bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of chemokine gradients by apheresis redirects leukocyte trafficking to different compartments during sepsis, studies in a rat model
Authors: Peng Zhi-Yong , Bishop Jeffery V , Wen Xiao-Yan , Elder Michele M , Zhou Feihu , Chuasuwan Anan , Carter Melinda J , Devlin Jason E , Kaynar A Murat , Singbartl Kai , Pike Francis , Parker Robert S , Clermont Gilles , Federspiel William J , Kellum John A
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Prior work suggests that leukocyte trafficking is determined by local chemokine gradients between the nidus of infection and the plasma. We recently demonstrated that therapeutic apheresis can alter immune mediator concentrations in the plasma, protect against organ injury, and improve survival. Here we aimed to determine whether the removal of chemokines from the plasma by apheresis in experimental peritonitis changes chemokine gradients and subsequently enhances leukocyte localization into the infected compartment, and away from healthy tissues.

Methods

In total, 76 male adult Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 400 g to 600 g were included in this study. Eighteen hours after inducing sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture, we randomized these rats to apheresis or sham treatment for 4 hours. Cytokines, chemokines, and leukocyte counts from blood, peritoneal cavity, and lung were measured. In a separate experiment, we labeled neutrophils from septic donor animals and injected them into either apheresis or sham-treated animals. All numeric data with normal distributions were compared with one-way analysis of variance, and numeric data not normally distributed were compared with the Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

Apheresis significantly removed plasma cytokines and chemokines, increased peritoneal fluid-to-blood chemokine (C-X-C motif ligand 1, ligand 2, and C-C motif ligand 2) ratios, and decreased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid-to-blood chemokine ratios, resulting in enhanced leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity and improved bacterial clearance, but decreased recruitment into the lung. Apheresis also reduced myeloperoxidase activity and histologic injury in the lung, liver, and kidney. These Labeled donor neutrophils exhibited decreased localization in the lung when infused into apheresis-treated animals.

Conclusions

Our results support the concept of chemokine gradient control of leukocyte trafficking and demonstrate the efficacy of apheresis to target this mechanism and reduce leukocyte infiltration into the lung.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate induces thrombin receptor PAR-4 expression to enhance cell migration and COX-2 formation in human monocytes
Authors: Mahajan-Thakur Shailaja , Sostmann Björn D , Fender Anke C , Behrendt Daniel , Felix Stephan B , Schrör Karsten , Rauch Bernhard H
Published: July 2014

Thrombin is not only a central factor in blood coagulation but also stimulates inflammatory processes, including monocyte responses, via activation of PARs. The signaling lipid S1P is a major determinant of monocyte function. Here, we established an interaction between S1P and human monocyte responses to thrombin. S1P induced PAR-1 and PAR-4 mRNA and total protein expression in human monocytes and U937 cells in a concentration (0.1–10 μM)- and time (1–24 h)-dependent manner, respectively. However, only PAR-4 cell-surface expression was increased significantly by S1P, whereas PAR-1 remained unaffected. This response was associated with activation of the Akt, Erk, and p38 pathway and induction of COX-2 but not COX-1. PAR-4-mediated induction of COX-2 was prevented by the PI3K inhibitor LY (10 μM). Preincubation of human monocytes with S1P (1 μM; 16 h) resulted in an enhanced chemotaxis toward thrombin or to selective AP for PAR-4 but not PAR-1. Furthermore, down-regulation of PAR-4 transcription with siRNA attenuated the chemotactic response to thrombin and AP4. In conclusion, S1P enhances monocyte responses to thrombin via up-regulation of PAR-4 expression, which promotes cell migration and COX-2 abundance. This mechanism may facilitate monocyte recruitment to sites of vessel injury and inflammation.
Least-squares migration in the presence of velocity errors
Authors: Luo Simon , Hale Dave
Published: July 2014

Seismic migration requires an accurate background velocity model that correctly predicts the kinematics of wave propagation in the true subsurface. Least-squares migration, which seeks the inverse rather than the adjoint of a forward modeling operator, is especially sensitive to errors in this background model. This can result in traveltime differences between predicted and observed data that lead to incoherent and defocused migration images. We have developed an alternative misfit function for use in least-squares migration that measures amplitude differences between predicted and observed data, i.e., differences after correcting for nonzero traveltime shifts between predicted and observed data. We demonstrated on synthetic and field data that, when the background velocity model is incorrect, the use of this misfit function results in better focused migration images. Results suggest that our method best enhances image focusing when differences between predicted and observed data can be explained by traveltime shifts.
Early Embryonic Androgen Exposure Induces Transgenerational Epigenetic and Metabolic Changes
Authors: Xu Ning , Chua Angela K. , Jiang Hong , Liu Ning-Ai , Goodarzi Mark O.
Published: July 2014

Androgen excess is a central feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects 6% to 10% of young women. Mammals exposed to elevated androgens in utero develop PCOS-like phenotypes in adulthood, suggesting fetal origins of PCOS. We hypothesize that excess androgen exposure during early embryonic development may disturb the epigenome and disrupt metabolism in exposed and unexposed subsequent generations. Zebrafish were used to study the underlying mechanism of fetal origins. Embryos were exposed to androgens (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) early at 26 to 56 hours post fertilization or late at 21 to 28 days post fertilization. Exposed zebrafish (F0) were grown to adults and crossed to generate unexposed offspring (F1). For both generations, global DNA methylation levels were examined in ovaries using a luminometric methylation assay, and fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were measured. We found that early but not late androgen exposure induced changes in global methylation and glucose homeostasis in both generations. In general, F0 adult zebrafish exhibited altered global methylation levels in the ovary; F1 zebrafish had global hypomethylation. Fasting blood glucose levels were decreased in F0 but increased in F1; postprandial glucose levels were elevated in both F0 and F1. This androgenized zebrafish study suggests that transient excess androgen exposure during early development can result in transgenerational alterations in the ovarian epigenome and glucose homeostasis. Current data cannot establish a causal relationship between epigenetic changes and altered glucose homeostasis. Whether transgenerational epigenetic alteration induced by prenatal androgen exposure plays a role in the development of PCOS in humans deserves study.
Congenital heart disease protein 5 associates with CASZ1 to maintain myocardial tissue integrity
Authors: Sojka Stephen , Amin Nirav M. , Gibbs Devin , Christine Kathleen S. , Charpentier Marta S. , Conlon Frank L.
Published: July 2014

The identification and characterization of the cellular and molecular pathways involved in the differentiation and morphogenesis of specific cell types of the developing heart are crucial to understanding the process of cardiac development and the pathology associated with human congenital heart disease. Here, we show that the cardiac transcription factor CASTOR (CASZ1) directly interacts with congenital heart disease 5 protein (CHD5), which is also known as tryptophan-rich basic protein (WRB), a gene located on chromosome 21 in the proposed region responsible for congenital heart disease in individuals with Down's syndrome. We demonstrate that loss of CHD5 in Xenopus leads to compromised myocardial integrity, improper deposition of basement membrane, and a resultant failure of hearts to undergo cell movements associated with cardiac formation. We further report that CHD5 is essential for CASZ1 function and that the CHD5-CASZ1 interaction is necessary for cardiac morphogenesis. Collectively, these results establish a role for CHD5 and CASZ1 in the early stages of vertebrate cardiac development.
Islet is a key determinant of ascidian palp morphogenesis
Authors: Wagner Eileen , Stolfi Alberto , Gi Choi Yoon , Levine Mike
Published: July 2014

The anterior-most ectoderm of ascidian larvae contains the adhesive papillae, or palps, which play an important role in triggering the metamorphosis of swimming tadpoles. In Ciona intestinalis, the palps consist of three conical protrusions within a field of thickened epithelium that form late in embryogenesis, as tailbuds mature into larvae. The palp protrusions express the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet. Protrusion occurs through differential cell elongation, probably mediated by Islet, as we find that ectopic expression of Islet is sufficient to promote cell lengthening. FGF signaling is required for both Islet expression and palp morphogenesis. Importantly, we show that Islet expression can rescue the palp-deficient phenotype that results from inhibition of FGF signaling. We conclude that Islet is a key regulatory factor governing morphogenesis of the palps. It is conceivable that Islet is also essential for the cellular morphogenesis of placode-derived sensory neurons in vertebrates.
Establishment of epithelial polarity – GEF who's minding the GAP?
Authors: Ngok Siu P. , Lin Wan-Hsin , Anastasiadis Panos Z.
Published: July 2014

Cell polarization is a fundamental process that underlies epithelial morphogenesis, cell motility, cell division and organogenesis. Loss of polarity predisposes tissues to developmental disorders and contributes to cancer progression. The formation and establishment of epithelial cell polarity is mediated by the cooperation of polarity protein complexes, namely the Crumbs, partitioning defective (Par) and Scribble complexes, with Rho family GTPases, including RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42. The activation of different GTPases triggers distinct downstream signaling pathways to modulate protein–protein interactions and cytoskeletal remodeling. The spatio-temporal activation and inactivation of these small GTPases is tightly controlled by a complex interconnected network of different regulatory proteins, including guanine-nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs), GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), and guanine-nucleotide-dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). In this Commentary, we focus on current understanding on how polarity complexes interact with GEFs and GAPs to control the precise location and activation of Rho GTPases (Crumbs for RhoA, Par for Rac1, and Scribble for Cdc42) to promote apical–basal polarization in mammalian epithelial cells. The mutual exclusion of GTPase activities, especially that of RhoA and Rac1, which is well established, provides a mechanism through which polarity complexes that act through distinct Rho GTPases function as cellular rheostats to fine-tune specific downstream pathways to differentiate and preserve the apical and basolateral domains.

This article is part of a Minifocus on Establishing polarity. For further reading, please see related articles: ‘ERM proteins at a glance’ by Andrea McClatchey (J. Cell Sci. 127, [098343]). ‘Integrins and epithelial cell polarity’ by Jessica Lee and Charles Streuli (J. Cell Sci. 127, [146142]).
Solution-processable n-Type Semiconducting Materials Containing a Carbonyl-bridged Thiazole-fused π System
Authors: Ie Yutaka , Sato Chihiro , Nitani Masashi , Tada Hirokazu , Aso Yoshio
Published: July 2014

To develop solution-processable n-type organic semiconducting materials, we synthesized new π-conjugated compounds consisting of a carbonyl-bridged thiazole-fused π system and aromatic imides. Photophysical and electrochemical properties as well as n-type semiconductor performances of these compounds were investigated.
Novel Protocol for the Synthesis of Organic Ammonium Tribromides and Investigation of 1,1′-(Ethane-1,2-diyl)dipiperidinium Bis(tribromide) in the Silylation of Alcohols and Thiols
Authors: Dey Rupa R , Paul Bappi , Dhar Siddhartha S , Bhattacharjee Sushmita
Published: July 2014

A novel and efficient protocol for the synthesis of organic ammonium tribromides (OATBs) is developed by using inexpensive and eco-friendly periodic acid as an oxidant for the conversion of Br− to Br3−. The method does not use any mineral acid and metal oxidants. The protocol is utilized to synthesize a new bis(tribromide) viz., 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)dipiperidinium bis(tribromide) (EDPBT). EDPBT is investigated as a catalyst in the silylation of alcohols and thiols by HMDS (hexamethyldisilazane) under solvent-free conditions.
Nucleophilic Substitution in 16π-Antiaromatic System: Synthesis of Heteroatom-substituted Dibenzopentalenes
Authors: Xu Feng , Peng Lifen , Wakamatsu Kan , Orita Akihiro , Otera Junzo
Published: July 2014

An antiaromatic compound, 5-bromo-10-iododibenzopentalene, underwent nucleophilic substitution of heteroatoms such as R2NLi, ROLi, and RSLi. This substitution proceeded preferentially at the bromopentalene moiety than at the iodo-counterpart. Combining this substitution and Sonogashira coupling enabled syntheses of π-systems expanded by a dibenzopentalene array and heteroatom(s).
Competitor Orientation and the Evolution of Business Markets
Authors: Bendle Neil , Vandenbosch Mark
Published: July 2014

Competitor orientation, i.e., the focus on beating the competition rather than maximizing profits, seems to thrive in business situations despite being, by definition, suboptimal for profit-maximizing firms. Our research explains how a competitor orientation can persist and even thrive in equilibrium in markets that reward only profits. We apply evolutionary game theory to business markets where reputation matters. We use three games that represent classic interactions in business marketing: Chicken (to illustrate competition for product adoption), the Battle of the Sexes (channel negotiations), and the Prisoners' Dilemma (pricing battles).

Initial populations are assumed to have both profit-maximizing managers and competitor-oriented managers (i.e., those who gain additional utility from beating others). We demonstrate that a competitor orientation can survive in equilibrium despite selection that is based solely on profits. Using Chicken, we show that a competitor orientation thrives and can even overrun the population. We use the Battle of the Sexes to show that a competitor orientation will overrun one population in a two-sided negotiation (e.g., all retailers in a retailer/manufacturer dyad). Last, using the Prisoners' Dilemma, we show that competitor orientation is not selected against. We conclude that evolutionary profit-driven selection pressures cannot be assumed to eliminate nonprofit-maximizing behavior even when selection is based purely on profitability.
Case report of secondary hypertension due to renal artery stenosis in young patient
Authors: Saragih Wendy M. , Sulistiowati Siska , Haryono Nur , Siswanto Bambang B. , Hersunarti Nani , Soesanto Amiliana M.
Published: July 2014

Secondary hypertension is rare to occur, but should become suspicion in young age. Secondary hypertension must be appropriately diagnosed and treated. Renal artery stenosis is one of many causes of secondary hypertension. The aim of this case report is to describe diagnosis, pathophysiology and management of secondary hypertension due to renal artery stenosis in young patient. A 17 year old man with symptom of shortness of breath was diagnosed with hypertension stage 3 on his medical examination at Pasar Rebo Hospital, Jakarta. Abdominal CT scan examination revealed bilateral renal artery stenosis. Percutaneous transluminal angiography (PTA) of left renal artery was performed at National Cardiovascular Centre Harapan Kita. Stent was placed succesfully and the blood pressure was normalized.
Health, nutrition and hydration status of Indonesian workers: a preliminary study in two different environmental settings
Authors: Bardosono Saptawati , Ilyas Ermita
Published: July 2014

Background: Hydration status in the working environment of hot and conveniently cool may influence the health status of workers, including their hydration status. This study aimed to determine the health, nutrition and hydration status of workers in two different working environment, i.e. hot and conveniently cool environment.Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was done on apparently healthy male subjects, age 25-45 years. Two groups of factory workers consisted of  39 subjects working in environment exposed directly to heat and the other doing administrative work in cool environment. Data on their health status (physical examination), weight, height, waist circumference, fat body composition, laboratory result, were collected. The data was presented as average value and  proportion; statistical analysis with unpaired-t (Mann-Whitney test) and chi-square test was used.Results: Subjects working in a hot environment were more prone to dehydration  in comparison to their counterparts, as was shown by significantly higher values of several hydration status biomarkers: hemoglobin (15.6 vs 14.8 g/dL, p = 0.017), hematocrit (46 vs 44.5%, p = 0.040), blood viscosity (23 vs 12 mEq/L, p < 0.001), and blood sodium concentration (140 vs 138 mEq/L, p < 0.001). In contrast, subjects working in a conveniently cool environment who did more administrative tasks were physically less active, had significantly lower HDL-cholesterol level (43 vs 52.1 mg/dL, p = 0.005), higher body and visceral fat compositions (21.6 vs 17.6%, p = 0.008, and 10 vs 8%, p = 0.015, respectively) compared to their counterparts.Conclusion: Workers in hot and cool working environment are prone to nutrition- and health problems as well as dehydration, suggesting special attention to the provision of timely drinking water, and physical activity during working time.
Valoración bioquímica del entrenamiento: herramienta para el dietista-nutricionista deportivo
Authors: Urdampilleta Aritz , Martínez-Sanz José Miguel , Lopez-Grueso Raúl
Published: July 2014

La alta exigencia en los deportistas crea la necesidad de controlar el proceso de adaptación al entrenamiento. El objetivo de esta revisión es analizar los parámetros bioquímicos de utilidad para el control biológico del deportista, y ofrecer herramientas al dietista-nutricionista (D-N) deportivo en el seguimiento del entrenamiento.La glucosa y el perfil lipídico son parámetros utilizados en las consultas, pero insuficientes para el control de los entrenamientos. La concentración de ácido láctico en plasma es la herramienta más común para valorar la carga de entrenamiento, donde valores superiores a 4 mmol/l, indican gran intensidad del entrenamiento. Otras enzimas como la creatinquinasa (CK), lactato deshidrogenasa (LDH) y dos transaminasas: la transaminasa glucooxalacética (GOT) o aspartato aminotransferasa (AST) y la glutamicopirúvica (GTP) o alanina aminotransferasa (ALT) sugieren, en concentraciones altas, que la carga de entrenamiento fue elevada produciendo roturas miofibrilares. La determinación de otros sustratos como el amonio, glutamina o el ratio testosterona/cortisol, sirven para detectar un posible estado de sobre-entrenamiento. Así mismo, las últimas investigaciones sugieren que elevadas concentraciones de cortisol disminuyen el sistema inmunológico.Por otra parte, la urea, la alanina o el aumento de cuerpos cetónicos, nos indican un vaciamiento de los depósitos de glucógeno muscular y la utilización de otros sustratos energéticos. Por tanto, la información que aportan estos parámetros son de utilidad para el D-N deportivo, y, con ello, conseguir intervenciones dietético-nutricionales más efectivas según los objetivos del entrenamiento.
Anemia ferropénica en el deporte e intervenciones dietético-nutricionales preventivas
Authors: Urdampilleta Aritz , Martínez-Sanz José Miguel , Mielgo-Ayuso Juan
Published: July 2014

La anemia ferropénica en los deportistas es una afección muy frecuente que conduce a un menor rendimiento físico. Los deportistas son susceptibles al descenso de los depósitos de hierro, fundamentalmente por un incremento en su utilización, por su pérdida, o por una ingesta insuficiente. El presente artículo pretende revisar la literatura científica respecto a: qué deportes-deportistas tienen mayor riesgo de padecer anemia, la etiología de la anemia ferropénica en el colectivo deportivo, además de sugerir pautas dietético-nutricionales para su prevención. Las bases de datos consultadas fueron: Pubmed, Scirus y Scielo, así como las páginas oficiales de organizaciones de reconocido prestigio; recuperando artículos mediante las palabras clave: “iron-deficiency anaemia”, “sports”, “athletic performance”, “iron intake” o sus homólogos españoles. La anemia ferropénica afecta principalmente a deportistas de resistencia (especialmente mujeres y maratonianos), así como a los integrantes de deportes de equipo con alto impacto (voleibol y balonmano). Las anemias suelen ser secundarias a hemólisis y estrés oxidativo derivados de la práctica del deporte, pero también se han documentado casos por aumento de las pérdidas de hierro asociadas a la práctica de ejercicio. Las pautas dietético-nutricionales para prevenir la anemia ferropénica en el deportista deberían ir encaminadas a asegurar: una ingesta de hidratos de carbono entre el 60-65% de la energía total diaria, una ingesta mínima de 1,4 g de proteína al día y un consumo de 20-40 mg de hierro por día y separando su ingesta de los principales inhibidores de su absorción (fitatos, tanatos y calcio). Es necesario valorar mediante analíticas el estado de hierro del deportista cada 2-3 meses.
Recomendaciones dietéticas en la artritis reumatoide
Authors: Alhambra-Expósito María Rosa , Arjonilla-Sampedro María Elena , Molina-Puerta María José , Tenorio-Jiménez Carmen , Manzano-García Gregorio , Moreno-Moreno Paloma , Benito-López Pedro
Published: July 2014

La artritis reumatoide es una enfermedad sistémica crónica, con gran impacto en la vida social, emocional y física de los pacientes. Desde hace décadas, se han utilizado distintas dietas para tratar de mejorar los síntomas de las personas que la padecen. En este artículo se revisan los posibles beneficios de la terapia dietética en la artritis reumatoide. Los objetivos nutricionales en esta patología son frenar la pérdida de masa ósea, favorecer la recuperación de fracturas óseas y mejorar los trastornos inflamatorios asociadas al hueso y a las articulaciones.  En general, se recomiendan dietas bajas en grasas saturadas, ricas en grasas polinsaturadas: omega 3 y omega 6, en hidratos de carbono complejos y fibra.
Tecnología de la información y comunicación (TIC) aplicada a la dietoterapia
Authors: Micó-Pascual Lydia , Soriano-del-Castillo José Miguel , Mañes-Vinuesa Jordi , Bretó-Barrera Patricia
Published: July 2014

Introducción: el objetivo general de este proyecto es la utilización de las TIC aplicadas a la Dietoterapia mediante la elaboración de vídeos docentes. Se procedió a la redacción de guiones, grabación y montaje de los vídeos, selección de una plataforma accesible y uso de licencias Creative Commons para su libre difusión.Material y métodos: la metodología llevada a cabo se centra en el programa DocenTIC del Servei de Formació Permanent i Innovació Educativa de la Universitat de València.Resultados: el resultado fue la creación de cuatro vídeos educativos centrados en la historia clínica, psicología, cineantropometría y educación alimentaria, todos ellos aspectos necesarios para llevar a cabo un buen consejo nutricional o práctica diaria dentro de un gabinete dietoterapéutico. Permitirán, además, implementar la docencia realizada de forma teórica en las aulas estando disponibles en diferentes plataformas de libre acceso como Roderic y Mmedia y en la web www.uv.es/dietetic. Para la creación de vídeos educativos es necesaria la preparación de un guión adecuado temporalmente y adaptado a los conocimientos teóricos adquiridos por el alumno en las clases de Dietoterapia.Conclusiones: el desglose de los vídeos en cuatro partes, permite visualizar la actitud de los dietistas-nutricionistas potenciando el fortalecimiento educativo de los futuros profesionales. Incluir los vídeos educativos en plataformas de libre acceso permitirá su utilización tanto a alumnos como a titulados.
Recomendaciones de manipulación doméstica de frutas y hortalizas para preservar su valor nutritivo
Authors: Basulto Julio , Moñino Manuel , Farran Andreu , Baladia Eduard , Manera Maria , Cervera Pilar , Romero-de-Ávila María Dolores , Miret Francesc , Astiasarán Iciar , Bonany Joan , Gelabert Victoria , Ballesteros Juan Manuel , Martínez Alfredo , Palou Andreu , Labrador Juana , Marques-Lopes Iva , Russolillo Giuseppe , Alonso Margarita , Riquelme Fernando , Polanco Isabel , Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando , Martínez Nuria
Published: July 2014

El beneficio para la salud del consumo diario de al menos 5 raciones entre frutas y hortalizas está bien documentado. En España no se alcanzan los 600 gramos por persona y día que recomienda la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) en sus objetivos de salud pública, por lo que es importante mejorar el acceso a estos alimentos, aprovechar su potencial nutritivo y salvar las barreras para su consumo. Los objetivos de este documento son: facilitar la toma de decisiones responsables con la salud; aprovechar al máximo el valor nutritivo de frutas y hortalizas; ayudar a salvar las barreras para su consumo e informar sobre cómo afecta la conservación, manipulación y cocinado domésticos a su valor nutritivo.Para minimizar la pérdida de nutrientes y mejorar su biodisponibilidad durante la manipulación de frutas y hortalizas, la Asociación para la promoción del consumo de frutas y hortalizas “5 al día” (España) recomienda: evitar almacenamientos prolongados en el refrigerador; aprovechar las capas y hojas exteriores; pelar y/o cortar el alimento justo antes de consumirlo; lavar las piezas enteras y trocearlas posteriormente; controlar el tiempo de remojo de las piezas cortadas; preferir técnicas de cocinado que no requieran contacto directo con el agua; a menor tiempo de cocción, menor pérdida de nutrientes; la fritura correcta conserva muy bien los nutrientes, aunque no debe abusarse de esta técnica; añadir un chorrito de vinagre o de zumo de limón al agua de cocción; aprovechar el agua de los vegetales cocidos para elaborar otros alimentos (ej.: salsas, sopas, purés, etc.), excepto la de acelgas, espinacas o remolacha. La Asociación “5 al día” recomienda aumentar el consumo de frutas y hortalizas, y considera que la pérdida de nutrientes durante su manipulación doméstica no debe entenderse como una barrera para su consumo.
Tilman Nagels „ ‚Authentizität‘ in der Leben-Mohammed-Forschung“. Eine Antwort
Authors: Schoeler Gregor
Published: July 2014

This contribution is a response to Tilman Nagel's essay “ ‘Authentizität’ in der Leben-Mohammed-Forschung” [‘Authenticity’ in the research on the Life of Mohammed] in which the author again presents the main theses argued in his monograph Mohammed. Leben und Legende and responds to criticism. Whereas his critics agree with Nagel that complete ‘authenticity’ is unattainable in principle, yet an asymptotic approximation of Mohammed as a figure is indeed possible, the way to attain such an approximation remains a matter of dispute. Contrary to Nagel, the proponents of the so-called isnad-cum-matn analysis hold this method, which offers the possibility to date ḥadīṯs (traditions) and reconstruct texts in circulation in the 1st cent. H., for one of the most successful towards achieving this goal. Another successful procedure of proven value is the evaluation and appraisal of the corpus of traditions traced back to ʿUrwa b. az-Zubayr (d. c. 712), one of the earliest and most important collectors of historical material in Islam. Proponents of both of these procedures do not apply the term ‘authentic’, as asserted by Nagel, in the sense of ‘what exactly happened’, but rather use this term if the transmitters of a tradition are historical figures and when the process of transmission is proven to have ensued as indicated in the chain of transmission.
Modellbasierte Regelung des Sekundärluftmassenstromes bei Biomasse-Feuerungsanlagen
Authors: Schörghuber Christoph , Gölles Markus , Dourdoumas Nicolaos , Obernberger Ingwald
Published: July 2014

Um den Verbrennungsprozess moderner Biomasse-Feuerungsanlagen gezielt zu beeinflussen, werden die von der Feuerungsregelung geforderten gasförmigen Massenströme mit Hilfe von Ventilatoren und Klappen eingestellt. Damit die tatsächlichen Massenströme den gewünschten Verläufen folgen, müssen diese von unterlagerten Regelungen auf die geforderten Werte geregelt werden. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird für den Entwurf dieser unterlagerten Massenstromregler ein modellbasierter Ansatz mit Hilfe einer flachheitsbasierten Vorsteuerung am Beispiel der Sekundärluftzufuhr vorgestellt.
Geometrische Darstellung nichtlinearer Systeme
Authors: Schlacher Kurt , Schöberl Markus
Published: July 2014

Differentialgeometrie und die Anwendung ihrer Methoden haben eine lange Tradition in den technisch/naturwissenschaftlichen Wissenschaften. In die Regelungstheorie und Regelungstechnik fanden diese Methoden Eingang, als es gelang, durch sie Fragen betreffend Beobachtbarkeit, Erreichbarkeit, Eingangs/Zustands Linearisierbarkeit für nichtlineare Systeme erfolgreich zu beantworten. Der Schlüssel dazu war die Konstruktion von speziellen Koordinatensystemen, die diese Eigenschaften einfach sichtbar machten. Dieser Beitrag fasst nun die dazu erforderlichen Grundlagen, wie abstrakte Mannigfaltigkeiten und Bündel, Lie-Ableitungen, äußere Ableitung und erste Ansätze zur Untersuchung von Struktureigenschaften nichtlinearer Systeme in Form eines kurzen Überblicks zusammen.
Strukturerhaltende Diskretisierung verteilt-parametrischer Port-Hamiltonscher Systeme mittels finiter Elemente
Authors: Farle Ortwin , Baltes Rolf-Björn , Dyczij-Edlinger Romanus
Published: July 2014

Dieser Beitrag präsentiert ein Rahmenwerk für die Finite-Elemente-Approximation verteilt-parametrischer Port-Hamiltonscher Systeme.
Das vorgeschlagene Diskretisierungsverfahren erhält nicht nur die Port-Hamiltonsche Struktur, sondern auch wichtige
Erhaltungseigenschaften des zugrundeliegenden infinit-dimensionalen Systems. Als Anwendungen werden eine Übertragungsleitung und ein
randgespeistes Maxwellsches System betrachtet. Numerische Experimente zeigen, dass die Finite-Elemente-Methode durch Verwendung von
Formfunktionen höherer Ordnung höhere Konvergenzraten als bestehende Ansätze zur strukturerhaltenden Diskretisierung Port-Hamiltonscher
Systeme erzielt. Bei vorgegebener Fehlertoleranz führt das vorgeschlagene Verfahren daher zu einer beträchtlichen Reduktion der
Dimension des finit-dimensionalen Modells.
Classification in Postural Style Based on Stochastic Process Modeling
Authors: Denis Christophe
Published: July 2014

We address the statistical challenge of classifying subjects as hemiplegic, vestibular or normal based on complex trajectories obtained through two experimental protocols designed to evaluate potential deficits in postural control. The classification procedure involves a dimension reduction step where the complex trajectories are summarized by finite-dimensional summary measures based on a stochastic process model for a real-valued trajectory. This allows us to retrieve from the trajectories information relative to their temporal dynamic. A leave-one-out evaluation yields a 79% performance of correct classification for a total of
Response Surface Analysis for Preparation of Modified Flours using Twin Screw Extrusion Cooking
Authors: Kaur Gurkirat , Sharma Savita , Singh Baljit
Published: July 2014

Rice flour, wheat flour and flour in combination (rice:wheat::50:50) were used to prepare modified flour using co-rotating twin screw extruder. The effects of barrel temperature, feed moisture and screw speed on product responses (specific mechanical energy[SME], expansion ratio and bulk density) were studied using response surface methodology. Extrusion variables were barrel temperature (125, 150 and 175°C), moisture content (14, 16 and 18%) and screw speed (300, 400 and 500 rpm). Expansion ratio was directly affected by barrel temperature, whereas increase in temperature decreased SME and bulk density. Feed moisture had positive effect on bulk density only, i.e. it increased with increase in moisture. Increase in screw speed was directly related to SME and expansion ratio. The higher R
2 values showed that the model developed for the response variables appeared adequate for predictive purposes.
Effect of shear factor on bubble nucleation of polystyrene using supercritical fluid as a foaming agent
Authors: Mou Wenjie
Published: July 2014

The effect of shear factor on bubble nucleation during the foaming extrusion process with polystyrene (PS) using the supercritical fluid (SCF) carbon dioxide (CO2) as a foaming agent was studied based on the energy transformation in this article. The influence of shear factor (which is caused by the velocity gradient in a conical die) on the dynamics of bubble nucleation was investigated and determined. The critical radius for bubble nucleation is presented through the Taylor deformation theory by using a nuclear embryo to represent the state in the bud of the appearance of the nuclear bubble. Theoretical analysis shows that a spherical nuclear bubble can split into two new nuclear bubbles after the deformation in the shear flow field; the radius of the new nuclear bubble is greater than the critical radius, so it can finally grow into a larger nuclear bubble. The shear factor increased the number of the nuclear bubbles in the polymer melt and so increased the density of the bubbles and decreased the diameters of the bubbles. This article proposes a qualitative judgment which indicates that the shear factor in a conical die has a beneficial effect on bubble nucleation, and helps to produce foamed plastics with fine bubbles.
The Arts and Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Bresler Liora , Andrews Kimber
Published: July 2014

The notion of zone implies dynamic processes—exchange, transaction, transformation, and intensity, socially and historically situated. The QI Congress provides such a zone in which the traditional role of the researcher as a lone, isolated figure working independently can be reimagined as dialogic and collaborative. In this special issue, the intersection of the arts and qualitative research is explored as providing a common structure for researchers from multiple disciplines to examine a new social phenomenon, the affordances and problematic of arts-based research (ABR), arts as a form of spirituality across cultures, arts as generating data collection tools toward integration among disciplines, and the use of artistic and kinesthetic sensibilities beyond text to promote a dialogue between artists and researchers. The arts, which traditionally have been marginalized in academic discourses, are embraced by the QI Congress, allowing for new interpretive zones of understanding through performative practices.
Artistic Method in Research as a Flexible Architecture for Theory-Building
Authors: Rolling James Haywood
Published: July 2014

This paper lays out some working tenets for an artistic method of research, one that arguably predates the scientific method and yields multiple strategies for the improvisatory address of researchable ideas and problems. Four overlapping domains of arts-based knowledge, creative practice, and teaching will be outlined along with derivative research methodologies that can be alternately framed as critical-activist, synthetic, analytic, and/or improvisatory. In this writing, the author lays out the basic framework for an Arts-Based Research Primer (2013), an introductory research textbook that aims to reveal how the arts lend themselves to blended spaces of naturalistic inquiry, aiding artists and scientists alike in their conduct of research.
Art as a Tool to Read Social Science Data
Authors: Davidson Judith , Thompson Shanna Rose , Harris Andrew
Published: July 2014

This paper examines the ways arts can serve as a tool to nourish richer and more thoughtful qualitative research interpretation. Using a study of youth views of sexting as the case example, the authors explore the ways encounters with the arts—specifically, literature (Jane Austen), visual art (Kara Walker), and video (Ryan Trecartin)—in interaction with the reading of social science data led one member of a multidisciplinary team to develop new critical questions and embodied awareness of youth views on the issue of sexting. The authors claim art can serve as a catalyst for deeper understanding of social science questions if we allow ourselves the time and circumstances for such inquiry. In today's world, where research teams are increasingly interdisciplinary, focused on a similar problem but highly diverse in the theory and techniques the members possess, art may be a means of developing new shared ways of approaching and experiencing a problem.
Musical Space, Time, and Silence in Qualitative Research
Authors: Matsunobu Koji
Published: July 2014

Musical interactions heighten our senses of space and time and ways to engage in each other. In this paper, I argue that sensory data gained through musical participation helps to understand the nature of human interactions in a given culture. This paper in particular draws on my experience of negotiating musical space and time in a cross-cultural context. Participants of different cultural groups showed distinctive ways to form a space for symbolic interactions. I argue that this awareness is highlighted by musical forms. This study further suggests that qualitative researchers, especially those working in international settings, can benefit from familiarizing themselves with the aesthetic styles of the culture. Understanding these aspects of cultural sensitivity and expression thus should be part of the process of qualitative research education.
Seeing Experiences of Interdisciplinarity through Student Artwork
Authors: Costantino Tracie , Guyotte Kelly , Kellam Nadia , Walther Joachim
Published: July 2014

This paper explores visual response methods as a representation of student learning in a college-level interdisciplinary curriculum integrating art and engineering. The visual response methods, specifically visual journals and postcards, are examples of authentic assessment and alternative data collection methods embedded in a mixed-methods (qualitative dominant) practitioner research case study. In the paper, we focus on different means for analyzing these visual responses (e.g., through hermeneutic analysis, document analysis, and narrative analysis) and deliberate the contribution of diverse analysis methods to the researchers’ understanding of students’ experiences of interdisciplinarity in this course.
Academic Freedom and Its Discontents
Authors: Berger Ronald J.
Published: July 2014

In this essay, the author recounts his experience with a student complaint that reached an influential Republican legislator and raises questions about academic freedom in an era of right-wing political activism. The context of the complaint was a course on white-collar crime in which the author raised issues about the nature of economic and political power that the student found objectionable. Although the complaint was dismissed, its aim was to create a chilling atmosphere in which faculty will self-censor and become fearful about advancing a progressive politics of pedagogical and scholarly advocacy.
Mitochondrial apoptosis is dispensable for NLRP3 inflammasome activation but non‐apoptotic caspase‐8 is required for inflammasome priming
Authors: Allam Ramanjaneyulu , Lawlor Kate E , Yu Eric Chi‐Wang , Mildenhall Alison L , Moujalled Donia M , Lewis Rowena S , Ke Francine , Mason Kylie D , White Michael J , Stacey Katryn J , Strasser Andreas , O'Reilly Lorraine A , Alexander Warren , Kile Benjamin T , Vaux David L , Vince James E
Published: July 2014

A current paradigm proposes that mitochondrial damage is a critical determinant of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Here, we genetically assess whether mitochondrial signalling represents a unified mechanism to explain how NLRP3 is activated by divergent stimuli. Neither co‐deletion of the essential executioners of mitochondrial apoptosis BAK and BAX, nor removal of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore component cyclophilin D, nor loss of the mitophagy regulator Parkin, nor deficiency in MAVS affects NLRP3 inflammasome function. In contrast, caspase‐8, a caspase essential for death‐receptor‐mediated apoptosis, is required for efficient Toll‐like‐receptor‐induced inflammasome priming and cytokine production. Collectively, these results demonstrate that mitochondrial apoptosis is not required for NLRP3 activation, and highlight an important non‐apoptotic role for caspase‐8 in regulating inflammasome activation and pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels.
Role of placenta-specific protein 1 in trophoblast invasion and migration
Authors: Chang Wen-Lin , Yang Qing , Zhang Hui , Lin Hai-Yan , Zhou Zhi , Lu Xiaoyin , Zhu Cheng , Xue Li-Qun , Wang Hongmei
Published: July 2014

Placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1), a placenta-specific gene, is known to be involved in the development of placenta in both humans and mice. However, the precise role ofPLAC1in placental trophoblast function remains unclear. In this study, the localization ofPLAC1in human placental tissues and its physiological significance in trophoblast invasion and migration are investigated by technical studies including real-time RT-PCR,in situhybridization, immunohistochemistry, and functional studies by utilizing cell invasion and migration assays in the trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo as well as the primary inducing extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). The results show thatPLAC1is mainly detected in the trophoblast columns and syncytiotrophoblast of the first-trimester human placental villi, as well as in the EVTs that invade into the maternal decidua. Knockdown ofPLAC1by RNA interference significantly suppresses the invasion and migration of HTR8/SVneo cells and shortens the distance of the outgrowth of the induced EVTs from the cytotrophoblast column of the explants. All the above data suggests thatPLAC1plays an important role in human placental trophoblast invasion and migration.
Actin dynamics regulate subcellular localization of the F-actin-binding protein PALLD in mouse Sertoli cells
Authors: Niedenberger Bryan A , Chappell Vesna A , Otey Carol A , Geyer Christopher B
Published: July 2014

Sertoli cells undergo terminal differentiation at puberty to support all phases of germ cell development, which occurs in the mouse beginning in the second week of life. By ∼18 dayspostpartum(dpp), nearly all Sertoli cells have ceased proliferation. This terminal differentiation is accompanied by the development of unique and regionally concentrated filamentous actin (F-actin) structures at the basal and apical aspects of the seminiferous epithelium, and this reorganization is likely to involve the action of actin-binding proteins. Palladin (PALLD) is a widely expressed F-actin-binding and bundling protein recently shown to regulate these structures, yet it is predominantly nuclear in Sertoli cells at puberty. We found that PALLD localized within nuclei of primary Sertoli cells grown in serum-free media but relocalized to the cytoplasm upon serum stimulation. We utilized this system within vivorelevance to Sertoli cell development to investigate mechanisms regulating nuclear localization of this F-actin-binding protein. Our results indicate that PALLD can be shuttled from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and that this relocalization occurred following depolymerization of the F-actin cytoskeleton in response to cAMP signaling. Nuclear localization was reduced inHpg-mutant testes, suggesting the involvement of gonadotropin signaling. We found that PALLD nuclear localization was unaffected in testis tissues from LH receptor and androgen receptor-mutant mice. However, PALLD nuclear localization was reduced in the testes of FSH receptor-mutant mice, suggesting that FSH signaling during Sertoli cell maturation regulates this subcellular localization.
Influence of Gene Interaction on Complex Trait Variation with Multilocus Models
Authors: Mäki-Tanila Asko , Hill William G
Published: July 2014

Although research effort is being expended into determining the importance of epistasis and epistatic variance for complex traits, there is considerable controversy about their importance. Here we undertake an analysis for quantitative traits utilizing a range of multilocus quantitative genetic models and gene frequency distributions, focusing on the potential magnitude of the epistatic variance. All the epistatic terms involving a particular locus appear in its average effect, with the number of two-locus interaction terms increasing in proportion to the square of the number of loci and that of third order as the cube and so on. Hence multilocus epistasis makes substantial contributions to the additive variance and does not, per se, lead to large increases in the nonadditive part of the genotypic variance. Even though this proportion can be high where epistasis is antagonistic to direct effects, it reduces with multiple loci. As the magnitude of the epistatic variance depends critically on the heterozygosity, for models where frequencies are widely dispersed, such as for selectively neutral mutations, contributions of epistatic variance are always small. Epistasis may be important in understanding the genetic architecture, for example, of function or human disease, but that does not imply that loci exhibiting it will contribute much genetic variance. Overall we conclude that theoretical predictions and experimental observations of low amounts of epistatic variance in outbred populations are concordant. It is not a likely source of missing heritability, for example, or major influence on predictions of rates of evolution.
Mei-P26 Mediates Tissue-Specific Responses to the Brat Tumor Suppressor and the dMyc Proto-Oncogene inDrosophila
Authors: Ferreira Ana , Boulan Laura , Perez Lidia , Milán Marco
Published: July 2014

TRIM-NHL proteins are a family of translational regulators that control cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation during development. Drosophila Brat and Mei-P26 TRIM-NHL proteins serve as tumor suppressors in stem cell lineages and have been proposed to exert this action, in part, via the repression of the protooncogene dMyc. Here we analyze the role of Brat, Mei-P26, and dMyc in regulating growth in Drosophila imaginal discs. As in stem cell lineages, Brat and Mei-P26 repress dMyc in epithelial cells by acting at the post-transcriptional and protein level, respectively. Analysis of cell and organ size unravel that Mei-P26 mediates tissue-specific responses to Brat and dMyc activities. Loss-of-function of brat and overexpression of dMyc induce overgrowth in stem cell lineages and eventually can participate in tumor formation. In contrast, an increase in Mei-P26 levels inhibits growth of epithelial cells in these two conditions. Upon depletion of Brat, Mei-P26 up-regulation prevents an increase in dMyc protein levels and leads to tissue undergrowth. This mechanism appears to be tissue-specific since Mei-P26 is not upregulated in brain tumors resulting from brat loss-of-function. Driving Mei-P26 expression in these tumors —mimicking the situation in epithelial cells— is sufficient to prevent dMyc accumulation, thus rescuing the overgrowth. Finally, we show that Mei-P26 upregulation mediates dMyc-induced apoptosis and limits dMyc growth potential in epithelial cells. These findings shed light on the tumor suppressor roles of TRIM-NHL proteins and underscore a new mechanism that maintains tissue homeostasis upon dMyc deregulation.