bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety Assessment of Propylene Glycol, Tripropylene Glycol, and PPGs as Used in Cosmetics
Authors: Fiume Monice M. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Hill Ronald A. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Liebler Daniel , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Andersen F. Alan
Published: October 2012

Propylene glycol is an aliphatic alcohol that functions as a skin conditioning agent, viscosity decreasing agent, solvent, and fragrance ingredient in cosmetics. Tripropylene glycol functions as a humectant, antioxidant, and emulsion stabilizer. Polypropylene glycols (PPGs), including PPG-3, PPG-7, PPG-9, PPG-12, PPG-13, PPG-15, PPG-16, PPG-17, PPG-20, PPG-26, PPG-30, PPG-33, PPG-34, PPG-51, PPG-52, and PPG-69, function primarily as skin conditioning agents, with some solvent use. The majority of the safety and toxicity information presented is for propylene glycol (PG). Propylene glycol is generally nontoxic and is noncarcinogenic. Clinical studies demonstrated an absence of dermal sensitization at use concentrations, although concerns about irritation remained. The CIR Expert Panel determined that the available information support the safety of tripropylene glycol as well as all the PPGs. The Expert Panel concluded that PG, tripropylene glycol, and PPGs ≥3 are safe as used in cosmetic formulations when formulated to be nonirritating.
Understanding the Initial Career Decisions of Hospitality Graduates in Hong Kong
Authors: Chang Song , Tse Eliza Ching-Yick
Published: October 2012

This study aimed to understand the initial career decisions of graduates from a hospitality and tourism management (HTM) program in Hong Kong. In Study 1, we used longitudinal data from graduate exit surveys undertaken between 2002 and 2010 to explore the nature of their initial career choices and how the program had influenced them. We found that more than half the graduates’ first jobs were in HTM and that hospitality electives and industry-specific programs (such as an executive-in-residence program and distinguished speaker series) contributed to their choice of such employment. Compared with jobs in other sectors, HTM jobs pay significantly less. In Study 2, we interviewed industry executives and alumni to supplement the findings of Study 1. Recommendations are provided for designing better HTM programs that will inspire more students to join the industry on graduation.
Beyond cultural intermediaries? A socio-technical perspective on the market for social interventions
Authors: Moor Liz
Published: October 2012

Marketing has long been considered part of cultural intermediary activity, but still sits a little oddly alongside the ‘cultural’ TV producers and ‘quality’ journalists and critics originally used to typify the category. This article argues that such a tension is productive, and uses an underexplored aspect of marketing – social marketing – to pursue some more conceptual questions about the nature and usefulness of the term ‘cultural intermediaries’. It employs a framework loosely derived from actor-network theory to describe the emergence of social marketing in Britain, paying particular attention to the efforts to construct a market for such services, the need to consider material and non-human forms of agency in cultural intermediary activity, and the value of understanding cultural intermediary work in terms of ‘culturalisation’ – that is, as a process by which some areas of life are designated as belonging to the problem of culture, and others not.
At your service: The meanings and practices of contemporary bartenders
Authors: Ocejo Richard E
Published: October 2012

Focusing on the differences between the devices and dispositions of cocktail and neighborhood bartenders, this article examines how service industry jobs become cultural intermediaries. Unlike other types of bartenders, cocktail bartenders engage in forms of professionalization to make legitimacy claims and use interactive service work to add value to their products. They possess autonomy and exclusivity over their work in the sense that they control the conditions of entry and legitimacy for a niche within the drinks industry. The conditions that construct this niche are the same that allow bartenders to emerge as cultural intermediaries. They simultaneously bridge and extend the divide between production and consumption. A comparison between the attitudes (dispositions) and practices (devices) that bartenders use to add value to their products and services illuminates the distinctions between positions in this service profession and reveals the selective manner in which cultural intermediaries emerge in contemporary service industries.
Observed trends in mental health: A strategy to adjust for nonresponse bias and demographic changes in survey data
Authors: Johansen Rune , Rognerud Marit , Sundet Jon Martin , Aarø Leif Edvard
Published: October 2012

Aims: To examine whether observed changes in self-reported psychological distress symptoms reflect true changes in psychological distress in the population, or more specifically, to present statistical methods to check for nonresponse bias and demographic changes. Methods: Lack of representativity, nonresponse bias and demographic changes were controlled for by weighing of data (sample-balancing or raking). Results: Controlling for age, gender and education, or holding the demographic structure constant over time, slightly weakened the decrease in psychological distress from 1998 to 2002, and left the changes in psychological distress from 2002 to 2008 almost unchanged. When the level of psychological distress was held constant across years in every subgroup defined by age, gender and education, in order to isolate the effects of changes in demography, the distress scores showed only minor variation across data collection occasions from 1998 to 2008. Conclusions: The observed modest decrease in psychological distress from 1998 to 2002 may partly be explained by selection and demographic changes, while this is not the case with the more pronounced changes from 2002 to 2008.
Understanding arts and humanities students’ experiences of assessment and feedback
Authors: Adams Joelle , McNab Nicole
Published: October 2012

This article examines how undergraduate students on arts and humanities courses experience assessment and feedback. The research uses a detailed audit, a specially devised questionnaire (the Assessment Experience Questionnaire), and student focus group data, and the article examines results from 19 programmes, comparing those from ‘arts and humanities’ courses with those from ‘other’ programmes to give a sense of the particular characteristics of assessment and feedback for arts and humanities students. Findings indicate that teachers in the arts and humanities should focus on ensuring that students understand goals and standards, particularly by giving feedback often and in time for application to other learning activities and assignments. The evidence that this type of research provides can help programme teams evaluate whether intended learning outcomes are being achieved and decide on any pedagogical interventions required.
More than limited learning: The case for focusing on the disciplines
Authors: Heiland Donna , Rosenthal Laura J
Published: October 2012

In their 2011 study Academically Adrift, Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa present considerable evidence that undergraduates in US colleges and universities make surprisingly little progress in their first two years of college. While acknowledging the force of this argument, the authors ask whether Arum and Roksa’s evidence – about students’ development of general skills including critical thinking, analytical reasoning, writing and problem solving – fully accounts for students’ learning in college. On the basis of their experiences as a faculty member who teaches literature and oversees humanities assessment at her university (Rosenthal) and as a former staff member of a foundation that supports learning outcomes assessment at colleges and universities (Heiland), the authors argue that a fuller understanding of what students learn in college would account for the contributions of the disciplines. Disciplinary learning contributes both to the development of general skills like those listed above, and to the development of knowledge and skills particular to given fields. We in the humanities must articulate and assess the contributions made by our own fields, lest they be represented reductively, or, worse, not at all.
Increasing trial efficiency by early reallocation of placebo nonresponders in sequential parallel comparison designs: Application to antidepressant trials
Authors: Boessen Ruud , Knol Mirjam J , Groenwold Rolf HH , Grobbee Diederick E , Roes Kit CB
Published: October 2012

Background

The sequential parallel comparison (SPC) design was proposed to improve the efficiency of psychiatric clinical trials by reducing the impact of placebo response. It consists of two consecutive placebo-controlled comparisons of which the second is only entered by placebo nonresponders from the first. Previous studies suggest that in antidepressant trials, nonresponse to placebo can already be predicted after 2 weeks of follow-up. This would allow to reduce the first phase of the SPC design to further increase its efficiency.

Purpose

To compare the sample size requirements of an 8-week randomized controlled trial (RCT8) and alternative SPC designs with equal or longer total follow-up duration (SPC2+6, SPC4+4, and SPC6+6).

Methods

Scenarios for response and dropout rates were defined. Sample sizes to achieve 80% power were determined for the various designs. Three treatment functions assumed either a smaller, equal, or larger effect at the early stage of the trial as compared with that at the end. Two dropout models described either predominantly early or linearly increasing dropout, and dropout was considered as nonresponse. The relative efficiency of the different designs was evaluated across these scenarios and for a specific scenario based on empirical antidepressant trial data.

Results

The different SPC designs (i.e., SPC2+6, SPC4+4, and SPC6+6) were generally more efficient than the RCT8 design when the treatment effect at the early stage of the trial was equal or larger than the effect at the end. In this case, the advantage of the SPC designs increased in the presence of dropout. The SPC2+6 design was usually more efficient than the SPC4+4 design and was relatively less affected by dropout when it occurred predominantly early. For the scenario that was based on antidepressant trial data, the SPC2+6 and SPC4+4 designs required 51% and 53% fewer patients than the RCT8 design.

Limitations

A limited variety of scenarios was evaluated. Parameter values resembled those observed in antidepressant trials.

Conclusions

This study suggests that SPC designs are highly efficient alternatives to a conventional RCT in indications where placebo response is high and substantial treatment effects are established after a relatively short follow-up period (i.e., after the first SPC design phase). We conclude that SPC designs can reduce sample size requirements and increase success rates of antidepressant trials.
The Evaluation of Factors Believed to Contribute to Obesity in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Survivors
Authors: Taylor Jacob Michael , Ringwald-Smith Karen , Wang Chong , Yang Jie , Williams-Hooker Ruth , Mitchell Carol O. , Surprise Harriet , Kaste Sue
Published: October 2012

Background. Obesity rates for pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) survivors vary from 11% to 57%. Researching dietary behaviors may identify dietary risks leading to obesity and opportunities for intervention. Objective. To evaluate the relationship between caloric and macronutrient intake on the incidence of obesity in pediatric ALL. Design/setting/participants. Retrospectively reviewed data of 142 participants was examined. Participants were grouped into categories based on body mass index (BMI) for adults and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for children. Twenty-four-hour food recall records were reviewed to assess dietary intake. Confounding factors and caloric/macronutrient intake were compared across obesity classes. Main outcome measurements. Macronutrient levels were compared between groups. Descriptive data examined. BMI at enrollment on BONEII, age at diagnosis, ethnicity, gender, corticosteroid use, cranial radiation therapy, and standard/high risk. ALL group. Results. Thirty-nine percent of participants were overweight/obese. ALL survivors who consumed a higher percentage of their calories from protein were more likely to be underweight/normal weight while participants who consumed more calories and total carbohydrates were more likely to be overweight/obese. There was no relationship with the other factors examined. Conclusion. Dietary interventions should be designed to ensure patients consume adequate amounts of protein while limiting portion sizes and carbohydrate-based snacks.
Emotional influence at work: Take it EASI
Authors: Van Kleef Gerben A. , Homan Astrid C. , Cheshin Arik
Published: October 2012

Research on emotions in organizations has traditionally taken an intrapersonal approach, examining how an organization member’s emotions influence his or her own cognitions, attitudes, and behavior. We argue that a full understanding of the role of emotions in organizations requires a complementary focus on their interpersonal effects—that is, how one worker’s emotions influence the feelings, cognitions, attitudes, and behavior of others. We advance Emotions as Social Information (EASI) theory, which posits that emotional expressions exert interpersonal effects by triggering affective reactions and/or inferential processes in targets, depending on the target’s information processing and the perceived appropriateness of the emotional expression. We review evidence from four domains of organizational behavior: customer service, group decision making, negotiation, and leadership. We call for new research that examines emotions in greater detail (discrete emotions, intensity, authenticity), studies different settings (organizational change, personnel selection), and considers temporal dynamics (frequency, long-term outcomes).
Assessing the Influence of “Standard” and “Culturally Specific” Risk Factors on the Prevalence and Frequency of Offending
Authors: Ferrante Anna M.
Published: October 2012

This is an empirical study which uses a multifactorial risk framework to investigate the factors that influence the prevalence and frequency of offending by indigenous Australians (as measured through self-reported arrest rates). The study uses regression modeling of data from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey to estimate the effects of a range of individual, family, and community factors on indigenous arrest rates. The study considers a range of explanatory factors and includes both “standard” and “culturally specific” influences. Drawing upon the works of Homel, Lynch, and Herd, Broadhurst, and other Australian researchers, the study investigates the influence of multiple risk factors (including factors such as cultural strength and connection to community) and assesses whether these play a part in explaining the interaction between the indigenous population and the Australian criminal justice system.
Convergent differentiation: myeloid and lymphoid pathways to murine plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Authors: Sathe Priyanka , Vremec David , Wu Li , Corcoran Lynn , Shortman Ken
Published: October 2012

The developmental origin of IFN-producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) has been uncertain. In the present study, we tracked the development of pDCs in cultures of BM precursors stimulated with Flt3 ligand. Common myeloid precursors (CMPs) produced both conventional DCs (cDCs) and pDCs via the DC-restricted common DC precursor. Common lymphoid precursors (CLPs) produced only a few cDCs with variable efficiency, but produced pDCs via a transient intermediate precursor with B-cell potential. The pDCs of both origins produced IFN-α when stimulated with CpG oligonucleotides. The pDCs of CLP origin showed evidence of past RAG1 expression and had D-J rearrangements in IgH genes. Most pDCs and all cDCs of CMP origin lacked these signs of a lymphoid past. However, in these cultures, some pDCs of CMP origin showed evidence of past RAG1 expression and had D-J IgH gene rearrangements; most of these derived from a subset of CMPs already expressing RAG1.
Genotyping of B. licheniformisbased on a novel multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) scheme
Authors: Madslien Elisabeth H , Olsen Jaran S , Granum Per E , Blatny Janet M
Published: October 2012

Background

Bacillus licheniformis has for many years been used in the industrial production of enzymes, antibiotics and detergents. However, as a producer of dormant heat-resistant endospores B. licheniformis might contaminate semi-preserved foods. The aim of this study was to establish a robust and novel genotyping scheme for B. licheniformis in order to reveal the evolutionary history of 53 strains of this species. Furthermore, the genotyping scheme was also investigated for its use to detect food-contaminating strains.

Results

A multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) scheme, based on the sequence of six house-keeping genes (adk, ccpA, recF, rpoB, spo0A and sucC) of 53 B. licheniformis strains from different sources was established. The result of the MLST analysis supported previous findings of two different subgroups (lineages) within this species, named “A” and “B” Statistical analysis of the MLST data indicated a higher rate of recombination within group “A”. Food isolates were widely dispersed in the MLST tree and could not be distinguished from the other strains. However, the food contaminating strain B. licheniformis NVH1032, represented by a unique sequence type (ST8), was distantly related to all other strains.

Conclusions

In this study, a novel and robust genotyping scheme for B. licheniformis was established, separating the species into two subgroups. This scheme could be used for further studies of evolution and population genetics in B. licheniformis.
Functional analysis and binding affinity of tomato ethylene response factors provide insight on the molecular bases of plant differential responses to ethylene
Authors: Pirrello Julien , Prasad BC Narasimha , Zhang Wangshu , Chen Kunsong , Mila Isabelle , Zouine Mohamed , Latché Alain , Pech Jean Claude , Ohme-Takagi Masaru , Regad Farid , Bouzayen Mondher
Published: October 2012

Background

The phytohormone ethylene is involved in a wide range of developmental processes and in mediating plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ethylene signalling acts via a linear transduction pathway leading to the activation of Ethylene Response Factor genes (ERF) which represent one of the largest gene families of plant transcription factors. How an apparently simple signalling pathway can account for the complex and widely diverse plant responses to ethylene remains yet an unanswered question. Building on the recent release of the complete tomato genome sequence, the present study aims at gaining better insight on distinctive features among ERF proteins.

Results

A set of 28 cDNA clones encoding ERFs in the tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) were isolated and shown to fall into nine distinct subclasses characterised by specific conserved motifs most of which with unknown function. In addition of being able to regulate the transcriptional activity of GCC-box containing promoters, tomato ERFs are also shown to be active on promoters lacking this canonical ethylene-responsive-element. Moreover, the data reveal that ERF affinity to the GCC-box depends on the nucleotide environment surrounding this cis-acting element. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the nature of the flanking nucleotides can either enhance or reduce the binding affinity, thus conferring the binding specificity of various ERFs to target promoters.

Based on their expression pattern, ERF genes can be clustered in two main clades given their preferential expression in reproductive or vegetative tissues. The regulation of several tomato ERF genes by both ethylene and auxin, suggests their potential contribution to the convergence mechanism between the signalling pathways of the two hormones.

Conclusions

The data reveal that regions flanking the core GCC-box sequence are part of the discrimination mechanism by which ERFs selectively bind to their target promoters. ERF tissue-specific expression combined to their responsiveness to both ethylene and auxin bring some insight on the complexity and fine regulation mechanisms involving these transcriptional mediators. All together the data support the hypothesis that ERFs are the main component enabling ethylene to regulate a wide range of physiological processes in a highly specific and coordinated manner.
Memory and Executive Screening (MES): a brief cognitive test for detecting mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Guo Qi-hao , Zhou Bin , Zhao Qian-hua , Wang Bei , Hong Zhen
Published: October 2012

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), defined as a transitional zone between normal cognition and dementia, requires a battery of formal neuropsychological tests administered by a trained rater for its diagnosis. The objective of this study was to develop a screening tool for MCI.

Methods

One hundred ninety seven cognitively normal controls (NC), one hundred sixteen patients with amnestic MCI –single domain (aMCI-sd), one hundred ninety five patients with amnestic MCI-multiple domain (aMCI-md), and two hundred twenty eight patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were evaluated by comprehensive neuropsychological tests and by the Memory and Executive Screening (MES).

Results

Correlation analysis showed that the three indicators of the MES were significantly negatively related with age (P<0.05), yet not related with education (P>0.05). There was no ceiling or floor effect. Test completion averaged seven minutes (421.14±168.31 seconds). The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses performed on the aMCI-sd group yielded 0.89 for the area under the curve (AUC) (95% CI, 0.85–0.92) for the MES-total score, with sensitivity of 0.795 and specificity of 0.828. There was 81% correct classification rate when the cut-off was set at less than 75. Meanwhile, the aMCI-md group yielded 0.95 for the AUC (95% CI, 0.93–0.97) for the MES-total score, with sensitivity of 0.87 and specificity of 0.91, and 90% correct classification rate when the cut-off was set at less than 72.

Conclusion

The MES, minimally time-consuming, may be a valid and easily administered cognitive screening tool with high sensitivity and specificity for aMCI, with single or multiple domain impairment.
The association between MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and cervical cancer: evidence from a meta-analysis
Authors: Mei Qiang , Zhou Daijun , Gao Jinyu , Shen Shu , Wu Jinlin , Guo Linna , Liang Zhiqing
Published: October 2012

Background

MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism is a genetic alteration in an enzyme involved in folate metabolism, but its effect on host susceptibility to cervical cancer is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and cervical cancer by performing a meta-analysis.

Methods

Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) databases were searched for case–control studies investigating the association between MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and cervical cancer. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were used to assess this possible association.

Results

11 studies with a total of 1898 cervical cancer cases and 2678 controls were included. Meta-analyses of a total 11 studies showed no association between MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and cervical cancer using all five genetic models (All P values > 0.05). However, subgroup analyses showed the odds of the homozygous TT genotype were much less in cervical cancer cases than in controls in Europeans, which implied an association between the homozygous TT genotype and cervical cancer in Europeans (For TT versus CC, fixed-effects OR = 0.65, 95%CI 0.45-0.93, P = 0.020, I2 = 0.0%). The odds for the homozygous TT genotype were greater in cervical cancer cases than in controls in East Asians, which also implied an association between the homozygous TT genotype and cervical cancer in East Asians (For TT versus CC, random-effects OR = 1.66, 95%CI 1.05-2.62, P = 0.029, I2 = 52.6%; For TT versus CT/CC, random-effects OR = 1.55, 95%CI 1.09-2.22, P = 0.016, I2 = 42.4%). Both subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses suggested ethnicity was the major source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was not evident.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis supports an association between MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and cervical cancer, and the effect of this association may be race specific. Further studies with large sample sizes and careful design are needed to identify this association more comprehensively.
Increased Expressions of IL-22 and Th22 cells in the coxsackievirus B3-Induced mice acute viral myocarditis
Authors: Kong Qing , Wu Weifeng , Yang Fan , Liu Yanli , Xue Yimin , Gao Mengsha , Lai Wenyin , Pan Xiaofen , Yan Yuluan , Pang Yu , Deng Yuanhua
Published: October 2012

Background

Recently, a new subset of T helper (Th) cell that predominantly secret cytokine interleukin-22 (IL-22) is identified, termed Th22 cells. The Th22 subset has been demonstrated to be involved in immunity and tissue inflammation. However, the existence of Th22 cells and role of IL-22 in acute viral myocarditis (AVMC) remain unknown.

Methods

BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally (i.p) infected with CVB3 for establishing AVMC models. Control mice were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) i.p. On day 14 post injection, frequencies of splenic Th22 cells were determined, productions of IL-22 and expressions of IL-22R (IL-22 receptor) were measured. To further investigate the effects of IL-22, AVMC mice treated with Anti-IL-22 neutralizing antibody were explored. The severity of AVMC were monitored; the frequencies of Th22 cells, the expressions of IL-22 and IL-22R were investigated; in addition to IFN-γ, inflammatory cytokines IL-17, TNF-α, IL-6 as well as IL-1β, were evaluated. Cardiac viral replication were detected.

Results

Compared with control group, significant elevations of circulating Th22 cells and IL-22, cardiac protein and mRNA of IL-22, and IL-22R1 were demonstrated in AVMC group. Treatment of AVMC mice with Anti-IL-22 Ab exacerbated the severity of viral myocarditis, verified by lower survival rate, higher HW/BW ratios and cardiac pathological scores. Anti-IL-22 Ab decreased the frequencies of Th22 cells and the levels of IL-22, and increased the expressions of cardiac IL-22R1. Up-regulations of IL-17, IL-6 and TNF-α, down-regulations of IFN-γ proteins and gene expressions in the plasma and myocardium, were observed in Anti-IL-22 Ab group. Furthermore, neutralization of IL-22 significantly promoted cardiac viral replication.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that the increased frequencies of IL-22-producing Th22 cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CVB3-induced mice AVMC, IL-22 may act as an myocardium-protective cytokine via the IL-22–IL-22R pathway, and suggest that targeting the Th22 cell and IL-22–IL-22R pathway could provide new therapeutic modalities for the treatment of CVB3-induced AVMC.
Characterization and determination of six flavonoids in the ethnomedicine “Dragon’s Blood” by UPLC-PAD-MS
Authors: Yi Tao , Tang Yina , Zhang Jianye , Zhao Zhongzhen , Yang Zhijun , Chen Hubiao
Published: October 2012

Background

“Dragon’s Blood” (DB) has long been used as an ethnomedicine in China to invigorate blood circulation for the treatment of traumatic injuries, blood stasis and pain. To comprehensively assess the quality of DB medicine, a precise and accurate method that can rapidly separate, characterize and quantify multiple active components of DB is crucial.

Results

An ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with photodiode array detection (PAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method was developed for characterization and determination of six flavonoids in DB. A comprehensive validation of the developed method was conducted, and confirmed that the method presented good sensitivity, precision and accuracy. All linear regressions were acquired with R
2 > 0.99, and the limits of detection ranged from 0.06 to 0.83 ng. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values were found to be within the range 1.4–3.8% for the method repeatability test. Recovery studies for the quantified compounds were found to be within the range 94.2–102.8% with RSD less than 4.9%. DB samples collected from different geographical regions were analyzed by the present method, and the results demonstrated that the contents of the six flavonoids in DB samples varied significantly. Three major active components among the six flavonoids, namely dracorhodin, (2S)-5-methoxyflavan-7-ol and (2S)-5-methoxy-6-methylflavan-7-ol, are suggested as the index for DB quality evaluation.

Conclusions

Overall, the present hyphenation method is highly efficient and reliable, and hence suitable for the characterization and determination of the flavonoids of DB ethnomedicine.
Novel CD20 monoclonal antibodies for lymphoma therapy
Authors: Cang Shundong , Mukhi Nikhil , Wang Kemeng , Liu Delong
Published: October 2012

Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CD20, has been widely used for lymphoma therapy. RTX in combination with cyclophosphamide /doxorubicin /vincristine /prednisone (R-CHOP) remains the standard frontline regimen for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, suboptimal response and /or resistance to rituximab have remained a challenge in the therapy of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Novel agents are under active clinical trials. This review will summarize the latest development in new mAbs against CD20, which include second-generation mAbs, ofatumumab, veltuzumab (IMMU-106), ocrelizumab (PRO70769), and third-generation mAbs, AME-133v (ocaratuzumab), PRO131921 and GA101 (obinutumumab).
Autologous antibody to src-homology 3-domain GRB2-like 1 specifically increases in the sera of patients with low-grade gliomas
Authors: Matsutani Tomoo , Hiwasa Takaki , Takiguchi Masaki , Oide Takashi , Kunimatsu Mitoshi , Saeki Naokatsu , Iwadate Yasuo
Published: October 2012

Background

Glioma is the most common primary malignant central nervous system tumor in adult, and is usually not curable in spite of various therapeutic approaches. Clarification of the oncogenic process in its early stage is important for the diagnosis and effective therapy.

Methods

In the present study, we used the serological identification of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression cloning (SEREX) to explore the subtle changes of the protein expression in low-grade glioma. The levels of serum autoantibodies to the SEREX-identified glioma-related antigens were analyzed by ELISA, and the epitope site was identified using deletion mutants and overlap peptide array. Changes in the serum autoantibody levels were examined in the rat glioma model using C6 and 9 L glioma cell lines.

Results

We identified 31 glioma-related antigens by SEREX. Among them, the serum level of autoantibody to src-homology 3-domain GRB2-like 1 (SH3GL1) was significantly higher in patients with low-grade glioma than healthy volunteers or high-grade gliomas. The 10 amino-acids at the C-terminal were identified as the epitope site by the overlap peptide array and the ELISA using deletion mutants. The tissue expression of SH3GL1 protein increased in proportion to glioma progression. The rat glioma models confirmed the increase of anti-SH3GL1 autoantibody level in the early stage and the suppression in the late stage.

Conclusion

SH3GL1 may be involved in the oncogenic process of gliomas and effectively elicit an autologous antibody response in low-grade gliomas. The immunological reaction to SH3GL1 would contribute to the establishment of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for gliomas.
Who Governs Federally Qualified Health Centers?
Authors: Wright Brad
Published: October 2012

To make them more responsive to their community's needs, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are required to have a governing board comprising at least 51 percent consumers. However, the extent to which consumer board members actually resemble the typical FQHC patient has not been assessed, which according to the political science literature on representation may influence the board's ability to represent the community. This mixed-methods study uses four years of data from the Health Resources and Services Administration, combined with Uniform Data System, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Area Resource File data, to describe and identify factors associated with the composition of FQHC governing boards. Board members are classified into one of three groups: nonconsumers, nonrepresentative consumers (who do not resemble the typical FQHC patient), and representative consumers (who resemble the typical FQHC patient). The analysis finds that a minority of board members are representative consumers, and telephone interviews with a stratified random sample of thirty FQHC board members confirmed the existence of significant socioeconomic gaps between consumer board members and FQHC patients. This may make FQHCs less responsive to the needs of the predominantly low-income communities they serve.
Hormones in normal and pathological prostate
Authors: Saad Farid , Raynaud Jean-Pierre
Published: October 2012

No abstract available.
Methoden zur datengetriebenen Formulierung und Visualisierung von Kausalitätshypothesen
Authors: Kühnert Christian , Gröll Lutz , Heizmann Michael , Reischl Markus , Mikut Ralf
Published: October 2012

Für das automatisierte Erkennen von Kausalstrukturen in Datensätzen gibt es schon mehrere Verfahren, welche basierend auf dem zugrundeliegenden Datensatz jeweils Vor- und Nachteile besitzen. In diesem Beitrag werden zunächst relevante Verfahren mit ihren Eigenschaften für das Erkennen kausaler Strukturen vorgestellt, an Benchmarks getestet sowie die Ergebnisse mittels geeigneter Visualisierungstechniken repräsentiert. Des Weiteren erfolgt eine Untersuchung der Methoden anhand der Daten eines industriellen Glasziehprozesses sowie der Analyse von Biosignalen bei einer Funktionellen Elektrostimulation.
Genetic Variation inSaccharomyces cerevisiae: Circuit Diversification in a Signal Transduction Network
Authors: Chin Brian L , Ryan Owen , Lewitter Fran , Boone Charles , Fink Gerald R
Published: October 2012

The connection between genotype and phenotype was assessed by determining the adhesion phenotype for the same mutation in two closely related yeast strains, S288c and Sigma, using two identical deletion libraries. Previous studies, all in Sigma, had shown that the adhesion phenotype was controlled by the filamentation mitogen-activated kinase (fMAPK) pathway, which activates a set of transcription factors required for the transcription of the structural gene FLO11. Unexpectedly, the fMAPK pathway is not required for FLO11 transcription in S288c despite the fact that the fMAPK genes are present and active in other pathways. Using transformation and a sensitized reporter, it was possible to isolate RPI1, one of the modifiers that permits the bypass of the fMAPK pathway in S288c. RPI1 encodes a transcription factor with allelic differences between the two strains: The RPI1 allele from S288c but not the one from Sigma can confer fMAPK pathway-independent transcription of FLO11. Biochemical analysis reveals differences in phosphorylation between the alleles. At the nucleotide level the two alleles differ in the number of tandem repeats in the ORF. A comparison of genomes between the two strains shows that many genes differ in size due to variation in repeat length.
Electrical Transport in Ultrathin NdNiO3 Films
Authors: Campbell Megan , Tiwari Ashutosh
Published: October 2012

Electrical transport properties in ultrathin NdNiO3 films grown on single crystal LaAlO3(001) substrate were characterized. Films with thicknesses ranging from 0.6 nm to 12 nm were grown using a pulsed laser technique. Four probe resistivity as a function of temperature measurements indicated a strong dissipation of strain effects from 0.6 nm to 6 nm as well as the presence of defects in the 12 nm sample. A proposed mechanism of kinetically stable glassy phase formation explains the time dependence of the resistivity in both cooling and heating cycles.
Domain Formation in Nano-patterned PZT Thin Films
Authors: Waegner Martin , Schröder Mathias , Suchaneck Gunnar , Sturm Heinz , Weimann Christiane , Eng Lukas M. , Gerlach Gerald
Published: October 2012

In this work, reactive magnetron-sputtered Pb(Zr,Ti)O3thin films were used to fabricate well-ordered nanodot arrays by means of nanosphere lithography (NSL). NSL is based on a two-step etch process by means of, firstly adjusting the diameter of polystyrene spheres in the self-assembled polymeric nanosphere mask using reactive ion etching, and secondly transferring the mask to the substrate by ion milling with adjusted heights. Hence, structures with different aspect ratios can be fabricated.

Piezoresponse force microscopy was used as the inspection tool on both non-patterned and patterned films. Both the topography and polarization out of plane and in plane was deduced in this mode. Grains of nanodots with low aspect ratio form domain structures comparable to domains in non-patterned films. In contrast to that, nanodots with a higher aspect ratio form particular structures. The in-plane amplitude images show mostly a bisectioned domain assembly, while the out-of-plane amplitude images show in some cases more complex structures like “c”-shaped domains or multi-domains around a center domain.

The patterning of the ferroelectric material was shown to affect the formation of ferroelectric domains. The initial polycrystalline, randomly-ordered films are re-oriented and show domain structures depending on nanodisc diameter and aspect ratio. This may enable tailoring of ferroelectric materials in their piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties by patterning.
Synthesis of Nano Iron Oxalate – Structures and Optical Transitions
Authors: Reddy S. Lakshmi , Uehara Kenichi , Endo Tamio
Published: October 2012

Synthesis of FeC2O42H2O nano particles was carried out by thermal double decomposition of solutions of oxalic acid dihydrate (C2H2O4 2H2O) and FeSO4 7H2O employing CATA -2R microwave reactor. Structural elucidation was carried out by employing X-ray diffraction, particle size and shape were studied by transmission electron microscopy and nature of bonding was investigated by Optical absorption and near-infrared spectral studies. The powder resulting from this method is possesses distorted rhombic octahedral structure. The particle grain size is about 50 nm. Details of optical transitions are mentioned in terms of energy states.
Superconducting composites of MgB2 with Additions obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Badica P. , Aldica G. , Burdusel M.
Published: October 2012

Sb2O3, Sb-metal, Bi2O3 or Bi-metal, powders were mixed with MgB2 powder. Starting compositions were ((MgB2)(M2O3)x, x = 0.0025, 0.005, 0.015, and (MgB2)(M)y, y = 0.01, M = Sb, Bi. Mixtures were processed by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique. As obtained composite samples show high density, above 94% of the theoretical density. While the secondary phases indicate on similar reactions, samples show different behavior vs. addition type and amount. This does not directly correlate with the melting temperature of the addition. From the critical current density (Jc) and irreversibility field (Hirr) enhancement viewpoints, optimum additions are oxides for x=0.025, 0.005. Both oxides are improving Jc at high fields, but Sb2O3 is effective up to 10 K, while Bi2O3 is up to 30 K. Metal additions are decreasing Jc and Hirr when compared to pristine MgB2sample.
Does the engineering heritage matter?
Authors: Cossons Neil
Published: October 2012

This paper emphasises the importance of the engineering heritage as an integral part of the past that the engineering profession wishes to take into the future, its significance in terms of the pedigree of engineering and the crucial need to engage with the public and the wider heritage movement. It sets out the issues surrounding the conservation of the engineering heritage with examples of some of the achievements and dilemmas.
Mechanochemical treatment of Serbian kaolin clay to obtain high reactive pozzolana
Authors: Mitrovic Aleksandra , Zdujic Miodrag
Published: October 2012

Mechanochemical treatment of Serbian kaolin clay was carried out in a
planetary ball mill using two different milling media, hardened steel or
zirconia vials and balls. The samples obtained with various milling times
were characterized by the particle size laser diffraction (PSLD), X-ray
diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry
(DTA/TGA) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. Mechanochemical
treatment induced amorphization of the kaolinite phase accompanied by
dehydroxylation. It was found that for the given milling parameters,
amorphization mainly took place in the milling period up to 15 min, and was
completed after about 30 min of milling for both milling media used. The
pozzolanic activities were determined by the Chapelle method. Milling in the
hardened steel milling medium had no significant influence on pozzolanic
activity, even though there was accumulated iron contamination. For both
milling media, pozzolanic activity of 0.79 was obtained for the samples
milled for 15 min and it remained almost unchanged with prolonged milling.
The determined pozzolanic activity values are close to these of commercial
metakaolinite or metakaolinite obtained by the calcination of the same clay,
therefore, indicating possibility for obtaining high reactive pozzolana by
mechanochemical treatment of Serbian kaoline clay.
Influence of glazing types and ventilation principles in double skin façades on delivered heating and cooling energy during heating season in an office building
Authors: Ignjatovic Marko , Blagojevic Bratislav , Stojanovic Branislav , Stojiljkovic Mladen
Published: October 2012

Double skin fa?ade represents an additional skin on the outside wall of the
building with the idea of reducing building?s energy demand. The zone formed
by adding a skin can be sealed or ventilated either naturally or
mechanically. This paper shows the results of delivered heating and cooling
energy for an office building during heating season with 3 different
ventilation strategies and 90 double skin fa?ade configurations. The results
were obtained by using EnergyPlus simulation program. In all observed cases,
adding double skin fa?ade leads to a decrease in delivered heating energy by
as much as 55.80%, but delivered cooling energy might increase if proper
glazing type is not selected. The best results were obtained by using triple
glazing as inner skin of double fa?ade.
Mhd flow and heat transfer of two immiscible fluids with induced magnetic field effects
Authors: Stamenkovic Zivojin , Nikodijevic Dragisa , Kocic Milos , Nikodijevic Jelena
Published: October 2012

The paper investigates the magnetohydrodynamic flow of two immiscible,
electrically conducting fluids between isothermal and insulated moving plates
in the presence of an applied electric and inclined magnetic field with the
effects of induced magnetic field. Partial differential equations governing
the flow and heat transfer and magnetic field conservation are transformed to
ordinary differential equations and solved exactly in both fluid regions,
under physically appropriate boundary and interface conditions. Closed-form
expressions are obtained for the non-dimensional velocity, non-dimensional
induced magnetic field and nondimensional temperature. The analytical results
for various values of the Hartmann number, the angle of magnetic field
inclination, loading parameter and the ratio of plates? velocities are
presented graphically to show their effect on the flow and heat transfer
characteristics.
Hybrid soft computing control strategies for improving the energy capture of a wind farm
Authors: Zivkovic Predrag , Nikolic Vlastimir , Ilic Gradimir , Cojbasic Zarko , Ciric Ivan
Published: October 2012

In this paper, a fuzzy controller is proposed for wind turbine control. A
model is analyzed and combined with a stochastic wind model for simulation
purposes. Based on the model, a fuzzy control of wind turbine is developed.
Wind turbine control loop provides the reference inputs for the electric
generator control loop in order to make the system run with maximum power.
Since the wind speed involved in the aerodynamic equations is a stochastic
variable, whose effective value cannot be measured directly, a wind speed
estimator is also proposed.
Air quality estimation by computational intelligence methodologies
Authors: Ciric Ivan , Cojbasic Zarko , Nikolic Vlastimir , Zivkovic Predrag , Tomic Mladen
Published: October 2012

The subject of this study is to compare different computational intelligence
methodologies based on artificial neural networks used for forecasting an air
quality parameter - the emission of CO2, in the city of Nis. Firstly, inputs
of the CO2 emission estimator are analyzed and their measurement is
explained. It is known that the traffic is the single largest emitter of CO2
in Europe. Therefore, a proper treatment of this component of pollution is
very important for precise estimation of emission levels. With this in mind,
measurements of traffic frequency and CO2 concentration were carried out at
critical intersections in the city, as well as the monitoring of a vehicle
direction at the crossroad. Finally, based on experimental data, different
soft computing estimators were developed, such as feed forward neural
network, recurrent neural network, and hybrid neuro-fuzzy estimator of CO2
emission levels. Test data for some characteristic cases presented at the end
of the paper shows good agreement of developed estimator outputs with
experimental data. Presented results are a true indicator of the implemented
method usability.
Improving Exam Performance by Metacognitive Strategies
Authors: Johnson Andrew , Smyers John , Purvis Rebekah
Published: October 2012

When individuals make self-assessment errors, they are generally in the direction of overconfidence. Why do students overestimate their multiple-choice exam scores? Is there a way to boost students' exam performance to match their exam expectations? This study addresses these questions by a manipulation introduced at the end of multiple-choice exams. Students were given an opportunity to improve their score by answering an additional set of upgrade multiple-choice questions. Then the students could swap a subset of the questions with questions from the formal exam. Substitution credit was only given when a correctly answered upgrade question was swapped for an incorrectly answered exam question. The results reveal that the bonus opportunity significantly improves exam performance, and the adjusted scores are close enough to the estimated score that there is no statistically significant difference between the two. The authors believe that the substitution process activates critical thinking and metacognitive processes. It closes the gap between the students' estimated scores and the final exam scores. Finally, this activity gives students credit for knowing what they know and knowing what they do not know.