bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing Tensions Between Evaluation and Research
Authors: Rey Lynda , Tremblay Marie-Claude , Brousselle Astrid
Published: October 2013

Developmental evaluation (DE), essentially conceptualized by Patton over the past 30 years, is a promising evaluative approach intended to support social innovation and the deployment of complex interventions. Its use is often justified by the complex nature of the interventions being evaluated and the need to produce useful results in real time. Despite its potential advantages, DE appears not to have been very widely used in research. The authors of this article decided to use this emergent approach in two evaluative research projects in health promotion. This article, coming out of their experiences, aims to assess the appropriateness of DE in research and describes issues related to its use. First, DE is presented, along with the potential advantages of its use in research. This is followed by a discussion of tensions related its application encountered in two studies carried out by the authors. The key issues are related to the links between academic and evaluative objectives, the dual role of researcher and consultant, and the temporality of the process. Finally, weighing the advantages of DE against its challenges, the authors conclude with a diagnosis regarding the application of this approach in research.
Mixed-elastohydrodynamic analysis of helical gears using load-sharing concept
Authors: Ebrahimi Serest Abolfazl , Akbarzadeh Saleh
Published: October 2013

Helical gears are widely used in power transmission systems, and hence any improvement in their design and also the ability to predict their performance is of great importance. The key issues related to gears are their film thickness, which represents the lubricant ability to protect the surfaces from wear, and friction coefficient, which reflects the power loss. Since the pinion and gear mesh is usually under mixed-elastohydrodynamic lubrication, the effect of asperities should also be considered. The goal of this research is to present a model for predicting the performance of helical gears with consideration of surface roughness. Initially, the pinion and gear engagement analysis is performed considering non-uniform load distribution on gear’s tooth. In this model, each of the contact points on the gear flank is replaced with two cylinders, and lubrication analysis will be executed on these cylinders. The load-sharing concept has been employed to account for lubricant and surface roughness contribution in carrying the applied load. The predicted results are compared to other published data, and an acceptable agreement is seen. Acceptable accuracy, short execution time, and consideration of surface roughness are among the features of this model. It is shown that increasing the applied load results in an increase in the portion of the load that is carried by asperities as well as the friction coefficient.
Physical activity of underweight, normal weight and overweight Polish adolescents
Authors: Kantanista Adam , Osiński Wiesław , Bronikowski Michał , Tomczak Maciej
Published: October 2013

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships of classmate and teacher support during physical education (PE) lessons on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of 14–16 year-old students whom were underweight, normal weight and overweight. The cross-sectional sample for the study concerned data from 1702 girls and 1547 boys, recruited from 12 junior high schools in Poznan, Poland. Based on their body mass index (BMI) values, the participants were assigned to weight categories: underweight, normal weight and overweight. We determined the levels of physical activity, and teacher and classmate support, by means of a questionnaire-based survey. The 3-way interaction effect of gender, weight and support from teachers was statistically significant ( p ≤ .05); the 3-way interaction effect of gender, weight status and support from classmates approached significance ( p = .0526). This research concluded that supporting students during the PE process may play an important role in determining one’s level of physical activity.
Verbal fluency in children with autism spectrum disorders: Clustering and switching strategies
Authors: Begeer Sander , Wierda Marlies , Scheeren Anke M , Teunisse Jan-Pieter , Koot Hans M , Geurts Hilde M
Published: October 2013

This study highlights differences in cognitive strategies in children and adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorders ( n = 52) on a verbal fluency task (naming as many words as possible (e.g. animals) within 60 s). The ability to form clusters of words (e.g. farm animals like “cow–horse–goat”) or to switch between unrelated words (e.g. “snake” and “cat”) was analyzed using a coding method that more stringently differentiates between these strategies. Results indicated that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders switched less frequently, but produced slightly larger clusters than the comparison group, resulting in equal numbers of total words produced. The currently used measures of cognitive flexibility suggest atypical, but possibly equally efficient, fluency styles used by individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Drowning risk perceptions among rural guardians of Thailand
Authors: Laosee Orapin , Khiewyoo Jiraporn , Somrongthong Ratana
Published: October 2013

Drowning is one of the most common causes of death among young children in Thailand. Children in primary school in rural settings have a high rate of fatal drowning. Guardians’ perceptions are important since children are normally in their care. This study aims to describe drowning risk perceptions of guardians and to identify barriers to developing a child’s swimming skills. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among guardians of children who attended 12 schools serving 48 villages in a rural community. The results revealed that less than one-fifth (18%) of children in the household could swim. Guardians reported that children should learn to swim at the age of seven years. About one-quarter (23%) of guardians did not perceive drowning as the leading cause of death among children. More than a quarter (25.4%) perceived that their child was not at the risk of drowning. No statistical differences were reported on drowning perception among guardians with different swimming skills as well as child’s swimming skill. Significantly more parents of children who could not swim perceived lack of swimming instructors, clean water and school swimming lessons as barriers to a child’s acquisition of swimming skill. The results highlight the need to consider improving the infrastructure in rural areas to facilitate swimming skills for school children to reduce drowning risk.
Unintentional injuries in child care centers in the United States
Authors: Hashikawa Andrew N , Newton Manya F , Cunningham Rebecca M , Stevens Martha W
Published: October 2013

The study systematically reviewed all types of unintentional injury and injury prevention research studies occurring within child care centers in the United States. A total of 2 reviewers searched 11 electronic databases to identify 53 articles meeting inclusion criteria. No studies used trauma registries or randomized control trials. Data were not pooled for further analysis because studies lacked standardized definitions for injury, rates, severity, exposure, and demographics. The following child care center injury rates were reported: (0.25–5.31 injuries per 100,000 child-hours); (11.3–18 injuries per 100 children per year); (6–49 injuries per 1000 child-years); (2.5–8.29 injuries per child-year); (2.6–3.3 injuries per child); (3.3–6.3 injuries per 100 observations); (635–835 medically attended injuries per year per 100,000 children and 271–364 child care center playground injuries per year per 100,000 children); and (3.8 injuries per child per 2000 exposure hours). Child care center injury rates were comparable to injury rates published for schools, playground, and summer camp. Most injuries were minor, while most severe injuries (fractures and concussions) were falls from playground structures. Future studies need to use standardized injury definitions and injury severity scales, focus efforts on preventing severe playground injuries in child care centers, and report child care parameters for inclusion in national injury databases.
Communicating the right emotion makes violence seem less wrong: Power-congruent emotions lead outsiders to legitimize violence of powerless and powerful groups in intractable conflict
Authors: Kamans Elanor , van Zomeren Martijn , Gordijn Ernestine H. , Postmes Tom
Published: October 2013

In intractable intergroup conflicts, groups often try to frame intergroup violence as legitimate through the use of emotional appeals. Two experiments demonstrate that outsiders’ perception of which emotion conflict parties communicate influences the extent to which they legitimize their violence. Results show that although outsiders typically give more leeway to powerless groups because of their “underdog” status, communicating power-congruent emotions qualifies this effect; observers legitimize intergroup violence most when powerless groups communicate fear and when powerful groups communicate anger. This is because fear communicates that the group is a victim that cannot be blamed for their violence, whereas anger communicates that the group is wronged and thus their violence seems righteous and moral. Results further show that sympathy for the powerless appears to be a more fragile basis for legitimization of violence than the moral high ground for the powerful. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Multilevel representation in the European Parliament
Authors: Lefkofridi Zoe , Katsanidou Alexia
Published: October 2013

Congruence in the European Parliament has been analyzed in terms of agreement between voters and national candidates/parties. The question whether voters and Europarties are congruent on major dimensions of contestation (left-right and European Union) remains unanswered. Acknowledging the ‘split-level’ structure of preference aggregation in the European Parliament, we theorize the interrelationships between these levels. Our model incorporates a typically neglected factor: the interplay between national parties and Europarties. We establish that voter–Europarty congruence is different from, and determined by, voter–national party congruence; moreover, national party–Europarty congruence moderates this relationship. Our findings shed new light on the quality of representation in the European Parliament and have key implications for understanding transnational democracy in the European Union.
Stepparenting issues and relationship quality: The role of clear communication
Authors: Pace Garrett T , Shafer Kevin , Jensen Todd M , Larson Jeffry H
Published: October 2013

Using data from a sample of RELATE (the RELATionship Evaluation Survey) respondents in stepfamilies (N = 560), this study examined the association between relationship quality (satisfaction and stability) and stepparenting issues. Although stepparenting issues can negatively impact romantic partners in stepfamilies, we suggest that high-quality communication may be a protective factor for individuals and couples stressed by their relationship with a nonbiological child.

Findings

Our results show that stepparenting issues are negatively associated with satisfaction and stability, but is partially mediated by clear-sending communication. Further, this mediation is stronger for women when considering satisfaction and for men when considering stability.

Applications

Our results show that stepparenting issues can be a strong sense of discord among romantic couples. Yet, they also indicate that clear-sending communication in relationships can substantially reduce the negative association of these issues with relationship quality. This finding suggests that therapeutic models that focus on emotionally focused couples therapy, structural family therapy, or address issues within the family system may be best for addressing common problems in stepfamilies.
The rhetoric of managed contagion
Authors: Miles Chris
Published: October 2013

This article investigates the ramifications of the epidemiological metaphor at the centre of viral marketing. In particular, it explores the tension that exists between the presentation of the viral marketing message as an independent, quasi-organic entity with a threatening, wild potential and the apparently contradictory assertion that it can also be ‘domesticated’ through careful management of its design parameters and infection vectors. The influence of both memetics and the tipping point motif on this depiction is discussed, and the article considers the persuasive advantages of implications of message agency in the marketing of viral marketing itself. This article is the first study of the root metaphors underlying the discourse of viral marketing and serves to contextualise that discourse within the historical influence of memetic theory and the early literature on word-of-mouth marketing, and the more general relationship that marketing continues to have with issues of control.
The performance of solar bottle bulbs at different interior exposure levels
Authors: Wang C , How VL , Abdul-Rahman H
Published: October 2013

Different sizes and arrangements of solar bottle bulbs might greatly affect the lighting delivered and there is no general agreement on the best interior bottle exposure levels. This study was undertaken to examine the lighting performance of three prototype solar bottle bulbs and to compare their performance at three different interior bottle exposure levels: one-third, half and two-thirds. A solar bottle bulb made of one 1.5 litre bottle proved to be better than a solar bottle bulb made of three 0.5 litre bottles. In terms of interior bottle exposure levels, the half level performed the best. Some inexplicable phenomena were also observed with recommendations for further study.
Establishing Commonality Versus Affirming Distinctiveness
Authors: Locke Kenneth D. , Zheng Dianhan , Smith Juliane
Published: October 2013

We predicted that members of Chinese groups would tend to express personality judgments that establish commonalities among members, whereas members of American groups would tend to express judgments that affirm how members differ. We had groups of five acquaintances (23 groups at one U.S. university, 28 groups at three Chinese universities) rate their own and each other’s traits and subjected the round-robin data to social relations model and social accuracy model analyses. As hypothesized, Chinese were more likely to portray their peers as similar to themselves and to each other as indicated by greater perceived self-other similarity and less variance in target ratings; conversely, Americans were more likely to express a shared understanding of what distinguished each group member from others, as indicated by greater distinctive agreement and target variance (consensus). Collectivistic values mediated effects of country on perceived similarity; individualistic values mediated effects of country on consensus and perceived similarity.
Recent and Frequent Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Is Associated With Diminished Implicit and Explicit Aversion Toward Self-Cutting Stimuli
Authors: Franklin Joseph C. , Lee Kent M. , Puzia Megan E. , Prinstein Mitchell J.
Published: October 2013

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that an instinctive barrier to nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)—the aversion to self-cutting stimuli—is diminished in people who engage in NSSI. In a sample of 86 noninjurers and 58 people with a history of self-cutting, we found that NSSI was associated with substantially reduced aversion to self-cutting stimuli across measures of both implicit ( d = 0.61) and explicit ( d = 0.93) affect even after controlling for emotion reactivity and dysregulation. This diminished aversion primarily applied to individuals who had engaged in NSSI within the past year or who had 10 or more lifetime episodes of self-cutting ( ds = 0.87–1.23). Implicit identification with NSSI also significantly distinguished between groups ( d = 0.67) but was not correlated with affective measures or NSSI recency/frequency. Although previous work has shown that the affective benefits of NSSI are natural and universal, these findings suggest that diminished instinctive barriers to NSSI may be specific NSSI risk factors that can be targeted in novel interventions.
L'impossible archéologie de la mémoire: à propos de W ou le souvenir d'enfance de Georges Perec
Authors: Olivier Laurent
Published: October 2013

Pendant les deux dernières décades, Georges Perec, qui est mort dans les quarantaines, est devenu un des écrivains contemporains français le plus influent. Son travail se concentre le plus souvent sur l'exploration de la mémoire par l'analyse de ses restes: textes, photos et mémoires. Cette approche littéraire procure aux archéologues des perspectives stimulantes et originelles pour l'interprétation des restes du passé ainsi que pour l'archéologie du passé proche. Dans cet article, je désire examiner les principales implications pour la pratique d'archéologique du chefd'œuvre de Perec – W ou le souvenir d'enfance. Je cherche à considérer comment Perec arrive à bouleverser notre compréhension traditionnelle de l'évidence des histoires et milieux du passé.
Solid-state intercalation of cationic surfactants into Tunisian smectites
Authors: Gamoudi S. , Frini-Srasra N. , Srasra E.
Published: October 2013

Intercalation of cationic surfactants hexadecylpyridinium (HDPy+) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA+) into the interlayer space of homoionic (Na-, Ca- and Zn-) smectites by solid-solid reactions was investigated. These reactions were complete within 15 min. Changes in the surface and structure of the smectites modified with different surfactants were characterized using XRD, FTIR and DSC. The intercalation of surfactant is controlled by the exchangeable cation of smectite and monofunctional ammonium cation type. HDPy+ and HDTMA+ surfactants were retained by Zn-exchanged smectite, suggesting important surface properties (CEC = 80 meq/100 g clay, SBET = 116.5 m2/g) and acid-base properties (point of zero proton charge PZC, density charge σH). HDPy cation loading was effective, suggesting that the aromatic polar group is favoured for intercalation. Comparing with original clay, modification with surfactants increased the basal spacings d001. Based on the d001 spacing of modified smectites, different configurations of surfactants within smectite interlayer were proposed as a function of surfactant concentration, which were examined by FTIR and DSC.
A phase 2 trial of azacitidine and gemtuzumab ozogamicin therapy in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Nand Sucha , Othus Megan , Godwin John E. , Willman Cheryl L. , Norwood Thomas H. , Howard Dianna S. , Coutre Steven E. , Erba Harry P. , Appelbaum Frederick R.
Published: October 2013

Key Points

The results met predefined goals in poor-risk older patients with non-M3 AML. The results in good-risk patients are comparable to those with chemotherapy-based regimens, with a better safety profile.
The red ear syndrome
Authors: Lambru Giorgio , Miller Sarah , Matharu Manjit S
Published: October 2013

Red Ear Syndrome (RES) is a very rare disorder, with approximately 100 published cases in the medical literature. Red ear (RE) episodes are characterised by unilateral or bilateral attacks of paroxysmal burning sensations and reddening of the external ear. The duration of these episodes ranges from a few seconds to several hours. The attacks occur with a frequency ranging from several a day to a few per year. Episodes can occur spontaneously or be triggered, most frequently by rubbing or touching the ear, heat or cold, chewing, brushing of the hair, neck movements or exertion. Early-onset idiopathic RES seems to be associated with migraine, whereas late-onset idiopathic forms have been reported in association with trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs). Secondary forms of RES occur with upper cervical spine disorders or temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction. RES is regarded refractory to medical treatments, although some migraine preventative treatments have shown moderate benefit mainly in patients with migraine-related attacks. The pathophysiology of RES is still unclear but several hypotheses involving peripheral or central nervous system mechanisms have been proposed.
Unsupervised automated high throughput phenotyping of RNAi time-lapse movies
Authors: Failmezger Henrik , Fröhlich Holger , Tresch Achim
Published: October 2013

Background

Gene perturbation experiments in combination with fluorescence time-lapse cell imaging are a powerful tool in reverse genetics. High content applications require tools for the automated processing of the large amounts of data. These tools include in general several image processing steps, the extraction of morphological descriptors, and the grouping of cells into phenotype classes according to their descriptors. This phenotyping can be applied in a supervised or an unsupervised manner. Unsupervised methods are suitable for the discovery of formerly unknown phenotypes, which are expected to occur in high-throughput RNAi time-lapse screens.

Results

We developed an unsupervised phenotyping approach based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) with multivariate Gaussian emissions for the detection of knockdown-specific phenotypes in RNAi time-lapse movies. The automated detection of abnormal cell morphologies allows us to assign a phenotypic fingerprint to each gene knockdown. By applying our method to the Mitocheck database, we show that a phenotypic fingerprint is indicative of a gene’s function.

Conclusion

Our fully unsupervised HMM-based phenotyping is able to automatically identify cell morphologies that are specific for a certain knockdown. Beyond the identification of genes whose knockdown affects cell morphology, phenotypic fingerprints can be used to find modules of functionally related genes.
Flanking sequence context-dependent transcription factor binding in early Drosophila development
Authors: Stringham Jessica L , Brown Adam S , Drewell Robert A , Dresch Jacqueline M
Published: October 2013

Background

Gene expression in the Drosophila embryo is controlled by functional interactions between a large network of protein transcription factors (TFs) and specific sequences in DNA cis-regulatory modules (CRMs). The binding site sequences for any TF can be experimentally determined and represented in a position weight matrix (PWM). PWMs can then be used to predict the location of TF binding sites in other regions of the genome, although there are limitations to this approach as currently implemented.

Results

In this proof-of-principle study, we analyze 127 CRMs and focus on four TFs that control transcription of target genes along the anterio-posterior axis of the embryo early in development. For all four of these TFs, there is some degree of conserved flanking sequence that extends beyond the predicted binding regions. A potential role for these conserved flanking sequences may be to enhance the specificity of TF binding, as the abundance of these sequences is greatly diminished when we examine only predicted high-affinity binding sites.

Conclusions

Expanding PWMs to include sequence context-dependence will increase the information content in PWMs and facilitate a more efficient functional identification and dissection of CRMs.
Experimental evidence for asymmetric mate preference and aggression: behavioral interactions in a woodrat (Neotoma) hybrid zone
Authors: Shurtliff Quinn R , Murphy Peter J , Yeiter Jaclyn D , Matocq Marjorie D
Published: October 2013

Background

Female mate preferences may be under strong selection in zones of contact between closely related species because of greater variation in available mates and the potential costs of hybridization. We studied female mate preferences experimentally in a zone of secondary contact between Desert and Bryant’s Woodrat (Neotoma lepidaandN. bryanti) in the southern foothills of the Sierra Nevada of California. We tested female preference for conspecific versus heterospecific males in paired choice trials in which females could interact freely with males, but males could not interact directly with each other. We compared preferences of females from both allopatric and sympatric sites.

Results

We did not find evidence of the process of reinforcement as assortative preferences were not stronger in sympatry than in allopatry. Mate preferences, however, were asymmetric, withN. lepidafemales mating preferentially with conspecifics andN. bryantifemales showing no preference by species. Sympatric females were less likely to mate than allopatric females, due in part to an increase in aggressive interactions. However, even in the absence of aggression, courtship led to mating less often in sympatric females, suggesting they were choosier or had lower sexual motivation than allopatric females.

Conclusions

Patterns of mate choice in this woodrat system appear to be strongly impacted by body size and aggressive behavior. In particular, females of the smaller-bodied species rarely interact with the relatively large heterospecific males. In contrast females of the larger-bodied species accept the relatively small heterospecific males. For sympatric animals, rates of aggression were markedly higher than for allopatric animals and reduced affiliative and reproductive behavior in our trials. Sympatric animals are larger and more aggressive, traits that are likely under strong ecological selection across the sharp resource gradient that characterizes the contact zone. However, our results suggest that these traits that are likely favored in competitive interactions between the species also impact reproductive interactions. Combined with our previous findings of post-zygotic isolation in this system, this study suggests that multiple isolating mechanisms contribute to the rate of genetic exchange between these species when they come into contact, and that these mechanisms are the result of selection on traits that are important in a range of ecological and reproductive interactions.
InsertionMapper: a pipeline tool for the identification of targeted sequences from multidimensional high throughput sequencing data
Authors: Xiong Wenwei , He Limei , Li Yubin , Dooner Hugo K , Du Chunguang
Published: October 2013

Background

The advent of next-generation high-throughput technologies has revolutionized whole genome sequencing, yet some experiments require sequencing only of targeted regions of the genome from a very large number of samples. These regions can be amplified by PCR and sequenced by next-generation methods using a multidimensional pooling strategy. However, there is at present no available generalized tool for the computational analysis of target-enriched NGS data from multidimensional pools.

Results

Here we present InsertionMapper, a pipeline tool for the identification of targeted sequences from multidimensional high throughput sequencing data. InsertionMapper consists of four independently working modules: Data Preprocessing, Database Modeling, Dimension Deconvolution and Element Mapping. We illustrate InsertionMapper with an example from our project 'New reverse genetics resources for maize’, which aims to sequence-index a collection of 15,000 independent insertion sites of the transposon Ds in maize. Identified sequences are validated by PCR assays. This pipeline tool is applicable to similar scenarios requiring analysis of the tremendous output of short reads produced in NGS sequencing experiments of targeted genome sequences.

Conclusions

InsertionMapper is proven efficacious for the identification of target-enriched sequences from multidimensional high throughput sequencing data. With adjustable parameters and experiment configurations, this tool can save great computational effort to biologists interested in identifying their sequences of interest within the huge output of modern DNA sequencers. InsertionMapper is freely accessible at https://sourceforge.net/p/insertionmapper and http://bo.csam.montclair.edu/du/insertionmapper.
Differential adaptation to multi-stressed conditions of wine fermentation revealed by variations in yeast regulatory networks
Authors: Brion Christian , Ambroset Chloé , Sanchez Isabelle , Legras Jean-Luc , Blondin Bruno
Published: October 2013

Background

Variation of gene expression can lead to phenotypic variation and have therefore been assumed to contribute the diversity of wine yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) properties. However, the molecular bases of this variation of gene expression are unknown. We addressed these questions by carrying out an integrated genetical-genomic study in fermentation conditions. We report here quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping based on expression profiling in a segregating population generated by a cross between a derivative of the popular wine strain EC1118 and the laboratory strain S288c.

Results

Most of the fermentation traits studied appeared to be under multi-allelic control. We mapped five phenotypic QTLs and 1465 expression QTLs. Several expression QTLs overlapped in hotspots. Among the linkages unraveled here, several were associated with metabolic processes essential for wine fermentation such as glucose sensing or nitrogen and vitamin metabolism. Variations affecting the regulation of drug detoxification and export (TPO1, PDR12 or QDR2) were linked to variation in four genes encoding transcription factors (PDR8, WAR1, YRR1 and HAP1). We demonstrated that the allelic variation of WAR1 and TPO1 affected sorbic and octanoic acid resistance, respectively. Moreover, analysis of the transcription factors phylogeny suggests they evolved with a specific adaptation of the strains to wine fermentation conditions. Unexpectedly, we found that the variation of fermentation rates was associated with a partial disomy of chromosome 16. This disomy resulted from the well known 8–16 translocation.

Conclusions

This large data set made it possible to decipher the effects of genetic variation on gene expression during fermentation and certain wine fermentation properties. Our findings shed a new light on the adaptation mechanisms required by yeast to cope with the multiple stresses generated by wine fermentation. In this context, the detoxification and export systems appear to be of particular importance, probably due to nitrogen starvation. Furthermore, we show that the well characterized 8–16 translocation located in SSU1, which is associated with sulfite resistance, can lead to a partial chromosomic amplification in the progeny of strains that carry it, greatly improving fermentation kinetics. This amplification has been detected among other wine yeasts.
Down-regulation of microglial activity attenuates axotomized nigral dopaminergic neuronal cell loss
Authors: Song Dae-Yong , Yu Ha-Nul , Park Chae-Ri , Lee Jin-Sook , Lee Ji-Yong , Park Byung-Gu , Woo Ran-Sook , Han Jung-Tae , Cho Byung-Pil , Baik Tai-Kyoung
Published: October 2013

Background

There is growing evidence that inflammatory processes of activated microglia could play an important role in the progression of nerve cell damage in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease which harbor features of chronic microglial activation, though the precise mechanism is unknown. In this study, we presented in vivo and ex vivo experimental evidences indicating that activated microglia could exacerbate the survival of axotomized dopaminergic neurons and that appropriate inactivation of microglia could be neuroprotective.

Results

The transection of medial forebrain bundle (MFB) of a rat induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in a time-dependent manner and accompanied with microglial activation. Along with microglial activation, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was upregulated and TH/OX6/hydroethidine triple-immunofluorescence showed that the microglia mainly produced ROS. When the activated microglial cells that were isolated from the substantia nigra of the MFB axotomized animal, were transplanted into the substantia nigra of which MFB had been transected at 7 days ago, the survival rate of axotomized dopaminergic neurons was significantly reduced as compared with sham control. Meanwhile, when the microglial activation was attenuated by administration of tuftsin fragment 1-3 (microglia inhibitory factor) into the lateral ventricle using mini-osmotic pump, the survival rate of axotomized dopaminergic neurons was increased.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that activated microglia could actively produce and secrete unfavorable toxic substances, such as ROS, which could accelerate dopaminergic neuronal cell loss. So, well-controlled blockade of microglial activation might be neuroprotective in some neuropathological conditions.
Assessment of the caudate nucleus and its relation to route learning in both congenital and late blind individuals
Authors: Voss Patrice , Fortin Madeleine , Corbo Vincent , Pruessner Jens C , Lepore Franco
Published: October 2013

Background

In the absence of visual input, the question arises as to how complex spatial abilities develop and how the brain adapts to the absence of this modality. As such, the aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between visual status and an important brain structure with a well established role in spatial cognition and navigation, the caudate nucleus. We conducted a volumetric analysis of the caudate nucleus in congenitally and late blind individuals, as well as in matched sighted control subjects.

Results

No differences in the volume of the structure were found either between congenitally blind (CB) and matched sighted controls or between late blind (LB) and matched sighted controls. Moreover, contrary to what was expected, no significant correlation was found between caudate volume and performance in a spatial navigation task. Finally, consistent with previously published reports, the volume of the caudate nucleus was found to be negatively correlated with age in the sighted; however such correlations were not significant in the blind groups.

Conclusion

Although there were no group differences, the absence of an age-volume correlation in the blind suggests that visual deprivation may still have an effect on the developmental changes that occur in the caudate nucleus.
Listening in on difficult conversations: an observational, multi-center investigation of real-time conversations in medical oncology
Authors: Kimball Brittany C , James Katherine M , Yost Kathleen J , Fernandez Cara A , Kumbamu Ashok , Leppin Aaron L , Robinson Marguerite E , Geller Gail , Roter Debra L , Larson Susan M , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Garcia Agustin A , Braddock Clarence H , Jatoi Aminah , de Nuncio María Luisa Zúñiga , Montori Victor M , Koenig Barbara A , Tilburt Jon C
Published: October 2013

Background

The quality of communication in medical care has been shown to influence health outcomes. Cancer patients, a highly diverse population, communicate with their clinical care team in diverse ways over the course of their care trajectory. Whether that communication happens and how effective it is may relate to a variety of factors including the type of cancer and the patient’s position on the cancer care continuum. Yet, many of the routine needs of cancer patients after initial cancer treatment are often not addressed adequately. Our goal is to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in cancer communication by investigating real-time cancer consultations in a cross section of patient-clinician interactions at diverse study sites.

Methods/design

In this paper we describe the rationale and approach for an ongoing observational study involving three institutions that will utilize quantitative and qualitative methods and employ a short-term longitudinal, prospective follow-up component to investigate decision-making, key topics, and clinician-patient-companion communication dynamics in clinical oncology.

Discussion

Through a comprehensive, real-time approach, we hope to provide the fundamental groundwork from which to promote improved patient-centered communication in cancer care.
Mental state deterioration after switching from brand-name to generic olanzapine in an adolescent with bipolar affective disorder, autism and intellectual disability: a case study
Authors: Samuel Rani , Attard Azizah , Kyriakopoulos Marinos
Published: October 2013

Background

The appropriateness of use of generic instead of brand-name medication remains unresolved and controversial in several areas of medicine. Some evidence suggestive of variations in bioavailability and clinical effectiveness between different formulations make policy decisions occasionally difficult. The use of generic olanzapine is a widely acceptable practice on the basis of quality, safety and efficacy data and has been adopted in several countries.

Case presentation

The case of a 14 year old boy with bipolar affective disorder, autism and intellectual disability who had brand-name to generic olanzapine switch associated with rapid deterioration of his mental state is described. This clinical change was not related to any physical illness or other medication adjustment and resolved as rapidly when generic olanzapine was switched back to the brand-name formulation.

Conclusions

Caution should be exercised when policy for switching from brand-name to generic psychotropic medications are made, especially when using medications off label, in extremes of age and in those patients with co-morbid complicating factors such as intellectual disability.
Obesity prevalence and unfavorable health risk behaviors among German kindergarten teachers: cross-sectional results of the kindergarten teacher health study
Authors: Hoffmann Sascha W , Tug Suzan , Simon Perikles
Published: October 2013

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate obesity status and associated health risk behaviors in a sample of German kindergarten teachers. At present, such data are not available, despite the fact that kindergarten teachers educate children at a formative time in their lives.

Methods

Kindergarten teachers aged 18–62 years (n = 313) were invited to participate in the Kindergarten Teacher Health Study (KTHS) by completing a self-reported questionnaire. We analyzed their obesity status, health risk behaviors (i.e., habitual physical activity, screen time activities, eating behavior patterns, smoking), and their general ability to identify overweight children and the associated health risks of overweight and obesity based on special age- and sex-specific silhouettes. After adjusting for covariates, bivariate correlations were conducted for associations between body mass index (BMI) and health risk behaviors, while analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to analyze differences of health risk behaviors between BMI groups. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict determinants of kindergarten teachers who did not correctly identify the overweight silhouettes and their associated physical and mental health risks. Additionally, data regarding kindergarten teachers’ weight status and smoking behavior were compared with nationally representative data from the 2009 Microcensus (n = 371310) using the Mann–Whitney U-test.

Results

The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 41.2% and 17.9%, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in kindergarten teachers (p < 0.001) compared to national Microcensus data. Only 44.6% of teachers were able to identify overweight children correctly. The fact that being overweight is associated with physical and mental health risks was only reported by 40.1% and 21.2% of teachers, respectively. Older kindergarten teachers were more likely to misclassify the overweight silhouettes, while younger, normal-weight, and overweight kindergarten teachers were more likely to underestimate the associated health risks. Obese kindergarten teachers reported spending more time in front of computer and television screens than their normal-weight counterparts, especially on weekends. In addition, obese kindergarten teachers reported eating less often with their families and more frequently reported watching television during meals.

Conclusions

Advanced monitoring and multifaceted interventions to improve the health behaviors of kindergarten teachers should be given high priority. Because kindergarten teachers’ behavioral modeling presumably mediates children’s health behaviors, additional research is needed about kindergarten teachers’ health and its proposed interaction with children’s health.
Directional cloning of DNA fragments using deoxyinosine-containing oligonucleotides and endonuclease V
Authors: Baumann Tobias , Arndt Katja M , Müller Kristian M
Published: October 2013

Background

DNA fragments carrying internal recognition sites for the restriction endonucleases intended for cloning into a target plasmid pose a challenge for conventional cloning.

Results

A method for directional insertion of DNA fragments into plasmid vectors has been developed. The target sequence is amplified from a template DNA sample by PCR using two oligonucleotides each containing a single deoxyinosine base at the third position from the 5′ end. Treatment of such PCR products with endonuclease V generates 3′ protruding ends suitable for ligation with vector fragments created by conventional restriction endonuclease reactions.

Conclusions

The developed approach generates terminal cohesive ends without the use of Type II restriction endonucleases, and is thus independent from the DNA sequence. Due to PCR amplification, minimal amounts of template DNA are required. Using the robust Taq enzyme or a proofreading Pfu DNA polymerase mutant, the method is applicable to a broad range of insert sequences. Appropriate primer design enables direct incorporation of terminal DNA sequence modifications such as tag addition, insertions, deletions and mutations into the cloning strategy. Further, the restriction sites of the target plasmid can be either retained or removed.
Biological properties of carotenoids extracted from Halobacterium halobium isolated from a Tunisian solar saltern
Authors: Abbes Molka , Baati Houda , Guermazi Sonda , Messina Concetta , Santulli Andrea , Gharsallah Neji , Ammar Emna
Published: October 2013

Background

Bioactive molecules have received increasing attention due to their nutraceutical attributes and anticancer, antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties. This study aimed to investigate the biological properties of carotenoids extracted from Archaea.

Methods

Halophilic Archaea strains were isolated from the brine of a local crystallizer pond (TS7) of a solar saltern at Sfax, Tunisia. The most carotenoid-producing strain (M8) was investigated on heptoma cell line (HepG2), and its viability was assessed by the MTT-test. The cells were incubated with different sub-lethal extract rates, with carotenoid concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 μM. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through exposing the cells to sub-lethal extract concentrations for 24 hours and then to oxidative stress induced by 60 μM arachidonic acid and 50 μM H2O2.

Results

Compared to non-treated cells, bacterial carotenoid extracts inhibited HepG2 cell viability (50%). A time and dose effect was observed, with cell viability undergoing a significant (P < 0.05) decrease with extract concentration. After exposure to oxidative stress, control cells underwent a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in viability as compared to the non-treated cells.

Conclusions

The bacterial extracts under investigation were noted to exhibit the strongest free radical scavenging activity with high carotenoid concentrations. The carotenoid extract also showed significant antiproliferative activity against HepG2 human cancer cell lines.
The role of profilin-1 in endothelial cell injury induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs)
Authors: Li Zhenyu , Zhong Qiaoqing , Yang Tianlun , Xie Xiumei , Chen Meifang
Published: October 2013

Background

Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the vasculature triggers a series of morphological and functional changes contributing to endothelial hyperpermeability. The reorganisation and redistribution of the cytoskeleton regulated by profilin-1 mediates endothelial cell contraction, which results in vascular hyperpermeability. This study aimed to investigate the pivotal role of profilin-1 in the process of endothelial cell damage induced by AGEs.

Methods

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with AGEs. The mRNA and protein expression of profilin-1 was determined using real-time PCR and western blotting analyses. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as the activities of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and protein kinase C (PKC), were detected using the appropriate kits. The levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were determined using HPLC. The distribution of the cytoskeleton was visualised using immunofluorescent staining.

Results

Compared with the control, incubation of endothelial cells with AGEs (200 μg/ml) for 4 or 24 h significantly up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of profilin-1, markedly increased the levels of ICAM-1 and ADMA and decreased the production of NO (P<0.05, P<0.01), which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with DPI (an antioxidant), GF 109203X (PKC inhibitor) or BAY-117082 (NF-κB inhibitor). DPI (10 μmol/L) markedly decreased the elevated levels of ROS induced by AGEs (200 μg/ml, 24 h); however, GF 109203X (10 μmol/L) and BAY-117082 (5 μmol/L) exhibited no significant effect on the formation of ROS by AGEs. Immunofluorescent staining indicated that AGEs markedly increased the expression of profilin-1 in the cytoplasm and the formation of actin stress fibres, resulting in the rearrangement and redistribution of the cytoskeleton. This effect was significantly ameliorated by DPI, GF 109203X, BAY-117082 or siRNA treatment of profilin-1. Incubation with DPI and GF 109203X markedly inhibited the activation of PKC triggered by AGEs, and DPI and BAY-117082 significantly decreased the activity of NF-κB mediated by AGEs. Disruption of profilin-1 gene expression attenuated the extent of endothelial abnormalities by reducing ICAM-1 and ADMA levels and elevating NO levels (P<0.05, P<0.01), but this disruption had no effect on the activities of NF-κB and PKC (P>0.05).

Conclusions

These findings suggested that profilin-1 might act as an ultimate and common cellular effector in the process of metabolic memory (endothelial abnormalities) mediated by AGEs via the ROS/PKC or ROS/NF-қB signalling pathways.