bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular constituents of the extracellular matrix in rat liver mounting a hepatic progenitor cell response for tissue repair
Authors: Vestentoft Peter Siig , Jelnes Peter , Andersen Jesper B , Tran Thi Anh Thu , Jørgensen Tenna , Rasmussen Morten , Bornholdt Jette , Grøvdal Lene Melsæther , Jensen Charlotte Harken , Vogel Lotte Katrine , Thorgeirsson Snorri S , Bisgaard Hanne Cathrine
Published: December 2013

Background

Tissue repair in the adult mammalian liver occurs in two distinct processes, referred to as the first and second tiers of defense. We undertook to characterize the changes in molecular constituents of the extracellular matrix when hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) respond in a second tier of defense to liver injury.

Results

We used transcriptional profiling on rat livers responding by a first tier (surgical removal of 70% of the liver mass (PHx protocol)) and a second tier (70% hepatectomy combined with exposure to 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF/PHx protocol)) of defense to liver injury and compared the transcriptional signatures in untreated rat liver (control) with those from livers of day 1, day 5 and day 9 post hepatectomy in both protocols. Numerous transcripts encoding specific subunits of collagens, laminins, integrins, and various other extracellular matrix structural components were differentially up- or down-modulated (P < 0.01). The levels of a number of transcripts were significantly up-modulated, mainly in the second tier of defense (Agrn, Bgn, Fbn1, Col4a1, Col8a1, Col9a3, Lama5, Lamb1, Lamb2, Itga4, Igtb2, Itgb4, Itgb6, Nid2), and their signal intensities showed a strong or very strong correlation with Krt1- 19, a well-established marker of a ductular/HPC reaction. Furthermore, a significant up-modulation and very strong correlation between the transcriptional profiles of Krt1-19 and St14 encoding matriptase, a component of a novel protease system, was found in the second tier of defense. Real-time PCR confirmed the modulation of St14 transcript levels and strong correlation to Krt-19 and also showed a significant up-modulation and strong correlation to Spint1 encoding HAI-1, a cognate inhibitor of matriptase. Immunodetection and three-dimensional reconstructions showed that laminin, Collagen1a1, agrin and nidogen1 surrounded bile ducts, proliferating cholangiocytes, and HPCs in ductular reactions regardless of the nature of defense. Similarly, matriptase and HAI-1 were expressed in cholangiocytes regardless of the tier of defense, but in the second tier of defense, a subpopulation of HPCs in ductular reactions co-expressed HAI-1 and the fetal hepatocyte marker Dlk1.

Conclusion

Transcriptional profiling and immunodetection, including three-dimensional reconstruction, generated a detailed overview of the extracellular matrix constituents expressed in a second tier of defense to liver injury.
Mortality associated with burn injury- a cross sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Ibran Ehmer al , Mirza Farhat Hussain , Memon Akhtar Amin , Farooq Muhammad Zain , Hassan Maryum
Published: December 2013

Background

Burn injuries are a major cause of medico legal deaths in Pakistan. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the mortality rate related to different types of burns injuries.

Findings

This was an observational prospective cross sectional study conducted in Burns Ward of Civil Hospital, Karachi during a period of two years from January 1st 2010 to December 31st, 2011. Data was collected over a questionnaire containing demographic variables as well as date of burn, date of the death (if patient expired), total body surface area involved, cause and manner of burn. The data was statistically analyzed by SPSS v. 16. A total of 1979 patients were admitted to the department during the study period. Out of them, 715 died, hence a mortality rate of 36.12%. Out of the 715 patients, 380 (53.1%) were males and 335 (46.9%) were females. Mortality was highest in age-group 16–30 years (n = 395, 55.2%). Majority of the deaths were accidental (n = 685, 95.8%). Fire burns was found to be the most common cause of death (n = 639, 89.3%). 35% (n = 252) of the patients who died had more than 60% of total body surface area involved in burns.

Conclusion

Measures must be taken to inform the general population of the possible causes of these injuries, and to enable the people to be prepared to face any such circumstances.
Rates of thyroid malignancy by FNA diagnostic category
Authors: Williams Blair A , Bullock Martin J , Trites Jonathan R , Taylor S Mark , Hart Robert D
Published: December 2013

Background

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules is a cornerstone of surgical decision making in thyroid cancer. The most widely utilized system for reporting thyroid FNA results is the Bethesda System, which includes predicted malignancy rates for each FNA category. To date there have been few studies to determine whether these predictions are widely applicable.

Methods

All thyroid FNA results at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Science Centre from 2006–2010 were included in this study. The results were tabulated by FNA category and the health records were reviewed to determine whether the patient went on to have surgery and the result of surgical histopathology. Rates of malignancy were calculated and compared to published values.

Results

A total of 1491 thyroid FNAs were included in the study, representing 1117 individual patients with available health records. The majority of these FNAs were Benign, but the proportion of Unsatisfactory FNAs was higher than predicted while Malignant and Suspicious for Malignancy were lower than predicted. Surgery was performed on 388 patients and 110 were positive for malignancy (28%). The malignancy rate for each FNA category was higher than predicted based on literature values.

Conclusions

The proportions of FNA diagnoses and the rates of malignancy for each FNA category at our institution were not consistent with predicted values. It is important for clinicians to base their surgical recommendations on institution specific malignancy rates, not solely on literature values.
Discovery of new angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors from medicinal plants to treat hypertension using an in vitro assay
Authors: Sharifi Niusha , Souri Effat , Ziai Seyed Ali , Amin Gholamreza , Amanlou Massoud
Published: December 2013

Background and purpose of the study

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors plays a critical role in treating hypertension. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate ACE inhibition activity of 50 Iranian medicinal plants using an in vitro assay.

Methods

The ACE activity was evaluated by determining the hydrolysis rate of substrate, hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine (HHL), using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method and DPPH radical scavenging assay respectively.

Results

Six extracts revealed > 50% ACE inhibition activity at 330 μg/ml concentration. They were Berberis integerrima Bunge. (Berberidaceae) (88.2 ± 1.7%), Crataegus microphylla C. Koch (Rosaceae) (80.9 ± 1.3%), Nymphaea alba L. (Nymphaeaceae) (66.3 ± 1.2%), Onopordon acanthium L. (Asteraceae) (80.2 ± 2.0%), Quercus infectoria G. Olivier. (Fagaceae) (93.9 ± 2.5%) and Rubus sp. (Rosaceae) (51.3 ± 1.0%). Q. infectoria possessed the highest total phenolic content with 7410 ± 101 mg gallic acid/100 g dry plant. Antioxidant activity of Q. infectoria (IC50 value 1.7 ± 0.03 μg/ml) was more than that of BHT (IC50 value of 10.3 ± 0.15 μg/ml) and Trolox (IC50 value of 3.2 ± 0.06 μg/ml) as the positive controls.

Conclusions

In this study, we introduced six medicinal plants with ACE inhibition activity. Despite the high ACE inhibition and antioxidant activity of Q. infectoria, due to its tannin content (tannins interfere in ACE activity), another plant, O. acanthium, which also had high ACE inhibition and antioxidant activity, but contained no tannin, could be utilized in further studies for isolation of active compounds.
Influence of under pressure dissolved oxygen on trichloroethylene degradation by the H2O2/TiO2 process
Authors: Hoseini Mohammad , Nabizadeh Ramin , Nazmara Shahrokh , Safari Gholam Hossein
Published: December 2013

Background

The widespread use of trichloroethylene (TCE) and its frequent release into the environment has caused many environmental and health problems. In this study the degradation of TCE at different micromolar concentrations was investigated in a stainless steel reactor with various concentrations of H2O2and TiO2at different oxygen pressures and three different pHs.

Methods

To examine the synergistic effect of under pressure oxygen on TCE degradation, the concentrations of H2O2and TiO2as well as pH were first optimized, and then the experiments were performed under optimal conditions. Gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (FID) was used to measure TCE concentrations.

Results

Results showed that the percentage of TCE degradation without pressurized oxygen was low and it increased with increasing pressure of oxygen at all initial concentrations of TCE. The degradation percentages without oxygen pressure were 48.27%, 51.22%, 58.13% and 64.33% for TCE concentrations of 3000, 1500, 300 and 150 μg/L respectively. At an oxygen pressure of 2.5 atmospheres (atm) the percent degradation of TCE reached 84.85%, 89.14%, 93.13% and 94.99% respectively for the aforementioned TCE concentrations.

Conclusions

The results of this study show that the application of dissolved oxygen under pressure increases the efficiency of the H2O2/TiO2process on the degradation of TCE and can be used along with other oxidants as an effective method for the removal of this compound from aqueous solutions.
The Camerino symposium series (1978–2013): a privileged observatory of receptorology development
Authors: Giannella Mario , Angeli Piero
Published: December 2013

The organizers of the Camerino Receptor Symposia survey the development of receptorology. They trace the course from the first Symposium in 1978, which laid the foundation for Pirenzepine, the first selective muscarinic antagonist, to the 2010 Symposium, which highlighted the utility of functional simple domain antibodies (nanobodies) as novel G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) modulators. This 30-year period sees the acceptance of terms such as G-protein, auto- and heteroreceptors, site-directed mutagenesis, chimeric receptors, constitutive activity, inverse agonism, and orphan receptors. GPCRs are finally a reality and Langley and Ehrlich, if they returned to their laboratories, would be proud of how their intuitions have been realized.
Implementing the “Best Template Searching” tool into Adenosiland platform
Authors: Floris Matteo , Sabbadin Davide , Ciancetta Antonella , Medda Ricardo , Cuzzolin Alberto , Moro Stefano
Published: December 2013

Background

Adenosine receptors (ARs) belong to the G protein-coupled receptors (GCPRs) family. The recent release of X-ray structures of the human A2A AR (h A2A AR ) in complex with agonists and antagonists has increased the application of structure-based drug design approaches to this class of receptors. Among them, homology modeling represents the method of choice to gather structural information on the other receptor subtypes, namely A1, A2B, and A3 ARs. With the aim of helping users in the selection of either a template to build its own models or ARs homology models publicly available on our platform, we implemented our web-resource dedicated to ARs, Adenosiland, with the “Best Template Searching” facility. This tool is freely accessible at the following web address: http://mms.dsfarm.unipd.it/Adenosiland/ligand.php.

Findings

The template suggestions and homology models provided by the “Best Template Searching” tool are guided by the similarity of a query structure (putative or known ARs ligand) with all ligands co-crystallized with hA2A AR subtype. The tool computes several similarity indexes and sort the outcoming results according to the index selected by the user.

Conclusions

We have implemented our web-resource dedicated to ARs Adenosiland with the “Best Template Searching” facility, a tool to guide template and models selection for hARs modelling. The underlying idea of our new facility, that is the selection of a template (or models built upon a template) whose co-crystallized ligand shares the highest similarity with the query structure, can be easily extended to other GPCRs.
A comprehensive review of adherence to diabetes and cardiovascular medications in Iran; implications for practice and research
Authors: Sarayani Amir , Jahangard-Rafsanjani Zahra , Hadjibabaie Molouk , Ahmadvand Alireza , Javadi Mohammadreza , Gholami Kheirollah
Published: December 2013

Treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disorders are highly dependent on medications and particularly adherence to medications to achieve optimal pharmacotherapy outcomes. Several factors can affect a patient’s adherence including: knowledge and beliefs about their illness and medications, concomitant psychological disorders, type of therapeutic regimen, and lack of access to medicines. In Iran, a middle income country, essential medicines are highly available and affordable. However, adherence to medications has not been emphasized especially for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we reviewed the available literature on adherence to medications used to treat diabetes and cardiovascular disorders in Iran. We systematically searched Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Scientific Information Database, and IranMedex using a highly sensitive protocol on July 2012. We retrieved 1003 citations; and two independent researchers screened them for relevant publications. Studies were included if they reported rate or determinants of adherence to diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular medications. Trials on improving interventions were also included. The quality of studies was assessed using appropriate guidelines. Fourteen studies were eligible for data extraction and review. The definition of adherence and the measurement tools used were unclear among studies. Methodological caveats including inappropriate sample size, sampling methods, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and high rate of loss to follow-up were also observed. Nevertheless, adherence rate was reported to be 62.8-86.3% for oral hypoglycemic medications and 38.8-60.0% for cardiovascular medicines. Forgetfulness, lack of knowledge about medical condition and prescribed medications, and concerns about medications efficacy and side effects were consistently reported as barriers to adherence. Patient education plus telephone or short message service follow-ups were reported to improve adherence to oral hypo-glycemic medications. We did not find any high quality trials on adherence to cardiovascular medicines. In conclusion, adherence to cardiovascular and diabetes medications is not assured in Iranian patients. Based on the available literature, patient education and reinforcement interventions are required to address this issue. Future studies should employ careful designs and standard tools for assessment of adherence to medications.
The National Institutes of Health Microphysiological Systems Program focuses on a critical challenge in the drug discovery pipeline
Authors: Sutherland Margaret L , Fabre Kristin M , Tagle Danilo A
Published: December 2013

The National Institutes of Health has partnered with the US Food and Drug Administration and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to accelerate the development of human microphysiological systems (MPS) that address challenges faced in predictive toxicity assessment and efficacy analysis of new molecular entities during the preclinical phase of drug development. Use of human MPS could provide better models for predicting the efficacy of new molecular entities in clinical trials. It is also anticipated that improvements in predicting drug toxicities early in the drug development process through the use of MPS or human organs-on-a-chip will decrease the need to withdraw new therapies from the market and minimize or eliminate deaths due to unidentified drug toxicities.
Biological vulnerability to depression: linked structural and functional brain network findings
Authors: Nixon N. L. , Liddle P. F. , Nixon E. , Worwood G. , Liotti M. , Palaniyappan L.
Published: December 2013

Background

Patients in recovery following episodes of major depressive disorder (MDD) remain highly vulnerable to future recurrence. Although psychological determinants of this risk are well established, little is known about associated biological mechanisms. Recent work has implicated the default mode network (DMN) in this vulnerability but specific hypotheses remain untested within the high risk, recovered state of MDD.

Aims

To test the hypothesis that there is excessive DMN functional connectivity during task performance within recovered-state MDD and to test for connected DMN cortical gyrification abnormalities.

Method

A multimodal structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, including task-based functional connectivity and cortical folding analysis, comparing 20 recovered-state patients with MDD with 20 matched healthy controls.

Results

The MDD group showed significant task-based DMN hyperconnectivity, associated with hypogyrification of key DMN regions (bilateral precuneus).

Conclusions

This is the first evidence of connected structural and functional DMN abnormalities in recovered-state MDD, supporting recent hypotheses on biological-level vulnerability.
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Adolescents in English care: randomised trial and observational cohort evaluation
Authors: Green J. M. , Biehal N. , Roberts C. , Dixon J. , Kay C. , Parry E. , Rothwell J. , Roby A. , Kapadia D. , Scott S. , Sinclair I.
Published: December 2013

Background

Children in care often have poor outcomes. There is a lack of evaluative research into intervention options.

Aims

To examine the efficacy of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Adolescents (MTFC-A) compared with usual care for young people at risk in foster care in England.

Method

A two-arm single (assessor) blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) embedded within an observational quasi-experimental case–control study involving 219 young people aged 11–16 years (trial registration: ISRCTN 68038570). The primary outcome was the Child Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Secondary outcomes were ratings of educational attendance, achievement and rate of offending.

Results

The MTFC-A group showed a non-significant improvement in CGAS outcome in both the randomised cohort (n= 34, adjusted mean difference 1.3, 95% CI −7.1 to 9.7,P= 0.75) and in the trimmed observational cohort (n= 185, adjusted mean difference 0.95, 95% CI −2.38 to 4.29,P= 0.57). No significant effects were seen in secondary outcomes. There was a possible differential effect of the intervention according to antisocial behaviour.

Conclusions

There was no evidence that the use of MTFC-A resulted in better outcomes than usual care. The intervention may be more beneficial for young people with antisocial behaviour but less beneficial than usual treatment for those without.
Reversal and Relapse of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism: Resilience and Fragility of the Reproductive Neuroendocrine System
Authors: Sidhoum Valerie F. , Chan Yee-Ming , Lippincott Margaret F. , Balasubramanian Ravikumar , Quinton Richard , Plummer Lacey , Dwyer Andrew , Pitteloud Nelly , Hayes Frances J. , Hall Janet E. , Martin Kathryn A. , Boepple Paul A. , Seminara Stephanie B.
Published: December 2013

Context:

A subset of patients diagnosed with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) later achieves activation of their hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with normalization of steroidogenesis and/or gametogenesis, a phenomenon termed reversal.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the natural history of reversal and to identify associated phenotypes and genotypes.

Design, Setting, and Subjects:

This was a retrospective review of clinical, biochemical, and genetic features of patients with IHH evaluated at an academic medical center.

Main Outcome Measures:

History of spontaneous fertility, regular menses, testicular growth, or normalization of serum sex steroids, LH secretory profiles, brain imaging findings, and sequences of 14 genes associated with IHH were reviewed.

Results:

Of 308 patients with IHH, 44 underwent reversal. Time-to-event analysis estimated a lifetime incidence of reversal of 22%. There were no differences in the rates of cryptorchidism, micropenis, or partial pubertal development in patients with reversal vs IHH patients without reversal. Fifteen patients with reversal (30%) had Kallmann syndrome (IHH and anosmia); one had undetectable olfactory bulbs on a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan. Subjects with reversal were enriched for mutations affecting neurokinin B signaling compared with a cohort of IHH patients without reversal (10% vs 3%, P = .044), had comparable frequencies of mutations in FGFR1, PROKR2, and GNRHR, and had no mutations in KAL1. Five men did not sustain their reversal and again developed hypogonadotropism.

Conclusions:

Reversal of IHH may be more widespread than previously appreciated and occurs across a broad range of genotypes and phenotypes. Enrichment for mutations that disrupt neurokinin B signaling in patients who reversed indicates that, despite the importance of this signaling pathway for normal pubertal timing, its function is dispensable later in life. The occurrence of reversal in a patient with no olfactory bulbs demonstrates that these structures are not essential for normal reproductive function. Patients with IHH require lifelong monitoring for reversal and, if reversal occurs, subsequent relapse also may occur.
Areas and Ideas
Authors: Bayat Asef
Published: December 2013

Bayat’s essay examines the divide between area studies and the social science disciplines. A truly productive engagement with and critical reflection on the social sciences, Bayat argues, is possible only by intimate area knowledge, wide perspectives, a comparative lens, and a search for meaningful knowledge directed at human emancipation.
The Point of Nonreturn
Authors: Mignolo Walter D.
Published: December 2013

Mignolo’s essay responds to the mission statement published in the summer 2013 issue of Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The essay asks: How could a journal based in the United States “decenter” itself? Can CSSAAME transcend and transgress scholarly restrictions and publish essays and statements that, rather than following scholarly norms, are made with the force and the demands of the public sphere? If “regions are sources of theory,” Mignolo claims, the regions should be responsible for using the journal to articulate their views and needs rather than mediating the views and needs of Western scholarship.
A World Compared, Destroyed, and Connected
Authors: Esmeir Samera
Published: December 2013

Esmeir’s essay considers the mission statement of the Journal of the Society of Comparative Legislation (1896-97) alongside the 2013 mission statement of Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Joining them, Esmeir contends, is the reference to the method of comparison, and separating them are the details of the comparative practice, its ends and its powers. More specifically, the main difference between the two journals concerns the fate of the world covered on their pages: the first engages in comparative destruction, the second in comparative construction. The essay makes an argument for the value of research projects that examine these two relationships to the world.
“Where National Revolutionary Ends and Communist Begins”
Authors: Louro Michele L.
Published: December 2013

The colonial state specifically targeted the League against Imperialism (LAI) as an institution on trial in Meerut; however, authorities did not arrest and charge Jawaharlal Nehru, the official representative of the LAI in India. Louro’s article argues that this oversight on the part of the colonial state was not coincidence, but rather a maneuver designed to construct the LAI, an international anti-imperialist institution based in Berlin, as anathema to the anticolonial nationalist movement led by Nehru and other leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC). Rather than create an opportunity for anticolonial nationalists and anti-imperialists abroad to challenge this colonial maneuver, the Meerut trial deepened the fragmentation of solidarities Nehru forged among the LAI, international anti-imperialists, and the anticolonial nationalists of the INC.
Type VII collagen regulates tumour expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide OATP1B3, promotes front to rear polarity and increases structural organisation in 3D spheroid cultures of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa tumour keratinocytes
Authors: Dayal Jasbani HS , Cole Clare L , Pourreyron Celine , Watt Stephen A , Lim Yok Zuan , Salas-Alanis Julio C , Murrell Dedee F , McGrath John A , Stieger Bruno , Jahoda Colin , Leigh Irene M , South Andrew P
Published: December 2013

Type VII collagen is the main component of anchoring fibrils, structures integral to basement membrane homeostasis in skin. Mutations in the gene encoding type VII collagen, COL7A1, cause recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) an inherited skin blistering condition complicated by frequent aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). OATP1B3, encoded by the gene SLCO1B3, is a member of the OATP (organic anion transporting polypeptide) superfamily responsible for transporting a wide range of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. OATP1B3 expression is limited to the liver in healthy tissues but is frequently detected in multiple cancer types and is reported to be associated with differing clinical outcome. The mechanism and functional significance of tumour specific OATP1B3 expression has yet to be determined. Here, we identify SLCO1B3 (encoding OATP1B3) expression in tumour keratinocytes isolated from RDEB and UV induced cSCC and demonstrate that SLCO1B3 expression and promoter activity are modulated by type VII collagen. We demonstrate that reduction of SLCO1B3 expression upon full length type VII collagen expression in RDEB cSCC coincides with acquisition of front to rear polarity and increased organisation of 3D spheroid cultures. In addition we show that type VII collagen positively regulates the abundance of markers implicated in cellular polarity, namely ELMO2, PAR3, E-cadherin, B-catenin, ITGA6 and Ln332.
Annexin A2 mediates collagen VI secretion, pulmonary elasticity, and bronchial epithelial cell apoptosis
Authors: Dassah MaryAnn , Almeida Dena , Hahn Rebecca , Bonaldo Paolo , Worgall Stefan , Hajjar Katherine A.
Published: December 2013

The annexins are an evolutionarily conserved family of phospholipid-binding proteins of largely unknown function. We observed that the AnxA2−/− lung basement membrane specifically lacks collagen VI (COL6), and postulated that ANXA2 may direct bronchial epithelial cell secretion of COL6, an unusually large multimeric protein. COL6 serves to anchor cells to basement membranes and, unlike other collagens, undergoes multimerization prior to secretion. Here, AnxA2−/− mice displayed reduced exercise tolerance with impaired lung tissue elasticity, which was phenocopied in COL6A1−/− mice. In vitro, AnxA2−/− fibroblasts retained COL6 within intracellular vesicles and adhered poorly to their matrix unless ANXA2 expression was restored. In vivo, AnxA2−/− bronchial epithelial cells underwent apoptosis and disadhesion. Immunoprecipitation and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that ANXA2 associates with COL6 and SNARE proteins SNAP-23 and VAMP2 at secretory vesicle membranes of bronchial epithelial cells, and that absence of ANXA2 leads to retention of COL6 in a late-Golgi, VAMP2-positive compartment. These results define a new role for ANXA2 in the COL6 secretion pathway, and further show that this pathway establishes cell-matrix interactions that underlie normal pulmonary function and epithelial cell survival.
FGF2-induced Ras/Erk MAPK signalling maintains lymphatic endothelial cell identity by up-regulating endothelial cell-specific gene expression and suppressing TGFβ signalling via Smad2
Authors: Ichise Taeko , Yoshida Nobuaki , Ichise Hirotake
Published: December 2013

The lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) fate decision program during development has been revealed. However, the mechanism underlying the maintenance of differentiated LEC identity remains largely unknown. Here, we show that fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) plays a fundamental role in maintaining a differentiated LEC trait. In addition to demonstrating the appearance of alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expressing LECs in mouse lymphedematous skin in vivo, we found that mouse-immortalized LECs lose their characteristics and undergo endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) when cultured in FGF2-depleted medium. FGF2 depletion acted synergistically with transforming growth factor (TGF) β to induce EndMT. We also found that H-Ras-overexpressing LECs were resistant to EndMT. Ras activation not only upregulated FGF2-induced Erk MAPK activation, but also suppressed TGFβ-induced activation of Smad2 by modulating Smad2 phosphorylation via Erk MAPKs. These results suggest that FGF2 may regulate LEC-specific gene expression and suppress TGFβ signalling in LECs via Smad2 in a Ras/Erk MAP kinase-dependent manner. Taken together, our findings provide a new insight into the FGF2/Ras/Erk MAPK-dependent mechanism that maintains and modulates the LEC trait.
Preparation of Aqueous Carbon Material Suspensions by Aqueous Counter Collision
Authors: Kawano Yohei , Kondo Tetsuo
Published: December 2013

Aqueous dispersions of hyperhydrophobic fullerene C60, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and graphite were prepared. This was achieved by the aqueous counter collision method, designed to fabricate nanofibers and nanoparticles. Dispersions of carbon materials could be prepared by collision from two high-speed water jets. The dispersed states of the materials differed significantly, presumably because of the different nanoscale configurations of the materials.
Theoretical Investigation of the Dependence of Exchange Interaction on Dihedral Angle between Two Aromatic Rings in a Wire Unit
Authors: Nishizawa Shohei , Hasegawa Jun-ya , Matsuda Kenji
Published: December 2013

The dependence of intramolecular exchange interaction on dihedral angle between two aromatic rings in a wire unit was investigated by using broken-symmetry UDFT (BS-UDFT) calculation. Biphenyl rings and 2,2′-bithiophene rings were used for molecular rods and nitronyl nitroxide and verdazyl were chosen as organic radical species. The exchange interaction was proportional to cos2  θ where θ is the dihedral angle between two aromatic rings. This result shows good agreement with the dependence of conductance on dihedral angle between two phenyl rings. Our calculation strongly suggests the similarity of molecular conductance and intramolecular exchange interaction and reinforced the existence of an electron-tunneling mechanism underlying two physical properties.
Redox-active Hydroxy-TEMPO Radical Immobilized in Nafion Layer for an Aqueous Electrolyte-based and Dye-sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Kato Ryo , Kato Fumiaki , Oyaizu Kenichi , Nishide Hiroyuki
Published: December 2013

A hydrophilic nitroxide radical molecule, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TEMPOL), was immobilized in a Nafion layer yielding a redox-active modified electrode which enhanced the reduction peak current: The modified electrode and the TEMPOL aqueous electrolyte were applied in a dye-sensitized solar cell to achieve a 2.1% conversion efficiency.
Rapid and inexpensive body fluid identification by RNA profiling-based multiplex High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis
Authors: Hanson Erin K. , Ballantyne Jack
Published: December 2013

Positive identification of the nature of biological material present on evidentiary items can be crucial for understanding the circumstances surrounding a crime. However, traditional protein-based methods do not permit the identification of all body fluids and tissues, and thus molecular based strategies for the conclusive identification of all forensically relevant biological fluids and tissues need to be developed. Messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling is an example of such a molecular-based approach. Current mRNA body fluid identification assays involve capillary electrophoresis (CE) or quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) platforms, each with its own limitations. Both platforms require the use of expensive fluorescently labeled primers or probes. CE-based assays require separate amplification and detection steps thus increasing the analysis time. For qRT-PCR assays, only 3-4 markers can be included in a single reaction since each requires a different fluorescent dye.

To simplify mRNA profiling assays, and reduce the time and cost of analysis, we have developed single- and multiplex body fluid High Resolution Melt (HRM) assays for the identification of common forensically relevant biological fluids and tissues. The incorporated biomarkers include IL19 (vaginal secretions), IL1F7 (skin), ALAS2 (blood), MMP10 (menstrual blood), HTN3 (saliva) and TGM4 (semen).  The HRM assays require only unlabeled PCR primers and a single saturating intercalating fluorescent dye (Eva Green). Each body-fluid-specific marker can easily be identified by the presence of a distinct melt peak. Usually, HRM assays are used to detect variants or isoforms for a single gene target. However, we have uniquely developed duplex and triplex HRM assays to permit the simultaneous detection of multiple targets per reaction. Here we describe the development and initial performance evaluation of the developed HRM assays. The results demonstrate the potential use of HRM assays for rapid, and relatively inexpensive, screening of biological evidence.
Quality parameters for a multimodal EEG/EMG/kinematic brain-computer interface (BCI) aiming to suppress neurological tremor in upper limbs
Authors: Grimaldi Giuliana , Manto Mario , Jdaoudi Yassin
Published: December 2013

Tremor is the most common movement disorder encountered during daily neurological practice. Tremor in the upper limbs causes functional disability and social inconvenience, impairing daily life activities. The response of tremor to pharmacotherapy is variable. Therefore, a combination of drugs is often required. Surgery is considered when the response to medications is not sufficient. However, about one third of patients are refractory to current treatments. New bioengineering therapies are emerging as possible alternatives. Our study was carried out in the framework of the European project “Tremor” (ICT-2007-224051). The main purpose of this challenging project was to develop and validate a new treatment for upper limb tremor based on the combination of functional electrical stimulation (FES; which has been shown to reduce upper limb tremor) with a brain-computer interface (BCI). A BCI-driven detection of voluntary movement is used to trigger FES in a closed-loop approach. Neurological tremor is detected using a matrix of EMG electrodes and inertial sensors embedded in a wearable textile. The identification of the intentionality of movement is a critical aspect to optimize this complex system. We propose a multimodal detection of the intentionality of movement by fusing signals from EEG, EMG and kinematic sensors (gyroscopes and accelerometry). Parameters of prediction of movement are extracted in order to provide global prediction plots and trigger FES properly. In particular, quality parameters (QPs) for the EEG signals, corticomuscular coherence and event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) parameters are combined in an original algorithm which takes into account the refractoriness/responsiveness of tremor. A simulation study of the relationship between the threshold of ERD/ERS of artificial EEG traces and the QPs is also provided. Very interestingly, values of QPs were much greater than those obtained for the corticomuscular module alone.
Cradle-to-Gate Life-Cycle Assessment of a Glued-Laminated Wood Product from Quebec's Boreal Forest
Authors: Laurent Achille-B , Gaboury Simon , Wells Jean-Robert , Bonfils Sibi , Boucher Jean-François , Sylvie Bouchard , D'Amours Sophie , Villeneuve Claude
Published: December 2013

The building sector is increasingly identified as being energy and carbon intensive. Although the majority of emissions are linked to energy usage during the operation part of a building's life cycle, choice of construction materials could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental end-point damages. Increasing the use of wood products in buildings may contribute to the solution, but their environmental impacts are difficult to assess and quantify because they depend on a variety of uncertain parameters. The present cradle-to-gate life-cycle analysis (LCA) focuses exclusively on a glued-laminated wood product (glulam) produced from North American boreal forests located in the province of Quebec, Canada. This study uses primary data to quantify the environmental impacts of all necessary stages of products' life cycle, from harvesting the primary resources, to manufacturing the transformed product into glulam. The functional unit is 1 m3 of glulam. This is the first study based on primary data pertaining to Quebec's boreal forest. Quebec's boreal glulam manufacturing was compared with two other LCAs on glulam in Europe and the United States. Our results show that Quebec's glulam has a significantly smaller environmental footprint than what is reported in the literature. From an LCA perspective, there is a significant advantage to producing glulam in Quebec, compared with the European and American contexts. The same holds true in regard to the four end-point damage categories.
Emissions from Biomass in a Rotary Dryer
Authors: Milota Michael R
Published: December 2013

Air emissions can be a limiting factor in obtaining the required permits to operate a plant when biomass is dried prior to further processing. Aged ponderosa pine, fresh ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and juniper were rotary dried to final moisture contents of 10 to 25 percent. The drum of the dryer was heated to temperatures of 200°C to 425°C. Total hydrocarbon emissions and the emission of various compounds were measured. While wood type strongly influenced emission levels, they were not strongly correlated with temperature or final moisture content. Total hydrocarbon emissions ranged from 0.10 to 0.25 g·kg−1 of ovendry biomass for aged material to 6.9 g·kg−1 for fresh material. Ethanol emissions averaged 7,621 and 2,591 mg·kg−1 for the fresh pine and the Douglas-fir, respectively, compared with less than 30 mg·kg−1 for the aged material. Acetic acid emissions were also greatest for the fresh pine.
A gift exchange relationship? Reflections on doing qualitative research with vulnerable migrants
Authors: Madziva Roda
Published: December 2013

Recent reflections on the study of forced migration stress the importance of constructing ethically sound research relationships that both respect research participants as autonomous agents and protect them from all forms of harm in the research process. Although this is important, very little research in this area has focused directly on the production of intimacy in the research process and how intimate research relationships that are produced can subsequently become the basis on which disclosures are shared and how this can contribute to both the quality of the research process and output. In this article I reflect on my intimate research relationship with Zimbabwean migrant parents who I interviewed in the United Kingdom. I argue that there is an element of (gift) exchange to intimate qualitative research encounters that yields benefits to both the researcher and the researched. In so doing, I also highlight some of the ethical dilemmas I encountered and how they were overcome.
MicroRNA-10b Promotes Nucleus Pulposus Cell Proliferation through RhoC-Akt Pathway by Targeting HOXD10 in Intervetebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Yu Xin , Li Zheng , Shen Jianxiong , Wu William K. K. , Liang Jinqian , Weng Xisheng , Qiu Guixing
Published: December 2013

Aberrant proliferation of nucleus pulposus cell is implicated in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration. Recent findings revealed that microRNAs, a class of small noncoding RNAs, could regulate cell proliferation in many pathological conditions. Here, we showed that miR-10b was dramatically upregulated in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues when compared with nucleus pulposus tissues isolated from patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Moreover, miR-10b levels were associated with disc degeneration grade and downregulation of HOXD10. In cultured nucleus pulposus cells, miR-10b overexpression stimulated cell proliferation with concomitant translational inhibition of HOXD10 whereas restored expression of HOXD10 reversed the mitogenic effect of miR-10b. MiR-10b-mediated downregulation of HOXD10 led to increased RhoC expression and Akt phosphorylation. Either knockdown of RhoC or inhibition of Akt abolished the effect of miR-10b on nucleus pulposus cell proliferation. Taken together, aberrant miR-10b upregulation in intervertebral disc degeneration could contribute to abnormal nucleus pulposus cell proliferation through derepressing the RhoC-Akt pathway by targeting HOXD10. Our study also underscores the potential of miR-10b and the RhoC-Akt pathway as novel therapeutic targets in intervertebral disc degeneration.
Entendimiento y naturaleza de la cientificidad geotecnológica: una aproximación desde el pragmatismo epistemológico
Authors: Moreno Jiménez Antonio
Published: December 2013

Las tecnologías de la información geográfica (TIG) están provocando un impacto de hondo calado en Geografía y otras disciplinas. En línea con las tesis de algunos filósofos de la ciencia y geógrafos, en este artículo se propone y argumenta que los cambios observados en la investigación geográfica suponen la emersión de una praxis científica nueva y distinta. A partir de la concepción de las “tradiciones de investigación” elaborada por epistemólogos pragmatistas y de las recientes contribuciones de los filósofos de la tecnología, se enuncian los elementos y rasgos fundamentales de esa emergente cientificidad geográfica sustentada en las TIG. Con ello se trata de desvelar que éstas poseen un papel mucho más esencial y profundo en la investigación que el de simples herramientas.
Aplicaciones cartográficas para la valoración de superficies de escorrentía. Riu Girona (Alicante)
Authors: Moll Barber Marcos
Published: December 2013

En el presente artículo se plantea una metodología centrada en elaborar una cartografía que sirva para evaluar las diferentes superficies de escorrentía que se encuentran en una cuenca. El marco geográfico sobre el cual se aplica a modo de experimento es el río Girona, localizado en el norte de la provincia de Alacant. Para llevar a cabo la metodología ha sido imprescindible revisar investigaciones sobre coeficiente de escorrentía para llegar a confeccionar una fórmula matemática que ayudara a obtenerlo. Para ello se ha trabajado con distintas variables espaciales integradas en un Sistema de Información Geográfica, con tal de realizar combinaciones entre pendientes, litología y usos del suelo y cubierta vegetal. Dentro de la metodología seguida, el proceso de fotointerpretación ha jugado un papel importantísimo como método de adaptación a la escala de trabajo y como herramienta de evaluación de la superficie.
Students Dig Deep in the Mystery Investigation Soil Lab
Authors: Thiet Rachel K.
Published: December 2013

The Mystery Soil Lab, a playful, inquiry-based laboratory project, is designed to develop students’ skills of inquiry, soil analysis, and synthesis of foundational concepts in soil science and soil ecology. Student groups are given the charge to explore and identify a “Mystery Soil” collected from a unique landscape within a 10-mile radius of our university by determining its soil formation and development history, associated plant community, and official taxonomic designation. Student groups have 4 consecutive weeks to conduct the lab assignment using observation and laboratory techniques. After 4 weeks, students present their findings by describing their process of inquiry, soil analysis results, and the conceptual reasoning behind their hypotheses using key course concepts. This project enhances students’ abilities to conduct iterative science using the scientific method, improves foundational knowledge of soil properties and processes, and builds students’ skills and confidence for a subsequent, independent soil ecology research project later in the semester.
Life Science Literacy of an Undergraduate Population
Authors: Medina Stephanie R. , Ortlieb Evan , Metoyer Sandra
Published: December 2013

Science content knowledge is a concern for educators in the United States because performance has stagnated for the past decade. Investigators designed this study to determine the current levels of scientific literacy among undergraduate students in a freshman-level biology course (a core requirement for majors and nonmajors), identify factors influencing levels of scientific literacy, and make recommendations for improving scientific literacy. Participants (n = 255) answered a one-time, 18-item life science questionnaire. A significant difference in content knowledge was found between participants who engaged in informal science learning weekly and participants who did not engage in informal science learning (i.e., learning outside the classroom).
An Economical Approach to Teaching Cadaver Anatomy
Authors: Simpson Jeff S.
Published: December 2013

Because of shrinking budgets and computerized virtual dissection programs, many large and small institutions are closing the door on traditional and expensive cadaver dissection classes. However, many health-care educators would argue there is still a place for cadaver dissection in higher education, so the continuing challenge is to provide the undergraduate, pre-allied health-care student with dissection experience as budgetary constraints lead institutions away from this valuable and time-honored teaching tool. I present a teaching model that looks to address those concerns and is taught in a unique way, with minimal overhead and with the potential to provide an effective and rewarding experience for students entering the medical, nursing, and physical rehabilitation fields.
Titanium Hafnium Oxide Alloy Films by a Novel Sub-Atomic Layer Sputtering Process for High Index and Graded Index Applications
Authors: Kobayashi Nobuhiko P. , Demaray R. Ernest , Zhang Junce , Norris Kate J. , Fryauf David M. , Díaz León Juan J. , Flores Amanda , Mullapdi Ravi , Arunagiri Tana , Lu Lai
Published: December 2013

We studied physical properties of titanium hafnium oxide (TixHf1-xO2) alloy thin films deposited by pulsed DC reactive magnetron sputtering with AC substrate bias. Thin films of two end oxides, hafnium oxides (HfO2) and titanium oxides (TiO2), and their alloys TixHf1-xO2 with a range of compositions deposited with and without the substrate bias were compared to study the dependence of physical properties of the thin films on the substrate bias. Structural, chemical and optical properties of the thin films were analyzed to assess inter-relationship among these properties. Thin films deposited with the AC substrate bias consistently show much higher refractive index and significantly lower optical extinction coefficient than those of thin films deposited without the substrate bias suggesting that characteristic microstructures developed in these thin films are responsible for the differences in the optical properties.