bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatal marijuana exposure, age of marijuana initiation, and the development of psychotic symptoms in young adults
Authors: Day N. L. , Goldschmidt L. , Day R. , Larkby C. , Richardson G. A.
Published: December 2014

Background

Studies have demonstrated that an early age of onset of marijuana use (EAOM) is associated with a higher risk of developing psychotic symptoms (PS) compared to initiating marijuana use at a later age or not at all. Research has also found that prenatal marijuana exposure (PME) predicts EAOM. This report evaluates the relationships among PME, EAOM, and PS.

Method

Subjects were initially interviewed in their fourth prenatal month. Women and offspring who completed the birth assessment (n = 763) were selected for follow-up. Women and their offspring were followed until the offspring were 22 years of age: 596 offspring were evaluated. At age 22, PS were assessed in the offspring with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule using DSM-IV criteria. Analyses controlled for significant covariates including other prenatal substance exposures, race, gender, and offspring substance use at 22 years.

Results

PME and EAOM significantly predicted increased rates of PS at 22 years controlling for other significant covariates. The direct effect of PME on PS was marginally significant (p = 0.06) when EAOM was entered into the model and other covariates were fixed. In the mediation analysis, EAOM did not significantly mediate the association between PME and PS, controlling for significant covariates, nor was the indirect pathway significant when structural equation modeling was used. The total effect of the direct and indirect pathways was significant.

Conclusions

In addition to EAOM, PME may also play a role in the association between marijuana use and the development of PS. This could highlight a new area for prevention.
Cognitive–behavioural therapy for patients with schizophrenia: a multicentre randomized controlled trial in Beijing, China
Authors: Li Z.-J. , Guo Z.-H. , Wang N. , Xu Z.-Y. , Qu Y. , Wang X.-Q. , Sun J. , Yan L.-Q. , Ng R. M. K. , Turkington D. , Kingdon D.
Published: December 2014

Background

Meta-analyses support the efficacy of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia in western cultures. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of CBT and supportive therapy (ST) for patients with schizophrenia in China.

Method

A multicentre randomized controlled, single-blinded, parallel-group trial enrolled a sample of 192 patients with schizophrenia. All patients were offered 15 sessions of either CBT or ST over 24 weeks and followed up for an additional 60 weeks. All measures used were standardized instruments with good reliability and validity. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess symptoms of schizophrenia. The Schedule for Assessing Insight (SAI) was used to assess patients’ insight and the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) was used to assess their social functioning.

Results

Effect-size analysis showed that patients made rapid improvements in all symptoms, insight and social functioning as measured by the PANSS, SAI and PSP at 12 and 24 weeks and maintained these improvements over the course of the study to 84 weeks. Patients in the CBT group showed significantly greater and more durable improvement in PANSS total score (p = 0.045, between-groupd = 0.48), positive symptoms (p = 0.018, between-groupd = 0.42) and social functioning (p = 0.037, between-groupd = 0.64), with significant differences emerging after completion of therapy.

Conclusions

Both CBT and ST combined with medication had benefits on psychopathology, insight and social functioning of patients with schizophrenia. CBT was significantly more effective than ST on overall, positive symptoms and social functioning of patients with schizophrenia in the long term.
Robotic hand posture and compliant grasping control using operational space and integral sliding mode control
Authors: Herrmann Guido , Jalani Jamaludin , Mahyuddin Muhammad Nasiruddin , Khan Said G , Melhuish Chris
Published: December 2014

This paper establishes a novel approach of robotic hand posture and grasping control. For this purpose, the control uses the operational space approach. This permits the consideration of the shape of the object to be grasped. Thus, the control is split into a task control and a particular optimizing posture control. The task controller employs Cylindrical and Spherical coordinate systems due to their simplicity and geometric suitability. This is achieved by using an integral sliding mode controller (ISMC) as task controller. The ISMC allows us to introduce a model reference approach where a virtual mass-spring-damper system can be used to design a compliant trajectory tracking controller. The optimizing posture controller together with the task controller creates a simple approach to obtain pre-grasping/object approach hand postures. The experimental results show that target trajectories can be easily followed by the task control despite the presence of friction and stiction. When the object is grasped, the compliant control will automatically adjust to a specific compliance level due to an augmented compliance parameter adjustment algorithm. Once a specific compliance model has been achieved, the fixed compliance controller can be tested for a specific object grasp scenario. The experimental results prove that the Bristol Elumotion robot hand (BERUL) can automatically and successfully attain different compliance levels for a particular object via the ISMC.
Elusive equalities and the Great Recession: restoration, retrenchment and redistribution
Authors: Brodie Janine
Published: December 2014

The 2008 global financial meltdown, commonly called the ‘Great Recession’, was the most serious crisis in capitalism since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and a fundamental repudiation of neoliberal governing assumptions. This paper focuses on the contexts that informed two governmental responses to this economic crisis — restoration and retrenchment through public austerity. It explains that these responses were contingent, experimental, inequitable and, in the end, unsuccessful. Restoration and retrenchment, however, were entirely consistent with previous neoliberal crisis-responses and the abiding ambitions of this governing project. As the economic crisis crawled into the second half of a decade, the idea of inequality was increasingly identified as an underlying cause of crisis and its amelioration as a necessary part of rebuilding economies and communities in a post-crisis era. The paper tracks the case for the revival of equality politics and policies in the early twenty-first century.
From social welfare to human rights for girls – a path to achieving gender equality
Authors: Goonesekere Savitri
Published: December 2014

Despite international and national human rights norms and standards, gender equality remains a goal in most countries. The recent discourse on substantive equality as a strategy for addressing the gender discrimination, disadvantage and deep-rooted social biases has reinforced the importance of working towards indivisible human rights for girls and women under CRC and CEDAW. This paper uses international and comparative national experiences on law and policy to argue that the failure to adopt an indivisibility of rights approach in relation to girl children has made it more difficult to achieve a norm of substantive equality for women. It is argued that the adoption of an intergenerational and rights-based, rather than a social welfare approach, is a necessary step to achieving substantive equality for women.
Augennotfälle
Authors: Bürki Ernst
Published: December 2014

Der Artikel möchte dem Hausarzt (die weibliche Form ist immer eingeschlossen) klare Richtlinien geben, welche Augennotfälle er problemlos selber versorgen kann, welche ein Ophthalmologe noch am selben Tag sehen sollte und wann er den Patienten als Notfall sofort weiterschicken muss.
Die akute Harnverhaltung in der Praxis
Authors: Birkhäuser Frédéric D. , Studer Urs E.
Published: December 2014

Die akute Harnverhaltung gehört zu den häufigsten Notfallsituationen beim Mann. Die Einlage sowohl eines Dauerkatheters als auch einer suprapubischen Zystostomie ist eine sichere Intervention, vorausgesetzt einige einfache Regeln werden eingehalten. Bei einer akuten Harnverhaltung wird in der Regel ein Dauerkatheter eingelegt, sofern keine Harnröhrenverletzung oder -striktur vorliegt. Voraussetzungen für eine atraumatische Katheterisierung sind eine gute Lokalanästhesie der Harnröhre bis in den Sphinkter-/Prostatabereich und ein kräftig gestreckter Penis. Großlumige Dauerkatheter mit runder Spitze oder, bei schwieriger Katheterisierung, Dauerkatheter mit gebogener Spitze unter rektaler Führung können sich als hilfreich erweisen. Alternativ kann eine suprapubische Zystostomie eingelegt werden, sofern keine Kontraindikationen dagegen vorliegen, wie die Anamnese von oder der alleinige Verdacht auf ein Urothelkarzinom. Optimale Interventionsbedingungen sind besonders wichtig bei Patienten mit hämorrhagischer Diathese, damit die ultraschall-gesteuerte Einlage einer suprapubischen Zystostomie sicher und im ersten Punktionsversuch gelingt. Sollte es postinterventionell dennoch zu einer Blutung aus dem Stichkanal kommen, kann die eingelegte suprapubische Zystostomie auf eine Ballon-Zystostomie gewechselt und zwecks Kompression des Stichkanals für einige Minuten unter Zug gehalten werden.
Management von Schulterluxationen in und außerhalb der Arztpraxis
Authors: Durrer Bruno , Allenspach Urs , Felgenhauer Stefanie , Sinsel Markus
Published: December 2014

Die vordere untere Schulterluxation ist eine relativ häufige Sportverletzung. Es gibt viele richtige Repositionsmanöver. Für Schulterluxationen in und außerhalb der Praxis haben sich die „Davoser“-Selbstreposition und die Reposition nach Baumann bewährt. Vor jedem Repositionsmanöver muss eine Luxation klinisch sicher erkannt und nach Möglichkeit radiologisch bestätigt werden.
Cardiac endothelial cell-derived exosomes induce specific regulatory B cells
Authors: Song Jiangping , Chen Xiao , Wang Mangyuan , Xing Yong , Zheng Zhe , Hu Shengshou
Published: December 2014

The mechanism of immune tolerance is to be further understood. The present study aims to investigate the role of the Cardiac endothelial cell (CEC)-derived exosomes in the induction of regulatory B cells. In this study, CECs were isolated from the mouse heart. Exosomes were purified from the culture supernatant of the primary endothelial cells. The suppressor functions of the regulatory B cells were determined by flow cytometry. The results showed that the CEC-derived exosomes carried integrin αvβ6. Exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced B cells to express the latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, the latter was converted to the active form, TGF-β, by the exosome-derived αvβ6. The B cells released TGF-β in response to re-exposure to the exosomes in the culture, which suppressed the effector T cell proliferation. We conclude that CEC-derived exosomes have the capacity to induce B cells with immune suppressor functions.
Non-volatile organic transistor memory devices using the poly(4-vinylpyridine)-based supramolecular electrets
Authors: Chou Y.-H. , Chiu Y.-C. , Lee W.-Y. , Chen W.-C.
Published: December 2014

Non-volatile transistor memory devices based on hydrogen-bonded supramolecular electrets consisting of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and hydroxyl conjugated molecules.
An aqueous method for the controlled manganese (Mn2+) substitution in superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for contrast enhancement in MRI
Authors: Ereath Beeran Ansar , Nazeer Shaiju. S. , Fernandez Francis Boniface , Muvvala Krishna Surendra , Wunderlich Wilfried , Anil Sukumaran , Vellappally Sajith , Ramachandra Rao M. S. , John Annie , Jayasree Ramapurath S. , Harikrishna Varma P. R.
Published: December 2014

Despite the success in the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) for various scientific applications, its potential in biomedical fields has not been exploited to its full potential.
Assessing soil and groundwater contamination from biofuel spills
Authors: Chen Colin S. , Shu Youn-Yuen , Wu Suh-Huey , Tien Chien-Jung
Published: December 2014

Future modifications of fuels should include evaluation of the proposed constituents for their potential to damage environmental resources such as the subsurface environment.
Effect of N2 on the emission profile and excitation temperature in axially viewed plasma-ICP OES
Authors: Scheffler Guilherme Luiz , Pozebon Dirce
Published: December 2014

A low flow of N2 introduced in the central channel of the Ar-ICP increases the excitation temperature and coupling efficiency among the bulk plasma and its central channel, improving the ICP robustness and respective performance.
Iron-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Xue Zhigang , He Dan , Xie Xiaolin
Published: December 2014

This article reviews the preparation of polymers using iron-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization.
A new design of ionic complexation and its application for efficient protection of proteins
Authors: Yang Qian , Wu Jiaojiao , Ping Xu Zhi , Chen Daoyong
Published: December 2014

Well designed LCCT ionic complexation can efficiently protect proteins at higher temperatures and automatically release bioavailable proteins at room temperature.
Assembly of plasmid DNA with pyrene-amines cationic amphiphiles into nanoparticles and their visible lysosome localization
Authors: Sheng Ruilong , An Feifei , Wang Zhao , Li Mingrui , Cao Amin
Published: December 2014

In this study, we constructed a visible model for drug/gene dual delivery.
Three-dimensional hierarchical self-supported NiCo2O4/carbon nanotube core–shell networks as high performance supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Li Xiaocheng , Sun Wei , Wang Liqun , Qi Yongdong , Guo Tieming , Zhao Xinhong , Yan Xingbin
Published: December 2014

A three-dimensional hierarchical self-supported NiCo2O4/carbon nanotube core–shell network structure shows good supercapacitive performance in both three-electrode and two-electrode cell systems.
A new injectable biphasic hydrogel based on partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and nanohydroxyapatite as scaffold for osteochondral regeneration
Authors: Koushki Newsha , Katbab Ali Asghar , Tavassoli Hossein , Jahanbakhsh Azadeh , Majidi Mohammad , Bonakdar Shahin
Published: December 2014

Fabrication of an injectable biphasic hydrogel based on partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nHAp), and chromium acetate (Cr(iii)) as a novel scaffold for osteochondral repair has been attempted.
Surface charge effect on the cellular interaction and cytotoxicity of NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+@SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Zhang Junping , Liu Fuyao , Li Tao , He Xiuxia , Wang Zhenxin
Published: December 2014

The positively charged UCNP@SiO2-PEG-NH2 exhibits higher cytotoxicity and cellular internalization efficiency than negatively charged UCNP@SiO2-COOH and UCNP@SiO2-PEG.
Molecular dynamics simulation of deformation accumulation in repeated nanometric cutting on single-crystal copper
Authors: Zhang Lin , Zhao Hongwei , Dai Lu , Yang Yihan , Du Xiancheng , Tang Pengyi , Zhang Li
Published: December 2014

The machining-induced residual defects and stress in subsurfaces determine the mechanical properties of the finished surfaces of bulk materials.
Composite electrospun membranes containing a monodispersed nano-sized TiO2@Li+ single ionic conductor for Li-ion batteries
Authors: Cao Jiang , Shang Yuming , Wang Li , He Xiangming , Deng Lingfeng , Chen Hong
Published: December 2014

In this work, we report novel composite electrospun membranes for Li-ion batteries.
A novel strategy to enhance ultraviolet light driven photocatalysis from graphene quantum dots infilled TiO2 nanotube arrays
Authors: Gupta Bipin Kumar , Kedawat Garima , Agrawal Yogyata , Kumar Pawan , Dwivedi Jaya , Dhawan S. K.
Published: December 2014

A novel strategy has been proposed to fabricate graphene quantum dots infilled TiO2 nanotube arrays for high-performance photocatalyst application.
Simplified aptamer-based colorimetric method using unmodified gold nanoparticles for the detection of carcinoma embryonic antigen
Authors: Luo Cheng , Wen Wei , Lin Fenge , Zhang Xiuhua , Gu Haoshuang , Wang Shengfu
Published: December 2014

A new colorimetric aptasensor for the detection of CEA was developed. Aptamer-based colorimetric method with nanoparticles was used for the detection of CEA. The colorimetric aptasensor has potential for the detection of other proteins or nucleotides.
Effect of dimethylsulfoxide on the viscoelastic properties and sol–gel transition of cellulose/ionic liquid solutions
Authors: Saba H. , Yongbo Y. , Jianning W. , Xiaolin X. , Kaijian W. , Yumei Z. , Huaping W.
Published: December 2014

Viscoelastic properties of cellulose solutions with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as solvents were studied by rheological experiments.
Anion-directed assembly of helical copper(ii) complexes based on a bispyridylpyrrole ligand: synthesis, structural and magnetic properties
Authors: Fang Wen-Zhong , Wang Ya-Ping , Wang Yi-Fan , Zhang Shou-Chun , Yi Xiao-Yi
Published: December 2014

Helical copper(ii) complexes based on a bispyridylpyrrole ligand, namely the helical polymer {[Cu2(PDPH)2(N3)2]}n, a discrete double-helical complex [Cu2(PDPH)2(NO3)2] and triple-helical complex [Cu2(PDPH)3](OTf), were synthesized by displacement of Cl− in [Cu(PDPH)Cl].
Synthesis, characterization, and application of Fe3O4-SA-PPCA as a novel nanomagnetic reusable catalyst for the efficient synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and polyhydroquinolines
Authors: Ghorbani-Choghamarani Arash , Azadi Gouhar
Published: December 2014

Nano magnetic Fe3O4-PPCA prepared by one pot co-precipitation of iron oxide with PPCA and used as a catalyst for the preparation of DHQs and PHQs.
Half-sandwich complexes of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium and iridium with dl-methionine or S-methyl-l-cysteine: a solid state and solution equilibrium study
Authors: Patalenszki János , Bíró Linda , Bényei Attila Csaba , Muchova Tereza Radosova , Kasparkova Jana , Buglyó Péter
Published: December 2014

Half-sandwich type platinum metal ions form stable 1 : 1 complexes with dl-methionine and S-methyl-l-cysteine resulting in diastereomers that epimerize at the S donor.
Correction: Green synthesis of self assembled silver nanowire decorated reduced graphene oxide for efficient nitroarene reduction
Authors: Gnanaprakasam P. , Selvaraju T.
Published: December 2014

Correction for ‘Green synthesis of self assembled silver nanowire decorated reduced graphene oxide for efficient nitroarene reduction’ by P. Gnanaprakasam et al., RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 24518–24525.
A porosity difference based selective dissolution strategy to prepare shape-tailored hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Authors: Yildirim Adem , Bayindir Mehmet
Published: December 2014

A general method to prepare hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles with tailored morphology is reported.
Preparation of polymeric particles in CO2 medium using non-toxic solvents: discussions on the mechanism of particle formation
Authors: Tran My-Kien , Swed Amin , Calvignac Brice , Dang Kim-Ngan , Hassani Leila N. , Cordonnier Thomas , Boury Frank
Published: December 2014

Development of a novel and effective process for protein encapsulation into PLGA microparticles by the emulsification–extraction method in CO2 medium using non-toxic solvents.
Using oxidant susceptibility of thiol stabilized nanoparticles to develop an inflammation triggered drug release system
Authors: Muhammad Faheem , Qi Wenxiu , Wang Aifei , Gu Jingkai , Du Jianshi , Zhu Guangshan
Published: December 2014

Ultrasmall thiol passivated ZnS NPs are prepared using a newly developed synthetic protocol. Exposure to hydroxyl radicals results in oxidation of the thiol groups, thus destabilizing the ZnS nanolids to open drug encompassing pores for attaining an inflammation responsive drug delivery system.
Type I IFNs as biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis: towards disease profiling and personalized medicine
Authors: Rodríguez-Carrio Javier , López Patricia , Suárez Ana
Published: December 2014

RA (rheumatoid arthritis) is a chronic rheumatic condition hallmarked by joint inflammation and destruction by self-reactive immune responses. Clinical management of RA patients is often hampered by its heterogeneous nature in both clinical presentation and outcome, thereby highlighting the need for new predictive biomarkers. In this sense, several studies have recently revealed a role for type I IFNs (interferons), mainly IFNα, in the pathogenesis of a subset of RA patients. Genetic variants associated with the type I IFN pathway have been linked with RA development, as well as with clinical features. Moreover, a role for IFNα as a trigger for RA development has also been described. Additionally, a type I IFN signature has been associated with the early diagnosis of RA and clinical outcome prediction in patients undergoing biological drug treatment, two challenging issues for decision-making in the clinical setting. Moreover, these cytokines have been related to endothelial damage and vascular repair failure in different autoimmune disorders. Therefore, together with chronic inflammation and disease features, they could probably account for the increased cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality of these patients. The main aim of the present review is to provide recent evidence supporting a role for type I IFNs in the immunopathology of RA, as well as to analyse their possible role as biomarkers for disease management.
Materials News: Interfacial chemistry and atomic arrangement of ZrO2 − La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 pillar-matrix structures
Authors: Zhou Dan , Sigle Wilfried , Okunishi Eiji , Wang Yi , Kelsch Marion , Habermeier Hanns-Ulrich , van Aken Peter A.
Published: December 2014

We studied ZrO2 − La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 pillar–matrix thin films which were found to show anomalous magnetic and electron transport properties. With the application of an aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope, interfacial chemistry, and atomic-arrangement of the system, especially of the pillar–matrix interface were revealed at atomic resolution. Minor amounts of Zr were found to occupy Mn positions within the matrix. The Zr concentration reaches a minimum near the pillar–matrix interface accompanied by oxygen vacancies. La and Mn diffusion into the pillar was revealed at atomic resolution and a concomitant change of the Mn valence state was observed.
Arabidopsis
ROCK1 transports UDP-GlcNAc/UDP-GalNAc and regulates ER protein quality control and cytokinin activity
Authors: Niemann Michael C. E. , Bartrina Isabel , Ashikov Angel , Weber Henriette , Novák Ondřej , Spíchal Lukáš , Strnad Miroslav , Strasser Richard , Bakker Hans , Schmülling Thomas , Werner Tomáš
Published: December 2014

Significance

Nucleotide sugars are donor substrates for the formation of glycan modifications, which are important for the function of many macromolecules such as proteins and lipids. Although most of the glycosylation reactions occur in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi of eukaryotic cells, nucleotide sugar activation occurs in the cytosol and specific transporters must carry these molecules across the membrane. We identified REPRESSOR OF CYTOKININ DEFICIENCY 1 (ROCK1) as an ER-localized transporter of UDP-GlcNAc and UDP-GalNAc in plants. In contrast to animals, nothing is known about the function of the two respective sugar residues in the plant ER. We demonstrate that ROCK1-mediated transport plays a role in the ER-associated protein quality control and loss of
ROCK1
enhances cytokinin responses by suppressing the activity of cytokinin-degrading CKX proteins.
Rank inequalities for the Heegaard Floer homology of Seifert homology spheres
Authors: Karakurt Çağrı , Lidman Tye
Published: December 2014

We establish three rank inequalities for the reduced flavor of Heegaard Floer homology of Seifert fibered integer homology spheres. Combining these inequalities with the known classifications of non-zero degree maps between Seifert fibered spaces, we prove that a map

f
:

Y
′

→
Y

f:Y’ \to Y

between Seifert homology spheres yields the inequality
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="StartAbsoluteValue degree f EndAbsoluteValue normal r normal a normal n normal k upper H upper F Subscript normal r normal e normal d Baseline left-parenthesis upper Y right-parenthesis less-than-or-equal-to normal r normal a normal n normal k upper H upper F Subscript normal r normal e normal d Baseline left-parenthesis upper Y prime right-parenthesis">

|

deg
⁡
f

|

r
a
n
k

H

F

r
e
d

(
Y
)
≤

r
a
n
k

H

F

r
e
d

(

Y
′

)

|\deg f|\mathrm {rank} HF_{\mathrm {red}}(Y) \leq \mathrm {rank} HF_{\mathrm {red}}(Y’)

. These inequalities are also applied in conjunction with an algorithm of Némethi to give a method to solve the botany problem for the Heegaard Floer homology of these manifolds.
Phenome-wide Association Study Relating Pretreatment Laboratory Parameters With Human Genetic Variants in AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocols
Authors: Moore Carrie B. , Verma Anurag , Pendergrass Sarah , Verma Shefali S. , Johnson Daniel H. , Daar Eric S. , Gulick Roy M. , Haubrich Richard , Robbins Gregory K. , Ritchie Marylyn D. , Haas David W.
Published: December 2014

Background.  Phenome-Wide Association Studies (PheWAS) identify genetic associations across multiple phenotypes. Clinical trials offer opportunities for PheWAS to identify pharmacogenomic associations. We describe the first PheWAS to use genome-wide genotypic data and to utilize human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical trials data. As proof-of-concept, we focused on baseline laboratory phenotypes from antiretroviral therapy-naive individuals.

Methods.  Data from 4 AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) studies were split into 2 datasets: Dataset I (1181 individuals from protocol A5202) and Dataset II (1366 from protocols A5095, ACTG 384, and A5142). Final analyses involved 2547 individuals and 5 954 294 imputed polymorphisms. We calculated comprehensive associations between these polymorphisms and 27 baseline laboratory phenotypes.

Results.  A total of 10 584 (0.17%) polymorphisms had associations with P < .01 in both datasets and with the same direction of association. Twenty polymorphisms replicated associations with identical or related phenotypes reported in the Catalog of Published Genome-Wide Association Studies, including several not previously reported in HIV-positive cohorts. We also identified several possibly novel associations.

Conclusions.  These analyses define PheWAS properties and principles with baseline laboratory data from HIV clinical trials. This approach may be useful for evaluating on-treatment HIV clinical trials data for associations with various clinical phenotypes.
Study of interactions between polymer nanoparticles and cell membranes at atomistic levels
Authors: Yong Chin W.
Published: December 2014

Knowledge of how the structure of nanoparticles and the interactions with biological cell membranes is important not only for understanding nanotoxicological effects on human, animal health and the environment, but also for better understanding of nanoparticle fabrication for biomedical applications. In this work, we use molecular modelling techniques, namely molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, to explore how polymer nanoparticles interact with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-
sn
-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid cell membranes. Two different polymers have been considered: 100 monomer units of polyethylene (approx. 2.83 kDa) and polystyrene (approx. 10.4 kDa), both of which have wide industrial applications. We found that, despite the polar lipid head groups acting as an effective barrier to prevent the nanoparticles from interacting with the membrane surface, irreversible adhesion can be initiated by insertion of dangling chain ends from the polymer into the hydrophobic interior of the membrane. In addition, alignment of chain segments from the polymers with that of hydrocarbon chains in the interior of the membrane facilitates the complete immersion of the nanoparticles into the cell membrane. These findings highlight the importance of the surface and the topological structures of the polymer particles that dictate the absorption behaviour into the membrane and, subsequently, induce the possible translocation into the cell.
Adsorption of surfactant protein D from human respiratory secretions by carbon nanotubes and polystyrene nanoparticles depends on nanomaterial surface modification and size
Authors: Marchetti Magda , Shaffer Milo S. P. , Zambianchi Martina , Chen Shu , Superti Fabiana , Schwander Stephan , Gow Andrew , Zhang Junfeng (Jim) , Chung Kian Fan , Ryan Mary P. , Porter Alexandra E. , Tetley Teresa D.
Published: December 2014

The alveolar respiratory unit constitutes one of the main targets of inhaled nanoparticles; the effect of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) on human health is largely unknown. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is synthesized by alveolar type II epithelial cells and released into respiratory secretions; its main function is in immune defence, notably against inhaled microbes. SP-D also plays an important role in modulating an appropriate inflammatory response in the lung, and reduced SP-D is associated with a number of inflammatory lung diseases. Adsorption of SP-D to inhaled NMs may facilitate their removal via macrophage phagocytosis. This study addresses the hypothesis that the chemistry, size and surface modification of engineered NMs will impact on their interaction with, and adsorption of, SP-D. To this purpose, we have examined the interactions between SP-D in human lung lavage and two NMs, carbon nanotubes and polystyrene nanoparticles, with different surface functionalization. We have demonstrated that particle size, functionalization and concentration affect the adsorption of SP-D from human lung lavage. Functionalization with negatively charged groups enhanced the amount of SP-D binding. While SP-D binding would be expected to enhance macrophage phagocytosis, these results suggest that the degree of binding is markedly affected by the physicochemistry of the NM and that deposition of high levels of some nanoparticles within the alveolar unit might deplete SP-D levels and affect alveolar immune defence mechanisms.
Unique database study linking gingival inflammation and smoking in carcinogenesis
Authors: Söder Birgitta , Andersson Leif C. , Meurman Jukka H. , Söder Per-Östen
Published: December 2014

We investigated statistical association between gingival inflammation and cancer in a group of patients followed up for 26 years with the hypothesis that gingival inflammation affects carcinogenesis. Altogether, 1676 30- to 40-year-old subjects from Stockholm were clinically examined in 1985. In 2011, we compared the baseline oral examination and follow-up data with cancer diagnoses sourced from the Swedish national hospital register databases. Of 1676 individuals, 89 (55 women, 34 men) had got cancer by the year 2011. Women were found to be at higher risk for cancer than men. Smoking (expressed in pack-years) had been more prevalent in the cancer group than in those with no cancer diagnosis. Gingival index, marker of gingival inflammation, was higher in the cancer group than in subjects with no cancer. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding age, education, dental plaque and calculus index scores, or in the number of missing teeth. In multiple logistic regression analysis with cancer as the dependent variable and several independent variables, pack-years of smoking appeared to be a principal independent predictor with odds ratio (OR) 1.32 while gingival inflammation showed OR 1.29. Hence, our present findings showed that together with smoking, gingival inflammation indeed associated with the incidence of cancer in this cohort.
The optimal combination of standard metabolic rate and aerobic scope for somatic growth depends on food availability
Authors: Auer Sonya K. , Salin Karine , Rudolf Agata M. , Anderson Graeme J. , Metcalfe Neil B.
Published: December 2014

Metabolic rates can vary as much as threefold among individuals of the same size and age in a population, but why such variation persists is unclear given that they determine the energetic cost of living. Relationships between standard metabolic rate (SMR), growth and survival can vary with environmental conditions, suggesting that the fitness consequences of a given metabolic phenotype may be context‐dependent. Less attention has focused on the link between absolute aerobic scope (AS, the difference between standard and maximum metabolic rate) and fitness under different environmental conditions, despite the importance of aerobic scope to an organism's total energetic capacity.

We examined the links between individual variation in both SMR and AS and somatic growth rates of brown trout (Salmo trutta) under different levels of food availability.

Standard metabolic rate and AS were uncorrelated across individuals. However, SMR and AS not only had interactive effects on growth, but these interactions depended on food level: at ad libitum food levels, AS had a positive effect on growth whose magnitude depended on SMR; at intermediate food levels, AS and SMR had interactive effects on growth, but at the low food level, there was no effect of either AS or SMR on growth. As a result, there was no metabolic phenotype that performed best or worst across all food levels.

These results demonstrate the importance of aerobic scope in explaining somatic growth rates and support the hypothesis that links between individual variation in metabolism and fitness are context‐dependent.

The larger metabolic phenotype and the environmental context in which performance is evaluated both need to be considered in order to better understand the link between metabolic rates and fitness and thereby the persistence of individual variation in metabolic rates.
Participation of Ordinary Investors and Stock Market Quality: A Comparison between Japanese and US Markets
Authors: Yano Makoto , Komatsubara Takashi
Published: December 2014

This study investigates the quality of Japanese and US stock markets from the viewpoints of efficiency and fairness. We design a new Internet survey and develop a simple model that can quantitatively explain stock market quality by those data. Our estimation shows that the Japanese stock market is of lower quality with respect both to efficiency and fairness than the US stock market. This suggests that the quarter‐century‐long stagnation of the Japanese economy since the early 1990s might be attributable to the lack of high quality stock markets in Japan.
Credit Market Imperfections and Macroeconomic Instability
Authors: Kunieda Takuma , Shibata Akihisa
Published: December 2014

Credit market imperfections typically characterize a low quality financial market, where the quality of information about borrowers is low and/or enforcement rules or institutions are not well developed. We consider an economy with credit market imperfections and analyse how changes in the degree of credit constraints affect economic fluctuations. The analysis demonstrates that if the degree of credit market imperfection is either severe or too soft, the economy converges to an asymptotically stable steady state, whereas if the degree of imperfection is moderate, the equilibrium involves deterministic cycles or chaos.
Capital Accumulation and Structural Change in a Small Open Economy
Authors: Hu Yunfang , Mino Kazuo
Published: December 2014

This paper explores the relation between capital accumulation and transformation of industrial structure in a small open economy. Using a three‐sector neoclassical growth model with non‐homothetic preferences, we examine the dynamic behaviour of the small country in the alternative trade regimes. We show that capital accumulation plays a leading role in the process of structural transformation. It is also revealed that the trade pattern significantly affects structural change. We demonstrate that our model can mimic a typical pattern of change in industrial structure that has been observed in many developed economies.
Evaluation of Degradation in DNA from Males with a Quantitative Gender Typing, Endpoint PCR Multiplex
Authors: Smith Byron C. , Vandegrift Emily , Fuller Valerie Mattimore , Allen Robert W. ,   School of Forensic Sciences
Published: December 2014

Evidentiary samples submitted to a forensic DNA laboratory occasionally yield DNA that is degraded. Samples of intact chromosomal DNA (both nuclear and mitochondrial) were subjected to a heating protocol to induce DNA degradation. The DNAs were then analyzed using a multiplex PCR assay that amplifies targets of low and high molecular weight on the X/Y and mitochondrial chromosomes. If degradation is random, the amplification of larger DNA targets should be more adversely affected by degradation than smaller targets. In nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from a male donor, exhibiting degradation, DNA quantity estimates based upon higher molecular weight amplicons (HMW) are significantly lower than estimates made using low molecular weight (LMW) Q‐TAT amplicons. DNA degradation estimated using this approach correlated well with actual fluorescence associated with HMW and LMW STR alleles amplified from the same genomic DNA templates. Q‐TAT is thus useful not only as a quantitation tool, but also as an indicator of template degradation.
A quick, easy and non‐intrusive method for underwater volume and surface area evaluation of benthic organisms by 3D computer modelling
Authors: Lavy Adi , Eyal Gal , Neal Benjamin , Keren Ray , Loya Yossi , Ilan Micha
Published: December 2014

In order to understand physiological, ecological and biological processes, it is often crucial to determine an organism's volume and surface area (SA). Most of the available methods require sacrificing the organism or at least removing it from its natural habitat, in order to measure these parameters. Advances in computer vision algorithms now allow us to determine these parameters using non‐destructive, three‐dimensional modelling. The addition of cloud computing and the availability of freeware make this tool widely accessible.

Photographs of corals and sponges were taken in natura and used to create digital 3D models using the ‘structure‐from‐motion’ technique. Modelling was done online using 123D Catch freeware (Autodesk Inc.). Volume and SA of the corals and sponges were calculated from these 3D models.

Comparing in situ 3D modelling to current measuring methods (e.g. water displacement, paraffin dipping) showed that volume calculation by 3D modelling gave fast results accurate to within 8% of estimated true volume. Using cloud computing enabled the creation of a 3D model in <30 min. SA accuracy was found to differ significantly, depending on the shape of the modelled object, with an accuracy ranging widely from 2% to 18%.

We found that in situ volume and SA measurements created by 3D modelling enable easy, fast and non‐intrusive studies of benthic aquatic organisms, without removing the subject organisms from their habitat, thus enabling continuous study of natural growth over extended time periods. The freely available freeware, along with ease of use, makes this method accessible to many areas of research.
Clinical Significance of Inactivated Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β in HPV‐Associated Cervical Cancer: Relationship with Wnt/β‐Catenin Pathway Activation
Authors: Rath Gayatri , Jawanjal Poonam , Salhan Sudha , Nalliah Manoharan , Dhawan Indrani
Published: December 2014

Problem

To determine the role of inactivated GSK3β with respect to Wnt/β‐catenin pathway activation in HPV‐16/18‐associated cervical cancer.

Method of study

The expression of active (pGSK3β‐Try216), inactive (pGSK3β‐Ser9), and c‐Myc as well as HPV‐16/18 infection was analyzed in cervical intra‐epithelial neoplasia (CIN), squamous cell carcinoma (SCCs) and normal by immunohistochemistry and multiplex PCR. The proteins level was also compared with β‐catenin and APC expression.

Results

The dramatic decrease of pGSK3β‐Try216 expression but ectopic overexpression of pGSK3β‐Ser9 and c‐Myc was observed both in CIN and SCCs samples compared to normal tissues. 57/67 CIN and 132/153 SCCs showed HPV‐16 infection, while 3/67 CIN and 4/153 SCCs were harbored with HPV‐18 infection. Both the proteins were significantly upregulated in HPV‐16 infected cases (P = 0.0001; P = 0.001) and also positively correlated with nuclear β‐catenin (P = 0.0001; P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

The process of generation of HPV‐16‐associated cervical tumorigenesis is synergized with GSK3β inactivation and overactivation of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway.
Social capital: theory, evidence, and implications for oral health
Authors: Rouxel Patrick L. , Heilmann Anja , Aida Jun , Tsakos Georgios , Watt Richard G.
Published: December 2014

In the last two decades, there has been increasing application of the concept of social capital in various fields of public health, including oral health. However, social capital is a contested concept with debates on its definition, measurement, and application. This study provides an overview of the concept of social capital, highlights the various pathways linking social capital to health, and discusses the potential implication of this concept for health policy. An extensive and diverse international literature has examined the relationship between social capital and a range of general health outcomes across the life course. A more limited but expanding literature has also demonstrated the potential influence of social capital on oral health. Much of the evidence in relation to oral health is limited by methodological shortcomings mainly related to the measurement of social capital, cross‐sectional study designs, and inadequate controls for confounding factors. Further research using stronger methodological designs should explore the role of social capital in oral health and assess its potential application in the development of oral health improvement interventions.
All‐on‐4® Treatment Concept for the Rehabilitation of the Completely Edentulous Mandible: A 7‐Year Clinical and 5‐Year Radiographic Retrospective Case Series with Risk Assessment for Implant Failure and Marginal Bone Level
Authors: Maló Paulo , de Araújo Nobre Miguel , Lopes Armando , Ferro Ana , Gravito Inês
Published: December 2014

Background

Studies are needed to evaluate long‐term outcomes of the All‐on‐4® treatment concept (Nobel Biocare AB) for rehabilitation of edentulous mandibles by assessing marginal bone levels and risk indicators for implant failure.

Purpose

To evaluate 7‐year clinical outcomes and 5‐year radiographic outcomes of the All‐on‐4 treatment concept.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective case series included patients admitted for implant rehabilitations in the mandible, who were followed for 7 years clinically and 5 years radiographically. Primary outcome measures were cumulative prosthetic and implant survival using patient as the unit of analysis (Kaplan‐Meier product limit estimator). Secondary outcome measure was marginal bone level (MBL) at 5 years. Variables associated with implant failure were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Binary logistic regression was used to compute odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs for variables associated with MBL ≥2.8 mm at 5 years.

Results

A total of 324 patients (194 women, 130 men, average age = 58.9 years) were rehabilitated with 1,296 implants supporting 324 full‐arch fixed immediately loaded mandibular prostheses. Sixty‐four patients (19.8%) were lost to follow‐up. Prosthetic survival was 323/324 (99.7%), and 14 patients lost 18 implants, with an estimated cumulative survival rate of 95.4% at 7 years. Variables associated with implant failure were smoking (HR = 5.28; 95% CI: 1.33, 20.91]) and the learning curve effect (0.69 < HR < 0.33 for more experienced levels). Mean MBL at 5 years was 1.81 mm (95% CI: 1.70, 1.92), and smoking was associated with MBL ≥2.8 mm (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.02, 5.62).

Conclusions

The high implant and prosthetic survival rates and excellent MBL outcome confirm the predictability and safety of the All‐on‐4 treatment concept over a longer term than previously reported.
Long Term Follow‐Up of Dental Implants Placed in Autologous Onlay Bone Graft
Authors: Schwartz‐Arad Devorah , Ofec Ronen , Eliyahu Galit , Ruban Angela , Sterer Nir
Published: December 2014

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of autologous intraoral onlay bone grafting (OBG) in correlation with long‐term survival rates of dental implants placed in the augmented bone.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 214 patients who received a total of 633 dental implants placed in 224 autologous intraoral block OBG augmentations, combined with Bio‐Oss – mixed with platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) and covered by platelet‐poor plasma (PPP) – as scaffold, with a follow‐up time up to 137 months (mean 39.9 ± 30.9 months).

Results

A total of 216 OBG cases were successful (96.4%), and most of the augmentations were uneventful (88.4%). Bone graft exposure was moderately associated with bone graft failure (χ2 = 3.76, p = .052). The healing period after implant placement was 4–6 months (mean 5.6 ± 2.56). The majority of the 591 implants survived (93.4%). The cumulative survival rate of the implants was 83%.

Conclusions

We suggest that augmentation of severely atrophied jaw bone through the placement of horizontal and/or vertical intraoral OBGs in combination with Bio‐Oss saturated with PRP and covered by PPP should be considered a reliable, safe, and very effective surgical technique for obtaining high bone graft survival rate and high long‐term implant survival rate.
Cardiac autonomic changes in middle‐aged women: identification based on principal component analysis
Authors: Trevizani Gabriela A. , Nasario‐Junior Olivassé , Benchimol‐Barbosa Paulo R. , Silva Lilian P. , Nadal Jurandir
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of the principal component analysis (PCA) technique on power spectral density function (PSD) of consecutive normal RR intervals (iRR) aiming at assessing its ability to discriminate healthy women according to age groups: young group (20–25 year‐old) and middle‐aged group (40–60 year‐old). Thirty healthy and non‐smoking female volunteers were investigated (13 young [mean ± SD (median): 22·8 ± 0·9 years (23·0)] and 17 Middle‐aged [51·7 ± 5·3 years (50·0)]). The iRR sequence was collected during ten minutes, breathing spontaneously, in supine position and in the morning, using a heart rate monitor. After selecting an iRR segment (5 min) with the smallest variance, an auto regressive model was used to estimate the PSD. Five principal component coefficients, extracted from PSD signals, were retained for analysis according to the Mahalanobis distance classifier. A threshold established by logistic regression allowed the separation of the groups with 100% specificity, 83·2% sensitivity and 93·3% total accuracy. The PCA appropriately classified two groups of women in relation to age (young and Middle‐aged) based on PSD analysis of consecutive normal RR intervals.