bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Themes and Challenges in Urban Theology
Authors: Baker Chris
Published: September 2013

This essay proposes that current urban theology can be categorised by reference to two types, namely arborescent and rhizomatic. These types of urban theology are broadly aligned to secular and post-secular readings of the public sphere respectively. Within the typology of rhizomatic urban theology, the article proceeds to identify three thematic clusters under which current urban reflection and praxis might be grouped. These are: spaces of postsecular rapprochement for the urban excluded – a relational and pragmatic form of mission; the primacy of visual culture and the question of performative ethnographies; defining a faith-based contribution to an emerging urban politics. The article concludes by noting some possible challenges to these shifts within contemporary British urban theology.
Postsecular prospects: A view from ministry
Authors: Jones Margaret
Published: September 2013

This article focuses on the emergence of an urban space of partnership between secular and faith-based groups who have come together to find ways to care for women from Manchester’s Somali community, who with the retraction of welfare services find themselves increasingly marginalised and vulnerable. It explores theoretical ideas of the postsecular turn and the way faith-praxis is beginning to be welcomed, as the space between religious and secularising forces becomes more blurred, noting also the challenge the church faces in the postsecular city.
The Canaanite Woman and Urban Liberation Theology
Authors: Shannahan Chris
Published: September 2013

This article draws on the culturally transgressive encounter between the Canaanite woman and Jesus in Matthew 15 to consider the nature of social space, diversity and social exclusion on urban housing estates. The article re-frames key emphases within liberation theology, arguing that urban liberation theologies need to be characterised by the prioritising of insignificance, the practice of liberative reversals and a hermeneutics of liberative difference. These key themes are rooted in a recent research project working alongside unemployed young men from a Birmingham housing estate to raise questions for the ways in which the church understands ‘urban mission’ today.
Pretense, Putdowns, and Missing Identities in Activists’ Class Talk
Authors: Leondar-Wright Betsy
Published: September 2013

Americans are noted for not talking about social class. Does the same hold true for progressive group members? A study of 25 U.S. social movement organizations found that two class categories of progressive activists avoided explicit talk of class and, when asked about class identity, resisted the question or garbled their answers. First, lifelong working-class and poor activists (those lacking college degrees and professional/managerial jobs in both the current and the prior generation) were less likely to use conventional class terms. Second, voluntarily downwardly mobile activists (college graduates raised by professional parents who had chosen to work part-time jobs or no jobs to free up time for activism or to enact environmental or antimaterialist values) tended to equate themselves with involuntarily low-income people, misrecognizing their higher cultural capital. In the absence of clear, open class identities within activist groups, distorted class talk filled the vacuum. Falsely posing as working class sometimes conferred status. References to class and race privilege were sometimes used as insults. When the bottom half of the 99 percent do not name their class identity, and when some class-privileged activists deny their cultural capital, such missing class identities may harm the development of group cohesion in social movement groups.
Hybrid what? Partial consensus and persistent divergences in the analysis of hybrid regimes
Authors: Cassani Andrea
Published: September 2013

Despite initial scepticism about their very existence, hybrid regimes have increasingly attracted scholarly attention. The rapid development of the debate, however, is in striking contrast with its often inconclusive results. The goals of this article are to identify the causes of this impasse and to seek a solution for it. In particular, the article focuses on a crucial point of contention: how to define hybrid regimes. The analysis shows why divergences on this issue hamper dialogue among researchers, as well as the accumulation of knowledge. We suggest shifting attention from regimes to institutions and propose a “consensus-sensitive” indicator to establish which regimes can be defined as hybrid regardless of disagreement on their conceptualisation. The new measure is used to replicate the contrasting results of two recent studies. The conclusion is that by going beyond conceptual barriers, we can successfully shed light on the “grey zone”.
Endobronchial leiomyoma in an immunocompetent four-year-old female child
Authors: Gupta Pallav , Aggarwal Riti , Rijal Prashant , Chugh Krishan
Published: September 2013

Pulmonary leiomyoma are uncommonly encountered benign mesenchymal neoplasms in children, usually found in immunosuppressed individuals in association with human immunodeficiency virus or Ebstein-Barr virus infection. We describe an interesting case of a 4-year-old immunocompetent girl who presented with pleural effusion and lung collapse secondary to endobronchial leiomyoma. She underwent a left thoracotomy and a left pneumonectomy for excision of the bronchial mass.
Volatile anesthetic-induced preconditioning
Authors: Swyers T , Redford D , Larson DF
Published: September 2013

The myocardium has an innate ability to protect itself from ischemic events. This protection occurs when the myocardium is exposed to a brief ischemic period prior to a more extreme ischemic event. This is termed ischemic preconditioning. Ischemic preconditioning induces a series of molecular pathways that protect the cardiac myocyte; first, for a period of 1-6 hours (early preconditioning) and, also, for a second period from 24-72 hours (delayed phase). The early preconditioning is mediated by the release of adenosine which induces a protective signal that is related to the mitochondrial KATP channel activation and activation of the δ-opioid and bradykinin receptors. The delayed phase is related to the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase and heat-shock proteins. Indirect evidence indicates that O2-derived free radicals are involved in the delayed phase, as noted in the early preconditioning phase. Applying ischemic preconditioning to clinical practice can be dangerous and difficult to implement in a controlled fashion. However, recent studies have shown that the use of volatile anesthetics, such as sevoflurane, isoflurane and desflurane, can mimic the early phase of ischemic preconditioning through a multi-pathway signaling of mitochondrial KATP channels. This important finding can easily be applied to clinical practice for patients undergoing surgery. It can also be significantly important for patients undergoing off-pump cardiac bypass surgery or cardiac bypass surgery where there is no cross-clamp or cardioplegia used where the probability of myocardial ischemia is greatly increased. This report will, therefore, discuss the mechanism, safety and efficacy of volatile anesthetics as inducers of cardiac preconditioning.
Infusion of foam sclerosants results in a distance-dependent procoagulant activity, haemoconcentration and elevation of D-dimer levels
Authors: Connor DE , Joseph JE , Exner T , Ma DDF , Parsi K
Published: September 2013

Objective

To investigate the biological effects of foam sclerotherapy in vivo.

Materials and methods

Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy was performed using a 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate or polidocanol. A total of 15 mL of foam was injected. Samples were collected from antecubital veins, target saphenous veins and the adjoining deep veins before, immediately after and 1 hour after the procedure. Saphenous vein samples were also taken sequentially at set 15 cm intervals. Clotting times, D-dimer, cell counts and biochemical parameters were measured. D-dimer levels were repeated one week later.

Results

Forty procedures were performed. Systemic clotting times were not affected by the procedure. Injection of 0.5 mL of foam 5 cm away from the relevant junctions resulted in procoagulant activity in the adjoining deep veins (sodium tetradecyl sulphate) and the target saphenous veins (sodium tetradecyl sulphate and polidocanol). The procoagulant effect in the target veins reached a peak at 15 cm but normalised at 45 cm. D-dimer levels were significantly increased 1 hour after treatment with either agent and remained elevated one week later. Sodium tetradecyl sulphate and to a lesser degree polidocanol induced biochemical changes consistent with haemoconcentration.

Conclusion

Infusion of foam sclerosants results in a distance-dependent procoagulant activity in the exposed vessels. Foam sclerotherapy results in haemoconcentration and elevation of D-dimer.
Estimation of Head Impact Exposure in High School Football
Authors: Broglio Steven P. , Martini Douglas , Kasper Luke , Eckner James T. , Kutcher Jeffery S.
Published: September 2013

Background:

Increased attention is being placed on the role of subconcussive impacts to the head during football participation and long-term cognitive health. Some have suggested that mitigating impacts to the head can be achieved by reducing or eliminating contact football practices. The effect that this might have on the number and magnitude of impacts is unknown.

Purpose:

To estimate the effect of limiting contact practices on the frequency and magnitude of head impacts through the retrospective assessment of in vivo head impact data.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Data on impact magnitude and frequency were collected with the Head Impact Telemetry System during the 2009 football season among 42 varsity high school football athletes (mean age, 16.2 ± 0.6 years; mean height, 180.9 ± 7.2 cm; mean weight, 89.8 ± 20.1 kg). Head impacts were compared between player positions and session types (noncontact practice, contact practice, and game). These results were used to estimate the frequency and magnitude of head impacts when contact sessions were restricted.

Results:

The participants collectively sustained 32,510 impacts over the 15-week season. The typical athlete sustained a mean of 774 ± 502 impacts during the season, with linemen (center, guard, and offensive or defensive tackle positions) sustaining the highest number of impacts per athlete (1076 ± 541), followed by tight ends, running backs, and linebackers (779 ± 286); wide receivers, cornerbacks, and safeties (417 ± 266); and quarterbacks (356 ± 433). When viewed by session type, noncontact practices (n = 21) accounted for 1998 total impacts (2.4 ± 1.4 per athlete per session), contact practices (n = 36) accounted for 16,346 impacts (10.5 ± 7.7 per athlete per session), and games (n = 14) accounted for 14,166 impacts (24.1 ± 19.1 per athlete per session). Significantly more impacts occurred during games when compared with contact ( P = .02) and noncontact practices ( P < .001), and contact practices yielded significantly more impacts than noncontact practices ( P = .02). Limiting contact practices to once per week would result in a 18% reduction in impacts for the duration of a season, while eliminating all contact practices would further reduce seasonal impacts by 39% across all players. Impact magnitudes were significantly highest during game sessions compared with contact and noncontact practices.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that limiting or eliminating contact football practices may reduce the number of head impacts sustained by athletes over the course of a season, although the effect that such rule changes may have on the magnitude of head impacts during practice sessions is less clear. As such, the potential effect of reductions in contact practices on athletes’ long-term cerebral health remains unknown.
Granulomatous liver involvement in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Fallahzadeh MK , Fallahzadeh MA , Mojtahedi Y , Dehghani SM , Shorafa E , Basiratnia M , Geramizadeh B , Fallahzadeh MH
Published: September 2013

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is uncommon in young children and unusual in infancy. Although a variety of liver pathologies have been reported in SLE, presentation of this disease with granulomatous liver involvement is very rare. In this article, for the first time, we report an infant girl presenting with unexplained hepatosplenomegaly and non-necrotizing granulomatous liver involvement at the age of six months who later developed pancytopenia and proteinuria and was finally diagnosed with SLE at the age of three years. Therefore, we suggest that SLE could be considered as one of the possible differential diagnoses when infants or children present with unexplained granulomatous liver involvement.
India’s Many Popular Cinemas
Authors: Kumar Keval J.
Published: September 2013

Theorising about Indian cinema has largely been focused on mainstream Hindi films (or ‘Bollywood’) which it is claimed represent the whole film industry and make up the ‘national cinema’. This perspective overlooks the infinitely wide range of films in the four languages of South Indian and the numerous languages of East and North-East India, and privileges certain kinds of subjects and orientations in film theory and research. This paper reviews the attempts of Indian and diasporic film scholars to theorise about the many popular cinemas (including ‘Bollywood’) of the subcontinent. While some scholars use western film theories to make sense of the multilinguistic and multicultural cinemas of India, a growing body of scholars find these inadequate and thus argue for an Indian perspective. The latter tend to explore a film theory that can account for India’s many cinemas. These theoretical perspectives range from political economy and cultural studies to Deleuzian ‘assemblage’ theory, audience ethnography(reception theory), and queer theory. The 13 papers that comprise this special double issue are introduced in the wider context of these several explorations into Indian film theory.
The Assamese Films of Bhabendra Nath Saikia
Authors: Dutta Parasmoni , Dutta Minakshi
Published: September 2013

Assamese cinema, though not a very visible category in most of the works of film historians and critics, started with a note of nationalistic sentiment in the early half of the twentieth century. In subsequent times, amidst the commercially driven Assamese entertainment movies which were more numerous, a number of Assamese directors were successful in creating a ‘serious’ genre of Assamese cinema. Bhabendra Nath Saikia was one of the prolific directors of the latter category during the last three decades of the twentieth century. On the basis of their various characteristics, his films can be placed under the category which has been named by the critics as Indian ‘parallel cinema’ or ‘innovative cinema’. This article is an attempt at a descriptive analysis of the narrative contents and other cinematic features of Saikia’s films, with an aim to locate this regional filmmaker within the broader domain of Indian parallel cinema. It is argued here that while most of his films can be read as critical commentaries on the various issues which engulfed the post-Independence society in the specific socio-historical conditions of Assam, some of his films also bear much wider frames to hold timeless and space-less features of mankind.
Replication in music psychology
Authors: Frieler Klaus , Müllensiefen Daniel , Fischinger Timo , Schlemmer Kathrin , Jakubowski Kelly , Lothwesen Kai
Published: September 2013

In this article, we address the current state and general role of replication in empirical sciences in general and music psychology in particular. We argue that replication should be an integral part of the quality management of science because it helps to improve and maintain the general benefit of empirical sciences by enhancing the confidence in scientific phenomena and theories. Replicating empirical experiments has two major benefits: (1) It increases the sheer number of observations and (2) it provides independent evidence which works as a safety net against methodological fallacies, causally influential but unknown (i.e., random) factors, researcher degrees of freedom, and outright fraud. Furthermore, we argue that for low-gain/low-cost sciences such as music psychology, measures to ensure quality standards, in particular the amount of replication experiments conducted, can be expected to be lower than in high gain/high cost sciences. These lower expectations stem from the general acknowledgments that in low-gain/low-cost sciences (1) research resources are normally scarce and (2) the consequences of inadequate theories are relatively harmless. We argue that the view of music psychology as a low-cost/low-gain science can explain the striking lack of replication studies and meta-analyses. We also discuss possible counter-measures to enhance the reliability of music-psychological knowledge.
Robust active vibration control of piezoelectric flexible structures using deterministic and probabilistic analysis
Authors: Zhang Kai , Scorletti Gérard , Ichchou Mohamed N , Mieyeville Fabien
Published: September 2013

The main objective of this article is to propose a general and systematic robust control methodology for active vibration control of piezoelectric flexible structures such that the probabilistic information of parametric uncertainties can be investigated, and the robustness properties of the closed-loop system can be quantitatively ensured. For the purpose, the modal parameter identification is performed based on the finite element analysis to have the reduced nominal dynamical models. The generalized polynomial chaos framework is employed for uncertainty analysis to obtain the probabilistic information of parametric uncertainties. In the presence of probabilistic parametric and dynamic uncertainties, phase and gain control policies–based [Formula: see text] output feedback control is used for the controller design to ensure a set of control objectives simultaneously, and then deterministic and probabilistic robustness analyses are conducted to quantitatively verify the robustness properties of the closed-loop system both in the deterministic sense and in the probabilistic one. The design process and the effectiveness of the proposed control methodology are illustrated via active vibration control of a piezoelectric cantilever beam.
On the equations of motion for curved slender beams using tubular coordinates
Authors: Lidström P
Published: September 2013

The equations of motion for a beam are derived from the three-dimensional continuum mechanical point of view. The kinematics involve bending, torsion and shearing as well as cross-sectional displacements. The transplacement of the beam from an arbitrary curved reference placement is considered. For slender beams so called tubular coordinates may be used as global coordinates in the reference placement. An explicit geometrical characterization of slender beams is given. The equations of motion for the slender beam are derived and some consequences of the power theorem are presented. Using the principle of virtual power the classical local beam equations are obtained along with equations representing the local balance of bi-momentum. Constitutive assumptions are introduced where the dependence of stress on the natural deformation measures for the beam is obtained by assuming that the beam consists of a St Venant-Kirchhoff elastic material. Simplified stress-strain relations may be obtained using so called torsion free coordinates.
Dietary fibre concentrate from Chilean algarrobo (Prosopis chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz) pods: Purification and characterization
Authors: Estévez Ana María , Figuerola Fernando , Bernuy Enrique , Sáenz Carmen
Published: September 2013

Prosopis species are generally fast-growing, drought-resistant, nitrogen-fixing trees or shrubs. Fruits of Prosopis spp are indehiscent pods, where pericarp is formed by the epicarp, light brown in colour, and fibrous nature; the mesocarp known as pulp, which is rich in sugars; and the endocarp. The aim of this work was to obtain a fibre concentrate from the pods of P rosopis chilensis Mol. (Stuntz) and to determine the chemical, physical, and technological properties of the pod flour (PF) and of a fibre concentrate or pod purified flour (PPF). Acetone, ethanol, and water at different conditions of time and temperature were used in the purification process. PF showed 53.7 g/100 g of total sugar content, 4.2 g/100 g of reducing sugar content, 41.8 g/100 g of total dietary fibre, 35.8 g/100 g of insoluble fibre, and 6.0 g/100 g of soluble fibre content. The PPF has a total sugar content of 3.8 g/100 g, reducing sugar content of 2.2 g/100 g, total dietary fibre content of 80.8 g/100 g, insoluble fibre content of 75.1 g/100 g, and soluble fibre content of 5.7 g/100 g. The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed the existence of voids in the structure of PPF flour, which reveals the efficiency of the purification process with a high decrease in the total sugar content.
Aborigines, colonizers and newcomers: The landscape of transcultural psychiatry research in Australia
Authors: Zubaran Carlos , Foresti Katia , de Moore Gregory
Published: September 2013

The authors present an analysis of transcultural psychiatry research in relation to three main population groups in Australia: Aboriginal Australians, documented immigrants, and refugees. The pioneering reports produced by Western psychiatrists in Aboriginal communities are examined in this article. Additional quantitative and qualitative studies developed with Aboriginal people in the context of a traumatic acculturation process are also reviewed. Subsequently, the authors examine the challenges faced by immigrants with mental disorders in a health care system still unequipped to treat a new array of clinical presentations unfamiliar to the clinical staff. The authors also highlight the development of policies aimed at providing quality mental health care to a mosaic of cultures in an evolving multicultural society. Lastly, the psychiatric manifestations of refugees and asylum seekers are analysed in the context of a series of vulnerabilities and deprivations they have experienced, including basic human rights.
Routine revascularization is unnecessary in the majority of patients requiring zone II coverage during thoracic endovascular aortic repair: A longitudinal outcomes study using United States Medicare population data
Authors: Wilson Jonathan E , Galiñanes Edgar L , Hu Parker , Dombrovskiy Viktor Y , Vogel Todd R
Published: September 2013

Objective

We aimed to evaluate outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with left subclavian artery (LSA) coverage without bypass (TEVAR + SUB) to TEVAR with coverage of the LSA with a bypass at the time of the initial procedure or later at a separate procedure (TEVAR + SUB + BYPASS).

Methods

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services inpatient claims for 2006–2007 were queried using Current Procedural Terminology codes for TEVAR, TEVAR + SUB, TEVAR + SUB + BYPASS or later as a separate procedure.

Results

A total of 2676 patients underwent TEVAR; 869 (32.5%) underwent TEVAR + SUB and 49 (5.6%) TEVAR + SUB + BYPASS. At the time of the initial procedure, TEVAR + SUB + BYPASS was associated with a higher incidence of stroke compared to TEVAR + SUB (12.8% vs. 3.8 %; p = 0.0033). Among TEVAR + SUB, only 1.93% (50 patients) had a subsequent bypass performed during a one-year follow-up. Overall rates of morbidity ( p = 0.004) and mortality ( p = 0.011) trended towards significance in favor of TEVAR + SUB.

Conclusions

TEVAR + SUB were associated with lower rates of mortality and complications. Only a small percentage of TEVAR + SUB required a bypass at one year after procedure. Our data suggest that routine LSA bypass during TEVAR is unnecessary and associated with increase morbidity and mortality.
Community pharmacists’ perceptions towards generic medicines and their opinions on future generic substitution policy implementation: A descriptive study from Jordan
Authors: El-Dahiyat Faris Abdelrahim , Kayyali Reem
Published: September 2013

The aim of this study was to explore Jordanian pharmacists’ perceptions towards generic medicines as well as to evaluate their opinions on generic substitution in order to introduce a future generic substitution policy in Jordan. A cross-sectional descriptive study involving community pharmacists in Amman-Jordan was undertaken, using a self-completed anonymous questionnaire. The sampling unit was community pharmacy, and the sampling frame was list of community pharmacies in Amman (N = 1252). Five hundred pharmacies were randomly selected to participate in this survey, and 294 pharmacists’ responses were collected giving a response rate of 58.8%. The majority of Jordanian pharmacists had a positive view on generic medicines in general with 87.7% of the respondents believing that a generic medicine is bio-equivalents to the originator. Two hundred and sixty-five pharmacists (90.1%) were in favour of implementing a compulsory generic prescribing policy. More than 80% of the pharmacists supported generic substitution in most cases. Generic substitution policy should be implemented; in addition, a formulary of interchangeable medicines must be developed to guide pharmacists’ decision making when performing generic substitution. Jordanian pharmacists were also in favour of introducing a compulsory generic prescribing legislation; however, such policy may have a negative impact on the local industry, as most of the produced medicines are branded generics.
Six years of clinical follow-up with endothelial cell–seeded small-diameter vascular grafts during coronary bypass surgery
Authors: Dohmen Pascal M , Pruss Axel , Koch Christina , Borges Adrian C , Konertz Wolfgang
Published: September 2013

This clinical study was performed to investigate the patency rate of endothelial cell–seeded small-diameter expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts during coronary artery bypass surgery. Between September 1995 and December 1998, 14 patients (median age: 71 years, range: 61–79 years) received 21 endothelial cell–seeded small-diameter grafts. In all, 43% of the performed implantations were reoperations. Endothelial cells were harvested from a forearm vein, cultured and characterized in the laboratory until a sufficient number was available. After in vitro seeding, the grafts were allowed to mature for another 10 days, prior to implantation. Graft patency was investigated with angiography, angioscopy, and intravascular ultrasonography during follow-up. Cumulative data represented 58 patients’ years and was 100% complete. The seeded autologous vascular endothelial cell density was 1.05 × 105 ± 0.12 × 105 cells/cm2 with a cell viability of 95.5 ± 1.5%. Operative mortality was 7.1% (one patient). Patency rate at discharge was 95.2%, and at a mean follow-up of 27 months was 90.5%. The proven patency rate at up to 72 months was at least 50.0%, as five patients refused angiographic evaluation. None of these five patients suffered from angina pectoris and so the best scenario would have shown a patency rate of 85.7%. Angioscopy and intravascular ultrasonography showed absence of atheroma or stenosis in the investigated patent grafts. Autologous vascular endothelial cell seeding improves patency rate of small-caliber expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts in patients without suitable autologous graft material.
Clot retraction is mediated by factor XIII-dependent fibrin-αIIbβ3-myosin axis in platelet sphingomyelin-rich membrane rafts
Authors: Kasahara Kohji , Kaneda Mizuho , Miki Toshiaki , Iida Kazuko , Sekino-Suzuki Naoko , Kawashima Ikuo , Suzuki Hidenori , Shimonaka Motoyuki , Arai Morio , Ohno-Iwashita Yoshiko , Kojima Soichi , Abe Mitsuhiro , Kobayashi Toshihide , Okazaki Toshiro , Souri Masayoshi , Ichinose Akitada , Yamamoto Naomasa
Published: September 2013

Key Points

Clot retraction of sphingomyelin-rich raft-depleted platelets from sphingomyelin synthase knockout mouse is delayed. Translocation of fibrin to sphingomyelin-rich rafts in platelet membrane is induced by thrombin in the presence of FXIII crosslinking activity.
Analysis of cattle olfactory subgenome: the first detail study on the characteristics of the complete olfactory receptor repertoire of a ruminant
Authors: Lee Kyooyeol , Nguyen Dinh Truong , Choi Minkyeung , Cha Se-Yeoun , Kim Jin-Hoi , Dadi Hailu , Seo Han Geuk , Seo Kunho , Chun Taehoon , Park Chankyu
Published: September 2013

Background

Mammalian olfactory receptors (ORs) are encoded by the largest mammalian multigene family. Understanding the OR gene repertoire in the cattle genome could lead to link the effects of genetic differences in these genes to variations in olfaction in cattle.

Results

We report here a whole genome analysis of the olfactory receptor genes of Bos taurus using conserved OR gene-specific motifs and known OR protein sequences from diverse species. Our analysis, using the current cattle genome assembly UMD 3.1 covering 99.9% of the cattle genome, shows that the cattle genome contains 1,071 OR-related sequences including 881 functional, 190 pseudo, and 352 partial OR sequences. The OR genes are located in 49 clusters on 26 cattle chromosomes. We classified them into 18 families consisting of 4 Class I and 14 Class II families and these were further grouped into 272 subfamilies. Comparative analyses of the OR genes of cattle, pigs, humans, mice, and dogs showed that 6.0% (n = 53) of functional OR cattle genes were species-specific. We also showed that significant copy number variations are present in the OR repertoire of the cattle from the analysis of 10 selected OR genes.

Conclusion

Our analysis revealed the almost complete OR gene repertoire from an individual cattle genome. Though the number of OR genes were lower than in pigs, the analysis of the genetic system of cattle ORs showed close similarities to that of the pig.
Guanylate cyclase C limits systemic dissemination of a murine enteric pathogen
Authors: Mann Elizabeth A , Harmel-Laws Eleana , Cohen Mitchell B , Steinbrecher Kris A
Published: September 2013

Background

Guanylate Cyclase C (GC-C) is an apically-oriented transmembrane receptor that is expressed on epithelial cells of the intestine. Activation of GC-C by the endogenous ligands guanylin or uroguanylin elevates intracellular cGMP and is implicated in intestinal ion secretion, cell proliferation, apoptosis, intestinal barrier function, as well as the susceptibility of the intestine to inflammation. Our aim was to determine if GC-C is required for host defense during infection by the murine enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium of the family Enterobacteriacea.

Methods

GC-C+/+ control mice or those having GC-C genetically ablated (GC-C−/−) were administered C. rodentium by orogastric gavage and analyzed at multiple time points up to post-infection day 20. Commensal bacteria were characterized in uninfected GC-C+/+ and GC-C−/− mice using 16S rRNA PCR analysis.

Results

GC-C−/− mice had an increase in C. rodentium bacterial load in stool relative to GC-C+/+. C. rodentium infection strongly decreased guanylin expression in GC-C+/+ mice and, to an even greater degree, in GC-C−/− animals. Fluorescent tracer studies indicated that mice lacking GC-C, unlike GC-C+/+ animals, had a substantial loss of intestinal barrier function early in the course of infection. Epithelial cell apoptosis was significantly increased in GC-C−/− mice following 10 days of infection and this was associated with increased frequency and numbers of C. rodentium translocation out of the intestine. Infection led to significant liver histopathology in GC-C−/− mice as well as lymphocyte infiltration and elevated cytokine and chemokine expression. Relative to naïve GC-C+/+ mice, the commensal microflora load in uninfected GC-C−/− mice was decreased and bacterial composition was imbalanced and included outgrowth of the Enterobacteriacea family.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates the novel finding that GC-C signaling is an essential component of host defense during murine enteric infection by reducing bacterial load and preventing systemic dissemination of attaching/effacing-lesion forming bacterial pathogens such as C. rodentium.
KIR3DS1/L1 and HLA-Bw4-80I are associated with HIV disease progression among HIV typical progressors and long-term nonprogressors
Authors: Jiang Yongjun , Chen Ou , Cui Chen , Zhao Bin , Han Xiaoxu , Zhang Zining , Liu Jing , Xu Junjie , Hu Qinghai , Liao Christina , Shang Hong
Published: September 2013

Background

Natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as pivotal players in innate immunity, especially in the defense against viral infections and tumors. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) – an important recognition receptor expressed on the surface of NK cells – regulate the inhibition and/or activation of NK cells after interacting with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I ligands. Various KIR genes might impact the prognosis of many different diseases. The implications of KIR-HLA interaction in HIV disease progression remains poorly understood.

Methods

Here, we studied KIR genotypes, mRNA levels, HLA genotypes, CD4+T cell counts and viral loads in our cohort of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals, a group that includes HIV long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) and typical progressors (TPs).

Results

We found that the frequency of KIR3DS1/L1 heterozygotes with HLA-Bw4-80I gene was much higher in LTNPs than in TPs (P = 0.001) and that the KIR3DL1 homozygotes without HLA-Bw4-80I gene had higher viral loads and lower CD4+T cell counts (P = 0.014 andP = 0.021, respectively). Our study also confirmed that homozygosity for the HLA-Bw6 allele was associated with rapid disease progression. In addition to the aforementioned results on the DNA level, we observed that higher level expression of KIR3DS1 mRNA was in LTNP group, and that higher level expression of KIR3DL1 mRNA was in TP group.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that different KIR-HLA genotypes and different levels of transcripts associate with HIV disease progression.
Pepsinogen I and II expressions in situ and their correlations with serum pesignogen levels in gastric cancer and its precancerous disease
Authors: Li Ping , He Caiyun , Sun Liping , Dong Nannan , Yuan Yuan
Published: September 2013

Background

Serum pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratio has been widely used as “serological biopsy” for the screening of gastric cancer (GC) and atrophic gastritis (GA). However, study concerning in situ expression of PGs is currently insufficient, particularly for their relationship with serum PGs levels. This study was designed to investigate in situ expression of PGI and PGII in subjects with normal mucosa (NOR), superficial gastritis (GS), GA and GC, and to evaluate the correlations between PGs expressions in situ and in serum.

Methods

185 subjects were enrolled for the study, including 30 NOR, 70 GS, 54 GA and 31 GC. PGI and PGII expressions in situ and in serum were detected by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. H. pylori immunoglobulin (Ig) G was also determined by ELISA.

Results

In situ expressions of PGI, PGII and PGI/II ratio consistently decreased in sequence of NOR/GS- > GA- > GC. The expressions of PGI, PGII and PGI/II ratio in situ were statistically higher in youngers than in olders (P < 0.05). In the NOR subjects, PGI staining was statistically higher in males than that in females (p = 0.02). For the correlations between in situ and serum expressions of PGI, PGII and PGI/II ratio, a borderline correlation in the total study sample (r = 0.131, P = 0.076) and a statistical correlation in GA cases (r = 0.307, P = 0.027) were observed for the PGI/II ratio. The PGI expression correlated well with that of PGII in situ and in serum.

Conclusions

The in situ levels of PGI, PGII and PGI/II ratio sharply decreased in the GA and GC cases. The youngers exhibited higher levels of PGI, PGII and PGI/II ratios than the olders. The in situ PGI/II ratio rather than PGI and PGII alone showed certain correlation with that in serum, and the PGI expression correlated well with PGII expression. Further studies with large-scale samples are still required to validate our findings.
Benefits of a physician-facing tablet presentation of patient symptom data: comparing paper and electronic formats
Authors: Glaser Daniel , Jain Sanjula , Kortum Philip
Published: September 2013

Background

Providing patient information to physicians in usable form is of high importance. Electronic presentation of patient data may have benefits in efficiency and error rate reduction for these physician facing interfaces. Using a cancer symptom measurement tool (the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI)) we assessed the usability of patient data in its raw paper form and compared that to presentation on two electronic presentation formats of different sizes.

Methods

In two separate experiments, undergraduates completed two identical six-part questionnaires on two twenty-patient MDASI data sets. In Experiment 1, participants completed one questionnaire using a paper packet and the other questionnaire using an in-house designed iPad application. In Experiment 2, MDASI data was evaluated using an iPad and iPod Touch. Participants assessed the usability of the devices directly after use. In a third experiment, medical professionals evaluated the paper and iPad interfaces in order to validate the findings from Experiment 1.

Results

Participants were faster and more accurate answering questions about patients when using the iPad. The results from the medical professionals were similar. No appreciable accuracy, task time, or usability differences were observed between the iPad and iPod Touch.

Conclusions

Overall, the use of our tablet interface increased the accuracy and speed that users could extract pertinent information from a multiple patient MDASI data set compared to paper. Reducing the size of the interface did not negatively affect accuracy, speed, or usability. Generalization of the results to other physician facing interfaces is discussed.
Event detection in consumer videos using GMM supervectors and SVMs
Authors: Kamishima Yusuke , Inoue Nakamasa , Shinoda Koichi
Published: September 2013

In large-scale multimedia event detection, complex target events are extracted from a large set of consumer-generated web videos taken in unconstrained environments. We devised a multimedia event detection method based on Gaussian mixture model (GMM) supervectors and support vector machines. A GMM supervector consists of the parameters of a GMM for the distribution of low-level features extracted from a video clip. A GMM is regarded as an extension of the bag-of-words framework to a probabilistic framework, and thus, it can be expected to be robust against the data insufficiency problem. We also propose a camera motion cancelled feature, which is a spatio-temporal feature robust against camera motions found in consumer-generated web videos. By combining these methods with the existing features, we aim to construct a high-performance event detection system. The effectiveness of our method is evaluated using TRECVID MED task benchmark.
What is next after the genes for autoimmunity?
Authors: Castiblanco John , Arcos-Burgos Mauricio , Anaya Juan-Manuel
Published: September 2013

Clinical pathologies draw us to envisage disease as either an independent entity or a diverse set of traits governed by common physiopathological mechanisms, prompted by environmental assaults throughout life. Autoimmune diseases are not an exception, given they represent a diverse collection of diseases in terms of their demographic profile and primary clinical manifestations. Although they are pleiotropic outcomes of non-specific disease genes underlying similar immunogenetic mechanisms, research generally focuses on a single disease. Drastic technologic advances are leading research to organize clinical genomic multidisciplinary approaches to decipher the nature of human biological systems. Once the currently costly omic-based technologies become universally accessible, the way will be paved for a cleaner picture to risk quantification, prevention, prognosis and diagnosis, allowing us to clearly define better phenotypes always ensuring the integrity of the individuals studied. However, making accurate predictions for most autoimmune diseases is an ambitious challenge, since the understanding of these pathologies is far from complete. Herein, some pitfalls and challenges of the genetics of autoimmune diseases are reviewed, and an approximation to the future of research in this field is presented.
Effect of beraprost sodium on arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Na Ki Young , Kim Dong Ki , Kim Sung Gyun , Lee Young-Ki , Lim Chun Soo
Published: September 2013

Background

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Cardiovascular (CV) complications are the most common cause of death among ESRD patients. Beraprost sodium (BPS) is a prostacyclin analog with vasodilatory and antiplatelet effects.

Methods

This is a multicenter prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether treatment with BPS improves arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy. A total of 102 participants with type 2 diabetic nephropathy will be screened, enrolled, and randomly assigned to receive either 80 μg BPS or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity between baseline and after 12 weeks of medication use. The secondary outcomes will include changes in the ankle-brachial index, the urine albumin to creatinine ratio, the estimated glomerular filtration rate, lipid profiles, and blood pressure from baseline to after treatment.

Discussion

This clinical trial is the first to investigate the effects of BPS on changes in CV biomarkers, albuminuria, renal function, and lipid profiles in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01796418
Modularity and evolutionary constraints in a baculovirus gene regulatory network
Authors: Oliveira Juliana Velasco , de Brito Anderson Fernandes , Braconi Carla Torres , de Melo Freire Caio César , Iamarino Atila , de Andrade Zanotto Paolo Marinho
Published: September 2013

Background

The structure of regulatory networks remains an open question in our understanding of complex biological systems. Interactions during complete viral life cycles present unique opportunities to understand how host-parasite network take shape and behave. TheAnticarsia gemmatalismultiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus, whose genome may encode for 152 open reading frames (ORFs). Here we present the analysis of the ordered cascade of the AgMNPV gene expression.

Results

We observed an earlier onset of the expression than previously reported for other baculoviruses, especially for genes involved in DNA replication. Most ORFs were expressed at higher levels in a more permissive host cell line. Genes with more than one copy in the genome had distinct expression profiles, which could indicate the acquisition of new functionalities. The transcription gene regulatory network (GRN) for 149 ORFs had a modular topology comprising five communities of highly interconnected nodes that separated key genes that are functionally related on different communities, possibly maximizing redundancy and GRN robustness by compartmentalization of important functions. Core conserved functions showed expression synchronicity, distinct GRN features and significantly less genetic diversity, consistent with evolutionary constraints imposed in key elements of biological systems. This reduced genetic diversity also had a positive correlation with the importance of the gene in our estimated GRN, supporting a relationship between phylogenetic data of baculovirus genes and network features inferred from expression data. We also observed that gene arrangement in overlapping transcripts was conserved among related baculoviruses, suggesting a principle of genome organization.

Conclusions

Albeit with a reduced number of nodes (149), the AgMNPV GRN had a topology and key characteristics similar to those observed in complex cellular organisms, which indicates that modularity may be a general feature of biological gene regulatory networks.
Target of rapamycin signaling regulates high mobility group protein association to chromatin, which functions to suppress necrotic cell death
Authors: Chen Hongfeng , Workman Jason J , Tenga Alexa , Laribee R Nicholas
Published: September 2013

Background

The target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) is an evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathway activated by environmental nutrients that regulates gene transcription to control cell growth and proliferation. How TORC1 modulates chromatin structure to control gene expression, however, is largely unknown. Because TORC1 is a major transducer of environmental information, defining this process has critical implications for both understanding environmental effects on epigenetic processes and the role of aberrant TORC1 signaling in many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Results

To elucidate the role of TORC1 signaling in chromatin regulation, we screened a budding yeast histone H3 and H4 mutant library using the selective TORC1 inhibitor rapamycin to identify histone residues functionally connected to TORC1. Intriguingly, we identified histone H3 lysine 37 (H3K37) as a residue that is essential during periods of limited TORC1 activity. An H3K37A mutation resulted in cell death by necrosis when TORC1 signaling was simultaneously impaired. The induction of necrosis was linked to alterations in high mobility group (HMG) protein binding to chromatin. Furthermore, the necrotic phenotype could be recapitulated in wild-type cells by deregulating the model HMG proteins, Hmo1 or Ixr1, thus implicating a direct role for HMG protein deregulation as a stimulus for inducing necrosis.

Conclusions

This study identifies histone H3 and H4 residues functionally required for TORC1-dependent cell growth and proliferation that are also candidate epigenetic pathways regulated by TORC1 signaling. It also demonstrates a novel role for H3K37 and TORC1 in regulating the binding of select HMG proteins to chromatin and that HMG protein deregulation can initiate a necrotic cell death response. Overall, the results from this study suggest a possible model by which chromatin anchors HMG proteins during periods of limited TORC1 signaling, such as that which occurs during conditions of nutrient stress, to suppress necrotic cell death.