bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relationship between affective symptoms and hypertension—role of the labelling effect: the 1946 British birth cohort
Authors: Tikhonoff Valérie , Hardy Rebecca , Deanfield John , Friberg Peter , Muniz Graciela , Kuh Diana , Pariante Carmine M , Hotopf Matthew , Richards Marcus
Published: January 2016

Objectives

To investigate the association between repeated measures of affective symptoms collected over 2 decades and hypertension (clinically ascertained or self-report); to test whether, among people with hypertension, affective symptoms are associated with awareness of hypertension, and to evaluate the longitudinal effects of the label of hypertension on affective symptoms.

Methods

Multivariable logistic regression, accounting for confounders and mediators, were used to test the aforementioned associations in 1683 participants from a national British cohort.

Results

Weak evidence of a cumulative impact of affective symptoms across adulthood on self-reported hypertension at age 60–64 years was observed (OR 1.40 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.78) and 1.19 (0.79 to 1.80) for symptoms at 1–2 time points and at 3–4 time points vs no symptoms, respectively). Study members with affective symptoms in recent times were more likely to have self-reported hypertension at age 60–64 years than those without symptoms (OR 1.47 (1.10 to 1.96)). Similar results were observed for awareness of hypertension (OR 2.00 (1.30 to 3.06)). Conversely, no associations were found with clinically ascertained hypertension. The act of labelling someone as hypertensive at age 53 years was associated with affective symptoms at age 60–64 years, independently of antihypertensive treatment and affective symptoms at the time of the diagnosis (OR 2.40 (1.32 to 4.36)).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that elevated risk of hypertension in participants with affective symptoms might be explained by awareness of hypertension and by exposure to medical attention, though not by a direct effect of affective symptoms on blood pressure. Conversely, long-term psychological consequences of the label of hypertension are observed.
Impact of replacing regular chocolate milk with the reduced-sugar option on milk consumption in elementary schools in Saskatoon, Canada
Authors: Henry Carol , Whiting Susan J. , Finch Sarah L. , Zello Gordon A. , Vatanparast Hassan
Published: January 2016

Excess sugar consumption in children has led to the removal of chocolate milk from some schools. Lower-sugar formulations, if accepted, would provide the benefits of milk consumption. In a cross-over trial, milk consumption was measured in 8 schools over 6 weeks in 2 phases: phase 1 provided standard 1% chocolate milk and plain 2% milk choices for the first 3 weeks, and phase 2 provided reduced-sugar 1% chocolate milk and plain 2% milk for the next 3 weeks. Milk selection and milk wasted were measured by sex and grade (1–8). Children chose chocolate milk more often than white milk in both phases (phase 1, 8.93% ± 0.75% vs. 0.87% ± 0.11% (p < 0.001), and phase 2, 5.76% ± 0.29% vs. 0.78% ± 0.14% (p < 0.001), respectively). Fewer children chose reduced-sugar chocolate milk in phase 2 (p < 0.001). A greater percentage of younger students (grades 1–4) than older students (grades 5–8) purchased milk in both phases (phase 1, 11.10% ± 0.81% vs. 8.36% ± 0.74%, p = 0.020, and phase 2, 8.47% ± 0.43% vs. 4.62% ± 0.40%, p < 0.001, respectively); older children drank more milk at lunch. Schoolchildren preferred chocolate milk over plain milk even when a reduced-sugar formula was offered; however, switching to reduced-sugar chocolate milk led to a decrease in the number of students choosing milk. Longer-duration studies are required to determine if students would purchase reduced-sugar chocolate milk at the same rate as they would purchase regular chocolate milk.
Capillary water retention curve and shear strength of unsaturated soils
Authors: Zhou Annan , Huang Ruiqiu , Sheng Daichao
Published: January 2016

This paper proposes a new water retention model for unsaturated soils, which takes into account capillary condensation of adsorbed water. In this model, the degree of saturation of a soil is separated into that based on capillary water and that based on adsorbed water. Through analysis of a partially saturated two-cylinder system, a new shear strength criterion for unsaturated soils is proposed, in which only the degree of saturation based on capillary water contributes to the variation of shear strength with suction. The proposed shear strength criterion is justified against thermodynamic principles and is compared against existing criteria in the literature, which shows that it provides a much improved prediction of the experimental data for a wide range of suction values.
Supply chain cost model for prefabricated building material based on time-driven activity-based costing
Authors: Kim Yong-Woo , Han Seung-Heon , Yi June-Seong , Chang SooWon
Published: January 2016

The effect of ‘supply chain management’ can be leveraged when benefits of collaboration within and beyond the capacities of individual organizations are witnessed. One of the primary tasks in reducing total supply chain costs is to understand where the costs occur in a supply chain and how each activity impacts the total supply chain costs. Most supply chains in construction usually involve multiple entities, each one in a different process. A rebar supply chain is one example where many entities are involved in different processes. The supply chain coordinator needs a supply chain cost model, which shows how each activity impacts all supply chain costs to reduce the total costs. The research suggests a supply chain cost model using time-driven activity-based costing. The proposed cost model was applied to a building construction project, followed by sensitivity analysis identifying critical activities. This method can be adapted to analyze other fragmented material supply chains in the construction industry.
Bibliometric analysis of research in international construction
Authors: Gundes Selin , Aydogan Guzin
Published: January 2016

There has been increasing interest in international construction since the late 1990s due to growing competition in global markets. A bibliometric analysis of international construction research is conducted to evaluate the trends and to map the productivity in the field. Using the Scopus database from 2003 to 2013; document type, research performance of leading journals and authors, geographic and institutional distribution of research is assessed. The core and sub topics of the literature is also analyzed to determine critical themes in international construction. Results reveal that (1) risk management, (2) measuring performance, (3) general strategy and (or) competitiveness, and (4) foreign market entry decision are the top four core themes in international construction research. The fluctuations in the number of papers in different subject categories reflect the new tendency in international construction debate, which emphasizes a shift from measuring performance themes to general strategy and (or) competitiveness and foreign market entry decision in international construction.
10Be ages of flood deposits west of Lake Nipigon, Ontario: evidence for eastward meltwater drainage during the early Holocene Epoch
Authors: Kelly Meredith A. , Fisher Timothy G. , Lowell Thomas V. , Barnett Peter J. , Schwartz Roseanne
Published: January 2016

The Nipigon channels, located to the west and northwest of Lake Nipigon, Ontario, are thought to have enabled the eastward drainage of meltwater from glacial Lake Agassiz during the last deglaciation. Here we present the first direct ages of flood deposits in two of these channels using 10Be surface exposure dating. Five 10Be ages of a coarse-grained deposit near the Roaring River in the Kaiashk channel complex indicate deglaciation and cessation of water flow by ∼11 070 ± 430 years. To test for inherited nuclides in boulder samples, we also measured the 10Be concentrations of the undersides of two boulders at the Roaring River site. Five 10Be ages of boulders atop a large bedform near Mundell Lake in the Pillar channel complex indicate deglaciation and cessation of water flow by ∼10 770 ± 240 years. Two 10Be ages of nearby bedrock are slightly younger (10 340 ± 260 and 9860 ± 270 years). The 10Be ages from the two sites are statistically indistinguishable and indicate that Laurentide Ice Sheet recession occurred rapidly in the region. We used clast diameters and channel dimensions at the Mundell Lake site to estimate paleodischarge and evaluate the possibility that meltwater drainage influenced climate conditions. We estimate a large maximum discharge of 119 000–159 000 m3·s−1 at the site. However, the timing of meltwater discharge at both Roaring River and Mundell Lake is not contemporaneous with abrupt climate events.
Pathways to relativistic curved momentum spaces: de Sitter case study
Authors: Amelino-Camelia Giovanni , Gubitosi Giulia , Palmisano Giovanni
Published: January 2016

Several arguments suggest that the Planck scale could be the characteristic scale of curvature of momentum space. As other recent studies, we assume that the metric of momentum space determines the condition of on-shellness while the momentum space affine connection governs the form of the law of composition of momenta. We show that the possible choices of laws of composition of momenta are more numerous than the possible choices of affine connection on a momentum space. This motivates us to propose a new prescription for associating an affine connection to momentum composition, which we compare to the one most used in the recent literature. We find that the two prescriptions lead to the same picture of the so-called [Formula: see text]-momentum space, with de Sitter (dS) metric and [Formula: see text]-Poincaré connection. We then show that in the case of “proper dS momentum space”, with the dS metric and its Levi–Civita connection, the two prescriptions are inequivalent. Our novel prescription leads to a picture of proper dS momentum space which is DSR-relativistic and is characterized by a commutative law of composition of momenta, a possibility for which no explicit curved momentum space picture had been previously found. This momentum space can serve as laboratory for the exploration of the properties of DSR-relativistic theories which are not connected to group-manifold momentum spaces and Hopf algebras, and is a natural test case for the study of momentum spaces with commutative, and yet deformed, laws of composition of momenta.
FIELDWORK SUPERVISION: MEETING REQUIREMENTS OF SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION THROUGH CRITICAL THINKING
Authors: SHARMA SEEMA
Published: January 2016

This paper highlights the process of supervision that aims to developing critical thinking amongst social work students by consciously creating spaces for them, so as to enable them to reflect upon their own position and the social context within which the individuals, groups and societies exist. It is hoped that the paper will generate debate as well as a critical and constructive evaluation of the role of supervision in the context of third world countries, which face the problem of structural inequality in their societies. The paper is also expected to provide insights for fieldwork supervisors who may wish to challenge their students to question the existing status quo in the society. The paper is based entirely on the author's experiences as a field work supervisor, her observations and discussions with students during individual conferences, group meetings, community field visits and through fieldwork reports of the students.
ENHANCING STUDENTS' LEARNING IN SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICUM
Authors: CHEUNG SANDRA OI-NGOR
Published: January 2016

Social work education comprises an indispensable part ߝ the field practicum, as revealed in the curricula of social work degree programmes all over the world. Here the question is about the positivist curriculum design and fieldwork assessment, which reduces human understanding to matters of technicality. There is a growing discussion about the reflective paradigm – practice wisdom – in human professions, which may be deemed to be more desirable for accommodating the nature of social work practice. A four-dimension framework is developed for the epistemological understanding of practice wisdom, in order to guide research on unravelling how practice teachers exercise pedagogical practice wisdom in advancing students' learning. The findings reveal student factor that might hinder or facilitate practice teachers in bringing pedagogical practice wisdom to their teaching. Implications for those concerned with the enhancement of students' learning in social work field practicum, particularly social work educators, are discussed.

實習是全球社會工作訓練的核心一環，實証主義為本的課程設計及實習評估被受質疑。近年，另一個知識樣式 —— 實務智慧，於人本專業被廣泛討論。它較能兼容社會工作實務特性。作者建立一個四維知識概念架構，展示對實務智慧的理解，並研究實習導師如何使用教學實務智慧，從而為學生帶來良好學習。本文討論一些可促進或阻礙實習導師使用教學實務智慧的學生因素，目的是促進學生在實務上的學習。
種族歧視與社會工作
Authors: 甘 炳光 , 王 惠芬
Published: January 2016

本文的目的是剖析香港的種族歧視情況，並從歷史、文化、政治及社會服務發展等四個範疇去探討其出現的原因。本文更建議社會工作者應多推動哪些方面的工作，才能有助少數族裔人士得到公平的待遇和平等的機會，為消除種族歧視作出貢獻。

This article aims at analyzing the situation of racial discrimination in Hong Kong. From the perspectives of history, culture, politics and the development of social services, this article identifies the reasons for the existence of racial discrimination and suggests what social workers could do to help ethnic minority people acheive equal treatment and equal opportunities, and to contribute to the eradication of racial discrimination in Hong Kong.
DO MALE VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV) DESERVE HELP? SOME REFLECTIONS BASED ON A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: TSANG WALLACE WAI-HUNG
Published: January 2016

Based on a systematic review of 32 articles on help-seeking by male victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), this study attempts to understand why men tend not to seek help in IPV. The review of the selected literature establishes that male victimization in IPV is a real problem. However, men tend not to seek help for a variety of reasons, most of which are attributable to either psychological factors or external service barriers. Based on the findings of this study, the implications of the failure to deliver social services to men suffering various forms of domestic violence are discussed.
Design of a Humanoid Shoulder Complex Emulating Human Shoulder Girdle Motion Using the Minimum Number of Actuators
Authors: Newkirk Jeremy T. , Stanišić Michael M.
Published: January 2016

This paper describes a design for a humanoid shoulder complex that replicates human shoulder girdle motion. The goal here is to use the minimum number of actuators to keep the mechanism as light as possible to help ensure that a humanoid is not too top heavy. The human shoulder girdle has two degrees-of-freedom (DOF), which means the minimum number of actuators is also two. The proposed mechanism is a novel parallel platform with two DOF that acts as a pointing mechanism. As the mechanism is articulated the end-effector moves, which results in contraction or elongation, mimicking the natural motion of the human shoulder girdle. A parallel platform was chosen because of the inherent rigidity and a large workspace is not necessary. The mechanism presented here was chosen because of its simplicity and ability to track human shoulder girdle motion. Motion studies were conducted to collect data representing human shoulder girdle motion, which was used to optimize the mechanism for tracking human shoulder girdle motion as closely as possible. A second optimization was performed to ensure that the mechanism avoids singularities throughout its entire range of motion. The results show that this design closely replicates human shoulder girdle motion and is well-suited for use as a humanoid shoulder girdle to increase the range of motion for a humanoid arm.
Triacylglyceride physiology in the short-finned eel, Anguilla australis—the effects of androgen
Authors: Damsteegt Erin L. , Ozaki Yuichi , McCormick Sally P. A. , Lokman P. Mark
Published: January 2016

The importance of androgens (especially 11-ketotestosterone) during previtellogenesis in eels is well established. In wild pubertal migrants, circulating 11-ketotestosterone levels correlate with a number of morphological and molecular changes. Here, we test the prediction that this correlation represents a causal relationship by artificially raising the levels of circulating 11-ketotestosterone in prepubertal nonmigratory female and pubertal, migratory male short-finned eels ( Anguilla australis) using sustained-release hormone implants. In females, increases in hepatosomatic index and transcript copy numbers of hepatic apolipoprotein B and microsomal triacylglyceride transfer protein indicated increased repackaging of endogenously sourced triacylglycerides. These changes in liver measures were reflected in increased concentrations of serum triacylglycerides. However, despite a small increase in gonadosomatic index, ovarian lipoprotein receptor transcript abundances were not affected by 11-ketotestosterone. Interestingly, no such changes in hepatic gene expression were detected in a dose-response experiment using males. We propose that the androgens are inducing the observed changes in previtellogenic females, although it remains unclear to what extent these effects are direct or indirect.
Diminished anabolic signaling response to insulin induced by intramuscular lipid accumulation is associated with inflammation in aging but not obesity
Authors: Rivas Donato A. , McDonald Devin J. , Rice Nicholas P. , Haran Prashanth H. , Dolnikowski Gregory G. , Fielding Roger A.
Published: January 2016

The loss of skeletal muscle mass is observed in many pathophysiological conditions, including aging and obesity. The loss of muscle mass and function with aging is defined as sarcopenia and is characterized by a mismatch between skeletal muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. Characteristic metabolic features of both aging and obesity are increases in intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content in muscle. IMCL accumulation may play a mechanistic role in the development of anabolic resistance and the progression of muscle atrophy in aging and obesity. In the present study, aged and high-fat fed mice were used to determine mechanisms leading to muscle loss. We hypothesized the accumulation of bioactive lipids in skeletal muscle, such as ceramide or diacylglycerols, leads to insulin resistance with aging and obesity and the inability to activate protein synthesis, contributing to skeletal muscle loss. We report a positive association between bioactive lipid accumulation and the loss of lean mass and muscle strength. Obese and aged animals had significantly higher storage of ceramide and diacylglycerol compared with young. Furthermore, there was an attenuated insulin response in components of the mTOR anabolic signaling pathway. We also observed differential increases in the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the phosphorylation of IκBα with aging and obesity. These data challenge the accepted role of increased inflammation in obesity-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, we have now established IκBα with a novel function in aging-associated muscle loss that may be independent of its previously understood role as an NF-κB inhibitor.
Nitric oxide availability in deeply hypoxic crucian carp: acute and chronic changes and utilization of ambient nitrite reservoirs
Authors: Hansen Marie N. , Gerber Lucie , Jensen Frank B.
Published: January 2016

Recent research suggest that anoxia-tolerant fish transfer extracellular nitrite into the tissues, where it is used for nitric oxide (NO) generation, iron-nitrosylation, and S-nitrosation of proteins, as part of the cytoprotective response toward prolonged hypoxia and subsequent reoxygenation. We hypothesized that crucian carp take up ambient nitrite and use it as a source of cellular NO availability during hypoxia. Fish were exposed for 1 day to normoxia (Po2 > 140 mmHg) and deep hypoxia (1 < Po2 < 3 mmHg) at both low (< 0.2 μM) and moderately elevated (10 μM) ambient [nitrite] to decipher NO metabolites in plasma and several tissues. We also compared NO metabolite changes during acute (10 min) and chronic (1 day) exposures to three different O2 levels. Plasma [nitrite] decreased with decreasing [O2], while the cellular concentrations of nitrite and nitros(yl)ated compounds either increased or stayed constant, depending on O2 level and tissue type. Nitrite was notably increased in the heart during deep hypoxia, and the increase was amplified by elevated ambient [nitrite]. Raised nitrite also increased gill [nitrite] and decreased mRNA expression of an inducible nitric oxide synthase-2 gene variant. The data support that ambient nitrite is taken up across the gills to be distributed via the blood to the tissues, particularly the heart, where it assists in cytoprotection and other functions. Cardiac nitrite was not elevated in acutely exposed fish, revealing that the response requires time. NO metabolite levels were higher during acute than chronic exposures, possibly caused by increased swimming activity and stress in acutely exposed fish.
Mitochondrial polymerase gamma dysfunction and aging cause cardiac nuclear DNA methylation changes
Authors: Koczor Christopher A. , Ludlow Ivan , Fields Earl , Jiao Zhe , Ludaway Tomika , Russ Rodney , Lewis William
Published: January 2016

Cardiomyopathy (CM) is an intrinsic weakening of myocardium with contractile dysfunction and congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF has been postulated to result from decreased mitochondrial energy production and oxidative stress. Effects of decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption also can accelerate with aging. We previously showed DNA methylation changes in human hearts with CM. This was associated with mitochondrial DNA depletion, being another molecular marker of CM. We examined the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac epigenetic DNA methylation changes in both young and old mice. We used genetically engineered C57Bl/6 mice transgenic for a cardiac-specific mutant of the mitochondrial polymerase-γ (termed Y955C). Y955C mice undergo left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) at a young age (∼94 days old), and LVH decompensated to CHF at old age (∼255 days old). Results found 95 genes differentially expressed as a result of Y955C expression, while 4,452 genes were differentially expressed as a result of aging hearts. Moreover, cardiac DNA methylation patterns differed between Y955C (4,506 peaks with 68.5% hypomethylation) and aged hearts (73,286 peaks with 80.2% hypomethylated). Correlatively, of the 95 Y955C-dependent differentially expressed genes, 30 genes (31.6%) also displayed differential DNA methylation; in the 4,452 age-dependent differentially expressed genes, 342 genes (7.7%) displayed associated DNA methylation changes. Both Y955C and aging demonstrated significant enrichment of CACGTG-associated E-box motifs in differentially methylated regions. Cardiac mitochondrial polymerase dysfunction alters nuclear DNA methylation. Furthermore, aging causes a robust change in cardiac DNA methylation that is partially associated with mitochondrial polymerase dysfunction.
Ethics, genetic testing, and athletic talent: children's best interests, and the right to an open (athletic) future
Authors: Camporesi Silvia , McNamee Mike J.
Published: January 2016

In this paper we discuss the ethics of genetics-based talent identification programs in sports. We discuss the validity and reliability of the tests and the claims made by direct to consumer companies, before presenting a range of ethical issues concerning child-parent/guardian relations raised by these tests, which we frame in terms of parental/guardian duties, children's rights, and best interests. We argue that greater ethical emphasis needs to be put on the parental decision on the wellbeing on the child going forward, not on ex post justifications on the basis of good and bad consequences. Best interests decisions made by a third party seem to comprise both subjective and objective elements, but only a holistic approach can do justice to these questions by addressing the wellbeing of the child in a temporal manner and taking into account the child's perspective on its wellbeing. Such decisions must address wider questions of what a good (sports)parent ought do to help the child flourish and how to balance the future-adult focus necessary to nurture talent with the wellbeing of the child in the present. We conclude that current genetic tests for “talent” do not predict aptitude or success to any significant degree and are therefore only marginally pertinent for talent identification. Claims that go beyond current science are culpable and attempt to exploit widespread but naïve perceptions of the efficacy of genetics information to predict athletic futures. Sports physicians and health care professionals involved in sport medicine should therefore discourage the use of these tests.
Blood transcriptional signature of recombinant human erythropoietin administration and implications for antidoping strategies
Authors: Durussel Jérôme , Haile Diresibachew W. , Mooses Kerli , Daskalaki Evangelia , Beattie Wendy , Mooses Martin , Mekonen Wondyefraw , Ongaro Neford , Anjila Edwin , Patel Rajan K. , Padmanabhan Neal , McBride Martin W. , McClure John D. , Pitsiladis Yannis P.
Published: January 2016

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is frequently abused by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug, despite being prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Although the methods to detect blood doping, including rHuEPO injections, have improved in recent years, they remain imperfect. In a proof-of-principle study, we identified, replicated, and validated the whole blood transcriptional signature of rHuEPO in endurance-trained Caucasian males at sea level ( n = 18) and Kenyan endurance runners at moderate altitude ( n = 20), all of whom received rHuEPO injections for 4 wk. Transcriptional profiling shows that hundreds of transcripts were altered by rHuEPO in both cohorts. The main regulated expression pattern, observed in all participants, was characterized by a “rebound” effect with a profound upregulation during rHuEPO and a subsequent downregulation up to 4 wk postadministration. The functions of the identified genes were mainly related to the functional and structural properties of the red blood cell. Of the genes identified to be differentially expressed during and post-rHuEPO, we further confirmed a whole blood 34-transcript signature that can distinguish between samples collected pre-, during, and post-rHuEPO administration. By providing biomarkers that can reveal rHuEPO use, our findings represent an advance in the development of new methods for the detection of blood doping.
A Novel Technology for Measurements of Dielectric Properties of Extremely Small Volumes of Liquids
Authors: Liu Wei-Na
Published: January 2016

A high sensitivity sensor for measurement radio frequency (RF) dielectric permittivity of liquids is described. Interference is used and parasitic effects are cancellation, which makes the sensor can catch weak signals caused by liquids with extremely small volumes. In addition, we present the relationship between transmission coefficient and permittivity of liquids under test (LUT). Using this sensor, quantitative measurements of the dielectric properties at 5.8 GHz are demonstrated of LUTs. Experiments show that the proposed method only requires the volume of 160 nanoliters for liquids. Therefore, the technology can be used for RF spectroscopic analysis of biological samples and extremely precious liquids.
Intraoperative Corneal Thickness Changes during Pulsed Accelerated Corneal Cross-Linking Using Isotonic Riboflavin with HPMC
Authors: Sherif Ahmed M. , El-Gheriany Nihal A. , Salah El-Din Yehia M. , Aly Lamiaa S. , Osman Amr A. , Grentzelos Michael A. , Kymionis George D.
Published: January 2016

Purpose. To evaluate corneal thickness changes during pulsed accelerated corneal cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus using a new isotonic riboflavin formula.Methods. In this prospective, interventional, clinical study patients with grades 1-2 keratoconus (Amsler-Krumeich classification) underwent pulsed accelerated (30 mW/cm2) CXL after application of an isotonic riboflavin solution (0.1%) with HPMC for 10 minutes. Central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were taken using ultrasound pachymetry before and after epithelial removal, after riboflavin soaking, and immediately after completion of UVA treatment.Results. Twenty eyes of 11 patients (4 males, 7 females) were enrolled. Mean patient age was26±3(range from 18 to 30 years). No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed in any of the patients. Mean CCT was507±35 μm (range: 559–459 μm) before and475±40 μm (range: 535–420 μm) after epithelial removal (P<0.001). After 10 minutes of riboflavin instillation, there was a statistically significant decrease of CCT by 6.2% from475±40 μm (range: 535–420 μm) to446±31 μm (range: 508–400) (P<0.005). There was no other statistically significant change of CCT during UVA irradiation.Conclusions. A significant decrease of corneal thickness was demonstrated during the isotonic riboflavin with HPMC application while there was no significant change during the pulsed accelerated UVA irradiation.
Nonlinear Model and Qualitative Analysis for Coupled Axial/Torsional Vibrations of Drill String
Authors: Ren Fushen , Wang Baojin , Chen Suli , Yao Zhigang , Bai Baojun
Published: January 2016

A nonlinear dynamics model and qualitative analysis are presented to study the key effective factors for coupled axial/torsional vibrations of a drill string, which is described as a simplified, equivalent, flexible shell under axial rotation. Here, after dimensionless processing, the mathematical models are obtained accounting for the coupling of axial and torsional vibrations using the nonlinear dynamics qualitative method, in which excitation loads and boundary conditions of the drill string are simplified to a rotating, flexible shell. The analysis of dynamics responses is performed by means of the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method, in which the rules that govern the changing of the torsional and axial excitation are revealed, and suggestions for engineering applications are also given. The simulation analysis shows that when the drill string is in a lower-speed rotation zone, the torsional excitation is the key factor in the coupling vibration, and increasing the torsional stress of the drill string more easily leads to the coupling vibration; however, when the drill string is in a higher-speed rotating zone, the axial excitation is a key factor in the coupling vibration, and the axial stress in a particular interval more easily leads to the coupling vibration of the drill string.
A Novel Inverter Topology for Single-Phase Transformerless PV System
Authors: Cao Haiyan
Published: January 2016

Transformerless photovoltaic (PV) power system is very promising due to its low cost, small size, and high efficiency. One of its most important issues is how to prevent the common mode leakage current. In order to solve the problem, a new inverter is proposed in this paper. The system common mode model is established, and the four operation modes of the inverter are analyzed. It reveals that the common mode voltage can be kept constant, and consequently the leakage current can be suppressed. Finally, the experimental tests are conducted. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
In Vivo Tracking of Cell Therapies for Cardiac Diseases with Nuclear Medicine
Authors: Moreira Mayra Lorena , da Costa Medeiros Priscylla , de Souza Sergio Augusto Lopes , Gutfilen Bianca , Rosado-de-Castro Paulo Henrique
Published: January 2016

Even though heart diseases are amongst the main causes of mortality and morbidity in the world, existing treatments are limited in restoring cardiac lesions. Cell transplantations, originally developed for the treatment of hematologic ailments, are presently being explored in preclinical and clinical trials for cardiac diseases. Nonetheless, little is known about the possible efficacy and mechanisms for these therapies and they are the center of continuous investigation. In this scenario, noninvasive imaging techniques lead to greater comprehension of cell therapies. Radiopharmaceutical cell labeling, firstly developed to track leukocytes, has been used successfully to evaluate the migration of cell therapies for myocardial diseases. A substantial rise in the amount of reports employing this methodology has taken place in the previous years. We will review the diverse radiopharmaceuticals, imaging modalities, and results of experimental and clinical studies published until now. Also, we report on current limitations and potential advances of radiopharmaceutical labeling for cell therapies in cardiac diseases.
Spindle Bursts in Neonatal Rat Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Yang Jenq-Wei , Reyes-Puerta Vicente , Kilb Werner , Luhmann Heiko J.
Published: January 2016

Spontaneous and sensory evoked spindle bursts represent a functional hallmark of the developing cerebral cortex in vitro and in vivo. They have been observed in various neocortical areas of numerous species, including newborn rodents and preterm human infants. Spindle bursts are generated in complex neocortical-subcortical circuits involving in many cases the participation of motor brain regions. Together with early gamma oscillations, spindle bursts synchronize the activity of a local neuronal network organized in a cortical column. Disturbances in spindle burst activity during corticogenesis may contribute to disorders in cortical architecture and in the activity-dependent control of programmed cell death. In this review we discuss (i) the functional properties of spindle bursts, (ii) the mechanisms underlying their generation, (iii) the synchronous patterns and cortical networks associated with spindle bursts, and (iv) the physiological and pathophysiological role of spindle bursts during early cortical development.
Proteostasis and RNA Binding Proteins in Synaptic Plasticity and in the Pathogenesis of Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Authors: Klein Matthew E. , Monday Hannah , Jordan Bryen A.
Published: January 2016

Decades of research have demonstrated that rapid alterations in protein abundance are required for synaptic plasticity, a cellular correlate for learning and memory. Control of protein abundance, known as proteostasis, is achieved across a complex neuronal morphology that includes a tortuous axon as well as an extensive dendritic arbor supporting thousands of individual synaptic compartments. To regulate the spatiotemporal synthesis of proteins, neurons must efficiently coordinate the transport and metabolism of mRNAs. Among multiple levels of regulation, transacting RNA binding proteins (RBPs) control proteostasis by binding to mRNAs and mediating their transport and translation in response to synaptic activity. In addition to synthesis, protein degradation must be carefully balanced for optimal proteostasis, as deviations resulting in excess or insufficient abundance of key synaptic factors produce pathologies. As such, mutations in components of the proteasomal or translational machinery, including RBPs, have been linked to the pathogenesis of neurological disorders such as Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In this review, we summarize recent scientific findings, highlight ongoing questions, and link basic molecular mechanisms to the pathogenesis of common neuropsychiatric disorders.
A Cell-Based Smoothed XFEM for Fracture in Piezoelectric Materials
Authors: Zhou Li Ming , Meng Guang Wei , Li Feng , Gu Shuai
Published: January 2016

This paper presents a cell-based smoothed extended finite element method (CS-XFEM) to analyze fractures in piezoelectric materials. The method, which combines the cell-based smoothed finite element method (CS-FEM) and the extended finite element method (XFEM), shows advantages of both methods. The crack tip enrichment functions are specially derived to represent the characteristics of the displacement field and electric field around the crack tip in piezoelectric materials. With the help of the smoothing technique, integrating the singular derivatives of the crack tip enrichment functions is avoided by transforming interior integration into boundary integration. This is a significant advantage over XFEM. Numerical examples are presented to highlight the accuracy of the proposed CS-XFEM with the analytical solutions and the XFEM results.
Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infection with Cidofovir and CMV Immune Globulin in a Lung Transplant Recipient
Authors: Wilkens Heinrike , Sester Martina
Published: January 2016

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after lung transplantation is associated with increased risk for pneumonitis and bronchiolitis obliterans as well as allograft rejection and opportunistic infections. Ganciclovir is the mainstay of prophylaxis and treatment but CMV infections can be unresponsive. Apart from direct antiviral drugs, CMV immunoglobulin (CMVIG) preparations may be considered but are only licensed for prophylaxis. A CMV-seronegative 42-year-old man with cystic fibrosis received a lung from a CMV-seropositive donor. Intravenous ganciclovir prophylaxis was delayed until day 12 due to acute postoperative renal failure and was accompanied by five doses of CMVIG (10 g). By day 16, CMV-DNA was detectable and rising; CMV-specific T-cells were undetectable. Switch from ganciclovir to foscarnet prompted a transient decrease in CMV viral load, but after increasing again to reach 3600 copies/mL foscarnet was changed to intravenous cidofovir and CMVIG was restarted. CMV load continued to fluctuate and declined slowly, whereas CMV-specific T-cells were detected five months later and increased thereafter. At last follow-up, the patient was in very good clinical condition with no evidence of bronchiolitis obliterans. No side effects of this treatment were observed. In this hard-to-treat case, the combination of cidofovir with off-label use of CMVIG contributed to a successful outcome.
Atmospheric Contributors to Heavy Rainfall Events in the Arkansas-Red River Basin
Authors: McCorkle Taylor A. , Williams Skylar S. , Pfeiffer Timothy A. , Basara Jeffrey B.
Published: January 2016

This study analyzed the top 1% 24-hour rainfall events from 1994 to 2013 at eight climatological sites that represent the east to west precipitation gradient across the Arkansas-Red River Basin in North America. A total of 131 cases were identified and subsequently classified on the synoptic-scale, mesoscale, and local-scale to compile a climatological analysis of these extreme, heavy rainfall events based on atmospheric forcings. For each location, the prominent midtropospheric pattern, mesoscale feature, and predetermined thermodynamic variables were used to classify each 1% rainfall event. Individual events were then compared with other cases throughout the basin. The most profound results were that the magnitudes of the thermodynamic variables such as convective available potential energy and precipitable water values were poor predictors of the amount of rainfall produced in these extreme events. Further, the mesoscale forcings had more of an impact during the warm season and for the westernmost locations, whereas synoptic forcings were extremely prevalent during the cold season at the easternmost locations in the basin. The implications of this research are aimed at improving the forecasting of heavy precipitation at individual weather forecasts offices within the basin through the identified patterns at various scales.
Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor Mediates Nicotine-Induced Anti-Inflammation in N9 Microglial Cells Exposed toβAmyloid via Protein Kinase C
Authors: Jia Ji , Peng Jie , Li Zhaoju , Wu Youping , Wu Qunlin , Tu Weifeng , Wu Mingchun
Published: January 2016

Background. Reducingβamyloid- (Aβ-) induced microglial activation is considered to be effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nicotine attenuates Aβ-induced microglial activation; the mechanism, however, is still elusive. Microglia could be activated into classic activated state (M1 state) or alternative activated state (M2 state); the former is cytotoxic and the latter is neurotrophic. In this investigation, we hypothesized that nicotine attenuates Aβ-induced microglial activation by shifting microglial M1 to M2 state, and cannabinoid CB2 receptor and protein kinase C mediate the process.Methods. We used Aβ1–42 to activate N9 microglial cells and observed nicotine-induced effects on microglial M1 and M2 biomarkers by using western blot, immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results. We found that nicotine reduced the levels of M1 state markers, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α) and interleukin- (IL-) 6 releases; meanwhile, it increased the levels of M2 state markers, including arginase-1 (Arg-1) expression and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release, in the Aβ-stimulated microglia. Coadministration of cannabinoid CB2 receptor antagonist or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor partially abolished the nicotine-induced effects.Conclusion. These findings indicated that cannabinoid CB2 receptor mediates nicotine-induced anti-inflammation in microglia exposed to Aβvia PKC.
Intuitionistic Fuzzy Time Series Forecasting Model Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Reasoning
Authors: Wang Ya’nan , Lei Yingjie , Fan Xiaoshi , Wang Yi
Published: January 2016

Fuzzy sets theory cannot describe the data comprehensively, which has greatly limited the objectivity of fuzzy time series in uncertain data forecasting. In this regard, an intuitionistic fuzzy time series forecasting model is built. In the new model, a fuzzy clustering algorithm is used to divide the universe of discourse into unequal intervals, and a more objective technique for ascertaining the membership function and nonmembership function of the intuitionistic fuzzy set is proposed. On these bases, forecast rules based on intuitionistic fuzzy approximate reasoning are established. At last, contrast experiments on the enrollments of the University of Alabama and the Taiwan Stock Exchange Capitalization Weighted Stock Index are carried out. The results show that the new model has a clear advantage of improving the forecast accuracy.
A Case‐Control Study of Involvement of Oxidative DNA Damage and Alteration of Antioxidant Defense System in Patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma: Modulation by Tumor Removal
Authors: Chaisiriwong Lapatsanant , Wanitphakdeedecha Rungsima , Sitthinamsuwan Panitta , Sampattavanich Somponnat , Chatsiricharoenkul Somruedee , Manuskiatti Woraphong , Panich Uraiwan
Published: January 2016

Oxidative damage has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). This study illustrated an involvement of oxidative DNA damage and changes in antioxidant defenses in BCC by conducting a case‐control study (24 controls and 24 BCC patients) and assessing urinary 7,8‐dihydro‐8‐oxo‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐oxo‐dGuo), plasma antioxidant defenses including catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), NQO1, and total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and glutathione (GSH) levels before surgery and 1 month after surgery. 8‐oxo‐dGuo expressions as well as protein and mRNA expressions of DNA repair enzyme hOGG1 and antioxidant defenses (CAT, GCLC, GPx, Nrf2, and MnSOD) in nonneoplastic epidermis of control and BCC tissues were also determined. This study observed induction in urinary 8‐oxo‐dGuo, increased 8‐oxo‐dGuo expression, and reduced hOGG1 protein and mRNA in BCC tissues, decreased activities of CAT, GPx, and NQO1, but elevated SOD activities and GSH levels in BCC patients and reduction of all antioxidant proteins and genes studied in BCC tissues. Furthermore, decreased plasma antioxidant activities in BCC patients were restored at 1 month after operation compared with preoperative levels. Herein, we concluded that BCC patients were associated with oxidative DNA damage and depletion of antioxidant defenses and surgical removal of BCC correlated with improved redox status.
Hepatocytic Differentiation Potential of Human Fetal Liver Mesenchymal Stem Cells: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation
Authors: El-Kehdy Hoda , Pourcher Guillaume , Zhang Wenwei , Hamidouche Zahia , Goulinet-Mainot Sylvie , Sokal Etienne , Charbord Pierre , Najimi Mustapha , Dubart-Kupperschmitt Anne
Published: January 2016

In line with the search of effective stem cell population that would progress liver cell therapy and because the rate and differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) decreases with age, the current study investigates the hepatogenic differentiation potential of human fetal liver MSCs (FL‐MSCs). After isolation from 11‐12 gestational weeks’ human fetal livers, FL‐MSCs were shown to express characteristic markers such as CD73, CD90, and CD146 and to display adipocytic and osteoblastic differentiation potential. Thereafter, we explored their hepatocytic differentiation potential using the hepatogenic protocol applied for adult human liver mesenchymal cells. FL‐MSCs differentiated in this way displayed significant features of hepatocyte‐like cells as demonstrated in vitro by the upregulated expression of specific hepatocytic markers and the induction of metabolic functions including CYP3A4 activity, indocyanine green uptake/release, and glucose 6‐phosphatase activity. Following transplantation, naive and differentiated FL‐MSC were engrafted into the hepatic parenchyma of newborn immunodeficient mice and differentiated in situ. Hence, FL‐MSCs appeared to be interesting candidates to investigate the liver development at the mesenchymal compartment level. Standardization of their isolation, expansion, and differentiation may also support their use for liver cell‐based therapy development.
Early Developmental Low-Dose Methylmercury Exposure Alters Learning and Memory in Periadolescent but Not Young Adult Rats
Authors: Albores-Garcia Damaris , Acosta-Saavedra Leonor C. , Hernandez Alberto J. , Loera Miriam J. , Calderón-Aranda Emma S.
Published: January 2016

Few studies have assessed the effects of developmental methylmercury (MeHg) exposure on learning and memory at different ages. The possibility of the amelioration or worsening of the effects has not been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to assess whether low-dose MeHg exposurein uteroand during suckling induces differential disturbances in learning and memory of periadolescent and young adult rats. Four experimental groups of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were orally exposed to MeHg or vehicle from gestational day 5 to weaning: (1) control (vehicle), (2) 250 μg/kg/day MeHg, (3) 500 μg/kg/day MeHg, and (4) vehicle, and treated on the test day with MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg i.p.), an antagonist of the N-methyl D-aspartate receptor. The effects were evaluated in male offspring through the open field test, object recognition test, Morris water maze, and conditioned taste aversion. For each test and stage assessed, different groups of animals were used. MeHg exposure, in a dose-dependent manner, disrupted exploratory behaviour, recognition memory, spatial learning, and acquisition of aversive memories in periadolescent rats, but alterations were not observed in littermates tested in young adulthood. These results suggest that developmental low-dose exposure to MeHg induces age-dependent detrimental effects. The relevance of decreasing exposure to MeHg in humans remains to be determined.