bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Complexity of Reverse Minus and Signed Domination on Graphs
Authors: LEE CHUAN-MIN , LO CHENG-CHIEN
Published: November 2015

Motivated by the concept of reverse signed domination, we introduce the reverse minus domination problem on graphs, and study the reverse minus and signed domination problems from the algorithmic point of view. In this paper, we show that both the reverse minus and signed domination problems are polynomial-time solvable for strongly chordal graphs and distance-hereditary graphs, and are linear-time solvable for trees. For chordal graphs and bipartite planar graphs, however, we show that the decision problem corresponding to the reverse minus domination problem is NP-complete. For doubly chordal graphs and bipartite planar graphs, we show that the decision problem corresponding to the reverse signed domination problem is NP-complete. Furthermore, we show that even when restricted to bipartite planar graphs or doubly chordal graphs, the reverse signed domination problem is not fixed parameter tractable.
Correcting Chinese Spelling Errors with Word Lattice Decoding
Authors: Hsieh Yu-Ming , Bai Ming-Hong , Huang Shu-Ling , Chen Keh-Jiann
Published: November 2015

Chinese spell checkers are more difficult to develop because of two language features: 1) there are no word boundaries, and a character may function as a word or a word morpheme; and 2) the Chinese character set contains more than ten thousand characters. The former makes it difficult for a spell checker to detect spelling errors, and the latter makes it difficult for a spell checker to construct error models. We develop a word lattice decoding model for a Chinese spell checker that addresses these difficulties. The model performs word segmentation and error correction simultaneously, thereby solving the word boundary problem. The model corrects nonword errors as well as real-word errors. In order to better estimate the error distribution of large character sets for error models, we also propose a methodology to extract spelling error samples automatically from the Google web 1T corpus. Due to the large quantity of data in the Google web 1T corpus, many spelling error samples can be extracted, better reflecting spelling error distributions in the real world. Finally, in order to improve the spell checker for real applications, we produce n-best suggestions for spelling error corrections. We test our proposed approach with the Bakeoff 2013 CSC Datasets; the results show that the proposed methods with the error model significantly outperform the performance of Chinese spell checkers that do not use error models.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Chinese Spell Checking
Authors: Lee Lung-Hao , Levow Gina-Anne , Wu Shih-Hung , Liu Chao-Lin
Published: November 2015

This special issue contains four articles based on and expanded from systems presented at the SIGHAN-7 Chinese Spelling Check Bakeoff. We provide an overview of the approaches and designs for Chinese spelling checkers presented in these articles. We conclude this introductory article with a summary of possible future directions.
A Case for Interoperable IoT Sensor Data and Meta-data Formats
Authors: Milenkovic Milan
Published: November 2015

While much attention has been focused on building sensing systems and backing cloud infrastructure in the Internet of things/Web of things (IoT/WoT) community, enabling third-party applications and services that can operate across domains and across devices has not been given much consideration. The challenge for the community is to devise standards and practices that enable integration of data from sensors across devices, users, and domains to enable new types of applications and services that facilitate much more comprehensive understanding and quantitative insights into the world around us.
Software Ecosystems for the Life Sciences Application Domains
Authors: Tekinerdogan Bedir , Scholten Huub
Published: November 2015

Software ecosystems (SECOs) are gaining importance in and have been applied to different application domains. In this paper we focus on the needs for SECOs for the life science application domains. Similar to other domains the life science application domains also witnesses the emergence and application of an increased application of software engineering. An important trigger for this is the need for an increased need of smart and interconnected systems which is primarily realized through software. In this context, we can observe the need and benefits of the adoption of software ecosystems for the life sciences application domains such as smart logistics, farming technology, smart agro-food production, environmental services, and geoinformation systems. This paper provides a discussion on the state-of-the-practice of SECOs in the life sciences applications domains and identifies selected key problems.
POM/JLEC
Authors: Thanh Huyen Phan Thi , Shimbara Daisuke , Sakaida Shinya , Ogawa Hideto
Published: November 2015

This paper presents a symbolic-execution-based approach and its implementation by POM/JLEC for checking the logical equivalence between two programs in the system replacement context. The primary contributions lie in the development of POM/JLEC, a fully automatic equivalence checker for Java enterprise systems. POM/JLEC consists of three main components: Domain Specific Pre-Processor for extracting the target code from the original system and adjusting it to a suitable scope for verification, Symbolic Execution for generating symbolic summaries, and solver-based EQuality comparison for comparing the symbolic summaries together and returning counter examples in the case of non-equivalence. We have evaluated POM/JLEC with a large-scale benchmark created from the function layer code of an industrial enterprise system. The evaluation result with 54% test cases passed shows the feasibility for deploying its mature version into software development industry.
Improving Systematic Mapping Reviews
Authors: Sampaio Alberto
Published: November 2015

Context: Systematic mapping reviews are now common in software engineering. However, if there are rigorous guidelines for systematic literature reviews in software engineering, the same is not true for mapping reviews. Objective: Develop a set of rigorous guidelines for mapping reviews. Method: The guidelines were based on some orientations for mapping reviews, mapping studies and on adaptations from existent guidelines for systematic literature reviews. Results: A set of guidelines, presented as a method, consisting of six stages. Conclusion: The guidelines form a well structured method for mapping reviews with the potential to attain high-quality reviews.
Results of the 1st International Workshop on Impact of Agile Practices (ImpAct 2015)
Authors: Diebold Philipp , Šmite Darja , Fernández Daniel Méndez
Published: November 2015

Agile software development has become well known to the community and is nowadays frequently used for the development of different kinds of software systems. Agile methods are widely spread and often adapted to the context-specific needs. The adaptations constitute reductions and/or extensions of agile practices. Yet, we have limited knowledge about the impact of some of the individual practices, which is crucial to justify organizational process improvements. To work on this topic, we initiated an international workshop and invited researchers and practitioners to work on different aspects related to the impact of agile practices (ImpAct). This paper presents the results and future work of the first ImpAct-workshop. We will report in particular on a meta-model for the impact of agile practices, how to deal with context-aspects, and we instantiated some impacts based on experiences of the workshop participants. In all these areas among other, we also identified some questions relevant for future work.
SIGecom job market candidate profiles 2016
Authors: Dughmi Shaddin , Gkatzelis Vasilis , Hartline Jason
Published: November 2015

In the sixteen years since the inception of EC as the flagship conference of the SIGecom community, we have learned a lot about the efficiency (or lack thereof) of markets. We have studied markets for school choice, marriage, supply chains, advertising, etc. We understand the loss in welfare from decentralized versus centralized market mechanisms. We understand that information plays an important role in market efficiency and stability. Profiled herein are thirty candidates for the 2016 junior academic job market with research areas that span the interest of the SIGecom community. Though it may not be a complete list, we hope that it will help alleviate some of the informational inefficiencies in the most important market for the community, its junior faculty job market.

A table of contents lists the candidates in alphabetical order with keywords they provided. The candidate profiles are listed with brief biographies, research summaries, and three representative papers. Following the candidate profiles is an index of the candidates by keywords.
Approximating the nash social welfare with indivisible items
Authors: Cole Richard , Gkatzelis Vasilis
Published: November 2015

In this letter we briefly discuss our main result from [Cole and Gkatzelis 2015]. Given a set of indivisible items and a set of agents having additive valuations, our goal is to allocate the items to the agents in order to maximize the geometric mean of the agents' valuations, i.e., the Nash social welfare. This problem is known to be NP-hard, and our main result is the first efficient constant-factor approximation algorithm for this objective.
A new approach to measure social capital using game-theoretic techniques
Authors: Michalak Tomasz P. , Rahwan Talal , Moretti Stefano , Narayanam Ramasuri , Skibski Oskar , Szczepański Piotr , Wooldridge Michael
Published: November 2015

Although the notion of social capital has been extensively studied in various bodies of the literature, there is no universally accepted definition or measure of this concept. In this article, we discuss a new approach for measuring social capital which builds upon cooperative game theory. The new approach not only turns out to be a natural tool for modeling social capital, but also captures various aspects of this phenomenon that are not captured by other approaches.
Maturation of Oocytes in Vitro
Authors: Lonergan Patrick , Fair Trudee
Published: November 2015

Only a fraction of oocytes present in the ovaries at birth are ever ovulated during the lifetime of a female mammal. In vitro maturation (IVM) offers the possibility to exploit what is a largely untapped biological resource. Although IVM is used routinely for the in vitro production of embryos in domestic species, especially cattle, its clinical use in human-assisted reproduction is still evolving. The successful recapitulation in vitro of the events associated with successful oocyte maturation is not always achieved, with the majority of immature oocytes typically failing to develop to the blastocyst stage. Evidence suggests that although culture conditions throughout in vitro embryo production may have a modest influence on the developmental potential of the early embryo, the quality of the oocyte at the start of the process is the key factor determining the proportion of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage.
Bacterial Chromosome Organization and Segregation
Authors: Badrinarayanan Anjana , Le Tung B.K. , Laub Michael T.
Published: November 2015

If fully stretched out, a typical bacterial chromosome would be nearly 1 mm long, approximately 1,000 times the length of a cell. Not only must cells massively compact their genetic material, but they must also organize their DNA in a manner that is compatible with a range of cellular processes, including DNA replication, DNA repair, homologous recombination, and horizontal gene transfer. Recent work, driven in part by technological advances, has begun to reveal the general principles of chromosome organization in bacteria. Here, drawing on studies of many different organisms, we review the emerging picture of how bacterial chromosomes are structured at multiple length scales, highlighting the functions of various DNA-binding proteins and the impact of physical forces. Additionally, we discuss the spatial dynamics of chromosomes, particularly during their segregation to daughter cells. Although there has been tremendous progress, we also highlight gaps that remain in understanding chromosome organization and segregation.
Wnt-Frizzled/Planar Cell Polarity Signaling: Cellular Orientation by Facing the Wind (Wnt)
Authors: Yang Yingzi , Mlodzik Marek
Published: November 2015

The establishment of planar cell polarity (PCP) in epithelial and mesenchymal cells is a critical, evolutionarily conserved process during development and organogenesis. Analyses in Drosophila and several vertebrate model organisms have contributed a wealth of information on the regulation of PCP. A key conserved pathway regulating PCP, the so-called core Wnt-Frizzled PCP (Fz/PCP) signaling pathway, was initially identified through genetic studies of Drosophila. PCP studies in vertebrates, most notably mouse and zebrafish, have identified novel factors in PCP signaling and have also defined cellular features requiring PCP signaling input. These studies have shifted focus to the role of Van Gogh (Vang)/Vangl genes in this molecular system. This review focuses on new insights into the core Fz/Vangl/PCP pathway and recent advances in Drosophila and vertebrate PCP studies. We attempt to integrate these within the existing core Fz/Vangl/PCP signaling framework.
Musashi Signaling in Stem Cells and Cancer
Authors: Fox Raymond G. , Park Frederick D. , Koechlein Claire S. , Kritzik Marcie , Reya Tannishtha
Published: November 2015

How a single cell gives rise to an entire organism is one of biology's greatest mysteries. Within this process, stem cells play a key role by serving as seed cells capable of both self-renewal to sustain themselves as well as differentiation to generate the full diversity of mature cells and functional tissues. Understanding how this balance between self-renewal and differentiation is achieved is crucial to defining not only the underpinnings of normal development but also how its subversion can lead to cancer. Musashi, a family of RNA binding proteins discovered originally in Drosophila and named after the iconic samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, has emerged as a key signal that confers and protects the stem cell state across organisms. Here we explore the role of this signal in stem cells and how its reactivation can be a critical element in oncogenesis. Relative to long-established developmental signals such as Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch, our understanding of Musashi remains in its infancy; yet all evidence suggests that Musashi will emerge as an equally powerful paradigm for regulating development and cancer and may be destined to have a great impact on biology and medicine.
The Efficacy of Exposure Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders and Its Underlying Mechanisms: The Case of OCD and PTSD
Authors: Foa Edna B. , McLean Carmen P.
Published: November 2015

In this review we describe the intricate interrelationship among basic research, conceptualization of psychopathology, treatment development, treatment outcome research, and treatment mechanism research and how the interactions among these areas of study further our knowledge about psychopathology and its treatment. In describing the work of Edna Foa and her colleagues in anxiety disorders, we demonstrate how emotional processing theory of anxiety-related disorders and their treatment using exposure therapy have generated hypotheses about the psychopathology of posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive anxiety disorder that have informed the development and refinement of specific treatment protocols for these disorders: prolonged exposure and exposure and response (ritual) prevention. Further, we have shown that the next step after the development of theoretically driven treatment protocols is to evaluate their efficacy. Once evidence for a treatment's efficacy has accumulated, studies of the mechanisms involved in the reduction of the targeted psychopathology are conducted, which in turn inform the theory and further refine the treatments. We conclude our review with a discussion of how the knowledge derived from Foa and colleagues' programmatic research together with knowledge emerging from basic research on extinction learning can inform future research on the psychopathology of anxiety disorders and their treatments.
History of the Concept of Addiction
Authors: Nathan Peter E. , Conrad Mandy , Skinstad Anne Helene
Published: November 2015

Our distant forebears wrestled with concepts of alcohol addiction not unlike those of today: Is addiction a sin or a disease? Is addiction caused by the gods, the substance, the individual's vulnerability, or psychological or social factors? Luther, Calvin, and Catholic Church leaders viewed moderate alcohol use as God's gift; used intemperately, it was a moral transgression. The founders of modern scientific psychiatry rejected moral explanations for addiction in favor of an early biological model. The first two versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-I and DSM-II) stigmatized addiction by listing it with other societally disapproved disorders stemming from personality disorder. DSM-III espoused atheoretical, descriptive diagnoses but required tolerance or withdrawal to diagnose dependence. Substance dependence in DSM-III-R included physiological and behavioral symptoms and reflected the substance dependence syndrome. DSM-IV's emphasis on biology in its concept of dependence was unchanged from its immediate predecessors. DSM-5 declared that all drugs taken in excess have in common the direct activation of the brain reward system. This article examines evolving concepts of alcohol addiction through 12,000 years of recorded human history, from the first mention of alcohol consumption in China more than 12,000 years ago to alcohol use and abuse in the DSM era, 1952 to the present.
The Genetic Basis of Pheromone Evolution in Moths
Authors: Groot Astrid T. , Dekker Teun , Heckel David G.
Published: November 2015

Moth sexual pheromones are widely studied as a fine-tuned system of intraspecific sexual communication that reinforces interspecific reproductive isolation. However, their evolution poses a dilemma: How can the female pheromone and male preference simultaneously change to create a new pattern of species-specific attraction? Solving this puzzle requires us to identify the genes underlying intraspecific variation in signals and responses and to understand the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for their interspecific divergence. Candidate gene approaches and functional analyses have yielded insights into large families of biosynthetic enzymes and pheromone receptors, although the factors controlling their expression remain largely unexplored. Intra- and interspecific crosses have provided tantalizing evidence of regulatory genes, although, to date, mapping resolution has been insufficient to identify them. Recent advances in high-throughput genome and transcriptome sequencing, together with established techniques, have great potential to help scientists identify the specific genetic changes underlying divergence and resolve the mystery of how moth sexual communication systems evolve.
Pirfenidone Initiates a New Era in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Selvaggio Anna S. , Noble Paul W.
Published: November 2015

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and fatal disease that has long eluded therapy. Prognosis remains very poor, and currently lung transplantation offers the only hope of survival. Recently, great strides have been made in the development of pharmaceutical therapy to treat IPF. Pirfenidone, an oral antifibrotic agent, has been shown to slow progression of the disease and improve progression-free survival, offering new hope for patients suffering from IPF.
The Cellular Thermal Shift Assay: A Novel Biophysical Assay for In Situ Drug Target Engagement and Mechanistic Biomarker Studies
Authors: Martinez Molina Daniel , Nordlund Pär
Published: November 2015

A drug must engage its intended target to achieve its therapeutic effect. However, conclusively measuring target engagement (TE) in situ is challenging. This complicates preclinical development and is considered a key factor in the high rate of attrition in clinical trials. Here, we discuss a recently developed, label-free, biophysical assay, the cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), which facilitates the direct assessment of TE in cells and tissues at various stages of drug development. CETSA also reveals biochemical events downstream of drug binding and therefore provides a promising means of establishing mechanistic biomarkers. The implementation of proteome-wide CETSA using quantitative mass spectrometry represents a novel strategy for defining off-target toxicity and polypharmacology and for identifying downstream mechanistic biomarkers. The first year of CETSA applications in the literature has focused on TE studies in cell culture systems and has confirmed the broad applicability of CETSA to many different target families. The next phase of CETSA applications will likely encompass comprehensive animal and patient studies, and CETSA will likely serve as a very valuable tool in many stages of preclinical and clinical drug development.
Intestinal NHE8 is highly expressed in goblet cells and its expression is subject to TNF-α regulation
Authors: Xu Hua , Li Qingtian , Zhao Yang , Li Jing , Ghishan Fayez K.
Published: November 2015

While the intestine plays an important role in digestion and absorption, the mucus lining the epithelium represents a pivotal function in mucosal protection. Goblet cells are scattered in both the crypts and among enterocytes, and they secrete an important component of mucus, mucin. We have reported that sodium/hydrogen exchanger (NHE) 8 is a novel player in mucosal protection, since loss of NHE8 function resulted in reduced mucin production and increased bacterial adhesion. While NHE8 has been shown to be expressed in enterocytes and its expression is reduced during intestinal inflammation, nothing is known about the role of NHE8 in goblet cells. This current study is designed to define the expression of NHE8 and the role of TNF-α in the regulation of NHE8 in goblet cells. Using HT29-MTX cells as an in vitro model, we detected abundant NHE8 mRNA in goblet cells. Immunohistochemical staining localized NHE8 protein on the plasma membrane and in the intracellular compartments in goblet cells. Furthermore, NHE8 expression in goblet cells is regulated by the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. The expression of NHE8 in HT29-MTX cells was significantly reduced at both mRNA and protein levels in the presence of TNF-α. This inhibition of NHE8 mRNA expression could be blocked by the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D. Promoter reporter assay showed that NHE8 promoter activity was indeed reduced by TNF-α. Mechanistically, TNF-α reduced Sp3 protein binding to the human NHE8 basal promoter region. Therefore, NHE8 is expressed in goblet cells, and the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α downregulates NHE8 expression by a transcriptional mechanism.
Effect of experimental modulation of mood on perception of exertional dyspnea in healthy subjects
Authors: Sharma Pramod , Morris Norman R. , Adams Lewis
Published: November 2015

In many diseases across a range of pathologies (e.g., cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular, and cancer), chronic dyspnea, particularly on exertion, is a major debilitating symptom often associated with clinical anxiety/depression. This study aims to explore the interaction between mood state and exertional dyspnea in a healthy population. Following familiarization, 20 healthy subjects (27-54 years old) performed six 5-min treadmill tests on three separate days. On each day subjects viewed randomly assigned images designed to induce positive, negative, or neutral mood states (International Affective Picture System). For each condition, at minute intervals, subjects rated dyspnea (sensory and affective domains) in the first test and mood (valence and arousal domains) in the second test. Oxygen uptake (V̇o2, liters/min), carbon dioxide production (V̇co2, liters/min), ventilation (V̇e, liters/min), respiratory frequency (fR, beats/min), and heart rate (HR, bpm), were measured throughout the exercise. V̇o2, V̇co2, V̇e, HR, and fR were not statistically significantly different among the three mood states ( P > 0.05). Mood valence was significantly higher with parallel viewing of positive (last 2-min mean ± SE = 6.9 ± 0.2) compared with negative pictures (2.4 ± 0.2; P < 0.001). Both sensory and affective domains of dyspnea were significantly higher during negative (sensory: 5.6 ± 0.3; affective: 3.3 ± 0.5) compared with positive mood (sensory: 4.4 ± 0.4, P < 0.001; affective: 2.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.002). These findings suggest that positive mood alleviates both the sensory and affective domains of exertional dyspnea in healthy subjects. Thus the treatment of anxiety/depression in dyspenic populations could be a worthwhile therapeutic strategy in increasing symptom-limited exercise tolerance, thereby contributing to improved quality of life.
Hormonal and Reproductive Factors and Risk of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Leal Alexis D. , Thompson Carrie A. , Wang Alice H. , Vierkant Robert A. , Habermann Thomas M. , Ross Julie A. , Mesa Ruben A. , Virnig Beth A. , Cerhan James R.
Published: November 2015

Background: Hormonal and reproductive history has been associated with risk of some hematologic malignancies, but their role in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) is largely unknown.

Methods: Using a population-based cohort study, we evaluated the association of these factors with risk of MPN overall, and for essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) specifically. Incident MPN cases from 1993 to 2004 were identified via linkage to Medicare. RR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated utilizing Cox proportional hazard regression.

Results: After >250,000 person-years of follow-up, 257 cases of MPN were identified (172 ET, 64 PV). Ever use of hormone therapy (HT) was associated with an increased risk of ET (RR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.19–2.23) but a decreased risk of PV (RR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.34–0.98). There were no statistically significant associations of oral contraceptives or reproductive factors with MPN risk overall, or by MPN subtype. Bilateral oophorectomy was associated with increased risk of ET (RR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.11–2.25) and decreased risk of PV (RR = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.12–0.88). There was no association of ovulatory years with ET risk; however, there was increased risk of PV (RR = 1.68 for >36.8 compared with ≤27.6 years; P trend = 0.045). Adjustment for potential confounding factors did not alter these associations.

Conclusions: HT use and bilateral oophorectomy had opposite associations for ET and PV. Except for ovulatory years and PV risk, reproductive history did not appear to play a role in the etiology of MPN.

Impact: This study suggests different mechanistic impacts of estrogen, and perhaps distinct etiologies, for the two major MPN subtypes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(1); 151–7. ©2015 AACR.
Short Peptide Vaccine Induces CD4+ T Helper Cells in Patients with Different Solid Cancers
Authors: Gross Stefanie , Lennerz Volker , Gallerani Elisa , Mach Nicolas , Böhm Steffen , Hess Dagmar , von Boehmer Lotta , Knuth Alexander , Ochsenbein Adrian , Gnad-Vogt Ulrike , Forssmann Ulf , Woelfel Thomas , Kaempgen Eckhart
Published: November 2015

Previous cancer vaccination trials often aimed to activate CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) responses with short (8–10mer) peptides and targeted CD4+ helper T cells (TH) with HLA class II–binding longer peptides (12–16 mer) that were derived from tumor antigens. Accordingly, a study of immunomonitoring focused on the detection of CTL responses to the short, and TH responses to the long, peptides. The possible induction of concurrent TH responses to short peptides was widely neglected. In a recent phase I vaccination trial, 53 patients with different solid cancers were vaccinated with EMD640744, a cocktail of five survivin-derived short (9- or 10-mer) peptides in Montanide ISA 51VG. We monitored 49 patients and found strong CD8+ T-cell responses in 63% of the patients. In addition, we unexpectedly found CD4+ TH cell responses against at least two of the five short peptides in 61% (23/38) of the patients analyzed. The two peptides were recognized by HLA-DP4– and HLA-DR–restricted TH1 cells. Some short peptide–reactive (sp)CD4 T cells showed high functional avidity. Here, we show that a short peptide vaccine is able to activate a specific CD4+ T-cell repertoire in many patients, facilitating a strong combined CD4+/CD8+ T-cell response. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(1); 18–25. ©2015 AACR.
Free Fatty Acids Impair FGF21 Action in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Asrih Mohamed , Montessuit Christophe , Philippe Jacques , Jornayvaz François R.
Published: November 2015

Background/Aims: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a key mediator of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the beneficial effects of exogenous FGF21 administration are attenuated in obese animals and humans with elevated levels of circulating free fatty acids (FFA). Methods: We investigated in vitro how FFA impact FGF21 effects on hepatic lipid metabolism. Results: In the absence of FFA, FGF21 reduced lipogenesis and increased lipid oxidation in HepG2 cells. Inhibition of lipogenesis was associated with a down regulation of SREBP-1c, FAS and SCD1. The lipid-lowering effect was associated with AMPK and ACC phosphorylation, and up regulation of CPT-1α expression. Further, FGF21 treatment reduced TNFα gene expression, suggesting a beneficial action of FGF21 on inflammation. In contrast, the addition of FFA abolished the positive effects of FGF21 on lipid metabolism. Conclusion: In the absence of FFA, FGF21 improves lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells and reduces the inflammatory cytokine TNFα. However, under high levels of FFA, FGF21 action on lipid metabolism and TNFα gene expression is impaired. Therefore, FFA impair FGF21 action in HepG2 cells potentially through TNFα.
Glomerulocystic Kidney Disease and Hepatoblastoma in an Infant: A Rare Presentation
Authors: Zaman Rumina , Maggi Alec , Rajpoot Sudeep K. , Joshi Divya-Devi
Published: November 2015

Glomerulocystic kidney disease (GCKD) is a rare condition comprising heritable and nonheritable types [Oh et al.: Nephron 1986;43:299-302]. Hepatoblastoma is a sporadically occurring tumor of embryonal origin that is associated with overgrowth syndrome and renal cysts. A concurrent presentation of GCKD with hepatoblastoma was first described in 1989 [Rao et al.: Jpn J Surg 1989;19:583-585]. We report the simultaneous presentation of hepatoblastoma and GCKD in a 5-month-old child and explore the probability of insulin-like growth factors, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein and Beckwith-Wiedemann gene mutation as a putative cause.
Effect of Antecolic versus Retrocolic Gastroenteric Reconstruction after Pancreaticoduodenectomy on Delayed Gastric Emptying: A Meta-Analysis of Six Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Joliat Gaëtan-Romain , Labgaa Ismaïl , Demartines Nicolas , Schäfer Markus , Allemann Pierre
Published: November 2015

Background: One of the most frequent complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is delayed gastric emptying (DGE). The study aim was to evaluate the impact of the type of gastro/duodenojejunal reconstruction (antecolic vs. retrocolic) after PD on DGE incidence. Methods: A systematic review was made according to the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing antecolic vs. retrocolic reconstruction were included irrespective of the PD techniques. A meta-analysis was then performed. Results: Six RCTs were included for a total of 588 patients. The overall quality was good. General risk of bias was low. DGE was not statistically significantly different between the antecolic and retrocolic group (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.31-1.16, p = 0.13). The other main surgery-related complications (pancreatic fistula, hemorrhage, intra-abdominal abscess, bile leak and wound infection) were not dependent on the reconstruction route (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.41-1.70, p = 0.63). No statistically significant difference in terms of length of hospital stay was found between the 2 groups. There was also no difference of DGE incidence if only pylorus-preserving PD was considered and between the DGE grades A, B or C. Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows that antecolic reconstruction after PD is not superior to retrocolic reconstruction in terms of DGE.
Assessment of Third Molar Impaction Pattern and Associated Clinical Symptoms in a Central Anatolian Turkish Population
Authors: Yilmaz Selmi , Adisen Mehmet Zahit , Misirlioglu Melda , Yorubulut Serap
Published: November 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of third molar impaction and associated symptoms in a Central Anatolian Turkish population. Material and Methods: A total of 2,133 impacted third molar teeth of 705 panoramic radiographs were reviewed. The positions of impacted third molar teeth on the panoramic radiographs were documented according to the classifications of Pell and Gregory and of Winter. The presence of related symptoms including pain, pericoronitis, lymphadenopathy and trismus was noted for every patient. Distributions of obtained values were compared using the Pearson χ2 test. Nonparametric values were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 30.58 ± 11.98 years (range: 19-73); in a review of the 2,133 impacted third molar teeth, the most common angulation of impaction in both maxillaries was vertical (1,177; 55%). Level B impaction was the most common in the maxilla (425/1,037; 39%), while level C impaction was the most common in the mandible (635/1,096; 61%). Pain (272/705; 39%) and pericoronitis (188/705; 27%) were found to be the most common complications of impaction. Among 705 patients (335 males, 370 females), pericoronitis was more prevalent in males (101; 30%) and usually related to lower third molars (236; 22%). The retromolar space was significantly smaller in females (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant difference in retromolar space for the area of jaw (maxillary: 11.3 mm; mandibular: 14.2 mm) and impaction level (A: 14.7 mm; B: 11.1 mm; C: 10.3 mm; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The pattern of third molar impaction in a Central Anatolian Turkish population was characterized by a high prevalence rate of level C impaction with vertical position. Pain and pericoronitis were the most common symptoms usually associated with level A impaction and vertical position.
Turismo e Exploração Sexual de Crianças e Adolescentes em Salvador, Bahia: o Estado, a sociedade e a realidade ignorada
Authors: Marquez Aniele Da Silva , Pinho José Antônio Gomes de
Published: November 2015

Este artigo é resultado de uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre o turismo sexual e a exploração sexual infanto-juvenil em Salvador, BA, realizada entre 2007 e 2009, e atualizada em 2013, acerca do fenômeno na localidade investigada. O turismo sexual se enquadra como um fenômeno que demonstra complexidades, que vão desde a sua identificação, conceituação, delimitação e compreensão. Ainda que se perceba a timidez com que o assunto ainda é tratado no âmbito da sociedade, nota-se também o crescimento dos debates e a difusão das informações que permeiam o tema da exploração sexual comercial no turismo no Brasil. Para contextualizar a temática à realidade brasileira, optou-se por relacioná-la à história recente, através de um recorte, no âmbito do estado e da sociedade. Para tanto, considerou-se a percepção de pesquisadores e profissionais que se dedicam ao tema. A partir da pesquisa, foi possível concluir que, em relação ao estado, há expectativa de que existam ações mais efetivas para o enfrentamento do turismo e da exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes, embora muitos entrevistados tenham evidenciado que o tema tem sido tratado com maior seriedade e envolvimento atualmente.

Palavras-chave: Turismo Sexual; Exploração Sexual de Crianças e Adolescentes; Estado; Sociedade.
A Experiência Turística e o Turismo de Experiência: um estudo sobre as dimensões da experiência memorável
Authors: Pezzi Eduardo , Vianna Silvio Luiz Gonçalves
Published: November 2015

Este artigo apresenta uma discussão entre teorias advindas da Antropologia, do Marketing e do Turismo, em especial sobre a temática relacionada à antropologia e economia da experiência, no intuito de analisar as dimensões da experiência, definidas por Pine II e Gilmore (1999) e Oh, Fiore e Jeoung (2007), que permitiram compreender a experiência dos turistas que visitaram Gramado (RS) nos anos de 2010 e 2011. Para alcançar o objetivo proposto foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter descritivo que possibilitou a seleção, por meio de métodos quantitativos, de um conjunto de turistas oriundos de São Paulo (Capital) e que estiveram em Gramado (RS) entre os anos de 2010 e 2011, aos quais foi aplicada uma pesquisa qualitativa. Como principais constatações, percebeu-se que as dimensões estética, hospitalidade e entretenimento foram classificadas como as mais importantes para a formação de uma experiência memorável e, além disso, emergiram novas dimensões a partir da entrevista em profundidade com os turistas selecionados.
Emoções em Experiências Negativas de Turismo: um estudo sobre a influência na insatisfação
Authors: Medeiros Sandro Alves de , Gosling Marlusa , Vera Luciana Alves Rodas
Published: November 2015

Este estudo apresenta como objetivo identificar as emoções evocadas em experiências negativas de turismo. A pesquisa teve uma fase qualitativa e outra quantitativa. Para alcançar o objetivo de levantar as emoções decorrentes de experiências negativas de turismo, a etapa qualitativa consistiu no uso da técnica dos incidentes críticos, solicitando que os informantes recordassem de um evento específico acontecido em viagens, que tivesse sido extremamente desagradável, e respondessem o que sentiram nessa experiência. Como resultado, 50 itens foram gerados. Na etapa quantitativa, foi realizado um survey com uma amostra não probabilística por conveniência com 94 turistas. A análise fatorial exploratória foi a técnica estatística utilizada para encontrar a estrutura dimensional latente aos itens descritores das emoções negativas. Tal análise produziu seis fatores (dimensões), dos quais quatro estavam integralmente relacionados a dimensões encontradas na literatura: Medo, Tristeza, Inveja e Culpa/Vergonha.
The Use of Tourism Demand Models in the Estimation of the Impact of Climate Change on Tourism
Authors: Rosselló Jaume , Waqas Aon
Published: November 2015

With the increasing interest in evaluating the consequences of climate change on tourism, part of the literature on tourism demand modelling has tried to integrate climate and weather factors into the estimation of tourism demand models. This study analyses how the effects of climate change on tourism flows have been evaluated using these models by discussing the theoretical background behind each one of the three perspectives considered in the literature: time series, choice models and aggregated models. Despite the differences in methodological considerations, results suggest a similar map on major affected destinations.
Comportamento e Fontes de Informação dos Turistas: uma análise dos participantes do Latin American Poker Tour 2013 (Viña Del Mar, Chile)
Authors: Moretti Sérgio Luiz do Amaral , Hack Guilherme Normelio , Zucco Fabricia Durieux
Published: November 2015

Buscando contribuir para a compreensão das características comportamentais e as fontes de informação utilizadas pelos turistas de eventos, este artigo investigou a correlação entre estes construtos. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram 1.024 participantes do Latin American Poker Tour 2013, em Viña del Mar (Chile). O método utilizado foi quantitativo, por meio de um survey com uma amostra de 60 participantes que preencheram questionários autoaplicáveis durante os três dias do evento. Este procedimento foi necessário para apurar as fontes de informação utilizadas e descrever as características comportamentais dos jogadores de poker online. Correlacionando as fontes de informações utilizadas com as características comportamentais, o presente estudo demonstrou a predominância da busca de informação externa por meio de fontes especializadas e pessoais. Os resultados, também permitiram elaborar um modelo para a relação entre os dois construtos estudados utilizando a modelagem de equação estrutural.
Participação e Decisão no Turismo Rural: uma análise a partir da perspectiva de gênero
Authors: Lunardi Raquel , Souza Marcelino de , Perurena Fátima
Published: November 2015

O meio rural brasileiro está passando por ressignificações nas últimas décadas, o que tem provocado uma emergência de dinâmicas sócio-espaciais heterogêneas e multifuncionais. Em resposta a este ambiente de mudanças surgem novas formas de uso do espaço rural relacionadas ao consumo de novos produtos e serviços, o que tem permitido que o rural, passe a ser um prestador de serviços através de opções de lazer, diversificando suas formas produtivas. Esta diversificação tem alterado o ritmo de vida local e familiar, a estrutura da organização do trabalho familiar, bem como os valores sociais e culturais dos agentes envolvidos. Diante disso, propôs-se como objetivo compreender as relações de poder de famílias que trabalham em empreendimentos de turismo rural. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevista semiestruturadas em sete famílias pluriativas no município de São José dos Ausentes, no Rio Grande do Sul.
Extensão Rural e Turismo: caminhos que se cruzam?
Authors: Pinho Alexandre Mendes de , Rabinovici Andrea
Published: November 2015

A extensão rural contemporânea se depara com um meio rural transformado num espaço de novas ruralidades, entre elas a inserção do turismo, devendo então reorientar a atuação de seus técnicos, preparando-os para novas práticas extensionistas. De modo geral, a participação das entidades públicas de extensão rural no contexto do turismo ainda é incipiente e varia entre os estados. Este artigo traz alguns aspectos advindos de uma pesquisa descritiva realizada no ano de 2013 junto a técnicos do serviço de extensão rural oficial do estado de São Paulo, sobre sua percepção no contexto do turismo rural e sobre sua preocupação com a sustentabilidade aplicada ao turismo. É fundamental investir em treinamento para estes técnicos, em especial em capacitações diferenciadas que promovam análises críticas ao turismo. Os extensionistas adquirem importante papel social como agentes mediadores de desenvolvimento, desde que por meio de processos endógenos e participativos, abordando as relações e conflitos entre cultura, comunidade rural, meio ambiente, patrimônio e turismo.
Avaliação de Políticas Públicas de Turismo: Aspectos Metodológicos e os Resultados da Avaliação do PRODETUR em Parnamirim/RN (2005-2012)
Authors: Lima Renata Mayara Moreira de , Costa João Bosco Araújo da
Published: November 2015

O presente trabalho evidencia os principais resultados obtidos com uma dissertação de mestrado que avaliou o PRODETUR – Programa de Desenvolvimento do Turismo – em um município do Rio Grande do Norte, Parnamirim. Neste sentido, objetiva-se mostrar como foi o processo de construção da metodologia de avaliação do programa, baseada em uma articulação da literatura de avaliação de políticas públicas com os direcionamentos do desenvolvimento como liberdade, do autor indiano Amartya Sen. Como conclusões da pesquisa, ressaltamos que o PRODETUR gera alguns elementos que podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de Parnamirim-RN. No entanto, esses estão aquém das reais possibilidades, uma vez que os resultados do programa poderiam ter sido mais substanciais. Nesta perspectiva, destacamos que o fortalecimento da gestão pública e a mobilização da população local são elementos imprescindíveis para maior efetividade do PRODETUR nas próximas etapas. Ressaltamos ainda, que a obtenção desses resultados com a avaliação do programa em Parnamirim, só foram possíveis devido à utilização de uma abordagem do desenvolvimento e de avaliação de políticas públicas em que os fatores qualitativos preponderam sobre os quantitativos, evidenciando, que uma avaliação baseada apenas em aspectos econômicos seria insuficiente para aferir de fato quais os resultados que um programa dessa magnitude ocasiona em um determinado local.
The construction/invention of samba: mediations and strategic interactions
Authors: Jost Miguel
Published: November 2015

O objetivo do presente ar tigo é debater, a partir de uma bibliografia sobre a formação do samba e sua consolidação como canção urbana brasileira do início do século, aspectos da atuação dos primeiros sambistas dentro do contexto em que estes estavam inseridos na produção cultural à época. O texto procura destacar o caráter estratégico dessa atuação e desconstruir certas noções que conferem à formação do samba uma interpretação romantizada e pouco atenta à capacidade de intervenção destes sambistas no cenário cultural do seu tempo.
Deletion of Periostin Protects Against Atherosclerosis in Mice by Altering Inflammation and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling
Authors: Schwanekamp Jennifer A. , Lorts Angela , Vagnozzi Ronald J. , Vanhoutte Davy , Molkentin Jeffery D.
Published: November 2015

Objective—

Periostin is a secreted protein that can alter extracellular matrix remodeling in response to tissue injury. However, the functional role of periostin in the development of atherosclerotic plaques has yet to be described despite its observed induction in diseased vessels and presence in the serum.

Approach and Results—

Hyperlipidemic, apolipoprotein E–null mice (
ApoE

−/

−

) were crossed with periostin (
Postn

−/−

) gene–deleted mice and placed on a high-fat diet for 6 or 14 weeks to induce atherosclerosis. En face analysis of aortas showed significantly decreased lesion areas of
ApoE

−/−

Postn

−/−

mice compared with
ApoE

−/−

mice, as well as a reduced inflammatory response with less macrophage content. Moreover, diseased aortas from
ApoE

−/−

Postn

−/−

mice displayed a disorganized extracellular matrix with less collagen cross linking and smaller fibrotic caps, as well as increased matrix metalloproteinase-2, metalloproteinase-13, and procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase-1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, the loss of periostin was associated with a switch in vascular smooth muscle cells toward a more proliferative and synthetic phenotype. Mechanistically, the loss of periostin reduced macrophage recruitment by transforming growth factor-β in cellular migration assays.

Conclusions—

These are the first genetic data detailing the function of periostin as a regulator of atherosclerotic lesion formation and progression. The data suggest that periostin could be a therapeutic target for atherosclerotic plaque formation through modulation of the immune response and extracellular matrix remodeling.