bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Substance P is increased in patients with sickle cell disease and associated with haemolysis and hydroxycarbamide use
Authors: Brandow Amanda M. , Wandersee Nancy J. , Dasgupta Mahua , Hoffmann Raymond G. , Hillery Cheryl A. , Stucky Cheryl L. , Panepinto Julie A.
Published: August 2016

Sickle cell disease (SCD) pain transitions from acute to chronic for unknown reasons. Chronic elevation of the pain neurotransmitter substance P (SP) sensitizes pain nociceptors. We evaluated SP levels in controls and SCD patients during baseline and acute pain and investigated associations between SP and age, gender, pain history, haemolysis and hydroxycarbamide (also termed hydroxyurea) use. Plasma SP levels were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Independent samples t‐test compared SP levels between: (i) SCD baseline and controls, and (ii) SCD baseline and acute pain. Multivariate linear regression determined associations between SP and age, gender, pain history and hydroxycarbamide use. Spearman correlation determined an association between SP and haemolysis. We enrolled 35 African American controls, 25 SCD baseline and 12 SCD pain patients. SCD patients were 7‐19 years old. Mean ± standard deviation SP level (pg/ml) in SCD baseline was higher than controls (32·4 ± 11·6 vs. 22·9 ± 7·6, P = 0·0009). SP in SCD pain was higher than baseline (78·1 ± 43·4 vs. 32·4 ± 11·6, P = 0·004). Haemolysis correlated with increased SP: Hb (r = −0·7, P = 0·0002), reticulocyte count (r = 0·61, P = 0·0016), bilirubin (r = 0·68, P = 0·0216), lactate dehydrogenase (r = 0·62, P = 0·0332), aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0·68, P = 0·003). Patients taking hydroxycarbamide had increased SP (β = 29·2, P = 0·007). SP could be a mediator of or marker for pain sensitization in SCD and a biomarker and/or target for novel pain treatment.
Randomized clinical study of the peri‐implant healing to hydrophilic and hydrophobic implant surfaces in patients receiving anticoagulants
Authors: Marković Aleksa , Đinić Ana , Calvo Guirado José Luis , Tahmaseb Ali , Šćepanović Miodrag , Janjić Bojan
Published: August 2016

Objectives

To compare the peri‐implant bone healing between TiZr implants with hydrophilic SLActive and hydrophobic SLA implant surface in patients receiving anticoagulants, to assess the implant survival and success rate, as well as to evaluate whether small‐diameter TiZr implants could be used in patients on OAT in order to avoid augmentation procedures.

Material and methods

A total of 80 small‐diameter tissue‐level TiZr implants with SLActive and SLA surfaces were placed in 20 anticoagulated patients, following the “split‐mouth” study design. Implant stability was measured up to the third postoperative month by resonance frequency measurements (RFA). One‐year implant survival and success rate were evaluated.

Results

After one year, 100% implant survival and success rate were observed. A significant decrease in ISQ comparing to baseline values was noted in the SLActive group from the first postoperative week, and in the SLA group, from the 3rd week after the surgery. In both groups, a statistically significant decline in ISQ was observed between second and third postoperative week. No significant differences in ISQ values between SLActive and SLA implants were noted, at any time point.

Conclusions

Titanium–zirconium small‐diameter implants with SLActive and SLA surface predictably achieve and maintain adequate bone tissue integration in patients receiving anticoagulants. OAT appears to influence the bone healing events resulting in lower ISQ in the end of 3‐month period in comparison with baseline values, although without compromising implant stability.
Fullerene C60 with cytoprotective and cytotoxic potential: prospects as a novel treatment agent in Dermatology?
Authors: Rondags Angelique , Yuen Wing Yan , Jonkman Marcel F. , Horváth Barbara
Published: August 2016

It is known that an excess amount of (oxygen) radicals in the skin can lead to (local cellular) oxidative stress. From one side, oxidative stress can contribute to the existence of various (inflammatory) skin diseases such as acne vulgaris and alopecia, as well as to accelerated photo‐ageing of the skin. From the other side, oxidative stress could also be a wanted process for curing particular skin diseases, such as skin cancer and microbial skin infections. Therefore, novel treatment agents with the ability to scavenge or generate radicals can potentially be meaningful in the treatment of various skin diseases, especially for those diseases that have limited effective treatment options. This viewpoint essay will discuss the potential of fullerene C60, i.e. buckminsterfullerene, derivatives as novel treatment agents in dermatology. Fullerene C60 is an all carbon molecule with a unique dual ability; fullerene C60 can act as a radical scavenger or as an oxygen radical generator. Hence, fullerene C60 derivatives offers most interesting prospects as a therapeutic protective or therapeutic toxic agent. Because of their extraordinary physicochemical properties and numerous chemical functionalization possibilities, chemists can design derivatives with a wide scope of unique properties. The experimental data, mostly from in vitro and in vivo animal studies, on the safety and therapeutic potential of fullerene C60 derivatives, in the field of dermatology will be discussed.
Framework for Best Practices in Family Life Education: A Case Example
Authors: Ballard Sharon M. , Tyndall Lisa E. , Baugh Eboni J. , Bumgarner Bergeson Carrie , Littlewood Kerry
Published: August 2016

Evidence‐based programming (EBP) in family life education is in high demand because it has a higher likelihood of achieving desired outcomes than non‐evidence‐based programming. Although EBP can promote program sustainability and fidelity, the implementation of EBP in real‐world settings can be challenging. Practitioners sometimes struggle with identifying the best way to adapt EBP to fit their needs. In this article, the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) is used to provide an in‐depth case example of adapting and implementing EBP through the lens of Ballard and Taylor's (2012) Framework for Best Practices in Family Life Education. The authors outline framework elements that guided this adaptation, such as consideration of context and culture, program content and format, program design, and the role of the family life educator. Suggestions are provided for employing this framework to overcome barriers to implementation and ultimately increase program sustainability to improve the lives of families.
Tall stature in coronary heart disease patients is associated with decreased risk of frailty in late life
Authors: Lutski Miriam , Tanne David , Goldbourt Uri
Published: August 2016

Aim

We investigated the possible inverse association between tall stature and subsequent late‐life frailty.

Methods

A subset of surviving men with coronary heart disease (n= 1232; mean age at baseline 57.0 ± 6.0 years), who previously participated in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention clinical trial (1990–1997) were reassessed during 2004–2008 (T1;n= 558) and 2011–2013 (T2;n= 351) at the mean ages of 72.6 ± 6.4 years and 77.2 ± 6.4 years, respectively. Frailty status was measured at T2 according to the physical phenotype developed by Fried, and was categorized into non‐frail, prefrail and frail. We estimated the odds ratios of increasing frailty by tertiles of height at baseline.

Results

Among 351 patients, 117 (33.3%) were classified as non‐frail, 134 (38.2%) as prefrail and 100 (28.5%) as frail. Frailty was found among 21% of participants at the highest tertile, 33% at the middle tertile and 46% at the lowest tertile for height (Pfor trend = 0.002). Adjusting for age, weight, place of birth, education, blood pressure, New York Heart Association classification functional class and comorbidity score, the estimated OR for increasing frailty for participants in the highest tertile was 0.32 (95% CI 0.17–0.59) and for those at the middle tertile 0.46 (95% CI 0.27–0.79), as compared with the lowest tertile. An increment of 1 SD of height was associated with a 38% (95% CI 18–53%) decrease in frailty odds.

Conclusion

Among men with coronary heart disease, tall stature was associated with lower adjusted odds of late‐life frailty.Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1270–1277.
Testimonial Injustice and Mindreading
Authors: Hyde Krista
Published: August 2016

Miranda Fricker maintains that testimonial responsibility is the proper corrective to testimonial injustice. She proposes a perceptual‐like “testimonial sensibility” to explain the transmission of knowledge through testimony. This sensibility is the means by which a hearer perceives an interlocutor's credibility level. When prejudice causes a hearer to inappropriately deflate the credibility attributed to a speaker, the sensibility may have functioned unreliably. Testimonial responsibility, she claims, will make the capacity reliable by reinflating credibility levels to their proper degree. I argue that testimonial sensitivity may be or involve “mindreading,” the cognitive capacity by which we predict human behavior and explain it in terms of mental states. Further, I claim that, if testimonial sensibility is or involves mindreading, and mindreading is a function of brain processes (as claimed by cognitive neuroscientists), testimonial injustice cannot be corrected by testimonial responsibility. This is because 1) it appears to rely on conscious awareness of prejudice, whereas much bias occurs implicitly, and 2) it works at the individual level, whereas testimonial injustice occurs both individually and socially. I argue that the remedy for testimonial injustice is, instead, engaging in social efforts that work below the level of consciousness.
Invariant effect of vision on taste across two Asian cultures: India and China
Authors: Liang Pei , Biswas Prabir , Vinnakota Sumanjani , Fu Lun , Chen Mengling , Quan Ying , Zhan Yuehua , Zhang Genhua , Roy Soumyajit
Published: August 2016

Culture may influence sensory perception and behavior. Earlier we have shown that circular shapes and semantic familiar words enhance sweetness sensitivity with the Chinese volunteers. Do these effects also affect people from other cultural background? How does culture actually affect cross‐modal sensory perception? Here, we performed similar experiments with the Indian volunteers and compared the effects of vision on taste between the two groups. The results show that similar as the Chinese group, the circular shapes and semantic familiar words enhance sweetness sensitivities of the Indian volunteers as well, although their average sweetness threshold is higher than that of the Chinese group.

Practical applications

These invariant effects may be explained by the hypothesis that the role of culture is associated with the previous experience that breeds familiarity of the stimulus in the subjects. It might be due to a combination of higher degrees of the hedonics and familiarity of the visual stimulus (circular shapes and semantic familiar words), that manifest in the subjects of both cultures, as enhanced sweetness sensitivities. This work may lead to a better understanding of consumer behavior across cultures, and may have benefits in consumer research to design internationally competitive labelling or packaging of the food and gain advantage in the FMCG‐market. It can help to resolve the ongoing controversy centered around cultural influence on the cross‐modal sensory perception (vision‐taste) in neurosciences.
‘You had me at “no capital gains tax on a disposal”’: legal and theoretical aspects of standalone image rights
Authors: McArdle David
Published: August 2016

This paper considers the provisions of the Guernsey image rights register, which came into being in 2012, alongside the image rights protections available in the EU Member States as revealed through a Commission-funded survey into the image rights of athletes. While it suggests several reasons for the limited popularity of the register and notes that the applicable regimes depend on whether violations are by third parties or by those with whom the performer is currently within a contractual relationship, it highlights the Guernsey scheme's potential benefits to performers, particularly in the field of tax planning, and makes suggestions as to how its relevance to them might be enhanced in the light of the Commission survey data and the applicable UK tax regime. By drawing on literature from masculinity and African-American studies especially, the paper also offers suggestions as to why performer endorsement is potentially so lucrative; but it also highlights some of the industry's negative effects and suggests that, while there is not a particular ‘problem’ of image rights violations within the Member States, discussions about the benefits of standalone image rights need to be informed by an awareness of these wider issues.
Remaining in a situationally aggressive relationship: The role of relationship self‐efficacy
Authors: BAKER LEVI R. , COBB REBECCA A. , MCNULTY JAMES K. , LAMBERT NATHANIEL M. , FINCHAM FRANK D.
Published: August 2016

Relationship self‐efficacy (RSE) is the belief that one can resolve relationship conflicts, and it may lead victims of situational violence to remain in their relationships because they expect to minimize subsequent violence. Indeed, a longitudinal study of two samples of college students demonstrated that RSE moderates the effects of victimization on relationship dissolution; intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization was positively associated with dissolution among intimates low in RSE but was unassociated with dissolution among intimates high in RSE. Interestingly, although RSE was negatively associated with dissolution among victims, it was associated with experiencing less subsequent IPV in one sample. Ultimately, whether victims' RSE is adaptive may depend on the extent to which any minimization of conflicts eliminates violence.
Testing the effect of text messaging cues to promote physical activity habits: a worksite‐based exploratory intervention
Authors: Fournier M. , d'Arripe‐Longueville F. , Radel R.
Published: August 2016

This study aims to test the efficacy of text messaging cues (SMS) to promote physical activity (PA) habit formation in the workplace. Employees (N = 49; 28 females and 21 males, Mage = 47.5 ± 8.29 years) were randomized into two parallel groups: a PA group enrolled in a 28‐week supervised PA program and a PA+SMS group enrolled in the same PA program with text messaging cues received before their PA sessions. The exercise habit was assessed every week from self‐reports on an online application. PA maintenance and several physical fitness measures were also assessed prior to and after the intervention to evaluate its general impact. Mixed model analysis of the 603 observations indicated a small but significant effect of the SMS cues on the speed at which participants engaged in PA behaviors, as the significant interaction effect revealed that the slope of the exercise habit over time was slightly steeper in the PA+SMS group (B = 0.0462, P = 0.0001) than in the PA group (B = 0.0216, P = 0.01). SMS delivery had a marginal effect on the maintenance of PA behaviors 1 year after the intervention. The results suggest that text messaging can help to form PA habits at the workplace and might facilitate long‐term maintenance of PA behaviors.
Nitrous oxide emission from a transplanted rice field in alluvial soil as influenced by management of nitrogen fertiliser
Authors: Bordoloi N. , Baruah K. K. , Maji T. K.
Published: August 2016

We investigated nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from an irrigated rice field over two years to evaluate the management of nitrogenous fertiliser and its effect on reducing emissions. Four forms of nitrogenous fertilisers:NPKat the recommended application rate, starch–urea matrix (SUM) + PK, neem‐coated urea + PKand urea alone (urea without coating) were used. Gas samples were collected from the field at weekly intervals with the static chamber technique. N2O emissions from different treatments ranged from 11.58 to 215.81 N2O‐N μg/m2/h, and seasonal N2O emissions from 2.83 to 3.89 kg N2O‐N/ha. Compared with other fertilisers, N2O emissions were greatest after the application of the conventionalNPKfertiliser. Moreover,SUM + PKreduced total N2O emissions by 22.33% (P < 0.05) compared withNPKduring the rice‐growing period (P < 0.05). The results indicate a strong correlation between N2O emissions and soil organic carbon, nitrate, ammonium, above‐ and below‐ground plant biomass and photosynthesis (P < 0.05). The application ofSUM + PKin rice fields is suitable as a means of reducing N2O emissions without affecting grain production.
Genome editing of model oleaginous microalgae Nannochloropsis spp. by CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Wang Qintao , Lu Yandu , Xin Yi , Wei Li , Huang Shi , Xu Jian
Published: August 2016

Microalgae are promising feedstock for biofuels yet mechanistic probing of their cellular network and industrial strain development have been hindered by lack of genome‐editing tools. Nannochloropsis spp. are emerging model microalgae for scalable oil production and carbon sequestration. Here we established a CRISPR/Cas9‐based precise genome‐editing approach for the industrial oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica, using nitrate reductase (NR; g7988) as example. A new screening procedure that compares between restriction enzyme‐digested nested PCR (nPCR) products derived from enzyme‐digested and not‐digested genomic DNA of transformant pools was developed to quickly, yet reliably, detect genome‐engineered mutants. Deep sequencing of nPCR products directly amplified from pooled genomic DNA revealed over an 1% proportion of 5‐bp deletion mutants and a lower frequency of 12‐bp deletion mutants, with both types of editing precisely located at the targeted site. The isolated mutants, in which precise deletion of five bases caused a frameshift in NR translation, grow normally under NH4Cl but fail to grow under NaNO3, and thus represent a valuable chassis strain for transgenic‐strain development. This demonstration of CRISPR/Cas9‐based genome editing in industrial microalgae opens many doors for microalgae‐based biotechnological applications.
Retrospective evaluation of the use of glucagon infusion as adjunctive therapy for hypoglycemia in dogs: 9 cases (2005–2014)
Authors: Datte Kristen , Guillaumin Julien , Barrett Susan , Monnig Andrea , Cooper Edward
Published: August 2016

Objective

To describe the use of glucagon infusion for adjunctive treatment of hypoglycemia in dogs.

Design

Multicenter retrospective case series.

Setting

One university and 1 private veterinary referral hospital.

Animals

Dogs were included if they were hospitalized and received glucagon therapy for hypoglycemia, defined as blood glucose concentration (BG) <60 mg/dL. A total of 9 dogs were included from September 2005 to May 2014.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

The medical record for each eligible case was reviewed. Data recorded included signalment, presenting complaint, underlying disease process, presenting BG, BG after dextrose supplementation, BG before glucagon administration, maximum BG while receiving glucagon, and BG after discontinuation of glucagon, if available. Adverse reactions to glucagon and outcome of case were recorded if available. The most common causative disease was insulinoma (n= 7). Median serum glucose concentration on presentation was 30 mg/dL (20–41 mg/dL). The median bolus of glucagon was 50 ng/kg followed by a median maximum dose of a glucagon CRI of 15 ng/kg/min. The mean time period on glucagon CRI until normoglycemia (defined as BG > 60 mg/dL) was 7 hours. All hypoglycemic patients had improvement of BGs when glucagon was added. Statistically significant differences (P< 0.05) were found between BG measurements on glucagon CRI compared to BG at presentation, BG after dextrose, and BG prior to glucagon with a Friedman statistic of 17.3. A CRI was found to effectively increase the BG without recurrence of hypoglycemia after weaning. The majority of patients (5/9) survived to discharge.

Conclusion

Glucagon CRI was accompanied by an increase in BG in hypoglycemic dogs. Glucagon CRI appears to be a safe method and can be readily utilized in most practice settings.
Measuring Cost of Living for Ordinary Residents in Cities: A New Index
Authors: Giap Tan Khee , Duong Luu Nguyen Trieu
Published: August 2016

Cost of living is an important indicator to track and monitor basic living standards for cities. There is no reliable and consistent index available in the literature for comparing the cost of living across different major cities to guide policy analysis. Commercial cost of living surveys, while very useful in facilitating compensation decisions for expatriate managers, are inadequate as they do not account for differences in consumption patterns among cities and also do not consider differences in lifestyles between ordinary residents and expatriates across cities. In this context, this paper makes a pioneering attempt in the literature to come up with a comprehensive way to measure the cost of living for ordinary residents of 103 cities in the world. One of the features of the paper’s empirical methodology is that it makes a distinction between the cost of living for expatriates and ordinary residents. We focus on the results pertaining to ordinary residents in this paper.
Biological Movement and Laws of Physics
Authors: Latash Mark L.
Published: August 2016

Living systems may be defined as systems able to organize new, biology-specific, laws of physics and modify their parameters for specific tasks. Examples include the force-length muscle dependence mediated by the stretch reflex, and the control of movements with modification of the spatial referent coordinates for salient performance variables. Low-dimensional sets of referent coordinates at a task level are transformed to higher-dimensional sets at lower hierarchical levels in a way that ensures stability of performance. Stability of actions can be controlled independently of the actions (e.g., anticipatory synergy adjustments). Unintentional actions reflect relaxation processes leading to drifts of corresponding referent coordinates in the absence of changes in external load. Implications of this general framework for movement disorders, motor development, motor skill acquisition, and even philosophy are discussed.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacteriophage Smudge
Authors: Cornell Jessica L. , Breslin Eileen , Schuhmacher Zachary , Himelright Madison , Berluti Cassandra , Boyd Charles , Carson Rachel , Del Gallo Elle , Giessler Caris , Gilliam Benjamin , Heatherly Catherine , Nevin Julius , Nguyen Bryan , Nguyen Justin , Parada Jocelyn , Sutterfield Blake , Tukruni Muruj , Temple Louise
Published: August 2016

Smudge, a bacteriophage enriched from soil using
Bacillus thuringiensis
DSM-350 as the host, had its complete genome sequenced. Smudge is a myovirus with a genome consisting of 292 genes and was identified as belonging to the C1 cluster of
Bacillus
phages.
Reporting accelerometer methods in physical activity intervention studies: a systematic review and recommendations for authors
Authors: Montoye Alexander H K , Moore Rebecca W , Bowles Heather R , Korycinski Robert , Pfeiffer Karin A
Published: August 2016

Objective

This systematic review assessed the completeness of accelerometer reporting in physical activity (PA) intervention studies and assessed factors related to accelerometer reporting.

Design

The PubMed database was used to identify manuscripts for inclusion. Included studies were PA interventions that used accelerometers, were written in English and were conducted between 1 January 1998 and 31 July 2014. 195 manuscripts from PA interventions that used accelerometers to measure PA were included. Manuscript completeness was scored using 12 questions focused on 3 accelerometer reporting areas: accelerometer information, data processing and interpretation and protocol non-compliance. Variables, including publication year, journal focus and impact factor, and population studied were evaluated to assess trends in reporting completeness.

Results

The number of manuscripts using accelerometers to assess PA in interventions increased from 1 in 2002 to 29 in the first 7 months of 2014. Accelerometer reporting completeness correlated weakly with publication year (r=0.24, p<0.001). Correlations were greater when we assessed improvements over time in reporting data processing in manuscripts published in PA-focused journals (r=0.43, p=0.002) compared to manuscripts published in non-PA-focused journals (r=0.19, p=0.021). Only 7 of 195 (4%) manuscripts reported all components of accelerometer use, and only 132 (68%) reported more than half of the components.

Conclusions

Accelerometer reporting of PA in intervention studies has been poor and improved only minimally over time. We provide recommendations to improve accelerometer reporting and include a template to standardise reports.
Exploring academics' views on designs, methods, characteristics and outcomes of inclusive health research with people with intellectual disabilities: a modified Delphi study
Authors: Frankena T K , Naaldenberg J , Cardol M , Meijering J V , Leusink G , van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk H M J
Published: August 2016

Background

TheBritish Medical Journal's (BMJ's) patient revolution strives for collaboration with patients in healthcare and health research. This paper studies collaboration with people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in health research, also known as inclusive health research. Currently, transparency and agreement among academics is lacking regarding its main aspects, preventing upscaling of the patient revolution.

Objective

This study aims to gain agreement among academics on 3 aspects of inclusive health research for people with ID: (1) designs and methods, (2) most important characteristics and (3) outcomes.

Design

A Delphi study was conducted with academics with experience in inclusive (health) research and on people with ID. The study consisted of 2 sequential questionnaire rounds (n=24; n=17), followed by in-depth interviews (n=10).

Results

Academics agreed on (1) a collaborative approach to be most suitable to inclusive health research, (2) characteristics regarding the accessibility and facilitation of inclusive health research, and (3) several outcomes of inclusive health research for people with ID and healthcare. Other characteristics agreed on included: atmosphere, relationship, engagement, partnership and power. It was stressed that these characteristics ensure meaningful inclusion. Interviewed academics voiced the need for a tool supporting the facilitation and evaluation of inclusive health research. There was ambiguity as to what this tool should comprise and the extent to which it was possible to capture the complex process of inclusive health research.

Discussion and conclusions

This study underlines the need for transparency, facilitation and evaluation of inclusive health research. The need for in-depth interviews after 2 Delphi rounds underlines its complexity and context dependence. To increase process transparency, future research should focus on gaining insight into inclusive health research in its context. A tool could be developed to facilitate and evaluate inclusive health research. This tool will be partially applicable to participatory research in general and thereby upscale the patient revolution.
The influence of microbial-based inoculants on N2O emissions from soil planted with corn (Zea maysL.) under greenhouse conditions with different nitrogen fertilizer regimens
Authors: Calvo Pamela , Watts Dexter B. , Kloepper Joseph W. , Torbert H. Allen
Published: August 2016

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are increasing at an unprecedented rate owing to the increased use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Thus, new innovative management tools are needed to reduce emissions. One potential approach is the use of microbial inoculants in agricultural production. In a previous incubation study, we observed reductions in N2O emissions when microbial-based inoculants were added to soil (no plants present) with N fertilizers under laboratory incubations. This present study evaluated the effects of microbial-based inoculants on N2O and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when applied to soil planted with corn (Zea mays L.) under controlled greenhouse conditions. Inoculant treatments consisted of (i) SoilBuilder (SB), (ii) a metabolite extract of SoilBuilder (SBF), and (iii) a mixture of 4 strains of plant-growth-promoting Bacillus spp. (BM). Experiments included an unfertilized control and 3 N fertilizers: urea, urea – ammonium nitrate with 32% N (UAN-32), and calcium – ammonium nitrate with 17% N (CAN-17). Cumulative N2O fluxes from pots 41 days after planting showed significant reductions in N2O of 15% (SB), 41% (BM), and 28% (SBF) with CAN-17 fertilizer. When UAN-32 was used, reductions of 34% (SB), 35% (SBF), and 49% (BM) were obtained. However, no reductions in N2O emissions occurred with urea. Microbial-based inoculants did not affect total CO2emissions from any of the fertilized treatments or the unfertilized control. N uptake was increased by an average of 56% with microbial inoculants compared with the control (nonmicrobial-based treatments). Significant increases in plant height, SPAD chlorophyll readings, and fresh and dry shoot mass were also observed when the microbial-based treatments were applied (with and without N). Overall, results demonstrate that microbial inoculants can reduce N2O emissions following fertilizer application depending on the N fertilizer type used and can enhance N uptake and plant growth. Future studies are planned to evaluate the effectiveness of these microbial inoculants in field-based trials and determine the mechanisms involved in N2O reduction.
The properties of Tonks–Girardeau gas at finite temperature and comparison with spin-polarized fermions
Authors: Hao Yajiang , Song Yafei , Fu Xiaochen
Published: August 2016

In the present paper, we investigate the Tonks–Girardeau (TG) gas confined in a harmonic trap at finite temperature with thermal Bose–Fermi mapping method. The pair distribution, density distribution, reduced one-body density matrix (ROBDM), the first-order correlation function, the occupations number of natural orbitals and momentum distribution are evaluated. In the whole temperature regime, the pair distribution and density distribution exhibit the same properties as those of spin-polarized fermions because both of them depend on the modulus of wavefunction rather than wavefunction. While the ROBDM, the first-order correlation function, the natural orbital occupation, momentum distribution, which depend on wavefunction, of Tonks gas displays Bose properties different from spin-polarized fermions at low temperature. At high temperature we cannot distinguish Tonks gas from the spin-polarized Fermi gas qualitatively by all properties.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Human Exocrine Pancreas Spontaneously Express Pancreas Progenitor‐Cell Markers in a Cell‐Passage‐Dependent Manner
Authors: Lee Song , Jeong Seonghee , Lee Chanmi , Oh Jooyun , Kim Song-Cheol
Published: August 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and most connective tissues have been recognized as promising sources for cell‐based therapies. MSCs have also been detected in human pancreatic tissue, including endocrine and exocrine cells. These adult human pancreas‐derived MSCs have generated a great deal of interest owing to their potential use in the differentiation of insulin‐producing cells for diabetes treatment. In the present study, we isolated MSCs from the adult human exocrine pancreas to determine whether isolated MSCs have the potential to differentiate into pancreatic endocrine cells and, therefore, whether they can be used in stem cell‐based therapies. Pancreatic tissue was digested by collagenase and an enriched exocrine‐cell fraction was obtained by density‐gradient separation. Crude exocrine cells were methodically cultured in suspension and then in adherent culture. We expanded the human pancreatic exocrine‐derived MSCs (hpMSCs) by cell passaging in culture and confirmed by flow cytometry that >90% expressed human classic surface markers of MSCs. Interestingly, these cells expressed pancreatic transcription factors, such as Pdx1, Ngn3, and MafA, similar to pancreatic progenitor cells. These results indicated that hpMSCs can be used for the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells and may be used in type 1 diabetes treatment.
Performance Analysis of a Magnetorheological Damper with Energy Harvesting Ability
Authors: Hu Guoliang , Lu Yun , Sun Shuaishuai , Li Weihua
Published: August 2016

A magnetorheological (MR) damper with energy harvesting ability was proposed based on electromagnetic induction (EMI) principle. The energy harvesting part was composed of a permanent magnet array and inducing coils which move vertically. This device could act as a linear power generator when the external excitation was applied, and the kinetic energy could be converted into electrical energy due to the relative linear motion between the magnets array and the inducing coils. Finite element models of both the MR damper part and the linear power generator part were built up separately to address the magnetic flux distributions, the magnetic flux densities, and the power generating efficiency using ANSYS software. The experimental tests were carried out to evaluate the damping performance and power generating efficiency. The results show that the proposed MR damper can produce approximately 750 N damping forces at the current of 0.6 A, and the energy harvesting device can generate about 1.0 V DC voltage at 0.06 m·s−1excitation.
Detection of Soluble ED-A+Fibronectin and Evaluation as Novel Serum Biomarker for Cardiac Tissue Remodeling
Authors: Ziffels Barbara , Ospel Johanna , Grün Katja , Neri Dario , Pfeil Alexander , Fritzenwanger Michael , Figulla Hans R. , Jung Christian , Berndt Alexander , Franz Marcus
Published: August 2016

Background and Aims. Fibronectin containing the extra domain A (ED-A+Fn) was proven to serve as a valuable biomarker for cardiac remodeling. The study was aimed at establishing an ELISA to determine ED-A+Fn in serum of heart failure patients.Methods. ED-A+Fn was quantified in serum samples from 114 heart failure patients due to ischemic (ICM,n=44) and dilated (DCM,n=39) cardiomyopathy as well as hypertensive heart disease (HHD,n=31) compared to healthy controls (n=12).Results. In comparison to healthy volunteers, heart failure patients showed significantly increased levels of ED-A+Fn (p<0.001). In particular in ICM patients there were significant associations between ED-A+Fn serum levels and clinical parameters, for example, increased levels with rising NYHA class (p=0.013), a negative correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.026,r: −0.353), a positive correlation with left atrial diameter (p=0.008,r: 0.431), and a strong positive correlation with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (p=0.002,r: 0.485). In multivariate analysis, ED-A+Fn was identified as an independent predictor of an ischemic heart failure etiology.Conclusions. The current study could clearly show that ED-A+Fn is a promising biomarker in cardiovascular diseases, especially in heart failure patients due to an ICM. We presented a valid ELISA method, which could be applied for further studies investigating the value of ED-A+Fn.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Genes Encoding Methionine-Rich Proteins inArabidopsisand Soybean Suggesting Their Roles in the Adaptation of Plants to Abiotic Stress
Authors: Chu Ha Duc , Le Quynh Ngoc , Nguyen Huy Quang , Le Dung Tien
Published: August 2016

Oxidation and reduction of methionine (Met) play important roles in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and signaling in living organisms. To understand the impacts of Met oxidation and reduction in plants during stress, we surveyed the genomes ofArabidopsisand soybean (Glycine maxL.) for genes encoding Met-rich proteins (MRPs). We found 121 and 213 genes encoding MRPs inArabidopsisand soybean, respectively. Gene annotation indicated that those with known function are involved in vital cellular processes such as transcriptional control, calcium signaling, protein modification, and metal transport. Next, we analyzed the transcript levels of MRP-coding genes under normal and stress conditions. We found that 57 AtMRPs were responsive either to drought or to high salinity stress inArabidopsis; 35 GmMRPs were responsive to drought in the leaf of late vegetative or early reproductive stages of soybean. Among the MRP genes with a known function, the majority of the abiotic stress-responsive genes are involved in transcription control and calcium signaling. Finally,Arabidopsisplant which overexpressed an MRP-coding gene, whose transcripts were downregulated by abiotic stress, was more sensitive to paraquat than the control. Taken together, our report indicates that MRPs participate in various vital processes of plants under normal and stress conditions.
Effects of Essential Newborn Care Training on Fresh Stillbirths and Early Neonatal Deaths by Maternal Education
Authors: Chomba Elwyn , Carlo Wally A. , Goudar Shivaprasad S. , Jehan Imtiaz , Tshefu Antoinette , Garces Ana , Parida Sailajandan , Althabe Fernando , McClure Elizabeth M. , Derman Richard J. , Goldenberg Robert L. , Bose Carl , Krebs Nancy F. , Panigrahi Pinaki , Buekens Pierre , Wallace Dennis , Moore Janet , Koso-Thomas Marion , Wright Linda L. ,   First Breath Study Group
Published: August 2016

Background: Infants of women with lower education levels are at higher risk for perinatal mortality. Objectives: We explored the impact of training birth attendants and pregnant women in the Essential Newborn Care (ENC) Program on fresh stillbirths (FSBs) and early (7-day) neonatal deaths (END) by maternal education level in developing countries. Methods: A train-the-trainer model was used with local instructors in rural communities in six countries (Argentina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India, Pakistan, and Zambia). Data were collected using a pre-/post-active baseline controlled study design. Results: A total of 57,643 infants/mothers were enrolled. The follow-up rate at 7 days of age was 99.2%. The risk for FSB and END was higher for mothers with 0-7 years of education than for those with ≥8 years of education during both the pre- and post-ENC periods in unadjusted models and in models adjusted for confounding. The effect of ENC differed as a function of maternal education for FSB (interaction p = 0.041) without evidence that the effect of ENC differed as a function of maternal education for END. The model-based estimate of FSB risk was reduced among mothers with 0-7 years of education (19.7/1,000 live births pre-ENC, CI: 16.3, 23.0 vs. 12.2/1,000 live births post-ENC, CI: 16.3, 23.0, p < 0.001), but was not significantly different for mothers with ≥8 years of education, respectively. Conclusion: A low level of maternal education was associated with higher risk for FSB and END. ENC training was more effective in reducing FSB among mothers with low education levels.
Epidemiology and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Hillemanns Peter , Soergel Phillip , Hertel Hermann , Jentschke Matthias
Published: August 2016

The new German S3 guideline ‘Prevention of Cervical Cancer' published in 2016 is based on the latest available evidence about cervical cancer screening and treatment of cervical precancer. Large randomized controlled trials indicate that human papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening may provide better protection against cervical cancer than cytology alone through improved detection of premalignant disease in the first screening round prior to progression. Therefore, women aged 30 years and older should preferably be screened with HPV testing every 3-5 years (cytology alone every 2 years is an acceptable alternative). Co-testing is not recommended. Screening should start at 25 years using cytology alone every 2 years. The preferred triage test after a positive HPV screening test is cytology. Women positive for HPV 16 and HPV 18 should receive immediate colposcopy. Another alternative triage method is p16/Ki-67 dual stain cytology. The mean yearly participation rate in Germany is between 45 and 50%. Offering devices for HPV self-sampling has the potential to increase participation rates in those women who are at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Regarding primary prevention, the 9-valent vaccine may provide protection against up to 85% of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 and 90% of cervical cancer, and is available in Europe as a 2-dose schedule from May 2016.
Editorial do número especial sobre Direito e Desigualdades
Authors: Severi Fabiana Cristina , Marrara Thiago , Antonietto André Luis Gomes , Catoia Cinthia , Maito Deíse , Kahwage Tharuell
Published: August 2016

Editorial
Plasticity in the physiological energetics of Apodemus chevrieri: the role of dietary fiber content
Authors: Gao Wen-rong , Wang Zheng-kun , Zhu Wan-long
Published: August 2016

Small mammals are usually adapted to cope with changes in food quality and availability. In order to investigate the adaptive strategy of small rodents responding to varying dietary fiber content, in the present study,Apodemus chevrieriindividuals were acclimated to a high-fiber diet for four weeks and then a relatively low-fiber diet for another four weeks. The results show that body mass was relatively stable over the course of acclimation, but dry matter intake, gross energy intake and the mass of the digestive tract increased significantly and digestibility decreased significantly in high-fiber diet mice, while the digestible energy intake was similar for both high-fiber and low-fiber diet mice except for the first week. High-fiber/low-fiber diet mice showed only a significant lower basal metabolic rate and nonshivering thermogenesis compared to low-fiber diet mice on day R1. The high-fiber diet induced a decrease in serum leptin levels and brown adipose tissue mass associated with a reduction in the cytochromecoxidase activity and uncoupling protein 1 content of brown adipose tissue. Body mass, thermogenic capacity, energy intake, serum leptin levels and digestive tract morphology returned to the control levels after 4 weeks of refeeding low-fiber diet. Further, serum leptin levels were positively related to body fat mass and negatively related to food intake. These data indicated that body mass, energy intake, serum leptin levels and organ morphological plasticity were the main strategies by whichA. chevriericopes with variations in dietary fiber content.
Effects of accelerator type on stress relaxation behavior and network structure of aged natural rubber/chloroprene rubber vulcanizates
Authors: Nobari Azar Farzad A , Şen Murat
Published: August 2016

Natural rubber/chloroprene rubber (NR/CR) blends are among the commonly used rubber blends in industry and continuously are exposed to severe weather changes. To investigate the effects of accelerator type on the network structure and stress relaxation of unaged and aged NR/CE vulcanizates, tetramethyl thiuram disulfide, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and diphenyl guanidine accelerators have been chosen to represent fast, moderate, and slow accelerator groups, respectively. Three batches have been prepared with exactly the same components and mixing conditions differing only in accelerator type. Temperatures scanning stress relaxation and pulse nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have been used to reveal the structural changes of differently accelerated rubber blends before and after weathering. Nonoxidative thermal decomposition analyses have been carried out using a thermogravimetric analyzer. Results indicate that there is a strong interdependence between accelerator type and stress relaxation behavior, network structure, cross-linking density, and aging behavior of the blends. Accelerator type also affects decomposition energy of the blends.
Do European citizens support the idea of a European welfare state? Evidence from a comparative survey conducted in three EU member states
Authors: Gerhards Jürgen , Lengfeld Holger , Häuberer Julia
Published: August 2016

Some scholars have argued that the only way to resolve the Euro crisis would be to further deepen the integration process by institutionalising a European welfare state. This article examines whether a Europeanised welfare system would be supported by citizens of three member states of the EU. The authors argue that the legitimacy of a harmonisation of national welfare regimes would be established if a majority of citizens supported a Europeanised social policy. Using survey data from Germany, Poland and Spain, descriptive findings show that indeed a majority supports the idea of Europeanisation of social policy. Further, multivariate analyses show that those respondents who reject Europeanisation of social policy cannot be characterised to any significant extent in terms of socio-economic factors, and are only slightly more likely to be associated with cultural factors. The cleavages that structure people’s attitudes are thus relatively weak. The authors conclude that the potential for political mobilisation against Europeanisation of social policy in the three countries under investigation is rather low.
Preparation and characterization of hemoglobin–silver composites as biocompatible antiseptics
Authors: Li Peiyuan , Tong Zhangfa , Jia Zhiruo , Su Wei
Published: August 2016

Microbial contamination has been a major challenge in a wide variety of fields such as biomedical and biomaterial applications. The development of biomaterials that possess excellent antibacterial ability and biocompatibility is of great importance to enhance the service life of biomaterials. In this study, the main protein component of red blood cells, hemoglobin (Hb), was employed to prepare Ag–Hb nanocomposites as novel biocompatible antiseptics. The formation of Ag–Hb nanocomposites on the titanium substrate are confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic, contact angles, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry analysis. The Ag–Hb titanium shows potent antibacterial ability against planktonic bacteria in the suspension and ability to prevent bacterial adhesion. Moreover, the Ag–Hb titanium shows excellent biocompatibility, which supports healthy osteoblast cellular activity and osteoblast differentiation. The results indicate that the Ag–Hb nanocomposites can be potentially useful for the fabrication of biomaterials for long-term applications.
A need for comprehensive career guidelines in Korean higher education: The practice among two faculties
Authors: Drolet Claude , Anderson Chad
Published: August 2016

The changing nature of South Korean higher education is shifting from generalized education in the direction of more specific preparation for finding a job. The Korean government has developed policies to advance more of a career orientation while universities have moved to respond to demands by industry with new requirements (mandatory Test of English in Communication score) and certifications (Accreditation Board for Engineering Education in Korea) and to the needs of students with new career and job placement centers and initiatives. However, there are no comprehensive national guidelines for career education, so the question remains as to what extent a career orientation has been infused in Korean higher education. This study uses a set of career development guidelines to determine the extent that career concerns are being addressed. Faculty interviews were conducted, at two departments using English for instruction at two different universities, to determine their awareness of and attention to the issues raised by the guidelines. The results suggest some ad hoc attempts to address the career development but that a more systematic emphasis is needed.