bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a knowledge transfer strategy from a user fee exemption program for vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso
Authors: Dagenais Christian , Queuille Ludovic , Ridde Valéry
Published: April 2013

As part of this special issue contributing to the development of knowledge on vulnerability and health in Africa, this article analyzes one example of a knowledge transfer strategy aimed at improving the use of research results that could help reduce the vulnerability of certain populations. In this case, since September 2008, the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. (HELP) has conducted a trial of subsidizing 100% of the costs of health care for vulnerable populations in two health districts of Burkina Faso. A scientific partnership was created to produce evidence on the intervention, and a knowledge transfer strategy was developed to promote the use of that evidence by stakeholders (decision-makers, people working in the health system, funding partners, etc.). The results showed that considerable efforts were invested in knowledge transfer activities and that these led to all types of use (instrumental, conceptual, persuasive). However, considerable variation in use was observed from one setting to another. This article presents some lessons to be drawn from this experience.
Sharp bounds for Hardy type operators on higher-dimensional product spaces
Authors: Lu Shanzhen , Yan Dunyan , Zhao Fayou
Published: April 2013

A new class of Hardy type operator defined on a higher-dimensional product space is discussed. It includes two different kinds of the classical Hardy operators. In addition, we also consider the fractional Hardy operator

H
β

. The bound of operator

H
β

from

L
p

to

L
q

is explicitly worked out. Especially, the bound of operator

H
β

from

L
1

to

L

n

n
−
β

,
∞

is sharp.

MSC:26D10, 26D15, 42B99.
Characterization of a new high copy Stowaway family MITE, BRAMI-1 in Brassica genome
Authors: Sampath Perumal , Lee Sang-Choon , Lee Jonghoon , Izzah Nur Kholilatul , Choi Beom-Soon , Jin Mina , Park Beom-Seok , Yang Tae-Jin
Published: April 2013

Background

Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are expected to play important roles in evolution of genes and genome in plants, especially in the highly duplicated plant genomes. Various MITE families and their roles in plants have been characterized. However, there have been fewer studies of MITE families and their potential roles in evolution of the recently triplicatedBrassicagenome.

Results

We identified a new MITE family,BRAMI-1,belonging to theStowawaysuper-family in theBrassicagenome.In silicomapping revealed that 697 members are dispersed throughout the euchromatic regions of theB. rapapseudo-chromosomes. Among them, 548 members (78.6%) are located in gene-rich regions, less than 3 kb from genes. In addition, we identified 516 and 15 members in the 470 Mb and 15 Mb genomic shotgun sequences currently available forB. oleraceaandB. napus, respectively. The resulting estimated copy numbers for the entire genomes were 1440, 1464 and 2490 inB. rapa, B. oleraceaandB. napus,respectively. Concurrently, only 70 members of the relatedArabidopsis ATTIRTA-1 MITE family were identified in theArabidopsisgenome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed thatBRAMI-1 elements proliferated in theBrassicagenus after divergence from theArabidopsislineage. MITE insertion polymorphism (MIP) was inspected for 50BRAMI-1 members, revealing high levels of insertion polymorphism between and within species ofBrassicathat clarifyBRAMI-1 activation periods up to the present. Comparative analysis of the 71 genes harbouring theBRAMI-1 elements with their non-insertion paralogs (NIPs) showed that theBRAMI-1 insertions mainly reside in non-coding sequences and that the expression levels of genes with the elements differ from those of their NIPs.

Conclusion

AStowawayfamily MITE, named asBRAMI-1, was gradually amplified and remained present in over than 1400 copies in each of threeBrassicaspecies. Overall, 78% of the members were identified in gene-rich regions, and it is assumed that they may contribute to the evolution of duplicated genes in the highly duplicatedBrassicagenome. The resulting MIPs can serve as a good source of DNA markers forBrassicacrops because the insertions are highly dispersed in the gene-rich euchromatin region and are polymorphic between or within species.
The effect of dams and seasons on malaria incidence and anopheles abundance in Ethiopia
Authors: Yewhalaw Delenasaw , Getachew Yehenew , Tushune Kora , W/Michael Kifle , Kassahun Wondwossen , Duchateau Luc , Speybroeck Niko
Published: April 2013

Background

Reservoirs created by damming rivers are often believed to increase malaria incidence risk and/or stretch the period of malaria transmission. In this paper, we report the effects of a mega hydropower dam on P. falciparum malaria incidence in Ethiopia.

Methods

A longitudinal cohort study was conducted over a period of 2 years to determine Plasmodium falciparum malaria incidence among children less than 10 years of age living near a mega hydropower dam in Ethiopia. A total of 2080 children from 16 villages located at different distances from a hydropower dam were followed up from 2008 to 2010 using active detection of cases based on weekly house to house visits. Of this cohort of children, 951 (48.09%) were females and 1059 (51.91%) were males, with a median age of 5 years. Malaria vectors were simultaneously surveyed in all the 16 study villages. Frailty models were used to explore associations between time-to-malaria and potential risk factors, whereas, mixed-effects Poisson regression models were used to assess the effect of different covariates on anopheline abundance.

Results

Overall, 548 (26.86%) children experienced at least one clinical malaria episode during the follow up period with mean incidence rate of 14.26 cases/1000 child-months at risk (95% CI: 12.16 - 16.36). P. falciparum malaria incidence showed no statistically significant association with distance from the dam reservoir (p = 0.32). However, P. falciparum incidence varied significantly between seasons (p < 0.01). The malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, was however more abundant in villages nearer to the dam reservoir.

Conclusions

P. falciparum malaria incidence dynamics were more influenced by seasonal drivers than by the dam reservoir itself. The findings could have implications in timing optimal malaria control interventions and in developing an early warning system in Ethiopia.
Impact of non-dialysis chronic kidney disease on survival in patients with septic shock
Authors: Maizel Julien , Deransy Romain , Dehedin Benedicte , Secq Edouard , Zogheib Elie , Lewandowski Elisabeth , Tribouilloy Chritstophe , Massy Ziad A , Choukroun Gabriel , Slama Michel
Published: April 2013

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to expose the patient to a high risk of death due to cardiovascular and infective causes. In parallel, septic shock is a major challenge for cardiovascular and immune system. Therefore we tried to determine whether non-dialysis CKD, defined as a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60ml/min/1.73m2, for three months prior to the onset of septic shock is an independent risk factor for death.

Methods

All patients treated in a teaching hospital medical ICU for septic shock between January 2007 and December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients in whom baseline eGFR could not be determined (n=14) or patients treated by chronic dialysis (n=21) or kidney transplantation (n=14) were excluded. A total of 163 patients were included. The population was divided according to baseline eGFR ≥ 60ml/min/1.73m2 (non-CKD group, n=107) and < 60ml/min/1.73m2 (CKD group, n=56). Twenty-eight-day and 1-year survival curves were plotted. Prognostic factors were determined using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Baseline eGFR was significantly higher in the non-CKD group than in the CKD group (81 (67–108) vs. 36 (28–44) ml/min/1.73m2, respectively; p=0.001). Age, SAPS II, serum creatinine on admission and the number of patients with a history of diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease and statin medication were significantly higher in the CKD group than in the non-CKD group. The mortality rate was lower in the non-CKD group than in the CKD group after 28 days (50% vs. 70%, respectively; p=0.03) and 1 year (64% vs. 82%, respectively; p=0.03). On multivariate analysis, the dichotomous variable CKD (eGFR < 60ml/min/1.73m2) remained significantly associated with the 28-day and 1-year mortality.

Conclusions

Non-dialysis CKD appears to be an independent risk factor for death after septic shock.
The impact of chemotherapy-associated neutrophil/ lymphocyte counts on prognosis of adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer
Authors: Chu-Yuan Hong , Jing Peng , Yi-Sheng Wei , He-Ping Peng , Hui Yang , Chu-Xiong Zhao , Guo-Jian Liang , Guo-Qiang Wang
Published: April 2013

Background

Leukocytes play an important role in cancer development. However, the impact of chemotherapy-associated neutropenia/lymphopenia on the prognosis of adjuvant chemotherapy is unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the impact of chemotherapy-associated neutrophil/lymphocyte counts on prognosis of adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the risk factors for developing neutropenia/lymphopenia which showed impact on the prognosis of CRC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

From February 2003 to January 2011, 243 stage II and III CRC patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. The associations between neutrophil/ lymphocyte counts and disease free survival (DFS)/overall survival (OS) of CRC, and the risk factors for neutropenia/lymphopenia were investigated.

Results

No association of chemotherapy-associated neutrophil counts and CRC recurrence (AUC = 0.474, P = 0.534), death (AUC = 0.449, P = 0.249) was found by ROC analysis. However, the chemotherapy-associated lymphocyte counts could significantly affect CRC recurrence (AUC = 0.634, P = 0.001), or death(AUC = 0.607, P = 0.015), with a optimized cut-off of 0.66 × 109/L for recurrence, and 0.91 × 109/L for death, respectively. Kaplan–Meier method showed chemotherapy-associated lymphopenia <0.66 × 109/L was associated with shorter DFS (P < 0.0001), and chemotherapy-associated lymphopenia <0.91 × 109/L was associated with shorter OS (P = 0.003). Cox regression model showed chemotherapy-associated lymphopenia <0.66 × 109/L was the independent prognostic factor for DFS (HR, 3.521; 95%CI = 1.703-7.282), and chemotherapy-associated lymphopenia <0.91 × 109/L was the independent prognostic factor for OS (HR, 2.083; 95% CI = 1.103-3.936). Multivariate logistic regression showed the risk of developing chemotherapy-associated lymphopenia <0.66 × 109/L was found in those with pretreatment CEA ≥10 ng ml-1 (OR, 3.338; 95% CI = 1.523-7.315), and the risk of developing chemotherapy-associated lymphopenia <0.91 × 109/L was found in those with age >60 years (OR, 2.872; 95% CI = 1.344-6.136).

Conclusions

Chemotherapy-associated lymphopenia <0.66 × 109/L /0.91 × 109/L has a significant impact on the prognosis of CRC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Pretreatment CEA ≥10 ng ml-1 is the independent risk factor for developing lymphopenia <0.66 × 109/L, and age >60 years is the independent risk factor for developing lymphopenia <0.91 × 109/L during adjuvant chemotherapy of CRC.
Systemically administered liposome-encapsulated Ad-PEDF potentiates the anti-cancer effects in mouse lung metastasis melanoma
Authors: Shi Hua-shan , Yang Li-ping , Wei Wei , Su Xiao-qing , Li Xiao-peng , Li Meng , Luo Shun-tao , Zhang Hai-long , Lu Lian , Mao Yong-qiu , Kan Bing , Yang Li
Published: April 2013

Background

The use of adenoviral vector for gene therapy is still an important strategy for advanced cancers, however, the lack of the requisite coxsackie-adenovirus receptor in cancer cells and host immune response to adenovirus limit the application of adenoviral vector in vivo.

Method

We designed the antiangiogenic gene therapy with recombinant PEDF adenovirus (Ad-PEDF) encapsulated in cationic liposome (Ad-PEDF/Liposome), and investigated the anti-tumor efficacy of Ad-PEDF/Liposome complex on inhibition of tumor metastasis.

Results

We found that systemic administration of Ad-PEDF/liposome was well tolerated and resulted in marked suppression of tumor growth, and was more potent than uncoated Ad-PEDF to induce apoptosis in B16-F10 melanoma cells and inhibit murine pulmonary metastases in vivo. After Ad-luciferase was encapsulated with liposome, its distribution decreased in liver and increased in lung. The anti-Ad IgG level of Ad-PEDF/Liposome was significantly lower than Ad-PEDF used alone.

Conclusion

The present findings provide evidences of systematic administration of cationic liposome-encapsulated Ad-PEDF in pulmonary metastatic melanoma mice model, and show an encouraging therapeutic effect for further exploration and application of more complexes based on liposome-encapsulated adenovirus for more cancers.
Fixed point theorems for contractions in fuzzy normed spaces and intuitionistic fuzzy normed spaces
Authors: Zhu Jiang , Wang Yunjie , Zhu Cheng-Cheng
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we prove that some coupled fixed point theorems and coupled coincidence point theorems for contractions in fuzzy normed spaces and intuitionistic fuzzy normed spaces can be directly deduced from fixed point theorems for contractions in fuzzy normed spaces. We also prove that these results are equivalent.

MSC:47H10, 54A40, 54E50, 54H25.
Subthalamic deep brain stimulation improves smooth pursuit and saccade performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Nilsson Maria H , Patel Mitesh , Rehncrona Stig , Magnusson Måns , Fransson Per-Anders
Published: April 2013

Background

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) significantly reduces symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) such as bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity. It also reduces the need for anti-PD medication, and thereby potential side-effects ofL-Dopa. Although DBS in the STN is a highly effective therapeutic intervention in PD, its mechanism and effects on oculomotor eye movement control and particularly smooth pursuit eye movements have to date rarely been investigated. Furthermore, previous reports provide conflicting information. The aim was to investigate how DBS in STN affected oculomotor performance in persons with PD using novel analysis techniques.

Methods

Twenty-five patients were eligible (22 males, 3 females) according to the clinical inclusion criteria: idiopathic PD responsive toL-Dopa and having had bilateral STN stimulation for at least one year to ensure stable DBS treatment. Fifteen patients were excluded due to the strict inclusion criteria applied to avoid interacting and confounding factors when determining the effects of DBS applied alone without PD medication. One patient declined participation. Nine PD patients (median age 63, range 59–69 years) were assessed after having their PD medications withdrawn overnight. They were examined with DBS ON and OFF, with the ON/OFF order individually randomized.

Results

DBS ON increased smooth pursuit velocity accuracy (p < 0.001) and smooth pursuit gain (p = 0.005), especially for faster smooth pursuits (p = 0.034). DBS ON generally increased saccade amplitude accuracy (p = 0.007) and tended to increase peak saccade velocity also (p = 0.087), specifically both saccade velocity and amplitude accuracy for the 20 and 40 degree saccades (p < 0.05). Smooth pursuit latency tended to be longer (p = 0.090) approaching normal with DBS ON. Saccade latency was unaffected.

Conclusions

STN stimulation from DBS alone significantly improved both smooth pursuit and saccade performance in patients with PD. The STN stimulation enhancement found for oculomotor performance suggests clear positive implications for patients’ ability to perform tasks that rely on visual motor control and visual feedback. The new oculomotor analysis methods provide a sensitive vehicle to detect subtle pathological modifications from PD and the functional enhancements produced by STN stimulation from DBS alone.
Myocardial protection against global ischemia with Krebs-Henseleit buffer-based cardioplegic solution
Authors: Minasian Sarkis M , Galagudza Michael M , Dmitriev Yuri V , Kurapeev Dmitry I , Vlasov Timur D
Published: April 2013

Background

The Krebs-Henseleit buffer is the best perfusion solution for isolated mammalian hearts. We hypothesized that a Krebs-Henseleit buffer-based cardioplegic solution might provide better myocardial protection than well-known crystalloid cardioplegic solutions because of its optimal electrolyte and glucose levels, presence of buffer systems, and mild hyperosmolarity.

Methods

Isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were subjected to either global ischemia without cardioplegia (controls) or cardioplegic arrest for either 60 or 180 min, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. The modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer-based cardioplegic solution (mKHB) and St. Thomas’ Hospital solution No. 2 (STH2) were studied. During global ischemia, the temperatures of the heart and the cardioplegic solutions were maintained at either 37°C (60 min of ischemia) or 22°C (moderate hypothermia, 180 min of ischemia). Hemodynamic parameters were registered throughout the experiments. The infarct size was determined through histochemical examination.

Results

Cardioplegia with the mKHB solution at moderate hypothermia resulted in a minimal infarct size (5 ± 3%) compared to that in the controls and STH2 solution (35 ± 7% and 19 ± 9%, respectively; P < 0.001, for both groups vs. the mKHB group). In contrast to the control and STH2-treated hearts, no ischemic contracture was registered in the mKHB group during the 180-min global ischemia. At normothermia, the infarct sizes were 4 ± 3%, 72 ± 6%, and 70 ± 12% in the mKHB, controls, and STH2 groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). In addition, cardioplegia with mKHB at normothermia prevented ischemic contracture and improved the postischemic functional recovery of the left ventricle (P < 0.001, vs. STH2).

Conclusions

The data suggest that the Krebs-Henseleit buffer-based cardioplegic might be superior to the standard crystalloid solution (STH2).
Expression and prognostic value of VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β, and c-Met in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chu Jie Sheng , Ge Fei Jiao , Zhang Bo , Wang Yan , Silvestris Nicola , Liu Lie Jun , Zhao Chuan Hua , Lin Li , Brunetti Anna Elisabetta , Fu Ya Li , Wang Jun , Paradiso Angelo , Xu Jian Ming
Published: April 2013

Background

We explore the clinical and prognostic significance of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-β, and c-Met in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

The expression of VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β, and c-Met were determined by immunohistochemical examination of the tissues of 93 HCC patients. The relationships of these markers with clinicopathological factors and prognosis were then analyzed.

Results

High expression of VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β, and c-Met was found in 86%, 19.4%, and 80.6% of patients, respectively. Expression of VEGFR-2 correlated with gender (P = 0.044), hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (P = 0.024), degree of tumor differentiation (P = 0.023), and hepatic cirrhosis (P = 0.026). Expression of PDGFR-β correlated with alpha-fetoprotein level (P = 0.029), tumor size (P = 0.033), and hepatic cirrhosis (P = 0.023). No significant correlations were identified between expression of c-Met and clinicopathological factors. Expression of PDGFR-β correlated with overall survival (P = 0.046) and expression of c-Met correlated with progression-free survival (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

We found that in patients with HCC, high expression of VEGFR-2 correlates with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and hepatic cirrhosis. High expression of PDGFR-β is a predictor of poor prognosis. High expression of C-Met may predict therapeutic effectiveness of sorafenib in HCC patients.
Change in product selectivity during the production of glyceric acid from glycerol by Gluconobacter strains in the presence of methanol
Authors: Sato Shun , Morita Naoki , Kitamoto Dai , Yakushi Toshiharu , Matsushita Kazunobu , Habe Hiroshi
Published: April 2013

To enhance the value-added use of methanol-containing raw glycerol derived from biodiesel fuel production, the effect of methanol supplementation on glyceric acid (GA) production byGluconobacterspp. was investigated. We first conducted fed-batch fermentation withGluconobacter frateuriiNBRC103465 using raw glycerol as a feeding solution. GA productivity decreased with increasing dihydroxyacetone (DHA) formation when the raw glycerol contained methanol. The results of this experiment and comparative experiments using a synthetic solution modeled after the raw glycerol indicate that the presence of methanol caused a change in the concentrations of GA and DHA, two glycerol derivatives produced during fermentation. OtherGluconobacterspp. also decreased GA production in the presence of 1% (v/v) methanol. In addition, purified membrane-bound alcohol dehydrogenase (mADH) fromGluconobacter oxydans, which is a key enzyme in GA production, showed a decrease in dehydrogenase activity toward glycerol as the methanol concentration increased. These results strongly suggest that the observed decrease in GA production byGluconobacterspp. resulted from the methanol-induced inhibition of mADH-mediated glycerol oxidation.
Effect of storage parameters on stability of Jatropha-derived biodiesel
Authors: Mazumdar Purabi , Borugadda Venu Babu , Goud Vaibhav V , Sahoo Lingaraj
Published: April 2013

Jatropha curcas L. seeds as a raw material for biodiesel production is a rapidly growing interest over the world because of its high oil content, ecological adaptability, and excellent fuel properties. Though there is an increase in productivity of biodiesel, showing solution for future energy insecurity, there still remains some concern for commercialization due to its susceptibility to degradation during long storage. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of temperature and ambient condition on Jatropha biodiesel storage. An experiment was conducted for a period of 12 months, where Jatropha biodiesel stored in three groups at different temperatures (4°C, 25°C, and 35°C) and environmental conditions (exposed in dark, light, and air). At regular intervals, the samples were taken out to analyze acid value, density, kinematic viscosity, and thermogravimetric profile to monitor the quality of biodiesel. Analysis showed that acid value, density, kinematic viscosity, and the onset temperature of volatilization and distillation increases with the increase in storage time of biodiesel samples. However, Jatropha biodiesel stored at 35°C, in contact with ambient air and light showed highest degradation compared to those which were stored at 25°C and 4°C. Among all the parameters studied, high temperature and air exposure are the two most potent parameters which accelerate the degradation process. Along with that, light exposure had mild but significant effect on Jatropha biodiesel degradation over a long storage period.
Evaluation of the Time to Change programme in England 2008-2011
Authors: Henderson Claire , Thornicroft Graham
Published: April 2013

Time to Change (TTC) is the largest-ever programme in England designed to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental health disorders. The TTC evaluation partner is the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London. We give an overview of the TTC programme 2007-2011 and describe how it was evaluated, by introducing the seven interrelated papers in this supplement, which, taken together, describe a complex series of social interventions using a research design of hitherto unparalleled detail and comprehensiveness.
Antidepressants and rapid-cycling bipolar II disorder: dogma, definitions and deconstructing discrepant data
Authors: Thase Michael E.
Published: April 2013

It is suggested that a finding that apparently challenges current practice guidelines, namely that patients with a rapid-cycling pattern of bipolar disorder can take antidepressant monotherapy for months without increasing risk of cycling, may be parsimoniously understood by the way that the investigators defined rapid cycling and by their use of acute-phase fluoxetine monotherapy prior to randomisation to continutaion-phase therapy with fluoxetine, lithium or placebo.
Time to Change from the perspective of a family member. Invited commentary on … Evaluation of England's Time to Change programme
Authors: Hinshaw Stephen P.
Published: April 2013

This commentary views the Time to Change programme from a triple perspective: that of a concerned family member, an academic investigator and an American. The programme's results are both encouraging and sobering. Progress has been made in employers' views, but mental health professionals remain a source of discrimination. Future initiatives must have realistic objectives, be multifaceted and avoid overzealous promises.
Fine mapping of autophagy-related proteins during autophagosome formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Suzuki Kuninori , Akioka Manami , Kondo-Kakuta Chika , Yamamoto Hayashi , Ohsumi Yoshinori
Published: April 2013

Autophagy is a bulk degradation system mediated by biogenesis of autophagosomes under starvation conditions. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a membrane sac called the isolation membrane (IM) is generated from the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS); ultimately, the IM expands to become a mature autophagosome. Eighteen Atg (autophagy-related) proteins are engaged in autophagosome formation at the PAS. However, the cup-shaped IM was visualized just as a dot by fluorescence microscopy, posing a challenge to further understanding the detailed functions of Atg proteins during IM expansion. Here, we visualized expanding IMs as cup-shaped structures using fluorescence microscopy by enlarging a selective cargo of autophagosomes, and finely mapped the localizations of Atg proteins. The PAS scaffold proteins (Atg13 and Atg17) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I were localized to a dot at the junction between the IM and the vacuolar membrane, termed the vacuole-IM contact site (VICS). By contrast, Atg1, Atg8, and the Atg16–Atg12–Atg5 complex labeled both the VICS and the cup-shaped IM. We designate this localization the ‘IM’ pattern. The Atg2–Atg18 complex and Atg9 localized at the edge of the IM as two or three dots, in close proximity to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via ER exit sites. Thus, we designate these dots as the ‘IM edge’ pattern. These data suggest that Atg proteins play individual roles at spatially distinct localizations during IM expansion. These findings will facilitate detailed investigations of the function of each Atg protein during autophagosome formation.
Critical Phenomena in Gravitational Collapse
Authors: Gundlach Carsten
Published: April 2013

As first discovered by Choptuik, the black hole threshold in the space of initial data for general relativity shows both surprising structure and surprising simplicity. Universality, power-law scaling of the black hole mass, and scale echoing have given rise to the term “critical phenomena”. They are explained by the existence of exact solutions which are attractors within the black hole threshold, that is, attractors of codimension one in phase space, and which are typically self-similar. This review gives an introduction to the phenomena, tries to summarize the essential features of what is happening, and then presents extensions and applications of this basic scenario. Critical phenomena are of interest particularly for creating surprising structure from simple equations, and for the light they throw on cosmic censorship and the generic dynamics of general relativity.
Gravitational Radiation from Post-Newtonian Sources and Inspiralling Compact Binaries
Authors: Blanchet Luc
Published: April 2013

The article reviews the current status of a theoretical approach to the problem of the emission of gravitational waves by isolated systems in the context of general relativity. Part A of the article deals with general post-Newtonian sources. The exterior field of the source is investigated by means of a combination of analytic post-Minkowskian and multipolar approximations. The physical observables in the far-zone of the source are described by a specific set of radiative multipole moments. By matching the exterior solution to the metric of the post-Newtonian source in the near-zone we obtain the explicit expressions of the source multipole moments. The relationships between the radiative and source moments involve many nonlinear multipole interactions, among them those associated with the tails (and tails-of-tails) of gravitational waves. Part B of the article is devoted to the application to compact binary systems. We present the equations of binary motion, and the associated Lagrangian and Hamiltonian, at the third post-Newtonian (3PN) order beyond the Newtonian acceleration. The gravitational-wave energy flux, taking consistently into account the relativistic corrections in the binary moments as well as the various tail effects, is derived through 3.5PN order with respect to the quadrupole formalism. The binary’s orbital phase, whose prior knowledge is crucial for searching and analyzing the signals from inspiralling compact binaries, is deduced from an energy balance argument.
Characteristic Evolution and Matching
Authors: Winicour Jeffrey
Published: April 2013

I review the development of numerical evolution codes for general relativity based upon the characteristic initial value problem. Progress is traced from the early stage of 1D feasibility studies to 2D axisymmetric codes that accurately simulate the oscillations and gravitational collapse of relativistic stars and to current 3D codes that provide pieces of a binary black hole spacetime. Cauchy codes have now been successful at simulating all aspects of the binary black hole problem inside an artificially constructed outer boundary. A prime application of characteristic evolution is to eliminate the role of this artificial outer boundary via Cauchy-characteristic matching, by which the radiated waveform can be computed at null infinity. Progress in this direction is discussed.
Null Geodesic Congruences, Asymptotically-Flat Spacetimes and Their Physical Interpretation
Authors: Adamo Timothy M. , Kozameh Carlos , Newman Ezra T.
Published: April 2013

A priori, there is nothing very special about shear-free or asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruences. Surprisingly, however, they turn out to possess a large number of fascinating geometric properties and to be closely related, in the context of general relativity, to a variety of physically significant effects. It is the purpose of this paper to try to fully develop these issues.

This work starts with a detailed exposition of the theory of shear-free and asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruences, i.e., congruences with shear that vanishes at future conformal null infinity. A major portion of the exposition lies in the analysis of the space of regular shear-free and asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruences. This analysis leads to the space of complex analytic curves in an auxiliary four-complex dimensional space, ${\mathcal H}$-space. They in turn play a dominant role in the applications.

The applications center around the problem of extracting interior physical properties of an asymptotically-flat spacetime directly from the asymptotic gravitational (and Maxwell) field itself, in analogy with the determination of total charge by an integral over the Maxwell field at infinity or the identification of the interior mass (and its loss) by (Bondi’s) integrals of the Weyl tensor, also at infinity.

More specifically, we will see that the asymptotically shear-free congruences lead us to an asymptotic definition of the center-of-mass and its equations of motion. This includes a kinematic meaning, in terms of the center-of-mass motion, for the Bondi three-momentum. In addition, we obtain insights into intrinsic spin and, in general, angular momentum, including an angular-momentum-conservation law with well-defined flux terms. When a Maxwell field is present, the asymptotically shear-free congruences allow us to determine/define at infinity a center-of-charge world line and intrinsic magnetic dipole moment.
Coalescence of Black Hole-Neutron Star Binaries
Authors: Shibata Masaru , Taniguchi Keisuke
Published: April 2013

We review the current status of general relativistic studies for the coalescence of black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) binaries. First, procedures for a solution of BH-NS binaries in quasi-equilibrium circular orbits and the numerical results, such as quasi-equilibrium sequence and mass-shedding limit, of the high-precision computation, are summarized. Then, the current status of numerical-relativity simulations for the merger of BH-NS binaries is described. We summarize our understanding for the merger and/or tidal disruption processes, the criterion for tidal disruption, the properties of the remnant formed after the tidal disruption, gravitational waveform, and gravitational-wave spectrum.
Null Geodesic Congruences, Asymptotically-Flat Spacetimes and Their Physical Interpretation
Authors: Adamo Timothy M. , Newman Ezra T. , Kozameh Carlos
Published: April 2013

A priori, there is nothing very special about shear-free or asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruences. Surprisingly, however, they turn out to possess a large number of fascinating geometric properties and to be closely related, in the context of general relativity, to a variety of physically significant effects. It is the purpose of this paper to try to fully develop these issues.

This work starts with a detailed exposition of the theory of shear-free and asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruences, i.e., congruences with shear that vanishes at future conformal null infinity. A major portion of the exposition lies in the analysis of the space of regular shear-free and asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruences. This analysis leads to the space of complex analytic curves in an auxiliary four-complex dimensional space, ${\mathcal H}$-space. They in turn play a dominant role in the applications.

The applications center around the problem of extracting interior physical properties of an asymptotically-flat spacetime directly from the asymptotic gravitational (and Maxwell) field itself, in analogy with the determination of total charge by an integral over the Maxwell field at infinity or the identification of the interior mass (and its loss) by (Bondi’s) integrals of the Weyl tensor, also at infinity.

More specifically, we will see that the asymptotically shear-free congruences lead us to an asymptotic definition of the center-of-mass and its equations of motion. This includes a kinematic meaning, in terms of the center-of-mass motion, for the Bondi three-momentum. In addition, we obtain insights into intrinsic spin and, in general, angular momentum, including an angular-momentum-conservation law with well-defined flux terms. When a Maxwell field is present, the asymptotically shear-free congruences allow us to determine/define at infinity a center-of-charge world line and intrinsic magnetic dipole moment.
The Kerr/CFT Correspondence and its Extensions
Authors: Compère Geoffrey
Published: April 2013

We present a first-principles derivation of the main results of the Kerr/CFT correspondence and its extensions using only tools from gravity and quantum field theory, filling a few gaps in the literature when necessary. Firstly, we review properties of extremal black holes that imply, according to semi-classical quantization rules, that their near-horizon quantum states form a centrally-extended representation of the one-dimensional conformal group. This motivates the conjecture that the extremal Kerr and Reissner-Nordström black holes are dual to the chiral limit of a two-dimensional CFT. We also motivate the existence of an SL(2, ℤ) family of two-dimensional CFTs, which describe in their chiral limit the extremal Kerr-Newman black hole. We present generalizations in anti-de Sitter spacetime and discuss other matter-coupling and higher-derivative corrections. Secondly, we show how a near-chiral limit of these CFTs reproduces the dynamics of near-superradiant probes around near-extremal black holes in the semi-classical limit. Thirdly, we review how the hidden conformal symmetries of asymptotically-flat black holes away from extremality, combined with their properties at extremality, allow for a microscopic accounting of the entropy of non-extremal asymptotically-flat rotating or charged black holes. We conclude with a list of open problems.
Stationary Black Holes: Uniqueness and Beyond
Authors: Chruściel Piotr T. , Costa João Lopes , Heusler Markus
Published: April 2013

The spectrum of known black-hole solutions to the stationary Einstein equations has been steadily increasing, sometimes in unexpected ways. In particular, it has turned out that not all black-hole-equilibrium configurations are characterized by their mass, angular momentum and global charges. Moreover, the high degree of symmetry displayed by vacuum and electro-vacuum black-hole spacetimes ceases to exist in self-gravitating non-linear field theories. This text aims to review some developments in the subject and to discuss them in light of the uniqueness theorem for the Einstein-Maxwell system.
An Activated Protein C Analog Stimulates Neuronal Production by Human Neural Progenitor Cells via a PAR1-PAR3-S1PR1-Akt Pathway
Authors: Guo Huang , Zhao Zhen , Yang Qi , Wang Min , Bell Robert D. , Wang Su , Chow Nienwen , Davis Thomas P. , Griffin John H. , Goldman Steven A. , Zlokovic Berislav V.
Published: April 2013

Activated protein C (APC) is a protease with anticoagulant and cell-signaling activities. In the CNS, APC and its analogs with reduced anticoagulant activity but preserved cell signaling activities, such as 3K3A-APC, exert neuroprotective, vasculoprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects. Murine APC promotes subependymal neurogenesis in rodentsin vivoafter ischemic and traumatic brain injury. Whether human APC can influence neuronal production from resident progenitor cells in humans is unknown. Here we show that 3K3A-APC, but not S360A-APC (an enzymatically inactive analog of APC), stimulates neuronal mitogenesis and differentiation from fetal human neural stem and progenitor cells (NPCs). The effects of 3K3A-APC on proliferation and differentiation were comparable to those obtained with fibroblast growth factor and brain-derived growth factor, respectively. Its promoting effect on neuronal differentiation was accompanied by inhibition of astroglial differentiation. In addition, 3K3A-APC exerted modest anti-apoptotic effects during neuronal production. These effects appeared to be mediated through specific protease activated receptors (PARs) and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs), in that siRNA-mediated inhibition of PARs 1–4 and S1PRs 1–5 revealed that PAR1, PAR3, and S1PR1are required for the neurogenic effects of 3K3A-APC. 3K3A-APC activated Akt, a downstream target of S1PR1, which was inhibited by S1PR1, PAR1, and PAR3 silencing. Adenoviral transduction of NPCs with a kinase-defective Akt mutant abolished the effects of 3K3A-APC on NPCs, confirming a key role of Akt activation in 3K3A-APC-mediated neurogenesis. Therefore, APC and its pharmacological analogs, by influencing PAR and S1PR signals in resident neural progenitor cells, may be potent modulators of both development and repair in the human CNS.
Effort and Valuation in the Brain: The Effects of Anticipation and Execution
Authors: Kurniawan Irma T. , Guitart-Masip Marc , Dayan Peter , Dolan Raymond J.
Published: April 2013

Neural representations of the effort deployed in performing actions, and the valence of the outcomes they yield, form the foundation of action choice. To discover whether brain areas represent effort and outcome valence together or if they represent one but not the other, we examined these variables in an explicitly orthogonal way. We did this by asking human subjects to exert one of two levels of effort to improve their chances of either winning or avoiding the loss of money. Subjects responded faster both when exerting greater effort and when exerting effort in anticipation of winning money. Using fMRI, we inspected BOLD responses during anticipation (before any action was executed) and when the outcome was delivered. In this way, we indexed BOLD signals associated with an anticipated need to exert effort and its affective consequences, as well as the effect of executed effort on the representation of outcomes. Anterior cingulate cortex and dorsal striatum (dorsal putamen) signaled the anticipation of effort independently of the prospect of winning or losing. Activity in ventral striatum (ventral putamen) was greater for better-than-expected outcomes compared with worse-than-expected outcomes, an effect attenuated in the context of having exerted greater effort. Our findings provide evidence that neural representations of anticipated actions are sensitive to the expected demands, but not to the expected value of their consequence, whereas representations of outcome value are discounted by exertion, commensurate with an integration of cost and benefit so as to approximate net value.
Ovarian and placental morphology and endocrine functions in the pregnant giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Authors: Wilsher S , Stansfield F , Greenwood R E S , Trethowan P D , Anderson R A , Wooding F B W , Allen W R
Published: April 2013

Gross, histological and immunocytochemical examinations carried out on maternal and fetal reproductive tissues from two pregnant giraffes at an estimated 8 and 13.5 months of gestation (term=15 months) revealed a typically ruminant macrocotyledonary placenta with binucleate trophoblast cells scattered sparsely in the placentome where they stained intensely with a prolactin antiserum. Binucleate cells were present in greater numbers in the intercotyledonary allantochorion where they did not stain for prolactin whereas the uninucleate trophoblast still did. A single large corpus luteum of pregnancy and several small luteinised follicles were present in the maternal ovaries while the fetal ovaries at 13.5 months gestation showed an assortment of enlarging antral follicles and partially and completely lutenised follicles, the granulosa and luteal cells of which stained positively for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17,20 lyase, prolactin, progesterone receptor and androgen receptor, but negatively for aromatase. The uninucleate trophoblast of the placentome and intercotyledonary allantochorion, the epithelium of the maternal endometrial glands, the seminiferous epithelium in the fetal testis at 8 months of gestation and thezonae fasciculataandreticularisof the fetal adrenal at 13.5 months also stained positively for 3β-HSD and negatively for aromatase. Endocrinologically, it appears that the giraffe placenta is more similar to that of the sheep than the cow with a placental lactogen as the likely driver of the considerable degree of luteinisation seen in both the maternal and the fetal ovaries.
An efficient uric acid biosensor based on tin oxide thin film matrix
Authors: Arora Kashima , Tomar Monika , Gupta Vinay
Published: April 2013

Uric acid biosensor has been developed using tin oxide (SnO2) thin film. The electrochemistry of the developed thin film based electrode is investigated by using cyclic voltammetry. The obtained results demonstrate that the semiconducting SnO2matrix offers a striking electrocatalytic activity to the immobilized uricase towards the oxidation of uric acid and promotes the transfer of electrons from the active sites of enzyme onto the electrode. SnO2 thin film matrix gives a high sensitivity of 0.2 mA/mM and a shelf life of 20 weeks. Moreover, SnO2electrode exhibits excellent selectivity and outstanding analytical stability and reproducibility, which enables a reliable and selective determination of uric acid. The SnO2based uric acid biosensor shows a linear variation in a wide range from 0 to 1.0 mM of uric acid concentration and the Michaelis Menten Constant (Km) is estimated to be 0.28 mM which indicated the high affinity of uricase towards its analyte (uric acid). The results indicate that the SnO2thin film matrix offers a new and promising platform for the development of novel biosensors.
Mysterium Materiae
Authors: Hughes Jennifer
Published: April 2013

This article examines religious image, popular devotion, and hybird religious identities by relying upon objects for analysis in the context of colonial and contemporary Mexican religion. In this article, I explore the risk and benefits of approaching the objects of material religion as evidence. I explore the variety of ways in which objects can be read/received as evidentiary. At the same time, I suggest that the meaning of objects is, like texts, fundamental unstable. At the same time, to regard objects as evidence disregards their most fundamental aspect and character: that is that they are not so much representation, that is symbols that can be read and interpreted, but PRESENTATIONAL, that is transubstantiated so that they often become the spirit itself.
Competências profissionais de enfermeiros e sua gestão em um hospital particular
Authors: Paiva Kely César Martins , Santos Junior Welinton Jesus
Published: April 2013

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar como se encontram configuradas e são geridas as competências profissionais de enfermeiros de um hospital particular (Belo Horizonte-MG), na percepção deles próprios. Foi realizado um estudo de caso descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa. Os dados coletados por meio de 15 entrevistas, incluindo-se a aplicação de uma técnica projetiva, foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo. A conjugação de conhecimentos práticos e teóricos e o cuidado para com o paciente foram as principais competências mencionadas pelos sujeitos, as quais são externalizadas de vários modos e geridas prioritariamente pelos próprios sujeitos. Diante dos dados e das limitações do estudo, foram realizadas sugestões para pesquisas futuras e para os atores sociais envolvidos.
Caracterização da violência física sofrida por prostitutas do interior piauiense
Authors: Penha Jardeliny Corrêa da , Cavalcanti Sheyla Dayana Coelho , Carvalho Simone Barroso de , Aquino Priscila de Souza , Galiza Dayze Djanira Furtado de , Pinheiro Ana Karina Bezerra
Published: April 2013

Trata-se de um estudo descritivo-exploratório, com abordagem quantitativa, que teve por objetivo caracterizar a violência física sofrida por prostitutas piauienses e identificar a prevalência deste agravo. Participaram do estudo 76 prostitutas cadastradas na Associação das Profissionais do Sexo de Picos, município do estado do Piauí. A coleta de dados foi realizada nas zonas de prostituição e na Associação, no período de setembro a outubro de 2010. Os resultados evidenciaram que a maioria das prostitutas era jovem, de baixa renda, baixa escolaridade, apresentava tempo de prostituição superior há dois anos (50%), sendo acometidas principalmente pela violência psicológica (60,5%), seguida da física (30,2%). Os agressores eram conhecidos das vítimas e as mulheres dificilmente realizaram a denúncia. Os resultados foram esclarecedores e levaram a afirmar que é comum a ocorrência de violência em mulheres prostitutas, já que estas trabalham em lugares determinantes de atos violentos.