bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ovarian and cervical cancer awareness: development of two validated measurement tools
Authors: Simon Alice E , Wardle Jane , Grimmett Chloe , Power Emily , Corker Elizabeth , Menon Usha , Matheson Lauren , Waller Jo
Published: September 2011

Background

The aim of the study was to develop and validate measures of awareness of symptoms and risk factors for ovarian and cervical cancer (Ovarian and Cervical Cancer Awareness Measures).

Methods

Potentially relevant items were extracted from the literature and generated by experts. Four validation studies were carried out to establish reliability and validity. Women aged 21–67 years (n=146) and ovarian and cervical cancer experts (n=32) were included in the studies. Internal reliability was assessed psychometrically. Test-retest reliability was assessed over a 1-week interval. To establish construct validity, Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) scores of cancer experts were compared with equally well-educated comparison groups. Sensitivity to change was tested by randomly assigning participants to read either a leaflet giving information about ovarian/cervical cancer or a leaflet with control information, and then completing the ovarian/cervical CAM.

Results

Internal reliability (Cronbach's α=0.88 for the ovarian CAM and α=0.84 for the cervical CAM) and test-retest reliability (r=0.84 andr=0.77 for the ovarian and cervical CAMs, respectively) were both high. Validity was demonstrated with cancer experts achieving higher scores than controls [ovarian CAM:t(36)= –5.6,p<0.001; cervical CAM:t(38)= –3.7,p=0.001], and volunteers who were randomised to read a cancer leaflet scored higher than those who received a control leaflet [ovarian CAM:t(49)=7.5,p<0.001; cervical CAM:t(48)= –5.5,p<0.001].

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the psychometric properties of the ovarian and cervical CAMs and supports their utility in assessing ovarian and cervical cancer awareness in the general population.
Determining the common morality's norms in the sixth edition ofPrinciples of Biomedical Ethics
Authors: Herissone-Kelly Peter
Published: September 2011

Tom Beauchamp and James Childress have always maintained that their four principles approach (otherwise known as principlism) is a globally applicable framework for biomedical ethics. This claim is grounded in their belief that the principles of respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice form part of a ‘common morality’, or collection of very general norms to which everyone who is committed to morality subscribes. The difficulty, however, has always been how to demonstrate, at least in the absence of a full-blooded analysis of the concept of morality, whether the four principles are foundational, and so globally applicable, in this way. In the recently published sixth edition ofPrinciples of Biomedical Ethics, an imaginative and non-question-begging empirical method of determining the common morality's norms is suggested. In this paper, I outline this method, before arguing that it is difficult to see how it might be thought to achieve its purpose.
DISCRIMINATIVELY WEIGHTED NAIVE BAYES AND ITS APPLICATION IN TEXT CLASSIFICATION
Authors: JIANG LIANGXIAO , WANG DIANHONG , CAI ZHIHUA
Published: September 2011

Many approaches are proposed to improve naive Bayes by weakening its conditional independence assumption. In this paper, we work on the approach of instance weighting and propose an improved naive Bayes algorithm by discriminative instance weighting. We called it Discriminatively Weighted Naive Bayes. In each iteration of it, different training instances are discriminatively assigned different weights according to the estimated conditional probability loss. The experimental results based on a large number of UCI data sets validate its effectiveness in terms of the classification accuracy and AUC. Besides, the experimental results on the running time show that our Discriminatively Weighted Naive Bayes performs almost as efficiently as the state-of-the-art Discriminative Frequency Estimate learning method, and significantly more efficient than Boosted Naive Bayes. At last, we apply the idea of discriminatively weighted learning in our algorithm to some state-of-the-art naive Bayes text classifiers, such as multinomial naive Bayes, complement naive Bayes and the one-versus-all-but-one model, and have achieved remarkable improvements.
An Evaluation on Transfection Efficiency of pHRE-Egr1-EGFP in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Bel-7402 Mediated by PEI-MZF-NPs
Authors: Lin Mei , Zhang Dongsheng , Huang Junxing , Zhang Jia , Wang Li , Guo Ting , Xiao Li , Ye Jun , Zhang Lixin
Published: September 2011

To improve transfection and expression efficiency of target gene, especially under cancer anoxic microenvironment, we have developed pHRE-Egr1-EGFP/PEI-MZF-NPs nanosystem, in which pHRE-Egr1-EGFP, eukaryotic gene expression plasmid, is constructed by combining radiation promoter Egr1 with anoxia induction components (HRE), forming anoxic radiation double sensitive HRE/Egr1 promoter to activate reporter gene EGFP expression. MZF-NPs (Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4magnetic nanoparticles), obtained by coprecipitation method, are coated with cation poly(ethylenimine) (PEI). We transferred pHRE-Egr1-EGFP into hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells, using PEI-MZF-NPs as the carrier and tested some relevant efficacy. The results show that PEI-MZF-NPs have good DNA-binding ability, protection ability, release ability, little toxicity, and high transfection efficiency, obviously superior to those of the liposome method and electricity perforation method. Moreover, the expression level of EGFP gene induced by anoxia and radiation was significantly higher than that of single radiation activation. It is therefore concluded that HRE/Egr1 can induce and improve target gene expression efficiency in cancer anoxic microenvironment, and that PEI-MZF-NPs can be used as a novel nonviral gene vector which offers a viable approach to the mediated radiation gene therapy of cancer.
How 3D Interaction Metaphors Affect User Experience in Collaborative Virtual Environment
Authors: Hrimech Hamid , Alem Leila , Merienne Frederic
Published: September 2011

In this paper we presents the results of our experimental study which aims to understand the impact of three interaction 3D metaphors (ray casting, GoGo, and virtual hand) on the user experience in a semi-immersive collaborative virtual environment (the Braccetto System). For each session, participants are grouped in twos to reconstruct a puzzle by an assemblage of cubes. The puzzle to reconstruct corresponds to a gradient of colors. We found that there is a significant difference in the user experience by changing the interaction metaphor on the copresence, awareness, involvement, collaborative effort, satisfaction usability, and preference. These findings provide a basis for designing 3D navigation techniques in a CVE.
Detection of Sensor Faults in Small Helicopter UAVs Using Observer/Kalman Filter Identification
Authors: Heredia Guillermo , Ollero Anibal
Published: September 2011

Reliability is a critical issue in navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) since there is no human pilot that can react to any abnormal situation. Due to size and cost limitations, redundant sensor schemes and aeronautical‐grade navigation sensors used in large aircrafts cannot be installed in small UAVs. Therefore, other approaches like analytical redundancy should be used to detect faults in navigation sensors and increase reliability. This paper presents a sensor fault detection and diagnosis system for small autonomous helicopters based on analytical redundancy. Fault detection is accomplished by evaluating any significant change in the behaviour of the vehicle with respect to the fault‐free behaviour, which is estimated by using an observer. The observer is obtained from input‐output experimental data with the Observer/Kalman Filter Identification (OKID) method. The OKID method is able to identify the system and an observer with properties similar to a Kalman filter, directly from input‐output experimental data. Results are similar to the Kalman filter, but, with the proposed method, there is no need to estimate neither system matrices nor sensor and process noise covariance matrices. The system has been tested with real helicopter flight data, and the results compared with other methods.
The Rainwater Memorial Calibration Facility for X-Ray Optics
Authors: Brejnholt Nicolai F. , Christensen Finn E. , Hailey Charles J. , Barrière Nicolas  M. , Craig William W. , Grefenstette Brian , Koglin Jason , Madsen Kristin Kruse , Vogel Julia K. , An Hongjun , Blaedel Kenneth , Brown Josh , Decker Todd , Haider Zeshan , Jakobsen Anders Clemen , Cooper-Jensen Carsten P. , Mori Kaya , Nynka Melania , Pivovaroff Michael J. , Sleator Clio , Stefanik Dennis , Stern Marcela , Tajiri Gordon , Thornhill Douglas , Cushman Jeremy S.
Published: September 2011

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray (NuSTAR) is a NASA Small Explorer mission that will carry the first focusing hard X-ray (5–80 keV) telescope to orbit. The ground calibration of the optics posed a challenge as the need to suppress finite source distance effects over the full optic and the energy range of interest were unique requirements not met by any existing facility. In this paper we present the requirements for the NuSTAR optics ground calibration, and how the Rainwater Memorial Calibration Facility, RaMCaF, is designed to meet the calibration requirements. The nearly 175 m long beamline sports a 48 cm diameter 5–100 keV X-ray beam and is capable of carrying out detailed studies of large diameter optic elements, such as the NuSTAR optics, as well as flat multilayer-coated Silicon wafers.
Proliferative Tumor Doubling Times of Prostatic Carcinoma
Authors: Werahera Priya N. , Glode L. Michael , La Rosa Francisco G. , Lucia M. Scott , Crawford E. David , Easterday Kenneth , Sullivan Holly T. , Sidhu Rameshwar S. , Genova Elizabeth , Hedlund Tammy
Published: September 2011

Prostate cancer (PCa) has a variable biology ranging from latent cancer to extremely aggressive tumors. Proliferative activities of cancers may indicate their biological potential. A flow cytometric assay to calculate maximum proliferative doubling times (Tmax) of PCa in radical prostatectomy specimens after preoperativein vivobromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) infusion is presented. Only 4/17 specimens had tumors large enough for flow cytometric analysis. TheTmaxof tumors was similar and ranged from 0.6 to 3.6 months. Tumors had calculated doubling times 2- to 25-fold faster than their matched normal tissue. Variations in labeling index andTmaxwere observed within a tumor as well as between different Gleason grades. The observed PSA doubling times (PSA-DT) ranged from 18.4 to 32.0 months, considerably slower than the correspondingTmaxof tumors involved. While lack of data for apoptotic rates is a limitation, apparent biological differences between latent versus aggressive PCa may be attributable to variations in apoptotic rates of these tumors rather than their cell proliferative rates.
The Effect of Dietary Fish Oil in addition to Lifestyle Counselling on Lipid Oxidation and Body Composition in Slightly Overweight Teenage Boys
Authors: Pedersen Maiken Højgaard , Mølgaard Christian , Hellgren Lars Ingvar , Matthiessen Jeppe , Holst Jens Juul , Lauritzen Lotte
Published: September 2011

Objective.n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) have shown potential to increase lipid oxidation and prevent obesity.Subjects. Seventy-eight boys aged 13–15 y with whole-body fat% of30±9%were randomly assigned to consume bread with fish oil (FO) (1.5 gn-3 LCPUFA/d) or vegetable oil for 16 weeks. All boys were counselled to improve diet and exercise habits.Results. Lifestyle counselling resulted in decreased sugar intake but did not change the physical activity level. Whole-body fat% decreased0.7±2.5%and0.6±2.2%, resting metabolic rate after the intervention was7150±1134 kJ/d versus7150±1042 kJ/d, and the respiratory quotient was0.89±0.05versus0.88±0.05, in the FO and control group, respectively. No group differences were significant.Conclusion. FO-supplementation to slightly overweight teenage boys did not result in beneficial effects on RMR, lipid oxidation, or body composition.
Sintering and Characterization of (Li, Sb, Ta)-Modified (Na, K)NbO3Lead-Free Ceramics
Authors: Qi Peng , Du Juan , Zang Guozhong
Published: September 2011

Lead-free alkaline niobate-based piezoceramics, (Na0.52K0.435Li0.045)Nb0.87Sb0.08Ta0.05O3(abbreviated KNLNT-S8), were prepared by conventional solid-state sintering method. The effects of sintering temperature on microstructure and piezoelectric properties of the (Li, Sb, Ta)-modified (Na, K) NbO3were investigated. Microstructure of the samples sintered at different temperatures was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. The KNLNT-S8 sample sintered at 1100°C possessed highest piezoelectric constant and high-field piezoelectric strain coefficient of 332 pC/N and 530 pm/V, respectively, with electromechanical coupling factors of 0.52 and of 0.48.
Regularity Criterion for Weak Solution to the 3D Micropolar Fluid Equations
Authors: Wang Yu-Zhu , Chen Zigao
Published: September 2011

Regularity criterion for the 3D micropolar fluid equations is investigated. We prove that, for some T > 0, if , where 3/ϱ + 2/ρ ≤ 1 and ϱ ≥ 3, then the solution (v, w) can be extended smoothly beyond t = T. The derivative can be substituted with any directional derivative of v.
Oxidative Stress and Air Pollution Exposure
Authors: Lodovici Maura , Bigagli Elisabetta
Published: September 2011

Air pollution is associated with increased cardiovascular and pulmonary morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms of air pollution-induced health effects involve oxidative stress and inflammation. As a matter of fact, particulate matter (PM), especially fine (PM2.5, PM < 2.5 μm) and ultrafine (PM0.1, PM < 0.1 μm) particles, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and transition metals, are potent oxidants or able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress can trigger redox-sensitive pathways that lead to different biological processes such as inflammation and cell death. However, it does appear that the susceptibility of target organ to oxidative injury also depends upon its ability to upregulate protective scavenging systems. As vehicular traffic is known to importantly contribute to PM exposure, its intensity and quality must be strongly relevant determinants of the qualitative characteristics of PM spread in the atmosphere. Change in the composition of this PM is likely to modify its health impact.
A Phenomenological Study on the Synergistic Role of Precious Metals in the Steam Reforming of Logistic Fuels on Bimetal-Supported Catalysts
Authors: Azad Abdul-Majeed , Sundararajan Desikan
Published: September 2011

Fuel processors are required to convert sulfur-laden logistic fuels into hydrogen-rich reformate and deliver to the fuel cell stack with little or no sulfur. Since sulfur poisons and deactivates the reforming catalyst, robust sulfur-tolerant catalysts ought to be developed. In this paper, the development, characterization and evaluation of a series of reforming catalysts containing two noble metals (with total metal loading not exceeding 1 weight percent) supported on nanoscale ceria for the steam-reforming of kerosene is reported. Due to inherent synergy, a bimetallic catalyst is superior to its monometallic analog, for the same level of loading. The choice of noble metal combination in the bimetallic formulations plays a vital and meaningful role in their performance. Presence of ruthenium and/or rhodium in formulations containing palladium showed improved sulfur tolerance and significant enhancement in their catalytic activity and stability. Rhodium was responsible for higher hydrogen yields in the logistic fuel reformate. Duration of steady hydrogen production was higher in the case of RhPd (75 h) than for RuPd (68 h); hydrogen generation was stable over the longest period (88 h) with RuRh containing no Pd. A mechanistic correlation between the characteristic role of precious metals in the presence of each other is discussed.
Hepcidin: A Critical Regulator of Iron Metabolism during Hypoxia
Authors: Hintze Korry J. , McClung James P.
Published: September 2011

Iron status affects cognitive and physical performance in humans. Recent evidence indicates that iron balance is a tightly regulated process affected by a series of factors other than diet, to include hypoxia. Hypoxia has profound effects on iron absorption and results in increased iron acquisition and erythropoiesis when humans move from sea level to altitude. The effects of hypoxia on iron balance have been attributed to hepcidin, a central regulator of iron homeostasis. This paper will focus on the molecular mechanisms by which hypoxia affects hepcidin expression, to include a review of the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)/hypoxia response element (HRE) system, as well as recent evidence indicating that localized adipose hypoxia due to obesity may affect hepcidin signaling and organismal iron metabolism.
An FPGA‐Based PID Controller Design for Chaos Synchronization by Evolutionary Programming
Authors: Yau Her-Terng , Pu Yu-Chi , Li Simon Cimin
Published: September 2011

This paper is concerned with the design of a field programmable gate arrays‐ (FPGAs‐) based digital proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller for synchronization of a continuous chaotic model. By using the evolutionary programming (EP) algorithm, optimal control gains in PID‐controlled chaotic systems are derived such that a performance index of integrated absolute error (IAE) is as minimal as possible. To verify the system performance, basic electronic components, including OPA resistor and capacitor elements, were used to implement the chaotic Sprott circuits, and FPGA technology was used to implement the proposed digital PID controller. Numerical and experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed synchronization procedure.
The Failure of R0
Authors: Li Jing , Blakeley Daniel , Smith? Robert J.
Published: September 2011

The basic reproductive ratio, R0, is one of the fundamental concepts in mathematical
biology. It is a threshold parameter, intended to quantify the spread
of disease by estimating the average number of secondary infections in a wholly
susceptible population, giving an indication of the invasion strength of an epidemic: if
R0 < 1, the disease dies out, whereas if R0 > 1, the disease persists. R0
has
been widely used as a measure of disease strength to estimate the effectiveness
of control measures and to form the backbone of disease‐management policy.
However, in almost every aspect that matters, R0
is flawed. Diseases can persist
with R0 < 1, while diseases with R0 > 1
can die out. We show that the same
model of malaria gives many different values of R0, depending on the method
used, with the sole common property that they have a threshold at 1. We also
survey estimated values of R0
for a variety of diseases, and examine some of the alternatives that
have been proposed. If R0
is to be used, it must be accompanied by caveats
about the method of calculation, underlying model assumptions and evidence
that it is actually a threshold. Otherwise, the concept is meaningless.
On the Critical Behaviour of Exothermic Explosions in Class A Geometries
Authors: Er-Riani Mustapha , Chetehouna Khaled
Published: September 2011

The aim of this work is to apply the homotopy perturbation method for solving the steady state equations of the exothermic decomposition of a combustible material obeying Arrhenius, Bimolecular, and Sensitised laws of reaction rates. These equations are formulated on some Class A geometries (an infinite cylinder, an infinite slab, and a sphere). We also investigate the effect of Frank‐Kamenetskii parameter on bifurcation and thermal criticality by means of the Domb‐Sykes graphical method.
Spatial Correlation for DoA Characterization Using Von Mises, Cosine, and Gaussian Distributions
Authors: Queiroz Wamberto J. L. , Madeiro Francisco , Lopes Waslon Terllizzie A. , Alencar Marcelo S.
Published: September 2011

This paper presents mathematical expressions for the spatial correlation between elements of linear and circular antenna arrays, considering cosine, Gaussian, and Von Mises distributions, for the direction of arrival (DoA) of the electromagnetic waves at the receiver antenna. The expressions obtained for the Von Mises distribution can include or not the mutual coupling effect between the elements and are simpler than those obtained for the cosine and the Gaussian distributions of the angle of arrival. The Von Mises distribution produces spatial correlation expressions in terms of Bessel and trigonometric functions. An exact expression for the spatial correlation, taking into account the mutual coupling, for the circular and linear arrays and an arbitrary number of elements are presented. It can be verified, by numerical evaluation of the expressions, that the coupling between the elements correlates the electromagnetic field, and a separation of half wavelength could not be enough to decorrelate them.
The Importance of Endospore-Forming Bacteria Originating from Soil for Contamination of Industrial Food Processing
Authors: Heyndrickx Marc
Published: September 2011

Specific endospore formers have become important contaminants in industrial food processing. The direct or indirect soil route of contamination or dispersal is the start of events or processes in the agrofood chain that eventually leads to important problems or concerns for food safety and/or quality. Three important food sectors are discussed in this paper. In the dairy sector,Bacillus cereus, the most important pathogen or spoilage organism in this sector, andClostridium tyrobutyricum, the most important spoiler in certain cheeses, both contaminate pasteurized milk through the faecal and/or (at least forB. cereus) the direct soil route. In the fruit juice industry,Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, present on raw fruits, has become a major quality-target organism. In the ready-to-eat food sector,B. cereusand other aerobic endospore formers are introduced via vegetables, fruits, or herbs and spices, while anaerobic spore formers like nonproteolyticClostridium botulinumandClostridium estertheticumpose safety and spoilage risks in chilled packaged foods, respectively.
A Halpern‐Mann Type Iteration for Fixed Point Problems of a Relatively Nonexpansive Mapping and a System of Equilibrium Problems
Authors: Inprasit Utith , Nilsrakoo Weerayuth
Published: September 2011

A new modified Halpern‐Mann type iterative method is constructed. Strong convergence of the scheme to a common element of the set of fixed points of a relatively nonexpansive mapping and the set of common solutions to a system of equilibrium problems in a uniformly convex real Banach space which is also uniformly smooth is proved. The results presented in this work improve on the corresponding ones announced by many others.
Novel Influenza A (H1N1/09) Virus Infection during Pregnancy in a Kidney Transplant Recipient
Authors: Rothermund Lars , Kreutz Reinhold , Keller Frieder
Published: September 2011

We report the first case of a pregnant renal transplant patient with H1N1/09 infection. The woman showed a mild clinical course after diagnosis of H1N1/09 infection and therapy with oseltamivir (2×45 mg per day). After delivery by cesarean section, the neonate exhibited moderate respiratory and circulatory dysregulation, which spontaneously normalised a few dayspostpartum. In conclusion, rapid diagnosis of H1N1/09 and dose-adapted therapy with oseltamivir resulted in successful delivery of a healthy infant in our renal transplanted patient but emphasized the need for consequent vaccination strategies in pregnant transplant recipients for new influenza A pandemics in the future.
On the Upper Bounds of Eigenvalues for a Class of Systems of Ordinary Differential Equations with Higher Order
Authors: Jia Gao , Huang Li-Na , Liu Wei
Published: September 2011

The estimate of the upper bounds of eigenvalues
for a class of systems of ordinary differential equations with higher order is
considered by using the calculus theory. Several results about the upper bound
inequalities of the (n + 1)th eigenvalue are obtained by the first n eigenvalues.
The estimate coefficients do not have any relation to the geometric measure of
the domain. This kind of problem is interesting and significant both in theory of
systems of differential equations and in applications to mechanics and physics.
System Identification and Prediction of Dengue Fever Incidence in Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Gerardi D. O. , Monteiro L. H. A.
Published: September 2011

Identification, prediction, and control of a system are engineering subjects, regardless of the nature of the system. Here, the temporal evolution of the number of individuals with dengue fever weekly recorded in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during 2007, is used to identify SIS (susceptible‐infective‐susceptible) and SIR (susceptible‐infective‐removed) models formulated in terms of cellular automaton
(CA). In the identification process, a genetic algorithm (GA) is utilized to find the probabilities of the state transition S → I able of reproducing in the CA lattice the historical series of 2007. These probabilities depend on the number of infective neighbors. Time‐varying and nont‐ime‐varying probabilities,
three different sizes of lattices, and two kinds of coupling topology among the cells are taken into consideration. Then, these epidemiological models built by combining CA and GA are employed for predicting the cases of sick persons in 2008. Such models can be useful for forecasting and controlling the spreading of this infectious disease.
Correction of Anophthalmic Enophthalmos with a Three-Staged Procedure: Two Case Reports
Authors: Minagawa Tomohiro , Shioya Ryuta , Yamao Takeshi , Sato Chigusa , Maeda Taku
Published: September 2011

Surgical correction of an anophthalmic enophthalmos secondary to inappropriate repair of the eye socket involves several difficult aesthetic issues associated with long-term use of a poorly fitting prosthetic eye. In this paper, we present two cases of anophthalmic enophthalmos. During the treatment of the first patient, unsatisfactory cosmetic problems including lower eyelid retraction, hypoglobus, and severe upper eyelid ptosis were revealed. Accordingly, a three-staged procedure was performed on the second patient, including autologous augmentation of the eye socket, correction of lower eyelid retraction with a cartilage graft, and a frontalis sling procedure to correct upper eyelid ptosis.
Conversion of Dagang Vacuum Residue into Oxygen-Containing Organic Compounds by Photo-Oxidation withH2O2overTiO2
Authors: Xie Heng-Shen , Zong Zhi-Min , Wei Qing , Liu Tong , Zhao Jian-Jun , Zhao Pei-Zhi , Zhang Shi-Hua , Wei Xian-Yong
Published: September 2011

The photocatalytic depolymerization of Dagang vacuum residue (DVR) was carried out with H2O2over TiO2in a photochemical reactor. Most of the organic matter in DVR was converted into oxygen-containing organic compounds. The yields of carboxylic acids, oxalates, epoxy compounds, and hydroxyl compounds from DVR oxidation are 40.6%, 36.4%, 17.86%, and 13.5%, respectively. In addition, the oxidation causes significant decrease in viscosity and chromaticity of DVR. The related reaction mechanisms are discussed according to the experimental results.
Ghrelin, Appetite Regulation, and Food Reward: Interaction with Chronic Stress
Authors: Diz-Chaves Yolanda
Published: September 2011

Obesity has become one of the leading causes of illness and mortality in the developed world. Preclinical and clinical data provide compelling evidence for ghrelin as a relevant regulator of appetite, food intake, and energy homeostasis. In addition, ghrelin has recently emerged as one of the major contributing factors to reward-driven feeding that can override the state of satiation. The corticotropin-releasing-factor system is also directly implicated in the regulation of energy balance and may participate in the pathophysiology of obesity and eating disorders. This paper focuses on the role of ghrelin in the regulation of appetite, on its possible role as a hedonic signal involved in food reward, and on its interaction with the corticotropin-releasing-factor system and chronic stress.
The Role of Seizure-RelatedSEZ6as a Susceptibility Gene in Febrile Seizures
Authors: Mulley John C. , Iona Xenia , Hodgson Bree , Heron Sarah E. , Berkovic Samuel F. , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Dibbens Leanne M.
Published: September 2011

Sixty cases of febrile seizures from a Chinese cohort had previously been reported with a strong association between variants in the seizure-related (SEZ) 6 gene and febrile seizures. They found a striking lack of genetic variation in their controls. We found genetic variation inSEZ6at similar levels at the same DNA sequence positions in our 94 febrile seizure cases as in our 96 unaffected controls. Two of our febrile seizure cases carried rare variants predicted to have damaging consequences. Combined with some of the variants from the Chinese cohort, these data are compatible with a role forSEZ6as a susceptibility gene for febrile seizures. However, the polygenic determinants underlying most cases of febrile seizures with complex inheritance remain to be determined.
Performance Evaluation of Manual and Automated (MagNA Pure) Nucleic Acid Isolation in HPV Detection and Genotyping Using Roche Linear Array HPV Test
Authors: Chranioti Aikaterini , Aga Evangelia , Margari Niki , Kottaridi Christine , Pappas Asimakis , Panayiotides Ioannis , Karakitsos Petros
Published: September 2011

Nucleic acids of human papillomavirus (HPV) isolated by manual extraction method (AmpliLute) and automated MagNA pure system were compared and evaluated with cytohistological findings in 253 women. The concordance level between AmpliLute and MagNA was very good 93.3% (κ=0.864,P<.0001). Overall HPVpositivity detected by AmpliLute was 57.3% (30.4% as single and 27% as multiple infections) in contrast to MagNA 54.5% (32% and 23%, resp.). Discrepant results observed in 25 cases: 11 MagNA(−)/AmpliLute(+), 10 of which had positive histology; 5 MagNA(+)/AmpliLute(−) with negative histology; 8 MagNA(+)/AmpliLute(+): in 7 of which AmpliLute detected extra HPV genotypes and 1 MagNA(invalid)/AmpliLute(+) with positive histology. Both methods performed well when compared against cytological (area under curve (AUC) of AmpliLute 0.712 versus 0.672 of MagNA) and histological diagnoses (AUC of AmpliLute 0.935 versus 0.877 of MagNA), with AmpliLute showing a slightly predominance over MagNA. However, higher sensitivities, specificities, and positive/negative predictive values were obtained by AmpliLute.
Predictors of Impaired Glucose Regulation in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Hatziagelaki Erifili , Karageorgopoulos Drosos E. , Chounta Athina , Tsiavou Anastasia , Falagas Matthew E. , Dimitriadis George
Published: September 2011

Introduction. Many patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have impaired glucose regulation or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We investigated characteristics of NAFLD patients associated with hyperglycemia.Methods. During a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), serum glucose and insulin were measured in 152 NAFLD patients.Results. 48.7% of NAFLD patients had hyperglycemia. Age (odds ratio(OR)=1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.13), body mass index (BMI) (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.01–1.25), and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.98) proved to be independent predictors of hyperglycemia. After OGTT, 30 min insulin was lower in hyperglycemic patients (74.2±49.7versus94.5±53.9 μIU/mL,P=0.02), while 90 min insulin (170.1±84.6versus122.9±97.7 μU/mL,P=0.01) and 120 min insulin (164.0±101.2versus85.3±61.9 μIU/mL,P<0.01) were higher.Conclusions. NAFLD patients with higher BMI, lower HDL-C, or older age were more likely to have impaired glucose metabolism. An OGTT could be of value for early diagnosis of DM among this population.
Poneromorph Ants Associated with Parasitoid Wasps of the GenusKapalaCameron (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) in French Guiana
Authors: Lachaud Jean-Paul , Cerdan Philippe , Pérez-Lachaud Gabriela
Published: September 2011

Eucharitid wasps are specific, specialized parasitoids of ants. The genusKapalaCameron is the most common in the Neotropics but few species are described, and information dealing with their biology, behavior and host associations is scarce. Numerous poneromorph ant colonies were inspected over 4 collection surveys in French Guiana. A diverse fauna of parasites and parasitoids was found, including mermithid nematodes, flies, eucharitids, and another gregarious endoparasitoid wasp. Five new host associations forKapalaare reported, all of them involving medium- to large-size poneromorph ant species from 4 genera:Ectatomma brunneumFr. Smith,Gnamptogenys tortuolosa(Fr. Smith),Odontomachus haematodus(L.),O. mayi Mann, andPachycondyla verenae(Forel). Three other associations involvingO. hastatus(Fabr.),P. apicalis(Latreille), andP. stigma(Fabr.), already reported for other countries but new for French Guiana, are confirmed. The data extend the number of hosts forKapalato 24 ant species from 7 genera. The high diversity of the ant host genera associated withKapala,combined with the fact that these ant genera are the most widely distributed among Neotropical poneromorph ants, could account for the dominant status of the genusKapalaamong the eucharitine wasps of Central and South America.
Leafcutter Ant Nests Inhibit Low-Intensity Fire Spread in the Understory of Transitional Forests at the Amazon's Forest-Savanna Boundary
Authors: Carvalho Karine S. , Alencar Ane , Balch Jennifer , Moutinho Paulo
Published: September 2011

Leaf-cutter ants (Attaspp.) remove leaf litter and woody debris—potential fuels—in and around their nests and foraging trails. We conducted single and three annual experimental fires to determine the effects of this leaf-cutter ant activity on the behavior of low-intensity, slow-moving fires. In a transitional forest, where the southern Amazon forest meets the Brazilian savanna, we tested whether leaf-cutter ant nests and trails (i) inhibit fire spread due to a lack of fuels, and (ii), thereby, reduce the total burned area during these experimental low-intensity fires, particularly at forest edges where leaf-cutter ant abundance was higher. Fine-medium fuel mass increased with an increase in distance from ant nest, and the mean area of bare soil was greater on nests than on the forest floor. Between 60 to 90 percent of the unburned area was within 30 m of ant nests, and burned area significantly increased with increasing distance to ant nests. In addition, the number of ant nests declined with increasing distance from the forest edge, and, with exception of the first experimental fire, burned area also increased with increasing distance from the edge. The present study provides new insight to fire ecology in Amazon environments.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Systemic Autoimmune Connective Tissue Disorders behind Recurrent Diastolic Heart Failure
Authors: Blasco Mata Luis Miguel , Acha Salazar Olga , González-Fernández Carmen Rosa , Novo Robledo Francisco , Pérez-Llantada Amunárriz Enrique
Published: September 2011

Diastolic heart failure (DHF) remains unexplained in some patients with recurrent admissions after full investigation. A study was directed for screening SLE and systemic autoimmune connective tissue disorders in recurrent unexplained DHF patients admitted at a short-stay and intermediate care unit. It was found that systemic autoimmune conditions explained 11% from all of cases. Therapy also prevented new readmissions. Autoimmunity should be investigated in DHF.
Comparison of Protective Immune Responses to Apicomplexan Parasites
Authors: Frölich Sonja , Entzeroth Rolf , Wallach Michael
Published: September 2011

Members of the phylum Apicomplexa, which includes the speciesPlasmodium, Eimeria,Toxoplasma,andBabesiaamongst others, are the most successful intracellular pathogens known to humankind. The widespread acquisition of antimicrobial resistance to most drugs used to date has sparked a great deal of research and commercial interest in the development of vaccines as alternative control strategies. A few antigens from the asexual and sexual stages of apicomplexan development have been identified and their genes characterised; however, the fine cellular and molecular details of the effector mechanisms crucial for parasite inhibition and stimulation of protective immunity are still not entirely understood. This paper provides an overview of what is currently known about the protective immune response against the various types of apicomplexan parasites and focuses mainly on the similarities of these pathogens and their host interaction. Finally, the evolutionary relationships of these parasites and their hosts, as well as the modulation of immune functions that are critical in determining the outcome of the infection by these pathogenic organisms, are discussed.
Antidiabetic Activity ofGnidia glaucaandDioscorea bulbifera: Potent Amylase and Glucosidase Inhibitors
Authors: Ghosh Sougata , Ahire Mehul , Patil Sumersing , Jabgunde Amit , Bhat Dusane Meenakshi , Joshi Bimba N. , Pardesi Karishma , Jachak Sanjay , Dhavale Dilip D. , Chopade Balu A.
Published: September 2011

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder affecting about 220 million people worldwide. One of the most critical complications of diabetes is post-prandial hyper-glycemia (PPHG). Glucosidase inhibitor andα-amylase inhibitors are class of compounds that help in managing PPHG. Low-cost herbal treatment is recommended due to their lesser side effect for treatment of diabetes. Two plants with significant traditional therapeutic potential, namely,Gnidia glaucaandDioscorea bulbifera, were tested for their efficiency to inhibitα-amylase andα-glucosidase. Stem, leaf, and flower ofG. glaucaand bulb ofD. bulbiferawere sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol as well as separately with 70% ethanol. Petroleum ether extract of flower ofG. glaucawas found to inhibitα-amylase significantly (78.56%). Extracts were further tested against crude murine pancreatic, small intestinal, and liver glucosidase enzyme which revealed excellent inhibitory properties.α-glucosidase inhibition provided a strongin vitroevidence for confirmation of bothG. glaucaandD. bulbiferaas excellent antidiabetic remedy. This is the first report of its kind that provides a strong biochemical basis for management of type II diabetes usingG. glaucaandD. bulbifera. These results provide intense rationale for furtherin vivoand clinical study.
Targeting Axl and Mer Kinases in Cancer
Authors: Verma Anupam , Warner Steven L. , Vankayalapati Hariprasad , Bearss David J. , Sharma Sunil
Published: September 2011

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are cell-surface transmembrane receptors that contain regulated kinase activity within their cytoplasmic domain and play an important role in signal transduction in both normal and malignant cells. The mammalian TAM RTK family includes 3 closely related members: Tyro-3, Axl, and Mer. Overexpression or ectopic expression of the TAM receptors has been detected in a wide array of human cancers. Growth arrest-specific gene 6 has been identified as the major ligand for these TAM RTKs, and its binding to the receptors has been shown to promote proliferation and survival of cancer cells in vitro. Abnormal expression and activation of Axl or Mer can provide a survival advantage for certain cancer cells. Inhibition of Axl and Mer may enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to cytotoxic agents and would potentially be a therapeutic strategy to target cancer cells. This review elucidates the role of Axl and Mer in normal cellular function and their role in oncogenesis. In addition, we review the potential to inhibit these RTKs for the development of therapeutic targets in treatment of cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(10); 1763–73. ©2011 AACR.
Momordica Charantia Lectin, a Type II Ribosome Inactivating Protein, Exhibits Antitumor Activity toward Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Fang Evandro Fei , Zhang Chris Zhi Yi , Ng Tzi Bun , Wong Jack Ho , Pan Wen Liang , Ye Xiu Juan , Chan Yau Sang , Fong Wing Ping
Published: September 2011

The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains high in endemic regions, including southern China, northern Africa, and North America. One of the promising therapeutic approaches on NPC is drug screening from natural products, such as components from traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the antitumor activity of Momordica charantia lectin (MCL), a type II ribosome inactivating protein from bitter gourd, on NPC was investigated. MCL evinced potent cytotoxicity toward NPC CNE-1 (IC50 = 6.9) and CNE-2 (IC50 = 7.4) cells but minimally affected normal NP 69 cells. Further investigation disclosed that MCL induced apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, G1-phase arrest, and mitochondrial injury in both types of NPC cells. The reduction of cyclin D1 and phosphoretinoblastoma (Rb) protein expression contributed to arrest at G1-phase of the cell cycle. These events were associated with regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK; including p38 MAPK, JNK, and ERK) phosphorylation and promoted downstream nitric oxide (NO) production. Concurrent administration of the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 significantly diminished NO production and lethality of MCL toward NPC cells. Further studies revealed that MCL increased cytochrome c release into the cytosol, activated caspases-8, -9, and -3, and enhanced production of cleaved PARP, subsequently leading to DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Finally, an intraperitoneal injection of MCL (1.0 mg/kg/d) led to an average of 45% remission of NPC xenograft tumors subcutaneously inoculated in nude mice. This is the first article that unveils the potential of a type II RIP, MCL, for prevention and therapy of NPC. Cancer Prev Res; 5(1); 109–21. ©2011 AACR.
A Long-Term Study of Acotiamide in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia: Results from an Open-Label Phase III Trial in Japan on Efficacy, Safety and Pattern of Administration
Authors: Matsueda K. , Hongo M. , Ushijima S. , Akiho H.
Published: September 2011

Background: This long-term 48-week study of acotiamide was carried out to investigate the efficacy, safety and administration pattern in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: This was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, long-term phase III study in which patients with FD were given acotiamide, 100 mg t.i.d., for 48 weeks. The two major efficacy endpoints were global overall treatment efficacy (OTE) and the elimination rate of three cardinal symptoms (i.e. postprandial fullness, early satiation and upper abdominal bloating), which were evaluated weekly and daily by the patients, respectively. The long-term administration patterns were investigated by following the patients based on cessation and readministration criteria. Results: Efficacy was analyzed in 405 patients. The OTE improvement rate was 26.1% at week 1 and increased with time. It was 60.6% at week 8 and subsequently maintained. Similarly, the symptom elimination rate increased up to week 8. Many patients who met the cessation criterion achieved remission of FD symptoms after experiencing dose interruption and readministration. The incidence rate of adverse drug reactions was 11.5% and most of the adverse drug reactions were mild in severity except increased ALT in 1 patient. Conclusion: FD symptoms were controlled by intermittent administration of acotiamide even in patients with relapsing FD.
Bringing Managers Back In
Authors: Castilla Emilio J.
Published: September 2011

While great progress has been made in documenting that organizational practices affect workplace inequality, little is known about how managers in particular may shape the careers of the employees below them. Using unique longitudinal personnel data on managers and their subordinates, this study identifies and tests for evidence of three distinct mechanisms by which managers potentially influence the assessment of employee performance in the workplace: (1) social network influence between employees’ current and former managers; (2) manager–manager (horizontal) homophily; and (3) manager–employee (vertical) homophily. I find evidence of the independent effects of all three mechanisms of managerial influence on the outcome of disagreement in the performance evaluation ratings of the same worker between former and current managers. In particular, my results stress that both managerial network influence and horizontal homophily affect the process of employee performance assessments, over and above the well-studied vertical homophily mechanism. I conclude by discussing the theoretical implications of these findings for future research regarding the interactional aspects of workplace inequality within contemporary organizations.
When do interprofessional teams succeed? Investigating the moderating roles of team and professional identity in interprofessional effectiveness
Authors: Mitchell Rebecca J , Parker Vicki , Giles Michelle
Published: September 2011

This study investigates the role of professional identity threat and team identity as moderators of the relationship between diverse composition and the performance of interprofessional teams. Survey data from 47 interprofessional teams in a tertiary referral hospital in New South Wales, Australia demonstrates the value of social identity in understanding the performance of such teams. The first finding, that team identity moderates the relationship between diversity and team effectiveness, indicates that commitment and attraction to their team enhances members’ ability to work together cooperatively. The second finding, that threat to professional identity plays a deleterious role by moderating an inverse relationship between diversity and effectiveness, suggests that professional dissent may increase the negative effects of diversity. Finally, support for the role of interprofessional motivation in strengthening team identity and reducing identity threat provides both an additional theoretical contribution, and offers a practical strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of interprofessional teams.
Modernity and the Holocaust counter-memorial: Janet Frame’s American fiction
Authors: Evans Patrick
Published: September 2011

Janet Frame’s novels Intensive Care (1970/1987), Daughter Buffalo (1972), and Living in the Maniototo (1979) were written in the United States and, like her final novel, The Carpathians (1988), in part set there. These works might be termed her “American” fiction, as against the fiction of her earlier “European” phase, to which it is linked by the common experience of western modernity and episodes of the Cold War and, more particularly, the analogies with Jewish experience in Nazi Germany first expressed in Faces in the Water (1961). This article examines Frame’s more specific explorations of Holocaust themes in some of this later fiction and An Autobiography (1989), and suggests a recontextualization of her work in recent theories of Holocaust remembering and especially in Foucault’s concept of the counter-memorial, which emphasizes the importance of individual, idiosyncratic and small-scale remembering and the formal implications this has for art.