bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MECANISMOS DE DEPENDÊNCIA QUÍMICA NO TABAGISMO: REVISÃO DA LITERATURA
Authors: Pupulim Alisson F. , Sarris Andrey Biff , Fernandes Luiz G. R. , Nakamura Maki C. , Camargo Tatiane V. , Paula Josué B.
Published: July 2015

Introdução: O tabagismo está associado à dependência química da nicotina, a qual leva o fumante a manifestar características de abstinência, tolerância e abandono de atividades sociais. O fumo é também influenciado por fatores bioquímicos, genéticos e ambientais. Objetivo: Abordar os principais mecanismos de dependência química relacionados ao tabagismo. Metodologia: Foi realizada consulta à literatura médica através de meios eletrônicos e físicos. A consulta por meios eletrônicos se desenvolveu através de pesquisas nas bases de dados MEDLINE, LILACS e SciELO. Nas bases MEDLINE e LILACS foi utilizado como descritor “transtorno por uso de tabaco” (“tobacco use disorder”). Discussão: O mecanismo de dependência se relaciona com o alto poder de difusão da nicotina pelos alvéolos pulmonares e sua interação com receptores colinérgicos nicotínicos (nAchR) centrais. Isso possibilita indução e propagação do impulso nervoso até o sistema de recompensa cerebral, contribuindo com efeitos momentâneos de euforia e prazer, principalmente através da secreção de dopamina. A falta de nicotina no organismo leva o indivíduo à síndrome de abstinência, condição clínica desencadeada por alterações do número e estado dos receptores nicotínicos. A genética mostrou ter influência no início, na manutenção do hábito e no tratamento da dependência nicotínica, condicionada, no entanto, por fatores ambientais. Estudos mostraram também relação entre genes dos receptores nicotínicos e câncer de pulmão. Conclusão: A nicotina é o principal fator desencadeante da dependência ao tabaco, pois altera a conformação dos receptores colinérgicos nicotínicos. Estes influenciam na propagação do impulso nervoso até o sistema de recompensa cerebral, criando mecanismos de reforço positivo.
O ESVAZIAMENTO SIMBÓLICO DO CONCEITO DE TOLERÂNCIA NO CONTEXTO DO DIÁLOGO INTERRELIGIOSO: CONTRIBUIÇÕES DA PSICOLOGIA SOCIAL PARA OS TEMPOS DE ESPIRITUALIDADE LAICA
Authors: Franco Clarissa De
Published: July 2015

O conceito de tolerância, embora fundamental para se abordar as diferenças culturais, especialmente as religiosas, não se mostra suficiente para o avanço efetivo do diálogo produtivo, podendo, inclusive, trazer sombreamento às situações de conflito, mascarando discriminações em nome de um discurso de convivência. Identificando um esvaziamento simbólico do conceito de tolerância, este artigo aponta para a necessidade de novos termos no relacionamento entre partes em conflito. Partimos para a noção de promoção da interculturalidade na forma de reconhecimento da alteridade, através da prática da “solidariedade útil”, que acaba por colocar os atores do conflito em parceria em nome da causa que os perpassa publicamente.
RELIGIÃO E POLÍTICA SEGUNDO MARCEL GAUCHET
Authors: Santiago Filho Elio Roberto Pinto
Published: July 2015

Este artigo objetiva analisar a relação entre religião e política segundo o pensamento de Marcel Gauchet, expondo em linhas gerais sua tese sobre as metamorfoses políticas da religião ao longo da história. O texto procura mostrar como as principais revoluções da história estariam ligadas a mudanças radicais no fundamento do ser-conjunto, inserindo uma interpretação alternativa ao diagnóstico laico e secular das sociedades modernas.
Intra-day variation of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment outcomes in dairy cattle
Authors: Gutmann AK , Schwed B , Tremetsberger L , Winckler C
Published: July 2015

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment of cattle expression using a fixed rating scale of 20 descriptors is one of the measures of the Welfare Quality® (WQ) assessment protocol for dairy cattle. As for other on-farm measures of welfare, reliability is an important issue especially if farms are to be certified. This study investigated the repeatability of QBA results across three different observation times during the day (early morning, late morning, early afternoon). For this purpose, 13 observers assessed a total of 30 video clips from ten commercial dairy farms using visual analogue scales to score the 20 QBA terms. QBA scores for ‘emotional state’ were computed according to the Welfare Quality® protocol (WQ_QBA) and, additionally, a Principal Component Analysis was carried out. The latter revealed two main dimensions which may be described as ‘mood’ and ‘activity’, the former thus corresponding to the ‘emotional state’ score of the WQ protocol. Both for scores derived from the WQ protocol and from PCA, mixed model analysis for repeated measures revealed a significant effect of observation time depending on the farm. Mixed model analysis for repeated measures revealed a significant effect of observation time for three farms out of ten on both the WQ_QBA score and the PCA ‘mood’ dimension; a similar effect was found for eight out of ten farms for the PCA ‘activity’ dimension. These results indicate that observation time potentially affects WQ (and other QBA) outcomes on a proportion of farms. However, given that outcomes for WQ_QBA and PCA ‘mood’ were consistent for the majority of farms, procedures suggested in the Welfare Quality® protocol may constitute a reasonable compromise between reliability and feasibility. If the QBA assessment should reflect the ‘mean mood’, multiple assessments throughout the day may be carried out.
New Developments for Family Caregivers in the Context of Mental Health in Canada
Authors: Amir Ella
Published: July 2015

In Canada, unpaid caregivers in the context of mental health are starting to receive the attention they deserve. To a certain extent, caregiving in other domains has been already recognized as an essential component of care, especially caregiving to frail elderly and those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Caregivers of a loved one with mental illness, however, have hardly been on the radar until recently. This report provides contextual background and a brief history of some recent, positive developments in Canada in addressing the needs of caregivers of family members who have mental health problems or illnesses. The role of family caregivers is being defined with increasing precision. Grassroots organizations and government-sponsored institutions are articulating responsive policies for bringing caregivers into the spotlight. While in its early days, there appears to be growing momentum in recognizing the crucial role family caregivers play in the recovery process in mental illness, the special needs that caregivers themselves have as a result of this role, and the economic burden of failing to accord caregivers a prominent place in any overall strategy for dealing with mental health issues on a national level.
A new approach to Saturn's periodicities
Authors: Carbary J. F.
Published: July 2015

Saturn's magnetospheric periodicities are commonly thought to have a dual nature, one period originating from the southern hemisphere and a slightly different period from the northern. Both periods vary a few percent over time intervals of years and apparently merged a few months after Saturn equinox. These periodicities have not been explained. The dual‐period waveform is generally represented as the superposition of two sinusoids with nearly equal periods. However, dual‐period waves can also result from an amplitude modulation of a carrier periodicity, from frequency modulation of the carrier, from random phase jumps in the carrier, and from small, random changes in the period itself. While such simple phenomena are well known in the radio community, they can serve as possible explanations for how a single planetary period can appear as the dual (or multiple) periods observed in Saturn's magnetosphere. Candidates for modulation and randomization include the solar wind pressure and speed, the orbital periods of moons of Saturn, or even the trajectory of the Cassini orbiter itself.
Influence of ice thickness and surface properties on light transmission through Arctic sea ice
Authors: Katlein Christian , Arndt Stefanie , Nicolaus Marcel , Perovich Donald K. , Jakuba Michael V. , Suman Stefano , Elliott Stephen , Whitcomb Louis L. , McFarland Christopher J. , Gerdes Rüdiger , Boetius Antje , German Christopher R.
Published: July 2015

The observed changes in physical properties of sea ice such as decreased thickness and increased melt pond cover severely impact the energy budget of Arctic sea ice. Increased light transmission leads to increased deposition of solar energy in the upper ocean and thus plays a crucial role for amount and timing of sea‐ice‐melt and under‐ice primary production. Recent developments in underwater technology provide new opportunities to study light transmission below the largely inaccessible underside of sea ice. We measured spectral under‐ice radiance and irradiance using the new Nereid Under‐Ice (NUI) underwater robotic vehicle, during a cruise of the R/V Polarstern to 83°N 6°W in the Arctic Ocean in July 2014. NUI is a next generation hybrid remotely operated vehicle (H‐ROV) designed for both remotely piloted and autonomous surveys underneath land‐fast and moving sea ice. Here we present results from one of the first comprehensive scientific dives of NUI employing its interdisciplinary sensor suite. We combine under‐ice optical measurements with three dimensional under‐ice topography (multibeam sonar) and aerial images of the surface conditions. We investigate the influence of spatially varying ice‐thickness and surface properties on the spatial variability of light transmittance during summer. Our results show that surface properties such as melt ponds dominate the spatial distribution of the under‐ice light field on small scales (<1000 m2), while sea ice‐thickness is the most important predictor for light transmission on larger scales. In addition, we propose the use of an algorithm to obtain histograms of light transmission from distributions of sea ice thickness and surface albedo.
A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Multicenter Study of Adalimumab in Pediatric Patients With Enthesitis‐Related Arthritis
Authors: Burgos‐Vargas Rubén , Tse Shirley M. L. , Horneff Gerd , Pangan Aileen L. , Kalabic Jasmina , Goss Sandra , Unnebrink Kristina , Anderson Jaclyn K.
Published: July 2015

Objective

Enthesitis‐related arthritis (ERA) is a juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) category, primarily affecting entheses and peripheral joints. This study evaluated efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of adalimumab versus placebo in patients with ERA.

Methods

This is a phase III, multicenter, randomized double‐blind study in patients ages ≥6 to <18 years with ERA treated with adalimumab (24 mg/m2, maximum dose 40 mg every other week) or placebo for 12 weeks, followed by up to 192 weeks of open‐label adalimumab. The primary end point was percent change from baseline in number of active joints with arthritis (AJC) at week 12. Samples were collected to determine adalimumab serum concentrations. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed throughout the study.

Results

Forty‐six patients were randomized (31 adalimumab/15 placebo). At baseline, mean age was 12.9 years, mean duration of ERA symptoms was 2.6 years, mean AJC was 7.8, and mean enthesitis count was 8.1. Mean percent change from baseline in AJC at week 12 was greater in the adalimumab group versus placebo (−62.6% versus −11.6%; P = 0.039). Most secondary variables favored adalimumab versus placebo at week 12. Treatment response further increased with continued adalimumab therapy through week 52. Mean steady‐state adalimumab serum concentrations were 7.5–11.8 μg/ml, similar to patients age ≥2 years with polyarticular JIA. AE rates were similar between placebo and adalimumab: any AE (53.3% versus 67.7%), serious AEs (0% versus 3.2%), and infectious AEs (20.0% versus 29.0%).

Conclusion

Adalimumab reduced signs and symptoms of ERA at week 12, with improvement sustained through week 52. The safety profile was consistent with previous adalimumab studies.
MicroRNA‐181a, a potential diagnosis marker, alleviates acute graft versus host disease by regulating IFN‐γ production
Authors: Sang Wei , Zhang Cong , Zhang Dianzheng , Wang Ying , Sun Cai , Niu Mingshan , Sun Xiaoshen , Zhou Cui , Zeng Lingyu , Pan Bin , Chen Wei , Yan Dongmei , Zhu Feng , Wu Qingyun , Cao Jiang , Zhao Kai , Chen Chong , Li Zhenyu , Li Depeng , Loughran Thomas P. , Xu Kailin
Published: July 2015

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) is a valuable therapeutic strategy for a wide variety of diseases. Acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) is a major complication in up to 75% of allo‐HSCT. The absence of a reliable predicative marker for aGVHD onset prevents preemptive treatment and impedes widespread and successful application of this therapy. In this study we found that after allo‐HSCT, the levels of miR‐181a were reduced significantly prior to the onset of aGVHD. More importantly, the degree of its reduction correlated with the severity of aGVHD. Mechanistically, miR‐181a affects the function of T lymphocytes by down‐regulating IFN‐γ in a dose‐dependent manner. Meanwhile, we confirmed that miR‐181a can effectively preserve the anti‐leukemic effect in vitro. Using a murine allo‐HSCT model, we demonstrated that murine miR‐181b, the human miR‐181a homolog, served as an effective predictor of aGVHD. Moreover, expression of this microRNA ameliorated the severity of aGVHD. Collectively, these results show that the level of miR‐181a may serve as a reliable marker for the diagnosis and prognosis the onset of aGVHD. Am. J. Hematol. 90:998–1007, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radiopaque polyurethanes with flexible iodine‐containing chain extender
Authors: Wang Teng , Zhang Zhihua , Song Ran , Tuo Xinlin , Wu Jigong
Published: July 2015

Iodinated polyurethanes (IPUs) with radiopaque property were prepared using poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and a novel chain extender. The chain extender, described as N‐(1,3‐dihydroxypropan‐2‐yl)‐2,3,5‐triiodobenzamide, was synthesized in two steps from 2‐aminopropane‐1,3‐diol and 2,3,5‐triiodobenzoic acid with a high yield. A thorough study on the chemical structure, mechanical properties, radiopacity, and physiological properties of the IPUs was conducted. It is revealed that with increasing content of chain extender, the molecular weights of IPUs decreased slightly while the tensile modulus and breaking strength of IPUs increased significantly, illustrating an excellent comprehensive performance. With iodine content high to about 16 wt %, the IPU sample is equal to the aluminum plate with the same thickness in X‐ray radiopacity, meaning that the synthesized polyurethanes are promising as radiopaque materials. The oxidative degradation and cytotoxicity tests illustrated a good performance of stability and biocompatibility for the IPUs. It confirmed that the as‐synthesized IPUs are promising for biomedicine applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42693.
Drifting Diaphyses: Asymmetry in Diametric Growth and Adaptation Along the Humeral and Femoral Length
Authors: Maggiano Isabel S. , Maggiano Corey M. , Tiesler Vera G. , Chi‐Keb Julio R. , Stout Sam D.
Published: July 2015

This study quantifies regional histomorphological variation along the human humeral and femoral diaphysis in order to gain information on diaphyseal growth and modeling drift patterns. Three thin sections at 40, 50, and 60% bone length were prepared from a modern Mexican skeletal sample with known age and sex to give a longitudinal perspective on the drifting cortex (12 adults and juveniles total, 7 male and 5 female). Point‐count techniques were applied across eight cross‐sectional regions of interest using the starburst sampling pattern to quantify percent periosteal and endosteal primary lamellar bone at each diaphyseal level. The results of this study show a posterio‐medial drift pattern in the humerus with a posterior rotational trend along the diaphysis. In the femur, we observed a consistent lateral to anteriolateral drift and an increase in primary lamellar bone area of both, periosteal and endosteal origin, towards the distal part of the diaphysis. These observations characterize drifting diaphyses in greater detail, raising important questions about how to resolve microscopic and macroscopic cross‐sectional analysis towards a more complete understanding of bone growth and mechanical adaptation. Accounting for modeling drift has the potential to positively impact age and physical activity estimation, and explain some of the significant regional variation in bone histomorphology seen within (and between) bone cross‐sections due to differing ages of tissue formation. More study is necessary, however, to discern between possible drift scenarios and characterize populational variation. Anat Rec, 298:1689–1699, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detailed Anatomical Orientations for Certain Types of Morphometric Measurements Can Be Determined Automatically With Geometric Algorithms
Authors: Boyer Doug M. , Winchester Julia M. , Glynn Chris , Puente Jesus
Published: July 2015

Morphometric datasets only convey useful information about variation when measurement landmarks and relevant anatomical axes are clearly defined. We propose that anatomical axes of 3D digital models of bones can be standardized prior to measurement using an algorithm that automatically finds a universal geometric alignment among sampled bones. As a case study, we use teeth of “prosimian” primates. In this sample, equivalent occlusal planes are determined automatically using the R‐package auto3dgm. The area of projection into the occlusal plane for each tooth is the measurement of interest. This area is used in computation of a shape metric called relief index (RFI), the natural log of the square root of crown area divided by the square root of occlusal plane projection area. We compare mean and variance parameters of area and RFI values computed from these automatically orientated tooth models with values computed from manually orientated tooth models. According to our results, the manual and automated approaches yield extremely similar mean and variance parameters. The only differences that plausibly modify interpretations of biological meaning slightly favor the automated treatment because a greater proportion of differences among subsamples in the automated treatment are correlated with dietary differences. We conclude that—at least for dental topographic metrics—automated alignment recovers a variance pattern that has meaning similar to previously published datasets based on manual data collection. Therefore, future applications of dental topography can take advantage of automatic alignment to increase objectivity and repeatability. Anat Rec, 298:1816–1823, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Advanced imaging approaches for regenerative medicine: Emerging technologies for monitoring stem cell fate in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Kupfer Molly E. , Ogle Brenda M.
Published: July 2015

The future of regenerative medicine relies on our ability to control stem cell fate in order to produce functional tissues. Stem cells are the preferred cell source for tissue engineering endeavors and regenerative medicine therapies due to their high potency and capacity for expansion. However, their potency also makes them very difficult to control, as they are in a constant state of flux. Therefore, in order to advance research in regenerative medicine, it is necessary to be able to monitor cell state and phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. This review will detail the imaging technologies currently in use to monitor stem cell phenotype, migration, and differentiation. In addition to providing examples of the most recent work in this area, we will also discuss the future of imaging technologies for regenerative medicine, and how current imaging modalities might be utilized to image specific cell functionality in order to track stem cell fate. The research area of imaging stem cells is progressing toward identifying mature and differentiating cells not only by phenotypic markers, but also by visualizing cell function. Many of the cutting‐edge modalities detailed in this review have the potential to be harnessed toward this goal.
Age effects on the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract of the rat
Authors: Vaz Ricardo P. , Pereira Pedro A. , Madeira M. Dulce
Published: July 2015

The olfactory deficits that occur during aging influence the quality of life and have been regarded as a risk factor for malnutrition in the elderly. The nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (nLOT) is a cortical nucleus of the pallial amygdala that has been implicated in feeding behavior. Here we present quantitative data on the anatomy of the nLOT in the adult rat and on the effects of age on its structure and neurochemistry. Total neuron numbers, neuronal volumes, and volumes of layers 1–3 of the nLOT were estimated in adult and old male rats using stereological techniques. We also estimated the total number of interneurons expressing neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and the numerical density of the nLOT cholinergic varicosities. Our data show that aging is associated with a reduction of the total neuron numbers in the nLOT, due to cell loss in layers 2 and 3. There were no age‐related variations in neuronal volumes. Similarly, the volume of the nLOT was unchanged in aged rats, except in layer 3 where it was reduced. The numerical density of cholinergic varicosities was also unchanged in aged rats. Conversely, the total numbers of NPY‐ and VIP‐immunoreactive neurons were reduced by 55% and 30%, respectively, in aged rats. These findings include the nLOT in the list of cortical olfactory structures susceptible to aging and raise the possibility that the age‐related changes that occur in the nLOT might contribute for the decline in olfactory functions reported in normal aging. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:759–771, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Limited catching bias in a wild population of birds with near‐complete census information
Authors: Simons Mirre J. P. , Winney Isabel , Nakagawa Shinichi , Burke Terry , Schroeder Julia
Published: July 2015

Animal research often relies on catching wild animals; however, individuals may have different trappability, and this can generate bias. We studied bias in mist netting, the main method for catching wild birds. The unusually high resighting rate in our study population—house sparrows (Passer domesticus) on Lundy Island (England)—allowed us to obtain accurate estimates of the population size. This unique situation enabled us to test for catching bias in mist netting using deviations from the expected Poisson distribution. There was no evidence that a fraction of the birds in the population consistently remained uncaught. However, we detected a different bias: More birds than expected were captured only once within a year. This bias probably resulted from a mixture of fieldworkers sometimes ignoring rapid recaptures and birds becoming net shy after their first capture. We had sufficient statistical power with the available data to detect a substantial uncaught fraction. Therefore, our data are probably unbiased toward catching specific individuals from our population. Our analyses demonstrate that intensively monitored natural insular populations, in which population size can be estimated precisely, provide the potential to address important unanswered questions without concerns about a fraction of the population remaining uncaught. Our approach can help researchers to test for catching bias in closely monitored wild populations for which reliable estimates of population size and dispersal are available.
Fe(OTf)3‐Catalyzed Aromatization of Substituted 3‐Methyleneindoline and Benzo­furan Derivatives: A Selective Route to C‐3‐Alkylated Indoles and Benzofurans
Authors: Kundal Sandip , Jalal Swapnadeep , Paul Kartick , Jana Umasish
Published: July 2015

A simple and convenient approach was developed to the selective synthesis of 3‐substituted indoles and benzofurans by the isomerization of 3‐methyleneindoline and benzofuran derivatives catalyzed by Fe(OTf)3. The salient features of this method are the easy availability of substrates, high yield, mild reaction conditions, tolerance of a variety of functional groups, and use of an environmentally friendly catalyst. A possible mechanism has also been proposed for the isomerization process.
Rapid Prototyping of Sensors and Conductive Elements by Day‐to‐Day Writing Tools and Emerging Manufacturing Technologies
Authors: Dossi Nicolò , Terzi Fabio , Piccin Evandro , Toniolo Rosanna , Bontempelli Gino
Published: July 2015

The growing demand for low cost and easy to use analytical devices requires the development of reliable and rapid deposition strategies suitable for changing easily planned designs and applicable to a wide range of materials for assembling conductive tracks and sensitive elements. Further important challenges to be pursued are the possibility of using readily available instrumentation and reducing power consumption and hazardous chemical waste. This review provides an overview of the use of portable day‐to‐day writing tools, such as pencils and pens, for the rapid and on‐demand deposition of conductive patterns on different substrates, with particular emphasis on the assembly of “Do It Yourself” sensors. Moreover, layer‐by‐layer deposition of simple or even complex three dimensional (3D) circuits, resorting to pressure driven extrusion of conductive filaments is considered. Future perspectives and potentiality of these emerging technologies for assembling sensors are also explored.
An investigation into the effects of damping and nonlinear geometry models in earthquake engineering analysis
Authors: Hardyniec Andrew , Charney Finley
Published: July 2015

The growing emphasis of considering the behavior of structures at extreme performance states, such as collapse, has necessitated the characterization of the effects of varying attributes of the structural model. One source of variability that has not previously been considered is variability in the mathematical model. This study investigated the effects of changing the geometric nonlinearity approach and damping model on a four‐story buckling restrained braced frame, a four‐story steel moment resisting frame, and an eight‐story steel moment resisting frame. The variations in behavior are quantified using the maximum interstory drift ratio as the performance metric and qualified by comparing the relative displaced shapes and component response histories at the collapse performance state. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phytochemical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of different citrus juice concentrates
Authors: Oikeh Ehigbai I. , Omoregie Ehimwenma S. , Oviasogie Faith E. , Oriakhi Kelly
Published: July 2015

The search for new antimicrobial compounds is ongoing. Its importance cannot be overemphasized in an era of emerging resistant pathogenic organisms. This study therefore investigated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of different citrus juice concentrates. Fruit juices of Citrus tangerine (tangerine), Citrus paradisi (grape), Citrus limon (lemon), and Citrus aurantifolia (lime) were evaluated. Antimicrobial activities against five bacterial and three fungal strains were evaluated. The results revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and reducing sugars in all the juice concentrates. DPPH (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacities varied with tangerine and grape juices having better scavenging capacities than lemon and lime juices. Grape juice was observed to have a significantly higher (P < 0.05) ferric‐reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) value (364.2 ± 10.25 μmol/L Fe(II)/g of the extract) than the reference antioxidant, ascorbic acid (312.88 ± 5.61 μmol/L). Antimicrobial studies revealed differential antimicrobial activities against different microbial strains. Zones of inhibition ranging from 4 to 26 mm were observed for the antibacterial tests with 0–24 mm for antifungal test. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bacteriostatic concentrations (MBC) for concentrates against bacterial strains ranged from 12.5 to 200 μg/mL. Lemon and lime juice concentrates had lower MIC and MBC values with orange and tangerine having the highest values. Minimum fungicidal concentrations ranged from 50 to 200 μg/mL. The results of this study suggest that these juice concentrates may have beneficial antimicrobial roles that can be exploited in controlling unwanted microbial growth.
Atomic force microscope, molecular imaging, and analysis
Authors: Chen Shu‐wen W. , Teulon Jean‐Marie , Godon Christian , Pellequer Jean‐Luc
Published: July 2015

Image visibility is a central issue in analyzing all kinds of microscopic images. An increase of intensity contrast helps to raise the image visibility, thereby to reveal fine image features. Accordingly, a proper evaluation of results with current imaging parameters can be used for feedback on future imaging experiments. In this work, we have applied the Laplacian function of image intensity as either an additive component (Laplacian mask) or a multiplying factor (Laplacian weight) for enhancing image contrast of high‐resolution AFM images of two molecular systems, an unknown protein imaged in air, provided by AFM COST Action TD1002 (http://www.afm4nanomedbio.eu/), and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) particles imaged in liquid. Based on both visual inspection and quantitative representation of contrast measurements, we found that the Laplacian weight is more effective than the Laplacian mask for the unknown protein, whereas for the TMV system the strengthened Laplacian mask is superior to the Laplacian weight. The present results indicate that a mathematical function, as exemplified by the Laplacian function, may yield varied processing effects with different operations. To interpret the diversity of molecular structure and topology in images, an explicit expression for processing procedures should be included in scientific reports alongside instrumental setups. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of glycine uptake by pak choi in organic and conventional soil under different glycine concentrations: A pot study
Authors: Wang Xiaoli , Han Ruifeng , Tang Dongmei , Huang Danfeng
Published: July 2015

Many studies have shown that plants can utilize organic N in the form of amino acids. However, it is unclear whether the glycine‐uptake capability responds differently to various farm management systems, and whether the interaction of farm management type with soil glycine concentrations affects the glycine uptake by plants. A pot experiment was conducted in which pak choi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis Makino var. communis Tsen et Lee) was grown in soil from organic and conventional agricultural systems for 15 d prior to labeling with 2‐13C, 15N‐glycine in a range of Gly concentrations (0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 15 μg N g−1 dry soil). The glycine uptake rate increased with increasing applied N concentrations, whereas the glycine recovery increased initially and then decreased. Regardless of glycine concentration, the glycine uptake rates of whole plants were moderate, but not significantly higher in organic than in conventional soil. The plant glycine recovery in organic soil was significantly higher than in conventional soil. Therefore, we suggest that pak choi glycine uptake differs under organic and conventional management systems. More research efforts should focus on the nutritional function of organic N in organic systems.
Assessment and Management of Intellectual Capital: A Single Case Study on the Construction and Implementation of an IC Index
Authors: Grimaldi Michele , Cricelli Livio , Rogo Francesco
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this paper is to present an index that assesses the contribution of the intellectual capital (IC) to the value creation process of an organization. The index combines into a single measure the contributions of the individual IC elements on the basis of their strategic importance, their performance, and their reciprocal influence.

Five steps, based on the Assessment and Management of Intellectual Capital (AMIC), are considered as essential to build up the index. First, a theoretical framework is developed to underpin the process of selection of the different IC categories. Then, further steps suggest how to aggregate, weigh, and normalize the value of the IC categories in order to build the AMIC index. The index has been implemented into the ‘Software’ community of innovation of Finmeccanica, which is the leading Italian group in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. We argue that the AMIC index can be successfully used to assess and verify the performance of the value creation process and to explain the behaviour of each specific IC category and its contribution to the combined unit value. Furthermore, the analysis of each category contribution to the value creation can be carried out both in terms of stock and flow in order to highlight the quantitative and qualitative interrelations among the categories. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polycomb Group (PcG) Proteins and Human Cancers: Multifaceted Functions and Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Wang Wei , Qin Jiang‐Jiang , Voruganti Sukesh , Nag Subhasree , Zhou Jianwei , Zhang Ruiwen
Published: July 2015

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are transcriptional repressors that regulate several crucial developmental and physiological processes in the cell. More recently, they have been found to play important roles in human carcinogenesis and cancer development and progression. The deregulation and dysfunction of PcG proteins often lead to blocking or inappropriate activation of developmental pathways, enhancing cellular proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and increasing the cancer stem cell population. Genetic and molecular investigations of PcG proteins have long been focused on their PcG functions. However, PcG proteins have recently been shown to exert non‐classical‐Pc‐functions, contributing to the regulation of diverse cellular functions. We and others have demonstrated that PcG proteins regulate the expression and function of several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in a PcG‐independent manner, and PcG proteins are associated with the survival of patients with cancer. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the research on PcG proteins, including both the Pc‐repressive and non‐classical‐Pc‐functions. We specifically focus on the mechanisms by which PcG proteins play roles in cancer initiation, development, and progression. Finally, we discuss the potential value of PcG proteins as molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, and as molecular targets for cancer therapy.
Multiparametric MRI as an early biomarker of individual therapy effects during concomitant treatment of brain tumours
Authors: Lemasson Benjamin , Bouchet Audrey , Maisin Cécile , Christen Thomas , Le Duc Géraldine , Rémy Chantal , Barbier Emmanuel L. , Serduc Raphaël
Published: July 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the ability of multiparametric MRI to identify the early effects of individual treatment, during combined chemo‐radiotherapy on brain tumours.

Eighty male rats bearing 9L gliosarcomas were randomized into four groups: untreated, anti‐angiogenic therapy (SORA group), microbeam radiation therapy (MRT group) and both treatments (MRT+SORA group). Multiparametric MRI (tumour volume, diffusion‐weighted MR imaging (ADC), blood volume fraction (BVf), microvessel index (VSI), vessel wall integrity (AUCP846) and tissue oxygen saturation (StO2)) was performed 1 day before and 2, 5 and 8 days after treatment initiation. Unpaired t‐tests and one‐way ANOVA were used for statistical analyses.

Each MR parameter measured in our protocol was revealed to be sensitive to tumour changes induced by any of the therapies used (individually or combined). When compared with untreated tumours, SORA induced a decrease in BVf, VSI, StO2 and AUCP846, MRT generated an increase in ADC and AUCP846 and combined therapies yielded mixed effects: an increase in ADC and AUCP846 and a decrease in BVf, StO2 and AUCP846. MRT and MRT+SORA significantly slowed tumour growth. Despite these two groups presenting with similar tumour sizes, the information yielded from MR multiparameter assessment indicated that, when used concomitantly, each therapy induced distinguishable and appreciable physiological changes in the tumour.

Our results suggest that multiparametric MRI can monitor the effects of individual treatments, used concomitantly, on brain tumours. Such monitoring would be useful for the detection of tumour resistance to drug/radiotherapy in patients undergoing concomitant therapies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combustion of Mechanically Alloyed Aluminum‐Magnesium Powders in Steam
Authors: Quijano Danielle , Corcoran Amy L. , Dreizin Edward L.
Published: July 2015

Mechanically alloyed Al⋅Mg powders with the mole fraction of Al varied from 0.47 to 0.9 were burned at atmospheric pressure in water vapor. The powders were carried by nitrogen through the center of a hydrogen‐oxygen diffusion flame. The particles ignited in the steam at approximately 2500 K, generated as the hydrogen‐oxygen flame product. Filtered photomultiplier tubes were used to capture the optical emission traces of individual particles as they burned. It was assumed that the measured durations of individual emission pulses are representative of individual particle burn times. Distributions of the burn times were obtained for each powder and correlated with respective particle size distributions to relate particle burn times with their sizes. Color temperatures corresponding to the particle emission signals were also obtained. It was observed that the burn times measured for alloys were more close to those of pure Al than Mg; for particles smaller than 2–3 μm, burn times for the alloys were shorter than for pure metal particles. The effect was strongest for the alloy with 50 wt‐% of Mg (Al0.47Mg0.54). Approximately, burn times, τ, as a function of particle size, d, could be estimated using a τ∼dn law, where n increased from 0.72 to 1.05 as the mole fraction of Mg increased from 0.1 to 0.53. The particle flame temperatures varied between 2500 and 3100 K for all alloys except for Al0.7Mg0.3, for which the temperatures were somewhat lower. The measured flame temperatures were reasonably close to the adiabatic flame temperatures calculated for combustion of mixed elemental Al and Mg in steam.
Annealing effect on Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cell with Zn1–xMgxO buffer layer
Authors: Hironiwa Daisuke , Matsuo Nobuki , Chantana Jakapan , Sakai Noriyuki , Kato Takuya , Sugimoto Hiroki , Minemoto Takashi
Published: July 2015

(Zn,Mg)O buffer layer has attracted attention with the potential to control the conduction‐band offset (CBO) at the interface between the buffer layer and the Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) absorber, where the (Zn,Mg)O buffer layer is deposited by sputtering. The bandgap energy (Eg) of (Zn,Mg)O layers is tunable from 3.3 to 7.7 eV by changing the Mg/(Zn + Mg) ratio. Thus, short‐wavelength response of solar cells with a (Zn,Mg)O buffer layer is higher than that with a CdS buffer layer. Nevertheless, the solar‐cell performances with a (Zn,Mg)O buffer layer is significantly lower than that with a CdS buffer layer. The low performances are attributed to the sputtering damage on the CZTSSe absorber. To recover sputtering damage, the annealing treatment was conducted on CZTSSe solar cells. However, after the annealing treatment, the performances of CZTSSe solar cells decreased. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the CZTSSe absorbers without and with the annealing treatment were measured to evaluate the (Zn,Mg)O/CZTSSe junction quality. From the results, the PL intensity presents a slight variation, while the Eg of the CZTSSe absorbers decreases. Thus, the defects near the space‐charge region activate. Consequently, the decrease of the sputtering damage was not confirmed by the annealing treatment. Therefore, a damage‐free method for the deposition of (Zn,Mg)O layer is necessary.
Brick tunnel randomization and the momentum of the probability mass
Authors: Kuznetsova Olga M.
Published: July 2015

The allocation space of an unequal‐allocation permuted block randomization can be quite wide. The development of unequal‐allocation procedures with a narrower allocation space, however, is complicated by the need to preserve the unconditional allocation ratio at every step (the allocation ratio preserving (ARP) property). When the allocation paths are depicted on the K‐dimensional unitary grid, where allocation to the l‐th treatment is represented by a step along the l‐th axis, l = 1 to K, the ARP property can be expressed in terms of the center of the probability mass after i allocations. Specifically, for an ARP allocation procedure that randomizes subjects to K treatment groups in w1:⋯:wK ratio, w1+⋯+wK=1, the coordinates of the center of the mass are (w1i,…,wKi). In this paper, the momentum with respect to the center of the probability mass (expected imbalance in treatment assignments) is used to compare ARP procedures in how closely they approximate the target allocation ratio. It is shown that the two‐arm and three‐arm brick tunnel randomizations (BTR) are the ARP allocation procedures with the tightest allocation space among all allocation procedures with the same allocation ratio; the two‐arm BTR is the minimum‐momentum two‐arm ARP allocation procedure. Resident probabilities of two‐arm and three‐arm BTR are analytically derived from the coordinates of the center of the probability mass; the existence of the respective transition probabilities is proven. Probability of deterministic assignments with BTR is found generally acceptable. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trends in Job Quality for African-American Workers, 1979–2011
Authors: Jones Janelle , Schmitt John
Published: July 2015

Economists expect that increases in education and work experience will increase workers’ productivity and translate into higher compensation. We use data from the March Current Population Survey (CPS) to show that over the past four decades, the “human capital” of the employed black workforce has increased enormously, yet the share of black workers in a “good job” –one that pays at least $19 per hour (in inflation-adjusted 2011 dollars), has employer-provided health insurance, and an employer-sponsored retirement plan– has actually declined. The CPS data show that black women saw a modest increase in access to “good jobs,” but the share of black men in good jobs decreased. Despite improvements for black women, they were consistently less likely to be in a good job than black men in every year in our sample. Black workers at every age and education level were also less likely to be in a good job in 2011 than they were in 1979.
Severe Influenza in 33 US Hospitals, 2013–2014: Complications and Risk Factors for Death in 507 Patients
Authors: Shah Nirav S. , Greenberg Jared A. , McNulty Moira C. , Gregg Kevin S. , Riddell James , Mangino Julie E. , Weber Devin M. , Hebert Courtney L. , Marzec Natalie S. , Barron Michelle A. , Chaparro-Rojas Fredy , Restrepo Alejandro , Hemmige Vagish , Prasidthrathsint Kunatum , Cobb Sandra , Herwaldt Loreen , Raabe Vanessa , Cannavino Christopher R. , Hines Andrea Green , Bares Sara H. , Antiporta Philip B. , Scardina Tonya , Patel Ursula , Reid Gail , Mohazabnia Parvin , Kachhdiya Suresh , Le Binh-Minh , Park Connie J. , Ostrowsky Belinda , Robicsek Ari , Smith Becky A. , Schied Jeanmarie , Bhatti Micah M. , Mayer Stockton , Sikka Monica , Murphy-Aguilu Ivette , Patwari Priti , Abeles Shira R. , Torriani Francesca J. , Abbas Zainab , Toya Sophie , Doktor Katherine , Chakrabarti Anindita , Doblecki-Lewis Susanne , Looney David J. , David Michael Z.
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 became the predominant circulating strain in the United States during the 2013–2014 influenza season. Little is known about the epidemiology of severe influenza during this season.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of severely ill patients with influenza infection in intensive care units in 33 US hospitals from September 1, 2013, through April 1, 2014, was conducted to determine risk factors for mortality present on intensive care unit admission and to describe patient characteristics, spectrum of disease, management, and outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 444 adults and 63 children were admitted to an intensive care unit in a study hospital; 93 adults (20.9%) and 4 children (6.3%) died. By logistic regression analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with mortality among adult patients: older age (>65 years, odds ratio, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.4–6.9], P=.006 and 50–64 years, 2.5 [1.3–4.9], P=.007; reference age 18–49 years), male sex (1.9 [1.1–3.3], P=.031), history of malignant tumor with chemotherapy administered within the prior 6 months (12.1 [3.9–37.0], P<.001), and a higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (for each increase by 1 in score, 1.3 [1.2–1.4], P<.001).

CONCLUSION

Risk factors for death among US patients with severe influenza during the 2013–2014 season, when influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 was the predominant circulating strain type, shifted in the first postpandemic season in which it predominated toward those of a more typical epidemic influenza season.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(11):1251–1260
UNIFORMLY BOUNDED COMPOSITION OPERATORS
Authors: GŁAZOWSKA DOROTA , MATKOWSKI JANUSZ
Published: July 2015

We prove that if a uniformly bounded (or equidistantly uniformly bounded) Nemytskij operator maps the space of functions of bounded ${\it\varphi}$-variation with weight function in the sense of Riesz into another space of that type (with the same weight function) and its generator is continuous with respect to the second variable, then this generator is affine in the function variable (traditionally, in the second variable).
Ultrastructural Visualization of Vaccine Adjuvant Uptake In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Giusti Fabiola , Seubert Anja , Cantisani Rocco , Tortoli Marco , D’Oro Ugo , Ferlenghi Ilaria , Dallai Romano , Piccioli Diego
Published: July 2015

Adjuvants are substances that enhance adaptive immune responses when formulated in a vaccine. Alum and MF59 are two vaccine adjuvants licensed for human vaccination. Their mode of action has not been completely elucidated. Here we show the first ultrastructural visualization of Alum and MF59 interaction with immune cells in vitro and in vivo. We observed that Alum is engulfed by cells as inclusions of laminae that are detectable within draining lymph nodes. MF59 is instead engulfed by cells in vitro as low-electron-dense lipid-like inclusions that display a vesicle pattern, as confirmed by confocal microscopy using fluorescently labeled MF59. However, lipid-like inclusions with different high- and low-electron-dense content are detected within cells of draining lymph nodes when injecting MF59. As high-electron-dense lipid-like inclusions are also detected upon injection of Alum, our results suggest that the low-electron-dense inclusions are formed by engulfed MF59, whereas the high-electron-dense inclusions are proper lipid inclusions. Thus, we demonstrated that vaccine adjuvants are engulfed as inclusions by lymph node cells and hypothesize that adjuvant treatment may modify lipid metabolism.