bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival and Inflammation Promotion Effect of PTPRO in Fulminant Hepatitis Is Associated with NF-κB Activation
Authors: Jiang Runqiu , Chen Dianyu , Hou Jiajie , Tan Zhongming , Wang Youjing , Huang Xingxu , Wang Xuehao , Sun Beicheng
Published: October 2014

Previous investigations demonstrated that protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, O (PTPRO) acts as a tumor suppressor in liver cancer; however, little is known about its role in liver inflammation. Thus, we investigated the role of PTPRO in fulminant hepatitis (FH) using a Con A–induced mouse model. Significantly more severe liver damage, but attenuated inflammation, was detected in PTPRO-knockout (KO) mice, and PTPRO deficiency could confer this phenotype to wild-type mice in bone marrow transplantation. Moreover, hepatocytes with PTPRO depletion were more sensitive to TNF-α–induced apoptosis, and secretion of cytokines was significantly decreased in both T and NK/NKT cells and led to marked impairment of NF-κB activation. Intriguingly, wild-type and PTPRO-KO cells responded equally to TNF-α in activation of IKK, but NF-κB activation was clearly decreased in PTPRO-KO cells. PTPRO associated with ErbB2, and loss of PTPRO potentiated activation of the ErbB2/Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin cascade. Increased β-catenin formed a complex with NF-κB and attenuated its nuclear translocation and activation. Importantly, in humans, PTPRO was much decreased in FH, and this was associated with enhanced β-catenin accumulation but reduced IFN-γ secretion. Taken together, our study identified a novel PTPRO/ErbB2/Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin/NF-κB axis in FH, which suggests that PTPRO may have therapeutic potential in this liver disease.
X-Chromosome Complement and Estrogen Receptor Signaling Independently Contribute to the Enhanced TLR7-Mediated IFN-α Production of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells from Women
Authors: Laffont Sophie , Rouquié Nelly , Azar Pascal , Seillet Cyril , Plumas Joël , Aspord Caroline , Guéry Jean-Charles
Published: October 2014

Human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a major role in innate immunity through the production of type I IFNs after TLR engagement by pathogens. Sex-based differences in the innate function of human pDCs have been established, with pDCs from women exhibiting enhanced TLR7-mediated IFN-α production as compared with pDCs from males. In mice, we recently provided evidence for a role of estrogens as a positive regulator of pDC innate functions through cell-intrinsic estrogen receptor α signaling, but did not exclude a role for other X-linked factors, particularly in human pDCs. In this study, we investigated the respective contribution of X chromosome dosage and sex hormones using a humanized mouse model in which male or female NOD-SCID-β2m−/− were transplanted with human progenitor cells purified from either male or female cord blood cells. We showed that, in response to TLR7 ligands, the frequency of IFN-α– and TNF-α–producing pDCs from either sex was greater in female than in male host mice, suggesting a positive role for estrogens. Indeed, blockade of estrogen receptor signaling during pDC development in vitro inhibited TLR7-mediated IFN-α production by human pDCs, which expressed both ESR1 and ESR2 genes. Interestingly, we also found that X chromosome dosage contributed to this sex bias as female pDCs have an enhanced TLR7-mediated IFN-α response as compared with male ones, irrespective of the sex of the recipient mice. Together, these results indicate that female sex hormones, estrogens, and X chromosome complement independently contribute to the enhanced TLR7-mediated IFN-α response of pDCs in women.
Hypoxic Trophoblast HMGB1 Induces Endothelial Cell Hyperpermeability via the TRL-4/Caveolin-1 Pathway
Authors: Jiang Rongzhen , Cai Jingjing , Zhu Zhaowei , Chen Dandan , Wang Jiemei , Wang Qingde , Teng Yincheng , Huang Yajuan , Tao Minfang , Xia Aibin , Xue Min , Zhou Shenghua , Chen Alex F.
Published: October 2014

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) plays an important role in the pathologic processes of endothelial permeability under oxidative stress. Trophoblast oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE). HMGB1 serum levels are increased in PE. However, the potential roles of HMGB1 in endothelial permeability in PE remain unclear. We assessed the effects of the hypoxic trophoblast on the permeability of the endothelial monolayer. Our results showed that the hypoxic trophoblast displayed higher HMGB1 mRNA, intracellular HMGB1 protein, and HMGB1 in conditioned medium than those of the normoxic trophoblast did. The hypoxic trophoblast conditioned medium increased the endothelial monolayer permeability and increased TLR 4 and caveolin-1 (CAV-1) protein expression in endothelial cells, which was inhibited by glycyrrhizic acid and HMGB1 small interfering RNA transfection to trophoblasts before hypoxia. The increased endothelial permeability induced by hypoxic trophoblast conditioned medium could be inhibited with TLR4 or CAV-1 gene silencing in endothelial cells. Immunoprecipitation showed that CAV-1 and TLR4 are colocalized in HUVECs and C57BL/6 mouse kidney. TLR4 small interfering RNA suppressed CAV-1 protein expression in endothelial cells upon stimulation of hypoxic trophoblast conditioned medium or HMGB1. We conclude that hypoxic trophoblasts play an important role in the mechanism of general edema (including protein urine) in PE via increasing endothelial monolayer permeability through the HMGB1/TLR4/CAV-1 pathway.
Impaired B Cell Inhibition by Lupus Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is Caused by Reduced CCL2 Expression
Authors: Che Nan , Li Xia , Zhang Lu , Liu Rui , Chen Haifeng , Gao Xiang , Shi Songtao , Chen Wanjun , Sun Lingyun
Published: October 2014

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from healthy human and normal mice can inhibit normal B cell proliferation, differentiation, and Ab secretion in vitro. However, it remains unknown whether MSC from lupus-like mice and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit the same immunoregulatory activity as normal MSC for B cell inhibition and, if not, what the underlying molecular mechanism would be. In this study, we showed that bone marrow–derived MSCs from lupus-like mice and SLE patients had an impairment in suppressing normal B cell proliferation and differentiation, which was caused by the reduction of CCL2 levels. Knockdown of CCL2 in normal MSC damaged their suppressive capacity for B cells. Conversely, overexpression of CCL2 in lupus MSCs restored their immunoregulatory ability for B cells in vitro and ameliorated the pathology of lupus nephritis and serological changes in MRL/lpr mice in vivo. Mechanistically, MSC-mediated B cell inhibition was dependent on matrix metalloproteinase proteolytic processing of CCL2. These findings reveal a novel function of CCL2 in B cell regulation by MSCs and suggest that CCL2 manipulation on MSCs may serve as a potential pathway for developing the more effective MSC-based therapy in autoimmune diseases associated with B cell activation, such as SLE.
Akt-Dependent Enhanced Migratory Capacity of Th17 Cells from Children with Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Kshirsagar Sudhir , Riedl Magdalena , Billing Heiko , Tönshoff Burkhard , Thangavadivel Shanmugapriya , Steuber Christian , Staude Hagen , Wechselberger Gottfried , Edelbauer Monika
Published: October 2014

Th17 cells infiltrate the kidneys of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and are critical for the pathogenesis of this disease. In this study, we show that enhanced activity of Stat3 in CD4+CD45RA−Foxp3− and Foxp3low effector T cells from children with LN correlates with increased frequencies of IL-17–producing cells within these T cell populations. The levels of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor c and IL-17 mRNA are significantly higher in PBMCs from children with LN than in those from controls. Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition by rapamycin reduces both Stat3 activation in effector T cells and the frequency of IL-17–producing T cells in lupus patients. Complement factor C5a slightly increases the expression of IL-17 and induces activation of Akt in anti-CD3–activated lupus effector T cells. Th17 cells from children with LN exhibit high Akt activity and enhanced migratory capacity. Inhibition of the Akt signaling pathway significantly decreases Th17 cell migration. These findings indicate that the Akt signaling pathway plays a significant role in the migratory activity of Th17 cells from children with LN and suggest that therapeutic modulation of the Akt activity may inhibit Th17 cell trafficking to sites of inflammation and thus suppress chronic inflammatory processes in children with LN.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Downregulate Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Activation of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
Authors: Barrientos Lorena , Bignon Alexandre , Gueguen Claire , de Chaisemartin Luc , Gorges Roseline , Sandré Catherine , Mascarell Laurent , Balabanian Karl , Kerdine-Römer Saadia , Pallardy Marc , Marin-Esteban Viviana , Chollet-Martin Sylvie
Published: October 2014

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) play a central role in inflammation and participate in its control, notably by modulating dendritic cell (DC) functions via soluble mediators or cell–cell contacts. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) released by PMN could play a role in this context. To evaluate NET effects on DC maturation, we developed a model based on monocyte-derived DC (moDC) and calibrated NETs isolated from fresh human PMN. We found that isolated NETs alone had no discernable effect on moDC. In contrast, they downregulated LPS-induced moDC maturation, as shown by decreased surface expression of HLA-DR, CD80, CD83, and CD86, and by downregulated cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23), with no increase in the expression of tolerogenic DC genes. Moreover, the presence of NETs during moDC maturation diminished the capacity of these moDC to induce T lymphocyte proliferation in both autologous and allogeneic conditions, and modulated CD4+ T lymphocyte polarization by promoting the production of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) and reducing that of Th1 and Th17 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-17). Interestingly, the expression and activities of the lymphoid chemokine receptors CCR7 and CXCR4 on moDC were not altered when moDC matured in the presence of NETs. Together, these findings reveal a new role for NETs in adaptive immune responses, modulating some moDC functions and thereby participating in the control of inflammation.
DOCK2 and DOCK5 Act Additively in Neutrophils To Regulate Chemotaxis, Superoxide Production, and Extracellular Trap Formation
Authors: Watanabe Mayuki , Terasawa Masao , Miyano Kei , Yanagihara Toyoshi , Uruno Takehito , Sanematsu Fumiyuki , Nishikimi Akihiko , Côté Jean-François , Sumimoto Hideki , Fukui Yoshinori
Published: October 2014

Neutrophils are highly motile leukocytes that play important roles in the innate immune response to invading pathogens. Neutrophils rapidly migrate to the site of infections and kill pathogens by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Neutrophil chemotaxis and ROS production require activation of Rac small GTPase. DOCK2, an atypical guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), is one of the major regulators of Rac in neutrophils. However, because DOCK2 deficiency does not completely abolish fMLF-induced Rac activation, other Rac GEFs may also participate in this process. In this study, we show that DOCK5 acts with DOCK2 in neutrophils to regulate multiple cellular functions. We found that fMLF- and PMA-induced Rac activation were almost completely lost in mouse neutrophils lacking both DOCK2 and DOCK5. Although β2 integrin–mediated adhesion occurred normally even in the absence of DOCK2 and DOCK5, mouse neutrophils lacking DOCK2 and DOCK5 exhibited a severe defect in chemotaxis and ROS production. Similar results were obtained when human neutrophils were treated with CPYPP, a small-molecule inhibitor of these DOCK GEFs. Additionally, we found that DOCK2 and DOCK5 regulate formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Because NETs are involved in vascular inflammation and autoimmune responses, DOCK2 and DOCK5 would be a therapeutic target for controlling NET-mediated inflammatory disorders.
Discovery of Invariant T Cells by Next-Generation Sequencing of the Human TCR α-Chain Repertoire
Authors: van Schaik Barbera , Klarenbeek Paul , Doorenspleet Marieke , van Kampen Antoine , Moody D. Branch , de Vries Niek , Van Rhijn Ildiko
Published: October 2014

During infection and autoimmune disease, activation and expansion of T cells take place. Consequently, the TCR repertoire contains information about ongoing and past diseases. Analysis and interpretation of the human TCR repertoire are hampered by its size and stochastic variation and by the diversity of Ags and Ag-presenting molecules encoded by the MHC, but are highly desirable and would greatly impact fundamental and clinical immunology. A subset of the TCR repertoire is formed by invariant T cells. Invariant T cells express interdonor-conserved TCRs and recognize a limited set of Ags, presented by nonpolymorphic Ag-presenting molecules. Discovery of the three known invariant T cell populations has been a tedious and slow process, identifying them one by one. Because conservation of the TCR α-chain of invariant T cells is much higher than the β-chain, and because the TCR α-chain V gene segment TRAV1-2 is used by two of the three known invariant TCRs, we employed next-generation sequencing of TCR α-chains that contain the TRAV1-2 gene segment to identify 16 invariant TCRs shared among many blood donors. Frequency analysis of individual clones indicates these T cells are expanded in many donors, implying an important role in human immunity. This approach extends the number of known interdonor-conserved TCRs and suggests that many more exist and that these TCR patterns can be used to systematically evaluate human Ag exposure.
T-bet:Eomes Balance, Effector Function, and Proliferation of Cytomegalovirus-Specific CD8+ T Cells during Primary Infection Differentiates the Capacity for Durable Immune Control
Authors: Popescu Iulia , Pipeling Matthew R. , Shah Pali D. , Orens Jonathan B. , McDyer John F.
Published: October 2014

CMV remains an important opportunistic pathogen in solid organ transplantation, particularly in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). LTRs mismatched for CMV (donor+/recipient−; D+R−) are at high-risk for active CMV infection and increased mortality, however the immune correlates of viral control remain incompletely understood. We prospectively studied 23 D+R− LTRs during primary CMV infection to determine whether acute CD8+ T cell parameters differentiated the capacity for viral control in early chronic infection. T-box transcription factors expression patterns of T-bet > Eomesodermin (Eomes) differentiated LTR controllers from viremic relapsers and reciprocally correlated with granzyme B loading, and CMV phosphoprotein 65 (pp65)–specific CD8+IFN-γ+ and CD107a+ frequencies. LTR relapsers demonstrated reduced CD8+Ki67+ cells ex vivo and substantially impaired CD8+pp65-specific in vitro proliferative responses at 6 d, with concomitantly lower pp65-specific CD4+IL-2+ frequencies, as compared with LTR controllers. However, CMV-specific in vitro proliferative responses could be significantly rescued, most effectively with pp65 Ag and exogenous IL-2, resulting in an increased T-bet:Eomes balance, and enhanced effector function. Using class I CMV tetramers, we observed similar frequencies between relapsers and controllers, although reduced T-bet:Eomes balance in tetramer+ cells from relapsers, along with impaired CD8+ effector responses to tetramer-peptide restimulation. Taken together, these data show impaired CMV-specific CD8+ effector responses is not for complete lack of CMV-specific cells but rather underscores the importance of the T-bet:Eomes balance, with CMV-specific proliferation a key factor driving early T-bet expression and effector function in CD8+ T cells during primary infection and differentiating the capacity of high-risk LTRs to establish immune control during early chronic infection.
Perceptions of Received Information, Social Support, and Coping in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension or Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Ivarsson Bodil , Ekmehag Björn , Hesselstrand Roger , Radegran Goran , Sjöberg Trygve
Published: October 2014

Patients with a life-limiting diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) need disease-specific information, ability to cope, and functioning social networks. This cohort study investigated the experiences of PAH and CTEPH patients who received information about their diagnosis, treatment, and management, in addition to coping and social support. Sixty-eight adult patients (mean ∓ SD, age 67 ∓ 14; 66% women) were included. A total of 54% of the patients wanted more information. Patients received information mostly in areas concerning medical test procedures, the diagnosis, disease severity, possible disease causes, and how to manage their disease. Coping ability was significantly better in patients who were satisfied with the received information (P= 0.0045). The information given to PAH or CTEPH patients and their communication with healthcare professionals can be greatly improved. Gaps in information and misunderstandings can be avoided by working in cooperation with the patients, their relatives, and within the PAH team.
Learning Dysregulated Pathways in Cancers from Differential Variability Analysis
Authors: Afsari Bahman , German Donald , Fertig Elana J.
Published: October 2014

Analysis of gene sets can implicate activity in signaling pathways that is responsible for cancer initiation and progression, but is not discernible from the analysis of individual genes. Multiple methods and software packages have been developed to infer pathway activity from expression measurements for set of genes targeted by that pathway. Broadly, three major methodologies have been proposed: over-representation, enrichment, and differential variability. Both over-representation and enrichment analyses are effective techniques to infer differentially regulated pathways from gene sets with relatively consistent differentially expressed (DE) genes. Specifically, these algorithms aggregate statistics from each gene in the pathway. However, they overlook multivariate patterns related to gene interactions and variations in expression. Therefore, the analysis of differential variability of multigene expression patterns can be essential to pathway inference in cancers. The corresponding methodologies and software packages for such multivariate variability analysis of pathways are reviewed here. We also introduce a new, computationally efficient algorithm, expression variation analysis (EVA), which has been implemented along with a previously proposed algorithm, Differential Rank Conservation (DIRAC), in an open source R package, gene set regulation (GSReg). EVA inferred similar pathways as DIRAC at reduced computational costs. Moreover, EVA also inferred different dysregulated pathways than those identified by enrichment analysis.
Cloning and Expression Profiling of the Polycomb Gene, Retinoblastoma-Related Protein from Tomato Solanum Lycopersicum L.
Authors: Almutairi Zainab M. , Sadder Monther T.
Published: October 2014

Cell cycle regulation mechanisms appear to be conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution. One of the important proteins involved in the regulation of cell cycle processes is retinoblastoma-related protein (RBR), which is a negative regulator of cell cycle progression, controlling the G1/S transition in plants and animals. In this study, we present the cloning and genomic structure of a putative SlRBR gene in the tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. by isolating cDNA clones that correspond to the SlRBR gene from tomato using primers that were designed from available Solanaceae ESTs based on conserved sequences between the PcG genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato. The SlRBR cDNAs were cloned into the pBS plasmid and sequenced. Both 5′- and 3′-RACE were generated and sequenced. FlcDNA of the SlRBR gene of 3,554 bp was composed of a 5′-UTR of 140 bp, an ORF of 3,054 bp, and a 3′-UTR of 360 bp. The translated ORF encodes a polypeptide of 1,018 amino acids. An alignment of the deduced amino acids indicates that there are highly conserved regions between the tomato SlRBR predicted protein and plant hypothetical RBR gene family members. Both of the unrooted phylogenetic trees, which were constructed using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods, indicate a close relationship between the SlRBR predicted protein and the RBR protein of Nicotiana benthamiana. QRT-PCR indicates that SlRBR gene is expressed in closed floral bud tissues 1.7 times higher than in flower tissues, whereas the expression level in unripe fruit tissue is lower by about three times than in flower tissues.
Predictors of Willingness to Participate in Health Insurance Services among the Community of Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Molla Aashagre , Fentahun Netsanet
Published: October 2014

Health insurance schemes are increasingly recognized as tools to finance health care provision in low-income countries. The main objective of this study was to find out the awareness of and demand for health insurance and to identify those reasons that influence the demand in Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia. We conducted a community-based cross-sectional quantitative study on 741 households from December 1 to December 31, 2012. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Presence of chronic illness in the family was the predictor of the willingness to take part in health insurance. Most of the participants have awareness about insurance, but they did little and/or gave unrelated explanation about health insurance. Only half of the participants (51.5%) wanted to have health insurance. Major reasons for not being willing to participate in health insurance were religious values and beliefs, ability to pay for their health-care cost, and feeling of being unable to pay the premium because of low income.
El periodista, entre el Poder
Authors: Dader García José Luis
Published: October 2014

El periodismo se debate, desde sus orígenes, entre la reproducción servil de versiones interesadas o la distorsión de propio cuño, por conocimiento insuficiente de una realidad que sólo puede entrever. Los poderes que amenazan la independencia periodística no han hecho más que crecer o aumentar su habilidad con el paso del tiempo. Surgido como „oficio de esclavos‟ en la época romana, muchos indicadores actuales parecen retornarle al punto de partida: relaciones públicas estratégicas a gran escala, auge de los „spin doctors‟, extorsión descarnada en las democracias más débiles y populismo de las redes sociales, entre otros. Todo ello, unido o alentado por la degradación interna y el desaliento de la propia institución periodística incapaz de distanciarse de todas esas fuerzas. Su respuesta no puede ser de alianza o competencia con los poderes que la circundan, sino de hábil distanciamiento para moverse entre todos ellos sin dejar de ejercer la vigilancia que los ciudadanos siguen necesitando de su ejercicio profesional.
Enacting Occupation-Based Practice: Exploring the Disjuncture between the Daily Lives of Mothers with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Institutional Processes
Authors: Prodinger Birgit , Shaw Lynn , Stamm Tanja , Rudman Debbie Laliberte
Published: October 2014

Introduction:

Occupation-based approaches are a hallmark of excellence in occupational therapy practice. This article focuses on the disjuncture between how women with rheumatoid arthritis go about their daily lives, that is to say their occupations, and what is addressed during routine visits at a specialized rheumatology outpatient clinic.

Method:

Institutional ethnography was employed as a method of inquiry to identify the occupations and related issues that were or were not accounted for in health records and addressed within institutional processes. Interviews and participant observations were conducted with seven women with rheumatoid arthritis who were mothers. Hospital records were analysed as texts mediating between the women's daily lives and the rheumatology outpatient clinic.

Findings:

The analysis revealed that despite the diversity in the ways that the women managed their daily lives, the things that they did were viewed, understood, and addressed only within the boundaries of the standardizing relations that ruled practice in this clinical setting. Institutional processes grounded in biomedical concepts such as functional status or disease activity, as well as clinical assessments that depict these concepts, both shape and limit opportunities for occupational therapists to advance and enact occupation-based practice.

Conclusion:

In this setting, the complexity of the participants' daily lives and the occupations they engage in remain unaddressed.
The Suitability of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a Screening Tool to Identify People with Dysfunction in Occupational Performance after Mild Stroke
Authors: van der Wijst Elien , Wright Jonathan , Steultjens Esther
Published: October 2014

Introduction:

Cognitive deficits are an important determinant for experiencing limitations in occupational performance after stroke. It is important to recognize these deficits, and their impact on daily activities, at an early stage so people can get the support they need. The non-challenging environment of a hospital hampers this recognition, making it difficult for occupational therapists to select which patients should be assessed extensively, and which not. This study aims to explore the Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a screening tool by investigating its relationship with occupational performance in patients with mild stroke.

Method:

Twenty-nine people with mild stroke were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Assessment of Motor and Process Skills were compared and correlations were calculated.

Findings:

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment cut-off did not identify those who might experience problems in daily functioning after mild stroke. A moderate correlation was found between scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills process scores.

Conclusion:

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment cannot be used as a screening tool to identify problems in occupational performance after mild stroke.
Conducting Robust Intervention Trials to Address the Sensory Needs of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Design Challenges in an Australian Context
Authors: Weeks Scott , Grimmer Karen , Boshoff Kobie , Stewart Hugh
Published: October 2014

Many occupational therapists administer sensory interventions to address the needs of children with autism spectrum disorder. However, the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of sensory interventions is inconclusive, resulting in calls for more robust testing through randomized controlled trials. Our initial research plan was to conduct a randomized controlled trial that had real-world applications for occupational therapists and children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. However, as we conceptualized this study, we identified many uncertainties regarding the criteria required for a robust trial. In this opinion piece we describe and discuss the challenges we encountered when designing a community-clinic-based effectiveness study in an Australian context.
Scholarship and Research in Occupational Therapy Education
Authors: Gupta Jyothi , Bilics Andrea
Published: October 2014

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to identify a baseline or benchmark for faculty engagement and productivity in occupational therapy education scholarship and research.

METHOD. A custom-designed survey was emailed to 2,225 faculty members. The survey included questions on basic demographic information and education scholarship (e.g., use of evidence to inform teaching, frequency and nature of involvement in education scholarship.

RESULTS. A total of 520 faculty members (23%) completed the survey. Of these, 450 (86.5%) identified themselves as full-time core faculty, and only their responses were analyzed. Although 90% of the faculty respondents engaged in scholarly teaching, only 34% identified education as an area of content expertise, and only 16% reported frequent involvement with education scholarship. Instructional methods were the primary area of study.

CONCLUSION. A need exists to build research capacity for education research and more diversification of education research topics, including professional socialization and competencies.
From Collaboration to Cause: Breaking Rural Poverty Cycles Through Educational Partnerships
Authors: Brandt Lea Cheyney
Published: October 2014

The Missouri Health Professions Consortium (MHPC) Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is an innovative educational model that was specifically designed to address needs unique to rural communities. The model takes into account not only the distinctiveness of rural practice environments but also the educational barriers unique to rural student populations. The MHPC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program addresses the needs of these communities by providing educational opportunities to rural, place-bound students. The program has produced viable employment options, resulting in improved access to occupational therapy services as well as positive economic outcomes for graduates who reside in rural communities.
Facilitated Learning Model to Teach Habits of Evidence-Based Reasoning Across an Integrated Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Curriculum
Authors: Cohn Ellen S. , Coster Wendy J. , Kramer Jessica M.
Published: October 2014

We describe an integrated master of science in occupational therapy curriculum and a coordinated sequence of evidence-based practice (EBP) courses that incorporate systematic, pragmatic teaching strategies to develop students’ EBP skills and habits of reasoning. The EBP courses focus sequentially on the occupational lives of clients and methods for gaining information about occupational performance and needs; appraising the internal, external, and statistical validity of intervention evidence; and generating evidence from one’s own practice to answer questions about individual or group client outcomes. All EBP courses use facilitated learning processes that encourage graduate students to take responsibility for their own learning, guided by a carefully structured series of assignments. The integrated curriculum scaffolds the translation and application of previously learned knowledge and skills, including EBP knowledge, into different contexts. Student survey data suggest that graduating students view EBP as an integral part of the clinical process and begin to internalize the habits necessary to be evidence-based practitioners.
Evaluation of tropospheric SO2 retrieved from MAX-DOAS measurements in Xianghe, China
Authors: Wang T. , Hendrick F. , Wang P. , Tang G. , Clémer K. , Yu H. , Fayt C. , Hermans C. , Gielen C. , Müller J.-F. , Pinardi G. , Theys N. , Brenot H. , Van Roozendael M.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2) have been performed at the Xianghe station (39.8° N, 117.0° E) located at ~ 50 km southeast of Beijing from March 2010 to February 2013. Tropospheric SO2 vertical profiles and corresponding vertical column densities (VCDs), retrieved by applying the optimal estimation method to the MAX-DOAS observations, have been used to study the seasonal and diurnal cycles of SO2, in combination with correlative measurements from in situ instruments, as well as meteorological data. A marked seasonality was observed in both SO2 VCD and surface concentration, with a maximum in winter (February) and a minimum in summer (July). This can be explained by the larger emissions in winter due to the domestic heating and, in case of surface concentration, by more favorable meteorological conditions for the accumulation of SO2 close to the ground during this period. Wind speed and direction are also found to be two key factors in controlling the level of the SO2-related pollution at Xianghe. In the case of east or southwest wind, the SO2 concentration does not change significantly with the wind speed, since the city of Tangshan and heavy polluting industries are located to the east and southwest of the station, respectively. In contrast, when wind comes from other directions, the stronger the wind, the less SO2 is observed due to a more effective dispersion. Regarding the diurnal cycle, the SO2 amount is larger in the early morning and late evening and lower at noon, in line with the diurnal variation of pollutant emissions and atmospheric stability. A strong correlation with correlation coefficients between 0.6 and 0.9 is also found between SO2 and aerosols in winter, suggesting that anthropogenic SO2, through the formation of sulfate aerosols, contributes significantly to the total aerosol content during this season. The observed diurnal cycles of MAX-DOAS SO2 surface concentration are also in very good agreement (correlation coefficient close to 0.9) with those from collocated in situ data, indicating the good reliability and robustness of our retrieval.
Re-evaluating the reactive uptake of HOBr in the troposphere with implications for the marine boundary layer and volcanic plumes
Authors: Roberts T. J. , Jourdain L. , Griffiths P. T. , Pirre M.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. The reactive uptake of HOBr onto halogen-rich aerosols promotes conversion of Br−(aq) into gaseous reactive bromine (incl. BrO) with impacts on tropospheric oxidants and mercury deposition. However, experimental data quantifying HOBr reactive uptake on tropospheric aerosols is limited, and reported values vary in magnitude. This study introduces a new evaluation of HOBr reactive uptake coefficients in the context of the general acid-assisted mechanism. We emphasise that the termolecular kinetic approach assumed in numerical model studies of tropospheric reactive bromine chemistry to date is strictly only valid for a specific pH range and, according to the general acid-assisted mechanism for HOBr, the reaction kinetics becomes bimolecular and independent of pH at high acidity. This study reconciles for the first time the different reactive uptake coefficients reported from laboratory experiments. The re-evaluation confirms HOBr reactive uptake is rapid on moderately acidified sea-salt aerosol (and slow on alkaline aerosol), but predicts very low reactive uptake coefficients on highly acidified submicron particles. This is due to acid-saturated kinetics combined with low halide concentrations induced by both acid-displacement reactions and the dilution effects of H2SO4(aq). A mechanism is thereby proposed for reported Br enhancement (relative to Na) in H2SO4-rich submicron particles in the marine environment. Further, the fact that HOBr reactive uptake on H2SO4-acidified supra-micron particles is driven by HOBr+Br− (rather than HOBr+Cl−) indicates self-limitation via decreasing γHOBr once aerosol Br- is converted into reactive bromine. First predictions of HOBr reactive uptake on sulfate particles in halogen-rich volcanic plumes are also presented. High (accommodation limited) HOBr+Br- uptake coefficient in concentrated (> 1 μmol mol−1 SO2) plume environments supports potential for rapid BrO formation in plumes throughout the troposphere. However, reduced HOBr reactive uptake may reduce the rate of BrO cycling in dilute plumes in the lower troposphere. In summary, our re-evaluation of HOBr kinetics provides a new framework for the interpretation of experimental data and suggests that the reactive uptake of HOBr on H2SO4-acidified particles is substantially overestimated in current numerical models of BrO chemistry in the troposphere.
Retrievals of formaldehyde from ground-based FTIR and MAX-DOAS observations at the Jungfraujoch station and comparisons with GEOS-Chem and IMAGES model simulations
Authors: Franco B. , Hendrick F. , Van Roozendael M. , Müller J.-F. , Stavrakou T. , Marais E. A. , Bovy B. , Bader W. , Fayt C. , Hermans C. , Lejeune B. , Pinardi G. , Servais C. , Mahieu E.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. As a ubiquitous product of the oxidation of many Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde (HCHO) plays a key role as a short-lived and reactive intermediate in the atmospheric photo-oxidation pathways leading to the formation of tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols. In this study, HCHO profiles have been successfully retrieved from ground-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) solar spectra and UV-Visible Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) scans recorded during the July 2010–December 2012 time period at the Jungfraujoch station (Swiss Alps, 46.5° N, 8.0° E, 3580 m a.s.l.). Analysis of the retrieved products has revealed different vertical sensitivity between both remote sensing techniques. Furthermore, HCHO amounts simulated by two state-of-the-art Chemical Transport Models (CTMs), GEOS-Chem and IMAGESv2, have been compared to FTIR total columns and MAX-DOAS 3.6–8 km partial columns, accounting for the respective vertical resolution of each ground-based instrument. Using the CTMs outputs as intermediate, FTIR and MAX-DOAS retrievals have shown consistent seasonal modulations of HCHO throughout the investigated period, characterized by summertime maximum and wintertime minimum. Such comparisons have also highlighted that FTIR and MAX-DOAS provide complementary products for the HCHO retrieval above the Jungfraujoch station.
A comprehensive observational filter for satellite infrared limb sounding of gravity waves
Authors: Trinh Q. T. , Kalisch S. , Preusse P. , Chun H.-Y. , Eckermann S. D. , Ern M. , Riese M.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. This paper describes a comprehensive observational filter for satellite infrared limb sounding of gravity waves. The filter considers instrument visibility and observation geometry with a high level of accuracy. It contains four main processes: visibility filter, projection of the wavelength on the tangent-point track, aliasing effect, and calculation of the observed vertical wavelength. The observation geometries of the SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) and HIRDLS (High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder) are mimicked. Gravity waves (GWs) simulated by coupling a convective GW source (CGWS) scheme and the gravity wave regional or global ray tracer (GROGRAT) are used as an example for applying the observational filter. Simulated spectra in terms of horizontal and vertical wave numbers (wavelengths) of gravity wave momentum flux (GWMF) are analyzed under the influence of the filter. We find that the most important processes, which have significant influence on the spectrum are: visibility filter (for both SABER and HIRDLS observation geometries), aliasing for SABER and projection on tangent-point track for HIRDLS. The vertical wavelength distribution is mainly affected by the retrieval as part of the "visibility filter" process. In addition, the short-horizontal-scale spectrum may be projected for some cases into a longer horizontal wavelength interval which originally was not populated. The filter largely reduces GWMF values of very short horizontal wavelength waves. The implications for interpreting observed data are discussed.
COEVRAGE ESTIMATION OF GEOSENSOR IN 3D VECTOR ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: Afghantoloee A. , Doodman S. , Karimipour F. , Mostafavi M. A.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Sensor deployment optimization to achieve the maximum spatial coverage is one of the main issues in Wireless geoSensor Networks (WSN). The model of the environment is an imperative parameter that influences the accuracy of geosensor coverage. In most of recent studies, the environment has been modeled by Digital Surface Model (DSM). However, the advances in technology to collect 3D vector data at different levels, especially in urban models can enhance the quality of geosensor deployment in order to achieve more accurate coverage estimations. This paper proposes an approach to calculate the geosensor coverage in 3D vector environments. The approach is applied on some case studies and compared with DSM based methods.
Investigation of Optical Flow Techniques for Extracting Non-Rigid Sea Surface Currents
Authors: Ghalenoei E. , Sharifi M. A. , Hasanlou M.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. This paper is about performance evaluation of two optical flow (OF) methods for extracting sea surface curved motions like eddies. By incorporating a simple matrix and its rotation in programming procedure, curved motion can be obtained. These two OF methods are Horn/Schunk and Lucas/Kanade. The Horn/Schunk method depends on a smoothness parameter (α) and when it changes, smoothness and reality change too. The Lucas/Kanade method is more complex than previous one. It depends on two parameters, smoothness parameter (Sigma) and window size (Win). Different values for Win and Sigma change smoothness and reality of the flows. Sea surface currents are extracted from two sequential sea surface temperature (SST) images by using OF methods. By using these methods and selecting the appropriate parameters like smoothness (for Horn/Schunk) and window size and smoothness (for Lucas/Kanade) extracting real flows or smooth flows are possible and investigated in this paper.
Automatic Building Map Updating Using Worldview-2 Stereo Images and Existing Outdated Building Map
Authors: Gharibi M. , Arefi H. , Rastiveis H. , Hashemi H.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Updating of existing geo-database, particularly in developing countries, is one of the important and essential issues in geospatial information systems. Numerous change detection methods have been proposed to resolve this issue. In this study, a novel approach is proposed for automatic building change detection and updating from available outdated building map and products of satellite stereo images. The proposed method consists of four steps. In the first step, preliminary building outline for a candidate building is extracted from available old polygon and DSM based on an active contour model. Then, some change detection rules are considered to find out whether or not the building has been changed. If changes are detected, the following third and fourth steps based on a hierarchical approach, run to generate precise changed building outline. The proposed method is tested and evaluated using sample dataset from Tunis City and the obtained results prove the feasibility of this algorithm for automatic building map updating using high resolution stereo satellite images.
A NEW UBIQUITOUS-BASED INDOOR POSITIONING SYSTEM WITH MINIMUM EXTRA HARDWARE USING SMART PHONES
Authors: Hassany Pazoky S. , Chehreghan A. , Sadeghi Niaraki A. , Ali Abbaspour R.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Knowing the position has been an ambition in many areas such as science, military, business, etc. GPS was the realization of this wish in 1970s. Technological advances such as ubiquitous computing, as a conquering perspective, requires any service to work for any user, any place, anytime, and via any network. As GPS cannot provide services in indoor environments, many scientists began to develop indoor positioning systems (IPS). Smart phones penetrating our everyday lives were a great platform to host IPS applications. Sensors in smart phones were another big motive to develop IPS applications. Many researchers have been working on the topic developing various applications. However, the applications introduced lack simplicity. In other words, they need to install a step counter or smart phone on the ankle, which makes it awkward and inapplicable in many situations. In the current study, a new IPS methodology is introduced using only the usual embedded sensors in the smart phones. The robustness of this methodology cannot compete with those of the aforementioned approaches. The price paid for simplicity was decreasing robustness and complicating the methods and formulations. However, methods or tricks to harness the errors to an acceptable range are introduced as the future works.
GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR DRINKING PURPOSES USING GIS MODELLING (CASE STUDY: CITY OF TABRIZ)
Authors: Jeihouni M. , Toomanian A. , Shahabi M. , Alavipanah S. K.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Tabriz is the largest industrial city in North West of Iran and it is developing rapidly. A large proportion of water requirements for this city are supplied from dams. In this research, groundwater quality assessed through sampling 70 wells in Tabriz and its rural areas. The purposes of this study are: (1) specifying spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters such as Chloride, Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, hardness and sulphate (2) mapping groundwater quality for drinking purpose by employing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method in the study area using GIS and Geosatistics. We utilized an interpolation technique of ordinary kriging for generating thematic map of each parameter. The final map indicates that the groundwater quality esaeicni from North to South and from West to East of the study area. The areas located in Center, South and South West of the study area have the optimum quality for drinking purposes which are the best locations to drill wells for supplying water demands of Tabriz city. In critical conditions, the groundwater quality map as a result of this research can be taken into account by East Azerbaijan Regional Water Company as decision support system to drill new wells or selecting existing wells to supply drinking water to Tabriz city.
Mapping Statistical Characteristics of Frosts in Iran
Authors: Mahmoudi P.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. To model and map the statistical characteristics of frost in Iran, the data related to the minimum daily temperature for a 15-year period (1990–2005) was obtained from Iran Meteorological Organization. Then using multivariate regression models, the relationship among five statistical characteristics, i.e. the mean Julian day of the first frost, mean Julian day of the last frost, mean number of frost days per year, mean length of the frost period and mean length of growing season were modeled by three geo – climate factors: elevation, longitude and latitude. The precision of each model was explored using four hypotheses: linearity of the relationship between independent variables and the dependent variable, normality of errors, constancy of error variance and lake of correlation of errors were tested, and their precisions were confirmed. At the second stage, contour lines resulting from STRM were converted to the point features class. Altogether, 661 474 points were gathered from all over Iran. Then, the studied five frost characteristics were generalized to 661 474 points; then, the regionalization maps of statistical characteristics of frost were obtained for Iran using Kriging interpolation method. The results showed that the temperature of highland areas above 4200 m above sea level always was at least zero and below zero during the year, and also the coastal strip of southern Iran had no frost. Elevation was the most effective factor in the spatial arrangement for the frequency of occurrence of Julian day of the first frost. The most effective factors in spatial arrangement for the frequency of occurrence of Julian day of the last frost, length of frost period and length of growing season were elevation and latitude. Finally, spatial arrangement for the frequency of occurrence of the frost days was also a function of three factors of elevation, longitude and latitude. The dominant role of elevation in spatial arrangement for the occurrence of the first frost day in Iran showed that the occurrence of the first frost day in Iran could be of the type of radiation frosts and the dominant role of elevation and latitude demonstrated that late-winter frosts can be mostly of the type of advection frosts. Therefore, arrangement of statistical features of frost in Iran is both a function of geo – climate factors and the synoptic systems which have entered the country.