bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of glomerular filtration rate by a radial basis function neural network in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Liu Xun , Chen Yan-Ru , Li Ning-shan , Wang Cheng , Lv Lin-Sheng , Li Ming , Wu Xiao-Ming , Lou Tan-Qi
Published: August 2013

Background

Accurate and precise estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are essential for clinical assessments, and many methods of estimation are available. We developed a radial basis function (RBF) network and assessed the performance of this method in the estimation of the GFRs of 207 patients with type-2 diabetes and CKD.

Methods

Standard GFR (sGFR) was determined by 99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging and GFR was also estimated by the 6-variable MDRD equation and the 4-variable MDRD equation.

Results

Bland-Altman analysis indicated that estimates from the RBF network were more precise than those from the other two methods for some groups of patients. However, the median difference of RBF network estimates from sGFR was greater than those from the other two estimates, indicating greater bias. For patients with stage I/II CKD, the median absolute difference of the RBF network estimate from sGFR was significantly lower, and the P50 of the RBF network estimate (n = 56, 87.5%) was significantly higher than that of the MDRD-4 estimate (n = 49, 76.6%) (p < 0.0167), indicating that the RBF network estimate provided greater accuracy for these patients.

Conclusions

In patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus, estimation of GFR by our RBF network provided better precision and accuracy for some groups of patients than the estimation by the traditional MDRD equations. However, the RBF network estimates of GFR tended to have greater bias and higher than those indicated by sGFR determined by 99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging.
Impact of the implementation of the AAN epilepsy quality measures on the medical records in a university hospital
Authors: Cisneros-Franco J Miguel , Díaz-Torres Marco A , Rodríguez-Castañeda Juan B , Martínez-Silva Alejandro , Gutierrez-Herrera Mildred A , San-Juan Daniel
Published: August 2013

Background

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) suggested eight quality measures to be observed at every patient visit. The aim of this work is to compare the percentage of documentation of each measure before and after the implementation of a new worksheet in a third-level center.

Methods

Quasi-experimental study including medical records filled by medical school seniors and junior residents supervised by an epileptologist. The authors surveyed 80 consecutive charts of people with epilepsy who were seen in the outpatient clinic before and after the intervention. McNemar change test was used to compare the percentages of documentation of each quality measure–i.e., seizure type and frequency, etiology, EEG, MRI/CT head scans, AED side effects, surgical therapy referral, safety counseling, preconception counseling–and physical exam. Each quality measure was considered to be fulfilled only if it was assessed and properly recorded.

Results

Mean age was 35(±13) years, 55% women, mean epilepsy onset at age 18(±15), 82% presented with partial-onset seizures. The reporting rate improved for all quality measures (previous vs new), reaching statistical significance for: seizure type 80vs94% (p < 0.05), AED side effects 8vs24%, etiology 66vs88% (p < 0.01), safety counseling 5vs64%, preconception counseling 4vs20%, and physical exam 63vs94% (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

A quality-oriented epilepsy worksheet led to a better practice standardization and documentation of AAN standards for diagnostic and counseling purposes. Further evaluations should be undertaken to assess the impact on medical education and patient care.
Advanced glycation end products evoke endothelial cell damage by stimulating soluble dipeptidyl peptidase-4 production and its interaction with mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor
Authors: Ishibashi Yuji , Matsui Takanori , Maeda Sayaka , Higashimoto Yuichiro , Yamagishi Sho-ichi
Published: August 2013

Background

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and receptor RAGE interaction play a role in diabetic vascular complications. Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is a potential therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes. However, the role of DPP-4 in AGE-induced endothelial cell (EC) damage remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effects of DPP-4 on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and RAGE gene expression in ECs. We further examined whether an inhibitor of DPP-4, linagliptin inhibited AGE-induced soluble DPP-4 production, ROS generation, RAGE, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene expression in ECs.

Results

DPP-4 dose-dependently increased ROS generation and RAGE gene expression in ECs, which were prevented by linagliptin. Mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) and antibodies (Ab) raised against M6P/insulin-like growth factor II receptor (M6P/IGF-IIR) completely blocked the ROS generation in DPP-4-exposed ECs, whereas surface plasmon resonance revealed that DPP-4 bound to M6P/IGF-IIR at the dissociation constant of 3.59 x 10-5 M. AGEs or hydrogen peroxide increased soluble DPP-4 production by ECs, which was prevented by N-acetylcysteine, RAGE-Ab or linagliptin. Linagliptin significantly inhibited the AGE-induced ROS generation, RAGE, ICAM-1 and PAI-1 gene expression in ECs.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that AGE-RAGE-induced ROS generation stimulates the release of DPP-4 from ECs, which could in turn act on ECs directly via the interaction with M6P/IGF-IIR, further potentiating the deleterious effects of AGEs. The blockade by linagliptin of positive feedback loop between AGE-RAGE axis and DPP-4 might be a novel therapeutic target for vascular injury in diabetes.
Associations of genetic polymorphisms of SAA1 with cerebral infarction
Authors: Zhang Li-Jun , Yuan Bin , Li He-Hua , Tao Sheng-Bo , Yan Hai-Qing , Chang Li , Zhao Jian-Hua
Published: August 2013

Background

Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) is both an inflammatory factor and an apolipoprotein. However, the relation between genetic polymorphisms of SAA and cerebral infarction (CI) remains unclear.

Methods and results

The previously reported 4 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (rs12218, rs4638289, rs7131332, and rs11603089) of SAA1 gene were genotyped by TaqMan method in a case–control study including 287 cerebral infarction patients and 376 control subjects. We found rs12218 CC genotype and rs7131332 AA genotype were more frequent among CI patients than among controls (9.76% versus 3.19%, P = 0.001; 32.75% versus 24.20%; p = 0.017; respectively). After adjustment of confounding factors such as sex, age, smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes, and lipids profile, the difference remained significant in rs12218 (P < 0.01, OR = 2.106, 95% CI: 1.811–7.121).

Conclusion

Genetic polymorphism of SAA1 may be a genetic maker of cerebral infarction in Chinese.
Heterogeneous distribution of BRAF/NRAS mutations among Italian patients with advanced melanoma
Authors: Colombino Maria , Lissia Amelia , Capone Mariaelena , De Giorgi Vincenzo , Massi Daniela , Stanganelli Ignazio , Fonsatti Ester , Maio Michele , Botti Gerardo , Caracò Corrado , Mozzillo Nicola , Ascierto Paolo A , Cossu Antonio , Palmieri Giuseppe
Published: August 2013

Background

Prevalence and distribution of pathogenetic mutations in BRAF and NRAS genes were evaluated in multiple melanoma lesions from patients with different geographical origin within the same Italian population.

Methods

Genomic DNA from a total of 749 tumor samples (451 primary tumors and 298 metastases) in 513 consecutively-collected patients with advanced melanoma (AJCC stages III and IV) was screened for mutations in exon 15 of BRAF gene and, at lower extension (354/513; 69%), in the entire coding DNA of NRAS gene by automated direct sequencing. Among tissues, 236 paired samples of primary melanomas and synchronous or asynchronous metastases were included into the screening.

Results

Overall, mutations were detected in 49% primary melanomas and 51% metastases, for BRAF gene, and 15% primary tumors and 16% secondaries, for NRAS gene. A heterogeneous distribution of mutations in both genes was observed among the 451 primary melanomas according to patients’ geographical origin: 61% vs. 42% (p = 0.0372) BRAF-mutated patients and 2% vs. 21% (p < 0.0001) NRAS-mutated cases were observed in Sardinian and non-Sardinian populations, respectively. Consistency in BRAF/NRAS mutations among paired samples was high for lymph node (91%) and visceral metastases (92.5%), but significantly lower for brain (79%; p = 0.0227) and skin (71%; p = 0.0009) metastases.

Conclusions

Our findings about the two main alterations occurring in the different tumor tissues from patients with advanced melanoma may be helpful in improving the management of such a disease.
SIV replication is directly downregulated by four antiviral miRNAs
Authors: Sisk Jeanne M , Witwer Kenneth W , Tarwater Patrick M , Clements Janice E
Published: August 2013

Background

Host cell microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to regulate the expression of both cellular and viral RNAs, in particular impacting both Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). To investigate the role of miRNAs in regulating replication of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in macrophage lineage cells, we used primary macrophages to study targeting of SIV RNA by miRNAs. We examined whether specific host miRNAs directly target SIV RNA early in infection and might be induced via type I interferon pathways.

Results

miRNA target prediction programs identified miRNA binding sites within SIV RNA. Predicted binding sites for miRs-29a, -29b, -9 and -146a were identified in the SIV Nef/U3 and R regions, and all four miRNAs decreased virus production and viral RNA expression in primary macrophages. To determine whether levels of these miRNAs were affected by SIV infection, IFNβ or TNFα treatments, miRNA RT-qPCR assays measured miRNA levels after infection or treatment of macrophages. SIV RNA levels as well as virus production was downregulated by direct targeting of the SIV Nef/U3 and R regions by four miRNAs. miRs-29a, -29b, -9 and -146a were induced in primary macrophages after SIV infection. Each of these miRNAs was regulated by innate immune signaling through TNFα and/or the type I IFN, IFNβ.

Conclusions

The effects on miRNAs caused by HIV/SIV infection are illustrated by changes in their cellular expression throughout the course of disease, and in different patient populations. Our data demonstrate that levels of primary transcripts and mature miRs-29a, -29b, -9 and -146a are modulated by SIV infection. We show that the SIV 3′ UTR contains functional miRNA response elements (MREs) for all four miRNAs. Notably, these miRNAs regulate virus production and viral RNA levels in macrophages, the primary cells infected in the CNS that drive inflammation leading to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. This report may aid in identification miRNAs that target viral RNAs and HIV/SIV specifically, as well as in identification of miRNAs that may be targets of new therapies to treat HIV.
Generation and characterization of feline arterial and venous endothelial cell lines for the study of the vascular endothelium
Authors: Olyslaegers Dominique AJ , Desmarets Lowiese MB , Dedeurwaerder Annelike , Dewerchin Hannah L , Nauwynck Hans J
Published: August 2013

Background

The in vitro culture of endothelial cells (ECs) is an indispensable tool for studying the role of the endothelium in physical and pathological conditions. Primary ECs, however, have a restricted proliferative lifespan which hampers their use in long-term studies. The need for standardized experimental conditions to obtain relevant and reproducible results has increased the demand for well-characterized, continuous EC lines that retain the phenotypic and functional characteristics of their non-transformed counterparts.

Results

Primary feline ECs from aorta and vena cava were successfully immortalized through the successive introduction of simian virus 40 large T (SV40LT) antigen and the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT). In contrast to the parental ECs, the transformed cells were able to proliferate continuously in culture. Established cell lines exhibited several inherent endothelial properties, including typical cobblestone morphology, binding of endothelial cell-specific lectins and internalization of acetylated low-density lipoprotein. In addition, the immortalization did not affect the functional phenotype as demonstrated by their capacity to rapidly form cord-like structures on matrigel and to express cell adhesion molecules following cytokine stimulation.

Conclusion

The ability to immortalize feline ECs, and the fact that these cells maintain the EC phenotype will enable a greater understanding of fundamental mechanisms of EC biology and endothelial-related diseases. Furthermore, the use of cell lines is an effective implementation of the 3-R principles formulated by Russel and Burch.
Intracranial arachnoid cysts: impairment of higher cognitive functions and postoperative improvement
Authors: B Gjerde Priyanthi , Schmid Marit , Hammar Åsa , Wester Knut
Published: August 2013

Background

Intracranial arachnoid cysts have been shown to yield cognitive impairment over a range of basic mental functions, and these functions normalize after surgical cyst decompression. We wanted to investigate whether such cysts may also impair executive cognitive functions, and whether surgical cyst decompression leads to an improvement.

Methods

This study included 22 patients with arachnoid cysts and 13 control patients scheduled for low back surgery. All subjects were tested with Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) tests, assessing executive function 1 day before surgery and a minimum of 3 months after surgery. The data were analyzed according to scaled score computations based on raw scores provided by D-KEFS, adjusted for age, gender, and educational norms.

Results

Preoperatively, the patients with cysts group performed worse than the control group in verbal knowledge, mental flexibility, inhibitory capacity, problem solving, and planning skills. Postoperatively, the patients with cysts group significantly improved performance and were no longer different from the control group in the following subtests: inhibition, inhibition/switching, letter fluency, category switching, and total switching accuracy. The patients with cysts group also significantly improved performance in color naming, category fluency, and in the Tower test, but nevertheless remained impaired at follow-up compared with the control group. The control group did not show a similar improvement, except for the Tower test. Cyst size or postoperative volume reduction did not correlate with cognitive performance or postoperative improvement. Patients with left-sided temporal cysts performed poorer than patients with right-sided cysts on a complex verbal task demanding mental flexibility.

Conclusions

Arachnoid cysts seem to impair not only basic cognition, but also executive functions. Most of this impairment appears to be reversible after surgical cyst decompression. These results may have implications for future preoperative considerations for patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts.
Genome-wide analysis identifies a functional association of Tet1 and Polycomb repressive complex 2 in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Neri Francesco , Incarnato Danny , Krepelova Anna , Rapelli Stefania , Pagnani Andrea , Zecchina Riccardo , Parlato Caterina , Oliviero Salvatore
Published: August 2013

Background

Ten-Eleven Translocation (TETs)proteins mediate the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Tet1 is expressed at high levels in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), where it mediates the induction of 5hmC decoration on gene-regulatory elements. While the function of Tet1 is known, the mechanisms of its specificity remain unclear.

Results

We perform a genome-wide comparative analysis of 5hmC in pluripotent ESCs, as well as in differentiated embryonic and adult cells. We find that 5hmC co-localization with Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is specific to ESCs and is absent in differentiated cells. Tet1 in ESCs is distributed on bivalent genes in two independent pools: one with Sin3a centered at non-hydroxymethylated transcription start sites and another centered downstream from these sites. This latter pool of Tet1 co-localizes with 5hmC and PRC2. Through co-immunoprecipitation experiments, we show that Tet1 forms a complex with PRC2 specifically in ESCs. Genome-wide analysis of 5hmC profiles in ESCs following knockdown of the PRC2 subunit Suz12 shows a reduction of 5hmC within promoter sequences, specifically at H3K27me3-positive regions of bivalent promoters.

Conclusions

In ESCs, PRC2 recruits Tet1 to chromatin at H3K27me3 positive regions of the genome, with 5hmC enriched in a broad peak centered 455 bp after the transcription start site and dependent on the PRC2 component Suz12. These results suggest that PRC2-dependent recruitment of Tet1 contributes to epigenetic plasticity throughout cell differentiation.
Expression profile of cord blood neutrophils and dysregulation of HSPA1A and OLR1 upon challenge by bacterial peptidoglycan
Authors: Fong Oi Ning , Chan Kathy Yuen Yee , Leung Kam Tong , Lam Hugh Simon , Cheung Hon Ming , Leung Tak Yeung , Li Karen , Ng Pak Cheung
Published: August 2013

In newborn infants, the innate cellular system plays a crucial role in the first line of defense against pathogens. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes, and their response to the commonly encountered nosocomial bacterial (Gram positive) infection in newborns remains largely unclear. In this study, a genome-wide expression array analysis was performed on CB neutrophils after challenge by PGN in vitro and compared with neutrophils in CTL cultures without PGN. We investigated responses of neutrophils to PGN and LPS, with respect to cytokine synthesis, chemotaxis, ROS production, cell death, and pathways of HSP response. Our results provide the first comprehensive expressional profile of neonatal neutrophils stimulated by PGN. mRNA levels of 16 up-regulated genes and 6 down-regulated genes were validated by qPCR. Their regulatory networks were identified downstream of TLR-2 and NOD-2, which work in concert toward signals of death, cytoprotection, inflammation, and stress responses. Members of the HSP family were significantly up-regulated in PGN-stimulated neutrophils, compared with those in LPS-stimulated cells. We confirmed protein co-precipitation of HSPA1A and OLR1 in stimulated neutrophils, and their transcription, induced by NF-κB but not by MAPK signals. We found increased CD11b, chemotaxis, TNF-α, and IL-8 in neutrophils stimulated by PGN or LPS. PGN, but not LPS, increased ROS production. We conclude that neonatal neutrophils are capable of vigorous molecular and functional responses to PGN and suggest that HSP plays a critical role in the host defense mechanism, possibly involving proinflammatory OLR1 and CD11b-facilitated chemotaxis.
Combination of horizontal gradient ratio and Euler methods for the interpretation of potential field data
Authors: Ma Guoqing
Published: August 2013

The horizontal gradient ratio has been widely used to enhance the linear features of potential field data. I explore a combination of the horizontal gradient ratio and Euler method to interpret gridded potential field data, called HGR-EUL method. A linear equation derived for the Euler equation and expressing the fields as horizontal gradient ratio can be used to estimate the horizontal location and the depth of the source without any priori information about the nature (structural index) of the source. After obtaining the source location parameters, the nature of the source can be determined. The HGR-EUL method is tested on synthetic magnetic anomalies, and the inversion results show that the method can accurately provide the location parameters for noise-free data, and also obtain reasonable results for noise-corrupted data by applying a low pass filter to smooth the data. I also applied the HGR-EUL method to real magnetic data, and the results are compared with results from the standard Euler deconvolution method. The results obtained by the HGR-EUL method show less unjustified variability and are more useful for geologists.
Human Resistin in Chemotherapy-Induced Heart Failure in Humanized Male Mice and in Women Treated for Breast Cancer
Authors: Schwartz Daniel R. , Briggs Erika R. , Qatanani Mohammed , Sawaya Heloisa , Sebag Igal A. , Picard Michael H. , Scherrer-Crosbie Marielle , Lazar Mitchell A.
Published: August 2013

Resistin is a circulating mediator of insulin resistance mainly expressed in human monocytes and responsive to inflammatory stimuli. Recent clinical studies have connected elevated resistin levels with the development and severity of heart failure. To further our understanding of the role of human resistin in heart failure, we studied a humanized mouse model lacking murine resistin but transgenic for the human Retn gene (Hum-Retn mice), which exhibits basal and inflammation-stimulated resistin levels similar to humans. Specifically, we explored whether resistin underlies acute anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Remarkably, doxorubicin (25mg/kg ip) led to a 4-fold induction of serum resistin levels in Hum-Retn mice. Moreover, doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was greater in the Hum-Retn mice than in littermate controls not expressing human resistin (Retn−/−). Hum-Retn mice showed increased cardiac mRNA levels of inflammatory and cell adhesion genes compared with Retn−/− mice. Macrophages, but not cardiomyocytes, from Hum-Retn mice treated with doxorubicin in vitro showed dramatic induction of hRetn (human resistin) mRNA and protein expression. We also examined resistin levels in anthracycline-treated breast cancer patients with and without cardiotoxicity. Intriguingly, serum resistin levels in women undergoing anthracycline-containing chemotherapy increased significantly at 3 months and remained elevated at 6 months in those with subsequent cardiotoxicity. Further, elevation in resistin correlated with decline in ejection fraction in these women. These results suggest that elevated resistin is a biomarker of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and may contribute in the development of heart failure via its direct effects on macrophages. These results further implicate resistin as a link between inflammation, metabolism, and heart disease.
Two Gardens: An Experiment in Calamity Form
Authors: Nersessian Anahid
Published: August 2013

Recent calls to understand eighteenth- and nineteenth-century poetry as a response to deteriorating environmental conditions insist on a problematic continuity between our own time and the time of Romanticism. This essay explores the aesthetic and ethical possibilities of nescience, or unknowing, as a way to confront uncertain futures. Drawing on the work of William Cowper and Derek Jarman, it considers the discursive relationship between AIDS activism in the 1980s and the nature poetry of the Romantic period and finds in that relationship a philosophical bond between past and present states of being in the dark. This nescient or ignorant epistemology has resonances with Roland Barthes’s writings on Zen as well as with Derek Parfit’s rejection of personal identity and, by extension, of self-interest as a catalyst for moral action.
The Chekhovian Point of View in Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse
Authors: Turner Merrill
Published: August 2013

Although Virginia Woolf’s critical writings pay special tribute to Anton Chekhov’s stories and plays, his role as preceptor in relation to her own fiction has not been fully explored. Not only does the manuscript of To the Lighthouse display clear affinities with Chekhov’s sensibility (as apprehended in Woolf’s 1925 Common Reader essay, “The Russian Point of View”), but this congruence was intensified during extensive final revisions, begun in typescript just after Woolf had viewed a production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters in late October 1925. Woolf’s purposeful assimilation of Chekhov’s inconclusive, disjunctive manner in her meticulously composed, autobiographically candid novel bespeaks an unapologetic openness to authorial influence, made all the more provocative by the adoption of a foreign model whose merit was then still little recognized in English literary circles.
Functional expression of the voltage-gated sodium channel, Nav1.7, underlies epidermal growth factor-mediated invasion in human [R1.S1] non-small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Campbell Thomas M. , Main Martin J. , Fitzgerald Elizabeth M.
Published: August 2013

Various ion channels are expressed in human cancers where they are intimately involved in proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Expression of functional voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) is implicated in the metastatic potential of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer cells. However, the cellular mechanisms that regulate Nav expression in cancer remain largely unknown. Growth factors are attractive candidates; they not only play crucial roles in cancer progression but are also key regulators of ion channel expression and activity in non-cancerous cells. Here, we examine the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling and Nav in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines. We show unequivocally, that functional expression of Nav1.7 promotes invasion in H460 NSCLC cells. Inhibition of Nav1.7 activity (tetrodotoxin), or, expression (small interfering RNA), reduces H460 cell invasion by up to 50%. Crucially, non-invasive wild type A549 cells lack functional Nav whereas exogenous over-expression of Nav1.7 is sufficient to promote TTX-sensitive invasion of these cells. EGF/EGFR signalling enhances proliferation, migration and invasion of H460 cells but we find that EGFR-mediated up-regulation of Nav1.7 specifically, is necessary for invasive behaviour in these cells. Examination of Nav1.7 expression at the mRNA, protein and functional levels further reveals that EGF/EGFR signalling via the ERK1/2 pathway controls transcriptional regulation of channel expression to promote cellular invasion. Immunohistochemistry of patient biopsies confirms the clinical relevance of Nav1.7 expression in NSCLC. Thus, Nav1.7 has significant potential as a novel target for therapeutic intervention and/or as a diagnostic/prognostic marker in NSCLC.
A core hSSB1-INTS complex participates in DNA damage response
Authors: Zhang Feng , Ma Teng , Yu Xiaochun
Published: August 2013

hSSB1 plays an important role in DNA damage response and the maintenance of genomic stability. It has been shown that the core hSSB1 complex contains hSSB1, INTS3 and C9orf80. Here, using protein affinity purification, we have identified INTS6 as a major subunit of the core hSSB1 complex. INTS6 forms a stable complex with INTS3 and hSSB1 both in vitro and in vivo. In this complex, INTS6 directly interacts with INTS3. In response to DNA damage response, along with INTS3 and hSSB1, INTS6 relocates to the DNA damage sites. Moreover, the hSSB1-INTS complex regulates the accumulation of RAD51 and BRCA1 at DNA damage sites and the correlated homologous recombination (HR).
Stably BDNF-GFP expressing embryonic stem cells exhibit a BDNF release-dependent enhancement of neuronal differentiation
Authors: Leschik Julia , Eckenstaler Robert , Nieweg Katja , Lichtenecker Petra , Brigadski Tanja , Gottmann Kurt , Leßmann Volkmar , Lutz Beat
Published: August 2013

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to be a crucial regulator of neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain. Furthermore, BDNF positively influences differentiation of embryonic neural precursors as well as of neural stem cells from adult neurogenic niches. To study the impact of cell-released BDNF on neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which represent an attractive source for cell transplantation studies, we have generated BDNF-GFP overexpressing mouse ESC clones by knock-in technology. After neural differentiation in vitro, we observed that BDNF-GFP overexpressing ESC clones gave rise to an increased number of neurons as compared to control ESCs. Neurons derived from BDNF-GFP expressing ESCs harbored a more complex dendritic morphology and differentiated to a higher extent into the GABAergic lineage than controls. Moreover, we show that ESC-derived neurons released BDNF-GFP in an activity-dependent manner and displayed similar electrophysiological properties as cortical neurons. Thus, our study describes the generation of stably BDNF-GFP overexpressing ESCs which are ideally suited to investigate the ameliorating effects of BDNF in cell transplantation studies for various neuropathological conditions.
Temperature Effect on the Synthesis of Gibbsite and Boehmite
Authors: Lee Hoik , Jeon Yangjun , Lee Sang Uck , Sohn Daewon
Published: August 2013

To investigate the temperature dependency of gibbsite and boehmite formation, the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) was calculated at different temperatures. Calculated Gibbs free energy shows a positive value at 323 K, and gibbsite formation is preferred. On the other hand, it shows a negative ΔG value at 371 K, and boehmite formation is preferred. These predictions were characterized by transmittance electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Descriptive geometry course reorganization as the actual task of graphics chairs development
Authors: Хейфец  , Kheyfets Aleksandr
Published: August 2013

The need of descriptive geometry (DG) course reorganization in the direction of reflecting in it the foundations of modern computer 3D geometric simulation techniques is shown. The full rate use of 3D methods calls on students a special theoretical training. New techniques require the knowledge of computer as modern 3D geometric simulation tool. A new theoretical course composed of three modules has been proposed. The basics of 3D are given initially. Then, in accordance with the FSES-3 requirements, the DG elements are given by the example of positional tasks, but they are also underpinned by 3D-methods. The proposed DG course reorganization on the basis of 3D computer geometric simulation will permit to equip the students with new methods of decisions related to graphic tasks, significantly increase their competitiveness on the labor market, as well as to raise the graphics chairs’ rating.
About one special case related to crossing of quadrics
Authors: Короткий  , Korotkiy Viktor
Published: August 2013

It is proved that the oval quadrics of rotation with a common focus are in imaginary double contact. It is shown, in particular, that rotation ellipsoids with the general focus not only are in double contact, but for them the conditions of Monge theorem are satisfied.
Internet simulator on descriptive geometry and engineering graphics in educational process
Authors: Полушина  , Polushina Tatyana
Published: August 2013

Due to widespread computerization and Internet availability the students have opportunity to explore any discipline independently. Descriptive geometry and engineering graphics in this project are no exception. Since February 2010, the design team is developing a simulator on the specified discipline. The Internet simulators which help students to assess their knowledge are described in this paper.
Assessment of theoretical methods for the study of hydrogen
abstraction kinetics of global warming gas species during their degradation and
byproduct formation (IUPAC Technical Report)
Authors: Ramasami Ponnadurai , Abdallah Hassan H. , Archibong Edet F. , Blowers Paul , Ford Thomas A. , Kakkar Rita , Shuai Zhigang , Schaefer Henry F.
Published: August 2013

Global climate change is a major concern as it leads to an increase in the
average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. The existence and
persistence of some gaseous species in the atmosphere contribute to global
warming. Experimental techniques are used to study the kinetics and degradation
of global warming gases. However, quantum mechanical methods are also useful for
the kinetic and radiative forcing study of global warming species and can
precede experimental investigations. Research has also been targeted to develop
more adapted procedures using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT)
methods. This report provides a global perspective, in simplified manner, of the
theoretical studies of the degradation of gas species in the atmosphere with an
emphasis on the hydrogen abstraction kinetics of global warming gas species
during their degradation and byproduct formation. En route, the results obtained
from these studies are analysed and compared with experimental data where
available. Our analyses indicate that the theoretical predictions are in
agreement with experimental findings but the predicted parameters are dependent
on the method being used. Theoretical methods are used to predict the
thermodynamic parameters of reactions, and, with relevance to this report, the
global warming potential (GWP) index can also be calculated. This report can be
useful for future investigations involving global warming gaseous species while
providing suggestions on how computations can fill in data gaps when
experimental data are unavailable.
“After my husband’s circumcision, I know that I am safe from diseases”: Women’s Attitudes and Risk Perceptions Towards Male Circumcision in Iringa, Tanzania
Authors: Layer Erica H. , Beckham S. Wilson , Mgeni Lilian , Shembilu Catherine , Momburi Romani B. , Kennedy Caitlin E.
Published: August 2013

While male circumcision reduces the risk of female-to-male HIV transmission and certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), there is little evidence that circumcision provides women with direct protection against HIV. This study used qualitative methods to assess women’s perceptions of male circumcision in Iringa, Tanzania. Women in this study had strong preferences for circumcised men because of the low risk perception of HIV with circumcised men, social norms favoring circumcised men, and perceived increased sexual desirability of circumcised men. The health benefits of male circumcision were generally overstated; many respondents falsely believed that women are also directly protected against HIV and that the risk of all STIs is greatly reduced or eliminated in circumcised men. Efforts to engage women about the risks and limitations of male circumcision, in addition to the benefits, should be expanded so that women can accurately assess their risk of HIV or STIs during sexual intercourse with circumcised men.
Taking care and playing it safe: Tensions in the management of funding relationships
Authors: Mullen Molly
Published: August 2013

Applied Theatre Consultants Ltd is a theatre company based in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. Since 2003 they have received funding from a government department for ‘Everyday Theatre’, a programme about family violence and child abuse. Drawing on an ethnographic study undertaken with the company, this article presents an analysis of the ways in which they have experienced and managed changes to this funding relationship. It will address concerns raised in the academic discourse of applied theatre about the ways in which funding can determine, constrain and compromise practice. Over nine years, tensions have emerged between the arts and social justice values that informed the creation of Everyday Theatre and the rational management systems that have since been implemented by the funder to manage the contractual relationship. Rather than just focusing on the negative effects of these changes, I will draw on theories of arts management as an ‘arts-led’and care-based activity to highlight the particular affordances and strategies used by the company to negotiate between the requirements of their funder and their core artistic and organizational values. I will argue that to understand better the implications of funding relationships for the practice of applied theatre companies, attention needs to be paid to the changing dynamics of such relationships and to the particular ways in which management is constituted within such organizations.
Contextualizing Chinese lesbian cinema: Global queerness and independent films
Authors: Shi Liang
Published: August 2013

The objective of this study is to contextualize Chinese lesbian cinema that emerged in the twenty-first century in mainland China. By situating lesbian films in the context of globalization, particularly within the framework of the debate on global gayness, it traces the trajectory of a new Chinese discourse of homosexuality, developed since the 1990s and articulated through the dynamic interaction and assimilation between predatory Euro-American and resistant local forces. Being both a part and a product of the hybrid homosexual discourse, lesbian cinema subsists in the space of Chinese independent/underground film, bearing all the major characteristics of the marginalized subgenre. The article concludes with critical analysis of two films, Jinnian xiatian/Fish and Elephant (Li Yu) in 2001 and Lalala/Lost In You (Zhu Yiye) in 2006, to showcase how female same-sex love and relationships are defined and represented in Chinese lesbian cinema.
Lesbians in the house: Female queerness in Bend It Like Beckham (Gurinder Chadha, 2002) and Chutney Popcorn (Nisha Ganatra, 1999)
Authors: Rajendran Aneeta
Published: August 2013

This article explores two transnational films about South Asians, Bend It Like Beckham (Chadha, 2002) and Chutney Popcorn (Ganatra, 1999), with regard to their production of spaces within the home, of family and diaspora, in relation to counter-hegemonic non-heterosexual or non-heteronormative female subjects. Both films treat the space of the home and the traditions it embodies as culturally valuable and therefore not to be forfeited by the female protagonist; however, at the same time, these spaces bring with them the architecture of the hegemonic and the heteropatriarchal. Chutney Popcorn is able to reimagine traditions to accommodate the ‘family outlaw’ that is the lesbian through the labours of the literal figure of the reproductive woman, whereas Bend It Like Beckham contains the subversive challenges posed by feminine labours on the sporting field and at home to enshrine normative femininities squarely within the renegotiated diasporic home.
The post-queer dystopia of The Mudge Boy (Michael Burke, 2003)
Authors: Bush Jeff
Published: August 2013

Michael Burke’s The Mudge Boy (2003) is a film about an American farm boy, Duncan Mudge, who befriends a chicken following the death of his mother. The chicken, which is a source of comfort to him and ridicule to others, is a constant reminder of his late mother who, it transpires, taught him how to orally ‘becalm’ chickens. This unsettling relationship is offset by an equally disturbing sadomasochistic relationship that Duncan develops with a similarly aged male neighbour, Perry Foley. Distinguishing between gay, queer and post-queer, this article suggests that The Mudge Boy provides a new template for queer cinema and, in fact, queer theory in the twenty-first century.
Opportunities Denied, Wages Diminished: Using Search Theory to Translate Audit-Pair Study Findings into Wage Differentials
Authors: Lanning Jonathan A.
Published: August 2013

This article proposes a framework with which to estimate the impact on labor market outcomes implied by audit-pair study findings. I present a search model with discrimination and calibrate the model with experimental data from audit studies of the U.S. labor market and the NLSY79 to estimate the wage and unemployment implications of documented hiring disparity. All simulated results are highly consistent with the hypothesis that hiring discrimination may be an important component of the observed labor market disparity between African American and white workers in the U.S. Additionally, while the simulations only generate a small proportion of the observed gaps in unemployment, it proves to be one of the few models capable of explaining simultaneous wage in unemployment gaps. The most robust finding of the article is that non-trivial wage gaps can result even from the seemingly small differences in hiring rates documented in these studies.
Do Local Governments Respond to (Perverse) Financial Incentives in Long-Term Care Funding Schemes?
Authors: Øien Henning
Published: August 2013

A highlighted issue in long-term care (LTC) financing is the presence of unfortunate incentives in financing schemes. For instance, in Norway, a high share of high-income recipients provides financial incentives to the local governments (the agencies in charge of the LTC system) to increase reliance on nursing home care relative to community housing and home-based care. This article examines the effects of the Norwegian LTC funding system on the composition of LTC services at the local government level. I use a cross-section from 2009 of 391 local governments to estimate a fractional probit model using quasi-maximum likelihood estimation. Controlling for need and geographical variations in care costs, I find that the share of “rich” elderly has a significant association with three measures of the volume of nursing home care relative to home-based care.
p-adic Langlands functoriality for the definite unitary group
Authors: White Paul-James
Published: August 2013

We formalise a notion of p-adic Langlands functoriality for the definite unitary group.
This extends the classical notion of Langlands functoriality to the setting of eigenvarieties.
We apply some results of Chenevier to
obtain some cases of p-adic Langlands functoriality
by interpolating known cases of classical Langlands
functoriality.
Tannaka–Kreĭn duality for compact quantum homogeneous spaces II. Classification of quantum homogeneous spaces for quantum SU(2)
Authors: De Commer Kenny , Yamashita Makoto
Published: August 2013

We apply the Tannaka–Kreĭn duality theory for quantum homogeneous spaces, developed in the first part of this series of papers, to the case of the quantum SU(2) groups. We obtain a classification of their quantum homogeneous spaces in terms of weighted oriented graphs. The equivariant maps between these quantum homogeneous spaces can be characterized by certain quadratic equations associated with the braiding on the representations of

S

U
q

(
2
)

$\textup {SU}_q(2)$

. We show that, for

|
q
|

$\vert q\vert $

close to 1, all quantum homogeneous spaces are realized by coideals up to strong Morita equivalence.
Evaluation of the effects of compression combined with heat treatment by nanoindentation (NI) of poplar cell walls
Authors: Wang Xinzhou , Deng Yuhe , Wang Siqun , Min Chen , Meng Yujie , Pham Tuonglam , Ying Yang
Published: August 2013

A combination of compression and heat treatment is a modification method that has great potential for improving the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of wood materials in industrial application. The objective of this project was to track changes in the microstructure, chemical composition, cellulose crystallinity, and mechanical properties of the treated poplar cell wall to investigate the mechanism of modification. Poplar boards were compressed at 100°C and subsequently treated in the hot press at 200°C. The results indicated that the treatment contributed to a reduction in porosity without obvious mechanical compression and damage to the cell wall. Hemicellulose degraded, however, and the relative lignin content and cellulose crystallinity increased during the process. The observed increase in relative lignin content and crystallinity may contribute to the improvement of mechanical properties. The longitudinal elastic modulus and hardness of poplar cell walls increased significantly from 12.5 and 0.39 GPa for the control to a maximum of 15.7 and 0.51 GPa for compressed wood with HT, respectively.
Optimization on Response Surface Methodology for Preparing V2O5 from Industrial Ammonium Metavanadate
Authors: Chen Yuxiang , Zhang Bin , Guo Shenghui , Peng Jinhui , Guo Lei , Song Zengkai
Published: August 2013

In order to obtain the vanadium pentoxide, the process of vanadium pentoxide preparation by calcination from industrial ammonium metavanadate was further investigated. The effects of calcination temperature and calcination time were studied. The conditions of technique to prepare vanadium pentoxide in flakes by calcination from industrial ammonium metavanadate were optimized using a central composite design of response surface methodology. A quadratic equation model for field was built and effects of main factors and their corresponding relationships were obtained. The statistical analysis of the results showed that in the range studied, the rate of weight loss of the industrial ammonium metavanadate was significantly affected by the calcination temperature and calcination time. The results showed that the optimum conditions of ammonium metavanadate calcination were as follows: sample mass 15 g, calcination temperature 900 °C, calcination time 2.4 h, the rate of weight loss 85.1%. In addition, the sample was characterized by XRD and SEM. The SEM analysis and XRD showed the product was layer structure. According to results from analysis of variance, the value of the determination coefficient (R2 = 0.9417) indicates that the model was a good fit that 94.17% of the variation could be explained well by the model.
Does the presence of thyroid antibodies affect the course and outcome of pregnancy in type 1 diabetic women?
Authors: Sarantopoulou Vasiliki , Vasileiou Vasiliki , Sarika Leda , Philippou George , Alevizaki Maria , Antsaklis Aris , Anastasiou Eleni
Published: August 2013

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the significance of the presence of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (anti-TPO Abs) in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) pregnant women relative to the course of pregnancy and, especially, with regard to metabolic control, thyroid function, maternal complications and neonatal outcome.

Methods: In a prospective observational study of 91 DM1 women with singleton pregnancies, anti-TPO, anti-thyroglobulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and free thyroxine index (T4/thyroid binding capacity) were measured in each trimester. At each visit, HbA1c, body mass index, and units of insulin per kilogram were recorded, as were complications and pregnancy outcome.

Results: Twenty-one (27%) of the 78 women who met the inclusion criteria presented with positive anti-TPO Abs. There were no differences regarding glycemic control (HbA1c) or insulin dose. First-trimester TSH levels were significantly higher in the anti-TPO-positive group than in the anti-TPO-negative group. Finally, no differences were observed regarding diabetic or obstetric complications and neonatal outcome.

Conclusion: One fourth of DM1 pregnant women presented with positive anti-TPO Abs. However, the presence of anti-TPO Abs does not seem to be related with worse metabolic control or adverse pregnancy outcome. Further investigation is needed; meanwhile, the effort for early treatment of thyroid dysfunction and strict metabolic control in all DM1 women should be continued.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Move us Forward
Authors: Beachum Floyd D. , McCray Carlos R.
Published: August 2013

An effective teacher recognizes that their students may have different learning styles, which might call for the teacher to differentiate the lesson. A large reason why hip-hop culture is so attractive is that it appeals to the auditory, visual, and the kinesthetic (movement). It is our assertion that educators must do a better job at learning about hip-hop culture, utilize culturally relevant teaching and leadership approaches, and build strong relationships with these students and their communities in order to better serve and educate. In classrooms, this will require us to transform teaching practices. In school administration, we will have to rethink leadership. In working with the community, we will have to reach out and reach hearts. This article explores the ways in which we can achieve these goals.