bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Periodontal microbiology in Latin America
Authors: Contreras Adolfo , Moreno Sandra M. , Jaramillo Adriana , Pelaez Melissa , Duque Andres , Botero Javier E. , Slots Jørgen
Published: December 2014

This review article describes the microbiota associated with periodontal disease in Latin America. This vast territory includes 22 nations, which show great ethnic diversity, with large groups of White people, Black people, Mestizo people and Native people. Widespread poverty and limited access to education and health‐care services, including periodontal care, are prominent predisposing factors for destructive periodontal disease in Latin America. Black people and Mestizo people seem to have particularly severe periodontal disease and are frequently colonized by the major periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The ‘red complex’ bacterial pathogens and A. actinomycetemcomitans predominate in chronic and aggressive periodontitis, but gram‐negative enteric rods and herpesviruses can also play important periodontopathic roles in Latin America. The key to minimizing the risk of periodontal disease is control of the pathogens, and new low‐cost periodontal treatments deserve serious consideration in Latin America.
From rural to urban areas: differences in behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in nursing home residents according to geographical location
Authors: de Souto Barreto Philipe , Lapeyre‐Mestre Maryse , Vellas Bruno , Rolland Yves
Published: December 2014

Background

We determined whether the prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in institutionalized older adults differed according to the geographical location of different facilities.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study covered 175 nursing homes (NH) in France (n = 6275; age, 86.0 ± 8.2 years; women, 73.7%). Information on NH residents' health status and NH structure and internal organization were recorded by the NH staff. Each participant was coded for the presence or absence of the following BPSD: aggressive, screaming, and wandering behaviours. NH were geographically defined as rural (<2000 inhabitants), low urban (2000 ≤ inhabitants < 10 000), intermediate urban (10 000 ≤ inhabitants < 100 000), or high urban (inhabitants ≥ 100 000).

Results

Adjusted binary logistic regressions showed that, compared with residents living in rural NH, those living in NH located in high‐urban areas had a significantly higher risk of aggressiveness (odds ratio = 1.33; 95% confidence interval = 1.06–1.67) and screaming (odds ratio = 1.43; 95% confidence interval = 1.05–1.95). The likelihood of aggressiveness was also higher in residents living in NH located in intermediate‐urban areas (odds ratio = 1.36; 95% confidence interval = 1.13–1.65).

Conclusions

Rurality seems to play a positive role in the expression of BPSD. If this hypothesis were confirmed, it would encourage NH staff to develop activities that explore rural potentials for the management of BPSD.
Understanding Changes in the Distribution and Redistribution of Income: A Unifying Decomposition Framework
Authors: Herault Nicolas , Azpitarte Francisco
Published: December 2014

In recent decades income inequality has increased in many developed countries but the role of tax and transfer reforms is often poorly understood. We propose a new method allowing for the decomposition of historical changes in income distribution and redistribution measures into: (i) the immediate effect of tax‐transfer policy reforms in the absence of behavioral responses; (ii) the effect of labor supply responses induced by these reforms; and (iii) a third component allowing us to explore the effect of changes in the distribution of a wide range of determinants, including the effect of employment changes not induced by policy reforms. The application of the decomposition to Australia reveals that the direct effect of tax‐transfer policy reforms accounts for half of the observed increase in income inequality between 1999 and 2008, while the increased dispersion of wages and capital incomes also played an important role.
Explaining low rates of sustained use of siphon water filter: evidence from follow‐up of a randomised controlled trial in Bangladesh
Authors: Najnin Nusrat , Arman Shaila , Abedin Jaynal , Unicomb Leanne , Levine David I. , Mahmud Minhaj , Leder Karin , Yeasmin Farzana , Luoto Jill E. , Albert Jeff , Luby Stephen P.
Published: December 2014

Objective

To assess sustained siphon filter usage among a low‐income population in Bangladesh and study relevant motivators and barriers.

Methods

After a randomised control trial in Bangladesh during 2009, 191 households received a siphon water filter along with educational messages. Researchers revisited households after 3 and 6 months to assess filter usage and determine relevant motivators and barriers. Regular users were defined as those who reported using the filter most of the time and were observed to be using the filter at follow‐up visits. Integrated behavioural model for water, sanitation and hygiene (IBM‐WASH) was used to explain factors associated with regular filter use.

Results

Regular filter usage was 28% at the 3‐month follow‐up and 21% at the 6‐month follow‐up. Regular filter users had better quality water at the 6‐month, but not at the 3‐month visit. Positive predictors of regular filter usage explained through IBM‐WASH at both times were willingness to pay >US$1 for filters, and positive attitude towards filter use (technology dimension at individual level); reporting boiling drinking water at baseline (psychosocial dimension at habitual level); and Bengali ethnicity (contextual dimension at individual level). Frequently reported barriers to regular filter use were as follows: considering filter use an additional task, filter breakage and time required for water filtering (technology dimension at individual level).

Conclusion

The technological, psychosocial and contextual dimensions of IBM‐WASH contributed to understanding the factors related to sustained use of siphon filter. Given the low regular usage rate and the hardware‐related problems reported, the contribution of siphon filters to improving water quality in low‐income urban communities in Bangladesh is likely to be minimal.
Migration and the Environment: Policy Reform in a Polluted Open Economy
Authors: Chao Chi‐Chur , Laffargue Jean‐Pierre , Liu Xiangbo , Sgro Pasquale M. , Xiao YuChao
Published: December 2014

Previous literature on labour migration has paid little attention to the influence of environmental attributes. This paper attempts to remedy this void by developing a simple, two‐region general equilibrium model with amenities playing a key role in affecting migration flows. Specifically, we argue that in the presence of an environmental externality, interregional labour migration depends not only on wages but also on amenities. People may leave a region offering higher wages, if the resulting utility loss from worsened amenities exceeds the gain in wages. Policies should be adopted by regions or nations to regulate the environment to provide for the quality of living. To attain this goal, regional or international policy cooperation on tradable pollution permits can be superior to pollution permits supplied independently by each region or nation while non‐tradable between them.
Labor Environmentalism inColombia andLatinAmerica
Authors: Chomsky Aviva , Striffler Steve
Published: December 2014

Colombia's coal mines offer a microcosm of events and ideas sweepingLatinAmerica in the twenty‐first century. Foreign multinationals ravage the environment to extract resources consumed in the global north. Indigenous andAfro‐descended peasants inhabiting valuable regions claim special status as caretakers of fragile natural environments. Radical unions elaborate an anti‐imperialist, environmental critique of the companies that they see as looting their countries. These forces contribute to a twenty‐first century socialism that links indigenous and environmental rights, attacks the privileges of multinationals and the global north, and commits to redistribution and a vision of development that transcends economic growth.
Exploring the Plight of Dispatch Workers in China and How to Improve Their Conditions: A Preliminary Study
Authors: So Juliana
Published: December 2014

The International Labour Organization has noted that “[i]n a world of globalized supply chains where employers seek to do away with their responsibilities in the name of ‘flexibility’ and ‘competitiveness’ and where governments have all but given up on the objective of full and decent employment, workers have found themselves increasingly reduced to accepting forms of work arrangements that afford lower pay, less security, less favourable working conditions and make it ever more difficult to access the right to collective bargaining.” The use of dispatch labor in China's development is one example of this. The dispatch labor system was introduced in China more than thirty years ago and has developed into a huge industry. However, attention to the working conditions and lives of the dispatch workers involved in this industry chain is still insufficient. It was not until the 2008 “Labour Contract Law” that the dispatch labor system was formally written into the law; nonetheless, legal loopholes and weak penalties for violations have meant that the situation for dispatch workers has not improved much. This study found that the impact of the dispatch labor system on dispatch workers is poorly understood by dispatch workers. Dispatch workers' labor contracts are unable to provide them with adequate protection, they are often treated unfairly regarding wages, social security, and welfare benefits, and their occupational health and safety is not treated seriously, meaning that they are vulnerable to occupational hazards. The occupational instability of dispatch workers is also unfavorable to their career development. At the same time, as the trade union does not fulfill its role, this also has a negative impact on the safeguarding of dispatch workers' interests. Interestingly, however, dispatch workers themselves did not hold clear negative views of their own identity.
Hard Times: The Formation of the Working Class in Late‐Nineteenth‐Century Buenos Aires
Authors: Poy Lucas
Published: December 2014

This article provides an assessment of labor unrest in Buenos Aires between 1888 and 1896, a relatively short period of time where substantial changes took place and the local labor movement was shaped. We address the formation of the working class with a perspective that moves away from unilateral sociological or economical perspectives, as well as those that understand it as a mere political study of unions and political parties. Instead, our goal is to link the country's economic changes with both the cycles of class struggle and the development of the political currents of the left. We intend to contribute not only to recent labor history scholarship, but also to the education of current labor activists interested in learning about the lessons of past struggles.
Bala Tampoe: The Evergreen Nonagenarian Sama Samajist
Authors: Dhar Sushovan
Published: December 2014

Bala Tampoe, the general secretary of the Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU), died on September 1, 2014. He led the union for sixty‐seven years. A leading socialist and internationalist, he had led the Sri Lankan working class for a lifetime. His demise marks the end of an era. He joined Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) as a student and was a participant in every working class struggle that happened in the island‐nation. He was sacked for his participation in the 1946 public sector workers strike. He transformed CMU from a white‐collar staff union to a general union that included and led the manual workers and industrial workers. He led the 1953 general strike (Hartal), which rocked the nation and was the first major uprising since independence. In 1964, when LSSP decided to support the centrist‐nationalist Sri Lanka Freedom Party government, he was the lone opposition in its Politbureau. An accomplished criminal lawyer, he defended the members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna after the failed insurrection of 1971. He represented Sri Lankan workers at the International Labour Organization and actively organized them until a few days before his death. A committed socialist, he was one of the vibrant representatives of an era that symbolized a glorious working class struggle.
Intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses in humans – response to exercise and the environment
Authors: Lovering Andrew T. , Duke Joseph W. , Elliott Jonathan E.
Published: December 2014

Intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (IPAVA) have been known to exist in human lungs for over 60 years. The majority of the work in this area has largely focused on characterizing the conditions in which IPAVA blood flow (IPAVA) is either increased, e.g. during exercise, acute normobaric hypoxia, and the intravenous infusion of catecholamines, or absent/decreased, e.g. at rest and in all conditions with alveolar hyperoxia ( = 1.0). Additionally, IPAVA is present in utero and shortly after birth, but is reduced in older (>50 years) adults during exercise and with alveolar hypoxia, suggesting potential developmental origins and an effect of age. The physiological and pathophysiological roles of IPAVA are only beginning to be understood and therefore these data remain controversial. Although evidence is accumulating in support of important roles in both health and disease, including associations with pulmonary arterial pressure, and adverse neurological sequelae, there is much work that remains to be done to fully understand the physiological and pathophysiological roles of IPAVA. The development of novel approaches to studying these pathways that can overcome the limitations of the currently employed techniques will greatly help to better quantify IPAVA and identify the consequences of IPAVA on physiological and pathophysiological processes. Nevertheless, based on currently published data, our proposed working model is that IPAVA occurs due to passive recruitment under conditions of exercise and supine body posture, but can be further modified by active redistribution of pulmonary blood flow under hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterobacter cloacae Strain S611
Authors: Wang Dongping , Han Cliff S. , Dichosa Armand E. K. , Gleasner Cheryl D. , Johnson Shannon L. , Daligault Hajnalka E. , Davenport Karen W. , Li Po-E , Pierson Elizabeth A. , Pierson Leland S.
Published: December 2014

We report draft genomes of
Enterobacter cloacae
strain S611, an endophytic bacterium isolated from surface-sterilized germinating wheat seeds. We present the assembly and annotation of its genome, which may provide insights into the metabolic pathways involved in adaptation.
Genome Sequence of the Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacterium
Alcanivorax
sp. Strain 97CO-5
Authors: Luan Xiao , Cui Zhisong , Gao Wei , Li Qian , Yin Xiaofei , Zheng Li
Published: December 2014

Alcanivorax
sp. strain 97CO-5 was isolated from a crude-oil-degrading consortium, enriched from Yellow Sea sediment of China. Here, we present the draft genome of strain 97CO-5, which comprises 3,251,558 bp with a G+C content of 54.54% and contains 2,962 protein-coding genes and 42 tRNAs.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Xylanase-Producing Bacterial Strain, Cellvibrio mixtus J3-8
Authors: Wu Yi-Rui , Lin Bokun , Yu Yuli
Published: December 2014

The xylanase-producing bacterial strain
Cellvibrio mixtus
J3-8 was isolated from grassland giant snails. The draft genome of strain J3-8 comprises 5,171,890 bp in 152 contigs with a G+C content of 46.66%. This is the first genome report about this bacterial species.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus sakei Strain wikim 22, Isolated from Kimchi in Chungcheong Province, South Korea
Authors: Lim Hyeong In , Lee Jina , Jang Ja Young , Park Hae Woong , Choi Hak-Jong , Kim Tae-Woon , Kang Mi Ran , Lee Jong-Hee
Published: December 2014

We report the draft genome sequence of
Lactobacillus sakei
strain wikim 22, a
Lactobacillus
species isolated from kimchi in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, having 155 contigs with 2,447 genes and an average G+C content of 40.61%.
Draft Genome Sequence of Erwinia oleae, a Bacterium Associated with Olive Knots Caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi
Authors: Moretti Chiaraluce , Cortese Chiara , Passos da Silva Daniel , Venturi Vittorio , Firrao Giuseppe , Buonaurio Roberto
Published: December 2014

Erwinia oleae
is a nonpathogenic bacterial species isolated from olive knots caused by
Pseudomonas savastanoi
pv. savastanoi. Since the presence of
E. oleae
in the knots increases disease severity, interspecies interactions with the pathogen are hypothesized. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of the
E. oleae
type strain.
Intracranial pseudoaneurysm after intracranial pressure monitor placement
Authors: Shah Kushal J , Jones Aaron M , Arnold Paul M , Ebersole Koji
Published: December 2014

Traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms are a rare but severe complication following arterial injury. Pseudoaneurysm formation can occur secondary to blunt or penetrating trauma or iatrogenic injury. We report a case of traumatic pseudoaneurysm secondary to placement of an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor. A 27-year-old man was involved in a motorcycle accident resulting in multiple intracranial hemorrhages. The patient underwent craniectomy and placement of an ICP monitor. 17 days later he developed dilation of his left pupil, with imaging demonstrating a new hemorrhage in the vicinity of the previous ICP monitor. A cerebral angiogram confirmed a left-sided distal M4 pseudoaneurysm which was treated by n-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization. Intracranial pseudoaneurysm formation following neurosurgical procedures is uncommon. Delayed intracranial hemorrhage in a region of prior intracranial manipulation, even following a procedure as ‘routine’ as placement of an ICP monitor, should raise the suspicion for this rare but potentially lethal complication.
Squamous carcinoma arising in a parotid Warthin's tumour
Authors: Allevi Fabiana , Biglioli Federico
Published: December 2014

Warthin's tumour is the second most common benign neoplasm to affect the salivary glands. It virtually affects the sole parotid gland. A sudden increase in a tumour's size is usually due to a malignant transformation of the tumour. The transformation of the lymphoid stroma into malignant lymphoma is relatively common, while an epithelial malignancy is extremely rare. In this paper, the authors present a case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in Warthin's tumour. The patient underwent enucleoresection of the tumour. Intraoperative frozen section revealed the presence of a cystic component associated with the squamous cell carcinoma areas. In consideration of the result of the intraoperative consultation, the surgeons decided to enlarge the previous resection by removal of a 30×25 mm cuff from the surrounding parotid tissue. Close follow-up was carried out and 12 months after surgery there was no evidence of recurrence or metastatic neoplasm.
The development and production of a novel Smartphone App to collect day-to-day feedback from doctors-in-training and their trainers
Authors: Gray Thomas G , Hood Gill , Farrell Tom
Published: December 2014

Background

Feedback drives learning in medical education. More regular multisource feedback would improve appraisal for doctors-in-training in the UK. Trainers currently receive little feedback on supervision they provide to doctors-in-training. Barriers against providing feedback include shortage of time and lack of clear mechanisms to do so.

Methods

A literature review was undertaken to investigate whether a Smartphone App to provide feedback on training was a new concept. Different training environments were identified and feedback proformas for each of these areas developed for trainers and trainees. A pre-existing logbook App identified during literature searching was modified with permission and pilot phases completed. Professional software engineering was subsequently undertaken.

Results

The App developed isHealthcare Supervision Logbook. Trainers can use it for providing feedback about a trainee's performance in a clinical session and trainees can use it for providing feedback about their perceived value of the educational content of a clinical session, including the educational and/or clinical supervision they have received.Healthcare Supervision Logbookalso contains a comprehensive logbook of practical procedures for all doctors using the App. It can also be used to collect patient and colleague feedback.

Conclusions

Healthcare Supervision Logbookis a new concept. It allows trainers to provide daily feedback about a trainee's performance which can be used to facilitate appraisal and highlight areas for development. Feedback provided by the trainees can be used similarly to identify patterns and improve the quality of training provided. The feedback and logbook content is useful for purposes of appraisal and revalidation.
“A little on the heavy side”: a qualitative analysis of parents' and grandparents' perceptions of preschoolers' body weights
Authors: Eli Karin , Howell Kyndal , Fisher Philip A , Nowicka Paulina
Published: December 2014

Objectives

Parents’ difficulties in perceiving children's weight status accurately pose a barrier for family-based obesity interventions; however, the factors underlying weight misinterpretation still need to be identified. This study's objective was to examine parents and grandparents’ perceptions of preschoolers’ body sizes. Interview questions also explored perceptions of parental responsibility for childhood obesity and appropriate contexts in which to discuss preschoolers’ weights.

Design

Semistructured interviews, which were videotaped, transcribed and analysed qualitatively.

Setting

Eugene and the Springfield metropolitan area, Oregon, USA

Participants

Families of children aged 3–5 years were recruited in February—May 2011 through advertisements about the study, published in the job seekers’ sections of a classified website (Craigslist) and in a local newspaper. 49 participants (22 parents and 27 grandparents, 70% women, 60% with overweight/obesity) from 16 low-income families of children aged 3–5 years (50% girls, 56% with overweight/obesity) were interviewed.

Results

There are important gaps between clinical definitions and lay perceptions of childhood obesity. While parents and grandparents were aware of their preschoolers’ growth chart percentiles, these measures did not translate into recognition of children's overweight or obesity. The participants spoke of obesity as a problem that may affect the children in the future, but not at present. Participants identified childhood obesity as being transmitted from one generation to the next, and stigmatised it as resulting from ‘lazy’ parenting. Parents and grandparents avoided discussing the children's weights with each other and with the children themselves.

Conclusions

The results suggest that clinicians should clearly communicate with parents and grandparents about the meaning and appearance of obesity in early childhood, as well as counteract the social stigma attached to obesity, in order to improve the effectiveness of family-based interventions to manage obesity in early childhood.
Henry's voices: the representation of auditory verbal hallucinations in an autobiographical narrative
Authors: Demjén Zsófia , Semino Elena
Published: December 2014

The bookHenry's Demons(2011) recounts the events surrounding Henry Cockburn's diagnosis of schizophrenia from the alternating perspectives of Henry himself and his father Patrick. In this paper, we present a detailed linguistic analysis of Henry's first-person accounts of experiences that could be described as auditory verbal hallucinations. We first provide a typology of Henry's voices, taking into account who or what is presented as speaking, what kinds of utterances they produce and any salient stylistic features of these utterances. We then discuss the linguistically distinctive ways in which Henry represents these voices in his narrative. We focus on the use of Direct Speech as opposed to other forms of speech presentation, the use of the sensory verbshearandfeeland the use of ‘non-factive’ expressions such asI thoughtandas if. We show how different linguistic representations may suggest phenomenological differences between the experience of hallucinatory voices and the perception of voices that other people can also hear. We, therefore, propose that linguistic analysis is ideally placed to provide in-depth accounts of the phenomenology of voice hearing and point out the implications of this approach for clinical practice and mental healthcare.
The wrong white crystals: not salt but sugar as aetiological in hypertension and cardiometabolic disease
Authors: DiNicolantonio James J , Lucan Sean C
Published: December 2014

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature mortality in the developed world, and hypertension is its most important risk factor. Controlling hypertension is a major focus of public health initiatives, and dietary approaches have historically focused on sodium. While the potential benefits of sodium-reduction strategies are debatable, one fact about which there is little debate is that the predominant sources of sodium in the diet are industrially processed foods. Processed foods also happen to be generally high in added sugars, the consumption of which might be more strongly and directly associated with hypertension and cardiometabolic risk. Evidence from epidemiological studies and experimental trials in animals and humans suggests that added sugars, particularly fructose, may increase blood pressure and blood pressure variability, increase heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand, and contribute to inflammation, insulin resistance and broader metabolic dysfunction. Thus, while there is no argument that recommendations to reduce consumption of processed foods are highly appropriate and advisable, the arguments in this review are that the benefits of such recommendations might have less to do with sodium—minimally related to blood pressure and perhaps even inversely related to cardiovascular risk—and more to do with highly-refined carbohydrates. It is time for guideline committees to shift focus away from salt and focus greater attention to the likely more-consequential food additive: sugar. A reduction in the intake of added sugars, particularly fructose, and specifically in the quantities and context of industrially-manufactured consumables, would help not only curb hypertension rates, but might also help address broader problems related to cardiometabolic disease.
Variability in performance on a work simulation test of physical fitness for firefighters
Authors: Boyd Liam , Rogers Todd , Docherty David , Petersen Stewart
Published: December 2014

The Canadian Forces Firefighter Physical Fitness Maintenance Evaluation (FF PFME) requires firefighters in full fire-protective ensemble, including self-contained breathing apparatus, to correctly complete 10 work-related tasks on a measured and calibrated course. Fitness for duty is inferred from completion time of the course. We hypothesized that completion time may be dependent on pacing strategy and day-to-day fluctuations in biological function. To examine variability in performance, 20 females and 31 males (mean ± SD; age, 27.6 ± 10.5 years; height, 176.7 ± 8.3 cm; mass, 77.3 ± 13.4 kg) were familiarized with the FF PFME and then completed the test on 6 separate days. Pre-test behaviours (e.g., sleep, diet) and test conditions (e.g., calibration, time of day) were consistent. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in completion time between tests 1 and 6 (18.7%) and between all sequential pairs (e.g., tests 1 and 2). There was also a small but significant increase in the fraction of total test time for task completion and a corresponding decrease in the time to transition between tasks. The performance improvements cannot be explained by differences in effort (heart rate and perceived exertion). Coefficient of variation for tests 1, 2, and 3 was 7% and for tests 4, 5, and 6 was 2.6%. The results indicate the importance of practice on performance and the potential for false-positive or false-negative decision errors if biological variability is not taken into account.
Reductions in federal oversight of aquatic systems in Canada: implications of the new Navigation Protection Act
Authors: Winegardner Amanda K. , Hodgson Emma E. , Davidson Adrienne M.
Published: December 2014

The reduction of environmental legislation and regulation has become a common practice for governments looking to reduce government overhead while boosting private sector investment. Following this trend, in 2012 Canada enacted major legislative changes to its environmental policies. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) was overhauled, and related Acts, including the (federal) Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA), saw their regulatory processes reduced. There is a need for aquatic scientists to better understand the potential implications for environmental protection and the systems we study. We provide an overview of changes to the CEAA and NWPA before quantifying the duration and outcomes of NWPA-triggered assessments, as well as the implications of changes to the CEAA and NWPA. We find that 87% of environmental assessments that were triggered by the NWPA in the last 10 years were completed within 2 years and that the majority resulted in project approval. Of the assessments reviewed, 58% were on water bodies that are no longer protected under the new Navigation Protection Act, suggesting that the combination of these changes and new Acts will result in substantial reductions of environmental assessments on aquatic systems.
Axisymmetric motion of a spherical porous particle perpendicular to two parallel plates with slip surfaces
Authors: Saad E.I.
Published: December 2014

A combined analytical–numerical approach to the problem of the low Reynolds number motion of a porous sphere normal to one of two infinite parallel plates at an arbitrary position between them in a viscous fluid is investigated. The clear fluid motion governed by the Stokes equation and the Darcy–Brinkman equation is used to model the flow inside the porous material. The motion in each of the homogeneous regions is coupled with the continuity of the velocity components, the continuity of the normal stress, and the tangential stress jump condition. The fluid is allowed to slip at the surface of the walls. A general solution for the field equations in the clear region is constructed from the superposition of the fundamental solutions in both cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems. The collocation solutions for the hydrodynamic interactions between the porous sphere and the walls are calculated with good convergence for various values of the slip coefficient of the walls, the separation between the porous sphere and the walls, the stress jump coefficient, and a coefficient that is proportional to the permeability. For the special cases of a solid sphere, our drag results show excellent agreement with the available solutions in the literature for all relative particle-to-wall spacing.
Free Vibration of Spherical Shells Using a Hybrid Finite Element Method
Authors: Menaa Mohamed , Lakis Aouni A.
Published: December 2014

In this study, free vibration analysis of spherical shell is carried out. The structural model is based on a combination of thin shell theory and the classical finite element method. Free vibration equations using the hybrid finite element formulation are derived and solved numerically. Therefore, the number of elements chosen is function of the complexity of the structure. Convergence is rapid. It is not necessary to choose a large number of elements to obtain good results. The results are validated using numerical and theoretical data available in the literature. The analysis is accomplished for spherical shells of different geometries, boundary conditions and radius to thickness ratios. This proposed hybrid finite element method can be used efficiently for design and analysis of spherical shells employed in high speed aircraft structures.
AGGLOMERATIVE CLUSTERING BASED ON LABEL PROPAGATION FOR DETECTING OVERLAPPING AND HIERARCHICAL COMMUNITIES IN COMPLEX NETWORKS
Authors: ZHAO YUXIN , LI SHENGHONG , WANG SHILIN
Published: December 2014

Community detection is an important issue to understand the structural and functional properties of complex networks, which still remains a challenging subject. In some complex networks, a node may belong to multiple communities, implying overlapping community structure. Moreover, complex networks often show a hierarchical structure where small communities group together to form larger ones. In this paper, we propose a novel parameter-free algorithm called agglomerative clustering based on label propagation algorithm (ACLPA) to detect both overlapping and hierarchical community structure in complex networks. By combining the advantages of agglomerative clustering and label propagation, our algorithm can build the hierarchical tree of overlapping communities in large-scale networks. The tests on both synthetic and real-world networks give excellent results and demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our algorithm.
Improving Monte-Carlo and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Outcomes Using Temperature-Dependent Interaction Parameters: The Case of Pure LJ Fluid
Authors: Al-Matar Ali Kh. , Tobgy Ahmed H. , Suleiman Ibrahim A. , Al-Faiad Majdi A.
Published: December 2014

The main proposition of this work is that introducing temperature-dependent interaction parameters (TDIP) instead of using temperature-independent interaction parameters (TIIP) may lead to improvement in the prediction of phase equilibrium properties such as vapor liquid equilibria, and transport properties e.g., self-diffusivity. Published second virial coefficient data was used to fit a simple two parameter temperature-dependent model for the collision diameter and well depth. This fitting procedure reduces the Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) between the experimental and predicted second virial coefficients by tenfold compared to the best TIIP and by 15 fold with the literature values. The vapor–liquid coexistence curve for argon was simulated in the NVT Gibbs ensemble in the temperature range: 110–148 K. The critical temperature and density were determined using the Ising-scaling model. The TDIP simulations produce, in general, a more accurate phase diagram compared to the diagram generated using TIIP. RMSD is reduced by 42.1% using TDIP. Also, there was no significant difference between the results obtained using TDIP and the highly accurate and computationally demanding phase diagrams based on three body contributions implementing Axillrod–Teller correction. Self-diffusivities of atomic argon were evaluated using the mean square displacement or the Einstein method using equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) at a pressure of 13 bars and a temperature range from 90 K up to 135 K in the isobaric, isothermal NPT ensemble. TDIP, in general, produces more accurate self-diffusivities than the values computed by TIIP simulations. RMSD is reduced by about 64% using the temperature-dependent parameters.
Synthesis of Ni/Fe Nanoparticles Utilizing PVP–SDS Bound Micelles as a Template to Remove PCB77
Authors: Ding Shu , Zhao Lin , Qi Yun , Lv Qianqian
Published: December 2014

In the present study, Ni / Fe nanoparticles were synthesized using bound micelles as a template and 3, 3′, 4, 4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB77) as the target contaminant. The dual bound micelles, which are composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were found to be superior to single-component templates for the dispersion of metallic ions and thus directed the synthesis of Ni / Fe nanoparticles with improved properties. After characterization of the different nanoparticles, it was found that the sustained effectiveness of PVP–SDS bound micelles afforded specialized structures with two gradations of Ni / Fe nanoparticles, correlating to more active sites and higher activity. The improved activity of the Ni / Fe nanoparticles was finally exhibited by the higher ratio (99.3% in 72 h) and efficiency (k obs of 0.0674 h-1) of PCB77 removal. Herein, the utilization of PVP–SDS bound micelles is proposed as a template for the improvement of iron-based nanoparticles and correlated research.
Increased 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts in male GSTA4–4/PPAR-α double knockout mice enhance injury during early stages of alcoholic liver disease
Authors: Ronis Martin J. J. , Mercer Kelly E. , Gannon Brenda , Engi Bridgette , Zimniak Piotr , Shearn Colin T. , Orlicky David J. , Albano Emanuele , Badger Thomas M. , Petersen Dennis R.
Published: December 2014

To test the significance of lipid peroxidation in the development of alcoholic liver injury, an ethanol (EtOH) liquid diet was fed to male 129/SvJ mice (wild-type, WT) and glutathione S-transferase A4–4-null (GSTA4−/−) mice for 40 days. GSTA4−/− mice were crossed with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α-null mice (PPAR-α−/−), and the effects of EtOH in the resulting double knockout (dKO) mice were compared with the other strains. EtOH increased lipid peroxidation in all except WT mice ( P < 0.05). Increased steatosis and mRNA expression of the inflammatory markers CXCL2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were observed in EtOH GSTA4−/− compared with EtOH WT mice ( P < 0.05). EtOH PPAR-α−/− mice had increased steatosis, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and hepatic CD3+ T cell populations and elevated mRNA encoding CD14, CXCL2, TNF-α, IL-6, CD138, transforming growth factor-β, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-13, α-SMA, and collagen type 1 compared with EtOH WT mice. EtOH-fed dKO mice displayed elevation of periportal hepatic 4-hydroxynonenal adducts and serum antibodies against malondialdehyde adducts compared with EtOH feeding of GSTA4−/−, PPAR-α−/−, and WT mice ( P < 0.05). ALT was higher in EtOH dKO mice compared with all other groups ( P < 0.001). EtOH-fed dKO mice displayed elevated mRNAs for TNF-α and CD14, histological evidence of fibrosis, and increased PDGFR, MMP-9, and MMP-13 mRNAs compared with the EtOH GSTA4−/− or EtOH PPAR-α−/− genotype ( P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the central role lipid peroxidation plays in mediating progression of alcohol-induced necroinflammatory liver injury, stellate cell activation, matrix remodeling, and fibrosis.
Micro-RNA 21 inhibition of SMAD7 enhances fibrogenesis via leptin-mediated NADPH oxidase in experimental and human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Dattaroy Diptadip , Pourhoseini Sahar , Das Suvarthi , Alhasson Firas , Seth Ratanesh Kumar , Nagarkatti Mitzi , Michelotti Gregory A. , Diehl Anna Mae , Chatterjee Saurabh
Published: December 2014

Hepatic fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the common pathophysiological process resulting from chronic liver inflammation and oxidative stress. Although significant research has been carried out on the role of leptin-induced NADPH oxidase in fibrogenesis, the molecular mechanisms that connect the leptin-NADPH oxidase axis in upregulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling have been unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of leptin-mediated upregulation of NADPH oxidase and its subsequent induction of micro-RNA 21 (miR21) in fibrogenesis. Human NASH livers and a high-fat (60% kcal) diet-fed chronic mouse model, where hepatotoxin bromodichloromethane was used to induce NASH, were used for this study. To prove the role of the leptin-NADPH oxidase-miR21 axis, mice deficient in genes for leptin, p47phox, and miR21 were used. Results showed that wild-type mice and human livers with NASH had increased oxidative stress, increased p47phox expression, augmented NF-κB activation, and increased miR21 levels. These mice and human livers showed increased TGF-β, SMAD2/3-SMAD4 colocalizations in the nucleus, increased immunoreactivity against Col1α, and α-SMA with a concomitant decrease in protein levels of SMAD7. Mice that were deficient in leptin or p47phox had decreased activated NF-κB and miR21 levels, suggesting the role of leptin and NADPH oxidase in inducing NF-κB-mediated miR21 expression. Further miR21 knockout mice had decreased colocalization events of SMAD2/3-SMAD4 in the nucleus, increased SMAD7 levels, and decreased fibrogenesis. Taken together, the studies show the novel role of leptin-NADPH oxidase induction of miR21 as a key regulator of TGF-β signaling and fibrogenesis in experimental and human NASH.
Phosphorylation dynamics of radixin in hypoxia-induced hepatocyte injury
Authors: Suda Jo , Rockey Don C. , Karvar Serhan
Published: December 2014

The most prominent ezrin-radixin-moesin protein in hepatocytes is radixin, which is localized primarily at the canalicular microvilli and appears to be important in regulation of cell polarity and in localizing the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp-2) function. Our aim was to investigate how hypoxia affects radixin distribution and Mrp-2 function. We created wild-type and mutant constructs (in adenoviral vectors), which were expressed in WIF-B cells. The cellular distribution of Mrp-2 and radixin was visualized by fluorescence microscopy, and a 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) assay was used to measure Mrp-2 function. Under usual conditions, cells infected with wild-type radixin, nonphosphorylatable radixin-T564A, and radixin-T564D (active phospho-mimicking mutant) were found to be heavily expressed in canalicular membrane compartment vacuoles, typically colocalizing with Mrp-2. In contrast, after hypoxia for 24 h, both endogenous and overexpressed wild-type radixin and the radixin-T564A mutant were found to be translocated to the cytoplasmic space. However, distribution of the radixin-T564D mutant, which mimics constant phosphorylation, was remarkably different, being associated with canalicular membranes even in hypoxic conditions. This dominant-active construct also prevented dissociation of radixin from the plasma membrane. Hypoxia also led to Mrp-2 mislocalization and caused Mrp-2 to be dissociated from radixin; the radixin phospho-mimicking mutant (T564D) abrogated this effect of hypoxia. Finally, hypoxia diminished the secretory response (measured using the CMFDA assay) in WIF-B cells, and the dominant-active construct (radixin-T567D) rescued this phenotype. Taken collectively, these findings suggest that radixin regulates Mrp-2 localization and function in hepatocytes and is important in hypoxic liver injury.
Vestibular loss disrupts daily rhythm in rats
Authors: Martin T. , Mauvieux B. , Bulla J. , Quarck G. , Davenne D. , Denise P. , Philoxène B. , Besnard S.
Published: December 2014

Hypergravity disrupts the circadian regulation of temperature (Temp) and locomotor activity (Act) mediated through the vestibular otolithic system in mice. In contrast, we do not know whether the anatomical structures associated with vestibular input are crucial for circadian rhythm regulation at 1 G on Earth. In the present study we observed the effects of bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) on the daily rhythms of Temp and Act in semipigmented rats. Our model of vestibular lesion allowed for selective peripheral hair cell degeneration without any other damage. Rats with BVL exhibited a disruption in their daily rhythms (Temp and Act), which were replaced by a main ultradian period (τ <20 h) for 115.8 ± 68.6 h after vestibular lesion compared with rats in the control group. Daily rhythms of Temp and Act in rats with BVL recovered within 1 wk, probably counterbalanced by photic and other nonphotic time cues. No correlation was found between Temp and Act daily rhythms after vestibular lesion in rats with BVL, suggesting a direct influence of vestibular input on the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Our findings support the hypothesis that the vestibular system has an influence on daily rhythm homeostasis in semipigmented rats on Earth, and raise the question of whether daily rhythms might be altered due to vestibular pathology in humans.
CD99 Triggering in Ewing Sarcoma Delivers a Lethal Signal through p53 Pathway Reactivation and Cooperates with Doxorubicin
Authors: Guerzoni Clara , Fiori Valentina , Terracciano Mario , Manara Maria Cristina , Moricoli Diego , Pasello Michela , Sciandra Marika , Nicoletti Giordano , Gellini Mara , Dominici Sabrina , Chiodoni Claudia , Fornasari Pier Maria , Lollini Pier-Luigi , Colombo Mario P. , Picci Piero , Cianfriglia Maurizio , Magnani Mauro , Scotlandi Katia
Published: December 2014

Purpose: The paucity of new drugs for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma (EWS) limits the cure of these patients. CD99 has a strong membranous expression in EWS cells and, being also necessary for tumor survival, is a suitable target to aim at. In this article, we described a novel human monospecific bivalent single-chain fragment variable diabody (dAbd C7) directed against CD99 of potential clinical application.

Experimental Design: In vitro and in vivo evaluation of cell death and of the molecular mechanisms triggered by anti-CD99 agents were performed alone or in combination with doxorubicin to demonstrate efficacy and selectivity of the new dAbd C7.

Results: The dAbd C7 induced rapid and massive EWS cell death through Mdm2 degradation and p53 reactivation. Mdm2 overexpression as well as silencing of p53 in p53wt EWS cells decreased CD99-induced EWS cell death, whereas treatment with nutlin-3 enhanced it. Furthermore, cell death was associated with induction of p21, bax, and mitochondrial depolarization together with substantial inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. Combined treatment of anti-CD99 dAbd C7 with doxorubicin was additive both in vitro and in vivo against EWS xenografts. Normal mesenchymal stem cells showed no p53 activation and were resistant to cell death, unless transformed by EWS-FLI, the oncogenic driver of EWS.

Conclusions: These results indicate that dAbd C7 is a suitable candidate tool to target CD99 in patients with EWS able to spare normal stem cells from death as it needs an aberrant genetic context for the efficient delivery of CD99-triggered cell death. Clin Cancer Res; 21(1); 146–56. ©2014 AACR.
Activation of Vitamin D Receptor Signaling Downregulates the Expression of Nuclear FOXM1 Protein and Suppresses Pancreatic Cancer Cell Stemness
Authors: Li Zhiwei , Jia Zhiliang , Gao Yong , Xie Dacheng , Wei Daoyan , Cui Jiujie , Mishra Lopa , Huang Suyun , Zhang Yanqiao , Xie Keping
Published: December 2014

Purpose: Dysregulated signaling of nuclear transcription factors vitamin D receptor (VDR) and Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) plays important roles in transformation and tumorigenesis. In this study, we sought to determine whether VDR signaling causally affected FOXM1 signaling in and pathogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Experimental Design: Genetic and pharmacologic approaches were used to manipulate VDR signaling. The impacts of altered VDR signaling on FOXM1 expression and function in PDAC cells were determined using molecular and biochemical methods, whereas those on PDAC cell biology and tumorigenicity were determined using in vitro and in vivo experimental systems. The clinical relevance of our findings was validated by analyzing human PDAC specimens.

Results: There was a striking inverse correlation between reduced expression of VDR and increased expression of FOXM1 in human PDAC cells and tissues. Treatment of PDAC cells with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D), its synthetic analogue EB1089 (EB), and VDR transgenics drastically inhibited FOXM1 signaling and markedly suppressed tumor stemness, growth, and metastasis. Mechanistically, 1,25D and EB repressed FOXM1 transcription and reduced the expression level of nuclear FOXM1 protein.

Conclusion: Inactivation of Vitamin D/VDR signaling is a critical contributor to PDAC development and progression via elevated expression and function of FOXM1 and enhanced PDAC cell stemness, invasion, and metastasis. Clin Cancer Res; 21(4); 844–53. ©2014 AACR.