet standing: eyes open on firm surface, eyes open on foam surface, eyes closed on firm surface and eyes closed on a foam surface. Variables of COP as sway area and mean velocity and in anterior–posterior (y) medio‐lateral (x) direction were processed and for each variable sensory, quotients were calculated and compared between groups. No differences were found in visual and vestibular quotients variables between groups. A higher value was found in sway area variable on proprioception quotient in the HG when compared with CG (P = 0.042). CWH with repetitive joint bleed on lower limbs showed differences in postural balance when compared with non‐haemophiliac children. The identification of early balance impairments in CWH can help us understand better the effects of bleeds inside joints on postural control and plan a more effective preventive and rehabilitative treatment.
Cervi cornus Colla (deer antler glue) induce epidermal differentiation in the reconstruction of skin equivalents
Authors: Choi H.‐R. , Nam K.‐M. , Kim D.‐S. , Huh C.‐H. , Na J.‐I. , Park K.‐C.
Published: March 2013

Synopsis

In the reconstruction of skin equivalents (SEs), keratinocyte differentiation is important because epidermal differentiation is closely related with barrier function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cervi cornus Colla (CCC) on the stem cell activity and epidermal differentiation in the reconstruction of skin equivalent. Four different models were constructed according to different composition of dermal substitute. Results showed similar morphologic findings when hyaluronic acid (HA) and/or CCC was added. But, immunohistochemical staining showed that p63 was significantly increased by addition of HA and/or CCC. Increased staining of integrin α6 and β1 was variably observed when HA and/or CCC was added to make dermal substitute. These finding showed that addition of HA and/or CCC may affect the stem cell activity in the reconstruction of skin. Furthermore, filaggrin expression was much increased when CCC was added. It showed that epidermal differentiation was significantly improved by addition of CCC. In conclusion, simultaneous presence of HA and CCC contributed to the stem cell activity and epidermal differentiation in the reconstruction of SE. Legislation in the EU prohibits marketing cosmetics and personal care products that contain constituents that have been examined through animal experiments. To avoid these limitations, SEs can be used for testing the safety or the efficacy of cosmetic ingredients. Therefore, our results showed that combined use of HA and CCC can be helpful for the reconstruction of SE with good stem cell activity and epidermal differentiation.
The Challenges of Nanotechnology Policy Making PART 2. Discussing Voluntary Frameworks and Options
Authors: Auplat Claire A.
Published: March 2013

In the context of the development of nanotechnologies, policy making faces specific challenges, because of the nature of the technologies themselves, and because of the evolution of international governance. Policymakers need to integrate these parameters, but their task is made difficult by the number of different coexisting frameworks and by the way stakeholders use them. This survey outlines these frameworks and draws from new institutional theory as well as from the policy and innovation literatures, to discuss the challenges of nano policy making. In a first part, the survey introduces nano policy making and the reasons for its complexity, and offeres a panorama of mandatory tools used to regulate nanotechnologies. In this second part, the focus is on the additional governance devices that some stakeholders decide to adopt on a voluntary basis. This outline is followed by a discussion of the use of all tools – mandatory and voluntary – by the different stakeholders. The paper concludes by debating two major directions which nano policy making may follow.
SpermDNAfragmentation and morphological degeneration in chilled elephant (Elephas maximusandLoxodonta Africana) semen collected by transrectal massage
Authors: O'Brien J. K. , Steinman K. J. , Montano G. A. , Love C. C. , Robeck T. R.
Published: March 2013

Ejaculates from nine Asian and two African elephants were analysed to gain a further understanding of mechanisms underlying variable semen quality after transrectal massage. Semen analysis was performed after collection (0 h; subjective motility parameters only) and after 24 h of chilled storage at 10 °C (24 h; all ejaculate and sperm characteristics). Ejaculates with ≤50% total motility (TM) at 24 h, which represented >90% of collection attempts, contained a sperm population with a high degree ofDNAdamage (64.2 ± 19.2% fragmentedDNA) and an elevated incidence of detached heads (43.3 ± 22.5%). In contrast, good quality ejaculates designated as those with >50%TMat 24 h displayed higher (p < 0.05) values of sperm kinetic parameters,DNAintegrity and normal morphology. Fertility potential was high for good quality ejaculates from two males (one Asian and one African bull) based on in vitro characteristics after chilled storage for up to 48 h post‐collection. Urine contamination of semen, as assessed quantitatively by creatinine concentration, was confirmed as a significant factor in reduced elephant ejaculate quality. However, the identification of considerableDNAdamage and morphological degeneration in the majority of ejaculates after only 24 h of chilled storage indicates that sperm ageing could be a primary contributor to inconsistent semen quality in the elephant.
Hope and the use of behavioural strategies related to diet and physical activity
Authors: Nothwehr F. , Clark D. O. , Perkins A.
Published: March 2013

Background

The use of specific behavioural strategies such as portion control or meal planning is important for weight management, although studies of determinants of strategy use are limited. The present study explored the concept of hope and its association with the use of behavioural strategies.

Methods

Data were obtained from a larger cross‐sectional survey conducted in 2009 among 178 patients of a city‐county sponsored primary care clinic in the Midwest region of the USA. Hope was measured with subscales representing ‘agency’ (determination in meeting goals) and ‘pathways’ (perception of ways to meet goals) and a total score. Diet and physical activity‐related strategies were captured with five and two scales, respectively.

Results

Analyses showed a significant (P < 0.05) association between both the total hope score and the agency subscale and all behavioural strategy measures. The pathways subscale was significantly associated with physical activity‐related strategies, and a subset of diet‐related strategies.

Conclusions

The hope measures should be explored further in the context of a weight loss intervention to determine their predictive association with the use of specific behavioural strategies.
Dietary intake of polyphenols and major food sources in an institutionalised elderly population
Authors: González S. , Fernández M. , Cuervo A. , Lasheras C.
Published: March 2013

Background

Polyphenols are bioactive compounds widely found in fruit, vegetables and beverages of plant origin. Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between polyphenol intake and health; antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐carcinogenic and other bioactivities may contribute to these beneficially protective effects. To date, most epidemiological studies describing polyphenol intake have been limited by the information available in nutrient databases. The present study aimed to determine the total and individual polyphenol intake among institutionalised elderly people living in Asturias (North of Spain) and to identify the major dietary sources of polyphenol classes and subclasses.

Methods

The study sample comprised 304 subjects with a mean age of 73.2 years for men and 76.8 years for women. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a food frequency questionnaire. Phenol content was estimated from the Phenol‐Explorer database, as developed at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research. The contribution of each food to the total and subgroup intake of polyphenols was calculated as a percentage.

Results

Except for flavonones, total polyphenol intake, groups and subgroups, was higher in men than women. The main polyphenol groups contributing to total polyphenol intake were flavonoids (62%) and phenolic acids (35.5%). We identified red wine, coffee, apples, oranges and green beans as the major food sources providing total polyphenol intake. Flavonoid and lignan intake was lower for those aged >80 years. Smoking habit, red wine consumption, physical activity and a Mediterranean diet score were associated with a greater polyphenol intake.

Conclusions

The present study provides information on polyphenol intake in an elderly Mediterranean population with a level of detail that has not been achieved previously. The identification of age and lifestyle factors associated with the intake of polyphenols may be useful in future studies regarding polyphenols.
The triple challenges associated with age‐related comorbidities in Down syndrome
Authors: Glasson E. J. , Dye D. E. , Bittles A. H.
Published: March 2013

Background

Major increases in the survival of people with Down syndrome during the last two generations have resulted in extended periods of adulthood requiring specialist care, which in turn necessitates greater understanding of the nature, timing and impact of comorbidities associated with the disorder.

Method

The prevalence of five comorbidities reported as common in adults with Down syndrome, visual impairment, hearing impairment, epilepsy, thyroid disorders and dementia was assessed by decade of life.

Results

From early adulthood, people with Down syndrome are at enhanced risk of developing new comorbidities and they may present with multiple conditions. Three specific challenges are identified and discussed: are comorbidities detected in a timely manner, is the clinical progress of the disorder adequately understood, and who is responsible for the provision of care?

Conclusions

Further detailed investigations into the development and treatment of comorbidities across the lifespan are needed for a successful longitudinal approach to healthcare in people with Down syndrome. Implementation of this approach will better inform healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care with advancing age.
Family functioning inAsian families raising children with autism spectrum disorders: the role of capabilities and positive meanings
Authors: Xue J. , Ooh J. , Magiati I.
Published: March 2013

Background

There has been increasing interest in exploring the factors contributing to successful adaptation and family functioning in ethnically and culturally diverse families who raise children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), in order to inform more appropriate strength‐based family support services. This pilot study used theFamilyAdjustment andAdaptationResponse (FAAR) model as a theoretical framework to investigate the role of families' capabilities (coping strategies and resources of support) and positive meanings in raising a child withASDin family functioning in anAsian context.

Methods

Sixty‐fiveSingaporean parents of 3‐ to 11‐year‐old children withASDcompleted a series of questionnaires on demands, coping strategies, social support, positive meanings and family functioning.

Results

Families reported a number of helpful coping strategies. Coping through family integration/optimism was most helpful, followed by understanding the condition and by developing esteem and psychological stability. Reported capabilities, but not positive meanings, mediated the relationship between demands and family functioning.

Conclusion

The findings are discussed in relation to existing literature, possible specific cultural issues, and the strengths and limitations of the study. Implications for supporting families of children withASDin different social and cultural contexts are also discussed.
Prospective Radial Artery Study Following Induction of Reactive Hyperemia Looking at Degree of Diameter Growth in Healthy Subjects
Authors: BILOLIKAR ABHAY N. , ABBAS AMR E. , MUNOZ MALDONADO YOLANDA , BENDICK PHILLIP J. , DIXON SIMON
Published: March 2013

Objectives

This “proof of concept” study sought to determine the magnitude of radial artery diameter change in 20 healthy subjects by induction of flow mediation dilatation (FMD) via reactive hyperemia.

Background

Transradial access in the cardiac catheterization laboratory is becoming more commonplace due to lower bleeding complications and increase in patient comfort. However, access to the radial artery can be challenging due to small vessel size. We sought to examine whether FMD can be used to increase radial artery diameter, potentially allowing improved transradial access.

Methods

We obtained baseline radial artery diameter via a high frequency ultrasound probe on 20 healthy subjects. A standard reactive hyperemia protocol was employed in the right arm, followed by successive measurements of the subject's radial artery at pre‐specified intervals. Radial artery diameter measurements were performed offline by the sonographer and also a blinded reader to which agreement was sought.

Results

We found a mean increase in radial artery size of 0.48 ± 0.13 mm at peak reactive hyperemic states. This correlated to a mean increase in overall radial artery diameter of 21.7 ± 6.7%. The median time to peak dilation was 30 seconds (95% CI; 15–45 seconds), and the median duration of maximal dilation was 60 seconds (95% CI; 45–75 seconds).

Conclusions

Among healthy subjects, we demonstrated a mean maximal increase in radial artery diameter of 21.7 ± 6.7% via FMD. This finding supports the notion that radial artery diameter can be increased noninvasively via a reactive hyperemia protocol. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:310–316)
Wüstite in the fusion crust of Almahata Sitta sulfide‐metal assemblage MS‐166: Evidence for oxygen in metallic melts
Authors: Horstmann Marian , Humayun Munir , Harries Dennis , Langenhorst Falko , Chabot Nancy L. , Bischoff Addi , Zolensky Michael E.
Published: March 2013

Meteorite fusion crusts form during the passage of a meteoroid through the Earth's atmosphere and are highly oxidized intergrowths as documented by the presence of e.g., oxides. The porous and irregular fusion crust surrounding the Almahata Sitta sulfide‐metal assemblage MS‐166 was found highly enriched in wüstite (Fe1‐xO). Frictional heating of the outer portions of the assemblage caused partial melting of predominantly the Fe‐sulfide and minor amounts of the outer Ni‐rich portions of the originally zoned metal in MS‐166. Along with melting significant amounts of oxygen were incorporated into the molten fusion crust and mainly FeS was oxidized and desulfurized to form wüstite. Considerable amounts of FeS were lost due to ablation, whereas the cores of the large metal grains appear largely unmelted leaving behind metal grains and surrounding wüstite‐rich material (matte). Metal grains along with the surrounding matte typically form an often highly porous framework of globules interconnected with the matte. Although textures and chemical composition suggest that melting of Fe,Ni metal occurred only partially (Ni‐rich rims), there is a trace elemental imprint of siderophile element partitioning influenced by oxygen in the metallic melt as indicated by the behavior of W and Ga, the two elements significantly affected by oxygen in a metallic melt. It is remarkable that MS‐166 survived the atmospheric passage as troilite inclusions in iron meteorites are preferentially destroyed.
Using genomic data to revisit an early example of reproductive character displacement inHaitianAnolislizards
Authors: Lambert Shea M. , Geneva Anthony J. , Luke Mahler D. , Glor Richard E.
Published: March 2013

The pattern of reproductive character displacement (RCD)—in which traits associated with reproductive isolation are more different where two species occur together than where they occur in isolation—is frequently attributed to reinforcement, a process during which natural selection acting against maladaptive mating events leads to enhanced prezygotic isolation between species or incipient species. One of the first studies ofRCDto include molecular genetic data was described 40 years ago in a complex of Haitian trunk anole lizards using a small number of allozyme loci. In this example,Anolis caudalisappears to experience divergence in the color and pattern of an extensible throat fan, or dewlap, in areas of contact with closely related species at the northern and southern limits of its range. However, this case study has been largely overlooked for decades; meanwhile, explanations for geographic variation in dewlap color and pattern have focused primarily on adaptation to local signalling environments. We reinvestigate this example using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) genome scans, mtDNAsequence data, information on dewlap phenotypes andGISdata on environmental variation to test the hypothesis ofRCDgenerated by reinforcement in Haitian trunk anoles. Together, our phenotypic and genetic results are consistent withRCDat the southern and northern limits of the range ofA. caudalis. We evaluate the evidence for reinforcement as the explanation forRCDin Haitian trunk anoles, consider alternative explanations and provide suggestions for future work on the relationship between dewlap variation and speciation inHaitian trunk anoles.
Mucormycosis after scorpion sting: case report
Authors: Pourahmad Morteza , Sepidkar Abdolali , Farokhnia Mohmmad H. , Tadayon Seyed M. K. , Salehi Hassan , Zabetian Hassan
Published: March 2013

Mucor is a fungus, which give rise to opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. We described a 55‐year‐old immunocompetent woman with cutaneous mucormycosis after scorpion sting. Mucormycosis may happen in patients with intact immunity and is not allocated only to patients with immune deficiency.
Impaired heme oxygenase‐1 induction in the gastric antrum induces disruption of the interstitial cells of Cajal network in a rat model of streptozotocin‐induced diabetes
Authors: Mogami S. , Suzuki H. , Tsugawa H. , Fukuhara S. , Hibi T.
Published: March 2013

Background

Streptozotocin (STZ) is known to induce type I diabetes and the loss of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). However, the regulation of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) expression, which is reported to protect ICC, has not yet been elucidated in this model. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of HO‐1 expression and clarify the mechanism of ICC loss in the stomach using the rat model of STZ‐induced diabetes.

Methods

Streptozotocin (65 mg kg−1) was intraperitoneally administered to 8‐week‐old female Wistar rats. Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), an HO‐1 inducer, was administered subcutaneously once a week after the STZ injection. The expressions of HO‐1 and the receptor tyrosine kinase c‐Kit (a marker for ICC) proteins were investigated by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining.

Key Results

Expression of c‐Kit, particularly in the gastric antrum, was significantly decreased at 8 weeks, not at 1 week, compared to those of the control group. Significantly increased induction of HO‐1 expression, especially in the gastric corpus but not in the antrum, was observed in the STZ group at 8 weeks after the STZ injection relative to control. CoPP administration significantly up‐regulated HO‐1 expression in the STZ diabetic group and significantly restored the previously reduced ICC in the gastric antrum.

Conclusions & Inferences

Up‐regulation of HO‐1 expression in the STZ diabetic model was limited to the gastric corpus and impaired up‐regulation of HO‐1 expression in the gastric antrum likely induced the disruption of the ICC network.
First ReliableRe–OsAges of Pyrite and Stable Isotope Compositions ofFe(‐Cu) Deposits in theHami Region,EasternTianshanOrogenicBelt,NW China
Authors: Huang Xiao‐Wen , Qi Liang , Gao Jian‐Feng , Zhou Mei‐Fu
Published: March 2013

TheEasternTianshanOrogenicBelt (ETOB) inNW China is composed of theDananhu–Tousuquanarc belt, theKanggurtag belt, theAqishan–Yamansubelt and theCentralTianshan belt from north to south. These tectonic belts have formed through arc–continent or arc–arc collisions during thePaleozoic. A number ofFe(‐Cu) deposits in theAqishan–Yamansubelt, including theHeifengshan,Shuangfengshan andShaquanziFe(‐Cu) deposits, are associated withCarboniferous–EarlyPermian volcanic rocks and are composed of vein‐type magnetite ores. Metallic minerals are dominated by magnetite and pyrite, with minor chalcopyrite. Calcite, chlorite, and epidote are the dominant gangue minerals. Pyrite separates of ores from those three deposits have relatively high and variableRe contents ranging from 3.7 to 184 ppb. All pyrite separates have very low commonOs, allowing us calculation of single mineral model ages for each sample. Pyrite separates from theHeifengshanFe deposit have an187Re–187Os isochron age of 310 ± 23 Ma (MSWD= 0.04) and a weighted mean model age of 302 ± 5 Ma (MSWD= 0.17). Those from the ShuangfengshanFe deposit have an isochron age of 295 ± 7 Ma (MSWD= 0.28) and a weighted mean model age of 292 ± 5 Ma (MSWD= 0.33). TheShaquanziFe‐Cu deposit has pyrite with an isochron age of 295 ± 7 Ma (MSWD= 0.26) and a weighted mean model age of 295 ± 6 Ma (MSWD= 0.23). Pyrite separates from theseFe(‐Cu) deposits have δ34SCDTranging from −0.41‰ to 4.7‰ except for two outliers. Calcite from theHeifengshanFe deposit andShaquanziFe‐Cu deposit have similarCandOisotope compositions with δ13CPDBand δ18OSMOWranging from −5.5‰ to −1.0‰ and from 10‰ to 12.7‰, respectively. These stable isotopic data suggest thatS,C,andOare magmatic‐hydrothermal in origin. The association of low‐Ti magnetite andFe/Cu‐sulfides resembles those ofIron–Oxide–Copper–Gold (IOCG) deposits elsewhere. Our reliableRe–Os ages of pyrite suggest that theFe(‐Cu) deposits in theAqishan–Yamansubelt formed at ∼296Ma, probably in a back‐arc extensional environment.
Urban Structure Generalization in Multi‐Agent Process by Use of Reactional Agents
Authors: Renard Jérémy , Duchêne Cécile
Published: March 2013

This article proposes an improvement of automated cartographic generalization using multi‐agent sytems in urban areas. Indeed the AGENT model, whose robustness has been tested and approved through the European project AGENT, gives very good results in generalizing dense urban areas by means of enlargement, removal and displacement of buildings. But this model does not tackle the question of including particular structures like building alignments in the process, which is a crucial issue. The problem is that integrating such structures does not fit into the accurate top‐down hierarchy of urban agents. In order to face this problem, we propose to partly re‐engineer the model by introducing the concept of reactional agents whose behavior is very different from hierarchical agents of the original model as they use bottom‐up activation. In this view, urban alignment is considered to be a reactional agent activated only by its inner buildings, which generalizes the aligned buildings together into one entire structure. Associating reactional alignment behavior with new generalization actions on alignments significantly improves the model and gives better results in dense urban areas. Moreover, the idea could probably be used for other applications.
Analyzing Relatedness by Toponym Co‐Occurrences on Web Pages
Authors: Liu Yu , Wang Fahui , Kang Chaogui , Gao Yong , Lu Yongmei
Published: March 2013

This research proposes a method for capturing “relatedness between geographical entities” based on the co‐occurrences of their names on web pages. The basic assumption is that a higher count of co‐occurrences of two geographical places implies a stronger relatedness between them. The spatial structure of China at the provincial level is explored from the co‐occurrences of two provincial units in one document, extracted by a web information retrieval engine. Analysis on the co‐occurrences and topological distances between all pairs of provinces indicates that: (1) spatially close provinces generally have similar co‐occurrence patterns; (2) the frequency of co‐occurrences exhibits a power law distance decay effect with the exponent of 0.2; and (3) the co‐occurrence matrix can be used to capture the similarity/linkage between neighboring provinces and fed into a regionalization method to examine the spatial organization of China. The proposed method provides a promising approach to extracting valuable geographical information from massive web pages.
Effect of Indium Content on the Melting Point, Dross, and Oxidation Characteristics of Sn-2Ag-3Bi-xIn Solders
Authors: Jeon Ae-Jeong , Kim Seong-Jun , Lee Sang-Hoon , Kang Chung-Yun
Published: March 2013

This paper presents the effect of indium (In) content on the melting temperature, wettabililty, dross formation, and oxidation characteristics of the Sn-2Ag-3Bi-xIn alloy. The melting temperature of the Sn-2Ag-3Bi-xIn alloy (2 ≤ x ≤ 6) was lower than 473 K. The melting range between the solidus and liquidus temperatures was approximately 20 K, irrespective of the indium content. As the indium content increased, the wetting time increased slightly and the maximum wetting force remained to be mostly constant. The dross formation decreased to approximately 50% when adding 1In to Sn-2Ag-3Bi, and no dross formation was observed in the case of Sn-2Ag-3Bi-xIn alloy (x ≥ 1.5) at 523 K for 180 min. Upon approaching the inside of the oxidized solder of the Sn-2Ag-3Bi-1.5In alloy from the surface, the O and In contents decreased and the Sn content increased based on depth profiling analysis using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The mechanism for restraining dross (Sn oxidation) of Sn-2Ag-3Bi alloy with addition of indium may be due to surface segregation of indium. This is due to the lower formation energy of indium oxide than those of Sn oxidation.
Equitable Multi-Objective Optimization Applied to the Design of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Battery
Authors: Dandurand Brian , Guarneri Paolo , Fadel Georges , Wiecek Margaret M.
Published: March 2013

This work considers the impact of thermal behavior in battery design. The cell performance worsens when the operating temperature falls outside of the ideal range, and evenness of cell temperatures is sought to prevent cell electrical unbalance which may lead to performance fading and premature failure. The heat transfer between the cells and the coolant depends on the cell packaging and layout. A multi-objective optimization model is posed whose Pareto efficient designs minimize cell temperature deviations while maintaining evenness of temperature distribution. The special characteristics of the battery design problem (comparable objectives, anonymity and Pigou–Dalton principle of transfers) make it suitable for the application of the equitability preference, which is a refinement of the Pareto optimality that has not been used in engineering design. The proposed approach based on equitability is applied to compute the spacing of the cylindrical cells in a battery module that yields an optimal thermal behavior.
A Decomposition Method for Exploiting Parallel Computing Including the Determination of an Optimal Number of Subsystems
Authors: Jung Sangjin , Park Gyu-Byung , Choi Dong-Hoon
Published: March 2013

Many practical design problems are multidisciplinary and typically involve the transfer of complex information between analysis modules. In solving such problems, the method for performing multidisciplinary analyses greatly affects the speed of the total design time. Thus, it is very important to group and order a multidisciplinary analysis (MDA) process so as to minimize the total computational time and cost by decomposing a large multidisciplinary problem into several subsystems and then processing them in parallel. This study proposes a decomposition method that exploits parallel computing, including the determination of an optimal number of subsystems by using a multi-objective optimization formulation and a messy genetic algorithm (GA) modified to handle discrete design variables. In the suggested method, an MDA process is decomposed and sequenced for simultaneously minimizing the feedback couplings within each subsystem, the total couplings between subsystems, the variation of computation times among subsystems, and the computation time of each subsystem. The proposed method is applied to the decomposition of an artificial complex system example and a multidisciplinary design problem of a rotorcraft with 17 analysis modules; promising results are presented using this proposed method.
Development of Accelerated Method for Thermal Cycling in Electronic Packaging Application
Authors: Mayer Michael , McCracken Michael , Persic John
Published: March 2013

The method is based on a microheater integrated next to a wire bonding pad (test pad) on a test chip. It is fabricated in CMOS technology without additional micromachining. The microheater consists of two polysilicon resistor elements, placed at opposite sides of the pad, operated in parallel using a constant voltage, each element extending over 30 × 70 μm with a resistance of ≈140 Ω at room temperature, and is operated based on Joule heating. The polysilicon is located at least 20 μm but not more than 50 μm from the pad aluminum. To characterize the microheater, Al serpentine resistors are placed on and between the heaters next to the pad, serving as resistive temperature detectors, having resistances of about 9.4 Ω at room temperature. With a constant operation voltage of 15 V, ≈140 mA of current and ≈2.1 W of heating power are generated, resulting in a heat flux of ≈500 MW/m2. The thermal resistance of the heater is 200 K/W (i.e., loss coefficient of 5 mW/K). The maximum temperature measured on one of the microheater resistors was above 396 °C and was reached using 18 V within less than 5 s of voltage application starting at room temperature. When heating from 101 °C to 138 °C, even faster heating is possible, allowing the performance of highly accelerated thermocycles. These cycles are applied to a ball bond on the test pad. Compared to the 20 min cycles used by a standard test, the new microheater device performed cycles lasting 10 ms (5 ms on, 5 ms off) which is 5 orders of magnitude faster. The released energy is typically 10 mJ per cycle. A 50 μm diameter ball was made using 25 μm diameter Au wire and bonded to the test pad. The effect of the microheater-cycling on the contact resistance values of ball bonds is described. Starting with typical contact resistance values around 2.5 mΩ, the increase observed is between 4% and 7% after 5 × 106 10 ms cycles (≈14 h).
Constrained Optimization Shooting Method for Predicting the Periodic Solutions of Nonlinear System
Authors: Liao Haitao
Published: March 2013

An original method for calculating the maximum vibration amplitude of the periodic solution of a nonlinear system is presented. The problem of determining the worst maximum vibration is transformed into a nonlinear optimization problem. The shooting method and the Floquet theory are selected to construct the general nonlinear equality and inequality constraints. The resulting constrained maximization problem is then solved by using the MultiStart algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness and ability of the proposed approach are illustrated through two numerical examples. Numerical examples show that the proposed method can give results with higher accuracy as compared with numerical results obtained by a parameter continuation method and the ability of the present method is also demonstrated.
The Price of Objectivity
Shaky Foundations
The Politics–Patronage–Social Science Nexus in Cold War America

by Mark Solovey

Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ, 2013. 266 pp. $39.95. ISBN 9780813554655. Studies in Modern Science, Technology, and the Environment.
Authors: Wolfe Audra J.
Published: March 2013

"Following the money," Solovey examines the effects of politics and patronage on the social sciences in the United States during the Cold War.
Lymphoid-Tissue Stromal Cells Coordinate Innate Defense to Cytomegalovirus
Authors: Verma Shilpi , Wang Qiao , Chodaczek Grzegorz , Benedict Chris A.
Published: March 2013

During mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection, the first wave of type I interferon (IFN-I) production peaks at ∼8 h. This IFN-I emanates from splenic stromal cells located in the marginal zone (MZ) and requires B cells that express lymphotoxin. The amount of IFN-I produced at these initial times is at least equivalent in magnitude to that produced later by dendritic cells (∼36 to 48 h), but the relative roles of these two IFN-I sources in regulating MCMV defense remain unclear. Here we show that IFN-I produced by MZ stromal cells dramatically restricts the first measurable burst of viral production, which occurs at ∼32 h. This primary innate control by IFN-I is partially mediated through the activation of natural killer (NK) cells, which produce gamma interferon in an IFN-I-dependent fashion, and is independent of Ly49H. Strikingly, MCMV production in the spleens of immunocompetent mice never increases at times after 32 h. These results highlight the critical importance of lymphoid-tissue stromal cells in orchestrating the earliest phase of innate defense to MCMV infection, capping replication levels, and blocking spread until infection is ultimately controlled.
Identification and Characterization of Genetically Divergent Members of the Newly Established Family Mesoniviridae
Authors: Zirkel Florian , Roth Hanna , Kurth Andreas , Drosten Christian , Ziebuhr John , Junglen Sandra
Published: March 2013

The recently established family
Mesoniviridae
(order
Nidovirales
) contains a single species represented by two closely related viruses, Cavally virus (CavV) and Nam Dinh virus (NDiV), which were isolated from mosquitoes collected in Côte d'Ivoire and Vietnam, respectively. They represent the first nidoviruses to be discovered in insects. Here, we report the molecular characterization of four novel mesoniviruses, Hana virus, Méno virus, Nsé virus, and Moumo virus, all of which were identified in a geographical region in Côte d'Ivoire with high CavV prevalence. The viruses were found with prevalences between 0.5 and 2.8%, and genome sequence analyses and phylogenetic studies suggest that they represent at least three novel species. Electron microscopy revealed prominent club-shaped surface projections protruding from spherical, enveloped virions of about 120 nm. Northern blot data show that the four mesoniviruses analyzed in this study produce two major 3′-coterminal subgenomic mRNAs containing two types of 5′ leader sequences resulting from the use of different pairs of leader and body transcription-regulating sequences that are conserved among mesoniviruses. Protein sequencing, mass spectroscopy, and Western blot data show that mesonivirus particles contain eight major structural protein species, including the putative nucleocapsid protein (25 kDa), differentially glycosylated forms of the putative membrane protein (20, 19, 18, and 17 kDa), and the putative spike (S) protein (77 kDa), which is proteolytically cleaved at a conserved site to produce S protein subunits of 23 and 57 kDa. The data provide fundamental new insight into common and distinguishing biological properties of members of this newly identified virus family.