bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The incretin effect in critically ill patients: a case–control study
Authors: Nielsen Signe Tellerup , Janum Susanne , Krogh-Madsen Rikke , Solomon Thomas P. , Møller Kirsten
Published: November 2015

Introduction

Patients admitted to the intensive care unit often develop hyperglycaemia, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully described. The incretin effect is reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes and critical illness have phenotypical similarities, such as hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. Previous studies have shown beneficial effects of exogenous glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 on glycaemia in critically ill patients, a phenomenon also seen in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this study, we hypothesised that the incretin effect, which is mediated by the incretin hormones GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), is impaired in critically ill patients.

Methods

The incretin effect (i.e., the relative difference between the insulin response to oral and intravenous glucose administration) was investigated in a cross-sectional case–control study. Eight critically ill patients without diabetes admitted to a mixed intensive care unit and eight healthy control subjects without diabetes, matched at group level by age, sex and body mass index, were included in the study. All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) followed by an intravenous glucose infusion (IVGI) on the next day to mimic the blood glucose profile from the OGTT. Blood glucose, serum insulin, serum C-peptide and plasma levels of GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and proinflammatory cytokines were measured intermittently. The incretin effect was calculated as the increase in insulin secretion during oral versus intravenous glucose administration in six patients. The groups were compared using either Student’sttest or a mixed model of repeated measurements.

Results

Blood glucose levels were matched between the OGTT and the IVGI in both groups. Compared with control subjects, proinflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 6, were higher in patients than in control subjects. The endogenous response of GIP and glucagon, but not GLP-1, to the OGTT was greater in patients. The insulin response to the OGTT did not differ between groups, whereas the insulin response to the IVGI was higher in patients. Consequently, the calculated incretin effect was lower in patients (23 vs. 57 %,p = 0.003).

Conclusions

In critically ill patients, the incretin effect was reduced. This resembles previous findings in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT01347801. Registered on 2 May 2011.
Characterization of secretomes provides evidence for adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells subtypes
Authors: Kalinina Natalia , Kharlampieva Daria , Loguinova Marina , Butenko Ivan , Pobeguts Olga , Efimenko Anastasia , Ageeva Luidmila , Sharonov George , Ischenko Dmitry , Alekseev Dmitry , Grigorieva Olga , Sysoeva Veronika , Rubina Ksenia , Lazarev Vassiliy , Govorun Vadim
Published: November 2015

Introduction

This study was aimed at deciphering the secretome of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) cultured in standard and hypoxic conditions to reveal proteins, which may be responsible for regenerative action of these cells.

Methods

Human ADSCs were isolated from 10 healthy donors and cultured for 3–4 passages. Cells were serum deprived and cell purity was assessed using multiple cell surface markers. Conditioned media was collected and analyzed using LC-MS with a focus on characterizing secreted proteins.

Results

Purity of the ADSC assessed as CD90+/CD73+/CD105+/CD45-/CD31- cells was greater than 99 % and viability was greater than 97 %. More than 600 secreted proteins were detected in conditioned media of ADSCs. Of these 100 proteins were common to all cultures and included key molecules involved in tissue regeneration such as collagens and collagen maturation enzymes, matrix metalloproteases, matricellular proteins, macrophage-colony stimulating factor and pigment epithelium derived factor. Common set of proteins also included molecules, which contribute to regenerative processes but were not previously associated with ADSCs. These included olfactomedin-like 3, follistatin-like 1 and prosaposin. In addition, ADSCs from the different subjects secreted proteins, which were variable between different cultures. These included proteins with neurotrophic activities, which were not previously associated with ADSCs, such as mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor, meteorin and neuron derived neurotrophic factor. Hypoxia resulted in secretion of 6 proteins, the most prominent included EGF-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains 3, adrenomedullin and ribonuclease 4 of RNase A family. It also caused the disappearance of 8 proteins, including regulator of osteogenic differentiation cartilage-associated protein.

Conclusions

Human ADSCs with CD90+/CD73+/CD105+/CD45-/CD31-/PDGFRβ+/NG2+/CD146+(−) immunophenotype secrete a large array of proteins, the most represented group is comprised of extracellular matrix components. Number of secreted proteins is largely unaffected by prolonged hypoxia. Variability in the secretion of several proteins from cultured ADSCs of individual subjects suggests that these cells exist as a heterogeneous population containing functionally distinct subtypes, which differ in numbers between donors.
Porcine lung mesenchymal stromal cells possess differentiation and immunoregulatory properties
Authors: Khatri Mahesh , O’Brien Timothy D. , Chattha Kuldeep S. , Saif Linda J.
Published: November 2015

Introduction

Mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (MSCs) possess self-renewal, differentiation and immunoregulatory properties, and therefore are being evaluated as cellular therapy for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and for tissue repair. MSCs isolated from bone marrow are extensively studied. Besides bone marrow, MSCs have been identified in almost all organs of the body including the lungs. Lung-derived MSCs may be more effective as therapy for lung diseases as compared to bone marrow-derived MSCs. Pigs are similar to humans in anatomy, physiology and immunological responses, and thus may serve as a useful large animal preclinical model to study potential cellular therapy for human diseases.

Methods

We isolated MSCs from the lungs (L-MSCs) of 4–6-week-old germ-free pigs. We determined the self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation potential of L-MSCs. We also examined the mechanisms of immunoregulation by porcine L-MSCs.

Results

MSCs isolated from porcine lungs showed spindle-shaped morphology and proliferated actively in culture. Porcine L-MSCs expressed mesenchymal markers CD29, CD44, CD90 and CD105 and lacked the expression of hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45. These cells were multipotent and differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes and epithelial cells. Like human MSCs, L-MSCs possessed immunoregulatory properties and inhibited proliferation of T cells and interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α production by T cells and dendritic cells, respectively, and increased the production of T-helper 2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 by T cells. L-MSCs induced the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in MSC–T cell co-cultures and inhibition of PGE2 significantly restored (not completely) the immune modulatory effects of L-MSCs.

Conclusions

Here, we demonstrate that MSCs can be isolated from porcine lung and that these cells, similar to human lung MSCs, possess in vitro proliferation, differentiation and immunomodulatory functions. Thus, these cells may serve as a model system to evaluate the contribution of lung MSCs in modulating the immune response, interactions with resident epithelial cells and tissue repair in a pig model of human lung diseases.
Heart rate monitoring using human speech spectral features
Authors: James Alex Pappachen
Published: November 2015

This paper attempts to establish a correlation between the human speech, emotions and human heart rate. The study highlights a possible contactless human heart rate measurement technique useful for monitoring of patient condition from real-time speech recordings. The distance between the average peak-to-peak distances in speech Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients are used as the speech features. The features when tested on 20 classifiers from the data collected from 30 subjects indicate a non-separable classification problem, however, the classification accuracies indicate the existence of strong correlation between the human speech, emotion and heart-rates.
High-quality draft genome sequence of Gracilimonas tropica CL-CB462T (DSM 19535T), isolated from a Synechococcus culture
Authors: Choi Dong Han , Ahn Chisang , Jang Gwang Il , Lapidus Alla , Han James , Reddy T. B. K. , Huntemann Marcel , Pati Amrita , Ivanova Natalia , Markowitz Victor , Rohde Manfred , Tindall Brian , Göker Markus , Woyke Tanja , Klenk Hans-Peter , Kyrpides Nikos C , Cho Byung Cheol
Published: November 2015

Gracilimonas tropica Choi et al. 2009 is a member of order Sphingobacteriales, class Sphingobacteriia. Three species of the genus Gracilimonas have been isolated from marine seawater or a salt mine and showed extremely halotolerant and mesophilic features, although close relatives are extremely halophilic or thermophilic. The type strain of the type species of Gracilimonas, G. tropica DSM19535T, was isolated from a Synechococcus culture which was established from the tropical sea-surface water of the Pacific Ocean. The genome of the strain DSM19535T was sequenced through the Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: the one thousand microbial genomes project. Here, we describe the genomic features of the strain. The 3,831,242 bp long draft genome consists of 48 contigs with 3373 protein-coding and 53 RNA genes. The strain seems to adapt to phosphate limitation and requires amino acids from external environment. In addition, genomic analyses and pasteurization experiment suggested that G. tropica DSM19535T did not form spore.
Working draft genome sequence of the mesophilic acetate oxidizing bacterium Syntrophaceticus schinkii strain Sp3
Authors: Manzoor Shahid , Müller Bettina , Niazi Adnan , Schnürer Anna , Bongcam-Rudloff Erik
Published: November 2015

Syntrophaceticus schinkii strain Sp3 is a mesophilic syntrophic acetate oxidizing bacterium, belonging to the Clostridia class within the phylum Firmicutes, originally isolated from a mesophilic methanogenic digester. It has been shown to oxidize acetate in co-cultivation with hydrogenotrophic methanogens forming methane. The draft genome shows a total size of 3,196,921 bp, encoding 3,688 open reading frames, which includes 3,445 predicted protein-encoding genes and 55 RNA genes. Here, we are presenting assembly and annotation features as well as basic genomic properties of the type strain Sp3.
Complete genome sequence of Bacillus cereus FORC_005, a food-borne pathogen from the soy sauce braised fish-cake with quail-egg
Authors: Lee Dong-Hoon , Kim Hye Rim , Chung Han Young , Lim Jong Gyu , Kim Suyeon , Kim Se Keun , Ku Hye-Jin , Kim Heebal , Ryu Sangryeol , Choi Sang Ho , Lee Ju-Hoon
Published: November 2015

Due to abundant contamination in various foods, the pathogenesis of Bacillus cereus has been widely studied in physiological and molecular level. B. cereus FORC_005 was isolated from a Korean side dish, soy sauce braised fish-cake with quail-egg in South Korea. While 21 complete genome sequences of B. cereus has been announced to date, this strain was completely sequenced, analyzed, and compared with other complete genome sequences of B. cereus to elucidate the distinct pathogenic features of a strain isolated in South Korea. The genomic DNA containing a circular chromosome consists of 5,349,617-bp with a GC content of 35.29 %. It was predicted to have 5170 open reading frames, 106 tRNA genes, and 42 rRNA genes. Among the predicted ORFs, 3892 ORFs were annotated to encode functional proteins (75.28 %) and 1278 ORFs were predicted to encode hypothetical proteins (748 conserved and 530 non-conserved hypothetical proteins). This genome information of B. cereus FORC_005 would extend our understanding of its pathogenesis in genomic level for efficient control of its contamination in foods and further food poisoning.
A new method for interval Q-factor inversion from seismic reflection data
Authors: Li Chuanhui , Liu Xuewei
Published: November 2015

The frequency-weighted-exponential (FWE) function was designed to fit various asymmetric amplitude spectra by two parameters: symmetry index and bandwidth factor. A relation can be built between the FWE function and the Q-factor of media. When a source wavelet propagates in attenuating media, the FWE function is used to fit the amplitude spectra of the source and attenuated wavelet to obtain the symmetry indexes and bandwidth factors. After recalculating the bandwidth factors based on the average of the symmetry indexes, the Q-factor can be estimated by the decrease in the bandwidth factor between the source and attenuated wavelet. Compared with the existing commonly used methods, this method applies to various source wavelet types, and it has better tolerance to random noise. On this basis, we further evaluated an approach to invert the interval Q-factor from seismic reflection data. We used the FWE function to fit the local spectral contents of the interval seismic reflection data to obtain the symmetry indexes and bandwidth factors. After recalculating the bandwidth factors with the average of the symmetry indexes, the reciprocal of the bandwidth factor versus traveltime was linearly fit, and then the Q-factor can be calculated from the slope. This approach has high accuracy without having to correct for the tuning effect when the attenuation is high. It is suitable for different types of synthetic seismic traces and also produces good results in a field-data case study.
Conceptual Approaches to Occupational Safety and Health in the Russian Federation
Authors: Syeryegina Larisa
Published: November 2015

The author analyzes the approaches to reforming the institution of occupational safety and health (OSH) in the Russian Federation. The aim of the article is to assess the OSH concept, suggested by WHO, ILO, and EU, from the perspective of necessity and feasibility of its main provisions in the Russian Federation. The research on the change in views on the OSH in light of the new OSH concept allowed determining topical directions of the further development of relations in the field of OSH and formulating the tasks to be solved in perception of the main provisions of the concept. The author highlights problems, which may be solved during the implementation of those tasks, particularly, the problem of application of the systematic, complex and personalized approach to OSH by employers, and the problem of prevention and early detection of occupational diseases, and the problem of creating favorable psychological working environment. The author develops a number of proposals on improving legal regulation in this field after detecting particular legal issues, connected with the change in approach to OSH implementation, and defining possible ways to resolve them.
Administrative Legal Regime in the Arctic Area
Authors: Kuznetsov Vladimir
Published: November 2015

The development of the Russian Northern territories is not only a domestic problem of this country, but also a global one. The Polar region, which is also called the Arctic area, attracts many and requires concentration of all forces on the solution of the problem of its development in the economic, social, military and strategic dimensions. In proportion to these circumstances, the role of legal aspects in the developing and emerging social relations also increases. Legal regulation for these parts of the Russian Northern territories and adjacent waters of the Arctic Ocean, constituting the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, requires certain uniformity. This can be achieved by improving public administration over the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, legislative recognition of its special status and the establishment of special regimes for natural resources, environmental protection, regulation of navigation along the seaways of the Northern sea route. It involves the formation of a special management procedure, i.e. the formation of a special administrative-legal regime. This is a complex task that requires scientific understanding of the problems that have a significant impact on the formation of the administrative legal regime in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.
Evaluation of Compensation for Moral Damage Caused by Unlawful Criminal Prosecution
Authors: Vereshchagina Alla
Published: November 2015

The article is devoted to the problem of determining and proving the amount of compensation for moral damage, caused by unlawful criminal prosecution. Special attention is paid to the practice of proving the damage in court decisions. The author provides classification of circumstances, that need to be proved upon trial, and separates these circumstances into prejudicial and individual peculiarities of the victim that require proof, as well as depth and degree of the victim’s physical and moral suffering. This approach allows revealing shortcomings of proving. When courts pass their judgments in relation to this category of acts, they rarely assess the victim’s individuality. Refusal to prove the depth and degree of moral damage and to take personal individuality into account results in oversimplified and unmotivated decisions. The author comes to the conclusion that the current court practice is in conflict with the civil procedural code. In the author’s opinion, it is necessary to create rules for determining the amount of moral damage and carrying out mandatory examinations for assessing the victim’s individual characteristics.
Consistency of Judicial Practice and Means of its Ensuring
Authors: Knyazkin Sergey
Published: November 2015

The problem of ensuring consistency in application and interpretation by the courts of law and adequate methodological, procedural and institutional means of its ensuring is one of the most relevant for functioning of the new Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. In this context, it seems appropriate to develop the most acceptable method of elaborating legal positions on the application and interpretation of the law by lower courts, and to suggest direct tools for its ensuring, as well as rationally justified forms of legal positions’ registering. Following the results of the research, the author concludes that the most appropriate methodological basis for ensuring consistency of the judicial practice is the priority of the analytical method combined with the descriptive method. As such, as a direct tool to ensure consistency in application and interpretation of the law by courts, the highest judicial body should consider legal provisions, contained in supervisory instance courts’ rulings for specific cases, as the main form of legal positions’ registering.
The Travails of Identity Change: Competitor Claims and Distinctiveness of British Political Parties, 1970–1992
Authors: Karthikeyan Soorjith Illickal , Jonsson Stefan , Wezel Filippo Carlo
Published: November 2015

How does an organization change its identity, yet maintain distinctiveness? This question is especially interesting when we consider the fact that identity repositioning often takes place among several organizations at the same time—giving rise to interrelated identity change and distinctiveness concerns. We investigate this question in the setting of British political parties, during a period when questions of identity change and distinctiveness were heightened, following a decline of political ideologies. Parties, we argue, sought to handle this situation through two broad strategies that we call identity affirmation and reformation. Identity distinctiveness was affirmed by identity claims that sought to counter and neutralize competing claims on aspects that were thought central to the identity of the party. To alter the identity, parties also sought to reform it by expanding identity claims to elements that were considered to be popular. Reformation efforts are however not unchecked expansion, but tempered by concerns of identity consistency and distance from other parties. We discuss contributions to theories of organizational identities and competitive rivalry.
Total Fatty Acids Content of Erythrocyte Membrane Phospholipids in Healthy Children from Birth to 6 Years Old
Authors: Leyva Francisco Rodríguez , Mondragón-Velásquez Talia , Montaño-Benavides Sara , García-Casasola Marco Antonio , Santiago-Sánchez María del Socorro , Millian Sagrario , Beltrán-Murguia Elba , Quintero-Montoya Irma , De Guevara Irma Sofía Ladrón , Silencio-Barrita José Luis
Published: November 2015

Objective: Relate the profile of total fatty acids in erythrocyte membrane with the child nutritional status.
Method: It was determined the concentration of total fatty acids in erythrocyte membrane of 138 children under 6 years (69girls, 69children) through a blood sample (2mL) by capillary gas chromatography. Likewise assessed the status through Anthropometry, Dietetics and clinical nutrition.
Results: 33 fatty acids were found in the erythrocyte membrane: 14 saturated, 8 monounsaturated, 11 Polyunsaturated and 2 Trans fatty acids. The SFA had the highest concentration, especially Palmitic acid with 22.9mg/100mL in children. DHA showed a concentration of 6.3mg/100mL and the EPA of 1.2mg/100mL, showing a positive correlation (r = 0.55) statistically significant (p < 0.002). The n-6 PUFAS showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between the age groups, of the total sample BMI/age values showed variable Z score from scratch, according to WHO, but have values indicating malnutrition, with a tendency to overweight and obesity. This trend is higher in boys than in girls. The dietary intake of nutrient show great variability in girls, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05, 95% CI) between the age groups for energy, total fat, SFA and MUFA. In Children, only fiber has statistically significant differences.
Conclusions: The concentration of the measured fatty acids remains constant in the erythrocyte membrane and apparently is not modified with respect to the age. These values are low in Mexican children.
Investigating the Management of Carious Primary Teeth in General Dental Practice: An Overview of the Development and Conduct of the Fiction Trial
Authors: Stewart Matthew , Keightley Alexander , Maguire Anne , Chadwick Barbara , Vale Luke , Homer Tara , Douglas Gail , Deery Chris , Marshman Zoe , Ryan Vicky , Innes Nicola ,   The Fiction Trial Collaboration
Published: November 2015

The management of carious primary teeth is a challenge for patients, parents and clinicians. Most evidence supporting different management strategies originates from a specialist setting and therefore its relevance to the primary care setting is questionable. The UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has commissioned the FiCTION (Filling Children's Teeth: Indicated Or Not?) trial; a multi-centre primary dental care randomised controlled trial (RCT) to determine the most clinically and cost-effective approach to managing caries in the primary dentition in the UK. This large trial began in 2012, is due to be completed in late 2017 and involves 72 practices and 1,124 children initially aged three to seven years with dentine caries, following randomisation to one of three caries management strategies. Clinical, radiographic, quality of life, treatment acceptability and health economics data are collected during the three-year follow up period. This article provides an overview of the development and conduct of FiCTION and discusses some approaches adopted to manage challenges and achieve the patient recruitment target.
Why Do You Need to Use a Caries Risk Assessment Protocol to Provide an Effective Caries Preventive Regime?
Authors: Afuakwah Charles , Welbury Richard
Published: November 2015

Background

Clinical guidelines recommend an individual is given a caries risk status based on analysis of defined clinical and social criteria before implementing a tailored preventive plan.

Aims

Improve documentation of caries risk assessment (CRA) in a general dental practice setting, using a systems-based approach to quality improvement methods. Investigate the impact of quality improvement efforts on subsequent design and delivery of preventive care. Identify barriers to delivery of CRA and provision of preventive care.

Design

Data for patients aged 0–16 years was collected over two cycles using standard audit methodology. The first cycle was a retrospective analysis (n=400) using random sampling. The second cycle a prospective analysis (n=513) using consecutive sampling over a 15-week period. Five staff meetings with feedback occurred between cycles.

Results

In cycle one, no specific CRA system was identified. CRA status was not stated widely, risk factors were not analysed and there was variation with respect to the prescription and delivery of preventive strategies. These discrepancies were demonstrable for all four participating dentists and at all ages. In cycle two, 100% recorded CRA. All risk factors were analysed and individual caries risk was correctly annotated. There was 100% compliance with the protocol for preventive plans.

Conclusions

The use of CRA improved documentation of caries risk status. This has improved subsequent prescription of age specific evidence-based preventive care appropriate to the risk status of that individual. Barriers were identified to the delivery of CRA and the provision of comprehensive preventive care by the dentists and other healthcare professionals.
Effective Caries Prevention in a Hebridean Island Population
Authors: Formby Margaret
Published: November 2015

Background

The Isle of Islay has a remote-rural population. Two dentists have been responsible for the care of the majority of the school-age children for 15 years. The island affords a unique situation to measure caries prevalence in a relatively static population.

Aim

This study measures the changes in the dental caries experience of five and 12-year olds exposed to a preventive-based approach to improving dental health, which included a school-based tooth-brushing programme (four to 12-year-olds).

Design

Data from practice-based records were collected for children aged five and 12 in the years 1999–2003 and 2012–2014. Indices including percentage of children with no obvious caries, decayed, missing or filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) and care indexes were calculated, translated into graphs and compared to Scotland's National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) data.

Results

478 children were included in the study. The mean number in each year group for five-year-olds was 28 (SD±5.65) and for 12-year-olds was 31.75 (SD±8.30). The percentage of children caries-free increased from 39% to 85% (five-year-olds) and 31% to 97% (12-year-olds). DMFT decreased from 3.04 to 0.30 (five-year-olds) and 3.74 to 0.03 (12-year-olds). Figures for care index and percentage of first permanent molars fissure sealed were higher than national data averages.

Conclusion

Caries prevalence decreased in children in Islay aged five and 12 years over the period 1999–2014. There was no control group but the differences described above can be associated with the introduction of a preventive approach, however they cannot be assumed to be causative.
The effect of multi-micronutrient and protein supplementation on iron and micronutrients status in pregnant women
Authors: Wibowo Noroyono , Irwinda Rima
Published: November 2015

Background: Potential benefits of multiple micronutrient supplements has become an increasing interest seeing as the high rate of pregnant women with suboptimal nutritional status, but low compliance often reduces effectiveness of large-scale iron and folic acid supplementation program. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of multi-micronutrient and protein supplementation on iron and micronutrients status in pregnant women. Methods: An exploratory study was conducted to 100 pregnant women ≤ 12 weeks, who underwent antenatal care in Budi Kemuliaan Hospital, Jakarta. The subjects received formulated powder milk containing multi-micronutrient and protein supplement monthly until delivery. Anthropometric measurement, maternal and cord blood exam, ultrasound and dietary recall were done. The data was analyzed by correlation test. Correlation between variables was tested using Pearson or Spearman correlation test.Results: The mean maternal hemoglobin level significantly decreased during study (p < 0.001), being the lowest in second trimester. The levels on the first, second, and third trimester respectively was 12.16 ± 1.03 g/d; 12 anemic subjects and 17 had low ferritin level, 10.85 ± 0.95 g/dL; 58 anemic subjects and 69 had low ferritin level, and 11.02 ± 0.35 g/dL; 50 anemic subjects and 51 had low level of ferritin). Ferritin and serum iron levels were decreased at trimester one and two (p < 0.001), also the zinc and vitamin D level declined. Anemia did not correlate with pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery, preeclampsia, or low birth weight.Conclusion: The levels of maternal hemoglobin, ferritin, iron, zinc, and vitamin D during pregnancy could not be maintained or increased by multi-micronutrient and protein supplementation.
Detecting Esophageal Cancer Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) of Serum Coupled with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Li Xiaozhou , Yang Tianyue , Li Siqi , Wang Deli , Guan Dagang
Published: November 2015

Serum samples taken from healthy individuals and pre- and post-operative esophageal cancer patients were analyzed using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to explore the feasibility of diagnosing esophageal cancer using the technique. The serum spectrum data were collected using a He–Ne laser of wavelength 632.8 nm. Differences in peaks assigned to nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins were found to be statistically significant between groups, which implies that corresponding serum alterations occur with the development of esophageal diseases. For quantitative analysis, the chemometric methods of hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis were utilized on the obtained SERS spectra for classification with good results.
Application of Multivariate Strategies to the Classification of Pharmaceutical Excipient Manufacturers Based on Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectra
Authors: Wang Ting , Ibrahim Ahmed , Potts Alan R. , Hoag Stephen W.
Published: November 2015

Using partial least square discriminate analysis (PLSDA), we studied the spectroscopic differences between the commonly used filler-binder microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from five manufactures. These samples had subtle differences in the chemical and physical properties, which are often the cause of differences in excipient performance. Studying these differences allowed us to build and validate a model to classify five manufacturers of MCC using near-infrared (NIR) spectra. The sample training set includes 39 MCC samples collected from five manufactures with regions spanning the United States of America, Japan, Taiwan, Germany, and Brazil. The samples from individual manufacturers include diverse grades that differ in moisture content, particle size, and bulk density. Optimized pretreatment methods were identified as standard normal variate normalization, followed by Savitzky-Golay second derivative, mean centering, and orthogonal signal correction. The model was optimized with cross-validation and validated with an independent sample set comprising nine samples collected from those five manufacturers. The results showed that none of the samples in the independent validation set was misclassified. The score and loading plots revealed that the differences in content of oxidized cellulose group, water content and states, hydrogen bonding, and degree of polymerization of the MCC samples are responsible for the class differentiation. Permutation test demonstrated that the outcome of the PLSDA model was significantly different from that of the randomly generated model. The advantages and limitations of the method in this type of application were discussed.
Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Cancer Diagnosis and Surgical Margin Evaluation
Authors: Ifa Demian R , Eberlin Livia S
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

There is a clinical need for new technologies that would enable rapid disease diagnosis based on diagnostic molecular signatures. Ambient ionization mass spectrometry has revolutionized the means by which molecular information can be obtained from tissue samples in real time and with minimal sample pretreatment. New developments in ambient ionization techniques applied to clinical research suggest that ambient ionization mass spectrometry will soon become a routine medical tool for tissue diagnosis.

CONTENT

This review summarizes the main developments in ambient ionization techniques applied to tissue analysis, with focus on desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, probe electrospray ionization, touch spray, and rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry. We describe their applications to human cancer research and surgical margin evaluation, highlighting integrated approaches tested for ex vivo and in vivo human cancer tissue analysis. We also discuss the challenges for clinical implementation of these tools and offer perspectives on the future of the field.

A variety of studies have showcased the value of ambient ionization mass spectrometry for rapid and accurate cancer diagnosis. Small molecules have been identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers, including metabolites, fatty acids, and glycerophospholipids. Statistical analysis allows tissue discrimination with high accuracy rates (>95%) being common. This young field has challenges to overcome before it is ready to be broadly accepted as a medical tool for cancer diagnosis. Growing research in new, integrated ambient ionization mass spectrometry technologies and the ongoing improvements in the existing tools make this field very promising for future translation into the clinic.
Problem-finding as a research strategy connecting undergraduate learning with staff research in contemporary education institutions
Authors: Gale Cathy
Published: November 2015

While ‘problem-solving’ is defined as a research method based on a number of givens in a linear process, ‘problem-finding’ is an open-ended mode of design, actively engaging participants in a reciprocal discourse. This method of learning by doing is implicit in design education. To examine problem-finding in the context of undergraduate study a collaborative staff–student research project is presented in the form of a case study. By continuing to find ‘problems’, design educators and students alike are challenged to push the boundaries of the discipline and frame it more centrally as an agent of change in society and culture. In a development of my Ph.D. and HEA Teaching Fellowship the design process is framed as a bridge between academic research and student employability. In this context I suggest that research strategies developed through doctoral study can extend and substantiate teaching and learning in design.
A living lie or living truth: Hypertextual, intertextual and discursive aspects of web pages dealing with the Protocols of Zion
Authors: Mattus Maria
Published: November 2015

The Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion describe a Jewish conspiracy against the world. In 1921 they were proven to be a forgery, but are still used for anti-Semitic purposes. On the Internet the Protocols can easily be spread and discussed. This study aims at exploring the use on the Internet today, by whom, for what purposes and in what contexts. The first twenty web pages found through the search engine Google (www.google.se) when searching for sions vises protokoll were analysed based on the concept of The Hypertextual Dialogue with three levels: a technical level, an intertextual level and a discursive level. The result focuses on the function of the links as well as the use of different types of texts. There are discourses related to history, media, rhetoric, ideology/religion and literature, and, on a wider perspective, to a discourse about freedom of speech on the Internet.
Embodying change: Cinematic representations of Indigenous women’s bodies, a cross-cultural comparison
Authors: Gauthier Jennifer L.
Published: November 2015

Indigenous women have been exoticized, objectified and hypersexualized throughout the history of cinema. As more Indigenous film-makers take the camera into their own hands, they challenge these representations and disrupt existing hierarchies of power. Here I examine the work of two Indigenous women film-makers, Tracey Moffatt (Aboriginal Australian) and Tracey Deer (Mohawk), whose films speak back to historical images of Native women. Rather than exotic objects of the man’s gaze, they are powerful agents of their own lives and identities. Through close readings of two films, Moffatt’s Nice Coloured Girls and Deer’s Club Native I argue that their work exemplifies a unique Indigenous aesthetic. Rooted in Fourth Cinema, this genre highlights such issues as performativity, motherhood and Indigenous women’s embodied experiences.
Sites of exuberance: Barry Barclay and Fourth Cinema, ten years on
Authors: Milligan Christina
Published: November 2015

The Ma-ori film-maker Barry Barclay used the term ‘Fourth Cinema’ to describe indigenous cinema, a philosophy based on his own practice as a director. He sought to privilege the indigenous gaze and the indigenous audience by centralizing te ao Ma-ori or the Ma-ori world-view in principle and in practice. However, much has changed in the world of film-making since Barclay developed his theory. The range of storytelling by Ma-ori on large and small screens has increased exponentially, and Ma-ori films such as Boy (Waititi, 2010) and Mt Zion (Kahi, 2013) have reached the top of the domestic box office, implying a wide Ma-ori and non- Ma-ori audience within the settler-centric culture of New Zealand. This article reviews and contextualizes Barclay’s philosophy. It then uses his central concepts to examine the feature Mt Zion, exploring aspects of the film’s text, production and distribution, to establish what conclusions can be drawn regarding the relevance of Barclay’s thinking to the practice of a new generation of Ma-ori film-makers.
Book Reviews
Authors: Austin Michael , Solis Nicole Eschen
Published: November 2015

Geisha of a Different Kind: Race and Sexuality in Gaysian America, C. Winter Han (2015) New York: New York University Press, 256 pp., ISBN: 9781479831951, Hardback, $89.00, ISBN: 9781479855209, Paperback, $26.00
Classic Media Reviews
Authors: Drushel Bruce , Park Shelley
Published: November 2015

Bewitched, created by Sol Saks (1964–72) Culver City, CA: Screen Gems Television

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by John Cameron Mitchell (2001) Los Angeles: New Line Cinema
Mid-course correction: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ and Stargate SG-1 femslash
Authors: Millward Liz , Dodd Janice G.
Published: November 2015

This article explores Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007, SciFi) fanfiction responses to the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ (DADT) policy of the United States Department of Defense. It examines 58 examples of femslash that depict a same-sex relationship between char- acters Samantha Carter and Janet Fraiser. It suggests that this fanfiction mirrors the evolving public debates regarding lesbians and gays in the military and critiques DADT in two ways. First, the femslash demonstrates that the television show repre- sents a realistic version of conditions under DADT. The second approach uses the science fiction elements of the series to critically comment on the assumptions behind DADT, such as unit cohesion based on compulsory heterosexuality. Sam/Janet femslash insists on the possibility of a valid lesbian existence within the US military and beyond.
‘Nonsensical is our thing!’: Queering fanservice as ‘Deleuzional’ desire-production in Studio Trigger’s Kiru ra Kiru/Kill la Kill
Authors: Boyd David John
Published: November 2015

This article seeks to investigate the revolutionary and queer possibilities in contemporary Japanese media and the otaku subculture. By specifically re-evaluating the aesthetic practice of fanservice in otaku media, it further reimagines fanservice as an aesthetically and philosophically productive model for reanimating political and sexual politics of resistance to hetero/homonormative capitalism. Relying primarily on Deleuzian media theory, this reading utilizes Studio Trigger’s smash hit animation Kiru ra Kiru/Kill la Kill (Imaishi, 2013–14) as a case study for the transformative potential of queering sexual-political assemblages within the re-engineered circuits and networks of otaku desire. This series further enunciates an upheaval of traditional discourses pertaining to gender representation and perversion in otaku media through its rhizomatic web of desiring-images that explores queer performativity, politicized desire-production and a collectivist strategy of binding together coalitions of dynamically intense desires into a new queer-otaku assemblage.
Emptying the future: Queer melodramatics and negative utopia in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Authors: Keegan Cael M.
Published: November 2015

Why should we still care about Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003, WB/UPN)? With more than two hundred scholarly articles, a yearly conference and an academic journal devoted to its study, Buffy has been well explored. Yet compared to current broadcast programming, the show continues to stand out as an uncommonly radical mainstream text. Since Buffy’s last airing, realist images of the ‘good gay citizen’ have proliferated across US broadcast television, depicting lesbian and gay characters as assimilated extensions of the bourgeois heteronormative family and its consumer practices. In contrast, Buffy offers viewers a melodramatic and queerly negative popular aesthetic of the sort that barely exists today. In this article, therefore, the author returns to Buffy and its darkly queer hero, Willow Rosenberg (played by Alyson Hannigan), as indicators of utopian possibilities forgotten – but hopefully not yet lost.
Effect of climatic factors on tree-ring width of Populus hybrids in Latvia
Authors: Šēnhofa Silva , Zeps Mārtiņš , Matisons Roberts , Smilga Jānis , Lazdiņa Dagnija , Jansons Āris
Published: November 2015

Fast-growing hybrids of L. have an increasing importance as a source of renewable energy and as industrial wood. Nevertheless, the long-term sensitivity of hybrids to weather conditions and hence to possible climatic hazards in Northern Europe have been insufficiently studied, likely due to the limited age of the trees (short rotation). In this study, the climatic sensitivity of ca. 65-year-old hybrid poplars ( L. Ã Ledeb.), growing at two sites in the western part of Latvia, and ca. 55-year-old hybrid aspens (Michx. Ã L.), growing in the eastern part of Latvia, have been studied using classical dendrochronological techniques. The high-frequency variation of tree-ring width (TRW) of hybrid poplar from both sites was similar, but it differed from hybrid aspen due to the diverse parental species and geographic location of the stands. Nevertheless, some common tendencies in TRW were observed for both hybrids. Climatic factors influencing TRW were generally similar for both hybrids, but their composition differed. The strength of climate-TRW relationships was similar, but the hybrid poplar was affected by a higher number of climatic factors. Hybrid poplar was sensitive to factors related to water deficit in late summer in the previous and current years. Hybrid aspen was sensitive to conditions in the year of formation of tree-ring. Both hybrids also displayed a reaction to temperature during the dormant period. The observed climate-growth relationships suggest that increasing temperatures might burden the radial growth of the studied hybrids of .PopulusPopulusPopulus balsamiferaP. laurifoliaPopulus tremuloides P. tremulaPopulus
Environmental factors in migratory route decisions: a case study on Greenlandic Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea)
Authors: Hensz Christopher Michael
Published: November 2015

Identification and characterization of seasonal
migration routes and stopover sites has been recognized
as important to the conservation of migratory species.
This project utilizes multiple regression models including
circular-linear regression to identify associations
between route choice, travel speed, and environmental
preferences using trajectory data of migratory Arctic
Terns (Sterna paradisaea) and environmental data
obtained through remote-sensing techniques. Results
of this study suggest that route choice on the southward
post-breeding migration route may be more dependent
on underlying environment than the northward postwintering
migration route. In contrast, travel speed
was variably associated with underlying environment
between southward and northward migrations, including
several differences regarding the impact of interactions
between environmental variables. These results reveal the
importance of using multiple metrics in the estimation
of spatial resistance and highlight conflicts between the
theoretical resistance framework of GIS and movement
analysis methods.
Overview of recent control technologies for future power systems
Authors: Münz Ulrich , Metzger Michael , Szabo Andrei , Reischböck Markus , Steinke Florian , Wolfrum Philipp , Sollacher Rudolf , Obradovic Dragan , Buhl Michael , Lehmann Thomas , Duckheim Mathias , Langemeyer Stefan
Published: November 2015

The increasing integration of renewable power generation in power systems poses new challenges to power system control. In this
article, we describe a multi-layer power system control architecture that addresses these challenges and comprises economic planning,
supervisory power control, as well as voltage and frequency control as main layers. Several parts of this architecture have already
been developed and tested on diverse components including building energy management, micro grid management and wind park control. We
provide an overview of these applications and indicate white spots in this control architecture that require further research.
Loading and dilution: arsenic, sodium and nutrients in a sectionof the River Tisza, Hungary
Authors: Türk Gábor , Prokisch József , Simon Edina , Szabó Szilárd
Published: November 2015

We aimed to reveal the risk of arsenic in a Hungarianriver (the Tisza) at the mouth of a polluted canal.Four sampling sites were involved in this work and sampleswere collected on a weekly basis for arsenic andsodium, and on a monthly basis for nutrients. Significantdifferences were found concerning each studied componentbetween the sampling locations of the River Tisza.Statistical analysis also revealed that the values of the upperand lower river tracts did not differ significantly. Thus,water carried by the canal is being diluted before it reachesthe farthest sampling location.