bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is metabolic rate a universal ‘pacemaker’ for biological processes?
Authors: Glazier Douglas S.
Published: May 2014

A common, long‐held belief is that metabolic rate drives the rates of various biological, ecological and evolutionary processes. Although this metabolic pacemaker view (as assumed by the recent, influential ‘metabolic theory of ecology’) may be true in at least some situations (e.g. those involving moderate temperature effects or physiological processes closely linked to metabolism, such as heartbeat and breathing rate), it suffers from several major limitations, including: (i) it is supported chiefly by indirect, correlational evidence (e.g. similarities between the body‐size and temperature scaling of metabolic rate and that of other biological processes, which are not always observed) – direct, mechanistic or experimental support is scarce and much needed; (ii) it is contradicted by abundant evidence showing that various intrinsic and extrinsic factors (e.g. hormonal action and temperature changes) can dissociate the rates of metabolism, growth, development and other biological processes; (iii) there are many examples where metabolic rate appears to respond to, rather than drive the rates of various other biological processes (e.g. ontogenetic growth, food intake and locomotor activity); (iv) there are additional examples where metabolic rate appears to be unrelated to the rate of a biological process (e.g. ageing, circadian rhythms, and molecular evolution); and (v) the theoretical foundation for the metabolic pacemaker view focuses only on the energetic control of biological processes, while ignoring the importance of informational control, as mediated by various genetic, cellular, and neuroendocrine regulatory systems. I argue that a comprehensive understanding of the pace of life must include how biological activities depend on both energy and information and their environmentally sensitive interaction. This conclusion is supported by extensive evidence showing that hormones and other regulatory factors and signalling systems coordinate the processes of growth, metabolism and food intake in adaptive ways that are responsive to an organism's internal and external conditions. Metabolic rate does not merely dictate growth rate, but is coadjusted with it. Energy and information use are intimately intertwined in living systems: biological signalling pathways both control and respond to the energetic state of an organism. This review also reveals that we have much to learn about the temporal structure of the pace of life. Are its component processes highly integrated and synchronized, or are they loosely connected and often discordant? And what causes the level of coordination that we see? These questions are of great theoretical and practical importance.
Study to determine the durability of glycaemic control with early treatment with a vildagliptin–metformin combination regimen vs. standard‐of‐care metformin monotherapy—the VERIFY trial: a randomized double‐blind trial
Authors: Del Prato S. , Foley J. E. , Kothny W. , Kozlovski P. , Stumvoll M. , Paldánius P. M. , Matthews D. R.
Published: May 2014

Aims

Durability of good glycaemic control (HbA1c) is of importance as it can be the foundation for delaying diabetic complications. It has been hypothesized that early initiation of treatment with the combination of oral anti‐diabetes agents with complementary mechanisms of action can increase the durability of glycaemic control compared with metformin monotherapy followed by a stepwise addition of oral agents. Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors are good candidates for early use as they are efficacious in combination with metformin, show weight neutrality and a low risk of hypoglycaemia. We aimed to test the hypothesis that early combined treatment of metformin and vildagliptin slows β‐cell deterioration as measured by HbA1c.

Methods

Approximately 2000 people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who were drug‐naive or who were treated with metformin for less than 1 month, and who have HbA1c of 48–58 mmol/mol (6.5–7.5%), will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio in VERIFY, a 5‐year multinational, double‐blind, parallel‐group study designed to compare early initiation of a vildagliptin–metformin combination with standard‐of‐care initiation of metformin monotherapy, followed by the stepwise addition of vildagliptin when glycaemia deteriorates. Further deterioration will be treated with insulin. The primary analysis for treatment failure will be from a Cox proportional hazard regression model and the durability of glycaemic control will be evaluated by assessing treatment failure rate and the rate of loss in glycaemic control over time as co‐primary endpoints.

VERIFY is the first study to investigate the long‐term clinical benefits of early combination treatment vs. the standard‐of‐care metformin monotherapy with a second agent added by threshold criteria.
A context‐specific research tool to probe the out‐of‐class vocabulary‐related strategies of study‐abroad learners
Authors: Briggs Jessica G.
Published: May 2014

This mixed‐methods study reports the development and employment of an innovative research tool designed to capture in fine detail the vocabulary‐related strategies used by adult learners of English on a study‐abroad experience when exposed to unfamiliar vocabulary outside the classroom. A questionnaire determined the five most identified with out‐of‐class L2 contact scenarios, and subsequently computer‐based simulations of those scenarios were used as stimuli in semi‐structured interviews to capture the task and/or context‐specific strategic behaviour that learners were manifesting. Scenarios which served to provide entertainment or build interpersonal relationships were the most highly identified with. The simulation tool revealed a strong relationship between contextual features and strategic behaviour, particularly when a salient link existed between contextual intention and comprehension of a target word/phrase.
Evaluation of the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of grape pomace
Authors: Iora Sandra R. F. , Maciel Giselle M. , Zielinski Acácio A. F. , da Silva Marcos V. , Pontes Paula V. de A. , Haminiuk Charles W. I. , Granato Daniel
Published: May 2014

Grape pomace is an agro‐industrial residue produced worldwide and mainly employed for animal feed or as a fertiliser. Several studies have shown that grape pomace is a rich source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, fatty acids and others. Three varieties of grape pomace were evaluated in this study. Antioxidant activity was determined by three different methods, namely,DPPH˙,ABTSand ferrous ion assays. Fatty acids and phenolic compounds were identified, respectively, by gas and liquid chromatography. Results showed that grape pomace is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds. Cabernet Sauvignon pomace revealed higher values of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids and total monomeric anthocyanin, and presented the lowest value ofEC50, and thus a higher antioxidant activity among the samples analysed.
Commentary: Developmental Perspectives on Adolescents and Gangs
Authors: Brown B. Bradford , Hippensteele Ian M. , Lawrence Simone M.
Published: May 2014

Drawing from a sophisticated set of longitudinal studies, the five articles in this special section highlight factors that draw adolescents into gangs and the psychological and social impact of their involvement. We assess the contributions of these articles in the context of the broader field of gang studies, then point to factors that should characterize the next generation of studies of adolescents and gangs. Particular attention is paid to developmental features of adolescence that may shape the allure and impact of gang affiliation.
Improved soybean oil quality by targeted mutagenesis of the fatty acid desaturase 2 gene family
Authors: Haun William , Coffman Andrew , Clasen Benjamin M. , Demorest Zachary L. , Lowy Anita , Ray Erin , Retterath Adam , Stoddard Thomas , Juillerat Alexandre , Cedrone Frederic , Mathis Luc , Voytas Daniel F. , Zhang Feng
Published: May 2014

Soybean oil is high in polyunsaturated fats and is often partially hydrogenated to increase its shelf life and improve oxidative stability. The trans‐fatty acids produced through hydrogenation pose a health threat. Soybean lines that are low in polyunsaturated fats were generated by introducing mutations in two fatty acid desaturase 2 genes (FAD2‐1A and FAD2‐1B), which in the seed convert the monounsaturated fat, oleic acid, to the polyunsaturated fat, linoleic acid. Transcription activator‐like effector nucleases (TALENs) were engineered to recognize and cleave conserved DNA sequences in both genes. In four of 19 transgenic soybean lines expressing the TALENs, mutations in FAD2‐1A and FAD2‐1B were observed in DNA extracted from leaf tissue; three of the four lines transmitted heritable FAD2‐1 mutations to the next generation. The fatty acid profile of the seed was dramatically changed in plants homozygous for mutations in both FAD2‐1A and FAD2‐1B: oleic acid increased from 20% to 80% and linoleic acid decreased from 50% to under 4%. Further, mutant plants were identified that lacked the TALEN transgene and only carried the targeted mutations. The ability to create a valuable trait in a single generation through targeted modification of a gene family demonstrates the power of TALENs for genome engineering and crop improvement.
Transgenic rice as bioreactor for production of the Candida antarctica lipase B
Authors: Yang Ying , Wang Dongfang , Zhang Xianwen , Fang Jun , Shen Zhicheng , Lin Chaoyang
Published: May 2014

Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) is a versatile biocatalyst used for a wide range of biotransformation. Methods for low cost production of this enzyme are highly desirable. Here, we report a mass production method of CALB using transgenic rice seeds as the bioreactor. The transgenic rice transformed with the CALB gene under the control of the promoter of the rice seed storage protein GT1 was found to have accumulated a large quantity of CALB in seeds. The transgenic line with the highest lipolytic activity reached to 85 units per gram of dry seeds. One unit is defined as the amount of lipase necessary to liberate 1 μmol p‐nitrophenol from p‐nitrophenyl butyrate in 1 min. The rice recombinant lipase (rOsCALB) from this line represents 40% of the total soluble proteins in the crude seed extracts. The enzyme purified from the rice seeds had an optimal temperature of 40 °C, and optimal pH of 8.5, similar to that of the fermentation products. Test of its conversion ability as a biocatalyst for biodiesel production suggested that rOsCALB is functionally identical to the fermentation products in its industrial application.
Epidemiology of Achilles tendon ruptures: Increasing incidence over a 33‐year period
Authors: Lantto I. , Heikkinen J. , Flinkkilä T. , Ohtonen P. , Leppilahti J.
Published: May 2014

We investigated the epidemiology of total Achilles tendon ruptures and complication rates after operative and nonoperative treatments over a 33‐year period in Oulu, Finland. Patients with Achilles tendon ruptures from 1979 to 2011 in Oulu were identified from hospital patient records. Demographic data, treatment method, and complications were collected retrospectively from medical records. Overall and sex‐ and age‐specific incidence rates were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The overall incidence per 100 000 person‐years increased from 2.1 (95% CI 0.3–7.7) in 1979 to 21.5 (95% CI 14.6–30.6) in 2011. The incidence increased in all age groups. The mean annual increase in incidence was 2.4% (95% CI 1.3–4.7) higher for non‐sports‐related ruptures than for sports‐related ruptures (P = 0.036). The incidence of sports‐related ruptures increased during the second 11‐year period whereas the incidence of non‐sports‐related ruptures increased steadily over the entire study period. Infection was four times more common after operative treatment compared with nonoperative treatment, re‐rupture rates were similar. The incidence of Achilles tendon ruptures increased in all age groups over a 33‐year period. Increases were mainly due to sports‐related injuries in the second 11‐year period and non‐sports‐related injuries in the last 11‐year period.
The Mechanisms Influencing Active Arts Participation: An Analysis of the Visual Arts, Music, and the Performing Arts
Authors: Vanherwegen Dries , Lievens John
Published: May 2014

The aim of this article is to gain insight into the factors correlated with active arts participation. Drawing on the cultural reproduction theory and the cultural mobility model, we assess the relative effects of level of education and art education versus social background and focus on possible interaction effects between them. We thereby query if and to what extent art education programs and parental milieu can account for differences in participation according to level of education. Results based on stepwise logistic regression analyses on representative population data for Flanders (N = 3,146) offer a mixed picture. Although we find clear effects of social background on the odds of active arts participation, net effects of art education prove more substantial. However, the context of art education clearly matters: for most of the art forms considered, only out‐of‐school art education shows net effects, while in‐school art education has no net effects. Furthermore, we find how the effects of level of education on active art participation are equally attributable to parental milieu and to art education programs. Finally, four significant interaction effects are found corroborating the cultural mobility model. Results are discussed in the light of both theorems and routes for further research are suggested.
A Multilevel Hierarchical Finite Element Model for Capillary Failure in Soft Tissue
Authors: Grosse Ian R. , Huang Lu , Davis Julian L. , Cullinane Dennis
Published: May 2014

Bruising, the result of capillary failure due to trauma, is a common indication of abuse. However, the etiology of capillary failure has yet to be determined as the scale change from tissue to capillary represents several orders of magnitude. As a first step toward determining bruise etiology, we have developed a multilevel hierarchical finite element model (FEM) of a portion of the upper human arm using a commercial finite element tool and a series of three interconnected hierarchical submodels. The third and final submodel contains a portion of the muscle tissue in which a single capillary is embedded. Nonlinear, hyperelastic material properties were applied to skin, adipose, muscle, and capillary wall materials. A pseudostrain energy method was implemented to subtract rigid-body-like motion of the submodel volume experienced in the global model, and was critical for convergence and successful analyses in the submodels. The deformation and hoop stresses in the capillary wall were determined and compared with published capillary failure stress. For the dynamic load applied to the skin of the arm (physiologically simulating a punch), the model predicted that approximately 8% volume fraction of the capillary wall was above the reference capillary failure stress, indicating bruising would likely occur.
Physics-Based Microstructure Simulation for Drilled Hole Surface in Hardened Steel
Authors: Shen Ninggang , Ding Hongtao
Published: May 2014

For a fully hardened steel material, hole surface microstructures are often subject to microstructural transition because of the intense thermomechanical loading. A white layer can be formed on the surface of a drilled hole of hardened carbon steels, which results from two mechanisms: thermally driven phase transformation and mechanical grain refinement due to severe plastic deformation. In this study, a multistep numerical analysis is conducted to investigate the potential mechanism of surface microstructure alterations in hard drilling. First, three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) simulations are performed using a relative coarse mesh with advantedge for hard drilling of AISI 1060 steel to achieve the steady-state solution for thermal and deformation fields. Defining the initial condition of the cutting zone using the 3D simulation results, a multiphysics model is then implemented in two-dimensional (2D) coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) FE analysis in abaqus to model both phase transformation and grain refinement at a fine mesh to comprehend the surface microstructure alteration. Experimental results are used to demonstrate the capability of this multiphysics model to predict critical surface microstructural attributes.
Comparative Assessment of the Laser-Induced Plasma Micromachining and the Ultrashort Pulsed Laser Ablation Processes
Authors: Pallav Kumar , Saxena Ishan , Ehmann Kornel F.
Published: May 2014

The ultrashort pulsed laser ablation process is a well-established micromachining process and has been at the center of manufacturing research in the past decade. However, it has its own limitations, primarily due to the involvement of various material-specific laser and machining process parameters. The laser-induced plasma micromachining (LIP-MM) is a novel tool-less and multimaterial selective material removal type of micromachining process. In a manner similar to ultrashort pulsed laser ablation, it also removes material through an ultrashort pulsed laser beam. However, instead of direct laser–matter interaction, it uses the laser beam to generate plasma within a transparent dielectric media that facilitates material removal through plasma–matter interaction and thus circumvents some of the limitations associated with the ultrashort pulsed laser ablation process. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the comparative assessment of the capabilities of the two processes in the machining of microchannels in stainless steel. For this purpose, microchannels were machined by the two processes at similar pulse energy levels and feed-rate values. The comparative assessment was based on the geometric characteristics, material removal rate (MRR), heat-affected zone and shock-affected zone (HAZ, SAZ), and the range of machinable materials.
Oersted Lecture 2013: How should we think about how our students think?
Authors: Redish Edward F.
Published: May 2014

Physics Education Research (PER) applies a scientific approach to the question, “How do our students think about and learn physics?” PER allows us to explore such intellectually engaging questions as “What does it mean to understand something in physics?” and “What skills and competencies do we want our students to learn from our physics classes?” To address questions like these, we need to do more than observe student difficulties and build curricula. We need a theoretical framework—a structure for talking about, making sense of, and modeling how one thinks about, learns, and understands physics. In this paper, I outline some aspects of the Resources Framework, a structure that some of us are using to create a phenomenology of physics learning that ties closely to modern developments in neuroscience, psychology, and linguistics. As an example of how this framework gives new insights, I discuss epistemological framing—the role of students' perceptions of the nature of the knowledge they are learning and what knowledge is appropriate to bring to bear on a given task. I discuss how this foothold idea fits into our theoretical framework, show some classroom data on how it plays out in the classroom, and give some examples of how my awareness of the resources framework influences my approach to teaching.
On the psychology of poverty
Authors: Haushofer Johannes , Fehr Ernst
Published: May 2014

Poverty remains one of the most pressing problems facing the world; the mechanisms through which poverty arises and perpetuates itself, however, are not well understood. Here, we examine the evidence for the hypothesis that poverty may have particular psychological consequences that can lead to economic behaviors that make it difficult to escape poverty. The evidence indicates that poverty causes stress and negative affective states which in turn may lead to short-sighted and risk-averse decision-making, possibly by limiting attention and favoring habitual behaviors at the expense of goal-directed ones. Together, these relationships may constitute a feedback loop that contributes to the perpetuation of poverty. We conclude by pointing toward specific gaps in our knowledge and outlining poverty alleviation programs that this mechanism suggests.
Complete Genome Sequence of Ureaplasma parvum Serovar 3 Strain SV3F4, Isolated in Japan
Authors: Wu Heng Ning , Nakura Yukiko , Motooka Daisuke , Nakamura Shota , Nishiumi Fumiko , Ishino Saki , Kawai Yasuhiro , Tanaka Tatsuya , Takeuchi Makoto , Nakayama Masahiro , Fujita Tomio , Yanagihara Itaru
Published: May 2014

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of
Ureaplasma parvum
serovar 3, clinical strain SV3F4, isolated from a Japanese patient with a history of an infectious abortion.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Nonstarter Bacteriocin-Producing Strain Enterococcus mundtii CRL35
Authors: Bonacina Julieta , Saavedra Lucila , Suárez Nadia E. , Sesma Fernando
Published: May 2014

Enterococcus mundtii
CRL35 is a bacteriocinogenic strain isolated from an artisanal cheese of northwestern Argentina. Here we report its draft genome sequence, consisting of 82 contigs.
In silico
genomic analysis of biotechnological properties was performed to determine the potential of this microorganism to be used in a food model system.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Highly Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila AL09-71 Isolated from Diseased Channel Catfish in West Alabama
Authors: Pridgeon Julia W. , Zhang Dunhua , Zhang Lee
Published: May 2014

Aeromonas hydrophila
AL09-71 was isolated from diseased channel catfish in west Alabama during a 2009 disease outbreak. The full genome of
A. hydrophila
AL09-71 is 5,023,861 bp. The availability of this genome will allow comparative genomics to identify genes involved in pathogenesis or immunogens for the purpose of vaccine development.
Why women choose to give birth at home: a situational analysis from urban slums of Delhi
Authors: Devasenapathy Niveditha , George Mathew Sunil , Ghosh Jerath Suparna , Singh Archna , Negandhi Himanshu , Alagh Gursimran , Shankar Anuraj H , Zodpey Sanjay
Published: May 2014

Objectives

Increasing institutional births is an important strategy for attaining Millennium Development Goal -5. However, rapid growth of low income and migrant populations in urban settings in low-income and middle-income countries, including India, presents unique challenges for programmes to improve utilisation of institutional care. Better understanding of the factors influencing home or institutional birth among the urban poor is urgently needed to enhance programme impact. To measure the prevalence of home and institutional births in an urban slum population and identify factors influencing these events.

Design

Cross-sectional survey using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Setting

Urban poor settlements in Delhi, India.

Participants

A house-to-house survey was conducted of all households in three slum clusters in north-east Delhi (n=32 034 individuals). Data on birthing place and sociodemographic characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires (n=6092 households). Detailed information on pregnancy and postnatal care was obtained from women who gave birth in the past 3 months (n=160). Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with stakeholders from the community and healthcare facilities.

Results

Of the 824 women who gave birth in the previous year, 53% (95% CI 49.7 to 56.6) had given birth at home. In adjusted analyses, multiparity, low literacy and migrant status were independently predictive of home births. Fear of hospitals (36%), comfort of home (20.7%) and lack of social support for child care (12.2%) emerged as the primary reasons for home births.

Conclusions

Home births are frequent among the urban poor. This study highlights the urgent need for improvements in the quality and hospitality of client services and need for family support as the key modifiable factors affecting over two-thirds of this population. These findings should inform the design of strategies to promote institutional births.
Maximal subalgebras for Lie superalgebras of Cartan type
Authors: Bai Wei , Liu Wende , Liu Xuan , Melikyan Hayk
Published: May 2014

The maximal graded subalgebras for four families of Lie superalgebras of Cartan type over a field of prime characteristic are studied. All maximal graded subalgebras are described completely by a constructive method and their isomorphism classes, dimension formulas are found except for maximal irreducible graded subalgebras. The classification of maximal irreducible graded subalgebras is reduced to the classification of the maximal irreducible subalgebras for the classical Lie superalgebras 𝔤𝔩(m, n), 𝔰𝔩(m, n) and 𝔬𝔰𝔭(m, n).
On 2-absorbing preradicals
Authors: Darani Ahmad Yousefian , Mostafanasab Hojjat
Published: May 2014

This paper is devoted to study the 2-absorbing preradicals and 2-absorbing submodules. We investigate some relations between the concept of 2-absorbing preradicals and 2-absorbing submodules using the lattice structure of preradicals.
A review of geological origins and relationships in the Ballantrae Complex, SW Scotland
Authors: Stone Philip
Published: May 2014

Synopsis

A substantial history of research has established the Ballantrae Complex as an ophiolite assemblage, generated within the Iapetus Ocean and accreted at the margin of Laurentia as that ocean began to close. Radiometric dates and graptolite biostratigraphy provide an age range from Neoproterozoic (rarely and questionably) to Early Ordovician (commonly and securely). Components of the complex formed in a range of oceanic environments: within-plate oceanic islands, island arcs and back-arc spreading zones. Overall, the various lines of evidence point to an early Arenig marginal basin, incorporating some older elements, which was tectonically disrupted and compressed during an obduction event driven by arc–continent collision. Despite the general consensus as to the age and origin of the complex there remain areas of uncertainty. It is highly probable that some components of the complex that are now structurally juxtaposed originated at a considerable distance from each other both horizontally and vertically. Further, the sporadic presence of high-grade metamorphic rocks – notably blueschists – suggests a complicated and probably polyphase structural history, whilst the relative importance of serpentinite diapirism versus compressional and strike-slip tectonics remains unresolved. In terms of regional structure, the complex appears to occupy a steeply inclined fault zone, separating the Midland Valley from the Southern Uplands terrane to the south, to a depth of several kilometres. This situation questions the concept of the complex as the vestige of an ophiolite sheet obducted on to the Midland Valley basement.
Large-scale Quaternary movements of the Beinn na Leac Fault Block, SE Raasay, Inner Hebrides
Authors: Morton Nicol
Published: May 2014

Synopsis

The geological map of the southeastern part of Raasay is revised in this paper, with important consequences for the interpretation of the geological structure and history. The strike and dip of the Eyre area to the south are in line with those of the Rudha na Leac–Hallaig area to the north, indicating structural continuity as part of the main southern Raasay tilted fault block. The arcuate fault bounding the Beinn na Leac block extends further south than is shown on previous maps, with a newly recognized part extending from east of the upper part of the Allt Fearns to South Fearns, bounded by the arcuate extension of the main fault. This southern part is extensively overlain by undisturbed Devensian sediments and Pre-Devensian movements are estimated at 173  m. The northern block, forming the hill and cliffs of Beinn na Leac, is not overlain by Devensian deposits and has topographic features, including a detached scree slope, showing clear evidence of later, at least partly post-glacial, movements. The renewed movements, separating it from the southern block, resulted in further movements estimated as at least 165 m, possibly even more further north in the sector, where a total of over 450 m displacement is estimated. The Beinn na Leac Faults are not related to the major NE–SW faults in the Inner Hebrides that define the westerly-tilted fault blocks, including southern Raasay, and dated approximately to the Early Cretaceous. The Beinn na Leac Faults are interpreted as Quaternary listric faults, reflecting the collapse of the scarp of westerly tilted strata into an overdeepened trough east of Raasay formed by repeated glacial erosion. The southern section of the faulted mass was blocked from further movement by thick Devensian deposits offshore filling the southern part of the trough. The Beinn na Leac blocks differ from landslips because they remained coherent and there is no evidence of rotation.
What laboratory-induced dissolution trends tell us about natural diagenetic trends of carbonate rocks
Authors: Vanorio Tiziana , Ebert Yael , Grombacher Denys
Published: May 2014

The pivotal idea of this study is to unravel the processes that control heterogeneity in the attributes of the pore space in carbonate rocks (i.e. stiffness, connectivity and tortuosity), and, in turn, in the transport and elastic properties. We use starting rocks of variable fabric (i.e. a depositional-dependent microstructure) to induce a specific process (e.g. chemical dissolution under stress) and then observe the development of the microstructure, permeability, porosity and velocity due to the induced chemomechanical processes.

We find that the changes in the two end members of the analysed rock types (mudstones and packstones) can lead to two different evolutionary trends of permeability and velocity, depending on the effectiveness of dissolution with respect to compaction. The balance between the two depends on: (a) the fraction of the carbonate phases characterized by large surface area; and (b) the pore stiffness of the rock. Packstones are characterized by low pore stiffness and compact significantly upon dissolution. This behaviour leads to a decrease in velocity because of a reduction in the stiffness at the grain contacts and a slight increase in permeability. The latter is curbed by the ongoing compaction. Mudstones are characterized by higher pore stiffness, experiencing minimal or negligible compaction. This behaviour leads to a slight change in porosity and velocity. However, large permeability changes are observed, related to enhanced connectivity or decreased tortuosity of the pathways.
NDY1/KDM2B Functions as a Master Regulator of Polycomb Complexes and Controls Self-Renewal of Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Kottakis Filippos , Foltopoulou Parthena , Sanidas Ioannis , Keller Patricia , Wronski Ania , Dake Benjamin T. , Ezell Scott A. , Shen Zhu , Naber Stephen P. , Hinds Philip W. , McNiel Elizabeth , Kuperwasser Charlotte , Tsichlis Philip N.
Published: May 2014

The JmjC domain histone H3K36me2/me1 demethylase NDY1/KDM2B is overexpressed in various types of cancer. Here we show that knocking down NDY1 in a set of 10 cell lines derived from a broad range of human tumors inhibited their anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth by inducing senescence and/or apoptosis in some and by inhibiting G1 progression in all. We further show that the knockdown of NDY1 in mammary adenocarcinoma cell lines decreased the number, size, and replating efficiency of mammospheres and downregulated the stem cell markers ALDH and CD44, while upregulating CD24. Together, these findings suggest that NDY1 is required for the self-renewal of cancer stem cells and are in agreement with additional findings showing that tumor cells in which NDY1 was knocked down undergo differentiation and a higher number of them is required to induce mammary adenocarcinomas, upon orthotopic injection in animals. Mechanistically, NDY1 functions as a master regulator of a set of miRNAs that target several members of the polycomb complexes PRC1 and PRC2, and its knockdown results in the de-repression of these miRNAs and the downregulation of their polycomb targets. Consistent with these observations, NDY1/KDM2B is expressed at higher levels in basal-like triple-negative breast cancers, and its overexpression is associated with higher rates of relapse after treatment. In addition, NDY1-regulated miRNAs are downregulated in both normal and cancer mammary stem cells. Finally, in primary human breast cancer, NDY1/KDM2B expression correlates negatively with the expression of the NDY1-regulated miRNAs and positively with the expression of their PRC targets. Cancer Res; 74(14); 3935–46. ©2014 AACR.
Polymerase δ-Interacting Protein 2 Promotes Postischemic Neovascularization of the Mouse Hindlimb
Authors: Amanso Angélica M. , Lassègue Bernard , Joseph Giji , Landázuri Natalia , Long James S. , Weiss Daiana , Taylor W. Robert , Griendling Kathy K.
Published: May 2014

Objective—

Collateral vessel formation can functionally compensate for obstructive vascular lesions in patients with atherosclerosis. Neovascularization processes are triggered by fluid shear stress, hypoxia, growth factors, chemokines, proteases, and inflammation, as well as reactive oxygen species, in response to ischemia. Polymerase δ-interacting protein 2 (Poldip2) is a multifunctional protein that regulates focal adhesion turnover and vascular smooth muscle cell migration and modifies extracellular matrix composition. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that loss of Poldip2 impairs collateral formation.

Approach and Results—

The mouse hindlimb ischemia model has been used to understand mechanisms involved in postnatal blood vessel formation. Poldip2
+/−
mice were subjected to femoral artery excision, and functional and morphological analysis of blood vessel formation was performed after injury. Heterozygous deletion of Poldip2 decreased the blood flow recovery and spontaneous running activity at 21 days after injury. H
2
O
2
production, as well as the activity of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9, was reduced in these animals compared with Poldip2
+/+
mice. Infiltration of macrophages in the peri-injury muscle was also decreased; however, macrophage phenotype was similar between genotypes. In addition, the formation of capillaries and arterioles was impaired, as was angiogenesis, in agreement with a decrease in proliferation observed in endothelial cells treated with small interfering RNA against Poldip2. Finally, regression of newly formed vessels and apoptosis was more pronounced in Poldip2
+/−
mice.

Conclusions—

Together, these results suggest that Poldip2 promotes ischemia-induced collateral vessel formation via multiple mechanisms that likely involve reactive oxygen species–dependent activation of matrix metalloproteinase activity, as well as enhanced vascular cell growth and survival.
Christian Tears; Pagan Smiles: Hart Crane’s “Lachrymae Christi”
Authors: Stenclik Eric
Published: May 2014

When American poet Hart Crane declares in a letter, “I felt the two worlds. And at once,” he speaks bluntly of the governing tension of his poetry: the knocking of Harold Hart Crane’s finite language against the hard, transparent ceiling beyond which he senses the divine. Crane’s first collection, White Buildings, often shows signs of visionary frustration. But in “Lachrymae Christi,” the most difficult poem in White Buildings, Crane’s vision dilates to immense possibilities of union between the material and the spirit worlds, between what is time-bound and what is timeless. This poem, both its poetic effect and its spiritual purpose, can be most sympathetically read as mystical. Because the tonal movement toward rapture in “Lachrymae Christi” resonates against the poetry and theology of Renaissance mystics such as St. John of the Cross, we can situate the poem in the context of ancient patterns of western mysticism in order to reclaim what has long been seen as an opaque and elusive poem. “Lachrymae Christi” rewards this reading of its mystical poetics with line after line of quivering wordplay, startlingly fresh religious allusion, and subtle thematic polyphony as it interweaves Christian and pagan traditions of regeneration.
Deaths by Lightning in Mexico (1979–2011): Threat or Vulnerability?
Authors: Raga G. B. , de la Parra M. G. , Kucienska Beata
Published: May 2014

This paper presents evidence of the geographical distribution of deaths due to lightning over Mexico for the period 1979–2011. Over 7300 deaths occurred during this period, an average of 230 per year, which translates into an average fatality rate per million inhabitants of 2.72 (1979–2011). A total of 60% of the fatal victims occur in only 7 out of the 32 states in Mexico, with the largest fraction occurring in the state of Estado de México (24%). The largest death toll is found in the young male population, in rural regions of the states of Estado de México, Michoacán, and Oaxaca, where the population density is low. The results have indicated a clear bias in the fatal victims toward boys and young males (under the age of 25), with more than 45% of the total deaths in that segment of the population. While female deaths constitute a small fraction of the total number, the under-25 age segment also has the largest number of fatal victims.

A county-level analysis of socioeconomic indicators clearly suggests that the geographical distribution of deaths is not correlated with population density nor with the maximum lightning density, but rather with vulnerability. The spatial distribution of deaths is better correlated with exposure to thunderstorms, agricultural activities, and low education levels. The large social vulnerability of those regions combined with the lack of recognition of the problem by society and the government are more likely responsible for the large death toll.
Progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia: A 3-year longitudinal study
Authors: Brodaty Henry , Connors Michael H , Ames David , Woodward Michael ,   on behalf of the PRIME study group
Published: May 2014

Objective:

To examine characteristics that predict the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

Methods:

Of 970 patients recruited from nine memory clinics around Australia, 185 had mild cognitive impairment diagnosed. Measures of cognitive ability, functional ability, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were completed at baseline and over 3 years of follow up.

Results:

Over 3 years, 52 (28%) patients with mild cognitive impairment developed dementia. Older age, lower cognitive ability at baseline, and faster decline in cognitive ability over the first 6 months of follow up, but not depression, predicted progression to dementia.

Conclusions:

The findings confirm that simple clinical data such as age, cognitive ability at baseline, and rate of cognitive decline are important predictors of progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia over 3 years.
Castration laws: Marching towards imperfect justice
Authors: Goswami Gajendra K
Published: May 2014

Castration is an anthropogenic procedure by which the person loses the functions of the testicles or ovaries; it can be performed by surgery or by administering chemicals. The motivation was primarily eugenic, to weed out the “unfit” from the human gene pool. In 1996, California first introduced chemical castration under s 645 of the California Penal Code for child molestation and this legal template has spread globally to counter sexual offences. The anti-androgenic pharmacotherapy used for chemical castration includes cyproterone acetate or medroxy-progesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), which reduces testosterone levels and reduces male sexual urge and fantasies. However, the associated health hazards with anti-libido drugs put a question mark on such State sponsored penal response. Castration destroys human dignity, breaches the right of privacy and procreation and attracts the cruel and unusual punishment clause. The failed Oregon castration experiment and Moldova Court verdict in July 2013 indicate that the stage is set to right this wrong.
What Makes a Good Worker? Richard Edwards Is Still Relevant
Authors: Bailly Franck , Léné Alexandre
Published: May 2014

Since the 1970s, developed nations have seen the rise of the service economy, and forms of work organization have changed radically. As a result, employers have new requirements in the form of worker autonomy and so-called “soft” skills. These changes seem to mark a break with the expectations of submission and conformity highlighted by Edwards’s analysis. Nevertheless, the changes in employers’ practices reflect not so much the disappearance of forms of control as a shift towards less authoritarian but equally powerful forms based on the shifting of responsibility on to employees and the internalization of organizational norms. In making this case, we draw more particularly on the example of front-line workers in retailing and the hotel and restaurant industry.
Preparation and characterization of native poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microspheres from Bacillus subtilis MTCC 9763
Authors: Saranya S , Radha KV
Published: May 2014

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer with many potential biomedical applications including medical implants and drug delivery systems. In this study, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by Bacillus subtilis MTCC 9763 was optimized for different physical and chemical parameters. A 90% poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) accumulation was achieved with 2% fructose and 0.5% ammonium sulfate as carbon and nitrogen sources. The effective accumulation occurred at pH 7. The poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) content of dry cell weight increased to 87% at 36 h of incubation. The synthesized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The oil-in-water solvent evaporation technique was used to fabricate the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microspheres. The surface morphology appeared smooth in the range of 1–2 µm with specific surface area ranging 19 to 20 m2/g. The synthesized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microspheres were nontoxic and exhibited good cytocompatibility toward NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.
Construction and in vitro testing of a multilayered, tissue-engineered meniscus
Authors: Bahcecioglu Gokhan , Buyuksungur Arda , Kiziltay Aysel , Hasirci Nesrin , Hasirci Vasif
Published: May 2014

A novel three-dimensional construct was designed to serve as a substitute for the natural meniscus tissue, and tested in vitro. The design consisted of mats of aligned collagen micro/nanofibers, entrapped within a macroporous poly(l-lactic acid)/poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) foam coated with Ca+2-cross-linked alginic acid. Fibrochondrocytes derived from human meniscus were tested in vitro to study cell attachment and proliferation. After a 21-day culture, the cells populating the constructs were shown to produce extracellular matrix components specific for fibrocartilages, such as collagen Types I and II and aggrecan. Coating the foam with alginate increased the compressive modulus of the collagen-containing constructs (from 320 to 381 kPa, after 21 days of incubation with fibrochondrocytes) but decreased cell attachment and proliferation, as well as aggrecan production. Collagen fibers substantially increased the tensile modulus of the cell-seeded constructs (from 0.98 to 1.71 MPa for uncoated and from 0.67 to 1.32 MPa for coated samples). All constructs produced extracellular matrix components specific for fibrocartilages. These findings indicate that these constructs have potential for use as meniscus substitutes.
Bisphosphonate release profiles from magnetite microspheres
Authors: Miyazaki Toshiki , Inoue Tatsuya , Shirosaki Yuki , Kawashita Masakazu , Matsubara Takao , Matsumine Akihiko
Published: May 2014

Hyperthermia has been suggested as a novel, minimally invasive cancer treatment method. After implantation of magnetic nano- or microparticles around a tumour through blood vessels, irradiation with alternating magnetic fields facilitates the efficient in situ hyperthermia even for deep-seated tumours. On the basis of this idea, if the microspheres are capable of delivering drugs, they could be promising multifunctional biomaterials effective for chemotherapy as well as hyperthermia. In the present study, magnetite microspheres were prepared by aggregation of the iron oxide colloid in water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion. The release behaviour of alendronate, a typical bisphosphonate, from the microspheres was examined in vitro as a model of the bone tumour prevention and treatment system. The alendronate was successfully incorporated onto the porous magnetite microspheres in vacuum conditions. The drug-loaded microspheres maintained their original spherical shapes even after shaking in ultrapure water for 3 days, suggesting that they have sufficient mechanical integrity for clinical use. It was attributed to high aggregation capability of the magnetite nanoparticles through van der Waals and weak magnetic attractions. The microspheres showed slow release of the alendronate in vitro, resulting from tight covalent or ionic interaction between the magnetite and the alendronate. The release rate was diffusion-controlled type and well controlled by the alendronate concentration in drug incorporation to the microspheres.
Microscopy outperformed in a comparison of five methods for detecting Trichomonas vaginalis in symptomatic women
Authors: Nathan B , Appiah J , Saunders P , Heron D , Nichols T , Brum R , Alexander S , Baraitser P , Ison C
Published: May 2014

In the UK, despite its low sensitivity, wet mount microscopy is often the only method of detecting Trichomonas vaginalis infection. A study was conducted in symptomatic women to compare the performance of five methods for detecting T. vaginalis: an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Aptima T. vaginalis kit; OSOM ®Trichomonas Rapid Test; culture and microscopy. Symptomatic women underwent routine testing; microscopy and further swabs were taken for molecular testing, OSOM and culture. A true positive was defined as a sample that was positive for T. vaginalis by two or more different methods. Two hundred and forty-six women were recruited: 24 patients were positive for T. vaginalis by two or more different methods. Of these 24 patients, 21 patients were detected by real-time PCR (sensitivity 88%); 22 patients were detected by the Aptima T. vaginalis kit (sensitivity 92%); 22 patients were detected by OSOM (sensitivity 92%); nine were detected by wet mount microscopy (sensitivity 38%); and 21 were detected by culture (sensitivity 88%). Two patients were positive by just one method and were not considered true positives. All the other detection methods had a sensitivity to detect T. vaginalis that was significantly greater than wet mount microscopy, highlighting the number of cases that are routinely missed even in symptomatic women if microscopy is the only diagnostic method available.
On Research-Minded Practitioners
Authors: Yaffe Joanne
Published: May 2014

McBeath and Austin define the concept of research-minded practitioners, describe the organizational contexts, structures, and strategies for supporting this type of practitioner. Further, the authors propose a research agenda to establish effective organizational development strategies to support research-minded practitioners, align their efforts with organizational improvement processes, and culminate in new directions for practice research. This response to McBeath and Austin disagrees with their characterization of evidence-based practice, their definition of practice research, and their conceptualization of the research-minded practitioner as something different from an evidence-based practitioner. While McBeath and Austin are commended on their analysis of organizational barriers to research-minded practice, the redundancy of the concept of research-minded practice is questioned by reiterating commonly held definitions of evidence-based practice.