bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restrained Th17 response and myeloid cell infiltration into the central nervous system by human decidua-derived mesenchymal stem cells during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Bravo Beatriz , Gallego Marta I. , Flores Ana I. , Bornstein Rafael , Puente-Bedia Alba , Hernández Javier , de la Torre Paz , García-Zaragoza Elena , Perez-Tavarez Raquel , Grande Jesús , Ballester Alicia , Ballester Sara
Published: March 2016

Background

Multiple sclerosis is a widespread inflammatory demyelinating disease. Several immunomodulatory therapies are available, including interferon-β, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, fingolimod, and mitoxantrone. Although useful to delay disease progression, they do not provide a definitive cure and are associated with some undesirable side-effects. Accordingly, the search for new therapeutic methods constitutes an active investigation field. The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to modify the disease course is currently the subject of intense interest. Decidua-derived MSCs (DMSCs) are a cell population obtained from human placental extraembryonic membranes able to differentiate into the three germ layers. This study explores the therapeutic potential of DMSCs.

Methods

We used the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model to evaluate the effect of DMSCs on clinical signs of the disease and on the presence of inflammatory infiltrates in the central nervous system. We also compared the inflammatory profile of spleen T cells from DMSC-treated mice with that of EAE control animals, and the influence of DMSCs on the in vitro definition of the Th17 phenotype. Furthermore, we analyzed the effects on the presence of some critical cell types in central nervous system infiltrates.

Results

Preventive intraperitoneal injection of DMSCs resulted in a significant delay of external signs of EAE. In addition, treatment of animals already presenting with moderate symptoms resulted in mild EAE with reduced disease scores. Besides decreased inflammatory infiltration, diminished percentages of CD4+IL17+, CD11b+Ly6G+and CD11b+Ly6C+cells were found in infiltrates of treated animals. Early immune response was mitigated, with spleen cells of DMSC-treated mice displaying low proliferative response to antigen, decreased production of interleukin (IL)-17, and increased production of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. Moreover, lower RORγT and higher GATA-3 expression levels were detected in DMSC-treated mice. DMSCs also showed a detrimental influence on the in vitro definition of the Th17 phenotype.

Conclusions

DMSCs modulated the clinical course of EAE, modified the frequency and cell composition of the central nervous system infiltrates during the disease, and mediated an impairment of Th17 phenotype establishment in favor of the Th2 subtype. These results suggest that DMSCs might provide a new cell-based therapy for the control of multiple sclerosis.
On solving split equilibrium problems and fixed point problems of nonspreading multi-valued mappings in Hilbert spaces
Authors: Suantai Suthep , Cholamjiak Prasit , Cho Yeol Je , Cholamjiak Watcharaporn
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we introduce and study iterative schemes for solving split equilibrium problems and fixed point problems of nonspreading multi-valued mappings in Hilbert spaces and prove that the modified Mann iteration converges weakly to a common solution of the considered problems. Moreover, we present some examples and numerical results for the main results.
Visible and infrared imaging spectroscopy of paintings and improved reflectography
Authors: Delaney John K. , Thoury Mathieu , Zeibel Jason G. , Ricciardi Paola , Morales Kathryn M. , Dooley Kathryn A.
Published: March 2016

Background

Imaging spectroscopy, the collection of spatially co-registered images in many contiguous spectral bands, has been developed for remote sensing of the Earth utilizing reflectance or luminescence. In this paper we summarize findings on the application of imaging spectroscopy to works of art in order to identify and map artists’ pigments, improve the visualization of preparatory sketches, and identify non-original material.

Methods

Two types of novel hyperspectral cameras, one operating from the visible to near-infrared (VNIR, 400–900 nm) and the other in the shortwave infrared (SWIR, 950–1700 nm), have been used to collect diffuse reflectance spectral image cubes from a variety of paintings. The resulting cubes (400–1700 nm, 310 spectral bands) were calibrated to reflectance and the resulting spectra compared with point–based spectra collected with a fiber reflectance spectrometer (350–2500 nm). In addition, a calibrated multispectral camera (600–950 nm, eight spectral bands) was used to obtain luminescence spectral image cubes after exciting paintings at blue wavelengths.

Results

False–color images obtained from the SWIR imaging system are shown to give improved visualization of changes from paintings having large and complex reworkings, e.g. Pablo Picasso’s The Tragedy (1903). False–color images and reflectance spectra allowed definitive identification of restoration in a late 13th century Sienese painting that cannot be seen by traditional infrared reflectography. Spectral image processing on the reflectance image cubes have been used to identify the primary pigments or pigment mixtures. For example, the primary pigments and their distribution in Picasso’s Peonies (1901) was determined and compared with x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x–ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS).

Conclusion

The results show that the combination of both the SWIR reflectance data and the luminescence data provides a more robust ability to assign the pigments than with visible spectroscopy alone. Also highlighted is the utility of reflectance imaging spectroscopy in the SWIR region to better reveal specific paint changes, including changes in the drawings and markings made by the original artist, or changes made by a subsequent conservator such as a fill.
Pharmaceutical policies in a crisis? Challenges and solutions identified at the PPRI Conference
Authors: Vogler Sabine , Zimmermann Nina , Ferrario Alessandra , Wirtz Veronika J. , de Joncheere Kees , Pedersen Hanne Bak , Dedet Guillaume , Paris Valérie , Mantel-Teeuwisse Aukje K. , Babar Zaheer-Ud-Din ,   on behalf of the Scientific Programme Committee of the 2015 PPRI Conference
Published: March 2016

In October 2015, the third international Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information (PPRI) Conference was held in Vienna to foster discussion on challenges in pricing and reimbursement policies for medicines. The research presented highlighted that commonly used pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies are not sufficiently effective to address current challenges. Conference participants called for fundamental reforms to ensure access to medicines, particularly to new and potentially more effective and/or safe medicines, while safeguarding the financial sustainability of health systems and working towards universal health coverage.
Navigating through the maze of pricing and affordability of branded pharmaceuticals in the midst of the financial crisis: a comparative study among five European recession countries, from a Cyprus perspective
Authors: Petrou Panagiotis , Talias Michael A.
Published: March 2016

Background

Financial recession mandated the introduction of harsh austerity measures. Health, and particularly pharmaceuticals, constitute a significant part of public expenditure and as such they have been subject to significant budget reduction and stringent policies. As a consequence of these measures, an increasing percentage of patients resort to private sector for acquisition of their prescribed pharmaceuticals, due to exclusion of public health care beneficiary status, reduction of breadth of national formularies, delays in reimbursement and excessive waiting times. Affordability for pharmaceuticals in the private sector is of paramount importance since household disposable income plummets and more people are prone to impoverishment. This is critical for branded products, whose active substance and trademark are under patent protection, since no alternative options exist while their monopoly status imply that their prices are high. The impact on affordability regarding access of patient to necessary pharmaceutical care has not been documented in developed countries.

Methods

A laspeyer index was constructed to compare prices of branded pharmaceuticals and assess affordability, by adjusting price index with Gross Domestic Product Purchase Power Parity per capita. Laspeyer index compares prices based on weights, which in our study are the corresponding sales of products in Cyprus. Moreover, we define the percentage of population that will face catastrophic pharmaceutical expenditure after acquisition of one product from eight major and common therapeutic categories. We used data from five European recession countries: Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Cyprus, for 48 products which were selected based on sales.

Results

Cyprus displays the highest prices for pharmaceuticals. By adjusting for Gross Domestic Product Purchase Power Parity per capita, affordability is worst for Cyprus and Portugal.

Conclusions

As more patients have to resort to private sector for provision of adequate and timely healthcare, health agencies must reassess affordability of medicines and minimise catastrophic expenditure impact. Health agencies should primarily try to enhance efficiency of the system and reduce waste, instead of resorting to blunt budget reduction, which can demonstrate unpredictable consequences in public health.
Volume-based growth tumor kinetics as a prognostic biomarker for patients with EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma undergoing EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: a case control study
Authors: Lee Ji Hyun , Lee Ho Yun , Ahn Myung-Ju , Park Keunchil , Ahn Jin Seok , Sun Jong-Mu , Lee Kyung Soo
Published: March 2016

Background

We aim to determine whether volumetric assessment has the potential to serve as a prognostic biomarker, and to assess the relationship between longitudinal tumor data during treatment and prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients with sensitizing EGFR mutations treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI).

Methods

We retrospectively assessed patients with EGFR-mutant stage IV lung adenocarcinoma who were treated with EGFR TKIs until disease progression. CT studies of 106 patients were quantitatively analyzed in terms of tumor size and volume by comparing baseline and follow-up CT scans obtained at every two treatment cycles. Tumor response was quantified using longitudinal measurements, and tumor growth kinetics was determined. Correlation with early surrogate parameters for tumor response evaluation such as change in size, volume, and response rate was performed. The Cox-proportional hazard model and Log-rank test were used to predict overall survival (OS).

Results

Responders based on the percent change in volume after four cycles of TKI therapy had a higher OS than non-responders (P = 0.035). The percent of volume and size changes after four cycles of TKI therapy were significantly correlated with TTP (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Volume measurements and corresponding rates of growth appear to be helpful adjuncts for predicting survival in patients undergoing EGFR-TKI therapy.
Fashion set design with an emphasis on fabric composition using the interactive genetic algorithm
Authors: Khajeh Mahnaz , Payvandy Pedram , Derakhshan Seyyed Javad
Published: March 2016

Today, with increasing development of digital technologies and their use to promote and accelerate artistic production trends as well as decreasing utilization of manual and traditional methods, the use of computers has had a special place in fashion design. The present research seeks to design a fashion system utilizing a set of fabric patterns through the interactive genetic algorithm to produce artistic creativity and a set of clothes designs. First, clothes components, including top, crown, skirt, blouse, sleeve and shoes, and fabric patterns proportionate to each clothes component are designed and coded separately. This system combines clothes components and fabric pattern set, using the interactive genetic algorithm and laws based on fashion design. Then, fitness of the designs created is determined by the user and next generations are produced by this fitness and evolution principles so fashion design trend is performed by the user’s opinion. The results of evolutions indicate system efficiency in fashion set design using a fabric pattern set at the least cost and shortest time according to user tastes.
Reconstructing the primary reflections in seismic data by Marchenko redatuming and convolutional interferometry
Authors: Meles Giovanni Angelo , Wapenaar Kees , Curtis Andrew
Published: March 2016

State-of-the-art methods to image the earth’s subsurface using active-source seismic reflection data involve reverse time migration. This and other standard seismic processing methods such as velocity analysis provide best results only when all waves in the data set are primaries (waves reflected only once). A variety of methods are therefore deployed as processing to predict and remove multiples (waves reflected several times); however, accurate removal of those predicted multiples from the recorded data using adaptive subtraction techniques proves challenging, even in cases in which they can be predicted with reasonable accuracy. We present a new, alternative strategy to construct a parallel data set consisting only of primaries, which is calculated directly from recorded data. This obviates the need for multiple prediction and removal methods. Primaries are constructed by using convolutional interferometry to combine the first-arriving events of upgoing and direct-wave downgoing Green’s functions to virtual receivers in the subsurface. The required upgoing wavefields to virtual receivers are constructed by Marchenko redatuming. Crucially, this is possible without detailed models of the earth’s subsurface reflectivity structure: Similar to the most migration techniques, the method only requires surface reflection data and estimates of direct (nonreflected) arrivals between the virtual subsurface sources and the acquisition surface. We evaluate the method on a stratified synclinal model. It is shown to be particularly robust against errors in the reference velocity model used and to improve the migrated images substantially.
Following the Francis report: Investigating patient experience
of mental health in-patient care
Authors: Csipke E. , Williams P. , Rose D. , Koeser L. , McCrone P. , Wykes T. , Craig T.
Published: March 2016

Background

The Francis report highlights perceptions of care that are affected by
different factors including ward structures.

Aims

To assess patient and staff perceptions of psychiatric in-patient wards
over time.

Method

Patient and staff perceptions of in-patient psychiatric wards were
assessed over 18 months. We also investigated whether the type of ward or
service structure affected these perceptions. We included triage and
routine care. The goal was to include at least 50% of eligible patients
and staff.

Results

The most dramatic change was a significant deterioration in all
experiences over the courseof the study. Systems of care or specific
wards did not affect patient experience but staff were more dissatisfied
in the triage system.

Conclusions

This is the first report of deterioration in perceptions of the
therapeutic in-patient environment that has been captured in a rigorous
way. It may reflect contemporaneous experiences across the National
Health Service of budget reductions and increased throughput. The ward
systems we investigated did not improve patient experience and triage may
have been detrimental to staff.
Short-Chain Fatty Acid Acetate Stimulates Adipogenesis and Mitochondrial Biogenesis via GPR43 in Brown Adipocytes
Authors: Hu Jiamiao , Kyrou Ioannis , Tan Bee K. , Dimitriadis Georgios K. , Ramanjaneya Manjunath , Tripathi Gyanendra , Patel Vanlata , James Sean , Kawan Mohamed , Chen Jing , Randeva Harpal S.
Published: March 2016

Short-chain fatty acids play crucial roles in a range of physiological functions. However, the effects of short-chain fatty acids on brown adipose tissue have not been fully investigated. We examined the role of acetate, a short-chain fatty acid formed by fermentation in the gut, in the regulation of brown adipocyte metabolism. Our results show that acetate up-regulates adipocyte protein 2, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, and uncoupling protein-1 expression and affects the morphological changes of brown adipocytes during adipogenesis. Moreover, an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis was observed after acetate treatment. Acetate also elicited the activation of ERK and cAMP response element-binding protein, and these responses were sensitive to G(i/o)-type G protein inactivator, Gβγ-subunit inhibitor, phospholipase C inhibitor, and MAPK kinase inhibitor, indicating a role for the G(i/o)βγ/phospholipase C/protein kinase C/MAPK kinase signaling pathway in these responses. These effects of acetate were mimicked by treatment with 4-chloro-α-(1-methylethyl)-N-2-thiazolylbenzeneacetamide, a synthetic G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) agonist and were impaired in GPR43 knockdown cells. Taken together, our results indicate that acetate may have important physiological roles in brown adipocytes through the activation of GPR43.
Spatial Politics/Poetics, Late Modernism, and Elizabeth Bowen'sThe Last September
Authors: White Siân E.
Published: March 2016

This article explores how Elizabeth Bowen's novel The Last September relies on a spatial aesthetic to convey interpersonal and political tensions, corresponding with the novelistic trend toward greater historical and political engagement that recent scholars have deemed “late modernism.” Bowen's spatial aesthetic in turn insists on a related spatial interpretative practice, which is consistent with theoretical developments in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s that consider how space and time cooperate in the configuration of narrative. Her poetics destabilizes time and linear plot as the primary constituents of narrative and undermines the ostensible authority of the “narrator” in service of representing focalizers' internal experiences. Her experiments with spatiality and focalization are less overtly radical than those of high modernist or avant-garde fiction writers. Instead, her subtly indeterminate narrative discourse uses space and time cooperatively and incorporates variable focalization to propel narrative in service of an engagement with the historico-political context. The subtlety with which the poetics expresses its politics conveys the experience of the historical moment even to a reader to whom the political outcome is known. Thus Bowen's changes to narrative discourse produce a tension between the focalized present and the project of looking back at history, conveying an ambivalent mixture of lamentation, critique, and tentative responsibility that characterizes the ongoing experience for many Anglo-Irish of her generation. Bowen's early regional novel is of its own moment, historical, political, and also aesthetic, at the forefront of the broader trend in midcentury aesthetics that we now call late modernism.
Hwee Hwee Tan'sMammon Inc.as Bildungsroman; Or, the Coming-of-Career Narrative
Authors: Naruse Cheryl Narumi
Published: March 2016

This article examines the relationship between genre and neoliberalism through a reading of a novel about a diasporic Singaporean trying to land a position with the “largest company in the world.” Following a discussion of how Hwee Hwee Tan's novel Mammon Inc. comments on Singapore's socioeconomic restructuring after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the article argues that attention to genre provides a framework through which to understand how the internalizing of neoliberal values becomes a matter of personal fulfillment and self-improvement. Tan's novel dramatizes neoliberal subject formation in Singapore today and can be described as a “coming-of-career” novel, or the story of becoming an economically viable subject in a globalized economy through the pursuit of a professional career. Through a reading of Mammon Inc., the article discusses the significance of age identity and age relations for neoliberal ideology. The novel highlights the manner in which professional careers are conflated with notions of life and the ways they are posed as a corrective to youth. Although the coming-of-career narrative is limited to discussions of privileged and upwardly mobile subjects, there is potential to think about the genre more generally. This article proposes that theorizing the neoliberal bildungsroman might present an opportunity to better historicize neoliberalism.
A role for PDGF-C/PDGFRα signaling in the formation of the meningeal basement membranes surrounding the cerebral cortex
Authors: Andrae Johanna , Gouveia Leonor , Gallini Radiosa , He Liqun , Fredriksson Linda , Nilsson Ingrid , Johansson Bengt R. , Eriksson Ulf , Betsholtz Christer
Published: March 2016

Platelet-derived growth factor-C (PDGF-C) is one of three known ligands for the tyrosine kinase receptor PDGFRα. Analysis of Pdgfc null mice has demonstrated roles for PDGF-C in palate closure and the formation of cerebral ventricles, but redundancy with other PDGFRα ligands might obscure additional functions. In search of further developmental roles for PDGF-C, we generated mice that were double mutants for Pdgfc−/− and PdgfraGFP/+. These mice display a range of severe phenotypes including spina bifida, lung emphysema, abnormal meninges and neuronal over-migration in the cerebral cortex. We focused our analysis on the central nervous system (CNS), where PDGF-C was identified as a critical factor for the formation of meninges and assembly of the glia limitans basement membrane. We also present expression data on Pdgfa, Pdgfc and Pdgfra in the cerebral cortex and microarray data on cerebral meninges.
Impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on brain and retina
Authors: Poon Annie Wing Hoi , Ma Emilie Xiao Hang , Vadivel Arul , Jung Suna , Khoja Zehra , Stephens Laurel , Thébaud Bernard , Wintermark Pia
Published: March 2016

Many premature newborns develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease resulting from prolonged mechanical ventilation and hyperoxia. BPD survivors typically suffer long-term injuries not only to the lungs, but also to the brain and retina. However, currently it is not clear whether the brain and retinal injuries in these newborns are related only to their prematurity, or also to BPD. We investigated whether the hyperoxia known to cause histologic changes in the lungs similar to BPD in an animal model also causes brain and retinal injuries. Sprague Dawley rat pups were exposed to hyperoxia (95% O2, ‘BPD’ group) or room air (21% O2, ‘control’ group) from postnatal day 4–14 (P4–14); the rat pups were housed in room air between P14 and P28. At P28, they were sacrificed, and their lungs, brain, and eyes were extracted. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed on lung and brain sections; retinas were stained with Toluidine Blue. Hyperoxia exposure resulted in an increased mean linear intercept in the lungs (P<0.0001). This increase was associated with a decrease in some brain structures [especially the whole-brain surface (P=0.02)], as well as a decrease in the thickness of the retinal layers [especially the total retina (P=0.0008)], compared to the room air control group. In addition, a significant negative relationship was observed between the lung structures and the brain (r=−0.49, P=0.02) and retina (r=−0.70, P=0.0008) structures. In conclusion, hyperoxia exposure impaired lung, brain, and retina structures. More severe lung injuries correlated with more severe brain and retinal injuries. This result suggests that the same animal model of chronic neonatal hyperoxia can be used to simultaneously study lung, brain and retinal injuries related to hyperoxia.
Multicolor mapping of the cardiomyocyte proliferation dynamics that construct the atrium
Authors: Foglia Matthew J. , Cao Jingli , Tornini Valerie A. , Poss Kenneth D.
Published: March 2016

The orchestrated division of cardiomyocytes assembles heart chambers of distinct morphology. To understand the structural divergence of the cardiac chambers, we determined the contributions of individual embryonic cardiomyocytes to the atrium in zebrafish by multicolor fate-mapping, and we compare our analysis to the established proliferation dynamics of ventricular cardiomyocytes. We find that most atrial cardiomyocytes become rod-shaped in the second week of life, generating a single-muscle-cell-thick myocardial wall with a striking webbed morphology. Inner pectinate myofibers form mainly by direct branching, unlike delamination events that create ventricular trabeculae. Thus muscle clones assembling the atrial chamber can extend from wall to lumen. As zebrafish mature, atrial wall cardiomyocytes proliferate laterally to generate cohesive patches of diverse shapes and sizes, frequently with dominant clones that comprise 20-30% of the wall area. A subpopulation of cardiomyocytes that transiently express amhc contributes substantially to specific regions of the ventricle, suggesting an unappreciated level of plasticity during chamber formation. Our findings reveal proliferation dynamics and fate decisions of cardiomyocytes that produce the distinct architecture of the atrium.
Induction of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in human abdominal aortic aneurysm: therapeutic potential of HDAC inhibitors
Authors: Galán María , Varona Saray , Orriols Mar , Rodríguez José Antonio , Aguiló Silvia , Dilmé Jaume , Camacho Mercedes , Martínez-González José , Rodriguez Cristina
Published: March 2016

Clinical management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is currently limited to elective surgical repair because an effective pharmacotherapy is still awaited. Inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity could be a promising therapeutic option in cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to characterise HDAC expression in human AAA and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of class I and IIa HDAC inhibitors in the AAA model of angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused apolipoprotein-E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice. Real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry evidenced an increased expression of HDACs 1, 2 (both class I), 4 and 7 (both class IIa) in abdominal aorta samples from patients undergoing AAA open repair (n=22) compared with those from donors (n=14). Aortic aneurysms from Ang-II-infused ApoE−/− mice exhibited a similar HDAC expression profile. In these animals, treatment with a class I HDAC inhibitor (MS-275) or a class IIa inhibitor (MC-1568) improved survival, reduced the incidence and severity of AAA and limited aneurysmal expansion evaluated by Doppler ultrasonography. These beneficial effects were more potent in MC-1568-treated mice. The disorganisation of elastin and collagen fibres and lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration were effectively reduced by both inhibitors. Additionally, HDAC inhibition attenuated the exacerbated expression of pro-inflammatory markers and the increase in metalloproteinase-2 and -9 activity induced by Ang II in this model. Therefore, our data evidence that HDAC expression is deregulated in human AAA and that class-selective HDAC inhibitors limit aneurysm expansion in an AAA mouse model. New-generation HDAC inhibitors represent a promising therapeutic approach to overcome human aneurysm progression.
Epileptogenesis in neurocutaneous disorders with focus in Sturge Weber syndrome
Authors: Pinto Anna , Sahin Mustafa , Pearl Phillip L.
Published: March 2016

Epilepsy is a major morbidity in Sturge Weber syndrome, a segmental vascular neurocutaneous disorder classically associated with facial angiomas, glaucoma, and leptomeningeal capillary-venous type vascular malformations. The extent of the latter correlates with neurological outcome. Post-zygotic mosaicism for the activating mutation p.R183Q of the GNAQ gene has been identified as the major cause. GNAQ encodes for an alpha subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein critical to blood vessel development. The earlier the timing of the mutation in development, the more severe the involvement, e.g. from isolated port-wine stains to the full syndrome. The strongest predictors of adverse outcomes are MRI and the presence of angiomas involving any part of the forehead, delineated inferiorly from the outer canthus of the eye to the top of the ear, and including the upper eyelid.  The neurological course may be progressive and the typical constellation of symptoms is focal onset seizures, hemiparesis, headache, stroke-like episodes, behavior problems, intellectual disability, and visual field deficits. Antiseizure medications are effective in about half of patients. The presence of localized seizures, focal neurological deficits, and drug resistant epilepsy indicate epilepsy surgical evaluation. Earlier seizure onset, i.e. before six months of age, is associated with a more severe course with significant residual deficits. Factors contributing to epileptogenesis include decreased brain tissue perfusion due to abnormal venous drainage, anoxic injury contributing to cerebral calcification, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, and the presence of developmental cortical malformations. Pre-symptomatic prophylactic treatment may be a future option to modify the course of the disease including the associated epileptogenesis.
On Implementation of the Model for Integrating a Foreign Language and Subject Content in the Educational Process of a Technical University
Authors: ����������  , Grigoreva K.
Published: March 2016

The paper reports on how to develop the model for integration of a foreign language teaching course and the professional subject content, and further,

on how to embed this didactic model in the educational process of a technical university. The conceptual framework is based on the principle of Content

and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and J. Cummins� theory of Language and Cognition. The model was developed based on the �Professional

English� teaching course, designed for students majoring in the �Technical exploitation of transport radio equipment� specialty. To test the model effi -

ciency, the teaching experiment was held in 2012-2015 at the Kazan National Research Technical University named after A.N. Tupolev. The results of the

experiment are also presented and analyzed in the paper.
Realisation of the Rights of Spouses During Realisation of Activity of the Legal Person
Authors: Levushkin Anatoliy
Published: March 2016

The article analyzes some of the peculiarities of the legal regulation of family relations in the aspect of the spouses’ participation in the activities of the legal entity. To manage these relationships on the one hand, the rules of family law relating to the regulation of property relations between spouses are used, and on the other — the rules of civil and corporate law defining the legal status and activities of commercial entities. The procedure for disposal of the common property of the spouses is considered, and the cases when it is necessary to obtain the consent of a spouse for transactions are analyzes. Attention is drawn to the possible existence of a conflict between the interests protected by family and civil law. The conclusions which were made by the author are supported by examples from the judicial practice.
Licensing Activity of Public Authorities in the Field of Defense
Authors: Kuznetsov Vladimir
Published: March 2016

The problem of legal regulation of licensing method of public relations in the field of defense allocated from the general problems of applying authorization method is considered in this article. Long and widely known form of legal permission (licensing, accreditation and other types of permits) the subject structure which can be defined by a pair of executive authority — the physical or legal person. Meanwhile licensing relationships can occur not only between these types of entities. In the licensing relationship between them can join public authorities at different levels. The study analyzes the current legislation in the sphere of defense, in which a special group of licensing relations associated with the use of the Armed Forces and special weapons. The conclusion about the need for detailed regulation of the internal legislation of the use of armed force of the state through the creation of a special administrative-legal regime is made.
About Some Priorities of Legal Regulation of Local Government
Authors: Vasilev Vsevolod
Published: March 2016

New moments in the ratio of federal and the regional legislation on local government are considered in the article. Some tendencies and perspectives of legal regulation of local government are analyzed. In particular, questions of the organization of local government, its territorial device, competency status of municipal organs, financial security of their powers. The main priority of generalizing the legal regulation of local self-government author sees in the release of local government from the excessive presence of the state. Need of more full embodiment in practice of local government of the constitutional instructions is justified. In article acceptance at the federal level of the concept of a state policy in the field of local government is offered.
Sparse Process Flexibility Designs: Is the Long Chain Really Optimal?
Authors: Désir Antoine , Goyal Vineet , Wei Yehua , Zhang Jiawei
Published: March 2016

Sparse process flexibility and the long chain have become important concepts in design flexible manufacturing systems. In this paper, we study the performance of the long chain in comparison to all designs with at most 2n edges over n supply and n demand nodes. We show that, surprisingly, long chain is not always optimal in this class of networks even for i.i.d. demand distributions. In particular, we present a family of instances where a disconnected network with 2n edges has a strictly better performance than the long chain under a specific class of i.i.d. demand distributions. This is quite surprising and contrary to the intuition that a connected design performs better than a disconnected one under exchangeable distributions. Although our family of examples disprove the optimality of the long chain in general, we observe that the empirical performance of the long chain is nearly optimal.

To further understand the effectiveness of the long chain, we compare its performance to connected designs with at most 2n arcs. We show that the long chain is optimal in this class of designs for exchangeable demand distributions. Our proof is based on a coupling argument and a combinatorial analysis of the structure of maximum flow in directed networks. The analysis provides useful insights towards not just understanding the optimality of long chain but also toward designing more general sparse flexibility networks.
Placing mental health at the top of the agenda
Authors: Faux Karen
Published: March 2016

The government has finally woken up to the fact that it is time to face the country's mental health crisis, and address its roots that often stem from childhood. While it has pledged extra funds for NHS support services, will schools feel the benefit?
Teaching resilience
Authors: Pickworth Frances
Published: March 2016

Frances Pickworth suggests how teachers can have input into a whole school strategy that promotes wellbeing in pupils, with surprisingly effective results.
Dealing with the pupil places shortage
Authors: Walton Beth
Published: March 2016

With pupil numbers on the rise and many schools already oversubscribed, Beth Walton looks at how we can manage the issues that come with an overcrowded system
Character and the curriculum
Authors: Bawden Matt
Published: March 2016

As we near the publication of new, government-backed character education resources, Matt Bawden pulls together the broader themes to have emerged from the work that has gone into their creation
Online safety threats
Authors: Corish Ken
Published: March 2016

With Ofsted's close focus on the online safety of your pupils, what are the key threats and risks that schools must be tackling? Online safety expert Ken Corish advises
Coming out during adolescence
Authors: Thornton Stephanie
Published: March 2016

It is a sad fact that gay and lesbian young people still face huge challenges when they come out – not least prejudice and bullying. Dr Stephanie Thornton looks at what they can face and offers schools advice
Memory’s role in lending meaning to migrants’ lives
Authors: Misztal Barbara A.
Published: March 2016

This article argues that our understanding of the complexity of the links between memory and migration can be enhanced by focusing on the role of experience in lending meaning to migrants’ lives. Realizing the difficulties of providing a comprehensive sociological account of experience
and recognizing the potential of works of fiction to enrich sociological imagination, this article will try to capture details of people’s experiences with the help of literature. Using a broad narrative method to analyse the selected British realist novels, this paper aims to discover
their representations of the ways in which migrants rely on past experiences in sense-making practices.
Kant on Idealism, Freedom, and Standpoints
Authors: Kohl Markus
Published: March 2016

I propose a new way of understanding Kant’s doctrine of freedom. My reading seeks to combine features of two popular opposed lines of interpretation, namely, of metaphysical and anti-metaphysical readings. I defend the view that Kant’s idealist attempt to ‘save’ human freedom involves substantive metaphysical commitments. However, I show that this interpretation can fruitfully integrate important insights that are standardly associated with deflationary readings: first, the idea that for Kant freedom and natural necessity can be ascribed to one and the same human being; and second, the idea that for Kant the belief in freedom and the belief in natural necessity belong to two different standpoints.
Beyond Assimilation and Integration: The Shift to ‘National’ and ‘Transnational’ Inclusion
Authors: Houtkamp Christopher
Published: March 2016

One of the key concepts of the MIME (Mobility and Inclusion in Multilingual Europe) project is, obviously, ‘inclusion’. However, precisely describing what the concept means is not as straightforward as it may seem. It has been used in different contexts in scientific literature. This paper attempts to contribute to the enfolding MIME-framework by critically reflecting upon the definition of ‘inclusion’. Drawing upon theories of acculturation, three core concepts in minority literature, namely ‘assimilation,’ ‘integration,’ and ‘inclusion’ will be examined, and their differences demarcated. In the light of recent developments, such as transnationalism, it will be determined which concept is best suited to analyse contemporary accommodation processes of minorities in their countries of residence. After examining the trade-off between mobility and inclusion, a central topic in all MIMErelated research, some general conclusions about ‘inclusion’ and diversitymanagement will be drawn.
A differential-geometric approach to
deformations of pairs (X, E)
Authors: Chan Kwokwai , Suen Yat-Hin
Published: March 2016

This article gives an exposition of the deformation theory for pairs (X, E), where X is a compact
complex manifold and E is a holomorphic vector bundle over X, adapting an analytic viewpoint `a la Kodaira-
Spencer. By introducing and exploiting an auxiliary differential operator, we derive the Maurer–Cartan equation
and differential graded Lie algebra (DGLA) governing the deformation problem, and express them in
terms of differential-geometric notions such as the connection and curvature of E, obtaining a chain level
refinement of the classical results that the tangent space and obstruction space of the moduli problem are
respectively given by the first and second cohomology groups of the Atiyah extension of E over X. As an application,
we give examples where deformations of pairs are unobstructed.
Prediction of tensile strength in iron-contaminated archaeological wood by FT-IR spectroscopy – a study of degradation in recent oak andVasaoak
Authors: Almkvist Gunnar , Norbakhsh Shahin , Bjurhager Ingela , Varmuza Kurt
Published: March 2016

Oak from the Swedish warshipVasaand recent oak that was aged after impregnation with iron(II) chloride has been analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy and submitted to tensile strength testing. The aim was to investigate correlations between FT-IR bands in the fingerprint region, chemical degradation, and tensile strength in iron contaminated oak. The concentration of carboxylic functions increased and the acetyl groups in the hemicellulose fraction were decreasing as a function of degradation time. These changes are accompanied by reduced tensile strength and elevated content of oxalic acid (OA) in bothVasawood and the impregnated recent oak samples. To evaluate the possibility to predict tensile strength from spectral data, chemometric modeling by partial least-squares (PLS) regression was applied. The strategy of repeated double cross validation (rdCV) allowed a realistic prediction of tensile strength. Overall, chemical changes and mechanical performances of iron contaminated wood are strongly correlated and thus FT-IR spectroscopy is suited to predict the strength properties of the degraded wood.
An Improved Low-Reynolds-Number k – ϵ Model for Aerodynamic Flows
Authors: Zhang Yang , Bai Jun-Qiang , Xu Jing-Lei , Han Xing-Si , Wang Peng
Published: March 2016

A low-Reynolds-number k – ∈ model based on a new turbulent structure parameter

a

1
_

N
C

=
−

u

′

v

′

‾

/

u

′

v

′

‾

k

k

${a_{1\_{\rm{NC}}}}\left({= - \left| {{{\overline {u^' v^'}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\overline {u^' v^'}} k}} \right.} k}} \right|} \right)$

and a recalibrated wall-damping function (WDF)

f
μ

${f_\mu}$

is proposed and evaluated. In order to account for the effect of variation of Reynolds number on maximum value of the WDF, a ratio between two different turbulent Reynolds numbers is involved in the WDF. In addition, instead of using a constant ratio between Reynolds shear stress and turbulent kinetic energy, e. g. a
1 = 0.31, the new turbulent structure parameter a
1_NC is proposed based on several sets of direct numerical simulation (DNS) data. The deduction of near-wall asymptotic behavior is performed to prove that the new proposed model can yield a correct wall value for turbulent viscosity. The new model is validated with several well-documented flow cases, and the yielding results are in good agreement with experimental data. Moreover, three frequently used turbulence models are also involved into the comparisons and the results indicate that the new model offers remarkable improvement on the nonequilibrium flows, e. g. separated and adverse pressure gradient flows.
Kant’s Political Philosophy as a Theory of Non-Ideal Normativity
Authors: Horn Christoph
Published: March 2016

Kant’s political philosophy confronts its interpreters with a crucial difficulty: it is far from clear if (or how) Kant, in his political theory, makes use of the Categorical Imperative (CI). It is notoriously demanding to clarify the relationship that exists between his political thought on the one hand and the ethics of the
Influence of Metabolic Cage on Wistar Rat Physiological State
Authors: Zymantiene Judita , Zelvyte Rasa , Oberauskas Vaidas , Spancerniene Ugne
Published: March 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of metabolic cage housing on the Wistar rat physiological state and to analyze the correlation between the minerals in blood and urine. Thirty male rats were used in the experiment. Fifteen rats (control group) were housed individually in standard polycarbonate cages and fifteen rats (experimental group) in metabolic cages (Techniplast, Italy) for two weeks. Body weight, respiration rate, water and food consumptions were recorded for each animal at the beginning of the experiment. The same parameters, as well as blood and urine parameters of control and experimental animals were recorded during the experiment after 72 h, 168 h and 336 h of housing in standard cages and metabolic cages. Urine collection was measured only in the experimental group. Rats weight decreased from 3.84 % to 18.59 % (P<0.05), respiration rate from 18.65 % to 24.59 % (P<0.05) when rats were housed in metabolic cages. Consumption of food and water by the rat depended on how long the animal was kept in metabolic cage. Glucose concentration increased on average by 15.37 %, WBC count decreased by 5.83 % in the blood of rats housed in metabolic cages compared to the animals housed in standard cages. We did not observe significant changes of triglycerides concentration, red blood cells count and total protein between all rats. The positive moderate correlation of rat housing in a metabolic cage was between K blood and K urine, P blood and P urine, Na blood and K blood, between Na urine and P urine and significant negative moderate correlation was determined between K urine and P urine. These present study findings indicate that metabolism cage housing significantly affects rat’s physiological parameters and potentially may influence animal health and wellbeing.
The Prevalence of Pasteurella Multocida from Farm Pigs in Serbia
Authors: Radanovic Oliver , Zutic Jadranka , Jakic-Dimic Dobrila , Kureljusic Branislav , Savic Bozidar
Published: March 2016

The investigations covered a total of 234 lungs from necropsied pigs with different pneumonic lesions, from 6 farrow-to-finish pig farms during 2013 and 2014. The samples were inoculated on selective culture media and aerobically incubated at 37°C and in carbon dioxide condition. The isolated bacterial colonies were further characterised morphologically and biochemically. The identification was confirmed using the BBL Crystal, E/N, G/P ID Kit (Becton Dickinson). For determination of the type of Pasteurella multocida, the PCR method was used. The findings showed that bacteria were isolated from 202 (86%) out of 234 examined lung samples. The pure isolates of Pasteurella multocida were obtained from 71 (35 %) samples. Out of the remaining 29 (14%) examined lung samples, 9, 8, 7 and 5 examined lung samples were shown as mixed cultures of Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus spp., Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Haemophilus parasuis, respectively. The PCR method confirmed that all 15 investigated strains of P. multocida belong to type A.
Cardiotoxicity Study of the Aqueous Extract of Corn Silk in Rats
Authors: Adedapo Adeolu , Babarinsa Omotayo , Oyagbemi Ademola , Adedapo Aduragbenro , Omobowale Temidayo
Published: March 2016

In the ear of corn there are silky strands which run its length and these strands are known as corn silks. Folk remedies show that the corn silks have been used as an oral antidiabetic agent in China for many years and as herbal tea in other world nations for the amelioration of urinary tract infection. The extract is being assessed for safety in this study using histopathological changes, as well as an electrocardiogram (ECG). Graded doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of aqueous CS extract were administered to rats for seven days. The fourth group which served as control received 3 ml/kg dose of distilled water. On the eighth day, ECG was evaluated in ketamine/xylazine-induced anaesthesia in rats to determine changes in the heart rate, P-wave duration, P-R interval, R-amplitude, QRS duration, QT interval and QTc. Hearts from the experimental animals were collected for histopathological changes. The results showed that there was a significant change in the heart rate (groups B and C), P-wave duration (group D), QT interval (groups B, C and D) and QTc (groups B, C and D) when compared to the control group. Histology also indicated that sections of the heart showed fatty infiltration of inflamed heart and areas of moderate inflammation of the atrium and ventricle. It could therefore be concluded from this study that though folklore indicated that corn silk (CS) is of high medicinal value, one must be careful in using this product as medicinal agent especially in patients with compromised heart conditions.