bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systems Toxicology
Authors: Sauer John Michael , Hartung Thomas , Leist Marcel , Knudsen Thomas B. , Hoeng Julia , Hayes A. Wallace
Published: March 2015

Risk assessment, in the context of public health, is the process of quantifying the probability of a harmful effect to individuals or populations from human activities. With increasing public health concern regarding the potential risks associated with chemical exposure, there is a need for more predictive and accurate approaches to risk assessment. Developing such an approach requires a mechanistic understanding of the process by which xenobiotic substances perturb biological systems and lead to toxicity. Supplementing the shortfalls of traditional risk assessment with mechanistic biological data has been widely discussed but not routinely implemented in the evaluation of chemical exposure. These mechanistic approaches to risk assessment have been generally referred to as systems toxicology. This Symposium Overview article summarizes 4 talks presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the American College of Toxicology.
Reconciling evidence-based practice and cultural competence in mental health services: Introduction to a special issue
Authors: Gone Joseph P.
Published: March 2015

The calls for evidence-based practice (EBP) and cultural competence (CC) represent two increasingly influential mandates within the mental health professions. Advocates of EBP seek to standardize clinical practice by ensuring that only treatment techniques that have demonstrated therapeutic outcomes under scientifically controlled conditions would be adopted and promoted in mental health services. Advocates of CC seek to diversify clinical practice by ensuring that treatment approaches are designed and refined for a multicultural clientele that reflects a wide variety of psychological orientations and life experiences. As these two powerful mandates collide, the fundamental challenge becomes how to accommodate substantive cultural divergences in psychosocial experience using narrowly prescriptive clinical practices and approaches, without trivializing either professional knowledge or cultural difference. In this Introduction to a special issue of Transcultural Psychiatry, the virtue of an interdisciplinary conversation between and among anthropologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social work researchers in addressing these tensions is extolled.
Do Interest Group Endorsements Cue Individual Contributions to House Candidates?
Authors: Baker Anne E.
Published: March 2015

Non-incumbents face an uphill battle in their quest to raise sufficient funds to compete effectively against seated House incumbents and, alternatively, in competitive open-seat House contests. Interest group endorsements are thought to contribute to their electoral success, but whether endorsements help non-incumbent House candidates raise contributions from individuals, as a component of this success, remains unknown. Their heavy reliance upon individual contributions to finance their campaigns as well as the prominence of the groups making a large number of endorsements justifies an explicit test of this relationship. Using contribution data from the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) between 2006 and 2012 paired with endorsement tabulations in both a set of regression and matching analyses, I uncover evidence that endorsements increase individual contributions to the candidate over the course of the election cycle. The results underpin the value of endorsements to non-incumbent candidates as well as their utility for the endorsing groups wishing to influence House elections.
Assessment of Sentinel Node Biopsies With Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Grieve Kate , Mouslim Karima , Assayag Osnath , Dalimier Eugénie , Harms Fabrice , Bruhat Alexis , Boccara Claude , Antoine Martine
Published: March 2015

Current techniques for the intraoperative analysis of sentinel lymph nodes during breast cancer surgery present drawbacks such as time and tissue consumption. Full-field optical coherence tomography is a novel noninvasive, high-resolution, fast imaging technique. This study investigated the use of full-field optical coherence tomography as an alternative technique for the intraoperative analysis of sentinel lymph nodes. Seventy-one axillary lymph nodes from 38 patients at Tenon Hospital were imaged minutes after excision with full-field optical coherence tomography in the pathology laboratory, before being handled for histological analysis. A pathologist performed a blind diagnosis (benign/malignant), based on the full-field optical coherence tomography images alone, which resulted in a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 83% (n = 65 samples). Regular feedback was given during the blind diagnosis, with thorough analysis of the images, such that features of normal and suspect nodes were identified in the images and compared with histology. A nonmedically trained imaging expert also performed a blind diagnosis aided by the reading criteria defined by the pathologist, which resulted in 85% sensitivity and 90% specificity (n = 71 samples). The number of false positives of the pathologist was reduced by 3 in a second blind reading a few months later. These results indicate that following adequate training, full-field optical coherence tomography can be an effective noninvasive diagnostic tool for extemporaneous sentinel node biopsy qualification.
Blurring the Lines
Authors: Garland Tammy S. , Branch Kathryn A. , Grimes Mackenzie
Published: March 2015

Through the use of popular culture constructs, individuals are exposed to an overabundance of images that validate rape myths. Although studies have examined rape in popular culture, little attention has been given to the use of rape myths in comic books as a means to reinforce hegemonic masculinity. Using a convenience sample taken from popular comic book series, this content analysis examined the prevalence of rape and the myths used to create such portrayals as well as discuss the negative impact the perpetuation of rape culture has on society. Findings indicate that the reinforcement of rape myths is present within mainstream comic books. Rape myths that were supported included a number of rape survivor, rape perpetrator, and victim blaming myths.
Cycle of Bad Governance and Corruption
Authors: Suleiman Mohammed Nuruddeen , Aminul Karim Mohammed
Published: March 2015

This article argues that bad governance and corruption particularly in the Northern part of Nigeria have been responsible for the persistent rise in the activities of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JASLWJ), Arabic for “people committed to the propagation of the tradition and jihad.” It is also known as “Boko Haram,” commonly translated as “Western education is sin.” Based on qualitative data obtained through interviews with Nigerians, this article explicates how poor governance in the country has created a vicious cycle of corruption, poverty, and unemployment, leading to violence. Although JASLWJ avows a religious purpose in its activities, it takes full advantage of the social and economic deprivation to recruit new members. For any viable short- or long-term solution, this article concludes that the country must go all-out with its anti-corruption crusade. This will enable the revival of other critical sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing, likely ensuring more employment. Should the country fail to stamp out corruption, it will continue to witness an upsurge in the activities of JASLWJ, and perhaps even the emergence of other violent groups. The spillover effects may be felt not only across Nigeria but also within the entire West African region.
Osteonecrosis of the Knee After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Lansdown Drew A. , Shaw Jeremy , Allen Christina R. , Ma C. Benjamin
Published: March 2015

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is performed commonly, with a low risk of complication. Osteonecrosis of the knee is a potentially devastating condition and has been observed both spontaneously and after meniscectomy, although osteonecrosis has not been described as a complication after ACL reconstruction.

Purpose:

To describe the development of osteonecrosis of the knee in 5 patients after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This study involved 5 patients (mean age, 33.2 years) who developed osteonecrosis of the knee after ACL reconstruction. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify clinical characteristics and surgical factors present in each of the 5 cases.

Results:

In 4 cases, the pathologic changes were present in both the medial and lateral femoral condyles, with isolated lateral condyle changes in the other case. The mean time to diagnosis was 11.6 months. These patients underwent an average of 1.8 additional surgical procedures after the diagnosis of osteonecrosis.

Conclusion:

Osteonecrosis of the knee is a rare outcome after ACL reconstruction. We are unable to identify clear risk factors for the development of this complication, although we hope the presentation of these cases will help promote the identification of other cases in future studies.
Color-cognizance and Color-blindness in White America
Authors: Lopez Bunyasi Tehama
Published: March 2015

This study estimates how many white Americans believe that white identity is connected to the treatment they receive and the life chances of their racial group, and it explores the extent to which color-cognizance and color-blindness are related to the racial policy preferences of whites. The analysis uses data from five nationwide public opinion polls fielded between 2000 and 2009. Contingency tables are used to determine the prevalence of perceptions of racial privilege, racial disadvantage, and racial irrelevance, and logistic regression models are used to predict the determinant value of these perceptions on policy support. This study finds that a minority of white Americans report benefits from being white. However, whites who perceive racial privileges are consistently more supportive of policies aimed at minimizing such advantages and are more intent on securing racially equitable treatment than are those whites who believe that white identity is a liability. The analysis also finds that privilege-reporting whites are more likely to support a diversity-driven form of affirmative action than are their racial counterparts who express color-blind beliefs. Finally, this study provides evidence that whites who espouse color-blind views are more likely to support racially progressive policies when compared with whites who report racial disadvantages. The discussion advises researchers to remain attentive to the dominant population’s articulated views of whiteness and the fissures that animate their internal political differences.
Fracture toughness of steels with nickel content in respect of carbide morphology
Authors: Krawczyk J. , Pacyna J. , Bała P.
Published: March 2015

This paper is focused on the influence of Ni addition on the microstructure and fracture toughness of structural steels after tempering. Nickel is known to increase the resistance to cleavage fracture of steel and decrease a ductile–brittle transition temperature. The medium carbon, low alloy martensitic steels attain the best combination of properties in low tempered condition, with tempered martensite, retained austenite and transition carbides in the microstructure. In the present research, four model alloys of different Ni contents (from 0·35 to 4·00) were used. All samples were in as quenched and tempered condition. Quenching was performed in oil at room temperature. After quenching, samples were tempered at 200°C for 2 h. An increase in nickel content in the investigated model structural steels causes a decrease in ε carbide volume fraction in their microstructure. Cementite nucleates independently in the boundaries of martensite laths and in the twin boundaries in the areas where the ε carbide has been dissolved. It was stated that stress intensity factor KIc significantly decreases in the case of the presence of dispersive elongated cementite precipitations at the boundaries of the prior austenite grains.
Nebulized antibiotics for ventilator-associated pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zampieri Fernando G , Nassar Jr Antonio P , Gusmao-Flores Dimitri , Taniguchi Leandro U , Torres Antoni , Ranzani Otavio T
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Nebulized antibiotics are a promising new treatment option for ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, more evidence of the benefit of this therapy is required.

Methods

The Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Biological Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Food Science and Technology Abstracts, CENTRAL, Scielo and Lilacs databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials or matched observational studies that compared nebulized antibiotics with or without intravenous antibiotics to intravenous antibiotics alone for ventilator-associated pneumonia treatment. Two reviewers independently collected data and assessed outcomes and risk of bias. The primary outcome was clinical cure. Secondary outcomes were microbiological cure, ICU and hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay and adverse events. A mixed-effect model meta-analysis was performed. Trial sequential analysis was used for the main outcome of interest.

Results

Twelve studies were analyzed, including six randomized controlled trials. For the main outcome analysis, 812 patients were included. Nebulized antibiotics were associated with higher rates of clinical cure (risk ratio (RR) = 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05 to 1.43; I2 = 34%; D2 = 45%). Nebulized antibiotics were not associated with microbiological cure (RR = 1.24; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.62; I2 = 62.5), mortality (RR = 0.90; CI 95%, 0.76 to 1.08; I2 = 0%), duration of mechanical ventilation (standardized mean difference = −0.10 days; 95% CI, −1.22 to 1.00; I2 = 96.5%), ICU length of stay (standardized mean difference = 0.14 days; 95% CI, −0.46 to 0.73; I2 = 89.2%) or renal toxicity (RR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.70 to 1.57; I2 = 15.6%). Regarding the primary outcome, the number of patients included was below the information size required for a definitive conclusion by trial sequential analysis; therefore, our results regarding this parameter are inconclusive.

Conclusions

Nebulized antibiotics seem to be associated with higher rates of clinical cure in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, the apparent benefit in the clinical cure rate observed by traditional meta-analysis does not persist after trial sequential analysis. Additional high-quality studies on this subject are highly warranted.

Trial registration number

CRD42014009116. Registered 29 March 2014
Human severe sepsis cytokine mixture increases β2-integrin-dependent polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesion to cerebral microvascular endothelial cells in vitro
Authors: Blom Chris , Deller Brittany L , Fraser Douglas D , Patterson Eric K , Martin Claudio M , Young Bryan , Liaw Patricia C , Yazdan-Ashoori Payam , Ortiz Angelica , Webb Brian , Kilmer Greg , Carter David E , Cepinskas Gediminas
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a state of acute brain dysfunction in response to a systemic infection. We propose that systemic inflammation during sepsis causes increased adhesion of leukocytes to the brain microvasculature, resulting in blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Thus, our objectives were to measure inflammatory analytes in plasma of severe sepsis patients to create an experimental cytokine mixture (CM), and to use this CM to investigate the activation and interactions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and human cerebrovascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) in vitro.

Methods

The concentrations of 41 inflammatory analytes were quantified in plasma obtained from 20 severe sepsis patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls employing an antibody microarray. Two CMs were prepared to mimic severe sepsis (SSCM) and control (CCM), and these CMs were then used for PMN and hCMEC/D3 stimulation in vitro. PMN adhesion to hCMEC/D3 was assessed under conditions of flow (shear stress 0.7 dyn/cm2).

Results

Eight inflammatory analytes elevated in plasma obtained from severe sepsis patients were used to prepare SSCM and CCM. Stimulation of PMN with SSCM led to a marked increase in PMN adhesion to hCMEC/D3, as compared to CCM. PMN adhesion was abolished with neutralizing antibodies to either β2 (CD18), αL/β2 (CD11α/CD18; LFA-1) or αM/β2 (CD11β/CD18; Mac-1) integrins. In addition, immune-neutralization of the endothelial (hCMEC/D3) cell adhesion molecule, ICAM-1 (CD54) also suppressed PMN adhesion.

Conclusions

Human SSCM up-regulates PMN pro-adhesive phenotype and promotes PMN adhesion to cerebrovascular endothelial cells through a β2-integrin-ICAM-1-dependent mechanism. PMN adhesion to the brain microvasculature may contribute to SAE.
Renal tubular acidosis is highly prevalent in critically ill patients
Authors: Brunner Richard , Drolz Andreas , Scherzer Thomas-Matthias , Staufer Katharina , Fuhrmann Valentin , Zauner Christian , Holzinger Ulrike , Schneeweiß Bruno
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Hyperchloremic acidosis is frequent in critically ill patients. Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) may contribute to acidemia in the state of hyperchloremic acidosis, but the prevalence of RTA has never been studied in critically ill patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence, type, and possible risk factors of RTA in critically ill patients using a physical-chemical approach.

Methods

This prospective, observational trial was conducted in a medical ICU of a university hospital. One hundred consecutive critically ill patients at the age ≥18, expected to stay in the ICU for ≥24 h, with the clinical necessity for a urinary catheter and the absence of anuria were included.

Base excess (BE) subset calculation based on a physical-chemical approach on the first 7 days after ICU admission was used to compare the effects of free water, chloride, albumin, and unmeasured anions on the standard base excess. Calculation of the urine osmolal gap (UOG) - as an approximate measure of the unmeasured urine cation NH4+ - served as determinate between renal and extrarenal bicarbonate loss in the state of hyperchloremic acidosis.

Results

During the first week of ICU stay 43 of the patients presented with hyperchloremic acidosis on one or more days represented as pronounced negative BEChloride. In 31 patients hyperchloremic acidosis was associated with RTA characterized by a UOG ≤150 mosmol/kg in combination with preserved renal function. However, in 26 of the 31 patients with RTA metabolic acidosis was neutralized by other acid-base disturbances leading to a normal arterial pH.

Conclusions

RTA is highly prevalent in critically ill patients with hyperchloremic acidosis, whereas it is often neutralized by the simultaneous occurrence of other acid-base disturbances.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02392091. Registered 17 March 2015
Denoising perturbation signatures reveal an actionable AKT-signaling gene module underlying a poor clinical outcome in endocrine-treated ER+ breast cancer
Authors: Teschendorff Andrew E , Li Linlin , Yang Zhen
Published: March 2015

Background

Databases of perturbation gene expression signatures and drug sensitivity provide a powerful framework to develop personalized medicine approaches, by helping to identify actionable genomic markers and subgroups of patients who may benefit from targeted treatments.

Results

Here we use a perturbation expression signature database encompassing perturbations of over 90 cancer genes, in combination with a large breast cancer expression dataset and a novel statistical denoising algorithm, to help discern cancer perturbations driving most of the variation in breast cancer gene expression. Clustering estrogen receptor positive cancers over the perturbation activity scores recapitulates known luminal subtypes. Analysis of individual activity scores enables identification of a novel cancer subtype, defined by a 31-gene AKT-signaling module. Specifically, we show that activation of this module correlates with a poor prognosis in over 900 endocrine-treated breast cancers, a result we validate in two independent cohorts. Importantly, breast cancer cell lines with high activity of the module respond preferentially to PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, a result we also validate in two independent datasets. We find that at least 34 % of the downregulated AKT module genes are either mediators of apoptosis or have tumor suppressor functions.

Conclusions

The statistical framework advocated here could be used to identify gene modules that correlate with prognosis and sensitivity to alternative treatments. We propose a randomized clinical trial to test whether the 31-gene AKT module could be used to identify estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients who may benefit from therapy targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis.
Body mass index and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Qin Baodong , Yang Min , Fu Haitao , Ma Ning , Wei Tingting , Tang Qingqin , Hu Zhide , Liang Yan , Yang Zaixing , Zhong Renqian
Published: March 2015

Introduction

The evidence from published studies on the association between obesity and rheumatoid arthritis has been contradictory. To clarify the association between obesity and rheumatoid arthritis, we conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis to assess the relationship between body mass index and rheumatoid arthritis risk.

Methods

A systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase (up to 12 July 2014) was performed to identify all eligible published reports. The pooled relative risk results with corresponding 95% confidence intervals of rheumatoid arthritis development were estimated using a random-effects model.

Results

Eleven eligible related citations fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Compared with individuals with a body mass index under 30, obese individuals showed an association with a significantly increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (relative risk = 1.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.07 to 1.45, Pheterogeneity <0.01, I2 = 63%). Compared to normal weight subjects, the pooled relative risks for rheumatoid arthritis were 1.31 (1.12 to 1.53) and 1.15 (1.03 to 1.29) for the categories of obese and overweight, respectively. In the dose-response analysis, there was evidence of a nonlinear association (Pnonlinear = 0.005) and the estimated summary relative risk for a 5-unit increment was 1.03 (95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.05, Pheterogeneity = 0.001, I2 = 70.0%).

Conclusions

An increase in body mass index can contribute to a higher risk for rheumatoid arthritis development. However, the finding also highlights the need for research on the association between body mass index and rheumatoid arthritis risk with adjustment for more confounding factors.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells on locomotor recovery in animal models of traumatic brain injury
Authors: Peng Weijun , Sun Jing , Sheng Chenxia , Wang Zhe , Wang Yang , Zhang Chunhu , Fan Rong
Published: March 2015

Introduction

The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is attractive. Conducting systematic review and meta-analyses based on data from animal studies can be used to inform clinical trial design. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to (i) systematically review the literatures describing the effect of MSCs therapy in animal models of TBI, (ii) determine the estimated effect size of functional locomotor recovery after experimental TBI, and (iii) to provide empirical evidence of biological factors associated with greater efficacy.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science and hand searched related references. Studies were selected if they reported the efficacy of MSCs in animal models of TBI. Two investigators independently assessed the identified studies. We extracted the details of individual study characteristics from each publication, assessed study quality, evaluated the effect sizes of MSCs treatment, and performed stratified meta-analysis and meta-regression, to assess the influence of study design on the estimated effect size. The presence of small effect sizes was investigated using funnel plots and Egger’s tests.

Results

Twenty-eight eligible controlled studies were identified. The study quality was modest. Between-study heterogeneity was large. Meta-analysis showed that MSCs exert statistically significant positive effects on sensorimotor and neurological motor function. For sensorimotor function, maximum effect size in studies with a quality score of 5 was found in the weight-drop impact injury TBI model established in male SD rats, to which syngeneic umbilical cord-derived MSCs intracerebrally at cell dose of (1–5) × 106 was administered r 6 hours following TBI, using ketamine as anesthetic agent. For neurological motor function, effect size was maximum for studies with a quality score of 5, in which the weight-drop impact injury TBI models of the female Wistar rats were adopted, with administration syngeneic bone marrow-derived MSCs intravenously at cell dose of 5 × 106 at 2 months after TBI, using sevofluorane as anesthetic agent.

Conclusions

We conclude that MSCs therapy may improve locomotor recovery after TBI. However, additional well-designed and well-reported animal studies are needed to guide further clinical studies.
Human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells improve murine ventricular function upon intramyocardial delivery in right ventricular chronic pressure overload
Authors: Oommen Saji , Yamada Satsuki , Cantero Peral Susana , Campbell Katherine A , Bruinsma Elizabeth S , Terzic Andre , Nelson Timothy J
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Stem cell therapy has emerged as potential therapeutic strategy for damaged heart muscles. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are the most prevalent stem cell source available, yet have not been fully tested in cardiac regeneration. Herein, studies were performed to evaluate the cardiovascular safety and beneficial effect of mononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from human umbilical cord blood upon intramyocardial delivery in a murine model of right ventricle (RV) heart failure due to pressure overload.

Methods

UCB-derived MNCs were delivered into the myocardium of a diseased RV cardiac model. Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) was used to produce pressure overload in athymic nude mice that were then injected intramyocardially with UCB-MNCs (0.4 × 10^6 cells/heart). Cardiac functions were then monitored by telemetry, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathologic analysis of heart samples to determine the ability for cell-based repair.

Results

The cardio-toxicity studies provided evidence that UCB cell transplantation has a safe therapeutic window between 0.4 to 0.8 million cells/heart without altering QT or ST-segments or the morphology of electrocardiograph waves. The PAB cohort demonstrated significant changes in RV chamber dilation and functional defects consistent with severe pressure overload. Using cardiac MRI analysis, UCB-MNC transplantation in the setting of PAB demonstrated an improvement in RV structure and function in this surgical mouse model. The RV volume load in PAB-only mice was 24.09 ± 3.9 compared to 11.05 ± 2.09 in the cell group (mm3, P-value <0.005). The analysis of pathogenic gene expression (BNP, ANP, Acta1, Myh7) in the cell-transplanted group showed a significant reversal with respect to the diseased PAB mice with a robust increase in cardiac progenitor gene expression such as GATA4, Kdr, Mef2c and Nkx2.5. Histological analysis indicated significant fibrosis in the RV in response to PAB that was reduced following UCB-MNC’s transplantation along with concomitant increased Ki-67 expression and CD31 positive vessels as a marker of angiogenesis within the myocardium.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that human UCB-derived MNCs promote an adaptive regenerative response in the right ventricle upon intramyocardial transplantation in the setting of chronic pressure overload heart failure.
Pollen Allergies in Humans and their Dogs, Cats and Horses: Differences and Similarities
Authors: Jensen‐Jarolim Erika , Einhorn Lukas , Herrmann Ina , Thalhammer Johann G , Panakova Lucia
Published: March 2015

Both humans and their most important domestic animals harbor IgE and a similar IgE receptor repertoire and expression pattern. The same cell types are also involved in the triggering or regulation of allergies, such as mast cells, eosinophils or T‐regulatory cells. Translational clinical studies in domestic animals could therefore help cure animal allergies and at the same time gather knowledge relevant to human patients. Dogs, cats and horses may spontaneously and to different extents develop immediate type symptoms to pollen allergens. The skin, nasal and bronchial reactions, as well as chronic skin lesions due to pollen are in principle comparable to human patients. Pollen of various species most often causes allergic rhinitis in human patients, whereas in dogs it elicits predominantly eczematous lesions (canine atopic dermatitis), in horses recurrent airway obstruction or hives as well as pruritic dermatitis, and in cats bronchial asthma and so‐called cutaneous reactive patterns (eosinophilic granuloma complex, head and neck pruritus, symmetric self‐induced alopecia). In human allergy‐specific IgE detection, skin tests or other allergen provocation tests should be completed. In contrast, in animals IgE and dermal tests are regarded as equally important and may even replace each other. However, for practical and economic reasons intradermal tests are most commonly performed in a specialized practice. As in humans, in dogs, cats and horses allergen immunotherapy leads to significant improvement of the clinical symptoms. The collected evidence suggests that canines, felines and equines, with their spontaneous allergies, are attractive model patients for translational studies.
The impact of the recession on the wealth of older immigrant and native households in the United States
Authors: Amuedo-Dorantes Catalina , Pozo Susan
Published: March 2015

Using the 2006 and 2010 Health and Retirement Study, we explore how the recent recession impacted the wealth holding and retirement plans of older households in the United States. Of particular interest to us is whether the impact on household asset ownership, asset wealth and household retirement behavior varied with the nativity of the household and its standing in the wealth distribution prior to the onset of the recession. We find that the so-called Great Recession made a significant dent on the portfolios of older American households by eroding the value of specific assets to the point of delaying their planned retirement. Furthermore, its impacts were unevenly distributed across demographic and economic groups, with mixed and immigrant households in the middle and top wealth quartiles prior to the recession enduring significantly larger wealth losses than natives due, primarily, to their greater losses in primary housing ownership and primary housing values.

JEL codes: D31; J26
Diversity and evolution of sound production in the social behavior ofChaetodonbutterflyfishes
Authors: Tricas Timothy C. , Boyle Kelly S.
Published: March 2015

Fish produce context-specific sounds during social communication but it is not known how acoustic behaviors have evolved in relation to specializations of the auditory system. Butterflyfishes (family Chaetodontidae) have a well-defined phylogeny and produce pulsed communication sounds during social interactions on coral reefs. Recent work indicates two sound production mechanisms exist in the bannerfish clade and others for one species in the Chaetodon clade which is distinguished by an auditory specialization, the laterophysic connection (LC). We determine the kinematic action patterns associated with sound production during social interactions in four Chaetodon subgenera and the non-laterophysic Forcipiger. Some Chaetodon species share the head bob acoustic behavior with Forcipiger which along with other sounds in the 100-1000 Hz spectrum are likely adequate to stimulate the ear, swim bladder or LC of a receiver fish. In contrast, only Chaetodon produced the tail slap sound which involves a 1-30 Hz hydrodynamic pulse that likely stimulates the receiver's ear and lateral line at close distances, but neither the swim bladder nor LC. Reconstructions of ancestral character states appear equivocal for the head bob and divergent for the tail slap acoustic behaviors. Independent contrast analysis shows a correlation between sound duration and stimulus intensity characters. The intensity of the tail slap and body pulse sound in Chaeotodon is correlated with body size and can provide honest communication signals. Future studies on fish acoustic communication should investigate low frequency and infrasound acoustic fields to understand the integrated function of the ear and lateral line, and their evolutionary patterns.
Polymer-binding Peptides as Dispersants for the Preparation of Polymer Nanoparticles: Application of Peptides to Structurally Similar Non-target Polymers
Authors: Sawada Toshiki , Matsumiya Kisei , Serizawa Takeshi
Published: March 2015

The Mps01 peptide (sequence: HNAYWHWPPSMT) that recognizes the main chain structure of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) was utilized as a dispersant to prepare polymer nanoparticles with spherical morphologies and narrow size distributions.
A novel mechanism of LIN-28 regulation oflet-7microRNA expression revealed by in vivo HITS-CLIP inC. elegans
Authors: Stefani Giovanni , Chen Xiaowei , Zhao Hongyu , Slack Frank J.
Published: March 2015

The evolutionarily conserved genelin-28encodes an RNA-binding protein and is an important regulator of the proper temporal succession of several developmental events in both invertebrates and vertebrates. At the cellular level, LIN-28 promotes stemness and proliferation, and inhibits differentiation, a feature best illustrated by its ability to induce pluripotency when ectopically expressed in human fibroblasts in combination withNANOG, OCT4,andSOX2. Mammalian LIN28 functions in part by regulating processing of thelet-7microRNA through a GGAG binding site in the pre-let-7’s distal loop region. However, many human and animallet-7precursors lack the GGAG binding motif. In order to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying its biological functions in a living animal, we identified a map of LIN-28 interactions with the transcriptome by in vivo HITS-CLIP inCaenorhabditis elegans. LIN-28 binds a large pool of messenger RNAs, and a substantial fraction of the bona fide LIN-28 targets are involved in aspects of animal development. Furthermore, our data show that LIN-28 regulates the expression of thelet-7microRNA by binding its primary transcript in a previously unknown region, revealing a novel regulatory mechanism.
SHAPE Selection (SHAPES) enrich for RNA structure signal in SHAPE sequencing-based probing data
Authors: Poulsen Line Dahl , Kielpinski Lukasz Jan , Salama Sofie R. , Krogh Anders , Vinther Jeppe
Published: March 2015

Selective 2′ Hydroxyl Acylation analyzed by Primer Extension (SHAPE) is an accurate method for probing of RNA secondary structure. In existing SHAPE methods, the SHAPE probing signal is normalized to a no-reagent control to correct for the background caused by premature termination of the reverse transcriptase. Here, we introduce a SHAPE Selection (SHAPES) reagent, N-propanone isatoic anhydride (NPIA), which retains the ability of SHAPE reagents to accurately probe RNA structure, but also allows covalent coupling between the SHAPES reagent and a biotin molecule. We demonstrate that SHAPES-based selection of cDNA–RNA hybrids on streptavidin beads effectively removes the large majority of background signal present in SHAPE probing data and that sequencing-based SHAPES data contain the same amount of RNA structure data as regular sequencing-based SHAPE data obtained through normalization to a no-reagent control. Moreover, the selection efficiently enriches for probed RNAs, suggesting that the SHAPES strategy will be useful for applications with high-background and low-probing signal such as in vivo RNA structure probing.
Rapid isolation and single-molecule analysis of ribonucleoproteins from cell lysate by SNAP-SiMPull
Authors: Rodgers Margaret L. , Paulson Joshua , Hoskins Aaron A.
Published: March 2015

Large macromolecular complexes such as the spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) play a variety of roles within the cell. Despite their biological importance, biochemical studies of snRNPs and other machines are often thwarted by practical difficulties in the isolation of sufficient amounts of material. Studies of the snRNPs as well as other macromolecular machines would be greatly facilitated by new approaches that enable their isolation and biochemical characterization. One such approach is single-molecule pull-down (SiMPull) that combines in situ immunopurification of complexes from cell lysates with subsequent single-molecule fluorescence microscopy experiments. We report the development of a new method, called SNAP-SiMPull, that can readily be applied to studies of splicing factors and snRNPs isolated from whole-cell lysates. SNAP-SiMPull overcomes many of the limitations imposed by conventional SiMPull strategies that rely on fluorescent proteins. We have used SNAP-SiMPull to study the yeast branchpoint bridging protein (BBP) as well as the U1 and U6 snRNPs. SNAP-SiMPull will likely find broad use for rapidly isolating complex cellular machines for single-molecule fluorescence colocalization experiments.
The low information content of Neurospora splicing signals: implications for RNA splicing and intron origin
Authors: Collins Richard A. , Stajich Jason E. , Field Deborah J. , Olive Joan E. , DeAbreu Diane M.
Published: March 2015

When we expressed a small (0.9 kb) nonprotein-coding transcript derived from the mitochondrial VS plasmid in the nucleus of Neurospora we found that it was efficiently spliced at one or more of eight 5′ splice sites and ten 3′ splice sites, which are present apparently by chance in the sequence. Further experimental and bioinformatic analyses of other mitochondrial plasmids, random sequences, and natural nuclear genes in Neurospora and other fungi indicate that fungal spliceosomes recognize a wide range of 5′ splice site and branchpoint sequences and predict introns to be present at high frequency in random sequence. In contrast, analysis of intronless fungal nuclear genes indicates that branchpoint, 5′ splice site and 3′ splice site consensus sequences are underrepresented compared with random sequences. This underrepresentation of splicing signals is sufficient to deplete the nuclear genome of splice sites at locations that do not comprise biologically relevant introns. Thus, the splicing machinery can recognize a wide range of splicing signal sequences, but splicing still occurs with great accuracy, not because the splicing machinery distinguishes correct from incorrect introns, but because incorrect introns are substantially depleted from the genome.
Identification of elements in human long 3′ UTRs that inhibit nonsense-mediated decay
Authors: Toma Kalodiah G. , Rebbapragada Indrani , Durand Sébastien , Lykke-Andersen Jens
Published: March 2015

The nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway serves an important role in gene expression by targeting aberrant mRNAs that have acquired premature termination codons (PTCs) as well as a subset of normally processed endogenous mRNAs. One determinant for the targeting of mRNAs by NMD is the occurrence of translation termination distal to the poly(A) tail. Yet, a large subset of naturally occurring mRNAs contain long 3′ UTRs, many of which, according to global studies, are insensitive to NMD. This raises the possibility that such mRNAs have evolved mechanisms for NMD evasion. Here, we analyzed a set of human long 3′ UTR mRNAs and found that many are indeed resistant to NMD. By dissecting the 3′ UTR of one such mRNA, TRAM1 mRNA, we identified a cis element located within the first 200 nt that inhibits NMD when positioned in downstream proximity of the translation termination codon and is sufficient for repressing NMD of a heterologous reporter mRNA. Investigation of other NMD-evading long 3′ UTR mRNAs revealed a subset that, similar to TRAM1 mRNA, contains NMD-inhibiting cis elements in the first 200 nt. A smaller subset of long 3′ UTR mRNAs evades NMD by a different mechanism that appears to be independent of a termination-proximal cis element. Our study suggests that different mechanisms have evolved to ensure NMD evasion of human mRNAs with long 3′ UTRs.
Training Primary School Teachers in the Applied Baccalaureate in Terms of the �Pedagogue� Professional Standard: Reflections on Professional Functions and Ways of Networking
Authors: �����������  , Smolyaninova O. , ���������  , Korshunova Vera , �����  , Yudina Yuliya
Published: March 2015

The article discusses the changes in the content of training programs for primary school teachers in the context of the modernization of pedagogical

education related to the requirements of the professional standard of a teacher. In order to strengthen the practical orientation of training of future

elementary school teachers authors propose a model of basic networking systems included in the training process: system of vocational training and

system of higher professional education. In the analysis of professional standard "Teacher" were marked out labor actions for each of the labor functions

(training, development) and determined the delta at the levels of higher education (bachelor degree and magistracy).

To ensure the formation of labor actions of students according to the professional standards of the teacher the authors of the article in relation to them

formulated and theoretically substantiated the hypothesis about the content of the activities of students and educational outcomes of students, which

are formed in the course of training in higher school and in practice at the school.
Moving from potentiality to diversity: A typology of Belgian civil society’s online media practices to enhance social engagement
Authors: Carpentier Nico
Published: March 2015

The article presents a recently developed typology of the diversity of online media practices in and by Belgian civil society organizations (CSOs) to enhance social engagement. Framed by the ambition to move away from utopian (and dystopian) discourses of certainty and potentiality, the article’s objective is to access the enormous diversity of ways the online is put to use, without imposing normative expectations about, for instance, participatory intensities. To generate this overview, the structuring logic of the typology is used, despite the loss of detail and nuance caused by the use of this bird’s-eye view-generating method. The construction of this particular typology took place in different iterative phases, each with its own methodological approach. These were a theoretical phase, a case study phase and a CSO survey phase. Through these iterations, a two-dimensional typology was constructed, grounded in the distinctions between internal, internalexternal and external use, and between access, interaction and participation. Showing the vast diversity of civil society’s online media practices not only increases our understanding of their online use, but also facilitates a more nuanced discussion of the use and importance of participatory online practices that will move away from exclusively utopian approaches or discourses of potentiality.
New media, democracy, participation and the political
Authors: Vatikiotis Pantelis
Published: March 2015

The advent of social media has revived the discussion on media engagement/participation and the role of citizen-user in the democratic innovation, in terms of both building divergent cultures of communality and experimenting, individually and collectively, with new ways of ‘claiming’ and ‘doing’. In this context, the article probes into the interplay between social and technological, public and private, collective and individual, civic and commercial practices at networked platforms, reviewing relevant challenges and questions set for the enhancement of the democratic activity. It draws on the deliberative and the radical democratic approaches, evaluating discursively the dynamics of civic engagement/participation in the realm of mediated and networked communication, in regard to the interactional dimension of the public sphere (and the connections with the private sphere), as well as on the lines of the development of a new sociality (a mixture of both the personal and the political). From this perspective, the article critically reflects on the normative principles of rational deliberation and goal-directed action as exclusive arenas of the constitution of the democratic process, proposing instead a broader and dynamic framework that takes into account the intersection of differing and conflicting forms of engagement, both deliberative/active and monitorial/reactive ones.
Resistance on the walls, reclaiming public space: Street art in times of political turmoil in Turkey
Authors: Taş Tuĝba , Taş Oĝuzhan
Published: March 2015

This article is based on our research, in which we examine the interplay between political protest and street art practices in Turkey with specific reference to the recent ‘Occupy Gezi’ movement and its aftermath. We propose to conceive street art as a participatory political practice with a full range of different forms and styles (graffiti, stencils, posters, installations, performances, etc.), which employs three interconnected strategies: (1) utilizing urban public space as a privileged site of political visibility; (2) renegotiating the boundaries between art, political activism, and communication; (3) inviting its audience to engage in political agency. Our research necessarily takes into account methods of reapproprating and disseminating works of street art – particularly via digital media, which, in this era of networked social movements, serve to expand the scope of public space from the streets to online communities. After tracing the blossoming of street art in Turkey within the creation of an oppositional political aesthetics from the 1970s to the present day – in the historical context of a changing political milieu – we analyse the specific case of the Gezi Park protests, where street art became visible for a wider public and significantly contributed to the rebellious character of the movement in distinct ways.
Escorrência e erosão a múltiplas escalas espaciais numa área florestal mista recentemente ardida no centro de Portugal
Authors: Fernandes Isabel A. C. , Nunes J. P. , Ferreira Raquel S. V. , Pereira Luísa M. G. P. , Vieira Diana C. S. , Keizer J. J.
Published: March 2015

O presente artigo apresenta resultados preliminares da monitorização de escorrência e erosão do solo após incêndio, numa micro-bacia hidrográfica no centro de Portugal. Os dados recolhidos permitem avaliar os diferentes processos que governam a resposta hidrológica e a erosão a diferentes escalas espaciais, micro parcela (< 2 m2), encostas de vários comprimentos (40 a 90 m) e micro bacia (11×104 m2).
Uso de ferramentas estatísticas para acompanhamento climático e prevenção de riscos na bacia hidrográfica do rio Mundaú (Brasil)
Authors: Fonseca da Silva Djane , Sousa Francisco De Assis Salviano de , Toshie Kayano Mary
Published: March 2015

As variações da precipitação na bacia hidrográfica do rio Mundaú foram estudadas utilizando o Índice de anomalia de chuva (IAC) e a Análise de Ondeleta. Os resultados mostraram que a variabilidade interanual ligada ao ciclo de El Niño Oscilação Sul e a variabilidade decadal influenciaram na variabilidade pluviométrica local.