bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interfacial Interactions and Nanostructure Changes in DPPG/HD Monolayer at the Air/Water Interface
Authors: Zhu Huaze , Sun Runguang , Zhang Tao , Hao Changchun , Zhang Pengli , Wang Juan , Li Shaorong
Published: December 2015

Lung surfactant (LS) plays a crucial role in regulating surface tension during normal respiration cycles by decreasing the work associated with lung expansion and therefore decreases the metabolic energy consumed. Monolayer surfactant films composed of a mixture of phospholipids and spreading additives are of optional utility for applications in lung surfactant‐based therapies. A simple, minimal model of such a lung surfactant system, composed of 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐[phosphor‐rac‐(1‐gylcerol)] (DPPG) and hexadecanol (HD), was prepared, and the surface pressure‐area (π‐A) isotherms and nanostructure characteristics of the binary mixture were investigated at the air/water interface using a combination of Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Based on the regular solution theory, the miscibility and stability of the two components in the monolayer were analyzed in terms of compression modulus () , excess Gibbs free energy () , activity coefficients (γ), and interaction parameter (ξ). The results of this paper provide valuable insight into basic thermodynamics and nanostructure of mixed DPPG/HD monolayers; it is helpful to understand the thermodynamic behavior of HD as spreading additive in LS monolayer with a view toward characterizing potential improvements to LS performance brought about by addition of HD to lung phospholipids.
CO and C3H8 Sensitivity Behavior of Zinc Antimonate Prepared by a Microwave‐Assisted Solution Method
Authors: Guillen-Bonilla Héctor , Rodríguez-Betancourtt Verónica-M. , Guillén-Bonilla José-Trinidad , Reyes-Gómez Juan , Gildo-Ortiz Lorenzo , Flores-Martínez Martín , Olvera-Amador M. de la L. , Santoyo-Salazar Jaime
Published: December 2015

ZnSb2O6 has been synthesized by a microwave‐assisted solution method in order to test its possible application as a gas sensor. Zinc nitrate, antimony trichloride, and ethylenediamine were used as precursors and deionized water as solvent. Microwave radiation, with a power of ~350 W, was applied for solvent evaporation. The thermal decomposition of the precursors leads to the formation of ZnSb2O6 at 600°C. This oxide crystallized in a tetragonal structure with cell parameters a = 4.66 Å, c = 9.26 Å and space group P42/mnm. Microwires and microrods formed by nanocrystals were observed by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM, resp.). Pellets of the oxide were tested as gas sensors in flowing atmospheres of carbon monoxide (CO) and propane (C3H8). Sensitivity increased with the gas concentration (0–300 ppm) and working temperatures (ambient, 150 and 250°C) increase. The results indicate high sensitivity of ZnSb2O6 in both gases at different concentrations and operating temperatures.
Dynamic Changes in Occupancy of Histone Variant H2A.Z during Induced Somatic Cell Reprogramming
Authors: Dong Fulu , Song Zhenwei , Yu Jiali , Zhang Baole , Jiang BaoChun , Shen Ying , Lu Youde , Song Chunlei , Cong Peiqing , Liu Honglin
Published: December 2015

The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has enabled study of the mechanisms underlying cellular reprogramming. Here, we have studied the dynamic distribution of H2A.Z during induced reprogramming with chromatin immunoprecipitation deep sequencing (ChIP‐Seq). We found that H2A.Z tended to accumulate around transcription start site (TSS) and incorporate in genes with a high transcriptional activity. GO analysis with H2A.Z incorporated genes indicated that most genes are involved in chromatin assembly or disassembly and chromatin modification both in MEF and Day 7 samples, not in iPSCs. Furthermore, we detected the highest level of incorporation of H2A.Z around TSS in Day 7 samples compared to MEFs and iPSCs. GO analysis with only incorporated genes in Day 7 also displayed the function of chromatin remodeling. So, we speculate H2A.Z may be responsible for chromatin remodeling to enhance the access of transcription factors to genes important for pluripotency. This study therefore provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying induced reprogramming.
Neurotrophic Effect of Adipose Tissue‐Derived Stem Cells on Erectile Function Recovery by Pigment Epithelium‐Derived Factor Secretion in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury
Authors: Chen Xin , Yang Qiyun , Zheng Tao , Bian Jun , Sun Xiangzhou , Shi Yanan , Liang Xiaoyan , Gao Guoquan , Liu Guihua , Deng Chunhua
Published: December 2015

The paracrine effect is the major mechanism of stem cell therapy. However, the details of the effect’s mechanism remain unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate whether adipose tissue‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) can ameliorate cavernous nerve injury‐induced erectile dysfunction (CNIED) rats and to determine its mechanism. Twenty‐eight days after intracavernous injection of 5‐ethynyl‐2‐deoxyuridine‐ (EdU‐) labeled ADSCs, the erectile function of all the rats was evaluated by intracavernosal pressure (ICP). The ADSCs steadily secreted detectable pigment epithelium‐derived factor (PEDF) in vitro. The expression of PEDF increased in the penis of the bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI) group for 14 days and then gradually decreased. On day 28 after the intracavernous injection, the ADSCs group exhibited a significantly increased ICP compared with the phosphate buffered saline‐ (PBS‐) treated group. Moreover, the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and S100 expression in penile dorsal nerves and the smooth muscle content to collagen ratio in penile tissues significantly increased. Furthermore, elevated PEDF, p‐Akt, and p‐eNOS were identified in the ADSCs group. This study demonstrated that intracavernous injection of ADSCs improved erectile function, repaired the nerve, and corrected penile fibrosis. One potential mechanism is the PEDF secretion of ADSCs and subsequent PI3K/Akt pathway activation.
A Member of the Nuclear Receptor Superfamily, Designated as NR2F2, Supports the Self‐Renewal Capacity and Pluripotency of Human Bone Marrow‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Zhu Ni , Wang Huafang , Wang Binsheng , Wei Jieping , Shan Wei , Feng Jingjing , Huang He
Published: December 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells are characterized with self‐renewal capacity and pluripotency. NR2F2 is a nuclear receptor that has been detected in the mesenchymal compartment of developing organs. However, whether NR2F2 plays a role in the stemness maintenance of mesenchymal stem cells has not been explored yet. In this study, we investigated the function of NR2F2 in bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells via shRNA‐mediated knock‐down of NR2F2. The suppression of NR2F2 impaired the colony‐forming efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells. The inhibition of colony‐forming capacity may be attributed to the acceleration of senescence through upregulation of P21 and P16. The downregulation of NR2F2 also suppressed both osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation processes. In conclusion, NR2F2 plays an important role in the stemness maintenance of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells.
Long-Term Measurement of Maternal Pulse Rate Dynamics Using a Home-Based Sleep Monitoring System
Authors: Chen Ying , Chen Wenxi , Kitamura Kei-ichiro , Nemoto Tetsu
Published: December 2015

Major adaptations occur in the maternal cardiovascular system during pregnancy and after delivery; knowledge of these changes is essential to the health management of pregnant women. This paper presents a longitudinal study and proposes a methodology to monitor daily pulse rates (PRs) and characterize the weekly changes in maternal PRs before and after delivery. PRs were recorded during nightly sleep using an automatic monitoring system. PRs of the nonpregnant woman were taken as a reference. Weekly PR properties were characterized by histogram and a two-Gaussian mixture model. A coupling use of sample entropy and pulse rate was applied to cluster the stages during recovery period after delivery. Results depicted a profile of individual’s cardiac recovery process in late pregnancy and after delivery. The results reveal that maternal PRs show different patterns in various stages of recovery. Later stages of recovery seemed to require a much longer period. The present study introduced a convenient approach in long-term maternal cardiac condition monitoring.
Magnetization and Giant Magnetoimpedance Effect of Co-Rich Microwires under Different Driven Currents
Authors: Sun Shengdi , Zhang Shuling , Zhang Bo , Ding Wenjie
Published: December 2015

Co68.25Fe4.5Si12.25B15amorphous microwires with a diameter of 34 μm were prepared via the melt extraction method. The dependency of AC driving currentIacand frequency on giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and magnetization were investigated using a 4294A impedance analyzer and the transverse Kerr effect. The GMI effect was analyzed whenIacchanged from 6 mA to 20 mA at a frequency ranging from 0.1 MHz to 15 MHz. The influence of AC current dependent on the frequency is correlated with the magnetization mechanism. The maximum transverse Kerr intensity (MTKI) decreased with the increase inIacunder direct magnetic field when the frequency was below megahertz. However, MTKI values were similar with the increase ofIacwhen it was over 2 MHz. Meanwhile, the GMI effect was optimized by selecting an adequate value of AC driving currentIp, at which the circular permeability was higher when the frequency was not over 2 MHz. Results showed that the influence ofIacon magnetoimpedance became weak with strong skin effect and slightly stronger GMI effect driven by a higherIacwhen the frequency was between 2 MHz and 15 MHz. The skin effect turned out to be the key factor to the GMI effect; thus, there were no obvious differences in magnetization and GMI effect with AC driving current changing when the frequency was as high as 15 MHz.
Improving Cell Engraftment in Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Tamama Kenichi , Xie Xiaoyun , Guan Jianjun
Published: December 2015

Myocardial infarction (MI) affects millions of people worldwide. MI causes massive cardiac cell death and heart function decrease. However, heart tissue cannot effectively regenerate by itself. While stem cell therapy has been considered an effective approach for regeneration, the efficacy of cardiac stem cell therapy remains low due to inferior cell engraftment in the infarcted region. This is mainly a result of low cell retention in the tissue and poor cell survival under ischemic, immune rejection and inflammatory conditions. Various approaches have been explored to improve cell engraftment: increase of cell retention using biomaterials as cell carriers; augmentation of cell survival under ischemic conditions by preconditioning cells, genetic modification of cells, and controlled release of growth factors and oxygen; and enhancement of cell survival by protecting cells from excessive inflammation and immune surveillance. In this paper, we review current progress, advantages, disadvantages, and potential solutions of these approaches.
LG-Mod: A Modified Local Gradient (LG) Method to Retrieve SAR Sea Surface Wind Directions in Marine Coastal Areas
Authors: Rana Fabio M. , Adamo Maria , Pasquariello Guido , De Carolis Giacomo , Morelli Sandra
Published: December 2015

This paper describes a novel SAR wind direction estimation method based on the computation of local gradients over quasi-linear and quasi-periodic structures detected by SAR imagery. The method relies upon the standard LG method for the part relevant to the computation of the local gradients. The novelty is that the dominant local wind direction and related accuracy are estimated using results derived from the Directional Statistics. The LG-Mod is validated against in situ coastal wind measurements provided by instrumented buoys with 63 ENVISAT ASAR images. Results show an overall agreement with RMSE values obtained for off-shore areas, but residual effects due to the complex phenomena occurring in the proximity of shoreline may degrade the performance when running in automated mode.
High Frequency of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Szypowska Agnieszka , Ramotowska Anna , Grzechnik-Gryziak Monika , Szypowski Wojciech , Pasierb Anna , Piechowiak Katarzyna
Published: December 2015

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in 2006-2007 and 2013-2014.Method. The study group consisted of 426 children aged 0–18 years with type 1 diabetes onset admitted to our hospital in 2006-2007 (group A) and 2013-2014 (group B). The study comprised the analysis of medical and laboratory records from patients’ medical charts and the electronic database.Results. There was no difference between groups A and B in the percentage of children admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (25% versus 28%, resp.,P=0.499). Among children with diabetic ketoacidosis, severe metabolic decompensation (pH < 7.1) appeared in similar frequency in groups A and B (28% versus 30%, resp.,P=0.110). In group B, children with diabetic ketoacidosis were statistically younger compared to patients without ketoacidosis(P=0.015)and had higher HbA1c levels(P=0.006). In both groups, a 2-fold increase in diabetic ketoacidosis was noted in children under the age of 3, compared to overall frequency.Conclusion. No decrease in diabetic ketoacidosis has been noted in the recent years. Although the prevalence and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis remain stable, they are unacceptably high. The youngest children are especially prone to ketoacidosis.
Identification of the Cell-Intrinsic and -Extrinsic Pathways Downstream of EGFR and IFNγ That Induce PD-L1 Expression in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Concha-Benavente Fernando , Srivastava Raghvendra M. , Trivedi Sumita , Lei Yu , Chandran Uma , Seethala Raja R. , Freeman Gordon J. , Ferris Robert L.
Published: December 2015

Many cancer types, including head and neck cancers (HNC), express programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Interaction between PD-L1 and its receptor, programmed death 1 (PD-1), inhibits the function of activated T cells and results in an immunosuppressive microenvironment, but the stimuli that induce PD-L1 expression are not well characterized. Interferon gamma (IFNγ) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) utilize Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) as a common signaling node to transmit tumor cell–mediated extrinsic or intrinsic signals, respectively. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which these factors upregulate PD-L1 expression in HNC cells in the context of JAK/STAT pathway activation, Th1 inflammation, and HPV status. We found that wild-type, overexpressed EGFR significantly correlated with JAK2 and PD-L1 expression in a large cohort of HNC specimens. Furthermore, PD-L1 expression was induced in an EGFR- and JAK2/STAT1-dependent manner, and specific JAK2 inhibition prevented PD-L1 upregulation in tumor cells and enhanced their immunogenicity. Collectively, our findings suggest a novel role for JAK2/STAT1 in EGFR-mediated immune evasion, and therapies targeting this signaling axis may be beneficial to block PD-L1 upregulation found in a large subset of HNC tumors. Cancer Res; 76(5); 1031–43. ©2015 AACR.
Late Pseudoprogression in Glioblastoma: Diagnostic Value of Dynamic O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-Tyrosine PET
Authors: Kebir Sied , Fimmers Rolf , Galldiks Norbert , Schäfer Niklas , Mack Frederic , Schaub Christina , Stuplich Moritz , Niessen Michael , Tzaridis Theophilos , Simon Matthias , Stoffels Gabriele , Langen Karl-Josef , Scheffler Björn , Glas Martin , Herrlinger Ulrich
Published: December 2015

Purpose: Pseudoprogression (PsP) is characterized by therapy-associated but not tumor growth–associated increases of contrast-enhancing glioblastoma lesions on MRI. Although typically occurring during the first 3 months after radiochemotherapy, PsP may occur later in the course of the disease and may then be particularly difficult to distinguish from true tumor progression. We explored PET using O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET-PET) to approach the diagnostic dilemma.

Experimental Design: Twenty-six patients with glioblastoma that presented with increasing contrast-enhancing lesions later than 3 months after completion of radiochemotherapy underwent 18F-FET–PET. Maximum and mean tumor/brain ratios (TBRmax and TBRmean) of 18F-FET uptake as well as time-to-peak (TTP) and patterns of the time-activity curves were determined. The final diagnosis of true progression versus late PsP was based on follow-up MRI using RANO criteria.

Results: Late PsP occurred in 7 patients with a median time from radiochemotherapy completion of 24 weeks while the remaining patients showed true tumor progression. TBRmax and TBRmean were significantly higher in patients with true progression than in patients with late PsP (TBRmax 2.4 ± 0.1 vs. 1.5 ± 0.2, P = 0.003; TBRmean 2.1 ± 0.1 vs. 1.5 ± 0.2, P = 0.012) whereas TTP was significantly shorter (mean TTP 25 ± 2 vs. 40 ± 2 min, P < 0.001). ROC analysis yielded an optimal cutoff value of 1.9 for TBRmax to differentiate between true progression and late PsP (sensitivity 84%, specificity 86%, accuracy 85%, P = 0.015).

Conclusions: O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine PET provides valuable information in assessing the elusive phenomenon of late PsP. Clin Cancer Res; 22(9); 2190–6. ©2015 AACR.
Ankle-Brachial Index and Recurrent Stroke Risk
Authors: Hong Ja Bin , Leonards Christopher O. , Endres Matthias , Siegerink Bob , Liman Thomas G.
Published: December 2015

Background and Purpose—

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a fast, cheap, noninvasive indicator of atherosclerotic burden that may also be a predictor of stroke recurrence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to explore ABI’s merit as a marker for stroke recurrence and vascular risk by synthesizing the data currently available in stroke literature.

Methods—

We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and Pubmed databases for prospective cohort studies that included consecutive patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack, measured ABI at baseline, and performed a follow-up assessment at least 12 months after initial stroke or transient ischemic attack. The following end points were chosen for our analysis: recurrent stroke and combined vascular end point (recurrent vascular event or vascular death). Crude risk ratios and adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratios were combined separately using the random-effects model. Study-level characteristics (eg, percent of cohort with a history of hypertension, average cohort age, level of adjustment, and mean follow-up duration) were included as covariates in a metaregression analysis.

Results—

We identified 11 studies (5374 patients) that were not significantly heterogeneous. Pooling adjusted hazard ratios showed that low ABI was associated with both an increased hazard of recurrent stroke (hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–2.64) and an increased risk of vascular events or vascular death (hazard ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.67–2.97).

Conclusion—

Our results confirm the positive association between ABI and stroke recurrence. Further studies are needed to see whether inclusion of ABI will help improve the accuracy of prediction models and management of stroke patients.
Enrollment Yield and Reasons for Screen Failure in a Large Prehospital Stroke Trial
Authors: Kim Dae-Hyun , Saver Jeffrey L. , Starkman Sidney , Liebeskind David S. , Ali Latisha K. , Restrepo Lucas , Kim-Tenser May , Valdes-Sueiras Miguel , Eckstein Marc , Pratt Frank , Stratton Samuel , Hamilton Scott , Conwit Robin , Sanossian Nerses
Published: December 2015

Background and Purpose—

The enrollment yield and reasons for screen failure in prehospital stroke trials have not been well delineated.

Methods—

The Field Administration of Stroke Therapy–Magnesium (FAST-MAG) trial identified patients for enrollment using a 2 stage screening process—paramedics in person followed by physician-investigators by cell phone. Outcomes of consecutive screening calls from paramedics to enrolling physician-investigators were prospectively recorded.

Results—

From 2005 to 2012, 4458 phone calls were made by paramedics to physician-investigators, an average of 1 call per vehicle every 135.7 days. A total of 1700 (38.1%) calls resulted in enrollments. The rate of enrollment of stroke mimics was 3.9%. Among the 2758 patients not enrolled, 3140 reasons for screen failure were documented. The most common reasons for nonenrollment were >2 hours from last known well (17.2%), having a prestroke condition causing disability (16.1%), and absence of a consent provider (9.5%). Novel barriers for phone informed consent specific to the prehospital setting were infrequent, but included: cell phone connection difficulties (3.2%), patient being hard of hearing (1.4%), insufficient time to complete consent (1.3%), or severely dysarthric (1.3%).

Conclusions—

In this large, multicenter prehospital trial, nearly 40% of every calls from the field to physician-investigators resulted in trial enrollments. The most common reasons for nonenrollment were out of window last known well time, prestroke confounding medical condition, and absence of a consent provider.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00059332.
„Pamiątka, Zabawka, Talizman” czyli Żydzi fantomowi
Authors: Wilczyk Wojciech
Published: December 2015

Souvenir, Talisman, Toy or phantom JewsThe exhibition Souvenir, Talisman, Toy, prepared by Erica Lehrer and shown in Cracow’s Ethnographic Museum in Summer 2013, deals with the phenomena of Jew figures production and currently extremely popular the "Jew with a coin" image. The phenomenon bears full characteristics of folk art. However, it is Holocaust that took place in Poland during the German occupation that should be its valid reference. This historical context that results in, for example, stereotypical way of portraying the exterminated neighbours (this way is often perceived as intentionally anti-Semitic), is not fully analysed or worked through at the exhibition. The rich ethnographic material shown in Cracow is calling for a comment that would include scientific descriptions of Polish-Jewish relations that are being formulated at, for example, the Polish Centre for Holocaust Research. The phenomena of the evoked images production, which became more intense in the last twenty or thirty years, has all the qualities of "phantom memory" or post-memory, which character, as well origins, should be thoroughly analysed. Pamiątka, Zabawka, Talizman, czyli Żydzi fantomowiPrzygotowana przez Ericę Lehrer wystawa Pamiątka, Zabawka, Talizman, którą można było oglądać w salach krakowskiego Muzeum Etnograficznego latem 2013 roku, traktuje o fenomenie produkcji figurek Żydów i niezmiernie popularnych dzisiaj wizerunków „Żyda z pieniążkiem”. Zjawisko to ma wszelkie cechy twórczości ludowej, jednakże istotnym odniesieniem jest dla niego Zagłada, która rozegrała się na terenie Polski w czasie okupacji niemieckiej. Ten historyczny kontekst, którego efektem jest np. stereotypowy sposób prezentowania wyglądu zgładzonych sąsiadów (odbierany często jako tendencyjnie antysemicki), nie został w pełni na przywołanej ekspozycji zanalizowany czy też przepracowany. Pokazany w Krakowie niewątpliwie bogaty etnograficzny materiał domaga się komentarza uwzględniającego naukowe opracowania dotyczące polsko-żydowskich relacji, jakie powstają np. w Centrum Badań nad Zagładą Żydów. Fenomen produkcji wspomnianych wizerunków, którego nasilenie obserwować można w ostatnich dwudziestu, trzydziestu latach, posiada wszelkie cechy „pamięci fantomowej” czy ewentualnej post-pamięci, której charakter (a także źródła) powinien być poddany gruntownej analizie.
The privatization of neighborhood governance and the production of urban space
Authors: Fraser James , Bazuin Joshua Theodore , Hornberger George
Published: December 2015

A pivotal innovation in the production of urban space has been the rise of privately governed neighborhoods overseen by homeowners associations (HOAs). One in every five American households resides in an HOA neighborhood regulated by conditions, covenants, and restrictions amounting to what has been referred to as a “quiet revolution” of urban politics. Their proliferation across cities warrants greater attention as they signify the transformation of state–civil society relations whereby nonstate entities are increasingly important actors in shaping the terrain of citizenship. HOAs are granted broad powers by the state and have profound effects on homeowners’ experiences of everyday life through regulations that generate neighborhood space. This article examines the different modalities of governance deployed by HOAs to shape homeowner participation in producing a certain yard aesthetic, namely the lawn. While the lawn is a dominant cultural landscape in the United States, we find that homeowners in privately governed neighborhoods report a greater commitment to producing a lush, green, well-manicured lawn and apply higher rates of fertilizer to their yards than households in nonprivately governed neighborhoods. Although HOAs exercise power by directly regulating homeowners’ spatial practices, they also govern indirectly by holding out the possibility of a sense of place and belonging that is connected to the production of aestheticized and commoditized landscapes. The deployment of both disciplinary and governmental forms of power supplement each other in the ongoing process of building neighborhood citizens that actively shape circuits of global capitalist investment in cities through the imaginary of neighborhood community.
Engineering bone-implant integration with photofunctionalized titanium microfibers
Authors: Park Wonhee , Ishijima Manabu , Hirota Makoto , Soltanzadeh Pooya , Ogawa Takahiro
Published: December 2015

There are significant challenges in regenerating large volumes of bone tissue, and titanium implant therapy is extremely difficult or contraindicated when there is no supporting bone. Surface conditioning of titanium implants with UV light immediately prior to use, or photofunctionalization, improves the speed and degree of bone-implant integration. Here, we hypothesized that photofunctionalized titanium microfibers are capable of promoting bone ingrowth into the microfiber scaffold to improve bone-implant integration in bone defects. Titanium implants (1 mm in diameter, 2 mm in length) enfolded with 0.7 mm-thick titanium microfibers were placed into 2.4-mm diameter osteotomy in rat femurs. Titanium microfibers and implants were photofunctionalized by treatment with UV light for 12 min using a photo device immediately prior to surgery. Photofunctionalized microfibers and implants were hydrophilic, while as-made microfiber-enfolded implants were hydrophobic. Implant anchorage strength was 2.5 times and 2.2 times greater for photofunctionalized microfiber-enfolded implants than as-made ones at weeks 2 and 4 of healing, respectively. Robust bone formation was only seen at the implant surface of photofunctionalized microfiber-enfolded implants. Bone formation as measured by the Ca/Ti ratio was 5 to over 20 times greater for photofunctionalized than as-made microfiber scaffolds. The Ca/P ratio was 1.55–1.65 in the tissue produced in photofunctionalized microfibers and 1.1–1.3 in tissue in as-made microfibers. In vitro, the number of attached osteoblasts and their alkaline phosphatase activity, both near zero on as-received microfibers, were significantly increased on photofunctionalized microfibers. In conclusion, bone ingrowth occurred in photofunctionalized titanium microfiber scaffolds, enabling successful bone-implant integration when the microfiber-enfolded implants were placed in a site without primary bone support. The combined use of titanium microfibers and photofunctionalization may provide a novel and effective strategy to regenerate and integrate bone in a wider range of applications.
Exploring the Nuances of Nurse-Patient Interaction through Concept Analysis
Authors: Evans Emily C.
Published: December 2015

Patient satisfaction is a major priority in healthcare. Nurse-patient interaction has a direct effect on patient satisfaction and is essential to the provision of nursing care. Using the Avant and Walker method of concept analysis, the author explores what shapes nurse-patient interaction; the defining attributes, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents. In addition, cases are provided that illustrate various types of nurse-patient interaction. The author also discusses the concept of nurse-patient interaction in light of current nursing research trends and priorities, adding to the base of nursing knowledge that will facilitate the highest quality nursing care and patient satisfaction.
The spectrum of nasal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus and its association with the disease activity
Authors: Kusyairi K A , Gendeh B S , Sakthiswary R , Shaharir S S , Haizlene A H , Yusof K H
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine the spectrum of nasal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its association with the disease activity of SLE based on the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). This was a cross-sectional and observational study involving 73 stable SLE patients. All subjects were evaluated for the SLEDAI scores and had nasal endoscopic examination. The most commonly reported symptom was nasal congestion (31.5%) followed by nasal itchiness (26.0%), runny nose (20.5%) and nasal dryness (19.2%). Almost half (42.9%) of the subjects had nasal mucosal abnormalities, which included mucositis, crusting, ulceration, bifid middle turbinate, septal spur, Jacobson’s organ, deviated nasal septum, bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy, everted uncinate process, nasopharynx cleft and torus palatinus. The median SLEDAI score for subjects with nasal symptoms was significantly higher than subjects without nasal symptoms ( p < 0.05). Similarly, subjects with moderate to high activity (SLEDAI scores of 6–19) had a significantly higher frequency of both nasal symptoms and nasal mucosal abnormalities ( p < 0.05) compared to subjects with no to mild activity (SLEDAI scores of 0–5).
Performing work: The drama of everyday working life
Authors: Rosengren Calle
Published: December 2015

In this article, a perspective on work time patterns is outlined; a perspective that emphasizes the importance of observing how work time is subject not only to task and contract agreements but also to social norms and individual needs to express identity. The article takes its starting point in Goffman's dramaturgic approach. From this perspective, the workplace is viewed as a stage where a satisfactory work performance is judged not by the actual work performance but by the performance of work; or rather, perhaps, by how a morally good working day is enacted through text, words, and gestures. Depending on social context work, time patterns can be seen as an expression of commitment, dedication, professionalism, and masculinity. The article concludes with a discussion on the potential implications of these issues regarding stress and health, as well as the possibilities of participation in the labor market under equal conditions.
Three-point bending deflection and failure mechanism map of sandwich beams with second-order hierarchical corrugated truss core
Authors: Li Gang , Fang Yaochu , Hao Peng , Li Zhaokai
Published: December 2015

For sandwich beams with second-order hierarchical corrugated truss core under three-point bending, a correction factor of shear deflection was firstly proposed to improve the prediction accuracy of the bending analysis, which was verified by finite element analysis and compared with the original formula. Then, the failure modes of the sandwich beam under bending were analyzed, including four competing modes of the large struts (i.e. plastic yielding, buckling, wrinkling of facesheet, shear buckling) and two competing modes of the small struts (i.e. plastic yielding, buckling). Subsequently, the analytical expressions of critical load for each failure mode were derived. On this basis, the failure mechanism maps were constructed. Finally, several typical points from the map were selected and verified by finite element analysis, and a good agreement of predicted failure modes was observed.
An investigation into the effect of welding parameters on fatigue crack growth rate and fracture toughness in friction stir welded copper sheets
Authors: Alavi Nia Ali , Shirazi Ali
Published: December 2015

In the present study, the effect of various factors of friction stir welding including rotational and traverse speeds of tool and in fact, the amount of the heat transferred within welding was evaluated on the resistance to fatigue crack growth and fracture toughness in different zones of welding copper sheets. In order to better assess these two properties, other mechanical properties such as tensile strength and hardness were also studied and the microstructure of different zones of welds was investigated using optic and electron microscopies. By doing this study, it became clear that the less the heat transferred to the plunging during the welding process, the better properties the resulting welds will have which well justifies the use of cooling in this study. Transferring heat to plunging causes the growth of grains in various zones and can cause the fatigue crack growth in heat-affected zone to increase averagely about 4.2 times the base material for different Δ K. In contrast, the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization in the stir zone as well as fragmentizing and alignment of grains in this zone can increase the resistance to fatigue crack growth up to 9-fold the resistance of the base material. The other interesting result of this study was that although the properties of stir zone improve by increasing the number of welding passes, the properties of its weakest zone i.e. the heat-affected zone will decline.
Genome sequences of two closely related strains of Escherichia coli K-12 GM4792
Authors: Zhang Yan-Cong , Zhang Yan , Zhu Bi-Ru , Zhang Bo-Wen , Ni Chuan , Zhang Da-Yong , Huang Ying , Pang Erli , Lin Kui
Published: December 2015

Escherichia coli lab strains K-12 GM4792 Lac+ and GM4792 Lac- carry opposite lactose markers, which are useful for distinguishing evolved lines as they produce different colored colonies. The two closely related strains are chosen as ancestors for our ongoing studies of experimental evolution. Here, we describe the genome sequences, annotation, and features of GM4792 Lac+ and GM4792 Lac-. GM4792 Lac+ has a 4,622,342-bp long chromosome with 4,061 protein-coding genes and 83 RNA genes. Similarly, the genome of GM4792 Lac- consists of a 4,621,656-bp chromosome containing 4,043 protein-coding genes and 74 RNA genes. Genome comparison analysis reveals that the differences between GM4792 Lac+ and GM4792 Lac- are minimal and limited to only the targeted lac region. Moreover, a previous study on competitive experimentation indicates the two strains are identical or nearly identical in survivability except for lactose utilization in a nitrogen-limited environment. Therefore, at both a genetic and a phenotypic level, GM4792 Lac+ and GM4792 Lac-, with opposite neutral markers, are ideal systems for future experimental evolution studies.
Complete genome sequence of the molybdenum-resistant bacterium Bacillus subtilis strain LM 4–2
Authors: You Xiao-Yan , Wang Hui , Ren Guang-Yue , Li Jing-Jing , Duan Xu , Zheng Hua-Jun , Jiang Zheng-Qiang
Published: December 2015

Bacillus subtilis LM 4–2, a Gram-positive bacterium was isolated from a molybdenum mine in Luoyang city. Due to its strong resistance to molybdate and potential utilization in bioremediation of molybdate-polluted area, we describe the features of this organism, as well as its complete genome sequence and annotation. The genome was composed of a circular 4,069,266 bp chromosome with average GC content of 43.83 %, which included 4149 predicted ORFs and 116 RNA genes. Additionally, 687 transporter-coding and 116 redox protein-coding genes were identified in the strain LM 4–2 genome.
Nfib Regulates Transcriptional Networks That Control the Development of Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Grabowska Magdalena M. , Kelly Stephen M. , Reese Amy L. , Cates Justin M. , Case Tom C. , Zhang Jianghong , DeGraff David J. , Strand Douglas W. , Miller Nicole L. , Clark Peter E. , Hayward Simon W. , Gronostajski Richard M. , Anderson Philip D. , Matusik Robert J.
Published: December 2015

A functional complex consisting of androgen receptor (AR) and forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) proteins supports prostatic development, differentiation, and disease. In addition, the interaction of FOXA1 with cofactors such as nuclear factor I (NFI) family members modulates AR target gene expression. However, the global role of specific NFI family members has yet to be described in the prostate. In these studies, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by DNA sequencing in androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cells demonstrated that 64.3% of NFIB binding sites are associated with AR and FOXA1 binding sites. Interrogation of published data revealed that genes associated with NFIB binding sites are predominantly induced after dihydrotestosterone treatment of LNCaP cells, whereas NFIB knockdown studies demonstrated that loss of NFIB drives increased AR expression and superinduction of a subset of AR target genes. Notably, genes bound by NFIB only are associated with cell division and cell cycle. To define the role of NFIB in vivo, mouse Nfib knockout prostatic tissue was rescued via renal capsule engraftment. Loss of Nfib expression resulted in prostatic hyperplasia, which did not resolve in response to castration, and an expansion of an intermediate cell population in a small subset of grafts. In human benign prostatic hyperplasia, luminal NFIB loss correlated with more severe disease. Finally, some areas of intermediate cell expansion were also associated with NFIB loss. Taken together, these results show a fundamental role for NFIB as a coregulator of AR action in the prostate and in controlling prostatic hyperplasia.
Reck enables cerebrovascular development by promoting canonical Wnt signaling
Authors: Ulrich Florian , Carretero-Ortega Jorge , Menéndez Javier , Narvaez Carlos , Sun Belinda , Lancaster Eva , Pershad Valerie , Trzaska Sean , Véliz Evelyn , Kamei Makoto , Prendergast Andrew , Kidd Kameha R. , Shaw Kenna M. , Castranova Daniel A. , Pham Van N. , Lo Brigid D. , Martin Benjamin L. , Raible David W. , Weinstein Brant M. , Torres-Vázquez Jesús
Published: December 2015

The cerebral vasculature provides the massive blood supply that the brain needs to grow and survive. By acquiring distinctive cellular and molecular characteristics it becomes the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB), a selectively permeable and protective interface between the brain and the peripheral circulation that maintains the extra-cellular milieu permissive for neuronal activity. Accordingly, there is great interest in uncovering the mechanisms that modulate the formation and differentiation of the brain vasculature. By performing a forward genetic screen in zebrafish we isolated no food for thought (nfty72), a recessive late-lethal mutant that lacks most of the intra-cerebral Central Arteries (CtAs), but not other brain blood vessels. We found that the cerebral vascularization deficit of nfty72 is caused by an inactivating lesion in reck (reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs or ST15; Suppressor of Tumorigenicity 15 protein), which encodes a membrane-anchored tumor suppressor glycoprotein. Our findings highlight Reck as a novel and pivotal modulator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway that acts in endothelial cells to enable intra-cerebral vascularization and proper expression of molecular markers associated with BBB formation. Additional studies with cultured endothelial cells suggest that, in other contexts, Reck impacts vascular biology via the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) cascade. Together, our findings have broad implications for both vascular and cancer biology.
Dual function of Bmpr1a signaling in restricting preosteoblast proliferation and stimulating osteoblast activity in the mouse
Authors: Lim Joohyun , Shi Yu , Karner Courtney M. , Lee Seung-Yon , Lee Wen-Chih , He Guangxu , Long Fanxin
Published: December 2015

Exogenous bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmp) are well known to induce ectopic bone formation, but the physiological effect of Bmp signaling on normal bone is not completely understood. By deleting the receptor Bmpr1a in osteoblast-lineage cells with Dmp1-Cre, we observed a dramatic increase in trabecular bone mass in postnatal mice, due to a marked increase in osteoblast number likely driven by hyperproliferation of Sp7+ preosteoblasts. Similarly, inducible deletion of Bmpr1a in Sp7-positive cells specifically in postnatal mice increased trabecular bone mass. However, deletion of Smad4 by the same approaches had only a minor effect, indicating that Bmpr1a signaling suppresses trabecular bone formation through effectors beyond Smad4. Besides increasing osteoblast number in the trabecular bone, deletion of Bmpr1a by Dmp1-Cre also notably reduced osteoblast activity, resulting in attenuation of periosteal growth. The impairment in osteoblast activity correlated with reduced mTORC1 signaling in vivo, whereas inhibition of mTORC1 activity abolished the induction of protein anabolism genes by Bmp2 in vitro. Thus, physiological Bmpr1a signaling in bone exerts dual function in both restricting preosteoblast proliferation and promoting osteoblast activity.
OCT4 Activity during Conversion of Human Intermediately Reprogrammed Stem Cells to iPS Cells through MET
Authors: Teshigawara Rika , Hirano Kunio , Nagata Shogo , Ainscough Justin , Tada Takashi
Published: December 2015

To facilitate understanding the mechanisms of somatic reprogramming to human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), we have established intermediately Reprogrammed Stem Cells (iRSCs), human mesenchymal cells that express exogenous Oct4/Sox2/Klf4/c-Myc (OSKM) and endogenous SOX2/NANOG. iRSCs can be stably maintained at low density. At high density, however, they are induced to enter Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition (MET), resulting in reprogramming to an iPSC state. Morphological changes through MET correlate with silencing of exogenous OSKM, and up-regulation of endogenous OCT4. A CRISPR/Cas9-mediated GFP knock-in visualized the temporal regulation of endogenous OCT4 in cells converting from iRSC to iPSC state. OCT4 activation coincident with OSKM silencing occurred prior to entering MET. Notably, OCT4 instability was frequently observed in cells of developing post-MET colonies until a late stage (>200 cells), demonstrating that OCT4-activated post-MET cells switched from asymmetric to symmetric cell division in late stage reprogramming.
Single epicardial cell transcriptome sequencing identifies Caveolin-1 as an essential factor in zebrafish heart regeneration
Authors: Cao Jingli , Navis Adam , Cox Ben D. , Dickson Amy L. , Gemberling Matthew , Karra Ravi , Bagnat Michel , Poss Kenneth D.
Published: December 2015

By contrast with mammals, adult zebrafish have a high capacity to regenerate damaged or lost myocardium through proliferation of spared cardiomyocytes. The epicardial sheet covering the heart is activated by injury and aids muscle regeneration through paracrine effects and as a multipotent cell source, and has received recent attention as a target in cardiac repair strategies. While it is recognized that epicardium is required for muscle regeneration and itself has high regenerative potential, the extent of cellular heterogeneity within epicardial tissue is largely unexplored. In this study, we performed transcriptome analysis on dozens of epicardial lineage cells purified from zebrafish harboring a transgenic reporter for the pan-epicardial gene tcf21. Hierarchical clustering analysis suggested the presence of at least three epicardial cell subsets defined by expression signatures. We validated many new pan-epicardial and epicardial markers by alternative expression assays. Additionally, we explored the function of the scaffolding protein and main component of caveolae, caveolin-1 (cav1), which was present in each epicardial subset. In BAC transgenic zebrafish, cav1 regulatory sequences drove strong expression in ostensibly all epicardial cells and in coronary vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, cav1 mutant zebrafish generated by genome editing showed grossly normal heart development and adult cardiac anatomy, but displayed profound defects in injury-induced cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration. Our study defines a new platform for the discovery of epicardial lineage markers, genetic tools, and mechanisms of heart regeneration.
Enshrining the Mission: The Bishop Sheehan Memorial Museum and Vincentian Visions of China
Authors: Harney John
Published: December 2015

In 1923, the Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) began to send missionaries to Jiangxi Province in China at the behest of a French Province no longer in position to continue with its China Mission following World War I. As the years progressed, the China Mission came to hold a significant role in sustaining a community stretching from the missionaries’ home seminary of St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri to their vicariate in China. In 1935 the Vincentians established a museum at St. Mary’s to honor the memory of Bishop Edward T. Sheehan, the first American Vincentian bishop in Jiangxi. This museum performed an important role in maintaining the connections between the seminarians in Missouri and the missionaries in Jiangxi as the China Mission became more important within the Vincentian community. It was a shared physical space that housed evidence of Vincentian achievement in China while both educating seminarians and allowing them to participate in the celebration of that achievement; a nexus between coexisting and connected Vincentian communities of the midwestern United States and southern China that sustained an overarching social group identity that ignored geographic separation.
“Peace with Justice”: Bishop Mark J. Hurley and the San Francisco State College Strike
Authors: Issel William
Published: December 2015

For almost fifty years, a tale has been told about the student strike at San Francisco State College from November 6, 1968 to March 21, 1969. According to this story, the strike ended in success, with the establishment of what became the first School of Ethnic Studies in the nation, because of the bravery of Black and Third World student radicals, support from Bay Area communities of color, and assistance by radical white student and faculty sympathizers. This strike story has dominated historical writing about the Black Studies campus movement, and it has become institutionalized local lore, celebrated by the media as well as by San Francisco State University. This narrative should be revised and replaced with another, more fully-informed account of what really happened during the longest such campus event in United States history. In this revised history, major credit for the positive outcome of the strike must go to a staunch white liberal Catholic racial justice advocate, Auxiliary Bishop Mark J. Hurley (1919–2001). Hurley’s vision and his persistence as a mediator allowed him to limit violence on the campus during the strike and to facilitate a positive settlement of the strike.
The Modality of Toni Morrison’s Jazz
Authors: Jewett Chad
Published: December 2015

This article examines Morrison’s novel through the tenets of modal jazz and John Coltrane’s 1965 album A Love Supreme . Both Morrison’s novel and the modal form of jazz performed by Coltrane resist the format of the novel/song as a future-oriented teleological entity. Instead Morrison’s novel reflects modal jazz’s focus on the improvisation of the “riff” and a focus on present-tense performance over anticipated resolution. This article investigates the ways in which both works use experimental jazz as a vessel for diverted expectation and new attempts at expression and aesthetic value, and, ultimately, new ways of remembering.