bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Symptom severity, social supports, coping styles, and quality of life among individuals’ diagnosed with Ménierè’s disease
Authors: Porter Megan , Boothroyd Roger A
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To (1) examine the quality of life of individuals with Ménierè’s disease in relation to symptom severity, social supports, and coping styles and (2) develop a prediction model to identify factors most strongly associated with quality of life.

Methods

Data were collected using a web-based survey that included previously developed and validated measures (i.e. SF-12, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly Screening Version, Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, Brief COPES, Lehman’s Quality of Life). Ninety-five individuals with Ménierè’s disease who were members of one of five online Ménierè’s disease support groups responded to the survey.

Results

The findings indicated that symptom severity was negatively associated with patients’ quality of life, social supports were positively associated with quality of life, and the use of negative coping styles (e.g. substance use, blaming) was negatively associated with quality of life. Four predictors (i.e. SF-12 mental health, dizziness severity, self-esteem support, and negative coping styles) accounted for 62% of the variance in quality of life.

Discussion

The findings suggest that the factors associated with the quality of life of patients with Ménierè’s disease are similar to those reported in the literature among patients with other chronic illnesses. The results also suggested that emphasis on psychosocial factors may be an important aspect of a comprehensive treatment intervention for individuals with Ménierè’s disease.
Ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injection for distal biceps tendinopathy
Authors: Barker Scott L , Bell Simon N , Connell David , Coghlan Jennifer A
Published: January 2015

Background

Distal biceps tendinopathy is an uncommon cause of elbow pain. The optimum treatment for cases refractory to conservative treatment is unclear. Platelet-rich plasma has been used successfully for other tendinopathies around the elbow.

Methods

Six patients with clinical and radiological evidence of distal biceps tendinopathy underwent ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Clinical examination findings, visual analogue score (VAS) for pain and Mayo Elbow Performance scores were recorded.

Results

The Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 68.3 (range 65 to 85) (fair function) to 95 (range 85 to 100) (excellent function). The VAS at rest improved from a mean of 2.25 (range 2 to 5) pre-injection to 0. The VAS with movement improved from a mean of 7.25 (range 5 to 8) pre-injection to 1.3 (range 0 to 2). No complications were noted.

Discussion

Ultrasound-guided PRP injection appears to be a safe and effective treatment for recalcitrant cases of distal biceps tendinopathy. Further investigation with a randomized controlled trial is needed to fully assess its efficacy.
Perceiving Others’ Feelings
Authors: Sherman Gary D. , Lerner Jennifer S. , Renshon Jonathan , Ma-Kellams Christine , Joel Samantha
Published: January 2015

Recent research has explored the relationship between social hierarchy and empathic accuracy—the ability to accurately infer other people’s mental states. In the current research, we tested the hypothesis that, regardless of one’s personal level of status and power, simply believing that social inequality is natural and morally acceptable (e.g., endorsing social dominance orientation, or SDO) would be negatively associated with empathic accuracy. In a sample of managers, a group for whom empathic accuracy is a valuable skill, empathic accuracy was lower for managers who possessed structural power and also for managers who endorsed social dominance, regardless of their structural power. Moreover, men were less empathically accurate than women, a relationship that may be explained by men’s higher SDO and greater structural power. These findings suggest that for empathic abilities, it matters just as much what you think about social hierarchies as it does where you stand within them.
Responder analysis of a randomized comparison of the 13.3 mg/24 h and 9.5 mg/24 h rivastigmine patch
Authors: Molinuevo José L , Frölich Lutz , Grossberg George T , Galvin James E , Cummings Jeffrey L , Krahnke Tillmann , Strohmaier Christine
Published: January 2015

Introduction

OPtimizing Transdermal Exelon In Mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (OPTIMA) was a randomized, double-blind comparison of 13.3 mg/24 h versus 9.5 mg/24 h rivastigmine patch in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease who declined despite open-label treatment with 9.5 mg/24 h patch. Over 48 weeks of double-blind treatment, high-dose patch produced greater functional and cognitive benefits compared with 9.5 mg/24 h patch.

Methods

Using OPTIMA data, a post-hoc responder analysis was performed to firstly, compare the proportion of patients demonstrating improvement or absence of decline with 13.3 mg/24 h versus 9.5 mg/24 h patch; and secondly, identify predictors of improvement or absence of decline. ‘Improvers’ were patients who improved on the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) by ≥4 points from baseline, and did not decline on the instrumental domain of the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Activities of Daily Living scale (ADCS-IADL). ‘Non-decliners’ were patients who did not decline on either scale.

Results

Overall, 265 patients randomized to 13.3 mg/24 h and 271 to 9.5 mg/24 h patch met the criteria for inclusion in the intention-to-treat population and were included in the analyses. Significantly more patients were ‘improvers’ with 13.3 mg/24 h compared with 9.5 mg/24 h patch at Weeks 24 (44 (16.6%) versus 19 (7.0%); P < 0.001) and 48 (21 (7.9%) versus 10 (3.7%); P = 0.023). A significantly greater proportion of patients were ‘non-decliners’ with 13.3 mg/24 h compared with 9.5 mg/24 h patch at Week 24 (71 (26.8%) versus 44 (16.2%); P = 0.002). At Week 48, there was a trend in favor of 13.3 mg/24 h patch. Functional and cognitive assessment scores at double-blind baseline did not consistently predict effects at Weeks 24 or 48.

Conclusion

More patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease who are titrated to 13.3 mg/24 h rivastigmine patch at time of decline are ‘improvers’ or ‘non-decliners’ i.e. show responses on cognition and activities of daily living compared with patients remaining on 9.5 mg/24 h patch.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00506415; registered July 20, 2007.
Finite-Dimensional Distributions of a Square-Root Diffusion
Authors: Gordy Michael B.
Published: January 2015

We derive multivariate moment generating functions for the conditional and stationary distributions of a discrete sample path ofnobservations of a square-root diffusion (CIR) process,X(t). For any fixed vector of observation timest1,…,tn, we find the conditional joint distribution of (X(t1),…,X(tn)) is a multivariate noncentral chi-squared distribution and the stationary joint distribution is a Krishnamoorthy-Parthasarathy multivariate gamma distribution. Multivariate cumulants of the stationary distribution have a simple and computationally tractable expression. We also obtain the moment generating function for the incrementX(t+ δ) -X(t), and show that the increment is equivalent in distribution to a scaled difference of two independent draws from a gamma distribution.
A Binomial Splitting Process in Connection with Corner Parking Problems
Authors: Fuchs Michael , Hwang Hsien-Kuei , Itoh Yoshiaki , Mahmoud Hosam H.
Published: January 2015

This paper studies a special type of binomial splitting process. Such a process can be used to model a high dimensional corner parking problem as well as determining the depth of random PATRICIA (practical algorithm to retrieve information coded in alphanumeric) tries, which are a special class of digital tree data structures. The latter also has natural interpretations in terms of distinct values in independent and identically distributed geometric random variables and the occupancy problem in urn models. The corresponding distribution is marked by a logarithmic mean and a bounded variance, which is oscillating, if the binomial parameterpis not equal to ½, and asymptotic to one in the unbiased case. Also, the limiting distribution does not exist as a result of the periodic fluctuations.
Highly efficient gene knockout by injection of TALEN mRNAs into oocytes and host transfer in Xenopus laevis
Authors: Nakajima Keisuke , Yaoita Yoshio
Published: January 2015

Zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and the CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated proteins) system are potentially powerful tools for producing tailor-made knockout animals. However, their mutagenic activity is not high enough to induce mutations at all loci of a target gene throughout an entire tadpole. In this study, we present a highly efficient method for introducing gene modifications at almost all target sequences in randomly selected embryos. The gene modification activity of TALEN is enhanced by adopting the host-transfer technique. In our method, the efficiency is further improved by injecting TALEN mRNAs fused to the 3′UTR of the Xenopus DEADSouth gene into oocytes, which are then transferred into a host female frog, where they are ovulated and fertilized. The addition of the 3′UTR of the DEADSouth gene promotes mRNA translation in the oocytes and increases the expression of TALEN proteins to near-maximal levels three hours post fertilization (hpf). In contrast, TALEN mRNAs without this 3′UTR are translated infrequently in oocytes. Our data suggest that genomic DNA is more sensitive to TALEN proteins from fertilization to the midblastula (MBT) stage. Our method works by increasing the levels of TALEN proteins during the pre-MBT stages.
A proteomic study of mitotic phase-specific interactors of EB1 reveals a role for SXIP-mediated protein interactions in anaphase onset
Authors: Tamura Naoka , Simon Judith E. , Nayak Arnab , Shenoy Rajesh , Hiroi Noriko , Boilot Viviane , Funahashi Akira , Draviam Viji M.
Published: January 2015

Microtubules execute diverse mitotic events that are spatially and temporally separated; the underlying regulation is poorly understood. By combining drug treatments, large-scale immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we report the first comprehensive map of mitotic phase-specific protein interactions of the microtubule-end binding protein, EB1. EB1 interacts with some, but not all, of its partners throughout mitosis. We show that the interaction of EB1 with Astrin-SKAP complex, a key regulator of chromosome segregation, is enhanced during prometaphase, compared to anaphase. We find that EB1 and EB3, another EB family member, can interact directly with SKAP, in an SXIP-motif dependent manner. Using an SXIP defective mutant that cannot interact with EB, we uncover two distinct pools of SKAP at spindle microtubules and kinetochores. We demonstrate the importance of SKAP's SXIP-motif in controlling microtubule growth rates and anaphase onset, without grossly disrupting spindle function. Thus, we provide the first comprehensive map of temporal changes in EB1 interactors during mitosis and highlight the importance of EB protein interactions in ensuring normal mitosis.
Tyrosine motifs are required for prestin basolateral membrane targeting
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Moeini-Naghani Iman , Bai JunPing , Santos-Sacchi Joseph , Navaratnam Dhasakumar S.
Published: January 2015

Prestin is targeted to the lateral wall of outer hair cells (OHCs) where its electromotility is critical for cochlear amplification. Using MDCK cells as a model system for polarized epithelial sorting, we demonstrate that prestin uses tyrosine residues, in a YXXΦ motif, to target the basolateral surface. Both Y520 and Y667 are important for basolateral targeting of prestin. Mutation of these residues to glutamine or alanine resulted in retention within the Golgi and delayed egress from the Golgi in Y667Q. Basolateral targeting is restored upon mutation to phenylalanine suggesting the importance of a phenol ring in the tyrosine side chain. We also demonstrate that prestin targeting to the basolateral surface is dependent on AP1B (μ1B), and that prestin uses transferrin containing early endosomes in its passage from the Golgi to the basolateral plasma membrane. The presence of AP1B (μ1B) in OHCs, and parallels between prestin targeting to the basolateral surface of OHCs and polarized epithelial cells suggest that outer hair cells resemble polarized epithelia rather than neurons in this important phenotypic measure.
TACC3–ch-TOG track the growing tips of microtubules independently of clathrin and Aurora-A phosphorylation
Authors: Gutiérrez-Caballero Cristina , Burgess Selena G. , Bayliss Richard , Royle Stephen J.
Published: January 2015

The interaction between TACC3 (transforming acidic coiled coil protein 3) and the microtubule polymerase ch-TOG (colonic, hepatic tumor overexpressed gene) is evolutionarily conserved. Loading of TACC3–ch-TOG onto mitotic spindle microtubules requires the phosphorylation of TACC3 by Aurora-A kinase and the subsequent interaction of TACC3 with clathrin to form a microtubule-binding surface. Recent work indicates that TACC3 can track the plus-ends of microtubules and modulate microtubule dynamics in non-dividing cells via its interaction with ch-TOG. Whether there is a pool of TACC3–ch-TOG that is independent of clathrin in human cells, and what is the function of this pool, are open questions. Here, we describe the molecular interaction between TACC3 and ch-TOG that permits TACC3 recruitment to the plus-ends of microtubules. This TACC3–ch-TOG pool is independent of EB1, EB3, Aurora-A phosphorylation and binding to clathrin. We also describe the distinct combinatorial subcellular pools of TACC3, ch-TOG and clathrin. TACC3 is often described as a centrosomal protein, but we show that there is no significant population of TACC3 at centrosomes. The delineation of distinct protein pools reveals a simplified view of how these proteins are organized and controlled by post-translational modification.
A gene expression atlas of a bicoid-depleted Drosophila embryo reveals early canalization of cell fate
Authors: Staller Max V. , Fowlkes Charless C. , Bragdon Meghan D. J. , Wunderlich Zeba , Estrada Javier , DePace Angela H.
Published: January 2015

In developing embryos, gene regulatory networks drive cells towards discrete terminal fates, a process called canalization. We studied the behavior of the anterior-posterior segmentation network in Drosophila melanogaster embryos by depleting a key maternal input, bicoid (bcd), and measuring gene expression patterns of the network at cellular resolution. This method results in a gene expression atlas containing the levels of mRNA or protein expression of 13 core patterning genes over six time points for every cell of the blastoderm embryo. This is the first cellular resolution dataset of a genetically perturbed Drosophila embryo that captures all cells in 3D. We describe the technical developments required to build this atlas and how the method can be employed and extended by others. We also analyze this novel dataset to characterize the degree and timing of cell fate canalization in the segmentation network. We find that in two layers of this gene regulatory network, following depletion of bcd, individual cells rapidly canalize towards normal cell fates. This result supports the hypothesis that the segmentation network directly canalizes cell fate, rather than an alternative hypothesis whereby cells are initially mis-specified and later eliminated by apoptosis. Our gene expression atlas provides a high resolution picture of a classic perturbation and will enable further computational modeling of canalization and gene regulation in this transcriptional network.
RNAMotifScanX: a graph alignment approach for RNA structural motif identification
Authors: Zhong Cuncong , Zhang Shaojie
Published: January 2015

RNA structural motifs are recurrent three-dimensional (3D) components found in the RNA architecture. These RNA structural motifs play important structural or functional roles and usually exhibit highly conserved 3D geometries and base-interaction patterns. Analysis of the RNA 3D structures and elucidation of their molecular functions heavily rely on efficient and accurate identification of these motifs. However, efficient RNA structural motif search tools are lacking due to the high complexity of these motifs. In this work, we present RNAMotifScanX, a motif search tool based on a base-interaction graph alignment algorithm. This novel algorithm enables automatic identification of both partially and fully matched motif instances. RNAMotifScanX considers noncanonical base-pairing interactions, base-stacking interactions, and sequence conservation of the motifs, which leads to significantly improved sensitivity and specificity as compared with other state-of-the-art search tools. RNAMotifScanX also adopts a carefully designed branch-and-bound technique, which enables ultra-fast search of large kink-turn motifs against a 23S rRNA. The software package RNAMotifScanX is implemented using GNU C++, and is freely available from http://genome.ucf.edu/RNAMotifScanX.
MicroRNA-130a can inhibit hepatitis B virus replication via targeting PGC1α and PPARγ
Authors: Huang Jyun-Yuan , Chou Shu-Fan , Lee Jun-Wei , Chen Hung-Lin , Chen Chun-Ming , Tao Mi-Hua , Shih Chiaho
Published: January 2015

In hepatitis B virus (HBV)-replicating hepatocytes, miR-130a expression was significantly reduced. In a reciprocal manner, miR-130a reduced HBV replication by targeting at two major metabolic regulators PGC1α and PPARγ, both of which can potently stimulate HBV replication. We proposed a positive feed-forward loop between HBV, miR-130a, PPARγ, and PGC1α. Accordingly, HBV can significantly enhance viral replication by reducing miR-130a and increasing PGC1α and PPARγ. NF-κB/p65 can strongly stimulate miR-130a promoter, while miR-130a can promote NF-κB/p65 protein level by reducing PPARγ and thus NF-κB/p65 protein degradation. We postulated another positive feed-forward loop between miR-130a and NF-κB/p65 via PPARγ. During liver inflammation, NF-κB signaling could contribute to viral clearance via its positive effect on miR-130a transcription. Conversely, in asymptomatic HBV carriers, persistent viral infection could reduce miR-130a and NF-κB expression, leading to dampened inflammation and immune tolerance. Finally, miR-130a could contribute to metabolic homeostasis by dual targeting PGC1α and PPARγ simultaneously.
Conceptual View on Career: Systemic and Substantive Analysis
Authors: Сотникова  , Sotnikova Svetlana
Published: January 2015

In the present context of increasing appreciation and scarcity of labor career development becomes of ever growing importance for an organization to achieve its strategic goals, as ongoing changes in organizations’ business activities and structure require the correspondent changes in ways of positioning workers in the stream of social life. The paper provides rationale for conceptual basics of systemic and substantive analysis of a career. Within this approach professional career is considered to be the interplay of con icting and colliding aspects and tendencies despite their internal unity and interpenetration. On the one part, professional career is essentially a way for a worker to assert himself in the social space through resolving con icts between working life and personal life, between labor time and leisure time, between personal needs and public needs. On the other part, professional career can be seen as complete and consistent set of resources for a worker to achieve social sustainability, as he is aware of the con nes of freedom and responsibility he enjoys for self-actualization in formal, non-formal and informal aspects. Systemic and substantive career analysis allows to reveal the nature of its components’ internal unity, to identify the career type as well as sources, drivers and mechanisms of self-organization, self-development and self-destruction of a professional career. Based on implementing basics of systemic and substantive analysis of a career development the author has formulated proprietary de nitions for such notions, as «the system of career», ‘career space»; to reveal features of a career system components; to prove di erences between career position and job position and to identify several tiers of career space.
Poverty and child neglect – the elephant in the room?
Authors: Gupta Anna
Published: January 2015

There has been much discussion in the past few years about how social workers in England should respond to cases of child neglect, with calls to take more children into care and speed up the process towards adoption. In this article it is argued that current dominant discourse framed in terms of individual pathology disregards the substantial body of knowledge on the effects of poverty and the complex interrelationships between poverty and neglect; perpetuates the blaming of parents; and ultimately fails to serve the interests and promote the rights of many children and their families. Drawing on the capability approach and the work of Lister, the article concludes with an initial exploration of the development of a more sophisticated and multidimensional analysis of poverty and parenting that incorporates both psychological and social causes in ways that challenge the polarisation of the debate on poverty and neglect.
Clinical Sensitivity and Specificity of Meconium Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester, Ethyl Glucuronide, and Ethyl Sulfate for Detecting Maternal Drinking during Pregnancy
Authors: Himes Sarah K , Dukes Kimberly A , Tripp Tara , Petersen Julie M , Raffo Cheri , Burd Larry , Odendaal Hein , Elliott Amy J , Hereld Dale , Signore Caroline , Willinger Marian ,   for the Prenatal Alcohol in SIDS and Stillbirth (PASS) Network, Huestis Marilyn A
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

We investigated agreement between self-reported prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and objective meconium alcohol markers to determine the optimal meconium marker and threshold for identifying PAE.

METHODS

Meconium fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), ethyl glucuronide (EtG), and ethyl sulfate (EtS) were quantified by LC-MS/MS in 0.1 g meconium from infants of Safe Passage Study participants. Detailed PAE information was collected from women with a validated timeline follow-back interview. Because meconium formation begins during weeks 12–20, maternal self-reported drinking at or beyond 19 weeks was our exposure variable.

RESULTS

Of 107 women, 33 reported no alcohol consumption in pregnancy, 16 stopped drinking by week 19, and 58 drank beyond 19 weeks (including 45 third-trimester drinkers). There was moderate to substantial agreement between self-reported PAE at ≥19 weeks and meconium EtG ≥30 ng/g (κ = 0.57, 95% CI 0.41–0.73). This biomarker and associated cutoff was superior to a 7 FAEE sum ≥2 nmol/g and all other individual and combination marker cutoffs. With meconium EtG ≥30 ng/g as the gold standard condition and maternal self-report at ≥19 weeks' gestation as the test condition, 82% clinical sensitivity (95% CI 71.6–92.0) and 75% specificity (95% CI 63.2–86.8) were observed. A significant dose–concentration relationship between self-reported drinks per drinking day and meconium EtG ≥30 ng/g also was observed (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal alcohol consumption at ≥19 weeks was better represented by meconium EtG ≥30 ng/g than currently used FAEE cutoffs.
Effect of structured physical exercise program on older adult's daily living activities and cognitive functions
Authors: Abo El Magd Manal , Zaki Sahar
Published: January 2015

Background: Older adults experience marked physiological and cognitive changes. Literature states that, daily exercising positively effects older adults' both physical and cognitive functioning. Aim: To evaluate the effect of the developed Structured Physical Exercise Program (SPEP) on both older adult's activities of daily living and cognitive functions. Subjects and methods: A quasi experimental design (pre/ post- tests) was utilized for the current study where the older adults' sample served as their own control. The study was conducted at a charity geriatric home (Female section) in Giza Governorate on a convenient sample of 45 older adult females. Data were collected through using three tools; Personal and clinical data assessment sheet, and the two pre-post scales (i.e. Activity of Daily Living scale "ADL" and Nursesâ€™ Observation Scale for Cognitive Abilities "NOSCA"); both scales were already developed and tested before. Results: Data revealed that, after implementation of SPEP, statistically significant differences, indicating improvement, were found between the older adult's ADL and both their age, presence of support network, the number of offspring and medical history. Also Statistically significant difference, indicating improvement, was found between ADL and NOSCA scales among the study sample before and after implementing the SPEP. Conclusion: Both ADL level and cognitive functions of study sample were significantly improved after implementing the SPEP. Regular physical exercising is likely to have positive effect on both older adults' physical and cognitive functioning resulting in higher level of independency. Recommendation: This study recommends wide range application of the developed SPEP on older adults in Egypt.
Enzymes of polyamine biodegradation pathway in amniotic fluid during the pregnancy compared with values of L/S ratio
Authors: Bjelakovic Gordana , Pavlovic DuÅ¡ica , Kocic Gordana , Stojanovic Ivana , Jevtovic Stoimenov Tatjana , Sokolovic DuÅ¡an , Bjelakovic Marija , Miladinovic Petar
Published: January 2015

Background: During the pregnancy the amount of polyamines spermine, spermidine and putrescine, rise rapidly in amniotic fluid. Polyamine oxidase (PAO) represents one of the key enzymes in catabolic pathway of polyamines. PAO catalyzes the oxidative deamination of spermine (Sp) or spermidine (Spd). The literature data documented that serum PAO activity increases in pregnancy. Diamine oxidase (DAO), histaminase, catalyses the oxidation of diamine putrescine or histamine. DAO is present in high concentrations in amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is the protective liquid for the baby in the motherâ€™s uterus. The determination of the lecithin to sphyngomyelin (L/S) ratio is by far the most widely used and accepted method to assess the fetal lung immaturity. The idea of the present study was to elucidate the polyamine metabolism in amniotic fluid during the pregnancy, through investigation of polyamine oxidase (PAO) and diamine oxidase (DAO) activities, and to compare their activities with the values of lecithin/ sphingomielin ratio (L/S) ratio.Methods: The study included 170 pregnant women. The amniotic fluid samples were obtained using amniocentesis. The values of L/S ratio were estimated by a thin layer chromatography. PAO and DAO activities were measured by the spectrophotometric methods.Results: Our results confirmed that amniotic fluid possess PAO and DAO activity. The activities of both enzymes in amniotic fluid samples increase in parallel with the L/S ratio increase. Diamine oxidase activity was higher than polyamine oxidase activity.Conclusions: DAO and PAO activities may serve as markers of fetal lung maturity.
Presentation of an executable model for evaluation of software architecture using blackboard technique and formal models
Authors: Majidi Fatemeh , Harounabadi Ali
Published: January 2015

Considering the promotion and complexities of software systems and need to services for repair and updating, success of this system is extremely dependent to its architecture and design. Architectural techniques due to being used by the architectures frequently have specified effect on qualitative characteristics. If this effect is quantitative and measurable for each technique will enable the architect to have more care and convenience for evaluation of design and architectural designs. In this study, at first to show the structure and behavior of software architecture using blackboard technique, component diagram and unified modeling language activity diagram together with required data in relation to nonfunctional needs as stereotypes and labels were used. Later, upon converting the actual model to the formal model, requirements for system performance evaluation on the formal model is provided. Upon analyzing the results, it is observed that the offered method can evaluate the performance of software architecture based on blackboard technique at the design age.
Free radical gelling reactions of lignosulfonates
Authors: Myrvold Bernt O.
Published: January 2015

Eleven different lignosulfonates (LS) and nine different free radical initiators have been tested in different concentrations to study the possibility of forming LS gels. It was found that the initiator must have a potential high enough for oxidizing the phenolic groups but not so high that would lead to a complete destruction of the LS. The chemical changes of the LS with different oxidants were observed in tests with low concentration of LS. The course of the reaction depends strongly on the type of oxidants that are able to gel the LS.
Telehealth Monitoring of Patients in the Community
Authors: Sparks Ross , Celler Branko , Okugami Chris , Jayasena Rajiv , Varnfield Marlien
Published: January 2015

This article outlines a decision support system that seeks to help community nurses monitor the well-being of their chronically ill patients. It is designed for nurses to stay in contact with their patients without spending unnecessary time on less productive aspects of community nursing, such as avoidable driving to and from patients’ houses and taking measurements of vital signs to assess their health condition. It therefore allows the nurse to spend more time on managing the factors that could lead to a healthier patient. The decision support system is developed for two levels of mathematical capability. Nurses with a statistical background are provided with in-depth information allowing them to detect changes in mean, mean square error (and hence variation), and correlations using a variation on dynamic principle components. Less mathematically inclined nurses are offered information about trends, change points, and a simpler multivariate view of a patient’s well-being involving parallel coordinate plots.
Effect of Optical Amplifiers on the Performance of SCM Radio over Fiber Systems
Authors: Sharma Sakshi , Bhatia Kamaljeet Singh , Kaur Harsimrat
Published: January 2015

A bidirectional subcarrier multiplexing (SCM)-radio-over-fiber(RoF) network is proposed. In this paper, SCM RoFlink is analyzed with and without optical amplifier. The response of the system is studied for semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and Raman amplifier. The results for the same are compared and then the appropriate amplifier is selected and the required gain for the optimal performance of the system is reported.
Phylogeny and systematics of the Crocidura suaveolens species group: corroboration and controversy between nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers / Phylogénie et systématique du groupe d'espèces Crocidura suaveolens: coordination et contradiction des marqueurs nucléaire et mitochondriaux de l'ADN
Authors: Bannikova Anna A. , Lebedev Vladimir S. , Kramerov Dmitri A. , Zaitsev Mikhail V.
Published: January 2015

Despite obvious advances in systematic research on Palaearctic white-toothed shrews ( Crocidura ), phylogenetic relationships and species diagnosis of 40-chromosome species ( suaveolens sp. group) remain poorly understood. Phylogenetic relationships of these shrews were analyzed on the basis of two independent molecular markers: interspersed repeat PCR fingerprints (inter-SINE-PCR) and complete (1140 bp) or partial (∼400 bp) sequences of the mtDNA cyt b gene. According to these data, C. suaveolens from Western Europe (Italy) appeared distinct from samples of C. suaveolens from Eastern Europe and Mongolia, as well as a Siberian sample. mtDNA introgression of Eastern European C. suaveolens with C. gueldenstaedtii in their contact zone in the Tuapse region was revealed. Hybrydization between C. gueldenstaedtii and C. suaveolens resulted in the formation of a population, nuclear DNA and morphological characteristics typical for C. gueldenstaedtii , while the mitochondrial genome is assimilated from C. suaveolens . The population of the Talysh region of the Caucasus ( C. caspica ) represents a separate entity that is clearly distinguished from the populations of Georgia and Tuapse ( C. gueldenstaedtii ) and C. suaveolens . Therefore, the position of C. caspica as a full species is supported. The present analysis of both inter-SINE-PCR and cyt b sequence data revealed two major clades in Palaearctic 40-chromosome Crocidura . The eastern clade is formed by true C. suaveolens/C. sibirica , together with C. caspica , and the western clade is formed by Western European C. suaveolens , which should be treated as a distinct species, C. mimula and the closely related C. gueldenstaedtii.
Limited Efficacy of α-Conopeptides, Vc1.1 and RgIA, To Inhibit Sensory Neuron CaVCurrent
Authors: Wright Andrew B. , Norimatsu Yohei , McIntosh J. Michael , Elmslie Keith S.
Published: January 2015

Chronic pain is very difficult to treat. Thus, novel analgesics are a critical area of research. Strong preclinical evidence supports the analgesic effects of α-conopeptides, Vc1.1 and RgIA, which block α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). However, the analgesic mechanism is controversial. Some evidence supports the block of α9α10 nAChRs as an analgesic mechanism, while other evidence supports the inhibition of N-type CaV(CaV2.2) current via activation of GABABreceptors. Here, we reassess the effect of Vc1.1 and RgIA on CaVcurrent in rat sensory neurons. Unlike the previous findings, we found highly variable effects among individual sensory neurons, but on average only minimal inhibition induced by Vc1.1, and no significant effect on the current by RgIA. We also investigated the potential involvement of GABABreceptors in the Vc1.1-induced inhibition, and found no correlation between the size of CaVcurrent inhibition induced by baclofen (GABABagonist) versus that induced by Vc1.1. Thus, GABABreceptors are unlikely to mediate the Vc1.1-induced CaVcurrent inhibition. Based on the present findings, CaVcurrent inhibition in dorsal root ganglia is unlikely to be the predominant mechanism by which either Vc1.1 or RgIA induce analgesia.
A registry-based study of thyroid paraganglioma: histological and genetic characteristics
Authors: von Dobschuetz Ernst , Leijon Helena , Schalin-Jäntti Camilla , Schiavi Francesca , Brauckhoff Michael , Peczkowska Mariola , Spiazzi Giovanna , Demattè Serena , Cecchini Maria Enrica , Sartorato Paola , Krajewska Jolanta , Hasse-Lazar Kornelia , Roszkowska-Purska Katarzyna , Taschin Elisa , Malinoc Angelica , Akslen Lars A , Arola Johanna , Lange Dariusz , Fassina Ambrogio , Pennelli Gianmaria , Barbareschi Mattia , Luettges Jutta , Prejbisz Aleksander , Januszewicz Andrzej , Strate Tim , Bausch Birke , Castinetti Frederic , Jarzab Barbara , Opocher Giuseppe , Eng Charis , Neumann Hartmut P H
Published: January 2015

The precise diagnosis of thyroid neoplasias will guide surgical management. Primary thyroid paraganglioma has been rarely reported. Data on prevalence, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular genetics in a systematic series of such patients are pending. We performed a multinational population-based study on thyroid paraganglioma and analyzed prevalence, IHC, and molecular genetics. Patients with thyroid paraganglioma were recruited from the European-American-Head-and-Neck-Paraganglioma-Registry. Demographic and clinical data were registered. Histopathology and IHC were re-investigated. All patients with thyroid paraganglioma underwent molecular genetic analyses of theSDHA,SDHB,SDHC,SDHD,SDHAF2,VHL,RET,TMEM127, andMAXgenes. Analyses included Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for detection of large rearrangements. Of 947 registrants, eight candidates were initially identified. After immunohistochemical analyses of these eight subjects, 5 (0.5%) were confirmed to have thyroid paraganglioma. IHC was positive for chromogranin, synaptophysin, and S-100 and negative for calcitonin in all five thyroid paragangliomas, whereas the three excluded candidate tumors stained positive for pan-cytokeratin, a marker excluding endocrine tumors. Germline variants, probably representing mutations, were found in four of the five confirmed thyroid paraganglioma cases, two each inSDHAandSDHB, whereas the excluded cases had no mutations in the tested genes. Thyroid paraganglioma is a finite entity, which must be differentiated from medullary thyroid carcinoma, because medical, surgical, and genetic management for each is different. Notably, approximately 80% of thyroid paragangliomas are associated with germline variants, with implications for additional tumors and a potential risk for the family. As opposed to sporadic tumors, surgical management and extent of resection are different for heritable tumors, each guided by the precise gene involved.
Three-dimensional echocardiography of congenital abnormalities of the left atrioventricular valve
Authors: Rice Kathryn , Simpson John
Published: January 2015

Congenital abnormalities of the left atrioventricular (AV) valve are a significant diagnostic challenge. Traditionally, reliance has been placed on two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) imaging to guide recognition of the specific morphological features. Real-time 3DE can provide unique views of the left AV valve with the potential to improve understanding of valve morphology and function to facilitate surgical planning. This review illustrates the features of congenital abnormalities of the left AV valve assessed by 3DE. The similarities and differences in morphology between different lesions are described, both with respect to the valve itself and supporting chordal apparatus. The potential advantages as well as limitations of this technique in clinical practice are outlined.
Murine binder of sperm protein homolog 1: a new player in HDL-induced capacitation
Authors: Plante Geneviève , Manjunath Puttaswamy
Published: January 2015

Binder of sperm (BSP) proteins are ubiquitous among mammals and are exclusively expressed in male genital tract. The main function associated with BSP proteins is their ability to promote sperm capacitation. In mice, two proteins (BSP protein homolog 1 (BSPH1) and BSPH2) have been studied. Using recombinant strategies, BSPH1 was found to bind to epididymal sperm membranes and promote sperm capacitationin vitro. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of native murine BSPH1 protein in sperm capacitation induced by BSA and HDLs. The effect of antibodies, antigen-binding fragments (Fabs), and F(ab′)2specific for murine BSPH1 on BSA- and HDL-induced capacitation was tested. Results indicate that BSPH1 has no direct role in BSA-induced capacitation. However, antibodies, Fabs, and F(ab′)2could block capacitation induced by HDLs and could inhibit the HDL-induced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting a specific interaction between HDLs and BSPH1. Results indicate that murine BSPH1 proteins in mice could be a new important piece of the puzzle in sperm capacitation induced by HDLs. As murine BSPH1 is orthologous to human BSPH1, this study could also lead to new insights into the functions and the importance of the human protein in male fertility.

Free French abstract

A French translation of this abstract is freely available athttp://www.reproduction-online.org/content/149/4/367/suppl/DC1.
Anakinra and etanercept prevent embryo loss in pregnant nonobese diabetic mice
Authors: Wang Jing , Wu Fan , Xie Qingzhen , Liu Xiaorui , Tian Fuju , Xu Wangming , Yang Jing
Published: January 2015

Bacteria and viruses activate the host innate immune response via Toll-like receptor (TLR)-involved signaling and potentially cause pregnancy failure. TLR7 and TLR9 respond to single-stranded RNA (a viral intermediate) and hypomethylated CpG DNA motifs (specific molecular constituents of bacteria) respectively. In this study, we treated murine RAW264.7 cells with R837, CpG1826, or a combination of the two. RT-PCR was performed to detect cytokines, Tlr7, and Tlr9. WT and nonobese diabetic murine embryo resorption models were established by i.p. injections of TLR7 and TLR9 ligands. Neutralizing antibodies and the IL1β and TNFα inhibitors were used. The specific inhibitors anakinra and etanercept effectively prevented TLR7 and TLR9 ligand-induced embryo loss. Notably, this effect was not observed in decidual NK cell-depleted mice. Our findings suggest that anakinra and etanercept may have potential for preventing TLR7 or TLR9 ligand-induced abortion in the presence of decidual NK cells.
The DNA Damage Response and Checkpoint Adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Distinct Roles for the Replication Protein A2 (Rfa2) N-Terminus
Authors: Ghospurkar Padmaja L , Wilson Timothy M , Severson Amber L , Klein Sarah J , Khaku Sakina K , Walther André P , Haring Stuart J
Published: January 2015

In response to DNA damage, two general but fundamental processes occur in the cell: (1) a DNA lesion is recognized and repaired, and (2) concomitantly, the cell halts the cell cycle to provide a window of opportunity for repair to occur. An essential factor for a proper DNA-damage response is the heterotrimeric protein complex Replication Protein A (RPA). Of particular interest is hyperphosphorylation of the 32-kDa subunit, called RPA2, on its serine/threonine-rich amino (N) terminus following DNA damage in human cells. The unstructured N-terminus is often referred to as the phosphorylation domain and is conserved among eukaryotic RPA2 subunits, including Rfa2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An aspartic acid/alanine-scanning and genetic interaction approach was utilized to delineate the importance of this domain in budding yeast. It was determined that the Rfa2 N-terminus is important for a proper DNA-damage response in yeast, although its phosphorylation is not required. Subregions of the Rfa2 N-terminus important for the DNA-damage response were also identified. Finally, an Rfa2 N-terminal hyperphosphorylation-mimetic mutant behaves similarly to another Rfa1 mutant (rfa1-t11) with respect to genetic interactions, DNA-damage sensitivity, and checkpoint adaptation. Our data indicate that post-translational modification of the Rfa2 N-terminus is not required for cells to deal with “repairable” DNA damage; however, post-translational modification of this domain might influence whether cells proceed into M-phase in the continued presence of unrepaired DNA lesions as a “last-resort” mechanism for cell survival.
Visual Arts Education and the Diverse Professional Identities of Kindergarten Teachers
Authors: Rusanen Sinikka , Pusa Tiina , Mäenpää Seija
Published: January 2015

The objective of the study was to examine current pedagogical practices in Finnish early childhood education. Our purpose was to cast light on how kindergarten teachers implement visual arts education in day-care environments. Finnish kindergarten teachers become qualified through two routes: bachelor studies in educational sciences at university or bachelor studies in social services at universities of applied sciences. We gathered qualitative data by interviewing five kindergarten teachers in five day-care centres in the Helsinki metropolitan area during the spring of 2014. The data were analysed qualitatively on the basis of themes, and the results were reduced to reveal the variation underlying the data. Through these findings we constructed two approaches to visual arts education, naming them the “instrumentally focused approach” and “art-focused approach”. We hope that the study will help in designing better curricula for BA studies for future kindergarten teachers at both types of universities. We also hope we have provided new insights into the question of what high-quality visual arts education in early childhood is.
Socialization Into Teaching Physical Education – Acculturative Formation of Perceived Strengths
Authors: Valtonen Juha , Reunamo Jyrki , Hirvensalo Mirja , Ruismäki Heikki
Published: January 2015

We studied if and how gender, the histories of physical activity (PA) and success in physical education (PE) are related to pre-service class teachers’ (PCTs) perceived strengths in teaching PE (PSTPEs). Various backgrounds were considered to be environments of teacher socialization. The six data based categories of PSTPEs used in this study were: sportiness, teaching skills, positive attitude, encouragement, empathy and set no stress. The data from 386 first year Finnish PCTs were collected before their formal PE studies. Cross tabulation and binary logistic analyses were executed to expose the relationships and effects. The main findings of this study showed that pre-service teachers with more team oriented physical activity histories enter the formal teacher education perceiving to possess discipline- focused teaching skills as their asset. On the contrary, the respondents with more individually oriented PA backgrounds perceived pupil- focused set no stress as their strength. Suggestive findings, that physically active, successful and team oriented pre-service teachers perceive more discipline-focused strengths (especially sportiness) while their colleagues with opposite histories perceived pupil-focused strengths (especially empathy) were also discussed. This study adds the existing data to information of the effects of acculturative formation of perceived strengths before the influence of formal teacher education studies in PE.
Music Education as Part of Estonian Basic School Students’ Values Education
Authors: Kiilu Kristi , Muldma Maia
Published: January 2015

In today’s educational landscape of Estonia one of the priorities is values education, which is viewed as the main component in the development of students’ personality at school. Each educational activity immanently carries values, which, when recognised and purposefully implemented, may increase the effect of education in the desired area. With this study, the researchers are turning the spotlight on the opportunities for applying the potential effect of music in the process of the transfer from knowledge-based education to values-based education at Estonian schools. The objective is to ascertain the ways of expression of the effect of music education on the development of values in students of forms seven to nine. The study looked for the answers to the following questions: 1) What do students of the third stage of study of basic schools consider values and who has influence on them?; 2) What basis do music lessons provide for the development of students’ values?; 3) What music activities support the development of students’ values? Quantitative method was utilised to conduct the study. As the research instrument questionnaire was selected, which allowed involving a large number of respondents (n=243) and thus increase the reliability of study results. The results of this study confirm that through its learning activities music education gives diverse support to the formation and development of students’ values, because the emotional and communicative nature of music allows students to first of all get to know and thereafter develop themselves.