bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gap Junctions in the Ventral Hippocampal-Medial Prefrontal Pathway Are Involved in Anxiety Regulation
Authors: Schoenfeld Timothy J. , Kloth Alexander D. , Hsueh Brian , Runkle Matthew B. , Kane Gary A. , Wang Samuel S.-H. , Gould Elizabeth
Published: November 2014

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent but little is known about their underlying mechanisms. Gap junctions exist in brain regions important for anxiety regulation, such as the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) and mPFC, but their functions in these areas have not been investigated. Using pharmacological blockade of neuronal gap junctions combined with electrophysiological recordings, we found that gap junctions play a role in theta rhythm in the vHIP and mPFC of adult mice. Bilateral infusion of neuronal gap junction blockers into the vHIP decreased anxiety-like behavior on the elevated plus maze and open field. Similar anxiolytic effects were observed with unilateral infusion of these drugs into the vHIP combined with contralateral infusion into the mPFC. No change in anxious behavior was observed with gap junction blockade in the unilateral vHIP alone or in the bilateral dorsal HIP. Since physical exercise is known to reduce anxiety, we examined the effects of long-term running on the expression of the neuronal gap junction protein connexin-36 among inhibitory interneurons and found a reduction in the vHIP. Despite this change, we observed no alteration in theta frequency or power in long-term runners. Collectively, these findings suggest that neuronal gap junctions in the vHIP–mPFC pathway are important for theta rhythm and anxiety regulation under sedentary conditions but that additional mechanisms are likely involved in running-induced reduction in anxiety.
Differentially Methylated Plasticity Genes in the Amygdala of Young Primates Are Linked to Anxious Temperament, an at Risk Phenotype for Anxiety and Depressive Disorders
Authors: Alisch Reid S. , Chopra Pankaj , Fox Andrew S. , Chen Kailei , White Andrew T.J. , Roseboom Patrick H. , Keles Sunduz , Kalin Ned H.
Published: November 2014

Children with an anxious temperament (AT) are at a substantially increased risk to develop anxiety and depression. The young rhesus monkey is ideal for studying the origin of human AT because it shares with humans the genetic, neural, and phenotypic underpinnings of complex social and emotional functioning. Heritability, functional imaging, and gene expression studies of AT in young monkeys revealed that the central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce) is a key environmentally sensitive substrate of this at risk phenotype. Because epigenetic marks (e.g., DNA methylation) can be modulated by environmental stimuli, these data led us to hypothesize a role for DNA methylation in the development of AT. To test this hypothesis, we used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing to examine the cross-sectional genome-wide methylation levels in the Ce of 23 age-matched monkeys (1.3 ± 0.2 years) phenotyped for AT. Because AT reflects a continuous trait-like variable, we used an analytical approach that is consistent with this biology to identify genes in the Ce with methylation patterns that predict AT. Expression data from the Ce of these same monkeys were then used to find differentially methylated candidates linked to altered gene regulation. Two genes particularly relevant to the AT phenotype wereBCL11AandJAG1. These transcripts have well-defined roles in neurodevelopmental processes, including neurite arborization and the regulation of neurogenesis. Together, these findings represent a critical step toward understanding the effects of early environment on the neuromolecular mechanisms that underlie the risk to develop anxiety and depressive disorders.
Long-Term Memory Stabilized by Noise-Induced Rehearsal
Authors: Wei Yi , Koulakov Alexei A.
Published: November 2014

Cortical networks can maintain memories for decades despite the short lifetime of synaptic strengths. Can a neural network store long-lasting memories in unstable synapses? Here, we study the effects of ongoing spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) on the stability of memory patterns stored in synapses of an attractor neural network. We show that certain classes of STDP rules can stabilize all stored memory patterns despite a short lifetime of synapses. In our model, unstructured neural noise, after passing through the recurrent network connections, carries the imprint of all memory patterns in temporal correlations. STDP, combined with these correlations, leads to reinforcement of all stored patterns, even those that are never explicitly visited. Our findings may provide the functional reason for irregular spiking displayed by cortical neurons and justify models of system memory consolidation. Therefore, we propose that irregular neural activity is the feature that helps cortical networks maintain stable connections.
Thermosensory Signaling by TRPM Is Processed by Brain Serotonergic Neurons to Produce Planarian Thermotaxis
Authors: Inoue Takeshi , Yamashita Taiga , Agata Kiyokazu
Published: November 2014

For most organisms, sensitive recognition of even slight changes in environmental temperature is essential for adjusting their behavioral strategies to ensure homeostasis and survival. However, much remains to be understood about the molecular and cellular processes that regulate thermosensation and the corresponding behavioral responses. Planarians display clear thermotaxis, although they have a relatively simple brain. Here, we devised a quantitative thermotaxis assay and unraveled a neural pathway involved in planarian thermotaxis by combinatory behavioral assays and RNAi analysis. We found that thermosensory neurons that expressed a planarianDugesia japonicahomolog of the Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin family a (DjTRPMa) gene were required for the thermotaxis. Interestingly, although these thermosensory neurons are distributed throughout their body, planarians with a dysfunctional brain due to regeneration-dependent conditional gene knockdown (Readyknock) of thesynaptotagmingene completely lost their thermotactic behavior. These results suggest that brain function is required as a central processor for the thermosensory response. Therefore, we investigated the type(s) of brain neurons involved in processing the thermal signals by gene knockdown of limiting enzymes for neurotransmitter biosynthesis in the brain. We found that serotonergic neurons with dendrites that were elongated towardDjTRPMa-expressing thermosensory neurons might be required for the processing of signals from thermosensory neurons that results in thermotaxis. These results suggest that serotonergic neurons in the brain may interact with thermosensory neurons activated by TRPM ion channels to produce thermotaxis in planarians.
TÜKETİCİLERİN HELAL GIDA TÜKETİM EĞİLİMLERİNİN BELİRLENMESİNE YÖNELİK BİR ÇALIŞMA
Authors: KIZGIN Yıldıray , ÖZKAN Bekir
Published: November 2014

Tüketim eyleminin bilinçsizce ve savurgan bir şekilde yapıldığı günümüzde, özellikle gıda alanında insanları tehdit eden birçok unsur bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle doğru ve sağlıklı beslenme büyük önem arz etmektedir. Helal sertifikalı ürünler doğru ve sağlıklı beslenmemizde büyük bir öneme sahiptirler. Bu çalışmanın amacı; tüketiciler üzerinde helal sertifikalı ürünler hakkında farkındalık oluşturmak ve helal sertifikalı ürünleri tüketen kişilerin, bu ürünleri tüketmelerine etki eden faktörleri ortaya koymaktır.
Long-term follow-up of ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis, a common adverse event of the anti-CTLA-4 antibody in melanoma
Authors: Albarel Frédérique , Gaudy Caroline , Castinetti Frédéric , Carré Tiphaine , Morange Isabelle , Conte-Devolx Bernard , Grob Jean-Jacques , Brue Thierry
Published: November 2014

Objective

Few data are published on the long-term follow-up of ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 antibody. We characterized hypophysitis in terms of clinical signs, endocrinological profile, and imaging at diagnosis and during a long-term follow-up.

Design and patients

Fifteen patients, treated for malignant melanoma and who presented ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis, were observed between June 2006 and August 2012 in Timone Hospital, Marseille.

Methods

Symptoms, pituitary function, and pituitary imaging at diagnosis of hypophysitis and during the follow-up were recorded.

Results

Of 131 patients treated with ipilimumab or a placebo, 15 patients (10 mg/kg in 11/15) presented with hypophysitis (≥11.5%) at 9.5±5.9 weeks (mean±s.d.) after treatment start, occurring in 66% after the third infusion. The main initial symptoms were headache (n=13) and asthenia (n=11). All patients but one had at least one hormonal defect: thyrotroph (n=13), gonadotroph (n=12), or corticotroph (n=11) deficiencies. None had diabetes insipidus. Pituitary imaging showed a moderately enlarged gland in 12 patients. Clinical symptoms improved rapidly on high-dose glucocorticoids (n=11) or physiological replacement doses (n=4). At the end of follow-up (median 33.6 months, range 7–53.5), corticotroph deficiency remained in 13 patients, 11 recovered thyrotroph and ten gonadotroph functions. Pituitary imaging remained abnormal in 11 patients.

Conclusion

Ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis is a common side-effect with frequent hormonal deficiencies at diagnosis. Usually, hormonal deficiencies improved, except for corticotroph function. Patients receiving these immunomodulatory therapies should be closely monitored especially by systematic baseline hormone measurements after the third infusion and remain at a risk of adrenal insufficiency in the long-term.
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Allin Kristine H , Nielsen Trine , Pedersen Oluf
Published: November 2014

Perturbations of the composition and function of the gut microbiota have been associated with metabolic disorders including obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Studies on mice have demonstrated several underlying mechanisms including host signalling through bacterial lipopolysaccharides derived from the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, bacterial fermentation of dietary fibres to short-chain fatty acids and bacterial modulation of bile acids. On top of this, an increased permeability of the intestinal epithelium may lead to increased absorption of macromolecules from the intestinal content resulting in systemic immune responses, low-grade inflammation and altered signalling pathways influencing lipid and glucose metabolism. While mechanistic studies on mice collectively support a causal role of the gut microbiota in metabolic diseases, the majority of studies in humans are correlative of nature and thus hinder causal inferences. Importantly, several factors known to influence the risk of type 2 diabetes, e.g. diet and age, have also been linked to alterations in the gut microbiota complicating the interpretation of correlative studies. However, based upon the available evidence, it is hypothesised that the gut microbiota may mediate or modulate the influence of lifestyle factors triggering development of type 2 diabetes. Thus, the aim of this review is to critically discuss the potential role of the gut microbiota in the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.
A Framework for Inferring Fitness Landscapes of Patient-Derived Viruses Using Quasispecies Theory
Authors: Seifert David , Di Giallonardo Francesca , Metzner Karin J , Günthard Huldrych F , Beerenwinkel Niko
Published: November 2014

Fitness is a central quantity in evolutionary models of viruses. However, it remains difficult to determine viral fitness experimentally, and existing in vitro assays can be poor predictors of in vivo fitness of viral populations within their hosts. Next-generation sequencing can nowadays provide snapshots of evolving virus populations, and these data offer new opportunities for inferring viral fitness. Using the equilibrium distribution of the quasispecies model, an established model of intrahost viral evolution, we linked fitness parameters to the composition of the virus population, which can be estimated by next-generation sequencing. For inference, we developed a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method to sample from the posterior distribution of fitness values. The sampler can overcome situations where no maximum-likelihood estimator exists, and it can adaptively learn the posterior distribution of highly correlated fitness landscapes without prior knowledge of their shape. We tested our approach on simulated data and applied it to clinical human immunodeficiency virus 1 samples to estimate their fitness landscapes in vivo. The posterior fitness distributions allowed for differentiating viral haplotypes from each other, for determining neutral haplotype networks, in which no haplotype is more or less credibly fit than any other, and for detecting epistasis in fitness landscapes. Our implemented approach, called QuasiFit, is available at http://www.cbg.ethz.ch/software/quasifit.
Effective resources for improving mental health among Chinese underground coal miners: Perceived organizational support and psychological capital
Authors: Liu Li , Wen Fengting , Xu Xin , Wang Lie
Published: November 2014

Effective resources for improving mental health among Chinese underground coal miners: Perceived organizational support and psychological capital: Li LIU, et al. Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, P.R. China—

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the potential effects of perceived organizational support (POS) and psychological capital (PsyCap) on combating depressive and anxious symptoms among Chinese underground coal miners.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in a coal‐mining population in northeast China. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES‐D) Scale, the Zung Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS) scale and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), which measure depressive and anxious symptoms, POS and PsyCap were distributed to 2,500 underground coal miners (1,925 effective respondents). Hierarchical linear regression was performed to examine the associations of POS and PsyCap (self‐efficacy, hope, resilience and optimism) with depressive and anxious symptoms and the moderating roles of PsyCap and its components. The mediating roles of PsyCap and its components were examined using asymptotic and resampling strategies.

Results

The mean levels of depressive and anxious symptoms were 19.91 and 49.69, respectively. POS, PsyCap, hope, resilience, optimism and POS × PsyCap were negatively associated with depressive symptoms. POS, PsyCap, resilience, POS × PsyCap and POS × resilience were negatively associated with anxious symptoms. PsyCap, hope, resilience and optimism partially mediated the association between POS and depressive symptoms. PsyCap and resilience partially mediated the association between POS and anxious symptoms.

Conclusions

POS, PsyCap, hope, resilience and optimism could be effective resources for reducing depressive and anxious symptoms. PsyCap, hope, resilience and optimism act as moderators and mediators in the associations of POS with depressive and anxious symptoms. Managers should promote supportive settings and investment in PsyCap to improve workers' mental health.
Overwork and cerebrocardiovascular disease in Korean adult workers
Authors: Jang Tae‐Won , Kim Hyoung‐Ryoul , Lee Hye‐Eun , Myong Jun‐Pyo , Koo Jung‐Wan , Ye Byeong‐Jin , Won Jong‐Uk
Published: November 2014

Overwork and cerebrocardiovascular disease in Korean adult workers: Tae‐Won JANG, et al. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea—

Objectives

Long work hours and overwork may increase the cardiovascular load of workers. But long work hours and overwork are not the same. Cardiovascular overload from working is dependent on the physical demand of the work and the worker's physical fitness, as well as the working hours. This cross‐sectional study was designed to identify the association between overwork and cerebrocardiovascular disease, taking into account the physical demand of work, physical fitness, and work hours.

Methods

Study data were obtained from surveillance of occupational cerebrocardiovascular disease. Questionnaire surveys including general and work‐related characteristics were conducted. Maximum acceptable work time was estimated using the physical work demand and physical fitness of the subjects. The overwork index, which was the ratio of maximum acceptable work time and actual work hours of the subjects, was calculated.

Results

In the workers with a moderate or high physical demand of work, the adjusted odds ratios for overwork indexes of 1.01−1.20, 1.21−1.50, and >1.50 were 2.679 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.025−6.999), 3.124 (95% CI 1.111−8.783), and 4.331 (95% CI 1.719−10.908), respectively.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the risk of cerebrocardiovas‐cular disease might be high in the workers with long working hours, high physical demand of work, and poor physical fitness engaged in work with a moderate to high physical work demand. Work hours should be accommodated according to the worker's physical fitness and the physical demand of work, and this could lower the risk of cerebrocardiovascular disease.
Inbreeding and Gene Action in Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata) Seed Starch Content
Authors: Ortiz Grisales Sanin , Bastidas Burbano Lucy Viviana , Ordoñez Narváez Ginna Alejandra , Valdés Restrepo Magda Piedad , Baena García Diosdado , Vallejo Cabrera Franco Alirio
Published: November 2014

The effect of inbreeding and gene action on butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) seed production and seed starch content was evaluated at two locations in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia, using six accessions (S0) and their inbred lines S1 and S2. Significant differences were found between the accessions and inbred lines, but not between localities. The seed production and seed starch content showed no significant effects of inbreeding depression. An additive-type gene action predominated, suggesting that recurrent selection could be the best strategy to increase the frequencies of genes promoting seed production and seed starch content.
Efecto del Uso del Suelo en la Capacidad de Almacenamiento Hídrico en el Páramo de Sumapaz - Colombia
Authors: Daza Torres Martha Constanza , Hernández Flórez Fanny , Triana Flor Alba
Published: November 2014

Los páramos son ecosistemas importantes por su función natural como reguladores hídricos donde sus suelos juegan un papel fundamental. Sin embargo, son sistemas frágiles que pueden sufrir degradación con cambios en el uso del suelo. Este estudio se realizó con el fin de evaluar cambios en las propiedades físicas de un suelo de páramo relacionadas con su capacidad de almacenamiento de agua cuando se someten a diferentes usos. El trabajo se llevó a cabo en el área del Parque Natural Nacional del Sumapaz (Cundinamarca-Colombia), donde se seleccionó un tipo de suelo representativo de una misma unidad cartográfica de suelos bajo diferentes usos (cultivos de papa, ganadería, suelo en descanso con vegetación de barbecho y suelos con vegetación nativa, como tratamiento testigo); se realizaron tres calicatas por cada uso, se tomaron muestras de los cuatro lados de la calicata por horizonte y se evaluaron propiedades del suelo como retención de humedad, densidad aparente, porosidad total, distribución de la porosidad y contenido de carbono orgánico. Se encontró que la capacidad de almacenamiento de humedad del suelo se percibió disminuida para todos los usos hasta en un 60%; la densidad aparente aumentó hasta un 16% y la porosidad total disminuyó hasta en un 23% de los suelos con diferente uso al ser comparados con el suelo del tratamiento testigo. El cultivo de papa y los lotes en descanso presentaron los menores valores de porcentaje de carbono orgánico, porosidad, retención de humedad, a capacidad de campo y punto de marchitez permanente; y altos valores de densidad aparente en comparación con el suelo con vegetación nativa. El cambio del uso del suelo disminuyó la capacidad de retención de agua, afectando la función ambiental de los páramos como reguladores hídricos.
Comportamiento de Variables Químicas en un Sistema de Cultivo sin Suelo para Clavel en la Sabana de Bogotá
Authors: Vélez Carvajal Nohora Astrid , Flórez Roncancio Víctor Julio , Flórez Rivera Andrés Felipe
Published: November 2014

Para optimizar el manejo del fertirriego en los cultivos en sustrato es indispensable conocer el comportamiento de pH y conductividad eléctrica (CE) de las soluciones así como la capacidad de intercambio catiónico (CIC) y la relación carbono/nitrógeno (C:N) de los sustratos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar el comportamiento de pH, CE, CIC y relación C:N de tres sustratos a base de cascarilla de arroz y fibra de coco; y pH y CE en los drenajes, en un sistema de cultivo con tres porcentajes de recirculación en diferentes estadios de desarrollo de plantas de clavel estándar cv. Delphi. Se utilizó un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar con nueve tratamientos y tres repeticiones, en parcelas divididas. El pH del lixiviado tiende a disminuir hacia el final y en los sustratos el valor de esta variable se mantuvo constante durante el periodo estudiado, aunque aumenta en la medida que se incrementa el porcentaje de cascarilla de arroz quemada (CAQ). La CE fue significativamente mayor cuando se recircula el 100% de los lixiviados y en los tratamientos con menor contenido de CAQ; mientras que en los sustratos, fue significativamente menor donde había mayor contenido de fibra de coco (FC). La CIC fue significativamente mayor en los sustratos con mayores porcentajes de FC; sin embargo, la relación C:N tendió a presentar valores mayores en el sustrato con mayor contenido de CAQ.
Incidencia de la Modificación del Bosque Semicaducifolio sobre Orquídeas en Sierra del Rosario Candelaria, Cuba
Authors: González Díaz Seidel , Sotolongo Sospedra Rogelio , León Sánchez María Amparo , Góngora Rojas Fidel
Published: November 2014

La incidencia de la modificación estructural del bosque semicaducifolio por la actividad antrópica es un problema poco estudiado en Cuba. Por esta razón, es necesario evaluar la relación de la Reserva de la Biofera con los lotes forestales aledaños existentes en la provincia de Artemisa. Para ello se realizó el muestreo de especies leñosas y orquídeas en 17 parcelas con el método mixto. Las muestras se validaron con el método ecológico Curva del Colector. Se determinó la riqueza y el índice de similitud de las especies leñosas, así como su índice de importancia ecológica, la frecuencia y distribución de las orquídeas y el porcentaje de especies ocupadas por las orquídeas. El análisis de correspondencia canónica permitió conocer la relación entre las especies estudiadas y las variables ambientales seleccionadas, con ello se demostró que la modificación de la estructura del bosque, si influye en las poblaciones de orquídeas del paisaje estudiado.
The cyclical component of GDP and life satisfaction: The impact of the Mediterranean welfare system
Authors: Wiese Thomas
Published: November 2014

The study of happiness and economics indicates a paradox: rising income has not led to increases in long term levels of life satisfaction. Evidence shows that citizens adapt to the growth of GDP, but an important difference among certain countries in connection with life satisfaction and the deviation from trend growth has been found: Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece adapt to the trend growth of their economies; other European countries, however, do not. This suggests that some characteristics of their welfare state, such as the inability to create sufficient equity might leave their citizens more dependent on economic variables such as rising income. Only in boom times can the young, uneducated or the elderly find access to the otherwise restricted labor market and have a chance to escape the poverty trap. In this regard the paper places special emphasis on the issue of global competition by linking the subject with the current state of the European Union.
Measuring and managing liquidity risk in the Hungarian practice
Authors: Szűcs Balázs , Váradi Kata
Published: November 2014

The crisis that unfolded in 2007/2008 turned the attention of the financial world toward liquidity, the lack of which caused substantial losses. As a result, the need arose for the traditional financial models to be extended with liquidity. Our goal is to discover how Hungarian market players relate to liquidity. Our results are obtained through a series of semi-structured interviews, and are hoped to be a starting point for extending the existing models in an appropriate way. Our main results show that different investor groups can be identified along their approaches to liquidity, and they rarely use sophisticated models to measure and manage liquidity. We conclude that although market players would have access to complex liquidity measurement and management tools, there is a limited need for these, because the currently available models are unable to use complex liquidity information effectively.
Creative techniques in the framework of market and evolution
Authors: Magyari-Beck István , Moradi Mahshid
Published: November 2014

This paper tries to reframe the man-machine problem, which has frequently changed throughout history. Originally, a machine was a helper of man, but later became its competitor and substitute. As a consequence of this, man has been pushed out of production and possibly, out of life itself. For today, nearly all man’s functions — except for consumption and creativity — can be furnished by machines. Creativity should have a special place because it is the last “shelter” of man in the conflict with machine. Almost every other faculty of man has more or less been simulated by technology. There are some key questions to be answered: Whom do the creative techniques serve? Is the target group men or machines?
A Screening Cascade to Identify ERβ Ligands
Authors: Filgueira Carly S. , Benod Cindy , Lou Xiaohua , Gunamalai Prem S. , Villagomez Rosa A. , Strom Anders , Gustafsson Jan-Åke , Berkenstam Anders L. , Webb Paul
Published: November 2014

The establishment of effective high throughput screening cascades to identify nuclear receptor (NR) ligands that will trigger defined, therapeutically useful sets of NR activities is of considerable importance. Repositioning of existing approved drugs with known side effect profiles can provide advantages because de novo drug design suffers from high developmental failure rates and undesirable side effects which have dramatically increased costs. Ligands that target estrogen receptor β (ERβ) could be useful in a variety of diseases ranging from cancer to neurological to cardiovascular disorders. In this context, it is important to minimize cross-reactivity with ERα, which has been shown to trigger increased rates of several types of cancer. Because of high sequence similarities between the ligand binding domains of ERα and ERβ, preferentially targeting one subtype can prove challenging. Here, we describe a sequential ligand screening approach comprised of complementary in-house assays to identify small molecules that are selective for ERβ. Methods include differential scanning fluorimetry, fluorescence polarization and a GAL4 transactivation assay. We used this strategy to screen several commercially-available chemical libraries, identifying thirty ERβ binders that were examined for their selectivity for ERβ versus ERα, and tested the effects of selected ligands in a prostate cancer cell proliferation assay. We suggest that this approach could be used to rapidly identify candidates for drug repurposing.
Inactivation of RARβ Inhibits Wnt1-induced Mammary Tumorigenesis by Suppressing Epithelial-mesenchymal Transitions
Authors: Liu Xingxing , Giguère Vincent
Published: November 2014

Retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) has been proposed to act as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. In contrast, recent data have shown that RARβ promotes ERBB2-induced mammary gland tumorigenesis through remodeling of the stromal compartment and activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts. However, it is currently unknown whether RARβ oncogenic activity is specific to ERBB2-induced tumors, or whether it influences the initiation and progression of other breast cancer subtypes. Accordingly, we set out to investigate the involvement of RARβ in basal-like breast cancer using mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-wingless-related integration site 1 (Wnt1)-induced mammary gland tumorigenesis as a model system. We found that compared with wild type mice, inactivation of Rarb resulted in a lengthy delay in Wnt1-induced mammary gland tumorigenesis and in a significantly slower tumor growth rate. Ablation of Rarb altered the composition of the stroma, repressed the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and reduced the recruitment of inflammatory cells and angiogenesis. Reduced expression of IGF-1 and activity of its downstream signaling pathway contribute to attenuate EMT in the Rarb-null tumors. Our results show that, in the absence of retinoid signaling via RARβ, reduced IGF-1 signaling results in suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and delays tumorigenesis induced by the Wnt1 oncogene. Accordingly, our work reinforces the concept that antagonizing RARβ-dependent retinoid signaling could provide a therapeutic avenue to treat poor outcome breast cancers.
Post-tensioning glulam timber beams with basalt FRP tendons
Authors: McConnell Emma , McPolin Daniel , Taylor Su
Published: November 2014

Improvements in the structural performance of glulam timber beams by the inclusion of reinforcing materials can increase both the service performance and ultimate capacity. This paper describes a series of four-point bending tests conducted, under service loads and to failure, on unreinforced, reinforced and post-tensioned glulam timber beams, where the reinforcing tendon used is 12 mm dia. basalt fibre-reinforced polymer. The research is designed to evaluate the benefits offered by including an active reinforcement in contrast to the passive reinforcement typically used within timber strengthening works, in addition to establishing the effect that bonding the reinforcing tendon has on the material's performance. Further experimental tests have also been developed to investigate the long-term implications of this research, with emphasis placed upon creep and loss of post-tensioning; however, this is ongoing and is not presented in this paper. The laboratory investigations establish that the flexural strength and stiffness increase for both the unbonded and bonded post-tensioned timbers compared to the unreinforced and reinforced beams. Timber that is post-tensioned with an unbonded basalt fibre-reinforced polymer tendon shows a flexural strength increase of 2·8% and an increase in stiffness of 8·7%. Post-tensioned beams with a bonded basalt fibre-reinforced polymer tendon show increases in flexural strength and stiffness of 15·4% and 11·5% respectively.
Impact of cultural dynamics on conservation of Suakin, Sudan
Authors: Ashley Katherine Sarah , Osmani Mohamed , Emmitt Stephen , Mallinson Michael , Mallinson Helen
Published: November 2014

The aim of this work was to explore the impact of local cultural dynamics on the conservation of the built heritage of Suakin, an abandoned historic port on the Red Sea coast of Sudan, through a collaborative stakeholder approach. Key representatives of local stakeholder groups attended a two-day workshop and took part in a series of collaborative activities. These encompassed the production of a rank-ordered list of the key local cultural dynamics impacting on the port's conservation, agreement to a number of actions to address obstacles to conservation, identification of local cultural values collectively determined by stakeholder and confirmation of the value of an integrated conservation approach. The workshop enabled a shared understanding and responsibility between stakeholders and established a commitment to further action to address the key local cultural dynamics impacting on the conservation. This collaborative stakeholder participation represented a new step in the port's conservation and invited the development of more formal protocols to enable the equal representation and participation of stakeholders in future conservation activities and initiatives.
Escurecimento enzimático: uma aula prática
Authors: Clerici Maria Teresa Pedrosa Silva , Sebastião Rodrigo Henrique , Oliveira Larissa Conde , Santos Maysa Sales dos , Moraes Ana Lucia Leite , Clareto Silvia Silveira
Published: November 2014

Este trabalho apresenta uma aula prática sobre o grupo de enzimas polifenoloxidases, que são responsáveis pelo escurecimento enzimático de frutas e hortaliças. As amostras de vegetais passaram pelo processo de inativação enzimática com o uso de reagentes químicos e pelo método de branqueamento com aplicação de calor (fogão convencional e forno de micro-ondas). Após os tratamentos, a eficiência do processo foi avaliada de forma qualitativa verificando-se a atividade da enzima peroxidase pelo teste com guaiacol e após estocagem sob refrigeração ou congelamento. Os resultados práticos obtidos nesta aula permitem trabalhar conhecimentos multidisciplinares na área de ciência dos alimentos, com aplicações práticas no cotidiano.
Fotossíntese e Respiração Aeróbica: vamos quebrar a cabeça? Proposta de jogo
Authors: Gomes Luciana Maria De Jesus Baptista , Messeder Jorge Cardoso
Published: November 2014

A fotossíntese e a respiração celular aeróbica são dois processos metabólicos que compõem o conteúdo programático de Ciências e de Biologia, da Educação Básica brasileira, modalidade regular. No entanto, são constatadas dificuldades para o entendimento destes fenômenos porque exigem raciocínio abstrato e um suporte de conceitos científicos. Assim, para facilitar a aprendizagem, foi elaborado o jogo “Fotossíntese e Respiração Aeróbica: Vamos quebrar a cabeça?”. O professor age com intencionalidade, por meio da problematização. A vantagem deste jogo é que pode ser utilizado desde as aulas de Ciências do 6º ano do Ensino Fundamental até as de Biologia do Ensino Médio. Outra vantagem é que pode ser produzido tanto pelo professor quanto pelo aluno. Ao ser utilizado pelos alunos, o jogo demonstrou ser promissor na sala de aula, pois proporciona mais uma oportunidade de desenvolvimento do ser humano integral em suas múltiplas vertentes que são inerentes a cada um.
Das enzimas à análise sensorial: relato de aula prática interdisciplinar
Authors: De Almeida Durinezio José , Demário Vieira Renata Léia , Langoni de Freitas Guilherme Barroso
Published: November 2014

Em programas acadêmicos de Nutrição, a Bioquímica é uma das disciplinas iniciais, contudo fundamental para o decorrer do aprofundamento no curso. Esta disciplina engloba aulas práticas com o objetivo de melhorar a compreensão e tornar mais eficaz o entendimento do conteúdo, pois são baseadas em observações diretas elucidando reações moleculares das quais tange o ensino da disciplina de Bioquímica.O  texto pretende expor a experiência de uma aula prática multidisciplinar como contexto inicial  as enzimas e, que abrange noções das disciplinas de Análise Sensorial, Estatística, Biologia Celular e Tecnologias em Nutrição. A experiência mostrou-se frutífera e efetiva demonstrando que a pedagogia da redescoberta é importante em disciplinas em que é exigido um grande nível de abstração dos alunos, como é o caso da Bioquímica.
A Bioquímica e a Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas
Authors: Lúcia Vargas Helena Mendonça
Published: November 2014

The traditional curricula of medical schools have emphasized the acquisition of knowledge rather than its use, in t Paradoxically, great part of the advances of the medical practice have been driven by the advances in the basic (PBL) which rely on principles of cognitive psychology allow a better integration of the concepts of the basic scie approach the pedagogical model applied in the Medical School at "Universidade Estadual de Londrina" since 199 have been introduced , in specific the Metabolism block.
FERRAMENTA DE APOIO À FORMULAÇÃO SIMBÓLICA DE MODELOS CINÉTICOS MICROBIANOS NÃO-ESTRUTURADOS
Authors: Martins F. P. R. , Barral M. F.
Published: November 2014

Com o intuito de aprimorar e facilitar as atividades de modelagem, desenvolveu-se umsoftware de apoio à formulação de modelos cinéticos não-estruturados, o qual gera,automaticamente, estruturas matemáticas simbólicas. Estas são montadas a partir de seleçõesque o usuário realiza utilizando as informações que detém sobre os principais fenômenos queafetam a cinética dos processos fermentativos. Para, tanto, são combinadas variadas fontes deconhecimento, representadas através de cláusulas Prolog, e que abrangem os seguintesaspectos do processo: tipos de sistema de cultivo, reações estequiométricas, fenômenos delimitação, inibição, morte celular, manutenção microbiana, decomposição de substratos eformação de produtos. O resultado final são conjuntos de equações diferenciais simbólicas,com parâmetros conhecidos e/ou a estimar, as quais podem ser exportadas e utilizadas emprogramas de determinação e ajuste de parâmetros cinéticos e de simulação, otimização eprojeto de reatores bioquímicos.
Baby Boomers' Subjective Life Course and its Physical Health Effects: How Distinctive is the “Forever Young” Cohort?
Authors: Barrett Anne E. , Toothman Erica L.
Published: November 2014

We consider members of the “forever young” cohort's negotiation of aging by examining how shifts in their views of the life course and their location in it influence their physical health. Using OLS regression ( Midlife in the United States, 1995–1996 and 2004–2006; n = 1,257), we compare Early and Late Baby Boomers' subjective life course, measured as age identity and timing of middle age, and its physical health effects with those of an earlier cohort, the Lucky Few. Contrary to expectations, the earlier cohort not only held more elongated conceptions of the life course at Wave 1 but also lengthened them more between waves than did Baby Boomers. Results also failed to support the notion of youthful conceptions having stronger health consequences for Baby Boomers. Examining more cohorts over longer timespans would illuminate how developmental aging processes intersect with sociohistorical contexts to shape the subjective life course and its health consequences.
Modeling of hot-carrier degradation based on thorough carrier transport treatment
Authors: Tyaginov Stanislav , Wimmer Yannick , Grasser Tibor
Published: November 2014

We present and validate a physics-basedmodel for hot-carrier degradation. The
model is based on a thorough carrier transport treatment by means of an exact
solution of the Boltzmann transport equation. Such important ingredients
relevant for hot-carrier degradation as the competing mechanisms of bond
dissociation, electron-electron scattering, the activation energy reduction
due to the interaction of the dipole moment of the bond with the electric
field as well as statistical fluctuations of this energy are incorporated in
our approach. The model is validated in order to represent the linear drain
current change in three different devices subjected to hot-carrier stress
under different conditions. The main demand is that the model has to use a
unique set of parameters. We analyze the importance of all the model
ingredients, especially the role of electron-electron scattering. We check
the idea that the channel/gate length of the device alone is not enough to
judge whether electron-electron scattering is important or not and instead a
combination of the device topology and stress conditions needs to be used.
Lozenge tiling constrained codes
Authors: Vasic Bane , Krishnan Anantha
Published: November 2014

While the field of one-dimensional constrained codes is mature, with
theoretical as well as practical aspects of code- and decoder-design being
well-established, such a theoretical treatment of its two-dimensional (2D)
counterpart is still unavailable. Research has been conducted on a few
exemplar 2D constraints, e.g., the hard triangle model, run-length limited
constraints on the square lattice, and 2D checkerboard constraints.
Excluding these results, 2D constrained systems remain largely
uncharacterized mathematically, with only loose bounds of capacities
present. In this paper we present a lozenge constraint on a regular
triangular lattice and derive Shannon noiseless capacity bounds. To estimate
capacity of lozenge tiling we make use of the bijection between the counting
of lozenge tiling and the counting of boxed plane partitions.
A double-differential-input/differential-output fully complementary and self-biased asynchronous CMOS comparator
Authors: Milovanovic Vladimir , Zimmermann Horst
Published: November 2014

A novel fully complementary and fully differential asynchronous CMOS
comparator architecture, that consists of a two-stage preamplifier cascaded
with a latch, achieves a sub-100 ps propagation delay for a 50mVpp and higher
input signal amplitudes under 1.1V supply and 2.1mWpower consumption. The
proposed voltage comparator topology features two differential pairs of
inputs (four in total) thus increasing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and noise
immunity through rejection of the coupled noise components, reduced evenorder
harmonic distortion, and doubled output voltage swing. In addition to that,
the comparator is truly self-biased via negative feedback loop thereby
eliminating the need for a voltage reference and suppressing the influence of
process, supply voltage and ambient temperature variations. The described
analog comparator prototype occupies 0.001mm2 in a purely digital 40 nm LP
(low power) CMOS process technology. All the above mentioned merits make it
highly attractive for use as a building block in implementation of the
leadingedge system-on-chip (SoC) data transceivers and data converters.
Sonologist – A Gifted Qualification?
Authors: Sohoni C
Published: November 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njr.v4i1.11575 Nepalese Journal of Radiology, Vol.4(1) 2014: 81-83
Teacups and Butter: The Importance of Eating in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and The Wild Duck
Authors: Boeninger Stephanie Pocock
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT:

This article examines the significance of food and drink in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House and The Wild Duck, arguing that Ibsen’s staging of physical consumption is an integral part of his innovative realistic dramatic technique. In both plays, food, literally incorporated into the bodies of the actors, functions as an insistent reminder of physicality. Yet, simultaneously, food items like Nora’s macaroons and Hjalmar Ekdal’s bread and butter serve as symbols of the psychological state of individual characters and of the nature and quality of their relationships. Nora’s consumption of macaroons in defiance of her husband’s ban on sweets indicates the potential for resistance in the charmingly shallow housewife and locates the site of that resistance in her body. Unlike Nora, Gina Ekdal denies herself food and drink in order to serve and subtly manipulate her voracious husband. Her model of gustatory self-sacrifice leads to her daughter Hedvig’s misguided attempt to feed her father’s affections with her suicide.
Eastern German Cooperative Farming: On the Cusp of a New Generation
Authors: Bennett Dylan
Published: November 2014

The decline and dissolution of eastern Germany’s agricultural production

cooperatives (APCs) has been anticipated by formal economic theory since

reunification on the grounds of inefficiency.1 Yet, more recent scholarship

on the varieties of capitalism tells us that efficiency does not lead to simple

convergence of market forms, but rather that different institutional solutions

and social systems of production can achieve desired ends—including

efficiency—with varied designs.2 Today, the cooperative farm sector, underpinned

by conservative, democratic governance, persists without naiveté

and little nostalgia on the cusp of a new postcommunist generation and still

accounts for the largest share of agricultural production in eastern Germany.

Even if the cooperative farming sector follows a slow decline, the

firms will convert or persist depending less on their ability to achieve

efficiency as on their ability to maintain productive land holdings, and to

promote a new generation of management and enthusiastic members committed

not to nostalgia but toward the future of their own lives, their firms,

and their local communities. Some of the cooperatives are likely to persist

for a long time. In this article, in an effort to understand the environment

in which cooperatives face the future, I provide an eyewitness account of

the internal politics between workers and bosses, highlight survival strategies,

consider the institutional constraints and supports facing cooperatives,

and sketch portraits of the farmers who face the task of carrying the cooperative

tradition forward.
Evidence for non-tidal diurnal velocity variations of Helheim Glacier, East Greenland
Authors: Davis J.L. , De Juan J. , Nettles M. , Elosegui P. , Andersen M.L.
Published: November 2014

We have used tide-gauge data from near Helheim Glacier, East Greenland, and GPS data acquired on the glacier to investigate the spectra of tidal forcing and flow response. For both the tide-gauge and GPS time series, we calculated amplitudes and phases for a harmonic expansion using a limited set of harmonic constituents. We find that the semidiurnal constituents of the glacier flow are well modeled using a single admittance and lag with respect to the tide-gauge data. However, diurnal variations in the glacier flow cannot be simply described using this model. We find an additional signal in glacier position, in phase with the S1 solar tide, with some modulations at other frequencies. These non-tidal variations account for a peak-to-peak variation in glacier flow speed at a site close to the terminus of ~0.7 m d-1, compared with a mean flow rate at this location of ~22 m d-1. The speed variations reach their daily maximum value ~6 hours after local noon. We hypothesize that these additional diurnal variations are associated with peaks in lubrication of the glacier bed due to surface melting driven by diurnal solar heating.
Glycerophosphate/Acylglycerophosphate Acyltransferases
Authors: Yamashita Atsushi , Hayashi Yasuhiro , Matsumoto Naoki , Nemoto-Sasaki Yoko , Oka Saori , Tanikawa Takashi , Sugiura Takayuki
Published: November 2014

Acyl-CoA:glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) and acyl-CoA: 1-acyl-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (AGPAT) are involved in the de novo synthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) and glycerophospholipids. Many enzymes belonging to the GPAT/AGPAT family have recently been identified and their physiological or pathophysiological roles have been proposed. The roles of GPAT/AGPAT in the synthesis of TAG and obesity-related diseases were revealed through the identification of causative genes of these diseases or analyses of genetically manipulated animals. Recent studies have suggested that some isoforms of GPAT/AGPAT family enzymes are involved in the fatty acid remodeling of phospholipids. The enzymology of GPAT/AGPAT and their physiological/ pathological roles in the metabolism of glycerolipids have been described and discussed in this review.