bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elementary School–Based Obesity Intervention Using an Educational Curriculum
Authors: Lynch Brian A. , Gentile Natalie , Maxson Julie , Quigg Stephanie , Swenson Laura , Kaufman Tara
Published: April 2016

Background: Pediatric obesity is a significant public health problem with a prevalence of 16.9% among US children. School-based obesity interventions show promise for reducing adiposity in elementary age children. This pilot study evaluated the impact of the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 pediatric obesity intervention program in an elementary school setting. Methods: This was a cluster randomized controlled field trial comprising 8 classrooms of second- and third-grade children. The impact of implementation of a standardized 5-2-1-0 curriculum was evaluated in the classrooms by looking at health behavior (self-reported fruit and vegetable and sugar-containing beverage intake, and screen time), physical activity (steps measured by pedometer), and body mass index (BMI). Half of the classrooms were given 5-2-1-0 teaching over a 4-month period. Results: There was no statistical difference in improvement of healthy habits, BMI, or physical activity in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions: The 5-2-1-0 intervention used in this study was feasible. There was no significant change in healthy habits, likely due to the small number of participants in the study. The intervention and control sites were in different classrooms and there could be factors such as teacher enthusiasm, socioeconomic factors, and individual traits affecting habits. Future studies could use pre- and post-intervention quizzes to assess healthy habits knowledge retention, involving the environments the child participates in outside of school, using research-grade pedometers or accelerometers for measuring activity data collection, and recruiting larger samples to ensure adequate statistical power.
Development and validation of a comprehensive genomic diagnostic tool for myeloid malignancies
Authors: McKerrell Thomas , Moreno Thaidy , Ponstingl Hannes , Bolli Niccolo , Dias João M. L. , Tischler German , Colonna Vincenza , Manasse Bridget , Bench Anthony , Bloxham David , Herman Bram , Fletcher Danielle , Park Naomi , Quail Michael A. , Manes Nicla , Hodkinson Clare , Baxter Joanna , Sierra Jorge , Foukaneli Theodora , Warren Alan J. , Chi Jianxiang , Costeas Paul , Rad Roland , Huntly Brian , Grove Carolyn , Ning Zemin , Tyler-Smith Chris , Varela Ignacio , Scott Mike , Nomdedeu Josep , Mustonen Ville , Vassiliou George S.
Published: April 2016

Key Points

We develop and validate Karyogene, a comprehensive one-stop diagnostic platform for the genomic analysis of myeloid malignancies. Karyogene simultaneously detects substitutions, insertions/deletions, translocations, copy number and zygosity changes in a single assay.
Dasatinib and low-intensity chemotherapy in elderly patients with Philadelphia chromosome–positive ALL
Authors: Rousselot Philippe , Coudé Marie Magdelaine , Gokbuget Nicola , Gambacorti Passerini Carlo , Hayette Sandrine , Cayuela Jean-Michel , Huguet Françoise , Leguay Thibaut , Chevallier Patrice , Salanoubat Celia , Bonmati Caroline , Alexis Magda , Hunault Mathilde , Glaisner Sylvie , Agape Philippe , Berthou Christian , Jourdan Eric , Fernandes José , Sutton Laurent , Banos Anne , Reman Oumedaly , Lioure Bruno , Thomas Xavier , Ifrah Norbert , Lafage-Pochitaloff Marina , Bornand Anne , Morisset Laure , Robin Valérie , Pfeifer Heike , Delannoy Andre , Ribera Josep , Bassan Renato , Delord Marc , Hoelzer Dieter , Dombret Herve , Ottmann Oliver G.
Published: April 2016

Key Points

Dasatinib, combined with low-intensity chemotherapy, gave 36% 5-year overall survival in Ph+ ALL patients older than age 55 years. Prospective monitoring of mutations may be useful to personalize therapy in Ph+ ALL patients not eligible for intensive therapies.
The Implications of How to Survive a Plague
Authors: Cante Richard C.
Published: April 2016

This essay discusses How to Survive a Plague (dir. David France, US, 2012) as a deep rumination on the natures of action and agency from the individual to the collective, especially gay male action and agency when they are approached intersectionally. It takes the film as an extended contemplation of the pathways and slipstreams between the individual and the collective once public and private histories have been wrapped up with media technologies—and with art as well as critique—in the ways that this has continually happened since the early 1980s in the US.
An initial phase of JNK activation inhibits cell death early in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response
Authors: Brown Max , Strudwick Natalie , Suwara Monika , Sutcliffe Louise K. , Mihai Adina D. , Ali Ahmed A. , Watson Jamie N. , Schröder Martin
Published: April 2016

Accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). In mammalian cells, UPR signals generated by several ER-membrane-resident proteins, including the bifunctional protein kinase endoribonuclease IRE1α, control cell survival and the decision to execute apoptosis. Processing of XBP1 mRNA by the RNase domain of IRE1α promotes survival of ER stress, whereas activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase JNK family by IRE1α late in the ER stress response promotes apoptosis. Here, we show that activation of JNK in the ER stress response precedes activation of XBP1. This activation of JNK is dependent on IRE1α and TRAF2 and coincides with JNK-dependent induction of expression of several antiapoptotic genes, including cIap1 (also known as Birc2), cIap2 (also known as Birc3), Xiap and Birc6. ER-stressed Jnk1−/− Jnk2−/− (Mapk8−/− Mapk9−/−) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) display more pronounced mitochondrial permeability transition and increased caspase 3/7 activity compared to wild-type MEFs. Caspase 3/7 activity is also elevated in ER-stressed cIap1−/− cIap2−/− and Xiap−/− MEFs. These observations suggest that JNK-dependent transcriptional induction of several inhibitors of apoptosis contributes to inhibiting apoptosis early in the ER stress response.
A biorobotic model of the suction feeding system in largemouth bass: the roles of motor program speed and hyoid kinematics
Authors: Kenaley Christopher P. , Lauder George V.
Published: April 2016

The vast majority of ray-finned fishes capture prey through suction feeding. The basis of this behavior is generation of subambient pressure through rapid expansion of a highly kinetic skull. Over the last four decades, results from in-vivo experiments have elucidated the general relationships between morphological parameters and subambient pressure generation. Until now, however, researchers have been unable to tease apart the discrete contributions of, and complex relationships among, the musculoskeletal elements that support buccal expansion. Fortunately, over the last decade, biorobotic models have gained a foothold in comparative research and show great promise in addressing long-standing questions in vertebrate biomechanics. In this paper, we present BassBot, a biorobotic model of the head of the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). BassBot incorporates a three-dimensional acrylic plastic armature of the neurocranium, maxillary apparatus, lower jaw, hyoid, suspensorium, and opercular apparatus. Programming of linear motors permits precise reproduction of live kinematic behaviors including hyoid depression and rotation, premaxillary protrusion, and lateral expansion of the suspensoria. BassBot reproduced faithful kinematic and pressure dynamics relative to live bass. We show that motor program speed has a direct relationship on subambient pressure generation. Like vertebrate muscle, the linear motors that powered kinematics were able to produce larger magnitudes of force at slower velocities and, thus, were able to accelerate linkages more quickly and generate larger magnitudes of subambient pressure. In addition, we demonstrate that disrupting the kinematic behavior of the hyoid interferes with the anterior-to-posterior expansion gradient. This resulted in a significant reduction in subambient pressure generation and pressure impulse of 51% and 64% respectively. These results reveal the promise biorobotic models have in isolating individual parameters and assessing their role in suction feeding.
General Equilibrium Impacts of a Federal Clean Energy Standard
Authors: Goulder Lawrence H. , Hafstead Marc A. C. , Williams Roberton C.
Published: April 2016

Economists have tended to view emissions pricing (e.g., cap and trade or a carbon tax) as the most cost-effective approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper offers a different view. Employing analytical and numerically solved general equilibrium models, it provides plausible conditions under which a more conventional form of regulation—namely, the use of a clean energy standard (CES)—is more cost-effective. The models reveal that the CES distorts factor markets less because it is a smaller implicit tax on factors of production. This advantage more than offsets the disadvantages of the CES when minor emissions reductions are involved. (JEL H23, Q42, Q48, Q54, Q58)
Corruption in Procurement and the Political Cycle in Tunneling: Evidence from Financial Transactions Data
Authors: Mironov Maxim , Zhuravskaya Ekaterina
Published: April 2016

We provide evidence of corruption in allocation of public procurement and assess its efficiency. Firms with procurement revenue increase tunneling around regional elections, whereas neither tunneling of firms without procurement revenue, nor legitimate business of firms with procurement exhibits a political cycle. Data are consistent with the corruption channel—cash is tunneled to politicians in exchange for procurement contracts—and inconsistent with alternative channels. Using the strength of correlation between procurement revenue and tunneling around elections as a proxy for local corruption, we reject the “efficient grease” hypothesis: in more corrupt localities, procurement contracts go to unproductive firms. (JEL D22, D72, H57, K42, P26, P31, P37)
Does Tax-Collection Invariance Hold? Evasion and the Pass-Through of State Diesel Taxes
Authors: Kopczuk Wojciech , Marion Justin , Muehlegger Erich , Slemrod Joel
Published: April 2016

In simple models, the incidence of a tax is independent of the identity of the remitting party. We illustrate that this prediction fails to hold if opportunities for evasion differ across economic agents. Second, we estimate how the incidence of state diesel taxes varies with the point of collection, where the remitting party varies across states and over time. Moving tax collection upstream from retailers substantially raises the pass-through of diesel taxes to consumers. Furthermore, tax revenues increase when collecting taxes from wholesalers rather than from retailers, suggesting that evasion is the likely explanation for the incidence result. (JEL H22, H25, H26, H71, L71)
Assessing Financial Education: Evidence from Boot Camp
Authors: Skimmyhorn William
Published: April 2016

This study estimates the effects of Personal Financial Management Course attendance and enrollment assistance using a natural experiment in the US Army. New enlistees' course attendance reduces the probability of having credit account balances, average balances, delinquencies, and adverse legal actions in the first year after the course, but it has no effects on accounts in the second year or credit scores in either year. The course and its enrollment assistance substantially increase retirement savings rates and average monthly contributions, with effects that persist through at least two years. The course has no significant effects on military labor market outcomes. (JEL D14, I21, J45)
Understanding Bank-Run Contagion
Authors: Brown Martin , Trautmann Stefan T. , Vlahu Razvan
Published: April 2016

We study experimental coordination games to examine through which transmission channels and under which information conditions a panic-based depositor run at one bank may trigger a panic-based depositor run at another bank. We find that withdrawals at one bank trigger withdrawals at another bank by increasing players’ beliefs that other depositors in their own bank will withdraw, making them more likely to withdraw as well. Observed withdrawals only affect depositors’ beliefs, and are thus contagious when they form an informative signal about bank fundamentals.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2416 .

This paper was accepted by Amit Seru, finance.
Hypsometric Analysis Using Geographical Information System of Gour River Watershed, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Kumar Shailesh , Meshram Sarita , Patil Rupesh , Tignath Sanjay
Published: April 2016

Hypsometric analysis of drainage basins reveals the geological stage of watershed and is a measure of its maturity, indicating the susceptibility of the watershed to erosion. In the present study sub watersheds of Khurji Nala and Dala Nala watersheds which are tributaries of GourRiver located in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh was considered as the case study area. The watersheds were delineated into sub watersheds and hypsometric analysis was carried out for all of them using the digital contour map, which was generated using Arc GIS. The hypsometric integral values of Khurji Nala and Dala Nala sub watersheds reveals that sub watershed 2 of Khurji Nala and sub watershed 7 of Dala Nala watershed should be given top priority for soil and water conservation.
Mathematical Methodology to Predict Energy Generation of Grid Connected PV Power Plants in India
Authors: Chakraborty Suprava , Sadhu Pradip
Published: April 2016

This paper presents a reliable mathematical methodology to predict the energy generation from grid connected Photovoltaic plant of different technologies in India. Energy generation of different commercially used PV technologies in different locations of India is predicted using proposed mathematical method. This results show a decisive study to choose the best PV technology for particular location of India. Predicted energy generation is validated with the monthly generation for the whole year of 2014 from operational PV power plants of different technologies. Predicted generation is in good co-relation with the actual real time generation and Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of the PV plants.
Estimation of Runoff for Ozat Catchment using RS and GIS Based SCS-CN Method
Authors: Chavda Dipesh , Makwana Jaydip , Parmar Hitesh , Kunapara Arvind , Prajapati Girish
Published: April 2016

Estimation of runoff in a watershed is a prerequisite for design of hydraulic structures, reservoir operation and for soil erosion control measures. Water resource planning and management is important and critical issue in arid and semi-arid regions. Runoff from a watershed affected by several geo-morphological parameters and for a particular watershed land use change can affect the runoff volume and runoff rate significantly. Several methods are investigated to estimate the surface runoff from a catchment but the Curve Number method is mostly used. Present study was undertaken to estimate surface runoff and water availability for two sites (Ozat-2 and Zanzesri) in the Ozat catchment situated in Junagadh, Gujarat, India using RS and GIS based curve number method. The Weight curve number for the ozat catchment is 73.00. The correlation coefficient between calculated and observed runoff was good for both catchments. In this study found that SCS-curve number method along with RS and GIS can be used successfully in semi-arid region to simulate rainfall runoff and to estimate total surface water.
Toxicity of Zinc on Growth of an Aquatic Macrophyte, Ipomoea Aquatica Forsk
Authors: Chanu Laitonjam , Gupta Abhik
Published: April 2016

The effects of different concentrations of Zn on growth of an aquatic macrophyte, Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. were studied. Fresh weight, dry weight, shoot length, root length, number of nodes, development of leaves, and chlorophyll and carotene contents were the different growth parameters considered. Toxicity symptoms like browning and decaying of roots could be observed in plants treated at 22.7 mg L-1 Zn as early as 3rd day of experiment while yellowing of older leaves appeared during the later period of exposure. High concentration of Zn (12.71 – 22.7 mg L-1) significantly inhibited the growth of plant while lower Zn concentrations up to 4.09 mg L-1 enhanced its growth. However, at 7.26 mg L-1 Zn the chlorophyll as well as total carotene content in leaf of I. aquatica were significantly reduced from that in control on 5th day of exposure and subsequently the reduction was observed in lower concentrations. Thus, I. aquatica can be employed in biomonitoring of Zn polluted aquatic ecosystems using root browning, root and shoot growth inhibition, and chlorophyll and total carotene contents as sensitive biomarkers.
Impact of Climate Change on Apple Production in India: A Review
Authors: Singh Niranjan , Sharma D P , Chand Hukam
Published: April 2016

Significant variation in mean state of the climate or in its variability persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer) is referred as climate change. It may be due to natural internal processes or external forcing or persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere.1 Greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4, N2O, water vapours and ozone re-emit some of solar radiations in the form of short wave radiations to the earth surface and responsible for its warming.2 If they did not perform this useful function, most of the heat energy would escape, leaving the earth cold (about – 18oC) and unfit to support life.3 However, since the Industrial Revolution began about 150 years ago, man-made activities have added significant quantities of GHGs to the atmosphere. The atmospheric concentrations of CO2, CH4, N2O have grown by about 31%, 151% and 17%, respectively, between 1750 and 2000.1 Twenty years ago snowfall was regular phenomenon in high hills of Himachal Pradesh but in the last 20 years, only 2-3 instances of snowfall have been recorded.4 It has been recorded that the average maximum temperature rose by 0.58oC from the year of 1963 to 2007, whereas, the average minimum temperature rose by 2.75oC.5 Though, Kullu in northern Himachal Pradesh is well known for apple cultivation, but due to inadequate snowfall and improper chilling hours survivaling affected the cultivation of apple in the region.6 Chilling affects the flowering and subsequent fruit setting qualitatively as well as quantitatively.7have indicated that irregular bearing behavior of Starking Delicious is largely influenced by climatic conditions. The rain and hails during flowering adversely affects the fruit set, whereas, moderate temperature of 20oC with relatively low rains during flowering results in the good fruit set.8 The plants mortality rate due to drought was higher. The plants mortality rate due to drought was higher. About 80% of reduction in yield was estimated due to irrigation water shortage and 20% due to high evaporation rate in apples.4 reported decrease in chill unit hours in the apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh. Most of the apple varieties require 1000-1600 hours (at or below 7.20C) of chill units depending upon the variety.9
Isolation and Screening of Water Microbes for Decolourisation of Textile Dye Waste
Authors: Singh J. K , Ranjan R , Pankaj Pranay
Published: April 2016

Azo dyes are widely used in textile industry. Unused dyes, consisting mainly non biodegradable released along with waste water streams without any proper pre-treatment which cause nuisance for environment and accumulate in flora as well as fauna. These also exhibit allergic, carcinogenic and mutagenic properties for human beings. Isolation and screening of azo dye degrading bacteria are economic in biodegradation and detoxification. In the present study, 200 waste water samples were collected from dye-contaminated sites of textile industries and bacterial species such as Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Psuedomonas putida were isolated and identified. Evaluation of decolorizing properties of these bacteriae were done by UV-Vis spectroscopy (Amax 596 nm) in different concentrations using different carbon sources such as Hans’s medium and GYP medium. Maximum decolourisation of 0.1% azo dyes were recorded to be 89.0%, 91% and 86% in Hans medium containing charcoal source by Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Psuedomonas putida respectively at 24 hrs. These bacterial isolates may be utilized in large scale for pre-treatment for ecological balance by avoiding water pollution.
The MADD-3 LAMMER Kinase Interacts with a p38 MAP Kinase Pathway to Regulate the Display of the EVA-1 Guidance Receptor in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: D’Souza Serena A. , Rajendran Luckshi , Bagg Rachel , Barbier Louis , van Pel Derek M. , Moshiri Houtan , Roy Peter J.
Published: April 2016

The proper display of transmembrane receptors on the leading edge of migrating cells and cell extensions is essential for their response to guidance cues. We previously discovered that MADD-4, which is an ADAMTSL secreted by motor neurons inCaenorhabditis elegans, interacts with an UNC-40/EVA-1 co-receptor complex on muscles to attract plasma membrane extensions called muscle arms. In nematodes, the muscle arm termini harbor the post-synaptic elements of the neuromuscular junction. Through a forward genetic screen for mutants with disrupted muscle arm extension, we discovered that a LAMMER kinase, which we call MADD-3, is required for the proper display of the EVA-1 receptor on the muscle’s plasma membrane. Without MADD-3, EVA-1 levels decrease concomitantly with a reduction of the late-endosomal marker RAB-7. Through a genetic suppressor screen, we found that the levels of EVA-1 and RAB-7 can be restored inmadd-3mutants by eliminating the function of a p38 MAP kinase pathway. We also found that EVA-1 and RAB-7 will accumulate inmadd-3mutants upon disrupting CUP-5, which is a mucolipin ortholog required for proper lysosome function. Together, our data suggests that the MADD-3 LAMMER kinase antagonizes the p38-mediated endosomal trafficking of EVA-1 to the lysosome. In this way, MADD-3 ensures that sufficient levels of EVA-1 are present to guide muscle arm extension towards the source of the MADD-4 guidance cue.
Migration und religiöse Praxis
Authors: Koch Julia
Published: April 2016

Die indo-muslimische Kaste der Sunni Vohras steht beispielhaft für komplexe Migrationsprozesse zwischen Indien und Südafrika und die weltweit verhandelte Spannung zwischen islamischen Stilen. In dieser ethnographischen Analyse »begleitet« Julia Koch Angehörige der Kaste auf ihrem Weg, der in zwei Dörfern der Abreise in Gujarat/Westindien beginnt und in zwei Ankunftsräumen in Südafrika endet. Von der hierbei eingenommenen Forschungsposition aus werden diese Orte symmetrisch betrachtet und die gegenwärtige Migration in die ehemaligen südafrikanischen »Homelands« wird in einen historischen Kontext eingebettet. Durch die Perspektive der Kastenangehörigen gelingt auch der Blick auf die sich wandelnde muslimische Praxis.
Freiwilliges Engagement und soziale Benachteiligung
Authors: Meusel Sandra
Published: April 2016

Der aktuelle Diskurs um freiwilliges Engagement berücksichtigt vor allem Akteure, die der sogenannten Mittelschicht angehören. Sandra Meusel lädt hingegen dazu ein, sich der Lebenswelt sozial benachteiligter Freiwilliger anzunähern. In differenzierten Fallportraits, die auf biografisch-narrativen Interviews und Familiengenogrammen basieren, zeigt sie systematisch auf, wie sich das Engagement im biografischen Verlauf herausbildet. Anhand von Typenbildungen verdeutlicht sie die spezifisch biografische Bedeutung der freiwilligen Tätigkeiten und diskutiert Handlungsmöglichkeiten für die soziale Arbeit und die Sozialpolitik.
Vom Verteilen zum Gestalten
Authors: Owetschkin Dimitrij
Published: April 2016

Die Automobilindustrie gehört zu den zentralen Wirtschaftsbranchen Deutschlands sowie zu den Hochburgen der gewerkschaftlichen Organisation und Mitbestimmung. Seit der Nachkriegszeit haben sich hier besonders weitreichende Muster der »Konfliktpartnerschaft« zwischen Arbeit und Kapital herausgebildet. Dieser Band bietet erstmals eine zusammenfassende sozialhistorische Darstellung der betrieblichen Mitbestimmung in der westdeutschen Automobilindustrie in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts. Der Wandel der Mitbestimmungspraxis der Betriebsräte von der Schutz- und Verteilungs- zur Beschäftigungs- und Gestaltungspolitik wird dabei im Kontext unterschiedlicher betrieblicher Sozialordnungen analysiert.
Frankreich und seine »Sekten«
Authors: Königstedt Christiane
Published: April 2016

Als Folge des vermehrten Auftretens Neuer Religiöser Bewegungen seit den 1970er Jahren erreichten Frankreichs Politiker_innen 2001 eine umstrittene und in Westeuropa einzigartige Gesetzesverschärfung gegen Gruppen »manipulativen Charakters«. Anhand bisher nicht beachteter Quellen geht Christiane Königstedt den Hintergründen der französischen »Anti-Sekten«-Gesetzgebung nach und erschließt die ineinander greifenden Aktivitäten und Argumentationen der Akteure ebenso wie die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen. Die Zusammenführung verschiedener theoretischer Perspektiven und methodologischer Ansätze ermöglicht einen neuen, differenzierteren Blick auf die noch immer andauernden Konflikte, auf verschiedene Spielarten französischer Laizität sowie auf einige Kernprobleme von Religionsfreiheit in säkularen Gesellschaften.
Bildung - Intersektionalität - Othering
Authors: Riegel Christine
Published: April 2016

Gesellschaftliche Dominanzverhältnisse fordern die Pädagogik heraus und konfrontieren sie mit der Gefahr ihrer Reproduktion. In theoretischen und empirischen Studien untersucht Christine Riegel Prozesse des Othering und deren Folgen für Bildungsprozesse: Inwiefern kommt es in Schule und Jugendarbeit zu Othering? In welcher Weise ist darin auch diskriminierungskritische Bildungsarbeit involviert? Und welche Widersprüche und Potenziale für Veränderung zeigen sich in der pädagogischen Auseinandersetzung mit Differenz und Ungleichheit? Dabei diskutiert sie Intersektionalität als Analyse- und Reflexionsperspektive für Forschung und pädagogische Praxis in widersprüchlichen Verhältnissen.
Die transformative Stadt
Authors: Thiesen Andreas
Published: April 2016

Urbane Diversität ist als Diskurslinie aus den zeitgenössischen Beiträgen zur Stadtentwicklung nicht mehr wegzudenken. Allerdings wurde bislang übersehen, dass jenes Wechselspiel der Identitäten auch den Sozialraum beeinflusst. Die Transformation des Raumes nimmt zu. Die Stadt wird zur Transcity. Die uns einmal gelehrte Weisheit »Wie es in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus« erweist sich als unzuverlässige Maxime: Was Stadtmenschen in »ihren« Stadtteil hineinzurufen meinen, prallt nur noch bruchstückhaft von den Fassaden ab, als Wunsch, Verklärung oder Hoffnung. Andreas Thiesen entwirft Konzepte reflexiver Stadtentwicklung, zeigt Planungsfehler auf und verhandelt das bis heute nicht gelöste »Beteiligungsproblem« der Stadtentwicklung neu.
The effect of rational emotive parent education program on parents’ irrational beliefs and parenting stress
Akılcı duygusal aile eğitim programının anne babaların akılcı olmayan inançlarına ve anne babalık streslerine etkisi
Authors: Çekiç Ali , Akbaş Turan , Hamamcı Zeynep
Published: April 2016

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of Rational Emotive Parent Education Program (REPEP) on parents’ irrational beliefs and parenting stress. In the study, a semi-experimental research design with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up measures on experimental and control group was used. While the first factor shows the independent procedures (like experimental and control groups), other factors show the repetitive measures in various conditions (like pre-test, post-test and follow-up measures)  in relation to the dependent variable. It was studied at a state school in spring of 2013-2014 educational years. The experimental group consists of a total of 26 parents, including 4 fathers and 22 mothers. These groups include volunteer parents who scored a half standard deviation above in Parents’ Stress Scale (PSS) and Parents’ Irrational Beliefs Scale (PIBS). While the experimental group (n=13) received a 7-week Rational Emotive Parent Education Program, the control group (n=13) had no such education. The study results show that upon the experimental practice and follow-up processes, there is a decrease not only in parenting stress, but also in irrational beliefs of the experimental group. The results are also in accordance with the related literature. ÖzetBu araştırmanın amacı, Akılcı Duygusal Aile Eğitim Programının (ADAEP), anne babaların akılcı olmayan inançları ve anne babalık stresleri üzerindeki etkisini incelemektir. Araştırmada ön-test, son-test ve izleme ölçümlü, deney ve kontrol gruplu yarı deneysel bir desen kullanılmıştır. Bu desende birinci faktör bağımsız işlem gruplarını (deney ve kontrol) gösterirken, diğer faktör bağımlı değişkene ilişkin farklı koşullardaki tekrarlı ölçümleri (ön-test, son-test ve izleme ölçümü) göstermektedir.  Çalışma 2013-2014 bahar yarıyılında bir devlet ilkokulunda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Deney grubu 4 baba, 22 anne olmak üzere 26 ebeveynden oluşmaktadır. Deney grupları Anne Baba Stres Ölçeği (ABSÖ) ile Anne Babaların Akılcı Olmayan İnançları Ölçeğinden (ABAOİÖ) ortalamanın yarım standart sapma üzerinde puan alan ve çalışmaya katılmaya gönüllü anne babalardan oluşturulmuştur. Deney grubuna (n=13) araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen 7 haftalık ADAEP uygulanırken kontrol grubuna (n=13) herhangi bir çalışma yapılmamıştır. Araştırma sonuçları, deneysel işlem süreci ve üç aylık izleme dönemi  sonunda deney grubunda yer alan anne babaların stres düzeylerinin düştüğünü, akılcı olmayan inançlarının azaldığını göstermektedir. Araştırma sonuçları ilgili literatürü destekler niteliktedir.
Postpartum hemorrhage in the setting of a mechanical heart valve
Authors: Perdigao Joana Lopes , McQueen Dana , Nunes Kenneth , DiGiovanni Laura
Published: April 2016

Background:

Therapeutic anticoagulation is required for all patients with prosthetic mitral valves. Anticoagulation with warfarin is recommended; however, warfarin is teratogenic in early pregnancy and therefore alternate anticoagulation regimens are suggested for pregnant patients.

Case:

A 28-year-old gravida 2, para 1 woman at 36 weeks’ gestation with a prosthetic mitral valve and a history of a corrected anomalous origin of the left coronary artery arising from the left pulmonary artery presented in labor. She underwent a spontaneous vaginal delivery complicated by a postpartum hemorrhage necessitating a hysterectomy.

Conclusion:

Management of mechanical valves in pregnancy is controversial. The provider must weigh the risks of life threatening valve thrombosis and malfunction against the risk of significant hemorrhage. This case report reviews peripartum anticoagulation protocols and management of massive hemorrhage in patients with prosthetic mechanical valves.
Fabrication and characterization of air-impedance electrospun polydioxanone templates
Authors: Selders Gretchen S. , Fetz Allison E. , Speer Shannon L. , Bowlin Gary L.
Published: April 2016

Electrospinning, a fabrication technique used to create non-woven, porous templates from natural and synthetic polymers, is commonly used in tissue engineering because it is highly tailorable. However, traditional electrospinning creates restrictive pore sizes that limit the required cell migration. Therefore, tissue engineering groups have sought to enhance and regulate porosity of tissue engineering templates. Air-impedance electrospinning generates templates with tailorable, patterned areas of low and high density fiber deposition. Here we demonstrate an improved air-impedance electrospinning system, consisting of a newly designed funnel equipped to hold changeable porous deposition plates and administer air flow in a confined and focused manner, with parameters that maintain template integrity. In this preliminary study, we quantify the increase in porosity of polydioxanone templates with use of traditional fiber and pore analysis as well as with mercury porosimetry. Additionally, we validate the system’s significance in fabricating enhanced porosity templates that maintain their mechanical properties (i.e. elastic modulus, tensile strength, and suture retention strength) despite the deliberate increase in porosity. This is of exceptional value to the template’s integrity and efficacy as these parameters can be further optimized to induce the desired template porosity, strength, and texture for a given application.
EDD1 predicts prognosis and regulates gastric cancer growth in vitro and in vivo via miR-22
Authors: Yang Min , Jiang Nan , Cao Qi-wei , Sun Qing
Published: April 2016

Gastric cancer is the most common digestive malignant tumor worldwild. EDD1 was reported to be frequently amplified in several tumors and played an important role in the tumorigenesis process. However, the biological role and potential mechanism of EDD1 in gastric cancer remains poorly understood. In this study, we are aim to investigate the effect of EDD1 on gastric cancer progression and to explore the underlying mechanism. The results showed the significant up-regulation of EDD1 in -gastric cancer cell tissues and lines. The expression level of EDD1 was also positively associated with advanced clinical stages and predicted poor overall patient survival and poor disease-free patient survival. Besides, EDD1 knockdown markedly inhibited cell viability, colony formation, and suppressed tumor growth. Opposite results were obtained in gastric cancer cells with EDD1 overexpression. EDD1 knockdown was also found to induce gastric cancer cells apoptosis. Further investigation indicated that the oncogenic role of EDD1 in regulating gastric cancer cells growth and apoptosis was related to its PABC domain and directly through targeting miR-22, which was significantly down-regulated in gastric cancer tissues. Totally, our study suggests that EDD1 plays an oncogenic role in gastric cancer and may be a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
Opportunities for disabled people through ICTs: a perspective from Turkey
Authors: Alkan Meshur H. Filiz
Published: April 2016

Information and communication technologies (ICTs), which have developed rapidly in recent years, have brought notable changes to human life. Additionally, the use of ICTs also has importance from the point of view of disabled people. Because of physical deficiencies, disabled people make more effort to access knowledge and services relative to healthy people. Also, they face some important constraints in urban spaces. The planning of urban spaces according to the requirements of disabled people is a necessity of being in a contemporary society. Furthermore, offering some opportunities for disabled people through ICTs should be considered. While healthy people do not have any limitations, disabled people face some important constraints in using these technologies. With this in mind, designing ICTs without considering disabled people will cause discrimination against them by society. In addition, e-learning and teleworking concepts, which have arisen together with ICTs, are an important perspective related to education and employment policies for disabled people. In this paper, the importance of considering the needs and problems of disabled people in accessing ICTs is emphasized, and also this paper aims to evaluate opportunities offered by new technologies for disabled people in Turkey. The uses of areas of ICTs seen as a tool in order to raise the quality of life of disabled people are evaluated, and the problems and opportunities are revealed. People with intellectual disabilities are not addressed within this study. Instead, it focuses on individuals with physical disabilities such as visual, hearing, and orthopedic impairment. Opportunities offered by ICTs for disabled people are evaluated. Also, recommendations are developed about the accessibility of disabled people to employment, education, health, and social and urban services in Turkey. Another aim of this paper is to create awareness for disabled people about the use of ICTs. Firstly, a literature review was done, and in addition to the print and electronic resources, suggestions and opinions were taken from public institutions and organizations. Furthermore, the needs and constraints of disabled people are explored for the use of ICTs by conducting in-depth interviews.
Anxiolytic-like effect of the leaves of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich.) Engl. in mice
Authors: Adongo Donatus Wewura , Mante Priscilla Kolibea , Edem Kukuia Kennedy Kwami , Ameyaw Elvis Ofori , Woode Eric , Azi Iliya Hosea
Published: April 2016

Background:

Pseudospondias microcarpa is a plant used for managing various diseases including CNS disorders. Previous studies showed sedative and anticonvulsant effects, suggesting possible anxiolytic activity. This study therefore assessed the anxiolytic effects of P. microcarpa hydroethanolic leaf extract (PME) in mice.

Methods:

In the present study, anxiolytic-like effect of the extract in behavioural paradigms of anxiety – the elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark box (LDB), social interaction test and stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) – was evaluated.

Results:

Mice treated with PME (30–300 mg kg−1, p.o.) exhibited anxiolytic-like activity similar to diazepam in all the anxiety models used. The extract increased open arm activity (p<0.05) in the EPM as well as increasing the time spent in the lit area in relation to the time spent in the dark area of the LDB. Sociability and preference for social novelty significantly (p<0.05–0.001) increased in mice treated with PME. In the SIH paradigm in mice, both PME and the benzodiazepine receptor agonist, diazepam, significantly (p<0.05) reduced the stress-induced increase in rectal temperature. The extract did not impair motor coordination and balance in the beam walk test.

Conclusions:

Results of the present study indicate that PME possesses anxiolytic-like effects in mice.
Nephrotoxicity of sodium valproate and protective role of L-cysteine in rats at biochemical and histological levels
Authors: El-Shenawy Nahla S. , Hamza Reham Z.
Published: April 2016

Background:

This study investigated whether the combination of sodium valproate (SV) with L-cysteine (LC) can decrease the SV toxicity of kidneys. SV caused alternation in oxidative/antioxidant balance.

Methods:

Biochemical estimations included the determination of oxidative stress markers like thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in kidney tissue, and enzymatic antioxidant activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase as well as total antioxidant capacity were evaluated in renal tissues. Creatinine and uric acid levels in the serum were also determined to assess kidney function. Pathological examination of the kidney was also performed.

Results:

Increasing the levels of lipid peroxidation and decreasing the enzymatic activity (SOD, CAT, and GPx) as well as total antioxidant capacity of rats was shown with different doses of SV. Impairment in renal function tests suggests a decreased glomerular filtration rate, as serum creatinine was elevated. Histopathological changes of kidney tissue treated with SV reveal the proximal and the distal convoluted tubules that show hydropic changes (small white vacuoles within the cytoplasm and the glomeruli show hypercellularity).

Conclusions:

The concurrent administration of LC with SV significantly had beneficial effects on the kidney and all the above parameters have been improved.
The safety of progestogen in the prevention of preterm birth: meta-analysis of neonatal mortality
Authors: Ahn Ki Hoon , Bae Na-Young , Hong Soon-Cheol , Lee Ji-Sung , Lee Eun Hee , Jee Hee-Jung , Cho Geum-Joon , Oh Min-Jeong , Kim Hai-Joong
Published: April 2016

Background:

The safety of preventive progestogen therapy for preterm birth remains to be established. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of preventive progestogen therapy on neonatal mortality.

Methods:

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the preventive use of progestogen therapy, published between October 1971 and November 2015, were identified by searching MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library databases, CINAHL, POPLINE, and LILACS using “progesterone” and “preterm birth” as key terms. We conducted separate analyses according to the type of progestogen administered and plurality of the pregnancy.

Results:

Twenty-two RCTs provided data on 11,188 neonates. Preventive progestogen treatment in women with a history of preterm birth or short cervical length was not associated with increased risk of neonatal death compared to placebo in all analyzed progestogen types and pregnancy conditions. The pooled relative risks (95% confidence interval) of neonatal mortality were 0.69 (0.31–1.54) for vaginal progestogen in singleton pregnancies, 0.6 (0.33–1.09) for intramuscular progestogen in singleton pregnancies, 0.96 (0.51–1.8) for vaginal progestogen in multiple pregnancies, and 0.96 (0.49–1.9) for intramuscular progestogen in multiple pregnancies.

Conclusions:

The results of this meta-analysis suggest that administration of preventive progestogen treatment to women at risk for preterm birth does not appear to negatively affect neonatal mortality in single or multiple pregnancies regardless of the route of administration.
Differential immunophenotype of macrophages in acute and chronic chorioamnionitis
Authors: Bae Go-Eun , Hong Joon-Seok , Kim Jung-Sun , Park Ha Young , Jang Ja Yun , Kim Yi Seul , Choi Suk-Joo , Oh Soo-young , Roh Cheong-Rae
Published: April 2016

Aim:

The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement and immunophenotype of macrophages in acute chorioamnionitis (ACA) and chronic chorioamnionitis (CCA), marking amniotic fluid infection and anti-fetal rejection, respectively.

Methods:

Chorioamniotic membranes from (1) gestational age-matched cases without chorioamnionitis, (2) cases with ACA, and (3) cases with CCA were studied after immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against CD14, CD68, CD163, and DC-SIGN.

Results:

Macrophages increased prominently in the chorionic trophoblastic layer of both ACA and CCA cases in contrast to non-inflammatory cases. Macrophages in the decidua and the chorioamniotic membranes of ACA cases expressed CD14. Macrophages in the chorionic trophoblastic layer of CCA cases were characterized by CD68 positivity. DC-SIGN-positive cells were increased in the chorioamniotic mesodermal layer of CCA cases.

Conclusions:

Macrophages participate in the inflammatory response in ACA and CCA. The differential immunophenotypes of macrophages in the decidua and chorioamniotic membranes of ACA and CCA cases suggest their disease-specific and region-specific roles at the feto-maternal interface.
Preliminary comparison of three processes of AlN oxidation: dry, wet and mixed ones
Authors: Korbutowicz R. , Zakrzewski A.
Published: April 2016

Three methods of AlN layers oxidation: dry, wet and mixed (wet with oxygen) were compared. Some physical parameters of oxidized thin films of aluminum nitride (AlN) layers grown on silicon Si(1 1 1) were investigated by means Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE). Three series of the thermal oxidations processes were carried out at 1012 °C in pure nitrogen as carrying gas and various gas ambients: (a) dry oxidation with oxygen, (b) wet oxidation with water steam and (c) mixed atmosphere with various process times. All the research methods have shown that along with the rising of the oxidation time, AlN layer across the aluminum oxide nitride transforms to aluminum oxide. The mixed oxidation was a faster method than the dry or wet ones.
Structural and optoelectronic properties of glucose capped Al and Cu doped ZnO nanostructures
Authors: Patwari Gunjan , Kalita Pradip Kumar , Singha Ranjit
Published: April 2016

Al and Cu doped ZnO nanoparticles are considered as appropriate for modulation of structural and optoelectronic properties. Al atoms are found to substitute the host Zn whereas Cu dopants mainly segregate in grain boundaries and thereby determine the optical properties. The undoped as well as Al and Cu doped ZnO exhibit spherical well defined particles. The spherical nanoparticles change to rod type structures on co-doping. The average particle size decreases on doping what consequently results in an increment in band gap. Blue shift in UV absorption is governed by the functional group of glucose; further blue shift occurring on metal doping may be attributed to Burstein-Moss effect. PL spectra of doped and undoped ZnO show a dominant near band gap UV emission along with visible emission owing to the defects. The PL peak intensity increases on doping with Cu and Al. The linear I-V characteristics indicate the ohmic behavior of ZnO nanostructures.
Optical Frequency Comb Generation based on Erbium Fiber Lasers
Authors: Droste Stefan , Ycas Gabriel , Washburn Brian R. , Coddington Ian , Newbury Nathan R.
Published: April 2016

Optical frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology and are being actively investigated in a number of applications outside of pure optical frequency metrology. For reasons of cost, robustness, performance, and flexibility, the erbium fiber laser frequency comb has emerged as the most commonly used frequency comb system and many different designs of erbium fiber frequency combs have been demonstrated. We review the different approaches taken in the design of erbium fiber frequency combs, including the major building blocks of the underlying mode-locked laser, amplifier, supercontinuum generation and actuators for stabilization of the frequency comb.
Cationic modified gold nanoparticles show enhanced gene delivery in vitro
Authors: Lazarus Geraldine Genevive , Singh Moganavelli
Published: April 2016

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be suitably engineered for applications in gene delivery, and as carriers of peptides and proteins. They present innovative strategies in gene therapy for the treatment of genetic as well as acquired diseases. Optimisation of AuNPs in binding and the eventual release of the therapeutic agent in a controlled manner are crucial steps in the pathway to effective drug or gene therapy. In this study, we propose the formulation of cationic polymer [chitosan (Chit) and poly-l-lysine (PLL)] and cysteine (Cys)-coated AuNPs. These cationic AuNPs displayed good stability and resistance to aggregation under physiological conditions. All functionalised formulations remained in the size range 15.7–186 nm with narrow particle distributions and low polydispersity index (<0.9). Band shift and ethidium bromide intercalation assays determined the complexation of pDNA to the functionalised AuNP (FAuNP). Au-Chit/pDNA exhibited a significant 126% (p<0.01) cell viability in HepG2 cells, followed by Au-PLL/pDNA at 104% in HeLa cells and Au-cysteine/pDNA at 91.8% (p<0.001) in Caco-2 cells. Significant transgene activities in all cell lines were noted with enhanced gene expression for the FAuNP complexes over the cationic complexes on their own. The results of this study suggest that the low cytotoxicity and promising transgene activity of these FAuNPs, coupled with the ability to parametrically control particle size and surface properties, make these formulations suitable nanocarriers for drugs and genes.