bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emphysema and extrapulmonary tissue loss in COPD: a multi-organ loss of tissue phenotype
Authors: Celli Bartolome R. , Locantore Nicholas , Tal-Singer Ruth , Riley John , Miller Bruce , Vestbo Jørgen , Yates Julie C. , Silverman Edwin K. , Owen Caroline A. , Divo Miguel , Pinto-Plata Victor , Wouters Emiel F.M. , Faner Rosa , Agusti Alvar
Published: February 2018

We tested whether emphysema progression accompanies enhanced tissue loss in other body compartments in 1817 patients from the ECLIPSE chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cohort.

Clinical and selected systemic biomarker measurements were compared in subjects grouped by quantitative tomography scan emphysema quartiles using the percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%). Lowest and highest quartile patients had amino-acid metabolomic profiles. We related LAA% to 3 years decline in lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)), body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and exacerbations, hospitalisations and mortality rates.

Participants with more baseline emphysema had lower FEV1, BMI and FFMI, worse functional capacity, and less cardiovascular disease but more osteoporosis. Systemic C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were similar among groups, but club cell protein 16 was higher and interleukin-8, surfactant protein D and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product were lower with more emphysema. Metabolomics differed between extreme emphysema quartiles. Patients with more emphysema had accelerated FEV1, BMI and FFMI decline and more exacerbations, hospitalisations and mortality.

COPD patients with more emphysema undergo excessive loss of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissue, which is probably related to abnormal tissue maintenance. Because of worse clinical outcomes, we propose this subgroup be named the multi-organ loss of tissue (MOLT) COPD phenotype.
Chronic interstitial lung disease in children
Authors: Griese Matthias
Published: February 2018

Children's interstitial lung diseases (chILD) are increasingly recognised and contain many lung developmental and genetic disorders not yet identified in adult pneumology. Worldwide, several registers have been established. The Australasian Registry Network for Orphan Lung Disease (ARNOLD) has identified problems in estimating rare disease prevalence; focusing on chILD in immunocompetent patients, a period prevalence of 1.5 cases per million children and a mortality rate of 7% were determined. The chILD-EU register highlighted the workload to be covered per patient included and provided protocols for diagnosis and initial treatment, similar to the United States chILD network. Whereas case reports may be useful for young physicians to practise writing articles, cohorts of patients can catapult progress, as demonstrated by recent studies on persistent tachypnoea of infancy, hypersensitivity pneumonitis in children and interstitial lung disease related to interferonopathies from mutations in transmembrane protein 173. Translational research has linked heterozygous mutations in the ABCA3 transporter to an increased risk of interstitial lung diseases, not only in neonates, but also in older children and adults. For surfactant dysfunction disorders in infancy and early childhood, lung transplantation was reported to be as successful as in adult patients. Mutual potentiation of paediatric and adult pneumologists is mandatory in this rapidly extending field for successful future development.

This brief review highlights publications in the field of paediatric interstitial lung disease as reviewed during the Clinical Year in Review session presented at the 2017 European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress in Milan, Italy. It was commissioned by the ERS and critically presents progress made as well as drawbacks.
From systems biology to P4 medicine: applications in respiratory medicine
Authors: Noell Guillaume , Faner Rosa , Agustí Alvar
Published: February 2018

Human health and disease are emergent properties of a complex, nonlinear, dynamic multilevel biological system: the human body. Systems biology is a comprehensive research strategy that has the potential to understand these emergent properties holistically. It stems from advancements in medical diagnostics, “omics” data and bioinformatic computing power. It paves the way forward towards “P4 medicine” (predictive, preventive, personalised and participatory), which seeks to better intervene preventively to preserve health or therapeutically to cure diseases. In this review, we: 1) discuss the principles of systems biology; 2) elaborate on how P4 medicine has the potential to shift healthcare from reactive medicine (treatment of illness) to predict and prevent illness, in a revolution that will be personalised in nature, probabilistic in essence and participatory driven; 3) review the current state of the art of network (systems) medicine in three prevalent respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and lung cancer); and 4) outline current challenges and future goals in the field.
A transgenic zebrafish model for the in vivo study of the blood and choroid plexus brain barriers using claudin 5
Authors: van Leeuwen Lisanne Martine , Evans Robert J. , Jim Kin Ki , Verboom Theo , Fang Xiaoming , Bojarczuk Aleksandra , Malicki Jarema , Johnston Simon Andrew , van der Sar Astrid Marijke
Published: February 2018

The central nervous system (CNS) has specific barriers that protect the brain from potential threats and tightly regulate molecular transport. Despite the critical functions of the CNS barriers, the mechanisms underlying their development and function are not well understood, and there are very limited experimental models for their study. Claudin 5 is a tight junction protein required for blood brain barrier (BBB) and, probably, choroid plexus (CP) structure and function in vertebrates. Here, we show that the gene claudin 5a is the zebrafish orthologue with high fidelity expression, in the BBB and CP barriers, that demonstrates the conservation of the BBB and CP between humans and zebrafish. Expression of claudin 5a correlates with developmental tightening of the BBB and is restricted to a subset of the brain vasculature clearly delineating the BBB. We show that claudin 5a-expressing cells of the CP are ciliated ependymal cells that drive fluid flow in the brain ventricles. Finally, we find that CP development precedes BBB development and that claudin 5a expression occurs simultaneously with angiogenesis. Thus, our novel transgenic zebrafish represents an ideal model to study CNS barrier development and function, critical in understanding the mechanisms underlying CNS barrier function in health and disease.
Inhibition of galectin-3 ameliorates the consequences of cardiac lipotoxicity in a rat model of diet-induced obesity
Authors: Marín-Royo Gema , Gallardo Isabel , Martínez-Martínez Ernesto , Gutiérrez Beatriz , Jurado-López Raquel , López-Andrés Natalia , Gutiérrez-Tenorio Josué , Rial Eduardo , Bartolomé Marı́a Visitación , Nieto María Luisa , Cachofeiro Victoria
Published: February 2018

Obesity is accompanied by metabolic alterations characterized by insulin resistance and cardiac lipotoxicity. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) induces cardiac inflammation and fibrosis in the context of obesity; however, its role in the metabolic consequences of obesity is not totally established. We have investigated the potential role of Gal-3 in the cardiac metabolic disturbances associated with obesity. In addition, we have explored whether this participation is, at least partially, acting on mitochondrial damage. Gal-3 inhibition in rats that were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks with modified citrus pectin (MCP; 100 mg/kg/day) attenuated the increase in cardiac levels of total triglyceride (TG). MCP treatment also prevented the increase in cardiac protein levels of carnitine palmitoyl transferase IA, mitofusin 1, and mitochondrial complexes I and II, reactive oxygen species accumulation and decrease in those of complex V but did not affect the reduction in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake observed in HFD rats. The exposure of cardiac myoblasts (H9c2) to palmitic acid increased the rate of respiration, mainly due to an increase in the proton leak, glycolysis, oxidative stress, β-oxidation and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Inhibition of Gal-3 activity was unable to affect these changes. Our findings indicate that Gal-3 inhibition attenuates some of the consequences of cardiac lipotoxicity induced by a HFD since it reduced TG and lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC) levels. These reductions were accompanied by amelioration of the mitochondrial damage observed in HFD rats, although no improvement was observed regarding insulin resistance. These findings increase the interest for Gal-3 as a potential new target for therapeutic intervention to prevent obesity-associated cardiac lipotoxicity and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction.
DNA sequence features in the establishing of H3K27ac
Authors: Zubritskiy Anatoliy , Medvedeva Yulia A.
Published: February 2018

The presence of H3K27me3 has been demonstrated to  correlate with the CpG content. In this work, we tested whether H3K27ac has similar sequence preferences. We performed a translocation of DNA sequences with various properties into a beta globin locus to control for the local chromatin environment. We demonstrate that H3K27ac is not linked to CpG content of the sequence, while extremely high GC-content may contribute to the establishment of this mark.
Studi Awal Sintesis dan Karakterisasi Bi(Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O dengan Penambahan Carbon Nanotube dan TiO2 Menggunakan Metoda Reaksi Padatan dan Proses Sintering Berulang [Preliminary Study Synthesis and Characterization of Bi(Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O By Addition of Carbon Nanotube and TiO2 Using Solid Reaction Method and Recurrent Sintering Process]
Authors: Syahfina Rizki , Siswayanti Bintoro , Yudanto Sigit Dwi , Imaduddin Agung , Suhada Nurul , Amri Fauzan , Harahap Mukti Hamjah
Published: February 2018

Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ with the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and TiO2 have been synthesized using solid state reaction method with the repeated sintering process. 0.1 wt % of CNT and 5 wt% of TiO2 have been added to analyze the effect on the synthesizing of 2223 phases. The samples were analyzed using XRD (X-ray diffractometer) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). Based on the XRD results, 2223 and 2212 were formed. The addition of CNTs and TiO2 reduced the intensity of 2223 phases. This is due to the addition of CNTs and TiO2 as an impurity and prevent the formation of the phases. Also, the repeated sintering process led to the increase of 2223 phase, and the decrease of 2212 phase. However, the repeated sintering process in the B-CNT and B-TiO samples eliminates the impurities phase thus increasing the volume fraction 2223 and decreasing the volume fraction 2212. Based on morphological structure through SEM observation, the addition of CNT in the Bi(Pb)-2223 samples formed longer plates with large porosity spaces while the addition of TiO2 formed clumps on the Bi(Pb)-2223 morphological structure. However, the repeated sintering process improves the morphological structure of B-CNT and B-TiO becomes increasingly denser and the smaller porosity space.AbstrakTelah dilakukan sintesis Bi1,6Pb0,4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ dengan penambahan CNT (carbon nanotube) dan penambahan TiO2 menggunakan metode reaksi padatan dengan proses sintering berulang. Penambahan CNT sebesar 0,1 %berat dan TiO2 sebesar 5 %berat dan sintering berulang dilakukan untuk mempelajari pengaruhnya terhadap pembentukan fasa 2223 beserta pengotornya, dan mempelajari perubahan morfologi Bi1,6Pb0,4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ. Bi1,6Pb0,4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ yang dibuat dianalisis dengan XRD (x-ray diffractometer) dan SEM (scanning electron microscopy). Berdasarkan hasil XRD, penambahan 0,1 %berat CNT dan TiO2 sebesar 5 %berat pada superkonduktor Bi(Pb)-2223 diketahui menghasilkan fasa 2223, fasa 2212, dan juga fasa pengotor. Namun proses sintering berulang mampu mengurangi fasa impuritas, meningkatkan fraksi volume 2223, serta menurunkan fraksi volume 2212.   Berdasarkan pengamatan struktur morfologi melalui SEM, penambahan CNT pada superkonduktor Bi(Pb)-2223 membentuk serpihan memanjang dengan ruang porositas yang besar sedangkan penambahan TiO2 membentuk gumpalan pada struktur morfologi Bi(Pb)-2223. Proses sintering berulang mampu memperbaiki struktur morfologi B-CNT dan B-TiO menjadi semakin rapat dan ruang porositas yang semakin kecil.
CONDIÇÕES HIGIÊNICO-SANITÁRIAS NA PRODUÇÃO DE QUEIJO ARTESANAL PRODUZIDO EM UBERABA – MG
Authors: Dos Santos Clenilson Gonçalves , Naves Emiliane Andrade Araújo , Paiva Aline Dias , Vianna Priscila C. B , Toloi Fernanda T.
Published: February 2018

O queijo artesanal é um dos mais antigos queijos produzidos no Brasil e desempenha importante papel econômico e sociocultural nas regiões produtoras. O queijo é fabricado com leite cru, o que gera maior preocupação com as boas práticas de fabricação, pois há risco de exposição do consumidor a agentes patogênicos e/ou suas toxinas. Nesse contexto, esse estudo teve por objetivo realizar o diagnóstico sanitário do queijo artesanal produzido no município de Uberaba-MG. Foram selecionados 15 produtores, aos quais foi aplicado um questionário para avaliação das condições higiênico-sanitárias das instalações e do processamento dos queijos, bem como do nível de conhecimento dos produtores sobre a legislação e boas práticas de fabricação. Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas da água, do leite e do queijo de seis das propriedades analisadas. Os resultados apontam que 87% produtores entrevistados não usavam o “pingo” na fabricação do queijo e comercializavam o queijo com média três dias após a produção, o que caracteriza descumprimento da legislação vigente. Além disso, nenhuma das propriedades realizava a cloração da água, o que pode comprometer a qualidade microbiológica do produto. A pesquisa ainda apontou que 46% dos produtores desconheciam quais são as prioridades para solicitar a regularização da queijaria junto ao Instituto Mineiro de Agropecuária (IMA). Em relação às análises microbiológicas pode-se afirmar que a maioria dos parâmetros avaliados esteve acima dos limites estabelecidos pela legislação vigente. Dessa forma, concluiu-se que há desconhecimento dos produtores sobre a legislação e há evidente necessidade de capacitação desses produtores em boas práticas de fabricação.
„Podivně se však časy změnily.“ Roztržka mezi Vilémem Gablerem a Václavem Vladivojem Tomkem v roce 1851
Authors: Pokorná Magdaléna
Published: February 2018

“Strangely, Though, the Times Had Changed.” The Disagreement between Vilém Gabler and Václav Vladivoj Tomek in 1851

Using an edited letter of January 13, 1851, that is, a letter written during a key period of change, this contribution analyses a disagreement between the historian Václav Vladivoj Tomek and the journalist Vilém Gabler, future director of the Higher School for Girls in Prague. The two men were friends and at some point close collaborators of the journalist Karel Havlíček. The experience of 1848 forced them to make certain life-changing decisions which influenced their personal relationship for years to come. Based on Tomek’s Paměti (Memoirs), the author also briefly describes the development of personal relations between V.V. Tomek and Vilém Gabler after the post-1861 change of political circumstances.

„Die Zeiten haben sich merkwürdig geändert.“ Das Zerwürfnis zwischen Vilém Gabler und Václav Vladivoj Tomek im Jahre 1851

Die Studie dokumentiert anhand eines edierten Briefes vom 13. Januar 1851, also aus einer Umbruchszeit, das Zerwürfnis zwischen dem Historiker Václav Vladivoj Tomek und dem Journalisten Vilém Gabler, dem späteren Direktor der Höheren Mädchenschule in Prag. Sie waren Freunde und zeitweilig enge Mitarbeiter des Journalisten Karel Havlíček. Die Erfahrung des Jahres 1848 bedeutete allerdings auch für sie eine existenzielle Entscheidung, die ihre persönliche Beziehung auf Jahre hinaus beeinflusste. Tomek wählte in dieser Zeit die sog. Regierungspartei, hatte enge Kontakte zum Minister für Kultus und Unterricht Leo Graf von Thun-Hohenstein, dem er für seine berufliche Laufbahn verpflichtet war; auch entschloss er sich, als Autor mit der tschechisch erscheinenden Wiener Tageszeitung (Vídeňský denník) zusammenzuarbeiten, die gerade von Leuten herausgegeben wurde, die mit der Regierungspartei verbunden waren. Vilém Gabler war damals mit František Palacký und seinem geplanten (und damals noch nicht verwirklichten) Projekt der tschechischen Enzyklopädie verbunden. Der Kern des Konflikts zwischen Tomek und Gabler war Tomeks vernutete Autorschaft (bzw. Bereitstellung von Unterlagen) eines polemischen Aufsatzes unter dem Titel Hus, Jeroným a Jakoubek (Hus, Hieronymus und Jakobellus) von Josef Alexander Helfert, der gegen die damals frische tschechische Ausgabe des „hussitischen“ Werkes Dějin národa českého v Čechách a v Moravě (Die Geschichte des tschechischen Volkes in Böhmen und Mähren) von František Palacký gerichtet war. Die Studie rekapituliert ferner, insbesondere anhand der Tomekschen Memoiren (Pamětí), kurz die Entwicklung der Beziehungen zwischen V. V. Tomek und Vilém Gabler nach 1861 und den veränderten politischen Verhältnissen.
Komise pro slovník sudetoněmeckých nářečí Německé akademie věd v Praze a její materiály v archivu Univerzity Karlovy
Authors: Ratajová Jana
Published: February 2018

 Committee for a Dictionary of Sudeten-German Dialects of the German Academy of Sciences in Prague and Its Materials in the Archive of the Charles University

In 2013, the Institute of German Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Charles University in Prague handed over to the Archive of the Charles University materials of a Committee for a Dictionary of Sudeten-German Dialects of the German Academy of Sciences in Prague. These materials contain notes from the Committee’s meetings but also source materials for the creation of the dictionary and a language atlas of Sudeten-German dialects (including completed questionnaires and maps). Smaller part of the materials consists of personal documents of Ernst Schwarz, president of the Committee and professor of the German University in Prague. The aim of our contribution is to present, based on the study of surviving materials, an outline of activities of this Commission, including its predecessors, and to describe the surviving written documents related to it.

 Die Kommission für das Wörterbuch sudetendeutscher Dialekte an der Deutschen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Prag und ihre Materialien im Archiv der Karlsuniversität

Im Jahre 2013 übergab das Germanistische Institut an der Philosophischen Fakultät der Karlsuniversität dem Universitätsarchiv Materialien der Kommission für das Wörterbuch der sudetendeutschen Dialekte an der Deutschen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Prag. Es handelt sich hierbei vor allem um Sitzungsprotokolle der Kommission sowie um direkte Unterlagen für die Entstehung des Wörterbuches und eines Sprachenatlasses der sudetendeutschen Dialekte (einschließlich ausgefüllter Fragebogen und Kartenuntelagen), während der kleinere Teil aus drei persönlichen Schriftstücken des Kommissionsvorsitzenden und Professors der Deutschen Universität Prag, Ernst Schwarz, besteht. Der hier vorgelegte Bericht versucht anhand von Untersuchungen des erhaltenen Schriftguts die Tätigkeit der Kommission (einschließlich ihrer Vorgänger) zu skizzieren und auch das erhaltene Schriftmaterial kurz zu beschreiben.
Studenti z území polsko-litevské unie na pražské univerzitě v 17.–18. století
Authors: Tomczak Robert T.
Published: February 2018

This contribution deals with young men from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the Prague University. In the 17th and 18th century, approximately one hundred students from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, i.e., Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Lithuania, Royal Prussia, and the Duchy of Prussia (until 1657), had passed through its lecture halls and their names are recorded in the relevant sources (student registries, albums, and printed university documents). These young men were either of aristocratic (40%) or bourgeois (51%) origin. Within the intellectual context of Early Modern Europe, the Prague University was seen as one of the conservative and provincial establishments. Even so, it managed to attract Polish students by its tradition, its Catholic nature, geographic location (travelling to a nearby country was cheaper), but also lower costs of study and lower living expenses. These were the main considerations which led the young Poles to choose Prague academic environment as the place where they would receive their education. The Prague University was affordable even for poorer nobility and burghers, which formed the majority of Polish students in Prague.
Vzájemná korespondence Henryka Batowského a Jaroslava Bidla
Authors: Ďurčanský Marek , Grudzień Sebastian
Published: February 2018

The edited material includes the ten-year long (1926–1936) correspondence between the well-known Czech his- torian Jaroslav Bidlo (1868–1937) and the Polish historian and Slavicist Henryk Batowski (1907–1999), whose professional career was at that time just starting. Their contacts started with efforts aimed at the promotion of Polish–Czechoslovak relations, but they soon switched to purely scientific subjects. Bidlo and Batowski found common ground in their shared interest in Slavic and Balkan studies, especially the issue of a synthetic history of the Slavic peoples. This text offers an edition of 32 letters and postal cards whose originals are kept in archives in Prague and Krakow.
Zuzana Silagiová – František Šmahel (edd.), Catalogi librorum vetustissimi Universitatis Pragensis / Die ältesten Bücherkataloge der Prager Universität
Authors: Zilynská Blanka
Published: February 2018

Zuzana Silagiová – František Šmahel (edd.), Catalogi librorum vetustissimi Universitatis Pragensis / Die ältesten Bücherkataloge der Prager Universität (Corpus Christianorum – Continuatio Mediaevalis 271: Magistri Iohannis
Hus Opera omnia…, tomus XXXVIIB – Supplementum II), Turnhout, Brepols Publishers 2015, LXXVI + 290 s. + obraz. příloha, ISBN 978-2-503-55485-3
Pavel Zavadil (ed.), Čeští jezuité objevují svět. Dopisy a zprávy o plavbách, cestách a živobytí z Ameriky, Filipín a Marián (1657–1741)
Authors: Čornejová Ivana
Published: February 2018

Pavel Zavadil (ed.), Čeští jezuité objevují svět. Dopisy a zprávy o plavbách, cestách a živobytí z Ameriky, Filipín a Marián (1657–1741)
Itineraria, Praha Argo 2015, 831 s., ISBN 978-80-257-1670-0
Petr Kašing – Jindra Biolková, Direktoři a rektoři VŠB – Technické univerzity Ostrava
Authors: Továrek Michal
Published: February 2018

Petr Kašing – Jindra Biolková, Direktoři a rektoři VŠB – Technické univerzity Ostrava (Přehled osobností v čele univerzity v letech 1849–2014) VŠB – Technická univerzita Ostrava, Ostrava 2014, 184 s., ISBN 978-80-248-3644-7
Šárka Belšíková – Martin Gaži – Jarmila Hansová, Opat Bylanský a obrazy zlatokorunské školy. Osvícenství zdola v okrsku světa
Authors: Brčák Marek
Published: February 2018

Book review: Šárka Belšíková – Martin Gaži – Jarmila Hansová, Opat Bylanský a obrazy zlatokorunské školy. Osvícenství zdola v okrsku světa. České Budějovice, Národní památkový ústav, územní odborné pracoviště v Českých Budějovicích 2013, 288 s., ISBN 978-80-85033-51-9
Kamila Mádrová, Pedagogové ve službách trůnu. Privátní učitelé následníků trůnu Rakouska-Uherska
Authors: Vašková Lenka
Published: February 2018

Book review: Kamila Mádrová, Pedagogové ve službách trůnu. Privátní učitelé následníků trůnu Rakouska-Uherska. Praha, Nakladatelství Lidové noviny 2015, 239 s., ISBN 978-80-7422-308-2
Hana Kábová, Josef Vítězslav Šimák. Jeho život a dílo se zvláštním zřetelem k historické vlastivědě
Authors: Ducháček Milan
Published: February 2018

Book review: Hana Kábová, Josef Vítězslav Šimák. Jeho život a dílo se zvláštním zřetelem k historické vlastivědě. České Budějovice – Pelhřimov, Společnost pro kulturní dějiny – Nová tiskárna Pelhřimov 2013, 606 s., ISBN 978-80-904446-9-0
Lee Benson – Ira Richard Harkavy – John L. Puckett, Dewey’s dream: universities and democracies in an age of education reform: civil society, public schools, and democratic citizenship
Authors: Jareš Jakub
Published: February 2018

Book review: Lee Benson – Ira Richard Harkavy – John L. Puckett, Dewey’s dream: universities and democracies in an age of education reform: civil society, public schools, and democratic citizenship. Philadelphia, Temple University Press 2007,149 s., ISBN 978-1-59213-593-6
Filip Malý – Livia Vrzalová (edd.), Služebníci vědy
Authors: Cajthaml Petr
Published: February 2018

Book review: Filip Malý – Livia Vrzalová (edd.), Služebníci vědy. Praha, Filozofická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy 2013, 225 s., ISBN 978-80-7308-478-3
Automatically Assess Day Similarity Using Visual Lifelogs
Authors: Asnaoui Khalid El , Radeva Petia
Published: February 2018

Today, we witness the appearance of many lifelogging cameras that are able to capture the life of a person wearing the camera and which produce a large number of images everyday. Automatically characterizing the experience and extracting patterns of behavior of individuals from this huge collection of unlabeled and unstructured egocentric data present major challenges and require novel and efficient algorithmic solutions. The main goal of this work is to propose a new method to automatically assess day similarity from the lifelogging images of a person. We propose a technique to measure the similarity between images based on the Swain’s distance and generalize it to detect the similarity between daily visual data. To this purpose, we apply the dynamic time warping (DTW) combined with the Swain’s distance for final day similarity estimation. For validation, we apply our technique on the Egocentric Dataset of University of Barcelona (EDUB) of 4912 daily images acquired by four persons with preliminary encouraging results.

Methods

The search strategy was designed for high sensitivity over precision, to ensure that no relevant studies were lost. We performed a systematic review of the literature using academic databases (ACM, Scopus, etc.) focusing on themes of day similarity, automatically assess day similarity, assess day similarity on EDUB, and assess day similarity using visual lifelogs. The study included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies published between 2006 and 2017.
GENERIC Integrators: Structure Preserving Time Integration for Thermodynamic Systems
Authors: Öttinger Hans Christian
Published: February 2018

Thermodynamically admissible evolution equations for non-equilibrium systems are known to possess a distinct mathematical structure. Within the GENERIC (general equation for the non-equilibrium reversible–irreversible coupling) framework of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, which is based on continuous time evolution, we investigate the possibility of preserving all the structural elements in time-discretized equations. Our approach, which follows Moser’s [1] construction of symplectic integrators for Hamiltonian systems, is illustrated for the damped harmonic oscillator. Alternative approaches are sketched.
Numerical analysis and experimental verification of broadband tristable energy harvesters
Authors: Zhou Shengxi , Cao Junyi , Litak Grzegorz , Lin Jing
Published: February 2018

This paper analyzes the dynamic characteristics of broadband tristable energy harvesters to reveal their response mechanism via a bifurcation diagram, the corresponding frequency spectral analysis and the phase portrait topology. The bifurcation diagram of response voltages shows that tristable energy harvesters orderly undergoes singly periodic intrawell oscillation, singly periodic interwell oscillation, triply periodic interwell oscillation, singly periodic interwell oscillation, double-periodic interwell oscillation, chaotic oscillation, singly periodic interwell oscillation, multi-period oscillation, and finally enters into chaotic oscillation range, as the increase of the excitation amplitude. The frequency spectral analysis demonstrates that sub-harmonics and super-harmonics numerically and experimentally exist in the response voltages of tristable energy harvesters. In addition, it is found that both the first harmonic and the third harmonic are main frequency components in the response voltages.
Specific Adaptations in Performance and Muscle Architecture After Weighted Jump-Squat vs. Body Mass Squat Jump Training in Recreational Soccer Players
Authors: Coratella Giuseppe , Beato Marco , Milanese Chiara , Longo Stefano , Limonta Eloisa , Rampichini Susanna , Cè Emiliano , Bisconti Angela V. , Schena Federico , Esposito Fabio
Published: February 2018

Coratella, G, Beato, M, Milanese, C, Longo, S, Limonta, E, Rampichini, S, Cè, E, Bisconti, AV, Schena, F, and Esposito, F. Specific adaptations in performance and muscle architecture after weighted jump-squat vs. body mass squat jump training in recreational soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 32(4): 921–929, 2018—The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of weighted jump-squat training (WJST) vs. body mass squat jump training (BMSJT) on quadriceps' muscle architecture, lower-limb lean-mass (LM) and muscle strength, performance in change of direction (COD), and sprint and jump in recreational soccer players. Forty-eight healthy soccer players participated in an offseason randomized controlled trial. Before and after an 8-week training intervention, vastus lateralis pennation angle, fascicle length, muscle thickness, LM, squat 1RM, quadriceps and hamstrings isokinetic peak torque, agility T-test, 10-and 30-m sprints, and squat-jump (SJ) were measured. Although similar increases were observed in muscle thickness, fascicle length increased more in WJST (Effect size [ES] = 1.18, 0.82–1.54) than in BMSJT (ES = 0.54, 0.40–0.68), and pennation angle increased only in BMSJT (ES = 1.03, 0.78–1.29). Greater increases in LM were observed in WJST (ES = 0.44, 0.29–0.59) than in BMSJT (ES = 0.21, 0.07–0.37). The agility T-test (ES = 2.95, 2.72–3.18), 10-m (ES = 0.52, 0.22–0.82), and 30-m sprints (ES = 0.52, 0.23–0.81) improved only in WJST, whereas SJ improved in BMSJT (ES = 0.89, 0.43–1.35) more than in WJST (ES = 0.30, 0.03–0.58). Similar increases in squat 1RM and peak torque occurred in both groups. The greater inertia accumulated within the landing phase in WJST vs. BMSJT has increased the eccentric workload, leading to specific eccentric-like adaptations in muscle architecture. The selective improvements in COD in WJST may be related to the increased braking ability generated by the enhanced eccentric workload.
Dred Scott on the Pacific
Authors: Smith Stacey L.
Published: February 2018

In 1857, hundreds of black Californians migrated to western Canada, where they sought to become naturalized British subjects. In less than a decade many of them returned to California. They were propelled, in the first instance, by the Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) ruling that U.S.-born African Americans were not citizens, and in the second instance by the Fourteenth (1868) and Fifteenth (1870) Amendments that reversed Dred Scott and promised voting rights. The article explores the reasons for Vancouver Island’s racial liberalism and its initial acceptance and later political reversal of African American settlers’ rights. In the long run, this pair of transnational migrations illuminate the significant roles of African Americans in shaping the course of westward expansion of both California and Vancouver Island.
GLUT12 promotes prostate cancer cell growth and is regulated by androgens and CaMKK2 signaling
Authors: White Mark A , Tsouko Efrosini , Lin Chenchu , Rajapakshe Kimal , Spencer Jeffrey M , Wilkenfeld Sandi R , Vakili Sheiva S , Pulliam Thomas L , Awad Dominik , Nikolos Fotis , Katreddy Rajasekhara Reddy , Kaipparettu Benny Abraham , Sreekumar Arun , Zhang Xiaoliu , Cheung Edwin , Coarfa Cristian , Frigo Daniel E
Published: February 2018

Despite altered metabolism being an accepted hallmark of cancer, it is still not completely understood which signaling pathways regulate these processes. Given the central role of androgen receptor (AR) signaling in prostate cancer, we hypothesized that AR could promote prostate cancer cell growth in part through increasing glucose uptake via the expression of distinct glucose transporters. Here, we determined that AR directly increased the expression ofSLC2A12, the gene that encodes the glucose transporter GLUT12. In support of these findings, gene signatures of AR activity correlated withSLC2A12expression in multiple clinical cohorts. Functionally, GLUT12 was required for maximal androgen-mediated glucose uptake and cell growth in LNCaP and VCaP cells. Knockdown of GLUT12 also decreased the growth of C4-2, 22Rv1 and AR-negative PC-3 cells. This latter observation corresponded with a significant reduction in glucose uptake, indicating that additional signaling mechanisms could augment GLUT12 function in an AR-independent manner. Interestingly, GLUT12 trafficking to the plasma membrane was modulated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2)-5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, a pathway we previously demonstrated to be a downstream effector of AR. Inhibition of CaMKK2-AMPK signaling decreased GLUT12 translocation to the plasma membrane by inhibiting the phosphorylation of TBC1D4, a known regulator of glucose transport. Further, AR increasedTBC1D4expression. Correspondingly, expression ofTBC1D4correlated with AR activity in prostate cancer patient samples. Taken together, these data demonstrate that prostate cancer cells can increase the functional levels of GLUT12 through multiple mechanisms to promote glucose uptake and subsequent cell growth.
Impact of image quality on reliability of the measurements of left ventricular systolic function and global longitudinal strain in 2D echocardiography
Authors: Nagata Yasufumi , Yuichiro Kado , Takeshi Onoue , Kyoko Otani , Akemi Nakazono , Yutaka Otsuji , Masaaki Takeuchi
Published: February 2018

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) play important roles in diagnosis and management of cardiac diseases. However, the issue of the accuracy and reliability of LVEF and GLS remains to be solved. Image quality is one of the most important factors affecting measurement variability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether improved image quality could reduce observer variability.

Methods: Two sets of three apical images were acquired using relatively old- and new-generation ultrasound imaging systems (Vivid 7 and Vivid E95) in 308 subjects. Image quality was assessed by endocardial border delineation index (EBDI) using a 3-point scoring system. Three observers measured the LVEF and GLS, and these values and inter-observer variability were investigated.

Results: Image quality was significantly better with Vivid E95 (EBDI: 26.8 ± 5.9) than that with Vivid 7 (22.8 ± 6.3, P < 0.0001). Regarding the inter-observer variability of LVEF, the r-value, bias, 95% limit of agreement and intra-class correlation coefficient for Vivid 7 were comparable to those for Vivid E95. The % variabilities were significantly lower for Vivid E95 (5.3–6.5%) than those for Vivid 7 (6.5–7.5%). Regarding GLS, all observer variability parameters were better for Vivid E95 than for Vivid 7. Improvements in image quality yielded benefits to both LVEF and GLS measurement reliability. Multivariate analysis showed that image quality was indeed an important factor of observer variability in the measurement of LVEF and GLS.

Conclusions: The new-generation ultrasound imaging system offers improved image quality and reduces inter-observer variability in the measurement of LVEF and GLS.
Curcumin exerts a protective effect against premature ovarian failure in mice
Authors: Yan Zhengjie , Dai Youjin , Fu Heling , Zheng Yuan , Bao Dan , Yin Yuan , Chen Qin , Nie Xiaowei , Hao Qingting , Hou Daorong , Cui Yugui
Published: February 2018

This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of curcumin againstd-galactose (d-gal)-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) in mice. A mouse POF model was induced by subcutaneous injection ofd-gal (200 mg/kg/day) daily for 42 days. Mice in the curcumin group received bothd-gal treatment and intraperitoneal injection of curcumin (100 mg/kg/day) for 42 days. Ovarian function, oxidative stress and apoptosis were evaluated. The P, E2 and SOD levels were higher, and the FSH, LH and MDA levels were significantly lower in the curcumin group than those in thed-gal group. The proportion of primordial follicles was also significantly higher in the curcumin group than that in thed-gal group. In addition, curcumin treatment afterd-gal administration resulted in significantly lowerSod2,Cat, 8-OhdG, 4-HNE, NTY and senescence-associated protein P16 expression levels, higherAmhexpression levels and less apoptosis in granulosa cells than was observed in thed-gal group. Moreover, the p-Akt, Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression levels were significantly higher and the apoptosis-related cleaved caspase-3 and -9 protein expression levels were markedly lower in the curcumin group than in thed-gal group. In conclusion, curcumin effectively inhibitedd-gal-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and ovarian injury via a mechanism involving the Nrf2/HO-1 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, suggesting that curcumin is a potential protective agent against POF.
The pathogenetic role of β-cell mitochondria in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Fex Malin , Nicholas Lisa M , Vishnu Neelanjan , Medina Anya , Sharoyko Vladimir V , Nicholls David G , Spégel Peter , Mulder Hindrik
Published: February 2018

Mitochondrial metabolism is a major determinant of insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Type 2 diabetes evolves when β-cells fail to release appropriate amounts of insulin in response to glucose. This results in hyperglycemia and metabolic dysregulation. Evidence has recently been mounting that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in these processes. Monogenic dysfunction of mitochondria is a rare condition but causes a type 2 diabetes-like syndrome owing to β-cell failure. Here, we describe novel advances in research on mitochondrial dysfunction in the β-cell in type 2 diabetes, with a focus on human studies. Relevant studies in animal and cell models of the disease are described. Transcriptional and translational regulation in mitochondria are particularly emphasized. The role of metabolic enzymes and pathways and their impact on β-cell function in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology are discussed. The role of genetic variation in mitochondrial function leading to type 2 diabetes is highlighted. We argue that alterations in mitochondria may be a culprit in the pathogenetic processes culminating in type 2 diabetes.
Selection on Expected Maximum Haploid Breeding Values Can Increase Genetic Gain in Recurrent Genomic Selection
Authors: Müller Dominik , Schopp Pascal , Melchinger Albrecht E
Published: February 2018

Genomic selection (GS) offers the possibility to estimate the effects of genome-wide molecular markers, which can be used to calculate genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) for individuals without phenotypes. GEBVs can serve as a selection criterion in recurrent GS, maximizing single-cycle but not necessarily long-term genetic gain. As simple genome-wide sums, GEBVs do not take into account other genomic information, such as the map positions of loci and linkage phases of alleles. Therefore, we herein propose a novel selection criterion called expected maximum haploid breeding value (EMBV). EMBV predicts the expected performance of the best among a limited number of gametes that a candidate contributes to the next generation, if selected. We used simulations to examine the performance of EMBV in comparison with GEBV as well as the recently proposed criterion optimal haploid value (OHV) and weighted GS. We considered different population sizes, numbers of selected candidates, chromosome numbers and levels of dominant gene action. Criterion EMBV outperformed GEBV after about 5 selection cycles, achieved higher long-term genetic gain and maintained higher diversity in the population. The other selection criteria showed the potential to surpass both GEBV and EMBV in advanced cycles of the breeding program, but yielded substantially lower genetic gain in early to intermediate cycles, which makes them unattractive for practical breeding. Moreover, they were largely inferior in scenarios with dominant gene action. Overall, EMBV shows high potential to be a promising alternative selection criterion to GEBV for recurrent genomic selection.
Problematic smartphone use, nature connectedness, and anxiety
Authors: Richardson Miles , Hussain Zaheer , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: February 2018

Background

Smartphone use has increased greatly at a time when concerns about society’s disconnection from nature have also markedly increased. Recent research has also indicated that smartphone use can be problematic for a small minority of individuals.

Methods

In this study, associations between problematic smartphone use (PSU), nature connectedness, and anxiety were investigated using a cross-sectional design (n = 244).

Results

Associations between PSU and both nature connectedness and anxiety were confirmed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify threshold values on the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale (PSUS) at which strong associations with anxiety and nature connectedness occur. The area under the curve was calculated and positive likelihood ratios used as a diagnostic parameter to identify optimal cut-off for PSU. These provided good diagnostic ability for nature connectedness, but poor and non-significant results for anxiety. ROC analysis showed the optimal PSUS threshold for high nature connectedness to be 15.5 (sensitivity: 58.3%; specificity: 78.6%) in response to an LR+ of 2.88.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate the potential utility for the PSUS as a diagnostic tool, with a level of smartphone use that users may perceive as non-problematic being a significant cut-off in terms of achieving beneficial levels of nature connectedness. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Undergraduate education in anaesthesia and related specialties: a compendium of current practice and resources for educators
Authors: Smith Andrew , Carey Chris , Sadler Jonathan , Smith Helen , Stephens Robert , Frith Claire
Published: February 2018

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. We have previously reported the development of the first UK national framework to guide undergraduate education in anaesthesia, perioperative medicine, critical care and pain medicine. This followed an inclusive process of curriculum design aiming to promote high-level learning amongst students. We conducted telephone interviews with senior anaesthetic educators at 33 UK medical schools to establish current provision and practice, then held a consultative national workshop to set broad aims for the final framework and gather information. This paper contains examples of current educational practice selected from ten UK medical schools, presented according to eight key domains of anaesthesia and critical care practice. We have also collected undergraduate educators' practical suggestions for enhancing the learning environment and student experience. The paper aims to provide support and guidance for medical schools in the development of competent, well-rounded doctors who are able to provide safe, patient-centred care in all areas of medical practice.
Disclosed Curriculum: Transfer-Climate Mediates Discipline-Differences in Learner Outcomes
Authors: Kerry Matthew , Ander Douglas
Published: February 2018

This article was migrated. The article was not marked as recommended. Empirical findings generally indicate positive effects of early interprofessional education on student outcomes. The current study seeks to add to this evidence base by examining training transfer as an explanatory-mechanism for IPE's comparative-effectiveness across programs. Specifically, we examine learner curricular experiences (transfer climate) post-IPE delivery in predicting two learner outcomes: 1) team attitudes, and 2) professional identity. A prospective observational design with N=306 first-year students across five disciplines were assessed before an IPE training and 18-months later. A transfer climate-mediation model was used to test program differences in team attitudes and professional identity post-IPE training. Results supported full-mediation, such that program differences in team attitudes and professional identity were contingent on students' post-training reports of IP experiences (transfer climate). In turn, transfer climate's effects on team attitudes and professional identity were partially mediated by two IP variables: 1) normative beliefs (professional valuation), and 2) affective reactions (collaboration comfort). The findings contribute to the identification of 'curricula design factors' as potential confounds of program-differences in learner outcomes following early IPE. We discuss the limited value of program differences in learner outcomes, particularly for studies of early IPE effectiveness.
Development of a vacuum-packing system for food waste from urban catering facilities
Authors: Ciuffa Federico , Cooper Jeff , Grimes Sue , Smith Stephen R.
Published: February 2018

A novel vacuum-packing system is developed for food waste storage and collection under the conditions found in high-density urban and metropolitan catering establishments that has the following beneficial outcomes: (a) a reduction of 38% in the volume of food waste to be stored for collection; (b) a reduction in the physical space required on-site for storage of multiple vacuum packs of waste; (c) containment of the food waste stored in sanitised conditions, thus maintaining the integrity of the waste and extending the useful life of the waste in terms of its ideal composition for optimum beneficial recovery by anaerobic digestion or in-vessel composting, and reducing problems due to odour and vermin; and (d) reduction in the number of vehicle movements required to transfer the wastes to treatment facilities and their environmental impacts, while also achieving savings of £13–16 per bin lift in London, along with a considerable reduction in overall cost.
İngilizlerin Bakış Açısından Balkan Savaşları Sırasındaki Gelişmelerin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: YIKICI Levent
Published: February 2018

Bu
araştırmanın amacı Balkan Savaşları sırasındaki gelişmelerin İngiliz arşiv
belgelerine yansımasının değerlendirilmesidir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda farklı
kaynaklardan temin edilen gizli olarak tasnif edilmiş İngiliz belgeleri
incelenmiş ve elde edilen bulgular anlamlı bir bütün oluşturacak şekilde
sunulmuştur.Araştırma bulgularının dönemin süper gücü İngiltere’nin Balkan coğrafyasındaki
gelişmelere yönelik bağlamsal ve Osmanlı Devleti’ne yönelik genel bakış açısını
ortaya koymak açısından önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir.Araştırma neticesinde
İngiliz arşiv belgelerinde Balkan Savaşındaki gelişmelerden en çok Bulgarların
Çatalca hattına dayanması, Selanik’in müttefik kuvvetlerince işgali ve
Yunanlılar ve Türkler arasındaki deniz mücadeleleri hakkında yazışmalara
rastlanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular bu ana temalar etrafında kronolojik olarak
sunulurken İngilizlerin söz konusu gelişmeler karşısında takındıkları tutum
açıklanmaya ve anlamlandırılmaya gayret gösterilmiştir.