bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A set of canine interrepeat sequence PCR markers for high-throughput genotyping
Authors: DAS MANJULA , SAKUL HAKAN , KONG JULIUS , ACLAND GREGORY M. , PELLETIER JERRY
Published: December 2017

One hundred and sixteen interspersed repetitive DNA sequence (IRS)-PCR markers have been developed and characterized from Canis familiaris for high-throughput filter-based genotyping. We present a detailed analysis of markers produced by amplification using primers directed to the conserved regions of the C. familiaris short interspersed nuclear element ( Can-SINE). The majority of IRS-PCR markers developed were moderately to highly polymorphic with mean heterozygosity (HET) and polymorphism information content (PIC) values of ∼0.6. The HET value for 22.3% of the markers exceeded 0.7. We also demonstrate that sequence variation of Can-SINEs between breeds is significant and also represents a rich source of polymorphisms. Mapping of 73 of the markers to the existing integrated linkage-radiation hybrid map enriches the map as well as establishes the utility of the markers. The significance and utility of this new class of IRS-PCR Can-SINE-based markers for high-throughput genotyping is discussed. This method can also be extended to other species that are currently map-poor but have a sufficiently high density of SINEs to allow IRS-PCR.
Contribution of circulating renin to local synthesis of angiotensin peptides in the heart
Authors: PRESCOTT GARY , SILVERSIDES DAVID W. , CHIU SUI MEI LINDA , REUDELHUBER TIMOTHY L.
Published: December 2017

The activity of a local cardiac renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has long been suspected in the promotion of cardiac pathologies including hypertrophy, ischemia, and infarction. All of the components of the RAS cascade have been demonstrated to be synthesized within the heart with the possible exception of the first enzyme in the cascade, renin. In the current study, we provide direct evidence that circulating renin can contribute to cardiac-specific synthesis of angiotensin peptides. Furthermore, we demonstrate this effect is independent of blood pressure and that in animals of comparable blood pressure, elevated circulating renin significantly enhances cardiac fibrosis. These results may serve to explain some of the cardiac pathologies associated with the RAS.
A novel ATPase on mouse chromosome 7 is a candidate gene for increased body fat
Authors: DHAR MADHU , WEBB LISA S. , SMITH LAUREL , HAUSER LOREN , JOHNSON DABNEY , WEST DAVID B.
Published: December 2017

A region of mouse chromosome 7, just distal to the pink-eyed ( p) dilution locus, contains a gene or genes, which we have named p-locus-associated obesity ( plo1), affecting body fat. Mice heterozygous for the most distally extending chromosomal deletions of this region have nearly double the body fat of mice when the deletion is inherited maternally as when it is inherited paternally. We have physically mapped the 1-Mb critical region, which lies between the Gabrb3 and Ube3a/ Ipw genes, and DNA sequencing has localized a new member of the third subfamily of P-type ATPases to the minimal region specifying the trait. This gene, which we have called p-locus fat-associated ATPase ( pfatp) is differentially expressed in human and mouse tissues with predominant expression in the testis and lower levels of expression in adipose tissue and other organs. We propose this ATPase as the prime candidate for the gene at the plo1 locus modulating body fat content in the mouse. The unusual inheritance pattern of this phenotype suggests either genomic imprinting, known to occur in other local genes ( Ube3a, Ipw), or an effect of maternal haploinsufficiency during pregnancy or lactation on body fat in the progeny.
Quantitative expression analysis of the cellular specificity of HECT-domain ubiquitin E3 ligases
Authors: SCARAFIA LILIANA E. , WINTER ANDREAS , SWINNEY DAVID C.
Published: December 2017

We evaluated the expression of 28 gene sequences with homology to the carboxy terminal of HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases in nine human cell lines using RT-PCR, to determine whether gene expression could be associated with cell-specific functions (HECT is “homologous to E6AP C-terminus”). In general, HECT-domain E3 ligases are constitutively expressed at low levels with a broad range between cell types. hecth3, 21, and 23 had higher levels in three leukocytic lines (Jurkat, MM6, THP1); hecth11 was more abundant in HepG2 and A495; and hecth15 and hecth12 were differentially expressed in lung fibroblasts derived from normal and severe emphysema patients (CCD16 and CCD29, respectively). Absolute quantitation showed that most HECT E3s have about 20–100 copies of mRNA per Jurkat cell. By comparison, UBCH7 (an ubiquitin-conjugating E2) is 10-fold more abundant in Jurkat cells and 30-fold more abundant than E2 UBCH5A. We interpret the broad range of transcript levels to be consistent with the hypothesis that the concentrations of E3 are important for ubiquitination selectivity, leading us to conclude that substrate activation is necessary but not sufficient for selectivity.
Preprocessing implementation for microarray (PRIM): an efficient method for processing cDNA microarray data
Authors: KADOTA KOJI , MIKI RIKA , BONO HIDEMASA , SHIMIZU KENTARO , OKAZAKI YASUSHI , HAYASHIZAKI YOSHIHIDE
Published: December 2017

cDNA microarray technology is useful for systematically analyzing the expression profiles of thousands of genes at once. Although many useful results inferred by using this technology and a hierarchical clustering method for statistical analysis have been confirmed using other methods, there are still questions about the reproducibility of the data. We have therefore developed a data processing method that very efficiently extracts reproducible data from the result of duplicate experiments. It is designed to automatically filter the raw results obtained from cDNA microarray image-analysis software. We optimize the threshold value for filtering the data by using the product of N and R, where N is the ratio of the number of spots that passed the filtering vs. the total number of spots, and R is the correlation coefficient for results obtained in the duplicate experiments. Using this method to process mouse tissue expression profile data that contain 1,881,600 points of analysis, we obtained clustered results more reasonable than those obtained using previously reported filtering methods.
Mechanisms for LEPR-mediated regulation of leptin expression in brown and white adipocytes in rat pups
Authors: ZHANG YIYING , HUFNAGEL CARMEN , EIDEN SANDRA , GUO KAI-YING , DIAZ PATRICIA A. , LEIBEL RUDOLPH L. , SCHMIDT INGRID
Published: December 2017

To investigate the underlying mechanisms for leptin receptor (LEPR)-mediated regulation of leptin gene ( Lep) expression in brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissue and resultant effects on plasma leptin concentrations (plasma-LEP), we examined effects of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity, caloric balance, and body fat content on leptin mRNA levels in BAT and WAT in 10-day-old rat pups segregating for Leprfa. In mother-reared pups, Lep mRNA levels were fa/ fa > +/ fa = +/+ in BAT and was fa/ fa > +/ fa > +/+ in WAT. The genotype effects on Lep expression in BAT and plasma-LEP were virtually eliminated when the differences in SNS activity between fa/ fa and +/ fa pups were equalized by artificial rearing of pups under thermoneutral conditions with or without oral norepinephrine (NE) administration. NE administration alone had little effect on the Leprfa-dependent stratification of Lep expression in WAT. BAT- Lep mRNA was the main determinant of plasma-LEP. Metabolic rate, a surrogate indicator of SNS activity, explained 87% of the variation in BAT- Lep mRNA ( R2 = 0.93), whereas caloric balance (40%) and body fat mass (6%) accounted for most of the variation in WAT- Lep mRNA ( R2 = 0.53). We conclude that feedback regulation of Lep expression in BAT is primarily via central nervous system-mediated effects of leptin on SNS activity, whereas the control of leptin expression in WAT is more likely via mechanisms not directly dependent on SNS activity.
Species- and tissue-specific physiological regulation of vasopressin mRNA poly(A) tail length
Authors: SI-HOE SAN-LING , CARTER DAVID , MURPHY DAVID
Published: December 2017

Transgenic experiments can be used to test the extent to which genes from different species can be swapped around, but still retain function, and be appropriately regulated. A vector has been developed that directs the expression of foreign genes to specific groups of vasopressin (VP) hypothalamic neurons in transgenic rats. Using this vector, we have expressed the bovine VP (bVP) RNA in the rat brain. In contrast to the situation in a mouse host, but like its endogenous rat counterpart, the mRNA encoded by the bVP transgene is subject to posttranscriptional physiological regulation in the hypothalamus; its poly(A) tail dramatically lengthens as a consequence of 3 days of dehydration. Transgene expression is also seen in the adrenal cortex, but here, despite a marked increase in transgene RNA levels with dehydration, there is no change in poly(A) tail length. These data suggest that the mouse hypothalamus and the rat adrenal gland do not have the transcript recognition or enzymatic machinery required for the physiologically responsive poly(A) tail length modulation seen in the rat brain.
Functional pleiotropy of an intramolecular triplex-forming fragment from the 3′-UTR of the ratPigrgene
Authors: FABREGAT ISABEL , KOCH KATHERINE S. , AOKI TAKASHI , ATKINSON ALLAN E. , DANG HUONG , AMOSOVA OLGA , FRESCO JACQUES R. , SCHILDKRAUT CARL L. , LEFFERT HYAM L.
Published: December 2017

A microsatellite-containing 359-bp restriction fragment, isolated from the rat Pigr gene (murine polymeric immunoglobulin receptor gene) 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) and inserted into 3′-UTR or 3′ flanking positions in transcription units of supercoiled plasmids, attenuates luciferase reporter gene expression in orientation- and position-dependent ways following transient transfection of human 293 cells. The same fragment stimulates orientation-dependent gene expression in a 5′ flanking position. Plasmid linearization abrogates both orientation- and position-dependent responses. Cell-free translation reveals that 5′ and 3′ flanking expression responses are proportional to increased and decreased luciferase mRNA levels, whereas 3′-UTR expression is associated with control mRNA levels. Hypersensitivity to nucleases S1 and P1, gel mobility differences between supercoiled plasmids carrying opposing microsatellite orientations, and anomalous melting profiles of this fragment are also observed. These results suggest that functional pleiotropy of this fragment depends on the DNA context of its purine-rich microsatellite strand and on DNA supercoiling. Intramolecular triplexes stabilized by supercoiling and secondary structures of purine repeat-rich mRNAs may also confer regulatory properties to similar genomic elements.
A quantitative trait locus influencing estrogen levels maps to a region homologous to human chromosome 20
Authors: MARTIN LISA J. , BLANGERO JOHN , ROGERS JEFFREY , MAHANEY MICHAEL C. , HIXSON JAMES E. , CAREY K. DEE , MORIN PHILLIP A. , COMUZZIE ANTHONY G.
Published: December 2017

Estrogen, a steroid hormone, regulates reproduction and has been implicated in several diseases. We performed a genome-wide scan using multipoint linkage analysis implemented in a general pedigree-based variance component approach to identify genes with measurable effects on variation in estrogen levels in baboons. A microsatellite polymorphism, D20S171, located on human chromosome 20q13.11, showed strong evidence of linkage with a LOD score of 3.06 ( P = 0.00009). This region contains several potential candidate genes including melanocortin 3 receptor ( MC3R), cytochrome P-450 subfamily XXIV ( CYP24), and breast carcinoma amplified sequence ( BCAS1). This is the first evidence of a quantitative trait locus with a significant effect on estrogen.
Identifying marker genes in transcription profiling data using a mixture of feature relevance experts
Authors: Chow M. L. , Moler E. J. , Mian I. S.
Published: December 2017

Transcription profiling experiments permit the expression levels of many genes to be measured simultaneously. Given profiling data from two types of samples, genes that most distinguish the samples (marker genes) are good candidates for subsequent in-depth experimental studies and developing decision support systems for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring. This work proposes a mixture of feature relevance experts as a method for identifying marker genes and illustrates the idea using published data from samples labeled as acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia (ALL, AML). A feature relevance expert implements an algorithm that calculates how well a gene distinguishes samples, reorders genes according to this relevance measure, and uses a supervised learning method [here, support vector machines (SVMs)] to determine the generalization performances of different nested gene subsets. The mixture of three feature relevance experts examined implement two existing and one novel feature relevance measures. For each expert, a gene subset consisting of the top 50 genes distinguished ALL from AML samples as completely as all 7,070 genes. The 125 genes at the union of the top 50s are plausible markers for a prototype decision support system. Chromosomal aberration and other data support the prediction that the three genes at the intersection of the top 50s, cystatin C, azurocidin, and adipsin, are good targets for investigating the basic biology of ALL/AML. The same data were employed to identify markers that distinguish samples based on their labels of T cell/B cell, peripheral blood/bone marrow, and male/female. Selenoprotein W may discriminate T cells from B cells. Results from analysis of transcription profiling data from tumor/nontumor colon adenocarcinoma samples support the general utility of the aforementioned approach. Theoretical issues such as choosing SVM kernels and their parameters, training and evaluating feature relevance experts, and the impact of potentially mislabeled samples on marker identification (feature selection) are discussed.
Divergent transcriptional responses to independent genetic causes of cardiac hypertrophy
Authors: ARONOW BRUCE J. , TOYOKAWA TSUYOSHI , CANNING AMY , HAGHIGHI KOBRA , DELLING ULRIKE , KRANIAS EVANGELIA , MOLKENTIN JEFFERY D. , DORN GERALD W.
Published: December 2017

To define molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy, genes whose expression was perturbed by any of four different transgenic mouse hypertrophy models [protein kinase C-ε activation peptide (ΨεRACK), calsequestrin (CSQ), calcineurin (CN), and Gαq] were compared by DNA microarray analyses using the ∼8,800 genes present on the Incyte mouse GEM1. The total numbers of regulated genes (tens to hundreds) correlated with phenotypic severity of the model (Gαq> CN > CSQ > ΨεRACK), but demonstrated that no single gene was consistently upregulated. Of the three models exhibiting pathological hypertrophy, only atrial natriuretic peptide was consistently upregulated, suggesting that transcriptional alterations are highly specific to individual genetic causes of hypertrophy. However, hierarchical-tree and K-means clustering analyses revealed that subsets of the upregulated genes did exhibit coordinate regulatory patterns that were unique or overlapping across the different hypertrophy models. One striking set consisted of apoptotic genes uniquely regulated in the apoptosis-prone Gαqmodel. Thus, rather than identifying a single common hypertrophic cardiomyopathy gene program, these data suggest that extensive groups of genes may be useful for the prediction of specific underlying genetic determinants and condition-specific therapeutic approaches.
Microarray analysis of trophoblast differentiation: gene expression reprogramming in key gene function categories
Authors: ARONOW BRUCE J. , RICHARDSON BRIAN D. , HANDWERGER STUART
Published: December 2017

Placental development results from a highly dynamic differentiation program. We used DNA microarray analysis to characterize the process by which human cytotrophoblast cells differentiate into syncytiotrophoblast cells in a purified cell culture system. Of 6,918 genes analyzed, 141 genes were induced and 256 were downregulated by more than 2-fold. Dynamically regulated genes were divided by the K-means algorithm into 9 kinetic pattern groups, then by biologic classification into 6 overall functional categories: cell and tissue structural dynamics, cell cycle and apoptosis, intercellular communication, metabolism, regulation of gene expression, and expressed sequence tag (EST) and function unknown. Gene expression changes within key functional categories were tightly coupled to morphological changes. In several key gene function categories, such as cell and tissue structure, many gene members of the category were strongly activated while others were strongly repressed. These findings suggest that differentiation is augmented by “categorical reprogramming” in which the function of induced genes is enhanced by preventing the further synthesis of categorically related gene products.
Full-length cDNAs: more than just reaching the ends
Authors: DAS MANJULA , HARVEY ISABELLE , CHU LEE LEE , SINHA MANISHA , PELLETIER JERRY
Published: December 2017

The development of functional genomic resources is essential to understand and utilize information generated from genome sequencing projects. Central to the development of this technology is the creation of high-quality cDNA resources and improved technologies for analyzing coding and noncoding mRNA sequences. The isolation and mapping of cDNAs is an entrée to characterizing the information that is of significant biological relevance in the genome of an organism. However, a bottleneck is often encountered when attempting to bring to full-length (or at least full-coding) a number of incomplete cDNAs in parallel, since this involves the nonsystematic, time consuming, and labor-intensive iterative screening of a number of cDNA libraries of variable quality and/or directed strategies to process individual clones (e.g., 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends). Here, we review the current state of the art in cDNA library generation, as well as present an analysis of the different steps involved in cDNA library generation.
Altered Na+-K+pump activity and plasma lipids in salt-hypertensive Dahl rats: relationship toAtp1a1gene
Authors: ZICHA JOSEF , NEGRIN CERVANTES D. , DOBEŠOVÁ ZDENA , CARR FIONA , VOKURKOVÁ MARTINA , McBRIDE MARTIN W. , KUNEŠ JAROSLAV , DOMINICZAK ANNA F.
Published: December 2017

A genetic variant of the gene for the α1-isoform of Na+-K+-ATPase ( Atp1a1) was suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of salt hypertension in Dahl rats through altered Na+:K+coupling ratio. We studied Na+-K+pump activity in erythrocytes of Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/Jr) rats in relation to plasma lipids and blood pressure (BP) and the linkage of polymorphic microsatellite marker D2Arb18 (located within intron 1 and exon 2 of Atp1a1 gene) with various phenotypes in 130 SS/Jr × SR/Jr F2rats. Salt-hypertensive SS/Jr rats had higher erythrocyte Na+content, enhanced ouabain-sensitive (OS) Na+and Rb+transport, and higher Na+:Rb+coupling ratio of the Na+-K+pump. BP of F2hybrids correlated with erythrocyte Na+content, OS Na+extrusion, and OS Na+:Rb+coupling ratio, but not with OS Rb+uptake. In F2hybrids there was a significant association indicating suggestive linkage ( P < 0.005, LOD score 2.5) of an intragenic marker D2Arb18 with pulse pressure but not with mean arterial pressure or any parameter of Na+-K+pump activity (including its Na+:Rb+coupling ratio). In contrast, plasma cholesterol, which was elevated in salt-hypertensive Dahl rats and which correlated with BP in F2hybrids, was also positively associated with OS Na+extrusion. The abnormal Na+:K+stoichiometry of the Na+-K+pump is a consequence of elevated erythrocyte Na+content and suppressed OS Rb+:K+exchange. In conclusion, abnormal cholesterol metabolism but not the Atp1a1 gene locus might represent an important factor for both high BP and altered Na+-K+pump function in salt-hypertensive Dahl rats.
The mouse Na+-K+-ATPase γ-subunit gene (Fxyd2) encodes three developmentally regulated transcripts
Authors: JONES D. HOLSTEAD , GOLDING MICHAEL C. , BARR KEVIN J. , FONG GUO-HUA , KIDDER GERALD M.
Published: December 2017

The Na+-K+-ATPase is understood to function as a hetero-oligomer of α- and β-subunits, but a third subunit, γ, has been proposed to influence the enzyme’s catalytic function. Recently, two variants of the γ-subunit have been described in kidney, raising the possibility of multiple γ-subunits with diverse functions. We now report the cloning and sequencing of the mouse γ-subunit gene ( Fxyd2). Analysis of the structure of the gene shows that it encodes three mRNAs that have distinct NH2-terminal (extracellular) encoding sequences but common transmembrane and COOH-terminal-encoding sequences resulting from differential splicing and, probably, alternate promoter usage. The three mRNAs have tissue-specific expression patterns. The existence of three different extracellular domains of the γ-variants and how they may interact with the sodium pump to alter its cation transport properties must now be taken into account for future understanding of the modulation of the Na+-K+-ATPase by its γ-subunit.
Identification of two susceptibility loci for vascular fragility in the Brown Norway rat
Authors: HARRIS EUGENIE L. , STOLL MONIKA , JONES GREGORY T. , GRANADOS MARY A. , PORTEOUS WILLIAM K. , VAN RIJ ANDRE M. , JACOB HOWARD J.
Published: December 2017

A trait of vascular fragility, characterized by the formation of abrupt defects within the elastic laminae of the abdominal aorta, has been identified in Brown Norway (BN) rats. These lesions are greatly exacerbated in F1rats from a BN × New Zealand genetically hypertensive (GH) intercross, implying that the genetic background provided by the GH rat influences lesion severity. The F2progeny of the BN × GH intercross were used to identify susceptibility loci for the lesions as well as exacerbating loci. Two major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for number of internal elastic lamina lesions were identified on rat chromosomes 5 and 10, with the maximum “log of the odds ratio” (LOD) scores at D5Rat119 (LOD 5.0) and at D10Mit2 (LOD 4.5), respectively, together contributing 33.5% to the genetic variance. Further analysis revealed that the chromosome 10 locus exhibits a dominant mode of inheritance, with BN alleles being associated with increased lesion number ( P < 0.0002) compared with GH homozygotes. This locus was in epistasis to a modifier locus on rat chromosome 2 at D2Mit14 (LOD score 2.12). A second major locus was identified on chromosome 5, exhibiting a semidominant mode of inheritance, again with the BN allele being significantly associated with increased lesion number ( P < 0.0001). Furthermore, a locus influencing lesion severity was identified on chromosome 3 wherein GH alleles associated with increased severity. This is the first study to identify susceptibility loci for vascular elastic tissue fragility.
Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Risk to Young Women
Authors: Ricci Beatrice , Cenko Edina , Vasiljevic Zorana , Stankovic Goran , Kedev Sasko , Kalpak Oliver , Vavlukis Marija , Zdravkovic Marija , Hinic Sasa , Milicic Davor , Manfrini Olivia , Badimon Lina , Bugiardini Raffaele
Published: December 2017

Background

Although acute coronary syndrome (
ACS
) mainly occurs in patients >50 years, younger patients can be affected as well. We used an age cutoff of 45 years to investigate clinical characteristics and outcomes of “young” patients with
ACS
.

Methods and Results

Between October 2010 and April 2016, 14 931 patients with ACS were enrolled in the ISACS‐TC (International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries) registry. Of these patients, 1182 (8%) were aged ≤45 years (mean age, 40.3 years; 15.8% were women). The primary end point was 30‐day all‐cause mortality. Percentage diameter stenosis of ≤50% was defined as insignificant coronary disease. ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction was the most common clinical manifestation of
ACS
in the young cases (68% versus 59.6%). Young patients had a higher incidence of insignificant coronary artery disease (11.4% versus 10.1%) and lesser extent of significant disease (single vessel, 62.7% versus 46.6%). The incidence of 30‐day death was 1.3% versus 6.9% for the young and older patients, respectively. After correction for baseline and clinical differences, age ≤45 years was a predictor of survival in men (odds ratio, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.10–0.58), but not in women (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.50–3.62). This pattern of reversed risk among sexes held true after multivariable correction for in‐hospital medications and reperfusion therapy. Moreover, younger women had worse outcomes than men of a similar age (odds ratio, 6.03; 95% confidence interval, 2.07–17.53).

Conclusion

ACS
at a young age is characterized by less severe coronary disease and high prevalence of ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Women have higher mortality than men. Young age is an independent predictor of lower 30‐day mortality in men, but not in women.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/
. Unique identifier: NCT01218776.
Privacy Protective Research: Facilitating Ethically Responsible Access to Administrative Data
Authors: Goroff Daniel , Polonetsky Jules , Tene Omer
Published: December 2017

Companies and government entities collect substantial amounts of administrative data through the Internet; mobile communications; and a vast infrastructure of devices and sensors embedded in healthcare facilities, retail outlets, public transportation, social networks, workplaces, and homes. They use administrative data to test new products and services, improve existing offerings, conduct research, and foster innovation. However, the lack of a clear legal framework and ethical guidelines for use of administrative data jeopardizes the value of important research. Concerns over legal impediments and ethical restrictions threaten to diminish productive collaboration between researchers and private sector businesses. This article provides strategies for organizations to minimize risks of reidentification and privacy violations for individual data subjects. In addition, it suggests that privacy and ethical concerns would best be managed by supporting the development of administrative data centers to lower transaction costs and increase the reproducibility of research conducted on administrative data.
Using Data to More Rapidly Address Difficult U.S. Social Problems
Authors: Liebman Jeffrey B.
Published: December 2017

This article argues that the evidence-based-policy movement needs to supplement its current emphasis on program evaluations with an approach that uses data at a much higher frequency to improve the administration and impact of government-funded social service programs. Doing so offers the best chance of making significant progress in ameliorating challenging social problems. I describe how an idealized government social service agency could use data and data analysis to improve its results, review the barriers that prevent agencies from operating in this way, and outline how targeted resources and technical assistance can help to overcome these barriers. Finally, I discuss strategies for moving beyond the effective administration of siloed service programs to the improvement of population-wide outcomes, especially among individuals and families who need multiple services.
In Situ Raman Study of Liquid Water at High Pressure
Authors: Romanenko Alexandr V. , Rashchenko Sergey V. , Goryainov Sergey V. , Likhacheva Anna Yu , Korsakov Andrey V.
Published: December 2017

A pressure shift of Raman band of liquid water (H2O) may be an important tool for measuring residual pressures in mineral inclusions, in situ barometry in high-pressure cells, and as an indicator of pressure-induced structural transitions in H2O. However, there was no consensus as to how the broad and asymmetric water Raman band should be quantitatively described, which has led to fundamental inconsistencies between reported data. In order to overcome this issue, we measured Raman spectra of H2O in situ up to 1.2 GPa using a diamond anvil cell, and use them to test different approaches proposed for the description of the water Raman band. We found that the most physically meaningful description of water Raman band is the decomposition into a linear background and three Gaussian components, associated with differently H-bonded H2O molecules. Two of these components demonstrate a pronounced anomaly in pressure shift near 0.4 GPa, supporting ideas of structural transition in H2O at this pressure. The most convenient approach for pressure calibration is the use of “a linear background + one Gaussian” decomposition (the pressure can be measured using the formula P (GPa) = −0.0317(3)·ΔνG (cm−1), where ΔνG represents the difference between the position of water Raman band, fitted as a single Gaussian, in measured spectrum and spectrum at ambient pressure).
The Primary Care Obesity Network: Translating Expert Committee Guidelines on Childhood Obesity Into Practice
Authors: Eneli Ihuoma U. , Howell Candace , Rose Megan E. , Pratt Keeley , Lovegrove Ericca L. , Domrose Erica L. , Polas Phyllis J.
Published: December 2017

Childhood obesity remains a serious public health threat. There is an urgent need for innovative, effective, and sustainable interventions for childhood obesity that are multisector, integrated, and pragmatic. Using the 2007 Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity as a guide, a tertiary care obesity program at a children’s hospital established the Primary Care Obesity Network (PCON). This article describes the structure, implementation, resources, and outcome measures of the PCON, a network of primary care practices and a tertiary care obesity center established to prevent and treat childhood obesity in Central Ohio. This program offers an opportunity to assess how and whether the expert committee guidelines can be translated into practice. As Accountable Care Organizations strive to provide services through the lens of improving population health, the PCON can serve as an example for addressing childhood obesity.
Homeschooling, Civics, and Socialization: The Case of Israel
Authors: Pearlman-Avnion Shiri , Grayevsky Mor
Published: December 2017

The present study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to examine whether homeschooled youth in the largely urbanized social context of Israel differ in their level of civic engagement and social self-efficacy from that of their peers educated at school. Participants completed quantitative questionnaires on civic engagement and social self-efficacy and two personal questionnaires, one quantitative and one qualitative, pertaining to their opinions on various modes of education. No significant differences were found between the degree of civic engagement and sense of social self-efficacy among the two groups. However, within the homeschooling group, social self-efficacy decreased as the number of years they were schooled at home increased, indicating potential negative impact of extended homeschooling. The qualitative study gives insights into attitudes of youth from both groups regarding various modes of education. The findings are discussed in the context of the ongoing debate regarding the pros and cons of homeschooling.
Implementation of school health literacy in Australia: A systematic review
Authors: Peralta Louisa R , Rowling Louise
Published: December 2017

Background:

The development of adolescent health literacy through school-based programmes is attracting international interest. However, there exist competing definitions, models and understandings of how these programmes should be conceptualised, implemented and evaluated. Australian Curriculum documents such as those relating to health and physical education currently focus on health literacy both in terms of learning outcomes and subject matter.

Objective:

This paper presents an evidence-informed framework for planning, implementing and evaluating health literacy school-based programmes and determining whether current Australian school-based health literacy programmes meet these guidelines.

Methods:

A systematic review was undertaken of PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ERIC, ScienceDirect and the A+ Education databases. We included articles that had been published online or in print between 2010 and February 2017. We set limits on the earliest publication date to ensure we included those programmes designed to align with the health and physical education component of the Australian Curriculum and focused on health literacy outcomes.

Results:

Three studies were identified from a pool of 623 records. Two of the three studies had mental health literacy as the primary outcome. The third study more qualitatively assessed teachers’ and students’ perceptions of health literacy learning and whether these might have an impact on further health behaviour. Only one of the studies met the evidence-informed criteria.

Conclusion:

Recommendations are made for future school-based adolescent health literacy programmes. Producing an evidence-informed framework for enhancing adolescent health literacy through school-based programmes may enhance the future planning, implementation and assessment of adolescent health literacy in Australian secondary schools.
The Consumption of Conventional and Nonconventional Medicines in an Italian Province: The Influence of Sociodemographic Factors and Health Beliefs
Authors: Galesi Davide , Lombi Linda
Published: December 2017

Many studies have investigated the factors that influence the consumption of medicines. This article aims to compare how these factors affect both conventional medicines (prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines) and nonconventional ones, also named as complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). A questionnaire was administered to a purposive sample of 4,074 inhabitants of the province of Mantua, Italy. Logical regressions were used to identify the variables influencing frequency of use. The consumption frequency of various types of medicines was associated not only with demographic aspects (such as gender, age, and education level) but also with everyday treatment strategies (such as self-medication habits and use of the Internet for medical aims) and health beliefs. From this last point of view, the use of conventional and nonconventional medicines is guided by 2 principal therapeutic attitudes, one aimed at removing all pathological aspects from everyday life and the other at contextualizing health problems within a broader philosophical search.
Findings from an evaluation of Family Finding: Experiences of Family Finders and older youth
Authors: Greeno Elizabeth Jane , Rushovich Berenice , Williams Sarah Catherine , Brusca Joshua , Murray Kantahyanee
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to assess the experiences of child welfare workers trained in Family Finding and to assess the experiences of the youth who participated in Family Finding. Findings from this study suggest the efficacy of Family Finding in establishing relational permanence for youth. Findings from qualitative analyses indicate that Family Finders modified the actual steps of the model. Both youth-recommended and Family Finders-recommended Family Finding services begin when children and youth enter child welfare. However, quantitative findings suggest there is not any significant difference in Family Finding outcomes for younger and older youth.
Lines of Credit
Authors: Saxena Prabodh
Published: December 2017

Development cooperation is an integral part of India’s foreign policy and India has been extending cooperation to its fellow developing countries since even before its independence in 1947. In present times, India’s development coop- eration is manifested through its ‘development compact’ comprising five com- ponents, namely capacity building and skill transfer, technology and related partnerships, development finance (which includes concessional loans and lines of credit [LOCs]), grants, and trade and investment. Of late, Indian extension of LoCs through the EXIM Bank of India has also become a prominent modality of development cooperation. However, in many a cases it has been seen that the projects faced a number of challenges for effective delivery. This article explores these challenges and other issues related to quality and timely delivery of the projects. It also explains the evolution of the scheme IDEAS and discusses new guidelines by the Government of India.
Sectarianism as a Factor Shaping Persian Gulf Security
Authors: Grabowski Wojciech
Published: December 2017

Sectarian tensions in the West Asia have exacerbated with a new power and remain a vital factor influencing relations between Muslim states. In Persian Gulf, sectarianism as a tool used by states comes from Muslim fragmentation into Sunni and Shia branches and is expressed in a hostility towards the opposite group. In reality, this hostility is usually exploited by authoritarian states to reach their goals and interests at the expense of weak or failed states by meddling into their affairs. At the domestic level of the Arab Persian Gulf states, sectarianism is used to maintain domestic regime stability and control internal (Shia) opposition. States are convincing their own societies that Shiite demands and unrests pose a threat for the regime security so the state has a right and duty to undertake sophisticated measures to ensure order.

The aim of the article is to show the different dimensions of sectarianism in the Persian Gulf, both on an internal and external level. The article will show how the mechanism of using sectarianism for the state purposes works.
Development Compact—The Cornerstone of India’s Development Cooperation
Authors: Chakrabarti Milindo
Published: December 2017

India’s approach to development cooperation is conceptualized in the available literature as following the idea of ‘development compact’. The present article situates development compact in the theoretical discourse on development economics. In a comparative setting, it argues that while North–South Cooperation, in terms of its different modalities and institutional structure, aims at reducing the negative externalities arising out of exchange of resources for development between the donor and recipient, development compact in the spirit of South–South Cooperation, aims to capture and enlarge the potential of generating positive externalities through horizontal development cooperation.
Securing Indian Interests by Training Africa’s Military Leadership
Authors: Maslekar R. A.
Published: December 2017

Africa has vast reserves of natural resources, and it is a huge market for goods and services. The 54 African countries can have significant influence in various international forums. As such these have to be engaged by India in all possible dimensions and capacities to enhance bilateral relations and secure its interests. The soft power of military training is one such capacity that could be leveraged effectively by India. African continent has been witness to highest military professionalism, valour and sacrifice by Indian troops during various battles and peacekeeping missions on its soil dating since early twentieth century. It is these qualities that have led many an African nation to seek Indian assistance in training its military leadership. India is not only training military leadership but has also set up institutions of higher defence learning in many African countries. Yet another factor which finds greater attraction is the apolitical nature of Indian defence forces who have willingly accepted civilian supremacy in country’s governance. It could influence African military leadership to curb the tendency to take over governance, resolve internecine disputes and bring in peace and stability, a prerequisite for progress and prosperity of the African people.
Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Ruhil Rohini
Published: December 2017

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) are viewed as extension of millennium development goals (MDGs) and a post-2015 agenda to fight against poverty and hunger, while protecting human rights of people and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development and healthy lives. It sounds simple but there are very complex international dynamics involved with evolution of MDGs and then SDGs. This review article examines the sociopolitical evidence base that served as motivation for MDGs to come and later on SDGs. The antecedents to the MDGs include some key summits of the 1990s which fed into many of the goals of MDGs. Then Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) came out with international development goals (IDGs). Then Clare Short (a member of the Labour Party) in the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Utstein group propelled the IDGs by securing support for them. The UN also came out with a set of development goals to be converted to MDGs. There were interactions between and within the UN and DAC to bring together one set of MDGs. Other big players were IMF and World Bank. There was huge criticism of MDGs for not being holistic as they left out certain social issues. Also there was a need for post-2015 agenda. As a result, SDGs came by the end of 2015. Even they could not escape criticism, and the article discusses few debates around them. At last, the article discusses potential challenges for SDGs, both at international level as well as national level with special emphasis on health-related SDGs.
Controlling off-axis stiffness and stress-relaxation of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer using alumina nanoparticles
Authors: Garner Amy , Genedy Moneeb , Kandil Usama , Taha Mahmoud Reda
Published: December 2017

This investigation experimentally examines the effect of incorporating alumina nanoparticles on the off-axis stiffness and stress-relaxation of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Four epoxy–alumina nanoparticle nanocomposites incorporating 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 wt% alumina nanoparticles of the total weight of epoxy are examined. Off-axis tension stiffness and stress-relaxation tests were performed on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer coupons fabricated with alumina nanoparticles–epoxy nanocomposites. Dynamic mechanical analysis testing of neat epoxy and epoxy nanocomposites incorporating alumina nanoparticles was used to identify the stiffness and relaxation behavior of the alumina nanoparticles–epoxy nanocomposite matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to observe chemical changes when alumina nanoparticles are mixed with epoxy. It is shown that using alumina nanoparticles at a concentration close to 2.0 wt%, can reduce the off-axis stiffness by ∼30% and increase the off-axis stress-relaxation of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer by ∼10%.
Kama Muta: Similar Emotional Responses to Touching Videos Across the United States, Norway, China, Israel, and Portugal
Authors: Seibt Beate , Schubert Thomas W. , Zickfeld Janis H. , Zhu Lei , Arriaga Patrícia , Simão Cláudia , Nussinson Ravit , Fiske Alan Page
Published: December 2017

Ethnographies, histories, and popular culture from many regions around the world suggest that marked moments of love, affection, solidarity, or identification everywhere evoke the same emotion. Based on these observations, we developed the kama muta model, in which we conceptualize what people in English often label being moved as a culturally implemented social-relational emotion responding to and regulating communal sharing relations. We hypothesize that experiencing or observing sudden intensification of communal sharing relationships universally tends to elicit this positive emotion, which we call kama muta. When sufficiently intense, kama muta is often accompanied by tears, goosebumps or chills, and feelings of warmth in the center of the chest. We tested this model in seven samples from the United States, Norway, China, Israel, and Portugal. Participants watched short heartwarming videos, and after each video reported the degree, if any, to which they were “moved,” or a translation of this term, its valence, appraisals, sensations, and communal outcome. We confirmed that in each sample, indicators of increased communal sharing predicted kama muta; tears, goosebumps or chills, and warmth in the chest were associated sensations; and the emotion was experienced as predominantly positive, leading to feeling communal with the characters who evoked it.
Healthcare access for deaf patients – The legal and ethical perspectives
Authors: Laur Audrey
Published: December 2017

Deaf patients are too often overlooked in our society despite requiring in-depth attention to their specific communication needs. If they are not able to communicate with healthcare professionals, they may be unable to access and receive appropriate care. Yet, medical providers who fail to address patients’ linguistic difficulties breach their ethical and professional duties, and face potential malpractice lawsuits. This article aims to highlight the unequal access of medical care by deaf patients and the impact of language barriers. It also provides an overview of medical providers’ ethical and legal duties to assist people with hearing disabilities and discusses the benefits of using professional interpreting services and offers recommendations to address the ethical and legal issues faced by medical professionals.
Electric or traumatic injury? The role of histopathological investigations
Authors: Aquila Isabella , Gratteri Santo , Amirante Claudio , Fineschi Vittorio , Frati Paola , Ricci Pietrantonio
Published: December 2017

Analysis of wounds is crucial in forensic medicine to prove how an injury was caused. In many cases, microscopic analysis may be decisive. It is often difficult to distinguish macroscopic skin lesions resulting from electrical, mechanical and from thermal trauma where these occur simultaneously and to formulate a correct differential diagnosis. We report two cases in which the injuries found on the bodies and the manner of death raised uncertainty. An autopsy was performed. External examination of the bodies showed skin injuries that needed histopathological analysis to reconstruct the dynamics and the manner of death which has an important role in doubtful cases.