bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA-122 Inhibits Lipid Droplet Formation and Hepatic Triglyceride Accumulation via Yin Yang 1
Authors: Wu Guo-yi , Rui Chen , Chen Ji-qiao , Sho Eiketsu , Zhan Shan-shan , Yuan Xian-wen , Ding Yi-tao
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: An increase in intracellular lipid droplet formation and hepatic triglyceride (TG) content usually results in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of hepatic TG homeostasis remain unclear. Methods: Oil red O staining and TG measurement were performed to determine the lipid content. miRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative PCR. A luciferase assay was performed to validate the regulation of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) by microRNA (miR)-122. The effects of miR-122 expression on YY1 and its mechanisms involving the farnesoid X receptor and small heterodimer partner (FXR-SHP) pathway were evaluated by quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses. Results: miR-122 was downregulated in free fatty acid (FFA)-induced steatotic hepatocytes, and streptozotocin and high-fat diet (STZ-HFD) induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in mice. Transfection of hepatocytes with miR-122 mimics before FFA induction inhibited lipid droplet formation and TG accumulation in vitro. These results were verified by overexpressing miR-122 in the livers of STZ-HFD-induced NASH mice. The 3’-untranslated region (3’UTR) of YY1 mRNA is predicted to contain an evolutionarily conserved miR-122 binding site. In silico searches, a luciferase reporter assay and quantitative PCR analysis confirmed that miR-122 directly bound to the YY1 3’UTR to negatively regulate YY1 mRNA in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. The (FXR-SHP) signaling axis, which is downstream of YY1, may play a key role in the mechanism of miR-122-regulated lipid homeostasis. YY1-FXR-SHP signaling, which is negatively regulated by FFA, was enhanced by miR-122 overexpression. This finding was also confirmed by overexpression of miR-122 in the livers of NASH mice. Conclusions: The present results indicate that miR-122 plays an important role in lipid (particularly TG) accumulation in the liver by reducing YY1 mRNA stability to upregulate FXR-SHP signaling.
Missing Links in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: Long Non-Coding RNAs Enter the Arena
Authors: Wang Lei , Yang Fan , Jia Lin-Tao , Yang An-Gang
Published: December 2017

Cancer metastasis occurs through a series of sequential steps, which involves dissemination of tumor cells from a primary site and colonization in distant tissues. To promote the invasion-metastasis cascade, carcinoma cells usually initiate a cell-biological program called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is orchestrated by a set of master regulators, including TGF-β, Snail, ZEB and Twist families. The biological activities of these molecules are tightly regulated by a variety of cell-intrinsic pathways as well as extracellular cues. Recently, accumulating evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent some of the most differentially expressed transcripts between primary and metastatic cancers. LncRNAs including MALAT1, HOTAIR, H19, LncRNA-ATB, and LincRNA-ROR have been reported to be involved in the process of EMT, mainly through cross-talking with master regulators of EMT. Thus, understanding the different and precise molecular mechanisms by which functional lncRNAs switch EMT on and off is important for opening up new avenues in lncRNA-directed diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic intervention against cancer.
Low Nasal NO in Congenital Heart Disease With Systemic Right Ventricle and Postcardiac Transplantation
Authors: Adams Phillip S. , Zahid Maliha , Khalifa Omar , Feingold Brian , Lo Cecilia W.
Published: December 2017

Background

NO bioavailability has not been systematically examined in congenital heart disease (CHD). To assess
NO
in patients with CHD, we measured nasal
NO
(
nNO
) generated by the nasal epithelia, given blood
NO
is difficult to measure (half‐life, <2 ms). Given NO's role in hemodynamic regulation and the association of
NO
bioavailability with heart failure risk, we hypothesized
NO
levels may differ with varying severity of
CHD
physiologic characteristics.

Methods and Results

Six‐hundred eighteen subjects, 483 with
CHD
and 135 controls, had
nNO
measured noninvasively via the nares using American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines. Subjects were dichotomized as having low or normal
nNO
based on age‐specific cutoff values. Prevalence of low
nNO
was examined by various
CHD
physiologic feature types. Low
nNO
was more prevalent with
CHD
than controls (odds ratio
,
2.28;
P
=0.001). A logistic regression model showed overall significance (
P
=0.035) for single ventricle, systemic right ventricle, ventricular dysfunction, oxygen desaturation, and heterotaxy predicting low
nNO
, with systemic right ventricle independently having twice the odds of low
nNO
(odds ratio, 2.04;
P
=0.014). Patients with low
nNO
had a higher risk of experiencing heart transplant or death (hazard ratio, 2.75;
P
=0.048), and heart transplant recipients (N=16) exhibited 5 times the odds of low
nNO
(69% versus 30%; odds ratio, 5.1;
P
=0.001).

Conclusions

Patients with CHD have increased prevalence of low
nNO
, with highest odds seen with systemic right ventricle and heart transplant. Further studies are needed to investigate heart failure risks in patients with CHD with left versus right systemic ventricle physiologic characteristics and utility of low
nNO
for predicting heart failure risk.
The Protection of United Nations Whistleblowers against Retaliation
Authors: Martel Baptiste
Published: December 2017

At a time when better protection of whistleblowers is increasingly demanded, how does the United Nations deal with its own whistleblowers? As un agents have immunity they rely on an internal un justice system. However, in 2005, the un Secretary-General issued a Bulletin that created a mechanism based in an Ethics Office to protect whistleblowers. In practice, the new system has not met expectations and has raised many legal issues, in particular with regard to the competence of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal to review the decisions of the Ethics Office.

As a result, un agents have started to avoid the Ethics Office mechanism and have gone directly before un judges. Moreover, in early 2017, the new Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, reformed the un’s Ethics Office mechanism.
Substituting International Criminal Justice for an African Criminal Justice?
Authors: Magliveras Konstantinos D
Published: December 2017

This article examines the reasons and the grounds behind the antiparathesis between the African Union and several of its Member States, on the one hand, and international criminal justice and the International Criminal Court (‘icc’), on the other hand. It also examines the consequences of and responses to this antiparathesis, including the creation of an International Criminal Law Section to the African Court of Justice and Human Rights and questions whether it offers any added value. The article concludes with suggesting the setting up of icc regional/circuit chambers, each dealing with a specific continent/region, as a means to restructure the icc, to make it more relevant to its users, namely the contracting parties to the Rome Statute, and to allay fears of politically motivated prosecutions.
‘Triangular’ Relationships between the United Nations and African Regional and Sub-regional Organizations in Maintaining Peace
Authors: Cimiotta Emanuele
Published: December 2017

Over the past few years, the relationships between the United Nations (‘un’), regional and sub-regional organizations in maintaining peace and security in Africa have evolved. The African Union (‘au’) began coordinating enforcement actions conducted by African sub-regional organizations with the authorisation of the un Security Council (‘unsc’), which maintained its political control over them. The
un Charter and relevant legal regimes of those organizations seem to allow this kind of relationship. Such a trend may explain, in part, the unsc’s most recent practice of authorising regional and sub-regional enforcement actions under Chapter vii of the
un Charter, instead of Chapter viii. In carrying out those authorised military operations, African regional and/or sub-regional organizations perform their own statutory powers and pursue their own statutory objectives at the continental level. They do not act as ‘decentralised organs’ of the un.
Consolidating the International Legal Personality of the osce
Authors: Tichy Helmut , Quidenus Catherine
Published: December 2017

On 14 June 2017, a Headquarters Agreement between Austria and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (‘osce’) was signed. This is remarkable in that the osce, unlike other international organisations, lacks a generally acknowledged international legal status. This View from Practice charts the history of the multilateral efforts to grant a clear legal status to the osce, the recognition by Austria that it considers the osce as having obtained international legal personality on the basis of customary international law by offering to conclude a Headquarters Agreement, and the contents of this Agreement.
Identity Politics in a Mediatized Religious Environment on Facebook: Yes to Wearing the Cross Whenever and Wherever I Choose
Authors: Abdel-Fadil Mona
Published: December 2017

The Norwegian Facebook page Yes to Wearing the Cross Whenever and Wherever I Choose was initially created to protest the prohibition of the cross for nrk news anchors. Yet, many of the discussions and audience interactions transpired into heated religio-political debates with strong elements of anti-Muslim, xenophobic, anti-secular, and anti-atheist sentiments. This study aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between media and religion by providing new insights on the variety of ways in which media audiences may ‘add a series of dynamics to conflicts, namely, amplification, framing and performative agency, and co-structuring’ and ‘perform conflict’, as formulated by Hjarvard et al. It is argued that mediatized conflicts with inherent trigger themes, which tug at core religio-political identity issues, also tend to evoke emotional responses, which, in turn, inspire social media users to perform the conflict in ways that multiply the conflict(s).
Students’ Spiraling Silence and Willingness to Communicate about Religion in the United States: An Exploration of the Media’s Role in Stigmatizing Religion
Authors: Alkazemi Mariam F.
Published: December 2017

The spiral of silence effect describes individuals’ tendency to silence minority opinions, whilst using the media to gauge majority opinion. While the spiral of silence effect has been explored in controversial political contexts, the phenomenon has not been scrutinized in its relation to religious communication. The current study applies this concept to further the current understanding of communication as it applies to religion. A questionnaire was distributed electronically to 94 students at a large university in the southeastern United States. Using survey methods, this paper finds that religiosity is positively correlated to willingness to communicate about religion. This paper also finds that media exposure is not related to either willingness to communicate about religion or religiosity.
Manga, Wuxia and (New) Religious Syncretisms: The Orientalization of the Western Imaginary, from Osamu Tezuka to Contemporary Oriental Disciplines
Authors: Porrovecchio Alessandro
Published: December 2017

A new interest in various forms of spirituality and religiosity is emerging in some subcultures of contemporary society. This tendency can be seen as an indicator of an Orientalization process that affects everyday life and lifestyles, and it can be read as a symptom of a crisis in the paradigm of Western Modernity, which is changing the relationship between culture and nature, the central role played by the rational positivist paradigm, and ideas of body, space and time.

Oriental disciplines and martial arts are a significant case study for the purpose of analyzing the ongoing Orientalization process. These highly ritualized practices have become part of many people’s daily life and have affected their way of dressing, as well as the way they arrange furniture at home and the way they make decisions that involve their diet and body care. These practices may also affect people’s identities by changing their values, ethics and morality.

To explore the Orientalization process, I first introduce some features of the diffusion of the “mythical Orients” in the Western imaginary since the sixties. In particular, I focus on some media products (for example, mangas and wuxia movies) that played an important role in arousing interest in Other cultures. In this stage I will refer to some media theories, in particular to Gerbner's cultivation theory and to the medial socialization effect.

In a second step I focus on the imaginary embodied in some Oriental disciplines and martial arts. I refer to some results of a research that I am conducting in some martial arts gyms, starting from my experience as an instructor. In that context I performed an ethnographic study, gathering several in-depth interviews with masters, beginners, fighters, experts and therapists, and analysing the interactions within some online communities (virtual ethnography). This last method allowed me to come back to the first step, and to focus on how some features of the media imaginary are mediated through the interactions within the virtual communities.
Reading Religion in Internet Memes
Authors: Bellar Wendi , Campbell Heidi A. , Cho Kyong James , Terry Andrea , Tsuria Ruth , Yadlin-Segal Aya , Ziemer Jordan
Published: December 2017

This article provides a preliminary report of a study of religious-oriented internet memes and seeks to identify the common communication styles, interpretive practices and messages about religion communicated in this digital medium. These findings argue that memes provide an important sphere for investigating and understanding religious meaning-making online, which expresses key attributes of participatory culture and trends towards lived religion.
Megachurch Pastor Twitter Activity: An Analysis of Rick Warren and Andy Stanley, Two of America’s Social Pastors
Authors: Codone Susan
Published: December 2017

Mainstream church leaders have taken to Twitter as a platform for spreading their message and promoting their churches. This study examines two American mega-church pastors, Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Orange County, California, and Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The main objectives of this study are to analyse the Twitter activity of both pastors in an attempt to categorize their tweets according to research-based guidelines and to suggest new categories for ministry leaders who use social media. The study also tracks the Twitter activity over the life of the @rickwarren and @andystanley accounts. The study shows intriguing applications of Twitter by these two pastors and makes recommendations for those in ministry leadership who wish to use Twitter as a broadcast platform for their personal and ministry messages. Because research in ministerial use of social media is young, future studies are needed to determine if these recommendations can apply to the social media activity of other ministry leaders and to explore how ministry leaders across the religious spectrum are using social media.
Building the Narrow Gate: Digital Decisions for Christ and the Draw of Rhetorical Space
Authors: Stamper Amber M.
Published: December 2017

For evangelicals, the allure of mass media evangelism has always been the potential to reach ever-more-distant “unsaved” populations across the globe. However, as the print and broadcast revolutions quickly revealed, targeting individuals’ needs and developing a sense of personal intimacy between evangelists and audience via these media proved a perpetual challenge. The digital revolution transformed this relationship: the interactive capabilities of the Internet and the ability to inexpensively target niche audiences re-shaped mass media evangelism. However, a close examination of evangelistic practices online reveals that, in fact, this latest “revolution”—rather than representing entirely novel ground—actually more closely approximates the type of evangelism that has taken place in brick and mortar churches and non-virtual environments since Christianity’s origins.

The concept of “rhetorical space”—drawn from rhetorician Roxanne Mountford’s work on how the design of pulpits and church buildings directly impacts the types of pastoral and congregational behaviors promoted—helps us to see why. Using Global Media Outreach’s Jesus2020.com and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s PeacewithGod.net websites as exemplars, I explore how, by conceptualizing evangelistic websites as rhetorical spaces with architectural features functioning persuasively in a manner similar to physical spaces, scholars of digital religion gain a theoretical framework for effectively describing the unique draw of these sites. Three elements of design in particular reveal how web design works imperceptibly to create a personalized, intimate, and interactive experience, while quickly moving users to make the decision to convert: the rhetorics of interface, navigation, and virtual relationship design. Understanding evangelistic websites as rhetorical spaces thus allows scholars of digital religion to see ways in which Internet evangelism has many similarities with evangelism in non-virtual spaces, pushing us to view it as a more familiar and historical strategy than is commonly recognized.
Religious Perceptions and the Use of Technology: Profiling the Future Teachers of Religious Education
Authors: Karamouzis Polikarpos , Fokides Emmanuel
Published: December 2017

This study analyzes the profile of Greek university students who will be teaching courses related to religion when they become practitioners at primary school and high school level, in relation to their views on technology. For this purpose, four factors were examined: religious beliefs, use of technology, attitude towards technology, and their views regarding the use of technology for the dissemination of religious beliefs. The sample comprised of 570 students studying at Departments of Theology and Primary School Education at Greek universities. The data analysis revealed that participants, in general, are not highly religious. Both believers and non-believers seem to have a positive attitude towards technology, which they are willing to use in an educational context. Furthermore, they do not believe that religion and technology contradict each other. The implications of the findings are also discussed.
Cyperus stroudii (CYPERACEAE), a new species from Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: GRAY ALAN , STOTT GAIL
Published: December 2017

Material from the Cyperus appendiculatus group was collected from Ascension Island and compared using a common garden study and to herbarium specimens from throughout the geographical range. Cyperus stroudii is described as a new species, known only from Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, it closest relative is C. appendiculatus also native to Ascension Island and Brazil. Cyperus stroudii differs from C. appendiculatus in its dwarf habit and other morphological characteristics, and these characteristics are retained under common environmental conditions indicative of genomic differences.
Leaving violent men: A study of women’s experiences of separation in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Bruton Crystal , Tyson Danielle
Published: December 2017

Despite decades of feminist efforts to educate the community about, and improve responses to, domestic violence, public attitudes towards domestic violence continue to misunderstand women’s experiences of violence. Underlying such responses is the stock standard question, ‘Why doesn’t she leave?’ This question points to a lack of understanding about the impacts and threat of violence from an abusive partner on women’s decisions to leave the relationship. Moreover, it places sole responsibility for ending the relationship squarely upon women, assuming women are presented with numerous opportunities to leave a violent relationship and erroneously assumes the violence will cease once they do leave. This study explores women’s experiences of separating from an abusive, male partner through women’s narratives (n = 12) in Victoria, Australia. Findings reveal that fear was a complex influencing factor impacting upon women’s decision-making throughout the leaving process. The findings show that women seek to exercise agency within the context of their abusers’ coercively controlling tactics by strategically attempting to manage the constraints placed on their decision-making and partner’s repeated attempts to reassert dominance and control.
Gendered Dynamics and Reciprocity in Fishing Communities in Ghana: The Case of Penkye, Winneba
Authors: Danso-Wiredu Esther Yeboah
Published: December 2017

The history of Penkye is linked to that of Winneba township since it is the first place the Effutu people settled in the town. Located along the coast, majority of its residents are employed in the fishing industry. Intriguing about Penkye is how social and economic livelihoods of residents are entangled in gender roles and reciprocity. The article delves into the institutional embeddedness of fishing and community life. It examines how gender ideologies differentially inform men and women’s roles in the fishing economy. Drawing on interviews conducted with community members, the study constructs economic life stories for men and women within the fishing community. It analyzes how they formulate livelihood strategies differently from other parts of the country as a result. The study concludes that such realities defy the ideologies of the impersonal market economy propagated by the capitalist ideology, thereby questioning the basis of neoliberal ideology that market prices are solely determined by demand and supply interactions.
Financialising urban water infrastructure: Extracting local value, distributing value globally
Authors: Pryke Michael , Allen John
Published: December 2017

Since the insertion of urban infrastructure into the risk-taking world of financialisation, techniques for capturing added value from underlying revenue streams, from securitisation and derivatives to the structuring of bond and equity returns, have come to the fore. A value model, based on extraction through interest and dividends paid, as well as multiple fees, in our view, has benefited investors and financial intermediaries alike. Through the example of Carlsbad desalination plant in San Diego, California, the paper sets out to show how a piece of drinking water infrastructure was translated as a value asset to match the needs of institutional investors in the USA and beyond. The geography of value capture and its distribution globally is shown to be not simply financially innovative, but also spatially innovative and perhaps best understood through its topological spaces.
Financialisation of news in China in the age of the Internet: the case of Xinhuanet
Authors: Xin Xin
Published: December 2017

This article discusses the recent development of Xinhuanet.com , a news website launched by Xinhua News Agency, one of China’s key central state-owned news organisations. Xinhuanet Co. Ltd, the business entity running the website, went public in October 2016 in Shanghai. This marked the first step in the state news agency’s financialisation. Two main questions are addressed. First, what were the main driving forces behind Xinhuanet’s transformation from a governmental cultural organisation to a publicly traded enterprise, the majority shareholder of which remains Xinhua? Second, how should the nature of this transformation be understood, in relation to Xinhua’s wider marketisation process and that of the Chinese media sector as a whole? The article argues that Xinhua’s financialisation via Xinhuanet is best understood as part of a state-administrated initiative in accord with Xinhua’s own business ambitions. The financialisation of news by state players such as Xinhuanet does not alter the underlying ownership structure of Chinese news media, which remain ultimately state-controlled.
Aerobic training performed at ventilatory threshold improves liver enzymes and lipid profile related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents with obesity
Authors: de Lira Camila TC , dos Santos Marcos AM , Gomes Priscyla P , Fidelix Yara L , dos Santos Ana CO , Tenório Thiago RS , Lofrano-Prado Mara C , do Prado Wagner L
Published: December 2017

Background:

Despite the positive effects of high-intensity training on weight management and health-related outcomes, it is postulated that high-intensity training may also induce oxidative stress, increasing hepatic damage.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low versus high-intensity training on biomarkers related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents with obesity.

Methods:

For this study 107 adolescents (15 ± 1 years) with obesity (BMI = 34.7 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were randomized into High-Intensity Training (HIT, n = 31), Low-Intensity Training (LIT, n = 31) or Control Group (CG, n = 45). Adolescents from HIT and LIT received nutritional, psychological and clinical counseling. Blood lipids, Castelli risk index, glucose, insulin and hepatic enzymes were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Results:

Castelli risk index 1 was reduced in all groups ( p < 0.001) with moderate effect size ( d) for HIT ( d = 0.62) and LIT ( d = 0.66). Castelli risk index 2 also decreased ( p < 0.001 for all groups; HIT d = 0.65; LIT d = 0.79). High-density lipoprotein increased in all groups ( d = 0.25 and d = 0.18 in HIT and LIT), while alanine aminotransferase tended to reduce ( p = 0.062) in HIT ( d = 0.34) and LIT ( d = 0.73) and aspartate aminotransferase decreased ( p = 0.024) in both HIT ( d = 0.24) and LIT ( d = 0.45). There were no changes in glucose, insulin and insulin resistance.

Conclusion:

Both high and low-intensity training improved biomarkers related to NAFLD. Thus, high-intensity training can be a safe and effective alternative to prevent and treat NAFLD in adolescents with obesity.
Caffeine effects on VO2max test outcomes investigated by a placebo perceived-as-caffeine design
Authors: Brietzke Cayque , Asano Ricardo Yukio , De Russi de Lima Felipe , Pinheiro Fabiano Aparecido , Franco-Alvarenga  , Ugrinowitsch Carlos , Pires Flávio Oliveira
Published: December 2017

Background:

Ergogenic effects of caffeine (CAF) ingestion have been observed in different cycling exercise modes, and have been associated with alterations in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). However, there has been little investigation of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2MAX) test outcomes.

Aim:

This study aimed to verify whether CAF may reduce RPE, thereby improving maximal incremental test (MIT) outcomes such as VO2MAX, time to exhaustion and peak power output (WPEAK).

Methods:

Nine healthy individuals performed three MITs (25 W/min until exhaustion) in a random, counterbalanced fashion after ingestion of CAF, placebo perceived as caffeine (PLA), and no supplementation (baseline control). VO2 was measured throughout the test, while RPE was rated according to overall and leg effort sensations. The power output corresponding to submaximal (RPE = 14 according to the 6–20 Borg scale) and maximal RPE was recorded for both overall (O-RPE14 and O-RPEMAX) and leg RPE (L-RPE14 and L-RPEMAX).

Results:

VO2MAX did not change significantly between MITs; however, CAF and PLA increased time to exhaustion (↑ ∼18.7% and ∼17.1%, respectively; p < .05) and WPEAK (↑ ∼13.0% and ∼11.8%, respectively; p < .05) when compared with control. When compared with control, CAF ingestion reduced submaximal and maximal overall and leg RPEs, the effect being greater in maximal (likely beneficial in O-RPEMAX and L-RPEMAX) than submaximal RPE (possibly beneficial in O-RPE14 and L-RPE14). Similar results were found when participants ingested PLA.

Conclusions:

Compared with control, CAF and PLA improved MIT performance outcomes such as time to exhaustion and WPEAK, without altering VO2MAX values. CAF effects were attributed to placebo.
Different protein and derivatives supplementation strategies combined with resistance training in pre-frail and frail elderly: Rationale and protocol for the “Pro-Elderly” Study
Authors: Fernandes Alan Lins , Hayashi Ana Paula , Jambassi-Filho José Claudio , de Capitani Mariana Dutilh , de Santana Davi Alves , Gualano Bruno , Roschel Hamilton
Published: December 2017

Background:

Frailty is a multifactorial geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive decline in health and associated with decreased muscle mass, strength, and functional capacity. Resistance training (RT) combined with protein or amino acids supplementation has been shown to be promising for mitigating age-related impairments.

Aim:

To investigate the chronic effects of different strategies of protein and derivatives supplementation in association with RT on selected health-related parameters in pre-frail and frail elderly.

Methods:

This is a series of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trials. Volunteers will be divided into nine groups, comprising four different sub-studies evaluating the effects of: isolated leucine supplementation (study 1); protein source (whey vs. soy – study 2); combination of whey protein and creatine (study 3); and sexual dimorphism on the response to protein intake and RT (males vs. females – study 4). Muscle cross-sectional area, fiber cross-sectional area, body composition, lower-limb maximal dynamic and isometric strength, functionality, lipid profile, biochemical parameters, renal function, quality of life, and nutritional status will be assessed before and after a 16-week intervention period. Data will be tested for normality and a mixed-model for repeated measures will be conducted to assess within- and between-group effects of the intervention on the dependent variables. Confidence intervals (95%), effect sizes, and relative changes will also be determined, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Examining the potential preventative effects of minocycline prescribed for acne on the incidence of severe mental illnesses: A historical cohort study
Authors: Herrero-Zazo Maria , Brauer Ruth , Gaughran Fiona , Howard Louise M , Taylor David , Barlow David J
Published: December 2017

Background:

Animal studies suggest that the antibiotic and microglial activation inhibitor, minocycline, is likely to have a protective effect against the emergence of psychosis but evidence from human studies is lacking. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of exposure to minocycline during adolescence on the later incidence of severe mental illness (SMI).

Methods:

A historical cohort study using electronic primary care data was conducted to assess the association between exposure to minocycline during adolescence and incidence of SMI. The Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) was measured using Poisson regression adjusted for age, gender, time of exposure, socioeconomic deprivation status, calendar year and co-medications.

Results:

Early minocycline prescription ( n=13,248) did not affect the incidence of SMI compared with non-prescription of minocycline ( n=14,393), regardless of gender or whether or not the data were filtered according to a minimum exposure period (minimum period: IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.68–1.36; p=0.821; no minimum period: IRR 1.08; 95% CI 0.83–1.42; p=0.566).

Conclusions:

Exposure to minocycline for acne treatment during adolescence appears to have no effect on the incidence of SMI.
A peptide mimetic of tyrosine phosphatase STEP as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke
Authors: Poddar Ranjana , Rajagopal Sathyanarayanan , Winter Lucas , Allan Andrea M , Paul Surojit
Published: December 2017

Extensive research over the last two decades has advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. However, current pharmacologic therapies are still limited to rapid reperfusion using thrombolytic agents, and neuroprotective approaches that can reduce the consequences of ischemic and reperfusion injury, are still not available. To bridge this gap, we have evaluated the long-term efficacy and therapeutic time window of a novel peptide-based neuroprotectant TAT-STEP, derived from the brain-enriched and neuron-specific tyrosine phosphatase STEP. Using a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (90 min), we show that a single intravenous administration of the peptide at the onset of reperfusion (early) or 6 h after the onset of the insult (delayed) reduces mortality rate. In the surviving rats, MRI scans of the brain at days 1, 14 and 28 after the insult show significant reduction in infarct size and improvement of structural integrity within the infarcted area following peptide treatment, regardless of the time of administration. Behavioral assessments show significant improvement in normal gait, motor coordination, sensory motor function and spatial memory following early or delayed peptide treatment. The study establishes for the first time the therapeutic potential of a tyrosine phosphatase in ischemic brain injury.
Usage of academic social networking sites by Karachi social science faculty
Authors: Ali Muhammad Yousuf , Richardson Joanna
Published: December 2017

The last decade has seen the emergence of academic social networking sites as a vehicle for scholars to promote their research and communicate with other scholars in their field. Given the small number of studies on the use of such sites by Pakistani academics, the authors conducted an exploratory study of social science faculty members at five Karachi (Pakistan) public sector universities. Analysis of the 68 valid responses revealed that the primary reason for accessing an academic social networking site was to search for articles on the site. Results also showed that accruing citations was the main reason for which respondents uploaded their own publications. The findings validate a role for librarians to support academics in their creation of effective online academic profiles.
Factors Affecting Perceptions of Disability and Self-Rated Health Among Older Adult, Long-Term Cancer Survivors
Authors: Deimling Gary T. , Pappada Holly , Ye Minzhi , Nalepa Elizabeth , Ciaralli Spencier , Phelps Erin , Burant Christopher J.
Published: December 2017

Objective: This article examines the relative importance of cancer-related and noncancer illness factors as they predict the health quality of life among older adult, long-term cancer survivors. Specifically, it examines the effects that continuing cancer symptoms and comorbidities have on functional difficulties and how they in turn affect perceptions of disability and self-rated health. Method: Data from an National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded, tumor registry–based 10-year study of 321 older adult (age 60+), long-term (5+years post diagnosis) survivors of breast colorectal and prostate cancer are examined using regression analyses. Results: The analyses documented the independent effects of both cancer-related and age-related health factors as they contribute to explaining functional difficulties, perceptions of disability and self-rated health. Gender and racial differences in health quality of life were also identified. Discussion: The findings suggest that geriatricians, geriatric nurses, and clinical gerontologists who work with cancer survivorsneed to be aware of the ways in which both cancer and noncancer illness factors work together in producing threats to health quality of life through the extent and nature of functional impairments.
Synthesis, characterization, and properties of novel UV-resistant poly(urethane-imide)/POSS nanocomposite
Authors: Qiao Xuxu , Zhou Zheng , Zhang Jiancheng , Mo Jun , Chen Guangxin , Li Qifang
Published: December 2017

In this study, a series of hybrid nanocomposites composed of poly(urethane-imide) (PUI), fluoroethylene vinyl ether copolymers, and octa-aminophenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) were successfully prepared. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis were used to characterize the hybrid nanocomposites, which were found to have excellent thermostability, mechanical strength, and ultraviolet (UV) resistance. The SEM results showed that POSS nanoparticles, at low content level, could disperse homogeneously in the PUI matrix. The TGA results confirmed that the thermostability of the hybrid nanocomposites was significantly improved by the addition of POSS. Moreover, the UV-resistant property of the nanocomposites was evaluated based on the change in mechanical property and weight loss caused by the UV radiation. POSS (5 wt%) achieved the highest efficiency in enhancing the UV resistance of the nanocomposites. After UV radiation, the tensile modulus of the nanocomposite without POSS decreased to 187 MPa, and the mass loss was 7.26%. In contrast, the tensile modulus of the nanocomposite containing 5 wt% POSS increased from 412 MPa to 444 MPa, and the mass loss was only 3.76%.
Numerical study on the slipstream and trackside pressure induced by trains with different longitudinal section lines
Authors: Xie Taizhong , Liu Tanghong , Chen Zhengwei , Chen Xiaodong , Li Wenhui
Published: December 2017

Slipstreams are generated when high-speed trains pass through the open air causing safety threat to passengers, trackside workers and infrastructure. This study calculates the slipstream induced by trains with different longitudinal section lines using a detached-eddy simulation. The slipstream velocities and pressure at various lateral distances from the centre of the rail position and various vertical distances from the top of the rail position are calculated at a Reynolds number of 1.8 × 106, and the flow field around the trains is analysed. The results of the calculation are compared with the results of a full-scale test to validate the numerical method adopted in this work. The results demonstrate that the variations in the slipstream velocities induced by the four types of trains are similar as are the variations in the trackside pressures. The amplitudes of the slipstream velocities and trackside pressures are different due to the influence of the longitudinal section line, and both the slipstream velocity and the trackside pressure increase with the slope of the longitudinal section line. The slipstream velocity and trackside pressure decrease with increasing distance from the centre of the rail and the top of the rail. The large difference in the slipstream induced by the four types of trains occurs in regions where the distance from the centre of the rail is greater than 2.5 m and the distance from the top of the rail is greater than 1.5 m, and those regions are also the areas where platform passengers and track infrastructure are located. The results demonstrate that the slipstream in those regions can be reduced by adopting relatively lower slopes of the longitudinal section line.
Holocene vertebrates from a dry cave on Eleuthera Island, Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Authors: Steadman David W , Albury Nancy A , Mead Jim I , Soto-Centeno J Angel , Franklin Janet
Published: December 2017

We report a mid- to late-Holocene, non-cultural vertebrate assemblage from Garden Cave (site EL-229), Eleuthera Island, The Bahamas, with 2450 fossils representing 26 species. The chronology is based on accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon (14C) dates determined directly on individual bones of the hutia ( Geocapromys ingrahami), an extirpated species of rodent that dominates the bone assemblage at Garden Cave. Four AMS 14C dates from our excavation range from 1340 to 1280 cal. BP (surface of the site) to 4860 to 4830 cal. BP with depth. A hutia bone lying on the surface from elsewhere in the cave dated to 450 to 290 cal. BP, which is roughly the time of European and African contact on Eleuthera. Other extirpated species from Garden Cave are tortoise ( Chelonoidis sp.), rock iguana ( Cyclura sp.), skink ( Mabuya sp.), parrot ( Amazona leucocephala), crow ( Corvus nasicus), and southeastern myotis ( Myotis austroriparius). Each of these species may have survived on Eleuthera until sometime after the initial human occupation of the island (~1000 cal. BP), although we have direct AMS 14C dates for only the hutia. During the time of fossil deposition in Garden Cave, sea levels were approaching that of today, yet land areas were considerably larger than now, connecting Eleuthera to New Providence, and potentially to Exuma as well. Such relatively recent connections are important in explaining past and present distributions of terrestrial plants and animals.
Effect of Area-Level Deprivation on Cancer Survival Time: A Register-Based Follow-up Study of 145 585 Korean Subjects
Authors: Kwak Minjung , Kim Changhoon
Published: December 2017

Our goal is to evaluate the strengths of the associations between area-level deprivation and survival time for a variety of cancers. A total of 145 585 subjects were diagnosed with various cancers in Busan, Korea, and an area-level deprivation index constructed from several important socioeconomic variables. A multilevel Cox model was used in the analysis to investigate the effects of multiple risk factors. After adjusting for gender and age, an increased area-level deprivation index was found to be significantly associated with a higher hazard rate for major cancers. Estimated hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) were 1.08 (1.06, 1.11), 1.15 (1.13, 1.18), and 1.22 (1.18, 1.25) for the second, third, and fourth quartiles of deprivation index groups, respectively, when compared with the least deprived group. When compared with the least deprived group, the more deprived group showed significant decrease in survival time for major cancers. This finding highlights the importance of preventive and care services incorporating socioeconomic characteristics of areas.
An electroelastic solution for functionally graded piezoelectric material beams with different moduli in tension and compression
Authors: He Xiao-Ting , Wang Ying-Zhu , Shi Si-Jie , Sun Jun-Yi
Published: December 2017

In this study, we derived an electroelastic solution of functionally graded piezoelectric beams with bimodular effect under the combined action of uniformly distributed loads, concentrated loads, and bending moments. We first presented the simplified mechanical model established in previous study, and this model is based on a complete partition of tension and compression. Based on the theory of piezoelectric elasticity and functional graded property, we assumed that material parameters vary exponentially along the thickness, and the exponential functions adopt two different forms in the tensile zone and the compressive zone. Using stress function method, we obtained an analytical solution of the problem in which unknown constants are determined by boundary conditions and continuity conditions on the neutral layer. The results indicate that the introduction of exponential functions makes us be able to effectively distinguish the relative magnitude of the tensile modulus, the compressive modulus and the modulus on the neutral layer. Thus, the variation in the stress and the displacement including the electric displacement with the thickness are discussed in detail. The results obtained are helpful to refined analysis and design of functionally graded piezoelectric materials and structures with obvious bimodular effect.
Performance of Anti-Factor Xa Versus Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time for Heparin Monitoring Using Multiple Nomograms
Authors: Whitman-Purves Emily , Coons James C. , Miller Taylor , DiNella Jeannine V. , Althouse Andrew , Schmidhofer Mark , Smith Roy E.
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of anti-factor Xa concentration versus activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) monitoring with multiple indication-specific heparin nomograms. This was a prospective, nonrandomized study with historical control at a large academic medical center. A total of 201 patients who received intravenous heparin in the cardiology units were included. The prospective cohort included patients (n = 101) with anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa) monitoring, and the historical control group included patients (n = 100) who had aPTT monitoring. Patients in the prospective group had both anti-Xa and aPTT samples drawn, but anti-Xa was used for dosing adjustment. The anti-Xa cohort achieved a significantly faster time to therapeutic range ( P < .01) and required fewer dose adjustments per 24-hour period compared to the aPTT control ( P = .01). Results were consistent across heparin nomograms. The overall discordance rate between the 2 tests was 49%. No significant differences in clinical outcomes were observed. In summary, anti-Xa monitoring improved the time to therapeutic anticoagulation and led to fewer dose adjustments compared to the aPTT with multiple indication-based heparin nomograms.
Mathematical modelling of the viable epidermis: impact of cell shape and vertical arrangement
Authors: Wittum Rebecca , Naegel Arne , Heisig Michael , Wittum Gabriel
Published: December 2017

In-silico methods are valuable tools for understanding the barrier function of the skin. The key benefit is that mathematical modelling allows the interplay between cell shape and function to be elucidated. This study focuses on the viable (living) epidermis. For this region, previous works suggested a diffusion model and an approximation of the cells by hexagonal prisms. The work at hand extends this in three ways. First, the extracellular space is treated with full spatial resolution. This induces a decrease of permeability by about 10%. Second, cells of tetrakaidecahedral shape are considered, in addition to the original hexagonal prisms. For both cell types, the resulting membrane permeabilities are compared. Third, for the first time, the influence of cell stacking in the vertical direction is considered. This is particularly important for the stratum granulosum, where tight junctions are present.
Comparison of In-Person and Online Motivational Interviewing–Based Health Coaching
Authors: Bus Kathryn , Peyer Karissa L. , Bai Yang , Ellingson Laura D. , Welk Gregory J.
Published: December 2017

Health coaching is a common approach for promoting lifestyle changes, but little is known about the effectiveness of different delivery methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of in-person versus online health coaching when used as part of a facilitated behavior change program. To increase translatability, the study used a naturalistic design that enabled participants to self-select the coaching delivery method (Group) as well as the target behavior (diet, physical activity, or weight management). Regardless of group, participants were provided with a behavior-based monitoring device and guided to use it by the health coach. A sample of 92 adults participated and 86 completed pre–post evaluations to assess behavior change strategies and posttest outcome measurements for their specific goal. Two-way (Group × Time) analyses of variance were used to evaluate changes in behavioral strategies. Intent-to-treat regression analyses were used to compare postintervention outcomes for groups. The in-person group had significantly higher Healthy Eating Index scores than the online group ( p < .05), but nonsignificant group differences were observed for those targeting physical activity or weight change ( p > .05). The results support the use of health coaching for promoting behavior change and suggest that online coaching may be equally effective as in-person methods.