bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditioned Medium of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a Therapeutic Approach to Neuropathic Pain: A Preclinical Evaluation
Authors: Gama Kelly Barbosa , Santos Dourivaldo Silva , Evangelista Afrânio Ferreira , Silva Daniela Nascimento , de Alcântara Adriano Costa , dos Santos Ricardo Ribeiro , Soares Milena Botelho Pereira , Villarreal Cristiane Flora
Published: January 2018

Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain caused by injury or dysfunction of the nervous system, without effective therapeutic approaches. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), through their paracrine action, have great potential in the treatment of this syndrome. In the present study, the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived conditioned medium (CM) was investigated in a mouse model of neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSL). PSL mice were treated by endovenous route with bone marrow-derived MSCs (1 × 106), CM, or vehicle. Gabapentin was the reference drug. Twelve hours after administration, neuropathic mice treated with CM exhibited an antinociceptive effect that was maintained throughout the evaluation period. MSCs also induced nonreversed antinociception, while gabapentin induced short-lasting antinociception. The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were reduced, while IL-10 was enhanced on sciatic nerve and spinal cord by treatment with CM and MSCs. Preliminary analysis of the CM secretome revealed the presence of growth factors and cytokines likely involved in the antinociception. In conclusion, the CM, similar to injection of live cells, produces a powerful and long-lasting antinociceptive effect on neuropathic pain, which is related with modulatory properties on peripheral and central levels of cytokines involved with the maintenance of this syndrome.
Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles: General Methodologies and Latest Trends
Authors: Konoshenko Maria Yu. , Lekchnov Evgeniy A. , Vlassov Alexander V. , Laktionov Pavel P.
Published: January 2018

Background. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an essential role in the communication between cells and transport of diagnostically significant molecules. A wide diversity of approaches utilizing different biochemical properties of EVs and a lack of accepted protocols make data interpretation very challenging. Scope of Review. This review consolidates the data on the classical and state-of-the-art methods for isolation of EVs, including exosomes, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Various characteristics of individual methods, including isolation efficiency, EV yield, properties of isolated EVs, and labor consumption are compared. Major Conclusions. A mixed population of vesicles is obtained in most studies of EVs for all used isolation methods. The properties of an analyzed sample should be taken into account when planning an experiment aimed at studying and using these vesicles. The problem of adequate EVs isolation methods still remains; it might not be possible to develop a universal EV isolation method but the available protocols can be used towards solving particular types of problems. General Significance. With the wide use of EVs for diagnosis and therapy of various diseases the evaluation of existing methods for EV isolation is one of the key problems in modern biology and medicine.
Effect of Flow Attack Angle for V-Wavy Plate on Flow and Heat Transfer in a Square Channel Heat Exchanger
Authors: Boonloi Amnart , Jedsadaratanachai Withada
Published: January 2018

Effects of flow attack angles of the V-wavy plate on flow and heat transfer in a square channel heat exchanger are investigated numerically. The V-wavy plates with V-tips pointing downstream and upstream called V-Downstream and V-Upstream, respectively, are examined for the Reynolds number in the range of 3000–10,000. The finite volume method with SIMPLE algorithm is selected to solve the present problem. The numerical results are presented in terms of flow and heat transfer visualization. The thermal performance analysis is also concluded in the form of Nusselt number ratio (Nu/Nu0), friction factor ratio (f/f0), and thermal enhancement factor (TEF). The numerical result shows that the wavy plate can induce the swirling flow through the test section for all cases. The swirling flow disturbs the thermal boundary layer on the channel wall which is the reason for heat transfer enhancement. In range studies, the heat transfer rate increases around 3–6.5 and 2.8–6 times above the smooth channel for V-Downstream and V-Upstream, respectively. The optimum TEF is found at α = 20° and Re = 3000 to be around 2.09 for V-Upstream case.
Synthesis, Characterization, X-Ray Crystallography, and Antileishmanial Activities of N-Linked and O-Linked Glycopyranosides
Authors: Rashid Haroon ur , Khan Sher Wali , Khan Momin , Nadhman Akhtar , Rehman Noor , Tariq Muhammad , Yousuf Sammer
Published: January 2018

Novel N-linked 5a–e and O-linked glycopyranosides 7a–e were synthesized in high yield from commercially available L-tartaric acid containing two asymmetric centers and C2 axis of symmetry. The compound L-tartaric acid was completely protected and then partially hydrolyzed to get the monoester, which upon treatment with different amino and hydroxyl derivatives of glycopyranoses gave the desired amides and esters. The synthesized derivatives were purified by chromatography and characterized by spectroanalytical techniques. The structure of compound 7c in the series was supported by X-ray analysis. Leishmanicidal activities of compounds 5a–e and 7a–e were investigated which showed moderate to good activities.
Tumorigenic and Antiproliferative Properties of the TALE-Transcription Factors MEIS2D and MEIS2A in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Groß Anja , Schulz Catrine , Kolb Jasmine , Koster Jan , Wehner Sibylle , Czaplinski Sebastian , Khilan Abdulghani , Rohrer Hermann , Harter Patrick N. , Klingebiel Thomas , Langer Julian D. , Geerts Dirk , Schulte Dorothea
Published: January 2018

Neuroblastoma is one of only a few human cancers that can spontaneously regress even after extensive dissemination, a poorly understood phenomenon that occurs in as many as 10% of patients. In this study, we identify the TALE-homeodomain transcription factor MEIS2 as a key contributor to this phenomenon. We identified MEIS2 as a MYCN-independent factor in neuroblastoma and showed that in this setting the alternatively spliced isoforms MEIS2A and MEIS2D exert antagonistic functions. Specifically, expression of MEIS2A was low in aggressive stage 4 neuroblastoma but high in spontaneously regressing stage 4S neuroblastoma. Moderate elevation of MEIS2A expression reduced proliferation of MYCN-amplified human neuroblastoma cells, induced neuronal differentiation and impaired the ability of these cells to form tumors in mice. In contrast, MEIS2A silencing or MEIS2D upregulation enhanced the aggressiveness of the tumor phenotype. Mechanistically, MEIS2A uncoupled a negative feedback loop that restricts accumulation of cellular retinoic acid, an effective agent in neuroblastoma treatment. Overall, our results illuminate the basis for spontaneous regression in neuroblastoma and identify an MEIS2A-specific signaling network as a potential therapeutic target in this common pediatric malignancy.

Significance: This study illuminates the basis for spontaneous regressions that can occur in a common pediatric tumor, with implications for the development of new treatment strategies. Cancer Res; 78(8); 1935–47. ©2018 AACR.
Discovery of Potent and Selective MRCK Inhibitors with Therapeutic Effect on Skin Cancer
Authors: Unbekandt Mathieu , Belshaw Simone , Bower Justin , Clarke Maeve , Cordes Jacqueline , Crighton Diane , Croft Daniel R. , Drysdale Martin J. , Garnett Mathew J. , Gill Kathryn , Gray Christopher , Greenhalgh David A. , Hall James A.M. , Konczal Jennifer , Lilla Sergio , McArthur Duncan , McConnell Patricia , McDonald Laura , McGarry Lynn , McKinnon Heather , McMenemy Carol , Mezna Mokdad , Morrice Nicolas A. , Munro June , Naylor Gregory , Rath Nicola , Schüttelkopf Alexander W. , Sime Mairi , Olson Michael F.
Published: January 2018

The myotonic dystrophy–related Cdc42-binding kinases MRCKα and MRCKβ contribute to the regulation of actin–myosin cytoskeleton organization and dynamics, acting in concert with the Rho-associated coiled-coil kinases ROCK1 and ROCK2. The absence of highly potent and selective MRCK inhibitors has resulted in relatively little knowledge of the potential roles of these kinases in cancer. Here, we report the discovery of the azaindole compounds BDP8900 and BDP9066 as potent and selective MRCK inhibitors that reduce substrate phosphorylation, leading to morphologic changes in cancer cells along with inhibition of their motility and invasive character. In over 750 human cancer cell lines tested, BDP8900 and BDP9066 displayed consistent antiproliferative effects with greatest activity in hematologic cancer cells. Mass spectrometry identified MRCKα S1003 as an autophosphorylation site, enabling development of a phosphorylation-sensitive antibody tool to report on MRCKα status in tumor specimens. In a two-stage chemical carcinogenesis model of murine squamous cell carcinoma, topical treatments reduced MRCKα S1003 autophosphorylation and skin papilloma outgrowth. In parallel work, we validated a phospho-selective antibody with the capability to monitor drug pharmacodynamics. Taken together, our findings establish an important oncogenic role for MRCK in cancer, and they offer an initial preclinical proof of concept for MRCK inhibition as a valid therapeutic strategy.

Significance: The development of selective small-molecule inhibitors of the Cdc42-binding MRCK kinases reveals their essential roles in cancer cell viability, migration, and invasive character. Cancer Res; 78(8); 2096–114. ©2018 AACR.
Validation of the Cuban Version of Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised for Screening Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Broche-Pérez Yunier , López-Pujol Héctor Alejandro
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims: The diagnostic accuracy of the Cuban version of the revised Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-R) in identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in comparison with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was assessed. Methods: The Cuban ACE-R was administered to a group of 129 elderly subjects (92 cognitively healthy and 37 subjects with MCI). The t tests for independent samples were used to compare scores of different psychometric scales between groups, and effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated. Cronbach’s coefficient α was used to evaluate the reliability of psychometric scales. The validity of ACE-R to screen for MCI was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The Cuban ACE-R had reliable internal consistency (Cronbach’s coefficient α = 0. 879). The optimal cut-off score for ACE-R for detecting MCI was 84/85. The sensitivity and specificity of ACE-R to screen for MCI was superior to those of MMSE. The area under the ROC curve of the Cuban ACE-R was much larger than that of MMSE (0.93 and 0.63) for detecting MCI. Conclusion: The Cuban ACE-R is a valid screening tool for detecting cognitive impairment. It is more sensitive and accurate in screening for MCI than MMSE.
The Relationship between the (In-)Stability of NORs and Their Chromosomal Location: The Example of Cercopithecidae and a Short Review of Other Primates
Authors: Gerbault-Seureau Michèle , Cacheux Lauriane , Dutrillaux Bernard
Published: January 2018

Amongst Cercopithecidae, the species of the Cercopithecini tribe underwent a very active chromosome evolution, principally by fissions, which increased their chromosome number up to 72. In contrast, all the species of Papionini have fairly similar karyotypes with 42 chromosomes. In animals, nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) are generally considered as instable structures, which frequently vary in size, number, and location at both infra- and interspecific levels. Although in Cercopithecinae the NORs, involved in breaks, exchanges, and translocations, behave like fragile sites in somatic cells, their number and location appear to be very stable between species. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of a 28S rDNA probe on metaphase chromosomes displayed a unique interstitial location in either an acrocentric pair (in 12 species of Cercopithecini) or a metacentric pair (in 6 species of Papionini). A non-exhaustive survey of literature data on NOR location in other primates shows that numerical variations of the NORs principally depend on their location: most multiple NORs are in terminal positions, while almost all unique NORs are in interstitial positions. We propose that this correlation is the consequence of the selection against gametic imbalances involving the chromosomal material distal to the NORs, which is effective when they are interstitially, but not terminally, located. Thus, the consequences of the interstitial NOR instability for reproduction are essentially limited to their size variations, as observed in Cercopithecidae.
Tick-Tock Chimes the Kidney Clock – from Biology of Renal Ageing to Clinical Applications
Authors: Rowland Joshua , Akbarov Artur , Maan Akhlaq , Eales James , Dormer John , Tomaszewski Maciej
Published: January 2018

Ageing of the kidney is a multi-dimensional process that occurs simultaneously at the molecular, cellular, histological, anatomical and physiological level. Nephron number and renal cortical volume decline, renal tubules become atrophic and glomeruli become sclerotic with age. These structural changes are accompanied by a decline in glomerular filtration rate, decreased sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion, reduced urinary concentrating capacity and alterations in the endocrine activity of the kidney. However, the pace of progression of these changes is not identical in everyone - individuals of the same age and seemingly similar clinical profile often exhibit stark differences in the age-related decline in renal health. Thus, chronological age poorly reflects the time-dependent changes that occur in the kidney. An ideal measure of renal vitality is biological kidney age – a measure of the age-related changes in physiological function. Replacing chronological age with biological age could provide numerous clinical benefits including improved prognostic accuracy in renal transplantation, better stratification of risk and identification of those who are on a fast trajectory to an age-related drop in kidney health.
Historiadores franceses na zona cinzenta: lembranças da guerra
Authors: Rollemberg Denise , Vainfas Ronaldo
Published: January 2018

Este artigo analisa as lembranças de alguns historiadores franceses que viveram na França ocupada pelos alemães e, no pós-1945, construíram suas carreiras, especialmente na chamada Nova História francesa. A pesquisa está baseada em ensaios de ego-história, autobiografias e entrevistas que os autores selecionados produziram a partir de finais dos anos 1980, ou seja, quase 40 anos após o fim da guerra. O estudo tem como objetivo demonstrar, em primeiro lugar, que tais lembranças se inserem, de uma forma ou de outra, na memória construída na França do pós-guerra, influenciadas pelo mito da Resistência que o revisionismo historiográfico francês tem desconstruído desde a década de 1970. Finalmente, o artigo argumenta que a maioria dos autores selecionados, quando jovem, viveu no que Pierre Laborie chamou de zona cinzenta, inspirado na obra de Primo Levi.
A heresia de Jeca Tatu
Authors: Lindo Luiz Antônio
Published: January 2018

No conto “Urupês” de Monteiro Lobato a linguagem do autor identifica-se com a da personagem, embora haja um conflito de ideias opondo-os mutuamente. A compreensão dos efeitos dessa discrepância, a qual se reflete, dum lado, no nível da linguagem e, de outro, no da visão de mundo, torna-se crucial para a crítica lobatiana, por expor um aspecto essencial da atitude do escritor diante da vida social.
Estimating a Separably Markov Random Field from Binary Observations
Authors: Zhang Yingzhuo , Malem-Shinitski Noa , Allsop Stephen A. , M. Tye Kay , Ba Demba
Published: January 2018

A fundamental problem in neuroscience is to characterize the dynamics of spiking from the neurons in a circuit that is involved in learning about a stimulus or a contingency. A key limitation of current methods to analyze neural spiking data is the need to collapse neural activity over time or trials, which may cause the loss of information pertinent to understanding the function of a neuron or circuit. We introduce a new method that can determine not only the trial-to-trial dynamics that accompany the learning of a contingency by a neuron, but also the latency of this learning with respect to the onset of a conditioned stimulus. The backbone of the method is a separable two-dimensional (2D) random field (RF) model of neural spike rasters, in which the joint conditional intensity function of a neuron over time and trials depends on two latent Markovian state sequences that evolve separately but in parallel. Classical tools to estimate state-space models cannot be applied readily to our 2D separable RF model. We develop efficient statistical and computational tools to estimate the parameters of the separable 2D RF model. We apply these to data collected from neurons in the prefrontal cortex in an experiment designed to characterize the neural underpinnings of the associative learning of fear in mice. Overall, the separable 2D RF model provides a detailed, interpretable characterization of the dynamics of neural spiking that accompany the learning of a contingency.
Dethroning the Fano Factor: A Flexible, Model-Based Approach to Partitioning Neural Variability
Authors: Charles Adam S. , Park Mijung , Weller J. Patrick , Horwitz Gregory D. , Pillow Jonathan W.
Published: January 2018

Neurons in many brain areas exhibit high trial-to-trial variability, with spike counts that are overdispersed relative to a Poisson distribution. Recent work (Goris, Movshon, & Simoncelli, 2014 ) has proposed to explain this variability in terms of a multiplicative interaction between a stochastic gain variable and a stimulus-dependent Poisson firing rate, which produces quadratic relationships between spike count mean and variance. Here we examine this quadratic assumption and propose a more flexible family of models that can account for a more diverse set of mean-variance relationships. Our model contains additive gaussian noise that is transformed nonlinearly to produce a Poisson spike rate. Different choices of the nonlinear function can give rise to qualitatively different mean-variance relationships, ranging from sublinear to linear to quadratic. Intriguingly, a rectified squaring nonlinearity produces a linear mean-variance function, corresponding to responses with a constant Fano factor. We describe a computationally efficient method for fitting this model to data and demonstrate that a majority of neurons in a V1 population are better described by a model with a nonquadratic relationship between mean and variance. Finally, we demonstrate a practical use of our model via an application to Bayesian adaptive stimulus selection in closed-loop neurophysiology experiments, which shows that accounting for overdispersion can lead to dramatic improvements in adaptive tuning curve estimation.
On the Development of the Critique of Political Economy as a Critical Social Theory of Economic Objectivity
Authors: O’Kane Chris
Published: January 2018

This review-essay assays Werner Bonefeld’s timely attempt to unite contemporary critical theory with the critique of political economy. I begin by contextualising Bonefeld’s contribution in relation to the dearth of material on this issue in contemporary anglophone critical theory. I then discuss the anglophone reception of Adornian critical theory and provide an overview of the development of the subterranean critical-theoretical interpretations of the critique of political economy that Adorno influenced which have been occluded by the former. This sets up my discussion of how Bonefeld has taken up, criticised and developed this subterranean strand in critical theory and the critique of political economy. I close with some criticisms of how Bonefeld addresses the relationship between critical theory and the critique of political economy and point toward several areas of further investigation that are intended to extend this approach to the contemporary critical theory of society.
Shared Water Resources in West Africa
Authors: Odili Nwamaka Chigozie
Published: January 2018

Since the adoption of the General Act of Berlin in 1885, which dealt,inter alia, with the Niger River, more agreements have been contracted for the management of some of the shared watercourses in West Africa, particularly in the post-colonial era. Although only six out of its numerous shared watercourses are regulated by legal instruments, West Africa contributed through these agreements to the development of international water prior to the adoption of theunWatercourses and theuneceWater Conventions in the 1990s. Initial instruments dealt primarily with navigation, while later agreements addressed the need for co-operation and incorporated other principles of customary international water law. The two conventions have, no doubt, influenced this trend, raising the question of whether riparian states in West Africa need to be parties to either or both water conventions to enhance management, sharing, and protections of their shared watercourses.
The Politics of Courts in China
Authors: He Xin
Published: January 2018

Politics has shaped the operation of the Chinese courts as well as their decision-making processes. This article surveys mostly empirical studies on the relationship between the courts and politics. It covers topics such as judicial independence, local protectionism, judicial mediation, judicial innovation, judicial reforms, and people’s attitudes toward the courts. It provides a clue to understand the trajectory of the Chinese courts, the legal system, and the relationship between law and society in general.
Disaggregating the Court: A Methodological Survey of Research on the Supreme People’s Court of China
Authors: Zhang Taisu
Published: January 2018

This article surveys recent academic literature on the Supreme People’s Court of China, sorting existing studies into three basic categories: those that study what the Court is allowed to do, those that study what it actually does, and those that study why it does those things. Moving from the first category to the second and third is, in many ways, a progression from a predominantly formalist method to more realist ones. The article argues that the field suffers from a lack of rigorous political economy modeling and that this affects not only the thoroughness of studies in the third category, but also those in the first and second categories. Remedying these problems will depend on whether future scholarship can successfully make use of the theoretical and empirical tools developed by political science and institutional economics. Most importantly, the field needs to develop a usable model of individual judge behavior, based on their material incentives, political aspirations, and ideological commitments, which can then provide the foundation for modeling of the Court as an institution. At the early stage, ethnography and bibliographical analysis may be more useful than quantitative analysis.
Phylogeny and morphology reveal two new species of Diaporthe from Traditional Chinese Medicine in Northeast China
Authors: YANG QIN , DU ZHUO , TIAN CHENG-MING
Published: January 2018

Diaporthe sambucusii sp. nov and D. schisandrae sp. nov., collected from diseased branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Northeast China, Sambucus williamsii Hance and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill, are herein described and illustrated. Recognition of the two new species are supported by both holomorphic morphology and phylogenetic analysis. Morphologically, D. sambucusii is distinguished by hyaline, aseptate, smooth, ovoid to subfusiform, biguttulate alpha conidia (7.0–9.5 × 2.0−2.5 μm) and beta conidia hyaline, aseptate, straight to hamate, 18.5–23.5 × 0.9–1.1 μm, similar to most species of Diaporthe. Diaporthe schisandrae is characterized by hyaline, aseptate, ellipsoidal to fusoid, somewhat tubercular at one end and obtuse at other, 1–3-guttulate alpha conidia (8.5–11.5 × 2.7−3.3 μm). Phylogenetic analysis using CAL, HIS, ITS, TEF1-α, and TUB molecular data shows that the isolates of the new species form two distinct clade within Diaporthe (MP/ML/BI=100/100/1).
A taxonomic synopsis of the genus Paspalum (Poaceae) in Egypt, including the first record of Paspalum vaginatum for the flora
Authors: FARIED AHMED M.
Published: January 2018

A taxonomic account of Paspalum in Egypt is provided. Paspalum vaginatum is newly recorded for the Flora of Egypt in addition to the three previously known species: P. dilatatum, P. distichum and P. racemosum. Paspalum vaginatum can be distinguished from other Paspalum species by the absence of lower glumes, smooth upper glumes and lack of ciliate fringes on its spikelets. The taxonomic synopsis includes information on nomenclature, distribution, a key to the species of Paspalum in Egypt and a list of selected specimens examined. In addition, a line drawing and photographs of the newly recorded species are presented.
Statistical Prediction of Waterspout Probability for the Florida Keys
Authors: Devanas Andrew , Stefanova Lydia
Published: January 2018

A statistical model of waterspout probability was developed for wet-season (June–September) days over the Florida Keys. An analysis was performed on over 200 separate variables derived from Key West 1200 UTC daily wet-season soundings during the period 2006–14. These variables were separated into two subsets: days on which a waterspout was reported anywhere in the Florida Keys coastal waters and days on which no waterspouts were reported. Days on which waterspouts were reported were determined from the National Weather Service (NWS) Key West local storm reports. The sounding at Key West was used for this analysis since it was assumed to be representative of the atmospheric environment over the area evaluated in this study. The probability of a waterspout report day was modeled using multiple logistic regression with selected predictors obtained from the sounding variables. The final model containing eight separate variables was validated using repeated fivefold cross validation, and its performance was compared to that of an existing waterspout index used as a benchmark. The performance of the model was further validated in forecast mode using an independent verification wet-season dataset from 2015–16 that was not used to define or train the model. The eight-predictor model was found to produce a probability forecast with robust skill relative to climatology and superior to the benchmark waterspout index in both the cross validation and in the independent verification.
Mechanical behavior of flax/polypropylene commingled nonwoven at dry scale: Influence of process parameters
Authors: Gnaba Imen , Omrani Fatma , Wang Peng , Soulat Damien , Ferreira Manuela , Vroman Philippe , Jaouachi Boubaker
Published: January 2018

Currently, nonwoven fabrics made with natural and thermoplastic commingled fibers have been extensively used in the composite industry due to their light weight and low processing and material costs. As two key parameters in the manufacturing of nonwoven fabrics, the needle-punching and material surface densities influence strongly the mechanical properties of nonwoven fabrics and their reinforced composite parts. Compared to most studies focused on the composite stage, the present experimental investigation is performed at the dry fabric stage, and the influence of the needle-punching and material surface densities on the mechanical behavior of nonwoven fabrics will be analyzed through tensile and bending tests. The results show that increasing the material surface of the nonwoven fabric leads to a better mechanical behavior, but that such variations do not modify the phenomenon of anisotropy of nonwoven fabrics. By contrast, increasing the needle-punching density can strengthen generally the homogeneity of nonwoven fabrics.
Situated Practice and the Emergence of Ethical Research
Authors: Aviles Natalie B.
Published: January 2018

This article explores the role scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a US federal science agency, played in researching and testing vaccines against the human papillomavirus (HPV). Drawing upon archival sources and oral history interview data, I challenge narratives that attribute the design of HPV vaccines to profit motive. Instead, I show that the researchers who developed the technology attempted to construct ethical approaches to vaccine development based on the values that emerged from their situated environments of technological, organizational, and institutional constraint. I argue that interpretations of “translational research” native to the NCI influenced these researchers’ efforts to design and test HPV vaccines. The organizational culture of translational research emerging in the NCI positioned intramural research as a countervailing and supplementary force to market-oriented translational research and development. Over time, NCI researchers’ conceptions of the Institute’s role allowed them to develop understandings of ethical HPV vaccine research as oriented toward addressing cervical cancer health disparities, especially in developing nations. NCI scientists’ understanding of their role in serving the public good through continued HPV vaccine innovation reflects the material and political economic environment they faced at different historical junctures that constrained the possibilities for innovation and ethical action.
Early animal model evaluation of an implantable contrast agent to enhance magnetic resonance imaging of arterial bypass vein grafts
Authors: Mitsouras Dimitrios , Tao Ming , de Vries Margreet R , Trocha Kaspar , Miranda Oscar R , Vemula Praveen Kumar , Ding Kui , Imanzadeh Amir , Schoen Frederick J , Karp Jeffrey M , Ozaki C Keith , Rybicki Frank J
Published: January 2018

Background

Non-invasive monitoring of autologous vein graft (VG) bypass grafts is largely limited to detecting late luminal narrowing. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) delineates vein graft intima, media, and adventitia, which may detect early failure, the scan time required to achieve sufficient resolution is at present impractical.

Purpose

To study VG visualization enhancement in vivo and delineate whether a covalently attached MRI contrast agent would enable quicker longitudinal imaging of the VG wall.

Material and Methods

Sixteen 12-week-old male C57BL/6J mice underwent carotid interposition vein grafting. The inferior vena cava of nine donor mice was treated with a gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA)-based contrast agent, with control VGs labeled with a vehicle. T1-weighted (T1W) MRI was performed serially at postoperative weeks 1, 4, 12, and 20. A portion of animals was sacrificed for histopathology following each imaging time point.

Results

MRI signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were significantly higher for treated VGs in the first three time points (1.73 × higher SNR, P = 0.0006, and 5.83 × higher CNR at the first time point, P = 0.0006). However, MRI signal enhancement decreased consistently in the study period, to 1.29 × higher SNR and 2.64 × higher CNR, by the final time point. There were no apparent differences in graft morphometric analyses in Masson’s trichrome-stained sections.

Conclusion

A MRI contrast agent that binds covalently to the VG wall provides significant increase in T1W MRI signal with no observed adverse effects in a mouse model. Further optimization of the contrast agent to enhance its durability is required.
Using Self-Organizing Map and Clustering to Investigate Problem-Solving Patterns in the Massive Open Online Course: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Lee Youngjin
Published: January 2018

This study investigated whether clustering can identify different groups of students enrolled in a massive open online course (MOOC). This study applied self-organizing map and hierarchical clustering algorithms to the log files of a physics MOOC capturing how students solved weekly homework and quiz problems to identify clusters of students showing similar problem-solving patterns. The usefulness of the identified clusters was verified by examining various characteristics of students such as number of problems students attempted to solve, weekly and daily problem completion percentages, and whether they earned a course certificate. The findings of this study suggest that the clustering technique utilizing self-organizing map and hierarchical clustering algorithms in tandem can be a useful exploratory data analysis tool that can help MOOC instructors identify similar students based on a large number of variables and examine their characteristics from multiple perspectives.
Evaluation of wound healing effect of alginate films containing Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel
Authors: Koga Adriana Y , Pereira Airton V , Lipinski Leandro C , Oliveira Marcia RP
Published: January 2018

A new alginate dressing with Aloe vera gel was developed and used to study its cutaneous healing effect in vivo by surgical wounds in Wistar rats. The aloe-alginate film was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy, hydration rate, and calcium release. The aloe-alginate film demonstrated desirable physical and mechanical characteristics for wound dressing application. The animals were divided in three groups (n = 20): gauze bandage, alginate film, and aloe-alginate film. The histological analysis on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 22nd days after the treatment showed that the aloe-alginate films modulated the inflammatory phase and decreased the quantity of macrophages when compared to the alginate film group and the control (gauze bandage). The evaluation of collagen fibers showed a decrease in type III and increase in type I fibers on group treated with aloe-alginate film suggesting an improvement in the progression of the healing process.
Automated optimal flight planning based on the aircraft intent description language
Authors: González-Arribas Daniel , Soler Manuel , López-Leonés Javier , Casado Enrique , Sanjurjo-Rivo Manuel
Published: January 2018

The future air traffic management system is to be built around the notion of trajectory-based operations. It will rely on automated tools related to trajectory prediction in order to define, share, revise, negotiate and update the trajectory of the aircraft before and during the flight, in some case, in near real time. This paper illustrates how existing standards on trajectory description such as the aircraft intent description language can be enhanced including optimisation capabilities based on numerical optimal control. The Aircraft Intent Description Language is a formal language that has been created in order to describe aircraft intent information in a rigorous, unambiguous and flexible manner. It has been implemented in a platform for a modular design of the trajectory generation process. A case study is presented to explore its effectiveness and identify the requirements and needs to generate optimised aircraft intents with higher automation and flexibility. Preliminary results show the suitability of numerical optimal control to design optimised aircraft intents based on the aircraft intent description language.
Neural network based optimal adaptive attitude control of near-space vehicle with system uncertainties and disturbances
Authors: Xia Rongsheng , Chen Mou , Wu Qiangxian
Published: January 2018

In this paper, a neural network based optimal adaptive attitude control scheme is derived for the near-space vehicle with uncertainties and external time-varying disturbances. Firstly, radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) approximation method and nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) are used to tackle the system uncertainties and external disturbances, respectively. Subsequently, a feedforward control input under backstepping control frame with RBFNN and NDO is designed to transform the optimal tracking control problem into an optimal stabilization problem. Then, a single online approximation based adaptive method is used to learn the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation to obtain the corresponding optimal controller. As a result, the compound controller consists of feedforward control input and optimal controller which can ensure that the near-space vehicle attitude angles are able to track reference signals in an optimal way. Lyapunov stability analysis method is used to show that all the closed-loop system signals are uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed optimal attitude control scheme.
On point source influencing Love-type wave propagation in a functionally graded piezoelectric composite structure: A Green’s function approach
Authors: Singh Abhishek Kumar , Das Amrita , Ray Anusree , Chattopadhyay Amares
Published: January 2018

Green’s function plays an important role in solving the problems concerning point action or impulse responsible for wave motions in materials. Prime objective of the this article is to investigate the propagation behaviour of Love-type wave influenced by a point source in a composite structure comprising a functionally graded piezoelectric material layer lying over a functionally graded fibre-reinforced material half-space. Green’s function technique is adopted in order to obtain the dispersion equation, which is further reduced to the classical Love wave equation as a particular case of the problem. The effect of increasing thickness of functionally graded piezoelectric material layer on the circular frequency and wave number is unravelled and depicted graphically. Moreover, influence of heterogeneity, piezoelectricity and dielectric constant associated with functionally graded piezoelectric material layer and effect of heterogeneity parameter and corresponding magnification factor concerned with functional gradedness of functionally graded fibre-reinforced material half-space have been reported through numerical computation and graphical delineation. For sake of computation, numerical data of PZT-5H ceramics for the functionally graded piezoelectric material layer and carbon-fibre epoxy-resin for functionally graded fibre-reinforced material half-space have been considered. Comparative study is performed to elucidate the effect of presence and absence of reinforcement in functionally graded half-space on the phase velocity of Love-type wave propagating in composite structure.
Case Analysis of Factors Contributing to Patient Falls
Authors: Watson Barbara , Salmoni Alan , Zecevic Aleksandra
Published: January 2018

Falls are a constant risk for patients in acute-care hospitals, which can lead to serious consequences. The purpose of this study was to examine hospital fall case studies and to learn the contributing factors for patient falls. This was achieved by conducting a secondary analysis of 11 fall case studies obtained from two previous studies. The fall cases used the Senior Falls Investigative Methodology (SFIM) approach, which provided detailed analysis of the circumstances surrounding the falls. A total of 549 contributing factors were identified in the 11 case studies, where major categories were classified according to the four different layers of defenses using Reason’s Swiss Cheese Model of Accident Causation (organizational factors, supervision, preconditions, and unsafe acts). Hospital policies, reduced supervision, disease processes, the environment, and patients transferring without assistance dominated the reasons for increased risk. Additional strategies were recommended for all layers of defense to reduce patient falls.
Chemoradiotherapy With Generic Cisplatin Formulations for Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Shimada Rie , Tsukahara Kiyoaki , Takase Soichiro , Okamoto Isaku , Sato Hiroki , Katsube Yasuaki , Maruyama Ryo , Shimizu Akira
Published: January 2018

The use of generic drugs has been increasing. However, studies of the safety of generic cisplatin (CDDP) for the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) have not been reported. This study investigated the treatment completion rates and incidence of CDDP-related adverse events in patients with advanced HNC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using generic CDDP. This study included 72 patients who received concurrent CRT using generic CDDP. The number of courses of CDDP was 3 in 45 patients, 2 in 19 patients, and 1 in 8 patients. During 154 courses of 80 mg/m2 generic CDDP, grade 3/4 leukopenia in 21 (14%), neutropenia in 18 (12%), and hypochromia in 8 (5%) cases were reported. Grade 2 elevated serum creatinine occurred in 4 cases (3%), but no grade 3/4 elevated serum creatinine was reported. These results suggest that CRT using generic CDDP is well tolerated in patients with HNC.
A class act? Social background and body modifications in Australia
Authors: Tranter Bruce , Grant Ruby
Published: January 2018

Are we witnessing the democratisation of body modification in Australia? The prevalence and social background of body modifications is examined using national and state-level survey data from Australia. We find body modifications to be more prevalent among younger, less educated, working-class, non-conservative Australians. Women are far more likely than men are to have body piercings, although in Queensland, young women are more likely than young men to be tattooed. Important life events such as pregnancy, separating from a long-term partner or experiencing violence are also associated with body modifications. While body modifications may be on the rise, social factors still influence the uptake of body modification practices in Australia, suggesting these are socially circumscribed taste-based practices, and should not yet be described as normative.
Two Tribes Divided by a Common Language? The True Nature of the Divide between Account Planners and Market Researchers
Authors: Baskin Merry , Coburn Neil
Published: January 2018

At the MRS Conference, 2000, Rupert Howell in a keynote speech attacked the research industry for failing to innovate or adapt to change. The authors take up the challenge of trying to understand the nature of the antipathy that often exists between advertising agency and research people, so as to see how it might be overcome. Analysis of the speech and responses to it make clear that the main contention concerns quantitative pre-testing. Three hypotheses are raised: 1) researchers and planners have different expectations from research; 2) they have different mental models about how advertising works; 3) they are fundamentally different people. Evidence is adduced confirming all three. Mental models quoted include those of Millward Brown, Hall & Partners, HPI, TRBI, low-involvement processing, persuasion shift testing. These researchers’ models are contrasted with opinions from a sample of planners. That researchers and planners are different people is confirmed by results of a survey among senior researchers and planners using the Social Styles Inventory Model (described in appendix) to establish personality type. Ends with a series of recommendations for avoiding the conflict: build long-term relationships with clients, be honest and open, insist on proper briefings, involve the marketing director, understand and explain the advertising strategy and the brand/consumer relationship, ensure that enough time is devoted to the job, how to deliver bad news, understand the difference between idea and execution, use research early in the creative process, avoid delegating too much responsibility to junior people. Clients also need to appreciate the limits of research, understand, respect and trust the researcher, allow enough time and be prepared to pay for quality. Winner of the 2001 ISBA Award.
Gaining Insight on Business and Organisational Behaviour: The Qualitative Dimension
Authors: Mcphee Neil
Published: January 2018

Discusses qualitative research as applied to business-to-business (B2B) markets. Covers; the context -how business structures have changed and become more complex; how qualitative researchers are co-operating with other information providers, and working more closely with the decision-makers; how various qualitative research tools are being used; new tasks for research (branding, cost reduction, communications, corporate culture, competition); future challenges for researching business markets.
Online Surveys in Marketing Research
Authors: Ilieva Janet , Baron Steve , Healey Nigel M.
Published: January 2018

In a recent article on conducting international marketing research in the twenty-first century (Craig & Douglas 2001), the application of new (electronic) technology for data collection was encouraged. Email and web-based data collection methods are attractive to researchers in international marketing because of low costs and fast response rates. Yet the conventional wisdom is that, as some people still do not have access to e-mail and the Internet, such data-collection techniques may often result in a sample of respondents that is not representative of the desired population. In this article we evaluate multimode strategies of data collection that include web-based, e-mail and postal methods as a means for the international marketing researcher to obtain survey data from a representative sample. An example is given of a multimode strategy applied to the collection of survey data from a sample of respondents across 100 countries.