bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A one-degree-of-freedom spherical mechanism for human knee joint modelling
Authors: Sancisi N , Zannoli D , Parenti-Castelli V , Belvedere C , Leardini A
Published: June 2011

In-depth comprehension of human knee kinematics is necessary in prosthesis and orthosis design and in surgical planning but requires complex mathematical models. Models based on one-degree-of-freedom equivalent mechanisms have replicated well the passive relative motion between the femur and tibia, i.e. the knee joint motion in virtually unloaded conditions. In these mechanisms, fibres within the anterior and posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments were taken as isometric and anatomical articulating surfaces as rigid. A new one-degree-of-freedom mechanism is analysed in the present study, which includes isometric fibres within the two cruciates and a spherical pair at the pivot point of the nearly spherical motion as measured for this joint. Bounded optimization was applied to the mechanism to refine parameter first estimates from experimental measurements on four lower-limb specimens and to best-fit the experimental motion of these knees. Relevant results from computer simulations were compared with those from one previous equivalent mechanism, which proved to be very accurate in a former investigation. The spherical mechanism represented knee motion with good accuracy, despite its simple structure. With respect to the previous more complex mechanism, the less satisfactory results in terms of replication of natural motion were counterbalanced by a reduction of computational costs, by an improvement in numerical stability of the mathematical model, and by a reduction of the overall mechanical complexity of the mechanism. These advantages can make the new mechanism preferable to the previous ones in certain applications, such as the design of prostheses, orthoses, and exoskeletons, and musculoskeletal modelling of the lower limb.
Insights into the Holocene environmental setting of Terra Nova Bay region (Ross Sea, Antarctica) from oxygen isotope geochemistry of Adélie penguin eggshells
Authors: Lorenzini Sandra , Baneschi Ilaria , Fallick Anthony E. , Salvatore Maria Cristina , Zanchetta Giovanni , Dallai Luigi , Baroni Carlo
Published: June 2011

An oxygen isotope record of Adélie penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae) eggshells from Terra Nova Bay (Victoria Land, Antarctica) has been reconstructed in order to provide insights into the palaeoenviroment of this region during the last ~8000 years. The δ18O values measured in eggshell carbonate show a great variability over the course of the studied period, with maximum values consistently around +27.5‰. Adopting a metabolic enrichment relative to water source of ~+28.5‰, eggshell δ18O values can be interpreted in terms of marine water uptake by the penguins. The spread in δ18O of eggshell carbonate at any given time toward more negative values reflects the existence of a low δ18O water end member, most plausibly snow or snowmelt. Samples younger than 2000 years are characterized by a general lack of very negative δ18O values. As also attested by other proxies, this shift toward more positive isotopic values is likely to be related both to a decreasing contribution of snow or meltwater in the seawaters and consequently to an absence or paucity on the boundary of the nesting sites of snow or snowfall and freshwater that could be directly eaten or drunk by penguins.
Sizing of Interface Delamination in a Composite T-Joint Using Time-of-Flight of Lamb Waves
Authors: Ramadas C. , Balasubramaniam Krishnan , Joshi Makarand , Krishnamurthy C.V.
Published: June 2011

The quantitative evaluation of the size of interface delamination in a glass/ epoxy (GFRP) composite T-joint is discussed here. An expression was derived to estimate the size of interface delamination from Time-of-Flight and group velocities of the fundamental anti-symmetric Lamb mode, A o. Numerical simulations were carried out on [02/90 2]s GFRP T-joint with different size of interface delaminations and validated with air-coupled ultrasonic experiments. The proposed methodology requires a baseline signal from a healthy region. Supplementary equations were presented to determine the error induced in the estimation of size of the interface delamination, due to mis-alignment during data collection.
“Business Ethics Everywhere”
Authors: Baker Susan D. , Comer Debra R.
Published: June 2011

This article introduces an experiential exercise that enhances students’ ability to identify ethical issues and to respond to them in ways that consider the relationship between organizational factors and ethical action. Students identify a required number of ethical incidents in their workplaces during a specified period. Students submit a written description for each incident, drawing from moral philosophical frameworks and/or other ethical concepts to label the issue as one that either exemplifies a “best practice” or “raises concern.” For “best practice” examples, students consider the implications of the practice on the organization and its stakeholders and whether and how the practice could be improved. For examples that “raise concern,” students explain what the ethically appropriate action would be, indicate whether they would take that action, report any reservations they have about taking that right action, and consider how to behave ethically in a way that would bring about desired outcomes without incurring negative outcomes. Then, a subset of submissions is selected for an in-class discussion. Using examples from students’ own experiences engages them and underscores for them the relevance of business ethics issues. Instructions for facilitating classroom discussion and variations for adapting the exercise are provided.
The Impact of Interpersonal Aggression on Performance Attributions
Authors: Bowler Mark C. , Woehr David J. , Bowler Jennifer L. , Wuensch Karl L. , McIntyre Michael D.
Published: June 2011

This study examined the causal attributions made by aggressive and nonaggressive individuals—as classified by a conditional reasoning measure of aggression—in response to incidents of subordinate success and failure. Following the presentation of traditional patterns of performance information (i.e., consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency), participants ( N = 407) made attributions regarding the cause of the subordinate’s behavior and indicated their preferred behavioral intentions. Overall, when evaluating incidents of subordinate success, the causal attributions of aggressive individuals were similar to those of nonaggressive individuals. However, when evaluating incidents of subordinate failure, the causal attributions of aggressive individuals deviated from those of nonaggressive individuals for three information patterns. Moreover, following a person attribution, aggressive individuals were more likely to endorse punitive responses to incidents of subordinate failure. Implications, potential limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma With Marked Bronchial Epithelial Involvement
Authors: Rosen Yale , Durie Nicole M.
Published: June 2011

Marked involvement of bronchial epithelium by malignant cells with a neuroendocrine immunophenotype was observed in a pulmonary lobectomy specimen containing combined small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Review of the medical literature reveals scant information on malignant neuroendocrine cells in bronchial epithelium accompanying SCLC and no documentation of an SCLC precursor. We discuss the possibility that the intraepithelial neoplastic lesion that we have described may be a primary lesion and possibly a precursor of SCLC and the alternative possibility that it represents invasion by underlying invasive SCLC. The need for further comprehensive study of the morphology and immunophenotype of bronchial mucosal abnormalities accompanying SCLC utilizing lung resection specimens is emphasized.
Mesothelin and GPR30 Staining Among a Spectrum of Pancreatic Epithelial Neoplasms
Authors: Glass Joseph P. , Parasher Gulshan , Arias-Pulido Hugo , Donohue Rachel , Cerilli Lisa A. , Prossnitz Eric R.
Published: June 2011

Introduction: Our study attempts to characterize mesothelin and GPR30 / estrogen receptor (ER) staining in pancreatic pathology. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for mesothelin, GPR30, and ER was performed on a variety of pancreatic lesions. Results: 24 of 42 (57%) adenocarcinomas stained for mesothelin, while 0 of 16 non-carcinomas (0%) stained (p = 0.0000784). 35 of 39 (90%) adenocarcinomas stained for GPR30, while only 4 of 15 (27%) non-carcinomas stained (p = 0.0000036). Apart from stromal staining in one case of mucinous cystic neoplasm, no cases stained for ER. 27 of 37 (73%) adenocarcinoma fine needle aspirates were positive for mesothelin. Discussion: GPR30 is more sensitive, but less specific than mesothelin for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Mesothelin is detected in most adenocarcinoma fine needle aspirates. ER is rarely detected in pancreatic lesions.
Müllerianosis of the Urinary Bladder
Authors: Olivia Vella Josefa Elizabeth , Nair Nithin , Ferryman Stephen Robert , Athavale Ramanand , Latthe Pallavi , Hirschowitz Lynn
Published: June 2011

Müllerianosis of the urinary bladder is a rare condition that encompasses 3 histological entities (endometriosis, endocervicosis, and endosalpingiosis). The authors report 2 patients with bladder müllerianosis, one of whom had endometriosis and the other a history of past pelvic surgery, describe the histological and cystoscopic features, and review the literature on this condition. Mucosal hyperemia and submucosal nodules or cysts with associated fibrosis and distortion of the bladder wall may mimic malignancy on cystoscopy, as may the infiltrative growth pattern sometimes evident histologically. Recognition of this complex diagnostic entity is important to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate investigation. There is a clinical association with endometriosis and past pelvic surgery.
Toxicity Profile of Solvents by Aspiration Approach for Topical Agent Delivery to Respiratory Tract Epithelium
Authors: Sharma Sheela , Lee Jin , Gao Pu , Steele Vernon E.
Published: June 2011

Agent solubility is a problem for aspiration of agents into lungs for chemopreventive efficacy evaluation, since many agents have to be dissolved in solvents. These solvents may be toxic to the lung epithelium. A study was conducted in female A/J mice to determine toxicity of different solvent concentrations by using saline, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethanol, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400), and labrasol for 1, 5, and 28 days via aspiration route. Toxicity was determined by measuring changes in body weight and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). No significant difference was observed in body weight, differential cell counts, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total protein in all solvent groups compared to saline by 28 days except 50% ethanol. However, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) showed significant increase in 2% and 10% DMSO, 10% ethanol, 0.1% and 2% PEG-400, and 1% labrasol by longer dosing. All solvents except for 10% ethanol and 2% PEG-400 are suitable for agent aspiration.
Fast GPU perspective grid construction and triangle tracing for exhaustive ray tracing of highly coherent rays
Authors: Perrotte Lancelot , Saupin Guillaume
Published: June 2011

In this article, we address the problem of computing, storing and sorting, at an interactive rate, all of the intersections between millions of triangles (a 3D scene) and millions of rays starting from the same point. In this paper we focus on the fast GPU construction of a grid in projective space referencing the triangles of a 3D scene. We introduce a fast GPU algorithm used to build a grid of the rays constituting the scene, in the same projective space. This ray-based grid is computed during the initialization of the scene, which allows us to achieve higher performance, and to construct the triangle-based grid in distinct passes for very large scenes, without having to manage memory transfers between CPU and GPU. This algorithm works the same way for both static and dynamic scenes, allowing us to achieve interactive processing of complex and dynamic scenes. These optimizations are used to speed up the geometrical computations used in the nuclear field to evaluate the impact of radiative sources on an operator. These geometrical computations are similar to those of traditional ray tracing, except that only highly coherent rays are thrown in our application, and that we are looking for all intersections along each ray.
Poorer clock draw test scores are associated with greater functional impairment in peripheral artery disease: The Walking and Leg Circulation Study II
Authors: Zimmermann Laura J , Ferrucci Luigi , Kiang Liu  , Lu Tian  , Guralnik Jack M , Criqui Michael H , Yihua Liao  , McDermott Mary M
Published: June 2011

We hypothesized that, in the absence of clinically recognized dementia, cognitive dysfunction measured by the clock draw test (CDT) is associated with greater functional impairment in men and women with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Participants were men and women aged 60 years and older with Mini-Mental Status Examination scores ≥ 24 with PAD ( n = 335) and without PAD ( n = 234). We evaluated the 6-minute walk test, 4-meter walking velocity at usual and fastest pace, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and accelerometer-measured physical activity. CDTs were scored using the Shulman system as follows: Category 1 (worst): CDT score 0—2; Category 2: CDT score 3; Category 3 (best): CDT score 4—5. Results were adjusted for age, sex, race, education, ankle—brachial index (ABI), and comorbidities. In individuals with PAD, lower CDT scores were associated with slower 4-meter usual-paced walking velocity (Category 1: 0.78 meters/second; Category 2: 0.83 meters/second; Category 3: 0.86 meters/second; p-trend = 0.025) and lower physical activity (Category 1: 420 activity units; Category 2: 677 activity units; Category 3: 701 activity units; p-trend = 0.045). Poorer CDT scores were also associated with worse functional performance in individuals without PAD (usual and fast-paced walking velocity and SPPB, p-trend = 0.022, 0.043, and 0.031, respectively). In conclusion, cognitive impairment identified with CDT is independently associated with greater functional impairment in older, dementia-free individuals with and without PAD. Longitudinal studies are necessary to explore whether baseline CDT scores and changes in CDT scores over time can predict long-term decline in functional performance in individuals with and without PAD.
The pedagogic challenge of spirituality: A ‘co-creative’ response
Authors: Moss Bernard R
Published: June 2011

The contemporary discussion about spirituality has significant implications for social work education and practice. Recent contributions to the social work literature have deepened and widened our understanding of this domain, although as a profession social workers still remain ambivalent about its value and usefulness. This article reviews some recent contributions to the discussion, and describes how an educational ‘co-creative’ approach can enable spirituality to be located and explored holistically.
Is social work a green profession? An examination of environmental beliefs
Authors: Shaw Terry V
Published: June 2011

• Summary: Social work has developed to meet the needs of an industrializing society. As environmental concerns have increased, national, and international social work organizations have called on social workers to incorporate issues of the environment into their professional practice. Although there is a small body of literature related to social work and the environment, the profession has not fully embraced the need to incorporate these issues into social work education or practice. This cross-sectional survey in the United States of a random sample of National Association of Social Workers (NASW) members ( n = 373) was designed to gauge the environmental knowledge and attitudes of social work professionals.

• Findings: Though social work shares many of the same underlying tenets of groups interested in environmental justice, results suggest that social workers as a profession are no more, nor less, environmentally friendly than the general population.

• Applications: By failing to incorporate ecological issues facing the United States and abroad, our current social policies are at best not sustainable, and at worst dangerous for our continued social well-being. Social workers can play a leading role through an understanding of the interrelationship that exists between people and the environment, the integration of environmental issues into their social work practice, and advocating for vulnerable populations.
The role of the c-Met pathway in lung cancer and the potential for targeted therapy
Authors: Sattler Martin , Hasina Rifat , Reddy Mamatha M. , Gangadhar Tara , Salgia Ravi
Published: June 2011

Hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), the product of the MET gene, plays an important role in normal cellular function and oncogenesis. In cancer, HGFR has been implicated in cellular proliferation, cell survival, invasion, cell motility, metastasis and angiogenesis. Activation of HGFR can occur through binding to its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), overexpression/amplification, mutation, and/or decreased degradation. Amplification of HGFR can occur de novo or in resistance to therapy. Mutations of HGFR have been described in the tyrosine kinase domain, juxtamembrane domain, or semaphorin domain in a number of tumors. These mutations appear to have gain of function, and also reflect differential sensitivity to therapeutic inhibition. There have been various drugs developed to target HGFR, including antibodies to HGFR/HGF, small-molecule inhibitors against the tyrosine kinase domain of HGFR and downstream targets. Different HGFR inhibitors are currently in clinical trials in lung cancer and a number of solid tumors. Several phase I trials have already been completed, and two specific trials have been reported combining HGFR with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer. In particular, trials involving MetMAb and ARQ197 (tivantinib) have gained interest. Ultimately, as individualized therapies become a reality for cancers, HGFR will be an important molecular target.
miRNA expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with chemoimmunotherapy
Authors: Montes-Moreno Santiago , Martinez Nerea , Sanchez-Espiridión Beatriz , Díaz Uriarte Ramon , Rodriguez Maria Elena , Saez Anabel , Montalbán Carlos , Gomez Gonzalo , Pisano David G. , García Juan Fernando , Conde Eulogio , Gonzalez-Barca Eva , Lopez Andres , Mollejo Manuela , Grande Carlos , Martinez Miguel Angel , Dunphy Cherie , Hsi Eric D. , Rocque Gabrielle B. , Chang Julie , Go Ronald S. , Visco Carlo , Xu-Monette Zijun , Young Ken H. , Piris Miguel A.
Published: June 2011

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) prognostication requires additional biologic markers. miRNAs may constitute markers for cancer diagnosis, outcome, or therapy response. In the present study, we analyzed the miRNA expression profile in a retrospective multicenter series of 258 DLBCL patients uniformly treated with chemoimmunotherapy. Findings were correlated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). miRNA and gene-expression profiles were studied using microarrays in an initial set of 36 cases. A selection of miRNAs associated with either DLBCL molecular subtypes (GCB/ABC) or clinical outcome were studied by multiplex RT-PCR in a test group of 240 cases with available formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) diagnostic samples. The samples were divided into a training set (123 patients) and used to derive miRNA-based and combined (with IPI score) Cox regression models in an independent validation series (117 patients). Our model based on miRNA expression predicts OS and PFS and improves upon the predictions based on clinical variables. Combined models with IPI score identified a high-risk group of patients with a 2-year OS and a PFS probability of < 50%. In summary, a precise miRNA signature is associated with poor clinical outcome in chemoimmunotherapy-treated DLBCL patients. This information improves upon IPI-based predictions and identifies a subgroup of candidate patients for alternative therapeutic regimens.
Irgm1 protects hematopoietic stem cells by negative regulation of IFN signaling
Authors: King Katherine Y. , Baldridge Megan T. , Weksberg David C. , Chambers Stuart M. , Lukov Georgi L. , Wu Shihua , Boles Nathan C. , Jung Sung Yun , Qin Jun , Liu Dan , Songyang Zhou , Eissa N. Tony , Taylor Gregory A. , Goodell Margaret A.
Published: June 2011

The IFN-inducible immunity-related p47 GTPase Irgm1 has been linked to Crohn disease as well as susceptibility to tuberculosis. Previously we demonstrated that HSC quiescence and function are aberrant in mice lacking Irgm1. To investigate the molecular basis for these defects, we conducted microarray expression profiling of Irgm1-deficient HSCs. Cell-cycle and IFN-response genes are up-regulated in Irgm1−/− HSCs, consistent with dysregulated IFN signaling. To test the hypothesis that Irgm1 normally down-regulates IFN signaling in HSCs, we generated Irgm1−/−Ifngr1−/− and Irgm1−/−Stat1−/− double-knockout animals. Strikingly, hyperproliferation, self-renewal, and autophagy defects in Irgm1−/− HSCs were normalized in double-knockout animals. These defects were also abolished in Irgm1−/−Irgm3−/− double-knockout animals, indicating that Irgm1 may regulate Irgm3 activity. Furthermore, the number of HSCs was reduced in aged Irgm1−/− animals, suggesting that negative feedback inhibition of IFN signaling by Irgm1 is necessary to prevent hyperproliferation and depletion of the stem cell compartment. Collectively, our results indicate that Irgm1 is a powerful negative regulator of IFN-dependent stimulation in HSCs, with an essential role in preserving HSC number and function. The deleterious effects of excessive IFN signaling may explain how hematologic abnormalities arise in patients with inflammatory conditions.
SUMO conjugation of STAT1 protects cells from hyperresponsiveness to IFNγ
Authors: Begitt Andreas , Droescher Mathias , Knobeloch Klaus-Peter , Vinkemeier Uwe
Published: June 2011

The biologic effects of IFNγ are mediated by the transcription factor STAT1. The activity of STAT1 is inhibited by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) conjugation. This occurs both directly through decreasing STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation and indirectly by facilitating STAT1 dephosphorylation consequential to increased STAT1 solubility because of suppressed paracrystal assembly. However, the physiologic implications of SUMO conjugation have remained unclear. Here, we used fibroblasts and bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMMs) from knockin mice expressing SUMO-free STAT1 to explore the consequences of STAT1 sumoylation for IFNγ signaling. Our experiments demonstrated buffer property of paracrystals for activated STAT1, such that SUMO-mediated paracrystal dispersal profoundly reduced phosphorylation of STAT1, which affected both the activating tyrosine 701 and the transcription-enhancing serine 727. Accordingly, the curtailed STAT1 activity in the nucleus caused by SUMO conjugation resulted in diminished transcription of IFNγ-responsive genes; and increased the IFNγ concentration more than 100-fold required to trigger lipopolysaccharide-induced cytotoxicity in bone marrow–derived macrophages. These experiments identify SUMO conjugation of STAT1 as a mechanism to permanently attenuate the IFNγ sensitivity of cells, which prevents hyperresponsiveness to this cytokine and its potentially self-destructive consequences. This sets the mode of SUMO-mediated inhibition apart from the other negative STAT regulators known to date.
Neorickettsia risticii surface-exposed proteins: proteomics identification, recognition by naturally-infected horses, and strain variations
Authors: Gibson Kathryn E , Pastenkos Gabrielle , Moesta Susanne , Rikihisa Yasuko
Published: June 2011

Neorickettsia risticiiis the Gram-negative, obligate, and intracellular bacterial pathogen responsible for Potomac horse fever (PHF): an important acute systemic disease of horses.N. risticiisurface proteins, critical for immune recognition, have not been thoroughly characterized. In this paper, we identified the 51-kDa antigen (P51) as a major surface-exposed outer membrane protein of older and contemporary strains ofN. risticiithrough mass spectrometry of streptavidin-purified biotinylated surface-labeled proteins. Western blot analysis of sera from naturally-infected horses demonstrated universal and strong recognition of recombinant P51 over otherNeorickettsiarecombinant proteins. Comparisons of amino acid sequences for predicted secondary structures of P51, as well asNeorickettsiasurface proteins 2 (Nsp2) and 3 (Nsp3) amongN. risticiistrains from horses with PHF during a 26-year period throughout the United States revealed that the majority of variations among strains were concentrated in regions predicted to be external loops of their β-barrel structures. Large insertions or deletions occurred within a tandem-repeat region in Ssa3. These data demonstrate patterns of geographical association for P51 and temporal associations for Nsp2, Nsp3, and Ssa3, indicating evolutionary trends for theseNeorickettsiasurface antigen genes. This study showedN. risticiisurface protein population dynamics, providing groundwork for designing immunodiagnostic targets for PHF.
ngs_backbone: a pipeline for read cleaning, mapping and SNP calling using Next Generation Sequence
Authors: Blanca Jose M , Pascual Laura , Ziarsolo Peio , Nuez Fernando , Cañizares Joaquin
Published: June 2011

Background

The possibilities offered by next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms are revolutionizing biotechnological laboratories. Moreover, the combination of NGS sequencing and affordable high-throughput genotyping technologies is facilitating the rapid discovery and use of SNPs in non-model species. However, this abundance of sequences and polymorphisms creates new software needs. To fulfill these needs, we have developed a powerful, yet easy-to-use application.

Results

The ngs_backbone software is a parallel pipeline capable of analyzing Sanger, 454, Illumina and SOLiD (Sequencing by Oligonucleotide Ligation and Detection) sequence reads. Its main supported analyses are: read cleaning, transcriptome assembly and annotation, read mapping and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calling and selection. In order to build a truly useful tool, the software development was paired with a laboratory experiment. All public tomato Sanger EST reads plus 14.2 million Illumina reads were employed to test the tool and predict polymorphism in tomato. The cleaned reads were mapped to the SGN tomato transcriptome obtaining a coverage of 4.2 for Sanger and 8.5 for Illumina. 23,360 single nucleotide variations (SNVs) were predicted. A total of 76 SNVs were experimentally validated, and 85% were found to be real.

Conclusions

ngs_backbone is a new software package capable of analyzing sequences produced by NGS technologies and predicting SNVs with great accuracy. In our tomato example, we created a highly polymorphic collection of SNVs that will be a useful resource for tomato researchers and breeders. The software developed along with its documentation is freely available under the AGPL license and can be downloaded from http://bioinf.comav.upv.es/ngs_backbone/ or http://github.com/JoseBlanca/franklin.
Systematic review and meta-analysis comparing land and aquatic exercise for people with hip or knee arthritis on function, mobility and other health outcomes
Authors: Batterham Stephanie I , Heywood Sophie , Keating Jennifer L
Published: June 2011

Background

Aquatic and land based exercise are frequently prescribed to maintain function for people with arthritis. The relative efficacy of these rehabilitation strategies for this population has not been established.

This review investigated the effects of aquatic compared to land based exercise on function, mobility or participants' perception of programs for people with arthritis.

Methods

Medline, CINAHL, AMED and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials were searched up to July 2010. Ten randomised, controlled clinical trials that compared land to aquatic exercise for adults with arthritis were included. Study quality was assessed with the PEDro scale. Data relevant to the review question were systematically extracted by two independent reviewers. Standardised mean differences between groups for key outcomes were calculated. Meta-analyses were performed for function, mobility and indices that pooled health outcomes across multiple domains.

Results

No differences in outcomes were observed for the two rehabilitation strategies in meta-analysis. There was considerable variability between trials in key program characteristics including prescribed exercises and design quality. Components of exercise programs were poorly reported by the majority of trials. No research was found that examined participant preferences for aquatic compared to land based exercise, identifying this as an area for further research.

Conclusion

Outcomes following aquatic exercise for adults with arthritis appear comparable to land based exercise. When people are unable to exercise on land, or find land based exercise difficult, aquatic programs provide an enabling alternative strategy.
Coffee and tea consumption in relation to inflammation and basal glucose metabolism in a multi-ethnic Asian population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Rebello Salome A , Chen Cynthia H , Naidoo Nasheen , Xu Wang , Lee Jeannette , Chia Kee Seng , Tai E Shyong , van Dam Rob M
Published: June 2011

Background

Higher coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in cohort studies, but the physiological pathways through which coffee affects glucose metabolism are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between habitual coffee and tea consumption and glucose metabolism in a multi-ethnic Asian population and possible mediation by inflammation.

Methods

We cross-sectionally examined the association between coffee, green tea, black tea and Oolong tea consumption and glycemic (fasting plasma glucose, HOMA-IR, HOMA-beta, plasma HbA1c) and inflammatory (plasma adiponectin and C-reactive protein) markers in a multi-ethnic Asian population (N = 4139).

Results

After adjusting for multiple confounders, we observed inverse associations between coffee and HOMA-IR (percent difference: - 8.8% for ≥ 3 cups/day versus rarely or never; P

trend
= 0.007), but no significant associations between coffee and inflammatory markers. Tea consumption was not associated with glycemic markers, but green tea was inversely associated with plasma C-reactive protein concentrations (percent difference: - 12.2% for ≥ 1 cup/day versus < 1 cup/week; P

trend
= 0.042).

Conclusions

These data provide additional evidence for a beneficial effect of habitual caffeinated coffee consumption on insulin sensitivity, and suggest that this effect is unlikely to be mediated by anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Hysteresis loops of individual Co nanostripes measured by magnetic force microscopy
Authors: Jaafar Miriam , Serrano-Ramón Luis , Iglesias-Freire Oscar , Fernández-Pacheco Amalio , Ibarra Manuel Ricardo , De Teresa Jose Maria , Asenjo Agustina
Published: June 2011

High-resolution magnetic imaging is of utmost importance to understand magnetism at the nanoscale. In the present work, we use a magnetic force microscope (MFM) operating under in-plane magnetic field in order to observe with high accuracy the domain configuration changes in Co nanowires as a function of the externally applied magnetic field. The main result is the quantitative evaluation of the coercive field of the individual nanostructures. Such characterization is performed by using an MFM-based technique in which a map of the magnetic signal is obtained as a function of both the lateral displacement and the magnetic field.
Concurrent detection of autolysosome formation and lysosomal degradation by flow cytometry in a high-content screen for inducers of autophagy
Authors: Hundeshagen Phillip , Hamacher-Brady Anne , Eils Roland , Brady Nathan R
Published: June 2011

Background

Autophagy mediates lysosomal degradation of cytosolic components. Recent work has associated autophagic dysfunction with pathologies, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. To date, the identification of clinically-applicable drugs that modulate autophagy has been hampered by the lack of standardized assays capable of precisely reporting autophagic activity.

Results

We developed and implemented a high-content, flow-cytometry-based screening approach for rapid, precise, and quantitative measurements of pharmaceutical control over autophagy. Our assay allowed for time-resolved individual measurements of autolysosome formation and degradation, and endolysosomal activities under both basal and activated autophagy conditions. As proof of concept, we analyzed conventional autophagy regulators, including cardioprotective compounds aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), rapamycin, and resveratrol, and revealed striking conditional dependencies of rapamycin and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). To identify novel autophagy modulators with translational potential, we screened the Prestwick Chemical Library of 1,120 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds for impact on autolysosome formation. In all, 38 compounds were identified as potential activators, and 36 as potential inhibitors of autophagy. Notably, amongst the autophagy enhancers were cardiac glycosides, from which we selected digoxin, strophanthidin, and digoxigenin for validation by standard biochemical and imaging techniques. We report the induction of autophagic flux by these cardiac glycosides, and the concentrations allowing for specific enhancement of autophagic activities without impact on endolysosomal activities.

Conclusions

Our systematic analysis of autophagic and endolysosomal activities outperformed conventional autophagy assays and highlights the complexity of drug influence on autophagy. We demonstrate conditional dependencies of established regulators. Moreover, we identified new autophagy regulators and characterized cardiac glycosides as novel potent inducers of autophagic flux.
P2X7 receptor activation ameliorates CA3 neuronal damage via a tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated pathway in the rat hippocampus following status epilepticus
Authors: Kim Ji-Eun , Ryu Hea Jin , Kang Tae-Cheon
Published: June 2011

Background

The release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) appears depend on the P2X7 receptor, a purinergic receptor. In the present study, we addressed the question of whether P2X7 receptor-mediated TNF-α regulation is involved in pathogenesis and outcome of status epilepticus (SE).

Methods

SE was induced by pilocarpine in rats that were intracerebroventricularly infused with saline-, 2',3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (BzATP), adenosine 5'-triphosphate-2',3'-dialdehyde (OxATP), A-438079, or A-740003 prior to SE induction. Thereafter, we performed Fluoro-Jade B staining and immunohistochemical studies for TNF-α and NF-κB subunit phosphorylations.

Results

Following SE, P2X7 receptor agonist (BzATP) infusion increased TNF-α immunoreactivity in dentate granule cells as compared with that in saline-infused animals. In addition, TNF-α immunoreactivity was readily apparent in the mossy fibers, while TNF-α immunoreactivity in CA1-3 pyramidal cells was unaltered. However, P2X7 receptor antagonist (OxATP-, A-438079, and A-740003) infusion reduced SE-induced TNF-α expression in dentate granule cells. In the CA3 region, BzATP infusion attenuated SE-induced neuronal damage, accompanied by enhancement of p65-Ser276 and p65-Ser311 NF-κB subunit phosphorylations. In contrast, OxATP-, A-438079, and A-740003 infusions increased SE-induced neuronal death. Soluble TNF p55 receptor (sTNFp55R), and cotreatment with BzATP and sTNFp55R infusion also increased SE-induced neuronal damage in CA3 region. However, OxATP-, sTNFp55R or BzATP+sTNFp55R infusions could not exacerbate SE-induced neuronal damages in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 region, as compared to BzATP infusion.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that TNF-α induction by P2X7 receptor activation may ameliorate SE-induced CA3 neuronal damage via enhancing NF-κB p65-Ser276 and p65-Ser311 phosphorylations.
Distinctions in gastric cancer gene expression signatures derived from laser capture microdissection versushistologic macrodissection
Authors: Kim Hark Kyun , Kim Joseph , Korolevich Susie , Choi Il Ju , Kim Chang Hee , Munroe David J , Green Jeffrey E
Published: June 2011

Background

Gastric cancer samples obtained by histologic macrodissection contain a relatively high stromal content that may significantly influence gene expression profiles. Differences between the gene expression signature derived from macrodissected gastric cancer samples and the signature obtained from isolated gastric cancer epithelial cells from the same biopsies using laser-capture microdissection (LCM) were evaluated for their potential experimental biases.

Methods

RNA was isolated from frozen tissue samples of gastric cancer biopsies from 20 patients using both histologic macrodissection and LCM techniques. RNA from LCM was subject to an additional round of T7 RNA amplification. Expression profiling was performed using Affymetrix HG-U133A arrays. Genes identified in the expression signatures from each tissue processing method were compared to the set of genes contained within chromosomal regions found to harbor copy number aberrations in the tumor samples by array CGH and to proteins previously identified as being overexpressed in gastric cancer.

Results

Genes shown to have increased copy number in gastric cancer were also found to be overexpressed in samples obtained by macrodissection (LS P value < 10-5), but not in array data generated using microdissection. A set of 58 previously identified genes overexpressed in gastric cancer was also enriched in the gene signature identified by macrodissection (LS P < 10-5), but not in the signature identified by microdissection (LS P = 0.013). In contrast, 66 genes previously reported to be underexpressed in gastric cancer were enriched in the gene signature identified by microdissection (LS P < 10-5), but not in the signature identified by macrodissection (LS P = 0.89).

Conclusions

The tumor sampling technique biases the microarray results. LCM may be a more sensitive collection and processing method for the identification of potential tumor suppressor gene candidates in gastric cancer using expression profiling.
Cotreatment with Pegvisomant and a Somatostatin Analog (SA) in SA-Responsive Acromegalic Patients
Authors: Madsen Michael , Poulsen Per L. , Ørskov Hans , Møller Niels , Jørgensen Jens O. L.
Published: June 2011

Context:

Cotreatment of acromegaly with pegvisomant and a somatostatin analog (SA) has proven feasible. Previous studies in the field have focused on patients with an insufficient response to SA monotherapy in whom pegvisomant was added without changing the SA dose.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to study whether patients sufficiently controlled on SA monotherapy can be transferred to combination therapy with low-dose pegvisomant and a reduced SA dose.

Design:

Eighteen acromegalic patients well controlled on SA monotherapy, mean ± se aged 54 ± 3 yr, were randomized in a parallel study over 24 wk to unchanged SA monotherapy or cotreatment with pegvisomant (15–30 mg twice a week) and SA (half the usual dosage).

Setting:

This was an investigator-initiated study in a single tertiary referral center.

Main Outcome Measures:

Glucose tolerance, substrate metabolism, insulin sensitivity, body composition, and quality of life were measured.

Results:

Median pegvisomant dose was 52.5 mg/wk (range 30–60). IGF-I (micrograms per liter) was comparable both at baseline (P = 0.88) and after 24 wk of treatment (P = 0.48). The change in IGF-I between baseline and wk 24 also did not differ between groups (P = 0.15). Apart from increased peak insulin levels during the oral glucose tolerance test in the cotreatment group, no substantial differences between the two groups were detected. Moderately elevated liver enzymes were found in 17% of the patients on pegvisomant therapy.

Conclusion:

Acromegalic patients well controlled on SA monotherapy can maintain safe IGF-I levels during 24 wk of cotreatment with low-dose pegvisomant and a 50% reduced SA dose. This treatment modality, however, does not seem to provide significant benefits for the patients.
The Birth of Narrative Out of the Spirit of the Excuse: A Speculation
Authors: Breithaupt Fritz
Published: June 2011

This article argues that the origin of narrative lies in the “excuse and that the structure of the excuse marks what we nowadays consider as narrative. The defining feature of the excuse is that it provides a counter-version to the master story of the accusation and thereby opens a multiplicity of versions. Given an excuse, there is not just a plurality of possible plot developments but also a consideration of linguistic nuances when weighing responsibility. The excuse generates a context within which the acts of the speaker appear in a different light or as elements of a different story; hence, the excuse should be described as a context-generating act. The article considers the features of the excuse, links excuse and narrative, provides an evolutionary consideration of the function of the excuse narrative and indicates how the excuse narrative is a key feature of fiction.
Rethinking the Role of Religion in Iran's History and Politics, 1796–2009
Authors: Moazami Behrooz
Published: June 2011

Two basic related arguments have informed and shaped much of the scholarly discourse and public consciousness of recent Iranian history. The first is that Shiism is an integral part of the Iranian religious and cultural landscape. The second is that the ulema have played a crucial role in the Iranian political structure despite their internal theological differences and political divisions. I challenge these assumptions and propose a different line of inquiry in studying the role of the religious institution and the ulema in Iranian history and politics. My overall argument is that certain historical conditions and adopted strategies of state making in Iran gave rise to the power and the institution of the ulema and consolidated Shiism as a part of the Iranian national identity. Ironically, this process was intensified during the Pahlavi secular regime (1926–79), and the Islamization of the 1979 revolution and the formation of Iran's first theocratic state, the height of the power of religion and the ulema, could be also the starting point of the constitutional separation of the state and the religious institution.
Islamic Feminism Revisited
Authors: Moghissi Haideh
Published: June 2011

Women in almost every Muslim society have placed issues of women's rights firmly at the heart of their societies' politics. Women-centered secular religious and/or nonreligious perspectives and activities, through their resistance against Islamist gender politics, have introduced a new dynamism into debates over religion and the secular and the separation of state and faith. This essay questions the outcome for women who in their continued and persistent intellectual tendencies push for Islamic feminism as the only homegrown, locally produced, and culturally appropriate frame for feminist activism in Muslim-majority countries.
Ijtihad and Lower-Middle-Class Women: Secularism in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Fauzia Erfan
Published: June 2011

Scholars who argue for the compatibility of Islam with democracy tend to gloss over the fact that the separation of religion and state has not taken place in the history of the Muslim world. In fact, little research has been carried out on contemporary efforts to make this structural distinction, an imperative of the democratic state. I begin this article with an analysis of the nineteenth-century debates between Islamic scholars and European positivists and how they created a polarized perspective that frames Western secular tenets as inherently opposed to Islamic religious principles and that continues to the present day. I then examine the call by scholars and activists to separate religion and state in the Muslim world. Against this backdrop, I analyze the Bangladesh Supreme Court's decision in 2001 to declare the fatwa unconstitutional. I investigate to what extent this decree has led to the separation of religion and state and how it has influenced the future of political Islam in Bangladesh. Since fatwas target low-income rural women, I conclude by exploring the implication of this decision on notions of gender, Muslim identity, and citizenship in Bangladesh.
Quantitative Methods for a New Configuration of Territorial Units in a Chilean Government Agency Tender Process
Authors: Durán Guillermo , Epstein Rafael , Martinez Cristian , Zamorano Gonzalo Andres
Published: June 2011

The Junta Nacional de Auxilio Escolar y Becas (JUNAEB) is an agency of the Chilean government with responsibility for promoting the integration and retention of socially vulnerable children in the country's school system. Its services include a school meals program under which private firms bid on supply contracts for territorial units within Chile. Before 2007, these units were defined manually and their attractiveness to potential suppliers varied. This led to a series of problems for the government, both in the contract tender process and the service provided. In this paper, we apply operations research methodologies to determine new configurations of the territorial units to ensure that their attractiveness is similar and that schools in each region of the country receive meal service of similar, good quality. This homogenization of the units' attractiveness helps reduce the uncertainty and bankruptcy risk that suppliers face, thus benefitting the entire system. Since 2007, JUNAEB has used the configurations we proposed.
A Balancing Act: How Organizations Pursue Consistency in Routine Functioning in the Face of Ongoing Change
Authors: Turner Scott F. , Rindova Violina
Published: June 2011

This study examines how participants in routines view and balance pressures for consistency in the face of ongoing change. We address this question through a qualitative case-based inquiry into the ostensive aspects of the core operational routine in six waste management organizations. We find that organizational members simultaneously establish and maintain two ostensive patterns—one of targeted consistency and another of flexibility in internal coordination—by leveraging artifacts and connections. Organizations, however, could not establish similar patterns among their customers, who, lacking connections with other routine participants, expected consistency and performed their part less flexibly. These observations lead us to develop a theoretical model that identifies the processes through which simultaneous ostensive patterns of consistency and flexibility are established and sustained among organizational members, as well as the challenges that arise from multiplicity of ostensive patterns among routine participants with different roles and connections. The model advances the dynamic perspective on routines by articulating how artifacts and connections support the balancing of pressures for consistency and for change in routine functioning.