bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy for breast mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Ying-Hua , Wei Wei , Liu Jian-Lun
Published: January 2012

Background

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the breast is a minimally invasive yet maximally diagnostic method. However, the clinical use of FNAB has been questioned. The purpose of our study was to establish the overall value of FNAC in the diagnosis of breast lesions.

Methods

After a review and quality assessment of 46 studies, sensitivity, specificity and other measures of accuracy of FNAB for evaluating breast lesions were pooled using random-effects models. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were used to summarize overall accuracy. The sensitivity and specificity for the studies data (included unsatisfactory samples) and underestimation rate of unsatisfactory samples were also calculated.

Results

The summary estimates for FNAB in diagnosis of breast carcinoma were as follows (unsatisfactory samples was temporarily exluded): sensitivity, 0.927 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.921 to 0.933); specificity, 0.948 (95% CI, 0.943 to 0.952); positive likelihood ratio, 25.72 (95% CI, 17.35 to 28.13); negative likelihood ratio, 0.08 (95% CI, 0.06 to 0.11); diagnostic odds ratio, 429.73 (95% CI, 241.75 to 763.87); The pooled sensitivity and specificity for 11 studies, which reported unsatisfactory samples (unsatisfactory samples was considered to be positive in this classification) were 0.920 (95% CI, 0.906 to 0.933) and 0.768 (95% CI, 0.751 to 0.784) respectively. The pooled proportion of unsatisfactory samples that were subsequently upgraded to various grade cancers was 27.5% (95% CI, 0.221 to 0.296).

Conclusions

FNAB is an accurate biopsy for evaluating breast malignancy if rigorous criteria are used. With regard to unsatisfactory samples, futher invasive procedures are required in order to minimize the chance of a missed diagnosis of breast cancer.
Health literacy and public health: A systematic review and integration of definitions and models
Authors: Sørensen Kristine , Van den Broucke Stephan , Fullam James , Doyle Gerardine , Pelikan Jürgen , Slonska Zofia , Brand Helmut ,   (HLS-EU) Consortium Health Literacy Project European
Published: January 2012

Background

Health literacy concerns the knowledge and competences of persons to meet the complex demands of health in modern society. Although its importance is increasingly recognised, there is no consensus about the definition of health literacy or about its conceptual dimensions, which limits the possibilities for measurement and comparison. The aim of the study is to review definitions and models on health literacy to develop an integrated definition and conceptual model capturing the most comprehensive evidence-based dimensions of health literacy.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed to identify definitions and conceptual frameworks of health literacy. A content analysis of the definitions and conceptual frameworks was carried out to identify the central dimensions of health literacy and develop an integrated model.

Results

The review resulted in 17 definitions of health literacy and 12 conceptual models. Based on the content analysis, an integrative conceptual model was developed containing 12 dimensions referring to the knowledge, motivation and competencies of accessing, understanding, appraising and applying health-related information within the healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion setting, respectively.

Conclusions

Based upon this review, a model is proposed integrating medical and public health views of health literacy. The model can serve as a basis for developing health literacy enhancing interventions and provide a conceptual basis for the development and validation of measurement tools, capturing the different dimensions of health literacy within the healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion settings.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enrichment alters performance and immune response in infectious bursal disease challenged broilers
Authors: Maroufyan Elham , Kasim Azhar , Ebrahimi Mahdi , Loh Tech Chwen , Bejo Mohd Hair , Zerihun Hailemariam , Hosseni Fatemeh , Goh Yong Meng , Farjam Abdoreza Soleimani
Published: January 2012

Background

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) results in economic loss due to mortality, reduction in production efficiency and increasing the usage of antibiotics. This study was carried out to investigate the modulatory roles of dietaryn-3polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) enrichment in immune response and performance of IBD challenged broiler chickens.

Methods

A total of 300 day old male broiler chicks were assigned to four dietaryn-3PUFA ascending levels as the treatment groups (T1: 0.5; T2: 8.0; T3: 11.5; T4: 16.5) using combinations of tuna oil and sunflower oil. All diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. On day 28, all birds were challenged with IBD virus. Antibody titer, cytokine production, bursa lesion pre and post-challenge and lymphoid organ weight were recorded.

Results

On d 42 the highest body weight was observed in the T2 and T3 and the lowest in T4 chickens. Feed conversion ratio of the T2 broilers was significantly better than the other groups. Although productive parameters were not responded to the dietary n-3 PUFA in a dose-dependent manner, spleen weight, IBD and Newcastle disease antibody titers and IL-2 and IFN-γ concentrations were constantly elevated by n-3 PUFA enrichment.

Conclusions

Dietary n-3 PUFA enrichment may improve the immune response and IBD resistance, but the optimum performance does not coincide with the optimum immune response. It seems that dietary n-3 PUFA modulates the broiler chicken performance and immune response in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, a moderate level of dietary n-3 PUFA enrichment may help to put together the efficiency of performance and relative immune response enhancement in broiler chickens.
Induction of ebolavirus cross-species immunity using retrovirus-like particles bearing the Ebola virus glycoprotein lacking the mucin-like domain
Authors: Ou Wu , Delisle Josie , Jacques Jerome , Shih Joanna , Price Graeme , Kuhn Jens H , Wang Vivian , Verthelyi Daniela , Kaplan Gerardo , Wilson Carolyn A
Published: January 2012

Background

The genusEbolavirusincludes five distinct viruses. Four of these viruses cause hemorrhagic fever in humans. Currently there are no licensed vaccines for any of them; however, several vaccines are under development. Ebola virus envelope glycoprotein (GP1,2) is highly immunogenic, but antibodies frequently arise against its least conserved mucin-like domain (MLD). We hypothesized that immunization with MLD-deleted GP1,2(GPΔMLD) would induce cross-species immunity by making more conserved regions accessible to the immune system.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, mice were immunized with retrovirus-like particles (retroVLPs) bearing Ebola virus GPΔMLD, DNA plasmids (plasmo-retroVLP) that can produce such retroVLPsin vivo, or plasmo-retroVLP followed by retroVLPs.

Results

Cross-species neutralizing antibody and GP1,2-specific cellular immune responses were successfully induced.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that GPΔMLD presented through retroVLPs may provide a strategy for development of a vaccine against multiple ebolaviruses. Similar vaccination strategies may be adopted for other viruses whose envelope proteins contain highly variable regions that may mask more conserved domains from the immune system.
Translation and validation of the German version of the Bournemouth Questionnaire for Neck Pain
Authors: Soklic Marina , Peterson Cynthia , Humphreys B Kim
Published: January 2012

Background

Clinical outcome measures are important tools to monitor patient improvement during treatment as well as to document changes for research purposes. The short-form Bournemouth questionnaire for neck pain patients (BQN) was developed from the biopsychosocial model and measures pain, disability, cognitive and affective domains. It has been shown to be a valid and reliable outcome measure in English, French and Dutch and more sensitive to change compared to other questionnaires. The purpose of this study was to translate and validate a German version of the Bournemouth questionnaire for neck pain patients.

Methods

German translation and back translation into English of the BQN was done independently by four persons and overseen by an expert committee. Face validity of the German BQN was tested on 30 neck pain patients in a single chiropractic practice. Test-retest reliability was evaluated on 31 medical students and chiropractors before and after a lecture. The German BQN was then assessed on 102 first time neck pain patients at two chiropractic practices for internal consistency, external construct validity, external longitudinal construct validity and sensitivity to change compared to the German versions of the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD).

Results

Face validity testing lead to minor changes to the German BQN. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient for the test-retest reliability was 0.99. The internal consistency was strong for all 7 items of the BQN with Cronbach α's of .79 and .80 for the pre and post-treatment total scores. External construct validity and external longitudinal construct validity using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed statistically significant correlations for all 7 scales of the BQN with the other questionnaires. The German BQN showed greater responsiveness compared to the other questionnaires for all scales.

Conclusions

The German BQN is a valid and reliable outcome measure that has been successfully translated and culturally adapted. It is shorter, easier to use, and more responsive to change than the NDI and NPAD.
N-cadherin expression level modulates integrin-mediated polarity and strongly impacts on the speed and directionality of glial cell migration
Authors: Camand Emeline , Peglion Florent , Osmani Naël , Sanson Marc , Etienne-Manneville Sandrine
Published: January 2012

Perturbation of cell polarity is a hallmark of cancer cells. In carcinomas, loss of epithelial E-cadherin contributes to the loss of cell polarity and promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition and carcinoma infiltration. However, the contribution of classical cadherins to the development of non-epithelial tumours is less well documented. We investigated the impact of the level of N-cadherin expression on the polarity and migration of normal and tumour glial cells. Low levels of N-cadherin were frequently observed in human glioma samples and purified glioma cells. Using a wound-healing assay, we show that a decreased level of N-cadherin promotes a faster and less-directed migration both in normal and tumour cells. N-cadherin-mediated contacts control cell velocity and polarity through the regulation of focal adhesions. In cells expressing low levels of N-cadherin, small focal adhesions are present at the entire cell periphery of confluent cells and are not affected by wounding of the cell monolayer. Under these conditions, wound-induced integrin-mediated recruitment of the small GTPase Cdc42, activation of the Cdc42-mediated polarity pathway and centrosome reorientation do not occur. Re-expression of N-cadherin in gliomas restores cell polarity and strongly reduces cell velocity, suggesting that loss of N-cadherin could contribute to the invasive capacity of tumour astrocytes.
Melanoregulin regulates retrograde melanosome transport through interaction with the RILP·p150Glued complex in melanocytes
Authors: Ohbayashi Norihiko , Maruta Yuto , Ishida Morié , Fukuda Mitsunori
Published: January 2012

Melanoregulin (Mreg), a dilute suppressor gene product, has been implicated in the regulation of melanosome transport in mammalian epidermal melanocytes, because Mreg deficiency was found to restore peripheral melanosome distribution from perinuclear melanosome aggregation in Rab27A-deficient melanocytes. However, the function of Mreg in melanosome transport has remained unknown. Here we show that Mreg regulates microtubule-dependent retrograde melanosome transport through the dynein-dynactin motor complex. Mreg interacted with the C-terminal domain of RILP (Rab interacting lysosomal protein) and formed a complex with RILP and p150Glued, a component of the dynein-dynactin motor complex, in cultured cells. Overexpression of Mreg, RILP, or both in normal melanocytes induced perinuclear melanosome aggregation, whereas knockdown of Mreg or functional disruption of the dynein-dynactin motor complex restored peripheral melanosome distribution in Rab27A-deficient melanocytes. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which the dynein-dynactin motor complex recognizes Mreg on mature melanosomes through interaction with RILP and is involved in their centripetal movement.
Predicting the physiological performance of ectotherms in fluctuating thermal environments
Authors: Niehaus Amanda C. , Angilletta Michael J. , Sears Michael W. , Franklin Craig E. , Wilson Robbie S.
Published: January 2012

Physiological ecologists have long sought to understand the plasticity of organisms in environments that vary widely among years, seasons and even hours. This is now even more important because human-induced climate change is predicted to affect both the mean and variability of the thermal environment. Although environmental change occurs ubiquitously, relatively few researchers have studied the effects of fluctuating environments on the performance of developing organisms. Even fewer have tried to validate a framework for predicting performance in fluctuating environments. Here, we determined whether reaction norms based on performance at constant temperatures (18, 22, 26, 30 and 34°C) could be used to predict embryonic and larval performance of anurans at fluctuating temperatures (18–28°C and 18–34°C). Based on existing theory, we generated hypotheses about the effects of stress and acclimation on the predictability of performance in variable environments. Our empirical models poorly predicted the performance of striped marsh frogs (Limnodynastes peronii) at fluctuating temperatures, suggesting that extrapolation from studies conducted under artificial thermal conditions would lead to erroneous conclusions. During the majority of ontogenetic stages, growth and development in variable environments proceeded more rapidly than expected, suggesting that acute exposures to extreme temperatures enable greater performance than do chronic exposures. Consistent with theory, we predicted performance more accurately for the less variable thermal environment. Our results underscore the need to measure physiological performance under naturalistic thermal conditions when testing hypotheses about thermal plasticity or when parameterizing models of life-history evolution.
Characterisation of chemosensory trigeminal receptors in the rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss: responses to chemical irritants and carbon dioxide
Authors: Mettam Jessica J. , McCrohan Catherine R. , Sneddon Lynne U.
Published: January 2012

Trigeminally innervated, mechanically sensitive chemoreceptors (M) were previously identified in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, but it is not known whether these receptors are responsive only to noxious, chemical irritants or have a general chemosensory function. This study aimed to characterise the stimulus–response properties of these receptors in comparison with polymodal nociceptors (P). Both P and M gave similar response profiles to acetic acid concentrations. The electrophysiological properties were similar between the two different afferent types. To determine whether the receptors have a nociceptive function, a range of chemical stimulants was applied to these receptors, including non-noxious stimuli such as ammonium chloride, bile, sodium bicarbonate and alarm pheromone, and potentially noxious chemical irritants such as acetic acid, carbon dioxide, low pH, citric acid, citric acid phosphate buffer and sodium chloride. Only irritant stimuli evoked a response, confirming their nociceptive function. All receptor afferents tested responded to carbon dioxide (CO2) in the form of mineral water or soda water. The majority responded to 1% acetic acid, 2% citric acid, citric acid phosphate buffer (pH 3) and 5.0 mol l–1 NaCl. CO2 receptors have been characterised in the orobranchial cavity and gill arches in fish; however, this is the first time that external CO2 receptors have been identified on the head of a fish. Because the fish skin is in constant contact with the aqueous environment, contaminants with a low pH or hypercapnia may stimulate the nociceptive system in fish.
Establishing food site vectors in desert ants
Authors: Bolek Siegfried , Wittlinger Matthias , Wolf Harald
Published: January 2012

When returning to the site of a successful previous forage, where does one search for the goodies? Should one rely on experience from the previous homebound journey, or should one consider the outbound journey as well, or even exclusively? Desert ants are particularly well suited for pursuing this question because of their primary reliance on path integration in open and featureless desert habitats. Path integration has been studied particularly with regard to homing after lengthy foraging trips. The ants also use path integration to return to plentiful feeding sites, but what is memorised for revisiting the feeder remains controversial. Here, we demonstrate that desert ants consider, and indeed linearly average, both outbound and inbound travel for their return to a familiar feeder. This may be interpreted as a strategy to reduce navigation errors.
Branchial ionocyte organization and ion-transport protein expression in juvenile alewives acclimated to freshwater or seawater
Authors: Christensen A. K. , Hiroi J. , Schultz E. T. , McCormick S. D.
Published: January 2012

The alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) is a clupeid that undergoes larval and juvenile development in freshwater preceding marine habitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate osmoregulatory mechanisms in alewives that permit homeostasis in different salinities. To this end, we measured physiological, branchial biochemical and cellular responses in juvenile alewives acclimated to freshwater (0.5 p.p.t.) or seawater (35.0 p.p.t.). Plasma chloride concentration was higher in seawater-acclimated than freshwater-acclimated individuals (141 mmol l–1vs 134 mmol l–1), but the hematocrit remained unchanged. In seawater-acclimated individuals, branchial Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activity was higher by 75%. Western blot analysis indicated that the abundance of the NKA α-subunit and a Na+/K+/2Cl– cotransporter (NKCC1) were greater in seawater-acclimated individuals by 40% and 200%, respectively. NKA and NKCC1 were localized on the basolateral surface and tubular network of ionocytes in both acclimation groups. Immunohistochemical labeling for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) was restricted to the apical crypt of ionocytes in seawater-acclimated individuals, whereas sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) labeling was present on the apical surface of ionocytes in both acclimation groups. Ionocytes were concentrated on the trailing edge of the gill filament, evenly distributed along the proximal 75% of the filamental axis and reduced distally. Ionocyte size and number on the gill filament were not affected by salinity; however, the number of lamellar ionocytes was significantly lower in seawater-acclimated fish. Confocal z-series reconstructions revealed that mature ionocytes in seawater-acclimated alewives occurred in multicellular complexes. These complexes might reduce paracellular Na+ resistance, hence facilitating Na+ extrusion in hypo-osmoregulating juvenile alewives after seaward migration.
Effect of particulate contamination on adhesive ability and repellence in two species of ant (Hymenoptera; Formicidae)
Authors: Anyon Matthew J. , Orchard Michael J. , Buzza David M. A. , Humphries Stuart , Kohonen Mika M.
Published: January 2012

Tarsal adhesive pads are crucial for the ability of insects to traverse their natural environment. Previous studies have demonstrated that for both hairy and smooth adhesive pads, significant reduction in adhesion can occur because of contamination of these pads by wax crystals present on plant surfaces or synthetic microspheres. In this paper, we focus on the smooth adhesive pads of ants and study systematically how particulate contamination and the subsequent loss of adhesion depends on particle size, particle surface energy, humidity and species size. To this end, workers of ant species Polyrhachis dives and Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera; Formicidae) were presented with loose synthetic powder barriers with a range of powder diameters (1–500 μm) and surface energies (PTFE or glass), which they would have to cross in order to escape the experimental arena. The barrier experiments were conducted for a range of humidities (10–70%). Experimental results and scanning electron microscopy confirm that particulate powders adversely affect the adhesive ability of both species of ant on smooth substrates via contamination of the arolia. Specifically, the loss of adhesion was found to depend strongly on particle diameter, but only weakly on particle type, with the greatest loss occurring for particle diameters smaller than the claw dimensions of each species, and no effect of humidity was found. We also observed that ants were repelled by the powder barriers which led to a decrease of adhesion prior to their eventual crossing, suggesting that insect antennae may play a role in probing the mechanical fragility of substrates before crossing them.
Glass scales on the wing of the swordtail butterfly Graphium sarpedon act as thin film polarizing reflectors
Authors: Stavenga Doekele G. , Matsushita Atsuko , Arikawa Kentaro , Leertouwer Hein L. , Wilts Bodo D.
Published: January 2012

The wings of the swordtail butterfly Graphium sarpedon (the Common Bluebottle) have blue/green-colored patches that are covered on the underside by two types of scales: white and glass scales. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the white scales are classically structured: the upper lamina, with prominent ridges and large open windows, is well separated by trabeculae from a flat, continuous lower lamina. In the glass scales, the upper lamina, with inconspicuous ridges and windows, is almost flat and closely apposed to the equally flat lower lamina. The glass scales thus approximate ideal thin films, in agreement with the observation that they reflect light directionally and are iridescent. Reflectance and transmittance spectra measured from the glass scales with a microspectrophotometer agree with spectra calculated for an ideal non-absorbing thin film. Imaging scatterometry of single, isolated glass scales demonstrated that the reflected light can be strongly polarized, indicating that they function as polarizing reflectors.
Identification of the enzyme responsible for N1-methylation of pseudouridine 54 in archaeal tRNAs
Authors: Wurm Jan Philip , Griese Marco , Bahr Ute , Held Martin , Heckel Alexander , Karas Michael , Soppa Jörg , Wöhnert Jens
Published: January 2012

tRNAs from all three kingdoms of life contain a variety of modified nucleotides required for their stability, proper folding, and accurate decoding. One prominent example is the eponymous ribothymidine (rT) modification at position 54 in the T-arm of eukaryotic and bacterial tRNAs. In contrast, in most archaea this position is occupied by another hypermodified nucleotide: the isosteric N1-methylated pseudouridine. While the enzyme catalyzing pseudouridine formation at this position is known, the pseudouridine N1-specific methyltransferase responsible for this modification has not yet been experimentally identified. Here, we present biochemical and genetic evidence that the two homologous proteins, Mja_1640 (COG 1901, Pfam DUF358) and Hvo_1989 (Pfam DUF358) fromMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiandHaloferax volcanii, respectively, are representatives of the methyltransferase responsible for this modification. However, the in-frame deletion of the pseudouridine N1-methyltransferase gene inH. volcaniidid not result in a discernable phenotype in line with similar observations for knockouts of other T-arm methylating enzymes.
The Joint Sales Impact of Frequency Reward and Customer Tier Components of Loyalty Programs
Authors: Kopalle Praveen K. , Sun Yacheng , Neslin Scott A. , Sun Baohong , Swaminathan Vanitha
Published: January 2012

We estimate the joint impact of the frequency reward and customer tier components of a loyalty program on customer behavior and resultant sales. We provide an integrated analysis of a loyalty program incorporating customers' purchase and cash-in decisions, points pressure and rewarded behavior effects, heterogeneity, and forward-looking behavior. We focus on four key research questions: (1) How important is it to combine both components in one model? (2) Does points pressure exist in the context of a two-component loyalty program? (3) How is the market segmented in its response to the combined program? (4) Do the programs complement each other in terms of the incremental sales they produce?

Our most basic message is that the frequency reward and customer tier components of loyalty programs should be modeled jointly rather than in separate models. We find strong evidence for points pressure for both the customer tier and frequency reward components using both model-based and model-free evidence. We find a two-segment solution revealing a “service-oriented” segment that highly values cash-ins for room upgrades and staying in “luxury” hotels, and a “price-oriented” segment that is more price sensitive and highly values the frequency reward aspects of the loyalty program. Furthermore, we find that both components generate incremental sales. Also, there was slight synergy between the programs but not a huge amount. Overall, each component contributes to increased revenues and does not interfere with the other.
Hide and Seek: Costly Consumer Privacy in a Market with Repeat Purchases
Authors: Conitzer Vincent , Taylor Curtis R. , Wagman Liad
Published: January 2012

When a firm can recognize its previous customers, it may use information about their past purchases to price discriminate. We study a model with a monopolist and a continuum of heterogeneous consumers, where consumers have the ability to maintain their anonymity and avoid being identified as past customers, possibly at a cost. When consumers can freely maintain their anonymity, they all individually choose to do so, which results in the highest profit for the monopolist. Increasing the cost of anonymity can benefit consumers but only up to a point, after which the effect is reversed. We show that if the monopolist or an independent third party controls the cost of anonymity, it often works to the detriment of consumers.
Reference Measurement Procedure for Total Glycerides by Isotope Dilution GC-MS
Authors: Edwards Selvin H , Stribling Shelton L , Pyatt Susan D , Kimberly Mary M
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND

The CDC's Lipid Standardization Program established the chromotropic acid (CA) reference measurement procedure (RMP) as the accuracy base for standardization and metrological traceability for triglyceride testing. The CA RMP has several disadvantages, including lack of ruggedness. It uses obsolete instrumentation and hazardous reagents. To overcome these problems the CDC developed an isotope dilution GC-MS (ID-GC-MS) RMP for total glycerides in serum.

METHODS

We diluted serum samples with Tris-HCl buffer solution and spiked 200-μL aliquots with [13C3]-glycerol. These samples were incubated and hydrolyzed under basic conditions. The samples were dried, derivatized with acetic anhydride and pyridine, extracted with ethyl acetate, and analyzed by ID-GC-MS. Linearity, imprecision, and accuracy were evaluated by analyzing calibrator solutions, 10 serum pools, and a standard reference material (SRM 1951b).

RESULTS

The calibration response was linear for the range of calibrator concentrations examined (0–1.24 mmol/L) with a slope and intercept of 0.717 (95% CI, 0.7123–0.7225) and 0.3122 (95% CI, 0.3096–0.3140), respectively. The limit of detection was 14.8 μmol/L. The mean %CV for the sample set (serum pools and SRM) was 1.2%. The mean %bias from NIST isotope dilution MS values for SRM 1951b was 0.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

This ID-GC-MS RMP has the specificity and ruggedness to accurately quantify total glycerides in the serum pools used in the CDC's Lipid Standardization Program and demonstrates sufficiently acceptable agreement with the NIST primary RMP for total glyceride measurement.
Numerical Simulation of a Shadow Projection System by Interpolating Diffraction Images
Authors: Haskamp Klaus , Rahlves Maik , Kästner Markus , Reithmeier Eduard
Published: January 2012

Virtual measurement systems can be used for the estimation of measurement uncertainties during the construction and provide knowledge concerning the working principle of the measurement system. Furthermore it is possible to integrate the virtual system into an assistance tool to calculate intelligent measurement strategies with different criteria. For example, the criterion is the minimization of the measurement uncertainty. A virtual analysis of the measuring process can be accomplished using Monte-Carlo methods. This requires a high number of virtual measurements and a large amount of computing time. To have a practicable simulation tool, the simulation time has to be minimized. In this paper the numerical efficient implementation of a virtual shadow projection system as part of a virtual multisensor assistance system is explained in detail. Besides the mathematical and physical model used, an experimental verification of the simulation will be given.
Effects of GH in women with abdominal adiposity: a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Bredella Miriam A , Lin Eleanor , Brick Danielle J , Gerweck Anu V , Harrington Lindsey M , Torriani Martin , Thomas Bijoy J , Schoenfeld David A , Breggia Anne , Rosen Clifford J , Hemphill Linda C , Wu Zida , Rifai Nader , Utz Andrea L , Miller Karen K
Published: January 2012

Objective

Abdominal adiposity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and decreased GH secretion. The objective of our study was to determine the effects of GH on body composition and cardiovascular risk markers in abdominally obese women.

Materials and methods

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 79 obese premenopausal women received GH vs placebo for 6 months. Primary endpoints were i) total abdominal (total abdominal adipose tissue, TAT) fat by computed tomography (CT) (body composition) and ii) high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (cardiovascular risk marker). Body composition was assessed by CT, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and proton MR spectroscopy. Serum cardiovascular risk markers, carotid intima-media thickness, and endothelial function were measured.

Results

Mean 6-month GH dose was 1.7±0.1 mg/day, resulting in a mean IGF1 SDS increase from −1.7±0.08 to −0.1±0.3 in the GH group. GH administration decreased TAT and hsCRP compared with placebo. In addition, it increased thigh muscle mass and lean body mass and decreased subcutaneous abdominal and trunk fat, tissue plasminogen activator, apoB, and apoB/low-density lipoprotein compared with placebo. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) decreased and intramyocellular lipid increased within the GH group. Six-month change in IGF1 levels was negatively associated with 6-month decrease in TAT and VAT. One subject had a 2 h glucose >200 mg/ml at 3 months; four subjects, three of whom were randomized to GH, had 2 h glucose levels >200 mg/ml at the end of the study.

Conclusion

GH administration in abdominally obese premenopausal women exerts beneficial effects on body composition and cardiovascular risk markers but is associated with a decrease in glucose tolerance in a minority of women.
Isolation, characterization and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and Wharton's jelly in the horse
Authors: Iacono Eleonora , Brunori Lara , Pirrone Alessandro , Pagliaro Pasquale Paolo , Ricci Francesca , Tazzari Pier Luigi , Merlo Barbara
Published: January 2012

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been derived from multiple sources of the horse including umbilical cord blood (UCB) and amnion. This work aimed to identify and characterize stem cells from equine amniotic fluid (AF), CB and Wharton's Jelly (WJ). Samples were obtained from 13 mares at labour. AF and CB cells were isolated by centrifugation, while WJ was prepared by incubating with an enzymatic solution for 2 h. All cell lines were cultured in DMEM/TCM199 plus fetal bovine serum. Fibroblast-like cells were observed in 7/10 (70%) AF, 6/8 (75%) CB and 8/12 (66.7%) WJ samples. Statistically significant differences were found between cell-doubling times (DTs): cells isolated from WJ expanded more rapidly (2.0±0.6 days) than those isolated from CB (2.6±1.3 days) and AF (2.3±1.0 days) (P<0.05). Positive von Kossa and Alizarin Red S staining confirmed osteogenesis. Alcian Blue staining of matrix glycosaminoglycans illustrated chondrogenesis and positive Oil Red O lipid droplets staining suggested adipogenesis. All cell lines isolated were positive for CD90, CD44, CD105; and negative for CD34, CD14 and CD45. These findings suggest that equine MSCs from AF, UCB and WJ appeared to be a readily obtainable and highly proliferative cell lines from a uninvasive source that may represent a good model system for stem cell biology and cellular therapy applications in horses. However, to assess their use as an allogenic cell source, further studies are needed for evaluating the expression of markers related to cell immunogenicity.
Development of Materials Informatics Tools and Infrastructure to Enable High Throughput Materials Design
Authors: Krein Michael P. , Natarajan Bharath , Schadler Linda S. , Brinson L. C. , Deng Hua , Gai Donghai , Li Yang , Breneman Curt M.
Published: January 2012

Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) are complex material systems in which the dominant length scales converge. Our approach to understanding nanocomposite tradespace uses Materials Quantitative Structure-Property Relationships (MQSPRs) to relate molecular structures to the polar and dispersive components of corresponding surface tensions. If the polar and dispersive components of surface tensions in the nanofiller and polymer could be determined a priori, then the propensity to aggregate and the change in polymer mobility near the particle could be predicted. Derived energetic parameters such as work of adhesion, work of spreading and the equilibrium wetting angle may then used as input to continuum mechanics approaches that have been shown able to predict the thermomechanical response of nanocomposites and that have been validated by experiment. The informatics approach developed in this work thus enables future in silico nanocomposite design by enabling virtual experiments to be performed on proposed nanocomposite compositions prior to fabrication and testing.
‘Girls, girls, girls’?
Authors: Hassan Nedim
Published: January 2012

Drawing initially on research on the gendering of music scenes this article will suggest that the documentary The Metal Years (1988) depicts a Los Angeles heavy metal scene that, in accordance with popular versions of histories of this scene, is ostensibly male-dominated. However, through subsequent analysis of the film that will focus upon the performances and testimonies of individuals featured within it, together with a consideration of other primary and secondary accounts of this scene, this article will contend that gender relations evident within the text are more complex than they first appear. There are tensions and contradictions apparent within The Metal Years that complicate simplistic dismissals of the scene as sexist and misogynistic. Thus, this article will argue that the film should be regarded as a revealing piece of historical evidence that sheds light on a hitherto under-researched music scene.
Forgetting and remembering the Bhundu Boys
Authors: Jones Mike
Published: January 2012

This article explores the relationship between discursivity and the writing of history. It takes as its example the discursive formation of ‘world music’ in the late 1980s and charts the consolidation of world music as a body of judgements about music through the example of the embrace and then rejection of the Zimbabwean group, the Bhundu Boys, over a period of years. This period was one in which four members of the group died—three because they succumbed to the AIDS virus and one who committed suicide. The challenges faced by the Bhundu Boys as human beings were severe; where the irony is that, when they most needed support from the people who embraced them, they were shunned and scorned by their former champions. The shunning of the Bhundu Boys can be argued to reveal the mechanisms of discursive formation and of a way of writing popular music history.
Perfil profissional de egressas da Área de Gerenciamento do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem da UFBA
Authors: Paiva Mirian Santos , Coelho Edméia de Almeida Cardoso , Nascimento Enilda Rosendo do , Melo Cristina Maria Meira de , Fernandes Josicelia Dumêt , Santos Ninalva de Andrade
Published: January 2012

O estudo objetivou analisar o perfil profissional das egressas do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem da Universidade Federal da Bahia na área de gerenciamento em enfermagem. Trata-se de estudo descritivo e exploratório, desenvolvido através de pesquisa documental. Foram utilizados dados dos Currículos Lattes ede documentos do Programa coletados através de formulário. A população foi constituída por egressas na Linha de Pesquisa Organização e Avaliação dos Sistemas de Cuidado à Saúde, que desenvolveram dissertações/teses relacionadas ao Gerenciamento em Enfermagem/Saúde. Os dados foram armazenados no software Microsoft Excel e, em seguida, transferidos para o programa estatístico STATA 9.0. Os resultados indicaram que a maioria das egressassão mulheres, originárias do estado da Bahia, concluintes do curso entre 2000 e 2011; docentes de instituições públicas que continuaram na atividade acadêmica após a conclusão do curso. Esses resultados apontam o Programa como um espaço acadêmico comprometido com a preparação de pesquisadoras.
Avaliação de desempenho: discutindo a tecnologia para o planejamento e gestão de recursos humanos em saúde
Authors: Pierantoni Celia Regina , França Tania , Ney Marcia Silveira , Monteiro Valéria Oliveira , Varella Thereza Christina , Santos Maria Ruth dos , Nascimento Dayane
Published: January 2012

Este ensaio apresenta o produto de reflexões e análises a partir do exame de opções conceituais inerentes às metodologias de avaliação de desempenho (AD) de profissionais e sua possibilidade de aplicação na área da saúde. Estabelece uma discussão conceitual para a área, articulando e integrando conhecimentos de campos distintos - o da saúde e o da administração pública. Promove a intersecção entre a gestão do trabalho em saúde no setor público e as técnicas da administração de pessoal. Pretende gerar novas análises e estudos que possibilitem uma releitura das práticas administrativas para avaliação de desempenho utilizadas nas organizações, adaptá-las para atender às especificidades do setor saúde.
Análise comparativa da anatomia foliar de Melastomataceae em ambiente de vereda e cerrado sensu stricto
Authors: Somavilla Nádia Sílvia , Graciano-Ribeiro Dalva
Published: January 2012

Este trabalho descreve a anatomia das lâminas foliares de três espécies de Melastomataceae, Lavoisiera bergii Cogn., Macairea radula (Bonpl.) DC. e Trembleya parviflora (D. Don) Cogn. que estão colonizando a zona alagável e aberta de fundo de vereda e de M. radula e T. parviflora que ocorrem no cerrado sensu stricto da Estação Ecológica de Águas Emendadas, Planaltina/DF. Os dados estruturais mostrados pelas três espécies indicam escleromorfia com características particulares a cada uma delas, como projeções nas células epidérmicas de L. bergii, diferentes tipos e localização de emergências formadas por esclereídes em L. bergii e M. radula, e evaginações na epiderme de T. parviflora. A caracterização anatômica das folhas de M. radula e T. parviflora não difere entre os ambientes. No entanto, as lâminas foliares dos indivíduos encontrados na vereda apresentaram plasticidade com valores significativamente (P< 0,05) maiores para espessura do mesofilo e do parênquima para massa foliar e massa foliar específica em relação aos indivíduos do cerrado sensu stricto. Esta relação é inversa para valores de área foliar específica. A capacidade de apresentar plasticidade estrutural, juntamente com a escleromorfia, pode ter sido relevante para o comportamento invasivo destas espécies na zona de fundo da vereda como destacado na discussão. Além deste ponto, o texto também apresenta uma breve discussão sobre outros aspectos relacionados à importância de estruturas anatômicas na taxonomia e ecologia destas espécies.
Sexual ratio and floral biology of the dioecious Neea theifera Oerst. (Nyctaginaceae) in a cerrado rupestre of central Brazil
Authors: Amorim Felipe Wanderley , Mendes-Rodrigues Clesnan , Maruyama Pietro Kiyoshi , Oliveira Paulo Eugênio
Published: January 2012

Dioecy is characterized by a complete separation of sexual functions on male and female plants. It has evolved many times in flowering plants and is widespread among distinct Angiosperm families. It is viewed as a reproductive strategy to reduce endogamy, and to promote optimal resource allocation between male and female sexual functions. Neea theifera is a common species in Cerrado, neotropical savannas in Brazil, but information regarding its reproductive biology is still incomplete. In order to investigate how environmental conditions possibly affect this dioecious species, we studied its floral biology, sex ratio and spatial distribution of sexual morphs along a soil-altitudinal gradient. The sex ratio did not significantly deviate from the expected 1:1 ratio. However, flower abundance in the population was significantly biased towards staminate flowers. Female individuals were larger than male individuals and plant size was negatively correlated with altitude, but did not differ between sexual morphs. The population did not show spatial segregation of sexes and male individuals were sexually mature earlier than female ones. Staminate flowers were larger than pistillate flowers and presented high pollen viability. Meliponini bees, small flies and thrips were potential pollinators, but pollination success was very low. Dioecy in N. theifera corroborates many general features of this reproductive strategy, such as woody habit, inconspicuous flowers, pollination by small generalist insects and differential resource allocation between male and female plants. However, reproduction in this species seems to be impaired by pollinator limitation. The results showed that the soil-altitude gradient influenced the growth pattern of the species and may play an important role in its reproductive biology but did not affect dioecy directly.
Comparações florísticas e estruturais entre duas comunidades lenhosas de cerrado típico e cerrado rupestre, Mato Grosso, Brasil
Authors: Gomes Letícia , Lenza Eddie , Maracahipes Leandro , Marimon Beatriz Schwantes , Oliveira Edmar Almeida de
Published: January 2012

Comparou-se a riqueza, a composição florística e a estrutura da vegetação lenhosa entre um hectare de cerrado rupestre (CR) e um de cerrado típico (CT) no leste Mato-grossense. A riqueza registrada (CT = 79 e CR = 71) e estimada pelo método de bootstrap (CT = 86,7 ± 2,3 e CR = 75,8 ± 1,8) foi maior no CT, mas o índice de diversidade foi igual entre as duas fisionomias (3,58 no CT e 3,56 no CR; teste t de Hutcheson = t2;0,05 = 0,43, p > 0,05). Apesar da elevada similaridade florística (Sørensen = 0,75 e Morisita = 0,73), a análise de ordenação (DCA) separou as parcelas do CT e do CR, indicando a seleção de espécies nas duas fisionomias. Foram registradas altas porcentagens de indivíduos mortos no CT (28,1%) e no CR (17,3%), devido à ocorrência de uma queimada quatro meses antes da amostragem da vegetação. A área basal por parcela foi maior no CR, enquanto as densidades por parcela, as alturas e os diâmetros medianos dos indivíduos, não diferiram entre as duas fisionomias, sugerindo que o solo raso e o afloramento rochoso no CR não limitaram o estabelecimento e o desenvolvimento da flora lenhosa.
Regeneração e estrutura populacional de jatobá-da-mata (Hymenaea courbaril L.), em dois fragmentos com diferentes graus de perturbação antrópica
Authors: Oliveira Washington Luis de , Medeiros Marcelo Brilhante de , Moser Pamela , Pinheiro Renato , Olsen Leandro Borges
Published: January 2012

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a estrutura populacional e os efeitos da intensidade luminosa no recrutamento de jatobá-da-mata (Hymenaea courbaril L.) em dois fragmentos de Mata de Galeria não-inundável, com diferentes graus de perturbação antrópica. Foi assumida a hipótese de que as populações diferem nas classes de tamanho (diâmetro e altura) e abundância dos indivíduos entre os fragmentos e o recrutamento responde às diferenças de luminosidade disponível no sub-bosque. Como espécie clímax dependente de luz amplamente distribuída e adaptada a ambientes heterogêneos, espera-se uma maior abundância e regeneração de jatobá-da-mata no fragmento com maior incidência luminosa. Em cada fragmento foram utilizadas 25 parcelas permanentes, alocadas de forma aleatória ao longo de transectos entre a borda da mata e o leito córrego posicionados perpendicularmente à margem do córrego. As plântulas foram amostradas no interior de cada parcela, a partir de quatro sub-parcelas de 2x2 m ao longo de uma linha central no comprimento da parcela. No sub-bosque, em cada sub-parcela, a radiação fotossinteticamente ativa foi determinada e os valores de transmitância (T%) foram obtidos a partir das medidas a pleno sol fora da mata. Nos dois fragmentos o maior número de indivíduos se concentrou nas menores classes de tamanho, mas não foi obtido um bom ajuste à distribuição exponencial negativa (J invertido). A análise de regressão linear indicou que tanto o diâmetro como a altura dos indivíduos jovens (mediana/parcela) apresentaram, respectivamente, respostas positivas em relação ao efeito da T% (F=11,58-14,82(1,40); p<0,01). Foi observada menor abundância de jovens no fragmento mais perturbado que pode ser resultado de eventos de fogo no passado recente. Apesar de mais abundantes, os jovens no fragmento conservado, com dossel mais fechado, e consequentemente, com menos luz disponível no sub-bosque, apresentaram distribuições de tamanho semelhante às plântulas. Esse resultado sugere que o jatobá-da-mata é capaz de regenerar e recrutar em ambientes sombreados, mas o crescimento é limitado pelas condições de pouca luminosidade. .
Intérpretes e confessionários como expressões de políticas linguísticas da Igreja voltadas à confissão
Authors: Barros Cândida
Published: January 2012

O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar a política linguística da Igreja em relação à confissão em contexto multilíngue entre os séculos XVI e XVIII. As fontes documentais utilizadas na análise foram as discussões teológicas europeias a respeito da legitimidade (ou não) do intérprete nesse contexto religioso e os confessionários em línguas indígenas produzidos pela evangelização espanhola e portuguesa. Os confessionários nas línguas indígenas foram observados pelas marcas gráficas usadas para guiar o missionário no diálogo com o penitente. A forma de organização dos confessionários nas línguas indígenas foi a de um gênero textual voltado para o aprendizado de língua estrangeira. Em particular, foram comparadas as posições dos jesuítas no Brasil em relação ao intérprete em duas conjunturas, antes e depois da fixação de um confessionário tupi. Na conclusão, foram observadas as adaptações que a discussão europeia a respeito do intérprete recebeu na evangelização dos índios.