bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TCTP Is Essential for β-Cell Proliferation and Mass Expansion During Development and β-Cell Adaptation in Response to Insulin Resistance
Authors: Tsai Ming-Jen , Yang-Yen Hsin-Fang , Chiang Ming-Ko , Wang Mei-Jen , Wu Shiou-Shian , Chen Sung-Ho
Published: November 2013

The perinatal period is critical for β-cell mass establishment, which is characterized by a transient burst in proliferation to increase β-cell mass in response to the need for glucose homeostasis throughout life. In adulthood, the ability of β-cells to grow, proliferate, and expand their mass is also characteristic of pathological states of insulin resistance. Translationally controlled tumor-associated protein (TCTP), an evolutionarily highly conserved protein that is implicated in cell growth and proliferation, has been identified as a novel glucose-regulated survival-supporting protein in pancreatic β-cells. In this study, the enhanced β-cell proliferation detected both during the perinatal developmental period and in insulin-resistant states in high-fat diet-fed mice was found to parallel the expression of TCTP in pancreatic β-cells. Specific knockout of TCTP in β-cells led to increased expression of total and nuclear Forkhead box protein O1 and tumor suppressor protein 53, and decreased expression of p70S6 kinase phosphorylation and cyclin D2 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. This resulted in decreased β-cell proliferation and growth, reduced β-cell mass, and insulin secretion. Together, these effects led to hyperglycemia. These observations suggest that TCTP is essential for β-cell mass expansion during development and β-cell adaptation in response to insulin resistance.
Serum Sclerostin Levels Vary With Season
Authors: Dawson-Hughes Bess , Harris Susan S. , Ceglia Lisa , Palermo Nancy J.
Published: November 2013

Context:

To establish the clinical utility of serum sclerostin levels, it is important to know whether there is seasonal variation in the measurements.

Objective:

This study was done to determine whether serum sclerostin levels vary by season in healthy older men and women.

Methods:

Serum sclerostin levels were measured in archived serum of 314 healthy men and women aged 65 years and older and examined for seasonal variation. Several factors known to vary by season and previously reported to be associated with serum sclerostin levels, including serum osteocalcin, physical activity, and serum PTH levels, were also measured in these subjects. Sex did not modify the association of season with sclerostin, so the men and women were analyzed together.

Results:

Serum sclerostin levels varied significantly by season (P < .001, after adjustment for sex). Sclerostin levels in the wintertime were 20% higher than the all-year mean, the levels gradually declined through the spring and summer, and by the fall, they were 20% below the all-year mean. Adjustment for serum osteocalcin, physical activity, and serum PTH did not alter the seasonal means. Seasonal differences in serum osteocalcin, physical activity, and serum PTH were not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

This study documents marked seasonal variation in serum sclerostin levels. It is important to recognize this source of biological variability when considering the potential clinical utility of sclerostin measurements.
Hippo signaling impedes adult heart regeneration
Authors: Heallen Todd , Morikawa Yuka , Leach John , Tao Ge , Willerson James T. , Johnson Randy L. , Martin James F.
Published: November 2013

Heart failure due to cardiomyocyte loss after ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States in large part because heart muscle regenerates poorly. The endogenous mechanisms preventing mammalian cardiomyocyte regeneration are poorly understood. Hippo signaling, an ancient organ size control pathway, is a kinase cascade that inhibits developing cardiomyocyte proliferation but it has not been studied postnatally or in fully mature adult cardiomyocytes. Here, we investigated Hippo signaling in adult cardiomyocyte renewal and regeneration. We found that unstressed Hippo-deficient adult mouse cardiomyocytes re-enter the cell cycle and undergo cytokinesis. Moreover, Hippo deficiency enhances cardiomyocyte regeneration with functional recovery after adult myocardial infarction as well as after postnatal day eight (P8) cardiac apex resection and P8 myocardial infarction. In damaged hearts, Hippo mutant cardiomyocytes also have elevated proliferation. Our findings reveal that Hippo signaling is an endogenous repressor of adult cardiomyocyte renewal and regeneration. Targeting the Hippo pathway in human disease might be beneficial for the treatment of heart disease.
Synthesis and Conformational Characterization of Diketopiperazines Bearing a Benzyl Moiety
Authors: Nakao Michiyasu , Toriuchi Yuriko , Fukayama Shintaro , Sano Shigeki
Published: November 2013

Diketopiperazines bearing a benzyl moiety with different para-substituents were synthesized and analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. All of these diketopiperazines were found to adopt a folded conformation according to the upfield chemical shift of the cis-proton (cis to the benzyl moiety) due to a shielding effect in the 1H NMR spectra. An intramolecular CH–π interaction appears to be an important factor for the folded conformation due to the effects of para-substituents on the benzyl group.
Wind Tunnel Tests on Floating Offshore Wind Turbines: A Proposal for Hardware-in-the-Loop Approach to Validate Numerical Codes
Authors: Bayati I. , Belloli M. , Facchinetti A. , Giappino S.
Published: November 2013

This paper describes the realization of a 2-DoF experimental rig, performed at Politecnico di Milano Wind Tunnel, aimed at simulating the motion of a floating wind turbine scale model, due to combined effect of hydrodynamic and aerodynamic loads. As floating offshore wind farms are becoming objects of interest among the international scientific community, experimental tests have been increasingly demanded to support dynamic and structural numerical simulations. Furthermore measurements on real prototypes are very complex and expensive and it is difficult to use these data to validate prediction models because of the uncertainties in the definition of the environmental data, such as sea state and incoming wind. The motivation of this project is to provide an experimental set-up working in a fully controlled test environment (with measurable input/output) in order to validate numerical codes. The paper describes the features of the experimental rig, the results coming from the validation tests on the rig, through a dedicated “off-line” experimental campaign and, conclusively, a proposal for a “Hardware-In-The-Loop” real time functioning mode.
Effects of Wind Turbine Rotor Modelling on Nacelle Anemometry
Authors: Ameur Khaled , Masson Christian
Published: November 2013

A numerical analysis of the flow near the nacelles of two wind turbines is performed through 3D RANS simulations with the k-ω sst turbulence model. The rotor is modeled using three approaches: two techniques based on the actuator disk and one based on the actuator line. The effects of the rotor representation on the predicted flow at the location of the nacelle anemometer are quantified. In general, agreement with measurements is better for the actuator line than the actuator disk which tends to underestimate the wind speed in the very near wake. At low wind speeds, the three rotor modelling techniques predict nearly identical nacelle transfer functions; differences appear at higher wind speed where the the actuator line is slightly better compared to the other techniques.
On-Shore Wind Farm Cable Network Optimisation Utilising a Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Pemberton A. M. J. , Daly T. D. , Ertugrul N.
Published: November 2013

A wind farm is a collection of large scale (usually > 1MW) wind turbines generally located across wide and uneven terrain in order to capture sufficient wind resources to generate a source of electrical energy. The electric power networks of such farms serve to electrically connect all the turbines in the farm back to a central substation, which is in turn connected to a load, often via an existing electricity distribution or transmission network. While optimisation methods currently exist for the design of cable networks in off-shore wind farms, which primarily aim to reduce installation cost and energy loss, the design for onshore farms is usually achieved manually and iteratively, and can often result in a suboptimal design. This paper offers a Genetic Algorithm based optimisation method for onshore applications, and demonstrates how an optimal wind farm cable network design solution can be reached in terms of minimum cost, minimum power losses and maximum reliability. The algorithm developed performs the required calculations and demonstrates that an optimised solution has been reached. It is demonstrated that this method provides faster calculations than the manual method and can be used for any standard on-shore wind farm layout design, utilising components as desired by the user such as underground or overhead cables and single or triple-core cables.

Index Terms — Energy networks, genetic algorithms, multi-objective optimization, wind energy.
The Role of Political Parties in Venezuela’s Political Culture
Authors: Varnagy Daniel E. , Koeneke R. Herbert
Published: November 2013

The main role of parties in Venezuelan political culture has been historically interrupted by the “Andean hegemony” dictatorships (1899‑1945) and “perezjimenismo” (1948‑1958). With the return to democracy in 1958, parties resumed their role as key political actors, but it began to deteriorate in the early 1980’s, having declined significantly during the current government of Lieutenant‑Colonel Hugo Chávez Frías. In this paper, we analyze the history and prospects of partisan influence in Venezuelan political culture, with special emphasis on the second half of the twentieth century.
The Crossroads of Democracy in Venezuela: the Emergence of the Popular Power
Authors: Hernández G. José Ignacio
Published: November 2013

The paper analyzes one of the main political instruments of the current regime of President Chávez in Venezuela: the Popular Power, as a new conception of democracy within socialist model. We studied the origins of such instrument and its current legal framework, in order to demonstrate how Popular Power constitutes a violation of constitutional concept of democracy, due to its lack of freedom and pluralism. The Popular Power is articulated in the Laws promulgated in 2010, as an organization that acts under the political control of the National Government, with the sole purpose of the consolidation of the socialism and the construction of a “new” State, the “Communal State”. According to the Laws of the Popular Power, socialism is not only the political doctrine of the Government’s party, but also the political doctrine of the State, that excludes any form of political participation different to the ones executed through the organizations of the Popular Power and for the promotion of socialism. In the end, the emergence of the Popular Power in Venezuela demonstrates the risk of the manipulation of the language of democracy for political purposes that are the antithesis of democracy.
Consumer Stockpiling and Competitive Promotional Strategies
Authors: Gangwar Manish , Kumar Nanda , Rao Ram C.
Published: November 2013

An examination of brand prices in several categories reveals that the distribution of prices is multimodal, with firms offering shallow and deep discounts. Another interesting feature of these distributions is that they may have holes in the interior of the support. These pricing distributions do not occur in extant theoretical models of price promotions. We develop a dynamic model of competition in which some price-sensitive consumers stockpile during periods of deep discounts. A game-theoretic analysis of our model generates a multimodal pricing distribution with a hole in the interior of the support. Consumer stockpiling in our model also gives rise to negative serial correlation in prices. This is consistent with our empirical observation of the pricing distribution of several brands across multiple categories in the IRI marketing data set.

We generate several interesting insights into firms' optimal promotional strategies and their interplay with the clientele mix, market structure, and other market factors. We find that, in equilibrium, stockpiling by price-sensitive consumers neither harms nor benefits firms when they adopt equilibrium strategies. Interestingly, when price-sensitive consumers stockpile, even increased consumption as a result of stockpiling does not lead to higher profits for firms.
A New Fractional Modelling on Susceptible-Infected-Recovered Equations with Constant Vaccination Rate
Authors: Kumar Rajnesh , Kumar Sunil
Published: November 2013

In this article, the authors introduce a fractional
order SIR model with constant vaccination rate. The SIR
model has been used in the modeling of several epidemiological
diseases, biology and medical sciences. Qualitative
results show that the model has two equilibria; the disease
free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium points. The
local stability of the model for fractional order time derivative
is analyzed using fractional Routh-Hurwitz stability
criterion. The fractional derivative is described in Caputo
sense. The results obtained through numerical procedure
show that the method is effective and reliable.
Major QTLs Control Resistance to Rice Hoja Blanca Virus and Its VectorTagosodes orizicolus
Authors: Romero Luz E , Lozano Ivan , Garavito Andrea , Carabali Silvio J , Triana Monica , Villareal Natalia , Reyes Luis , Duque Myriam C , Martinez César P , Calvert Lee , Lorieux Mathias
Published: November 2013

Rice hoja blanca (white leaf) disease can cause severe yield losses in rice in the Americas. The disease is caused by the rice hoja blanca virus (RHBV), which is transmitted by the planthopper vector Tagosodes orizicolus. Because classical breeding schemes for this disease rely on expensive, time-consuming screenings, there is a need for alternatives such as marker-aided selection. The varieties Fedearroz 2000 and Fedearroz 50, which are resistant to RHBV and to the feeding damage caused by T. orizicolus, were crossed with the susceptible line WC366 to produce segregating F2:3 populations. The F3 families were scored for their resistance level to RHBV and T. orizicolus. The F2:3 lines of both crosses were genotyped using microsatellite markers. One major QTL on the short arm of chromosome 4 was identified for resistance to RHBV in the two populations. Two major QTL on chromosomes 5 and 7 were identified for resistance to T. orizicolus in the Fd2000 × WC366 and Fd50 × WC366 crosses, respectively. This comparative study using two distinct rice populations allowed for a better understanding of how the resistance to RHBV and its vector are controlled genetically. Simple marker-aided breeding schemes based on QTL information can be designed to improve rice germplasm to reduce losses caused by this important disease.
Using Electronic Health Records to Conduct Children’s Health Insurance Surveillance
Authors: Hatch Brigit , Angier Heather , Marino Miguel , Heintzman John , Nelson Christine , Gold Rachel , Vakarcs Trisha , DeVoe Jennifer
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVE:

Health insurance options are changing. Electronic health record (EHR) databases present new opportunities for providers to track the insurance coverage status of their patients. This study demonstrates the use of EHR data for this purpose.

METHODS:

Using EHR data from the OCHIN Network of community health centers, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of data from children presenting to a community health center in 2010–2011 (N = 185 959). We described coverage patterns for children, used generalized estimating equation logistic regression to compare uninsured children with those with insurance, and assessed insurance status at subsequent visits.

RESULTS:

At their first visit during the study period, 21% of children had no insurance. Among children uninsured at a first visit, 30% were uninsured at all subsequent visits. In multivariable analyses (including gender, age, race, ethnicity, language, income, location, and type of clinic), we observed significant differences in the characteristics of children who were uninsured as compared with those with insurance coverage. For example, compared with white, non-Hispanic children, nonwhite and/or Hispanic children had lower odds of being uninsured than having Medicaid/Medicare (adjusted odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.71–0.75) but had higher odds of being uninsured than having commercial insurance (adjusted odds ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.44–1.56).

CONCLUSIONS:

Nearly one-third of children uninsured at their first visit remained uninsured at all subsequent visits, which suggests a need for clinics to conduct insurance surveillance and develop mechanisms to assist patients with obtaining coverage. EHRs can facilitate insurance surveillance and inform interventions aimed at helping patients obtain and retain coverage.
Pediatricians' Involvement in Community Child Health From 2004 to 2010
Authors: Minkovitz Cynthia S. , Grason Holly , Solomon Barry S. , Kuo Alice A. , O'Connor Karen G.
Published: November 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Pediatricians are encouraged to engage in community child health activities, yet practice constraints and personal factors may limit involvement. The objective was to compare community involvement in 2004 and 2010 and factors associated with participation in the past year.

METHODS:

Analysis of 2 national mailed surveys of pediatricians (2004: n = 881; response rate of 58%; 2010: n = 820; response rate of 60%). Respondents reported personal characteristics (age, gender, marital status, child ≤5 years old, underrepresented in medicine), practice characteristics (type, setting, full-time status, time spent in general pediatrics), formal community pediatrics training, and community pediatrics involvement and related perspectives. We used χ2 statistics to measure associations of personal and practice characteristics, previous training, and perspectives with involvement in the past 12 months. Logistic regression assessed independent contributions.

RESULTS:

Fewer pediatricians were involved in community child health in 2010 (45.1% in 2004 vs 39.9% in 2010) with a higher percentage participating as volunteers (79.5% vs 85.8%; both P = .03). In 2010, fewer reported formal training at any time (56.1% vs 42.9%), although more reported training specifically in residency (22.0% vs 28.4%; both P < .05). Factors associated with participation in 2010 included older age, not having children ≤5 years old, practice in rural settings, practice type, training, and feeling moderately/very responsible for child health. In adjusted models, older age, practice setting and type, feeling responsible, and training were associated with involvement (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Formal training is associated with community child health involvement. Efforts are needed to understand how content, delivery, and timing of training influence involvement.
Experience through translation — the translated experience: The Turkish presence in Slovene literature and translation
Authors: Pokorn Nike
Published: November 2013

The Slovene understanding of Turkish culture is essentially created through indirect, translated contact. It was first expressed through traditional Slovene folk songs and stories, depicting the Ottoman Empire either as a threat or as a land of sensuality and opulence. During the time of Yugoslavia, perceptions of “the Turks” were influenced by the translated works of Bosnian authors, promoted by official policies aimed at creating “brotherhood and unity” among the Yugoslav peoples. Finally, the post-socialist Slovene understanding of Turkish culture, despite a heightened interest, has again been indirect: formed through indirect translations of contemporary Turkish authors. The lack of literary translators and their deteriorating status in the Slovene translatorial field do not promise any significant change in the future.
Does the Drina flow? Cultural indifference and Slovene/Yugoslav literature in Turkish
Authors: Tahir Gürçağlar Şehnaz
Published: November 2013

The goal of the present study is twofold. The first goal is to identify the current status of Slovene literature in the Turkish literary system and to explore the ways in which Slovene and Yugoslav literatures have been (non-)translated into Turkish during the past 50 years. After providing a background to the scarcity of translations from the languages of the former Yugoslav republics into Turkish, the paper proceeds with pursuing its second goal and sets out to investigate a major point of contact between Yugoslav literature and the Turkish literary field by focusing on the first Turkish edition of Ivo Andrić’s famous novel, The Bridge over the Drina (Drina Köprüsü) published in 1962. The novel and the discourse formed around it will enable a problematization of a number of translational issues that have recently been under close scrutiny in translation studies. One of them is translation movements among the less widely spoken languages and the conditions that mediate literary contacts among these languages as exemplified by the case of Turkish and Serbo-Croatian. The paper will also discuss the issue of non-translation in connection with this. A second issue which will be tackled in the paper is the Nobel Prize for Literature and its influence over publishers, translators and readers, as exemplified by the interest shown in Andrić, following shortly after his reception of the prize in 1961.
Rheological characterization of silk solutions
Authors: Keerl David , Scheibel Thomas
Published: November 2013

Spider silk with its intriguing mechanical properties has a high potential for numerous applications in technology and industry. However, the production of silk fibers from regenerated or recombinant silk solutions is as of today limited by the requirement of strong chaotropic agents and chemical postspin treatments, yielding fibers with weaker mechanical properties than their native counterparts. Here, rheological data of regenerated Bombyx mori fibroin and aqueous silk solutions of recombinant spider silk protein eADF3 indicate that the presence of kosmotropic salts, and elevated temperatures result in solution behavior more alike that of a native silk spinning dope. The authors believe that their findings are helpful for the successful silk spinning from recombinant or regenerated silk solutions.
Relationship of habitat variability to population size in a stream fish
Authors: Wood Jacquelyn L. A. , Belmar-Lucero Sebastian , Hutchings Jeffrey A. , Fraser Dylan J.
Published: November 2013

The relationship between habitat variability and population size in fragmented habitats is poorly understood, yet might have important evolutionary consequences. For instance, fragmentation could (1) shift habitat characteristics, and by extension, selective regimes, in a consistent direction as populations and the fragments they occupy are reduced in size (directional hypothesis); or (2) increase variability in habitats among similarly sized populations as fragment size decreases (variable hypothesis). We investigated these alternatives based on multiyear habitat, demographic, and genetic data from 19 fragmented populations of a stream fish varying in census size (N) and effective number of breeders (Nb). Mean habitat parameters were significantly related to N and Nb, but the forms of the relationships varied, and there was no evidence of consistent directional differences in habitat parameters from small to large population size. Small populations exhibited a wider range of variances in habitat parameters than large populations, and to a lesser extent, small populations also had greater variability in mean habitat parameters, possibly signaling more diverse selective regimes. These results suggest that many different environments are associated with small population size in nature, counter to the frequently cited assumption that small populations tend to occur only in marginal environments. In addition to well‐documented demographic and genetic stochasticity operating within small populations, our work raises the possibility that small populations exhibit more variable and potentially less predictable evolutionary responses to future environmental change.
The Relationship Between Work Values and Psychological Problems for Individuals With Disabilities
Authors: Lustig Daniel C. , Zanskas Stephen
Published: November 2013

Although research supports a relationship between work and psychological factors, one area not studied is the relationship between preferred career value and psychological factors. This study investigated the relationship between preferred career values and psychological problems for individuals with disabilities. Career values have been shown to have an important impact on vocational outcomes. The results indicated that a preference for Independence, Recognition, Achievement, and Relationships were associated with clinical levels of psychological problems. Implications for rehabilitation counselors are discussed.
A Novel Eco‐Friendly Technique for Efficient Control of Lime Water Softening Process
Authors: Ostovar Mohamad , Amiri Mohamad
Published: November 2013

Lime softening is an established type of water treatment used for water softening. The performance of this process is highly dependent on lime dosage. Currently, lime dosage is adjusted manually based on chemical tests, aimed at maintaining the phenolphthalein (P) and total (M) alkalinities within a certain range (2 P − M ≥ 5). In this paper, a critical study of the softening process has been presented. It has been shown that the current method is frequently incorrect. Furthermore, electrical conductivity (EC) has been introduced as a novel indicator for effectively characterizing the lime softening process.

This novel technique has several advantages over the current alkalinities method. Because no chemical reagents are needed for titration, which is a simple test, there is a considerable reduction in test costs. Additionally, there is a reduction in the treated water hardness and generated sludge during the lime softening process. Therefore, it is highly eco‐friendly, and is a very cost effective alternative technique for efficient control of the lime softening process.
(Re)defining the Filipino: Notions of Citizenship in the New K+12 Curriculum
Authors: De Los Reyes Elizer Jay
Published: November 2013

In June 2012, the Philippine government implemented what it called the K+12 Curriculum which reformed its basic education system by adding two more years of schooling to the then existing 10-year structure. Complicated by the long experience and participation of the Filipinos in the diaspora, the constantly lingering thought of leaving for greener pastures, and economic insecurities, the ‘K+12’ not only marks a policy and structural change but also a discursive shift in so far as the imagination of the Filipino's place within the nation and the world are concerned. This article explores (1) how the politics and economics of the state shape Philippine education in the context of the diaspora; (2) the transformations of the notion of Filipino citizenship brought about by the maneuvering of the state; and (3) who the new educated Filipino citizen is in the age of mass migration as constructed by the state through the curriculum.
Where Realities Confront Ideals: The Personal, Professional, Philosophical and Political in the Teaching of Academic English in a Japanese Setting
Authors: Toh Glenn
Published: November 2013

In recent years, Japanese universities have sought to have a greater number of faculty courses taught in English, where traditionally Japanese has been the medium of instruction. This article begins with an overview of the literature discussing Japan's responses to the spread of English, and philosophies and ideologies influencing the appropriation of the language. By way of examining data from a questionnaire to educators in a liberal arts faculty at a university in the Tokyo area where a selection of courses are taught in English, the discussion proceeds to examine issues relating to the delivery of academic courses in English in a Japanese university setting. The article concludes by noting that in terms of philosophy and shared professional understandings at least, there remain incongruities with current policy initiatives to have academic courses delivered in English — a matter which invites deeper scrutiny to help ensure that efforts towards having more English in higher education are not to be found to be cosmetic or superficial. The contents of the article will resonate with similar situations where ostensibly ‘educational’ initiatives dissimulate instances of manipulation and oppression that need to be surfaced and resisted.
Novel Mutations in Geleophysic Dysplasia Type 1
Authors: Porayette Prashob , Fruitman Deborah , Lauzon Julie L. , Le Goff Carine , Cormier-Daire Valérie , Sanders Stephen P. , Pinto-Rojas Alfredo , Perez-Atayde Antonio R.
Published: November 2013

Geleophysic dysplasia (GD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by acromelic dysplasia. Geleophysic dysplasia type 1 (MIM 231050) is autosomal recessive and is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation in the ADAMTSL2 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombosponding repeats-like 2) gene. Geleophysic dysplasia type 2 (MIM 614185) is autosomal dominant and is caused by heterozygous mutation in the fibrillin 1 ( FBN1) gene. Here, we present the clinical and histopathologic findings in a child with GD with newly identified ADAMTSL2 mutations. The 1st mutation was probably a pathogenic one, c.[1934G>A] p.[Arg645His], located in exon 13; the 2nd, in intron 8, was probably changing a splice site. While the light and electron microscopic findings were similar to those previously described, hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis might be a new associated finding in these patients. This child with these 2 novel mutations also had an aggressive clinical course with early-onset progressive cardiac valvular disease.
Light Microscopic Hair Abnormalities in Children: Retrospective Review of 119 Cases in a 10-Year Period
Authors: Shao Lei , Newell Brandon
Published: November 2013

Abnormalities in the hair can be congenital or acquired conditions. Examples of genetic disorders with associated hair abnormalities include Menkes syndrome, Netherton syndrome, uncombable hair syndrome, trichothiodystrophy, and loose anagen hair syndrome. Acquired hair abnormalities can be associated with grooming or use of various hair products. There are many patterns of hair abnormalities that can be readily identified under a light microscope. We performed a retrospective review of 129 hair mount samples from 119 patients submitted to the pathology department for microscopic examination over a 10-year span (from January 2002 to December 2011). Of the 119 patients, 63 (53%) had morphologic changes in the hair samples. Thirty-seven patients (31%) showed morphologic changes compatible with specific diagnoses of various genetic conditions, including 25 cases of loose anagen hair syndrome, 6 cases of uncombable hair syndrome, 2 cases of Netherton syndrome, 3 cases of Menkes syndrome, and 1 case of trichothiodystrophy. The other changes were considered nonspecific or nondiagnostic, with trichorrhexis nodosa in 13 patients, presence of loose anagen hairs in 12 patients, and pili torti in 1 patient. We describe the light microscopic patterns of hair abnormalities, clinical findings, and molecular defects related to those genetic conditions. Our study indicates that hair examination can be a 1st-line investigation on various pediatric conditions.
Changes of characteristics of daily precipitation and runoff in the High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia over the last fifty years
Authors: Bičárová Svetlana , Holko Ladislav
Published: November 2013

The article presents the results of the analysis of time series of daily precipitation and runoff at selected places in the highest part of the Western Carpathians. It was focused on both wet and dry periods in precipitation and runoff data series. The precipitation data were analysed for a period 1961-2010. They revealed a significant increase of the number of days with daily precipitation 40-60 mm. Trend analysis for 67 analysed flow characteristics did not show statistically significant changes over the studied period. The focus was given particularly to the characteristics of the maximum and minimum flows, i.e. 3- and 7- day minimum flows, 1-, 3- and 7-day maximum flows. We found an increase of flows classified as small floods in two of three mountain catchments in the study area in the last decade (2001-2010). It may be linked to the above increased number of days with daily precipitation reaching 40-60 mm.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Transmission Lines / Elektropārvades Līnijas Daudzkriteriālā Optimizācija
Authors: Berjozkina S. , Sauhats A. , Neimane V.
Published: November 2013

Introduction of new advanced electrical connections into a transmission grid reduces the capacity of existing overhead lines (OHLs). At the same time, designing & building of new OHLs and substations involves considerable technical, environmental and economical problems. The authors propose a concept of the multi-objective optimization for selection of transmission line routes, towers (their type, placement and geometry), of conductors, insulators, dampers, earthing and lightning protection systems, span lengths, etc.. The optimization is organized in five stages. At the first and second stages a search for optimum solutions is performed along with determination of the main impacting factors. The next two stages present a two-objective optimization based on Pareto’s approach. At the last stage (exemplified by a case study), the probability of the restriction removal conditions is assessed, and preventive measures are identified. The presented approach uses a real line design and is intended for minimizing the total invested capital and maximizing the net present value. In the framework of this approach 20 alternatives have been elaborated, which can successfully be applied in the cases described in the paper.
Xp 11.2 translocation renal carcinoma in young adults; recently classified distinct subtype
Authors: Kmetec Andrej , Jeruc Jera
Published: November 2013

Background. XP11.2 renal translocation carcinomas are often encountered in paediatric group of patients where they are believed to be rather indolent. They are rare but more aggressive in young adults. They are slow growing, sometimes without characteristic symptoms and their biologic behaviour is uncertain.

Case report. We report two cases of this type of tumour in Slovenian young adult males with long and unusual history. Tumours were confirmed imunohistologically by positive reaction for CD10, P504S and TFE3.

Conclusions. According to the indications in the literature prognosis of these tumours in young adults depends upon the stage. It seems that cysts, haematomas and necrosis around the kidney are often encountered in these tumours. In advanced stage with lymph nodes involvement or distant metastases, the prognosis is poor. Surgery seems to be basic mode of therapy
Equations in simple matrix groups: algebra, geometry, arithmetic, dynamics
Authors: Bandman Tatiana , Garion Shelly , Kunyavskiĭ Boris
Published: November 2013

We present a survey of results on word equations in simple groups, as well as their analogues and generalizations, which were obtained over the past decade using various methods: group-theoretic and coming from algebraic and arithmetic geometry, number theory, dynamical systems and computer algebra. Our focus is on interrelations of these machineries which led to numerous spectacular achievements, including solutions of several long-standing problems.
Employing different loss functions for the classification of images via supervised learning
Authors: Boţ Radu , Heinrich André , Wanka Gert
Published: November 2013

Supervised learning methods are powerful techniques to learn a function from a given set of labeled data, the so-called training data. In this paper the support vector machines approach is applied to an image classification task. Starting with the corresponding Tikhonov regularization problem, reformulated as a convex optimization problem, we introduce a conjugate dual problem to it and prove that, whenever strong duality holds, the function to be learned can be expressed via the dual optimal solutions. Corresponding dual problems are then derived for different loss functions. The theoretical results are applied by numerically solving a classification task using high dimensional real-world data in order to obtain optimal classifiers. The results demonstrate the excellent performance of support vector classification for this particular problem.
Generalized John disks
Authors: Guo Chang-Yu , Koskela Pekka
Published: November 2013

We establish the basic properties of the class of generalized simply connected John domains.
QTL mapping for germination of seeds obtained from previous wheat generation under drought
Authors: Czyczyło-Mysza Ilona , Marcińska Izabela , Skrzypek Edyta , Cyganek Katarzyna , Juzoń Katarzyna , Karbarz Małgorzata
Published: November 2013

The QTLs controlling germination and early seedling growth were mapped using seeds acquired from mapping population and parental lines of Chinese Spring and SQ1 grown under water-limited conditions, severe drought (SDr) and well-watered plants (C). Germination ability was determined by performing a standard germination test based on the quantification of the germination percentage (GP24) of seeds incubated for 24 h at 25°C in the dark. Early seedling growth was evaluated on the basis of the length of the root and leaf at the 6th day of the experiment. QTLs were identified by composite interval mapping method using Windows QTLCartographer 2.5 software. For the traits studied, a total of thirty eight additive QTLs were identified. Seventeen QTLs were mapped in C on chromosomes: 1A, 2A, 7A, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 2D, 3D, 4D and 6D, while twenty one QTLs were identified in SDr on chromosomes: 1A, 2A, 5A, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 3D, 5D and 6D. Most of the QTLs for GP and early leaf growth parameters were clustered on chromosome 4B (associated with the Rht-B1 marker) both in C and SDr plants. The results indicate the complex and polygenic nature of germination.
Collaboration between Content and Language Specialists in Late Immersion
Authors: Kong Stella
Published: November 2013

Abstract:

This paper reports a qualitative case study of a collaborative project between an ESL researcher and a history teacher teaching in a late immersion school in Hong Kong. The project aims to help a Grade 9 class to write history essays on their own instead of copying from the textbook, which is a common phenomenon in Hong Kong schools. The researcher and the history teacher collaborated on the design and teaching of four writing activities during a semester. The design of the writing activities was guided by a pedagogical framework for integrating content-language learning in late immersion, where content learning is increasingly complex and abstract and the language use is correspondingly more complex and specialized. The project was successful in helping students to write on their own and in improving that writing, particularly in terms of text structure. A major contribution to this success was the collaboration between a content specialist and a language specialist. Challenges faced in the collaboration between the content and language specialists and future directions for collaboration are shared.
A Brain-Computer-Interface for the Detection and Modulation of Gamma Band Activity
Authors: Salari Neda , Rose Michael
Published: November 2013

Gamma band oscillations in the human brain (around 40 Hz) play a functional role in information processing, and a real-time assessment of gamma band activity could be used to evaluate the functional relevance more directly. Therefore, we developed a source based Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI) with an online detection of gamma band activity in a selective brain region in the visual cortex. The BCI incorporates modules for online detection of various artifacts (including microsaccades) and the artifacts were continuously fed back to the volunteer. We examined the efficiency of the source-based BCI for Neurofeedback training of gamma- and alpha-band (8–12 Hz) oscillations and compared the specificity for the spatial and frequency domain. Our results demonstrated that volunteers learned to selectively switch between modulating alpha- or gamma-band oscillations and benefited from online artifact information. The analyses revealed a high level of accuracy with respect to frequency and topography for the gamma-band modulations. Thus, the developed BCI can be used to manipulate the fast oscillatory activity with a high level of specificity. These selective modulations can be used to assess the relevance of fast neural oscillations for information processing in a more direct way, i.e., by the adaptive presentation of stimuli within well-described brain states.
Ranking Leading Econometrics Journals Using Citations Data from ISI and RePEc
Authors: Chang Chia-Lin , McAleer Michael
Published: November 2013

The paper focuses on the robustness of rankings of academic journal quality and research impact of 10 leading econometrics journals taken from the Thomson Reuters ISI Web of Science (ISI) Category of Economics, using citations data from ISI and the highly accessible Research Papers in Economics (RePEc) database that is widely used in economics, finance and related disciplines. The journals are ranked using quantifiable static and dynamic Research Assessment Measures (RAMs), with 15 RAMs from ISI and five RAMs from RePEc. The similarities and differences in various RAMs, which are based on alternative weighted and unweighted transformations of citations, are highlighted to show which RAMs are able to provide informational value relative to others. The RAMs include the impact factor, mean citations and non-citations, journal policy, number of high quality papers, and journal influence and article influence. The paper highlights robust rankings based on the harmonic mean of the ranks of 20 RAMs, which in some cases are closely related. It is shown that emphasizing the most widely-used RAM, the two-year impact factor of a journal, can lead to a distorted evaluation of journal quality, impact and influence relative to the harmonic mean of the ranks. Some suggestions regarding the use of the most informative RAMs are also given.
Thermoelectric Power Generation in a Vacuum Cell of Decomposing Liquid Potassium-Ammonia Solutions
Authors: Kim Jibeom , Shim Kyuchol , Jeon Joonhyeon
Published: November 2013

This paper describes the design of high-efficiency reversible thermoelectric conversion devices for thermoelectric power generation through liquid potassium-ammonia (K-NH3) solutions. The validity and effectiveness of the proposed design is verified by thermoelectric experiments using two kinds of “U”-shaped vacuum cells with a NH3-gas passageway connecting both legs of “U”, one of which has a waist in the middle of a liquid flow passage. The experimental results show that the gas passageway provides a stable and reliable reaction by preventing an internal pressure imbalance due to NH3 gasification during solution decomposition; hence, long-term, reversible thermoelectric power can be effectively derived by stably inducing two separate phase transitions in the cell. In addition, the effect of the narrow waist in the cell’s middle is verified to cause an increase in thermoelectric conversion efficiency due to improved electric conductivity of liquid in the vacuum cell. Consequently, using these technologies in thermoelectric cell potentially leads to long-time, high-efficiency thermoelectric power generation through liquid K-NH3 solutions.
A mHealth Application for Chronic Wound Care: Findings of a User Trial
Authors: Friesen Marcia , Hamel Carole , McLeod Robert
Published: November 2013

This paper reports on the findings of a user trial of a mHealth application for pressure ulcer (bedsore) documentation. Pressure ulcers are a leading iatrogenic cause of death in developed countries and significantly impact quality of life for those affected. Pressure ulcers will be an increasing public health concern as the population ages. Electronic information systems are being explored to improve consistency and accuracy of documentation, improve patient and caregiver experience and ultimately improve patient outcomes. A software application was developed for Android Smartphones and tablets and was trialed in a personal care home in Western Canada. The software application provides an electronic medical record for chronic wounds, replacing nurses’ paper-based charting and is positioned for integration with facility’s larger eHealth framework. The mHealth application offers three intended benefits over paper-based charting of chronic wounds, including: (1) the capacity for remote consultation (telehealth between facilities, practitioners, and/or remote communities), (2) data organization and analysis, including built-in alerts, automatically-generated text-based and graph-based wound histories including wound images, and (3) tutorial support for non-specialized caregivers. The user trial yielded insights regarding the software application’s design and functionality in the clinical setting, and highlighted the key role of wound photographs in enhancing patient and caregiver experiences, enhancing communication between multiple healthcare professionals, and leveraging the software’s telehealth capacities.
Hyperoside Downregulates the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) and Promotes Proliferation in ECV304 Cells via the c-Jun N-Terminal Kinases (JNK) Pathway Following Stimulation by Advanced Glycation End-Products In Vitro
Authors: Zhang Zhengyu , Sethiel Mosha , Shen Weizhi , Liao Sentai , Zou Yuxiao
Published: November 2013

Hyperoside is a major active constituent in many medicinal plants which are traditionally used in Chinese medicines for their neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown. In this study, quiescent ECV304 cells were treated in vitro with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the presence or absence of hyperoside. The results demonstrated that AGEs induced c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) activation and apoptosis in ECV304 cells. Hyperoside inhibited these effects and promoted ECV304 cell proliferation. Furthermore, hyperoside significantly inhibited RAGE expression in AGE-stimulated ECV304 cells, whereas knockdown of RAGE inhibited AGE-induced JNK activation. These results suggested that AGEs may promote JNK activation, leading to viability inhibition of ECV304 cells via the RAGE signaling pathway. These effects could be inhibited by hyperoside. Our findings suggest a novel role for hyperoside in the treatment and prevention of diabetes.
Hsa-Let-7g miRNA Targets Caspase-3 and Inhibits the Apoptosis Induced by ox-LDL in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Zhang Yefei , Chen Naiyun , Zhang Jihao , Tong Yaling
Published: November 2013

It has been well confirmed ox-LDL plays key roles in the development of atherosclerosis via binding to LOX-1 and inducing apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells. Recent studies have shown ox-LDL can suppress microRNA has-let-7g, which in turn inhibits the ox-LDL induced apoptosis. However, details need to be uncovered. To determine the anti-atherosclerosis effect of microRNA has-let-7g, and to evaluate the possibility of CASP3 as an anti-atherosclerotic drug target by has-let-7g, the present study determined the role of hsa-let-7g miRNA in ox-LDL induced apoptosis in the vascular endothelial cells. We found that miRNA has-let-7g was suppressed during the ox-LDL-induced apoptosis in EAhy926 endothelial cells. In addition, overexpression of has-let-7g negatively regulated apoptosis in the endothelial cells by targeting caspase-3 expression. Therefore, miRNA let-7g may play important role in endothelial apoptosis and atherosclerosis.