bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histone variants and melanoma: facts and hypotheses
Authors: Konstantinov Nikifor K. , Ulff‐Møller Constance J. , Dimitrov Stefan
Published: February 2016

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer with rising incidence and morbidity. Despite advances in treatment, the 10‐yr survival for patients with metastatic disease is less than 10%. During the past few years, ongoing research on different epigenomic aberrations in melanoma has catalyzed better understanding of its pathogenesis and identification of new therapeutics. In our review, we will focus on the role of histone variants, key epigenetic players in melanoma initiation and progression. Specifically, incorporation of histone variants enables additional layers of chromatin structure, and here, we will describe how alterations in this epigenetic behavior impact melanoma.
Generalizing disposability: Residential mobility and the willingness to dissolve social ties
Authors: GILLATH OMRI , KEEFER LUCAS A.
Published: February 2016

Four studies examined whether residential mobility (RM) leads people to view objects as disposable and, in turn, view social ties as disposable. Study 1 showed that tendencies to dispose of objects and social ties are related. Study 2 demonstrated that a history of RM increases the willingness to dispose of objects and, through that, dispose of social ties. Study 3 showed that increasing the sense of RM increases the willingness to dispose of objects and, through this, dispose of social ties. Study 4 showed that the relational aspect of RM is crucial in affecting relational disposability. Our findings extend research on RM and support Lewin's (1936) conceptualization of mobility being associated with ease of disposing social ties.
The End of the Conservative German Welfare State Model
Authors: Seeleib‐Kaiser Martin
Published: February 2016

Abstract

This article investigates change and continuity of the German welfare state at the institutional as well as at the outcome level in the domains of family, pension and unemployment policies. It shows that seemingly path‐dependent policy adaptations – largely through drift, layering and recalibration – have led to a paradigmatic and indeed transformational adjustment of welfare state arrangements. The unsettling of institutional arrangements and functional underpinnings of the welfare state in the wake of German unification constituted a ‘critical juncture’ facilitating the establishment of new ‘interpretative patterns’ that have subsequently replaced previous assumptions relating to the economic benefits of social policies and reordered the aims and goals of the welfare state.
Performance evaluation of a high‐speed multileaf collimator in real‐time IMRT delivery to moving targets
Authors: Li Fang , Ye Peiqing , Zhang Hui
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

Multileaf collimator (MLC) tracking can be used for motion management. However, on account of mechanical constraints, it is a crucial challenge for conventional MLCs (3–4 cm/s in leaf speed) to track fast targets, especially moving in 2D in the beam's eye view (BEV). Our group has recently developed a “high‐speed” MLC (HS‐MLC) prototype with a maximum leaf speed of 40 cm/s, which makes it possible to track the vast majority of moving targets without violation of mechanical constraints. The major innovation of the HS‐MLC design is that it employs linear motors instead of rotary motors to drive leaves. This paper mainly aims to evaluate the performance of the HS‐MLC in real‐time intensity‐modulated radiation therapy delivery to targets moving in 2D in the BEV.

Methods:

A 2D real‐time tracking algorithm was proposed first based on a previous superimposing leaf sequencing method. Then, simulations were performed to evaluate the delivery performance including fluence accuracy, efficiency, delivery time, and number of monitor units under various settings of limiting coefficient and dose rate for four clinical fluence maps and two target speeds. The comparisons between the HS‐MLC with a “medium‐speed” MLC (MS‐MLC, 10 cm/s) and a “low‐speed” MLC (LS‐MLC, 5 cm/s) were also made. For validation, experiments were carried out on the HS‐MLC prototype in the lab environment. A camera‐based measurement system was set up to detect actual leaf trajectories.

Results:

Simulation results indicate that a limiting coefficient of 0.5 and a dose rate of 400 MU/min are “optimal” in the sense of getting best compromise between delivery time and number of monitor units. Under the optimal parameters, the HS‐MLC achieved 100% in efficiency, 18.1 s in delivery time, and 121.2 MU in number of monitor units on average for the “fast” target speed, compared to 94%, 20.6 s, and 129.9 MU with the MS‐MLC, and to 53%, 40.2 s, and 141.1 MU with the LS‐MLC. The benefits of increased leaf speed were demonstrated. The experimental results agreed with the simulation ones, which further confirmed the efficacy of the HS‐MLC.

Conclusions:

The HS‐MLC is superior to conventional MLCs when used for tracking, benefiting from its high leaf speed. These results indicate that the novel HS‐MLC is feasible for high‐accuracy and high‐efficiency motion management. It also offers guidance for future MLC design.
CRISPR goes retro
Authors: Sontheimer Erik J. , Marraffini Luciano A.
Published: February 2016

RNA contributes directly to the immunological memory recorded in CRISPR sequences

[Also see Research Article by

Silas
et al.

]
Flow Cytometry, a Versatile Tool for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Primary Immunodeficiencies
Authors: Abraham Roshini S. , Aubert Geraldine
Published: February 2016

Genetic defects of the immune system are referred to as primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). These immunodeficiencies are clinically and immunologically heterogeneous and, therefore, pose a challenge not only for the clinician but also for the diagnostic immunologist. There are several methodological tools available for evaluation and monitoring of patients with PIDs, and of these tools, flow cytometry has gained prominence, both for phenotyping and functional assays. Flow cytometry allows real-time analysis of cellular composition, cell signaling, and other relevant immunological pathways, providing an accessible tool for rapid diagnostic and prognostic assessment. This minireview provides an overview of the use of flow cytometry in disease-specific diagnosis of PIDs, in addition to other broader applications, which include immune phenotyping and cellular functional measurements.
Expansion of Microbial Forensics
Authors: Schmedes Sarah E. , Sajantila Antti , Budowle Bruce
Published: February 2016

Microbial forensics has been defined as the discipline of applying scientific methods to the analysis of evidence related to bioterrorism, biocrimes, hoaxes, or the accidental release of a biological agent or toxin for attribution purposes. Over the past 15 years, technology, particularly massively parallel sequencing, and bioinformatics advances now allow the characterization of microorganisms for a variety of human forensic applications, such as human identification, body fluid characterization, postmortem interval estimation, and biocrimes involving tracking of infectious agents. Thus, microbial forensics should be more broadly described as the discipline of applying scientific methods to the analysis of microbial evidence in criminal and civil cases for investigative purposes.
Infections and Intoxications from the Ocean: Risks of the Shore
Authors: Clemence Mark A. , Guerrant Richard L.
Published: February 2016

Marine and coastal regions provide a diverse range of foods and serve as recreation and leisure areas for large numbers of people in many parts of the world. However, they also serve as environments associated with numerous hazards. The number of cases of fish- and shellfish-related food poisonings in the United States has increased in recent years, accounting for over 600,000 illnesses, with 3,000 hospitalizations and 94 deaths annually. Human diseases due to pathogenic
Vibrio
species can result from both ingestion of contaminated shellfish and exposure of open wounds to contaminated seawater. A variety of infections may result from human interactions with marine life, including sharks, barracudas, and moray eels. This chapter covers some of the risks of the shore, including fish and shellfish intoxications, infections related to
Vibrio
species, and infections resulting from marine trauma.
The Ancient Curse: Rabies
Authors: Blanton Jesse D. , Wallace Ryan M.
Published: February 2016

A review of the global burden of rabies and the risk of exposure from leisure activities.
Acupuncture for chronic knee pain: a protocol for an updated systematic review
Authors: Zhang Qinhong , Yue Jinhuan , Sun Zhongren , Lu Ying
Published: February 2016

Introduction

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with chronic knee pain.

Methods and analysis

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTERAL, CINAHL and four Chinese medical databases will be searched from their inception to present. We will also manually retrieve eligible studies. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which acupuncture is assessed as the sole treatment or as an adjunct treatment for chronic knee pain will be included. The primary outcome of our analysis is pain measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale or the 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS). The secondary outcomes will include the quality of life, measured by the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and adverse events. Two researchers will conduct the study selection, data extraction and quality assessment independently. Any disagreement will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. The Cochrane risk-of-bias criteria and the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) checklist will be used to assess the methodological quality of the trials.

Dissemination

This systematic review will assess the current evidence on acupuncture therapy for chronic knee pain. It uses aggregated published data instead of individual patient data and does not require an ethical board review and approval. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated in conference presentations. It will provide the latest analysis of the currently available evidence for acupuncture treating chronic knee pain.

Trial registration number

CRD42014015514.
Proteomic study of periovarian adipose tissue in 17β-estradiol-treated and untreated ovariectomized rats
Authors: Amengual-Cladera Emilia , Capllonch-Amer Gabriela , Lladó Isabel , Gianotti Magdalena , Proenza Ana M.
Published: February 2016

Taking into account the sexual dimorphism previously found in white adipose tissue (WAT) regarding mitochondrial function and biogenesis, as well as insulin sensitivity, the aim of this study was to go further into the role of sex hormones in this dimorphism. To achieve this objective, we used ovariectomized rats and performed a screening by means of proteomic analyses of the periovarian WAT, combined with a study of the protein levels of specific factors involved in mitochondrial function. Rats were ovariectomized at 5 weeks of age and subcutaneously injected every 48 h with corn-oil (OVX group) or with 17β-estradiol (E2, 10 μg/kg body mass; OVX + E2 group) for 4 weeks prior to sacrifice. Beside proteomic analysis, protein levels of Transcription Factor A, Mitochondrial (TFAM), cytochrome oxidase (COX)II, and COXIV were determined by Western blot, and mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator (PGC)-1α, ERα, ERβ, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), and adiponectin were quantified by real-time PCR. Our results show that ovariectomy leads to an increase in anabolic processes and inflammatory protein levels as well as to a decrease in some of the markers of mitochondrial function, which are restored, at least in part, by E2 supplementation. Indeed, this E2 supplementation seems to be counteracted by a decline in ERα and in the ERα to ERβ ratio values that could be directed to avoid an over-stimulation of the E2 signaling pathway, given the possibility of an activation of extra-gonadal steroid biosynthetic pathways.
Automatic Segmentation of Bones in X-ray Images Based on Entropy Measure
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Oishila , Chanda Bhabatosh , Bhattacharya Bhargab B.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we introduce an efficient method for segmenting the bone region of an X-ray image from its surrounding muscles and tissues. Automated segmentation of the bone part in a digital X-ray image is a challenging problem because of its low contrast with the surrounding flesh. The presence of noise and spurious edges further complicates the segmentation. Most of the existing methods either suffer from noisy contour detection or need training samples for manual tuning of certain thresholding parameters. We propose a fully automated segmentation technique, which utilizes a variant of entropy measure of the image. This scheme has been shown to be useful for fast and efficient analysis of a wide class of human X-ray images including skull, chest, pelvic region and ortho-dental zones. In order to quantify the quality of segmentation, we propose a new metric called average contour distortion index (ACDI) based on certain neighborhood properties of the contour pixels. Experiments on several X-ray images reveal encouraging results compared to other approaches as evident from the ACDI metric. We also re-validate the quality of several segmented bone images using segmentation entropy quantitative assessment (SEQA), and boundary-based precision–recall profile. All three metrics establish the superiority of the proposed technique to prior art.
Complex reinnervation pattern after unilateral renal denervation in rats
Authors: Rodionova Kristina , Fiedler Christian , Guenther Franziska , Grouzmann Eric , Neuhuber Winfried , Fischer Michael J. M. , Ott Christian , Linz Peter , Freisinger Wolfgang , Heinlein Sonja , Schmidt Stephanie T. , Schmieder Roland E. , Amann Kerstin , Scrogin Karie , Veelken Roland , Ditting Tilmann
Published: February 2016

Renal denervation (DNX) is a treatment for resistant arterial hypertension. Efferent sympathetic nerves regrow, but reinnervation by renal afferent nerves has only recently been shown in the renal pelvis of rats after unilateral DNX. We examined intrarenal perivascular afferent and sympathetic efferent nerves after unilateral surgical DNX. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), CGRP, and smooth muscle actin were identified in kidney sections from 12 Sprague-Dawley rats, to distinguish afferents, efferents, and vasculature. DNX kidneys and nondenervated kidneys were examined 1, 4, and 12 wk after DNX. Tissue levels of CGRP and norepinephrine (NE) were measured with ELISA and mass spectrometry, respectively. DNX decreased TH and CGRP labeling by 90% and 95%, respectively ( P < 0.05) within 1 wk. After 12 wk TH and CGRP labeling returned to baseline with a shift toward afferent innervation ( P < 0.05). Nondenervated kidneys showed a doubling of both labels within 12 wk ( P < 0.05). CGRP content decreased by 72% [3.2 ± 0.3 vs. 0.9 ± 0.2 ng/gkidney; P < 0.05] and NA by 78% [1.1 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.1 pmol/mgkidney; P < 0.05] 1 wk after DNX. After 12 wk, CGRP, but not NE, content in DNX kidneys was fully recovered, with no changes in the nondenervated kidneys. The use of phenol in the DNX procedure did not influence this result. We found morphological reinnervation and transmitter recovery of afferents within 12 wk after DNX. Despite morphological evidence of sympathetic regrowth, NE content did not fully recover. These results suggest a long-term net surplus of afferent influence on the DNX kidney may be contributing to the blood pressure lowering effect of DNX.
Encoding of natural sounds by variance of the cortical local field potential
Authors: Ding Nai , Simon Jonathan Z. , Shamma Shihab A. , David Stephen V.
Published: February 2016

Neural encoding of sensory stimuli is typically studied by averaging neural signals across repetitions of the same stimulus. However, recent work has suggested that the variance of neural activity across repeated trials can also depend on sensory inputs. Here we characterize how intertrial variance of the local field potential (LFP) in primary auditory cortex of awake ferrets is affected by continuous natural sound stimuli. We find that natural sounds often suppress the intertrial variance of low-frequency LFP (<16 Hz). However, the amount of the variance reduction is not significantly correlated with the amplitude of the mean response at the same recording site. Moreover, the variance changes occur with longer latency than the mean response. Although the dynamics of the mean response and intertrial variance differ, spectro-temporal receptive field analysis reveals that changes in LFP variance have frequency tuning similar to multiunit activity at the same recording site, suggesting a local origin for changes in LFP variance. In summary, the spectral tuning of LFP intertrial variance and the absence of a correlation with the amplitude of the mean evoked LFP suggest substantial heterogeneity in the interaction between spontaneous and stimulus-driven activity across local neural populations in auditory cortex.
Observation and Numerical Simulation of Terrain-Induced Windshear at the Hong Kong International Airport in a Planetary Boundary Layer without Temperature Inversions
Authors: Chan P. W. , Hon K. K.
Published: February 2016

Terrain-induced windshear at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) could be hazardous to the landing and departing aircraft. Such windshear occurring in a planetary boundary layer without temperature inversions is studied in this paper by using the data from the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar and Light Detection and Ranging systems. A high resolution numerical model, called aviation model (AVM), is also employed to find out its capability to forecast the occurrence of such windshear. The model is found to have skills in capturing the terrain-induced windshear, including the terrain-induced microburst due to the mountains of Lantau Island. Moreover, the windshear detection algorithm as applied to the AVM output, called AVM-GLYGA, is able to give advance alert for the occurrence of low-level windshear. The model also offers new dataset, such as vertical velocity and vertical cross sections across the windshear feature, to study the terrain-induced windshear phenomena with new insights. The AVM is found to have good skills in depicting the terrain-disrupted airflow at the airport area, and more comprehensive study would be conducted to study the skills of AVM-GLYGA as compared with pilot windshear report as sky truth.
Soft Classes and Soft Rough Classes with Applications in Decision Making
Authors: Karaaslan Faruk
Published: February 2016

Rough set was defined by Pawlak in 1982. Concept of soft set was proposed as a mathematical tool to cope with uncertainty and vagueness by Molodtsov in 1999. Soft sets were combined with rough sets by Feng et al. in 2011. Feng et al. investigated relationships between a subset of initial universe of soft set and a soft set. Feng et al. defined the upper and lower approximations of a subset of initial universe over a soft set. In this study, we firstly define concept of soft class and soft class operations such as union, intersection, and complement. Then we give some properties of soft class operations. Based on definition and operations of soft classes, we define lower and upper approximations of a soft set. Subsequently, we introduce concept of soft rough class and investigate some properties of soft rough classes. Moreover, we give a novel decision making method based on soft class and present an example related to novel method.
Unilateral Absence of Mental Foramen with Surgical Exploration in a Living Human Subject
Authors: Ulu Murat , Tarim Ertas Elif , Gunhan Fatih , Yircali Atici Meral , Akcay Huseyin
Published: February 2016

The mental foramen (MF) is an important anatomic landmark of the mandible, in which the somatic afferent sensory nerve of the mandibular nerve emerges as mental nerve and blood vessels. The identification and actual location of MF are important in order to avoid sensory dysfunction or paresthesia due to mental nerve injury. In the literature there are some rare reports on the anatomical variations of the MF such as its location or presence of accessory foramina. The present report describes the absence of mental foramina on the left side of the mandible, as detected by cone-beam computed tomography before impacted tooth removal and observed directly during surgery.
The Effect of Vinpocetine on Human Cytochrome P450 Isoenzymes by Using a Cocktail Method
Authors: Kong Lingti , Song Chunli , Ye Linhu , Guo Daohua , Yu Meiling , Xing Rong
Published: February 2016

Vinpocetine is a derivative of the alkaloid vincamine, which had been prescribed for chronic cerebral vascular ischemia and acute ischemic stroke or used as a dietary supplement for its several different mechanisms of biological activities. However, information on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme‐mediated drug metabolism has not been previously studied. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of vinpocetine on CYPs activity, and cocktail method was used, respectively. To evaluate the effects of vinpocetine on the activity of human CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1, human liver microsomes were utilized to incubate with the mixed CYPs probe substrates and the target components. The results indicate that vinpocetine exhibited weak inhibitory effect on the CYP2C9, where the IC50 value is 68.96 μM, whereas the IC50 values for CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1 were all over range of 100 μM, which showed that vinpocetine had no apparent inhibitory effects on these CYPs. In conclusion, the results indicated that drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 coadministrated with vinpocetine may require attention or dose adjustment.
Clinical Outcomes of Wulingsan Subtraction Decoction Treatment of Postoperative Brain Edema and Fever as a Complication of Glioma Neurosurgery
Authors: Jin Wei-rong , Zhang Feng-e , Diao Bao-zhong , Zhang Yue-ying
Published: February 2016

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of Wulingsan subtraction (五苓散加减 WLSS) decoction in the treatment of postoperative brain edema and fever as a complication of glioma neurosurgery. Methods. This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery of Liaocheng People’s Hospital. Patients hospitalized between March 2011 and December 2014 were divided into three groups: Group A received WLSS oral liquid (50 mL), twice a day; Group B received an intravenous infusion of mannitol; and Group C received WLSS combined with mannitol (n = 30 patients per group). All patients were treated for 10 days continuously. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by measuring body temperature and indicators of renal function before and 3, 5, and 10 days after treatment. Results. Compared to the other two groups, significantly greater clinical efficacy was observed in the patients treated with mannitol (Group B; P < 0.05), although marked clinical efficacy was also observed over time in patients treated with WLSS (Group A). After 5 days, the quantifiable effects of the WLSS and mannitol combination group (Group C) were substantial (P < 0.05). The renal damage in Group B was more obvious after 5 days and 10 days. Conclusion. Compared with mannitol treatment alone, WLSS combined with mannitol induced a more rapid reduction in body temperature. Our findings suggest that patients should be started on mannitol for 3 days and then switched to WLSS to achieve obvious antipyretic effects and protect renal function. This method of treatment should be considered for clinical applications.
Psychometric Properties of a Moroccan Version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure
Authors: Adarmouch Latifa , Sebbani Majda , Elyacoubi Abdelhadi , Amine Mohamed
Published: February 2016

Background. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) is a widely used self-report measure for diabetes self-management. It is an interesting tool for practice and research.Objectives. To translate and culturally adapt the SDSCA to the Moroccan context and to assess psychometric properties of the adapted version among type 2 diabetic patients.Methods. The Moroccan version was obtained following forward and backward translations. An expert panel issued a final version. The adapted version was administered to patients aged 30 years and older who have type 2 diabetes. Psychometric evaluation consisted of assessing validity through internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha, item-to-scale and interitem correlations) and exploratory factor analysis and reproducibility (test-retest reliability).Results. Seventy-five participants were included. Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.20 (diet) to 0.99 (exercise). Moderate to good interitem and item-to-scale correlations were found. Factor analysis resulted in a Moroccan SDSCA version consisting of 8 items, organized in four subscales that explained 89.6% of the variance: diet, exercise, blood sugar testing, and foot-care. Intraclass correlations ranged from 0.27 to 0.52 for subscales.Conclusion. This study provides preliminary evidence for suitability of use of the Moroccan SDSCA among type 2 diabetic patients in order to assess diabetes self-management.
Confirmed Activity and Tolerability of Weekly Paclitaxel in the Treatment of Advanced Angiosarcoma
Authors: Apice Gaetano , Pizzolorusso Antonio , Di Maio Massimo , Grignani Giovanni , Gebbia Vittorio , Buonadonna Angela , De Chiara Annarosaria , Fazioli Flavio , De Palma Giampaolo , Galizia Danilo , Arcara Carlo , Mozzillo Nicola , Perrone Francesco
Published: February 2016

Background.In several prospective and retrospective studies, weekly paclitaxel showed promising activity in patients with angiosarcoma.Patients and Methods. Our study was originally designed as a prospective, phase II multicenter trial for patients younger than 75, with ECOG performance status 0–2, affected by locally advanced or metastatic angiosarcoma. Patients received paclitaxel 80 mg/m2intravenously, at days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was objective response.Results. Eight patients were enrolled but, due to very slow accrual, the trial was prematurely stopped and further 10 patients were retrospectively included in the analysis. Out of 17 evaluable patients, 6 patients obtained an objective response (5 partial, 1 complete), with an objective response rate of 35% (95% confidence interval 17%–59%). Of note, five responses were obtained in pretreated patients. In the paper, details of overall survival, progression-free survival, and tolerability are reported.Conclusions. In this small series of patients with locally advanced or metastatic angiosarcoma, weekly paclitaxel was confirmed to be well tolerated and active even in pretreated patients.
Recent Advances on Radio-Frequency Design in Cognitive Radio
Authors: El Misilmani H. M. , Abou-Shahine M. Y. , Nasser Y. , Kabalan K. Y.
Published: February 2016

With the growth of mobile data applications, the spectrum allocation is becoming very scarce. To ease congestion and boost speeds, cognitive radio (CR) is currently seen as a major solution and expected to be the key player in the new wireless technologies. In this paper, we will start by introducing the cognitive radio systems, followed by exploring the challenges in designing RF engine, along with an investigation of its antennas, amplifiers, oscillators, and the components that are expected to operate over a wide range of frequencies.
The Volume Activated Potassium Channel KCNK5 is Up-Regulated in Activated Human T Cells, but Volume Regulation is Impaired
Authors: Kirkegaard Signe S. , Strøm Pernille Dyhl , Gammeltoft Steen , Hansen Anker Jon , Hoffmann Else K.
Published: February 2016

Background/Aims: The potential role of the two-pore domain potassium channel KCNK5 (also known as TASK-2 and K2P5.1) in activated T cell physiology has only recently been described. So far KCNK5 has been described to be up-regulated in T cells in multiple sclerosis patients and to be implicated in the volume regulatory mechanism regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in T cells. Methods: We investigated the time-dependent expression pattern of KCNK5 in CD3/CD28 activated human T cells using qPCR and Western blotting and its role in RVD using a Coulter Counter. Results: KCNK5 is highly up-regulated in CD3/CD28 activated T cells both at mRNA (after 24 h) and protein level (72 and 144 h), but despite this up-regulation the RVD response is inhibited. Furthermore, the swelling-activated Cl- permeability in activated T cells is strongly decreased, and the RVD inhibition is predominantly due to the decreased Cl- permeability. Conclusion: The up-regulated KCNK5 in activated human T cells does not play a volume regulatory role, due to decreased Cl- permeability. We speculate that the KCNK5 up-regulation might play a role in hyperpolarization of the cell membrane leading to increased Ca2+ influx and proliferation of T cells.
The 2015 Pediatric Endocrine Society Ethics Symposium: Controversies Regarding ‘Gender Verification' of Elite Female Athletes - Sex Testing to Hyperandrogenism
Authors: Brodsky Jill L. , Genel Myron
Published: February 2016

An overview of the Pediatric Endocrine Society's Ethics Symposium held in April 2015 at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies is provided by the panel moderators with a summary of efforts by international athletic governing bodies over several decades to ‘verify' the eligibility of athletes to compete in female only events, culminating in the hyperandrogenism policies that were the focus of the panel debate. This history was extensively reviewed in the symposium's opening presentation by Alan Rogol, in collaboration with Lindsay Pieper. Two sharply divergent views were then conveyed. David Allen's, in support, is provided in his article which follows. The opposing case, provided by Katrina Karkazis, is extensively summarized herein and reflected in her Science essay with Rebecca Jordan-Young which appeared shortly after the meeting. The subsequent ruling by the international Court of Arbitration for Sport to suspend the hyperandrogenism rule is noted with some speculation regarding the implications if it is upheld.
Recharacterisation of three Parasitodiplogaster species based on morphological and molecular profiles
Authors: Kanzaki Natsumi , Giblin-Davis Robin M. , Ye Weimin , Herre Edward Allen , Center Barbara J.
Published: February 2016

Three previously describedParasitodiplogasterspp.,P. nymphanema,P. obtusinemaandP. trigonemawere re-isolated from their type locality, Barro Colorado Island Research Station, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, in Panama. The re-isolated materials were morphologically observed to compare with the original descriptions and molecularly characterised by DNA sequences of the near-full-length small subunit and D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA genes. Although the male tail characters,i.e., arrangement of genital papillae and spicule and gubernaculum morphologies, were close to the original descriptions, a compressed stoma with two (right subventral and dorsal) teeth was observed for the first time and confirmed in the newly re-isolated materials. The molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the three re-isolated species are close toP. laevigata,P. citrinemaandP. popenema, forming theP. laevigatagroup in the genus, and this group was separated into three subgroups,P. citrinema +P. popenema(subgroup 1),P. nymphanema +P. obtusinema(subgroup 2) andP. laevigata +P. trigonemaand three undescribed species (subgroup 3). TheP. laevigatagroup is characterised by a relatively compressed stoma with two (right subventral and dorsal) teeth, arrangement of genital papillae (three or four precloacal and four postcloacal pairs), but distinguishable from each other by stomatal morphology,i.e., the shortest and most compressed being in subgroup 3, widest in subgroup 1, and intermediate in subgroup 2. Furthermore, a large and long spicule and gubernaculum were observed in subgroup 2 as its hypothesised apomorphy.
Merleau-Ponty and the Order of the Earth
Authors: Chouraqui Frank
Published: February 2016

In this essay, I reconstruct Merleau-Ponty’s implicit critique of Husserl in his lectures on Husserl’s concept of the earth as Boden or ground. Against Husserl, Merleau-Ponty regards the earth seen as pure Boden as an idealization. He emphasizes the ontological necessity for the earth as Boden to always hypostasize itself into the Copernican concept of earth as object. In turn, Merleau-Ponty builds this necessity into an essential feature of being, allowing himself to retrieve ontology itself from its status as external to being, and to make room for it within the structure of being: ontology is one of the ways in which experiences (such as that of the earth as Boden) become objectified, thereby allowing being to achieve its essential movement of hypostatization.
How Stationary Eddies Shape Changes in the Hydrological Cycle: Zonally Asymmetric Experiments in an Idealized GCM
Authors: Wills Robert C. , Schneider Tapio
Published: February 2016

Stationary and low-frequency Rossby waves are the primary drivers of extratropical weather variations on monthly and longer time scales. They take the form of persistent highs and lows, which, for example, shape subtropical dry zones and guide extratropical storms. More generally, stationary-eddy circulations, including zonally anomalous tropical overturning circulations, set up large zonal variations in net precipitation (precipitation minus evaporation, P − E). This paper investigates the response of stationary eddies and the zonally asymmetric hydrological cycle to global warming in an idealized GCM, simulating a wide range of climates by varying longwave absorption. The stationary eddies are forced by two idealized zonal asymmetries: a midlatitude Gaussian mountain and an equatorial ocean heat source. Associated with changes in stationary eddies are changes in the zonal variation of the hydrological cycle. Particularly in the subtropics, these simulations show a nearly constant or decreasing amplitude of the zonally anomalous hydrological cycle in climates warmer than modern despite the wet gets wetter, dry gets drier effect associated with increasing atmospheric moisture content. An approximation for zonally anomalous P − E, based on zonal-mean surface specific humidity and stationary-eddy vertical motion, disentangles the roles of thermodynamic and dynamic changes. The approximation shows that changes in the zonally asymmetric hydrological cycle are predominantly controlled by changes in lower-tropospheric vertical motion in stationary eddies.
Arendtian Principles
Authors: Muldoon James
Published: February 2016

This article addresses the crucial role political principles play in Hannah Arendt’s account of political action and judgment. It proposes a new interpretive framework for understanding their political logic and the varied contexts within which they appear in Arendt’s work. Principles can be understood according to three distinct perspectives from which they inspire, guide and organise political action. Reading Montesquieu alongside Kant, Arendt claims that principles operate according to a logic of exemplarity. Political action carries within itself and exemplifies a more general principle, which nevertheless cannot be determined as a rule. It does not establish a universal law according to which future action could be determined, but it does attempt to embody and exemplify a more general standard against which future action could be judged. Arendt argues that attending to the importance of principles in politics offers new possibilities for returning to the past and transforming contemporary practices.
What Makes Some Intercultural Negotiations More Difficult Than Others? Power Distance and Culture-Role Combinations
Authors: Liu Meina , Zhu Lin , Cionea Ioana A.
Published: February 2016

This study examines whether and how intercultural negotiation dyads that vary in culture-role combinations experience different negotiation processes and outcomes. Participants completed an employment contract negotiation with a culturally different counterpart. Results indicated that high-status, high-power distance negotiators paired with low-status, low-power distance negotiators experienced more anger, placed less emphasis on cooperative goals, used less priority information exchange, and, consequently, gained less joint profits than high-status, low-power distance negotiators paired with low-status, high-power distance negotiators. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.
The effect of infrasound and negative expectations to adverse pathological symptoms from wind farms
Authors: Tonin Renzo , Brett James , Colagiuri Ben
Published: February 2016

An investigation was conducted on the effect of reported pathological symptoms of simulated infrasound produced by wind turbines. There is ongoing debate in the scientific community concerning the cause of the negative health effects reported by people living near wind farms, whether those effects are caused by the infrasound itself, or alternatively by a psychogenic response (such as a nocebo effect) to a presumption that the infrasound is the cause. In this study, a simulated wind turbine infrasound pressure waveform was generated using a custom-built headphone apparatus. Volunteers were influenced into states of high expectancy of negative effects from infrasound, and low expectancy of negative effects and their reactions to either infrasound or a sham noise were recorded. It was found, at least for the short-term exposure times conducted here-in, that the simulated infrasound has no statistically significant effect on the symptoms reported by volunteers, but the prior concern volunteers had about the effect of infrasound has a statistically significant influence on the symptoms reported. This supports the nocebo effect hypothesis.
Pathophysiology of wound healing and alterations in venous leg ulcers-review
Authors: Raffetto Joseph D
Published: February 2016

Venous leg ulcer (VLU) is one of the most common lower extremity ulcerated wound, and is a significant healthcare problem with implications that affect social, economic, and the well-being of a patient. VLU can have debilitating related problems which require weekly medical care and may take months to years to heal. The pathophysiology of VLU is complex, and healing is delayed in many patients due to a persistent inflammatory condition. Patient genetic and environmental factors predispose individuals to chronic venous diseases including VLU. Changes in shear stress affecting the glycocalyx are likely initiating events, leading to activation of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells, and leukocyte activation with attachment and migration into vein wall, microcirculation, and in the interstitial space. Multiple chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, proteases and matrix metalloproteinases are produced. The pathology of VLU involves an imbalance of inflammation, inflammatory modulators, oxidative stress, and proteinase activity. Understanding the cellular and biochemical events that lead to the progression of VLU is critical. With further understanding of inflammatory pathways and potential mechanisms, certain biomarkers could be revealed and studied as both involvement in the pathophysiology of VLU but also as therapeutic targets for VLU healing.
Use of Design Patterns According to Hand Dominance in a Mobile User Interface
Authors: Al-Samarraie Hosam , Ahmad Yusof
Published: February 2016

User interface (UI) design patterns for mobile applications provide a solution to design problems and can improve the usage experience for users. However, there is a lack of research categorizing the uses of design patterns according to users’ hand dominance in a learning-based mobile UI. We classified the main design patterns for mobile applications and investigated their relationships with major learning tasks. Students’ use of different patterns was compared with respect to hand dominance. A questionnaire on 71 patterns was administered to 92 participants, and the number of patterns they used was analyzed. UI design patterns for mobile learning significantly differed between left- and right-hand-dominant participants. We also performed a cluster analysis to explore possible theme sets among participants with regard to hand dominance in learning. The results revealed three-cluster solutions for both the left- and right-hand-dominant groups. We profiled these solutions based on insights obtained from structured interviews. Our findings provide evidence that pattern use differs between right- and left-hand-dominant users with regard to reading, information retrieval, and information-browsing tasks. These findings will facilitate further development of suitable UIs for educational mobile applications.
Improving the properties of wood–plastic composite through addition of hardwood pyrolysis liquid
Authors: Väisänen Taneli , Heikkinen Jorma , Tomppo Laura , Lappalainen Reijo
Published: February 2016

Wood–plastic composites (WPCs) present a class of materials originally developed to decrease the dependency on the mineral oil-based plastics. However, additives and coupling agents incorporated in these composites are usually derived via synthetic routes. The effect of hardwood distillate (HWD) on the properties of WPC was determined by adding various amounts (1–8 wt%) of distillate to a commercial WPC consisting of thermally treated saw dust (Scots pine) in a polypropylene matrix. The distillate was derived by converting hardwood (birch) into several liquid fractions in a two-part slow pyrolysis retort. The certain addition of particular HWD enhanced the tensile and flexural properties of the WPC studied. Furthermore, the water absorption of the samples decreased substantially, up to over 25%. Proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometric analyses indicated that the addition of the distillate increased the emission rates of studied volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but had no considerable effects on the emission rates of VOCs that are harmful for humans. The conversion of the emission rates into real room concentration revealed that guaiacol and monoterpenes exceed their odor thresholds and therefore can be smelled from the WPCs studied. The findings of this study show that this particulate HWD displayed good potential as an ecological additive in WPCs.
Raman spectroscopy for the discrimination of tephras from the Hekla eruptions of AD 1510 and 1947
Authors: Surtees Alexander PH , Swindles Graeme T , Savov Ivan P , Scowen Ian J , Edwards Howell GM , Munshi Tasnim
Published: February 2016

Tephrochronology (the dating of sedimentary sequences using volcanic ash layers) is an important tool for the dating and correlation of sedimentary sequences containing archives and proxies of past environmental change. In addition, tephra layers provide valuable information on the frequency and nature of ash fallout from volcanic activity. Successful tephrochronology is usually reliant on the correct geochemical identification of the tephra which has, until now, been based primarily on the analysis of major element oxide composition of glass shards using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). However, it is often impossible to differentiate key tephra layers using EPMA alone. For example, the Hekla AD 1947 and 1510 tephras (which are found as visible layers in Iceland and also as ‘crypto-tephra’ microscopic layers in NW Europe) are currently indistinguishable using EPMA. Therefore, other stratigraphic or chronological information is needed for their reliable identification. Raman spectroscopy is commonly used in chemistry, since vibrational information is specific to the chemical bonds and symmetry of molecules, and can provide a fingerprint by which these can be identified. Here, we demonstrate how Raman spectroscopy can be used for the successful discrimination of mineral species in tephra through the analysis of individual glass shards. In this study, we obtained spectra from minerals within the glass shards – we analysed the microlites and intratelluric mineral phases that can definitely be attributed to the tephra shards and the glass itself. Phenocrysts were not analysed as they could be sourced locally from near-site erosion. Raman spectroscopy can therefore be considered a valuable tool for both proximal and distal tephrochronology because of its non-destructive nature and can be used to discriminate Hekla 1510 from Hekla 1947.
Modeling the Mullins effect of rubber-like materials
Authors: Pan Yihui , Zhong Zheng
Published: February 2016

In this paper, the Mullins effect that is a stress-softening phenomenon of rubber-like materials during cyclic loadings is studied, by considering the energy dissipation process of weak physical and chemical bond rupture. The eight-chain model is used to construct the Helmholtz free energy, with two network structure parameters (the chain density n and the average number of monomer segments of a polymer chain N) being taken as internal variables, which can be derived in terms of a given stretch at the start point of each unloading by analyzing the stored Helmholtz free energy and the unloading stress–stretch relation. Furthermore, a novel method is developed to determine the evolution equations of these internal variables through the analysis of mass conservation and energy dissipation, and then the Mullins effect of rubber-like materials can be theoretically predicted and agree with experimental results, not only for the unloading curves, but also for the first loading curve.
Plasmacytoid-Type Cellular Differentiation in Polymorphous Low-Grade Adenocarcinoma
Authors: dos Santos Harim Tavares , de Andrade Bruno Augusto Benevenuto , Egal Erika Said Abu , Filho Edson Robles Castilla , Mariano Fernanda Viviane , Altemani Albina
Published: February 2016

Introduction. Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) occurs more frequently in minor salivary glands. The diagnosis of PLGA, in general, is not difficult but in occasional tumors showing limited invasion or in small biopsy specimens, PLGA may be confused with cellular pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Plasmacytoid cells, a usual component of PAs, have been considered helpful for correct tumor identification. Objective. The aim of this study was to verify the frequency (if any) of plasmacytoid-type cellular differentiation (PD) in PLGA. Materials and Methods. Thirty-two cases of PLGA were reviewed. PD was recognized in 2 cases (6.25%), in which immunohistochemical expression of AE1/AE3, CK7, CK14, vimentin, α-SMA, p63, S-100, calponin, GFAP, and Ki-67 was evaluated. Results. The 2 cases presented conventional areas of PLGA and variable quantities of cells with PD forming aggregates in the stroma and lining ductal structures. Cells with PD showed positivity for AE1/AE3, CK7, S-100, and vimentin and were negative for CK14, calponin, and GFAP in both cases. In case 1, cells with PD did not present α-SMA and p63 positivity whereas in case 2 they were positive, but for α-SMA such reactivity was restricted to cells forming solid aggregates. Conclusion. Although PD in PLGA is rare, it is necessary to be aware of this possibility, particularly in small incisional biopsies and in PLGA with limited invasion, to avoid confusion with cellular PA.