bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fundamental Investigations Regarding Barrier Properties of Grafted PVOH Layers
Authors: Schmid Markus , Benz Andreas , Stinga Camelia , Samain Daniel , Zeyer Klaus Peter
Published: November 2012

The current work focuses on fundamental investigations regarding the barrier properties of grafted PVOH layers produced by the Transfer Method. The layers (or papers) used for the different experiments were produced and grafted during the course of this work. Papers with different types of PVOH (different Mowiol types) were produced by coating. Experiments using different parameters (temperature, reaction duration, and concentration) were performed using the Transfer Method. Contact angle measurements and Cobb60measurements were carried out on the grafted and untreated PVOH layers. Furthermore, the water vapour transmission rate of the PVOH layers was determined. The results of this work showed that the method of chromatogeny or chromatogenic chemistry improves the water vapour barrier properties of grafted PVOH layers enormously.
The Maximal Subspace for Generation of (a, k)‐Regularized Families
Authors: Alvarez-Pardo Edgardo , Lizama Carlos
Published: November 2012

Let A be a linear operator in a Banach space X. We define a subspace of X and a norm such that the part of A in such subspace generates an (a, k)‐regularized resolvent family. This space is maximal‐unique in a suitable sense and nontrivial, under certain conditions on the kernels a and k.
Prostatic Leiomyoma: A Case Report
Authors: Mellas Soufiane , Bouchikhi Ahmed Amine , Tazi Mohammed-Fadl , Khallouk Abdelhak , Elammari Jalal-Eddin , El Fassi Mohammed-Jamal , Farih Moulay Hassan
Published: November 2012

Prostatic enlargement due to benign adenomatous hyperplasia is very common in elderly males. However, benign mesenchymal tumors especially true leiomyoma of the prostate are rare. We describe a 68-year-old male presenting a urinary obstruction lasting more than two years. The patient was referred for an acute urinary retention. The clinical examination was normal. The perrectal examination revealed an enlarged prostate without abnormalities. An endoscopic resection was performed. The histopathological examination revealed a benign smooth muscle tumor with absence of glandular hyperplasia; the result was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Accordingly, the diagnosis of true leiomyoma of the prostate was made.
Chinese Patent Medicine Liu Wei Di Huang Wan Combined with Antihypertensive Drugs, a New Integrative Medicine Therapy, for the Treatment of Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Wang Jie , Yao Kuiwu , Yang Xiaochen , Liu Wei , Feng Bo , Ma Jizheng , Du Xinliang , Wang Pengqian , Xiong Xingjiang
Published: November 2012

Objectives. To assess the beneficial and adverse effects of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (LWDHW), combined with antihypertensive drugs, for essential hypertension.Methods. Five major electronic databases were searched up to August 2012 to retrieve any potential randomized controlled trials designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of LWDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs for essential hypertension reported in any language, with main outcome measures as blood pressure. The quality of the included studies was assessed with the Jadad scale and a customized standard quality assessment scale.Results. 6 randomized trials were included. The methodological quality of the trials was evaluated as generally low. The pooled results showed that LWDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs was more effective in blood pressure and the scale for TCM syndrome and symptom differentiation scores compared with antihypertensive drugs alone. Most of the trials did not report adverse events, and the safety is still uncertain.Conclusions. LWDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs appears to be effective in improving blood pressure and symptoms in patients with essential hypertension. However, the evidence remains weak due to the poor methodological quality of the included studies.
Combined Visibility and Surrounding Triangles Method for Simulation of Crack Discontinuities in Meshless Methods
Authors: Pirali H. , Djavanroodi F. , Haghpanahi M.
Published: November 2012

In this paper a combined node searching algorithm for simulation of crack discontinuities in meshless methods called combined visibility and surrounding triangles (CVT) is proposed. The element free Galerkin (EFG) method is employed for stress analysis of cracked bodies. The proposed node searching algorithm is based on the combination of surrounding triangles and visibility methods; the surrounding triangles method is used for support domains of nodes and quadrature points generated at the vicinity of crack faces and the visibility method is used for points located on the crack faces. In comparison with the conventional methods, such as the visibility, the transparency, and the diffraction method, this method is simpler with reasonable efficiency. To show the performance of this method, linear elastic fracture mechanics analyses are performed on number of standard test specimens and stress intensity factors are calculated. It is shown that the results are in good agreement with the exact solution and with those generated by the finite element method (FEM).
Warped Product Submanifolds of Riemannian Product Manifolds
Authors: Al-Solamy Falleh R. , Khan Meraj Ali
Published: November 2012

We study warped product of the type Nθ×fNT and Nθ×fN⊥, where Nθ, NT, and N⊥ are proper slant, invariant, and anti‐invariant submanifolds,
respectively, and we prove some basic results and finally obtain
some inequalities for squared norm of second fundamental form.
Antioxidant Stress and Anti-Inflammation of PPARαon Warm Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Gao Zhixin , Li Yuan-Hai
Published: November 2012

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a serious clinical problem. Minimizing the adverse effect of ischemia-reperfusion injury after liver surgery or trauma is an urgent need. It has been proved that besides the effect of regulating the lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, PPARαalso undertakes the task of organ protection. In this paper, related literature has been summarized and we come to the conclusion that administration of PPARαagonists can strengthen the antioxidant and anti-inflammation defense system by the upregulation of the expression of antioxidant enzymes and inhibition of NF-κB activity. This may provide a potential clinical treatment for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Efficient Visible Light Photocatalytic Oxidation of NO on F‐ and N‐Codoped Spherical TiO2 Synthesized via Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Huang Jianhui , Cheuk Wahkit , Wu Yifan , Lee Frank S. C. , Ho Wingkei
Published: November 2012

The fluorine‐ and nitrogen‐codoped TiO2 was synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method with titanium tetrafluoride and urea as precursor. The codoped TiO2 was characterized by X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Nitric oxide (NO) photocatalytic oxidation in gas‐phase medium was employed as a probe reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic reactivity of the catalysts. The results indicated that spherical codoped TiO2 photocatalysts with unique puckered surface were obtained by this method. The codoped catalysts have solely anatase crystalline structure. The optical characterization of the codoped catalysts showed that the codoped samples could be excited by visible light photons in the 400–550 nm and could efficiently oxidize NO under visible light irradiation. The mechanism of special morphology formation of prepared codoped TiO2 structure is also discussed.
High-Quality Growth of GaInNAs for Application to Near-Infrared Laser Diodes
Authors: Kondow Masahiko , Ishikawa Fumitaro
Published: November 2012

GaInNAs was proposed and created in 1995. It can be grown pseudomorphically on a GaAs substrate and is a light-emitting material with a bandgap energy that corresponds to near infrared. By combining GaInNAs with GaAs, an ideal band lineup for laser-diode application is achieved. This paper presents the reproducible growth of high-quality GaInNAs by molecular beam epitaxy. Examining the effect of nitrogen introduction and its correlation with impurity incorporation, we find that Al is unintentionally incorporated into the epitaxial layer even though the Al cell shutter is closed, followed by the concomitant incorporation of O and C. A gas-phase-scattering model can explain this phenomenon, suggesting that a large amount of N2 gas causes the scattering of residual Al atoms with occasional collisions resulting in the atoms being directed toward the substrate. Hence, the reduction of the sublimated Al beam during the growth period can suppress the incorporation of unintentional impurities, resulting in a highly pure epitaxial layer.
A Three-Dimensional Geometry-Based Statistical Model of2×2Dual-Polarized MIMO Mobile-to-Mobile Wideband Channels
Authors: Chen Jun , Pratt Thomas G.
Published: November 2012

A three-dimensional (3D) model for wide-band dual-polarized (DP) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) mobile-to-mobile (M2M) channels is proposed. Using geometrical scattering based on concentric spheres at the transmitter (Tx) and at the receiver (Rx), a 3D parametric reference model for2×2M2M DP multipath fading channels is developed. The channel model assumes the use of colocated half-wavelength dipole antennas for vertical and horizontal polarizations at both transmit and receive stations. Model parameters include the velocities of the Tx and Rx nodes, the distance between the nodes, the 3D antenna pattern gains, the azimuth and elevation angles of arrival and departure, the geometrical distribution of the scatterers, the Rician K-factors defining the fading envelope distributions, the maximum Doppler frequency, the scattering loss factors, the cross-polar power discrimination ratio (XPD), and the copolarization power ratio (CPR). Using the proposed model, expressions for joint time-frequency correlation functions (TFCFs) are derived which are used to investigate system behavior over different wide sense stationary uncorrelated scattering (WSSUS) channel realizations. The numerical results illustrate the sensitivities of the TFCF to simultaneous time and frequency offsets for the2×2DP-MIMO architectures.
Flavonoid Myricetin ModulatesGABAAReceptor Activity through Activation ofCa2+Channels and CaMK-II Pathway
Authors: Zhang Xiao Hu , Ma Ze Gang , Rowlands Dewi Kenneth , Gou Yu Lin , Fok Kin Lam , Wong Hau Yan , Yu Mei Kuen , Tsang Lai Ling , Mu Li , Chen Lei , Yung Wing Ho , Chung Yiu Wa , Zhang Bei Lin , Zhao Hua , Chan Hsiao Chang
Published: November 2012

The flavonoid myricetin is found in several sedative herbs, for example, the St. John's Wort, but its influence on sedation and its possible mechanism of action are unknown. Using patch-clamp technique on a brain slice preparation, the present study found that myricetin promoted GABAergic activity in the neurons of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) by increasing the decay time and frequency of the inhibitory currents mediated byGABAAreceptor. This effect of myricetin was not blocked by theGABAAreceptor benzodiazepine- (BZ-) binding site antagonist flumazenil, but by KN-62, a specific inhibitor of the Ca2+/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase II (CaMK-II). Patch clamp and live Ca2+imaging studies found that myricetin could increase Ca2+current and intracellular Ca2+concentration, respectively, via T- and L-type Ca2+channels in rat PVN neurons and hypothalamic primary culture neurons. Immunofluorescence staining showed increased phosphorylation of CaMK-II after myricetin incubation in primary culture of rat hypothalamic neurons, and the myricetin-induced CaMK-II phosphorylation was further confirmed by Western blotting in PC-12 cells. The present results suggest that myricetin enhancesGABAAreceptor activity via calcium channel/CaMK-II dependent mechanism, which is distinctively different from that of most existing BZ-binding site agonists ofGABAAreceptor.
Some Results on an Infinite Family of Nonexpansive Mappings and an Inverse‐Strongly Monotone Mapping in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Cheng Peng , Zhang Anshen
Published: November 2012

We study the problem of approximating a common element in the common fixed point set of an infinite family of nonexpansive mappings and in the solution set of a variational inequality involving an inverse‐strongly monotone mapping based on a viscosity approximation iterative method. Strong convergence theorems of common elements are established in the framework of Hilbert spaces.
Existence of Mild Solutions for a Class of Fractional Evolution Equations with Compact Analytic Semigroup
Authors: Yang He
Published: November 2012

This paper deals with the existence of mild solutions for a class of fractional evolution equations with compact analytic semigroup. We prove the existence of mild solutions, assuming that the nonlinear part satisfies some local growth conditions in fractional power spaces. An example is also given to illustrate the applicability of abstract results.
Fibrinolytic Activity and Platelet Function in Subjects with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and a Patent Foramen Ovale: Is There an Option for Prevention of Ischaemic Stroke?
Authors: Reggiani Monica , Karttunen Vesa , Wartiovaara-Kautto Ulla , Riutta Asko , Uchiyama Shinichiro , Hillbom Matti
Published: November 2012

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) carries an increased risk of ischaemic stroke, but the underlying mechanism is not clear. As right-to-left shunting can occur through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) during periods of apnoea, we investigated nocturnal changes in fibrinolytic activity and platelet function in subjects who had OSA with or without PFO and in controls. We determined plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity and antigen and platelet activation parameters. The severity of OSA was verified by polygraphy and PFO was detected by ear oximetry. We found a higher PAI-1 activity and antigen and a lower ratio of 2,3-dinor-PGF1αto 2,3-dinor-TXB2in the subjects with OSA than in the controls. Linear regression analysis showed the apnoea-hypopnoea index (β-coefficient, 0.499;P=0.032) and PFO (β-coefficient, 0.594;P=0.015) to be associated independently with PAI-1 activity in the morning, while the increment in PAI-1:Ag from evening to morning was significantly associated with the presence of PFO (rs=0.563,P=0.002). Both OSA and PFO reduce fibrinolytic activity during nocturnal sleep. We hypothesize that subjects having both OSA and PFO may develop a more severe prothrombotic state during sleep than those having either OSA or PFO alone.
Responding to Domestic Violence in General Practice: A Qualitative Study on Perceptions and Experiences
Authors: Yeung Howa , Chowdhury Nubaha , Malpass Alice , Feder Gene S.
Published: November 2012

The perceptions and experiences among general practitioners (GPs) and nurses in identifying female patients experiencing domestic violence and referring patients to specialist agencies need to be clarified. Eleven GPs and six nurses participating in a multidisciplinary domestic violence training and support programme in east London and Bristol were interviewed. All participants recognised that identification of women experiencing domestic violence and offering support were part of their clinical roles. Perceived differences between GPs and nurses, including time constraints, level of patient interaction, awareness of patients' social history, scope of clinical interview, and patient expectations were used to explain their levels of domestic violence inquiry. Barriers to inquiry included lack of time, experience, awareness of community resources, and availability of effective interventions postdisclosure. Longstanding relationships with patients were cited both as barrier and facilitator to domestic violence disclosure. Some nurses reported discomfort with direct inquiry due to the lack of clinical experience in responding to domestic violence despite satisfaction with training. Future domestic violence training programmes should take into account potential differences between GPs and nurses, in terms of their clinical roles and the unique barriers encountered, in order to improve self-efficacy and to facilitate collaborative and effective responses.
Purification and Characterization of a Thermostable Lipase fromGeobacillus thermodenitrificansIBRL-nra
Authors: Balan Anuradha , Ibrahim Darah , Abdul Rahim Rashidah , Ahmad Rashid Fatimah Azzahra
Published: November 2012

Thermostable lipase fromGeobacillus thermodenitrificansIBRL-nra was purified and characterized. The production of thermostable lipase fromGeobacillus thermodenitrificansIBRL-nra was carried out in a shake-flask system at 65°C in cultivation medium containing; glucose 1.0% (w/v); yeast extract 1.25% (w/v); NaCl 0.45% (w/v) olive oil 0.1% (v/v) with agitation of 200 rpm for 24 hours. The extracted extracellular crude thermostable lipase was purified to homogeneity by using ultrafiltration, Heparin-affinity chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 gel-filtration chromatography by 34 times with a final yield of 9%. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 30 kDa after SDS-PAGE analysis. The optimal temperature for thermostable lipase was 65°C and it retained its initial activity for 3 hours. Thermostable lipase activity was highest at pH 7.0 and stable for 16 hours at this pH at 65°C. Thermostable lipase showed elevated activity when pretreated with BaCl2, CaCl2, and KCl with 112%, 108%, and 106%, respectively. Lipase hydrolyzed tripalmitin (C16) and olive oil with optimal activity (100%) compared to other substrates.
Synthesis and Spectroscopic Studies of Axially Ligated Zn(II)5,10,15,20‐meso‐tetra(p‐chlorophenyl)porphyrin with Oxygen and Nitrogen Donors
Authors: Bajju Gauri D. , Kundan Sujata , Kapahi Ashu , Gupta Deepmala
Published: November 2012

Reaction of 5,10,15,20‐meso‐tetra(p‐chlorophenyl)porphyrin[H2(p‐Cl)pp] with zinc(II)acetate(Zn(OAc)2) and phenols results in the formation of corresponding axially ligated zinc(II)‐meso‐tetra(p‐chlorophenyl)porphyrin (X‐Zn‐t(p‐Cl)PP) (X = phenolates and pyridinates). The four‐coordinated zinc porphyrin accepts one axial ligand in 1 : 1 molar ratio to form five‐coordinated complex, which is purified by column chromatography and characterized by IR spectra, 1H NMR, electronic absorption spectra, elemental analysis, mass spectroscopy, and TGA/DTA studies. IR spectra confirms the appearance of Zn–NPor at 500–400 cm−1, Zn–NPy at 650–570 cm−1 and Zn–O at 650–350 cm−1. 1H NMR spectra show that the protons of the Phenolic ring axially attached to the central metal ion are merged with the protons of the tetraphenyl rings of the porphyrin moiety. Absorption spectra reveal that complexes are accompanied by blue shift (hypsochromic shift) for phenolates and red shift (bathchromic shift) for pyridinates in comparison with the basic ZnIIporphyrin emission bands. Mass Spectra determine the m/z ratio. The percentage of each element is confirmed by elemental analysis. According to the thermal studies, the complexes have a higher thermal stability and the decomposition temperature of these complexes depends on the axial ligation. The invitro antifungal activity of the complexes synthesized above had been done by disc diffusion method against the pathogen “Fusarium spp.,” which shows that with the increase in the concentration of the complexes, the colony diameter decreases and hence percent inhibition increases.
2,7-Dichlorofluorescein Hydrazide as a New Fluorescent Probe for Mercury Quantification: Application to Industrial Effluents and Polluted Water Samples
Authors: Kempahanumakkagari Sureshkumar , Malingappa Pandurangappa , Ambikapathi Gopi , Kuramkote Shivanna Devaraju
Published: November 2012

A new fluorescent probe 2,7-dichlorofluorescein hydrazide for mercury quantification in aqueous medium has been described. It is based on the spirolactam ring opening of colorless and nonfluorescent 2,7-dichlorofluorescein hydrazide induced by Hg2+ions through the hydrolytic cleavage of amide bond to produce green-colored highly fluorescent dichlorofluorescein in alkaline medium. The significant color change of this reagent in the presence of mercury ions can be used as a sensitive naked-eye detector. The working range, limit of detection, and relative standard deviations were found to be 0.2–20 ngmL−1, 0.042 ngmL−1, and 0.69% respectively. The proposed method is free from most of the common interfering ions present in the environmental samples. The developed method has been successfully applied to determine trace level mercury from water, soil, and industrial effluents.
The Chemiluminescence and Structure Properties of Normal/Inverse Diffusion Flames
Authors: Zhang Ting , Guo Qinghua , Song Xudong , Zhou Zhijie , Yu Guangsuo
Published: November 2012

The flame emission spectrometry was applied to detect the distribution of excited radicals in two types CH4/O2 coflow jet diffusion flames (normal and inverse diffusion flames). Combining the image analysis along with the spectrometry, the chemiluminescence and structure characteristics of these diffusion flames were investigated. The results show that the inverse diffusion flame (IDF) with relatively high inlet oxygen velocity is composed of two regions: a bright base and a tower on top of the base, which is quite different from the normal diffusion flame (NDF). The flame is divided into two regions along the flame axis based on maximum OH* position (Region I: initial reaction zone; Region II: further oxidation zone). The degree of the further oxidization taking place in Region II is obvious in accordance with OH* distribution, which is the main difference in reaction zone between fuel-rich condition and fuel-lean condition for NDFs. For IDFs, the change of OH* distribution with increasing equivalence O/C ratio ([O/C]e) in Region II is not conspicuous. More OH* and CH* are generated in IDFs, due to the inner high-speed O2 flow promoting the mixing of fuel and oxygen to a certain extent.
Temperature-Corrected Oxygen Detection Based on Multi-Mode Diode Laser Correlation Spectroscopy
Authors: Lou Xiutao , Somesfalean Gabriel , Zhang Zhiguo , Wu Shaohua
Published: November 2012

Temperature-corrected oxygen measurements were performed by using multi-mode diode laser correlation spectroscopy at temperatures ranging between 300 and 473 K. The experiments simulatein situmonitoring of oxygen in coal-combustion exhaust gases at the tail of the flue. A linear relationship with a correlation coefficient of−0.999was found between the evaluated concentration and the gas temperature. Temperature effects were either auto-corrected by keeping the reference gas at the same conditions as the sample gas, or rectified by using a predetermined effective temperature-correction coefficient calibrated for a range of absorption wavelengths. Relative standard deviations of the temperature-corrected oxygen concentrations obtained by different schemes and at various temperatures were estimated, yielding a measurement precision of 0.6%.
Supported Liquid Membrane Principle and Its Practices: A Short Review
Authors: Parhi P. K.
Published: November 2012

The present paper on the supported liquid membrane (SLM) deals with the general principles and applications, followed by the uphill transportation characteristic of SLM. The liquid‐liquid extraction with supported liquid membrane is one of the best alternate and promising technologies for the extraction of metal ions from solutions over other hydrometallurgical separation processes. The salient features of the supported liquid membrane (SLM) technique such as simultaneous extraction and stripping, low solvent inventory, process economy, high efficiency, less extractant consumption, and operating costs are discussed in detail. The supported liquid membrane of hollow fiber type provides high interfacial surface area for achieving maximum metal flux. Also the use of different organic extractants for SLM has been discussed.
Synthesis and Analgesic Activity of Novel Derivatives of 1,2‐Substituted Benzimidazoles
Authors: Srivastava Shobhit , Pandeya S. N. , Yadav Meena K. , Singh B. K.
Published: November 2012

A series of novel 2‐phenylhydrazinomethyl and 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐benzimidazole derivatives substituted at the N1‐position of benzimidazole nucleus were synthesized as well as screened for analgesic activity. Some of these compounds showed promising analgesic activity when compared with the standard drug diclofenac sodium. The incorporation of a phenylhydrazinomethyl nucleus at 2‐position of benzimidazole compound gave a biologically active pharmacophore.
Nutritional and Phytochemical Study of Ilex paraguariensis Fruits
Authors: Cogoi Laura , Giacomino M. Silvia , Pellegrino Nestor , Anesini Claudia , Filip Rosana
Published: November 2012

Yerba mate is defined as the product constituted by the dried, slightly roasted, and milled leaves of Ilex paraguariensis. However, the fruits of this species are often found in the commercial product. Nowadays the fruits are considered a byproduct. The objective of this work was to obtain the preliminary data of minerals, lipids, methylxanthines and polyphenols in the ripe fruits of I. paraguariensis. The results showed a considerable amount of total dietary fiber (42.0 ± 1.6 g/100 g) and nutritionally valuable minerals: potassium (1324 ± 15 mg/100 g), iron (6.4 ± 0.5 mg/100 g), magnesium (168 ± 15 mg/100 g), calcium (150 ± 12 mg/100 g), copper (1.1 ± 0.1 mg/100 g), zinc (2.3 ± 0.3 mg/100 g), and sodium (1.3 ± 0.1 mg/100 g). The lipid content was 4.5 g/100 g. Oleic acid was the predominant unsaturated fatty acid (38.74 ± 0.75 g/100 g). Linoleic acid (1.83 ± 0, 01 g/100 g) was also present. Methylxanthines were quantified: caffeine (0.118 ± 0.001) and theobromine (0.0125 ± 0.0002) g/100 g. The total polyphenol content was 0.717 ± 0.001 g/100 g. The results obtained in this work suggest the potential value of the fruits of I. paraguariensis for the development of novel products in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This paper aims to contribute to the scientific knowledge of a natural by‐product from industry regarding the need of foods and medicines for the new millennium.
Which Risk Model to Use? Clinical Implications of the ACS MRI Screening Guidelines
Authors: Ozanne Elissa M. , Drohan Brian , Bosinoff Phil , Semine Alan , Jellinek Michael , Cronin Claire , Millham Frederick , Dowd Dana , Rourke Taryn , Block Caroline , Hughes Kevin S.
Published: November 2012

The American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines define the appropriate use of MRI as an adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening. Three risk assessment models are recommended to determine if women are at sufficient risk to warrant the use of this expensive screening tool, however, the real-world application of these models has not been explored. We sought to understand how these models behave in a community setting for women undergoing mammography screening. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 5,894 women, who received mammography screening at a community hospital and assessed their eligibility for MRI according to the ACS guidelines. Of the 5,894 women, 342 (5.8%) were eligible for MRI, but we found significant differences in the number of eligible women identified by each model. Our results indicate that these models identify very different populations, implying that the ACS guidelines deserve further development and consideration. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(1); 146–9. ©2012 AACR.
Influence of Quercetin-Rich Food Intake on microRNA Expression in Lung Cancer Tissues
Authors: Lam Tram K. , Shao Stephanie , Zhao Yingdong , Marincola Francesco , Pesatori Angela , Bertazzi Pier Alberto , Caporaso Neil E. , Wang Ena , Landi Maria Teresa
Published: November 2012

Background: Epidemiologic studies have reported that frequent consumption of quercetin-rich foods is inversely associated with lung cancer incidence. A quercetin-rich diet might modulate microRNA (miR) expression; however, this mechanism has not been fully examined.

Methods: miR expression data were measured by a custom-made array in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 264 lung cancer cases (144 adenocarcinomas and 120 squamous cell carcinomas). Intake of quercetin-rich foods was derived from a food-frequency questionnaire. In individual-miR–based analyses, we compared the expression of miRs (n = 198) between lung cancer cases consuming high versus low quercetin-rich food intake using multivariate ANOVA tests. In family-miR–based analyses, we used Functional Class Scoring (FCS) to assess differential effect on biologically functional miR families. We accounted for multiple testing using 10,000 global permutations (significance at Pglobal < 0.10). All multivariate analyses were conducted separately by histology and by smoking status (former and current smokers).

Results: Family-based analyses showed that a quercetin-rich diet differentiated miR expression profiles of the tumor suppressor let-7 family among adenocarcinomas (PFCS < 0.001). Other significantly differentiated miR families included carcinogenesis-related miR-146, miR-26, and miR-17 (PFCS < 0.05). In individual-based analyses, we found that among former and current smokers with adenocarcinoma, 33 miRs were observed to be differentiated between highest and lowest quercetin-rich food consumers (23 expected by chance; Pglobal = 0.047).

Conclusions: We observed differential expression of key biologically functional miRs between high versus low consumers of quercetin-rich foods in adenocarcinoma cases.

Impact: Our findings provide preliminary evidence on the mechanism underlying quercetin-related lung carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(12); 2176–84. ©2012 AACR.
The Heritability of Mammographic Breast Density and Circulating Sex-Hormone Levels: Two Independent Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Authors: Varghese Jajini S. , Smith Paula L. , Folkerd Elizabeth , Brown Judith , Leyland Jean , Audley Tina , Warren Ruth M.L. , Dowsett Mitchell , Easton Douglas F. , Thompson Deborah J.
Published: November 2012

Background: Mammographic breast density and endogenous sex-hormone levels are both strong risk factors for breast cancer. This study investigated whether there is evidence for a shared genetic basis between these risk factors.

Methods: Using data on 1,286 women from 617 families, we estimated the heritabilities of serum estradiol, testosterone, and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels and of three measures of breast density (dense area, nondense area, and percentage density). We tested for associations between hormone levels and density measures and estimated the genetic and environmental correlations between pairs of traits using variance and covariance components models and pedigree-based maximum likelihood methods.

Results: We found no significant associations between estradiol, testosterone, or SHBG levels and any of the three density measures, after adjusting for body mass index (BMI).

The estimated heritabilities were 63%, 66%, and 65% for square root–transformed adjusted percentage density, dense area, and nondense area, respectively, and 40%, 25%, and 58% for log-transformed–adjusted estradiol, testosterone, and SHBG. We found no evidence of a shared genetic basis between any hormone levels and any measure of density, after adjusting for BMI. The negative genetic correlation between dense and nondense areas remained significant even after adjustment for BMI and other covariates (ρ = −0.34; SE = 0.08; P = 0.0005).

Conclusions: Breast density and sex hormones can be considered as independent sets of traits.

Impact: Breast density and sex hormones can be used as intermediate phenotypes in the search for breast cancer susceptibility loci. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(12); 2167–75. ©2012 AACR.
Prospective Study on Physical Activity and Risk of In Situ Breast Cancer
Authors: Steindorf Karen , Ritte Rebecca , Tjonneland Anne , Johnsen Nina Føns , Overvad Kim , Østergaard Jane Nautrup , Clavel-Chapelon Françoise , Fournier Agnès , Dossus Laure , Lukanova Annekatrin , Chang-Claude Jenny , Boeing Heiner , Wientzek Angelika , Trichopoulou Antonia , Karapetyan Tina , Trichopoulos Dimitrios , Masala Giovanna , Krogh Vittorio , Mattiello Amalia , Tumino Rosario , Polidoro Silvia , Quirós José Ramón , Travier Noémie , Sánchez María-José , Navarro Carmen , Ardanaz Eva , Amiano Pilar , Bueno-de-Mesquita H. Bas , van Duijnhoven Fränzel J.B. , Monninkhof Evelyn , May Anne M. , Khaw Kay-Tee , Wareham Nick , Key Tim J. , Travis Ruth C. , Borch Kristin Benjaminsen , Fedirko Veronika , Rinaldi Sabina , Romieu Isabelle , Wark Petra A. , Norat Teresa , Riboli Elio , Kaaks Rudolf
Published: November 2012

Background: Physical activity has been identified as protective factor for invasive breast cancer risk, whereas comparable studies on in situ carcinoma are rare.

Methods: The study included data from 283,827 women of the multinational European Prospective Investigation into C7ancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-cohort study. Detailed information on different types of physical activity conducted during the prior year, such as occupational, recreational, and household activity, as well as on important cofactors, was assessed at baseline. Adjusted HRs for in situ breast cancer were estimated by Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: During a median follow-up period of 11.7 years, 1,059 incidents of breast carcinoma in situ were identified. In crude and adjusted multivariable models, no associations were found for occupational, household, and recreational physical activity. Furthermore, total physical activity was not associated with risk of in situ breast cancer. Comparing moderately inactive, moderately active, and active participants with inactive study participants resulted in adjusted HRs of 0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.83–1.19], 0.99 (95% CI, 0.82–1.20), and 1.07 (95% CI, 0.81–1.40), respectively (P value of trend test: 0.788). No inverse associations were found in any substrata defined by age at diagnosis or body mass index (BMI) status.

Conclusions: In this large prospective study, we did not find any evidence of an association between physical activity and in situ breast cancer risk. If not by chance, the contrast between our results for carcinoma in situ and the recognized inverse association for invasive breast cancer suggests that physical activity may have stronger effects on proliferation and late stage carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(12); 2209–19. ©2012 AACR.
Increased Formation of Monocyte-Platelet Aggregates in Ischemic Heart Failure
Authors: Wrigley Benjamin J. , Shantsila Eduard , Tapp Luke D. , Lip Gregory Y.H.
Published: November 2012

Background—

Cross-talk between monocytes and platelets is reflected by the formation of monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs). It is not known whether MPAs are affected in heart failure (HF), and we examined differences in patients with acute HF (AHF), stable HF (SHF), stable coronary artery disease (CAD) without HF, and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods and Results—

MPAs were analyzed by flow cytometry for the 3 monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-CCR2+ [Mon1], CD14++CD16+CCR2+ [Mon2] and CD14+CD16++CCR2– [Mon3]) in patients with AHF (n=51), SHF (n=42), stable CAD (n=44), and HCs (n=40). Counts of total MPA and MPAs associated with Mon1 and Mon2 were significantly higher in AHF compared with SHF, CAD, and HCs (
P
<0.001 for all). The proportion of Mon1 aggregated with platelets was increased in AHF compared with SHF (
P
=0.033), CAD (
P
<0.001), and HCs (
P
<0.001). A higher percentage of Mon3 aggregated with platelets was also seen in AHF compared with SHF (
P
=0.012) and HCs (
P
<0.001) but not compared with CAD (
P
=0.647). MPAs associated with Mon2 were significantly lower in patients who experienced adverse clinical outcomes of death or rehospitalization compared with those who remained free of events (
P
=0.03). Mon2 count remained an independent negative predictor of combined death and rehospitalization after adjustment for age, left ventricular ejection fraction, creatinine, and brain natriuretic peptide (hazard ratio, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.34–0.98];
P
=0.043).

Conclusions—

MPA formation in patients with both acute and stable HF is increased and seems to be confined to monocytes from Mon1 and Mon2 subsets. MPAs associated with Mon2 seem to be negatively predictive of a worse prognosis in AHF.
Hypoxia Induces Myocardial Regeneration in Zebrafish
Authors: Jopling Chris , Suñé Guillermo , Faucherre Adèle , Fabregat Carme , Izpisua Belmonte Juan Carlos
Published: November 2012

Background—

Hypoxia plays an important role in many biological/pathological processes. In particular, hypoxia is associated with cardiac ischemia. which, although initially inducing a protective response, will ultimately lead to the death of cardiomyocytes and loss of tissue, severely affecting cardiac functionality. Although myocardial damage/loss remains an insurmountable problem for adult mammals, the same is not true for adult zebrafish, which are able to completely regenerate their heart after extensive injury. Myocardial regeneration in zebrafish involves the dedifferentiation and proliferation of cardiomyocytes to replace the damaged/missing tissue; at present, however, little is known about what factors regulate this process.

Methods and Results—

We surmised that ventricular amputation would lead to hypoxia induction in the myocardium of zebrafish and that this may play a role in regulating the regeneration of the missing cardiac tissue. Using a combination of O
2
perturbation, conditional transgenics, in vitro cell culture, and microarray analysis, we found that hypoxia induces cardiomyocytes to dedifferentiate and proliferate during heart regeneration in zebrafish and have identified a number of genes that could play a role in this process.

Conclusion—

These results indicate that hypoxia plays a positive role during heart regeneration, which should be taken into account in future strategies aimed at inducing heart regeneration in humans.
Increased Risk of Left Heart Valve Regurgitation Associated With Benfluorex Use in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Tribouilloy Christophe , Rusinaru Dan , Maréchaux Sylvestre , Jeu Antoine , Ederhy Stéphane , Donal Erwan , Réant Patricia , Arnalsteen Elise , Boulanger Jacques , Ennezat Pierre-Vladimir , Garban Thierry , Jobic Yannick
Published: November 2012

Background—

Benfluorex was withdrawn from European markets in June 2010 after reports of an association with heart valve lesions. The link between benfluorex and valve regurgitations was based on small observational studies and retrospective estimations. We therefore designed an echocardiography-based multicenter study to compare the frequency of left heart valve regurgitations in diabetic patients exposed to benfluorex for at least 3 months and in diabetic control subjects never exposed to the drug.

Methods and Results—

This reader-blinded, controlled study conducted in 10 centers in France between February 2010 and September 2011 prospectively included 376 diabetic subjects previously exposed to benfluorex who were referred by primary care physicians for echocardiography and 376 diabetic control subjects. Through the use of propensity scores, 293 patients and 293 control subjects were matched for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The main outcome measure was the frequency of mild or greater left heart valve regurgitations. In the matched sample, the frequency and relative risk (odds ratio) of mild or greater left heart valve regurgitations were significantly increased in benfluorex patients compared with control subjects: 31.0% versus 12.9% (odds ratio, 3.55; 95% confidence interval, 2.03–6.21) for aortic and/or mitral regurgitation, 19.8% versus 4.7% (odds ratio, 5.29; 95% confidence interval, 2.46–11.4) for aortic regurgitation, and 19.4% versus 9.6% (odds ratio, 2.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.27–4.45) for mitral regurgitation.

Conclusions—

Our results indicate that the use of benfluorex is associated with a significant increase in the frequency of left heart valve regurgitations in diabetic patients. The natural history of benfluorex-induced valve abnormalities needs further research.
Multi-level Policy Approach in the Governance of Labour Migration: Considerations From the Philippine Experience
Authors: Battistella Graziano
Published: November 2012

Abstract

With 40 years of experience in labour migration, the Philippines has designed a comprehensive approach for its governance that other countries of origin in Asia look up to. The objectives of the migration policy consist in facilitating the employment of Filipino workers abroad and the consequent economic benefits, while ensuring safe and decent conditions for the workers, through a variety of measures, including regulating the recruitment industry, training migrants through specific programmes, supervising the terms and conditions in the labour contract, and making available a system of redress for victimised migrants. These objectives are reached through the national migration policy. However, the national policy has inherent limitations, both in terms of design, implementation and reach, as the outreach of the Philippine government while migrants are abroad is limited to diplomatic and other services. For this reason, the Philippines has engaged both in bilateral and multilateral cooperation. This paper, after presenting the development of migration from the Philippines at the three policy levels, will briefly assess the efficacy of such policies, using indicators, such as growth of migration flows and coverage, to conclude that all three levels must be pursued, with some preference for the bilateral approach within a multilateral framework.
Globalisation, Sovereignty and Immigration Control: The Hierarchy of Rights for Migrant Workers in Malaysia
Authors: Nah Alice M.
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Social theorists examining the impact of globalisation on state power argue that sovereignty is being respatialised and rescaled and that it is no longer adequate to understand state sovereignty as operating evenly on a national scale over a population within a bounded territory. Nevertheless, ASEAN states continue to adopt such a national framing of people and place, particularly in the construction of immigration control regimes. I argue that in order to understand the localised and spatialised exercise of graduated sovereignty and the selective introduction of neoliberal practices, it is necessary to recognise the significance of the immigration status of individuals and examine how the dividing practices of immigration control regimes permit the selective allocation of rights to non-citizens. This paper examines Malaysia’s approach to international labour migration, noting that it makes different biopolitical investments in different types of non-citizens on the basis of a calculation of their potential contribution to the ‘nation’. Malaysia creates a hierarchy of rights, giving greater rights to skilled workers, while restricting those of ‘unskilled’ workers. Malaysia punishes those who breach immigration laws severely. However, Malaysia’s modernist approach to immigration control fails to achieve intended results and I highlight a number of reasons why.
Bigthan and Teresh and the Reason Gentiles Hate Jews
Authors: Hacham Noah
Published: November 2012

Abstract

The account of Bigthan’s and Teresh’s conspiracy against the king (Esth 2:21-23) was transposed in the Septuagint to Addition A, which opens the book, while an additional story regarding a conspiracy to kill the king was introduced, in its stead, at the end of chapter 2 of this translation. These moves are part of Greek Esther’s reworking of the story in order to depict Mordechai as faithful to the king, and Haman as the king’s adversary who seeks his downfall, and to suggest that this contrast explains Haman’s animosity toward Mordechai, and the Jews, who are loyal to the throne. This tendency, to accentuate the Jews’ allegiance to the gentile monarch while understating the contrasts between Jews and gentiles, is widely manifested throughout Greek Esther. Its objective is to assert that gentile hatred of the Jews derives from their loyalty and reflects, in effect, hatred of the king. The historical backdrop to Esther, reworked in this manner, is most probably Egypt at the beginning of the first century BCE, when the extent of Jewish involvement within the Ptolemaic court and military was considerable.
‘A Church in a Cinema Hall?’ Pentecostal Appropriation of Public Space in Nigeria
Authors: Adeboye Olufunke
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Over the past two decades Nigeria has become a hotbed of Pentecostal activity. It is the view of this study that Pentecostal visibility in Nigeria has been enhanced not just by Pentecostals’ aggressive utilization of media technology for proselytization as claimed by previous scholars, but also by their appropriation of public spaces for worship. This study not only focuses on the church in the cinema hall, but also on churches in nightclubs, hotels, and other such places previously demonized as ‘abode[s] of sin’ by classical Pentecostals. This paper argues that users’ perception of public spaces having rigid meanings and unchanging usage was responsible for much of the tensions experienced. It would be more useful for academic analysts and various ‘publics’ to construe such spaces as dynamic sites, at once reflecting mutations in the public sphere, responsive to local and global socio-economic processes, and amenable to periodic reinventions and negotiations.
Medical Interpreting and the Law in the European Union
Authors: Phelan Mary
Published: November 2012

Abstract

In 2011, the Danish government announced that from June that year it would no longer cover the costs of medical interpreters for patients who had been living in Denmark for more than seven years. The Dutch Ministry of Health followed with an even more draconian approach; from 1 January 2012, the cost of translation and interpreting would no longer be covered by the state. These two announcements led to widespread concern about whether or not there is a legal foundation for interpreter provision in healthcare. This article considers United Nations treaties, conventions from the Council of Europe and European Union law. European Union member states have been slow to sign up to international agreements to protect the rights of migrant workers. The European Union itself has only recently moved into the area of discrimination and it is unclear if the Race Directive covers language. As a result, access to interpreters in healthcare, where it exists, is dependent on national anti-discrimination legislation or on positive action taken at national or local level rather than on European or international law.
Weeping of the Forest: Unheard Voices of Garo Adivasi in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Ashrafuzzaman , Samadder Mrinmoy
Published: November 2012

Recently, security studies have grasped the attention of human rights practitioners, development thinkers as well as scholars for their value in creating a congenial atmosphere where everyone can enjoy equal social and economic rights. The Adivasis (indigenous communities) in Bangladesh are ignored when it comes to addressing their distinct identity and marginalised status, which obstructs their access to rights. This paper will attempt to capture the tacit and explicit insecurities of the Garo Adivasi (indigenous community) in order to understand the prevailing situation. A qualitative method was used to understand the community both empirically and empathetically. The community has experienced evictions, physical assaults and violence at the hands of various agencies including the forest department, political parties and local influential persons. The females of this community are also the victims of various forms of injustices, such as physical assaults, rape, dowry deaths and so on.