bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined Analytical and Finite Element Beam Model for Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Lin Huei-Jeng , Lai Wei-Ming , Kuo Yan-Min
Published: March 2010

Finite element method (FEM) has been widely used in recent years to analyze fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) beams such as wind turbine blades. Although it is generic and convenient, FEM does little to shed light on the mechanical behavior of structures. Moreover, it is inefficient in calculation. This study presents a combined analytical and finite element beam (CAFB) model with an inclination angle correction to solve the non-prismatic, blade-like FRP beam problem. It not only substantially reduces computational time, but also helps us comprehend the mechanical behavior. Also, the inclination angle correction is supposed to correct the overestimated axial stiffness due to the topology of beams. In the presented cases, the CAFB model can accurately analyze the FRP thin-walled beams with all results being certified by finite element analysis software, and the correction is especially effective in small fiber orientation angles.
Dielectric and AC Conductivity of Rockwool Fibers-Polystyrene Composites
Authors: Nofal O.M. , Zihlif A.M.
Published: March 2010

The dielectric and AC conductivity of rockwool fibers-polystyrene composites were studied as a function of frequency, temperature, and rockwool concentration through impedance measurements. It was observed that the AC conductivity and the dielectric constant are increased by increasing the rockwool content in the composite. The observed electrical results fit approximately the reported empirical equations concerning the AC conductivity and dielectric behavior of polymer composites. The dielectric behavior of the prepared composites is mainly attributed to the dielectric properties of the rockwool filler. The dielectric results were explained on the basis of the interfacial (space charge) and dipolar polarizations.
Nanosilver Finishing of Composite Materials for EMSE
Authors: Perumalraj R. , Nalankilli G. , Arunprasath V.K. , Dharmaraj K. , Adithya Sathish , Dasaradan B.S.
Published: March 2010

In this work, copper core yarn (cotton sheath) was made into a plain fabric and treated with nanosilver particles. Copper (diameter 0.09 mm) was used as core material for producing Dref II core yarn with resultant count of 295 tex and core/sheath ratio 16/84. The cotton material is used as sheath. The Dref II friction spinning was used to produce the copper core yarn. In order to improve the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of copper core yarn woven fabrics by nanosilver finishing, the copper core yarn (cotton sheath) was made into a plain fabric and treated by nanosilver particles with various levels of concentration, temperature, and curing time through Box-Behnken design. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness values for different applying conditions were measured and analyzed, and are discussed in this paper.
Critical Educational Program Components for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Science, Policy, and Practice
Authors: Simpson Richard L. , Peterson Reece L. , Smith Carl R.
Published: March 2010

In spite of recent education reform and reorganization efforts requiring the use of research-based methods, the fundamental elements of an effective program for children and youth with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) have not been succinctly identified. This article presents the essential features of programs for students with EBD. Program elements include (a) qualified and committed professionals, (b) utilitarian environmental supports, (c) effective behavior management plans, (d) valid social skill and social interpretation training and social interaction programs, (e) proven academic support systems, (f) strong parent- and family-involvement programs, (g) coordinated community support mechanisms, and (h) ongoing evaluation of essential program components and student outcomes and progress. A justification for the program and a comparison of the proposed program with existing models is included in the discussion.
Dynamic Contact Angle Analysis of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses
Authors: Read Michael Leonard , Morgan Philip Bruce , Kelly Jeremiah Michael , Maldonado-Codina Carole
Published: March 2010

Contact angle measurements are used to infer the clinical wetting characteristics of contact lenses. Such characterization has become more commonplace since the introduction of silicone hydrogel contact lens materials, which have been associated with reduced in vivo wetting due to the inclusion of siloxane-containing components. Using consistent methodology and a single investigator, advancing and receding contact angles were measured for 11 commercially available silicone hydrogel contact lens types with a dynamic captive bubble technique employing customized, fully automated image analysis. Advancing contact angles were found to range between 20° and 72° with the lenses falling into six statistically discrete groupings. Receding contact angles fell within a narrower range, between 17° and 22°, with the lenses segregated into three groups. The relationship between these laboratory measurements and the clinical performance of the lenses requires further investigation.
Traveling Showmen, Makeshift Cinemas
Authors: Mahadevan Sudhir
Published: March 2010

This article offers an archeology of vintage, obsolete, pirate and “junk” media forms related to the cinema in India, with the Bioscopewallah or traveling picture showman at the center of such an archeology. The article traces the origins of the Bioscope to nineteenth century European entertainment in Calcutta, and follows its numerous subsequent reinventions, as it weaves in and out of the European and Indian worlds, private, commercial and state initiatives, and plays a central role in movie exhibition in early twentieth century Bengal. It concludes by mapping itinerant cinema’s place within India’s contemporary media ecologies. Linking technology and commerce to each other on the ground of seemingly vestigial artifacts from an earlier era, it argues that the obviation of obsolescence, as an historically contingent and geographically variable survival tactic, is critical to the logic of media history in India.
“The Road to Vagrancy”
Authors: Gurata Ahmet
Published: March 2010

Taking Turkey as an example, this article focuses on the exhibition and reception of Indian films in the 1950s. It begins with a close analysis of Awara (Vagabond) (Raj Kapoor, 1951), comparing the Turkish dubbed version with the original film. Identifying the “significant variations” between these two versions, it notes that Awara was re-presented as a non-national film utilizing Turkified character names and selective scene deletion, common practices for international films exhibited in Turkey at the time. The article goes on to evaluate the ways in which the film was promoted and distributed throughout Turkey and analyzes various discourses on Awara, circulated through local reviews, news articles, advertisements, illustrations, and cartoons. Observing how culturally specific conditions of exhibition shape audience reception, it suggests that Indian cinema had a specific role in mediating competing discourses on cultural identity, modernity, and national cinema in Turkey.
Incorporating Cultural Competence Content Into Graduate Nursing Curricula Through Community—University Collaboration
Authors: Axtell Sara A. , Avery Melissa , Westra Bonnie
Published: March 2010

Health professionals are reorienting workforce education to better prepare students for working with increasingly diverse populations. The authors describe a community-based curriculum deliberation process in which community leaders and health workers deliberated with faculty and students to make recommendations about a graduate nursing curriculum. There were five areas of competencies recommended for graduate nursing to improve care of diverse populations: self-awareness, basic knowledge of culture and identity, attitudes that promote cross-cultural communication, cross-cultural clinical skills, and advocacy skills. The school now is in the process of phasing in recommendations gained from the deliberation.
Bringing Translation Out of the Shadows: Translation as an Issue of Methodological Significance in Cross-Cultural Qualitative Research
Authors: Wong Josephine Pui-Hing , Poon Maurice Kwong-Lai
Published: March 2010

Translation is an integral component of cross-cultural research that has remained invisible. It is commonly assumed that translation is an objective and neutral process, in which the translators are “technicians” in producing texts in different languages. Drawing from the field of translation studies and the findings of a translation exercise conducted with three bilingual Cantonese-English translators, the authors highlight some of the methodological issues about translation in cross-cultural qualitative research. They argue that only by making translation visible and through open dialogue can researchers uncover the richness embedded in the research data and facilitate multiple ways of knowing.
Preservice Music Teachers Reflect on First Experiences in Elementary Classrooms
Authors: Henninger Jacqueline C. , Scott Laurie P.
Published: March 2010

Changes that took place in the perceptions of 18 preservice music teachers during their first experiences performing and teaching in two different field experiences in elementary music classrooms were examined. Following each experience, preservice music teachers were asked to individually view recordings of their lessons, analyze the experience using specially designed observation forms, select two 12- to 15-minute excerpts (one labeled by the participant as “good” and the other as “not so good”), and write reflection paragraphs for each excerpt. The reflection paragraphs were analyzed by coding the ideas discussed in each paragraph as positive, negative, or neutral using the categories for teachers (use of strategies, affect, music skills and knowledge, other) and students (music skills and knowledge, social skills, affect, other). Of all statements, 75% were related to preservice music teachers’ perceptions of themselves as teachers and only 25% were related to their students’ behaviors. Participants’ perceptions of their young students’ music performances and students’ social behaviors were more positive in Experience II than in Experience I. In addition, the preservice music teacher comments conveyed more positive affect related to the use of their own teaching strategies and expressed less negative affect overall.
Family Resilience and Midlife Marital Satisfaction
Authors: Huber Charles H. , Navarro Rachel L. , Womble Monte W. , Mumme Fayedra L.
Published: March 2010

This article describes the results of a research investigation of the relationship of midlife marital satisfaction and the three primary protective factors that, operationally defined by the Family Adaptation Model, contribute to family resilience: adaptive appraisal, compensating experiences, and social support. Midlife marital satisfaction was conceptualized using Duvall’s family life cycle theory’s ‘‘Middle Aged Family’’ stage tasks: (a) rebuilding the marriage relationship and (b) maintaining kin ties with older and younger generations. Participants included 239 couples, who were between the ages of 45 and 65 and whose youngest child was over 18 years old and graduated from high school. The relationship between the predictor and criterion variables was explored for both individual partners and couples. Analyses were also conducted to consider gender and ethnic group membership differences. The results showed significant positive relationships existed between the criterion variables (rebuilding the marriage relationship and maintaining kin ties with older and younger generations) and the predictor variables (adaptive appraisal, compensating experiences, and social support), thus providing support for the position that in the face of the developmental challenges encountered relative to midlife marriage, higher levels of the primary protective factors contributing to family resilience are related to greater levels of mastery of the developmental tasks associated with midlife marital satisfaction.
Using Bowen Theory to Examine Progress in Couple Therapy
Authors: Bartle-Haring Suzanne , Lal Arpita
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this investigation was to test whether differentiation of self in couple members affected the trajectories of marital satisfaction, marital commitment, and individual well-being across the early sessions of therapy while taking into account the level of distress the couple was experiencing. The sample consisted of 127 couples seeking services at an on-campus couple and family therapy clinic. A latent growth curve modeling approach was used for data analysis. Even though differentiation of self or distress levels were not found to be predictive of change in marital satisfaction, commitment, or well-being, for both husbands and wives higher levels of differentiation were predictive of lower distress scores and higher baseline scores for well-being. Higher levels of distress were associated with lower levels of marital satisfaction for both husbands and wives. When there was a change in commitment, both husbands and wives seemed to change together. Implications of the results for clinical practice and future research are discussed.
Narrative Soup
Authors: Brady Ivan
Published: March 2010

The bricoleur principle in experimental social science writing need not be confined to mixing or blurring genres of subject matter and then representing the results in strictly conventional ways. Those messages are tied to forms of expression and the forms themselves can be manipulated creatively to open new modes of communicating experiences and knowledge and thereby potentially new dimensions for understanding the subject matter itself. Obviously not cast as conventional narrative, this story is also not a prose poem per se, it is not particularly rich with metaphor and allegory, and it lacks the economy and rhythms of poetic line phrasing in several parts. It does, however, have elements of all of these forms. It is a pool of expository rules at play. I offer it here as homage to all of the creative souls who have mingled and stirred such things in their own work (on the strength of muses, or in some cases, methodological gurus) and who have had the temerity to commit the results to print.
Clinico-pathological evidence that axonal loss underlies disability in progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Tallantyre Emma C , Bø Lars , Al-Rawashdeh Omar , Owens Trudy , Polman Chris H , Lowe James S , Evangelou Nikos
Published: March 2010

Growing evidence suggests that axonal degeneration rather than demyelination is the pathological substrate underlying chronic, irreversible disability in multiple sclerosis. However, direct evidence linking clinical disability measured in vivo with corresponding post-mortem measures of axonal pathology is lacking. Our objective in this study was to investigate the relationship between motor disability accumulated by patients with multiple sclerosis during life and the degree of axonal loss observed in their descending motor tracts after death.

Human spinal cord derived at autopsy from 45 patients with multiple sclerosis was investigated. The medical records of each patient were reviewed by a multiple sclerosis neurologist to determine the degree of motor disability reached before death. Spinal cord sections were stained immunohistochemically. The degree of demyelination and the number of surviving corticospinal tract axons were measured in each patient.

Patients who had accumulated higher levels of motor disability prior to death demonstrated fewer surviving corticospinal axons. Motor disability did not correlate with degree of demyelination.

This study provides for the first time, direct clinico-pathological evidence that axonal loss is the pathological substrate of established disability in multiple sclerosis.
Factors associated with non-lethal violent victimization in Sweden in 2004-2007
Authors: Stickley Andrew , Carlson Per
Published: March 2010

Aims: To examine which factors were associated with non-lethal violent victimization in Sweden in the period 2004 to 2007. Methods: Data come from the Swedish National Public Health Surveys, undertaken annually between 2004 and 2007. A total of 29,923 randomly selected respondents aged 16 to 84 from across Sweden responded to a mailed questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine which independent variables were associated with having experienced violence in the previous 12 months. Results: Male and female respondents who were younger, single, lacking in social capital and who engaged in harmful alcohol consumption were significantly more likely to have been subject to violence. Furthermore, men who were in the lower income groups or who were Nordic, and women who were of a non-European origin, were also significantly more likely to have been victimized. Conclusions: The risk of non-lethal violent victimization is not spread equally throughout Swedish society. Specifically, those who are socially and/or economically disadvantaged are much more likely to experience violence. This highlights the importance of working to reverse the growing inequality that has occurred in Sweden in recent years that continues to be linked to the risk of being a victim of non-lethal violence.
Job involvement of primary healthcare employees: Does a service provision model play a role?
Authors: Koponen Anne M. , Laamanen Ritva , Simonsen-Rehn Nina , Sundell Jari , Brommels Mats , Suominen Sakari
Published: March 2010

Aim: To investigate whether the development of job involvement of primary healthcare (PHC) employees in Southern Municipality (SM), where PHC services were outsourced to an independent non-profit organisation, differed from that in the three comparison municipalities (M1, M2, M3) with municipal service providers. Also, the associations of job involvement with factors describing the psychosocial work environment were investigated. Methods: A panel mail survey 2000—02 in Finland (n=369, response rates 73% and 60%). The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: Despite the favourable development in the psychosocial work environment, job involvement decreased most in SM, which faced the biggest organisational changes. Job involvement decreased also in M3, where the psychosocial work environment deteriorated most. Job involvement in 2002 was best predicted by high baseline level of interactional justice and work control, positive change in interactional justice, and higher age. Also other factors, such as organisational stability, seemed to play a role; after controlling for the effect of the psychosocial work characteristics, job involvement was higher in M3 than in SM. Conclusion: Outsourcing of PHC services may decrease job involvement at least during the first years. A particular service provision model is better than the others only if it is superior in providing a favourable and stable psychosocial work environment.
Writing childhoods under construction: Re-visioning ‘copying’ in early childhood
Authors: Haas Dyson Anne
Published: March 2010

This article problematizes a hegemonic vision of children and writing, one undergirded by an individualistic ideology; this ideology informs a curricular emphasis both on mastering ‘basic’ skills and on crafting for self expression. To this end, the article focuses on the slippery phenomenon of ‘copying.’ It begins with a consideration of two previous studies of ‘copying,’ illustrating how visions of children, of composing, and of copying itself change with theoretical tools, methodological decisions, and responses to changing educational discourse. It then turns to the current study, which draws on data collected in two classrooms in low-income urban neighborhoods, a kindergarten and a first grade. Data analysis revealed how copying mediated relationships. Collegiality, textual choreography, complementary authorial roles, and co-constructed dramas were all on display. The article thus illustrates, not the composing of individual selves, but the complex participatory dynamics by which writing becomes relevant to small children.
Taking stock of family literacy: Some contemporary perspectives
Authors: Anderson Jim , Anderson Ann , Friedrich Nicola , Ji Eun Kim
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this article is to examine developments in the area of family literacy over the last decade. Acknowledging the bifurcation that has occurred in the field of family literacy, as well as changing conceptions of literacy and of families, we review naturalistic studies of literacy embedded and enacted in communities and families across different sociocultural context and also what we see as the evolving nature of family literacy programs. We conclude with an acknowledgement of some of the ongoing concerns, issues, and tensions in the field and a call for sensitivity on the part of all of us involved in family literacy research and programs.
Thermal Protective Performance and Moisture Transmission of Firefighter Protective Clothing Based on Orthogonal Design
Authors: Zhiying Cui , Yanmin Wan , Weiyuan Zhang
Published: March 2010

This study is to investigate thermal protection and moisture transmission of firefighter clothing and how combinations of materials influence the thermal protection and moisture transmission. An orthogonal design is applied for planning the experiment. Eight different material combinations, which simulate three-layer firefighter protective clothing system, are studied. The thermal protective performance (TPP) and water vapor transmission rate of combinations are tested. The experiment data are discussed by analysis of range and variance. Meanwhile, influence of each layer on clothing performance is also studied. Results show that outer shell fabric and moisture barrier layer have significant effects on TPP and moisture transmission property, respectively.
Orientations to Academic Workloads at Department Level
Authors: Wolf Amanda
Published: March 2010

Universities confront many challenges in their efforts to manage staff activity with the aid of workload assessment and allocation systems. This article sets out fresh perspectives from an exploratory study designed to uncover patterns of subjective views about various aspects of workloads. Using Q methodology, academic staff in a single department provided composite pictures of the intensity of their views on workload policies and systems, and about their experiences of workloads. Factor analysis, interpreted with the aid of interviews, reveals three orientations based on traditional independent scholarship, collectivism, and stress and overwork. Together, the three orientations in one department show evidence of a generational shift, with leadership implications. Looking ahead, workload allocation systems may need to give weight to personal choice and to consider ways to credit shared work in ways that fit the contemporary university environment.
One School’s Approach to Overcoming Resistance and Improving Appraisal: Organizational Learning in Action
Authors: Piggot-Irvine Eileen
Published: March 2010

This article reports on the action research (AR) approach adopted by one New Zealand (NZ) primary school to review and improve its appraisal system. Historically the staff had demonstrated considerable negativity towards appraisal. The classic reconnaissance, implementation and evaluation phases of AR were adopted by the case study school as a rigorous approach for improvement. A particular emphasis in this article is on the outcomes of the evaluation phase of the AR where the school lead team and an independent evaluator conducted a review of the effectiveness of the improvements via survey, a focus group interview and documentary analysis. Strong positive feedback was provided on the effectiveness of the lead team AR activity, as well as the outcomes associated with the appraisal system. Respondents’ suggestions for further improvement were combined with those linked to documentary analysis to identify areas for further enhancement of rigour in the system. These suggested enhancements have led to a subsequent iteration of improvement in the school that strongly locates the latter as a learning organization (LO), which demonstrates the openness and commitment to development also associated with organizational learning (OL).
Promoter hypermethylation in MLL-r infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia: biology and therapeutic targeting
Authors: Schafer Eric , Irizarry Rafael , Negi Sandeep , McIntyre Emily , Small Donald , Figueroa Maria E. , Melnick Ari , Brown Patrick
Published: March 2010

Cooperating leukemogenic events in MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are largely unknown. We explored the role of promoter CpG island hypermethylation in the biology and therapeutic targeting of MLL-r infant ALL. The HELP (HpaII tiny fragment enrichment by ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) assay was used to examine genome-wide methylation of a cohort of MLL-r infant leukemia samples (n = 5), other common childhood ALLs (n = 5), and normals (n = 5). Unsupervised analysis showed tight clustering of samples into their known biologic groups, indicating large differences in methylation patterns. Global hypermethylation was seen in the MLL-r cohort compared with both the normals and the others, with ratios of significantly (P < .001) hypermethylated to hypomethylated CpGs of 1.7 and 2.9, respectively. A subset of 7 differentially hypermethylated genes was assayed by quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT)–PCR, confirming relative silencing in 5 of 7. In cell line treatment assays with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) decitabine, MLL-r (but not MLL wild-type cell lines) showed dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity and re-expression of 4 of the 5 silenced genes. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) confirmed promoter hypermethylation at baseline, and a relative decrease in methylation after treatment. DNMTi may represent a novel molecularly targeted therapy for MLL-r infant ALL.
Early detrimental T-cell effects in experimental cerebral ischemia are neither related to adaptive immunity nor thrombus formation
Authors: Kleinschnitz Christoph , Schwab Nicholas , Kraft Peter , Hagedorn Ina , Dreykluft Angela , Schwarz Tobias , Austinat Madeleine , Nieswandt Bernhard , Wiendl Heinz , Stoll Guido
Published: March 2010

T cells contribute to the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke by yet unknown mechanisms. Mice with transgenic T-cell receptors (TCRs) and mutations in costimulatory molecules were used to define the minimal immunologic requirements for T cell–mediated ischemic brain damage. Stroke was induced in recombination activating gene 1–deficient (RAG1−/−) mice devoid of T and B cells, RAG1−/− mice reconstituted with B cells or T cells, TCR-transgenic mice bearing 1 single CD8+ (2C/RAG2, OTI/RAG1 mice) or CD4+ (OTII/RAG1, 2D2/RAG1 mice) TCR, mice lacking accessory molecules of TCR stimulation (CD28−/−, PD1−/−, B7-H1−/− mice), or mice deficient in nonclassical T cells (natural killer T [NKT] and γδ T cells) by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Stroke outcome was assessed at day 1. RAG1−/− mice and RAG1−/− mice reconstituted with B cells developed significantly smaller brain infarctions compared with controls, but thrombus formation after FeCl3-induced vessel injury was unimpaired. In contrast, TCR-transgenic mice and mice lacking costimulatory TCR signals were fully susceptible to tMCAO similar to mice lacking NKT and γδ T cells. These findings were corroborated by adoptive transfer experiments. Our data demonstrate that T cells critically contribute to cerebral ischemia, but their detrimental effect neither depends on antigen recognition nor TCR costimulation or thrombus formation.
Endothelial lumen signaling complexes control 3D matrix–specific tubulogenesis through interdependent Cdc42- and MT1-MMP–mediated events
Authors: Sacharidou Anastasia , Koh Wonshill , Stratman Amber N. , Mayo Anne M. , Fisher Kevin E. , Davis George E.
Published: March 2010

Here, we define an endothelial cell (EC) lumen signaling complex involving Cdc42, Par6b, Par3, junction adhesion molecule (Jam)–B and Jam-C, membrane type 1–matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), and integrin α2β1, which coassociate to control human EC tubulogenesis in 3D collagen matrices. Blockade of both Jam-B and Jam-C using antibodies, siRNA, or dominant-negative mutants completely interferes with lumen and tube formation resulting from a lack of Cdc42 activation, inhibition of Cdc42-GTP–dependent signal transduction, and blockade of MT1-MMP–dependent proteolysis. This process requires interdependent Cdc42 and MT1-MMP signaling, which involves Par3 binding to the Jam-B and Jam-C cytoplasmic tails, an interaction that is necessary to physically couple the components of the lumen signaling complex. MT1-MMP proteolytic activity is necessary for Cdc42 activation during EC tube formation in 3D collagen matrices but not on 2D collagen surfaces, whereas Cdc42 activation is necessary for MT1-MMP to create vascular guidance tunnels and tube networks in 3D matrices through proteolytic events. This work reveals a novel interdependent role for Cdc42-dependent signaling and MT1-MMP–dependent proteolysis, a process that occurs selectively in 3D collagen matrices and that requires EC lumen signaling complexes, to control human EC tubulogenesis during vascular morphogenesis.
Sodium valproate-induced congenital cardiac abnormalities in mice are associated with the inhibition of histone deacetylase
Authors: Wu Gang , Nan Changlong , Rollo Johnathon C , Huang Xupei , Tian Jie
Published: March 2010

Background

Valproic acid, a widely used anticonvulsant drug, is a potent teratogen resulting in various congenital abnormalities. However, the mechanisms underlying valproic acid induced teratogenesis are nor clear. Recent studies indicate that histone deacetylase is a direct target of valproic acid.

Methods

In the present study, we have used histological analysis and RT-PCR assays to examine the cardiac abnormalities in mice treated with sodium valproate (NaVP) and determined the effects of NaVP on histone deacetylase activity and the expression of heart development-related genes in mouse myocardial cells.

Results

The experimental data show that NaVP can induce cardiac abnormalities in fetal mice in a dose-dependent manner. NaVP causes a dose-dependent inhibition of hitone deacetylase (HDAC) activity in mouse myocardial cells. However, the expression levels of HDAC (both HDAC1 and HDAC2) are not significantly changed in fetal mouse hearts after administration of NaVP in pregnant mice. The transcriptional levels of other heart development-related genes, such as CHF1, Tbx5 and MEF2, are significantly increased in fetal mouse hearts treated with NaVP.

Conclusions

The study indicates that administration of NaVP in pregnant mice can result in various cardiac abnormalities in fetal hearts, which is associated with an inhibition of histone deacetylase without altering the transcription of this enzyme.
Mechanical strain modulates age-related changes in the proliferation and differentiation of mouse adipose-derived stromal cells
Authors: Huang See-Chang , Wu Tzu-Chin , Yu Hsiao-Chi , Chen Mei-Ru , Liu Chun-Min , Chiang Wen-Sheng , Lin Kurt M
Published: March 2010

Background

Previous studies on the effects of aging in human and mouse mesenchymal stem cells suggest that a decline in the number and differentiation potential of stem cells may contribute to aging and aging-related diseases. In this report, we used stromal cells isolated from adipose tissue (ADSCs) of young (8-10 weeks), adult (5 months), and old (21 months) mice to test the hypothesis that mechanical loading modifies aging-related changes in the self-renewal and osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of these cells.

Results

We show that aging significantly reduced the proliferation and increased the adipogenesis of ADSCs, while the osteogenic potential is not significantly reduced by aging. Mechanical loading (10% cyclic stretching, 0.5 Hz, 48 h) increased the subsequent proliferation of ADSCs from mice of all ages. Although the number of osteogenic colonies with calcium deposition was increased in ADSCs subjected to pre-strain, it resulted from an increase in colony number rather than from an increase in osteogenic potential after strain. Pre-strain significantly reduced the number of oil droplets and the expression of adipogenic marker genes in adult and old ADSCs. Simultaneously subjecting ADSCs to mechanical loading and adipogenic induction resulted in a stronger inhibition of adipogenesis than that caused by pre-strain. The reduction of adipogenesis by mechanical strain was loading-magnitude dependent: loading with 2% strain only resulted in a partial inhibition, and loading with 0.5% strain could not inhibit adipogenesis in ADSCs.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that mechanical stretching counteracts the loss of self-renewal in aging ADSCs by enhancing their proliferation and, at the same time, reduces the heightened adipogenesis of old cells. These findings are important for the further study of stem cell control and treatment for a variety of aging related diseases.
Transcriptional and pathway analysis in the hypothalamus of newly hatched chicks during fasting and delayed feeding
Authors: Higgins Stacy E , Ellestad Laura E , Trakooljul Nares , McCarthy Fiona , Saliba Jason , Cogburn Larry A , Porter Tom E
Published: March 2010

Background

The hypothalamus plays a central role in regulating appetite and metabolism. However, the gene networks within the hypothalamus that regulate feed intake and metabolism, and the effects of fasting on those pathways are not completely understood in any species. The present experiment evaluated global hypothalamic gene expression in newly hatched chicks using microarray analysis to elucidate genes and pathways regulated by feeding, fasting, and delayed feeding. Ten groups of chicks were sampled over four days post-hatch, including fed, fasted, and 48 h fasted followed by access to feed for 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h. Hypothalamic samples were collected for microarray analysis (n = 4). Expression patterns of selected genes were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Pathway analysis of the microarray results predicted a network of genes involved in neuropeptide or neurotransmitter signaling. To confirm the functionality of this predicted gene network, hypothalamic neurons from fed and fasted chicks were isolated and cultured in the presence of neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, norepinephrine, and L-phospho-serine. Results confirmed functional relationships among members of the predicted gene network. Moreover, the effects observed were dependant upon the nutritional state of the animals (fed vs. fasted).

Results

Differences in gene expression (≥ 1.6 fold) were detected in 1,272 genes between treatments, and of those, 119 genes were significantly (P < 0.05) different. Pathway Miner analysis revealed that six genes (SSTR5, NPY5R, POMC, ADRB2, GRM8, and RLN3) were associated within a gene network. In vitro experiments with primary hypothalamic neurons confirmed that receptor agonists involved in this network regulated expression of other genes in the predicted network, and this regulation within the network was influenced by the nutritional status and age of the chick.

Conclusions

Microarray analysis of the hypothalamus during different nutritional states revealed that many genes are differentially regulated. We found that functional interactions exist among six differentially regulated genes associated within a putative gene network from this experiment. Considering that POMC, an important gene in controlling metabolism, was central to this network, this gene network may play an important role in regulation of feeding and metabolism in birds.
Improvement of tissue preparation for laser capture microdissection: application for cell type-specific miRNA expression profiling in colorectal tumors
Authors: Wang Shuyang , Wang Lei , Zhu Tengfang , Gao Xue , Li Jian , Wu Ying , Zhu Hongguang
Published: March 2010

Background

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) has successfully isolated pure cell populations from tissue sections and the combination of LCM with standard genomic and proteomic methods has revolutionized molecular analysis of complex tissue. However, the quantity and quality of material recovered after LCM is often still limited for analysis by using whole genomic and proteomic approaches. To procure high quality and quantity of RNA after LCM, we optimized the procedures on tissue preparations and applied the approach for cell type-specific miRNA expression profiling in colorectal tumors.

Results

We found that the ethanol fixation of tissue sections for 2 hours had the maximum improvement of RNA quality (1.8 fold, p = 0.0014) and quantity (1.5 fold, p = 0.066). Overall, the quality (RNA integrity number, RIN) for the microdissected colorectal tissues was 5.2 ± 1.5 (average ± SD) for normal (n = 43), 5.7 ± 1.1 for adenomas (n = 14) and 7.2 ± 1.2 for carcinomas (n = 44). We then compared miRNA expression profiles of 18 colorectal tissues (6 normal, 6 adenomas and 6 carcinomas) between LCM selected epithelial cells versus stromal cells using Agilent miRNA microarrays. We identified 51 differentially expressed miRNAs (p <= 0.001) between these two cell types. We found that the miRNAs in the epithelial cells could differentiate adenomas from normal and carcinomas. However, the miRNAs in the stromal and mixed cells could not separate adenomas from normal tissues. Finally, we applied quantitative RT-PCR to cross-verify the expression patterns of 7 different miRNAs using 8 LCM-selected epithelial cells and found the excellent correlation of the fold changes between the two platforms (R = 0.996).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the feasibility and potential power of discovering cell type-specific miRNA biomarkers in complex tissue using combination of LCM with genome-wide miRNA analysis.
Effect of MDM2 SNP309 and p53 codon 72 polymorphisms on lung cancer risk and survival among non-smoking Chinese women in Singapore
Authors: Chua Hui Wan , Ng Daniel , Choo Serena , Lum San San , Li Huihua , Soh Li Ying , Sabapathy Kanaga , Seow Adeline
Published: March 2010

Background

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 309 resulting in a T or G allele in the promoter of MDM2, the negative regulator of p53, has been suggested to affect cancer predisposition and age of onset, primarily in females. However, findings have been inconsistent in various cancers, and ethnicity appears to be a critical factor influencing the effects of the SNP on cancer risk. An increasing trend has been observed in the prevalence of lung cancers in non-smokers, especially females, though the underlying genetic basis is unclear.

Methods

We therefore examined the role of the SNPs in the p53 pathway (p53 codon 72 and MDM2 SNP309) on lung cancer risk and prognosis of a life-time non-smoking female Chinese population, in a hospital-based case-control study of 123 cases and 159 age-matched controls, by PCR analysis.

Results

Our findings reveal that the risk of lung cancer among individuals with the MDM2 SNP309 TT genotype was 2.1 (95% CI 1.01-4.36) relative to the GG genotype, contrary to initial expectations that the GG genotype with elevated MDM2 levels will increase cancer risk. Those who had this genotype in combination with the p53 Pro allele had a risk of 2.5 (95% CI 1.2-5.0). There was however no effect of either polymorphism on age at diagnosis of lung cancer or on overall survival.

Conclusions

The results thus demonstrate that the MDM2 SNP309 TT rather than the GG genotype is associated with increased risk of lung cancer in this population, suggesting that other mechanisms independent of increased MDM2 levels can influence cancer susceptibility.
A study of health effects of long-distance ocean voyages on seamen using a data classification approach
Authors: Lu Yunmei , Gao Yanhong , Cao Zhongbo , Cui Juan , Dong Zhennan , Tian Yaping , Xu Ying
Published: March 2010

Background

Long-distance ocean voyages may have substantial impacts on seamen's health, possibly causing malnutrition and other illness. Measures can possibly be taken to prevent such problems from happening through preparing special diet and making special precautions prior or during the sailing if a detailed understanding can be gained about what specific health effects such voyages may have on the seamen.

Methods

We present a computational study on 200 seamen using 41 chemistry indicators measured on their blood samples collected before and after the sailing. Our computational study is done using a data classification approach with a support vector machine-based classifier in conjunction with feature selections using a recursive feature elimination procedure.

Results

Our analysis results suggest that among the 41 blood chemistry measures, nine are most likely to be affected during the sailing, which provide important clues about the specific effects of ocean voyage on seamen's health.

Conclusions

The identification of the nine blood chemistry measures provides important clues about the effects of long-distance voyage on seamen's health. These findings will prove to be useful to guide in improving the living and working environment, as well as food preparation on ships.
Effect of HXT 1 and HXT 7 hexose transporter overexpression on wild-type and lactic acid producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells
Authors: Rossi Giorgia , Sauer Michael , Porro Danilo , Branduardi Paola
Published: March 2010

Background

Since about three decades, Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be engineered to efficiently produce proteins and metabolites. Even recognizing that in baker's yeast one determining step for the glucose consumption rate is the sugar uptake, this fact has never been conceived to improve the metabolite(s) productivity.

In this work we compared the ethanol and/or the lactic acid production from wild type and metabolically engineeredS. cerevisiae cells expressing an additional copy of one hexose transporter.

Results

Different S. cerevisiae strains (wild type and metabolically engineered for lactic acid production) were transformed with the HXT 1 or the HXT 7 gene encoding for hexose transporters.

Data obtained suggest that the overexpression of an Hxt transporter may lead to an increase in glucose uptake that could result in an increased ethanol and/or lactic acid productivities. As a consequence of the increased productivity and of the reduced process timing, a higher production was measured.

Conclusion

Metabolic pathway manipulation for improving the properties and the productivity of microorganisms is a well established concept. A high production relies on a multi-factorial system. We showed that by modulating the first step of the pathway leading to lactic acid accumulation an improvement of about 15% in lactic acid production can be obtained in a yeast strain already developed for industrial application.
Bridging the Divide between Science and Journalism
Authors: Van Eperen Laura , Marincola Francesco M , Strohm Jennifer
Published: March 2010

There are countless reasons nearly every scientist should learn how to communicate effectively with the media, including increased understanding of critical research findings to attract or sustain funding and build new professional partnerships that will further propel forward research. But where do scientists begin? Bridging the Divide between Science and Journalism offers practical tips for any scientist looking to work with the media.

Given the traditional and internet-based sources for medical research and healthcare-related news now available, it is imperative that scientists know how to communicate their latest findings through the appropriate channels. The credible media channels are managed by working journalists, so learning how to package vast, technical research in a form that is appetizing and "bite-sized" in order to get their attention, is an art. Reducing years of research into a headline can be extremely difficult and certainly doesn't come naturally to every scientist, so this article provides suggestions on how to work with the media to communicate your findings.
JinQi-Jiangtang tablet, a Chinese patent medicine, for pre-diabetes: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cao Hongbo , Ren Ming , Guo Liping , Shang Hongcai , Zhang Junhua , Song Yuzhen , Wang Hui , Wang Baohe , Li Xiantao , Hu Jing , Wang Xuemei , Wang Dehui , Chen Jianzong , Li Shuanglei , Chen Liming
Published: March 2010

Background

Pre-diabetes is a growing health concern where a large percentage of these patients develop full type 2 diabetes. Effective interventions on pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the occurrence or development of diabetes. Pharmaco-dynamics and pre-clinical of JinQi-Jiangtang tablets (JQJT) suggest that it could be benefit for pre-diabetes.

Methods/Design

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) is implemented in this study. The study term is 24 months (12 months for intervention and 12 months for follow up). Participants are recruited from four cities of China: Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an and Nanning. Four hundred participants are randomized to treatment group (JQJT tablets) and control group (Placebo); two hundred participants each. People being included in this study must have been diagnosed as pre-diabetes via western medicine criteria and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) criteria. The end-point indexes include: incidence of diabetes mellitus and reversion rate. Primary outcome indexes include: oral glucose tolerance test; insulin releasing test; glycosylated hemoglobin (HA1c). Secondary outcome indexes include: score of the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36); score of TCM symptoms; blood lipid test. Indexes of safety include: general medical examination; blood and urine regular test; electrocardiogram (ECG), liver function (ALT) and renal function (BUN, Creatinine) test; record of adverse event, such as headache, faint, etc. Qualitative control will be implemented and a number of standard operating processes (SOPs) will be formed throughout the study: laboratory quality control measures; compliance control for researchers and participants; researcher training before study; supervision; investigational drug management and others.

Discussion

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of JinQi JiangTang (JQJT) tablets for the treatment of patients with pre-diabetes.

Trial registration

Chinese clinical trials register ChiCTR-TRC-00000401