bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Micro-Machined Flow Sensors Mimicking Lateral Line Canal Neuromasts
Authors: Herzog Hendrik , Steltenkamp Siegfried , Klein Adrian , Tätzner Simon , Schulze Elisabeth , Bleckmann Horst
Published: August 2015

Fish sense water motions with their lateral line. The lateral line is a sensory system that contains up to several thousand mechanoreceptors, called neuromasts. Neuromasts occur freestanding on the skin and in subepidermal canals. We developed arrays of flow sensors based on lateral line canal neuromasts using a biomimetic approach. Each flow sensor was equipped with a PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) lamella integrated into a canal system by means of thick- and thin-film technology. Our artificial lateral line system can estimate bulk flow velocity from the spatio-temporal propagation of flow fluctuations. Based on the modular sensor design, we were able to detect flow rates in an industrial application of tap water flow metering. Our sensory system withstood water pressures of up to six bar. We used finite element modeling to study the fluid flow inside the canal system and how this flow depends on canal dimensions. In a second set of experiments, we separated the flow sensors from the main stream by means of a flexible membrane. Nevertheless, these biomimetic neuromasts were still able to sense flow fluctuations. Fluid separation is a prerequisite for flow measurements in medical and pharmaceutical applications.
Objective Understanding of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels among Nutritionally At-Risk Individuals
Authors: Ducrot Pauline , Méjean Caroline , Julia Chantal , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle , Touvier Mathilde , Fezeu Léopold , Hercberg Serge , Péneau Sandrine
Published: August 2015

In the ongoing debate about front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels, little data exist regarding nutritionally at-risk populations, although they are critical targets of prevention programs. This study aimed to compare the impact of FOP labels on the ability to rank products according to their nutritional quality among French adults potentially at risk of poor dietary quality (N = 14,230). Four labels were evaluated: Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA), Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL), 5-Color Nutrition Label (5-CNL), Green Tick (Tick), along with a reference without label. Mixed models were used to assess how individual characteristics and FOP labels were associated with the ability to rank products. Older participants and those with a lower educational level, income, nutritional knowledge, and likelihood of reading nutrition facts were less skilled at ranking food products according to nutritional quality. Compared with individual characteristics, nutrition labels had an increased impact on food product ranking ability. Overall, 5-CNL corresponded to the highest rate of correct responses, followed by MTL, GDA, and Tick (p < 0.0001). The strongest impact of 5-CNL was observed among individuals with no nutritional knowledge (odds ratio (OR): 20.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 13.19–31.06). Therefore, 5-CNL appeared to be effective at informing consumers, including those who are nutritionally at-risk, about the nutritional quality of food products.
Dietary Patterns and Risk of Frailty in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older People in Hong Kong: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chan Ruth , Leung Jason , Woo Jean
Published: August 2015

Dietary pattern analysis is an emerging approach to investigate the association between diet and frailty. This study examined the association of dietary patterns with frailty in 2724 Chinese community-dwelling men and women aged > 65 years. Baseline dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire between 2001 and 2003. Adherence to a priori dietary patterns, including the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) was assessed. Factor analysis identified three a posteriori dietary patterns, namely “vegetables-fruits”, “snacks-drinks-milk products”, and “meat-fish”. Incident frailty was defined using the FRAIL scale. Binary logistic regression was applied to examine the associations between dietary patterns and four-year incident frailty. There were 31 (1.1%) incident frailty cases at four years. Every 10-unit increase in DQI-I was associated with 41% reduced risk of frailty in the sex- and age-adjusted model (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.59 (0.42–0.85), p = 0.004). The association attenuated in the multivariate adjusted model (0.69 (0.47–1.02), p = 0.056). No association between other dietary patterns and incident frailty was observed. Our study showed that a better diet quality as characterized by higher DQI-I was associated with lower odds of developing frailty. The contribution of MDS or a posteriori dietary patterns to the development of frailty in Chinese older people remains to be explored.
Screening for Methylated Poly(⌊-histidine) with Various Dimethylimidazolium/Methylimidazole/Imidazole Contents as DNA Carrier
Authors: Asayama Shoichiro , Kumagai Takao , Kawakami Hiroyoshi
Published: August 2015

Methylated poly(l-histidine) (PLH-Me), our original polypeptide, has controlled the contents of dimethylimidazolium, τ/π-methylimidazole and imidazole groups for efficient gene delivery. The screening for the PLH-Me as DNA carrier has been carried out by use of the PLH with 25 mol% (τ-methyl, 16 mol%; π-methyl, 17 mol%; deprotonated imidazole, 41 mol%), 68 mol% (τ-methyl, 16 mol%; π-methyl, 8 mol%; deprotonated imidazole, 8 mol%) and 87 mol% (τ-methyl, 7 mol%; π-methyl, 4 mol%; deprotonated imidazole, 2 mol%) dimethylimidazolium groups, that is, PLH-Me(25), PLH-Me(68) and PLH-Me(87), respectively. The screening of the chemical structure of PLH-Me has been carried out for DNA carrier properties, which are the stability of its DNA polyion complexes and gene expression. The DNA complexes with the 25 mol% and 68 mol% dimethylated PLH-Me possessed almost same ability to retain DNA, as compared with the 87 mol% dimethylated PLH-Me, which was examined by competitive exchange with dextran sulfate. From the gene transfection experiment against HepG2 cells, human hepatoma cell line, the PLH-Me(25)/DNA complex was revealed to mediate highest gene expression. These results suggest that the dimethyl-imidazolium/methylimidazole/imidazole balance of the PLH-Me is important for DNA carrier design.
Controllable Direct-Writing of Serpentine Micro/Nano Structures via Low Voltage Electrospinning
Authors: Fang Feiyu , Chen Xin , Du Zefeng , Zhu Ziming , Chen Xindu , Wang Han , Wu Peixuan
Published: August 2015

Micro/nanofibers prepared by direct-writing using an electrospinning (ES) technique have drawn more attention recently owing to their intriguing physical properties and great potential as building blocks for micro/nanoscale devices. In this work, a wavy direct-writing (WDW) process was developed to directly write serpentine micro/nano structures suitable for the fabrication of micro devices. This fabrication ability will realize the application of electrospun-nanofiber-based wiring of structural and functional components in microelectronics, MEMS, sensor, and micro optoelectronics devices, and, especially, paves the way for the application of electrospinning in printing serpentine interconnector of large-area organic stretchable electronics.
Calibration of the L-MEB Model for Croplands in HiWATER Using PLMR Observation
Authors: Yan Shuang , Jiang Lingmei , Chai Linna , Yang Juntao , Kou Xiaokang
Published: August 2015

The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission was initiated in 2009 with the goal of acquiring global soil moisture data over land using multi-angular L-band radiometric measurements. Specifically, surface soil moisture was estimated using the L-band Microwave Emission of the Biosphere (L-MEB) radiative transfer model. This study evaluated the applicability of this model to the Heihe River Basin in Northern China for specific underlying surfaces by simulating brightness temperature (BT) with the L-MEB model. To analyze the influence of a ground sampling strategy on the simulations, two resampling methods based on ground observations were compared. In the first method, the simulated BT of each point observation was initially acquired. The simulations were then resampled at a 1 km resolution. The other method was based on gridded data with a resolution of 1 km averaged from point observations, such as soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil texture. The simulated BTs at a 1 km resolution were then obtained using the L-MEB model. Because of the large variability in soil moisture, the resampling method based on gridded data was used in the simulation. The simulated BTs based on the calibrated parameters were validated using airborne L-band data from the Polarimetric L-band Multibeam Radiometer (PLMR) acquired during the HiWATER project. The root mean square errors (RMSEs) between the simulated results and the PLMR data were 6 to 7 K for V-polarization and 3 to 5 K for H-polarization at different angles. These results demonstrate that the model effectively represents agricultural land surfaces, and this study will serve as a reference for applying the L-MEB model in arid regions and for selecting a ground sampling strategy.
The Challenges of Remote Monitoring of Wetlands
Authors: Gallant Alisa
Published: August 2015

Wetlands are highly productive and support a wide variety of ecosystem goods and services. Various forms of global change impose compelling needs for timely and reliable information on the status of wetlands worldwide, but several characteristics of wetlands make them challenging to monitor remotely: they lack a single, unifying land-cover feature; they tend to be highly dynamic and their energy signatures are constantly changing; and steep environmental gradients in and around wetlands produce narrow ecotones that often are below the resolving capacity of remote sensors. These challenges and needs set the context for a special issue focused on wetland remote sensing. Contributed papers responded to one of three overarching questions aimed at improving remote, large-area monitoring of wetlands: (1) What approaches and data products are being developed specifically to support regional to global long-term monitoring of wetland landscapes? (2) What are the promising new technologies and sensor/multisensor approaches for more accurate and consistent detection of wetlands? (3) Are there studies that demonstrate how remote long-term monitoring of wetland landscapes can reveal changes that correspond with changes in land cover and land use and/or changes in climate?
Spatial and Temporal Changes in Vegetation Phenology at Middle and High Latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere over the Past Three Decades
Authors: Zhao Jianjun , Zhang Hongyan , Zhang Zhengxiang , Guo Xiaoyi , Li Xuedong , Chen Chun
Published: August 2015

Vegetation phenology is a key biological indicator for monitoring terrestrial ecosystems and global change, and regions with the most obvious phenological changes in vegetation are primarily located at high latitudes and altitudes. Over the past three decades, investigations of obvious phenological changes in vegetation at middle and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere have provided significant contributions to understanding global climate change. In this study, phenological parameters were extracted from the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI3g) to analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of vegetation phenological changes above 40°N in the Northern Hemisphere from 1982–2013. The results showed that the start of season (SOS) was significantly advanced (−2.2 ± 0.6 days·decade−1, p < 0.05) and that the end of season (EOS) was slightly delayed (0.78 ± 0.6 days·decade−1, p = 0.21) over the entire study area in the initial 21 years (1982–2002). When the time scale was extended to 2013, the change rate of the SOS and EOS was significantly reduced; in addition, the SOS was delayed (3.2 ± 1.7 days·decade−1, p < 0.05), and the EOS was advanced (4.5 ± 0.9 days·decade−1, p < 0.05) over the entire study area in the last 11 years (2003–2013). The trends of advanced SOS and delayed EOS over the past three decades were slower than those over the initial two decades on a hemispheric scale. The change trends showed obvious variability with different vegetation types and were greater for woody plants than for herbaceous plants. For broad-leaved forest, the SOS was significantly advanced (2 ± 0.5 days·decade−1, p < 0.05) and the EOS was significantly delayed (2.7 ± 0.6 days·decade−1, p < 0.05) from 1982–2013. The trend of delayed EOS was greater than that of advanced SOS for different vegetation types. With respect to the spatial distribution of phenological trends in the Northern Hemisphere, the trends of advanced SOS and delayed EOS were strongest in Europe followed by North America, and the trends were least significant in Asia. Coniferous forest, shrub forest, grassland, and the entire study area have the same change trends for the two time periods (1982–2002 and 2003–2013), and the increased rate of the phenology parameters has decelerated over the most recent decade. The length of season (LOS) of broad-leaved forest and mixed forest over the past 32 years shows a strong increased trend, and simultaneously, the SOS and EOS show an advanced trend and a delayed trend, respectively
Sustainable Modernization of the Russian Power Utilities Industry
Authors: Lisin Evgeny , Rogalev Andrey , Strielkowski Wadim , Komarov Ivan
Published: August 2015

Our paper analyzes the issue of managing structural and technological modernization of the Russian power utilities industry based on the basic criteria of sustainable development. We have chosen coal-fired generation and its defining technologies as the main subject for our analysis. Key points of the Russian power utilities development strategy that has been drawn up to 2030 are compared against the basic principles of sustainable development. Moreover, a mathematical economic model is proposed to justify the choice of coal-fired power plant technology from the standpoint of economic, social, and environmental efficiency.
Application of Environmental Input-Output Analysis for Corporate and Product Environmental Footprints—Learnings from Three Cases
Authors: Kjaer Louise , Høst-Madsen Niels , Schmidt Jannick , McAloone Tim
Published: August 2015

An increasing number of companies are expanding their environmental impact reduction targets and strategies to include their supply chains or whole product life cycles. In this paper, we demonstrate and evaluate an approach, where we used a hybrid Environmental Input-Output (EIO) database as a basis for corporate and product environmental footprint accounts, including the entire supply chain. We present three cases, where this approach was applied. Case study 1 describes the creation of total corporate carbon footprint accounts for three Danish regional healthcare organisations. In case study 2, the approach was used as basis for an Environmental Profit and Loss account for the healthcare company, Novo Nordisk A/S. Case study 3 used the approach for life cycle assessment of a tanker ship. We conclude that EIO-based analyses offer a holistic view of environmental performance, provide a foundation for decision-making within reasonable time and cost, and for companies with a large upstream environmental footprint, the analysis supports advancing their sustainability agenda to include supply chain impacts. However, there are implications when going from screening to implementing the results, including how to measure and monitor the effect of the different actions. Thus, future research should include more detailed models to support decision-making.
Market-Based Instruments for Ecosystem Services between Discourse and Reality: An Economic and Narrative Analysis
Authors: Froger Géraldine , Boisvert Valérie , Méral Philippe , Coq Jean-François , Caron Armelle , Aznar Olivier
Published: August 2015

Since the mid-1990s, the concept of ecosystem services has become increasingly popular in academic circles and among decision-makers. Because of its inclusive character, this concept has given rise to different interpretations in economics. Since its inception, it has been associated with the development of market-based instruments (MBIs) in conservation policies. From this perspective, the sustainable provision of ecosystem services is hindered by market failures (e.g., public good attributes, externalities) and prices that do not capture the full value of the natural assets. MBIs are therefore recommended. According to their promoters, they provide powerful incentives to conserve the environment while at the same time offering new sources of income to support rural livelihoods. Our paper contends that different economic narratives, and associated representations of the market failure at stake with the provision of ecosystem services, may support different policy instruments that are all coined as MBIs. As an illustration, we analyze the economic discourse underlying payments for ecosystem services and eco-labels, and we underline the variety of institutional forms to which they give rise in order to emphasize the differences between discourse and practice.
Monocentric or Polycentric? The Urban Spatial Structure of Employment in Beijing
Authors: Huang Daquan , Liu Zhen , Zhao Xingshuo
Published: August 2015

The spatial structure of Beijing has changed dramatically since the reforms of the late 1970s. It is not clear, however, whether these changes have been sufficient to transform the city’s monocentric spatial structure into a polycentric one. This paper uses 2010 enterprise registered data to investigate the spatial distribution of employment in Beijing. Using a customized grid to increase the spatial resolution of our results, we explore the city’s employment density distribution and investigate potential employment subcenters. This leads to several findings. First, Beijing still has strong monocentric characteristics; second, the city has a very large employment center rather than a small central business district; third, five subcenters are identified, including four in the suburbs; and fourth, a polycentric model that includes these subcenters possesses more explanatory power than a simple monocentric model, but by only four percentage. We conclude that the spatial structure of Beijing is still quite monocentric, but may be in transition to a polycentric pattern.
Optimization of a Finned Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Using a Multi-Objective Optimization Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Sadeghzadeh Heidar , Aliehyaei Mehdi , Rosen Marc
Published: August 2015

Heat transfer rate and cost significantly affect designs of shell and tube heat exchangers. From the viewpoint of engineering, an optimum design is obtained via maximum heat transfer rate and minimum cost. Here, an analysis of a radial, finned, shell and tube heat exchanger is carried out, considering nine design parameters: tube arrangement, tube diameter, tube pitch, tube length, number of tubes, fin height, fin thickness, baffle spacing ratio and number of fins per unit length of tube. The “Delaware modified” technique is used to determine heat transfer coefficients and the shell-side pressure drop. In this technique, the baffle cut is 20 percent and the baffle ratio limits range from 0.2 to 0.4. The optimization of the objective functions (maximum heat transfer rate and minimum total cost) is performed using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), and compared against a one-objective algorithm, to find the best solutions. The results are depicted as a set of solutions on a Pareto front, and show that the heat transfer rate ranges from 3517 to 7075 kW. Also, the minimum and maximum objective functions are specified, allowing the designer to select the best points among these solutions based on requirements. Additionally, variations of shell-side pressure drop with total cost are depicted, and indicate that the pressure drop ranges from 3.8 to 46.7 kPa.
What is the Influence of the Planning Framework on the Land Use Change Trajectories? Photointerpretation Analysis in the 1958–2011 Period for a Medium/Small Sized City
Authors: Monteiro Mário , Tavares Alexandre
Published: August 2015

Medium/small sized cities create a polycentric urban system representing the backbone of their territory, characterized by profound changes on land use. The objective of this study is to evaluate the spatial and temporal dynamics of land use in a medium/small city in Portugal during the period 1958–2011, and the relation with the planning framework. The assessment involves land use changes recognition in the period 1958–2011, calculation of the stability grade indicator, and the losses and gains between classes. The rate of artificialization and its relation with the planning framework was also evaluated. The results for the city of Viseu showed a main decrease in annual crops and arable lands, with an increase of the continuous and discontinuous urban fabric. The changes are systematic transitions, marked by planning framework and its typology, objectives and scale enforcement. A plan addressing the city encouraged land use changes in the fringe, while a municipal Master Plan determined sequent transformation in all areas. The land use changes and the artificialization processes enabled the identification of three periods where planning framework was forthright. The study underlines the importance of a planning framework for medium/small sized cities for urban sprawl and artificialization processes.
Performance Enhancement of Face Recognition in Smart TV Using Symmetrical Fuzzy-Based Quality Assessment
Authors: Kim  Yeong , Lee Won , Kim Ki , Hong Hyung , Park Kang
Published: August 2015

With the rapid growth of smart TV, the necessity for recognizing a viewer has increased for various applications that deploy face recognition to provide intelligent services and high convenience to viewers. However, the viewers can have various postures, illumination, and expression variations on their faces while watching TV, and thereby, the performance of face recognition inevitably degrades. In order to handle these problems, video-based face recognition has been proposed, instead of a single image-based one. However, video-based processing of multiple images is prohibitive in smart TVs as the processing power is limited. Therefore, a quality measure-based (QM-based) image selection is required that considers both the processing speed and accuracy of face recognition. Therefore, we propose a performance enhancement method for face recognition through symmetrical fuzzy-based quality assessment. Our research is novel in the following three ways as compared to previous works. First, QMs are adaptively selected by comparing variance values obtained from candidate QMs within a video sequence, where the higher the variance value by a QM, the more meaningful is the QM in terms of a distinction between images. Therefore, we can adaptively select meaningful QMs that reflect the primary factors influencing the performance of face recognition. Second, a quality score of an image is calculated using a fuzzy method based on the inputs of the selected QMs, symmetrical membership functions, and rule table considering the characteristics of symmetry. A fuzzy-based combination method of image quality has the advantage of being less affected by the types of face databases because it does not perform an additional training procedure. Third, the accuracy of face recognition is enhanced by fusing the matching scores of the high-quality face images, which are selected based on the quality scores among successive face mages. Experimental results showed that the performance of face recognition using the proposed method was better than that of conventional methods in terms of accuracy.
The Role of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Clinical Management of Refractory Anterior Knee Pain
Authors: Singer Barbara , Silbert Benjamin , Silbert Peter , Singer Kevin
Published: August 2015

Anterior knee pain is a highly prevalent condition affecting largely young to middle aged adults. Symptoms can recur in more than two thirds of cases, often resulting in activity limitation and reduced participation in employment and recreational pursuits. Persistent anterior knee pain is difficult to treat and many individuals eventually consider a surgical intervention. Evidence for long term benefit of most conservative treatments or surgical approaches is currently lacking. Injection of Botulinum toxin type A to the distal region of vastus lateralis muscle causes a short term functional “denervation” which moderates the influence of vastus lateralis muscle on the knee extensor mechanism and increases the relative contribution of the vastus medialis muscle. Initial data suggest that, compared with other interventions for anterior knee pain, Botulinum toxin type A injection, in combination with an active exercise programme, can lead to sustained relief of symptoms, reduced health care utilisation and increased activity participation. The procedure is less invasive than surgical intervention, relatively easy to perform, and is time- and cost-effective. Further studies, including larger randomized placebo-controlled trials, are required to confirm the effectiveness of Botulinum toxin type A injection for anterior knee pain and to elaborate the possible mechanisms underpinning pain and symptom relief.
Tandem cross enyne metathesis (CEYM)–intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction (IMDAR). An easy entry to linear bicyclic scaffolds
Authors: Miró Javier , Sánchez-Roselló María , Sanz Álvaro , Rabasa Fernando , del Pozo Carlos , Fustero Santos
Published: August 2015

A new tandem cross enyne metathesis (CEYM)–intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction (IMDAR) has been carried out. It involves conjugated ketones, esters or amides bearing a remote olefin and aromatic alkynes as the starting materials. The overall process enables the preparation of a small family of linear bicyclic scaffolds in a very simple manner with moderate to good levels of diastereoselectivity. This methodology constitutes one of the few examples that employ olefins differently than ethylene in tandem CEYM–IMDAR protocols.
An Empirical Bandwidth Analysis of Interrupt-Related Covert Channels
Authors: Gay Richard , Mantel Heiko , Sudbrock Henning
Published: August 2015

Interrupt-related covert channels (IRCCs) utilize hardware interrupts for enabling communication between processes. This article provides an empirical evaluation of IRCC vulnerabilities, based on an actual exploit. The evaluation combines experiments with an information-theoretic analysis for computing the channel bandwidth. The evaluation shows that a bandwidth of multiple bits per second is achievable in a desktop system via interrupts of a network interface card. This result clarifies the significance of this IRCC vulnerability for one particular system. The exploit presented is configurable, and the article provides a solution for computing an optimal exploit configuration for a given system. While side channels based on hardware interrupts have been discussed before, this is the first empirical evaluation of covert channels based on hardware interrupts.
Calculating Quantitative Integrity and Secrecy for Imperative Programs
Authors: Chothia Tom , Novakovic Chris , Singh Rajiv Ranjan
Published: August 2015

This paper presents a framework for calculating measures of data integrity for programs in a small imperative language. The authors develop a Markov chain semantics for their language which calculates Clarkson and Schneider's definitions of data contamination, data suppression, program suppression and program transmission. The authors then propose their own definition of program integrity for probabilistic specifications. These definitions are based on conditional mutual information and entropy; they present a result relating them to mutual information, which can be calculated by a number of existing tools. The authors extend a quantitative information flow tool (CH-IMP) to calculate these measures of integrity and demonstrate this tool with examples including error correcting codes, the Dining Cryptographers protocol and the attempts by a number of banks to influence the Libor rate.
Osteopontin Promotes Oncostatin M Production in Human Osteoblasts: Implication of Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy
Authors: Su Chen-Ming , Chiang Yi-Chun , Huang Chun-Yin , Hsu Chin-Jung , Fong Yi-Chin , Tang Chih-Hsin
Published: August 2015

Accumulating evidence indicates that subchondral bone might play an essential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteopontin (OPN) induces the production of an important proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of RA. This study evaluated the activation of oncostatin M (OSM) by OPN in human primary osteoblasts to understand RA pathogenesis and characterized the intracellular signaling pathways involved in this activation. Quantitative PCR, ELISA, and Western blot results indicated that stimulation of human primary osteoblasts with OPN induces OSM expression through αvβ3 integrin/c-Src/platelet-derived growth factor receptor transactivation/MEK/ERK. Treatment of osteoblasts with OPN also increased c-Jun phosphorylation, AP-1 luciferase activity, and c-Jun binding to the AP-1 element on the OSM promoter, as demonstrated using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Moreover, inhibition of OPN expression using lentiviral-OPN short hairpin RNA resulted in the amelioration of articular swelling, cartilage erosion, and OSM expression in the ankle joint of mice with collagen-induced arthritis as shown using microcomputed tomography and immunohistochemistry staining. Our results imply that OSM expression in osteoblasts increases in response to OPN-induced inflammation in vitro. Finally, lentiviral-OPN short hairpin RNA ameliorates the inflammatory response and bone destruction in mice with collagen-induced arthritis. Therefore, OPN may be a potential therapeutic target for RA.
Kupffer Cells Support Hepatitis B Virus–Mediated CD8+ T Cell Exhaustion via Hepatitis B Core Antigen–TLR2 Interactions in Mice
Authors: Li Min , Sun Rui , Xu Long , Yin Wenwei , Chen Yongyan , Zheng Xiaodong , Lian Zhexiong , Wei Haiming , Tian Zhigang
Published: August 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence is a fundamental process in chronic HBV infection and a key factor in all related liver diseases; however, the mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. We studied the role of TLR2 in HBV persistence using a well-established HBV-carrier mouse model generated by hydrodynamically injecting a phospho–adeno-associated virus/HBV1.2 plasmid into mice. We found that a genetic deficiency in TLR2 improves HBV elimination, whereas activating TLR2 led to more stable HBV persistence, suggesting that TLR2 activation is critical in HBV persistence. Furthermore, we noted that TLR2 activation could inhibit CD8+ T cell function, causing the exhaustion phenotype in HBV-carrier mice, because TLR2 deficiency might rescue CD8+ T cell function in a cellular adoptive experiment. TLR2 expression on Kupffer cells (KCs) was upregulated in HBV-carrier mice, which accounts for HBV persistence, because the difference in anti-HBV immunity between HBV-carrier wild-type and Tlr2−/− mice did not exist after KC depletion. In addition, similar to TLR2 deficiency, after KC depletion, CD8+ T cells were more efficiently activated in HBV-carrier mice, leading to rapid HBV elimination. KCs produced more IL-10 upon TLR2 activation in response to direct hepatitis B core Ag stimulation, and the elevated IL-10 inhibited CD8+ T cell function in HBV-carrier mice, because IL-10 deficiency or anti–IL-10R treatment resulted in CD8+ T cells with stronger antiviral function. In conclusion, KCs support liver tolerance by inducing anti-HBV CD8+ T cell exhaustion via IL-10 production after TLR2 activation by hepatitis B core Ag stimulation.
Analysis of training load and competition during the PhD course of a 3000-m steeplechase female master athlete: an autobiography
Authors: Gabrielli Elisa , Fulle Stefania , Fano'-Illic Giorgio , Pietrangelo Tiziana
Published: August 2015

The first author, Elisa Gabrielli, has been a distance runner for many years, and then at a particular point in her career, she decided to move over to the 3000-m steeplechase. She was attracted by this discipline as she believed that it would be the appropriate discipline for her, due to the challenge it provided her, and the necessary knowledge and awareness she had through her studies. For reasons that are discussed in this report, the 3000-m steeplechase is a race that is more difficult to interpret and manage biomechanically and physiologically than most others. Combining this with her PhD allowed her to use a multidisciplinary approach to review the competitive experience gained in this discipline. During this period, she indeed not only deepened the technical aspects of her training, but also those that underlie this discipline, through her knowledge of sport, with particular reference to the female athlete. Through her technical research, she was able to take ‘snapshots’ of what could happen from the physiological point of view. With satisfaction, she improved her performance in the 3000-m race and in the 3000-m steeplechase. How? In particular, she worked on her running technique through specific exercises. She worked on de-contraction and posture, while saving energy consumption. She worked on the control of her breathing, and she took into account her prevailing heart rate. This was all in combination with the consumption of specific nutrients, as she tried to manage the production of lactate with the training of the red muscle fibres that are rich in mitochondria. Finally, she tried to improve her perception of strenuous work, by training at high altitude. This allowed her not only to improve her physical performance, but especially to improve her mind-set, which allowed her to be more confident in herself and her abilities.
Biology of muscle atrophy and of its recovery by FES in aging and mobility impairments: roots and by-products
Authors: Carraro Ugo , Kern Helmut , Gava Paolo , Hofer Christian , Loefler Stefan , Gargiulo Paolo , Mosole Simone , Zampieri Sandra , Gobbo Valerio , Ravara Barbara , Piccione Francesco , Marcante Andrea , Baba Alfonc , Schils Sheila , Pond Amber , Gava Francesco
Published: August 2015

There is something in our genome that dictates life expectancy and there is nothing that can be done to avoid this; indeed, there is not yet any record of a person who has cheated death. Our physical prowess can vacillate substantially in our lifetime according to our activity levels and nutritional status and we may fight aging, but we will inevitably lose. We have presented strong evidence that the atrophy which accompanies aging is to some extent caused by loss of innervation. We compared muscle biopsies of sedentary seniors to those of life long active seniors, and show that these groups indeed have a different distribution of muscle fiber diameter and fiber type. The senior sportsmen have many more slow fiber-type groupings than the sedentary people which provides strong evidence of denervation-reinnervation events in muscle fibers. It appears that activity maintains the motoneurons and the muscle fibers. Premature or accelerated aging of muscle may occur as the result of many chronic diseases. One extreme case is provided by irreversible damage of the Conus and Cauda Equina, a spinal cord injury (SCI) sequela in which the human leg muscles may be completely and permanently disconnected from the nervous system with the almost complete disappearance of muscle fibers within 3-5 years from SCI. In cases of this extreme example of muscle degeneration, we have used 2D Muscle Color CT to gather data supporting the idea that electrical stimulation of denervated muscles can retain and even regain muscle. We show here that, if people are compliant, atrophy can be reversed. A further example of activity-related muscle adaptation is provided by the fact that mitochondrial distribution and density are significantly changed by functional electrical stimulation in horse muscle biopsies relative to those not receiving treatment. All together, the data indicate that FES is a good way to modify behaviors of muscle fibers by increasing the contraction load per day. Indeed, it should be possible to defer the muscle decline that occurs in aging people and in those who have become unable to participate in physical activities. Thus, FES should be considered for use in rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities and in critical care units when patients are completely inactive even for short periods of time.
Ipertensione arteriosa: il ruolo dell’internista
Authors: Pinna Guest Editors: G. , Nardi R.
Published: August 2015

Ipertensione arteriosa: il ruolo dell’internista     1
M. Campanini

Controversie sulle linee guida dell’ipertensione     3
A. Mazza, S. Lenti

Ipertensione arteriosa e diabete mellito     8
C. Marengo, G. Imperiale, G. Pinna

Cardiopatia ischemica e ipertensione: quale ruolo per l’internista?     16
F. Angeli, G. Reboldi, A. Aita, C. Bartolini, M. Garofoli, P. Verdecchia

Ipertensione arteriosa e scompenso cardiaco     22
F. Orlandini, M. La Regina

Ipertensione arteriosa e fibrillazione atriale     31
R. Frediani, G. Mathieu, G. Pinna

 Rene e ipertensione arteriosa: storia di una relazione complicata. Quale ruolo per l’internista?     43
D. Manfellotto, F. Lorenzi

Ipertensione secondaria     51
G. Antonucci, G. Bertinieri

Nutraceutica ed ipertensione arteriosa     58
M. D’Avino, D. Caruso

Disfunzione erettile e ipertensione arteriosa     65
N. Artom, G. Pinna

Ipertensione arteriosa nell’anziano     71
C. Pascale, A. Artom

L’ipertensione resistente     80
G. Mathieu

La terapia di associazione nell’ipertensione arteriosa     90
G. Pinna, S. Cozzio
The Muskox Drilling Project, Canadian Contribution To the International Upper Mantle Project No 40
Authors: Findlay D C , Smith C H
Published: August 2015

The Muskox drilling project was devised to sample the unexposed part of a layered mafic-ultramafic intrusion in order to provide cores and structural data for use in determining its origin and cooling history. A total of 10, 089 feet of diamond drilling was
completed. Three vertical holes were drilled to depths of 4, OOO, 3, 593 and 2,496 feet. The report deals with the reasons for drilling; planning; drilling operations; and preparations for continuing studies of the cores . Drilling specifications , and equipment are described, and the geological
logs of the holes summarized. Petrographic, mineralogic, chemical and isotopic studies are in progress. Downhole geophysical logs (gamma ray, neutron, self potential, resistivity, heat flow, and seismic velocity ) were made , as well as paleomagnetic and electrical resistivity measurements on the
cores .
Stratigraphy of the Amoco-IOE Murre G-67 well, Grand Banks of Newfoundland
Authors: Jansa L F , Gradstein F M , Harris I M , Jenkins W A M , Williams G L
Published: August 2015

The Amoco-IDE Murre G-67 well, northeastern Grand Banks, penetrates over 10 OOO feet of sediments. Seven rock units, 14 foraminiferal assemblages and 19 dinoflagellate, spore/pollen, or chitinozoan zones or assemblages have been recognized. The well is notable
for the presence near the bottom of marine Devonian rocks, 300 feet thick, overlain by 760 feet of undated red beds, followed by 6500 feet of marine Jurassic strata with abundant foraminifers, dinoflagellates, spores and pollen. The affinities of the Jurassic foraminiferal and dinoflagellate
assemblages are strongly European. The Jurassic sequence may be one of the most complete in North America. All Jurassic standard stages from Hettangian to Kimmeridgian, and possibly also the Tithonian have been recognized. Overlying the Jurassic, in ascending stratigraphic order, are Upper Albian,
Cenomanian, Turonian, Lower Senonian, Eocene and Oligocene strata, with a combined thickness of over 2000 feet. The Turonian beds, rich in "Tethyan" foraminifers, probably are of outer neritic origin, the other post-Jurassic beds are shallow marine or marginal marine. Rates of subsidence and
sedimentation at the Murre G-67 site highest in the Jurassic and Turonian, did not exceed 6cm/1000 yr.
A Trilobite Zonation of Middle Ordovician Rocks, southwestern District of Mackenzie
Authors: Ludvigsen R
Published: August 2015

The upper Sunblood, Esbataottine, and lower Whittaker Formations in the southern Mackenlie Mountains, southwestern District of Mackenlie, have yielded many collections of well preserved silicifed trilobites of Middle Ordovician age (Chalyan to Shermanian/
Edenian; late llanvirnian to late Caradocian).
Based on occurrences of 41 species of bathyurid, cheirurid, and encrinurid trilobites and on presumed phyletic relationships among six species of Bathyurus, eight species of CeraUl'inella, and eight species of Ceraurus (and Whittakerites), a sequence of nine assemblage lones is established. This is
the first macrofaunal lonation of the Middle Ordovician interval in western North America. The lones and their ages are as follows: BathyUl'us nevadensis lone (early Chalyan, conodont Fauna 5), BathyUI'us granulosus lone (early or midChalyan, conodont Fauna 5), CeraUl'inella nahanniensis lone (late
Chalyan, conodont Fauna 6), Bathyurus ulu lone (early Blackriveran, conodont Faunas 6 and 7), CeraUl'us gabrielsi lone (Blackriveran, conodont Fauna 7), CeraUl'inella longispina lone (Blackriveran/Rocklandian, conodont Faunas 7 and 8), CeraUl'inella necra lone (Rocklandian/Kirkfieldian, conodont
Faunas 8 and 9), Ceraurus mackenliensis lone (Kirkfieldian/Shermanian, conodont Fauna 9), and Whittakerites planatus lone (Shermanian/Edenian, conodont Faunas 9 and ?10).
Twenty new species are described. These are distributed among Bathyurus (B. ulu, B. esbataottinensis, B. granulosus, B. platyparius), CeraUl'inella (C. seriata, C. arctica, C. longispina, C. media, C. necra, C. brevispina), and CeraUl'us (C. gabrielsi, C. blussoni, C. hirsuitus, C. mackenliensis, C.
maewestoides), in addition to Acanthoparypha? goniopyga, Holia anacantha, Sphaerexoehus atacius, Cybeloides anna, and Cybellela? thor.
Plutonic Rocks in Ontario
Authors: Mccrank G F D , Misiura J D , Brown P A
Published: August 2015

Plutonic rocks of the Canadian Shield are being assessed as a potential host medium for the storage of radioactive waste. A study of the geological framework of three structural provinces (Superior, Southern, and Grenville) within Ontario has resulted in an
inventory of 1365 plutons which are identified on Map 1533A at a scale of 1:1 000 000. The plutons have been classified by rock type: granite (sensu lato) comprises 75% of the plutons, gabbro 15%, alkalic rocks 8%, and anorthosite 2%.
Stratigraphic Nomenclature of Lower Cretaceous Rocks in the northern Yukon and Adjacent District of Mackenzie, Northwest Territories
Authors: Dixon J , Jeletzky J A
Published: August 2015

Previously named, but not defined, Lower Cretaceous formations in the northern Yukon and adjacent Northwest Territories are formally defined and type sections designated. The units include the upper Berriasian to lower Valanginian Martin Creek Formation, the
lower to middle Valanginian McGuire Formation, the upper Hauterivian to Barremian Mount Goodenough Formation, and the upper Barremian to upper Aptian Rat River Formation. All of the type sections are found in the northern Richardson Mountains, although the formations can be mapped throughout the
northern Yukon and adjacent Northwest Territories. Martin Creek strata comprise mostly very fine to fine grained, marine sandstones that contain abundant hummocky cross-stratification and swaley stratification. They transitionally overlie the uppermost Jurassic to lowermost Berriasian Husky
Formation, and are abruptly or erosionally overlain by the McGuire Formation. McGuire strata consist mostly of marine shale with thin interbeds of bioturbated and stratified sandstone in the upper third of the succession. They are gradationally overlain by Kamik sandstones. Mount Goodenough strata
consist mostly of marine shale, although the upper third of the type section contains interbedded shale and sandstone. The base of the Mount Goodenough Formation is a regional unconformity, although in basinal positions the amount of erosion is minimal. In places, a locally developed basal sandstone
facies overlies the unconformity, especially on or adjacent to tectonic uplifts. Although the overlying Rat River Formation abruptly overlies Mount Goodenough strata at Mount Goodenough, in most places the contact is gradational. Rat River strata consist of well stratified, very fine to fine
grained, marine sandstone interbedded with variable amounts of shale. Along the eastern flanks of the northern Richardson Mountains, south of Mount Goodenough, shale and siltstone of the Martin House Formation abruptly overlie the Rat River Formation.
Complex leadership as a way forward for transformational missional leadership in a denominational structure
Authors: Niemandt C.J.P.
Published: August 2015

The research investigates the role of leadership in the transformation of denominational structures towards a missional ecclesiology, and focusses on the Highveld Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church. It describes the missional journey of the denomination, and interprets the transformation. The theory of ‘complex leadership’ in complex systems is applied to the investigation of the impact of leadership on a denominational structure. The theory identifies three mechanisms used by leaders as enablers in emergent, self-organisation systems: (1) Leaders disrupt existing patterns, (2) they encourage novelty, and (3) they act as sensemakers. These insights are applied as a tool to interpret the missional transformation of a denomination.
Knowledge and Attitude of Patients, and Practice of the Arrest of Breast Cancer in Outpatient Consultations in Mastology at the General Hospital of Huambo, Angola
Authors: Tavares Hamilton dos Prazeres , Tavares Suelma Beatriz Marques Prata , Natanel Felizardo Abraão , Capingana Daniel Pires
Published: August 2015

This work aims to understand the knowledge and perceptions of women aged over 40 years with breast cancer seen in mastology outpatients at the Maternity Hospital of Huambo, central Angola, from February to August 2010. It also examines the clinical practice of prevention and detection of breast cancer. The research consisted of a collection of descriptive, cross-sectional data through a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Epi Info, version 6.04b. In our sample, half of the women were single, all had history of breast cancer in the family, and most had heard of breast self-examination, with the primary source of information being the mass media. Almost all women reported that it was important to perform self-examination and that they were aware of the seriousness of breast cancer, and although most of them had not been taught how to do breast self-examination, almost all knew the basics of how to do it. Some 17.6% had heard of mammography, but none had ever had a mammogram.