bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Global Dynamics of Gender and Philanthropy in Membership Associations
Authors: Kou Xiaonan , Hayat Amir Daniel , Mesch Debra J. , Osili Una Okonkwo
Published: September 2013

This study investigates how women influence charitable giving in a large, international voluntary service organization—Lions Clubs International (LCI). Data were collected from a survey of Lions clubs members in 14 countries to assess the impact of both micro- and macro-level factors on charitable giving. Probit and Tobit models are used to determine the probability of giving as well as the amount of money donated to the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Results indicate that belonging to a club where at least half of the members are female and where we see an increase in the percent growth in female membership in the respondent’s country are associated with both a greater likelihood of donating as well as giving more to this international service club. Findings from our study have direct implications for voluntary service organizations, particularly with regard to issues of organizational culture, as more service organizations recruit female members.
The Synthetic Necessary Truth Behind New Labour’s Criminalisation of Incest
Authors: Roffee James A
Published: September 2013

Finlayson’s emergent rhetorical political analysis is used in this article to examine arguments made in support of the criminalisation of both consensual and non-consensual adult familial sexual activity, as part of a key governmental review and report on sexual offences ( Setting the Boundaries (the Report)). The argument presented in this article is that a ‘synthetic necessary truth’ was created in the justification of the criminalisation of an activity that would otherwise be permissible within the framework proposed for the review. This article examines the creation and formation of arguments in support of the criminalisation of incest made during the pre-legislative political process. It does this by employing a rhetorical political analysis, which does not dismiss the rhetorical properties of political speech but rather demands these become central to the review. By drawing attention to the Reports’ rhetorical properties, the investigation moved away from ideas about the correctness of criminalisation of incest and instead placed the focus firmly on the structure and quality of the arguments used.
Experimental assessment of ductile damage in P91 steel at high temperature
Authors: Chiantoni Guido , Comi Claudia , Mariani Stefano , Bonora Nicola
Published: September 2013

In this paper, we provide a comparison between two indirect experimental methodologies to assess ductile damage in P91 steel tested at 1100℃: the micro-tomography and the ultrasonic wave propagation techniques. To understand the effect of the strain rate on damage or porosity evolution, two series of tensile tests were carried out: a first (quasi-static) one featuring a velocity of the testing machine track of 0.06 mm/s and a second (high strain rate) one featuring a track velocity of 50 mm/s. Each set consisted of tests conducted up to increasing values of the maximum track displacement, so as to provide pictures of damage distribution at increasing severity. A simplified micromechanical analysis is developed for data elaboration of the ultrasonic measurements. We show that the estimates of overall damage, provided by the two experimental techniques for the necked region of the specimens, agree fairly well in most of the cases.
Using the Inequitable Gender Norms Scale and Associated HIV Risk Behaviors among Men at High Risk for HIV in Ghana and Tanzania
Authors: Shattuck Dominick , Burke Holly , Ramirez Catalina , Succop Stacey , Costenbader Betsy , Attafuah John Dekyem , Mndeme Erasmus , Mbwambo Jessie , Guest Greg
Published: September 2013

Context:

Gender norms influence unintended pregnancy, maternal health, HIV/AIDS infection, and act as barriers to reproductive health services. The Gender Equitable Men (GEM) scale has been used widely in programs and research in African settings, but it has yet to be statistically validated.

Method:

We examined the internal and external validity of the Inequitable Gender Norms (IGN) subscale of the GEM scale in Tanzania and Ghana using a two-step, mixed-method process. Confirmatory factor analysis tested the internal validity of the subscale and regression tests identified associations between the IGN scale and several HIV risk-related variables.

Results:

The IGN scale was shown to be a useful measure of gender norms in both countries. Excluding two questions that measured attitudes toward homosexuality, the scale met the hypothesized single factor structure. Furthermore, the IGN scores were significantly associated with several HIV risk variables in both samples.

Conclusions:

The IGN scale is a robust measure of gender norms in these African countries. However, the role of attitudes toward homosexuality as a contributor to gender norms measurement needs further exploration. Our analyses provide a basis for using the IGN scale to provide a contextualized understanding of men’s perceptions of gender norms and to evaluate programs focused more equitable gender norms. We are aware of only one other measure of gender norms that has been statistically validated in the African Context.
Contextures
Authors: West-Pavlov Russell
Published: September 2013

This article sets up a dialogue between photographs of urban art, artifacts, and architecture in the Prenzlauer Berg district of former East Berlin with a meditation on the ways in which urban subjects interact with their environment so as to transform both themselves and their city. The article works with notions of fluid “folded” relationships between city space and denizens, suggesting that these are not discrete entities interacting with each other according to the Euclidean paradigm of container and inhabitants, respectively. Rather, urban subjects are manifestations and products of the space that brings them forth. Any aesthetic practices on the part of urban subjects are recursive actions that modify the urban fabric continuum of which those subjects are a part, thus initiating complex environmental, political, and subjective changes, which can be understood under the rubrics of Lefebvre’s “right to the city” as well as the work of more recent theorists.
Mood and anxiety problems in perinatal Indigenous women in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States: A critical review of the literature
Authors: Bowen Angela , Duncan Vicky , Peacock Shelley , Bowen Rudy , Schwartz Laura , Campbell Diane , Muhajarine Nazeem
Published: September 2013

We conducted a review of research literature related to anxiety, depression, and mood problems in Indigenous women in Canada, the United States (including Hawaii), Australia, and New Zealand. Quantitative and qualitative research studies published between 1980 and March 2010 were reviewed. The initial search revealed 396 potential documents, and after being checked for relevance by two researchers, data were extracted from 16 quantitative studies, one qualitative research article, and one dissertation. Depression is a common problem in Indigenous pregnant and postpartum women; however, the prevalence and correlates of anxiety and mood disorders are understudied. The review identified four key areas where further research is needed: (a) longitudinal, population-based studies; (b) further validation and modification of appropriate screening tools; (c) exploration of cultural diversity and meaning of the lived experiences of antenatal and postpartum depression, anxiety, and mood disorders; and (d) development of evidence-informed practices for researchers and practitioners through collaborations with Aboriginal communities to better understand and improve mental health of women of childbearing age.
A comparison of the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in two American Indian population samples and in a general population sample
Authors: Bolton Shay-Lee , Elias Brenda , Enns Murray W. , Sareen Jitender , Beals Janette , Novins Douglas K. ,   The Swampy Cree Suicide Prevention Team,   The AI-SUPERPFP Team
Published: September 2013

The current study aimed to examine whether the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts differ when comparing two American Indian reservation samples to the U.S. general population. Data were from the baseline nationally representative National Comorbidity Survey ( N = 5,877) and the representative American Indian Service Utilization, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Risk and Protective Factors Project (AI-SUPERPFP; N = 3,084). Face-to-face interviews were conducted using the fully structured World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. American Indians from these Northern Plains and Southwest tribes appeared significantly less likely to have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime when compared with the general population, odds ratio (OR) of 0.49 (99% CI [0.36, 0.66]) and 0.36 (99% CI [0.25, 0.51]), respectively. However, members of the Northern Plains tribe were more likely to have attempted suicide in their lifetime compared with the general population (OR = 1.96, 99% CI [1.45, 2.65]). Suicide attempts without suicidal ideation were more common in the two American Indian samples than in the general population. In contrast, correlates of suicidal behavior appear quite similar when comparing the groups. Increased attention is needed to determine why rates of ideation and attempts may differ in American Indians when compared with the general population.
Strategies for assessing mental health in Haiti: Local instrument development and transcultural translation
Authors: Kaiser Bonnie N. , Kohrt Brandon A. , Keys Hunter M. , Khoury Nayla M. , Brewster Aimée-Rika T.
Published: September 2013

The lack of culturally appropriate mental health assessment instruments is a major barrier to screening and evaluating efficacy of interventions. Simple translation of questionnaires produces misleading and inaccurate conclusions. Multiple alternate approaches have been proposed, and this study compared two approaches tested in rural Haiti. First, an established transcultural translation process was used to develop Haitian Kreyòl versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). This entailed focus group discussions evaluating comprehensibility, acceptability, relevance, and completeness. Second, qualitative data collection was employed to develop new instruments: the Kreyòl Distress Idioms (KDI) and Kreyòl Function Assessment (KFA) scales. For the BDI and BAI, some items were found to be nonequivalent due to lack of specificity, interpersonal interpretation, or conceptual nonequivalence. For all screening tools, items were adjusted if they were difficult to endorse or severely stigmatizing, represented somatic experiences of physical illness, or were difficult to understand. After the qualitative development phases, the BDI and BAI were piloted with 31 and 27 adults, respectively, and achieved good reliability. Without these efforts to develop appropriate tools, attempts at screening would have captured a combination of atypical suffering, everyday phenomena, and potential psychotic symptoms. Ultimately, a combination of transculturally adapted and locally developed instruments appropriately identified those in need of care through accounting for locally salient symptoms of distress and their negative sequelae.
Determination of elastic and viscoplastic material properties obtained from indentation tests using a combined finite element analysis and optimization approach
Authors: Kang JJ , Becker AA , Sun W
Published: September 2013

Conventional indentation tests do not provide an accurate estimation of viscoplastic material properties. In this work, a combined finite element analysis and optimization approach is developed for the determination of elastic–plastic and creep material properties using only a single indentation loading–unloading curve based on a two-layer viscoplasticity model. Utilizing the indentation loading–unloading curve obtained from a finite element-simulated experiment with a spherical and a conical indenter, a set of six key material properties (Young’s modulus, yield stress, work hardening exponent and three creep parameters) can be determined. Non-linear optimization algorithms are used with different sets of initial material properties, leading to good agreements with the numerically simulated target loading–unloading curves.
Hybrid pig versus Göttingen minipig-derived cartilage and chondrocytes show pig line-dependent differences
Authors: Müller Claudia , Marzahn Ulrike , Kohl Benjamin , Sayed Karym El , Lohan Anke , Meier Carola , Ertel Wolfgang , Schulze-Tanzil Gundula
Published: September 2013

Minipigs are widely used as a large animal model for cartilage repair. However, many in vitro studies are based on porcine chondrocytes derived from abundantly available premature hybrid pigs. It remains unclear whether pig line-dependent differences exist which could limit the comparability between in vitro and in vivo results using either hybrid or miniature pig articular chondrocytes. Porcine knee joint femoral cartilage was isolated from 3- to 5-month-old hybrid pigs and Göttingen minipigs. Cartilage from both pig lines was analysed for thickness, zonality, cell content, size and proteoglycan deposition. Cultured articular chondrocytes from both pig lines were investigated for gene and/or protein expression of cartilage-specific proteins such as type II collagen, aggrecan, the chondrogenic transcription factor Sox9, non-specific type I collagen and the cell-matrix receptor β1-integrin. Cartilage was significantly thinner in the miniature pig compared to the hybrid pig, but the differences between the medial and lateral femur condyles did not reach a significant level. Knee joint cartilage zone formation started only in the minipig, whereas cellularity and cell diameters were comparable in both pig lines. Blood vessels could be detected in the hybrid pig but not the minipig cartilage. Sulphated proteoglycan deposition was more pronounced in cartilage zones II–IV of both pig lines. Minipig chondrocytes expressed type II and I collagen, Sox9 and β1-integrin at a higher level than hybrid pig chondrocytes. These distinct line-dependent differences should be considered when using hybrid pig-derived chondrocytes for tissue engineering and Göttingen minipigs as a large animal model.
Diabetes Mellitus and Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
Authors: Theivacumar Nada Selva , Stephenson Matthew A. , Mistry Hiren , Valenti Domenico
Published: September 2013

Introduction:

Recent reports suggest that diabetic patients are relatively unlikely to have abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This retrospective study assesses the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and aortic aneurysm rupture.

Methods:

Patients with a diagnosis of any aortic aneurysm during a 10-year period were identified from our records. Patients with diagnoses of aortic aneurysm (thoracic, thoracoabdominal, and abdominal, treated and untreated) were included. Patients with nonatheromatous aneurysms (transection, dissection, mycotic, or isolated iliac) were excluded.

Results:

In all, 1830 patients with nonruptured aneurysms and 232 ruptured aneurysms were included giving a total of 2062 patients with aortic aneurysms (abdominal, thoracic, and thoracoabdominal). Of these 1830, 225 (12.3%) patients with nonruptured aneurysm were diabetic; however, only 13 (5.6%) of the 232 patients with ruptured aortic aneurysm were diabetic (odds ratio [OR] = 0.42; confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.75, P = .004). Considering only those with AAAs, 184 (12.4%) of the 1482 nonruptured AAA were diabetic; however, only 12 (6.4%) of the 188 patients with ruptured AAA were diabetic (OR = 0.48 [CI: 0.26-0.88], P = .02). In this study group, the odds of dying due to aneurysm rupture in the diabetic group are significantly lower compared to the nondiabetic groups (OR = 0.31 [CI: 0.13-0.69], P = .004), despite the finding that diabetic patients had almost the same life expectancy as nondiabetic patients (DM, 73 years [67-80] vs non-DM, 75 years [68-82] P = .23).

Conclusions:

Diabetic patients with aortic aneurysms are significantly less likely to present with rupture or to die from aneurysm rupture when compared to nondiabetic patients with aortic aneurysms. We have identified association only, not causality. However, it is plausible that DM, or the treatment of DM, may have a protective effect on aortic aneurysm rupture.
Nociception Coma Scale–Revised Scores Correlate With Metabolism in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Authors: Chatelle Camille , Thibaut Aurore , Bruno Marie-Aurélie , Boly Mélanie , Bernard Claire , Hustinx Roland , Schnakers Caroline , Laureys Steven
Published: September 2013

Background. The Nociception Coma Scale–Revised (NCS-R) was recently validated to assess possible pain perception in patients with disorders of consciousness. Objective. To identify correlations between cerebral glucose metabolism and NCS-R total scores. Methods. [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, NCS-R, and Coma Recovery Scale–Revised assessments were performed in 49 patients with disorders of consciousness. Results. We identified a significant positive correlation between NCS-R total scores and metabolism in the posterior part of the anterior cingulate cortex, known to be involved in pain processing. No other cluster reached significance. No significant effect of clinical diagnosis (vegetative/unresponsive vs minimally conscious states), etiology or interval since insult was observed. Conclusions. Our data support the hypothesis that the NCS-R total scores are related to cortical processing of nociception and may constitute an appropriate behavioral tool to assess, monitor, and treat possible pain in brain-damaged noncommunicative patients with disorders of consciousness. Future studies using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging should investigate the correlation between NCS-R scores and brain activation in response to noxious stimulation at the single-subject level.
Endovascular repair with chimney technique of abdominal aortic aneurysm with hostile aortic neck
Authors: Kim Jang Yong , Park Jae Young , Cho Soon Gu , Jin Chan Ik , Lee W. Anthony , Jeon Yong Sun , Hong Kee Chun
Published: September 2013

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with hostile aortic neck is not a good candidate for conventional endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and a recent paper showed that EVAR with chimney technique (Ch-EVAR) yielded reasonable outcome. We report here a case of successful Ch-EVAR treatment of AAA with hostile neck. An 81-year-old man presented with a 71-mm AAA during evaluation of a gastric ulcer. Aortic neck was 30 mm in diameter, 10–15 mm in length and angulated by 100°. EVAR was performed with chimney stenting to both renal arteries, and the patient recovered after transient hematuria. At one-year follow-up, AAA had increased by 7 mm with delayed type I endoleak control without renal insufficiency. The patient needed close follow-up.
An approach to system reliability prediction for mechanical equipment using fuzzy reasoning Petri net
Authors: Wu Jianing , Yan Shaoze
Published: September 2013

Reliability prediction is a critical process of conceptual design for one evolutionary system when it has not been physically built. Due to the limitation of operation data, during the early stage of design, the reliability of a new product is difficult to predict, especially for complex mechanical systems. This article introduces a new method to predict reliability in the early stage of design phase, which uses fuzzy reasoning Petri net to generate the three values, representing complexity, importance and quality of subsystems for the product count reliability prediction. This approach solves the problems of data deficiency and high complexity in the existing methods. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method are validated by a case study of a real mechanical system of the spacecraft solar array. The analysis results show that this new method is able to reach an accurate predicted failure rate compared with the reported lifetime of the solar arrays.
A probability estimation method for reliability analysis using mapped Gegenbauer polynomials
Authors: Huang Xianzhen , Zhang Yimin
Published: September 2013

Based on the theory of Gegenbauer polynomial approximation, this article presents a probability estimation method for reliability analysis of mechanical systems. Analytical evaluation or statistical analysis is used to compute statistical moments. Then, the well-known Gegenbauer series approach is applied to approximate the probability distribution functions and cumulative distribution functions. The proposed method is completely distribution-free due to the fact that no classical theoretical distributions are assumed in the whole process, and the approximate analytic description provides a universal form of probability distribution function and cumulative distribution function. Five numerical examples involving mathematic functions and mechanical engineering problems are applied to illustrate the application of the proposed method. The results show that the probability distribution functions and cumulative distribution functions of random variables and responses can be accurately and efficiently derived from Gegenbauer polynomial approximation method with high-order statistical moments.
Marketing Metrics That Contribute to Marketing Accountability in the Technology Sector
Authors: Gaskill Adam , Winzar Hume
Published: September 2013

The marketing function is facing challenges to its existence and is losing influence and resources within organizations as it fails to demonstrate its accountability. This exploratory study identifies marketing metrics that can potentially contribute to marketing accountability in the technology sector. The findings suggest the marketing function could possibly benefit through using both financial and nonfinancial metrics when demonstrating to their finance colleagues the link between their activities and organizational outcomes. The study’s findings also suggest that in addition to an increase in influence within organizations, the marketing function could benefit from favorable resource allocation and timely approvals for new marketing initiatives when it is perceived as being accountable.
Gendered Teacher–Student Interactions in English Language Classrooms
Authors: Hassaskhah Jaleh , Roshan Zamir Sara
Published: September 2013

Being and becoming is the ultimate objective of any educational enterprise, including language teaching. However, research results indicate seemingly unjustified differences between how females and males are treated by EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers. The overall aim of this study is to illustrate, analyze, and discuss aspects of gender bias and gender awareness in teacher–student interaction in the Iranian college context. To this end, teacher–student interactions of 20 English teachers and 500 students were investigated from the perspective of gender theory. The data were obtained via classroom observations, a seating chart and the audio-recording of all classroom interactions during the study. The findings, obtained from the quantitative descriptive statistics and chi-square methods, as well as the qualitative analysis by way of open and selective coding, uncovered that there were significant differences in the quantity and quality of the interaction for females and males in almost all categories of interaction. The study also revealed teachers’ perception of “gender,” the problems they associate with gender, and the attitudes they have to gender issues. Apparently, while positive incentives are able to facilitate learner growth, the presence of any negative barrier such as gender bias is likely to hinder development. This has implications for teachers, and faculty members who favor healthy and gender-neutral educational climate.
Rani Manicka’s Touching Earth
Authors: Barani Forough , Wan Yahya Wan Roselezam
Published: September 2013

Rani Manicka’s Touching Earth demonstrates a narrative discursive style which is indeed an appropriate ground for the study of multiple voices and worldviews. Manicka’s representation of the world through an utmost plurality of consciousnesses, each playing its part on an equal dialogical basis to demonstrate the truth, parallels what Russian theorist Mikhail Bakhtin (1895-1975) describes as a “Polyphonic Novel.” The main aim of this study is to discover, in Rani Manicka’s Touching Earth, the polyphonic elements that Bakhtin attributed to Dostoevsky’s novels. This article further seeks to identify the dialogic relationship between the characters, the active participation of the reader, and the author’s position with regard to these. The final goal of this study is to establish the quality of unfinalizability, the capacity to outgrow the determined fixed definitions, and the shared perception of truth in this novel. As there have been limited Bakhtinian studies on Asian texts and, in particular, none on Rani Manicka’s novels, this study attempts to fill this gap in the literature and thus contribute to the body of research on the dialogical dimension of the novel.
Teaching Music to the Non-Major
Authors: Enz Nicholas J.
Published: September 2013

Students pursuing college degrees in fields other than music must often take a music or arts course. Teaching these non-majors has been a traditional responsibility of college and university music departments. While experts agree that a single, widely accepted approach to teaching the non-major is unavailable, many experts concur that developing perceptive listening skills is a primary goal. Furthermore, they also agree that the study of music for the non-major is important for reasons of personal development, for societal development, and for the preservation of music. These experts take different approaches to the content and methodology for instruction and offer differing recommendations for improving the education of non-majors. This article will review literature regarding the methodology and curriculum for teaching music to college students pursuing degrees other than music and provide recommendations for areas of future research.
Strategies for Improving Rehearsal Technique
Authors: Silvey Brian A.
Published: September 2013

Music education researchers and conducting pedagogues have identified numerous behaviors that contribute to increased verbal and nonverbal teaching effectiveness of conductors on the podium. This article is a review of literature concerning several conductor behaviors that may (a) increase the effectiveness of rehearsals, (b) enhance the expressivity of conductors and/or their ensembles, or (c) improve ensemble performance. Suggestions and recommendations suitable for instrumental and vocal preservice teachers, in-service teachers, and faculty charged with teaching undergraduate conducting and rehearsal techniques courses are offered.
The increase of microRNA-21 during lung fibrosis and its contribution to epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pulmonary epithelial cells
Authors: Yamada Mitsuhiro , Kubo Hiroshi , Ota Chiharu , Takahashi Toru , Tando Yukiko , Suzuki Takaya , Fujino Naoya , Makiguchi Tomonori , Takagi Kiyoshi , Suzuki Takashi , Ichinose Masakazu
Published: September 2013

Background

The excess and persistent accumulation of fibroblasts due to aberrant tissue repair results in fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Recent reports have revealed significant changes in microRNAs during idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and evidence in support of a role for microRNAs in myofibroblast differentiation and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the context of fibrosis. It has been reported that microRNA-21 is up-regulated in myofibroblasts during fibrosis and promotes transforming growth factor-beta signaling by inhibiting Smad7. However, expression changes in microRNA-21 and the role of microRNA-21 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition during lung fibrosis have not yet been defined.

Methods

Lungs from saline- or bleomycin-treated C57BL/6 J mice and lung specimens from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were analyzed. Enzymatic digestions were performed to isolate single lung cells. Lung epithelial cells were isolated by flow cytometric cell sorting. The expression of microRNA-21 was analyzed using both quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization. To induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in culture, isolated mouse lung alveolar type II cells were cultured on fibronectin-coated chamber slides in the presence of transforming growth factor-β, thus generating conditions that enhance epithelial-mesenchymal transition. To investigate the role of microRNA-21 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, we transfected cells with a microRNA-21 inhibitor. Total RNA was isolated from the freshly isolated and cultured cells. MicroRNA-21, as well as mRNAs of genes that are markers of alveolar epithelial or mesenchymal cell differentiation, were quantified using quantitative PCR.

Results

The lung epithelial cells isolated from the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model system had decreased expression of epithelial marker genes, whereas the expression of mesenchymal marker genes was increased. MicroRNA-21 was significantly upregulated in isolated lung epithelial cells during bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. MicroRNA-21 was also upregulated in the cultured alveolar epithelial cells under the conditions that enhance epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Exogenous administration of a microRNA-21 inhibitor prevented the increased expression of vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin in cultured primary mouse alveolar type II cells under culture conditions that induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Conclusions

Our experiments demonstrate that microRNA-21 is increased in lung epithelial cells during lung fibrosis and that it promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Large-scale multiple testing in genome-wide association studies via region-specific hidden Markov models
Authors: Xiao Jian , Zhu Wensheng , Guo Jianhua
Published: September 2013

Background

Identifying genetic variants associated with complex human diseases is a great challenge in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) arising from genetic background are often dependent. The existing methods, i.e., local index of significance (LIS) and pooled local index of significance (PLIS), were both proposed for modeling SNP dependence and assumed that the whole chromosome follows a hidden Markov model (HMM). However, the fact that SNP data are often collected from separate heterogeneous regions of a single chromosome encourages different chromosomal regions to follow different HMMs. In this research, we developed a data-driven penalized criterion combined with a dynamic programming algorithm to find change points that divide the whole chromosome into more homogeneous regions. Furthermore, we extended PLIS to analyze the dependent tests obtained from multiple chromosomes with different regions for GWAS.

Results

The simulation results show that our new criterion can improve the performance of the model selection procedure and that our region-specific PLIS (RSPLIS) method is better than PLIS at detecting disease-associated SNPs when there are multiple change points along a chromosome. Our method has been used to analyze the Daly study, and compared with PLIS, RSPLIS yielded results that more accurately detected disease-associated SNPs.

Conclusions

The genomic rankings based on our method differ from the rankings based on PLIS. Specifically, for the detection of genetic variants with weak effect sizes, the RSPLIS method was able to rank them more efficiently and with greater power.
HANDS: a tool for genome-wide discovery of subgenome- specific base-identity in polyploids
Authors: Mithani Aziz , Belfield Eric J , Brown Carly , Jiang Caifu , Leach Lindsey J , Harberd Nicholas P
Published: September 2013

Background

The analysis of polyploid genomes is problematic because homeologous subgenome sequences are closely related. This relatedness makes it difficult to assign individual sequences to the specific subgenome from which they are derived, and hinders the development of polyploid whole genome assemblies.

Results

We here present a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based approach for assignment of subgenome-specific base-identity at sites containing homeolog-specific polymorphisms (HSPs): ‘HSP base Assignment using NGS data through Diploid Similarity’ (HANDS). We show that HANDS correctly predicts subgenome-specific base-identity at >90% of assayed HSPs in the hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) transcriptome, thus providing a substantial increase in accuracy versus previous methods for homeolog-specific base assignment.

Conclusion

We conclude that HANDS enables rapid and accurate genome-wide discovery of homeolog-specific base-identity, a capability having multiple applications in polyploid genomics.
Genetic analysis of the FBXO42 gene in Chinese Han patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Gao Kai , Deng Xiong , Zheng Wen , Song Zhi , Zhu Anding , Xiu Xiaofei , Deng Hao
Published: September 2013

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The clinical manifestations of PD encompass a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. Mutations in the F-box protein 7 gene (FBXO7) have been identified to cause Parkinsonian-pyramidal syndrome, an autosomal recessive form of Parkinsonism. The F-box protein 42 gene (FBXO42), a paralog of theFBXO7gene, is involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome system that may play a role in the pathogenesis of PD.

Methods

To determine whether theFBXO42gene is associated with PD, we performed a systematic genetic analysis of theFBXO42gene in 316 PD patients and 295 gender-, age-, and ethnicity-matched normal controls.

Results

We identified a novel variant c.1407T>C (p.S469S) and three known single nucleotide variants, including rs2273311, rs12069239 and rs35196193 in theFBXO42gene in PD patient group. None of the three known variants displayed statistically significant difference in either genotypic or allelic distributions between patient and control groups (allP> 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that a common haplotype (G-C-G) for the three single nucleotide variants conferred a 1.69-fold increased risk for PD (P= 0.008 after Bonferroni correction, OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.06-2.71).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a haplotype of theFBXO42gene might be associated with a higher susceptibility to PD.
Unusual epileptic deterioration and extensive white matter lesion during treatment in Wilson’s disease
Authors: Kim Young Eun , Yun Ji Young , Yang Hui-Jun , Kim Han-Joon , Jeon Beom S
Published: September 2013

Background

Wilson’s disease (WD) is a genetic disorder which can be controlled fairly well with decupuration therapy. However, symptoms, on rare occasions, can worsen even when WD is being treated. Herein, we report a case involving unusual neurological deterioration during decupuration therapy for WD.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old man was diagnosed with WD 13 years prior to his clinical visit; however, his drug compliance has been poor over the years. He was treated with trientine because tremors and dysarthria have presented in recent years. However, dysarthria and dystonia developed in his limbs, which were worse on the right side and had been aggravated for several weeks despite good drug compliance. His symptoms were fluctuating. It was initially misdiagnosed as dystonia; although, it turned out to be a seizure due to cortical degeneration. These symptoms were completely resolved with antiepileptic drugs. Moreover, the cortical enhancement of bifrontal degeneration has disappeared on the MRI.

Conclusion

This case showed unusual epileptic neurologic deterioration due to cortical degeneration during decupuration therapy. Seizures in WD can easily be mistaken as part of dystonia. However, the fluctuating symptoms suggest a seizure.
Bohler’s angle’s role in assessing the injury severity and functional outcome of internal fixation for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: a retrospective study
Authors: Su Yanling , Chen Wei , Zhang Tao , Wu Xingwang , Wu Zhanpo , Zhang Yingze
Published: September 2013

Background

Controversy exits over the role of Böhler’s angle in assessing the injury severity of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures and predicting the functional outcome following internal fixation. This study aims to investigate whether a correlation exists between Böhler’s angle and the injury severity of displaced calcaneal fractures, and between surgical improvement of Böhler’s angle and functional outcome.

Methods

Patients treated operatively for unilateral closed displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures from January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2008 were identified. The Böhler’s angles of both calcaneus were measured, and the measurement of the uninjured foot was used as its normal control. The difference in the value of Böhler’s angle measured preoperatively or postoperatively between the angle of the injured foot and that of the contralateral calcaneus were calculated, respectively. The change in Böhler’s angle by ratio was calculated by dividing the difference value of Böhler’s angle between bilateral calcaneus by its normal control. The injury severity was assessed according to Sanders classification. The functional outcomes were assessed using American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot scores.

Results

274 patients were included into the study with a mean follow-up duration of 71 months. According to Sanders classification, the fracture pattern included 105 type II, 121 type III and 48 type IV fractures. According to American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot scoring system, the excellent, good, fair and poor results were achieved in 104, 132, 27, and 11 patients, respectively. The preoperative Böhler’s angle, difference value of Böhler’s angle between bilateral calcaneus, and change in Böhler’s angle by ratio each has a significant correlation with Sanders classification (rs=−0.178,P=0.003; rs=−0.174,P=0.004; rs=−0.172,P=0.005, respectively), however, is not correlated with functional outcome individually. The three postoperative measurements were all found to have a significant correlation with American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot scores (rs=0.223,P<0.001; rs=0.224,P<0.001; rs=0.220,P<0.001, respectively). However, these correlations were all weak to low.

Conclusions

There was a significant correlation between preoperative Böhler’s angle and the injury severity of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures, but only postoperative Böhler’s angle parameters were found to have a significant correlation with the functional recovery.
Optimal receiver antenna location in indoor environment using dynamic differential evolution and genetic algorithm
Authors: Liao Shu-Han , Chen Chien-Hung , Chiu Chien-Ching , Ho Min-Hui , Wysocki Tadeusz A , Wysocki Beata J
Published: September 2013

Using the impulse responses of these multipath channels, the bit error rate (BER) performance for binary pulse amplitude modulation impulse radio ultra-wideband communication system is calculated. The optimization location of receiving antenna is investigated by dynamic differential evolution (DDE) and genetic algorithm (GA) to minimize the outage probability. Numerical results show that the performance for reducing BER and outage probability by DDE algorithm is better than that by GA.
The ventral habenulae of zebrafish develop in prosomere 2 dependent on Tcf7l2 function
Authors: Beretta Carlo A , Dross Nicolas , Bankhead Peter , Carl Matthias
Published: September 2013

Background

The conserved habenular neural circuit relays cognitive information from the forebrain into the ventral mid- and hindbrain. In zebrafish, the bilaterally formed habenulae in the dorsal diencephalon are made up of the asymmetric dorsal and symmetric ventral habenular nuclei, which are homologous to the medial and lateral nuclei respectively, in mammals. These structures have been implicated in various behaviors related to the serotonergic/dopaminergic neurotransmitter system. The dorsal habenulae develop adjacent to the medially positioned pineal complex. Their precursors differentiate into two main neuronal subpopulations which differ in size across brain hemispheres as signals from left-sided parapineal cells influence their differentiation program. Unlike the dorsal habenulae and despite their importance, the ventral habenulae have been poorly studied. It is not known which genetic programs underlie their development and why they are formed symmetrically, unlike the dorsal habenulae. A main reason for this lack of knowledge is that the vHb origin has remained elusive to date.

Results

To address these questions, we applied long-term 2-photon microscopy time-lapse analysis of habenular neural circuit development combined with depth color coding in a transgenic line, labeling all main components of the network. Additional laser ablations and cell tracking experiments using the photoconvertible PSmOrange system in GFP transgenic fish show that the ventral habenulae develop in prosomere 2, posterior and lateral to the dorsal habenulae in the dorsal thalamus. Mutant analysis demonstrates that the ventral habenular nuclei only develop in the presence of functional Tcf7l2, a downstream modulator of the Wnt signaling cascade. Consistently, photoconverted thalamic tcf7l2

exl/exl
mutant cells do not contribute to habenula formation.

Conclusions

We show in vivo that dorsal and ventral habenulae develop in different regions of prosomere 2. In the process of ventral habenula formation, functional tcf7l2 gene activity is required and in its absence, ventral habenular neurons do not develop. Influenced by signals from parapineal cells, dorsal habenular neurons differentiate at a time at which ventral habenular cells are still on their way towards their final destination. Thus, our finding may provide a simple explanation as to why only neuronal populations of the dorsal habenulae differ in size across brain hemispheres.
Vibration response imaging: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Berry Marc P , Camporota Luigi , Ntoumenopoulos George
Published: September 2013

Background

The concept of lung sounds conveying information regarding lung physiology has been used extensively in clinical practice, particularly with physical auscultation using a stethoscope. Advances in computer technology have facilitated the construction of dynamic visual images derived from recorded lung sounds. Arguably, the most significant progress in this field was the development of the commercially available vibration response imaging (VRI) (Deep Breeze Ltd, Or-Akiva, Israel). This device provides a non-invasive, dynamic image of both lungs constructed from sounds detected from the lungs using surface sensors. In the literature, VRI has been utilized in a multitude of clinical and research settings. This systematic review aims to address three study questions relating to whether VRI can be used as an evaluative device, whether the images generated can be characterized, and which tools and measures have been used to assess these images.

Methods/Design

This systematic review will involve implementing search strategies in five online journal databases in order to extract articles relating to the application of VRI. Appropriate articles will be identified against a set of pre-determined eligibility criteria and assessed for methodological quality using a standardized scale. Included articles will have data extracted by the reviewers using a standardized evidence table. A narrative synthesis based on a standardized framework will be conducted, clustering evidence into three main groups; one for each of the study questions. A meta-analysis will be conducted if two or more research articles meet pre-determined criteria that allow quantitative synthesis to take place.

Discussion

This systematic review aims to provide a complete overview of the scope of VRI in the clinical and research settings, as well as to discuss methods to interpret the data obtained from VRI. The systematic review intends to help clinicians to make informed decisions on the clinical applicability of the device, to allow researchers to identify further potential avenues of investigation, and to provide methods for the evaluation and interpretation of dynamic and static images. The publication and registration of this review with PROSPERO provides transparency and accountability, and facilitates the appraisal of the proposed systematic review against the original design.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42013003751
Dlk1 Up-Regulates Gli1 Expression in Male Rat Adrenal Capsule Cells Through the Activation of β1 Integrin and ERK1/2
Authors: Guasti Leonardo , Cavlan Dominic , Cogger Kathryn , Banu Zahida , Shakur Amreen , Latif Salima , King Peter J.
Published: September 2013

The development and maintenance of the zones of the adrenal cortex and their steroidal output are extremely important in the control of gluconeogenesis, the stress response, and blood volume. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is expressed in the adrenal cortex and signals to capsular cells, which can respond by migrating into the cortex and converting into a steroidogenic phenotype. Delta-like homologue 1 (Dlk1), a member of the Notch/Delta/Serrate family of epidermal growth factor-like repeat-containing proteins, has a well-established role in inhibiting adipocyte differentiation. We demonstrate that Shh and Dlk1 are coexpressed in the outer undifferentiated zone of the male rat adrenal and that Dlk1 signals to the adrenal capsule, activating glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 transcription in a β1 integrin- and Erk1/2-dependent fashion. Moreover, Shh and Dlk1 expression inversely correlates with the size of the zona glomerulosa in rats after manipulation of the renin-angiotensin system, suggesting a role in the homeostatic maintenance of the gland.
A Role for Glucocorticoids in Stress-Impaired Reproduction: Beyond the Hypothalamus and Pituitary
Authors: Whirledge Shannon , Cidlowski John A.
Published: September 2013

In addition to the well-characterized role of the sex steroid receptors in regulating fertility and reproduction, reproductive events are also mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to an individual's environment. Glucocorticoid secretion in response to stress contributes to the well-characterized suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis through central actions in the hypothalamus and pituitary. However, both animal and in vitro studies indicate that other components of the reproductive system are also regulated by glucocorticoids. Furthermore, in the absence of stress, it appears that homeostatic glucocorticoid signaling plays a significant role in reproduction and fertility in all tissues comprising the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Indeed, as central regulators of the immune response, glucocorticoids are uniquely poised to integrate an individual's infectious, inflammatory, stress, nutritional, and metabolic status through glucocorticoid receptor signaling in target tissues. Endocrine signaling between tissues regulating the immune and stress response and those determining reproductive status provides an evolutionary advantage, facilitating the trade-off between reproductive investment and offspring fitness. This review focuses on the actions of glucocorticoids in tissues important for fertility and reproduction, highlighting recent studies that show glucocorticoid signaling plays a significant role throughout the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and characterizing these effects as permissive or inhibitory in terms of facilitating reproductive success.