bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of School-based Obesity Interventions Targeting African American and Hispanic Children
Authors: Knowlden Adam P. , Sharma Manoj
Published: August 2013

Purpose . Minority groups are disproportionally affected by the obesity epidemic. Schools represent an environment conducive to targeting obesogenic risk factors. The purpose of this review was to analyze systematically school-based interventions targeting African American and Hispanic children. Methods . Inclusion criteria were: completed experimental and quasi-experimental interventions targeting African American or Hispanic children in school settings located in the United States. Results . A total of 10 articles met the specified inclusion criteria. Programs that affected body composition included physical activity and nutritional modalities and three of the programs modified school meals. Eight of the interventions incorporated behavioral theory as the framework for the intervention; however, only two programs explicitly operationalized the theories employed. Discussion . Efficacy of school-based interventions targeting minorities can be enhanced through explicit operationalization of behavioral theories, incorporation of systematic process evaluation, long-term follow-up of intervention outcomes, and inclusion of the family and home environment.
Wishes Left Unspoken: Engaging Underserved Populations in End-of-Life Advance Care Planning
Authors: Hilliard Tandrea S. , Washington Tiffany , Hines Carisa , McGill Terrance
Published: August 2013

The end of life can be a highly emotional and difficult time for patients and their families. Advance care planning for end-of-life care is one option for helping to mitigate the burden of this experience. Despite its advantages, gaps in end-of-life advance care planning participation persist, particularly among underserved segments of the U.S. population who might benefit from it. This column highlights barriers to end-of-life advance care planning among medically underserved populations and discusses opportunities for greater engagement.
Effect of Race and Health Insurance on Health Disparities: Results from the National Health Interview Survey 2010
Authors: Chou Chia-Hung , Tulolo Amanda , Raver Eli W. , Hsu Chiu-Hsieh , Young Gary
Published: August 2013

Significant race-related disparities persist in the U.S. regarding access to health services. Initiatives to reduce such disparities have often focused on expanding health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations. Based on our analysis of 2010 data from the National Health Interview Survey, we found that race is a much greater factor than insurance status in accounting for disparities in access to health services. Expanding health insurance through reform initiatives such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may have relatively little impact on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the US.
Black White Disparities in Receiving a Physician Recommendation for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Reasons for not Undergoing Screening
Authors: Coleman Wallace Debbie A. , Baltrus Peter T. , Wallace Tracey C. , Blumenthal Daniel S. , Rust George S.
Published: August 2013

There is consensus that all adults over 50 years of age, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity, should receive a physician recommendation for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Disparities in CRC screening result in poorer health outcomes for Blacks than for Whites. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are Black-White differences in receiving a physician recommendation for CRC screening and reasons for undergoing screening. With 12,729 U.S. adults ages 50 to 74 included in the analysis, Whites were more likely than Blacks to report receiving a physician recommendation for CRC screening. Based on age-adjusted odds ratio, one out of three Blacks were less likely to report receiving a CRC screening recommendation from their physician (OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.57,0.81). This association persisted after adjusting for socioeconomic and other health-related factors (OR=0.61; 95% CI 0.53,0.71). This study suggests that additional steps need to be taken to reduce cancer health disparities.
Infant Mortality in American Indians and Alaska Natives 1995–1999 and 2000–2004
Authors: Johansson Patrik , Williams Weston , El-Mohandes Ayman
Published: August 2013

Objectives . (1) To determine the infant mortality rate (IMR) in American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and Whites between 1995–1999 and 2000–2004. (2) To compare the leading causes of infant mortality in AI/AN and Whites. (3) To examine differences in neonatal vs . postneonatal causes of death in Whites and AI/AN. Methods . Using the 1995–99 and 2000–04 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics national linked birth/infant death data, we examined neonatal and post-neonatal IMR among AI/AN and Whites. Results . AI/AN experienced significantly greater overall IMR in 1995–1999 and 2000–2004 than Whites. While the reduction in the IMR between these time periods was statistically significant for Whites, the reduction among AI/AN was not. We found that AI/AN had an IMR 1.5 times as high as that of Whites. Conclusions . While the overall IMR has decreased in AI/AN, disparities in postneonatal IMR persist between AI/AN and Whites.
Barriers to Attending an Eye Examination after Vision Screening Referral within a Vulnerable Population
Authors: Gower Emily W. , Silverman Emily , Cassard Sandra D. , Williams Sherill K. , Baldonado Kira , Friedman David S.
Published: August 2013

Half of high-risk, uninsured/underinsured individuals identified through vision screening as needing eye exams do not attend. Patients who attended vision screening and were referred for an exam but did not attend that exam were contacted and asked whether they were interested in receiving a free complete eye exam at an offsite center within three blocks of the clinic. Those who agreed were asked why they did not attend their original appointment and what would make it easier to attend. Primary reasons for missing appointments included forgetting (34%), lacking transportation (36%), and scheduling conflicts (26%). Nearly one quarter (24%) stated they could not afford transportation. Findings demonstrate transportation is a key barrier to eye care services. Current eye care delivery can be improved by addressing barriers to attendance in this context. Alternative delivery models should be examined to identify methods for better reaching underserved target populations.
Urban, Low-income, African American Light Smokers: Perceptions of Cessation Counseling
Authors: Warren Jennifer R. , Catona Danielle
Published: August 2013

Nine focus groups ( N = 57), which included a demographic survey, were conducted to evaluate urban, low-income, African American light smokers’ experiences of cessation counseling. Chi-squared and independent t-tests were run to analyze survey data. Participants with a self-reported co-morbidity were more likely than participants without a co-morbidity to have been asked about quitting, and advised to quit. Fewer than half of all participants reported recommendations to use cessation pharmacotherapy, try a quit smoking program, or have a follow-up. Qualitative analysis revealed three focus group themes: (1) health provider as information source; (2) unsatisfactory counseling; and (3) mistrust of physician-prescribed pharmacotherapy. Participants expressed frustration regarding receiving inadequate counseling for smoking cessation since they viewed health providers as the most trusted source for health information. Findings demonstrate the need for further study of cessation counseling among urban, low-income, African American light smokers, particularly those with co-morbidities.
Genetic Counseling, Cancer Screening, Breast Cancer Characteristics, and General Health among a Diverse Population of BRCA Genetic Testers
Authors: Beattie Mary S. , Copeland Kelli , Fehniger Julia , Cheung Eleanor , Joseph Galen , Lee Robin , Luce Judith
Published: August 2013

Outcomes after genetic testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Syndrome have not been well studied in underserved populations. We surveyed 1,123 BRCA testers from a genetic counseling program serving an academic cancer center (n=1,045) and a public county hospital (n=78) a median of 3.7 years after testing for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer susceptibility genes). We compared genetic counseling outcomes, cancer screening rates, and self-reported general health. We found no differences in genetic counseling outcomes between hospitals. Breast cancer screening rates were similarly high at both hospitals, which are warranted in this high-risk population. Screening rates for ovarian, colon, and skin cancer were significantly lower in participants from the public hospital. BRCA results were not a predictor of general health at either hospital. When creating a genetic counseling program that serves women in different hospital settings, providers should emphasize guidelines-based screening recommendations for all patients.
“Voicing” the Social Determinants of Health on the Backside of a Horse Racetrack
Authors: Kiesler Joseph , Vaughn Lisa M. , Kaur Gupreet
Published: August 2013

Workers in the horse racing industry often live and work on the backside of the track, traveling from track to track as the racing season dictates. There has been little research on the social determinants of health and living conditions of the workers. We conducted a two-phase project: 1) a cross-sectional survey of backside workers; and 2) a community-based participatory research project with four workers who worked and lived at a local racetrack using Photovoice. Substance abuse, safety concerns, limited access to health care, a high rate of work-related injuries and social isolation were common problems reported by the workers. Six themes were identified: 1) safety and health; 2) coping; 3) life philosophy: fatalism vs . hope; 4) love of horses; 5) working conditions; 6) living conditions; and 7) backside culture. Results are discussed in relation to the social determinants of health.
The Interpretation of Miracles according to Mutahhari and Golshani: Comparative and Critical Notes
Authors: Bigliardi Stefano
Published: August 2013

In this essay, I scrutinize the interpretation of miracles advanced by Ayatollah Motahhari (1920-1979), the well-known Shi‘a scholar; and Mehdi Golshani (1939-), a physicist and philosopher of science. The essay begins with a presentation of their viewpoints on the nature of miracles in the light of the broader philosophical discourse on the nature of miracles. This is followed by a comparative analysis of their viewpoints with a consideration of relevant Qur’anic passages and their philosophical relevance. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of the challenges inherent to their interpretations.
How Telicity Creates Time
Authors: Dahl Östen
Published: August 2013

Most treatments of temporal semantics start out from the conception of time as a line stretching from the past into the future, which is then populated with eventualities or situations. This paper explores how time can be seen as emerging from the construction of representations of reality in which the basic building blocks are static—i.e., timeless—representations, which are connected to each other by events that are transitions between them and that create an ordering which can be understood as temporal. This connects to von Wright’s “logic of change” and the “hybrid semantics” suggested by Herweg and Löbner. In this context, telicity is seen as the capacity of events, or of the predicates that express them, to “create time” in the sense of defining a before and an after. The basic elements of the model are global states, which are timeless taken in isolation but are connected by transition events, which transform one global state into another and thereby define the temporal relationships between them. Transition events, corresponding to Vendlerian achievements, represent simple changes which are then the basis for all other constructs in the model, most notably delimited states, Vendlerian activities (atelic dynamic eventualities), and accomplishments (telic non-punctual eventualities), but also time points and intervals. Transition events are further instrumental in constructing narrative structures and are responsible for narrative progression.
Semantic Profiles of Five Russian Prefixes: po- , s- , za- , na- , pro-
Authors: Janda Laura A. , Lyashevskaya Olga
Published: August 2013

We test the hypothesis that Russian verbal prefixes express meaning even when they are used to create a “purely aspectual pair” ( čistovidovaja para ). This is contrary to traditional assumptions that prefixes in this function are semantically “empty.” We analyze the semantic tags independently established in the Russian National Corpus ( www.ruscorpora.ru ) for 382 perfective partner verbs with five of the most common verbal prefixes in Russian: po -, s -, za -, na -, and pro -. Statistical tests show that the relationship between prefixes and semantic tags is significant and robust, and further identify which relationships constitute attractions, repulsions, and neutral relationships. It is possible to specify a unique meaning for each prefix in terms of the semantic tags it attracts or repulses. A detailed analysis of all the verbs in the study shows that the meanings of the prefixed perfective partners yield consistent patterns. Even verbs in repulsed semantic classes are consistent with these patterns. The meaning patterns of verbs with “purely aspectual” prefixes can be compared with the meanings of the prefixes as established on the basis of previous scholarship, which was primarily focused on the meanings of prefixes in their “non-empty” uses. This comparison shows that the verb meanings that appear with “purely perfectivizing” prefixes are the same as those found for “non-empty” uses of prefixes. We conclude that verbs select the prefix that is most compatible with their meanings when forming “purely aspectual” perfective partners, confirming our hypothesis.
Verdi at 200: Recent Scholarship on the Composer and His Works
Authors: Fairtile Linda B.
Published: August 2013

The 100th anniversary of Verdi’s death, observed in 2001, inspired nearly a dozen academic conferences. At the dawn of his 2013 bicentennial, a celebratory year shared with Richard Wagner, hundreds of recent studies assess Verdi’s life, his works, and his impact. The present article surveys a selection of books and articles published between these two commemorations. A popular topic is Verdi’s role as a national icon, the calculated product of Italy’s search for a postunification identity. His engagement with foreign cultures has also received attention, for his German literary sources, his forays into French grand opera, and his use of exotic settings. Recent studies of Verdi’s operas often focus on the testing of boundaries, whether between genres, genders, or psychological states. While musical analyses still engage with operatic convention, they also examine other features, such as melody, meter, and tempo. Visual aspects of performance (set design, lighting, staging), considered separately in some studies and as a unified concept in others, constitute a newer area of scholarly interest.
“A Suitable Soloist for My Piano Concerto”: Teresa Carreño as a Promoter of Edvard Grieg’s Music
Authors: Kijas Anna E.
Published: August 2013

Teresa Carreño (1853–1917) first performed Edvard Grieg’s (1843–1907) Pictures from Folk Life , op. 19 [ Folkelivsbilleder ] and Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 16, during her tours in the United States in the early 1880s. She continued to perform his works in the United States and abroad through 1914. Previously overlooked correspondence, reviews, and other primary sources, such as concert programs, housed in the Edvard Grieg Collection in the Bergen Offentlige Bibliothek, and the Teresa Carreño Collection in Archives and Special Collections of the Vassar College Libraries, are examined in this article in order to provide fresh insight and historical context of Carreño’s performance reception, as well as both her personal and professional relationship with Edvard Grieg. In addition to the correspondence between Carreño and Grieg, letters to the Viennese agent Albert J. Gutmann are also examined, and demonstrate Grieg’s preference for Carreño as soloist—despite his access to other great pianists—as well as their friendship and collegiality, choices in repertoire selection, concert preparations, and other important events in their lives.
Evolution and Medicine
Authors: Perlman Robert L.
Published: August 2013

Evolutionary medicine is a new field whose goal is to incorporate an evolutionary perspective into medical education, research, and practice. Evolutionary biologists and physicians have traditionally been concerned with different problems and have developed different ways of approaching and understanding biological phenomena. Evolutionary biologists analyze the properties of populations and the ways in which populations change over time, while physicians focus on the care of their individual patients. Evolutionists are concerned with the ultimate causes of biological phenomena, causes that operated during the phylogenetic history of a species, while physicians and biomedical scientists have been more interested in proximate causes, causes that operate during the ontogeny and life of an individual. Evolutionary medicine is based on the belief that an integration of these complementary views of biological phenomena will improve our understanding of health and disease. This essay reviews the theory of evolution by natural selection, as it was developed by Darwin and as it is now understood by evolutionary biologists. It emphasizes the importance of variation and selection, points out the differences between evolutionary fitness and health, and discusses some of the reasons why our evolutionary heritage has left us vulnerable to disease.
From "Does it work?" to "What is 'it'?": Implications for Voodoo, Psychotherapy, Pop-Psychology, Regular, and Alternative Medicine
Authors: Mommaerts Jean-Luc , Devroey Dirk
Published: August 2013

In this article, a "healing method" (HM) is defined as any method intended to improve health through non-somatic means. For many healing methods, especially within the realm of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), there is mounting debate over the question "Does it work?" Indeed, this seems to be the primary question for most stakeholders. Yet in light of the well-documented effects of nonspecific factors, particularly empathy and placebo (EP), we contend that the basic question is: "What is 'it'?" Without answering this question, scientific progress is impossible, and research costs will spiral upwards without producing tangible results. Furthermore, it is impossible to characterize the potential side effects of healing methods without a full understanding of the underlying mechanisms through which they act. It is generally acknowledged that many healing methods are sociohistorical artifacts, based on underlying theoretical models that are divorced from established science. There is a need for healing method research that is accommodating of such methods' fluid nature while being congruent with accepted scientific practices. "It works" is no longer an adequate justification for any healing method, as "it" often turns out to be a combination of nonspecific factors.
Korean Cultural Products in Eastern Europe: A Case Study of the K-Pop Impact in Romania
Authors: Marinescu Valentina , Balica Ecaterina
Published: August 2013

This article presents the findings of a research project about the impact of Korean musical products and representations of Korea Romanian fans’ perceptions about the country. This research project conceives of Romanian fans of K-Pop as a distinct segment of the population and outlines certain prevalent characteristics of individuals belonging to this group. It also demonstrates the influence of Korean popular culture products on Romanian K-Pop fans’ assessments of Korea’s culture and society. The data stresses that “hybridity” and “globalism” are the traits most important to the success of K-Pop both in Asia and Eastern Europe as demonstrated in the case of Romania. At the same time, K-Pop fans understand Korean music as a “gateway” not only into Korean culture but also into familiarity with Korean language and society. The results also reveal a parallel between images exported by Korean cultural products in Romania and Romanians’ conception of Korean society and people.
From Soviet Locality to Multivoiced Borderland: Literature and Identity in the Finnish-Russian National Borderlands*
Authors: Kurki Tuulikki
Published: August 2013

This article examines the construction of Soviet and post-Soviet identities in Finnish-language literature in the Finnish-Russian national borderlands of Karelia. The article argues that the Finnish-Russian national border has been the most significant force in the construction of Karelian regional identities in the national borderland. During the Soviet era, the national border was primarily used to create separation between Finland and the Soviet Union after the Second World War, and this came to symbolize the fissure between the political East and West. In the post-Soviet era, identities have been constructed not only in relation to physical borders but also in relation to various symbolic borders. These symbolic borders were mainly constructed after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the physical border between Finland and Russia was opened after being closed for nearly 70 years.
On the English Translation by Dr. Pavle Popović
Authors: Tomić Svetlana
Published: August 2013

Before turning our attention to the epiphanic revelation, in this chapter the author discusses English translations of certain portions of Lazarević's "To Matins with Father for the First Time." Special attention is paid to the parts that do not closely follow the original text of Lazarević's story.
Could Marica Be a Type of "Mannish Woman"?
Authors: Tomić Svetlana
Published: August 2013

This article discusses the inadequacy of understanding and interpreting Marica as a type of "mannish woman" or "husbandly wife" in "To Matins with Father for the First Time." Specific differences between strong female characters in the works of both male and female Serbian authors of that era will be examined. The importance of Lazarević's description of the different aspects of Marica's sufferings are identified. Additional emphasis is placed upon Mitar's lack of emotional attachment to Marica in the text of Lazarević's story, even though certain interpretations insist on its existence.
Relations of Power and the Rhetoric of Gender Politics
Authors: Tomić Svetlana
Published: August 2013

Since Lazarević's story presents another kind of women's speech, different from the one Nikolić interprets as "psychological unburdening," in this section, Lazarević's revelation of women's political impotence will be discussed. Lazarević even presents Marica's silences differently than how Nikolić understands them. Therefore, this article examines, on the one hand, the character of Marica as a woman who fights for her own direct, rational, and argumented speech and, on the other, the character of Mitar, a man who expresses his patriarchal power through the rhetoric of violence. Within these analyses, this article concludes that Marica's superior self-awareness, by intellectual and moral reasoning, rejects her husband's value system.
Análise Histórica do surgimento da Psicopedagogia no Brasil
Authors: Costa Ana Araújo , Pinto Telma Maranhão Gomes , Andrade Márcia Siqueira de
Published: August 2013

O presente artigo tem por objetivo principal relatar, em uma perspectiva histórica, a origem e a evolu­ção da Psicopedagogia no mundo. Iniciamos nosso trabalho relatando sobre o surgimento da Psicopedagogia em território europeu, ainda no século XIX, destacando algumas contribuições teóricas da França e o percurso efetivado na Argentina, país de participação efetiva no avanço da Psicopedagogia brasileira. Em seguida, apresentamos a introdução e o desenvolvimento da prática psicopedagógica no Brasil, que foi disseminada por seus vários Estados. Concluimos, este artigo com uma breve apresentação de como se dá a formação profissional do psicopedagogo nos dias atuais, no Estado brasileiro.
A note on cancellation in totally definite quaternion algebras
Authors: Smertnig Daniel
Published: August 2013

In [J. reine angew. Math. 286/287 (1976), 257–277; J. reine angew. Math. 595 (2006), 189–213] it is shown that there exist only finitely many isomorphism classes of Eichler orders of square-free level in totally definite quaternion algebras over number fields having locally free cancellation, and they are all classified. There is an error in this classification which is corrected in the present note.
Biomechanical Analysis of Eyring Prandtl Fluid Model for Blood Flow in Stenosed Arteries
Authors: Akbar Noreen Sher , Nadeem S. , Lee Changhoon
Published: August 2013

In this article, we have examined biomechanical analysis of Eyring Prandtl fluid model for blood flow in stenosed arteries. Blood flow in arteries is an important phenomenon from biological and medical point of view. No one can survive without blood flow in tapered arteries. Blood flow is the continuous running of blood in the cardiovascular system. The human body is made up of several processes all carrying out various functions. We have the gastrointestinal system which aids the digestion and the absorption of food. We also have the respiratory system which is responsible for the absorption of O2 and elimination of CO2. The urinary system removes waste from the body. The cardiovascular system helps to distribute food, O2 and other products of metabolism. The reproductive system is responsible for perpetuating the species. The nervous and endocrine system is responsible for coordinating the integration and functions of other system. The equations govern the flow for considered model are presented in cylindrical coordinates. Perturbation solutions are developed in terms of small Eyring Prandtl fluid parameter β for the velocity, impedance resistance, wall shear stress and shearing stress at the stenosis throat. Three types of arteries i.e converging, diverging and non-tapered arteries have been considered for the analysis and discussion. Graphical results have been presented for different physical parameters of the flow problem. Streamlines have been plotted at the end of the article. We observed that due to increase in Eyring Prandtl fluid parameter α, β the stenosis shape n and maximum height of the stenosis δ the velocity profile increases.
Solving Nonlinear Problems with Singular Initial Conditions Using A Perturbed Scalar Homotopy Method
Authors: Ku Cheng-Yu , Tsai Yung-Hsien
Published: August 2013

In this paper, a novel method, named the perturbed scalar homotopy method, is proposed to solve nonlinear systems with a singular Jacobian matrix. The concept of the proposed perturbed scalar homotopy method roots from the conventional homotopy method but it takes the advantages of converting a vector function to a scalar function by using the square norm of the vector function to conduct a scalar-based homotopy method. Then, a small parameter, which is similar to the perturbation theory, is introduced to the singular systems of nonlinear equations such that the modified singular systems of nonlinear equations become nonsingular and the asymptotic solutions may be found. As a result, the proposed novel method does not need to calculate the inverse of the Jacobian matrix and thus has great numerical stability. In addition, the formulation of the proposed method reveals that this new method is exponentially convergent with the use of the exponential time function. Results obtained show that the proposed novel method can be used to solve singular systems of nonlinear equations with high accuracy as well as the convergence and it may be a better alternative for solving a system of non-linear algebraic equations.
Disruption of the Rice Plastid Ribosomal Protein S20 Leads to Chloroplast Developmental Defects and Seedling Lethality
Authors: Gong Xiaodi , Jiang Quan , Xu Jianlong , Zhang Jianhui , Teng Sheng , Lin Dongzhi , Dong Yanjun
Published: August 2013

Plastid ribosomal proteins (PRPs) are essential for ribosome biogenesis, plastid protein biosynthesis, chloroplast differentiation, and early chloroplast development. This study identifies the first rice PRP mutant, asl1 (albino seedling lethality1), which exhibits an albino lethal phenotype at the seedling stage. This albino phenotype was associated with altered chlorophyll (Chl) content and chloroplast development. Map-based cloning revealed that ASL1 encodes PRP S20 (PRPS20), which localizes to the chloroplast. ASL1 showed tissue-specific expression, as it was highly expressed in plumule and young seedlings but expressed at much lower levels in other tissues. In addition, ASL1 expression was regulated by light. The transcript levels of nuclear genes for Chl biosynthesis and chloroplast development were strongly affected in asl1 mutants; transcripts of some plastid genes for photosynthesis were undetectable. Our findings indicate that nuclear-encoded PRPS20 plays an important role in chloroplast development in rice.
Identification of Genes Interacting with rnt-1 Through Large-Scale RNAi Screening in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Lee Kiho , Shim Jiwon , Lee Jihyun , Lee Junho
Published: August 2013

Although many critical roles of the RUNX family proteins have already been identified, little attention has been given to how these proteins interact with other factors. Elucidating RUNX protein interactions will help extend our understanding of their roles in normal development and tumorigenesis. In this study, we performed large-scale RNAi screening to identify genes that genetically interact with rnt-1, the sole homolog of RUNX protein in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. To this end, we took advantage of the fact that C. elegans can survive a severe loss of RNT-1 function with only mild phenotypes, and we looked for genes that caused a synthetic phenotype in the rnt-1 mutant background. We identified seven genes, three of which (cdk-8, cic-1, and sur-2) are involved in transcription, two of which (pgp-2 and cct-5) are involved in stress response, and two of which (D2045.7 and W09D10.4) are involved in signaling cascades, according to their functional gene ontology terms. We further confirmed that the CDK8-containing mediator complex genetically interacts with RNT-1 by showing that knockdown of each component of the CDK8 mediator complex caused a synthetic phenotype, that is, the exploded intestine through the vulva (Eiv) phenotype, in the rnt-1 mutant background. We also identified a putative target gene, acs-4, which is regulated by the RNT-1 and CDK8 mediator complex. Our results strengthen the notion that the CDK8 mediator complex may also act together with RUNX proteins in mammals.
Mechanisms of Ephrin Receptor Protein Kinase-Independent Signaling in Amphid Axon Guidance in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Grossman Emily N , Giurumescu Claudiu A , Chisholm Andrew D
Published: August 2013

Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands are key conserved regulators of axon guidance and can function in a variety of signaling modes. Here we analyze the genetic and cellular requirements for Eph signaling in a Caenorhabditis elegans axon guidance choice point, the ventral guidance of axons in the amphid commissure. The C. elegans Eph receptor EFN-1 has both kinase-dependent and kinase-independent roles in amphid ventral guidance. Of the four C. elegans ephrins, we find that only EFN-1 has a major role in amphid axon ventral guidance, and signals in both a receptor kinase-dependent and kinase-independent manner. Analysis of EFN-1 and EFN-1 expression and tissue-specific requirements is consistent with a model in which VAB-1 acts in amphid neurons, interacting with EFN-1 expressed on surrounding cells. Unexpectedly, left-hand neurons are more strongly affected than right-hand neurons by loss of Eph signaling, indicating a previously undetected left–right asymmetry in the requirement for Eph signaling. By screening candidate genes involved in Eph signaling, we find that the Eph kinase-independent pathway involves the ABL-1 nonreceptor tyrosine kinase and possibly the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway. Overexpression of ABL-1 is sufficient to rescue EFN-1 ventral guidance defects cell autonomously. Our results reveal new aspects of Eph signaling in a single axon guidance decision in vivo.
Coordination and Processing of DNA Ends During Double-Strand Break Repair: The Role of the Bacteriophage T4 Mre11/Rad50 (MR) Complex
Authors: Almond Joshua R , Stohr Bradley A , Panigrahi Anil K , Albrecht Dustin W , Nelson Scott W , Kreuzer Kenneth N
Published: August 2013

The in vivo functions of the bacteriophage T4 Mre11/Rad50 (MR) complex (gp46/47) in double-strand-end processing, double-strand break repair, and recombination-dependent replication were investigated. The complex is essential for T4 growth, but we wanted to investigate the in vivo function during productive infections. We therefore generated a suppressed triple amber mutant in the Rad50 subunit to substantially reduce the level of complex and thereby reduce phage growth. Growth-limiting amounts of the complex caused a concordant decrease in phage genomic recombination-dependent replication. However, the efficiencies of double-strand break repair and of plasmid-based recombination-dependent replication remained relatively normal. Genetic analyses of linked markers indicated that double-strand ends were less protected from nuclease erosion in the depleted infection and also that end coordination during repair was compromised. We discuss models for why phage genomic recombination-dependent replication is more dependent on Mre11/Rad50 levels when compared to plasmid recombination-dependent replication. We also tested the importance of the conserved histidine residue in nuclease motif I of the T4 Mre11 protein. Substitution with multiple different amino acids (including serine) failed to support phage growth, completely blocked plasmid recombination-dependent replication, and led to the stabilization of double-strand ends. We also constructed and expressed an Mre11 mutant protein with the conserved histidine changed to serine. The mutant protein was found to be completely defective for nuclease activities, but retained the ability to bind the Rad50 subunit and double-stranded DNA. These results indicate that the nuclease activity of Mre11 is critical for phage growth and recombination-dependent replication during T4 infections.
Transgene-Free Genome Editing in Caenorhabditis elegans Using CRISPR-Cas
Authors: Chiu Hui , Schwartz Hillel T , Antoshechkin Igor , Sternberg Paul W
Published: August 2013

CRISPR-Cas is an efficient method for genome editing in organisms from bacteria to human cells. We describe a transgene-free method for CRISPR-Cas-mediated cleavage in nematodes, enabling RNA-homology-targeted deletions that cause loss of gene function; analysis of whole-genome sequencing indicates that the nuclease activity is highly specific.
Is the Fungus Magnaporthe Losing DNA Methylation?
Authors: Ikeda Ken-ichi , Van Vu Ba , Kadotani Naoki , Tanaka Masaki , Murata Toshiki , Shiina Kohta , Chuma Izumi , Tosa Yukio , Nakayashiki Hitoshi
Published: August 2013

The long terminal repeat retrotransposon, Magnaporthe gypsy-like element (MAGGY), has been shown to be targeted for cytosine methylation in a subset of Magnaporthe oryzae field isolates. Analysis of the F1 progeny from a genetic cross between methylation-proficient (Br48) and methylation-deficient (GFSI1-7-2) isolates revealed that methylation of the MAGGY element was governed by a single dominant gene. Positional cloning followed by gene disruption and complementation experiments revealed that the responsible gene was the DNA methyltransferase, MoDMT1, an ortholog of Neurospora crassa Dim-2. A survey of MAGGY methylation in 60 Magnaporthe field isolates revealed that 42 isolates from rice, common millet, wheat, finger millet, and buffelgrass were methylation proficient while 18 isolates from foxtail millet, green bristlegrass, Japanese panicgrass, torpedo grass, Guinea grass, and crabgrass were methylation deficient. Phenotypic analyses showed that MoDMT1 plays no major role in development and pathogenicity of the fungus. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the average copy number of genomic MAGGY elements was not significantly different between methylation-deficient and -proficient field isolates even though the levels of MAGGY transcript were generally higher in the former group. MoDMT1 gene sequences in the methylation-deficient isolates suggested that at least three independent mutations were responsible for the loss of MoDMT1 function. Overall, our data suggest that MoDMT1 is not essential for the natural life cycle of the fungus and raise the possibility that the genus Magnaporthe may be losing the mechanism of DNA methylation on the evolutionary time scale.
Randomized Trial of Plastic Bags to Prevent Term Neonatal Hypothermia in a Resource-Poor Setting
Authors: Belsches Theodore C. , Tilly Alyssa E. , Miller Tonya R. , Kambeyanda Rohan H. , Leadford Alicia , Manasyan Albert , Chomba Elwyn , Ramani Manimaran , Ambalavanan Namasivayam , Carlo Waldemar A.
Published: August 2013

OBJECTIVES:

Term infants in resource-poor settings frequently develop hypothermia during the first hours after birth. Plastic bags or wraps are a low-cost intervention for the prevention of hypothermia in preterm and low birth weight infants that may also be effective in term infants. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that placement of term neonates in plastic bags at birth reduces hypothermia at 1 hour after birth in a resource-poor hospital.

METHODS:

This parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted at University Teaching Hospital, the tertiary referral center in Zambia. Inborn neonates with both a gestational age ≥37 weeks and a birth weight ≥2500 g were randomized 1:1 to either a standard thermoregulation protocol or to a standard thermoregulation protocol with placement of the torso and lower extremities inside a plastic bag within 10 minutes after birth. The primary outcome was hypothermia (<36.5°C axillary temperature) at 1 hour after birth.

RESULTS:

Neonates randomized to plastic bag (n = 135) or to standard thermoregulation care (n = 136) had similar baseline characteristics (birth weight, gestational age, gender, and baseline temperature). Neonates in the plastic bag group had a lower rate of hypothermia (60% vs 73%, risk ratio 0.76, confidence interval 0.60–0.96, P = .026) and a higher axillary temperature (36.4 ± 0.5°C vs 36.2 ± 0.7°C, P < .001) at 1 hour after birth compared with infants receiving standard care.

CONCLUSIONS:

Placement in a plastic bag at birth reduced the incidence of hypothermia at 1 hour after birth in term neonates born in a resource-poor setting, but most neonates remained hypothermic.
Shape Evolution of Faceted Silicon Nanocrystals upon Thermal Annealing in an Oxide Matrix
Authors: Yang Zhenyu , Dobbie Alexander R. , Veinot Jonathan G. C.
Published: August 2013

It is well established that controlled high-temperature annealing of hydrogen silsesquioxane leads to the formation of small spherical silicon nanocrystals (∼3 nm). The present study outlines an investigation into the influence of annealing time and temperature. After prolonged annealing, crystal surfaces thermodynamically self-optimize to form a variety of faceted structures (e.g., cubic, truncated trigonal and hexagonal structures).
Clinical and imagiological findings of central giant cell lesion and cherubism
Authors: Pinheiro Lucas R. , Pinheiro João J. V. , A. Júnior Sérgio , Guerreiro Newton , Cavalcanti Marcelo G. P.
Published: August 2013

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the best examination for bone lesions of the maxilla, allowing the dentist to evaluate precisely the behavior and components of the lesion and their relationship to the surrounding structures. Central giant cell lesion and cherubism are histologically very similar lesions. Therefore clinical and radiological examinations are fundamentally important for the diagnosis. The aim of this paper is to report two cases diagnosed as central giant cell lesions and cherubism using CBCT. This imaging modality was very important for the diagnosis of the lesions presented in the current study. It also allowed observing precisely the limits of the lesions, the components, the behavior and the exact relationship to adjacent structures.
Complete denture biofilm after brushing with specific denture paste, neutral soap and artificial saliva
Authors: Paranhos Helena de Freitas Oliveira , Salles Antônio Eduardo Sparça , Macedo Leandro Dorigan de , Silva-Lovato Cláudia Helena da , Pagnano Valéria Oliveira , Watanabe Evandro
Published: August 2013

This study compared the levels of biofilm in maxillary and mandibular complete dentures and evaluated the number of colony-forming units (cfu) of yeasts, after using auxiliary brushing agents and artificial saliva. Twenty-three denture wearers with hyposalivation and xerostomia were instructed to brush the dentures 3 times a day during 3 weeks with the following products: Corega Brite denture dentifrice, neutral liquid soap, Corega Brite combined with Oral Balance (artificial saliva) or tap water. For biofilm quantification, the internal surfaces of the dentures were disclosed, photographed and measured using a software. For microbiological analysis, the biofilm was scrapped off, and the harvested material was diluted, sown in CHROMagar™ Candida and incubated at 37°C for 48 h. Data were analyzed statistically by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Mandibular dentures presented a mean biofilm percentage (µ=26.90 ± 21.10) significantly greater than the maxillary ones (µ=18.0 ± 15.0) (p<0.05). Brushing using Corega Brite combined with Oral Balance (µ=15.87 ± 18.47) was more effective (p<0.05) than using the denture dentifrice (µ=19.47 ± 17.24), neutral soap (µ=23.90 ± 18.63) or tap water (control; µ=32.50 ± 20.68). For the microbiological analysis, the chi-square test did not indicate significant difference between the hygiene products for either type of denture. The more frequently isolated species of yeasts were C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. In conclusion, mandibular dentures had more biofilm formation than maxillary ones. Denture brushing with Corega Brite dentifrice combined with the use of Oral Balance was the most effective method for reduction of biofilm levels, but the use of products did not show difference in yeast cfu counts.
Effect of low fluoride acidic dentifrices on dental remineralization
Authors: Brighenti Fernanda Lourenção , Takeshita Eliana Mitsue , Sant'ana Camila de Oliveira , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo , Delbem Alberto Carlos Botazzo
Published: August 2013

This study evaluated the capacity of fluoride acidic dentifrices (pH 4.5) to promote enamel remineralization using a pH cycling model, comparing them with a standard dentifrice (1,100 µgF/g). Enamel blocks had their surface polished and surface hardness determined (SH). Next, they were submitted to subsurface enamel demineralization and to post-demineralization surface hardness analysis. The blocks were divided into 6 experimental groups (n=10): placebo (without F, pH 4.5, negative control), 275, 412, 550, 1,100 µgF/g and a standard dentifrice (positive control). The blocks were submitted to pH cycling for 6 days and treatment with dentifrice slurries twice a day. After pH cycling, surface and cross-sectional hardness were assessed to obtain the percentage of surface hardness recovery (%SHR) and the integrated loss of subsurface hardness (ΔKHN). The results showed that %SHR was similar among acidic dentifrices with 412, 550, 1,100 µgF/g and to the positive control (Tukey's test; p>0.05). For ΔKHN, the acidic dentifrice with 550 µg F/g showed a better performance when compared with the positive control. It can be concluded that acidic dentifrice 550 µgF/g had similar remineralization capacity to that of positive control.
Rat subcutaneous tissue response to MTA Fillapex® and Portland cement
Authors: Marques Nádia Carolina Teixeira , Lourenço Neto Natalino , Fernandes Ana Paula , Rodini Camila de Oliveira , Duarte Marco Antônio Hungaro , Oliveira Thais Marchini
Published: August 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of rat subcutaneous tissue to MTA Fillapex® (Angelus), an experimental root canal filling material based on Portland cement and propylene glycol (PCPG), and a zinc oxide, eugenol and iodoform (ZOEI) paste. These materials were placed in polyethylene tubes and implanted into the dorsal connective tissue of Wistar rats for 7 and 15 days. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and evaluated regarding inflammatory reaction parameters by optical microscopy. The intensity of inflammatory response against the sealers was analyzed by two blinded and previously calibrated examiners for all experimental periods (kappa=0.96). The histological evaluation showed that all materials caused a moderate inflammatory reaction at 7 days, which subsided with time. A greater inflammatory reaction was observed at 7 days in the tubes filled with ZOEI paste. Tubes filled with MTA Fillapex presented some giant cells, macrophages and lymphocytes after 7 days. At 15 days, the presence of fibroblasts and collagen fibers was observed indicating normal tissue healing. The tubes filled with PCPG showed similar results to those observed in MTA Fillapex. At 15 days, the inflammatory reaction was almost absent at the tissue, with several collagen fibers indicating normal tissue healing. Data were analyzed by the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test (α=0.05). Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was found only between PCPG at 15 days and ZOEI at 7 days groups. No significant differences were observed among the other groups/periods (p>0.05). MTA Fillapex and Portland cement added with propylene glycol had greater tissue compatibility than the PCPG paste.
Use of laser fluorescence in dental caries diagnosis: a fluorescence x biomolecular vibrational spectroscopic comparative study
Authors: Carvalho Fabíola Bastos de , Barbosa Artur Felipe Santos , Zanin Fátima Antonia Aparecida , Brugnera Júnior Aldo , Silveira Júnior Landulfo , Pinheiro Antonio Luiz Barbosa
Published: August 2013

The aim of this work was to verify the existence of correlation between Raman spectroscopy readings of phosphate apatite (∼960 cm−1), fluoridated apatite (∼575 cm−1) and organic matrix (∼1450 cm−1) levels and Diagnodent® readings at different stages of dental caries in extracted human teeth. The mean peak value of fluorescence in the carious area was recorded and teeth were divided in enamel caries, dentin caries and sound dental structure. After fluorescence readings, Raman spectroscopy was carried out on the same sites. The results showed significant difference (ANOVA, p<0.05) between the fluorescence readings for enamel (16.4 ± 2.3) and dentin (57.6 ± 23.7) on carious teeth. Raman peaks of enamel and dentin revealed that ∼575 and ∼960 cm−1 peaks were more intense in enamel caries. There was significant negative correlation (p<0.05) between the ∼575 and ∼960 cm−1 peaks and dentin caries. It may be concluded that the higher the fluorescence detected by Diagnodent the lower the peaks of phosphate apatite and fluoridated apatite. As the early diagnosis of caries is directly related to the identification of changes in the inorganic tooth components, Raman spectroscopy was more sensitive to variations of these components than Diagnodent.