bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Characterization of a New Magnesium Oxysulfate Hydrate Cement Phase and Its Surface Reactions with Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Runčevski Tomče , Wu Chengyou , Yu Hongfa , Yang Bo , Dinnebier Robert E.
Published: August 2013

A new magnesium oxysulfate hydrate phase, 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7H2O was synthesized and structurally characterized. The new phase crystallizes in the form of microsized needles and its crystal structure was solved using X‐ray powder diffraction. The crystal packing is made of infinite triple MgO6 chains, intercalated with sulfate groups, water molecules, and hydroxide anions. Using vibrational spectroscopy [infrared (IR) and Raman] and Rietveld refinement, the arrangement of water molecules and hydroxide anions were observed to be statistically distributed and dynamically disordered. The high‐temperature behavior and decomposition were studied by thermal analyses and in situ X‐ray powder diffraction. The high‐temperature measurements reveal the presence of five decomposition stages from the new phase to the production of MgO. After the reactions with atmospheric carbon dioxide were analyzed using micro‐Raman spectroscopy, two new carbonate phases were detected on the surface of the material.
Calorimetric Signature of Structural Heterogeneity in a Ternary Silicate Glass
Authors: Zhang Yanfei , Yang Guang , Yue Yuanzheng
Published: August 2013

We investigate the structural heterogeneity in a silicate glass by hyperquenching–annealing–calorimetry approach. The results show a striking phenomenon: two separated sub‐Tg relaxation peaks appear on the calorimetric curve of the hyperquenched CaO–MgO–SiO2 glass, implying the existence of two distinct structural domains of higher and lower potential energies, respectively. The higher energy domains in nanoscale are so unstable that they become ordered during hyperquenching. This is verified by the high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy image exhibiting nanoordered domains in the glass matrix. The higher energy domains relax similar to a strong glass phase, whereas the lower energy domains do similar to a fragile one.
Identification of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' (16SrI‐B) Causing Witches' Broom Disease of Mallotus japonicus in Korea
Authors: Han Sang‐Sub , Oh Byung‐Taek , Kamala‐Kannan Seralathan
Published: August 2013

Mallotus japonicus with witches' broom disease were observed in Jeollabuk‐do, Korea. A phytoplasma from the infected leaves was identified, based on the 16S rDNA, 16S‐23S intergenic spacer region, and fragment of rp operon and tuf gene sequences. The 16S rDNA sequences exhibited maximum (99.7%) similarity with Iranian lettuce phytoplasma, the rp operon sequences exhibited 100% similarity with Goldenrain stunt phytoplasma, and the tuf gene sequences exhibited 99.8% similarity with Japanese spurge yellows phytoplasma. Results of the sequence analysis and phylogenetic studies confirmed that the phytoplasma associated with M. japonicus in Korea was an isolate of Aster Yellows group (subgroup16SrI‐B).
Recidivism after Release from a Prison Nursery Program
Authors: Goshin Lorie S. , Byrne Mary W. , Henninger Alana M.
Published: August 2013

Objective

To analyze 3‐year recidivism after release from a prison nursery, a secure unit that allows imprisoned women to care for their infants.

Design and Sample

Descriptive study of 139 women who co‐resided with their infants between 2001 and 2007 in a New York State prison nursery.

Measures

Administrative criminal justice data were analyzed along with prospective study data on demographic, mental health, and prison nursery policy‐related factors.

Results

Results reflect a sample of young women of color with histories of clinically significant depressive symptoms and substance dependence, who were convicted of nonviolent crimes and had multiple prior arrests. Three years after release 86.3% remained in the community. Only 4% of women returned to prison for new crimes. Survival modeling indicated that women who had previously violated parole had a significantly shorter mean return to prison time than those who were in the nursery for a new crime.

Conclusion

Women released from a prison nursery have a low likelihood of recidivism. Innovative interventions are needed to address incarceration's public health effects. Nurses can partner with criminal justice organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate programs to ensure the health needs of criminal justice involved people and their families are met.
A Mobile Motion Capture System Based on Inertial Sensors and Smart Shoes
Authors: Jung Pyeong-Gook , Oh Sehoon , Lim Gukchan , Kong Kyoungchul
Published: August 2013

Motion capture systems play an important role in health-care and sport-training systems. In particular, there exists a great demand on a mobile motion capture system that enables people to monitor their health condition and to practice sport postures anywhere at any time. The motion capture systems with infrared or vision cameras, however, require a special setting, which hinders their application to a mobile system. In this paper, a mobile three-dimensional motion capture system is developed based on inertial sensors and smart shoes. Sensor signals are measured and processed by a mobile computer; thus, the proposed system enables the analysis and diagnosis of postures during outdoor sports, as well as indoor activities. The measured signals are transformed into quaternion to avoid the Gimbal lock effect. In order to improve the precision of the proposed motion capture system in an open and outdoor space, a frequency-adaptive sensor fusion method and a kinematic model are utilized to construct the whole body motion in real-time. The reference point is continuously updated by smart shoes that measure the ground reaction forces.
Observation of Dirac Node Formation and Mass Acquisition in a Topological Crystalline Insulator
Authors: Okada Yoshinori , Serbyn Maksym , Lin Hsin , Walkup Daniel , Zhou Wenwen , Dhital Chetan , Neupane Madhab , Xu Suyang , Wang Yung Jui , Sankar R. , Chou Fangcheng , Bansil Arun , Hasan M. Zahid , Wilson Stephen D. , Fu Liang , Madhavan Vidya
Published: August 2013

Half-Massless

Certain materials, such as topological crystalline insulators (TCIs), host robust surface states that have a Dirac (graphene-like) dispersion associated with massless carriers; the breaking of protective symmetry within such materials should cause the carriers to acquire mass.

Okada
et al.

(p.
1496
, published online 29 August) used scanning tunneling microscopy to map out the energies of the electronic levels of the TCI Pb

1-
x

Sn

x

Se as a function of the strength of an external magnetic field. The massless Dirac fermions coexisted with massive ones, presumably as a consequence of a distortion of the crystalline structure affecting only one of the two mirror symmetries.
Draft Genome Sequence of Sphingobium chinhatense Strain IP26
T
, Isolated from a Hexachlorocyclohexane Dumpsite
Authors: Niharika Neha , Sangwan Naseer , Ahmad Salar , Singh Priya , Khurana J. P. , Lal Rup
Published: August 2013

Sphingobium chinhatense
strain IP26
T
is a conducive hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) degrader isolated from a heavily contaminated (450 mg HCH/g soil) HCH dumpsite. IP26
T
degrades α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH, which are highly persistent in the environment. Here we report the draft genome sequence (~5.8 Mbp) of this strain.
MSSA brain abscess and pyomyositis presenting as brain tumour and DVT
Authors: Narayanan Maya , Mookherjee Somnath , Spector Tara B , White Andrew Austin
Published: August 2013

A 66-year-old man with a recent radiographic diagnosis of a parietal brain tumour presented with severe left thigh pain that prevented ambulation. On examination, his left anterior thigh was mildly swollen without erythema. Initial concern was for deep vein thrombosis in the setting of brain malignancy or necrotising soft tissue infection. Subsequent imaging and biopsies revealed methicillin sensitiveStaphylococcus aureus(MSSA) pyomyositis of the left thigh and MSSA brain abscess.
Diagnostic challenges in movement disorders: Sensory Ataxia Neuropathy Dysarthria and Ophthalmoplegia (SANDO) syndrome
Authors: Lovan Alyson , Haq Ihtsham ul , Balakrishnan Nikhil
Published: August 2013

A woman in her early 60s presented to our Movement Disorders Centre with a 5-year history of progressive peripheral neuropathy, gait instability with falls, blurred vision, cognitive impairment and tremors. The patient was found to have profound sensory ataxia, chronic ophthalmoplegia, dementia with significant deficits in registration and construction and bilateral resting tremor of the hands. Investigations revealed an unremarkable MRI of the brain, negative cerebrospinal fluid studies, and unremarkable chemistries. Nerve conduction studies found a severe sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy. Genetic testing revealed a compound heterozygous mutation in the POLG1 gene consistent with the diagnosis of Sensory Ataxia Neuropathy Dysarthria and Ophthalmoplegia (SANDO) syndrome.
Spontaneous abdominal arteriovenous fistula and polysplenia in a child presenting with brain abscess
Authors: Acharyya Saugata , Acharyya Kakoli
Published: August 2013

Spontaneous arteriovenous communications below the diaphragm is a very rare condition. Its association with polysplenia has perhaps not yet been reported in children. We reported a case in a 9-year-old boy presenting with acute onset of fever, vomiting, headache, seizures and altered sensorium. A CT scan revealed a large occipital abscess which was drained surgically. On examination he had marked central cyanosis and grade III clubbing of fingers and toes. Further investigations led to the discovery of a very rare finding of abdominal arteriovenous malformation associated with multiple-enhancing structures around the splenic bed suggestive of polysplenia. We believe that the most likely cause of the brain abscess was paradoxical embolism through the abdominal arteriovenous communication. Unfortunately the parents did not consent to a surgical correction of the malformation, realising the risks involved in the procedure. Subsequently the boy was lost in follow-up.
Eighteen months of anterior chamber inflammation
Authors: Jhanji Vishal , Kwok Rachel , Young Alvin L
Published: August 2013

A 60-year-old Chinese patient was seen multiple times in the ophthalmology outpatient department due to persistent anterior-chamber inflammation and raised intraocular pressure. The patient was being treated with topical corticosteroids and oral acyclovir. Signs of corneal endotheliitis were observed in subsequent follow-ups. A clinical diagnosis could be made on slit-lamp examination, but aetiology could not be specified. An anterior-chamber diagnostic tap performed 18 months after the initial presentation revealed cytomegalovirus (CMV). Prompt response was noted with oral valganciclovir treatment. Our case highlights the importance of performing anterior-chamber tap in cases with persistent anterior-chamber inflammation. There was a long interval between the presentation and diagnosis mainly due to the absence of any concurrent ocular signs. An anterior-chamber tap was delayed until the ocular signs were suggestive of CMV endotheliitis. Timely diagnosis in such cases can improve the outcome as well as the prognosis.
Design of an ecological momentary assessment study of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and non-specific physical symptoms
Authors: Bogers Rik P , Bolte John F B , Houtveen Jan H , Lebret Erik , van Strien Rob T , Schipper C Maarten A , Alkadhimi Mehdi , Baliatsas Christos , van Kamp Irene
Published: August 2013

Introduction

Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance (IEI) attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) refers to self-reported sensitivity mainly characterised by the attribution of non-specific physical symptoms to low-level EMF exposure emitted from sources such as mobile phones. Scientific studies have not provided evidence for the existence of IEI-EMF, but these studies did not resemble the real-life situation or suffered from poor exposure characterisation and biased recall of health symptoms. To improve existing methods for the study of IEI-EMF, an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study is designed.

Methods and analysis

The study is an EMA study in which respondents carry personal exposure metres (exposimeters) that measure radiofrequency (RF) EMF, with frequent assessment of health symptoms and perceived EMF exposure through electronic diary registration during five consecutive days. Participants will be a selection from an epidemiological study who report to be sensitive to RF EMF. The exposimeters measure electric field strength in 12 frequency bands. Diary questions include the occurrence and severity of 10 non-specific physical symptoms, mood states and perceived exposure to (sources of) EMF. The relationship of actual and perceived EMF exposure and mood with non-specific physical symptoms will be analysed using multilevel regression analysis with time-shift models.

Discussion

The study has several advantages over previous studies, including assessment of personal EMF exposure and non-specific physical symptoms by an ecological method with a minimised chance of recall bias. The within-person design reduces confounding by time-stable factors (eg, personal characteristics). In the conduct of the study and the analysis and interpretation of its outcomes, some methodological issues including a high participant burden, reactivity, compliance to the study protocol and the potential of chance findings due to multiple statistical testing will be accounted for and limited as much as possible.
Experimental analysis of snow micropenetrometer (SMP) cone penetration in homogeneous snow layers
Authors: van Herwijnen Alec
Published: August 2013

The cone penetration test (CPT) is widely used to determine in situ soil and snow characteristics and stratigraphy. For avalanche forecasting, knowledge about snow stratigraphy is of crucial importance. Portable electric cone penetrometers have therefore been developed with the goal of obtaining rapid and accurate measurements of snow stratigraphy. The most widely used electric penetrometer is the snow micropenetrometer (SMP), a constant-speed small-diameter cone penetrometer. The SMP was specifically designed to study snow and is not a penetrometer in the geotechnical sense, as the diameter of the SMP cone (5 mm) is comparable to the typical size of snow grains (0.1 to 1 mm). Previous numerical and experimental studies of the CPT in granular materials have highlighted the importance of material compaction around the cone. Nevertheless, given the high porosity of snow, compaction of failed elements around the SMP cone is generally neglected when interpreting SMP force signals. To verify this assumption, microcomputed tomography and particle image velocimetry were used to investigate the deformation of snow during SMP cone penetration. Results from laboratory experiments with uniform snow show that a compaction zone around the SMP tip develops during penetration. The size of the compaction zone was on average twice as large as the actual size of the cone, increasing with increasing snow density. Furthermore, an average penetration depth of about 40 mm was required for the compaction zone to develop fully. This critical penetration depth roughly decreased with increasing snow density. These results show that the compaction zone around the SMP tip is far from negligible and has to be accounted for when interpreting SMP force measurements.
Rational conformal field theory with matrix level and strings on a torus
Authors: Nassar Ali , Walton Mark A.
Published: August 2013

Study of the matrix-level affine algebra Um,K is motivated by conformal field theory and the fractional quantum Hall effect. Gannon completed the classification of Um,K modular-invariant partition functions. Here we connect the algebra U2,K to strings on 2-tori describable by rational conformal field theories. As Gukov and Vafa proved, rationality selects the complex-multiplication tori. We point out that the rational conformal field theories describing strings on complex-multiplication tori have characters and partition functions identical to those of the matrix-level algebra Um,K. This connection makes it obvious that the rational theories are dense in the moduli space of strings on Tm, and may prove useful in other ways.
PROBABILISTIC TRANSFER MATRIX WITH MIXED BINARY-DECIMAL CODING FOR LOGIC CIRCUIT RELIABILITY ANALYSIS
Authors: ZANDEVAKILI HAMED , MAHANI ALI , SANEEI MOHSEN
Published: August 2013

Technology scale leads to increasing the vulnerability of new integrated logic circuits. The high-energy neutrons (present in terrestrial cosmic radiation) and alpha particles (that originate from impurities in the packaging materials) play important role in occurrence of transient faults which are effective factor for designing reliable integrated circuits. Thus, a fast and scalable method to obtain accurate reliability value is an issue to have a dependable logic circuit design. In this paper, a new fast and scalable method is proposed to calculate the circuit reliability in which the effects of nested reconvergent paths, as a main source of inaccuracy, is considered. In the presence of reconverging signals a binary probability matrix is used to resolve signals correlation problem and increase the accuracy of the obtained reliability. Also a new mixed binary-decimal code allocation is proposed to increase the scalability of the method and reduce the complexity of calculation. Simulation results show that our proposed solution is a fast method with less complexity and also gives an accurate reliability value in comparison with other methods.
Irgm1-deficient mice exhibit Paneth cell abnormalities and increased susceptibility to acute intestinal inflammation
Authors: Liu Bo , Gulati Ajay S. , Cantillana Viviana , Henry Stanley C. , Schmidt Elyse A. , Daniell Xiaoju , Grossniklaus Emily , Schoenborn Alexi A. , Sartor R. Balfour , Taylor Gregory A.
Published: August 2013

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disorder of the intestine that has been linked to numerous susceptibility genes, including the immunity-related GTPase ( IRG) M ( IRGM). IRGs comprise a family of proteins known to confer resistance to intracellular infections through various mechanisms, including regulation of phagosome processing, cell motility, and autophagy. However, despite its association with CD, the role of IRGM and other IRGs in regulating intestinal inflammation is unclear. We investigated the involvement of Irgm1, an ortholog of IRGM, in the genesis of murine intestinal inflammation. After dextran sodium sulfate exposure, Irgm1-deficient [Irgm1 knockout (KO)] mice showed increased acute inflammation in the colon and ileum, with worsened clinical responses. Marked alterations of Paneth cell location and granule morphology were present in Irgm1 KO mice, even without dextran sodium sulfate exposure, and were associated with impaired mitophagy and autophagy in Irgm1 KO intestinal cells (including Paneth cells). This was manifested by frequent tubular and swollen mitochondria and increased LC3-positive autophagic structures. Interestingly, these LC3-positive structures often contained Paneth cell granules. These results suggest that Irgm1 modulates acute inflammatory responses in the mouse intestine, putatively through the regulation of gut autophagic processes, that may be pivotal for proper Paneth cell functioning.
Combined genetic and pharmacological inhibition of TRPV1 and P2X3 attenuates colorectal hypersensitivity and afferent sensitization
Authors: Kiyatkin Michael E. , Feng Bin , Schwartz Erica S. , Gebhart G. F.
Published: August 2013

The ligand-gated channels transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and P2X3 have been reported to facilitate colorectal afferent neuron sensitization, thus contributing to organ hypersensitivity and pain. In the present study, we hypothesized that TRPV1 and P2X3 cooperate to modulate colorectal nociception and afferent sensitivity. To test this hypothesis, we employed TRPV1-P2X3 double knockout (TPDKO) mice and channel-selective pharmacological antagonists and evaluated combined channel contributions to behavioral responses to colorectal distension (CRD) and afferent fiber responses to colorectal stretch. Baseline responses to CRD were unexpectedly greater in TPDKO compared with control mice, but zymosan-produced CRD hypersensitivity was absent in TPDKO mice. Relative to control mice, proportions of mechanosensitive and -insensitive pelvic nerve afferent classes were not different in TPDKO mice. Responses of mucosal and serosal class afferents to mechanical probing were unaffected, whereas responses of muscular (but not muscular/mucosal) afferents to stretch were significantly attenuated in TPDKO mice; sensitization of both muscular and muscular/mucosal afferents by inflammatory soup was also significantly attenuated. In pharmacological studies, the TRPV1 antagonist A889425 and P2X3 antagonist TNP-ATP, alone and in combination, applied onto stretch-sensitive afferent endings attenuated responses to stretch; combined antagonism produced greater attenuation. In the aggregate, these observations suggest that 1) genetic manipulation of TRPV1 and P2X3 leads to reduction in colorectal mechanosensation peripherally and compensatory changes and/or disinhibition of other channels centrally, 2) combined pharmacological antagonism produces more robust attenuation of mechanosensation peripherally than does antagonism of either channel alone, and 3) the relative importance of these channels appears to be enhanced in colorectal hypersensitivity.
Helicobacter pyloriimpedes acid-induced tightening of gastric epithelial junctions
Authors: Marcus Elizabeth A. , Vagin Olga , Tokhtaeva Elmira , Sachs George , Scott David R.
Published: August 2013

Gastric infection by Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The mechanism of progression from gastritis and inflammation to ulcers and cancer in a fraction of those infected is not definitively known. Significant acidity is unique to the gastric environment and is required for ulcer development. The interplay between gastric acidity and H. pylori pathogenesis is important in progression to advanced disease. The aim of this study was to characterize the impact of acid on gastric epithelial integrity and cytokine release and how H. pylori infection alters these responses. Human gastric epithelial (HGE-20) cells were grown on porous inserts, and survival, barrier function, and cytokine release were studied at various apical pH levels in the presence and absence of H. pylori. With apical acidity, gastric epithelial cells demonstrate increased barrier function, as evidenced by increased transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and decreased paracellular permeability. This effect is reduced in the presence of wild-type, but not urease knockout, H. pylori. The epithelial inflammatory response is also modulated by acidity and H. pylori infection. Without H. pylori, epithelial IL-8 release decreases in acid, while IL-6 release increases. In the presence of H. pylori, acidic pH diminishes the magnitude of the previously reported increase in IL-8 and IL-6 release. H. pylori interferes with the gastric epithelial response to acid, contributing to altered barrier function and inflammatory response. H. pylori diminishes acid-induced tightening of cell junctions in a urease-dependent manner, suggesting that local pH elevation promotes barrier compromise and progression to mucosal damage.
Biophysical determinants of alveolar epithelial plasma membrane wounding associated with mechanical ventilation
Authors: Hussein Omar , Walters Bruce , Stroetz Randolph , Valencia Paul , McCall Deborah , Hubmayr Rolf D.
Published: August 2013

Mechanical ventilation may cause harm by straining lungs at a time they are particularly prone to injury from deforming stress. The objective of this study was to define the relative contributions of alveolar overdistension and cyclic recruitment and “collapse” of unstable lung units to membrane wounding of alveolar epithelial cells. We measured the interactive effects of tidal volume (VT), transpulmonary pressure (PTP), and of airspace liquid on the number of alveolar epithelial cells with plasma membrane wounds in ex vivo mechanically ventilated rat lungs. Plasma membrane integrity was assessed by propidium iodide (PI) exclusion in confocal images of subpleural alveoli. Cyclic inflations of normal lungs from zero end-expiratory pressure to 40 cmH2O produced VT values of 56.9 ± 3.1 ml/kg and were associated with 0.12 ± 0.12 PI-positive cells/alveolus. A preceding tracheal instillation of normal saline (3 ml) reduced VT to 49.1 ± 6 ml/kg but was associated with a significantly greater number of wounded alveolar epithelial cells (0.52 ± 0.16 cells/alveolus; P < 0.01). Mechanical ventilation of completely saline-filled lungs with saline (VT = 52 ml/kg) to pressures between 10 and 15 cmH2O was associated with the least number of wounded epithelial cells (0.02 ± 0.02 cells/alveolus; P < 0.01). In mechanically ventilated, partially saline-filled lungs, the number of wounded cells increased substantially with VT, but, once VT was accounted for, wounding was independent of maximal PTP. We found that interfacial stress associated with the generation and destruction of liquid bridges in airspaces is the primary biophysical cell injury mechanism in mechanically ventilated lungs.
Inhibition of Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer by LY2801653, an Inhibitor of Several Oncokinases, Including MET
Authors: Wu Wenjuan , Bi Chen , Credille Kelly M. , Manro Jason R. , Peek Victoria L. , Donoho Gregory P. , Yan Lei , Wijsman John A. , Yan S. Betty , Walgren Richard A.
Published: August 2013

Purpose: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Sustained activation, overexpression, or mutation of the MET pathway is associated with a poor prognosis in a variety of tumors, including non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), implicating the MET pathway as a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer. Previously, we reported on the development of LY2801653: a novel, orally bioavailable oncokinase inhibitor with MET as one of its targets. Here, we discuss the evaluation of LY2801653 in both preclinical in vitro and in vivo NSCLC models.

Experimental Design/Results: Treatment with LY2801653 showed tumor growth inhibition in tumor cell lines and patient-derived tumor xenograft models as a single agent (37.4%–90.0% inhibition) or when used in combination with cisplatin, gemcitabine, or erlotinib (66.5%–86.3% inhibition). Mechanistic studies showed that treatment with LY2801653 inhibited the constitutive activation of MET pathway signaling and resulted in inhibition of NCI-H441 cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration, and invasion. These in vitro findings were confirmed in the H441 orthotopic model where LY2801653 treatment significantly inhibited both primary tumor growth (87.9% inhibition) and metastasis (64.5% inhibition of lymph node and 67.7% inhibition of chest wall). Tumor-bearing animals treated with LY2801653 had a significantly greater survival time (87% increase compared with the vehicle-treated mice). In the MET-independent NCI-H1299 orthotopic model, treatment with LY2801653 showed a significant inhibition of primary tumor growth but not metastasis.

Conclusions: Collectively, these results support clinical evaluation of LY2801653 in NSCLCs and suggest that differences in the MET activation of tumors may be predictive of response. Clin Cancer Res; 19(20); 5699–710. ©2013 AACR.
Relation of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate to the Presence of Coronary Plaque and Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in a Zero or Low Coronary Artery Calcium Score
Authors: Ueda Hiroyasu , Tomoyama Satoki , Miyawaki Masami , Mitsusada Nobuhiro , Yasuga Yuji , Hiraoka Hisatoyo
Published: August 2013

Objectives: Although renal dysfunction is associated with the presence of atherosclerosis, little is known about the relationship between reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the presence of atherosclerosis detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). This study evaluated the relation of eGFR to the presence of coronary plaque and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with a zero or low coronary artery calcium score (CACS). Methods: Coronary artery calcium scoring and CCTA were performed with CT scanners. Serum creatinine was measured before CCTA, and GFR was estimated. A total of 720 patients with a CACS ≤10 were enrolled. Results: Coronary plaque was detected in 118 patients. Of the 118 patients, 36 had a diagnosis of obstructive CAD. The multiple-adjusted odds ratios of presenting with coronary plaque and obstructive CAD were 1.82 (95% CI 1.06-3.12, p = 0.030) and 1.79 (95% CI 0.71-4.49, p = 0.217) for the lowest tertile of eGFR compared with the highest tertile, respectively. Conclusions: Lower eGFR levels were associated with the presence of coronary plaque in patients with a zero or low CACS. However, the association between eGFR and the presence of obstructive CAD was not statistically significant.
Novel Role of CD47 in Rat Microvascular Endothelium
Authors: Martinelli Roberta , Newton Gail , Carman Christopher V. , Greenwood John , Luscinskas Francis W.
Published: August 2013

Objective—

Although endothelial CD47, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, has been implicated in leukocyte diapedesis, its capacity for intracellular signaling and physical localization during this process has not been addressed in detail. This study examined endothelial CD47 spatiotemporal behavior and signaling pathways involved in regulating T-cell transendothelial migration.

Approach and Results—

By biochemical methods, transmigration assays, and live-cell microscopy techniques, we show that endothelial CD47 engagement results in intracellular calcium mobilization, increased permeability, and activation of Src and AKT1/phosphoinositide 3-kinase in brain microvascular endothelial cells. These signaling pathways converge to induce cytoskeleton remodeling and vascular endothelial cadherin phosphorylation, which are necessary steps during T-cell transendothelial migration. In addition, during T-cell migration, transmigratory cups and podo-prints enriched in CD47 appear on the surface of the endothelium, indicating that the spatial distribution of CD47 changes after its engagement. Consistent with previous findings of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, blockade of CD47 results in decreased T-cell transmigration across microvascular endothelium. The overlapping effect of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and CD47 suggests their involvement in different steps of the diapedesis process.

Conclusions—

These data reveal a novel role for CD47-mediated signaling in the control of the molecular network governing endothelial-dependent T-cell diapedesis.
Revealing the Winds under the Rain. Part I: Passive Microwave Rain Retrievals Using a New Observation-Based Parameterization of Subsatellite Rain Variability and Intensity—Algorithm Description
Authors: Hristova-Veleva S. M. , Callahan P. S. , Dunbar R. S. , Stiles B. W. , Yueh S. H. , Huddleston J. N. , Hsiao S. V. , Neumann G. , Vanhoff B. A. , Gaston R. W. , Rodriguez E. , Weissman D. E.
Published: August 2013

Scatterometer ocean surface winds have been providing very valuable information to researchers and operational weather forecasters for over 10 years. However, the scatterometer wind retrievals are compromised when rain is present. Merely flagging all rain-affected areas removes the most dynamic and interesting areas from the wind analysis. Fortunately, the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite II (ADEOS-II) mission carried a radiometer [the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR)] and a scatterometer, allowing for independent, collocated retrievals of rain. The authors developed an algorithm that uses AMSR observations to estimate the rain inside the scatterometer beam. This is the first in a series of papers that describe their approach to providing rain estimation and correction to scatterometer observations. This paper describes the retrieval algorithm and evaluates it using simulated data. Part II will present its validation when applied to AMSR observations. This passive microwave rain retrieval algorithm addresses the issues of nonuniform beam filling and hydrometeor uncertainty in a novel way by 1) using a large number of soundings to develop the retrieval database, thus accounting for the geographically varying atmospheric parameters; 2) addressing the spatial inhomogeneity of rain by developing multiple retrieval databases with different built-in inhomogeneity and rain intensity, along with a “rain indicator” to select the most appropriate database for each observed scene; 3) developing a new cloud-versus-rain partitioning that allows the use of a variety of drop size distribution assumptions to account for some of the natural variability diagnosed from the soundings; and 4) retrieving atmospheric and surface parameters just outside the rainy areas, thus providing information about the environment to help decrease the uncertainty of the rain estimates.
Effects of Resolution of Satellite-Based Rainfall Estimates on Hydrologic Modeling Skill at Different Scales
Authors: Vergara Humberto , Hong Yang , Gourley Jonathan J. , Anagnostou Emmanouil N. , Maggioni Viviana , Stampoulis Dimitrios , Kirstetter Pierre-Emmanuel
Published: August 2013

Uncertainty due to resolution of current satellite-based rainfall products is believed to be an important source of error in applications of hydrologic modeling and forecasting systems. A method to account for the input’s resolution and to accurately evaluate the hydrologic utility of satellite rainfall estimates is devised and analyzed herein. A radar-based Multisensor Precipitation Estimator (MPE) rainfall product (4 km, 1 h) was utilized to assess the impact of resolution of precipitation products on the estimation of rainfall and subsequent simulation of streamflow on a cascade of basins ranging from approximately 500 to 5000 km2. MPE data were resampled to match the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission’s (TRMM) 3B42RT satellite rainfall product resolution (25 km, 3 h) and compared with its native resolution data to estimate errors in rainfall fields. It was found that resolution degradation considerably modifies the spatial structure of rainfall fields. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was designed to effectively isolate the error on hydrologic simulations due to rainfall resolution using a distributed hydrologic model. These analyses revealed that resolution degradation introduces a significant amount of error in rainfall fields, which propagated to the streamflow simulations as magnified bias and dampened aggregated error (RMSEs). Furthermore, the scale dependency of errors due to resolution degradation was found to intensify with increasing streamflow magnitudes. The hydrologic model was calibrated with satellite- and original-resolution MPE using a multiscale approach. The resulting simulations had virtually the same skill, suggesting that the effects of rainfall resolution can be accounted for during calibration of hydrologic models, which was further demonstrated with 3B42RT.
Are My Students Like Me? The Path to Color-Blindness and White Racial Identity Development
Authors: Bloom Diane S. , Peters Terri , Margolin Marcia , Fragnoli Kristi
Published: August 2013

This study examines the White racial identity (WRI) development of pre-service teachers in diverse and nondiverse student teaching placements. A qualitative design, using constant comparative analysis yielded salient themes/categories. Our results provide evidence that experience in diverse settings might provide opportunities for individuals to reflect on issues of their own race and ethnicity in contrast to their students’ backgrounds. Student teachers placed in more diverse settings showed evidence of WRI growth, as they became more cognizant of their heritage and their own privileges. We found that the level of diversity of student teaching field placements influenced White student teachers’ perceptions of working with students of color. We propose that ongoing discussions will foster an awareness of the history of racism and discrimination in the United States that has created racial and educational inequities, which, in turn, will promote multicultural competence.
Twice-Exceptional Learners’ Perspectives on Effective Learning Strategies
Authors: Willard-Holt Colleen , Weber Jessica , Morrison Kristen L. , Horgan Julia
Published: August 2013

This mixed-methods study investigates the perspectives of twice-exceptional students on learning strategies that have been recommended for them in the literature. Have the strategies recommended in the literature been implemented? Do students perceive the strategies to be beneficial in helping them learn? Participants represented a broad range of coexisting exceptionalities and ranged in age from 10 to 23 years. While mainly qualitative, this study was informed by a survey adapted from the Possibilities for Learning survey. Qualitative in-depth interviews provided rich descriptions of which learning strategies were facilitators and barriers. Findings indicated that participants perceived that their overall school experiences failed to assist them in learning to their potential, although they were able to use their strengths to circumvent their weaknesses. Implications for teachers included allowing twice-exceptional learners more ownership over their learning and more choice and flexibility in topic, method of learning, assessment, pace, and implementation of group collaboration.
Collective Identity, Intergenerational Relations, and Civic Society
Authors: Corsaro William A. , Johannesen Berit O.
Published: August 2013

This paper examines transition rituals and activities of Norwegian Russ (youth graduating from high school). Drawing on observations, archival and in-depth interview data collected over six years, we make two important findings. First, through their creative participation in traditional rituals Russ develop and share their own collective identity while also contributing to civic society more generally. Second, intergenerational relations play a central role in the Russ experience and through their activities with younger children and adults Russ reflect on their own temporal positions in the generational order. Our analysis contributes to better understanding of the changing nature of the symbolic value of Russ in Norwegian society, debate about the growing commercialization of youth traditions and activities in a global economy, and the complexity of the liminal aspect of rites of transition.
2012 European guideline for the management of pelvic inflammatory disease
Authors: Ross Jonathan , Judlin Philippe , Jensen Jorgen
Published: August 2013

This guideline was produced by the European region of the International Union against sexually transmitted infections (IUSTI) and refers to ascending infections in the female genital tract unrelated to delivery and surgery and does not include actinomyces-related infection.
The making of expert patients: The role of online health communities in arthritis self-management
Authors: Willis Erin
Published: August 2013

Chronic disease is an epidemic, one that requires patients to play an active role in managing symptoms and disease affect. This study used ethnomethodology ( N = 8231) to understand how patients with arthritis use online health communities to exchange disease-related information to better manage their chronic disease. The findings show that online health communities facilitate self-management behaviors through the exchange of health information and disease experience. These online health communities act as self-management programs led by peers with the same chronic disease through the exchange of health information based on experience, working to improve members’ health literacy related to arthritis.
Consequences of caring for a child with a chronic disease
Authors: Hatzmann Janneke , Peek Niels , Heymans Hugo , Maurice-Stam Heleen , Grootenhuis Martha
Published: August 2013

Chronically ill children require several hours of additional care per day compared to healthy children. As parents provide most of this care, they have to incorporate it into their daily schedule, which implies a reduction in time for other activities. The study aimed to assess the effect of having a chronically ill child on parental employment and parental leisure activity time, and to explore the role of demographic, social, and disease-related variables in relation to employment and leisure activities. Outcomes of 576 parents of chronically ill children and 441 parents of healthy school children were analyzed with multivariate regression. Having a chronically ill child was negatively related with family employment, maternal labor force participation, and leisure activity time. Use of child care was positively related to family and maternal employment of the total group of parents. Within parents of chronically ill children, most important finding was the negative relation of dependency of the child on daily care and low parental educational level with family and maternal employment. In conclusion, parents of chronically ill children, mothers in particular, are disadvantaged in society probably due to the challenge of combining child care with work and leisure time.
Ethnographic experiments in transnational mobility studies
Authors: Xiang Biao , Toyota Mika
Published: August 2013

Transnational mobility has become a ubiquitous phenomenon. Yet it is inherently transient and unstable. How then can we analyse it ethnographically? This special issue presents a number of methodological experiments that explore the interfaces between individuals’ migratory experiences that are always context specific and can never be fixed, and institutional, structural and historical forces that are themselves constantly changing. The articles respectively explore ‘multi-scalar’, ‘tandem’, ‘multi-media’, ‘centripetal’, and ‘lateral’ ethnographies as new modes of field research, writing, and analysis.
Two-Year Outcomes of a Primary Care–and Home-Based Intervention for Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Diet in Adolescents
Authors: Patrick Kevin , Norman Gregory J. , Davila Evelyn P. , Rosenberg Dori E. , Calfas Karen J. , Covin Jennifer , Sallis James F.
Published: August 2013

Objective. Interventions to promote physical activity (PA) and healthy diet that are (a) conducted in a primary care setting, (b) based on theories of behavioral change, and (c) of long duration (>1 year) are recommended but few exist. We tested the effect, after 2 years of treatment, of a multicomponent intervention designed to promote PA and healthy diet among 819 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 years from San Diego. Methods. Treatment effects were assessed using sex-specific repeated-measures mixed model analyses. All behaviors measured were based on self-report. Results. After 2 years of treatment, boys in the intervention group maintained improved consumption of fruits and vegetables whereas the control group did not ( P = .006). Two-year treatment effects were also observed for sedentary behaviors in both boys ( P < .0001) and girls ( P = .012). Satisfaction with the program was high and of the intervention components, counselor calls were most liked, parental guidance was perceived as most valuable, and tip sheets were the most used. Conclusion: Two years of a primary care–based intervention that focus on behavioral change strategies, counselor calls, and parental guidance reduced sedentary behavior and increased boys’ fruit and vegetable consumption.
BayMiR: inferring evidence for endogenous miRNA-induced gene repression from mRNA expression profiles
Authors: Radfar Hossein , Wong Willy , Morris Quaid
Published: August 2013

Background

Popular miRNA target prediction techniques use sequence features to determine the functional miRNA target sites. These techniques commonly ignore the cellular conditions in which miRNAs interact with their targets in vivo. Gene expression data are rich resources that can complement sequence features to take into account the context dependency of miRNAs.

Results

We introduce BayMiR, a new computational method, that predicts the functionality of potential miRNA target sites using the activity level of the miRNAs inferred from genome-wide mRNA expression profiles. We also found that mRNA expression variation can be used as another predictor of functional miRNA targets. We benchmarked BayMiR, the expression variation, Cometa, and the TargetScan “context scores” on two tasks: predicting independently validated miRNA targets and predicting the decrease in mRNA abundance in miRNA overexpression assays. BayMiR performed better than all other methods in both benchmarks and, surprisingly, the variation index performed better than Cometa and some individual determinants of the TargetScan context scores. Furthermore, BayMiR predicted miRNA target sets are more consistently annotated with GO and KEGG terms than similar sized random subsets of genes with conserved miRNA seed regions. BayMiR gives higher scores to target sites residing near the poly(A) tail which strongly favors mRNA degradation using poly(A) shortening. Our work also suggests that modeling multiplicative interactions among miRNAs is important to predict endogenous mRNA targets.

Conclusions

We develop a new computational method for predicting the target mRNAs of miRNAs. BayMiR applies a large number of mRNA expression profiles and successfully identifies the mRNA targets and miRNA activities without using miRNA expression data. The BayMiR package is publicly available and can be readily applied to any mRNA expression data sets.
Differential arthritogenicity of Staphylococcus aureusstrains isolated from biological samples
Authors: Colavite-Machado Priscila Maria , Ishikawa Larissa Lumi Watanabe , Donegá França Thaís Graziela , Zorzella-Pezavento Sofia Fernanda Gonçalves , da Rosa Larissa Camargo , Chiuso-Minicucci Fernanda , da Cunha Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza , Garlet Gustavo Pompermaier , Sartori Alexandrina
Published: August 2013

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common agent of septic arthritis that is a severe, rapidly progressive and destructive joint disease. Superantigens produced by S. aureus are considered the major arthritogenic factors. In this study, we compared the arthritogenic potential of five superantigen-producing staphylococcal strains.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were intravenously infected with ATCC 19095 SEC+, N315 ST5 TSST-1+, S-70 TSST-1+, ATCC 51650 TSST-1+ and ATCC 13565 SEA+ strains. Clinical parameters as body weight, arthritis incidence and clinical score were daily evaluated. Joint histopathological analysis and spleen cytokine production were evaluated at the 14th day after infection.

Results

Weight loss was observed in all infected mice. ATCC 19095 SEC+, N315 ST5 TSST-1+ and S-70 TSST-1+ were arthritogenic, being the highest scores observed in ATCC 19095 SEC+ infected mice. Intermediate and lower clinical scores were observed in N315 ST5 TSST-1+ and S-70 TSST-1+ infected mice, respectively. The ATCC 13565 SEA+ strain caused death of 85% of the animals after 48 h. Arthritis triggered by the ATCC 19095 SEC+ strain was characterized by accentuated synovial hyperplasia, inflammation, pannus formation, cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Similar joint alterations were found in N315 ST5 TSST-1+ infected mice, however they were strikingly more discrete. Only minor synovial proliferation and inflammation were triggered by the S-70 TSST-1+ strain. The lowest levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17 production in response to S. aureus stimulation were found in cultures from mice infected with the less arthritogenic strains (S-70 TSST-1+ and ATCC 51650 TSST-1+). The highest production of IL-17 was detected in mice infected with the most arthritogenic strains (ATCC 19095 SEC+ and N315 ST5 TSST-1+).

Conclusions

Together these results demonstrated that S. aureus strains, isolated from biological samples, were able to induce a typical septic arthritis in mice. These results also suggest that the variable arthritogenicity of these strains was, at least in part, related to their differential ability to induce IL-17 production.