bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of older Chinese people's macronutrient intake status: results from the China Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Xu Xiaoyue , E. Byles Julie , Shi Zumin , J. Hall John
Published: November 2014

Little is known about the macronutrient intake status of older Chinese people. The present study evaluated the macronutrient intake status of older Chinese people (aged ≥ 60 years), investigated whether they had intake levels that met the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), and explored the associations between macronutrient intakes and age groups, sex, education levels, work status, BMI groups, urbanicity levels and four socio-economic regions of China (Northeast, East Coast, Central and Western). Dietary intake data of 2746 older Chinese with complete dietary intake data in the Longitudinal China Health and Nutrition Survey (2009 wave) carried out across four diverse regions were analysed. Dietary intake data were obtained by interviews using 24 h recalls over three consecutive days. The MUFA:SFA ratios were calculated based on the Chinese Food Composition Table. Less than one-third of the older Chinese people included in the present study had intake levels meeting the adequate intake for carbohydrate-energy and fat-energy; less than one-fifth had intake levels meeting the recommended nutrient intake for protein-energy; and more than half of the older people had fat-energy intakes higher than the DRI. There were strong associations between the proportions of energy from the three macronutrients and education levels, urbanicity levels and the four socio-economic regions of China, with older people living in the East Coast region having different patterns of macronutrient-energy intakes when compared with those living in the other three regions. Macronutrient intakes across different urbanicity levels in the four regions revealed considerable geographical variations in dietary patterns, which will affect the risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Clinical interventions and public health policies should recognise these regional differences in dietary patterns.
Immunoreactivity of lactic acid-treated mare's milk after simulated digestion
Authors: Fotschki Joanna , Szyc Anna , Wróblewska Barbara
Published: November 2014

The similarity of mare's milk to breast milk makes it an interesting substrate for the creation of dairy beverages. The aim of this study was to determine the immunoreactivity of the digested mare's milk products carried out by lactic acid fermentation withLactobacillus casei LCY, Streptococcus thermophilus MK10andBifidobacterium animalis Bi30. Simulation of digestion with saliva, pepsin and pancreatin/bile salts was carried out. The immunoreactivity of the milk proteins was assessed by competitive ELISA. The separation of proteins was studied using a tricine SDS-PAGE method. It has been demonstrated that lactic acid fermentation significantly decreases the immunoreactivity of β-lactoglobulin, β-casein, κ-casein and bovine serum albumin. The level of reduction was connected to the type of bacterial strain. The simulated digestion processes caused the decline of immunoreactivity, and the decreases obtained in the experiment were as follows: lactoferrin: 95%, β-lactoglobulin: 94%, β-casein: 93%, α-lactalbumin: 82%, α-casein: 82%, bovine serum albumin: 76% and κ-casein: 37%. The results of the study indicated that microbial fermentation with tested strains is a valuable method for reducing the immunoreactivity of mare's milk proteins. However, further studies with other bacterial strains are needed to gain a higher level of elimination or total reduction of mare's milk immunoreactivity to possibly introduce fermented mare's milk into the diet of patients with immune-mediated digestive problems.
Special issue: Culham Thesis Prize winners
Authors: Ham C J
Published: November 2014

The Culham Thesis Prize is awarded annually to the nominee who has displayed an excellence in the execution of the scientific method as witnessed by the award of Doctor of Philosophy in Plasma Science from a UK or Irish university. The thesis content should exhibit significant new work and originality, clearly driven by the nominee, be well explained and demonstrate a good understanding of the subject. The prize is awarded at the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Group Spring Conference and the prize winner gives an invited talk about their thesis work. The prize is sponsored by Culham Centre for Fusion Energy.
ARE POLICY DECISIONS ON SURGICAL PROCEDURES INFORMED BY ROBUST ECONOMIC EVIDENCE? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: Ara Roberta , Basarir Hasan , Keetharuth Anju D. , Barbieri Marco , Weatherly Helen L.A. , Sculpher Mark J.S. , Ahmed Hashim , Brown Steven
Published: November 2014

Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine the empirical and methodological cost-effectiveness evidence of surgical interventions for breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer.

Methods:A systematic search of seven databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and NHSEED, research registers, the NICE Web site and conference proceedings was conducted in April 2012. Study quality was assessed in terms of meeting essential, preferred and UK NICE specific requirements for economic evaluations.

Results:The seventeen (breast = 3, colorectal = 7, prostate = 7) included studies covered a broad range of settings (nine European; eight non-European) and six were published over 10 years ago. The populations, interventions and comparators were generally well defined. Very few studies were informed by literature reviews and few used synthesized clinical evidence. Although the interventions had potential differential effects on recurrence and mortality rates, some studies used relatively short time horizons. Univariate sensitivity analyses were reported in all studies but less than a third characterized all uncertainty with a probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Although a third of studies incorporated patients’ health-related quality of life data, only four studies used social tariff values.

Conclusions:There is a dearth of recent robust evidence describing the cost-effectiveness of surgical interventions in the management of breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. Many of the recent publications did not satisfy essential methodological requirements such as using clinical evidence informed by a systematic review and synthesis. Given the ratio of potential benefit and harms associated with cancer surgery and the volume of resources consumed by these, there is an urgent need to increase economic evaluations of these technologies.
Models at Work—Models in Decision Making
Authors: Svetlova Ekaterina , Dirksen Vanessa
Published: November 2014

In recent years, research on modeling in both the philosophy of science and the social studies of science and technology has undergone an acute transformation. Philosophers and social scientists have begun to realize that science, in the words of Carrier and Nordmann, has increasingly shifted its focus from “epistemic or truth-oriented” research to “application-dominated” research. “Science is viewed today as an essentially practical endeavor” (Carrier and Nordmann 2011, 1) and should be considered in the context of its application. In accordance with this re-orienting of science, research on modeling has also changed. Still considering models as genuinely scientific tools, philosophers and social scientists promoted the “practice turn” that suggests a sharper focus on pragmatic issues and the performative and productive role of modeling. Application of models for the resolution of practice-related problems is viewed as an extension of science.
Dissolving Decision Making? Models and Their Roles in Decision-Making Processes and Policy at Large
Authors: Zeiss Ragna , van Egmond Stans
Published: November 2014

Argument

This article studies the roles three science-based models play in Dutch policy and decision making processes. Key is the interaction between model construction and environment. Their political and scientific environments form contexts that shape the roles of models in policy decision making. Attention is paid to three aspects of the wider context of the models: a) the history of the construction process; b) (changes in) the political and scientific environments; and c) the use in policy processes over longer periods of time. Models are more successfully used when they are constructed in astablepolitical and scientific environment. Stability and certainty within a scientific field seems to be a key predictor for the usefulness of models for policy making. The economic model is more disputed than the ecology-based model and the model that has its theoretical foundation in physics and chemistry. The roles models play in policy processes are too complex to be considered as straightforward technocratic powers.
Nicolaus Taurellus on Forms and Elements
Authors: Blank Andreas
Published: November 2014

Argument

This article examines the conception of elements in the natural philosophy of Nicolaus Taurellus (1547–1606) and explores the theological motivation that stands behind this conception. By some of his early modern readers, Taurellus may have been understood as a proponent of material atoms. By contrast, I argue that considerations concerning the substantiality of the ultimate constituents of composites led Taurellus to an immaterialist ontology, according to which elements are immaterial forms that possess active and passive potencies as well as motion and extension. In Taurellus's view, immaterialism about elements provides support for the theological doctrine of creationex nihilo. As he argues, the ontology of immaterial forms helps to explicate a sense in which creatures are substances, not accidents of the divine substance. In particular, he maintains that immaterial forms stand in suitable relations of ontological dependence to God: creation dependence (since forms would not exist without the divine act of creation), but neither subsistence dependence (since forms continue to exist without continued divine agency) nor activity dependence (since forms are active without requiring divine concurrence).
James Croll (1821–1890): ice, ice ages and the Antarctic connection
Authors: Sugden David E.
Published: November 2014

The thrust of this paper is that James Croll should be more generously lauded for his remarkable contribution to the study of ice ages, glacier flow and the nature of the Antarctic ice sheet. Croll was the first to calculate the link between fluctuations of the Earth’s orbit and glacial/interglacial cycles, and to identify the crucial role of positive feedback processes necessary to transform minor insolation changes into major climatic changes. He studied the mechanisms of glacier flow and explained flow over horizontal land surfaces at a continental scale, including the excavation of rock basins. Croll relied on a quantitatively based deductive approach. One of his most remarkable achievements was his study of the thickness, thermal regime and dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheet (1879). This contains important insights, which are relevant today, and yet the paper was published before anyone had landed on the continent!
The glacial geomorphology of the Antarctic ice sheet bed
Authors: Jamieson Stewart S.R. , Stokes Chris R. , Ross Neil , Rippin David M. , Bingham Robert G. , Wilson Douglas S. , Margold Martin , Bentley Michael J.
Published: November 2014

In 1976, David Sugden and Brian John developed a classification for Antarctic landscapes of glacial erosion based upon exposed and eroded coastal topography, providing insight into the past glacial dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheets. We extend this classification to cover the continental interior of Antarctica by analysing the hypsometry of the subglacial landscape using a recently released dataset of bed topography (BEDMAP2). We used the existing classification as a basis for first developing a low-resolution description of landscape evolution under the ice sheet before building a more detailed classification of patterns of glacial erosion. Our key finding is that a more widespread distribution of ancient, preserved alpine landscapes may survive beneath the Antarctic ice sheets than has been previously recognized. Furthermore, the findings suggest that landscapes of selective erosion exist further inland than might be expected, and may reflect the presence of thinner, less extensive ice in the past. Much of the selective nature of erosion may be controlled by pre-glacial topography, and especially by the large-scale tectonic structure and fluvial valley network. The hypotheses of landscape evolution presented here can be tested by future surveys of the Antarctic ice sheet bed.
The U-Pb detrital zircon signature of West Antarctic ice stream tills in the Ross embayment, with implications for Last Glacial Maximum ice flow reconstructions
Authors: Licht Kathy J. , Hennessy Andrea J. , Welke Bethany M.
Published: November 2014

Glacial till samples collected from beneath the Bindschadler and Kamb ice streams have a distinct U-Pb detrital zircon signature that allows them to be identified in Ross Sea tills. These two sites contain a population of Cretaceous grains 100–110 Ma that have not been found in East Antarctic tills. Additionally, Bindschadler and Kamb ice streams have an abundance of Ordovician grains (450–475 Ma) and a cluster of ages 330–370 Ma, which are much less common in the remainder of the sample set. These tracers of a West Antarctic provenance are also found east of 180° longitude in eastern Ross Sea tills deposited during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Whillans Ice Stream (WIS), considered part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet but partially originating in East Antarctica, lacks these distinctive signatures. Its U-Pb zircon age population is dominated by grains 500–550 Ma indicating derivation from Granite Harbour Intrusive rocks common along the Transantarctic Mountains, making it indistinguishable from East Antarctic tills. The U-Pb zircon age distribution found in WIS till is most similar to tills from the west-central Ross Sea. These data provide new specific targets for ice sheet models and can be applied to pre-LGM deposits in the Ross Sea.
The structural and dynamic responses of Stange Ice Shelf to recent environmental change
Authors: Holt T.O. , Glasser N.F. , Fricker H.A. , Padman L. , Luckman A. , King O. , Quincey D.J. , Siegfried M.R.
Published: November 2014

Stange Ice Shelf is the most south-westerly ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula, a region where positive trends in atmospheric and oceanic temperatures have been recently documented. In this paper, we use a range of remotely sensed datasets to evaluate the structural and dynamic responses of Stange Ice Shelf to these environmental changes. Ice shelf extent and surface structures were examined at regular intervals from optical and radar satellite imagery between 1973 and 2011. Surface speeds were estimated in 1989, 2004 and 2010 by tracking surface features in successive satellite images. Surface elevation change was estimated using radar altimetry data acquired between 1992 and 2008 by the European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS) -1, -2 and Envisat. The mean number of surface melt days was estimated using the intensity of backscatter from Envisat’s Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar instrument between 2006 and 2012. These results show significant shear fracturing in the southern portion of the ice shelf linked to enhanced flow speed as a consequence of measured thinning. However, we conclude that, despite the observed changes, Stange Ice Shelf is currently stable.
Optimal forest management for timber value and carbon sequestration benefits in tropical planted forests: a case study of household foresters in Vietnam
Authors: Nghiem Nhung
Published: November 2014

Enhancing carbon sequestration is crucial to mitigate rising global levels of greenhouse gases, and for developing countries, carbon sequestration may also provide economic benefits via international carbon trading schemes. This study aimed to determine the optimal management strategy for tropical planted forests when timber and carbon sequestration are valued. The survey data were collected from 291 household foresters, who were growing Eucalyptus urophylla and Acacia mangium in Yen Bai Province, Vietnam. The regression exercise suggests that financial status was negatively correlated with forest management practices, and ethnicity and financial status were correlated with carbon sequestration management. The survey results suggest that the mean rotation age employed by household foresters is five years. However, the optimization modelling suggests that the optimal rotation age for maximizing net present value is greater than nine years. The differences between current practices and optimal practices therefore favour a role for government policy interventions.
The Limitations of Representing Sound and Notation on Screen
Authors: Vickery Lindsay
Published: November 2014

Animated screen-based notation and visual representation of sound provide an important solution to visualising a range of musical phenomena and techniques including continuous parametrical changes, synchronisation with prerecorded audio or live processing, and nonlinear formal organisation. The limitations of human visual capabilities, however, place some constraints upon the efficacy of screen-based representation, particularly in regard to notation reading. Findings from sightreading studies exploring the manner in which notation is encoded, processed and executed are examined with the aim of identifying the perceptual and practical boundaries of presenting animated notation on screen. The development of efficient visual representation is proposed as an important requirement for alleviating the issues created by the time constraints of reading on screen. Studies in semantics and cross-modal activation are discussed as a foundation for the expansion of approaches to the visualisation of sound.
Visual Design of Real-Time Screen Scores
Authors: Kim-Boyle David
Published: November 2014

The author examines visual design considerations in the development of real-time screen scores. Such scores are shown to lend themselves particularly well to the representation of non-linear musical processes and the articulation of non-linear musical forms. The author argues that the foregrounding of such scores, through their projection for an audience and meticulous design, draws especial attention to the manner in which such non-linear processes are represented and in turn decoded by performers. While the transparency of the decoding process is shown to vary across a wide spectrum, the central role of the notational schema in works such as these is shown to align them in many ways with a broader interface aesthetics, promoting rich fields of creative and artistic enquiry.
Sonification and the Mysticism of Negation
Authors: Wolfe Kristina
Published: November 2014

Sonification has become a commonly used tool for data analysis, auditory feedback and compositional inspiration. It is often described in scientific terms as a means of uncovering previously unknown patterns in information or data through the use of the auditory sense. This goal seems to be objective, but the results and methodologies can be highly subjective. Moreover, the techniques and sources of information are strikingly similar to those used in mysticism, especially mysticisms of negation, even though the frames of reference and underlying perceptions of the world are markedly different. Both practitioners of sonification and apophatic mystics believe that certain types of information are incomprehensible through traditional analytic means and can only be understood through experience. In this way, sonification can be thought of as a source of mystical information.

In this paper, I will discuss the similarities between sonification and apophatic mysticism, or the mysticism of negation. I will argue that the practice of sonification, as a source of mystical information, is ideally suited for creative contemplation, particularly in electronic music. I will start by providing some historical background on the mysticism of negation. I will then present several ways in which sonified knowledge (sound) is often imagined, discussed and perceived akin to a mystical object. Finally, I will discuss specific ways in which sonification exemplifies apophatic mysticism and reveals mystical information. This information – whatever its nature – can be used for creative contemplation and is a potentially invaluable source of compositional and spiritual inspiration.
General practitioners’ perceptions of and involvement in health behaviour change: can computer-tailored interventions help?
Authors: Dickfos Marilla , King David , Parekh Sanjoti , Boyle Frances M. , Vandelanotte Corneel
Published: November 2014

Aim

To explore GPs’ perceptions of their role in primary prevention, barriers experienced and willingness to accommodate an automated, computer-tailored intervention.

Background

General practice is an attractive setting for primary prevention of chronic disease. Due to constraints in time and knowledge it is underutilised.

Methods

Telephone interviews of 13 GPs in Brisbane, Australia, whose patients were previously involved in a lifestyle change research project. Qualitative responses were grouped into themes.

Findings

GPs perceived their role in lifestyle change as ‘educators’, ‘supporters’ and ‘prompters’. Smoking and physical activity were addressed more often than alcohol and salt intake. Longer lifestyle-focussed consultations and computer-generated reminders were suggested to overcome barriers. A computer-tailored approach was appreciated due to its minimal impact on practice routine. GPs understand their role in primary prevention but need help to overcome barriers. GP initiated consultations focusing on lifestyle and prevention along with computer support systems could improve capability for prevention in general practice.
Migration, Ethnicity and Progression from Low-Paid Work: Implications for Skills Policy
Authors: Netto Gina , Hudson Maria , Noon Mike , Sosenko Filip , de Lima Philomena , Kamenou-Aigbekaen Nicolina
Published: November 2014

Migration plays an important role in determining skills supply, and certain ethnic groups tend to be over-represented in low-paid work. This article considers the implications of the complex interplay of migration, ethnicity and workplace progression for skills policy by comparing and contrasting the opportunities faced by low-paid workers of diverse ethnicities in progressing to better paid work. This is done by drawing on a qualitative study of nine case study organisations in Scotland and England, including interviews with sixty-five workers and forty-three managers. We argue that while all low-paid workers face formidable barriers to progression, recent migrants and settled ethnic minorities face additional challenges that should be considered in skills and wider social policies related to low-paid work.
THE EARLY MODERN MACHINE: DIVINE, SENTIMENTAL, ROMANTIC
Authors: RISKIN JESSICA
Published: November 2014

It is easy, especially for a generation of students who entered kindergarten in the age of Google, to think that machines, before the advent of electronic computers (and smart phones and iPads), were heavy, clunky, stupid things—big, industrial, hissing with steam and clanking their gears. Or if they weren't heavy and hissing, at least they were rigid and rote: a clock inexorably ticking its way around the dial, an automaton executing brittle motions in stiff sequence.
Niedrig-gradige Gliome im Erwachsenenalter
Authors: Kratzsch Tobias , Gautschi Oliver P. , Kuhn Susanne A. , Hottinger Andreas F. , Hildebrandt Gerhard , Stienen Martin N.
Published: November 2014

Niedrig-gradige Gliome (NGG) sind zellbiologisch betrachtet niedrig bis mässig maligne, primäre Hirntumore, die nach der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) als Grad I und II eingestuft werden. Diffuse Astrozytome, Oligodendrogliome und Mischgliome stellen häufige Untergruppen dar. NGG kommen hauptsächlich bei jüngeren Patienten vor und manifestieren sich häufig mit einem epileptischen Anfall. Eine möglichst vollständige Tumorresektion unter Erhalt neurologischer Funktionen gilt als Erstlinientherapie, da sich hierdurch signifikante Vorteile für das Gesamtüberleben ergeben. Die Indikation einer adjuvanten Strahlen- oder Chemotherapie muss interdisziplinär und fallspezifisch diskutiert werden. Biomarker wie MGMT-Methylierung, LOH 1p/19q und IDH1/2-Mutationsstatus können bezüglich des Therapieansprechens und des Gesamtüberlebens nützlich sein. Zukünftig könnten diese und weitere Marker genutzt werden, um betroffenen Patienten eine individuell angepasste, und damit personalisierte Tumortherapie mit einem optimalen Therapieergebnis anzubieten.
CBAP promotes thymocyte negative selection by facilitating T-cell receptor proximal signaling
Authors: Ho K-C , Chiang Y-J , Lai A C-Y , Liao N-S , Chang Y-J , Yang-Yen H-F , Yen J J-Y
Published: November 2014

T-cell receptor (TCR)-transduced signaling is critical to thymocyte development at the CD4/CD8 double-positive stage, but the molecules involved in this process are not yet fully characterized. We previously demonstrated that GM-CSF/IL-3/IL-5 receptor common β-chain-associated protein (CBAP) modulates ZAP70-mediated T-cell migration and adhesion. On the basis of the high expression of CBAP during thymocyte development, we investigated the function of CBAP in thymocyte development using a CBAP knockout mouse. CBAP-deficient mice showed normal early thymocyte development and positive selection. In contrast, several negative selection models (including TCR transgene, superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B, and anti-CD3 antibody treatment) revealed an attenuation of TCR-induced thymocyte deletion in CBAP knockout mice. This phenotype correlated with a reduced accumulation of BIM upon TCR crosslinking in CBAP-deficient thymocytes. Loss of CBAP led to reduced TCR-induced phosphorylation of proteins involved in both proximal and distal signaling events, including ZAP70, LAT, PLCγ1, and JNK1/2. Moreover, TCR-induced association of LAT signalosome components was reduced in CBAP-deficient thymocytes. Our data demonstrate that CBAP is a novel component in the TCR signaling pathway and modulates thymocyte apoptosis during negative selection.
Zoledronic acid induces apoptosis and S-phase arrest in mesothelioma through inhibiting Rab family proteins and topoisomerase II actions
Authors: Okamoto S , Jiang Y , Kawamura K , Shingyoji M , Tada Y , Sekine I , Takiguchi Y , Tatsumi K , Kobayashi H , Shimada H , Hiroshima K , Tagawa M
Published: November 2014

Zoledronic acid (ZOL), a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, produced anti-tumor effects through apoptosis induction or S-phase arrest depending on human mesothelioma cells tested. An addition of isoprenoid, geranylgeraniol but not farnesol, negated these ZOL-induced effects, indicating that the ZOL-mediated effects were attributable to depletion of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphates which were substrates for prenylation processes of small guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (small G proteins). ZOL-treated cells decreased a ratio of membrane to cytoplasmic fractions in RhoA, Cdc42 and Rab6 but less significantly Rac1 proteins, indicating that these proteins were possible targets for ZOL-induced actions. We further analyzed which small G proteins were responsible for the three ZOL-induced effects, caspase-mediated apoptosis, S-phase arrest and morphological changes, using inhibitors for respective small G proteins and siRNA for Cdc42. ZOL-induced apoptosis is due to insufficient prenylation of Rab proteins because an inhibitor of geranlygeranyl transferase II that was specific for Rab family proteins prenylation, but not others inhibitors, activated the same apoptotic pathways that ZOL did. ZOL suppressed an endogenous topoisomerase II activity, which was associated with apoptosis and S-phase arrest in respective cells because we detected the same cell cycle changes in etoposide-treated cells. Inhibitors for geranlygeranyl transferase I and for RhoA produced morphological changes and disrupted actin fiber structures, both of which were similar to those by ZOL treatments. These data demonstrated that anti-tumor effects by ZOL were attributable to inhibited functions of respective small G proteins and topoisomerase II activity, and suggested that cellular factors were involved in the differential cell cycle changes.
The Hippo pathway is controlled by Angiotensin II signaling and its reactivation induces apoptosis in podocytes
Authors: Wennmann D O , Vollenbröker B , Eckart A K , Bonse J , Erdmann F , Wolters D A , Schenk L K , Schulze U , Kremerskothen J , Weide T , Pavenstädt H
Published: November 2014

The Hippo pathway fulfills a crucial function in controlling the balance between proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in cells. Recent studies showed that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) serve as upstream regulators of Hippo signaling, that either activate or inactivate the Hippo pathway via the large tumor suppressor kinase (LATS) and its substrate, the co-transcription factor Yes-associated protein (YAP). In this study, we focused on the Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), which belongs to the GPCR family and has an essential role in the control of blood pressure and water homeostasis. We found that Angiotensin II (Ang II) inactivates the pathway by decreasing the activity of LATS kinase; therefore, leading to an enhanced nuclear shuttling of unphosphorylated YAP in HEK293T cells. This shuttling of YAP is actin-dependent as disruption of the actin cytoskeleton inhibited dephosphorylation of LATS and YAP. Interestingly, in contrast to HEK293T cells, podocytes, which are a crucial component of the glomerular filtration barrier, display a predominant nuclear YAP localization in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, stimulation with Ang II did not alter Hippo pathway activity in podocytes, which show a deactivated pathway. Reactivation of the LATS kinase activity in podocytes resulted in an increased cytoplasmic YAP localization accompanied by a strong induction of apoptosis. Thus, our work indicates that the control of LATS activation and subsequent YAP localization is important for podocyte homeostasis and survival.
Docosahexaenoic acid induces the degradation of HPV E6/E7 oncoproteins by activating the ubiquitin–proteasome system
Authors: Jing K , Shin S , Jeong S , Kim S , Song K-S , Park J-H , Heo J-Y , Seo K-S , Park S-K , Kweon G-R , Wu T , Park J-I , Lim K
Published: November 2014

The oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 proteins are essential for the onset and maintenance of HPV-associated malignancies. Here, we report that activation of the cellular ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) by the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), leads to proteasome-mediated degradation of E6/E7 viral proteins and the induction of apoptosis in HPV-infected cancer cells. The increases in UPS activity and degradation of E6/E7 oncoproteins were associated with DHA-induced overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Exogenous oxidative stress and pharmacological induction of mitochondrial ROS showed effects similar to those of DHA, and inhibition of ROS production abolished UPS activation, E6/E7 viral protein destabilization, and apoptosis. These findings identify a novel role for DHA in the regulation of UPS and viral proteins, and provide evidence for the use of DHA as a mechanistically unique anticancer agent for the chemoprevention and treatment of HPV-associated tumors.
Neuritin can normalize neural deficits of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: An K , Jung J H , Jeong A Y , Kim H G , Jung S Y , Lee K , Kim H J , Kim S-J , Jeong T-Y , Son Y , Kim H-S , Kim J-H
Published: November 2014

Reductions in hippocampal neurite complexity and synaptic plasticity are believed to contribute to the progressive impairment in episodic memory and the mild cognitive decline that occur particularly in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite the functional and therapeutic importance for patients with AD, intervention to rescue or normalize dendritic elaboration and synaptic plasticity is scarcely provided. Here we show that overexpression of neuritin, an activity-dependent protein, promoted neurite outgrowth and maturation of synapses in parallel with enhanced basal synaptic transmission in cultured hippocampal neurons. Importantly, exogenous application of recombinant neuritin fully restored dendritic complexity as well as spine density in hippocampal neurons prepared from Tg2576 mice, whereas it did not affect neurite branching of neurons from their wild-type littermates. We also showed that soluble recombinant neuritin, when chronically infused into the brains of Tg2576 mice, normalized synaptic plasticity in acute hippocampal slices, leading to intact long-term potentiation. By revealing the protective actions of soluble neuritin against AD-related neural defects, we provide a potential therapeutic approach for patients with AD.
Chlamydia infection depends on a functional MDM2-p53 axis
Authors: González Erik , Rother Marion , Kerr Markus C. , Al-Zeer Munir A. , Abu-Lubad Mohammad , Kessler Mirjana , Brinkmann Volker , Loewer Alexander , Meyer Thomas F.
Published: November 2014

Chlamydia, a major human bacterial pathogen, assumes effective strategies to protect infected cells against death-inducing stimuli, thereby ensuring completion of its developmental cycle. Paired with its capacity to cause extensive host DNA damage, this poses a potential risk of malignant transformation, consistent with circumstantial epidemiological evidence. Here we reveal a dramatic depletion of p53, a tumor suppressor deregulated in many cancers, during Chlamydia infection. Using biochemical approaches and live imaging of individual cells, we demonstrate that p53 diminution requires phosphorylation of Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2; a ubiquitin ligase) and subsequent interaction of phospho-MDM2 with p53 before induced proteasomal degradation. Strikingly, inhibition of the p53–MDM2 interaction is sufficient to disrupt intracellular development of Chlamydia and interferes with the pathogen’s anti-apoptotic effect on host cells. This highlights the dependency of the pathogen on a functional MDM2-p53 axis and lends support to a potentially pro-carcinogenic effect of chlamydial infection.
Fc gamma receptor-TLR cross-talk elicits pro-inflammatory cytokine production by human M2 macrophages
Authors: Vogelpoel Lisa T. C. , Hansen Ivo S. , Rispens Theo , Muller Femke J. M. , van Capel Toni M. M. , Turina Maureen C. , Vos Joost B. , Baeten Dominique L. P. , Kapsenberg Martien L. , de Jong Esther C. , den Dunnen Jeroen
Published: November 2014

M2 macrophages suppress inflammation in numerous disorders, including tumour formation, infection and obesity. However, the exact role of M2 macrophages in the context of several other diseases is still largely undefined. We here show that human M2 macrophages promote inflammation instead of suppressing inflammation on simultaneous exposure to complexed IgG (c-IgG) and TLR ligands, as occurs in the context of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). c-IgG-TLR ligand co-stimulation of M2 macrophages selectively amplifies production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and promotes Th17 responses, which all play a critical role in RA pathology. Induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines on c-IgG co-stimulation mainly depends on Fc gamma receptor IIa (FcγRIIa), which selectively amplifies cytokine gene transcription and induces caspase-1 activation. These data indicate that FcγR-TLR cross-talk may be targeted for treatment to attenuate inflammation in RA, by restoring the anti-inflammatory function of M2 macrophages.
Prediction of Giant Thermoelectric Power Factor in Type-VIII Clathrate Si46
Authors: Norouzzadeh Payam , Myles Charles W. , Vashaee Daryoosh
Published: November 2014

Clathrate materials have been the subject of intense interest and research for thermoelectric application. Nevertheless, from the very large number of conceivable clathrate structures, only a small fraction of them have been examined. Since the thermal conductivity of clathrates is inherently small due to their large unit cell size and open-framework structure, the current research on clathrates is focused on finding the ones with large thermoelectric power factor. Here we predict an extraordinarily large power factor for type-VIII clathrate Si46. We show the existence of a large density of closely packed elongated ellipsoidal carrier pockets near the band edges of this so far hypothetical material structure, which is higher than that of the best thermoelectric materials known today. The high crystallographic symmetry near the energy band edges for Si46-VIII clathrates is responsible for the formation of such a large number of carrier pockets.
Hydrogen: Economics and its Role in Biorefining
Authors: Schüth Ferdi
Published: November 2014

Hydrogen is a critical feedstock with implications in the biorefinery schemes of the future. Current pathways for the production of hydrogen rely almost exclusively on fossil feedstocks, as they facilitate affordable access routes. Nonetheless, renewable energy systems (e.g. wind or solar power) will offer new avenues for the production of hydrogen. Among the possibilities, the most straightforward route is electrolysis, for which different configurations are already commercially available. However, due to high costs, the production of hydrogen from intermittent electricity may become rather expensive, unless the downtime is reduced. Gasification and reforming pathways starting from biomass can also provide hydrogen. These pathways are competitive candidates in addition to the routes based on fossil feedstocks. Overall, the future scenarios for the production of hydrogen will depend strongly on the development of prices for fossil feedstocks as well as their regional availability, CO2 emission certificates, and the cost of renewable electricity and biomass.
General Reaction Mechanisms in Hydrogenation and Hydrogenolysis for Biorefining
Authors: Li Ning , Wang Wentao , Zheng Mingyuan , Zhang Tao
Published: November 2014

With the decline of petroleum reserves and the increase in social concern over environmental problems, the conversion of biomass into value-added chemicals and fuel has recently drawn worldwide attention. Hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis are two reactions very often present in biorefinering of lignocellulose-based feeds. Generally, hydrogenation is applied to the saturation of the CC and/or CO bonds in the biomass platform molecules. Hydrogenolysis is a reaction in which a carbon–carbon or carbon–heteroatom single bond is cleaved by the addition of hydrogen atoms. This chapter focuses on various mechanistic features of hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis applied to the conversion of biogenic feeds. The chapter presents some of the relevant case studies, not only assessing the current state-of-the-art in the field but also highlighting the recent insights towards the rational catalyst design for lignocellulose valorization.
Solvents and Solvent Effects in Biomass Conversion
Authors: Rinaldi Roberto
Published: November 2014

Hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of molecules derived from plant biomass are reactions often performed in liquid phase because the highly functionalized biomass molecules (e.g. cellulose, hemicellulose, sugars, and lignin) cannot be vaporized without undergoing thermal decomposition. The need for a solvent for biomass conversion adds another important variable to the design of catalytic systems. In this chapter, solvents and solvent effects on hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived molecules are addressed in detail. In the first section, key aspects of the physical chemistry of plant biomass and hydrogen solubilization are presented. In the second section, solvent properties commonly used to rationalize solvent effects on heterogeneous catalysis are discussed. In the third section, the solvent role in competitive adsorption, activity, and selectivity is addressed for selected case studies.
Hydrogenolysis of Cellulose and Sugars
Authors: Hausoul Peter J. C. , Oltmanns Jens U. , Palkovits Regina
Published: November 2014

Catalytic processes for biomass conversion are currently gaining renewed importance as potential alternatives to petrochemical counterparts. The metal-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of cellulose and sugars presents an interesting approach for the synthesis of fuels and polyols. This chapter covers the historical development of the hydrogenolysis of cellulose, discusses the mechanistic understanding of the reaction and highlights recent advances concerning catalyst development and process optimization. More specifically, the hydrolysis of cellulose and the degradation of glucose in aqueous medium as well as the role of the hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis catalyst are discussed to provide an insight into factors governing product distribution. Studies focusing on cellobiose as a model compound of cellulose are covered. Finally, an overview of recently developed catalyst systems based on noble and base metals in neutral and acidic aqueous medium is given. These studies confirm that the hydrogenolysis of cellulose is a highly versatile reaction allowing for optimization of the product distribution either towards hexitols or towards shorter-chain polyols, such as ethylene and propylene glycol.
Catalytic Hydrotreatment of Fast Pyrolysis Oils Using Supported Metal Catalysts
Authors: Ardiyanti Agnes Retno , Venderbosch Robertus Hendrikus , Yin Wang , Heeres Hero Jan
Published: November 2014

Fast pyrolysis of biomass is an attractive approach for the densification of its energy content. Through this approach, biomass is transformed into liquids (bio-oils or pyrolysis oils) having a considerable oxygen content. Therefore, upgrading is required to convert oxygenates into hydrocarbons, improving the oil properties and broadening the application range. In this instance, catalytic hydrotreatment was demonstrated to be an attractive technology for the upgrading of fast pyrolysis oil into stabilized products. This chapter presents an overview on the typical features of the hydrotreatment process (e.g. reaction conditions, catalysts, product yields, deoxygenation levels, product properties, analytical methods, and reaction pathways). Finally, recent results for a catalytic hydrotreatment process in the presence of a novel Ni–Cu catalyst supported on SiO2 will be discussed. Regarding catalyst performance and properties of the product oil, this catalyst shows considerable advantages over the benchmark Ru/C catalyst.
Biofuels Generation via Hydroconversion of Vegetable Oils and Animal Fats
Authors: Roberto Gomes Jefferson , Bezergianni Stella , Zotin José Luiz , Sousa-Aguiar Eduardo Falabella
Published: November 2014

Hydroconversion processes of vegetable oils and animal fats are undergoing a rapid development, since the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon streams (e.g. petroleum, mineral coal or shale oil), is already present in existing refineries with different purposes, such as sulfur removal or upgrading of heavier streams. As far as the coprocessing technologies are concerned, some have also been tested and used in industrial units. The coprocessing poses no problem to the integrity of the catalytic fixed bed of the HDT unit, simultaneously increasing the yield of hydrotreated liquid products by selective hydroconversion of triglycerides into n-paraffins. This chapter provides an overview of the most significant industrial progress to produce biofuels from vegetable oils via hydroprocessing. An indepth industrial analysis of the reaction steps and processes in current development by the major global oil companies is given.
Plasmodium falciparum mitochondria import tRNAs along with an active phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase
Authors: Sharma Arvind , Sharma Amit
Published: November 2014

The Plasmodium falciparum protein translation enzymes aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are an emergent family of drug targets. The aaRS ensemble catalyses transfer of amino acids to cognate tRNAs, thus providing charged tRNAs for ribosomal consumption. P. falciparum proteome expression relies on a total of 36 aaRSs for the three translationally independent compartments of cytoplasm, apicoplast and mitochondria. In the present study, we show that, of this set of 36, a single genomic copy of mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (mFRS) is targeted to the parasite mitochondria, and that the mFRS gene is exclusive to malaria parasites within the apicomplexan phyla. Our protein cellular localization studies based on immunofluorescence data show that, along with mFRS, P. falciparum harbours two more phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (FRS) assemblies that are localized to its apicoplast and cytoplasm. The ‘extra’ mFRS is found in mitochondria of all asexual blood stage parasites and is competent in aminoacylation. We show further that the parasite mitochondria import tRNAs from the cytoplasmic tRNA pool. Hence drug targeting of FRSs presents a unique opportunity to potentially stall protein production in all three parasite translational compartments.
Hydrogen sulfide attenuates the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zhou Xiang , An Guoyin , Lu Xiang
Published: November 2014

There is growing evidence that H2S has beneficial effects in treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. However, it remains unclear whether H2S can attenuate the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of H2S against DCM. Diabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and administered with the H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) for 16 weeks. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) transfected with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-specific siRNA or pre-treated with SP600125, SB203580 or LY294002 prior to high glucose exposure were used to confirm the involvement of Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signalling pathways in the protective effects of H2S. The echocardiographical and histopathological data indicated that H2S improved left ventricular function and prevented cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats. H2S was also found to attenuate hyperglycaemia-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis in the cardiac tissue. In addition, H2S could activate the Nrf2/ARE signalling pathway and up-regulate the expression of antioxidant proteins haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in the diabetic myocardium. Moreover, H2S was found to reduce high glucose-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK pathways and activating PI3K/Akt signalling. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that H2S alleviates the development of DCM via attenuation of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.
High input impedance DC servo loop circuit
Authors: Spinelli E.
Published: November 2014

DC suppression is a common instrumentation signal processing technique, used to reject spurious DC components and thus allow centring of the signal between the power supply rails and exploitation of all the available voltage range. A generic DC servo loop that presents high input impedance and can work as a front‐end is proposed. It is designed to be implemented with standard operational amplifiers, to offer solutions for ‘board level’ analogue instrumentation design. The main features of the circuit are analysed, and analytical expressions are provided for its adaptation for solving different instrumentation problems.