bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alcohol consumption, dating relationships, and preliminary sexual outcomes in collegiate natural drinking groups
Authors: Devos‐Comby Loraine , Daniel Jason , Lange James E.
Published: October 2013

This study tested the effects of committed relationships and presence of dates on alcohol consumption and preliminary sexual outcomes in natural drinking groups (NDGs). Undergraduate drinkers (N = 302) answered an online questionnaire on their most recent participation in a NDG. The interaction between relationship commitment and presence of a date on alcohol consumption was significant. Among students not in committed relationships, those dating within their NDG reported heavier drinking than those not dating. Students in committed relationships drank less than those who were not committed only when their partners were present. The positive correlation between drinking and sexual contact was significant only for those who were not in committed relationships. Implications for future research and interventions are discussed.
Parallel invasions produce heterogenous patterns of life history adaptation: rapid divergence in an invasive insect
Authors: Seiter S. , Ohsaki N. , Kingsolver J.
Published: October 2013

Biotic invasions provide a natural experiment in evolution: when invasive species colonize new ranges, they may evolve new clines in traits in response to environmental gradients. Yet it is not clear how rapidly such patterns can evolve and whether they are consistent between regions. We compare four populations of the invasive cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) from North America and Japan, independently colonized by P. rapae 150 years ago and 300 years ago, respectively. On each continent, we employed a northern and southern population to compare the effects of latitude on body mass, development rate and immune function. For each population, we used a split‐sibling family design in which siblings were reared at either warm (26.7 °C) or cool (20 °C) temperatures to determine reaction norms for each trait. Latitudinal patterns in development time were similar between the two continents. In contrast, there were strong geographical differences in reaction norms for body size, but no consistent effects of latitude; there were no detectable effects of latitude or continent on immune function. These results imply that some life history traits respond consistently to selection along climatic gradients, whereas other traits may respond to local environmental factors, or not at all.
Dental Amalgam Update—Part II: Biological Effects
Authors: Wahl Michael J. , Swift Edward J.
Published: October 2013

Dental amalgam restorations have been controversial for over 150 years. In Part I of this Critical Appraisal, the clinical efficacy of dental amalgam was updated. Here in Part II, the biological effects of dental amalgam are addressed.
Two Hydroxypyruvate Reductases Encoded by OsHPR1 and OsHPR2 are Involved in Photorespiratory Metabolism in Rice
Authors: Ye Nenghui , Yang Guozhen , Chen Yan , Zhang Chan , Zhang Jianhua , Peng Xinxiang
Published: October 2013

Mutations in the photorespiration pathway display a lethal phenotype in atmospheric air, which can be fully recovered by elevated CO2. An exception is that mutants of peroxisomal hydroxypyruvate reductase (HPR1) do not have this phenotype, indicating the presence of cytosolic bypass in the photorespiration pathway. In this study, we constructed overexpression of the OsHPR1 gene and RNA interference plants of OsHPR1 and OsHPR2 genes in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Zhonghua 11). Results from reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), Western blot, and enzyme assays showed that HPR1 activity changed significantly in corresponding transgenic lines without any effect on HPR2 activity, which is the same for HPR2. However, metabolite analysis and the serine glyoxylate aminotransferase (SGAT) activity assay showed that the metabolite flux of photorespiration was disturbed in RNAi lines of both HPR genes. Furthermore, HPR1 and HPR2 proteins were located to the peroxisome and cytosol, respectively, by transient expression experiment. Double mutant hpr1 × hpr2 was generated by crossing individual mutant of hpr1 and hpr2. The phenotypes of all transgenic lines were determined in ambient air and CO2‐elevated air. The phenotype typical of photorespiration mutants was observed only where activity of both HPR1 and HPR2 were downregulated in the same line. These findings demonstrate that two hydroxypyruvate reductases encoded by OsHPR1 and OsHPR2 are involved in photorespiratory metabolism in rice.
Roles of the N domain of the AAA+ Lon protease in substrate recognition, allosteric regulation and chaperone activity
Authors: Wohlever Matthew L. , Baker Tania A. , Sauer Robert T.
Published: October 2013

Degron binding regulates the activities of the AAA+ Lon protease in addition to targeting proteins for degradation. The sul20 degron from the cell‐division inhibitor SulA is shown here to bind to the N domain of Escherichia coli Lon, and the recognition site is identified by cross‐linking and scanning for mutations that prevent sul20‐peptide binding. These N‐domain mutations limit the rates of proteolysis of model sul20‐tagged substrates and ATP hydrolysis by an allosteric mechanism. Lon inactivation of SulA in vivo requires binding to the N domain and robust ATP hydrolysis but does not require degradation or translocation into the proteolytic chamber. Lon‐mediated relief of proteotoxic stress and protein aggregation in vivo can also occur without degradation but is not dependent on robust ATP hydrolysis. In combination, these results demonstrate that Lon can function as a protease or a chaperone and reveal that some of its ATP‐dependent biological activities do not require translocation.
Nitric oxide: an effective weapon of the plant or the pathogen?
Authors: Arasimowicz‐Jelonek Magdalena , Floryszak‐Wieczorek Jolanta
Published: October 2013

An explosion of research in plant nitric oxide (NO) biology during the last two decades has revealed that NO is a key signal involved in plant development, abiotic stress responses and plant immunity. During the course of evolutionary changes, microorganisms parasitizing plants have developed highly effective offensive strategies, in which NO also seems to be implicated. NO production has been demonstrated in several plant pathogens, including fungi, but the origin of NO seems to be as puzzling as in plants. So far, published studies have been spread over multiple species of pathogenic microorganisms in various developmental stages; however, the data clearly indicate that pathogen‐derived NO is an important regulatory molecule involved not only in developmental processes, but also in pathogen virulence and its survival in the host. This review also focuses on the search for potential mechanisms by which pathogens convert NO messages into a physiological response or detoxify both endo‐ and exogenous NO. Finally, taking into account the data available from model bacteria and yeast, a basic draft for the mode of NO action in phytopathogenic microorganisms is proposed.
An Evaluation of the Determinants and Implications of Panel Attrition in the National Income Dynamics Survey (2008‐2010)
Authors: Baigrie Nic , Eyal Katherine
Published: October 2013

Panel surveys offer a valuable tool for researchers to explore the dynamics underlying individual and household behaviours. The Achilles heel of panel data is attrition. This paper examines the determinants and implications of attrition in the first two waves of South Africa's National Income Dynamics Survey. Multivariate tests in labour market and health specifications show that there is some moderate evidence of attrition bias in estimated coefficients based on the non‐attriting sample. This bias can be seen in labour market specifications, in particular for men, and for Africans, and to a much lesser degree in health specifications, in particular for small samples of Whites. Researchers should take care when using the panel data set to generalise to the overall population.
Early‐onset thrombocytopenia in near‐term and term infants with perinatal asphyxia
Authors: Boutaybi N. , Steggerda S. J. , Smits‐Wintjens V. E. H. J. , van Zwet E. W. , Walther F. J. , Lopriore E.
Published: October 2013

Background

Neonates after perinatal asphyxia are at increased risk of thrombocytopenia. The correlation between perinatal asphyxia and the risk and severity of early‐onset thrombocytopenia is not well known.

Objective

To estimate the incidence, severity and risk factors for early‐onset thrombocytopenia in neonates after perinatal asphyxia.

Methods

We included all newborns (gestational age ≥ 36 weeks) admitted to our neonatal nursery due to perinatal asphyxia in this retrospective study. We collected platelet counts that were obtained within the first 48 h of life to estimate the incidence and severity of early‐onset thrombocytopenia.

Results

A total number of 171 neonates with perinatal asphyxia were included in the study. The incidence of early‐onset thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150 × 109/l) was 51% (87/171). Several factors were associated with increased risk of early‐onset thrombocytopenia, including prolonged prothrombin time (PT) [odds ratio (OR) 1·18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·08–1·30, P < 0·01], prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (OR 1·07, 95% CI 1·03–1·11, P < 0·01), low Apgar score at 10 min (OR 1·25, 95% CI 1·08–1·45, P < 0·01) and high serum lactate (OR 1·12, 95% CI 1·06–1·19, P < 0·01). After multiple logistic regression analysis, we found an independent association between early‐onset thrombocytopenia and prolonged PT (OR 1·15, 95% CI 1·00–1·33, P = 0·045) and higher lactate level (OR 1·15, 95% CI 1·03–1·28, P = 0·01).

Conclusions

Early‐onset thrombocytopenia occurs frequently in neonates after perinatal asphyxia and is independently associated with PT and lactate level.
The attitude toward xenocorneal transplantation in wait‐listed subjects for corneal transplantation in Korea
Authors: Lee Jong Joo , Kim Dong Hyun , Jang Young Eun , Choi Hyuk Jin , Kim Mee Kum , Wee Won Ryang
Published: October 2013

Shortage of donor cornea is a significant problem in Asia, and xenocorneal transplantation is being actively studied to alleviate this problem. However, the attitudes of subjects who await corneal transplants toward xenocorneal transplantation are not known at all. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the attitudes of subjects on the waiting lists for corneal transplants, toward corneal xenotransplantation. A telephone questionnaire survey comprising six items was conducted in 132 subjects among the wait‐listed individuals (n = 590) who were awaiting corneal transplantation or had undergone corneal transplantation at Seoul National University Hospital from July, 2003 to August, 2012. Among six inquiries, four questions were used to analyze attitudes toward corneal xenotransplantation. Each question pertained to (1) the acceptance of xenocorneal transplantation, (2) willingness to participate in clinical trials, (3) worries in xenocorneal transplantation, and (4) the concern of self‐identity or social life after xenocorneal transplantation. To analyze demographic factors influencing the question, the subjects were arbitrarily divided into two groups: the young (age < 60 yr, n = 58) and the elderly (age ≥ 60 yr, n = 74) or the less‐educated (n = 53) and the well‐educated with high school diploma, college graduation, or higher education (n = 79). Collected demographic data were analyzed as influencing factors on each question using a chi‐square and logistic regression tests. In this study, 42.4% of the subjects (n = 56) expressed favorable views on xenocorneal transplantation using porcine corneas to cure visual loss from corneal blindness. Among those subjects expressing favorable views (n = 56), the willingness to participate in clinical trials, knowing they and their spouses must undergo long‐term surveillance, was 62.5% (n = 35). There were 76.5% of subjects (n = 101) expressing worries regarding xenocorneal transplantation, while 28.8% of subjects (n = 38) expressed their concerns about self‐identity or social life after xenotransplantation. Younger subjects expressed more worry about xenotransplantation than elderly subjects. The well‐educated expressed less concern over self‐identity and social life than the less‐educated. This survey among subjects who are wait‐listed for corneal transplant or who have received a corneal transplant demonstrates that there is an interest in xenocorneal transplantation as an alternate procedure, although there are worries about the procedure that should be further explored in educational campaigns and future studies of the general population.
Prism-Based Sunlight Concentrator Layout: A Genetic Algorithm Solution
Authors: Wang Kung-Jeng , Dung Nguyen Dang Tien , Whang Allen Jong-Woei
Published: October 2013

Solar energy is a promising source of energy because it is abundant and harmless to the environment. One of the critical issues involving solar energy is the layout design of sunlight concentrators. This study presents a computational method for reforming the layout of a special sunlight concentrator that consists of a set of prisms to significantly enhance its light intensity. Sunlight movement toward the prisms is modeled, and a genetic algorithm is applied to find a good concentrator layout. Experiments under various light transmission rates validate the performance of our proposed method. The proposed optimal sunlight concentrator layout improves the intensity of light by 55%.
An In Vivo Ovine Model of Bone Tissue Alterations in Simulated Microgravity Conditions
Authors: Gadomski Benjamin C. , McGilvray Kirk C. , Easley Jeremiah T. , Palmer Ross H. , Ehrhart E. J. , Haussler Kevin K. , Browning Raymond C. , Santoni Brandon G. , Puttlitz Christian M.
Published: October 2013

Microgravity and its inherent reduction in body-weight associated mechanical loading encountered during spaceflight have been shown to produce deleterious effects on important human physiological processes. Rodent hindlimb unloading is the most widely-used ground-based microgravity model. Unfortunately, results from these studies are difficult to translate to the human condition due to major anatomic and physiologic differences between the two species such as bone microarchitecture and healing rates. The use of translatable ovine models to investigate orthopedic-related conditions has become increasingly popular due to similarities in size and skeletal architecture of the two species. Thus, a new translational model of simulated microgravity was developed using common external fixation techniques to shield the metatarsal bone of the ovine hindlimb during normal daily activity over an 8 week period. Bone mineral density, quantified via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, decreased 29.0% (p < 0.001) in the treated metatarsi. Post-sacrifice biomechanical evaluation revealed reduced bending modulus (–25.8%, p < 0.05) and failure load (–27.8%, p < 0.001) following the microgravity treatment. Microcomputed tomography and histology revealed reduced bone volume (–35.9%, p < 0.01), trabecular thickness (–30.9%, p < 0.01), trabecular number (–22.5%, p < 0.05), bone formation rate (–57.7%, p < 0.01), and osteoblast number (–52.5%, p < 0.001), as well as increased osteoclast number (269.1%, p < 0.001) in the treated metatarsi of the microgravity group. No significant alterations occurred for any outcome parameter in the Sham Surgery Group. These data indicate that the external fixation technique utilized in this model was able to effectively unload the metatarsus and induce significant radiographic, biomechanical, and histomorphometric alterations that are known to be induced by spaceflight. Further, these findings demonstrate that the physiologic mechanisms driving bone remodeling in sheep and humans during prolonged periods of unloading (specifically increased osteoclast activity) are more similar than previously utilized models, allowing more comprehensive investigations of microgravity-related bone remodeling as it relates to human spaceflight.
A Generative Network Model for Product Evolution
Authors: Le Qize , Sha Zhenghui , Panchal Jitesh H.
Published: October 2013

Modeling the structure and evolution of products is important from the standpoint of improving quality and maintainability. With the increasing popularity of open-source processes for developing both software and physical systems, there is a need to develop computational models of product evolution in such dynamic product developments scenarios. Existing studies on the evolution of products involve modeling products as networks, taking snapshots of the structure at different time steps, and comparing the structural characteristics. Such approaches are limited because they do not capture the underlying dynamics through which products evolve. In this paper, we take a step toward addressing this gap by presenting a generative network model for product evolution. The generative model is based on different mechanisms though which networks evolve—addition and removal of nodes, addition and removal of links. The model links local network observations to global network structures. It is utilized for modeling and analyzing the evolution of a software product (Drupal) and a physical product (RepRap) developed by open source processes. For the software product, the generated networks are compared with the actual product structures using various network measures including average degree, density, clustering coefficients, average shortest path, propagation cost, clustered cost, and degree distributions. For the physical product, the product evolution is analyzed in terms of the proposed mechanisms. The proposed model has three general applications: longitudinal studies of a product's evolution, cross-sectional studies of evolution of different products, and predictive analyzes.
Model-Based Control of Three Degrees of Freedom Robotic Bulldozing
Authors: Olsen Scott G. , Bone Gary M.
Published: October 2013

This brief paper investigates the control of a robotic bulldozing operation. Optimal blade position control laws were designed based on a hybrid dynamic model to maximize the predicted material removal rate of the bulldozing process. Experiments were conducted with a scaled-down robotic bulldozing system. The control laws were implemented with various tuning values. As a comparison, a rule-based blade control algorithm was also designed and implemented. The experimental results with the best optimal controller demonstrated a 33% increase in the average material removal rate compared to the rule-based controller.
Plants Sense a Blue Light Special
Authors: Berndt Jason D.
Published: October 2013

Plant photoreceptors cooperate to regulate transcription in response to blue light.
Structural Origins of Oxacillinase Specificity in Class D β-Lactamases
Authors: June Cynthia M. , Vallier Beth C. , Bonomo Robert A. , Leonard David A. , Powers Rachel A.
Published: October 2013

Since the discovery and use of penicillin, the increase of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens has become a major health concern. The most prevalent resistance mechanism in Gram-negative bacteria is due to β-lactamase expression. Class D β-lactamases are of particular importance due to their presence in multidrug-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. The class D enzymes were initially characterized by their ability to efficiently hydrolyze isoxazolyl-type β-lactams like oxacillin. Due to this substrate preference, these enzymes are traditionally referred to as oxacillinases or OXAs. However, this class is comprised of subfamilies characterized by diverse activities that include oxacillinase, carbapenemase, or cephalosporinase substrate specificity. OXA-1 represents one subtype of class D enzyme that efficiently hydrolyzes oxacillin, and OXA-24/40 represents another with weak oxacillinase, but increased carbapenemase, activity. To examine the structural basis for the substrate selectivity differences between OXA-1 and OXA-24/40, the X-ray crystal structures of deacylation-deficient mutants of these enzymes (Lys70Asp for OXA-1; Lys84Asp for OXA-24) in complexes with oxacillin were determined to 1.4 Å and 2.4 Å, respectively. In the OXA-24/40/oxacillin structure, the hydrophobic R1 side chain of oxacillin disrupts the bridge between Tyr112 and Met223 present in the apo OXA-24/40 structure, causing the main chain of the Met223-containing loop to adopt a completely different conformation. In contrast, in the OXA-1/oxacillin structure, a hydrophobic pocket consisting of Trp102, Met99, Phe217, Leu161, and Leu255 nicely complements oxacillin's nonpolar R1 side chain. Comparison of the OXA-1/oxacillin and OXA-24/40/oxacillin complexes provides novel insight on how substrate selectivity is achieved among subtypes of class D β-lactamases. By elucidating important active site interactions, these findings can also inform the design of novel antibiotics and inhibitors.
Limited Role of Nuclear Receptor Nur77 in Escherichia coli-Induced Peritonitis
Authors: Hamers Anouk A. J. , Uleman Sven , van Tiel Claudia M. , Kruijswijk Daniëlle , van Stalborch Anne-Marieke , Huveneers Stephan , de Vries Carlie J. M. , van 't Veer Cornelis
Published: October 2013

Nuclear receptor Nur77 (NR4A1, TR3, or NGFI-B) has been shown to play an anti-inflammatory role in macrophages, which have a crucial function in defense against peritonitis. The function of Nur77 in
Escherichia coli
-induced peritoneal sepsis has not yet been investigated. Wild-type and Nur77-knockout mice were inoculated with
E. coli
, and bacterial outgrowth, cell recruitment, cytokine profiles, and tissue damage were investigated. We found only a minor transient decrease in bacterial loads in lung and liver of Nur77-knockout compared to wild-type mice at 14 h postinfection, yet no changes were found in the peritoneal lavage fluid or blood. No differences in inflammatory cytokine levels or neutrophil/macrophage numbers were observed, and bacterial loads were equal in wild-type and Nur77-knockout mice at 20 h postinfection in all body compartments tested. Also, isolated peritoneal macrophages did not show any differences in cytokine expression patterns in response to
E. coli
. In endothelial cells, Nur77 strongly downregulated both protein and mRNA expression of claudin-5, VE-cadherin, occludin, ZO-1, and β-catenin, and accordingly, these genes were upregulated in lungs of Nur77-deficient mice. Functional permeability tests pointed toward a strong role for Nur77 in endothelial barrier function. Indeed, tissue damage in
E. coli
-induced peritonitis was notably modulated by Nur77; liver necrosis and plasma aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT)/alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) levels were lower in Nur77-knockout mice. These data suggest that Nur77 does not play a role in the host response to
E. coli
in the peritoneal and blood compartments. However, Nur77 does modulate bacterial influx into the organs via increased vascular permeability, thereby aggravating distant organ damage.
Importance of Bacillithiol in the Oxidative Stress Response of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Posada Ana C. , Kolar Stacey L. , Dusi Renata G. , Francois Patrice , Roberts Alexandra A. , Hamilton Chris J. , Liu George Y. , Cheung Ambrose
Published: October 2013

In
Staphylococcus aureus
, the low-molecular-weight thiol called bacillithiol (BSH), together with cognate
S
-transferases, is believed to be the counterpart to the glutathione system of other organisms. To explore the physiological role of BSH in
S. aureus
, we constructed mutants with the deletion of
bshA
(
sa1291
), which encodes the glycosyltransferase that catalyzes the first step of BSH biosynthesis, and
fosB
(
sa2124
), which encodes a BSH-
S
-transferase that confers fosfomycin resistance, in several
S. aureus
strains, including clinical isolates. Mutation of
fosB
or
bshA
caused a 16- to 60-fold reduction in fosfomycin resistance in these
S. aureus
strains. High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis, which quantified thiol extracts, revealed some variability in the amounts of BSH present across
S. aureus
strains. Deletion of
fosB
led to a decrease in BSH levels. The
fosB
and
bshA
mutants of strain COL and a USA300 isolate, upon further characterization, were found to be sensitive to H
2
O
2
and exhibited decreased NADPH levels compared with those in the isogenic parents. Microarray analyses of COL and the isogenic
bshA
mutant revealed increased expression of genes involved in staphyloxanthin synthesis in the
bshA
mutant relative to that in COL under thiol stress conditions. However, the
bshA
mutant of COL demonstrated decreased survival compared to that of the parent in human whole-blood survival assays; likewise, the naturally BSH-deficient strain SH1000 survived less well than its BSH-producing isogenic counterpart. Thus, the survival of
S. aureus
under oxidative stress is facilitated by BSH, possibly via a FosB-mediated mechanism, independently of its capability to produce staphyloxanthin.
The importance of non-exercise physical activity for cardiovascular health and longevity
Authors: Ekblom-Bak Elin , Ekblom Björn , Vikström Max , de Faire Ulf , Hellénius Mai-Lis
Published: October 2013

Background

Sedentary time is increasing in all societies and results in limited non-exercise physical activity (NEPA) of daily life. The importance of low NEPA for cardiovascular health and longevity is limited, especially in elderly.

Aim

To examine the association between NEPA and cardiovascular health at baseline as well as the risk of a first cardiovascular disease (CVD) event and total mortality after 12.5 years.

Study design

Cohort study.

Material and methods

Every third 60-year-old man and woman in Stockholm County was invited to a health screening study; 4232 individuals participated (78% response rate). At baseline, NEPA and exercise habits were assessed from a self-administrated questionnaire and cardiovascular health was established through physical examinations and laboratory tests. The participants were followed for an average of 12.5 years for the assessment of CVD events and mortality.

Results

At baseline, high NEPA was, regardless of regular exercise and compared with low NEPA, associated with more preferable waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in both sexes and with lower insulin, glucose and fibrinogen levels in men. Moreover, the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome was significantly lower in those with higher NEPA levels in non-exercising and regularly exercising individuals. Furthermore, reporting a high NEPA level, compared with low, was associated with a lower risk of a first CVD event (HR=0.73; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.94) and lower all-cause mortality (0.70; 0.53 to 0.98).

Conclusions

A generally active daily life was, regardless of exercising regularly or not, associated with cardiovascular health and longevity in older adults.
Increased waist circumference and prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Chinese adults: two population-based cross-sectional surveys in Shanghai, China
Authors: Ruan Ye , Mo Miao , Joss-Moore Lisa , Li Yan Yun , Yang Qun Di , Shi Liang , Zhang Hua , Li Rui , Xu Wang Hong
Published: October 2013

Objective

To evaluate the changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and their associations with the prevalence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese adults.

Design

2 consecutive population-based cross-sectional surveys.

Setting

A total of 12 districts and seven counties in Shanghai, China.

Participants

12 329 randomly selected participants of the survey in 2002–2003, and 7423 randomly selected participants of the survey in 2009. All participants were residents of Shanghai aged 35–74 years.

Outcome measures

Measured BMI and WC. Previously diagnosed and newly identified hypertension and T2DM by measured blood pressure, fasting and postload glucose.

Results

While the participants of the two surveys were comparable in BMI in each age group, the participants of the 2009 survey had significantly larger WC than those of the 2002–2003 survey, with an annual percentage change being higher among participants aged 45–49 years in men and women. The increase in prevalence of T2DM was observed in all age groups and also appeared more evident in participants aged 45–49 years. The prevalence of hypertension was observed to increase more rapidly in elderly men and middle-aged women. Obesity, both overt and central, was associated with the risk of the two diseases, but BMI was more strongly linked to hypertension while WC appeared more evidently related with T2DM.

Conclusions

The prevalence of central obesity and related chronic diseases has been increasing in Shanghai, China. Our findings provide useful information for the projection of the growing burden of T2DM and hypertension in Chinese adults.
Design of a randomised controlled trial of adapted physical activity during adjuvant treatment for localised breast cancer: the PASAPAS feasibility study
Authors: Touillaud M , Foucaut A-M , Berthouze S E , Reynes E , Kempf-Lépine A-S , Carretier J , Pérol D , Guillemaut S , Chabaud S , Bourne-Branchu V , Perrier L , Trédan O , Fervers B , Bachmann P
Published: October 2013

Introduction

After a diagnosis of localised breast cancer, overweight, obesity and weight gain are negatively associated with prognosis. In contrast, maintaining an optimal weight through a balanced diet combined with regular physical activity appears to be effective protective behaviour against comorbidity or mortality after a breast cancer diagnosis. The primary aim of the Programme pour une Alimentation Saine et une Activité Physique Adaptée pour les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du Sein (PASAPAS) randomised controlled trial is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an intervention of adapted physical activity (APA) for 6 months concomitant with the prescription of a first line of adjuvant chemotherapy. Secondary aims include assessing the acceptability of the intervention, compliance to the programme, process implementation, patients’ satisfaction, evolution of biological parameters and the medicoeconomic impact of the intervention.

Methods and analysis

The study population consists of 60 women eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy after a diagnosis of localised invasive breast cancer. They will be recruited during a 2-year inclusion period and randomly allocated between an APA intervention arm and a control arm following a 2:1 ratio. All participants should benefit from personalised dietetic counselling and patients allocated to the intervention arm will be offered an APA programme of two to three weekly sessions of Nordic walking and aerobic fitness. During the 6-month intervention and 6-month follow-up, four assessments will be performed including blood draw, anthropometrics and body composition measurements, and questionnaires about physical activity level, diet, lifestyle factors, psychological criteria, satisfaction with the intervention and medical data.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the French Ethics Committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud-Est IV) and the national agencies for biomedical studies and for privacy. All participants will give written informed consent. The study findings will be disseminated through the scientific public and serve as a foundation for future randomised controlled trials of efficacy.
AN EFFECTIVE FUZZY CLUSTERING ALGORITHM FOR WEB DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: A CASE STUDY IN CULTURAL CONTENT MINING
Authors: TSEKOURAS GEORGE E. , GAVALAS DAMIANOS
Published: October 2013

This article presents a novel crawling and clustering method for extracting and processing cultural data from the web in a fully automated fashion. Our architecture relies upon a focused web crawler to download web documents relevant to culture. The focused crawler is a web crawler that searches and processes only those web pages that are relevant to a particular topic. After downloading the pages, we extract from each document a number of words for each thematic cultural area, filtering the documents with non-cultural content; we then create multidimensional document vectors comprising the most frequent cultural term occurrences. We calculate the dissimilarity between the cultural-related document vectors and for each cultural theme, we use cluster analysis to partition the documents into a number of clusters. Our approach is validated via a proof-of-concept application which analyzes hundreds of web pages spanning different cultural thematic areas.
Evaluating Two Oral Health Video Interventions with Early Head Start Families
Authors: Wilson Lynn B. , DeBaryshe Barbara , Singh Malkeet , Taba Sharon
Published: October 2013

Poor oral health in early childhood can have long-term consequences, and parents often are unaware of the importance of preventive measures for infants and toddlers. Children in rural, low-income families suffer disproportionately from the effects of poor oral health. Participants were 91 parents of infants and toddlers enrolled in Early Head Start (EHS) living in rural Hawai'i, USA. In this quasi-experimental design, EHS home visitors were assigned to use either a didactic or family-centered video with parents they served. Home visitors reviewed short segments of the assigned videos with parents over an eight-week period. Both groups showed significant prepost gains on knowledge and attitudes/behaviors relating to early oral health as well as self-reported changes in family oral health routines at a six-week followup. Controlling for pretest levels, parents in the family-centered video group showed larger changes in attitudes/behaviors at posttest and a higher number of positive changes in family oral health routines at followup. Results suggest that family-centered educational videos are a promising method for providing anticipatory guidance to parents regarding early childhood oral health. Furthermore, establishing partnerships between dental care, early childhood education, and maternal health systems offers a model that broadens potential reach with minimal cost.
Preparation and Characterization of a Gastric Floating Dosage Form of Capecitabine
Authors: Taghizadeh Davoudi Ehsan , Ibrahim Noordin Mohamed , Kadivar Ali , Kamalidehghan Behnam , Farjam Abdoreza Soleimani , Akbari Javar Hamid
Published: October 2013

Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as nausea and vomiting, are considered amongst the main adverse effects associated with oral anticancer drugs due to their fast release in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Sustained release formulations with proper release profiles can overcome some side effects of conventional formulations. The current study was designed to prepare sustained release tablets of Capecitabine, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer, using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), carbomer934P, sodium alginate, and sodium bicarbonate. Tablets were prepared using the wet granulation method and characterized such that floating lag time, total floating time, hardness, friability, drug content, weight uniformity, andin vitrodrug release were investigated. The sustained release tablets showed good hardness and passed the friability test. The tablets’ floating lag time was determined to be 30–200 seconds, and it floated more than 24 hours and released the drug for 24 hours. Then, the stability test was done and compared with the initial samples. In conclusion, by adjusting the right ratios of the excipients including release-retarding gel-forming polymers like HPMC K4M, Na alginate, carbomer934P, and sodium bicarbonate, sustained release Capecitabine floating tablet was formulated.
Fabrication of Hybrid Surface Composite through Friction Stir Processing and Its Impression Creep Behaviour
Authors: Prakrathi S. , Ravikumar M. , Udupa K. R. , Udaya Bhat K.
Published: October 2013

Al-Ni in situ surface composites were fabricated by friction stir processing method. Friction stir processing produced a composite with nickel and NiAl3 as reinforcement particles in aluminium matrix. The particles were fine and were in the submicrometer size range. The separation distance between the particles was very small. Impression creep experiments were conducted on the samples both at friction stir zone and base material zone at various temperatures. Steady state creep rates were estimated, and activation energy for creep was calculated. It is observed that the friction stir zone offered a higher creep resistance compared to the base metal zone. Higher creep resistance is attributed to the dissolution of nickel atoms into aluminium matrix and the presence of fine nickel particles and NiAl3 precipitates. The measured activation energy indicated that the associated creep mechanism is the dislocation creep in the temperature range of 30–150°C, both in friction stir zone and base metal zone. At higher temperatures (150–180°C) the diffusion creep mechanism is suggested.
Comparative Efficacy of Bisphosphonates in Metastatic Breast and Prostate Cancer and Multiple Myeloma: A Mixed-Treatment Meta-analysis
Authors: Palmieri Carlo , Fullarton John R. , Brown Janet
Published: October 2013

Purpose: A mixed-treatment comparison (MTC) was undertaken to compare the efficacy of zoledronic acid, clodronate, pamidronate, and ibandronate (i.v. and oral) in patients with skeletal-related events (SRE) secondary to metastatic breast and prostate cancer and multiple myeloma.

Experimental Design: Studies of bisphosphonates in the three malignancies were identified and SRE data were extracted. Outcomes from the MTC were expressed as the annual SRE rate and as the mean likelihood (probability) ratio for the rate of SREs during treatment with zoledronic acid compared with the other bisphosphonates.

Results: A total of 17 studies were identified (7 breast, 3 prostate, and 7 multiple myeloma). Data were available for all bisphosphonates in breast cancer; no data were available for ibandronate (oral or i.v.) in prostate cancer or for oral ibandronate in multiple myeloma. The SRE rates in breast cancer were 1.60 for zoledronic acid, 1.67 for oral ibandronate (excess SRE rate, 4%), 1.70 for i.v. ibandronate (6%), 2.07 for pamidronate (29%), and 2.29 for clodronate (42%). In prostate cancer, the SRE rates were 0.83 for zoledronic acid, 1.11 for clodronate (35%), and 1.41 for pamidronate (71%). In multiple myeloma, the SRE rates were 1.43 for zoledronic acid, 1.64 for pamidronate (15%), 1.90 for clodronate (33%), and 2.49 for i.v. ibandronate (75%).

Conclusions: Zoledronic acid seems to be the most efficacious bisphosphonate for reducing the risk of SREs in patients with cancer of the breast or prostate and those with multiple myeloma. Clin Cancer Res; 19(24); 6863–72. ©2013 AACR.
Effect of Amusement Park Rides on Programmable Shunt Valve Settings
Authors: Strahle Jennifer , Collins Kelly , Stetler Jr. William R. , Smith Brandon W. , Garton Thomas , Garton Catherine , Garton Hugh J.L. , Maher Cormac O.
Published: October 2013

Background: Magnetically programmable shunt valves are susceptible to environmental factors including magnetic fields and accelerative forces. It is unknown if rollercoasters with or without magnetic brakes or linear induction motors (LIMs) are capable of altering the setting of a programmable shunt valve. Methods: Two different valve types (type A, n = 10; type B, n = 9) were tested at varying resistance settings in 2 trials on 6 different amusement park rides including 2 rides with LIMs, 2 rides with magnetic brakes, and 2 rides without magnetic technology. Results: The performance level of valve type A and the setting of valve type B changed on rollercoasters with magnets (A = 2.5% [2/80]; B = 5.6% [4/72]) and without magnets (A = 7.5% [3/40]; B = 2.8% [1/36]). Neither valve setting changed when exposed to a Ferris wheel or during ambulation throughout the park. Conclusion: Magnetically programmable valves are susceptible to changes in pressure settings when exposed to amusement park rides with elevated vertical gravitational forces, irrespective of the presence of LIMs or magnetic brakes.
The Reconstruction of Choice Value in the Brain: A Look into the Size of Consideration Sets and Their Affective Consequences
Authors: Kim Hye-young , Shin Yeonsoon , Han Sanghoon
Published: October 2013

It has been proposed that choice utility exhibits an inverted U-shape as a function of the number of options in the choice set. However, most researchers have so far only focused on the “physically extant” number of options in the set while disregarding the more important psychological factor, the “subjective” number of options worth considering to choose—that is, the size of the consideration set. To explore this previously ignored aspect, we examined how variations in the size of a consideration set can produce different affective consequences after making choices and investigated the underlying neural mechanism using fMRI. After rating their preferences for art posters, participants made a choice from a presented set and then reported on their level of satisfaction with their choice and the level of difficulty experienced in choosing it. Our behavioral results demonstrated that enlarged assortment set can lead to greater choice satisfaction only when increases in both consideration set size and preference contrast are involved. Moreover, choice difficulty is determined based on the size of an individual's consideration set rather than on the size of the assortment set, and it decreases linearly as a function of the level of contrast among alternatives. The neuroimaging analysis of choice-making revealed that subjective consideration set size was encoded in the striatum, the dACC, and the insula. In addition, the striatum also represented variations in choice satisfaction resulting from alterations in the size of consideration sets, whereas a common neural specificity for choice difficulty and consideration set size was shown in the dACC. These results have theoretical and practical importance in that it is one of the first studies investigating the influence of the psychological attributes of choice sets on the value-based decision-making process.
Metrical Rhythm Implicitly Orients Attention in Time as Indexed by Improved Target Detection and Left Inferior Parietal Activation
Authors: Bolger Deirdre , Coull Jennifer T. , Schön Daniele
Published: October 2013

When we direct attentional resources to a certain point in time, expectation and preparedness is heightened and behavior is, as a result, more efficient. This future-oriented attending can be guided either voluntarily, by externally defined cues, or implicitly, by perceived temporal regularities. Inspired by dynamic attending theory, our aim was to study the extent to which metrical structure, with its beats of greater or lesser relative strength, modulates attention implicitly over time and to uncover the neural circuits underlying this process of dynamic attending. We used fMRI to investigate whether auditory meter generated temporal expectancies and, consequently, how it affected processing of auditory and visual targets. Participants listened to a continuous auditory metrical sequence and pressed a button whenever an auditory or visual target was presented. The independent variable was the time of target presentation with respect to the metrical structure of the sequence. Participants' RTs to targets occurring on strong metrical positions were significantly faster than responses to events falling on weak metrical positions. Events falling on strong beats were accompanied by increased activation of the left inferior parietal cortex, a region crucial for orienting attention in time, and, by greater functional connectivity between the left inferior parietal cortex and the visual and auditory cortices, the SMA and the cerebellum. These results support the predictions of the dynamic attending theory that metrical structure with its relative strong and weak beats modulates attentional resources over time and, in turn, affects the functioning of both perceptual and motor preparatory systems.
Evaluating Hydroclimatic Change Signals from Statistically and Dynamically Downscaled GCMs and Hydrologic Models
Authors: Shrestha Rajesh R. , Schnorbus Markus A. , Werner Arelia T. , Zwiers Francis W.
Published: October 2013

This study analyzed potential hydroclimatic change in the Peace River basin in the province of British Columbia, Canada, based on two structurally different approaches: (i) statistically downscaled global climate models (GCMs) using the bias-corrected spatial disaggregation (BCSD) and (ii) dynamically downscaled GCM with the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM). Additionally, simulated hydrologic changes from the GCM–BCSD-driven Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model were compared to the CRCM integrated Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS) output. The results show good agreements of the GCM–BCSD–VIC simulated precipitation, temperature, and runoff with observations, while the CRCM-simulated results differ substantially from observations. Nevertheless, differences (between the 2050s and 1970s) obtained from the two approaches are qualitatively similar for precipitation and temperature, although they are substantially different for snow water equivalent and runoff. The results obtained from the five Coupled Global Climate Model, version 3, (CGCM3)-driven CRCM runs are similar, suggesting that the multidecadal internal variability is not a large source of uncertainty for the Peace River basin. Overall, the GCM–BCSD–VIC approach, for now, remains the preferred approach for projecting basin-scale future hydrologic changes, provided that it explicitly accounts for the biases and includes plausible snow and runoff parameterizations. However, even with the GCM–BCSD–VIC approach, projections differ considerably depending on which of an ensemble of eight GCMs is used. Such differences reemphasize the uncertain nature of future hydroclimatic projections.
Left Atrial Function Predicts Heart Failure Events in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Left Ventricular Systolic Heart Failure During Short-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Chrysohoou Christina , Kotroyiannis Iason , Antoniou Christos-Constadinos , Brili Stella , Vaina Sophia , Latsios George , Tousoulis Dimitris , Pitsavos Christos , Stefanadis Christodoulos
Published: October 2013

We assessed the effect of left atrial (LA) function index, LA ejection fraction, LA kinetic energy, and maximal LA volume on 6 months clinical outcome in patients with newly diagnosed systolic heart failure (HF). During a 36-month period, 179 consecutive patients (17% female, mean age 63 ± 14 years) were enrolled. During the follow-up, 46 patients had an event (32% event rate; 15 were fatal). Those with an adverse event were older, had lower creatinine clearance, advanced New York Heart Association stage, higher prevalence of ischemic HF, and lower values for right ventricle systolic wave in the tissue Doppler imaging evaluation, compared with those without an event. Multivariate analysis revealed that LA function and ischemic etiology of HF were the most significant prognostic indicators after index hospitalization. This study reveals the important role of LA function for the short-term prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed systolic HF in sinus rhythm.