bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypothalamic Molecular Changes Underlying Natural Reproductive Senescence in the Female Rat
Authors: Kermath Bailey A. , Riha Penny D. , Woller Michael J. , Wolfe Andrew , Gore Andrea C.
Published: June 2014

The role of the hypothalamus in female reproductive senescence is unclear. Here we identified novel molecular neuroendocrine changes during the natural progression from regular reproductive cycles to acyclicity in middle-aged female rats, comparable with the perimenopausal progression in women. Expression of 48 neuroendocrine genes was quantified within three hypothalamic regions: the anteroventral periventricular nucleus, the site of steroid positive feedback onto GnRH neurons; the arcuate nucleus (ARC), the site of negative feedback and pulsatile GnRH release; and the median eminence (ME), the site of GnRH secretion. Surprisingly, the majority of changes occurred in the ARC and ME, with few effects in anteroventral periventricular nucleus. The overall pattern was increased mRNA levels with chronological age and decreases with reproductive cycle status in middle-aged rats. Affected genes included transcription factors (Stat5b, Arnt, Ahr), sex steroid hormone receptors (Esr1, Esr2, Pgr, Ar), steroidogenic enzymes (Sts, Hsd17b8), growth factors (Igf1, Tgfa), and neuropeptides (Kiss1, Tac2, Gnrh1). Bionetwork analysis revealed region-specific correlations between genes and hormones. Immunohistochemical analyses of kisspeptin and estrogen receptor-α in the ARC demonstrated age-related decreases in kisspeptin cell numbers as well as kisspeptin-estrogen receptor-α dual-labeled cells. Taken together, these results identify unexpectedly strong roles for the ME and ARC during reproductive decline and highlight fundamental differences between middle-aged rats with regular cycles and all other groups. Our data provide evidence of decreased excitatory stimulation and altered hormone feedback with aging and suggest novel neuroendocrine pathways that warrant future study. Furthermore, these changes may impact other neuroendocrine systems that undergo functional declines with age.
Differentially Regulated Protein Kinase A (PKA) Activity in Adipose Tissue and Liver Is Associated With Resistance to Diet-Induced Obesity and Glucose Intolerance in Mice That Lack PKA Regulatory Subunit Type IIα
Authors: London Edra , Nesterova Maria , Sinaii Ninet , Szarek Eva , Chanturiya Tatyana , Mastroyannis Spyridon A. , Gavrilova Oksana , Stratakis Constantine A.
Published: June 2014

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling system is widely expressed and has a central role in regulating cellular metabolism in all organ systems affected by obesity. PKA has four regulatory (RIα, RIIα, RIβ, RIIβ) and four catalytic (Cα, Cβ, Cγ, Prkx) subunit isoforms that have tissue-specific expression profiles. In mice, knockout (KO) of RIIβ, the primary PKA regulatory subunit in adipose tissue or knockout of the catalytic subunit Cβ resulted in a lean phenotype that resists diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic complications. Here we report that the disruption of the ubiquitously expressed PKA RIIα subunit in mice (RIIαKO) confers resistance to diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis. After 2-week high-fat diet exposure, RIIαKO mice weighed less than wild-type littermates. Over time this effect was more pronounced in female mice that were also leaner than their wild-type counterparts, regardless of the diet. Decreased intake of a high-fat diet contributed to the attenuated weight gain in RIIαKO mice. Additionally, RIIα deficiency caused differential regulation of PKA in key metabolic organs: cAMP-stimulated PKA activity was decreased in liver and increased in gonadal adipose tissue. We conclude that RIIα represents a potential target for therapeutic interventions in obesity, glucose intolerance, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Region-Specific Neural Corticosterone Patterns Differ From Plasma in a Male Songbird
Authors: Rensel M. A. , Comito D. , Kosarussavadi S. , Schlinger B. A.
Published: June 2014

The adrenal hormone corticosterone (CORT) acts on brain to mediate physiology and behavior. In songbirds, behavioral effects of CORT vary across species, environmental conditions, and life history stage, with several mechanisms proposed to account for these divergent results. Although blood CORT levels are well characterized, few studies measure CORT within the brain itself. Here we used in vivo microdialysis to measure CORT in two regions of the zebra finch brain, the hippocampus (HP) and caudal nidopallium (cNp). Our results show that we can successfully measure physiological levels of CORT in brain within 15- to 30-minute intervals of dialysate collection. Moreover, we found that levels in the cNp were generally lower than levels in the HP. Surprisingly, whereas plasma CORT levels increased in response to a standard stressor, no stress-induced surge was detected in the HP or cNp. In addition, although a diel CORT rhythm was observed in plasma, the rhythm in brain was attenuated and only observed when levels were integrated over a 4-hour time period. Regional differences in brain CORT levels were reflected in local mRNA expression levels of the CORT-inactivating enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 with levels elevated in the cNp relative to the HP. Region-specific CORT metabolism may therefore play a role in buffering the brain from CORT fluctuations.
How to make a hippocampal dentate gyrus granule neuron
Authors: Yu Diana X. , Marchetto Maria C. , Gage Fred H.
Published: June 2014

Granule neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) receive their primary inputs from the cortex and are known to be continuously generated throughout adult life. Ongoing integration of newborn neurons into the existing hippocampal neural circuitry provides enhanced neuroplasticity, which plays a crucial role in learning and memory; deficits in this process have been associated with cognitive decline under neuropathological conditions. In this Primer, we summarize the developmental principles that regulate the process of DG neurogenesis and discuss recent advances in harnessing these developmental cues to generate DG granule neurons from human pluripotent stem cells.
Chromatin features and the epigenetic regulation of pluripotency states in ESCs
Authors: Tee Wee-Wei , Reinberg Danny
Published: June 2014

In pluripotent stem cells, the interplay between signaling cues, epigenetic regulators and transcription factors orchestrates developmental potency. Flexibility in gene expression control is imparted by molecular changes to the nucleosomes, the building block of chromatin. Here, we review the current understanding of the role of chromatin as a plastic and integrative platform to direct gene expression changes in pluripotent stem cells, giving rise to distinct pluripotent states. We will further explore the concept of epigenetic asymmetry, focusing primarily on histone stoichiometry and their associated modifications, that is apparent at both the nucleosome and chromosome-wide levels, and discuss the emerging importance of these asymmetric chromatin configurations in diversifying epigenetic states and their implications for cell fate control.
Notch signaling functions in lymphatic valve formation
Authors: Murtomaki Aino , Uh Minji K. , Kitajewski Chris , Zhao Jin , Nagasaki Takayuki , Shawber Carrie J. , Kitajewski Jan
Published: June 2014

Collecting lymphatic ducts contain intraluminal valves that prevent backflow. In mice, lymphatic valve morphogenesis begins at embryonic day 15.5 (E15.5). In the mesentery, Prox1 expression is high in valve-forming lymphatic endothelial cells, whereas cells of the lymphatic ducts express lower levels of Prox1. Integrin α9, fibronectin EIIIA, Foxc2, calcineurin and the gap junction protein Cx37 are required for lymphatic valve formation. We show that Notch1 is expressed throughout the developing mesenteric lymphatic vessels at E16.5, and that, by E18.5, Notch1 expression becomes highly enriched in the lymphatic valve endothelial cells. Using a Notch reporter mouse, Notch activity was detected in lymphatic valves at E17.5 and E18.5. The role of Notch in lymphatic valve morphogenesis was studied using a conditional lymphatic endothelial cell driver either to delete Notch1 or to express a dominant-negative Mastermind-like (DNMAML) transgene. Deletion of Notch1 led to an expansion of Prox1high cells, a defect in Prox1high cell reorientation and a decrease in integrin α9 expression at sites of valve formation. Expression of DNMAML, which blocks all Notch signaling, resulted in a more severe phenotype characterized by a decrease in valves, failure of Prox1high cells to cluster, and rounding of the nuclei and decreased fibronectin-EIIIA expression in the Prox1high cells found at valve sites. In human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells, activation of Notch1 or Notch4 induced integrin α9, fibronectin EIIIA and Cx37 expression. We conclude that Notch signaling is required for proper lymphatic valve formation and regulates integrin α9 and fibronectin EIIIA expression during valve morphogenesis.
The facial neural crest controls fore- and midbrain patterning by regulating Foxg1 expression through Smad1 activity
Authors: Aguiar Diego P. , Sghari Soufien , Creuzet Sophie
Published: June 2014

The facial neural crest (FNC), a pluripotent embryonic structure forming craniofacial structures, controls the activity of brain organisers and stimulates cerebrum growth. To understand how the FNC conveys its trophic effect, we have studied the role of Smad1, which encodes an intracellular transducer, to which multiple signalling pathways converge, in the regulation of Foxg1. Foxg1 is a transcription factor essential for telencephalic specification, the mutation of which leads to microcephaly and mental retardation. Smad1 silencing, based on RNA interference (RNAi), was performed in pre-migratory FNC cells. Soon after electroporation of RNAi molecules, Smad1 inactivation abolished the expression of Foxg1 in the chick telencephalon, resulting in dramatic microcephaly and partial holoprosencephaly. In addition, the depletion of Foxg1 activity altered the expression Otx2 and Foxa2 in di/mesencephalic neuroepithelium. However, when mutated forms of Smad1 mediating Fgf and Wnt signalling were transfected into FNC cells, these defects were overcome. We also show that, downstream of Smad1 activity, Dkk1, a Wnt antagonist produced by the FNC, initiated the specification of the telencephalon by regulating Foxg1 activity. Additionally, the activity of Cerberus in FNC-derived mesenchyme synergised with Dkk1 to control Foxg1 expression and maintain the balance between Otx2 and Foxa2.
Sema6a and Plxna2 mediate spatially regulated repulsion within the developing eye to promote eye vesicle cohesion
Authors: Ebert Alicia M. , Childs Sarah J. , Hehr Carrie L. , Cechmanek Paula B. , McFarlane Sarah
Published: June 2014

Organs are generated from collections of cells that coalesce and remain together as they undergo a series of choreographed movements to give the organ its final shape. We know little about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate tissue cohesion during morphogenesis. Extensive cell movements underlie eye development, starting with the eye field separating to form bilateral vesicles that go on to evaginate from the forebrain. What keeps eye cells together as they undergo morphogenesis and extensive proliferation is unknown. Here, we show that plexina2 (Plxna2), a member of a receptor family best known for its roles in axon and cell guidance, is required alongside the repellent semaphorin 6a (Sema6a) to keep cells integrated within the zebrafish eye vesicle epithelium. sema6a is expressed throughout the eye vesicle, whereas plxna2 is restricted to the ventral vesicle. Knockdown of Plxna2 or Sema6a results in a loss of vesicle integrity, with time-lapse microscopy showing that eye progenitors either fail to enter the evaginating vesicles or delaminate from the eye epithelium. Explant experiments, and rescue of eye vesicle integrity with simultaneous knockdown of sema6a and plxna2, point to an eye-autonomous requirement for Sema6a/Plxna2. We propose a novel, tissue-autonomous mechanism of organ cohesion, with neutralization of repulsion suggested as a means to promote interactions between cells within a tissue domain.
A regulatory receptor network directs the range and output of the Wingless signal
Authors: Schilling Sabine , Steiner Sarah , Zimmerli Dario , Basler Konrad
Published: June 2014

The potent activity of Wnt/Wingless (Wg) signals necessitates sophisticated mechanisms that spatially and temporally regulate their distribution and range of action. The two main receptor components for Wg – Arrow (Arr) and Frizzled 2 (Fz2) – are transcriptionally downregulated by Wg signaling, thus forming gradients that oppose that of Wg. Here, we analyze the relevance of this transcriptional regulation for the formation of the Wg gradient in the Drosophila wing disc by combining in vivo receptor overexpression with an in silico model of Wg receptor interactions. Our experiments show that ubiquitous upregulation of Arr and Fz2 has no significant effects on Wg output, whereas clonal overexpression of these receptors leads to signaling discontinuities that have detrimental phenotypic consequences. These findings are supported by our in silico model for Wg diffusion and signal transduction, which suggests that abrupt changes in receptor levels causes discontinuities in Wg signaling. Furthermore, we identify a 200 bp regulatory element in the arr locus that can account for the Arr gradient, and we show that this is indirectly negatively controlled by Wg activity. Finally, we analyze the role of Frizzled 3 (Fz3) in this system and find that its expression, which is induced by Wg, contributes to the establishment of the Arr and Fz2 gradients through counteracting canonical signaling. Taken together, our results provide a model in which the regulatory network of Wg and the three receptor components account for the range and shape of this prototypical morphogen system.
An interview with Phil Ingham
Authors: Vicente Catarina
Published: June 2014

Philip Ingham is a geneticist and developmental biologist, based at the Imperial College, London – Nanyang Technological University, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore. From identifying the Drosophila trithorax mutant to the discovery of the vertebrate hedgehog genes, from perfecting in situ techniques in the fly to helping make zebrafish a successful model system, Phil has made significant contributions to the developmental biology field over three decades. In recognition for his career, Phil was awarded the Waddington Medal at the 2014 BSDB Spring meeting, where we had the opportunity to interview him. Phil is also the current president of the International Society of Developmental Biologists (ISDB).
A flexible user-interface for audiovisual presentation and interactive control in neurobehavioral experiments
Authors: Noto Christopher T , Mazhar Suleman , Gnadt James , Kanwal Jagmeet S
Published: June 2014

A major problem facing behavioral neuroscientists is a lack of unified, vendor-distributed data acquisition systems that allow stimulus presentation and behavioral monitoring while recording neural activity. Numerous systems perform one of these tasks well independently, but to our knowledge, a useful package with a straightforward user interface does not exist. Here we describe the development of a flexible, script-based user interface that enables customization for real-time stimulus presentation, behavioral monitoring and data acquisition. The experimental design can also incorporate neural microstimulation paradigms. We used this interface to deliver multimodal, auditory and visual (images or video) stimuli to a nonhuman primate and acquire single-unit data. Our design is cost-effective and works well with commercially available hardware and software. Our design incorporates a script, providing high-level control of data acquisition via a sequencer running on a digital signal processor to enable behaviorally triggered control of the presentation of visual and auditory stimuli. Our experiments were conducted in combination with eye-tracking hardware. The script, however, is designed to be broadly useful to neuroscientists who may want to deliver stimuli of different modalities using any animal model.
Mutation extraction tools can be combined for robust recognition of genetic variants in the literature
Authors: Jimeno Yepes Antonio , Verspoor Karin
Published: June 2014

As the cost of genomic sequencing continues to fall, the amount of data being collected and studied for the purpose of understanding the genetic basis of disease is increasing dramatically. Much of the source information relevant to such efforts is available only from unstructured sources such as the scientific literature, and significant resources are expended in manually curating and structuring the information in the literature. As such, there have been a number of systems developed to target automatic extraction of mutations and other genetic variation from the literature using text mining tools. We have performed a broad survey of the existing publicly available tools for extraction of genetic variants from the scientific literature. We consider not just one tool but a number of different tools, individually and in combination, and apply the tools in two scenarios. First, they are compared in an intrinsic evaluation context, where the tools are tested for their ability to identify specific mentions of genetic variants in a corpus of manually annotated papers, the Variome corpus. Second, they are compared in an extrinsic evaluation context based on our previous study of text mining support for curation of the COSMIC and InSiGHT databases. Our results demonstrate that no single tool covers the full range of genetic variants mentioned in the literature. Rather, several tools have complementary coverage and can be used together effectively. In the intrinsic evaluation on the Variome corpus, the combined performance is above 0.95 in F-measure, while in the extrinsic evaluation the combined recall performance is above 0.71 for COSMIC and above 0.62 for InSiGHT, a substantial improvement over the performance of any individual tool. Based on the analysis of these results, we suggest several directions for the improvement of text mining tools for genetic variant extraction from the literature.
Big Data Investment, Skills, and Firm Value
Authors: Tambe Prasanna
Published: June 2014

This paper analyzes how labor market factors have shaped early returns on big data investment using a new data source—the LinkedIn skills database. The data source enables firm-level measurement of the employment of workers with technical skills such as Hadoop, MapReduce, and Apache Pig. From 2006 to 2011, Hadoop investments were associated with 3% faster productivity growth, but only for firms (a) with significant data assets and (b) in labor markets where similar investments by other firms helped to facilitate the development of a cadre of workers with complementary technical skills. The benefits of labor market concentration decline for investments in mature data technologies, such as Structured Query Language-based databases, for which the complementary skills can be acquired by workers through universities or other channels. These findings underscore the importance of geography, corporate investment, and skill acquisition channels for explaining productivity growth differences during the spread of new information technology innovations.

This paper was accepted by Alok Gupta, special issue on business analytics.
Professional development of graduate teaching assistants in faculty-like positions: Fostering reflective practices through reflective teaching journals
Authors: Gallego Muriel
Published: June 2014

This study explores the outcomes of reflective journaling among novice Graduate Teaching Assistants during the initial stages of their professional development. It seeks to establish whether there were common concerns addressed in their journals and if different levels of reflection were achieved. By means of content analysis of 177 entries, nine common themes were identified. Among these,  “methodology” and “classroom management” were the most prevalent. Three degrees of reflection were used to categorize the entries. Slightly over half of the entries achieved high levels of reflection, whereas 49% of the entries did not. Recommendations for teacher educators and facilitators of the professional development of graduate students are provided.
Student views of instructor-student rapport in the college classroom
Authors: Webb Nathan , Barrett Laura Obrycki
Published: June 2014

Building upon past research on the positive learning outcomes associated with rapport building in the classroom, this study examines the specific behaviors instructors utilize in college classrooms to build rapport with undergraduate students. Participants (N=230) answered open-ended survey questions about their instructors’ rapport-building behaviors. A total of 514 behaviors described as rapport building were categorized into five themes: attentive behaviors, common grounding behaviors, courteous behaviors, connecting behavior, and information sharing behaviors.
Fabrication and metrology of lithium niobate narrowband optical filters for the solar orbiter
Authors: Gensemer Stephen D. , Farrant David
Published: June 2014

We report on the fabrication of custom voltage tunable etalons for the SO/PHI spaceborne solar imaging instrument [A. Gandorfer, S. K. Solanki, J. Woch, V. M. Pillet, A. A. Herrero, and T. Appourchaux, J. Phys.: Conference Series 271, 012086 (2011)]. The etalons were manufactured to place a transmission maximum within 0.3 Å of the FeI emission line at 6175.0 Å. Meeting this specification requires an overall thickness specified to within ±15 nm, over a 60 mm aperture. We describe here the metrology, modelling and coating procedures we developed to achieve this.
Hydroxide catalysis bonding for astronomical instruments
Authors: van Veggel Anna-Maria A. , Killow Christian J.
Published: June 2014

Hydroxide catalysis bonding (HCB) as a jointing technique has been under development for astronomical applications since ∼1998 (patented by D.-H. Gwo). It uses an aqueous hydroxide solution to form a chemical bond between oxide or oxidisable materials (e.g., SiO2, sapphire, silicon and SiC). It forms strong, extremely thin bonds, and is suitable for room temperature bonding, precision alignment, operation in ultra-low vacuum and down to temperatures of 2.5 K. It has been applied in the NASA satellite mission Gravity Probe B and in the ground-based gravitational wave (GW) detector GEO600. It will soon fly again on the ESA LISA Pathfinder mission and is currently being implemented in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo ground-based GW detectors. This technique is also of considerable interest for use in other astronomical fields and indeed more broadly, due to its desirable, and adjustable, combination of properties. This paper gives an overview of how HCB has been and can be applied in astronomical instruments, including an overview of the current literature on the properties of hydroxide catalysis bonds.
A method for the use of ellipticities and spot diameters for the measurement of aberrations in wide-field telescopes
Authors: Noethe Lothar , Schipani Pietro , Holzlöhner Ronald , Rakich Andrew
Published: June 2014

In wide-field survey telescopes, the patterns of spot sizes and ellipticities can be used to determine wavefront aberrations generated by the telescope. The calculation of spot sizes and ellipticities generated by telescope aberrations is most conveniently done if the aberrations are expressed in terms of Zernike-type polynomials whose derivatives are orthonormal. The field dependence of the spot sizes and ellipticities generated by the telescope can conveniently be expressed by low-order Zernike polynomials. Because the exposure times in astronomical survey work are typically rather short, this information may be used for a quasi-closed loop control of the telescope optics. The ability to accurately subtract ellipticities generated by telescope errors could also be useful for observations such as gravitational lensing surveys.
Framingham Risk Score for the prediction of coronary artery disease in patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease
Authors: Lin Yaowang , Wei Xuebiao , Cai Anping , Yang Xing , Zhou Yingling , Yu Danqing
Published: June 2014

Background: Patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD) have concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD), but the model to detect coexistent coronary artery stenosis prior to surgery has not been validated. Our study investigated whether the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) is a valid predictor of CAD in patients undergoing surgery for CRHD.

Methods: A total of 989 rheumatic patients were enrolled between 2005 and 2010. They were subdivided into two groups according to coronary angiography (CAG) results to identify potential factors in the development of CAD. Finally, all patients were assessed using the FRS to examine the association between the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and CAD.

Results: There were statistically significant inter-group differences in terms of age, sex, smoking, hypertension, bypass surgery and cardiac function in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification status (p<0.05). We showed that the FRS had high accuracy in predicting CAD in female and male patients with CRHD. In the male group, the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting CAD was 0.904, with a specificity of 90.3% and sensitivity of 76.1%. In the female group, the AUC for predicting CAD was 0.924, with a specificity of 77.5% and sensitivity of 90.9%, respectively. With a cut-off point of a 10-year CVD risk of 12.5 (%) in the male group and a 10-year CVD risk of 2.5 (%) in the female group, the FRS identified 746 low-risk patients, including 11 (4.3%) with CAD in the male group and 4 (0.8%) with CAD in the female group. None of the patients needed an indication for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Conclusions: The FRS model can accurately predict the prevalence of significant CAD and can reliably identify low-risk patients in whom routine pre-surgical angiography could be avoided.
The Power of Awards
Authors: Frey Bruno S. , Gallus Jana
Published: June 2014

Every economist worth his or her salt will tell you that monetary compensation is more efficient than all other forms of rewards. Awards have only received scant attention in the economics literature. Yet, they are ubiquitous. They can take many forms and include titles, prizes, orders, medals, and still other types of decorations. We outline the distinguishing characteristics of awards, especially in comparison to monetary rewards, show the potential risks and emphasize where awards are particularly useful.
A critical review of the multilayer sorption models and comparison with the sorption site occupancy (SSO) model for wood moisture sorption isotherm analysis
Authors: Willems Wim
Published: June 2014

The wood moisture sorption (WMS) isotherm is generally considered to contain information on the water-cell wall interaction and the abundance of water sorption sites (SSs) in wood. The Hailwood-Horrobin (HH) model – as an example of the multilayer surface sorption models – is discussed for its suitability to analyze experimental WMS isotherms, to elaborate the fundamental sorption parameters. Based on multiple independent experimental and theoretical arguments, it was concluded that the basics of the surface multilayer-sorption models do not apply to wood. This is clearly illustrated by applying the analysis to the temperature-dependence of WMS isotherms, to the comparison of adsorption vs. desorption isotherms and to the quantification of SSs in wood. A sorption site occupancy (SSO) model is presented as an alternative for the HH model. It provides a comprehensive, thermodynamically consistent and quantitative basis for the analysis of WMS isotherms. The predicted SS densities are realistic and can be used to quantify sorption hysteresis and cell wall relaxation.
Enhancement of Wettability of Aluminum Based Silicon Carbide Reinforced Particulate Metal Matrix Composite
Authors: Singh V. K. , Chauhan Sakshi , Gope P. C. , Chaudhary A. K.
Published: June 2014

Lately, materials research has shifted to composite materials from monolithic, adjusting to the global need for light weight, low cost, quality, and high performance in structural materials. Every effort aims to develop a material which can be appropriate for various industry and machinery purpose. In the present study, a modest attempt has been made to develop cast aluminum based silicon carbide (SiC) particulate metal matrix composite (MMC) and worked upon to raise the wettability factor between the matrix and dispersion phase. Magnesium (Mg) is used as wetting agent. It works by scavenging the oxygen from dispersoids surface and thinning the gas layer around dispersoids and this is done by forming MgO or MgAl
Street hawking among in-school adolescents in a south-western town in Nigeria: pattern, determinants and effects on school performance
Authors: Ijadunola Macellina Y. , Ojo Temitope O. , Babatunde Adelekan , Olatunji Gbajumo J. , Owolabi Gbolagade K. , Adewale Ibiyemi A. , Ifedayo Ibukun F. , Friday Ijuewe S.
Published: June 2014

Street hawking is the commonest form of child labor in Nigeria. Although street hawking is very pervasive, there is the increasing need to fully understand its pattern and effects on those involved in hawking particularly adolescents who combine schooling with hawking. In Nigeria, data on the effects of street hawking on in-school adolescents are generally scanty. Therefore, the present study was undertaken in Ife Central Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria to assess the pattern, determinants of street hawking among in-school adolescents and its effect on school performance. A cross-sectional study of 435 adolescents (aged 10–19) attending public secondary schools was done. Data were collected using facilitated self-administered questionnaires alongside a review of class records. Appropriate statistical analysis including multiple regression was done. Results showed mean age of respondents to be 14.6±2.1 years with prevalence of street hawking at 37.2%. Early adolescents (10–13 years) were more likely to engage in street hawking compared to their counterparts in late adolescence (aged 17–19). Female adolescents and students of trading mothers were significantly more likely to engage in street hawking. Respondents engaged in street hawking were significantly more likely to have failed the last academic term examination. The findings from this study will be useful for stakeholders as they develop policies and programmes to address the challenge of street hawking among adolescent school goers.
The Bible and Its Cinematic Adaptations: A Consideration of Filmic Exegesis
Authors: Burnette-Bletsch Rhonda
Published: June 2014

This article discusses key theoretical issues pertaining to the Bible’s cinematic reception history. It proposes the term “filmic exegesis” to describe a twofold process of interpretation, which involves both situated filmmakers (at the moment of production) and situated film-viewers (at moments of reception) as active readers of biblical texts. After tracing what has become the dominant scholarly narrative of the Bible’s history in cinema, three methodological points are considered: (1) the need for scholarship to reach beyond the hegemony of Hollywood, (2) the difficulty of establishing clear criteria to define what “counts” as biblical reception in film, and (3) the necessity of moving beyond descriptive cataloguing to critical analysis of the Bible’s filmic afterlives. Finally, this article confronts lingering academic skepticism toward the value of studying the Bible’s popular reception and explains why biblical scholars should bother with filmic exegesis.
Great Code or Great Codex? Northop Frye, William Blake, and Construals of the Bible
Authors: Ziolkowski Eric
Published: June 2014

This article reconsiders Northrop Frye’s classic study of the Bible and literature, The Great Code (1982), in order to question whether his application of that titular phrase might not significantly distort the meaning the phrase must have borne for its coiner, William Blake. My contention is that Blake’s engraving of the Laocoön, in which the “Great Code” aphorism appears, is itself a code of sorts, but not in Frye’s sense of a key to be used to unlock the meanings of works of art and literature – or to unlock anything else, for that matter. Nothing in the Laocoön, or in any of Blake’s other works, suggests that this was what Blake meant by “code.” Nor do any of the connotations the term bore in English usage in Blake’s time suggest such a meaning. My suggestion is that, far from promoting the Bible as a forward-functioning key by which to decipher the mythology of post-biblical literature, Blake’s Laocoön is a work fixated upon its own complex, synthesizing reception of the biblical and classical past, a tradition of strong creative misprisions about whose all-powerful influence Frye’s own work betrays an unmistakable anxiety in Harold Bloom’s sense of the phrase.
The Christian Reception of Sculpture in Late Antiquity and the Historical Reception of Late Antique Christian Sculpture
Authors: Marsengill Katherine
Published: June 2014

This article examines the place of sculpture in late antique Christianity. It shows how Christians regarded existing sculpture and proposes reasons why they produced their own. History tells us that Christians abandoned the production of sculpture by the 7th century. Scholars have proposed many theories about why this is so, from a decline in artistic ability to the use of two-dimensional painting to better convey certain conceptions about spirituality or to guard against the influence of pagan idolatry. This article argues that the latter theory should be reassessed with greater interpretive nuance. Rather than suggesting that one medium replaced another, we should instead allow each its unique niche and context within Christian cult practices. Ultimately, this article proposes that Christians also used statuettes in home shrines and participated in public pagan cults. Moreover, a few examples suggest they may even have produced statuettes of saints and of Christ for private veneration.
From Golgotha to Glastonbury and Beyond: The Transmutation of Jewish Burial Piety into English Imperial Exceptionalism
Authors: Lyons William John
Published: June 2014

At the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, the English gold medalists heard the music from the anthem ‘Jerusalem’ as they collected their medals. Chosen by a popular vote for that occasion, Sir Hubert Parry’s musical setting of the poetic introduction to William Blake’s epic poem, Milton, continues to serve as the most powerful piece of sacred music lauding England as a chosen nation, as the blessed place where the young Jesus walked and the aged Joseph of Arimathea founded the oldest church in Western Europe; it presents ‘Albion’ as the one place on earth in which Jerusalem is to be built anew. Yet the biblical Joseph was far removed from the British Isles for over a thousand years, long being thought in the East to have died in his hometown. It was through five incidental side-effects of important moments in the Joseph tradition’s growth that the pious Jewish councillor who appears momentarily to bury Jesus before disappearing from Mark’s gospel was transposed into the wealthy tin merchant-cum-decurio, soldier/knight-cum-uncle of Jesus who is found within the legends of Glastonbury and who supports an English exceptionalism which continues to echo today throughout the postcolonial spaces of the remnants of the British Empire.
Herbal and dietary supplement use in Bangkok: a survey
Authors: Tangkiatkumjai Mayuree , Boardman Helen , Walker Dawn-Marie
Published: June 2014

Background: People living in Asian countries including Thailand are likely to use herbal and dietary supplements (HDS). However, there is limited evidence of their usage in Thailand. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the prevalence of HDS usage amongst a general population in Bangkok; (2) patterns of HDS use; (3) reasons why Bangkok residents use HDS.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey recruited 400 Thai people aged 15 years or over at busy bus stops in Bangkok, Thailand, using convenience sampling. Data were collected via an interview regarding demographics, HDS usage and reasons of using HDS. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, were used to analyse the prevalence and the patterns of HDS use.

Results: The prevalence of HDS usage in the previous 6 months was 52%. The majority of people who took herbs used them to treat illnesses (58%), whereas the majority of people who took dietary supplements used them to promote well-being (65%). Respondents reported using HDS due to their efficacy (28%), wanting to try them (26%) and safety concerns with conventional medicines (15%).

Conclusions: Health care providers should be aware of HDS use amongst Thai residents in Bangkok. Policy makers should educate people about appropriate HDS use.
Best Value of Laser Power for Coherent Optical System
Authors: Gupta Anjali , Bhatia Kamaljit Singh
Published: June 2014

Coherent optical system contains the ability of high data transmission at long distance. In this respect, laser power is effective parameter that plays important role on the receiver output. We studied the effect of laser power on constellation diagram with and without noise by varying length of the fiber. We examined for the best laser power value for the coherent optical system.
Maternal and fetal factors which influence cord blood glucose levels in term infants delivered by cesarean section
Authors: Koh Daisy , Hume Robert , Eisenhofer Graeme , Ogston Simon , Watson Jennifer , Williams Fiona
Published: June 2014

Aim: To assess factors contributing to cord venous glucose homeostasis in term infants delivered by elective cesarean section.

Methods: Observational study of women-infant pairs at delivery. Biochemical and clinical data were collected about factors which might affect the levels of glucose, lactate, norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol, human growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin.

Results: In the context of this data-set, three models explained a substantial amount regarding the variation: 79% of the variation in cord glucose levels is explained by levels of maternal glucose, cord venous pH, and cord lactate; 77% of the variation of cord lactate is explained by levels of cord venous pH, valine, maternal lactate and glucose, and cord norepinephrine; and 71% of the variation in cord norepinephrine is explained by levels of cord venous pO2, maternal lactate, cord insulin, cord GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), cord lactate, cord epinephrine, cord norepinephrine sulfate, and cord valine.

Conclusions: Term infants delivered by cesarean section are relatively hyperinsulinemic (insulin:glucose ratio of 2.4) and glucose levels are strongly associated with maternal glucose levels, cord pO2, and lactate levels. There were no associations with levels of cord glucose and levels of cortisol, epinephrine and lactate, which have been shown to be important contributors to postnatal glucose homeostasis in some infant groups.
First records of Murina lorelieae (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Vietnam
Authors: Tu Vuong Tan , Cornette Raphaël , Utge José , Hassanin Alexandre
Published: June 2014

In 2011, three specimens from an unknown species of tube-nosed bat (genus
Monitoring population density and activity pattern of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Central Mexico, using camera trapping
Authors: Soria-Díaz Leroy , Monroy-Vilchis Octavio
Published: June 2014

White-tailed deer (
The Global Economic Imbalances: The Dangers of Not Rebalancing
Authors: Sharma Shalendra D.
Published: June 2014

“Global imbalances” manifest in the large current account deficits and surpluses in the global economy and blamed by many for the global financial crisis of 2008 has become a source of much friction and discord among the G-20 economies. Rebalancing the global economy is essential to mitigating the divisions and promoting a more sustainable economic recovery. How and why did these imbalances emerge in the first place, what explains why rebalancing has proven to be so difficult, and what are the implications of failure? This paper addresses these interrelated issues.
Können wir autonom unser Gehirn manipulieren, bis wir jemand anderes sind?
Authors: Ohly Lukas
Published: June 2014

Die Neurowissenschaften haben erhebliche Zweifel an der Autonomie menschlicher Entscheidungen geschaffen. Dadurch beflügeln sie die Praxis des Neuroenhancements, durch pharmazeutische oder medizinische Mittel die Gehirntätigkeit für die menschliche Leistungsfähigkeit zu verbessern. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt ein Kennzeichen des Subjektivitätsphänomens, um die ethische Frage zu beantworten, ab wann ein Subjekt seine Subjektivität zerstört, wenn es sein Gehirn willentlich manipuliert. Hierfür wird die Differenz zwischen dem Erleben und dem Erlebnisgehalt in Geltung gebracht. Beide Elemente der Subjektivität haben eine theologische Basis, die sich mit Schleiermachers Formel »schlechthinniges Abhängigkeitsgefühl« benennen lässt. Subjekte sind berechtigt, sich selbst zu manipulieren im Hinblick auf ihre Erlebnisgehalte. Dagegen zerstören sie sich selbst, wenn sie auch den Prozess des Erlebens antasten, und spielen Gott.
The role of Toll-like receptors in multiple sclerosis and possible targeting for therapeutic purposes
Authors: Gooshe Maziar , Abdolghaffari Amir Hossein , Gambuzza Maria Elsa , Rezaei Nima
Published: June 2014

The interaction between the immune and nervous systems suggests invaluable mechanisms for several pathological conditions, especially neurodegenerative disorders. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative pathology of the central nervous system. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are an important family of receptors involved in host defense and in recognition of invading pathogens. The role of TLRs in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders such as MS is only starting to be uncovered. Recent studies suggest an ameliorative role of TLR3 and a detrimental role of other TLRs in the onset and progression of MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a murine model of MS. Thus, modulating TLRs can represent an innovative immunotherapeutic approach in MS therapy. This article outlines the role of these TLRs in MS, also discussing TLR-targeted agonist or antagonists that could be used in the different stages of the disease.
Effects of B and V on microstructure of FeCrC cladding layers on the surface of Q235B mild steel by TIG welding
Authors: Luo Hui , Liu Peng , Teng Chengxin
Published: June 2014

The microstructure of iron-based alloy (FeCrC) cladding layers on the surface of Q235B mild steel was analyzed by means of SEM, XRD, and EPMA tests. The results indicated that structure morphology of FeCrC alloy cladding layers by TIG welding is mainly hexagonal and elongated in shape. These structures were composed of some hard phases, such as Cr23 C6, Cr3 C2, and Cr7 C3. When element B was added, the structure morphology of iron-based alloy cladding layers could be changed into an irregular clumpy and cracking shape, which appears as a Fe23(C, B)6 hard phase. When element V was added, the surface morphology was changed into a small clumpy shape, which was composed of (Fe, Cr) C and (Fe, Cr, V) C phase.
Two-step gradation of particle size in an inorganic-organic hybrid
Authors: Chen Tzehan , Chow Brian J. , Qiao Yu
Published: June 2014

An inorganic-organic hybrid (IOH) of silica particulates and polyethylene (PE) was investigated, where silica was employed as an analogue to lunar soil. The objective was to search for the optimum materials design strategy for “lunar cements” – infrastructural materials based on locally harvestable resources on the Moon. If the silica particulate size was uniform, the flexure strength of the IOH decreased quite linearly with the PE content. With a two-step size gradation of silica particulates, the flexure strength of the silica-PE IOH could be much improved, higher than that of Portland cements with only 4 wt% of PE. A threshold PE content around 6 wt% existed. Above the threshold, the PE content has only a secondary effect on the IOH flexure strength; below the threshold, the IOH flexure strength decreases abruptly. In order to further enhance the IOH strength and to reduce the binder content, this threshold value must be minimized.
Physical Model for Studying the Migration of Fine Particles in the Railway Substructure
Authors: Duong T. V. , Cui Y. J. , Tang A. M. , Dupla J. C. , Canou J. , Calon N. , Robinet A. , Chabot B. , De Laure E.
Published: June 2014

To study the interlayer creation and the mud-pumping phenomena in the conventional French railway substructure, a physical model was developed with a 160-mm-thick ballast layer overlaying a 220-mm-thick artificial silt layer (mixture of crushed sand and kaolin), both layers being compacted in a transparent cylinder of a 550-mm-inner diameter. One positive pore water pressure sensor, three tensiometers, and three time domain reflectometer (TDR) sensors were installed around the ballast/silt interface allowing the evolution of pore water pressure (negative or positive) and volumetric water content to be monitored, respectively. A digital camera was installed allowing direct monitoring of different movements (ballast, ballast/subsoil interface, etc.). The effects of loading (monotonic and cyclic loadings) and degree of saturation of subsoil (w = 16 %, Sr = 55 %, and near-saturation state) were investigated. It was found that the development of pore water pressure in the subsoil is the key factor causing the migration of fine particles, hence, resulting in the creation of interlayer, as well as mud pumping. In particular, the camera exposed the pumping up level of fine particles during the test, showing that the migration of fine particles was not only a result of the interpenetration of ballast particles and subsoil, but also of the pore water pressure that pushed the fine particle upward. The quality of the recorded data showed that the physical model developed worked well and the test protocol adopted for studying the mechanisms of intermixing of ballast and subsoil and mud pumping was appropriate.
Longitudinal Heat Flow Calorimetry: A Method for Measuring the Heat Capacity of Rock Specimens Using a Divided Bar
Authors: Antriasian A. , Beardsmore G.
Published: June 2014

We present a method for measuring the heat capacity of a rock specimen using a divided bar apparatus in a “transient” mode. The specific heat capacity can be derived if the mass of the specimen is known. Thermal conductivity can be measured during a steady-state phase of the measurement process, and longitudinal thermal diffusivity can also be derived if the specimen volume (and hence density) is measured. A divided bar delivers a longitudinal flow of heat through a rock specimen and is conventionally used only in a steady-state mode for thermal conductivity measurements. Our method employs a time-series record of temperature changes at four points along the divided bar assembly to compare the net thermal energy absorbed by a specimen to its change in temperature during thermal re-equilibration from one steady-state temperature to another. The technique is calibrated using a set of analytical standards of known heat capacity. Our method yields mean values of specific heat capacity within ±1 % of published values for cultured quartz. Repeated measurements on the same specimens also give consistent results within approximately ±1 %. A combined thermal conductivity and heat capacity measurement takes less than one hour per specimen. Our method can be replicated with any divided bar apparatus employing a precise electronic temperature control system capable of switching between two steady-state mean temperatures, along with a digital data-logging system capable of recording and displaying data at a rate of one record per second.