bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A retrospective analysis on the management of pigmented lesions using a picosecond 755‐nm alexandrite laser in Asians
Authors: Chan Johnny Chun‐yin , Shek Samantha Yee‐nam , Kono Taro , Yeung Chi Keung , Chan Henry Hin‐lee
Published: December 2015

Background and objectives

Photo‐aging in Chinese often presents with benign pigmentary lesions. Q‐switched lasers for pigmentary lesions in Asians had reported a risk of post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) up to 25%. Longer pulse widths in the millisecond domains were advocated with reduced risk of PIH. Recently, picosecond lasers of various wavelengths were introduced with proven efficacy in tattoo removal. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel picosecond 755‐nm alexandrite laser for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions in Asians retrospectively.

Methods

A list of all patients who received picosecond 755‐nm alexandrite laser treatment at a private dermatology center in Hong Kong was included. Those who had any other laser or topical treatment during the period of picosecond laser treatment were excluded. The age, skin phototype, type of pigmentary lesion, number of treatments performed was recorded. The baseline and most recent standardized photographs were assessed by trained physicians for comparison. A score of 0–4, representing poor 0–24%, fair 25–49%, good 50–74%, excellent 75–95%, and complete 95%+ improvement was given. Adverse events associated with the laser treatment were also recorded. All patients were followed up until 6 months after the last laser session.

Results

A total of 13 subjects were included in the present study. The number of treatment sessions received ranged from one to seven. The benign pigmentary lesions consist of Nevus of Ota, café‐au‐lait patches, lentigines, Becker's nevus, Hori's macules, and nevus spilus. Among patients with Nevus of Ota, one patient achieved complete clearance after four treatments and two other patients had excellent clearance after three and four sessions, respectively. Patients with café‐au‐lait had fair to good clearance after one to seven treatment sessions. One patient who has Hori's macules was resistant to laser treatments and a fair response was achieved after eight treatments. In the present series, two patients (4.8%) developed transient hypopigmentation, which had improved upon subsequent follow‐up in both cases and none had post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Conclusions

The novel picosecond 755‐nm alexandrine laser is effective for the treatment of benign pigmentary lesions in Chinese, especially for the clearance of Nevus of Ota. Picosecond laser appears to be associated with a much lower risk of PIH for treatment of pigmentary lesions in Asians. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:23–29, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of Temporary Regulation of Asymmetric Access Charges in Telecommunications
Authors: Shibata Takashi , Nishihara Michi
Published: December 2015

In a liberalized telecommunications market, an incumbent possesses several advantages over any entrant. It has been claimed that in such a market environment, there should be regulation of asymmetric access charges between an incumbent and an entrant. In this paper, we show that asymmetric access charges should be imposed temporarily but not permanently. That is, there should be deregulation once the entrant is fully competitive with the incumbent. This is because temporary regulation accelerates corporate investment and enhances economic welfare. In addition, when the competitive market environment is most intense under temporary regulation, investment timing is at the earliest point, which maximizes consumer surplus. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NIH working group report—using genomic information to guide weight management: From universal to precision treatment
Authors: Bray Molly S. , Loos Ruth J.F. , McCaffery Jeanne M. , Ling Charlotte , Franks Paul W. , Weinstock George M. , Snyder Michael P. , Vassy Jason L. , Agurs‐Collins Tanya ,   The Conference Working Group
Published: December 2015

Objective

Precision medicine utilizes genomic and other data to optimize and personalize treatment. Although more than 2,500 genetic tests are currently available, largely for extreme and/or rare phenotypes, the question remains whether this approach can be used for the treatment of common, complex conditions like obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance, which underlie a host of metabolic diseases.

Methods

This review, developed from a Trans‐NIH Conference titled “Genes, Behaviors, and Response to Weight Loss Interventions,” provides an overview of the state of genetic and genomic research in the area of weight change and identifies key areas for future research.

Results

Although many loci have been identified that are associated with cross‐sectional measures of obesity/body size, relatively little is known regarding the genes/loci that influence dynamic measures of weight change over time. Although successful short‐term weight loss has been achieved using many different strategies, sustainable weight loss has proven elusive for many, and there are important gaps in our understanding of energy balance regulation.

Conclusions

Elucidating the molecular basis of variability in weight change has the potential to improve treatment outcomes and inform innovative approaches that can simultaneously take into account information from genomic and other sources in devising individualized treatment plans.
Decreased FOXJ1 expression and its ciliogenesis programme in aggressive ependymoma and choroid plexus tumours
Authors: Abedalthagafi Malak S , Wu Michael P , Merrill Parker H , Du Ziming , Woo Terri , Sheu Shu‐Hsien , Hurwitz Shelley , Ligon Keith L , Santagata Sandro
Published: December 2015

Well‐differentiated human cancers share transcriptional programmes with the normal tissue counterparts from which they arise. These programmes broadly influence cell behaviour and function and are integral modulators of malignancy. Here, we show that the master regulator of motile ciliogenesis, FOXJ1, is highly expressed in cells along the ventricular surface of the human brain. Strong expression is present in cells of the ependyma and the choroid plexus as well as in a subset of cells residing in the subventricular zone. Expression of FOXJ1 and its transcriptional programme is maintained in many well‐differentiated human tumours that arise along the ventricle, including low‐grade ependymal tumours and choroid plexus papillomas. Anaplastic ependymomas as well as choroid plexus carcinomas show decreased FOXJ1 expression and its associated ciliogenesis programme genes. In ependymomas and choroid plexus tumours, reduced expression of FOXJ1 and its ciliogenesis programme are markers of poor outcome and are therefore useful biomarkers for assessing these tumours. Transitions in ciliogenesis define distinct differentiation states in ependymal and choroid plexus tumours with important implications for patient care. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Durability study on glass fiber reinforced polymer soil nail via accelerated aging test and long‐term field test
Authors: Chen Zhi , Zheng Lifei , Jin Qingping , Li Xiaoqing
Published: December 2015

Replacing steel reinforcements with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars has emerged as one of the most promising solutions to the problem of corrosion in geotechnical engineering. Accelerated aging and field tests were conducted to investigate the durability of GFRP bars that were used as soil nails in slope reinforcement. Two types of E‐glass/(vinylester and unsaturated polyester) were immersed in alkaline and saline solutions for 60 d, 180 d and 360 d. Mechanical and physical experiments were carried out to obtain the tensile strength and identify the reasons for damage and strength reduction. A pullout test was carried out after the GFRP soil nails were embedded in a slope for three years. The accelerated aging test results showed that alkaline conditions had a larger influence on the degradation of GFRP bars than did saline solutions and that strength reduction generally occurred at an earlier stage for the alkaline conditions than for the saline solution. The corrosion resistance of an unsaturated polyester bar is much lower than that of the vinylester bar, and the bar diameter has a certain impact. From the field test results, it can be seen that the GFRP soil nails are durable and perform well at the task of supporting a slope. The technology for sensing fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) is very convenient for monitoring soil nails and is suitable for long‐term observation. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2863–2873, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
The Association between Life Satisfaction and Self–Reported Health Status in Europe
Authors: Kööts–Ausmees Liisi , Realo Anu
Published: December 2015

Previous research has shown that life satisfaction (LS) and self–reported health status are strongly related to each other. However, it is not clear whether this association holds across different nations or whether certain country–level indicators significantly affect this association. The study was based on nationally representative samples of 32 countries from the first six rounds of the European Social Survey (N = 291 686). Results from hierarchical multilevel modelling indicated that there was a positive association between LS and self–reported health status across countries, but this association was slightly stronger in countries where governments spent less on the health care of their residents. Self–reported health ratings were also more strongly tied to LS judgements in countries where variability in LS ratings was larger. These results suggest that, especially in less wealthy European countries, policies should target reducing overall social inequality and the negative impact of governments’ underinvestment in health care on LS. Copyright © 2015 European Association of Personality Psychology
Photoluminescence and electroluminescence imaging of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Hameiri Ziv , Mahboubi Soufiani Arman , Juhl Mattias K. , Jiang Liangcong , Huang Fuzhi , Cheng Yi‐Bing , Kampwerth Henner , Weber Juergen W. , Green Martin A. , Trupke Thorsten
Published: December 2015

Fast camera‐based luminescence‐imaging measurements on perovskite solar cells are presented. The fundamental correlation between the luminescence intensity and the open circuit voltage predicted by the generalised Planck law is confirmed, enabling various quantitative methods for the detection of efficiency‐limiting defects to be applied to this new cell structure. Interstinegly, it is found that this fundamental correlation is valid only for light‐soaked devices. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aromatic nucleophilic substitution in aprotic solvents using hydrogen‐bonded biological amines. Kinetic studies and quantum chemical calculations
Authors: Alvaro Cecilia E. Silvana , Bergero Federico D. , Bolcic Federico M. , Ramos Susana B. , Sbarbati Nudelman Norma
Published: December 2015

Intermolecular and intramolecular non‐bonding interactions play a crucial role in determining physical and biological properties of relevant amines, and we have recently reported that they are also responsible for changing mechanisms in aromatic nucleophilic substitution (ANS) involving amine nucleophiles, when they are carried out in solvents of low permittivity. The present work describes ANS in toluene with a series of biological amines that can set specific hydrogen bonding (H bonding) interactions due to their special molecular structures. Kinetic studies of ANS with 2‐amino‐5‐guanidinopentanoic acid (arginine), (4‐aminobutyl)guanidine (agmatine), 2,6‐diaminohexanoic acid (lysine) and 3,4‐dihydroxyphenethylamine (dopamine) towards 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene in toluene are reported. The kinetic results are compared with those obtained with 2‐guanidinobenzimidazole and 2‐(1H‐imidazole‐4‐yl)ethanamine (histamine); both amines form intramolecular H bonds. The special types of H bonding were also investigated by ab initio density functional theory calculations, at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level, including counterpoise corrections to account for basis set superposition errors and solvent effects at the polarized continuum model level. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Statin use and risk of disease recurrence and death after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Keskiväli Teemu , Kujala Paula , Visakorpi Tapio , Tammela Teuvo L. J. , Murtola Teemu J.
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND

Statins have been linked with improved prostate cancer survival and lower risk of recurrence in men treated with radiation therapy. However, the association is unclear for surgically‐treated men. We studied the risk of prostate cancer recurrence and death by statin usage after radical prostatectomy in a cohort of prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

A cohort of 1,314 men who underwent curative‐intent radical prostatectomy at the Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland during 1995–2009 were linked to national prescription database to obtain detailed information on statin purchases. The risk of PSA recurrence and death (overall and prostate cancer‐specific) by statin use before and after the surgery were evaluated using Cox regression with model adjustment for tumor characteristics, total cholesterol and simultaneous use of antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs. Tissue expression of putative prognostic markers were measured from a subgroup of 323 men.

RESULTS

During the median follow‐up of 8.6 years after surgery 484 men recurred, while 244 men died (32 due to prostate cancer). In general statin use before or after prostatectomy was not associated with risk of disease recurrence or death. Tissue expression of Ki‐67 and ERG modified the association between statin use and risk of disease recurrence; the risk estimates were lower in men with Ki‐67 expression above the median (P for interaction 0.001 and 0.004 for statin use before and after prostatectomy, respectively) and no ERG expression in the tumor tissue (P for interaction 0.006 and 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Statin use generally did not affect prostate cancer prognosis after prostatectomy. The effect on disease recurrence may depend on tumor properties, such as proliferation activity. Thus possible future prospective studies should recognize and enroll subgroups of prostate cancer patients most likely to benefit from statins. Prostate 76:469–478, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inhaled loxapine and intramuscular lorazepam in healthy volunteers: a randomized placebo‐controlled drug–drug interaction study
Authors: Spyker Daniel A. , Cassella James V. , Stoltz Randall R. , Yeung Paul P.
Published: December 2015

Pharmacodynamic effects and safety of single‐dose inhaled loxapine administered via the Staccato® system and intramuscular (IM) lorazepam in combination versus each agent alone were compared in a randomized, double‐blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers. Subjects received: inhaled loxapine 10 mg + IM lorazepam 1 mg; inhaled loxapine 10 mg + IM placebo; IM lorazepam 1 mg + Staccato placebo in random order, each separated by a 3‐day washout. Primary endpoints were maximum effect (minimum value) and area under the curve (AUC) from baseline to 2 h post treatment for respirations/min and pulse oximetry. Least‐squares means (90% confidence interval [CI]) for concomitant treatment versus each agent alone were derived and equivalence (no difference) confirmed if the 90% CI was within 0.8–1.25. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), sedation (100‐mm visual analog scale), and adverse events (AEs) were recorded. All 18 subjects (mean age, 20.4 years; 61% male) completed the study. There was no difference between inhaled loxapine + IM lorazepam and either agent alone on respiration or pulse oximetery during the 12‐h postdose period, confirmed by 90% CIs for AUC and Cmin ratios. BP and HR were no different for inhaled loxapine + IM lorazepam and each agent alone over a 12‐h postdose period. Although the central nervous system sedative effects were observed for each treatment in healthy volunteers, the effect was greater following concomitant lorazepam 1 mg IM + inhaled loxapine 10 mg administration. There were no deaths, serious AEs, premature discontinuations due to AEs, or treatment‐related AEs.
Two carrier localizations in GaN/AlGaN multiquantum wells investigated by temperature dependent photoluminescence
Authors: Wu Feng , Li Yang , Tian Wu , Zhang Jun , Wang Shuai , Dai Jiangnan , Feng Zhe Chuan , Chen Changqing
Published: December 2015

Carrier localization effect has been observed in GaN/AlGaN multiquantum wells (MQWs) by analyzing the temperature dependent photoluminescence (PL) results. Specifically, two neighbouring peaks can be seen in the PL spectra with an abnormal variation when increasing the temperature. A conduction band model with two minimal potentials corresponding to two carrier localizations is proposed to explain the PL spectra. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Quasi‐one‐dimensional gold grating with Si3N4 cap layer as optical coupler for AlGaN/GaN quantum well infrared photodetector
Authors: Wang Shuai , Wu Feng , Zhang Jun , Long Hanling , Gong Zheng , Dai Jiangnan , Chen Changqing
Published: December 2015

Quasi‐one‐dimensional gold grating with Si3N4 cap layer has been studied to enhance the optical coupling of AlGaN/GaN quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) by finite element method (FEM). The averaged |Ez|2 across the whole quantum well region reaches 1.49 (V/m)2 when the electric field intensity (|E0|2) of normal incidence is 1 (V/m)2 at 4.6 μm, showing 1.9 times increase compared with that obtained via bare gold grating. The results show that Si3N4 cap layer plays an indispensable role in inducing the electric field component Ez perpendicular to multi‐quantum wells (MQWs) via not only decreasing the Fresnel reflection but also exciting stronger plasmonic resonance on the upper surface of the quasi‐one‐dimensional gold grating. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Toward Microfluidic Reactors for Cell‐Free Protein Synthesis at the Point‐of‐Care
Authors: Timm Andrea C. , Shankles Peter G. , Foster Carmen M. , Doktycz Mitchel J. , Retterer Scott T.
Published: December 2015

Cell‐free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a powerful technology that allows for optimization of protein production without maintenance of a living system. Integrated within micro and nanofluidic architectures, CFPS can be optimized for point‐of‐care use. Here, the development of a microfluidic bioreactor designed to facilitate the production of a single‐dose of a therapeutic protein, in a small footprint device at the point‐of‐care, is described. This new design builds on the use of a long, serpentine channel bioreactor and is enhanced by integrating a nanofabricated membrane to allow exchange of materials between parallel “reactor” and “feeder” channels. This engineered membrane facilitates the exchange of metabolites, energy, and inhibitory species, and can be altered by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition to tune the exchange rate of small molecules. This allows for extended reaction times and improved yields. Further, the reaction product and higher molecular weight components of the transcription/translation machinery in the reactor channel can be retained. It has been shown that the microscale bioreactor design produces higher protein yields than conventional tube‐based batch formats, and that product yields can be dramatically improved by facilitating small molecule exchange within the dual‐channel bioreactor.
Automatic builder of class diagram (ABCD): an application of UML generation from functional requirements
Authors: Ben Abdessalem Karaa Wahiba , Ben Azzouz Zeineb , Singh Aarti , Dey Nilanjan , S. Ashour Amira , Ben Ghazala Henda
Published: December 2015

Software development life cycle is a structured process, including the definition of user requirements specification, the system design, and programming. The design task comprises the transfer of natural language specifications into models. The class diagram of Unified Modeling Language has been considered as one of the most useful diagrams. It is a formal description of user's requirements and serves as inputs to the developers. The automated extraction of UML class diagram from natural language requirements is a highly challenging task. This paper explains our vision of an automated tool for class diagram generation from user requirements expressed in natural language. Our new approach amalgamates the statistical and pattern recognition properties of natural language processing techniques. More than 1000 patterns are defined for the extraction of the class diagram concepts. Once these concepts are captured, an XML Metadata Interchange file is generated and imported with a Computer‐Aided Software Engineering tool to build the corresponding UML class diagram. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
English, Tracking, and Neoliberalization of Education in South Korea
Authors: Byean Hyera
Published: December 2015

Drawing upon the experiences and dilemmas of the author, a middle school English teacher in South Korea, this article illuminates the ways in which neoliberal reforms in education intersect with English, and how such links have entailed the class‐based polarization of education in Korean society. Given the prominent role that English plays in neoliberal policies—namely, serving as a direct index of elite schools and track placement—unequal access to English across the class spectrum restricts the prospects of disadvantaged students in the neoliberal education market. Tracking is one way in which this unequal access is manifest in the Korean educational landscape. Tracking refers to placing students in accordance with their academic abilities in order to tailor instruction to best meet students' needs (Oakes, ). Contrary to its intended purpose, however, tracking has been vehemently criticized for exacerbating educational inequalities (Gamoran, ; Hallam & Ireson, ; Oakes, ; Oakes, Gamoran, & Page, ). By locating the tracking policy against the backdrop of the local significance of English, this article identifies hidden agendas underlying tracking practices surrounding English, and further highlights how the interplay of English and neoliberalism mediates relations of class and inequality while justifying policies and practices surrounding English as the imperatives of globalization.
A dual‐continua framework for assessing water use models and the potential for conservation
Authors: Prince Czarnecki Joby M. , Omer Austin R. , Kröger Robert
Published: December 2015

Regions vary in their supply of and access to ground and surface waters. These two issues together have substantial influence on the pressures and drivers of water conservation adoption (i.e., necessity vs voluntary adoption). A framework for water use models is proposed where regions are evaluated on two continua, infrastructure (engineered and political) and freshwater supply (physical and usable). Eight illustrative regions are placed into four quadrants based on water‐related infrastructure and supply. Regions in quadrant I experience both ample water supply and adequate infrastructure to still be operating with conservation as a ‘luxury.’ Regions falling within quadrants II and IV experience a shortage of either supply (II) or infrastructure (IV) but adequate levels of the opposite factor. Regions falling within quadrant III bear the double burden of limited supply and infrastructure. Shifts in quadrants are examined as a function of movement along infrastructure and supply axes. This study seeks to answer (1) for a region with both ample supply and sufficient access to freshwater, what are the mechanisms by which the situation will degrade; (2) for regions lacking either supply or infrastructure (or both) what are the mechanisms by which the situation can be improved; and (3) how do regions maintain status in preferred quadrants? WIREs Water 2016, 3:235–250. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1131

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Planning Water
Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa
Authors: Chazan Naomi , Mortimer Robert A. , Lewis Peter , Rothchild Donald , Stedman Stephen John
Published: December 2015

Africa has undergone significant political, economic, and social change since the first edition of this book was published in early 1988. Now revised and updated throughout, this new edition includes current economic, social, and political data, as well as entirely new sections on the dismantling of apartheid, civil society, democratization and multiparty politics, economic reform and structural adjustment, and the prospects for African development in the twenty-first century. Review comments on the first edition: 'Required reading for any course on politics and society of the African continent' West Africa. 'The best available textbook on the subject ... this volume stands unchallenged in its comprehensiveness and sophistication.' – Choice
Introductory Economics Course Companion
Authors: Harrison Barry
Published: December 2015

This book has been written to meet the needs of the A-level economics candidate. Although free standing, it will be particularly useful when used as a supplement to the text Introductory Economics. It provides a brief but thorough coverage of the A-level syllabus and highlights the most common mistakes made by A-level candidates. Almost every chapter includes full and comprehensive answers to recent examination questions. It will be an essential guide to all students of economics A-level.
The Mid-Tudor Crisis, 1545–1565
Authors: Loades David
Published: December 2015

Historians, like politicians, thrive on crises. Was there really a crisis in England between 1545 and 1565, or is this just an historian's way of describing a period in history when a lot of interesting things were happening?

In reality the twenty years from 1545 to 1565 contained no more elements of crisis than other comparable periods. There were crises: a brief, but serious, collapse of the overseas cloth trade in 1551-52, and a confused royal succession in 1553. Inflation began to be a problem in about 1545, and remained so for the remainder of the century. The Church had already undergone a major revolution in the 1530s, and the mid-century period could be described as 'the search for a stable settlement', a search which had succeeded by 1565.

Indeed, the machinery of central and local government worked throughout this period, with only minor fluctuations in its efficiency and effectiveness. Although, therefore, there were crises within the mid-Tudor period, there was no fundamental threat to the state or society.

Mary and Northumberland's achievements in particular have been much underrated as governors in order, originally, to magnify those of Elizabeth and, in a sense, the mid-Tudor crisis was the creation of Elizabethan propaganda. David Loades rights the record and argues for the surprising stability of government during this period.
A High‐Fat, High‐Oleic Diet, But Not a High‐Fat, Saturated Diet, Reduces Hepatic α‐Linolenic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Content in Mice
Authors: Picklo Matthew J. , Murphy Eric J.
Published: December 2015

Considerable research has focused upon the role of linoleic acid (LNA; 18:2n‐6) as a competitive inhibitor of α‐linolenic (ALA; 18:3n‐3) metabolism; however, little data exist as to the impact of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) on ALA metabolism. We tested the hypothesis that a high SFA diet, compared to a high MUFA (oleic acid 18:1n‐9) diet, reduces ALA conversion to long chain n‐3 fatty acids. Mice were fed for 12 weeks on three diets: (1) a control, 16 % fat energy diet consisting of similar levels of SFA and MUFA (2) a 50 % fat energy high MUFA energy diet (35 % MUFA and 7 % SFA) or (3) a 50 % fat energy, high SFA energy diet (34 % SFA, 8 % MUFA). ALA and LNA content remained constant. Analysis of hepatic lipids demonstrated a selective reduction (40 %) in ALA but not LNA and a 35 % reduction in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n‐3) in the high MUFA mice compared to the other groups. Lower content of ALA was reflected in the neutral lipid fraction, while smaller levels of phospholipid esterified EPA and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 22:5n‐3) were evident. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n‐3) content was elevated by the high SFA diet. Expression of Fads1 (Δ5 desaturase) and Fads2 (Δ6 desaturase) was elevated by the high MUFA and reduced by the high SFA diet. These data indicate that a high MUFA diet, but not a high SFA diet, reduces ALA metabolism and point to selective hepatic disposition of ALA versus LNA.
Just Faith? A National Survey Connecting Faith and Justice within the Christian Reformed Church
Authors: Janzen Rich , van de Hoef Steve , Stobbe Alethea , Carr Allyson , Harris Joshua , Kuipers Ronald A. , Ferrer Hector Acero
Published: December 2015

Does the call to pursue justice live in the hearts and minds of contemporary Christians? If so, to what extent? In order to address these questions, our research team used a community-based research approach to investigate how Christians in a specific denomination (the Christian Reformed Church in North America) conceptualize the relationship between justice and faith, what priority justice holds in their lives, and the barriers and enablers they identify to pursuing justice. This article reports on the findings of a survey that was distributed to a representative sample of 264 congregational members across Canada. Findings show that understandings of justice from “the pew” are multifaceted even if conceptually vague. Yet justice is clearly understood as being connected to faith even if there is ambiguity as to how it fits into the spectrum of Christian life. There is subsequently a need to assist congregants in translating their awareness of injustice and desire for justice into action. In particular, survey results emphasize the importance of pairing a Christian vision for justice with opportunities to experience exemplars of justice work. Further research could explore the extent to which these on-the-ground perspectives are shared across Christian and other faith traditions, and across world regions.
Self-preservation in a zero pressure gradient rough-wall turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Talluru K. M. , Djenidi L. , Kamruzzaman Md. , Antonia R. A.
Published: December 2015

A self-preservation (SP) analysis is carried out for a zero pressure gradient (ZPG) rough-wall turbulent boundary layer with a view to establishing the requirements of complete SP (i.e. SP across the entire layer) and determining if these are achievable. The analysis shows that SP is achievable in certain rough-wall boundary layers (irrespectively of the Reynolds number$Re$), when the mean viscous stress is zero or negligible compared to the form drag across the entire boundary layer. In this case, the velocity scale$u^{\ast }$must be constant, the length scale$l$should vary linearly with the streamwise distance$x$and the roughness height$k$must be proportional to$l$. Although this result is consistent with that of Rotta (Prog. Aeronaut. Sci., vol. 2 (1), 1962, pp. 1–95), it is derived in a more rigorous manner than the method employed by Rotta. Further, it is noted that complete SP is not possible in a smooth-wall ZPG turbulent boundary layer. The SP conditions are tested against published experimental data on both a smooth wall (Kulandaivelu, 2012, PhD thesis, The University of Melbourne) and a rough wall, where the roughness height increases linearly with$x$(Kamedaet al.,J. Fluid Sci. Technol., vol. 3 (1), 2008, pp. 31–42). Complete SP in a ZPG rough-wall turbulent boundary layer seems indeed possible when$k\propto x$.
The near-wall region of highly turbulent Taylor–Couette flow
Authors: Ostilla-Mónico Rodolfo , Verzicco Roberto , Grossmann Siegfried , Lohse Detlef
Published: December 2015

Direct numerical simulations of the Taylor–Couette (TC) problem, the flow between two coaxial and independently rotating cylinders, have been performed. The study focuses on TC flow with mild curvature (small gap) with a radius ratio of ${\it\eta}=r_{i}/r_{o}=0.909$, an aspect ratio of ${\it\Gamma}=L/d=2{\rm\pi}/3$, and a stationary outer cylinder. Three inner cylinder Reynolds numbers of $1\times 10^{5}$, $2\times 10^{5}$ and $3\times 10^{5}$ were simulated, corresponding to frictional Reynolds numbers between $Re_{{\it\tau}}\approx 1400$ and $Re_{{\it\tau}}\approx 4000$. An additional case with a large gap, ${\it\eta}=0.5$ and driving of $Re=2\times 10^{5}$ was also investigated. Small-gap TC was found to be dominated by spatially fixed large-scale structures, known as Taylor rolls (TRs). TRs are attached to the boundary layer, and are active, i.e. they transport angular velocity through Reynolds stresses. An additional simulation was also conducted with inner cylinder Reynolds number of $Re=1\times 10^{5}$ and fixed outer cylinder with an externally imposed axial flow of comparable strength to the wind of the TRs. The axial flow was found to convect the TRs without any weakening effect. For small-gap TC flow, evidence was found for the existence of logarithmic velocity fluctuations, and of an overlap layer, in which the velocity fluctuations collapse in outer units. Profiles consistent with a logarithmic dependence were also found for the angular velocity in large-gap TC flow, albeit in a very reduced range of scales. Finally, the behaviour of both small- and large-gap TC flow was compared to other canonical flows. Small-gap TC flow has similar behaviour in the near-wall region to other canonical flows, while large-gap TC flow displays very different behaviour.
Multiomic analysis of mice epilepsy models suggest that miR-21a expression modulates mRNA and protein levels related to seizure deterioration
Authors: HU XIAOXIAO , FU XIN , JIANG AO , YANG XUKUI , FANG XIAODONG , GONG GUOHUA , WEI CHENGXI
Published: December 2015

Epilepsy is now recognized as the second most common neurological disease in China. To determine the genetic cause of epileptic encephalopathy, we performed a multiomics study using mouse models of controls, anticonvulsant mice treated with five drugs and epileptic mice. Based on genome-wide profiling analysis, we discovered four genes in the epileptic mouse group with differentially-expressed mRNA. After isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) validation, only one gene, SNCA, remained, which was associated with apoptotic response of neuronal cells, and regulation of dopamine release and transport. We also identified three miRNAs targeting SNCA, out of which mmu-miR-21a-3p demonstrated a seven-fold change in expression between control and epileptic mice.
Emerging Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei pathotypes reveal ‘Psaknon’ resistance in European barley varieties
Authors: DREISEITL A.
Published: December 2015

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world and powdery mildew caused by the airborne fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei is a worldwide disease that causes frequent epidemics in Central and Northwestern Europe. Psaknon was one of first varieties in which powdery mildew resistance (Mlp1) was found, but no commercial variety with this resistance and no pathotype with the corresponding virulence have been recorded. In 2014, four isolates collected in the Czech Republic and virulent to Mlp1 were tested on 25 varieties and were also virulent to seven other resistances, including Venezia. These isolates revealed the presence of Mlp1 in six commercial spring and winter barley varieties from Southeastern and Central Europe and in six German winter barley candidate lines for registration in Czech variety trials. Based on the combined results of virulence and resistance, it was concluded that Vp1 is becoming a major factor contributing to increased virulence complexity and pathotype diversity in Central Europe. In breeding, employment of the non-specific resistance Mlo for spring barley and accumulation of quantitative resistance genes for winter barley can still be recommended in addition to exploiting a non-host resistance from an alternative source such as that present in Hordeum bulbosum.
Of myths and metallurgy: Archaeological and ethnological approaches to upland iron production in 9th century CE northwest Laos
Authors: Évrard Olivier , Pryce Thomas O. , Sprenger Guido , Chiemsisouraj Chanthaphilith
Published: December 2015

Our recent discovery and excavation of a series of iron smelting furnaces, dated to the eighth and ninth century CE, near upland Rmet villages in northwest Laos, potentially sheds new light on the role of regional upland groups during the immediate pre-Tai period. The oral tradition associated with these furnaces emphasises the role of an ancient population of metallurgists who left the area under pressure from the Rmet. These stories could refer to the actual arrival and departure (immigration and emigration) of a population of metallurgists in that area sometime during the second half of the first millennium CE or they can support the scenario of a dissimilation process. The latter would explain the existence of a Rmet subculture that the locals regard as ‘Chueang Lavae’ villages, a differentiation that Karl G. Izikowitz had labelled ‘Upper Lamet’ in the 1930s. Our finds show that archaeology and ethnology can both contribute to a much-needed reformulation of upland Lao history.
Foraging ecology of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) from Baja California, Mexico: inferences from stable isotopes in pups
Authors: Elorriaga-Verplancken Fernando R. , Morales-Luna Laura , Heckel Gisela , Schramm Yolanda
Published: December 2015

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are the only phocid species found in Mexico. There is evidence that harbour seals at other latitudes exhibit non-migratory behaviour; however, there is lack of knowledge regarding this species' movements in Mexico. In contrast, elephant seal migrations to high latitudes are documented. In order to analyse this behaviour in harbour seals, hair samples (N = 19) were collected from weaned, or nearly weaned, pups on Natividad Island, Baja California (BC), during the 2013 breeding season (February). Lanugo samples (N = 20) were also collected from elephant seal pups on the San Benito Archipelago (60 km north of Natividad) during the same season, providing information on maternal foraging during the last 4–5 months before sampling. Of the two species, BC harbour seals had higher isotope values, reflecting their non-migratory behaviour. These differences may be due to the depleted base values in the higher latitude foraging areas used by northern elephant seals relative to the areas around Natividad frequented by harbour seals. A lower trophic position by elephant seals was considered but taken as an unlikely explanation for this variation. Bayesian analysis confirmed the distinction, with a low overlap value (0.4) and different isotopic spaces (Phoca: 0.5, Mirounga: 1.6). Building upon previous studies of the trophic ecology of the two phocids that inhabit the region, we provide new information by comparing the two species during the same season using the same tissue type sampled from individuals of similar age classes.
Biocomputational analysis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase fromRaillietina echinobothrida, a cestode parasite, and its interaction with possible modulators
Authors: DUTTA ASIM KUMAR , RAMNATH  , TANDON VEENA , DAS BIDYADHAR
Published: December 2015

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) involved in gluconeogenesis in higher vertebrates opposedly plays a significant role in glucose oxidation of the cestode parasite,Raillietina echinobothrida. Considering the importance of the enzyme in the parasite and lack of its structural details, there exists an urgent need for understanding the molecular details and development of possible modulators. Hence, in this study, PEPCK gene was obtained using rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and various biocomputational analyses were performed. Homology model of the enzyme was generated, and docking simulations were executed with its substrate, co-factor, and modulators. Computer hits were generated after structure- and ligand-based screening using Discovery Studio 4.1 software; the predicted interactions were compared with those of the existing structural information of PEPCK. In order to evaluate the docking simulation results of the modulators, PEPCK gene was cloned and the overexpressed protein was purified for kinetic studies. Enzyme kinetics andin vitrostudies revealed that out of the modulators tested, tetrahydropalmatine (THP) inhibited the enzyme with lowest inhibition constant value of 93 nm. Taking the results together, we conclude that THP could be a potential inhibitor for PEPCK in the parasite.
The Moving-IAT
Authors: Fleischhauer Monika
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Accumulated evidence suggests that indirect measures such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) provide an increment in personality assessment explaining behavioral variance over and above self-reports. Likewise, it has been shown that there are several unwanted sources of variance in personality IATs potentially reducing their psychometric quality. For example, there is evidence that individuals use imagery-based facilitation strategies while performing the IAT. That is, individuals actively create mental representations of their person that fit to the category combination in the respective block, but do not necessarily fit to their implicit personality self-concept. A single-block IAT variant proposed by attitude research, where compatible and incompatible trials are presented in one and the same block, may prevent individuals from using such facilitation strategies. Consequently, for the trait need for cognition (NFC), a new single-block IAT version was developed (called Moving-IAT) and tested against the standard IAT for differences in internal consistency and predictive validity in a sample of 126 participants. Although the Moving-IAT showed lower internal consistency, its predictive value for NFC-typical behavior was higher than that of the standard IAT. Given individual’s strategy reports, the single-block structure of the Moving-IAT indeed reduces the likelihood of imagery-based strategies.
Validity Evidence of the Test of Word Reading for Portuguese Elementary Students
Authors: Chaves-Sousa Séli , Ribeiro Iolanda , Viana Fernanda Leopoldina , Vale Ana Paula , Santos Sandra , Cadime Irene
Published: December 2015

Abstract. This article presents data concerning the validity evidence of a test of word reading (TLP – Teste de Leitura de Palavras) that assesses single-word reading accuracy in Portuguese students from Grades 1 to 4. The test is composed of four vertically scaled forms, one for each grade, allowing for the evaluation of students’ word reading progression. In the internal structure-related evidence validity study, administration of the TLP to 905 Portuguese elementary students confirmed its one-dimensional structure. In the evidence based on the relationship with other variables’ study, 280 Portuguese elementary students were assessed with each TLP test form and criterion measures (reading tests, digit span, and vocabulary measures). Significant correlations were observed between results from the TLP test forms, reading instruments, short-term memory, and vocabulary measures. These results revealed adequate evidence based on internal structure and evidence based on the relationship to other variables of the TLP for the assessment of word reading accuracy in Portuguese elementary students.
Accumulation of differentiating intestinal stem cell progenies drives tumorigenesis
Authors: Zhai Zongzhao , Kondo Shu , Ha Nati , Boquete Jean-Philippe , Brunner Michael , Ueda Ryu , Lemaitre Bruno
Published: December 2015

Stem cell self-renewal and differentiation are coordinated to maintain tissue homeostasis and prevent cancer. Mutations causing stem cell proliferation are traditionally the focus of cancer studies. However, the contribution of the differentiating stem cell progenies in tumorigenesis is poorly characterized. Here we report that loss of the SOX transcription factor, Sox21a, blocks the differentiation programme of enteroblast (EB), the intestinal stem cell progeny in the adult Drosophila midgut. This results in EB accumulation and formation of tumours. Sox21a tumour initiation and growth involve stem cell proliferation induced by the unpaired 2 mitogen released from accumulating EBs generating a feed-forward loop. EBs found in the tumours are heterogeneous and grow towards the intestinal lumen. Sox21a tumours modulate their environment by secreting matrix metalloproteinase and reactive oxygen species. Enterocytes surrounding the tumours are eliminated through delamination allowing tumour progression, a process requiring JNK activation. Our data highlight the tumorigenic properties of transit differentiating cells.
MicroRNA-214 Mediates Isoproterenol-induced Proliferation and Collagen Synthesis in Cardiac Fibroblasts
Authors: Sun Min , Yu Haiyi , Zhang Youyi , Li Zijian , Gao Wei
Published: December 2015

The action of β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) induces cardiac fibroblast (CF) proliferation and collagen synthesis and is a major source of the cardiac fibrosis caused by various diseases. Recently, microRNA-214 (miR-214) was found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac remodelling. In the present study, we examined the role and the underlying mechanism of miR-214 in isoproterenol (ISO, a β-AR agonist)-induced CF proliferation and collagen synthesis. The expression of miR-214 was increased in both ISO-mediated fibrotic heart tissue and fibroblasts. Downregulation of miR-214 by antagonists attenuated the proliferation and collagen synthesis in ISO-treated CFs. Using bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays, mitofusin2 (Mfn2), a critical regulator of cell proliferation and tissue fibrosis, was identified as a direct target gene of miR-214; this result was confirmed by western blot analysis. Additionally, corresponding to the upregulation of miR-214, the expression of Mfn2 was downregulated in the fibrotic heart and fibroblasts. Furthermore, the downregulation of miR-214 inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 MAPK signalling induced by ISO treatment. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that miR-214 mediates CF proliferation and collagen synthesis via inhibition of Mfn2 and activation of ERK1/2 MAPK signalling, which provides a new explanation for the mechanism of β-AR activation-induced cardiac fibrosis.
Gauge Physics of Spin Hall Effect
Authors: Tan Seng Ghee , Jalil Mansoor B. A. , Ho Cong Son , Siu Zhuobin , Murakami Shuichi
Published: December 2015

Spin Hall effect (SHE) has been discussed in the context of Kubo formulation, geometric physics, spin orbit force and numerous semi-classical treatments. It can be confusing if the different pictures have partial or overlapping claims of contribution to the SHE. In this article, we present a gauge-theoretic, time-momentum elucidation, which provides a general SHE equation of motion, that unifies under one theoretical framework, all contributions of SHE conductivity due to the kinetic, the spin orbit force (Yang-Mills) and the geometric (Murakami-Fujita) effects. Our work puts right an ambiguity surrounding previously partial treatments involving the Kubo, semiclassical, Berry curvatures, or the spin orbit force. Our full treatment shows the Rashba 2DEG SHE conductivity to be "Equation missing" instead of −"Equation missing" and Rashba heavy hole "Equation missing" instead of −"Equation missing". This renewed treatment suggests a need to re-derive and re-calculate previously studied SHE conductivity.