bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional connectivity of insular efferences
Authors: Almashaikhi Talal , Rheims Sylvain , Jung Julien , Ostrowsky‐Coste Karine , Montavont Alexandra , De Bellescize Julitta , Arzimanoglou Alexis , Keo Kosal Pascale , Guénot Marc , Bertrand Olivier , Ryvlin Philippe
Published: May 2014

Objectives

The aim of our study was to explore the functional connectivity between the insula and other cortical regions, in human, using cortico‐cortical evoked potentials (CCEPs)

Experimental design

We performed intra‐cerebral electrical stimulation in eleven patients with refractory epilepsy investigated with depth electrodes, including 39 targeting the insula. Electrical stimulation consisted of two series of 20 pulses of 1‐ms duration, 0.2‐Hz frequency, and 1‐mA intensity delivered at each of the 39 insular bipoles. Rates of connectivity were reported whenever a noninsular cortical region was tested by at least ten stimulating/recording electrode pairs in three or more patients

Results

Significant CCEPs were elicited in 193 of the 578 (33%) tested connections, with an average latency of 33 ± 5 ms. The highest connectivity rates were observed with the nearby perisylvian structures (59%), followed by the pericentral cortex (38%), the temporal neocortex (28%), the lateral parietal cortex (26%), the orbitofrontal cortex (25%), the mesial temporal structures (24%), the dorsolateral frontal cortex (15%), the temporal pole (14%), and the mesial parietal cortex (11%). No connectivity was detected in the mesial frontal cortex or cingulate gyrus. The pattern of connectivity also differed between the five insular gyri, with greater connectivity rate for the posterior short gyrus (49%), than for the middle short (29%), and two long gyri (28 and 33%)

Conclusion

The human insula is characterized by a rich and complex connectivity that varies as a function of the insular gyrus and appears to partly differ from the efferences described in nonhuman primates. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5279–5294, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayreuth Productivity Analysis—a method for ascertaining and improving the holistic service productivity of acute care hospitals
Authors: Pfannstiel Mario Alexander
Published: May 2014

The healthcare sector is lacking a method with which hospitals can measure the extent to which they achieve their goals in terms of aggregate productivity from both patients' and employees' perspectives. The Bayreuth Productivity Analysis (BPA) provides a solution to this problem because it uses two standardized questionnaires—one for patients and one for employees—to ascertain productivity at hospitals. These questionnaires were developed in several steps according to the principles of classical test theory, and they consist of six dimensions (information, organization, climate, methods, infrastructure and equipment) of five items each. One item describes a factual situation relevant to productivity and services so that it makes a contribution to the overall productivity of a hospital. After individualized evaluation of these items, the dimensions are subjectively weighted in the two questionnaires. The productivity index thus ascertained can be considered “holistic” when all patients and employees in a hospital make a differentiated assessment and weigh off each of the dimensions. In conclusion, the BPA constitutes a simple yet practicable method to ascertain and improve the holistic service productivity of hospitals. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The many functions of the endoplasmic reticulum chaperones and folding enzymes
Authors: Halperin Laura , Jung Joanna , Michalak Marek
Published: May 2014

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential sub‐cellular compartment of the eukaryotic cell performing many diverse functions essential for the cell and the whole organism. ER molecular chaperones and folding enzymes are multidomain proteins that are designed to support nascent proteins entering ER lumen to achieve their native conformation, mediate post‐translational modification, prevent misfolded protein aggregation, and facilitate exit from the ER. Typically the role of ER chaperones expands beyond protein folding. Here, we illustrate the multifunctional nature of many ER associated molecular chaperones and folding enzymes and unique functional overlap of these proteins all designed to support the many functions of the ER membrane. © 2014 IUBMB Life, 66(5):318–326, 2014
Synthesis of Nano‐structured Poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene‐oxide)/Polystyrene in Water
Authors: Lyndon Richelle , Saito Kei
Published: May 2014

For the first time, poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene‐oxide)/polystyrene (PPO/PS) nanocomposite particles have been successfully synthesized using fusion of recently developed green technologies, the oxidative polymerization in water. The emulsion polymerization of styrene and oxidative polymerization of DMP using water as a solvent in one pot was found to produce nano sized PPO/PS nanocomposite particles with higher thermal stability property than that of PPO polymer as well as PS nanoparticles.
Effect of surface equilibria on the electrokinetic behaviour of Pb and Cd ions in kaolinite
Authors: Mascia Michele , Vacca Annalisa , Palmas Simonetta
Published: May 2014

BACKGROUND

Electrokinetic remediation of fine‐grained soils polluted by heavy metals is affected by the equilibria between dissolved and sorbed ions; pH can also influence the surface equilibria. Geochemical models which describe the behaviour of different surface sites and their interactions with heavy metal ions have to be considered for a good mathematical representation of an electrokinetic process.

RESULTS

Cd2+ and Pb2+ sorption isotherms were performed at different pH values using kaolinite as sorbent. Electrokinetic tests were performed with samples of kaolinite spiked with Cd2+ and Pb2+ at 0.7 and 2 V cm−1: the concentration profiles were obtained experimentally at different treatment times. The pH in the compartments was conditioned by acetate buffer. On the basis of the experimental results, a numerical model was formulated to simulate ion transport under an electric field combining the diffusion–advection equations with a two‐sites geochemical model taking into account ion exchange and surface complexation of the metal ions, as well as the protonation–deprotonation reactions of the surface sites.

CONCLUSIONS

The process was effective for cadmium removal, while a strong dependence on pH was observed for lead removal. The model allowed prediction of time/space profiles in solid and liquid phase: a good agreement with the experimental data was obtained under all the conditions adopted. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Functional genomics of intraspecific variation in carbon and phosphorus kinetics in Daphnia
Authors: Roy Chowdhury Priyanka , Lopez Jacqueline A. , Weider Lawrence J. , Colbourne John K. , Jeyasingh Punidan D.
Published: May 2014

Understanding how the genome interacts with the environment to produce a diversity of phenotypes is a central challenge in biology. However, we know little about how traits involved in nutrient processing interact with key ecological parameters, such as the supply of mineral nutrients, particularly in animals. The framework of ecological stoichiometry uses information on the content of key elements such as carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) in individuals to predict the success of species. Nevertheless, intraspecific variation in content and the underlying mechanisms that generate such variation has been poorly explored. We studied two genotypes (G1 and G2) of Daphnia pulex that exhibit striking genotype × environment (G × E) interaction in response to shifts in dietary stoichiometry (C:P). G1 had higher fitness under C:P ∼ 100 diet, while G2 performed better in C:P ∼ 800. Dual 14C/33P radiotracer assays show that G1 was more efficient in C processing, while G2 was more efficient in P use. Microarrays revealed that after 3 days of incubation, the genotypes differentially expressed ∼25% (7,224) of the total genes on the array under C:P ∼ 100 diet, and ∼30% (8,880) of genes under C:P ∼ 800. These results indicate large differences in C and P use between two coexisting genotypes. Importantly, such physiological differences can arise via differential expression of the genome due to alterations in dietary stoichiometry. Basic frameworks such as ecological stoichiometry enable integration of physiological and transcriptomic data, and represent initial steps toward understanding the interplay between fundamental ecological parameters such as nutrient supply and important evolutionary processes such as G × E interactions. J. Exp. Zool. 321A: 387–398, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Subjective Performance, Managerial Foresight, and Objective Performance
Authors: Amsteus Martin
Published: May 2014

The relationship between managers’ foresight and subjective firm performance can significantly affect the objective firm performance.
‘Space of Possibles’? Legitimacy, Industry Maturity, and Organizational Foresight
Authors: Stringfellow Lindsay , Maclean Mairi
Published: May 2014

The dispositions and invisible cognitive structures central to organizational foresight are more likely to emerge in young or transforming industries, which are less constrained by the need to achieve institutional legitimacy.
Future Proofing Leadership through Individual and Collective Thinking: A Case Study in Building Foresight
Authors: McCauley‐Smith Catherine , Williams Sharon J , Braganza Ashley , Gillon Anne Clare
Published: May 2014

Future leaders of a newly formed and innovatively structured organization can be formed by means of an education intervention with a particular focus on foresight and reflection.
Using Data in Decision‐Making: Analysis from the Music Industry
Authors: Parry Glenn , Vendrell‐Herrero Ferran , Bustinza Oscar F.
Published: May 2014

Internet use provides an increasing amount of data that has potential value for managers and policy makers but, without a precise understanding of the meaning of data, erroneous conclusions may be drawn which could adversely affect future decisions made by managers.
Optimizing flying‐spot display designs based on the upcoming edition of the laser safety standard
Authors: Heussner Nico , Bogatscher Siegwart , Stork Wilhelm
Published: May 2014

The evaluation concept of the laser safety standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60825 for scanning‐beam projectors is presented. The most important parameters are identified as well as the impact of the expected changes to the laser safety standard IEC 60825 Edition 2. Vital differences are pointed out, and the maximum permissible output power for class 2 lasers is discussed in detail. In special focus is the case of two pulses falling into the aperture within the thermal confinement time, because this is one of the major scenarios being affected by the revision. It is shown that the upcoming third edition of the standard allows significantly more power for flying‐spot projectors, and finally, we provide a quick way to determine the permitted laser power depending on typical design parameters.
Hepatocytes buried in the cirrhotic livers of patients with biliary atresia proliferate and function in the livers of urokinase-type plasminogen activator–NOG mice
Authors: Suemizu Hiroshi , Nakamura Kazuaki , Kawai Kenji , Higuchi Yuichiro , Kasahara Mureo , Fujimoto Junichiro , Tanoue Akito , Nakamura Masato
Published: May 2014

The pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA), which leads to end-stage cirrhosis in most patients, has been thought to inflame and obstruct the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. BA is not believed to be caused by abnormalities in parenchymal hepatocytes. However, there has been no report of a detailed analysis of hepatocytes buried in the cirrhotic livers of patients with BA. Therefore, we evaluated the proliferative potential of these hepatocytes in immunodeficient, liver-injured mice [the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) transgenic NOD/Shi-scid IL2rγnull (NOG); uPA-NOG strain]. We succeeded in isolating viable hepatocytes from the livers of patients with BA who had various degrees of fibrosis. The isolated hepatocytes were intrasplenically transplanted into the livers of uPA-NOG mice. The hepatocytes of only 3 of the 9 BA patients secreted detectable amounts of human albumin in sera when they were transplanted into mice. However, human leukocyte antigen–positive hepatocyte colonies were detected in 7 of the 9 mice with hepatocyte transplants from patients with BA. We demonstrated that hepatocytes buried in the cirrhotic livers of patients with BA retained their proliferative potential. A liver that was reconstituted with hepatocytes from patients with BA was shown to be a functioning human liver with a drug-metabolizing enzyme gene expression pattern that was representative of mature human liver and biliary function, as ascertained by fluorescent dye excretion into the bile canaliculi. These results imply that removing the primary etiology via an earlier portoenterostomy may increase the quantity of functionally intact hepatocytes remaining in a cirrhotic liver and may contribute to improved outcomes. Liver Transpl 20:1127–1137, 2014. © 2014 AASLD.
Berberine regulates AMP‐activated protein kinase signaling pathways and inhibits colon tumorigenesis in mice
Authors: Li Weidong , Hua Baojin , Saud Shakir M. , Lin Hongsheng , Hou Wei , Matter Matthias S. , Jia Libin , Colburn Nancy H. , Young Matthew R.
Published: May 2014

Colorectal cancer, a leading cause of cancer death, has been linked to inflammation and obesity. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, possesses anti‐inflammatory, anti‐diabetes and anti‐tumor properties. In the azoxymethane initiated and dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) promoted colorectal carcinogenesis mouse model, berberine treated mice showed a 60% reduction in tumor number (P = 0.009), a 48% reduction in tumors <2 mm, (P = 0.05); 94% reduction in tumors 2–4 mm, (P = 0.001), and 100% reduction in tumors >4 mm (P = 0.02) compared to vehicle treated mice. Berberine also decreased AOM/DSS induced Ki‐67 and COX‐2 expression. In vitro analysis showed that in addition to its anti‐proliferation activity, berberine also induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cell lines. Berberine activated AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), a major regulator of metabolic pathways, and inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a downstream target of AMPK. Furthermore, 4E‐binding protein‐1 and p70 ribosomal S6 kinases, downstream targets of mTOR, were down regulated by berberine treatment. Berberine did not affect Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) activity or the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway. Berberine inhibited Nuclear Factor kappa‐B (NF‐κB) activity, reduced the expression of cyclin D1 and survivin, induced phosphorylation of p53 and increased caspase‐3 cleavage in vitro. Berberine inhibition of mTOR activity and p53 phosphorylation was found to be AMPK dependent, while inhibition NF‐κB was AMPK independent. In vivo, berberine also activated AMPK, inhibited mTOR and p65 phosphorylation and activated caspase‐3 cleavage. Our data suggests that berberine suppresses colon epithelial proliferation and tumorigenesis via AMPK dependent inhibition of mTOR activity and AMPK independent inhibition of NF‐κB. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The past, present, and future of telemedicine for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Achey Meredith , Aldred Jason L. , Aljehani Noha , Bloem Bastiaan R. , Biglan Kevin M. , Chan Piu , Cubo Esther , Ray Dorsey E. , Goetz Christopher G. , Guttman Mark , Hassan Anhar , Khandhar Suketu M. , Mari Zoltan , Spindler Meredith , Tanner Caroline M. , van den Haak Pieter , Walker Richard , Wilkinson Jayne R. ,   on behalf of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Telemedicine Task Force
Published: May 2014

Travel distance, growing disability, and uneven distribution of doctors limit access to care for most Parkinson's disease (PD) patients worldwide. Telemedicine, the use of telecommunications technology to deliver care at a distance, can help overcome these barriers. In this report, we describe the past, present, and likely future applications of telemedicine to PD. Historically, telemedicine has relied on expensive equipment to connect single patients to a specialist in pilot programs in wealthy nations. As the cost of video conferencing has plummeted, these efforts have expanded in scale and scope, now reaching larger parts of the world and extending the focus from care to training of remote providers. Policy, especially limited reimbursement, currently hinders the growth and adoption of these new care models. As these policies change and technology advances and spreads, the following will likely develop: integrated care networks that connect patients to a wide range of providers; education programs that support patients and health care providers; and new research applications that include remote monitoring and remote visits. Together, these developments will enable more individuals with PD to connect to care, increase access to expertise for patients and providers, and allow more‐extensive, less‐expensive participation in research. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Connective tissue growth factor and β‐catenin constitute an autocrine loop for activation in rat sarcomatoid mesothelioma
Authors: Jiang Li , Yamashita Yoriko , Chew Shan‐Hwu , Akatsuka Shinya , Ukai Shun , Wang Shenqi , Nagai Hirotaka , Okazaki Yasumasa , Takahashi Takashi , Toyokuni Shinya
Published: May 2014

Due to the formerly widespread use of asbestos, malignant mesothelioma (MM) is increasingly frequent worldwide. MM is classified into epithelioid (EM), sarcomatoid (SM), and biphasic subtypes. SM is less common than EM but is recognized as the most aggressive type of MM, and these patients have a poor prognosis. To identify genes responsible for the aggressiveness of SM, we induced EM and SM in rats, using asbestos, and compared their transcriptomes. Based on the results, we focused on connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf), whose expression was significantly increased in SM compared with EM; EM itself exhibited an increased expression of Ctgf compared with normal mesothelium. Particularly in SM, Ctgf was a major regulator of MM proliferation and invasion through activation of the β‐catenin–TCF–LEF signalling pathway, which is autocrine and formed a positive feedback loop via LRP6 as a receptor for secreted Ctgf. High Ctgf expression also played a role in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in MM. Furthermore, Ctgf is a novel serum biomarker for both early diagnosis and determining the MM prognosis in rats. These data link Ctgf to SM through the LRP6–GSK3β–β‐catenin–TCF–Ctgf autocrine axis and suggest Ctgf as a therapeutic target. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential expression of synaptic proteins in unilateral 6‐OHDA lesioned rat model—A comparative proteomics approach
Authors: Xiong Yan , Zhang Yongqian , Iqbal Javed , Ke Ming , Wang Yun , Li Yujuan , Qing Hong , Deng Yulin
Published: May 2014

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized as a movement disorder due to lesions in the basal ganglia. As the major input region of the basal ganglia, striatum plays a vital role in coordinating movements. It receives afferents from the cerebral cortex and projects afferents to the internal segment of the globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars reticulate. Additionally, accumulating evidences support a role for synaptic dysfunction in PD. Therefore, the present study explores the changes in protein abundance involved in synaptic disorders in unilateral lesioned 6‐OHDA rat model. Based on 18O/16O‐labeling technique, striatal proteins were separated using online 2D‐LC, and identified by nano‐ESI‐quadrupole‐TOF. A total of 370 proteins were identified, including 76 significantly differentially expressed proteins. Twenty‐two downregulated proteins were found in composition of vesicle, ten of which were involved in neuronal transmission and recycling across synapses. These include N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive fusion protein attachment receptor proteins (SNAP‐25, syntaxin‐1A, syntaxin‐1B, VAMP2), synapsin‐1, septin‐5, clathrin heavy chain 1, AP‐2 complex subunit beta, dynamin‐1, and endophilin‐A1. Moreover, MS result for syntaxin‐1A was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Overall, these synaptic changes induced by neurotoxin may serve as a reference for understanding the functional mechanism of striatum in PD.
The importance of defining the purpose, scope, and objectives for process hazard analysis studies
Authors: Baybutt Paul
Published: May 2014

The preparation of a statement of purpose, scope, and objectives (PSO) is essential to ensure that process hazard analysis studies are focused and complete. A PSO statement defines what must be addressed but also constrains studies to appropriate content. PSO statements help to ensure studies are conducted effectively and efficiently. This article describes the content of a PSO statement and provides guidance on its preparation and use. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 34: 84–88, 2015
Comparison of ECMWF analysis and forecast humidity data with CARIBIC upper troposphere and lower stratosphere observations
Authors: Dyroff Christoph , Zahn Andreas , Christner Emanuel , Forbes Richard , Tompkins Adrian M. , van Velthoven Peter F. J.
Published: May 2014

Water vapour, relative humidity and temperature in the Northern Hemisphere extratropical upper troposphere/lowermost stratosphere (UT/LMS) of the operational European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analysis and forecast system are compared with in situ measurements from Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container (CARIBIC) passenger aircraft flights between 2005 and 2012. Modelled and observed temperatures are found to be in good agreement, with a small tendency towards a cold model bias of 0.45 K at higher temperatures. Water vapour and relative humidity also agree well in the upper troposphere. However, in the dry extratropical lowermost stratosphere, both analysis and forecast show a considerable moist bias. About 2 km above the tropopause, the specific humidity is overestimated, typically by 100–150% in summer and autumn as well as 50–100% in winter and spring. Five‐day backward trajectories indicate that the moist bias is associated with airmasses that have resided approximately at the aircraft flight level of around 230 hPa in high northern latitudes. Fast ascending airmasses from low latitudes show considerably less bias. There are indications that part of the model bias is due to small‐scale stratospheric intrusions that are unresolved by the model but are a frequent observed feature in the UT/LMS. Numerical diffusion of water vapour across the hydropause from the advection scheme and a lack of a constraint on humidity in the stratosphere in the analysis are also possible reasons for the moist bias. About 6% of all air masses transected by the CARIBIC aircraft are supersaturated with respect to ice. Previous changes in the operational analysis and forecast systems have considerably improved the representation of ice supersaturation, yet there is an indication that both still underestimate the occurrence of ice supersaturation measured during CARIBIC flights.
Manipulating Nanoscale Features on the Surface of Dye‐Loaded Microbubbles to Increase Their Ultrasound‐Modulated Fluorescence Output
Authors: Schutt Carolyn E. , Ibsen Stuart D. , Benchimol Michael J. , Hsu Mark J. , Esener Sadik C.
Published: May 2014

The nanoscale surface features of lipid‐coated microbubbles can dramatically affect how the lipids interact with one another as the microbubble diameter expands and contracts under the influence of ultrasound. During microbubble manufacturing, the different lipid shell species naturally partition forming concentrated lipid islands. In this study the dynamics of how these nanoscale islands accommodate the expansion of the microbubbles are monitored by measuring the fluorescence intensity changes that occur as self‐quenching lipophilic dye molecules embedded in the lipid layer change their distance from one another. It was found that when the dye molecules were concentrated in islands, less than 5% of the microbubbles displayed measurable fluorescence intensity modulation indicating the islands were not able to expand sufficiently for the dye molecules to separate from one another. When the microbubbles were heated and cooled rapidly through the lipid transition temperature the islands were melted creating an even distribution of dye about the surface. This resulted in over 50% of the microbubbles displaying the fluorescence‐modulated signal indicating that the dye molecules could now separate sufficiently to change their self‐quenching efficiency. The separation of the surface lipids in these different formations has significant implications for microbubble development as ultrasound and optical contrast agents.
Universal Secondary Cooling Structure for Round Blooms Continuous Casting of Steels in Various Diameters
Authors: Long Mujun , Dong Zhihua , Sheng Junhao , Chen Dengfu , Chen Chunmei
Published: May 2014

Based on the thermodynamic calculations, the universal secondary cooling structure, and the specific water rate for round blooms continuous casting in various diameters were investigated with a 2D heat transfer model. Results indicated that extension of the secondary cooling zone along casting direction significantly lowered the surface temperature recovery after the water cooling, though little influence on the recovering rate. The universal secondary cooling structure for the continuous casting of round blooms in diameters from 280 to 350 mm was optimized by appropriately extending the length of secondary cooling zone. The target unbending temperature was 908 °C for steel 16MnNb due to the thermodynamic calculation. To the optimized universal secondary cooling structure, the optimal specific water rates were 0.35 and 0.25 L kg−1 for the continuous casting of round blooms 280 and 350 mm in diameter, respectively. The present study had been applied to real production, resulting in round blooms in good quality, and contributing to the efficiency and flexibility of round blooms continuous casting process.
Plant species diversity and forage quality as affected by pasture management and simulated cattle activities
Authors: Yoshihara Yu , Okada Miya , Sasaki Takehiro , Sato Shusuke
Published: May 2014

Grazed pastures have been historically used in Japan for animal production with little concern to biodiversity. However, pasturing has significant effects on biodiversity and productivity because it produces gaps in the distribution of vegetation due to animal activities. We hypothesized that different grazing activities would have effects on the diversity of plant species and forage quality in different ways and that the sward type would modify these effects. Therefore, we attempted to predict the diversity of plant species and changes in total nutrient content per area at the time since treatment on the basis of simulations of cattle activities in three pastures with different vegetation compositions. We created three ground types (grazed areas, cleared ground, and undisturbed areas) in three pastures (improved, partially improved semi‐natural, and semi‐natural pasture) and recorded the percentage cover of each plant within the plots. We repeatedly calculated the biodiversity indices from these community data by varying the sampling probabilities for each ground type, which provided us with the expected species diversity indices with the changing proportions of each ground type. Furthermore, we investigated the dry matter and forage qualities. For improved and partially improved semi‐natural pasture, our models predicted that plant diversity increased as a saturating function of the proportion of cleared ground and grazed area relative to the undisturbed area, although our models also showed exponential curves for the semi‐natural pasture. Forage samples from cleared ground plots and semi‐natural pasture had the lowest forage quality among all pastures. Based on the predicted effects of cattle pasturing on the plant species biodiversity and forage quality, it may be more beneficial to maintain a small proportion of cleared ground in the improved pasture during intensive grazing.
Plasma-based proteomics reveals lipid metabolic and immunoregulatory dysregulation in post-stroke depression
Authors: Zhan Y. , Yang Y.-T. , You H.-M. , Cao D. , Liu C.-Y. , Zhou C.-J. , Wang Z.-Y. , Bai S.-J. , Mu J. , Wu B. , Zhan Q.-L. , Xie P.
Published: May 2014

Background:

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common psychiatric complication facing stroke survivors and has been associated with increased distress, physical disability, poor rehabilitation, and suicidal ideation. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PSD remain unknown, and no objective laboratory-based test is available to aid PSD diagnosis or monitor progression.

Methods:

Here, an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteomic approach was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins in plasma samples obtained from PSD, stroke, and healthy control subjects.

Results:

The significantly differentiated proteins were primarily involved in lipid metabolism and immunoregulation. Six proteins associated with these processes – apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV), apolipoprotein C-II (ApoC-II), C-reactive protein (CRP), gelsolin, haptoglobin, and leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG) – were selected for Western blotting validation. ApoA-IV expression was significantly upregulated in PSD as compared to stroke subjects. ApoC-II, LRG, and CRP expression were significantly downregulated in both PSD and HC subjects relative to stroke subjects. Gelsolin and haptoglobin expression were significantly dysregulated across all three groups with the following expression profiles: gelsolin, healthy control > PSD > stroke subjects; haptoglobin, stroke > PSD > healthy control.

Conclusions:

Early perturbation of lipid metabolism and immunoregulation may be involved in the pathophysiology of PSD. The combination of increased gelsolin levels accompanied by decreased haptoglobin levels shows promise as a plasma-based diagnostic biomarker panel for detecting increased PSD risk in post-stroke patients.
Synthetic therapeutic gene circuits in mammalian cells
Authors: Ye Haifeng , Fussenegger Martin
Published: May 2014

In the emerging field of synthetic biology, scientists are focusing on designing and creating functional devices, systems, and organisms with novel functions by engineering and assembling standardised biological building blocks. The progress of synthetic biology has significantly advanced the design of functional gene networks that can reprogram metabolic activities in mammalian cells and provide new therapeutic opportunities for future gene‐ and cell‐based therapies. In this review, we describe the most recent advances in synthetic mammalian gene networks designed for biomedical applications, including how these synthetic therapeutic gene circuits can be assembled to control signalling networks and applied to treat metabolic disorders, cancer, and immune diseases. We conclude by discussing the various challenges and future prospects of using synthetic mammalian gene networks for disease therapy.
Epithelial CaSR deficiency alters intestinal integrity and promotes proinflammatory immune responses
Authors: Cheng Sam X. , Lightfoot Yaíma L. , Yang Tao , Zadeh Mojgan , Tang Lieqi , Sahay Bikash , Wang Gary P. , Owen Jennifer L. , Mohamadzadeh Mansour
Published: May 2014

The intestinal epithelium is equipped with sensing receptor mechanisms that interact with luminal microorganisms and nutrients to regulate barrier function and gut immune responses, thereby maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Herein, we clarify the role of the extracellular calcium‐sensing receptor (CaSR) using intestinal epithelium‐specific Casr
−/− mice. Epithelial CaSR deficiency diminished intestinal barrier function, altered microbiota composition, and skewed immune responses towards proinflammatory. Consequently, Casr
−/− mice were significantly more prone to chemically induced intestinal inflammation resulting in colitis. Accordingly, CaSR represents a potential therapeutic target for autoinflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases.
An Anatomy of Mass Protests: The Orange Revolution and Euromaydan Compared
Authors: Khmelko Irina , Pereguda Yevgen
Published: May 2014

This article surveys and discusses the latest wave of mass protests in Ukraine, the Euromaydan. This study situates the Euromaydan within the history of the other protests in post-communist Ukraine and makes a comparison to the Orange Revolution (the Orange Revolution). The authors recognize the importance of international factors, but argue that Ukrainian domestic political factors contributed significantly not only to the emergence, but also to escalation of the latest conflict in Ukraine. This study tests a theory about the role of institutional factors versus the role of cultural-historic legacies in the process of mass protest formation and conflict development. We argue that institutional factors, such as: governmental policies; the composition of governmental, opposition, and civil society groups; corruption; and timing of legislative activity on most divisive issues in Ukraine have contributed to the conflict escalation in Ukraine.
The digital age: is this the future of medical education? A cross-sectional study to assess medical students’ opinions about e-learning in psychiatry undergraduate medical education
Authors: Mullins D. , Jabbar F. , Fenlon N. , Murphy K. C.
Published: May 2014

Objectives

The main objectives were to assess medical students’ opinions about e-learning in psychiatry undergraduate medical education, and to investigate a possible relationship between learning styles and preferences for learning modalities.

Method

During the academic year 2009/2010, all 231 senior Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) medical students in their penultimate year of study were invited to answer a questionnaire that was posted online on Moodle, the RCSI virtual learning environment.

Results

In all, 186 students responded to the questionnaire, a response rate of 80%. Significantly more students stated a preference for live psychiatry tutorials over e-learning lectures. Students considered flexible learning, having the option of viewing material again and the ability to learn at one’s own pace with e-learning lectures, to be more valuable than having faster and easier information retrieval.

Conclusion

Students prefer traditional in-class studying, even when they are offered a rich e-learning environment. Understanding students’ learning styles has been identified as an important element for e-learning development, delivery and instruction, which can lead to improved student performance.
Clinical stability in the community associated with long-term approved leave under the Mental Health Act 2001
Authors: Bainbridge E. , Byrne F. , Hallahan B. , McDonald C.
Published: May 2014

Introduction

We present the case of a 27-year-old man with a background diagnosis of treatment resistant schizophrenia and absent insight who for the last 3 years has been residing in a high support residential setting on approved leave under the Mental Health Act (MHA) 2001. The case demonstrates how this man achieved clinical stability in the community with the assistance of long-term involuntary admission under the MHA 2001, in contrast to the previous years of his illness in which he had suffered multiple relapses of his psychotic illness with ssociated distress, poor self-care and repeated in-patient re-admissions. We discuss the equivalent use of community treatment orders in other jurisdictions and how the judicious use of approved leave under the MHA 2001 may be used as an alternative in Ireland where community treatment orders are not currently available.

Method

Case Report.

Conclusion

The case report highlights how the use of long-term approved leave under the MHA2001 may be used as alternative in Ireland to mimic CTOs for certain difficult to treat patients with psychotic illness who would benefit from ongoing treatment, but lack capacity to engage in such treatment due to persistent symptoms and lack of insight.
Opposition control within the resolvent analysis framework
Authors: Luhar M. , Sharma A. S. , McKeon B. J.
Published: May 2014

This paper extends the resolvent analysis of McKeon & Sharma (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 658, 2010, pp. 336–382) to consider flow control techniques that employ linear control laws, focusing on opposition control (Choi, Moin & Kim,J. Fluid Mech., vol. 262, 1994, pp. 75–110) as an example. Under this formulation, the velocity field for turbulent pipe flow is decomposed into a series of highly amplified (rank-1) response modes, identified from a gain analysis of the Fourier-transformed Navier–Stokes equations. These rank-1 velocity responses represent propagating structures of given streamwise/spanwise wavelength and temporal frequency, whose wall-normal footprint depends on the phase speed of the mode. Opposition control, introduced via the boundary condition on wall-normal velocity, affects the amplification characteristics (and wall-normal structure) of these response modes; a decrease in gain indicates mode suppression, which leads to a decrease in the drag contribution from that mode. With basic assumptions, this rank-1 model reproduces trends observed in previous direct numerical simulation and large eddy simulation, without requiring high-performance computing facilities. Further, a wavenumber–frequency breakdown of control explains the deterioration of opposition control performance with increasing sensor elevation and Reynolds number. It is shown that slower-moving modes localized near the wall (i.e. attached modes) are suppressed by opposition control. Faster-moving detached modes, which are more energetic at higher Reynolds number and more likely to be detected by sensors far from the wall, are further amplified. These faster-moving modes require a phase lag between sensor and actuator velocity for suppression. Thus, the effectiveness of opposition control is determined by a trade-off between the modes detected by the sensor. However, it may be possible to develop control strategies optimized for individual modes. A brief exploration of such mode-optimized control suggests the potential for significant performance improvement.
An instruction-based analysis ofover
Authors: COL GILLES , POIBEAU THIERRY
Published: May 2014

abstract

Many studies in cognitive linguistics have analyzed the semantics ofover, notably the semantics associated withoveras a preposition. Most of them generally conclude thatoveris polysemic and that this polysemy is to be described thanks to a semantic radial network, showing the relationships between the different meanings of the word. What we would like to suggest, to the contrary, is that the meanings ofoverare highly dependent on the utterance context in which its occurrences are embedded, and consequently that the meaning ofoveritself is under-specified, rather than polysemic. Moreover, to provide a more accurate account of the apparently wide range of meanings ofoverin context, we ought to take into account the other uses of this unit: as an adverb and particle, and not only as a preposition. In this paper, we provide a corpus-based description ofoverwhich leads us to propose a monosemic definition.
PROHIBITIONS ON ASSIGNMENT: A CHOICE TO BE MADE
Authors: Tolhurst G.J. , Carter J.W.
Published: May 2014

In recent years two views have developed as to the efficacy of prohibitions on the assignment of contractual rights. One view, “the property view”, dictates that such prohibitions characterise contractual rights as choses in action and robs them of their transferable nature. Another view, “the contract view”, dictates that such prohibitions operate only at the level of contract and cannot prevent the equitable assignment of the benefit of a contract. Both views have judicial and academic support. The view that is ultimately adopted will have important implications for contract drafting and the law of assignment. This paper explains both views and puts forward an argument for adopting the property view.
The Plains Farmer and the Prairie Province Frontier, 1897–1914
Authors: Bicha Karel Denis
Published: May 2014

It is curious that students of the American frontier and population movements have paid so little attention to the role of American farmers in the settlement and development of the last plains frontier—the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Perhaps the twentieth century has provided scholars with too many alternative “frontiers” to scrutinize, or perhaps the famous pronouncement of the Superintendent of the Census in 1890 has been accepted too casually. The movement has not been subjected to careful analysis, and the published material on the topic is peripheral or fraught with error, especially in its quantitative aspects.
Post-authoritarian diversity in Indonesia's state-owned mosques: Amanakibancase study
Authors: Millie Julian , Barton Greg , Hindasah Linda , Moriyama Mikihiro
Published: May 2014

Indonesia's state-owned mosques are important sites for observing changes in religious life that have taken place since the demise of the Suharto regime. During the New Order period, ideological and political factors restricted access to mosques owned and managed by provincial and regency governments. In contemporary West Java, access to such mosques has been broadened, and they now display a diversity of religious programs and practices. Drawing on recent fieldwork, this article makes a case study of the intercession ritual known asmanakibanwhich has recently emerged in government-owned mosques of West Java. It identifies two dominant factors behind the new inclusiveness: a desire for visibility and public legitimacy on the part of some members of the Sufi order that promotes the ritual, and secondly, a broadening of access to state-owned mosques as a result of more inclusive participation in the electoral process. The article contributes to knowledge of the politicisation of religion in contemporary Indonesia, and suggests new possibilities for understanding the meanings of public Islamic infrastructure.
Variation within a Greek-Cypriot community of practice in London: Code-switching, gender, and identity
Authors: Finnis Katerina A.
Published: May 2014

The past two decades have seen an explosion of interest in interactionally orientated perspectives on identity. The Community of Practice framework was employed by sociolinguists working within this paradigm because it firmly grounds identity in social practice seeing it as aprocessthat speakers engage in during actual interactions. Interest in variationwithincommunities of practice is growing, as the well-boundedness of linguistic and social concepts (including identity and language) is increasingly questioned. The current article develops this perspective by exploring code-switching practices of British-born Greek-Cypriots in two distinct contexts: community meetings and a dinner. Findings indicate that this community of practice does not constitute a uniform entity: complex interactions transpire between local and global variables including gender, community-specific setups, contexts, and discourse types. The study also problematizes the conceptscoreandperiphery, used to describe variation within communities of practice, offering a revised understanding ofpractice,which focuses onsilent participation. (Code-switching, community of practice, Greek-Cypriot, gender, identity, individual variation)
Signed languages and sociopolitical formation: The case of “contributing to society” through Hồ Chí Minh City Sign Language
Authors: Cooper Audrey C.
Published: May 2014

Claims about signed languages present a unique resource for examining sociopolitical formation and change. Examining three claims drawn from original ethnographic data on Hồ Chí Minh City Sign Language, analysis centers on the ways language practices and language ideologies reflect, respond to, and impact sociopolitical formation in Việt Nam, particularly in connection to state restructuring of deaf education during the political reform period (1986 to present). Signer narratives evaluate such circumstances in relation to notions of citizenship, national development, and social participation to posit signed language as the basis for Deaf people's contributions to national development and broader social change. Articulations between signed language and sociopolitical formation have been largely ignored within mainstream social science disciplines and global disability-oriented development, hindering theoretical and practical projects. This article aims to expand the theoretical scope of language-centered inquiry by demonstrating how ethnographic research on signed languages contributes to examination of sociopolitical formation. (Signed language, Việt Nam, deaf education, sociopolitical, citizenship)*
Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Cognition in Older, Non-demented African Americans
Authors: Hamilton Jamie L. , Brickman Adam M. , Lang Rosalyn , Byrd Goldie S. , Haines Jonathan L. , Pericak-Vance Margaret A. , Manly Jennifer J.
Published: May 2014

Knowledge of the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognition in older adults has primarily come from studies of clinically depressed, functionally impaired or cognitively impaired individuals, and in predominately White samples. Limited minority representation in depression research exposes the need to examine these associations in more ethnic/racially diverse populations. We sought to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognition in a sample of non-demented older African Americans recruited from surrounding U.S. cities of New York, Greensboro, Miami, and Nashville (N=944). Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Cognition was evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Test scores were summarized into attention, executive function, memory, language, and processing speed composites. Controlling for age, education, reading level, and sex, African American older adults who endorsed more symptoms obtained significantly lower scores on measures of memory, language, processing speed, and executive functioning. Further investigation of the causal pathway underlying this association, as well as potential mediators of the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive test performance among older African Americans, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, may offer potential avenues for intervention. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–8)