bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subclinical Atherosclerosis, Endothelial Function, and Serum Inflammatory Markers in Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 to 4
Authors: Ghanavatian Shirin , Diep Lien My , Bárány Peter , Heimbürger Olof , Seeberger Astrid , Stenvinkel Peter , Rohani Morteza , Agewall Stefan
Published: April 2013

Different inflammatory markers, brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and brachial intima-media thickness (bIMT) were measured in 50 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 to 4 with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and 35 age- and gender-matched controls. The bIMT was significantly increased in the patients with CKD compared with controls (0.43 mm [0.42, 0.45] vs 0.34 mm [0.32, 0.36]; P < .001). There was no significant difference in FMD between the study groups (4.7% vs 5.3%; P = .56). There were significant correlations between bIMT and high-sensitive C-reactive protein, vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin 6 ( P < .05). However, eGFR adjusted for age and gender was the best predictor of bIMT. In conclusion, bIMT and inflammatory markers were increased in patients with CKD compared with the controls. Furthermore, significant correlations between bIMT and inflammatory activity in patients with CKD were observed. The eGFR adjusted for age and gender was the best predictor of bIMT.
Decreased Jaw Bone Density and Osteoblastic Insulin Signaling in a Model of Obesity
Authors: Pramojanee S.N. , Phimphilai M. , Kumphune S. , Chattipakorn N. , Chattipakorn S.C.
Published: April 2013

Previous studies have demonstrated that decreased bone mass results from either the impairment of osteoblastic insulin signaling or obesity. Our previous study revealed that 12-week high-fat-diet (HFD) consumption caused obesity as well as peripheral and brain insulin resistance. However, the osteoblastic insulin resistance induced by HFD has not been elucidated. Therefore, we hypothesized that 12-week HFD rats exhibited not only peripheral insulin resistance but also osteoblastic insulin resistance, which leads to decreased jawbone quality. We found that the jawbones of rats fed a 12-week HFD exhibited increased osteoporosis. The osteoblastic cells isolated from HFD-fed rats exhibited the impairment of osteoblastic insulin signaling as well as reduction of cell proliferation and survival. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that insulin resistance induced by 12-week HFD impaired osteoblastic insulin signaling, osteoblast proliferation, and osteoblast survival and resulted in osteoporosis in the jawbone.
‘Asylum shopping’ in the neoliberal social imaginary
Authors: Moore Kerry
Published: April 2013

This article critically explores the construction and discursive role of ‘asylum shopping’ in the cultural politics of asylum in the UK. Despite the unusual combination of a concept predominantly associated with consumerism with one largely associated with human rights or sanctuary, the expression ‘asylum shopping’ has featured in the mainstream news media and political discourse surrounding asylum and refugee issues since the early 1990s. Drawing upon cultural studies theory, post-Marxist discourse theory and critical discourse analysis, the article argues that the naturalisation of this term has been conditioned by the operation of powerful logics underpinning fundamental insecurities in the identity of the national and neoliberal subject – logics associated with Britain’s postcoloniality on the one hand and its neoliberal modernity on the other. While the erosion of collective models of solidarity in favour of entrepreneurialism of the self have provided conditions of possibility for an overwhelmingly negative asylum discourse, outrage at asylum seekers’ perceived agency and choice of destination encoded in the notion of ‘asylum shopping’ have been indexed to nostalgic longings for a more secure national or social identity, as well as deep-seated fears and uncertainties about future prospects in the neoliberal subject.
Long‐term Efficacy of Specific Immunotherapy on House Dust Mite–Induced Allergic Rhinitis in China
Authors: Peng Hua , Li Chun Wei , Lin Zhi Bin , Li Tian Ying
Published: April 2013

Objective

Although the effect of specific immunotherapy (SIT) on allergic rhinitis (AR) has been well documented in developed countries, its long‐term efficacy in patients in developing countries (such as China) is poorly understood. This study investigated the long‐term therapeutic and preventive effects of SIT on house dust mite (HDM)–induced AR in patients from China.

Design

Historical cohort study.

Setting

University hospital.

Subjects and Methods

One hundred forty‐six AR patients with/without asthma allergic to HDM were investigated for 5 years after initiation of a 3‐year course of subcutaneous SIT (SIT group, n = 106) or no SIT (control group, n = 40). The clinical responses of all patients were evaluated at baseline, the stop point of SIT (third year), and 2 years after SIT termination (fifth year), by clinical index including symptom and rescue medication scores (SMS), visual analog scale (VAS), total immunoglobulin E (tIgE), and specific IgE (sIgE). Asthma was assessed by clinical evaluation.

Results

The decrease of SMS and VAS from baseline was significantly improved in the SIT group compared with controls at both the third and fifth year. For patients without asthma at baseline, the odds ratio for no asthma was 3.57 (95% confidence interval, 1.05‐12.91; P <. 05) in favor of SIT. The serum sIgE/tIgE ratio was significantly increased after SIT treatment in the SIT group, but it was not related to SIT efficacy.

Conclusion

SIT has a long‐term effect of improving clinical symptoms and reducing the risk of development of asthma in Chinese AR patients.
Intraoperative Use of FloSeal with Adenotonsillectomy to Prevent Adverse Postoperative Outcomes in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Dyer Steven R. , Bathula Samba , Durvasula Phani , Madgy David , Haupert Michael , Dworkin James , Sana Saidshoib
Published: April 2013

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative complications associated with monopolar dissection adenotonsillectomy, with and without the application of FloSeal at the completion of the procedure.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary care pediatric hospital.

Subjects and Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of 800 cases of adenotonsillectomy. Two cohorts of patients were identified based on whether or not FloSeal was used intraoperatively during the completion of the monopolar dissection adenotonsillectomy. Outcomes that were measured included: (1) age, (2) sex, (3) diagnosis, (4) primary hemorrhage, (5) secondary hemorrhage, (6) return to operating room, and (7) dehydration. All binomial outcomes measured were subjected to chi‐square and t tests.

Results

Age and gender were similar between the 2 groups. Chronic tonsillitis was the primary indication more often in the control group; this was statistically significant. Primary hemorrhage occurred in 1 subject from each group (0.28%); secondary hemorrhage occurred in 11 subjects from the FloSeal group (3.22%) and 7 from the control group (1.87%). Both outcomes were not statistically different between the 2 groups. Return to operating room showed no statistically significant difference between groups. The need for postoperative admission for dehydration failed to show statistical significance between groups.

Conclusion

In our experience, the application of FloSeal hemostatic matrix after monopolar adenotonsillectomy demonstrates no additional reduction in postoperative adverse events encountered in the pediatric population. Specifically, our data failed to demonstrate statistically significant reduction of: (1) primary hemorrhage, (2) secondary hemorrhage, (3) return to operating theatre, or (4) dehydration.
Advocacy Representation and Resistance
Authors: Schneeweis Adina
Published: April 2013

This article offers the case study of two nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that have tailored and improved their communication efforts so that politicians, governments, and international organizations hear, and do something about, the plight of the Roma, the most discriminated against European minority. This study examines advocacy publications and describes the discursive repertoire available to European NGOs working for Roma rights post-Communism. The analysis suggests that advocacy communication is fraught with imperfections and therefore resistance takes the shape of ambivalent discourses, both strong and ambiguous, and nonetheless disrupting fixed representations that have motivated historic and contemporary anti-Gypsyism; at the same time, it concludes that the movement for Roma rights is in need of clearer organizational and political mobilization if it is to succeed in the model of other vibrant social movements.
Intellectual Property Law and the Globalization of Indigenous Cultural Expressions: Māori Tattoo and the Whitmill versus Warner Bros. Case
Authors: Tan Leon
Published: April 2013

From the time of British colonial settlement, innumerable taonga (treasures) have been appropriated from the indigenous Māori population of Aotearoa/New Zealand, from cloaks, weapons, carvings and musical instruments to the practices and products of tā moko ( Māori tattoo). This article focuses on the topic of cultural appropriation, homing in on a recent legal case, Whitmill v. Warner Bros., in which an artist sued Warner Bros. in a US court for pirating a ‘ Māori-inspired’ tattoo created for Mike Tyson, so as to tease out the conflicts between intellectual property (IP, specifically copyright) laws and norms on one hand, and international frameworks for human and cultural rights on the other. It examines the implications of the case for tā moko as an indigenous artistic tradition, and the tension between human/artistic and cultural rights, before discussing potential remedial strategies, drawing on the findings of the Wai 262 (Waitangi Tribunal) report into claims concerning New Zealand law and policy affecting Māori culture and identity. Theoretically, it employs Manuel DeLanda’s assemblage theory as a framework for analysis, the benefit of DeLanda’s work being that it provides a novel approach circumventing the usual ontological terms of intellectual property laws and norms, which tend towards a kind of methodological individualism or micro-reductionism.
Postmodernity, Aesthetics and Tribalism: An Interview with Michel Maffesoli
Authors: Tyldesley Michael
Published: April 2013

In this interview, conducted following the publication of Le Temps revient, Michel Maffesoli discusses his view of postmodernity and its connection with the aesthetic, current intellectual life, the ‘tribalism’ for which he is best known in the Anglophone world, and his own intellectual development.
Paid Sick Leave and Job Stability
Authors: Hill Heather D.
Published: April 2013

A compelling, but unsubstantiated, argument for paid sick leave legislation is that workers with leave are better able to address own and family member health needs without risking a voluntary or involuntary job separation. This study tests that claim using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and regression models controlling for a large set of worker and job characteristics, as well as with propensity score techniques. Results suggest that paid sick leave decreases the probability of job separation by at least 2.5 percentage points, or 25%. The association is strongest for workers without paid vacation leave and for mothers.
Disability Accommodation in Nonstandard and Precarious Employment Arrangements
Authors: Shuey Kim M. , Jovic Emily
Published: April 2013

This study, based on data from a large nationally representative sample of Canadian workers with disabilities, examines the relationship between employment arrangements and the accommodation of disability in the workplace. We address whether workers with disabilities in nonstandard arrangements are more likely to have unmet accommodation needs and if other key dimensions of precarious employment mediate the relationship between nonstandard work and accommodation. Results from multivariate models suggest that despite disability legislation, practices of workplace disability accommodation parallel the unequal distribution of other labor market protections, with workers in more precarious arrangements (i.e. those in nonpermanent, low-wage, and nonunion jobs) at greater risk of having unmet needs.
The Impact of Job Insecurity and Job Degradation on the Sense of Personal Control
Authors: Glavin Paul
Published: April 2013

I examine the effect of job insecurity and job degradation on the sense of personal control. Analyses of two waves of panel observations from a national survey of American workers reveal that prolonged job insecurity is associated with reduced personal control—and this effect increases with age. I also examine whether insecurity is associated with deteriorating job quality and whether degradation reduces personal control. Recent insecurity is associated with increased job pressures, while prolonged insecurity is associated with decreased decision-making latitude. I find no evidence, however, that changes in job quality explain the relationship between job insecurity and personal control.
Time Work by Overworked Professionals
Authors: Moen Phyllis , Lam Jack , Ammons Samantha , Kelly Erin L.
Published: April 2013

How are professionals responding to the time strains brought on by the stress of their higher status jobs? Qualitative data from professionals reveal (a) general acceptance of the emerging temporal organization of professional work, including rising time demands and blurred boundaries around work/nonwork times and places, and (b) time work as strategic responses to work intensification, overloads, and boundarylessness. We detected four time-work strategies: prioritizing time, scaling back obligations, blocking out time, and time shifting of obligations. These strategies are often more work-friendly than family-friendly, but “blocking out time” and “time shifting” suggest promising avenues for work-time policy and practice.
Investigation of medical waste management in Gansu province, China
Authors: Zhang Hao-Jun , Zhang Ying-Hua , Wang Yan , Yang Ya-Hong , Zhang Jian , Wang Yao-Ling , Wang Jun-Ling
Published: April 2013

Medical waste is a special category of waste with potential health and environment risks. The present study aimed to explore the current status of medical waste management in western China. Seventy-four healthcare facilities were selected to assess the general status of medical waste management based upon a designed questionnaire survey. The surveyed results showed that the quantities of average medical waste generation were 0.79, 0.59 and 0.61 kg bed−1 day−1 in tertiary, secondary and primary hospitals, respectively. The incomplete segregation of domestic and medical waste generated a higher quantity of medical waste in primary hospitals (0.61 kg bed−1 day−1) than that in secondary hospitals. Furthermore, the effective implementation of the medical waste management system depended on national regulations, occupational safety, internal policies and administration and the qualifications and competence of the directors of the waste management department in the healthcare facilities. Therefore, sufficient training programmes and protective measures should be provided by healthcare facilities to all relevant personnel and adequate financial support and effective administrative monitoring should be performed by local authorities.
Understanding sustainable supply network capabilities of multinationals: A capability maturity model approach
Authors: Srai Jagjit S , Alinaghian Leila S , Kirkwood David A
Published: April 2013

The design of global supply networks has evolved from traditional lowest landed cost analysis to include more strategic concepts such as how particular network configurations might support strategic and operational capabilities. An established approach to assessing operational capabilities is the maturity model methodology where the emphasis is on notions of evolution and levels of process formality. More recently, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainable supply networks, driving industrial practitioners to also address energy and resource efficiencies and waste minimisation. However, quantitative measurement approaches such as carbon footprinting beyond the firm boundary are complex and resource intensive and present significant validation challenges. This article proposes a process maturity model-based alternative to supply network carbon measurement approaches, namely, the systematic review of organisational routines and practices relevant to sustainable manufacturing. Furthermore, the incorporation of sustainability dimensions within an established supply chain maturity model architecture provides a basis for potential trade-offs. Application of the maturity model framework in 12 case studies of international manufacturing multinationals is presented, demonstrating feasibility and utility of the approach and identifying potential drivers for manufacturing sustainability linked to the industrial supply network position, including the regulatory context, and consumer sentiment.
Estimation of submerged-arc welding design parameters using Taguchi method and fuzzy logic
Authors: Lee Jongsoo , Song Chang-Yong
Published: April 2013

Fuzzy logic with the Taguchi method is proposed for estimating submerged-arc welding design parameters. Design of experiments based on the submerged-arc welding simulation is applied to the proposed approach. The finite element analysis of a steel plate is carried out to simulate the submerged-arc welding process using thermomechanical and temperature-dependent material properties. Welding simulation results on thermal–mechanical coupled physical phenomena are compared with welding test. The proposed fuzzy model is generated with triangle membership functions and fuzzy if–then rules using training data obtained from design of experiments and the Taguchi method. The objective of the present study is to develop a Taguchi method-based fuzzy model to effectively approximate the optimized arc weld parameters. To validate the fuzzy model, an approximate model based on response surface method is generated from the Taguchi design data, and then the results are reviewed by the outcomes obtained from the fuzzy model. This proposed study facilitates a quantitative decision of weld factors such as speed and output of weld that are generally expressed by qualitative linguistic terms in the welding process.
Finite element study of stress and strain state during hot tube necking process
Authors: Zoghi Hamed , Fallahi Arezoodar Alireza
Published: April 2013

Tube necking is a common process used for manufacturing pressure vessels, for example, compressed natural gas capsules, categorized under general spinning processes. An experimentally validated finite element model suited to the process is incorporated to study the deformation, and state of strain and stress in the contact zone. The in situ variation of stress and strain is illustrated via colored contour plots, and Cartesian and polar diagrams. It is shown that in some areas, there are similarities and differences between flow forming and tube necking; for example, like flow forming, the equivalent plastic strain decreases from the inner and outer layers toward the middle layer, and unlike flow forming, the axial strain at the outer layer is negative all around the tube while at the inner layer, axial strain possesses a maximum positive value at contact position. The state of stress and plastic strain in regions around the contact zone is shown at an instant of process duration, which is not quite similar to postprocess stress and strain distribution.
Characterization of the spray atomization process of a multi-hole gasoline direct injector based on measurements using a phase Doppler particle analyser
Authors: Lee Sanghoon , Oh Yunjung , Park Sungwook
Published: April 2013

The main objective of this experimental study was to investigate the spray atomization process of a multi-hole gasoline direct injector by characterizing the basic process of single-jet atomization as well as complex phenomena such as air entrainment and jet interactions. We measured the droplet size and velocity using a phase Doppler particle analysis system at different measurement distances and different injection pressures in both the parallel direction and the orthogonal direction with respect to spray propagation. In addition, we calculated the Weber numbers to characterize further the spray atomization process. Our experimental results showed that the droplet velocities followed similar trends for different measurement distances but that the peak value decreased as the distance increased. Furthermore, a leading edge of the spray was observed at the initial stage of injection but disappeared as the measurement distance increased. Based on the droplet diameter distribution, we confirmed that increasing the distance and air entrainment had effects on the jet atomization process. Air entrainment was seen at the edges of both sides of the jet when the droplet diameter was less than 23 µm and the droplet was travelling at a low velocity, and the spray atomization process was more activated under air entrainment conditions. A comparison of different injection pressures confirmed that the injection pressure plays an important role in droplet break-up.
Casual sex as ‘not a natural act’ and other regimes of truth about heterosexuality
Authors: Farvid Panteá , Braun Virginia
Published: April 2013

This paper analyses online texts concerning the supposed ‘rules’ and ‘etiquette’ of heterosexual casual sex, exploring how ‘ideal’ casual sex was constructed – as object and practice. We examine how casual sex was constituted by authors who positioned themselves as knowledgeable and/or expert in relation to casual sex and demonstrate the discourses that their accounts drew on in constructing archetypal casual sex. Our analysis is situated within feminist/critical theorising and debates regarding the institution of heterosexuality and, in particular, construction of monogamy as ‘ideal’ when it comes to heterosexual relationships. We argue that casual sex was constituted as not a natural act through the specific instructions of how to ‘do casual sex right’. We outline the construction of an attraction imperative in relation to casual sex, its hierarchies of respectability, and address what an analysis about casual sex tells us about contemporary heterosexuality. This paper demonstrates that although casual sex could possibly offer an alternative to the currently pervasive mononormativity, it fails to provide this in accounts of ‘ideal’ casual sex as relayed in the public arena.
Adaptive and maladaptive attraction to negative emotions in music
Authors: Garrido Sandra , Schubert Emery
Published: April 2013

Individual differences were investigated in an attempt to explain why some people are attracted to negative emotion (grief, sadness) in music. A 10-item Like Sad Music Scale (LSMS) was developed (Cronbach’s α = .802) and compared against subscales measuring absorption, music empathy, rumination, reflectiveness and nostalgia-proneness. This was tested via an online survey, completed by 137 participants. It was hypothesized that absorption and reflectiveness would be correlated with the enjoyment of sad music and rumination would be correlated with an attraction to sad music although not necessarily an enjoyment of it. Consistent with previous findings, absorption was a good predictor of the LSMS and was particularly correlated with the enjoyment of strong emotions in connection with sad music. Rumination correlated with LSMS items ‘helps release sadness’ and ‘can relate to sadness’ while reflectiveness correlated with the item ‘I often find myself grieving as a result of listening to sad music’. These correlations suggest both adaptive and maladaptive uses of sad music for mood manipulation. The results were presented with respect to the dissociation theory of aesthetic enjoyment, where participants with the capacity to enter states of absorption are able to deactivate displeasure circuits and hence enjoy negative emotion in music.
Communication Challenges for Chronic Metastatic Cancer in an Era of Novel Therapeutics
Authors: Thorne Sally E. , Oliffe John L. , Oglov Valerie , Gelmon Karen
Published: April 2013

Advances in the production of novel therapies for cancer management are creating new challenges for the support of increasing numbers of persons surviving for extended periods with advanced disease. Despite incurable and life-limiting metastatic conditions, these patients are living longer with serious disease, pushing the boundaries of what science explains and clinicians can confidently interpret using available evidence. Here we report findings from an early subset of such individuals within a longitudinal qualitative cancer cohort study on clinician–patient communication across the cancer trajectory. In these findings, we contextualize experiential accounts of communication in a changing environment of the costs and uncertainties of personalized medicine, and examine the complex psychosocial circumstances of this rapidly growing patient population. Interpretation of these findings illustrates how emerging issues in cancer treatment influence the experience of these patients, their social and support networks, their cancer care specialists, and the multidisciplinary teams charged with coordinating their care.
What Does It Take for Women Journalists to Gain Professional Recognition?
Authors: Volz Yong Z. , Lee Francis L. F.
Published: April 2013

This article compares the characteristics of 814 female and male Pulitzer Prize winners from 1917 to 2010. Borrowing the “compensation model” from political science, this study shows that female winners were more likely to have a metropolitan upbringing, a journalism major, and a graduate degree. These differences manifest the logic of compensation: some forms of social capital can be important for female journalists to overcome gender disadvantage in competing for recognition. The compensational model, however, is historically contingent. In more recent years, women journalists no longer needed the compensational capital to boost their chances.
The Neuropsychology of Sex Offenders
Authors: Joyal Christian C. , Beaulieu-Plante Jolyane , de Chantérac Antoine
Published: April 2013

Typically, neuropsychological studies of sex offenders have grouped together different types of individuals and different types of measures. This is why results have tended to be nonspecific and divergent across studies. Against this background, the authors undertook a review of the literature regarding the neuropsychology of sex offenders, taking into account subgroups based on criminological theories. They also conducted a meta-analysis of the data to demonstrate the cognitive heterogeneity of sex offenders statistically. Their main objective was to test the hypothesis to the effect that the neuropsychological deficits of sex offenders are not broad and generalized compared with specific subgroups of participants based on specific measures. In all, 23 neuropsychological studies reporting data on 1,756 participants were taken into consideration. As expected, a highly significant, broad, and heterogeneous overall effect size was found. Taking subgroups of participants and specific cognitive measures into account significantly improved homogeneity. Sex offenders against children tended to obtain lower scores than did sex offenders against adults on higher order executive functions, whereas sex offenders against adults tended to obtain results similar to those of non-sex offenders, with lower scores in verbal fluency and inhibition. However, it is concluded that neuropsychological data on sex offenders are still too scarce to confirm these trends or to test more precise hypotheses. For greater clinical relevance, future neuropsychological studies should consider specific subgroups of participants and measures to verify the presence of different cognitive profiles.
The role of religious faith, spirituality and existential considerations among heart patients in a secular society: Relation to depressive symptoms 6 months post acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Bekke-Hansen Sidsel , Pedersen Christina G , Thygesen Kristian , Christensen Søren , Waelde Lynn C , Zachariae Robert
Published: April 2013

We explored the significance of religious faith/coping and spirituality and existential considerations reported during hospitalisation on depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up and addressed patients’ perceived influence of their faith among 97 consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients (72.2% male patients; mean age, 60.6 years) in a secular society. All faith variables were found unrelated to depressive symptoms. Having unambiguous religious or spiritual faith at follow-up was associated with a perceived positive influence of this faith on quality of life and the disease itself compared to patients with ambiguous faith. These findings underscore the importance of examining degrees of faith in secular settings.
Lexical insertions in Kabiye-Ewe codeswitching in Lome
Authors: Essizewa Komlan E
Published: April 2013

This article deals with contact phenomena between two languages of distinct branches of Niger-Congo in Lome, Togo. The contact between Kabiye and Ewe has manifested itself in terms of Ewe lexical insertions and borrowings in Kabiye. My study deals specifically with Ewe lexical insertions into Kabiye. The article highlights some aspects of Kabiye grammar, including tone (for marking tense and aspect in verbs), nouns and noun classes, adjectives and predicative adjectives with linking verbs, focus constructions, and serial verbs in the language. I find that, in areas where Kabiye and Ewe grammar are congruent, Ewe insertions are frequently used, with the insertions taking Kabiye morphology. But in areas where the two grammars diverge, insertions are infrequent and those that occur do not take Kabiye morphology.
The effects of selected improving methods on wrinkle resistance of warp knitted and laminated car seat cover fabrics
Authors: Deǧirmenci Züleyha , Çelik Nihat
Published: April 2013

This article investigates the effects of selected finishing methods on wrinkle resistance of laminated and non-laminated car seat cover fabrics. This study was carried out on five types of fabrics that have different properties. Apart from the reference fabric that is commonly manufactured in the automobile industry, four fabrics were produced using four different methods. All sample fabrics were knitted with a three-bar tricot machine at a conventional mill under the same conditions. As seat cover fabrics are generally laminated, sample fabrics were tested as laminated and non-laminated in order to investigate the effect of lamination. Samples were laminated with polyurethane and another warp knitted fabric that was knitted with a two-bar tricot machine and served as a lining. During the study, the wrinkle resistances of 10 laminated and non-laminated fabrics were measured at regular intervals. When the findings of the study were analyzed graphically and statistically, the method of using softening agent at foulard was found to be the most convenient one to produce high wrinkle resistant seat cover fabrics.
PARP1 is required for chromosomal translocations
Authors: Wray Justin , Williamson Elizabeth A. , Singh Sudha B. , Wu Yuehan , Cogle Christopher R. , Weinstock David M. , Zhang Yu , Lee Suk-Hee , Zhou Daohong , Shao Lijian , Hauer-Jensen Martin , Pathak Rupak , Klimek Virginia , Nickoloff Jac A. , Hromas Robert
Published: April 2013

Key Points

Chromosomal translocations are mediated by PARP1 and can be suppressed by the clinical PARP1 inhibitors.
SF3B1 mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Wan Youzhong , Wu Catherine J.
Published: April 2013

SF3B1 is a critical component of the splicing machinery, which catalyzes the removal of introns from precursor messenger RNA (mRNA). Next-generation sequencing studies have identified mutations in SF3B1 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at high frequency. In CLL, SF3B1 mutation is associated with more aggressive disease and shorter survival, and recent studies suggest that it can be incorporated into prognostic schema to improve the prediction of disease progression. Mutations in SF3B1 are predominantly subclonal genetic events in CLL, and hence are likely later events in the progression of CLL. Evidence of altered pre-mRNA splicing has been detected in CLL cases with SF3B1 mutations. Although the causative link between SF3B1 mutation and CLL pathogenesis remains unclear, several lines of evidence suggest SF3B1 mutation might be linked to genomic stability and epigenetic modification.
BioNLP Shared Task - The Bacteria Track
Authors: Bossy Robert , Jourde Julien , Manine Alain-Pierre , Veber Philippe , Alphonse Erick , van de Guchte Maarten , Bessières Philippe , Nédellec Claire
Published: April 2013

Background

We present the BioNLP 2011 Shared Task Bacteria Track, the first Information Extraction challenge entirely dedicated to bacteria. It includes three tasks that cover different levels of biological knowledge. The Bacteria Gene Renaming supporting task is aimed at extracting gene renaming and gene name synonymy in PubMed abstracts. The Bacteria Gene Interaction is a gene/protein interaction extraction task from individual sentences. The interactions have been categorized into ten different sub-types, thus giving a detailed account of genetic regulations at the molecular level. Finally, the Bacteria Biotopes task focuses on the localization and environment of bacteria mentioned in textbook articles.

We describe the process of creation for the three corpora, including document acquisition and manual annotation, as well as the metrics used to evaluate the participants' submissions.

Results

Three teams submitted to the Bacteria Gene Renaming task; the best team achieved an F-score of 87%. For the Bacteria Gene Interaction task, the only participant's score had reached a global F-score of 77%, although the system efficiency varies significantly from one sub-type to another. Three teams submitted to the Bacteria Biotopes task with very different approaches; the best team achieved an F-score of 45%. However, the detailed study of the participating systems efficiency reveals the strengths and weaknesses of each participating system.

Conclusions

The three tasks of the Bacteria Track offer participants a chance to address a wide range of issues in Information Extraction, including entity recognition, semantic typing and coreference resolution. We found commond trends in the most efficient systems: the systematic use of syntactic dependencies and machine learning. Nevertheless, the originality of the Bacteria Biotopes task encouraged the use of interesting novel methods and techniques, such as term compositionality, scopes wider than the sentence.
TypA is involved in virulence, antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Neidig Anke , Yeung Amy TY , Rosay Thibaut , Tettmann Beatrix , Strempel Nikola , Rueger Martina , Lesouhaitier Olivier , Overhage Joerg
Published: April 2013

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosais an important opportunistic human pathogen and is extremely difficult to treat due to its high intrinsic and adaptive antibiotic resistance, ability to form biofilms in chronic infections and broad arsenal of virulence factors, which are finely regulated. TypA is a GTPase that has recently been identified to modulate virulence in enteric Gram-negative pathogens.

Results

Here, we demonstrate that mutation oftypAinP. aeruginosaresulted in reduced virulence in phagocytic amoebae and human macrophage models of infection. In addition, thetypAmutant was attenuated in rapid cell attachment to surfaces and biofilm formation, and exhibited reduced antibiotic resistance to ß-lactam, tetracycline and antimicrobial peptide antibiotics. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed the down-regulation, in atypAmutant, of important virulence-related genes such as those involved in regulation and assembly of the Type III secretion system, consistent with the observed phenotypes and role in virulence ofP. aeruginosa.

Conclusions

These data suggest that TypA is a newly identified modulator of pathogenesis inP. aeruginosaand is involved in multiple virulence-related characteristics.
Anorexia nervosa is linked to reduced brain structure in reward and somatosensory regions: a meta-analysis of VBM studies
Authors: Titova Olga E , Hjorth Olof C , Schiöth Helgi B , Brooks Samantha J
Published: April 2013

Background

Structural imaging studies demonstrate brain tissue abnormalities in eating disorders, yet a quantitative analysis has not been done.

Methods

In global and regional meta-analyses of 9 voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies, with a total of 228 eating disorder participants (currently ill with anorexia nervosa), and 240 age-matched healthy controls, we compare brain volumes using global and regional analyses.

Results

Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients have global reductions in gray (effect size = −0.66) and white matter (effect size = −0.74) and increased cerebrospinal fluid (effect size = 0.98) and have regional decreases in left hypothalamus, left inferior parietal lobe, right lentiform nucleus and right caudate, and no significant increases. No significant difference in hemispheric lateralization was found.

Conclusions

Global and regional meta-analyses suggest that excessive restrained eating as found in those with anorexia nervosa coincides with structural brain changes analogous to clinical symptoms.
The relationship between self-rated health and objective health status: a population-based study
Authors: Wu Shunquan , Wang Rui , Zhao Yanfang , Ma Xiuqiang , Wu Meijing , Yan Xiaoyan , He Jia
Published: April 2013

Background

Self-rated health (SRH), a subjective assessment of health status, is extensively used in the public health field. However, whether SRH can reflect the objective health status is still debatable. We aim to reveal the relationship between SRH and objective health status in the general population.

Methods

We assessed the relationship between SRH and objective health status by examining the prevalence of diseases, laboratory parameters, and some health-related factors in different SRH groups. Data were collected from 18,000 residents randomly sampled from the general population in five cities of China (3,600 in each city). SRH was assessed by a single-item health measure with five options: “very good,” “good,” “fair,” “bad,” and “very bad.” The differences in prevalence of diseases, laboratory parameters, and health-related factors between the “healthy” (very good plus good), “relatively healthy” (fair), and “unhealthy” (bad plus very bad) groups were examined. The odds ratios (ORs) referenced by the healthy group were calculated using logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of all diseases was associated with poorer SRH. The tendency was more prominent in cardio-cerebral vascular diseases, visual impairment, and mental illnesses with larger ORs. Residents with abnormalities in laboratory parameters tended to have poorer SRH, with ORs ranging from 1.62 (for triglyceride) to 3.48 (for hemoglobin among men) in a comparison of the unhealthy and healthy groups. Most of the health-related factors regarded as risks were associated with poorer SRH. Among them, life and work pressure, poor spiritual status, and poor quality of interpersonal relationships were the most significant factors.

Conclusions

SRH is consistent with objective health status and can serve as a global measure of health status in the general population.
NF-kB overexpression and decreased immunoexpression of AR in the muscular layer is related to structural damages and apoptosis in cimetidine-treated rat vas deferens
Authors: Koshimizu Juliana Y , Beltrame Flávia L , de Pizzol José P , Cerri Paulo S , Caneguim Breno H , Sasso-Cerri Estela
Published: April 2013

Background

Cimetidine, histamine H2 receptors antagonist, has caused adverse effects on the male hormones and reproductive tract due to its antiandrogenic effect. In the testes, peritubular myoid cells and muscle vascular cells death has been associated to seminiferous tubules and testicular microvascularization damages, respectively. Either androgen or histamine H2 receptors have been detected in the mucosa and smooth muscular layer of vas deferens. Thus, the effect of cimetidine on this androgen and histamine-dependent muscular duct was morphologically evaluated.

Methods

The animals from cimetidine group (CMTG; n=5) received intraperitoneal injections of 100 mg/kg b.w. of cimetidine for 50 days; the control group (CG) received saline solution. The distal portions of vas deferens were fixed in formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Masson´s trichrome-stained sections were subjected to morphological and the following morphometrical analyzes: epithelial perimeter and area of the smooth muscular layer. TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling) method, NF-kB (nuclear factor kappa B) and AR (androgen receptors) immunohistochemical detection were also carried out. The birefringent collagen of the muscular layer was quantified in picrosirius red-stained sections under polarized light. The muscular layer was also evaluated under Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

Results

In CMTG, the mucosa of vas deferens was intensely folded; the epithelial cells showed numerous pyknotic nuclei and the epithelial perimeter and the area of the muscular layer decreased significantly. Numerous TUNEL-labeled nuclei were found either in the epithelial cells, mainly basal cells, or in the smooth muscle cells which also showed typical features of apoptosis under TEM. While an enhanced NF-kB immunoexpression was found in the cytoplasm of muscle cells, a weak AR immunolabeling was detected in these cells. In CMTG, no significant difference was observed in the birefringent collagen content of the muscular layer in comparison to CG.

Conclusions

Cimetidine induces significant damages in the epithelium; a possible antiandrogenic effect on the basal cells turnover should be considered. The cimetidine-induced muscle cells apoptosis confirms the susceptibility of these cells to this drug. The parallelism between enhanced cytoplasmic NF-kB immunolabeling in the damaged muscular tissue and muscle cell apoptosis suggests that this drug may avoid the translocation of NF-kB to the nucleus and interfere in the control of NF-kB-mediated smooth muscle cell apoptosis. The decreased immunoexpression of ARs verified in the damaged muscular tissue reinforces this possibility.
Sulfonamide antibiotic reduction in aquatic environment by application of fenton oxidation process
Authors: Dehghani Somayyeh , Jonidi Jafari Ahmad , Farzadkia Mahdi , Gholami Mitra
Published: April 2013

Presence of antibiotics in the environment may cause potential risk for aquatic environment and organisms. In this research, Fenton oxidation process was offered as an effective method for removal of antibiotic sulfamethoxazole from aqueous solutions. The experiments were performed on laboratory-scale study under complete mixing at 25±2°C. The effects of initial antibiotic concentration, molar ratio of H2O2/Fe+2, solution pH, concentration of H2O2, Fe+2 and reaction time was studied on the oxidation of sulfamethoxazole in three level. The results indicated that the optimal parameters for Fenton process were as follows: molar ratio of [H2O2]/[Fe+2] = 1.5, pH= 4.5, and contact time= 15 min. In this situation, the antibiotic removal and COD reduction were achieved 99.99% and 64.7-70.67%, respectively. Although, Fenton reaction could effectively degrade antibiotic sulfamethoxazole under optimum experimental conditions, however, the rate of mineralization was not completed. This process can be considered to eliminate other refractory antibiotics with similar structure or to increase their biodegradability.
Endogenous mammalian histone H3.3 exhibits chromatin-related functions during development
Authors: Bush Kelly M , Yuen Benjamin TK , Barrilleaux Bonnie L , Riggs John W , O’Geen Henriette , Cotterman Rebecca F , Knoepfler Paul S
Published: April 2013

Background

The histone variant H3.3 plays key roles in regulating chromatin states and transcription. However, the role of endogenous H3.3 in mammalian cells and during development has been less thoroughly investigated. To address this gap, we report the production and phenotypic analysis of mice and cells with targeted disruption of the H3.3-encoding gene, H3f3b.

Results

H3f3b knockout (KO) mice exhibit a semilethal phenotype traceable at least in part to defective cell division and chromosome segregation. H3f3b KO cells have widespread ectopic CENP-A protein localization suggesting one possible mechanism for defective chromosome segregation. KO cells have abnormal karyotypes and cell cycle profiles as well. The transcriptome and euchromatin-related epigenome were moderately affected by loss of H3f3b in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with ontology most notably pointing to changes in chromatin regulatory and histone coding genes. Reduced numbers of H3f3b KO mice survive to maturity and almost all survivors from both sexes are infertile.

Conclusions

Taken together, our studies suggest that endogenous mammalian histone H3.3 has important roles in regulating chromatin and chromosome functions that in turn are important for cell division, genome integrity, and development.
Polymorphism of ZBTB17 gene is associated with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a case control study in a Han Chinese population
Authors: Li Xiaoping , Luo Rong , Mo Xiaoyang , Jiang Rongjian , Kong Hong , Hua Wei , Wu Xiushan
Published: April 2013

Background

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been extensively investigated for many years, but its pathogenesis remains uncertain. The ACTC1 gene was the first sarcomeric gene whose mutation was shown to cause DCM; recent studies have indicated that the HSPB7 and ZBTB17 genes are also associated with DCM. To assess the potential role of these three genes in DCM, we examined 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ZBTB17, HSPB7 and ACTC1 genes: namely, rs10927875 in ZBTB17; rs1739843, rs7523558, and rs6660685 in HSPB7; rs533021, rs589759, rs1370154, rs2070664, rs3759834, rs525720 and rs670957 in ACTC1.

Methods

A total of 97 DCM patients and 189 controls were included in the study. All SNPs were genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

Results

The genotype of SNP rs10927875 in ZBTB17 (OR=5.19, 95% CI =1.00 to 27.03, P=0.05) was associated with DCM in a Han Chinese population. There was no difference in genotype or allele frequencies in ACTC1 or HSPB7 between DCM patients and control subjects.

Conclusion

The ZBTB17 polymorphism rs10927875 appears to play a role in the susceptibility of the Han Chinese population to DCM.