bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A survey of undernutrition in children under three years of age in rural Western China
Authors: Pei Leilei , Ren Lin , Yan Hong
Published: February 2014

Background

Childhood undernutrition adversely impacts child health and is one of China’s largest health burdens. However, there is limited information on the current rate of childhood undernutrition in rural Western China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of childhood undernutrition and explore its association with socio-economic characteristics in Western China.

Methods

A total of 13,532 children of 0 ~ 36 months of age were recruited as subjects from 45 counties and 10 provinces in Western China with a 3-stage probability proportion to size sampling. The composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) was used to assess the childhood undernutrition. The association between socio-economic characteristics and childhood undernutrition was analyzed using a two-level logistic regression.

Results

Based on CIAF, the prevalence of undernutrition among children under three years of age in rural Western China in 2005 was 21.7%. The two-level logistic analysis presented a large difference in undernutrition among the 10 provinces with the highest odds ratio in Guizhou (OR: 2.15, 95%CI: 1.50, 3.08). Older children had a higher prevalence of undernutrition. As compared to girls, boys were more likely to be undernourished (OR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.39). The likelihood of undernutrition was lower in subjects of Han ethnicity as opposed to subjects of minority ethnicities (OR 0.77, 95%CI: 0.65, 0.90). In addition, the education levels of the mother as well as wealth index were both negatively associated with childhood undernutrition.

Conclusions

Childhood undernutrition still remains a large health challenge in rural Western China. This study has important policy implications for the Chinese government to improve childhood undernutrition in the surveyed areas.
SAP domain-dependent Mkl1 signaling stimulates proliferation and cell migration by induction of a distinct gene set indicative of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients
Authors: Gurbuz Irem , Ferralli Jacqueline , Roloff Tim , Chiquet-Ehrismann Ruth , Asparuhova Maria B
Published: February 2014

Background

The main cause of death of breast cancer patients is not the primary tumor itself but the metastatic disease. Identifying breast cancer-specific signatures for metastasis and learning more about the nature of the genes involved in the metastatic process would 1) improve our understanding of the mechanisms of cancer progression and 2) reveal new therapeutic targets. Previous studies showed that the transcriptional regulator megakaryoblastic leukemia-1 (Mkl1) induces tenascin-C expression in normal and transformed mammary epithelial cells. Tenascin-C is known to be expressed in metastatic niches, is highly induced in cancer stroma and promotes breast cancer metastasis to the lung.

Methods

Using HC11 mammary epithelial cells overexpressing different Mkl1 constructs, we devised a subtractive transcript profiling screen to identify the mechanism by which Mkl1 induces a gene set co-regulated with tenascin-C. We performed computational analysis of the Mkl1 target genes and used cell biological experiments to confirm the effect of these gene products on cell behavior. To analyze whether this gene set is prognostic of accelerated cancer progression in human patients, we used the bioinformatics tool GOBO that allowed us to investigate a large breast tumor data set linked to patient data.

Results

We discovered a breast cancer-specific set of genes including tenascin-C, which is regulated by Mkl1 in a SAP domain-dependent, serum response factor-independent manner and is strongly implicated in cell proliferation, cell motility and cancer. Downregulation of this set of transcripts by overexpression of Mkl1 lacking the SAP domain inhibited cell growth and cell migration. Many of these genes are direct Mkl1 targets since their promoter-reporter constructs were induced by Mkl1 in a SAP domain-dependent manner. Transcripts, most strongly reduced in the absence of the SAP domain were mechanoresponsive. Finally, expression of this gene set is associated with high-proliferative poor-outcome classes in human breast cancer and a strongly reduced survival rate for patients independent of tumor grade.

Conclusions

This study highlights a crucial role for the transcriptional regulator Mkl1 and its SAP domain during breast cancer progression. We identified a novel gene set that correlates with bad prognosis and thus may help in deciding the rigor of therapy.
Cancer risk of incremental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in electrocautery smoke for mastectomy personnel
Authors: Tseng Hsin-Shun , Liu Shi-Ping , Uang Shi-Nian , Yang Li-Ru , Lee Shien-Chih , Liu Yao-Jen , Chen Dar-Ren
Published: February 2014

Background

Electrocautery applications in surgical operations produce evasive odorous smoke in the cleanest operation rooms. Because of the incomplete combustion of electrical current in the tissues and blood vessels during electrocautery applications, electrocautery smoke (ES) containing significant unknown chemicals and biological forms is released. The potential hazards and cancer risk should be further investigated from the perspective of the occupational health of surgical staff.

Methods

The particle number concentration and the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ES were thoroughly investigated in 10 mastectomies to estimate the cancer risk for surgical staff. The particle number concentration and gaseous/particle PAHs at the surgeons’ and anesthetic technologists’ (AT) breathing heights were measured with a particle counter and filter/adsorbent samplers. PAHs were soxhlet-extracted, cleaned, and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Results

Abundant submicron particles and high PAH concentrations were found in ES during regular surgical mastectomies. Most particles in ES were in the size range of 0.3 to 0.5 μm, which may potentially penetrate through the medical masks into human respiration. The average particle/gaseous phase PAH concentrations at the surgeon’s breathing height were 131 and 1,415 ng/m3, respectively, which is 20 to 30 times higher than those in regular outdoor environments. By using a toxicity equivalency factor, the cancer risk for the surgeons and anesthetic technologists was calculated to be 117 × 10-6 and 270 × 10-6, respectively; the higher cancer risk for anesthetic technologists arises due to the longer working hours in operation rooms.

Conclusions

The carcinogenic effects of PAHs in ES on the occupational health of surgical staff should not be neglected. The use of an effective ES evacuator or smoke removal apparatus is strongly suggested to diminish the ES hazards to surgical staff.
Asthma: Gln27Glu and Arg16Gly polymorphisms of the beta2-adrenergic receptor gene as risk factors
Authors: de Paiva Ana Carolina Zimiani , Marson Fernando Augusto de Lima , Ribeiro José Dirceu , Bertuzzo Carmen Sílvia
Published: February 2014

Background

Asthma is caused by both environmental and genetic factors. The ADRB2 gene, which encodes the beta 2-adrenergic receptor, is one of the most extensively studied genes with respect to asthma prevalence and severity. The Arg16Gly (+46A > G) and Gln27Glu (+79C > G) polymorphisms in the ADRB2 gene cause changes in the amino acids flanking the receptor ligand site, altering the response to bronchodilators and the risk of asthma through complex pathways. The ADRB2 polymorphisms affect beta-adrenergic bronchodilator action and are a tool to identify at-risk populations.

Objective

To determine the frequency of these two polymorphisms in allergic asthma patients and healthy subjects and to correlate these data with the occurrence and severity of asthma.

Methods

Eighty-eight allergic asthma patients and 141 healthy subjects were included in this study. The ADRB2 polymorphisms were analyzed using the amplification-refractory mutation system – polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) technique. The statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 21.0 software using the Fisher’s Exact and χ2 tests.

Results

The ADRB2 polymorphisms were associated with asthma occurrence. The Arg16Arg, Gln27Gln and Gln27Glu genotypes were risk factors; the odds ratios were 6.782 (CI = 3.07 to 16.03), 2.120 (CI = 1.22 to 3.71) and 8.096 (CI = 3.90 to 17.77), respectively. For the Gly16Gly and Glu27Glu genotypes, the odds ratios were 0.312 (CI = 0.17 to 0.56) and 0.084 (CI = 0.04 to 0.17), respectively. The haplotype analysis showed that there were associations between the following groups: Arg16Arg-Gln27Gln (OR = 5.108, CI = 1.82 to 16.37), Gly16Gly-Glu27Glu (OR = 2.816, CI = 1.25 to 6.54), Arg16Gly-Gln27Glu (OR = 0.048, CI = 0.01 to 0.14) and Gly16Gly-Gln27Glu (OR = 0.1036, CI = 0.02 to 0.39). The polymorphism Gln27Glu was associated with asthma severity, as the Gln27Gln genotype was a risk factor for severe asthma (OR = 2.798, CI = 1.099 to 6.674) and the Gln27Glu genotype was a protective factor for mild (OR = 3.063, CI = 1.037 to 9.041) and severe (OR = 0.182, CI = 0.048 to 0.691) asthma.

Conclusions

The Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu polymorphisms in the ADRB2 gene are associated with asthma presence and severity.
Acupuncture for chronic, stable angina pectoris and an investigation of the characteristics of acupoint specificity: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Li Dehua , Yang Mingxiao , Zhao Ling , Zheng Hui , Li Ying , Chang Xiaorong , Cui Jin , Wang Ruihui , Shi Jing , Lv Junling , Leng Junyan , Li Juan , Liang Fanrong
Published: February 2014

Background

Chronic stable angina pectoris (CSAP) is a common cardiovascular condition that endangers a patient’s life quality and longevity. As demonstrated in several clinical trials, acupuncture is attested to be effective for CSAP. Current trials are not adequate enough to provide high-quality evidence for clinical decision making, as a result of inadequate methodology design and small sample size. Notably, stark controversy toward acupoint specificity also exists in the clinical acupuncture trials for CSAP. Therefore, we designed the present study as a randomized controlled trial primarily to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in addition to routine care among patients with CSAP. Meanwhile, we examined whether acupoint on the disease-affected meridian (DAM) is superior to either acupoint on the non-affected meridian (NAM) or non-acupoint (NA), to further investigate the meridian-based characteristics of acupoint specificity.

Methods/Design

This study was a multicenter, assessor and statistician blinded, randomized controlled trial in China. In this study, 404 participants in sum will be randomly assigned to four groups through central randomization in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. The whole study period is 20 weeks including a 4-week baseline period, a 4-week treatment period and a 12-week follow-up. Participants in the DAM group receive acupuncture stimulation at acupoints on the disease-affected meridian, and three different control groups will undergo acupuncture stimulation at the NAM, the non-acupoint and no intervention respectively, in addition to basic treatment. Participants in the acupuncture groups will receive 12 sessions of acupuncture treatment over 4 weeks, while the wait-listed (WL) group would receive free acupuncture treatment after the completion of the study. The outcome measures in this trial include the frequency of angina attack during 4 weeks as the primary outcome and eight other secondary outcomes.

Discussion

This trial will provide new and relatively high-quality evidence in acupuncture treatment for CSAP. Moreover, this trial may further validate the meridian-based characteristics of acupoint specificity by comparing the strength of acupoints on the disease-affected meridian versus that of the non-affected meridian, to further inspire optimization of acupuncture therapy for CSAP.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials.gov NCT01686230
Characterizing the limited use of point-of-care ultrasound in Colombian emergency medicine residencies
Authors: Henwood Patricia C , Beversluis David , Genthon Alissa A , Wilson Christina N , Norwood Brendan , Silva Daniel , Foran Mark , Romero Mauricio G , Martinez Yury B , Vargas Luis E , Ocampo Alejandro C , Vallejo Carlos E , Arbelaez Christian
Published: February 2014

Background

Emergency medicine (EM) is a growing specialty in Colombia with five residency programs in the country. EM leadership is interested in incorporating point-of-care (POC) ultrasound into a standardized national EM residency curriculum. This study is a nationwide survey of Colombian EM residents designed to explore the current state of POC ultrasound use within EM residencies and examine specific barriers preventing its expansion.

Methods

We conducted a mix-methodology study of all available current EM residents in the five EM residencies in Colombia. The quantitative survey assessed previous ultrasound experience, current use of various applications, desire for further training, and perceived barriers to expanded use. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with current EM residents to gather additional qualitative insight into their practice patterns and perceived barriers to clinician-performed ultrasound.

Results

Sixty-nine EM residents completed the quantitative survey, a response rate of 85% of all current EM residents in Colombia; 52% of resident respondents had previously used ultrasound during their training. Of these, 58% indicated that they had performed <10 scans and 17% reported >40 scans. The most frequently used applications indicated by respondents were trauma, obstetrics, and procedures including vascular access. A quarter indicated they had previously received some ultrasound training, but almost all expressed an interest in learning more. Significant barriers included lack of trained teachers (indicated by 78% of respondents), absence of machines (57%), and limited time (41%). In FGDs, the barriers identified were inter-specialty conflicts over the control of ultrasonography, both institutionally and nationally, and program-specific curriculum decisions to include POC ultrasound.

Conclusion

While currently limited in their access, EM residents in Colombia have a strong interest in integrating POC ultrasound into their training. Current barriers to expanded use include traditional barriers such as a lack of equipment seen in many developing countries, as well as inter-specialty conflicts typical of developed countries. Further collaboration is underway to help overcome these obstacles and integrate POC ultrasound into Colombian EM residency training.
Semantic interestingness measures for discovering association rules in the skeletal dysplasia domain
Authors: Paul Razan , Groza Tudor , Hunter Jane , Zankl Andreas
Published: February 2014

Background

Lately, ontologies have become a fundamental building block in the process of formalising and storing complex biomedical information. With the currently existing wealth of formalised knowledge, the ability to discover implicit relationships between different ontological concepts becomes particularly important. One of the most widely used methods to achieve this is association rule mining. However, while previous research exists on applying traditional association rule mining on ontologies, no approach has, to date, exploited the advantages brought by using the structure of these ontologies in computing rule interestingness measures.

Results

We introduce a method that combines concept similarity metrics, formulated using the intrinsic structure of a given ontology, with traditional interestingness measures to compute semantic interestingness measures in the process of association rule mining. We apply the method in our domain of interest – bone dysplasias – using the core ontologies characterising it and an annotated dataset of patient clinical summaries, with the goal of discovering implicit relationships between clinical features and disorders. Experimental results show that, using the above mentioned dataset and a voting strategy classification evaluation, the best scoring traditional interestingness measure achieves an accuracy of 57.33%, while the best scoring semantic interestingness measure achieves an accuracy of 64.38%, both at the recall cut-off point 5.

Conclusions

Semantic interestingness measures outperform the traditional ones, and hence show that they are able to exploit the semantic similarities inherently present between ontological concepts. Nevertheless, this is dependent on the domain, and implicitly, on the semantic similarity metric chosen to model it.
Revisiting de Beer’s textbook example of heterochrony and jaw elongation in fish: calmodulin expression reflects heterochronic growth, and underlies morphological innovation in the jaws of belonoid fishes
Authors: Gunter Helen M , Koppermann Claudia , Meyer Axel
Published: February 2014

Background

Heterochronic shifts during ontogeny can result in adaptively important innovations and might be initiated by simple developmental switches. Understanding the nature of these developmental events can provide insights into fundamental molecular mechanisms of evolutionary change. Fishes from the Suborder Belonoidei display a vast array of extreme craniofacial morphologies that appear to have arisen through a series of heterochronic shifts. We performed a molecular heterochrony study, comparing postembryonic jaw development in representatives of the Suborder Belonoidei, the halfbeak Dermogenys pusilla (where the lower jaw is considerably elongated compared to the upper jaw) and the needlefish Belone belone (where both jaws are elongated), to a representative of their sister group the Suborder Adrianichthyoidei, the medaka Oryzias latipes, which has retained the ancestral morphology.

Results

Early in development, the lower jaw displays accelerated growth both in needlefish and halfbeak compared to medaka, and secondary acceleration of the upper jaw is seen in needlefish later in their development, representing a case of mosaic heterochrony. We identified toothless extensions of the dentaries as innovations of Belonoid fishes and the source of heterochronic growth. The molecular basis of growth heterochronies in the Belonoidei was examined through comparing expression of skeletogenic genes during development of halfbeak and medaka. The calmodulin paralogue calm1 was identified as a potential regulator of jaw length in halfbeak as its expression gradually increases in the lower jaw, but not the upper jaw, in a pattern that matches its outgrowth. Moreover, medaka displays equal expression of calm1 in the upper and lower jaws, consistent with the lack of jaw outgrowth in this species.

Conclusions

Heterochronic shifts in jaw growth have occurred repeatedly during the evolution of Belonoid fishes and we identify toothless extensions of the dentaries as an important innovation of this group. Our results suggest that calm1 contributes to jaw heterochrony in halfbeak, potentially driving further heterochronic shifts in jaw growth across the Suborder Belonoidei, such as the upper jaw acceleration observed in needlefish.
Reviewer acknowledgement 2013
Authors: Grattan Clive
Published: February 2014

Contributing reviewers

The editors of Clinical and Translational Allergy would like to thank all of our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 3 (2013).
Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis pneumonia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologics, based on risk factors found in a retrospective study
Authors: Katsuyama Takayuki , Saito Kazuyoshi , Kubo Satoshi , Nawata Masao , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most prevalent opportunistic infections in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. In this article, we discuss risk factors for PCP development in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the course of biologic therapy and describe a prophylactic treatment for PCP with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). We also evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 702 RA patients who received biologic therapy and compared the characteristics of patients with vs. without PCP to identify the risk factors for PCP. Accordingly, we analyzed 214 patients who received the TMP/SMX biologic agents as prophylaxis against PCP at the start of treatment to evaluate their effectiveness and safety.

Results

We identified the following as risk factors for PCP: age at least 65 years (hazard ratio (HR) = 4.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04 to 18.2), coexisting pulmonary disease (HR = 8.13, 95% CI = 1.63 to 40.0), and use of glucocorticoids (HR = 11.4, 95% CI = 1.38 to 90.9). We employed a protocol whereby patients with two or three risk factors for PCP would receive prophylactic treatment. In the study with 214 patients, there were no cases of PCP, and the incidence of PCP was reduced to 0.00 per 100 person-years compared with that before the procedure (0.93 per 100 person-years). There were no severe adverse events induced by the TMP/SMX treatment.

Conclusions

RA patients with two or three risk factors for PCP who are receiving biologic therapy can benefit from safe primary prophylaxis.
Endothelial protein C receptor-associated invasiveness of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts is likely driven by group V secretory phospholipase A2
Authors: Xue Meilang , Shen Kaitlin , McKelvey Kelly , Li Juan , Chan Yee-Ka Agnes , Hatzis Vicky , March Lyn , Little Christopher B , Tonkin Michael , Jackson Christopher J
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) mediate joint inflammation and destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) is a specific receptor for the natural anticoagulant activated protein C (APC). It mediates the cytoprotective properties of APC and is expressed in rheumatoid synovial tissue. A recent report shows that group V secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2V) prevents APC from binding to EPCR in endothelium and inhibits EPCR/APC function. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and function of EPCR on RASFs.

Methods

Human synovial fibroblasts (SFs) were isolated from RA or osteoarthritis (OA) synovial tissues and treated with control, EPCR, or sPLA2V small interfering RNA (siRNA); recombinant human APC, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), or sPLA2V. RASF viability and migration/invasion were measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and collagen gel migration/invasion assays, respectively, and cartilage degradation by 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay in the presence of human OA articular cartilage explants. The expression or activation of cytokines, EPCR, cadherin-11, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, and nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) or both were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, or immunostaining.

Results

EPCR was expressed by both OASFs and RASFs but was markedly increased in RASFs. When EPCR was suppressed by siRNA or blocking antibody cell viability, cell invasion and cartilage degradation were reduced by more than 30%. Inflammatory mediators interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), cadherin-11, and NF-κB were significantly reduced by EPCR suppression under control or TNF-α-stimulated conditions. The expression or activation (or both) of MAP kinases ERK, p38, and JNK were also markedly decreased in cells transfected with EPCR siRNA. Further analysis revealed that sPLA2V co-localized with EPCR on RASFs. Suppression of sPLA2V reduced cell viability and cartilage degradation and increased APC binding to RASFs. Conversely, recombinant sPLA2V increased cartilage degradation, blocked APC binding to RASFs, and could not rescue the effects induced by EPCR suppression.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that EPCR is overexpressed by RASFs and mediates the aggressive behavior of RASFs. This function of EPCR is contrary to its cytoprotective role in other settings and is likely driven by sPLA2V.
Variation in the use of renal replacement therapy in patients with septic shock: a substudy of the prospective multicenter observational FINNAKI study
Authors: Poukkanen Meri , Koskenkari Juha , Vaara Suvi T , Pettilä Ville , Karlsson Sari , Korhonen Anna-Maija , Laurila Jouko J , Kaukonen Kirsi-Maija , Lund Vesa , Ala-Kokko Tero I
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Indications for renal replacement therapy (RRT) have not been generally standardized and vary among intensive care units (ICUs). We aimed to assess the proportion, indications, and modality of RRT, as well as the association between the proportion of RRT use and 90-day mortality in patients with septic shock in Finnish adult ICUs.

Methods

We identified patients with septic shock from the prospective observational multicenter FINNAKI study conducted between 1 September 2011 and 1 February 2012. We divided the ICUs into high-RRT and low-RRT ICUs according to the median of the proportion of RRT-treated patients with septic shock. Differences in indications, and modality of RRT between ICU groups were assessed. Finally, we performed an adjusted logistic regression analysis to evaluate the possible association of the ICU group (high vs. low-RRT) with 90-day mortality.

Results

Of the 726 patients with septic shock, 131 (18.0%, 95% CI 15.2 to 20.9%) were treated with RRT. The proportion of RRT-treated patients varied from 3% up to 36% (median 19%) among ICUs. High-RRT ICUs included nine ICUs (354 patients) and low-RRT ICUs eight ICUs (372 patients). In the high-RRT ICUs patients with septic shock were older (P = 0.04), had more cardiovascular (P <0.001) and renal failures (P = 0.003) on the first day in the ICU, were more often mechanically ventilated, and received higher maximum doses of norepinephrine (0.25 μg/kg/min vs. 0.18 μg/kg/min, P <0.001) than in the low-RRT ICUs. No significant differences in indications for or modality of RRT existed between the ICU groups. The crude 90-day mortality rate for patients with septic shock was 36.2% (95% CI 31.1 to 41.3%) in the high-RRT ICUs compared to 33.9% (95% CI 29.0 to 38.8%) in the low-RRT ICUs, P = 0.5. In an adjusted logistic regression analysis the ICU group (high-RRT or low-RRT ICUs) was not associated with 90-day mortality.

Conclusions

Patients with septic shock in ICUs with a high proportion of RRT had more severe organ dysfunctions and received more organ-supportive treatments. Importantly, the ICU group (high-RRT or low-RRT group) was not associated with 90-day mortality.
SNARE-dependent interaction of Src, EGFR and β1 integrin regulates invadopodia formation and tumor cell invasion
Authors: Williams Karla C. , Coppolino Marc G.
Published: February 2014

Acquisition of an invasive phenotype is prerequisite for tumor metastasis. Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and subsequent invasion by tumor cells, is mediated, in part, through subcellular structures called invadopodia. Src-dependent cytoskeletal rearrangements are required to form invadopodia, and here we identify an association between Src, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and β1 integrin that facilitates invadopodia formation. The association of Src, EGFR and β1 integrin is dependent upon membrane traffic that is mediated by syntaxin13 (officially known as STX12) and SNAP23; a similar dependence on these two SNARE proteins was observed for invadopodium-based matrix degradation and cell invasion. Inhibition of SNARE function impaired the delivery of Src and EGFR to developing invadopodia, as well as the β1-integrin-dependent activation of Src and phosphorylation of EGFR on Tyr residue 845. We also identified an association between SNAP23 and β1 integrin, and inhibition of β1 integrin increased this association, whereas the interaction between syntaxin13 and SNAP23 was reduced. The results suggest that SNARE-dependent trafficking is regulated, in part, by β1 integrin and is required for the delivery of Src and EGFR to sites of invadopodia formation in order to support tumor cell invasion.
Palladin promotes assembly of non-contractile dorsal stress fibers through VASP recruitment
Authors: Gateva Gergana , Tojkander Sari , Koho Sami , Carpen Olli , Lappalainen Pekka
Published: February 2014

Stress fibers are major contractile actin structures in non-muscle cells, where they have an important role in adhesion, morphogenesis and mechanotransduction. Palladin is a multidomain protein, which associates with stress fibers in a variety of cell-types. However, the exact role of palladin in stress fiber assembly and maintenance has remained obscure, and whether it functions as an actin filament cross-linker or scaffolding protein was unknown. We demonstrate that palladin is specifically required for assembly of non-contractile dorsal stress fibers, and is consequently essential for generation of stress fiber networks and regulation of cell morphogenesis in osteosarcoma cells migrating in three-dimensional collagen matrix. Importantly, we reveal that palladin is necessary for the recruitment of vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) to dorsal stress fibers, and that it promotes stress fiber assembly through VASP. Both palladin and VASP display similar rapid dynamics at dorsal stress fibers, suggesting that they associate with stress fibers as a complex. Thus, palladin functions as a dynamic scaffolding protein, which promotes the assembly of dorsal stress fibers by recruiting VASP to these structures.
Cadherin switching during the formation and differentiation of theDrosophilamesoderm: implications for epithelial mesenchymal transitions
Authors: Schäfer Gritt , Narasimha Maithreyi , Vogelsang Elisabeth , Leptin Maria
Published: February 2014

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) are typically accompanied by downregulation of epithelial (E-) cadherin, and often additionally by upregulation of a mesenchymal/neuronal (N-) cadherin. Snail represses transcription of the E-cadherin gene both during normal development and during tumor spreading. The formation of the mesodermal germ layer in Drosophila, considered a paradigm of a developmental EMT, is associated with Snail-mediated repression of E-cadherin and the upregulation of N-cadherin. Using genetic manipulations to remove or overexpress the cadherins, we show here that the complementarity of cadherin expression is not necessary for the segregation or the dispersal of the mesodermal germ layer in Drosophila. We however discover differential effects on E- and N-cadherin on the differentiation of subsets of mesodermal derivatives, which depend on Wingless signalling from the ectoderm, indicating differential abilities of E- and N-cadherin to bind and sequester the common junctional and signalling effector beta-catenin. They suggest that the need to downregulate E-cadherin in the mesoderm may be to facilitate optimal levels of Wingless signalling.
Dynamic coupling of ALCAM to the actin cortex strengthens cell adhesion to CD6
Authors: te Riet Joost , Helenius Jonne , Strohmeyer Nico , Cambi Alessandra , Figdor Carl G. , Müller Daniel J.
Published: February 2014

At the immunological synapse, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecules (ALCAM) on the dendritic cell (DC) and CD6 molecules on the T cell contribute to sustained DC-T cell contacts. However, little is known about how ALCAM-CD6 bonds resist and adapt to mechanical stress. Here, we combine single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) with total-internal fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) to examine ALCAM-CD6-mediated cell adhesion. The combination of cells expressing ALCAM-constructs with specific cytoplasmic tail mutations and improved SCFS analysis routines reveal that the affinity of ALCAM-CD6 bonds is not influenced by linking of the intracellular domains of ALCAM to the actin cortex. In contrast, the recruitment of ALCAM to adhesion sites and the propensity of ALCAM to anchor plasma membrane tethers depend on actin cytoskeletal interactions. Furthermore, linking ALCAM to the actin cortex by adaptor proteins stiffens the cortex and strengthens cell adhesion. We propose a framework of how ALCAMs contribute to DC-T cell adhesion, stabilize DC-T cell contacts, and form a mechanical link between CD6 and the actin cortex to strengthen cell adhesion at the immunological synapse.
Agriculture in the Global Economy
Authors: Alston Julian M. , Pardey Philip G.
Published: February 2014

The past 50–100 years have witnessed dramatic changes in agricultural production and productivity, driven to a great extent by public and private investments in agricultural research, with profound implications especially for the world's poor. In this article, we first discuss how the high-income countries like the United States represent a declining share of global agricultural output while middle-income countries like China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia represent a rising share. We then look at the differing patterns of agricultural inputs across countries and the divergent productivity paths taken by their agricultural sectors. Next we examine productivity more closely and the evidence that the global rate of agricultural productivity growth is declining—with potentially serious prospects for the price and availability of food for the poorest people in the world. Finally we consider patterns of agricultural research and development efforts.
American Farms Keep Growing: Size, Productivity, and Policy
Authors: Sumner Daniel A.
Published: February 2014

Commercial agriculture in the United States is comprised of several hundred thousand farms, and these farms continue to become larger and fewer. The size of commercial farms is sometimes best-measured by sales, in other cases by acreage, and in still other cases by quantity produced of specific commodities, but for many commodities, size has doubled and doubled again in a generation. This article summarizes the economics of commercial agriculture in the United States, focusing on growth in farm size and other changes in size distribution in recent decades. I also consider the relationships between farm size distributions and farm productivity growth and farm subsidy policy.
US Manufacturing: Understanding Its Past and Its Potential Future
Authors: Baily Martin Neil , Bosworth Barry P.
Published: February 2014

The development of the US manufacturing sector over the last half-century displays two striking and somewhat contradictory features: 1) the growth of real output in the US manufacturing sector, measured by real value added, has equaled or exceeded that of total GDP, keeping the manufacturing share of the economy constant in price-adjusted terms; and 2) there is a long-standing decline in the share of total employment attributable to manufacturing. The persistence of these trends seems inconsistent with stories of a recent or sudden crisis in the US manufacturing sector. After all, as recently as 2010, the United States had the world's largest manufacturing sector measured by its valued-added, and while it has now been surpassed by China, the United States remains a very large manufacturer. On the other hand, there are some potential causes for concern. First, though manufacturing's output share of GDP has remained stable over 50 years, and manufacturing retains a reputation as a sector of rapid productivity improvements, this is largely due to the spectacular performance of one subsector of manufacturing: computers and electronics. Second, recently there has been a large drop in the absolute level of manufacturing employment that many find alarming. Third, the US manufacturing sector runs an enormous trade deficit, equaling $460 billion in 2012, which is also very concentrated in trade with Asia. Finally, we consider the future evolution of the manufacturing sector and its importance for the US economy. Many of the largest US corporations continue to shift their production facilities overseas. It is important to understand why the United States is not perceived to be an attractive base for their production.
Features of Retail Real Estate Market Dynamics in the North-Caucasian Region
Authors: Моргунова  , Morgunova Yelyena
Published: February 2014

The commercial real estate market has a great development potential in this

country. The author evaluates current developments at the regional market

of retail real estate and its specifics inherent to the Southern Regions of

Russia. Domestic market plays an essential role in the national economy, as

a crucial factor of the of economic development pace. In many regions the

commercial real estate sector demonstrates the highest development rates

as compared to the other sectors of economy. The commercial real estate

sector is also considered as the most attractive for investments. These factors

emphasize the urgency of the presented research.
The System Criteria Score of Basic Economic Structure: Territory, Infrastructure, Processes, Technological Processes, And Final Products
Authors: Гажур  , Gazhur A.
Published: February 2014

Various approaches to forecasting the future economic development of

civilization are explored. The author suggests a uniform criteria scoring method

to evaluate the array of energy indicators, which characterize an economic

unit as a basis for forecasting of energy-effective development.
Using the methods of correlation and regression analysis to analyze the economic activity of enterprises
Authors: Льянова  , Lyanova Fatima
Published: February 2014

It is demonstrated how to apply correlation and regression analysis for the

purpose of evaluating economic activity of an enterprise. The basic regression

models and examples of practical application thereof are provided.
The Role of Cross-cultural Analysis in Choosing the International Marketing Strategy of Adaptation or Standardization
Authors: Щепеткова  , Shchepetkova D.
Published: February 2014

Nowadays most of the companies successfully sell goods by crossing the

borders of the domestic country. However international corporations often

face problems, connected with cultural differences in consumer behavior as

well as distinctions in their perception of foreign products. Thus, for achieving

the success on the international markets, a company should take precise

actions before launching a new product, selecting appropriate marketing

strategies and carrying out cross-cultural marketing research.
Friendships and Search Behavior in Labor Markets
Authors: Sterling Adina D.
Published: February 2014

This paper examines how organizations use employee networks to contend with job seekers' search behavior. According to prior research, in markets where job seekers engage in nonsequential job search, organizations respond with tactics such as exploding offers and recruiting candidates earlier. In this paper, I posit that organizations have a social structural response. I argue that in an attempt to avoid problems related to candidates' job search, organizations are more likely to provide job offers to candidates with friends in the hiring organization than to those without friends. I test and find support for this hypothesis in a study of entry-level professionals in business and law. After a period of trial employment, candidates were more likely to receive job offers from organizations if they had a friend employed there than if they did not. The implications of this study for research on labor markets, networks, and inequality are discussed.

This paper was accepted by Jesper Sørensen, organizations.
Simulated reduction of hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico due to phosphorus limitation
Authors: Laurent Arnaud , Fennel Katja
Published: February 2014

Excess nutrient loading from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River system promotes the seasonal development of hypoxic bottom waters on the Louisiana shelf with detrimental effects on the benthic fauna. In the Mississippi River plume, primary production becomes phosphorus-limited between May and July at the peak of nutrient loading, displacing a portion of primary production and depositional fluxes westward. Here we quantitatively assessed, for the first time, the effect of phosphorus limitation on hypoxia development in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River plume using a realistic physical-biogeochemical model. Results indicate that, despite a redistribution of respiration processes toward the western shelf, phosphorus limitation does not promote a westward expansion or relocation of hypoxia, as previously speculated. Rather, the onset of hypoxia was delayed and the size of the hypoxic zone reduced. Sensitivity experiments showed that this feature is robust in our model. Results from simulations with altered river input indicate that, despite phosphorus limitation, the co-reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus loads remains the best strategy to reduce hypoxia. Yet, even though nutrient load reductions have an immediate effect on hypoxia in this analysis, a 50% reduction in both nutrients will not be sufficient to meet the Gulf Hypoxia action plan goal of a 5·103 km2 hypoxic area.
A ENTREVISTA COMO INSTRUMENTO DE PESQUISA SOBRE PRÁTICAS EDUCATIVAS DE FAMÍLIAS
Authors: Martins Edna
Published: February 2014

O estudo da família vem constituindo um campo de crescentes investigações. O presente trabalho apresenta um relato de experiência de pesquisa qualitativa com famílias de periferia metropolitana, apontando para a reflexão crítica acerca da entrevista como instrumento metodológico na compreensão desse fenômeno. À luz da perspectiva de Pierre Bourdieu, aborda questões sobre a pesquisa que utiliza a entrevista, focalizando questões psicossociais presentes numa situação de encontro entre pesquisador e entrevistado. Levanta os limites e as possibilidades no estudo dos processos familiares, além de discutir as relações de poder e de desigualdade contidas na situação de entrevista. Oferece subsídios tanto para a discussão de procedimentos de coleta de dados, como também no registro e transcrição das narrativas de entrevista de investigação científica.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i3.2697
O DISPOSITIVO METODOLÓGICO E INTERVENTIVO AUTOCONFRONTAÇÃO E SEUS USOS EM PESQUISAS DE EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Perez Deivis , Messias Carla
Published: February 2014

Este artigo apresenta estudo acadêmico-científico sobre o uso do dispositivo metodológico e interventivo nomeado autoconfrontação em pesquisas produzidas em programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu de Educação brasileiros. A autoconfrontação foi criada pelo linguista Daniel Faïta e aperfeiçoada pelo psicólogo Yves Clot no contexto da abordagem histórico-cultural de Psicologia e Educação, de Lev Semenovich Vigotski e, mais especificamente, no âmbito da Clínica da Atividade. Trata-se de dispositivo que busca captar os múltiplos discursos e perspectivas em torno de um ofício determinado, integrando pesquisador e trabalhadores, de modo a favorecer a instalação de um movimento dialético de análise e produção de saberes sobre o trabalho, apropriação destes conhecimentos pelo coletivo de trabalhadores e transformação da atividade laboral. Optamos pela abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa e pela realização da análise documental dos resumos de pesquisas que resultaram na produção de teses de doutorado e dissertações de mestrado realizadas no Brasil entre 1987 e 2011. Foram examinados os estudos que tiveram os seus resumos reunidos e tornados disponíveis pela Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) em seu sítio eletrônico. Os resultados apontam que a autoconfrontação é usada de modo fragmentado nos estudos produzidos na área da Educação, ao servir prioritariamente para recolha de dados e ao conferir menor ênfase para a transformação do processo laboral.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i3.2699
INTEGRAÇÃO DA EDUCAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL AO ENSINO MÉDIO NO PARANÁ: DAS INTENÇÕES AOS RESULTADOS
Authors: Czernisz Eliane Cleide De Silva , Barion Isabel Francisco de Oliveira
Published: February 2014

Este texto apresenta discussão bibliográfica, de documentos e dados de entrevistas referentes ao ensino médio e profissional. Visa analisar a integração da educação profissional ao ensino médio no estado do Paraná no período de 2004 a 2010 em duas escolas. Questiona-se como ocorreu a integração. O ensino médio tornou-se dissociado da educação profissional com a LDBEN 9.394/96, normatizado pelo Decreto 2.208/97. A fim de reverter os encaminhamentos oriundos dessa normativa foi revogado o Decreto 2.208/97 com a promulgação do Decreto 5.154/2004. O governo do Paraná antecipou tal integração, apresentando, já no ano de 2003, as bases políticas e pedagógicas norteadoras do processo de integração da educação profissional ao ensino médio, passando a desenvolver o ensino médio integrado em escolas da rede estadual no ano de 2004. Como resultados desse processo, tornaram-se necessárias a formação continuada de professores, a revisão dos projetos pedagógicos e uma nova concepção curricular. Conclui-se que o limite e a possibilidade da proposta é a compreensão do trabalho como princípio educativo.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i3.2704
OS MOOCS NO MUNDO: UM LEVANTAMENTO DE CURSOS ONLINE ABERTOS MASSIVOS
Authors: Dal Forno Josiane Pozzatti , Knoll Graziela Frainer
Published: February 2014

No contexto da web 2.0 e da educação aberta, os MOOCs (Cursos Online Abertos Massivos) surgem como uma modalidade de cursos, ofertados de forma gratuita geralmente, para qualquer pessoa com acesso à internet e em qualquer lugar do mundo. O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar como se apresentam os MOOCs na atualidade, descrevendo os cursos ofertados por diferentes plataformas em termos de: instituições credenciadas, país de origem, número total de cursos, idiomas e certificação. O levantamento quantitativo foi realizado entre agosto e novembro de 2013, com base nas plataformas: edX e OpenupEd. Os resultados demonstram certa homogeneidade nos cursos ofertados pela plataforma edX, especialmente em relação ao idioma e aos formatos empregados, o que pode ser explicado pela presença majoritária de instituições norte-americanas na plataforma, enquanto que, na plataforma OpenupEd, é constatada maior diversidade, verificada tanto nos idiomas, quanto nos formatos dos cursos.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i3.2705
Arbitrarily large residual finiteness growth
Authors: Bou-Rabee Khalid , Seward Brandon
Published: February 2014

The residual finiteness growth of a group quantifies how well approximated the group is by its finite quotients. In this paper, we construct groups with arbitrarily large residual finiteness growth.
We also demonstrate a new relationship between residual finiteness growth and some decision problems in groups, which we apply to our new groups.
Unique sensors and methods for traceable
measurements on micro features
Authors: Christoph Ralf , Schmidt Ingomar
Published: February 2014

Measurements on micro features require high accuracy and high structural
resolution with dense point clouds. Different sensors that are capable of
providing these demands have been integrated into coordinate measuring
machines. The different basic working principles and recently developed
functionalities will be presented. Highest flexibility is achieved by the
combination of different sensors in a multi sensor coordinate measuring
machine.
Correlation between haptically perceived quality characteristics and
measured technical parameters for leather surfaces
Authors: Falk Björn , Neumann Annika , Simon Falk , Stoll Andrea , Schmitt Robert
Published: February 2014

Rapidly changing market conditions and intense competition force companies
to secure their market position through constant customer-focused
innovation. To achieve the highest possible overlap between customer
requirements and product characteristics, customers' subjective opinions
have to be taken into account. For customers it is difficult to accurately
describe their exact requirements regarding the products they want. In this
paper a methodology is presented, that is able to measure and implement
exact requirements of human judgment and correlate them with technical
parameters.