bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-invasive quantification of anti-angiogenic therapy by contrast-enhanced MRI in experimental pancreatic cancer
Authors: Raatschen Hans-Juergen , Fischer Susanne , Zsivcsec Benjamin , Schoenfeld Christian-Olaf , Hotz Birgit , Buhr Heinz J , Hotz Hubert G
Published: July 2013

Background

Currently, early changes of tumor vasculature after angiogenesis inhibition can only be evaluated by histopathology, a method not suitable in a clinical setting.

Purpose

To quantify effects of different angiogenesis inhibitors on the microvasculature of orthotopically implanted pancreatic cancers by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to establish a non-invasive technique for monitoring antiangiogenic cancer treatment.

Material and Methods

DSL-6A/C1 pancreatic cancers were implanted in the pancreas of 109 Lewis rats. Three weeks later, antiangiogenic treatment was initiated by administration of Bevacizumab ( n = 38) or Suramin ( n = 27) while the control group ( n = 44) remained untreated. Dynamic MRI was performed 24 h, 1 week, and 4 weeks after treatment initiation. Fractional tumor plasma volume (fPV, %) and vascular permeability (KPS, mL/min/100 cc) were calculated based on the MRI data by using a pharmacokinetic model.

Results

Twenty-four hours after the initial dose, a significant decline in KPS was observed in the Bevacizumab group compared to the control and Suramin group (0.002 ± 0.008; 0.057 ± 0.046 and 0.064 ± 0.062 (mean ± SD); P < 0.05). At 1 week, fPV was significantly smaller in Bevacizumab and Suramin treated tumors compared to control tumors (6.25 ± 2.74, 7.47 ± 3.44, and 15.10 ± 9.97, respectively; P < 0.05). Differences in tumor volumes were first observed after 4 weeks of treatment with significantly larger control tumors (4380.3 ± 1590.6 vs. 869.6 ± 717.2 and 1676.5 ± 2524.1 mm3; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Dynamic MRI can quantify antiangiogenic effects on tumor microvasculature before changes in tumor volumes are detectable. Thus, this technique is a reasonable addition to morphological MRI and may be applied as an alternative to histopathology.
Development and Validation of a Pediatric Sports Activity Rating Scale
Authors: Fabricant Peter D. , Robles Alex , Downey-Zayas Timothy , Do Huong T. , Marx Robert G. , Widmann Roger F. , Green Daniel W.
Published: July 2013

Background:

Having simple and reliable validated outcome measures is vital to conducting high-quality outcomes research in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Activity level is a key prognostic variable for patients with sports injuries. There is a paucity of such activity scales for children and adolescents who are otherwise healthy and athletically active. In addition to frequency and intensity of athletic activity, level of play and coach/trainer supervision are important variables unique to children and adolescents that are not captured in available adult scoring systems.

Purpose:

To create and validate a concise and comprehensive activity rating scale for athletically active children and adolescents 10 to 18 years of age.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Item generation was performed with a panel of orthopaedic surgeons and adolescent athletes. Item reduction, pilot testing and scale refinement resulted in a final 8-item instrument, the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS). Existing methods were used to determine reliability and validation. The Flesch-Kincaid score was calculated at a 6.6th-grade reading level (approximately 13 years old); therefore, although all subjects provided their own answers, parents were allowed to assist children younger than 13 years with reading the questionnaire.

Results:

Scale reliability was excellent (test-retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91; internal consistency, Cronbach alpha = .914), and there were no floor or ceiling effects. There was also robust construct validity: Convergent validity testing revealed positive correlations between the HSS Pedi-FABS and level of competition in athletic activity, number of reported hours of athletic activity per week, and existing comparable adult and pediatric scales. Discriminant validity was shown with age, body mass index, and type of sport as measured by the Daniel scale.

Conclusion:

The 8-item HSS Pedi-FABS can be used to reliably and accurately evaluate activity level as a prognostic variable for clinical research studies. It is a simple, reliable, and valid metric to assess activity in children and adolescents 10 to 18 years of age. This instrument will lead to better evaluation of posttreatment outcomes and patient-reported activity for child and adolescent athletes.
Vibration signals denoising using minimum description length principle for detecting impulsive signatures
Authors: Wang Yanxue , Xiang Jiawei , Zhansi Jiang , Lianfa Yang , He Zhengjia
Published: July 2013

Vibration signals are usually affected by noise, which is in turn related to the measurement and data processing procedures. This paper presents a new subband adaptive denoising method for detective impulsive signatures based on minimum description length principle with improved normalized maximum likelihood density model. The threshold of the proposed denoising method is determined automatically without the need to estimate the noise variance. The effectiveness of the proposed denoising method over VisuaShrink, BayesShrink and minimum description length denoising methods are given through simulation and practical applications.
Probabilistic modeling of damage accumulation for time-dependent fatigue reliability analysis of railway axle steels
Authors: Zhu Shun-Peng , Huang Hong-Zhong , Li Yanfeng , Liu Yu , Yang Yuanjian
Published: July 2013

From the viewpoint of engineering applications, the prediction of the failure of railway axles plays an important role in preventing the occurrence of fatigue fractures. Combining a nonlinear damage accumulation model, a probabilistic S-N curve, and a one-to-one probability density functions transformation technique, a general probabilistic methodology for modeling damage accumulation is developed to analyze the time-dependent fatigue reliability of railway axle steels. The damage accumulation is characterized as a distribution in a general degradation path, which captures a nonlinear damage accumulation phenomenon under variable-amplitude loading conditions; its mean and variability change with time. Moreover, a framework for fatigue reliability assessments and service life prediction is presented based on the estimation of the evolution and probabilistic distribution of fatigue damage over time. The proposed methodology is then validated by experimental data obtained for a railway axle (45 steel and LZ50 steel). The time-dependent reliability is analyzed and demonstrated through probabilistic modeling of cumulative fatigue damage, and good agreement between the predicted results and the experimental measurements under different variable amplitude loadings is obtained.
When rectal bleeding is serious: anal squamous cell carcinoma in two intravenous cyclophosphamide treated systemic lupus erythematosus patients with human papilloma virus infection
Authors: Lydon EJ , Belmont HM
Published: July 2013

Anal squamous cell carcinoma is a potentially fatal disease. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide and is responsible for almost all cases of anal cancer. Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk of developing anal dysplasia and malignancies. A lack of awareness of HPV-associated anal malignancies in the immunocompromised may lead to a delay in diagnosis and confer a poor prognosis
Thomas Fresh (1803–1861), Inspector of Nuisances, Liverpool’s first public health officer
Authors: Parkinson Norman
Published: July 2013

Thomas Fresh was Liverpool’s first public health officer, having been appointed Inspector of Nuisances by the Health of Towns Committee on 4 September 1844, more than two years before the celebrated appointment of Duncan as Britain’s first Medical Officer of Health and Newlands as the first Borough Engineer. Even before that, Fresh was the officer responsible for environmental health interventions. He is often cited as the first environmental health practitioner. Although he gained a national reputation for his work, Fresh was undervalued at the time and his life and work have been underreported since. He had an eventful personal life. He was married three times and widowed twice. In his youth he spent four months on remand before being acquitted. He was a talented entrepreneur: he created a building society, a model farm and a residential settlement that today bears his name. However, he took on financial commitments that were beyond his means, resulting in his sudden and premature departure from public life.
Professor David Poswillo CBE (1927–2003): Skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeon, influential scientist, teacher and adviser
Authors: Hawgood Barbara J
Published: July 2013

David Poswillo trained at Otago University Dental School, Dunedin, New Zealand (BDS) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDSRCS). His great interest became the genesis and repair of cleft lip and palate and, in addition to clinical work, he undertook an experimental study of the embryology of cleft palate in pregnant rats exposed to three teratogenic agents. The microscopic work was carried out in his garden shed in Christchurch. His groundbreaking work on amniotic puncture at a critical period came to international notice and he was given the first Chair in Teratology of the Royal College of Surgeons. In experimental studies he showed that thalidomide induced focal haemorrhage in the developing embryo. Poswillo was also Consultant Oral Surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead and his skills as surgeon and teacher attracted numerous trainee surgeons. He was Professor of Oral Surgery in Adelaide and then in London. Poswillo was Chairman of two advisory committees whose lucid reports on anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry (Poswillo Report) and on tobacco and health were far-reaching and influential. David Poswillo had immense energy and enthusiasm and is remembered by many for his personal interest and stimulating guidance.
The Leader programme 2007–2013: Enabling or disabling social innovation and neo-endogenous development? Insights from Austria and Ireland
Authors: Dax Thomas , Strahl Wibke , Kirwan James , Maye Damian
Published: July 2013

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the Leader programme has been hailed as the instrument of rural policy that most explicitly takes account of the territorial dimension. This culminated in the mainstreaming of its underlying concept into the Rural Development Programmes of the current period (2007–2013), with the aim of having more effective policy implementation that considers the diversified needs of rural regions. Starting from analysis of the application and delivery of Leader under the present Rural Development Programme in two EU countries, Austria and Ireland, this paper presents an assessment of the effects of this programme change. In addition, it includes the EU-wide discussion on the (limited) effectiveness of the current implementation of Leader and the search for a reorientation towards local development activities in the EU’s reform proposals. The paper frames the analysis around the notion of social innovation, a concept of central importance to the aims of Leader. It is argued that the implementation of Leader in this period falls far behind its potential to beneficially impact rural regions; hence it should be an object of critical debate in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and rural development measures, as well as coherence analyses with other policies, beyond 2013.
Involuntary Teacher Transfer
Authors: Riordan Kate E.
Published: July 2013

Involuntary teacher transfer occurs whenever the reassignment of a teacher is initiated by a school or district rather than the teacher. These transitions are more likely to occur among special education teachers than among general education teachers. Although this type of transfer is not a new phenomenon, there has been surprisingly little scientific inquiry into this practice to determine its effect on teachers and students. This article describes the lack of scientific knowledge about the practice, especially for special education, why schools use the strategy, the effects of these transfers, and factors that lead to involuntary transfers. Going forward, more high-quality research is needed on the practice of involuntary transfer within the field of special education and the consequences of the policy. When policy makers ask to see the data that result from this research, the right questions must have been asked, especially as they pertain to special education.
Co-Teaching With Strategy Instruction
Authors: Conderman Greg , Hedin Laura R.
Published: July 2013

Despite the popularity of co-teaching and widespread professional literature describing exemplary co-teaching practices, this instructional approach has yet to realize its potential. One way to increase the effectiveness of co-teaching is for special educators to contribute meaningfully by assuming the role of strategy leader in the co-taught classroom. This article provides examples of how special educators can define their role in co-taught classrooms by contributing purposefully through evidence-based strategy instruction.
Students With Limited English Proficiency
Authors: Miller Rhonda D. , Katsiyannis Antonis
Published: July 2013

How to address the educational needs of students with limited English proficiency (LEP) is a particularly challenging and often controversial endeavor. Failure to address the needs of students with LEP often results in denial of meaningful educational opportunities and leads to disproportionate representation in special education programs. This article reviews relevant legislation and litigation regarding students with LEP and provides recommendations for improved practice. The case law reviewed addresses (a) equal opportunities for all students, regardless of native language, English language proficiency, or disabilities, (b) nondiscriminatory assessments, (c) assessments done in a timely fashion, and (d) parental involvement.
Career Indecision, Meaning in Life, and Anxiety
Authors: Miller Aaron D. , Rottinghaus Patrick J.
Published: July 2013

The current study examines the role of meaning in life with respect to career indecision and state anxiety in a sample of 229 university students. This article seeks to build upon the career indecision literature by examining the role of meaning in life. An existential model of career indecision was applied in order to provide a theoretical framework for the relationship between career indecision and anxiety. Measures include the Career Decision Scale (Osipow, Carney, Winer, Yanico, & Koschier, 1976), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler, 2006), and the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (Ree, MacLeod, French, & Locke, 2000). Presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships between career indecision and anxiety. However, the results did not support the hypothesis that the search for meaning in life moderates the relationship between career indecision and anxiety. Future research and practical implications are also discussed.
Patient-Centered Approaches to Health Care
Authors: McMillan Sara S. , Kendall Elizabeth , Sav Adem , King Michelle A. , Whitty Jennifer A. , Kelly Fiona , Wheeler Amanda J.
Published: July 2013

There is growing interest in patient-centered care, but there is little guidance about the interventions required for its delivery and whether it leads to better health outcomes. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of patient-centered care interventions for people with chronic conditions. Thirty randomized controlled trials were identified from health-related databases. The findings indicated that most interventions were based on the notion of empowering care and included attempts to educate consumers or prompt them about how to manage a health consultation. Other common interventions focused on training providers in delivering empowering care. Although it was difficult to draw firm conclusions because of the moderate to high risk of bias of the research designs, this review has shown some promising findings from implementing a patient-centered care approach. There appeared to be benefits associated with this model of care in terms of patient satisfaction and perceived quality of care.
Vulnerability to the Irrelevant Sound Effect in Adult ADHD
Authors: Pelletier Marie-France , Hodgetts Helen M. , Lafleur Martin F. , Vincent Annick , Tremblay Sébastien
Published: July 2013

Objective: An ecologically valid adaptation of the irrelevant sound effect paradigm was employed to examine the relative roles of short-term memory, selective attention, and sustained attention in ADHD. Method: In all, 32 adults with ADHD and 32 control participants completed a serial recall task in silence or while ignoring irrelevant background sound. Results: Serial recall performance in adults with ADHD was reduced relative to controls in both conditions. The degree of interference due to irrelevant sound was greater for adults with ADHD. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between task performance under conditions of irrelevant sound and the extent of attentional problems reported by patients on a clinical symptom scale. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that adults with ADHD exhibit impaired short-term memory and a low resistance to distraction; however, their capacity for sustained attention is preserved as the impact of irrelevant sound diminished over the course of the task.
Political Economy of Presidential Disaster Declarations and Federal Disaster Assistance
Authors: Husted Thomas , Nickerson David
Published: July 2013

Billions of dollars have been transferred to state governments for disaster recovery. Owing to the discretionary authority of the president in these decisions, moral hazard may influence approval of such requests. We test within a model of recursive choice the hypothesis that the sequential executive decisions to grant disaster declarations and the conditional amount of aid allocated are affected by political incentives. We combine expenditure and approval data from FEMA with state-level census and political data for the period 1969 through 2005. After accounting for the severity of flood damage in the state and the ability of the state to recover, an incumbent president is more likely to grant disaster declarations when facing reelection, particularly in states with a larger number of electoral votes and in states with a governor from the same political party as the president. We also find Democratic presidents award more disaster aid than their Republican counterparts.
Advanced visualization and simulation techniques for modern construction management
Authors: Rohani Mohammad , Fan Mizi , Yu Chuck
Published: July 2013

Visual simulation has emerged as a key planning tool for an intended built environment because it enables architects, engineers and project managers to visualize the evolution of a construction process before a project starts. The process thus enables efficient construction, reducing time and cost through planning and controlling resources, machines and materials. On the other hand, construction industry has evolved from traditional on-site building to offsite modern methods of construction (MMC). Highly efficient and effective onsite planning and management processes are urgently needed, and this would require implementing visual techniques in MMC to provide a powerful management platform for planning and controlling projects. Development in MMC is important as the technique can enable higher degree of air-tightness in buildings necessary for energy-efficient passive homes and would minimize waste generation, thus contributing to a sustainable development. This project reviews the simulated operational assembly-line process for on-site MMC using visualization techniques. 4D-CAD has been integrated for simulation of construction operation, superimposed to video taken by fix tablets (ipad2). Augmented reality (AR) scenes of project process can be introduced in planning stage to implement decision making for various built environments required. This paper is the first of a series of papers from this study, which provides a review of researches that have been carried out in planning and controlling of construction operation using visualization techniques and to address some issues relating to existing visualization techniques for MMC.
But does it do any good? Measuring the impact of music therapy on people with advanced dementia: (Innovative practice)
Authors: Gold Karen
Published: July 2013

This article describes the impact of music therapy upon a group of nine people with advanced dementia in a hospital setting. It demonstrates how the impact of music therapy was measured using the case notes completed by nursing and care staff and how these notes suggested that music therapy had a positive effect on the mood and behaviour on eight of the nine people receiving music therapy.
Pre-implementation knowledge tool development for health services providers: A qualitative study of Canadian social workers
Authors: Dykeman Sarah , Williams Allison , Crooks Valorie
Published: July 2013

Recent research has shown that social workers are particularly well placed to disseminate information about health-related social programs such as Canada’s Compassionate Care Benefit (CCB). Low uptake of the CCB may be due, in part, to a lack of knowledge. In response to this, we report on the development of CCB knowledge tools aimed specifically at social workers. Social worker-specific tools about the CCB were developed through a multi-step process. Using a computer-based qualitative messaging survey ( n = 16), social workers chose what they determined to be the most important messages needed to gain knowledge about the CCB. Using these chosen messages, draft tools were created and then refined for content and aesthetics using a focus group ( n = 8) and information from key informant interviews ( n = 3). Further research is needed to evaluate tool implementation effectiveness and use in practice. This study contributes to the understanding of knowledge translation strategies specific to social workers, and particularly those working in end-of-life settings.
Optimization procedure for liquid natural gas carrier structural design
Authors: Zanic Vedran , Andric Jerolim , Hadzic Neven
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this article is to present the design procedure and the main results of its validation through the liquid natural gas carrier structural optimization. The work has been carried out through the EU FP6 project IMPROVE. The objective of the developed optimization process was to distribute the material more effectively in order to reduce weight/cost and to improve the structural safety in the allocated time frame. A coarse mesh finite element method model (three holds) has been developed, using MAESTRO software. Strength calculation has been carried out according to the Bureau Veritas Rules for direct calculation. Sensitivity analysis has been performed to investigate the influence of web frame spacing, longitudinal stiffener spacing and material type on the specified design objectives. Design procedure applied for the structural optimization of the liquid natural gas structure (one cargo hold) resulted in mass decrease of about 424 t (after standardization of scantlings), or 10.8%; the cost of the structure was reduced by about 5%; structural safety was increased and vertical center of gravity was slightly reduced by about 20 cm compared to the prototype structure.
3D electric field analysis of needleless electrospinning from a ring coil
Authors: Wang Xin , Wang Xungai , Lin Tong
Published: July 2013

Concentrated electric field is crucial in generation of needleless electrospinning, the electric field profile together with electric field strength of the spinneret affect the needleless electrospinning performance directly. Understanding the electric field of spinneret would definitely benefit the designing and optimization of needleless electrospinning. Based on the software COMSOL Multiphysics 3.5a, 3D finite element analysis has been used to analyze the electric field profile and electric field strength of a ring spinneret for needleless electrospinning. The electric field profile shows that strong electric field concentrates on the top of the ring with intensity higher than 70 kV/cm. The electric field of ring spinneret is greatly affected by the geometry of the ring and other experimental parameters such as applied voltage and collecting distance. The electric field analysis introduced in this study will be helpful in selecting proper spinneret and scaling up the production rate of nanofibers in needleless electrospinning.
Characteristics of diabetic patients associated with achieving and maintaining blood pressure targets in the Adherence and Intensification of Medications program
Authors: Klamerus Mandi L , Kerr Eve A , Bosworth Hayden B , Schmittdiel Julie A , Heisler Michele
Published: July 2013

Objectives

To determine patient characteristics associated with achieving and sustaining blood pressure (BP) targets in the Adherence and Intensification of Medications program, a program led by pharmacists trained in motivational interviewing and authorized to make BP medication changes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with diabetes and persistent hypertension in Kaiser Permanente and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Using two-level logistic regression, baseline survey data from 458 program participants were examined to determine patient characteristics associated with (1) discharge from the program with a target BP (short-term success) and (2) maintenance of the target BP over a nine-month period (long-term success).

Results

In multivariable analyses, patients who screened positive for depression or had a higher baseline systolic BP were less likely to achieve short-term success (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.42 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19–0.93], p = 0.03; AOR 0.94 [0.91–0.97], p < 0.01; respectively). Patients who reported at baseline one or more barriers to medication adherence were less likely to achieve long-term success (AOR 0.50 [0.26–0.94], p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Although almost 90% of patients achieved short-term success, only 28% achieved long-term success. Baseline barriers to adherence were associated with lack of long-term success and could be the target of maintenance programs for patients who achieve short-term success.
Retinoic acid plus arsenic trioxide, the ultimate panacea for acute promyelocytic leukemia?
Authors: Lallemand-Breitenbach Valérie , de Thé Hugues
Published: July 2013

Rarely in the field of cancer treatment did we experience as many surprises as with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Yet, the latest clinical trial reported by Lo-Coco et al in the New England Journal of Medicine is a practice-changing study, as it reports a very favorable outcome of virtually all enrolled low-intermediate risk patients with APL without any DNA-damaging chemotherapy. Although predicted from previous small pilot studies, these elegant and stringently controlled results open a new era in leukemia therapy.
Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) gemmea, a potential vector of Leishmania siamensis in southern Thailand
Authors: Kanjanopas Kobkan , Siripattanapipong Suradej , Ninsaeng Ubolrat , Hitakarun Atitaya , Jitkaew Somnat , Kaewtaphaya Preecha , Tan-ariya Peerapan , Mungthin Mathirut , Charoenwong Chetsuda , Leelayoova Saovanee
Published: July 2013

Background

Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania siamensis, is an emerging disease in Thailand. Although reported cases have been increasing, epidemiological information of the disease including host and vector aspects is not clearly known. This study was a preliminary survey of the potential vector of L. siamensis in an affected area of leishmaniasis, Trang Province, southern Thailand.

Methods

The collection of sandflies was performed around the area where a case of leishmaniasis was reported using CDC light traps. Species of sandfly were identified based on morphological characteristics according to Lewis’s key. PCR amplification and sequencing of the heat shock protein 70 gene (hsp70) was used to identify L. siamensis DNA in sandflies.

Results

A total of 146 male and female sandflies were collected in the affected areas. Of 71 female sandflies, four species were identified, i.e., Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) gemmea, S. (Neophlebotomus) iyengari, S. (Parrotomyia) barraudi and Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) stantoni. Among these species, S. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea was the most predominant species in all areas. DNA of L. siamensis was identified in S. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea. Nucleotide sequences of PCR products using DNA extracted from S. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea showed 99.8% identity to L. siamensis.

Conclusion

S. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea might be a potential vector of L. siamensis in an affected area, Trang Province, southern Thailand. However further studies are needed to prove whether these sandflies can be natural vectors of leishmaniasis.
In vitro antiviral activity of plant extracts from Asteraceae medicinal plants
Authors: Visintini Jaime María F , Redko Flavia , Muschietti Liliana V , Campos Rodolfo H , Martino Virginia S , Cavallaro Lucia V
Published: July 2013

Background

Due to the high prevalence of viral infections having no specific treatment and the constant appearance of resistant viral strains, the development of novel antiviral agents is essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiviral activity against bovine viral diarrhea virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), poliovirus type 2 (PV-2) and vesicular stomatitis virus of organic (OE) and aqueous extracts (AE) from: Baccharis gaudichaudiana, B. spicata, Bidens subalternans, Pluchea sagittalis, Tagetes minuta and Tessaria absinthioides. A characterization of the antiviral activity of B. gaudichaudiana OE and AE and the bioassay-guided fractionation of the former and isolation of one active compound is also reported.

Methods

The antiviral activity of the OE and AE of the selected plants was evaluated by reduction of the viral cytopathic effect. Active extracts were then assessed by plaque reduction assays. The antiviral activity of the most active extracts was characterized by evaluating their effect on the pretreatment, the virucidal activity and the effect on the adsorption or post-adsorption period of the viral cycle. The bioassay-guided fractionation of B. gaudichaudiana OE was carried out by column chromatography followed by semipreparative high performance liquid chromatography fractionation of the most active fraction and isolation of an active compound. The antiviral activity of this compound was also evaluated by plaque assay.

Results

B. gaudichaudiana and B. spicata OE were active against PV-2 and VSV. T. absinthioides OE was only active against PV-2. The corresponding three AE were active against HSV-1. B. gaudichaudiana extracts (OE and AE) were the most selective ones with selectivity index (SI) values of 10.9 (PV-2) and >117 (HSV-1). For this reason, both extracts of B. gaudichaudiana were selected to characterize their antiviral effects. Further bioassay-guided fractionation of B. gaudichaudiana OE led to an active fraction, FC (EC50=3.1 μg/ml; SI= 37.9), which showed antiviral activity during the first 4 h of the viral replication cycle of PV-2 and from which the flavonoid apigenin (EC50 = 12.2 ± 3.3 μM) was isolated as a major compound.

Conclusions

The results showed that, among the species studied, B. gaudichaudiana seemed to be the most promising species as a source of antiviral agents.
Therapeutic effect of Yang-Xue-Qing-Nao granules on sleep dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Pan Weidong , Kwak Shin , Li Guoyan , Chen Yiyun , Cai Dingfang
Published: July 2013

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of add-on Yang-Xue-Qing-Nao granules (YXQN) on sleep dysfunction in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

PD participants fitted with an actigraph took either YXQN or placebo granules in a randomized manner for 12 weeks while maintaining other anti-parkinsonism medications (e.g., dopaminergic agent, dopamine agonist) unchanged. Additional participants without sleep disturbance or PD served as controls. The changes in detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) of physical activity with respect to diurnal activity (DA), evening activity (EA), nocturnal activity (NA), Parkinson’s disease sleep scale (PDSS) score and unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) score were evaluated every 4 weeks during the 12-week YXQN intervention period and again at week 16.

Results

A total of 61 (placebo group, n = 30; YXQN group, n = 31) idiopathic PD participants with sleep dysfunction (mean age ± standard deviation, 63.4 ± 8.6 years; mean duration of illness, 5.8 ± 6.6 years) completed the study. Significant improvements in EA (p = 0.033, 0.037 and 0.029), DA (p = 0.041, 0.038 and 0.027) and PDSS score (p = 0.034, 0.028 and 0.029) were observed in the YXQN group at weeks 8 and 12, and maintained until week 16, respectively.

Conclusion

YXQN improved the DFA parameters, and PDSS and UPDRS scores in PD participants.
Mapping the translational science policy ‘valley of death’
Authors: Meslin Eric M , Blasimme Alessandro , Cambon‐Thomsen Anne
Published: July 2013

Translating the knowledge from biomedical science into clinical applications that help patients has been compared to crossing a valley of death because of the many issues that separate the bench from the bedside and threaten to stall progress. But translation is also inhibited by a science policy environment with its own impediments. Mapping these policy impediments give a more complete picture of the valley of death. Stem cell science is one example where success in moving from the bench to the bedside has confronted policy challenges generating difficulties as challenging as those facing scientists and clinicians. We highlight some of the characteristics and challenges of the science policy valley of death common to the U.S. and Europe, illustrate them with a recent example from stem cell science, and describe some promising strategies for traversing the valley.
Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus NY-4, a novel denitrifying, moderately halophilic marine bacterium
Authors: Li Rongpeng , Zi Xiaoli , Wang Xinfeng , Zhang Xia , Gao Haofeng , Hu Nan
Published: July 2013

The isolation and characterization of a novel halophilic denitrifying marine bacterium is described. The halophilic bacterium, designated as NY-4, was isolated from soil in Yancheng City, China, and identified as Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus by 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analysis. This organism can grow in NaCl concentrations ranging from 20 to 120 g/L. Optimum growth occurs at 80 g/L NaCl and pH 8.0. The organism can grow on a broad range of carbon sources and demonstrated efficient denitrifying ability (94.2% of nitrate removal and 80.9% of total nitrogen removal in 48 h). During denitrification by NY-4, no NO2
--N was accumulated, N2 was the only gaseous product and no harmful N2O was produced. Because of its rapid denitrification ability, broad carbon use range and ability to grow under high salinity and pH conditions, NY-4 holds promise for the treatment of saline waste waters.
The Gut Microbiota Reduces Leptin Sensitivity and the Expression of the Obesity-Suppressing Neuropeptides Proglucagon (Gcg) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf) in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Schéle Erik , Grahnemo Louise , Anesten Fredrik , Hallén Anna , Bäckhed Fredrik , Jansson John-Olov
Published: July 2013

The gut microbiota contributes to fat mass and the susceptibility to obesity. However, the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. To investigate whether the gut microbiota affects hypothalamic and brainstem body fat-regulating circuits, we compared gene expression of food intake-regulating neuropeptides between germ-free and conventionally raised (CONV-R) mice. We found that CONV-R mice had decreased expression of the antiobesity neuropeptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) precursor proglucagon (Gcg) in the brainstem. Moreover, in both the hypothalamus and the brainstem, CONV-R mice had decreased expression of the antiobesity neuropeptide brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf). CONV-R mice had reduced expression of the pro-obesity peptides neuropeptide-Y (Npy) and agouti-related protein (Agrp), and increased expression of the antiobesity peptides proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (Cart) in the hypothalamus. The latter changes in neuropeptide expression could be secondary to elevated fat mass in CONV-R mice. Leptin treatment caused less weight reduction and less suppression of orexigenic Npy and Agrp expression in CONV-R mice compared with germ-free mice. The hypothalamic expression of leptin resistance-associated suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (Socs-3) was increased in CONV-R mice. In conclusion, the gut microbiota reduces the expression of 2 genes coding for body fat-suppressing neuropeptides, Gcg and Bdnf, an alteration that may contribute to fat mass induction by the gut microbiota. Moreover, the presence of body fat-inducing gut microbiota is associated with hypothalamic signs of Socs-3-mediated leptin resistance, which may be linked to failed compensatory body fat reduction.
Genetic Analysis of Recently Identified Osteoporosis Susceptibility Genes in Southern Chinese
Authors: Xiao Su-Mei , Kung Annie W. C. , Sham Pak C. , Tan Kathryn C. B.
Published: July 2013

Context:

Fifty-six genomic loci recently were identified as associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in a large meta-analysis study of mainly European-descent subjects. Circulating factors related to calcium and phosphate metabolism, eg, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D metabolites, PTH, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), may affect bone turnover and metabolism.

Objective and Design:

We aimed to investigate the effects of these reported variants, as well as their interactions with 5 studied circulating factors, on BMD in a southern Chinese prospective cohort (n = 2670). The identified interactions were further replicated in an independent cohort of 800 Chinese females.

Results:

Approximately half (n = 27) of the reported variants were successfully replicated in our sample of southern Chinese individuals. We further demonstrated a significant interaction between MARK3 and serum ALP levels (Pmeta = 9.89 ×10−6); the effect of MARK3 rs11623869 on BMD was stronger in the presence of high serum levels of ALP. In addition, several interactions between other genes and circulating factors were suggested.

Conclusions:

Our study has provided an independent replication of associations between several reported loci and BMD in a large sample of southern Chinese individuals. These replicated loci may represent osteoporosis susceptibility genes in both Chinese and European-descent populations. Furthermore, we have shown that serum ALP levels modified the association of MARK3 with BMD. Understanding the mechanisms of the interactions between BMD-related loci and circulating factors may help to determine the pathogenesis of susceptibility to osteoporosis and could have implications for clinical care.
Sergei Ionovich Kostromitinov (1854–1915), or “Colonel George Kostrometinoff”: From a Creole Teenager to the Number-One Russian-American Citizen of Sitka
Authors: Kan Sergei
Published: July 2013

Sergei Kostromitinov was born in 1854 to a Russian employee of the Russian-American Company and a Creole woman. Fluent in Russian and English and conversant in several native languages, he became an interpreter for Alaska's American authorities and an indispensable cultural broker among the region's Euro-American, Russian-Creole, and native communities. Thanks to that role as well as his political skills and successful commercial activities, Kostrometinov became the leading Russian-American citizen of Sitka—Alaska's first capital—serving as the warden of its Orthodox cathedral as well as the president of the chamber of commerce, a lieutenant colonel in the territorial militia, the secretary of the local historical society, and so forth. This essay explores the strategies he used to maintain his privileged position within the local Euro-American elite without abandoning his Russian patriotism and commitment to Russian Orthodox Christianity. It also shows that the price of Kostrometinov's success was an almost total denial of his Creole ancestry and a certain estrangement from Sitka's Creole community.
A novel method to study contact inhibition of locomotion using micropatterned substrates
Authors: Scarpa Elena , Roycroft Alice , Theveneau Eric , Terriac Emmanuel , Piel Matthieu , Mayor Roberto
Published: July 2013

The concept of contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL) describes the ability of a cell to change the direction of its movement after contact with another cell. It has been shown to be responsible for physiological and developmental processes such as wound healing, macrophage dispersion and neural crest cell migration; whereas its loss facilitates cancer cell invasion and metastatic dissemination. Different assays have been developed to analyze CIL in tissue culture models. However, these methods have several caveats. Collisions happen at low frequency between freely migrating cells and the orientation of the cells at the time of contact is not predictable. Moreover, the computational analysis required by these assays is often complicated and it retains a certain degree of discretion. Here, we show that confinement of neural crest cell migration on a single dimension by using a micropatterned substrate allows standardized and predictable cell–cell collision. CIL can thus easily be quantified by direct measurement of simple cellular parameters such as the distance between nuclei after collision. We tested some of the signaling pathways previously identified as involved in CIL, such as small GTPases and non-canonical Wnt signaling, using this new method for CIL analysis. The restricted directionality of migration of cells in lines is a powerful strategy to obtain higher predictability and higher efficiency of the CIL response upon cell–cell collisions.
Nitrate Combustion Methods to Prepare Highly Active Cu/ZnO Catalysts for Low-Temperature Methanol Synthesis: Comparative Behaviors of Citric Acid in Air or Argon Atmosphere
Authors: Zeng Chunyang , Shi Lei , Sun Jian , Yoneyama Yoshiharu , Wang Tiejun , Tsubaki Noritatsu
Published: July 2013

A citric acid-assisted solid-state method is developed to prepare highly active Cu/ZnO catalysts in different atmospheres (air and argon). The entire catalyst preparation process is accomplished with inexpensive raw materials. It is environmentally friendly in that no water is used and no waste water is produced during the entire process. These as-prepared catalysts are investigated in low-temperature methanol synthesis with CO2-containing syngas. The properties of these catalysts are systematically studied by thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and N2O chemisorption techniques. The activity and methanol selectivity of Cu/ZnO catalysts are closely related to the metallic Cu0 surface areas and Cu crystalline sizes. Compared with traditional solid-state or sol–gel autocombustion methods, the catalysts prepared by this citric acid-assisted solid-state method exhibit much higher activity and methanol selectivity.
Co-Creation with Production Externalities
Authors: Syam Niladri B. , Pazgal Amit
Published: July 2013

Co-creation, the participation of customers in the design and production of goods and services, has been gaining popularity in recent years. In this research we incorporate firm pricing into the joint production process allowing us to study (1) production externalities between firm and customers, (2) production externalities among customers, and (3) optimal pricing by firms.

We show that given a choice, a monopoly firm will opt for co-creation with customers rather than deal with passive price-taking consumers. Furthermore, the firm will increase the effort it devotes to co-creation as the number of potential co-creating customers increases.

We show that the profit of a firm facing a centralized pattern of externalities among customers (with an expert, or lead user, in the center) can be higher than its profit when facing a decentralized pattern of externalities among customers and clearly dominates its profit when customers do not have any cross externalities. Thus, we provide a different justification for the use of lead users, one that depends on their network centrality and not on having lower cost, more information, or greater ability than the firm. Because the decentralized pattern has more links than the centralized pattern, our results demonstrate the importance of the pattern of links between customers, and not just their number, in determining the profitability of co-creation.

Furthermore, we find that the lead user's externality spillover to other connected users, her neighbors, acts as a force multiplier on the efforts exerted by all participants in equilibrium. Specifically, a higher spillover from the lead user increases the efforts of the firm, the neighbors, and the lead user herself, and this may lead to beneficial outcomes for all.

Finally, we show that in co-creation environments, a monopolist firm may benefit by committing to a single price rather than exercising price discrimination. This is because the pricing structure affects customers' incentive to invest effort in the innovation-production stage.
The impact of local associational life on citizens’ attitudes towards local government
Authors: Aars Jacob , Christensen Dag Arne
Published: July 2013

The question raised in this article concerns the impact of local associational life on citizens’ attitudes towards local government. Our case is Norway. The empirical analysis reveals that citizens tend to be less approving of their local councillors where there is a high density of local voluntary associations. We conclude that a differentiated associational infrastructure provides a channel through which local decision makers can be held to account, and that a vibrant associational life brings about an environment where the public sphere is to some degree performing its role as scrutinisers of local authorities.
Feasible Synthesis of TiO2 Deposited on Kaolin for Photocatalytic Applications
Authors: Henych Jiří , Štengl Václav
Published: July 2013

The aim of the present study was to synthesize a photocatalyst on the basis of TiO2 with kaolin as the support material. Properties such as layered structure and a suitable particle size of kaolin could be beneficial in the production of a high-quality and relatively cheap photocatalyst on an industrial scale. Homogeneous hydrolysis with urea as a precipitation agent and kaolin as support material was used to obtain a kaolin surface covered with TiO2. Samples were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda porosity determination. Photocatalytic activity was assessed by a Reactive Black 5 azo dye discoloration in a water suspension and by acetone decomposition on a thin layer of sample in a gas phase. The characterization confirmed that the well crystallized TiO2 was distributed effectively over the whole surface of a kaolin substrate, and photocatalytic tests revealed that the active surface layer of titania particles on kaolin performed well, suggesting that kaolin acts as a suitable support.