bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic directionality of migrating vascular smooth muscle cells is regulated by NAD+ biosynthesis
Authors: Yin Hao , van der Veer Eric , Frontini Matthew J. , Thibert Victoria , O'Neil Caroline , Watson Alanna , Szasz Peter , Chu Michael W. A. , Pickering J. Geoffrey
Published: September 2012

Cell migration is central to tissue repair and regeneration but must proceed with precise directionality to be productive. Directional migration requires external cues but also depends on the extent to which cells can inherently maintain their direction of crawling. We report that the NAD+ biosynthetic enzyme, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt/PBEF/visfatin), mediates directionally persistent migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Time-lapse microscopy of human SMCs subjected to Nampt inhibition revealed chaotic motility whereas SMCs transduced with the Nampt gene displayed highly linear migration paths. Ordered motility conferred by Nampt was associated with downsizing of the lamellipodium, reduced lamellipodium wandering around the cell perimeter, and increased lamellipodial protrusion rates. These protrusive and polarity-stabilizing effects also enabled spreading SMCs to undergo bipolar elongation to an extent not typically observed in vitro. Nampt was found to localize to lamellipodia and fluorescence recovery of Nampt–eGFP after photobleaching revealed microtubule-dependent transport of Nampt to the leading edge. In addition, Nampt was found to associate with, and activate, Cdc42, and Nampt-driven directional persistence and lamellipodium anchoring required Cdc42. We conclude that high-fidelity SMC motility is coordinated by a Nampt–Cdc42 axis that yields protrusive but small and anchored lamellipodia. This novel, NAD+-synthesis-dependent control over motility may be crucial for efficient repair and regeneration of the vasculature, and possibly other tissues.
Microtubule guidance tested through controlled cell geometry
Authors: Huda Sabil , Soh Siowling , Pilans Didzis , Byrska-Bishop Marta , Kim Jiwon , Wilk Gary , Borisy Gary G. , Kandere-Grzybowska Kristiana , Grzybowski Bartosz A.
Published: September 2012

In moving cells dynamic microtubules (MTs) target and disassemble substrate adhesion sites (focal adhesions; FAs) in a process that enables the cell to detach from the substrate and propel itself forward. The short-range interactions between FAs and MT plus ends have been observed in several experimental systems, but the spatial overlap of these structures within the cell has precluded analysis of the putative long-range mechanisms by which MTs growing through the cell body reach FAs in the periphery of the cell. In the work described here cell geometry was controlled to remove the spatial overlap of cellular structures thus allowing for unambiguous observation of MT guidance. Specifically, micropatterning of living cells was combined with high-resolution in-cell imaging and gene product depletion by means of RNA interference to study the long-range MT guidance in quantitative detail. Cells were confined on adhesive triangular microislands that determined cell shape and ensured that FAs localized exclusively at the vertices of the triangular cells. It is shown that initial MT nucleation at the centrosome is random in direction, while the alignment of MT trajectories with the targets (i.e. FAs at vertices) increases with an increasing distance from the centrosome, indicating that MT growth is a non-random, guided process. The guided MT growth is dependent on the presence of FAs at the vertices. The depletion of either myosin IIA or myosin IIB results in depletion of F-actin bundles and spatially unguided MT growth. Taken together our findings provide quantitative evidence of a role for long-range MT guidance in MT targeting of FAs.
IGFBP2 is a biomarker for predicting longitudinal deterioration in renal function in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Narayanan Ram P , Fu Bo , Heald Adrian H , Siddals Kirk W , Oliver Robert L , Hudson Julie E , Payton Antony , Anderson Simon G , White Anne , Ollier William E R , Gibson J Martin
Published: September 2012

Objective

Insulin-like growth factors are implicated in the development of diabetic nephropathy. IGF-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) and IGF2 are expressed in the kidney, but their associations with diabetic nephropathy are unclear. We therefore tested the hypothesis that circulating levels of IGF2 and IGFBP2 predict longitudinal renal function in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Design and methods

IGFBP2 and IGF2 measurements were performed in 436 individuals (263 males) with type 2 diabetes. Linear mixed-effect regression analysis was used to model the relationship between plasma IGFBP2 concentration and longitudinal changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over an 8-year period. Analyses were also performed for IGF1, IGF2, IGFBP1 and IGFBP3 concentrations as predictors of longitudinal renal outcomes.

Results

High IGFBP2 concentration at baseline was associated with a decreased eGFR over an 8-year period (β=−0.02, (95% confidence interval −0.03 to −0.01), P<0.001). High IGFBP1, IGFBP2 and IGFBP3 were also associated with low baseline eGFR concentration.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that IGFBP2 is a predictor of longitudinal deterioration of renal function in type 2 diabetes.
Economic design of beams with FRP rebar or prestress
Authors: Balafas Ioannis , Burgoyne Chris J.
Published: September 2012

Fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) have not captured the market for reinforcing bars, or found uses even as external prestressing tendons, despite their obvious advantages in terms of lack of corrosion. This paper considers the constraints that underlie the optimal design for beams reinforced or prestressed with FRP, and compares the result with designs for beams with steel reinforcement. This is done by means of a diagram that compares the depth of the beam with the area of reinforcement, on which most of the governing constraints can be plotted. The method allows generic conclusions to be drawn about the governing principles.
Self-Help Booklets for Preventing Postpartum Smoking Relapse: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Brandon Thomas H. , Simmons Vani Nath , Meade Cathy D. , Quinn Gwendolyn P. , Lopez Khoury Elena N. , Sutton Steven K. , Lee Ji-Hyun
Published: September 2012

Objectives. We tested a series of self-help booklets designed to prevent postpartum smoking relapse.

Methods. We recruited 700 women in months 4 through 8 of pregnancy, who quit smoking for their pregnancy. We randomized the women to receive either (1) 10 Forever Free for Baby and Me (FFB) relapse prevention booklets, mailed until 8 months postpartum, or (2) 2 existing smoking cessation materials, as a usual care control (UCC). Assessments were completed at baseline and at 1, 8, and 12 months postpartum.

Results. We received baseline questionnaires from 504 women meeting inclusion criteria. We found a main effect for treatment at 8 months, with FFB yielding higher abstinence rates (69.6%) than UCC (58.5%). Treatment effect was moderated by annual household income and age. Among lower income women (< $30 000), treatment effects were found at 8 and 12 months postpartum, with respective abstinence rates of 72.2% and 72.1% for FFB and 53.6% and 50.5% for UCC. No effects were found for higher income women.

Conclusions. Self-help booklets appeared to be efficacious and offered a low-cost modality for providing relapse-prevention assistance to low-income pregnant and postpartum women.
Expected Ethical Competencies of Public Health Professionals and Graduate Curricula in Accredited Schools of Public Health in North America
Authors: Lee Lisa M. , Wright Brandy , Semaan Salaam
Published: September 2012

Objectives. We assessed expected ethics competencies of public health professionals in codes and competencies, reviewed ethics instruction at schools of public health, and recommended ways to bridge the gap between them.

Methods. We reviewed the code of ethics and 3 sets of competencies, separating ethics-related competencies into 3 domains: professional, research, and public health. We reviewed ethics course requirements in 2010–2011 on the Internet sites of 46 graduate schools of public health and categorized courses as required, not required, or undetermined.

Results. Half of schools (n = 23) required an ethics course for graduation (master’s or doctoral level), 21 did not, and 2 had no information. Sixteen of 23 required courses were 3-credit courses. Course content varied from 1 ethics topic to many topics addressing multiple ethics domains.

Conclusions. Consistent ethics education and competency evaluation can be accomplished through a combination of a required course addressing the 3 domains, integration of ethics topics in other courses, and “booster” trainings. Enhancing ethics competence of public health professionals is important to address the ethical questions that arise in public health research, surveillance, practice, and policy.
High Parenting Aggravation Among US Immigrant Families
Authors: Yu Stella M. , Singh Gopal K.
Published: September 2012

Objectives. We examined the association between the joint effects of children’s immigrant family type and race/ethnicity on parenting aggravation.

Methods. We analyzed data on a nationally representative sample of 101 032 children aged birth through 17 years from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health.

Results. Analysis of the Aggravation in Parenting Scale showed that 26% of foreign-born parents with foreign-born children were highly aggravated, followed by 22% of foreign-born parents with US-born children and 11% of US-born parents. Multivariable analyses indicated that all minority parents experienced high parenting aggravation compared with non-Hispanic White US-born parents; the odds of reporting parenting aggravation were 5 times higher for Hispanic foreign-born parents. All foreign-born parents, regardless of race/ethnicity, reported significantly elevated parenting aggravation. Parents of adolescents, children with special health care needs, and nontraditional and lower-income households were also more likely to report high parenting aggravation.

Conclusions. Our findings clearly document significantly elevated levels of parenting aggravation among immigrant and minority families. Public health programs and clinicians should target referrals and interventions for these families to avoid potential health problems for both children and their families.
Patients´ Rights and the National Health Service in Britain, 1960s–1980s
Authors: Mold Alex
Published: September 2012

The language of rights has long permeated discussions about health care in Britain, but during the latter half of the 20th century, patients’ rights achieved a level of unprecedented prominence. By the end of the 1980s, the language of entitlement appeared to have spread into many areas of the National Health Service: consent to treatment, access to information, and the ability to complain were all legally established patients’ rights. Patient organizations played a critical role in both realizing these rights and in popularizing the discourse of rights in health care in Britain. “Rights talk,” however, was not without its drawbacks, as it was unclear what kinds of rights were being exercised and whether these were held by patients, consumers, or citizens.
Measuring Indoor Air Quality of Hookah Lounges
Authors: Fiala Steven C. , Morris Daniel S. , Pawlak Rebecca L.
Published: September 2012

Many states have implemented smoke-free workplace laws to protect employees and customers from exposure to secondhand smoke. However, exemptions in these laws have allowed indoor tobacco smoking in hookah lounges to proliferate in recent years. To describe the amount of secondhand smoke in hookah lounges, we measured the indoor air quality of 10 hookah lounges in Oregon. Air quality measurements ranged from “unhealthy” to “hazardous” according to Environmental Protection Agency standards, indicating a potential health risk for patrons and employees.
The United Nations High Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases: A Missed Opportunity?
Authors: Sivaramakrishnan Kavita , Parker Richard G.
Published: September 2012

The United Nations High Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (September 19–20, 2011) provided an opportunity to recast the current global health agenda and offered a formidable platform to mobilize political will for concerted action.

We argue that the opportunity was missed because the World Health Organization (WHO) neglected the politics of process that are key to mobilizing political support for global noncommunicable disease policies. Instead, it focused on the implementation process.

The lessons to be drawn from the summit are critical because the WHO is the key agency that will be expected in the near future to steer further discussions and debate on the noncommunicable disease agenda.
Deaths From Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the United States: Economic Implications
Authors: Max Wendy , Sung Hai-Yen , Shi Yanling
Published: September 2012

Objectives. We estimated the number of deaths attributable to secondhand smoke (SHS), years of potential life lost (YPLL), and value of lost productivity for different US racial/ethnic groups in 2006.

Methods. We determined the number of SHS–related deaths among nonsmokers from 2 adult and 4 infant conditions using an epidemiological approach. We estimated adult SHS exposure using detectable serum cotinine. For each death, we determined the YPLL and the value of lost productivity.

Results. SHS exposure resulted in more than 42 000 deaths: more than 41 000 adults and nearly 900 infants. Blacks accounted for 13% of all deaths but 24% to 36% of infant deaths. SHS–attributable deaths resulted in a loss of nearly 600 000 YPLL and $6.6 billion of lost productivity, or $158 000 per death. The value of lost productivity per death was highest among Blacks ($238 000) and Hispanics ($193 000).

Conclusions. The economic toll of SHS exposure is substantial, with communities of color having the greatest losses. Interventions need to be designed to reduce the health and economic burden of smoking on smokers and nonsmokers alike and on particularly vulnerable groups.
Income Inequality in Health at All Ages: A Comparison of the United States and England
Authors: Martinson Melissa L.
Published: September 2012

Objectives. I systematically examined income gradients in health in the United States and England across the life span (ages birth to 80 years), separately for females and males, for a number of health conditions.

Methods. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the United States (n = 36 360) and the Health Survey for England (n = 55 783), I calculated weighted prevalence rates and risk ratios by income level for the following health risk factors or conditions: obesity, hypertension, diabetes, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high cholesterol ratio, heart attack or angina, stroke, and asthma.

Results. In the United States and England, the income gradients in health are very similar across age, gender, and numerous health conditions, and are robust to adjustments for race/ethnicity, health behaviors, body mass index, and health insurance.

Conclusions. Health disparities by income are pervasive in England as well as in the United States, despite better overall health, universal health insurance, and more generous social protection spending in England.
Visiting the Emergency Department for Dental Problems: Trends in Utilization, 2001 to 2008
Authors: Lee Helen H. , Lewis Charlotte W. , Saltzman Babette , Starks Helene
Published: September 2012

Objectives. We tested the hypothesis that between 2001 and 2008, Americans increasingly relied upon emergency departments (EDs) for dental care.

Methods. Data from 2001 through 2008 were collected from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Population-based visit rates for dental problems, and, for comparison, asthma, were calculated using annual US Census Bureau estimates. As part of the analysis, we described patient characteristics associated with large increases in ED dental utilization.

Results. Dental visit rates increased most dramatically for the following subpopulations: those aged 18 to 44 years (7.2–12.2 per 1000, P < .01); Blacks (6.0–10.4 per 1000, P < .01); and the uninsured (9.5–13.2 per 1000, P < .01). Asthma visit rates did not change although dental visit rates increased 59% from 2001 to 2008.

Conclusions. There is an increasing trend in ED visits for dental issues, which was most pronounced among those aged 18 to 44 years, the uninsured, and Blacks. Dental visit rates increased significantly although there was no overall change in asthma visit rates. This suggests that community access to dental care compared with medical care is worsening over time.
Availability of Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception in 2 Disparate New York City Neighborhoods
Authors: Legare Katherine , Bakshi Salina , Keyhani Salomeh , Howell Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2012

We conducted a telephone survey of pharmacies in 2 New York City neighborhoods on same-day availability, type, and cost of over-the-counter emergency contraception. There was no difference in availability of over-the-counter emergency contraception between Upper East Side and East Harlem pharmacies (93% vs 94%; P = .71). Average cost of medication was less in East Harlem than in the Upper East Side ($45.16 vs $51.64; P < .001). Efforts should accentuate overcoming cost and knowledge barriers associated with the use of emergency contraception.
Meta-Analysis of Single-Session Behavioral Interventions to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections: Implications for Bundling Prevention Packages
Authors: Eaton Lisa A. , Huedo-Medina Tania B. , Kalichman Seth C. , Pellowski Jennifer A. , Sagherian Michael J. , Warren Michelle , Popat Ami R. , Johnson Blair T.
Published: September 2012

Evidence-based, single-session behavioral interventions are urgently needed for preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

To estimate the efficacy of single-session, behavioral interventions for STI prevention, we collected data from 29 single-session interventions (20 studies; n = 52 465) with an STI outcome. Infection with an STI was 35% less likely (odds ratio = 0.65; 95% confidence interval = 0.55–0.77) among intervention group participants than among control group participants. Single-session interventions offer considerable benefits in terms of disease prevention and create minimal burden for both the patient and the provider.

Brief and effective STI prevention interventions are a valuable tool and can be readily adapted to bolster the benefits of biomedical technologies focusing on the prevention of HIV and other STIs.
First 230Th/U date of Middle Pleistocene peat bog in Siberia (key section Krivosheino, Western Siberia)
Authors: Maksimov Fedor , Laukhin Stanislav , Arslanov Khikmatulla , Kuznetsov Vladislav , Shilova Galina
Published: September 2012

A 14C date older than 53900 yrs BP was obtained for the uppermost part of the buried peat bog in Krivosheino section (Middle Pleistocene of Western Siberia). These sediments also yielded 230Th/U dates of 195−9.1+10.8 ka using the leachate alone (L/L) and 204−13+17 ka using total sample dissolution (TSD) models. Peculiarities of 230Th/U dating are discussed. Palynological investigation of the buried peat bog together with underlying and overlaying sediments, and comparison with palynological data from Baikal and Elgygytgyn lakes revealed that the peat layer in Krivosheino section was formed at the end of Shirta Interglacial (Marine Isotopic-Oxygenous stages MIS-7), when climate conditions at all studied sites were more severe compared to the modern ones.
Upper Holocene development of vegetation and radiocarbon dating in the vicinity of the Cerhovka Brook (Bohemian-Moravian Uplands, Czech Republic)
Authors: Břízová Eva , Pazdur Anna , Piotrowska Natalia
Published: September 2012

The paper reports the results of a palynological study of a newly exposed section in the peat sediments of Bezděkov site and its correlation with the previous palaeobotanical studies. The main goal was to elucidate the stratigraphic position and paleogeographic development of fossil peat bog and its environment in the Protected Landscape Area Žďárské vrchy and Železné hory in the Bohemian-Moravian Uplands. The development of peatbog vegetation, as shown by the pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating, took place in the Holocene. Pollen analyses provide evidence for occurrences of wetland assemblages with huge representation of alder wood in all the part of succession, followed by willow near the Cerhovka Brook. Alnus and Abies were the dominant trees during all the time. The deciduous forests consist of elm (Ulmus), oak (Quercus), lime tree (Tilia), maple (Acer) and hazel (Corylus). The mosaic picture of woodland and wetland, which covered this landscape during the Upper Holocene, contrasts with the present day monotonous open lowland. Sediments of the peat bog provide information on the origin and vegetation evolution of this area.
Radiocarbon pottery dating: the chemical compounds of organic fractions, the reliability of 14C dates (preliminary results)
Authors: Zaytseva Ganna , Skakovskii Eugeny , Possnert Goran
Published: September 2012

In recent times, a large number of radiocarbon dates appeared for the Southern Neolithic on the basis of pottery dating because other organic matter has practically not been preserved. There are two organic fractions of pottery useful for dating: food residues and carbon from the pottery matrix itself. Food residues are often dated, but this material is not always preserved and is prone to being removed during the cleaning of the pottery. The clay mass of the pottery contains carbon, often directly visible upon breaking of the pottery. The article focusses on determining the chemical composition of the organic fractions in the pottery and the origin of the carbon. For this aim we used the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method to identify the chemical compounds in the food residue and in the pottery matrix.

As an example we used pottery from the Neolithic sites: Zamost’e (Central Russia) and the Varfolomeevskay sites (Southern European Russia, Low Volga region) from archaeological collections.

The results obtained demonstrate that the food residue and the pottery matrix contain practically the same organic compounds, even if the relative abundances of various compounds are different in these materials. The origin of the carbon from pottery is discussed.
Abiotic and Biotic Soil Characteristics in Old Growth Forests and Thinned or Unthinned Mature Stands in Three Regions of Oregon
Authors: Perry David A. , Griffiths Robert P. , Moldenke Andrew R. , Madson Stephanie L.
Published: September 2012

We compared forest floor depth, soil organic matter, soil moisture, anaerobic mineralizable nitrogen (a measure of microbial biomass), denitrification potential, and soil/litter arthropod communities among old growth, unthinned mature stands, and thinned mature stands at nine sites (each with all three stand types) distributed among three regions of Oregon. Mineral soil measurements were restricted to the top 10 cm. Data were analyzed with both multivariate and univariate analyses of variance. Multivariate analyses were conducted with and without soil mesofauna or forest floor mesofauna, as data for those taxa were not collected on some sites. In multivariate analysis with soil mesofauna, the model giving the strongest separation among stand types (P = 0.019) included abundance and richness of soil mesofauna and anaerobic mineralizable nitrogen. The best model with forest floor mesofauna (P = 0.010) included anaerobic mineralizable nitrogen, soil moisture content, and richness of forest floor mesofauna. Old growth had the highest mean values for all variables, and in both models differed significantly from mature stands, while the latter did not differ. Old growth also averaged higher percent soil organic matter, and analysis including that variable was significant but not as strong as without it. Results of the multivariate analyses were mostly supported by univariate analyses, but there were some differences. In univariate analysis, the difference in percent soil organic matter between old growth and thinned mature was due to a single site in which the old growth had exceptionally high soil organic matter; without that site, percent soil organic matter did not differ between old growth and thinned mature, and a multivariate model containing soil organic matter was not statistically significant. In univariate analyses soil mesofauna had to be compared nonparametrically (because of heavy left-tails) and differed only in the Siskiyou Mountains, where they were most abundant and species rich in old growth forests. Species richness of mineral soil mesofauna correlated significantly (+) with percent soil organic matter and soil moisture, while richness of forest floor mesofauna correlated (+) with depth of the forest floor. Composition of forest floor and soil mesofauna suggest the two groups represent a single community. Soil moisture correlated highly with percent soil organic matter, with no evidence for drying in sites that were sampled relatively late in the summer drought, suggesting losses of surface soil moisture were at least partially replaced by hydraulic lift (which has been demonstrated in other forests of the region).
Exact Solution and Exotic Fluid in Cosmology
Authors: Kouwn Seyen , Moon Taeyoon , Oh Phillial
Published: September 2012

We investigate cosmological consequences of nonlinear sigma model coupled with a cosmological fluid which satisfies the continuity equation. The target space action is of the de Sitter type and is composed of four scalar fields. The potential which is a function of only one of the scalar fields is also introduced. We perform a general analysis of the ensuing cosmological equations and give various critical points and their properties. Then, we show that the model exhibits an exact cosmological solution which yields a transition from matter domination into dark energy epoch and compare it with the Λ-CDM behavior. Especially, we calculate the age of the Universe and show that it is consistent with the observational value if the equation of the state ωf of the cosmological fluid is within the range of 0.13 < ωf < 0.22. Some implication of this result is also discussed.
Ethyl Gallate Induces Apoptosis of HL-60 Cells by Promoting the Expression of Caspases-8, -9, -3, Apoptosis-Inducing Factor and Endonuclease G
Authors: Kim Woong-Hyun , Song Hyun-Ok , Choi Hwa-Jung , Bang Ho-Il , Choi Du-Young , Park Hyun
Published: September 2012

Many phytochemicals have been recognized to have potential therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatment. In this study, we investigated ethyl gallate (EG) for possible proapoptotic effects in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60. We examined cell viability, morphological changes, DNA content and fragmentation, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins for up to 48 h after EG treatment. The results showed that EG induced morphological changes and DNA fragmentation and reduced HL-60 cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Western blotting analysis indicated that EG-mediated HL-60 apoptosis mainly occurred through the mitochondrial pathway, as shown by the release of cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and endonuclease G (Endo G), as well as the upregulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). EG also activated the death receptor-dependent pathway of apoptosis by enhancing the expression of caspases-8, -9, and -3 and the Bcl-2 interacting domain (Bid). Collectively, our results showed that EG induces apoptosis in HL-60 via mitochondrial-mediated pathways.
Room Temperature Radiolytic Synthesized Cu@CuAlO2-Al2O3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Abedini Alam , Saion Elias , Larki Farhad , Zakaria Azmi , Noroozi Monir , Soltani Nayereh
Published: September 2012

Colloidal Cu@CuAlO2-Al2O3 bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared by a gamma irradiation method in an aqueous system in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and isopropanol respectively as a colloidal stabilizer and scavenger of hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals. The gamma irradiation was carried out in a 60Co gamma source chamber with different doses up to 120 kGy. The formation of Cu@CuAlO2-Al2O3 nanoparticles was observed initially by the change in color of the colloidal samples from colorless to brown. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of bonds between polymer chains and the metal surface at all radiation doses. Results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that Cu@CuAlO2-Al2O3 nanoparticles are in a core-shell structure. By controlling the absorbed dose and precursor concentration, nanoclusters with different particle sizes were obtained. The average particle diameter increased with increased precursor concentration and decreased with increased dose. This is due to the competition between nucleation, growth, and aggregation processes in the formation of nanoclusters during irradiation.
In Vivo Induction of Apoptosis by Fucoxanthin, a Marine Carotenoid, Associated with Down-Regulating STAT3/EGFR Signaling in Sarcoma 180 (S180) Xenografts-Bearing Mice
Authors: Wang Jun , Chen Shihui , Xu Shiqiang , Yu Xing , Ma Dongqing , Hu Xiamin , Cao Xiaolu
Published: September 2012

Previous in vitro researches have showed that fucoxanthin, a natural carotenoid isolated from sargassum, can inhibit proliferation or induce apoptosis in human neuroblastoma, hepatoma, leukemia, colon carcinoma, prostate cancer or urinary bladder cancer cells. But the precise mechanism by which fucoxanthin exerts anticarcinogenic effects is not yet fully understood. In this study, we performed an in vivo study to investigate the anti-tumor effect and mechanisms of fucoxanthin on xenografted sarcoma 180 (S180) in mice. Results revealed that fucoxanthin significantly inhibited the growth of sarcoma at the dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg. TUNEL analysis showed that the number of positive cells in the fucoxanthin-treated group was higher than that in the control group. Western blotting analysis also revealed the suppressed expression of bcl-2 and enhanced expression of cleaved caspase-3 by fucoxanthin. In addition, immunohistochemistry analysis and Western blotting analysis showed that fucoxanthin significantly decreased the expressions of survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Most importantly, fucoxanthin inhibited the expressions of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 proteins. These results indicated that in vivo induction of apoptosis by fucoxanthin is associated with down-regulating STAT3/EGFR signaling in S180 xenografts-bearing mice.
Salvianolic Acid A Protects the Peripheral Nerve Function in Diabetic Rats through Regulation of the AMPK-PGC1α-Sirt3 Axis
Authors: Yu Xiaoyan , Zhang Li , Yang Xiuying , Huang Huakang , Huang Zhonglin , Shi Lili , Zhang Hengai , Du Guanhua
Published: September 2012

Salvianolic acid A (SalA) is one of the main efficacious, water-soluble constituents of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. This study investigated the protective effects of SalA on peripheral nerve in diabetic rats. Administration of SalA (0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg, ig) was started from the 5th week after strepotozotocin (STZ60 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection and continued for 8 weeks. Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were used to assess peripheral nerve function. The western blot methods were employed to test the expression levels of serine-threonine liver kinase B1 (LKB1), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α), silent information regulator protein3 (sirtuin 3/Sirt3) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in sciatic nerve. Results showed that SalA administration could increase PWMT and MNCV in diabetic rats; reduce the deterioration of sciatic nerve pathology; increase AMPK phosphorylation level, up-regulate PGC-1α, Sirt3 and nNOS expression, but had no influence on LKB1. These results suggest that SalA has protective effects against diabetic neuropathy. The beneficial effects of SalA on peripheral nerve function in diabetic rats might be attributed to improvements in glucose metabolism through regulation of the AMPK-PGC1α-Sirt3 axis.
Effects of Two Different Levels of Dietary Protein on Body Composition and Protein Nutritional Status of Growing Rats
Authors: Tirapegui Julio , Ribeiro Sandra Maria Lima , Pires Ivanir Santana de Oliveira , Rogero Marcelo Macedo
Published: September 2012

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a high-protein diet on growth, body composition, and protein nutritional status of young rats. Newly-weaned Wistar rats, weighing 45–50 g, were distributed in two experimental groups, according to their diets, which contained 12% (G12) or 26% protein (G26), over a period of 3 weeks. The animals were euthanized at the end of this period and the following analyses were performed: chemical composition of the carcass, proteoglycan synthesis, IGF-I concentration (serum, muscle and cartilage), total tissue RNA, protein concentration (muscle and cartilage) and protein synthesis (muscle and cartilage). The high-protein diet was found to result in a higher fat-free mass and lower fat mass in the carcass, with no difference in growth or protein nutritional status.
Regioselective synthesis of 7,8-dihydroimidazo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazine-3,6(2H,4H)-dione derivatives: A new drug-like heterocyclic scaffold
Authors: Tzvetkov Nikolay T , Euler Harald , Müller Christa E
Published: September 2012

Dihydroimidazo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazine-3,6(2H,4H)-dione derivatives were prepared by successive N3- and N1-alkylation of hydantoins, followed by regioselective thionation and subsequent cyclization under mild conditions. In a final alkylation step a further substituent may be introduced. The synthetic strategy allows broad structural variation of this new drug-like heterobicyclic scaffold. In addition to extensive NMR and MS analyses, the structure of one derivative was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.
Supramolecular hydrogels formed from poly(viologen) cross-linked with cyclodextrin dimers and their physical properties
Authors: Takashima Yoshinori , Yuting Yang , Otsubo Miyuki , Yamaguchi Hiroyasu , Harada Akira
Published: September 2012

Supramolecular materials with noncovalent bonds have attracted much attention due to their exclusive properties differentiating them from materials formed solely by covalent bonds. Especially interesting are rotor molecules of topological complexes that shuttle along a polymer chain. The shuttling of these molecules should greatly improve the tension strength. Our research employs cyclodextrin (CD) as a host molecule, because CD effectively forms polyrotaxanes with polymers. Herein we report the formation of supramolecular hydrogels with an α-CD dimer (α,α-CD dimer) as a topological linker molecule, and a viologen polymer (VP) as the polymer chain. The supramolecular hydrogel of α,α-CD dimer/VP forms a self-standing gel, which does not relax (G' > G'') in the frequency range 0.01–10 rad·s−1. On the other hand, the supramolecular hydrogel decomposes upon addition of bispyridyl decamethylene (PyC10Py) as a competitive guest. Moreover, the β-CD dimer (β,β-CD dimer) with VP does not form a supramolecular hydrogel, indicating that complexation between the C10 unit of VP and the α-CD unit of the α,α-CD dimer plays an important role in the formation of supramolecular hydrogels.
La fin de l'aide publique au développement : les enjeux de l'action hypercollective
Authors: Severino Jean-Michel , Ray Olivier
Published: September 2012

Résumé Au cours de la dernière décennie, une transformation radicale du nombre et du type d’intervenants s’est produite dans les industries de l’aide au développement, de l’humanitaire et des biens publics globaux, tant dans les pays dits « donateurs » que dans les pays dits « bénéficiaires ». Cette double tendance à la prolifération (l’augmentation du nombre d’intervenants) et à la fragmentation (l’éparpillement de l’activité des bailleurs) est caractéristique du glissement de l’action collective vers ce que nous appelons « l’action hypercollective ». Si l’on peut se réjouir de l’énergie et des ressources supplémentaires permises par cette évolution, une importante perte d’efficacité en résulte. Nous soutenons dans cet article que le défi majeur pour la gouvernance des politiques publiques globales au cours des prochaines décennies consistera non pas à réduire la complexité, mais l’orienter vers plus d’efficacité. La Déclaration de Paris représente la première tentative d’envergure de traiter les défis de l’action « hypercollective », mais ne constitue pas une base suffisamment solide pour l’action hypercollective qu’exigent les politiques publiques globales en plein essor. Il convient d’élaborer un nouveau cadre conceptuel et développer des processus incitant la convergence d’actions initiées de façon décentralisée par de nombreux intervenants. Classification JEL : O10
« Test de réalité » et limites du relativisme
Authors: Da Costa Marques Ivan
Published: September 2012

Cet article propose un cadre d’analyse des relations entre science et pouvoir dans le programme alimentaire MULTIMIXTURE, présent au Brésil depuis les années 1970. L’analyse porte sur la période 1970-2008. Je vous présente trois ontologies, histoires ou versions de réalité. Dans chacune, les relations entre les connaissances scientifiques sur la nutrition (institutionnalisées dans les laboratoires académiques et dans le Conseil Fédéral des Nutritionnistes) et le programme MULTIMIXTURE sont transformées. J’établis une hiérarchie entre ces trois versions de réalité en ce qui concerne leurs capacités dialogiques. La première est déterminée par l’analyse biochimique des composants de la MULTIMIXTURE. La seconde se présente comme un mélange stabilisé de science et culture, nature et société, technique et politique ; c’est une sorte de version de réalité mise en jeu par de nombreuses études dans le champ STS (Science and Technology Studies). La troisième est une histoire éclairée par l’anthropologie, qui échappe aux contraintes du « test de réalité » dominant dans la culture occidentale.
Les images de guerre dans la musique metal. Entre fascination et dénonciation
Authors: Bénard Nicolas
Published: September 2012

Résumé Le metal est un phénomène musical apparu au début des années 1970. Rapidement, il se scinde en de nombreux sous-genres dont certains puisent leurs références dans les images de guerre. Ces références prennent des contours variés. Certains artistes construisent leur imaginaire autour de réflexions et de symboles associés à la guerre pour renforcer le poids d’un message pacifiste. Pour d’autres, la thématique est développée de manière plus complaisante, en une sorte d’attirance fanatique. Enfin, certains musiciens s’inspirent d’épisodes militaires héroïques et/ou mythologiques pour bâtir leur imaginaire. L’utilisation de ces images participe d’une volonté globale de réagir face à la violence des sociétés. Elle révèle aussi un intérêt pour la diffusion d’images de guerre, diffusion accrue depuis le début des années 1980, de même qu’une perte de confiance dans un contexte de crise économique, sociale et morale qui touche les pays occidentaux.
Showing the Past
Authors: Siabato Willington , Fernández-Wyttenbach Alberto , Bernabé-Poveda Miguel-Ángel
Published: September 2012

Spatial Data Infrastructures have become a methodological and technological benchmark enabling distributed access to historical-cartographic archives. However, it is essential to offer enhanced virtual tools that imitate the current processes and methodologies that are carried out by librarians, historians and academics in the existing map libraries around the world. These virtual processes must be supported by a generic framework for managing, querying, and accessing distributed georeferenced resources and other content types such as scientific data or information. The authors have designed and developed support tools to provide enriched browsing, measurement and geometrical analysis capabilities, and dynamical querying methods, based on SDI foundations. The DIGMAP engine and the IBERCARTO collection enable access to georeferenced historical-cartographical archives. Based on lessons learned from the CartoVIRTUAL and DynCoopNet projects, a generic service architecture scheme is proposed. This way, it is possible to achieve the integration of virtual map rooms and SDI technologies bringing support to researchers within the historical and social domains.
Routing
Authors: Curtin Kevin M.
Published: September 2012

Routing is the act of selecting a course of travel. Routing problems are one of the most prominent and persistent problems in geoinformatics. This large research area has a strong theoretical foundation with ties to operations research and management science. There are a wide variety of routing models to fit many different application areas, including shortest path problems, vehicle routing problems, and the traveling salesman problem, among many others. There are also a range of optimal and heuristic solution procedures for solving instances of those problems. Research is ongoing to expand the types of routing problems that can be solved, and the environments within which they can be applied.
A Brief Cartography of Smart Cameras
Authors: Bruno Fernanda
Published: September 2012

This chapter carries out a brief cartography of the so-called “intelligent” video surveillance systems. These systems are programmed to accomplish real time automated detection of situations considered irregular and/or suspicious in specific environments, in order to predict and prevent undesirable events. Three aspects of the smart cameras are focused in this cartography. First, the author explores its regime of visibility and note how it prioritizes the capture of irregularities in the body’s movements in urban space. Second, the author shows how the type of monitoring and profiling of bodies and behaviors in these systems generally acts at the visible, surface and infra-individual level of human conduct. Finally, he analyzes the temporality of smart cameras, especially in its proactive dimension that intends to foresee and intervene, in real time, in future events. The analysis of these three aspects of the intelligent video surveillance identifies and highlights discourses, processes and operations that are common to the exercising of power and surveillance in contemporary societies – more specifically, those which are included in the realm of control devices.
Using Geospatial Techniques to Analyze Landscape Factors Controlling Ionic Composition of Arctic Lakes, Toolik Lake Region, Alaska
Authors: Pathak Prasad , Whalen Stephen
Published: September 2012

The impacts of climate change on landscapes in arctic Alaska are evident in terms of permafrost melting, frequent thermokarst activity, and the occurrence of more broadleaf vegetation. These changes may alter natural biogeochemical cycles of ions along with major nutrients and affect ionic compositions of lakes, as they are connected with the landscapes. However, the nature of the connectivity between lakes and landscapes in this region is not yet explored. The authors propose that geospatial analysis of landscape properties along with observed lake ion concentrations will enable an understanding of the currently existing landscape controls over ion inputs into the lakes. For the watersheds of 41 lakes in the Arctic Foothills region of Alaska, spatial properties of natural vegetation communities expressed in terms of percentage, shape complexity, and patch density metrics were derived using satellite data. Regression analyses were performed for concentration of ions as well as conductivity in lake water where the spatial metrics along with lake physical properties, lake order, and glacial till age categories were used as predicting variables in the regression. Landscape metrics for major land covers i.e., Percentage of Moist Acidic Tundra (MAT) and Moist Non-acidic Tundra (MNT) were the major predicting variables for concentration of several ions.
Virtual Environments for Geospatial Applications
Authors: Chandramouli Magesh , Huang Bo
Published: September 2012

This article explores the application of virtual environments to 3D geospatial visualization and exploration. VR worlds provide powerful functionalities for model generation and animation and are indeed a valuable tool for geospatial visualization. Subsequently, related issues such as the constraints in progressive terrain rendering, geographic data modeling, photo-realism in virtual worlds, and the system performance with relatively larger files are discussed. Nevertheless, to accomplish the desired results and to attain a higher level of functionality, a good level of experience in VR programming and the jurisprudence to choose the appropriate tool are necessary. Although a standalone VR application is not capable of a higher level of interaction, using the SCRIPT nodes and the External Authoring Interface additional functionalities can be integrated. Intended for use over the internet with a VR browser, such virtual environments serve not only as a visualization tool, but also a powerful medium for geospatial data exploration.
Methodologies for Augmented Discovery of Geospatial Resources
Authors: Santoro Mattia , Mazzetti Paolo , Nativi Stefano , Fugazza Cristiano , Granell Carlos , Díaz Laura
Published: September 2012

Different strategies can be adopted in order to enable new ways of searching geospatial resources, leveraging the Semantic Web and Web 2.0 technologies. The authors propose a Discovery Augmentation Methodology which is essentially driven by the idea of enriching the searchable information that is associated with geospatial resources. They describe and discuss three different high-level approaches for discovery augmentation: Provider-based, User-based, and Third-party based. From the analysis of these approaches, the authors suggest that, due to their flexibility and extensibility, the user-based and the third-party based approaches result more appropriate for heterogeneous and changing environments such as the SDI one. For the user-based approach, they describe a conceptual architecture and the main components centered on the integration of user-generated content in SDIs. For the third-party approach, the authors describe an architecture enabling semantics-based searches in SDIs.
A Multidimensional Model for Correct Aggregation of Geographic Measures
Authors: Bimonte Sandro , Villanova-Oliver Marlène , Gensel Jerome
Published: September 2012

Spatial OLAP refers to the integration of spatial data in multidimensional applications at physical, logical and conceptual levels. The multidimensional aggregation of geographic objects (geographic measures) exhibits theoretical and implementation problems. In this chapter, the authors present a panorama of aggregation issues in multidimensional, geostatistic, GIS and Spatial OLAP models. Then, they illustrate how overlapping geometries and dependency of spatial and alphanumeric aggregation are necessary for correctly aggregating geographic measures. Consequently, they present an extension of the logical multidimensional model GeoCube (Bimonte et al., 2006) to deal with these issues.