bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining in vivo elasticity and viscosity with dynamic Scheimpflug imaging analysis in keratoconic and healthy eyes
Authors: Wang Li‐Ke , Tian Lei , Zheng Yong‐Ping
Published: January 2016

The paper presents a novel analysis method of corneal elasticity and viscosity based on corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (CorVis ST) for keratoconus diagnosis. Methods for air puff force measurement and corneal imaging boundary extraction were proposed. Corneal biomechanical properties, described as tangent stiffness coefficient (STSC) and energy absorbed area (Aabsorbed), were assessed using the curves of the applied air puff force with corneal displacement to form a loading‐unloading cycle. Twenty‐five patients with keratoconus and 34 healthy control subjects, matched for intraocular pressure (IOP), were enrolled in this prospective study. The results showed that the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of the STSC and Aabsorbed were 0.941 and 0.878 in Healthy group; and were 0.891 and 0.809 in Keratoconus group, respectively. Both STSC and Aabsorbed of keratoconus patients were significantly different from that of controls (both probability value P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve for STSC was 0.918 and for Aabsorbed was 0.894, which reached a good level of predictive accuracy for detecting keratoconus. Our results demonstrated that this new analysis method could be used to characterize the biomechanical properties of corneas.

(a) The air puff force of CorVis ST was measured by a custom‐designed force detection system. (b) Corneal displacement was extracted from CorVis ST using a proposed imaging analysis. (c) With the utilization of the air puff force and corneal dynamic displacement, an analysis method was developed to introduce new corneal biomechanical parameters – STSC and Aabsorbed.

magnified image

(a) The air puff force of CorVis ST was measured by a custom‐designed force detection system. (b) Corneal displacement was extracted from CorVis ST using a proposed imaging analysis. (c) With the utilization of the air puff force and corneal dynamic displacement, an analysis method was developed to introduce new corneal biomechanical parameters – STSC and Aabsorbed.
A Novel Domain-Specific Mutation in a Sclerosteosis Patient Suggests a Role of LRP4 as an Anchor for Sclerostin in Human Bone
Authors: Fijalkowski Igor , Geets Ellen , Steenackers Ellen , Van Hoof Viviane , Ramos Feliciano J , Mortier Geert , Fortuna Ana Maria , Van Hul Wim , Boudin Eveline
Published: January 2016

Mutations in the LRP4 gene, coding for a Wnt signaling coreceptor, have been found to cause several allelic conditions. Among these, two are characterized by a strong skeletal involvement, namely sclerosteosis and Cenani-Lenz syndrome. In this work, we evaluated the role of LRP4 in the pathophysiology of these diseases. First, we report a novel LRP4 mutation, leading to the substitution of arginine at position 1170 in glutamine, identified in a patient with sclerosteosis. This mutation is located in the central cavity of the third β-propeller domain, which is in line with two other sclerosteosis mutations we previously described. Reporter assays demonstrate that this mutation leads to impaired sclerostin inhibition of Wnt signaling. Moreover, we compared the effect of this novel variant to mutations causing Cenani-Lenz syndrome and show that impaired membrane trafficking of the LRP4 protein is the likely mechanism underlying Cenani-Lenz syndrome. This is in contrast to sclerosteosis mutations, previously shown to impair the binding between LRP4 and sclerostin. In addition, to better understand the biology of LRP4, we investigated the circulating sclerostin levels in the serum of a patient suffering from sclerosteosis owing to a LRP4 mutation. We demonstrate that impaired sclerostin binding to the mutated LRP4 protein leads to dramatic increase in circulating sclerostin in this patient. With this study, we provide the first evidence suggesting that LRP4 is responsible for the retention of sclerostin in the bone environment in humans. These findings raise potential concerns about the utility of determining circulating sclerostin levels as a marker for other bone-related parameters. Although more studies are needed to fully understand the mechanism whereby LRP4 facilitates sclerostin action, it is clear that this protein represents a potent target for future osteoporosis therapies and an interesting alternative for the antisclerostin treatment currently under study. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Molecular Characterization of a Copper Metallothionein Gene From a Ciliate Tetrahymena farahensis
Authors: Zahid Muhammad Tariq , Shakoori Farah Rauf , Zulifqar Soumble , Ahmed Ishtiaq , Al‐Ghanim Khalid , Mehboob Shahid , Shakoori Abdul Rauf
Published: January 2016

A new copper metallothionein (TfCuMT) gene has been identified from a locally isolated ciliate Tetrahymena farahensis. It contains 327 nucleotides encoding a peptide chain of 108 amino acids and belongs to class MTT2 and subfamily 7b. Amplification from both gDNA and mRNA confirmed the intronless nature of this gene. Like most of the metallohtioneins, cysteine residues contribute nearly 30% content with the specific CKC motifs. Structural repeats present in peptide sequence of TfCuMT indicate internal duplication of gene at some stage of gene evolution. The predicted model of copper metallothionein protein showed that copper ions are mainly chelated by thiol sulfur of cysteine residues and are embedded in the folds of polypeptide chain. For in vivo expression of TfCuMT in Escherichia coli host cells the classical stop codons, which coded for glutamine in the ciliate were mutated to CAA and CAG through site directed mutagenesis. The mutated gene showed higher expression in pET28a expression vector compared with pET21a. Optimum expression was obtained after 6–8 h of 0.1 mM IPTG induction. Stability of His tagged TfCuMT in 5% SDS was low, with half‐life of about 104 min. Presence of 1.0 μM copper increased the expression level by 1.65‐fold. Presence of 100 μM Cysteine in culture medium caused 2.4‐fold increase in expression level. His tagged TfCuMT was purified through affinity chromatography using NTN‐His binding resin in the presence of 0.1 M imidazole and NaCl. The modeled structure of the TfCuMT showed a cleft for Cu binding with correct orientation of Cys residues in the motif CKC. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1843–1854, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effects of Severe Hypoxia on Glycolytic Flux and Enzyme Activity in a Model of Solid Tumors
Authors: Smith Hannah , Board Mary , Pellagatti Andrea , Turley Helen , Boultwood Jacqueline , Callaghan Richard
Published: January 2016

Solid tumors contend with, and adapt to, a hostile micro‐environment that includes limited availability of nutrient fuels and oxygen. The presence of hypoxia (O2 <5%) stabilizes the transcription factor Hif1 and results in numerous cellular adaptations including increased flux of glucose through glycolysis. Increasingly, more sophisticated analysis of tumor oxygenation has revealed large gradients of oxygen tension and significant regions under severe hypoxia (O2 ∼0.1%). The present investigation has demonstrated a significant increase in the glycolytic flux rate when tumor spheroids were exposed to 0.1% O2. The severe hypoxia was associated with uniform pimonidazole adduct formation and elevated levels of Hif1α and c‐Myc. This resulted in elevated expression of GLUT and MCT transporters, in addition to increased activity of PFK1 in comparison to that observed in normoxia. However, the protein expression and enzymatic capacity of HK2, G6PDH, PK, and LDH were all reduced by severe hypoxia. Clearly, the effects of exposure to severe hypoxia lead to a significantly abridged Hif1 response, yet one still able to elevate glycolytic flux and prevent loss of intermediates to anabolism. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1890–1901, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HIV‐1 Infection Dysregulates Cell Cycle Regulatory Protein p21 in CD4+ T Cells Through miR‐20a and miR‐106b Regulation
Authors: Guha Debjani , Mancini Allison , Sparks Jessica , Ayyavoo Velpandi
Published: January 2016

Both CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophages are the major targets of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1); however, they respond differently to HIV‐1 infection. We hypothesized that HIV‐1 infection alters gene expression in CD4+ T cells and monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDMs) in a cell specific manner and microRNAs (miRNAs) in part play a role in cell‐specific gene expression. Results indicate that 183 and 31 genes were differentially regulated in HIV‐1 infected CD4+ T cells and MDMs, respectively, compared to their mock‐infected counterparts. Among the differentially expressed genes, cell cycle regulatory gene, p21 (CDKN1A) was upregulated in virus infected CD4+ T cells both at the mRNA and protein level in CD4+ T cells, whereas no consistent change was observed in MDMs. Productively infected CD4+ T cells express higher amount of p21 compared to bystander cells. In determining the mechanism(s) of cell type specific regulation of p21, we found that the miRNAs miR‐106b and miR‐20a that target p21 were specifically downregulated in HIV‐1 infected CD4+ T cells. Overexpression of these two miRNAs reduced p21 expression significantly in HIV‐1 infected CD4+ T cells. These findings provide a potential mechanism, by which, HIV‐1 could exploit host cellular machineries to regulate selective gene expression in target cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1902–1912, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ageing: Targeting the “Purinome” to Promote Osteogenic Differentiation and Bone Repair
Authors: Noronha‐Matos J.B. , Correia‐de‐Sá P.
Published: January 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into bone forming cells. Such ability is compromised in elderly individuals resulting in bone disorders such as osteoporosis, also limiting their clinical usage for cell transplantation and bone tissue engineering strategies. In bone marrow niches, adenine and uracil nucleotides are important local regulators of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Nucleotides can be released to the extracellular milieu under both physiological and pathological conditions via (1) membrane cell damage, (2) vesicle exocytosis, (3) ATP‐binding cassette transporters, and/or (4) facilitated diffusion through maxi‐anion channels, hemichannels or ligand‐gated receptor pores. Nucleotides and their derivatives act via adenosine P1 (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) and nucleotide‐sensitive P2 purinoceptors comprising ionotropic P2X and G‐protein‐coupled P2Y receptors. Purinoceptors activation is terminated by membrane‐bound ecto‐nucleotidases and other ecto‐phosphatases, which rapidly hydrolyse extracellular nucleotides to their respective nucleoside 5′‐di‐ and mono‐phosphates, nucleosides and free phosphates, or pyrophosphates. Current knowledge suggests that different players of the “purinome” cascade, namely nucleotide release sites, ecto‐nucleotidases and purinoceptors, orchestrate to fine‐tuning regulate the activity of MSCs in the bone microenvironment. Increasing studies, using osteoprogenitor cell lines, animal models and, more recently, non‐modified MSCs from postmenopausal women, raised the possibility to target chief components of the purinergic signaling pathway to regenerate the ability of aged MSCs to differentiate into functional osteoblasts. This review summarizes the main findings of those studies, prompting for novel therapeutic strategies to control ageing disorders where bone destruction exceeds bone formation, like osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fracture mal‐union. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1852–1861, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Involvement of Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nerve in the Inflammatory Reflex
Authors: Pereira Mariana Rodrigues , Leite Paulo Emílio Corrêa
Published: January 2016

Production of inflammatory cytokines plays important roles in the response against tissue injury and in host defense. Alterations in the production of inflammatory cytokines may cause local or systemic inflammatory imbalance, culminating in organ failure or lethal systemic inflammation. The cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway has been implicated as an important mechanism to regulate inflammation of targeted tissue. In this review, we discuss important advances, conflicting and controversial findings regarding the involvement of parasympathetic vagus and sympathetic splenic nerve through acetylcholine (ACh) release and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRα7) activation in the spleen. In addition, we address the involvement of cholinergic control of inflammation in other organs innerved by the vagus nerve such as gut, liver, kidney and lung, and independent of parasympathetic innervations such as skin and skeletal muscle. Then, other structures and mechanisms independent of vagus or splenic nerve may be involved in this process, such as local cells and motor neurons producing ACh. Altogether, the convergence of these findings may contribute to current anti‐inflammatory strategies involving selective drug‐targeting and electrical nerve stimulation. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1862–1869, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Expression of Ribosomal RNA and Protein Genes in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Is Associated With the Activating H3K4me3 Histone Mark
Authors: Zaidi Sayyed K. , Boyd Joseph R. , Grandy Rodrigo A. , Medina Ricardo , Lian Jane B. , Stein Gary S. , Stein Janet L.
Published: January 2016

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit unrestricted and indefinite, but stringently controlled, proliferation, and can differentiate into any lineage in the body. In the current study, we test the hypothesis that expression of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal protein genes (RPGs) contribute to the ability of hESCs to proliferate indefinitely. Consistent with the accelerated growth rate of hESCs, we find that hESC lines H1 and H9 both exhibit significantly higher levels of rRNA when compared to a panel of normal and cancer human cell lines. Although many RPGs are expressed at levels that comparable to other human cell lines, a few RPGs also exhibit higher expression levels. In situ nuclear run‐on assays reveal that both nucleoli in hESCs actively transcribe nascent rRNA. Employing genome‐wide chromatin immunoprecipitation‐deep sequencing and bioinformatics approaches, we discovered that, RPGs are dominantly marked by the activating H3K4me3 histone mark in the G1, M, and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Interestingly, the rDNA repeats are marked by the activating H3K4me3 only in the M phase, and repressive H3K27me3 histone mark in all three cell cycle phases. Bioinformatics analyses also reveal that Myc, a known regulator of cell growth and proliferation, occupies both the rRNA genes and RPGs. Functionally, down‐regulation of Myc expression by siRNA results in a concomitant decrease in rRNA levels. Together, our results show that expression of rRNA, which is regulated by the Myc pluripotency transcription factor, and of RPGs in hESCs is associated with the activating H3K4me3 modification. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2007–2013, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Platelet count is more useful for predicting posthepatectomy liver failure at surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma than indocyanine green clearance test
Authors: Tomimaru Yoshito , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Gotoh Kunihito , Kawamoto Koichi , Wada Hiroshi , Asaoka Tadafumi , Noda Takehiro , Yamada Daisaku , Ogawa Hisataka , Umeshita Koji , Nagano Hiroaki , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki
Published: January 2016

Background and Objectives

Preoperatively evaluating reserved liver function is critical in preventing posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) in patients undergoing liver resection. The commonly used indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test has several drawbacks. Patients would benefit from a more reliable and straightforward means of assessing the risk of PHLF.

Methods

This study included 277 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver resection. The predictive value of known risk factors for PHLF was compared to that of ICG.

Results

PHLF was identified in 25 out of 277 patients (9.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis for identifying predictors for the PHLF development revealed platelet count and resected liver volume as significant independent predictors. In a subgroup analysis based on resected liver volume, platelet count was significantly correlated with PHLF in both larger volume (≥100 g) and smaller volume resection groups (<100 g), although ICG R15 level was associated with PHLF only in larger volume group.

Conclusions

Platelet count is superior to ICG R15 level in predicting PHLF development in HCC patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:565–569. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prognostic factors in patients with malignant pleural effusion: Is it possible to predict mortality in patients with good performance status?
Authors: Abrao Fernando Conrado , Peixoto Renata D'Alpino , de Abreu Igor Renato Louro Bruno , Janini Maria Cláudia , Viana Geisa Garcia , de Oliveira Mariana Campello , Younes Riad Naim
Published: January 2016

Background and Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of mortality only in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) showing good performance status which required pleural palliative procedures.

Methods

All patients with MPE submitted to pleural palliative procedure were enrolled in a prospective study between 2013 and 2014. Patients with Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) score zero, one, and two were considered with good performance status. The possible prognostic factors were tested for significance using the log‐rank test (Kaplan–Meier method) and those with significance on univariate analysis were entered into a multivariable Cox model.

Results

A total of 64 patients were included in the analysis. Median follow‐up time for surviving patients was 263 days. Median survival for the entire cohort was not reached yet. In the multivariate analysis, gastrointestinal primary site (P = 0.006), low albumin concentration in the pleural fluid (P = 0.017), and high serum NLR (P = 0.007) were associated with mortality.

Conclusion

In our cohort of ECOG 0–2 patients with MPE submitted to pleural palliative procedures, gastrointestinal malignancy compared to other sites, low pleural fluid albumin and high NLR were significantly associated with mortality. The identification of these prognostic factors may assist the choice of the optimal palliative technique. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:570–574. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Raindrop size distribution properties associated with vertical air motion in the stratiform region of a springtime rain event from 1290 MHz wind profiler, micro rain radar and Parsivel disdrometer measurements
Authors: Kim Dong‐Kyun , Lee Dong‐In
Published: January 2016

On 12 March 2012, a frontal rain system elongated east–west occurred over the southern coast of Korea, a frequently observation during springtime. Characteristics of raindrop size distributions (RSDs) in the stratiform region of the rain system observed by a 1290 MHz wind profiler collocated with a Parsivel disdrometer and K‐band micro rain radar (MRR) are investigated. Temporal RSD variations are in close agreement between the instruments in spite of different sampling volume and height. It is found that number concentrations at small drop range around 1 mm measured from the profiler at 800 m AGL are noticeably fewer particularly at times of high rainfall rates, compared to those at the same drop range from the MRR and disdrometer. This is likely attributed to downdrafts that were enhanced below a strong bright band. Profiler Doppler spectra and RSD retrievals are susceptible to vertical air motion effects (especially at small drop range) at higher levels, compared to surface disdrometer retrievals. Thus, vertical air motion retrievals from profiler Doppler spectra were performed and showed good agreement in comparison with vertical air motions derived from a conventional method (i.e. radar reflectivity–fallspeed relation). Following this, vertical air motion effects on rain rate and mass‐weighted mean diameter parameters were examined quantitatively using a profiler spectral model for conditions of updrafts and downdrafts.
Optimal layer division for low latency in DHT‐based hierarchical P2P network
Authors: Li Jun , Li Cuilian , Fang Zhaoxi , Wang Haoyun , Wu Yaohui
Published: January 2016

Hierarchical architecture can significantly reduce the workload overheads and facilitate effective search in peer‐to‐peer (P2P) network by dividing the peers into two layers: a supernode layer and an ordinary node layer. System scalability is therefore improved, which is critical to the deployment of P2P applications, particularly for the P2P‐based Voice over Internet Protocol systems. However, the lack of appropriate size ratio of the supernode layer to the ordinary node layer makes the system search performance far from being optimal. To address the problem, the goal of this paper is to find the optimal layer ratio, such that lookup latency is minimized, subject to the capacity constraint of supernodes. With this particular objective, this paper first formulates a search delay model for the distributed hash table (DHT)‐based layered P2P architecture, taking account of two main sources of latency: DHT routing and queuing delay at the supernode. Then the optimal ratio between supernodes and ordinary nodes is found with the analytical model. Simulation and numerical results show that the obtained solution can improve the performance of a two‐layer P2P system in terms of lookup latency. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social Entrepreneurship in Communities
Authors: Heinze Kathryn L. , Banaszak‐Holl Jane , Babiak Kathy
Published: January 2016

The United States ranks low on many measures of population health. In addressing this societal problem, nonprofit health conversion foundations are emerging as important, local social entrepreneurs. We investigated the processes by which these organizations create and implement locally situated innovative approaches to promote health and wellness. Using an inductive, qualitative approach, we identified central themes by which conversion foundations, as social entrepreneurs, developed collaborative solutions to health. We found that they defined the social problem, generated social capital in the community, and educated potential partners. These mechanisms helped build a groundwork for collaboration among community actors. Conversion foundations then convened partners with complementary competencies to develop creative solutions. This research contributes to the literature on social entrepreneurship and nonprofits by expanding understanding of how foundations can foster community collaborations to develop innovative solutions to social problems. Further, this study sheds light on the activities and processes of nonprofit health conversion foundations as actors with the potential to improve population health.
Neonicotinoid concentrations in UK honey from 2013
Authors: Jones Ainsley , Turnbull Gordon
Published: January 2016

BACKGROUND

Concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid were determined in honey collected in Spring 2013 from a variety of locations in England. The honey was produced before the moratorium in the EU on the use of neonicotinoids in pollinator‐attractive crops became effective.

RESULTS

Neither imidacloprid nor its metabolites were detected in any honey samples. Concentrations of clothianidin ranged from <0.02 to 0.82 µg kg−1, and thiamethoxam concentrations were between <0.01 and 0.79 µg kg−1.

CONCLUSION

Neonicotinoid concentrations were below those likely to cause any chronic mortality. The concentrations detected should provide a useful baseline against which the effectiveness of the moratorium in reducing exposure of honeybees can be measured. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Preventing aspartimide formation in Fmoc SPPS of Asp‐Gly containing peptides — practical aspects of new trialkylcarbinol based protecting groups
Authors: Behrendt Raymond , Huber Simon , White Peter
Published: January 2016

In our efforts to develop a universal solution to the problem of aspartimide formation in Fmoc SPPS, we investigated the application of our new β‐trialkylmethyl protected aspartic acid building blocks to the synthesis of peptides containing the Asp‐Gly motif. The Nα‐Fmoc aspartic acid β‐tri‐(ethyl/propyl/butyl)methyl esters were used in the synthesis of the classic model peptide scorpion toxin II (VKDGYI), and their effectiveness in minimising aspartimide formation during extended piperidine treatments was evaluated. Furthermore, we compared their efficacy against that of the commonly used approach of adding acids to the Fmoc deprotection solution. Finally, we applied our aspartic acid building blocks to the stepwise Fmoc SPPS of teduglutide, a human GLP‐2 analogue, whose synthesis is made challenging by extensive aspartimide formation. In all experiments, our approach led to almost complete reduction of aspartimide formation with accompanied suppression of aspartic acid epimerisation. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plant Phenols as Antibiotic Boosters: In Vitro Interaction of Olive Leaf Phenols with Ampicillin
Authors: Lim Anxy , Subhan Nusrat , Jazayeri Jalal A. , John George , Vanniasinkam Thiru , Obied Hassan K.
Published: January 2016

The antimicrobial properties of olive leaf extract (OLE) have been well recognized in the Mediterranean traditional medicine. Few studies have investigated the antimicrobial properties of OLE. In this preliminary study, commercial OLE and its major phenolic secondary metabolites were evaluated in vitro for their antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, both individually and in combination with ampicillin. Besides luteolin 7‐O‐glucoside, OLE and its major phenolic secondary metabolites were effective against both bacteria, with more activity on S. aureus. In combination with ampicillin, OLE, caffeic acid, verbascoside and oleuropein showed additive effects. Synergistic interaction was observed between ampicillin and hydroxytyrosol. The phenolic composition of OLE and the stability of olive phenols in assay medium were also investigated. While OLE and its phenolic secondary metabolites may not be potent enough as stand‐alone antimicrobials, their abilities to boost the activity of co‐administered antibiotics constitute an imperative future research area. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scanning electron microscopic examination of resected root apices obtained from endodontic microsurgery
Authors: Kang Sumi , Kim Hyeon‐Cheol , Lee Chan‐Young , Jung Il‐Young , Kim Euiseong
Published: January 2016

This study was designed to examine the morphological features of the resected root apices obtained from endodontic microsurgery using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as their anatomical effect on the clinical outcome of the surgical treatment. One‐hundred‐six resected root apices from 91 patients/surgeries were obtained by endodontic microsurgery, and fixed immediately for storage. The resected apices were prepared for SEM to examine their morphological features, such as the number and size of the apical foramina. The patients were periodically checked up at least 1 year and the clinical outcome of the microsurgery was judged as a success or failure according to the Molven's criteria. The SEM findings and the clinical outcome of apical surgery were evaluated to see any potential correlation between them. The SEM examination revealed that 60.4% of specimens had more than two portals of exit on the resected root apices and the size of the major foramen was at least 386 micrometer and 334 micrometer from maxillary and mandibular molar, respectively. With a recall rate of 72.9%, 91.9% of the surgical cases were decided to have successful outcomes. Based on this SEM study, a relatively high frequency of multiple portals of exit was existed and the sizes of major foramina were bigger than that were reported in previous reports. The clinical outcomes of endodontic microsurgery were not correlated with the anatomical features of resected apical root apices. SCANNING 38:455–461, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Some Bad News Is Good News for Foreign Investors: The Case of Intellectual Property Rights Infringement in China
Authors: Kim Icksoo , Hong Eunsuk , Shin Jong Kook , Sun Laixiang
Published: January 2016

Despite China's attractiveness to foreign investors, intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in China has not caught up with international standards. This research aims to quantify the relationships between IPR violations, government effectiveness, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the context of China. Our econometric modeling and estimation based on provincial level data over 2002‐2012 show that in an early development stage of law and regulatory enforcement, the bad news of a rising number of IPR dispute cases signals the good news of an improvement in law and regulatory enforcement, which encourages IPR owners to raise legal cases. By contrast, in the later development stage, when law and regulatory enforcement has become much more effective, the bad news of a rising number of IPR disputes manifests itself as very bad news. Furthermore, this study confirms that FDI inflows enhance IPR protection through improving government effectiveness, and government effectiveness is one of the key factors promoting FDIs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Differing perceptions – Swedish farmers’ views of infectious disease control
Authors: Frössling Jenny , Nöremark Maria
Published: January 2016

Although farm biosecurity reduces the risk of disease spread among livestock, this knowledge is not always applied. Farmers’ application of disease preventive measures is expected to depend on many things, e.g. whether they consider disease prevention possible and demographic factors. In this study, Swedish livestock farmers’ perspectives on occurrence, control and communication related to infectious livestock diseases were investigated. A questionnaire study was performed in 2012–2013, and included responses from almost 2000 livestock farmers with cattle, pigs, sheep or goats. Associations between responses and factors related to herd type and demography were investigated using multivariable regression models. Results showed a strong general agreement among farmers that disease prevention is important. However, results also showed differing opinions among farmers. For example, female farmers indicated higher levels of perceived knowledge of disease spread and a stronger belief that they can prevent disease introduction. Results indicate that farmers who believe they have the necessary knowledge, have stronger sense of control and also demand that others take responsibility to prevent spread. Furthermore, dairy farmers were more likely to respond that repeated exposure to infections could be beneficial for animal health. The number of perceived disease outbreaks was also higher among these farmers. Regarding government issued compensation to farmers in case of outbreaks, a wide range of opinions were recorded. Responses confirm that the farm veterinarian is an important source of disease information and several different communication channels are needed to reach farmers. In conclusion, our results show that factors such as gender, education level and age influence how prevention and occurrence of disease outbreaks are perceived and best communicated. We suggest that efforts are made to increase knowledge about disease prevention among farmers and veterinary practitioners and that farm veterinarians should be encouraged to motivate farmers to strengthen farm biosecurity.
Une nouvelle fonction pour la transferrine exprimée par le testicule
Authors: Fumel B. , Sow A. , Fouchécourt S. , Guillou F.
Published: January 2016

Chez l’homme, les oligospermies sévères sont associées à un faible taux de transferrine dans le liquide séminal. La transferrine apparaît comme un bon indicateur pour définir les dysfonctionnements testiculaires. Son niveau d’expression dans le testicule doit être parfaitement contrôlé. Elle y joue un rôl dans le transport du fer. Mais de récents résultats montrent l’existence d’une forme dimérique de la transferrine sertolienne comme puissant régulateur de la phagocytose des corps résiduels par les cellules de Sertoli.
Léon Athanase Gosselin (1815–1887) et ses recherches sur les maladies du testicule
Authors: Vladimiros L. , Diamantis A. , Karamanou M. , Androutsos G.
Published: January 2016

Léon Athanase Gosselin fut un des plus grands chirurgiens français du xix
e siècle. Il dirigea, successivement, plusieurs services universitaires de chirurgie et excella surtout en orthopédie, en anatomie, en physiologie et en urologie. Grâce à ses recherches poussées sur les maladies du testicule, du cordon spermatique et du scrotum, ainsi que sur leurs conséquences sur la fécondité et la puissance virile, Gosselin peut être considéré, à juste titre, comme un grand andrologue avant la lettre.
Pros and cons of student journals
Authors: Aboshady Omar Ali , Gouda Mohamed Alaa
Published: January 2016

None
Phylogenetic classification of yeasts and related taxa within Pucciniomycotina
Authors: Wang Q.-M. , Yurkov A.M. , Göker M. , Lumbsch H.T. , Leavitt S.D. , Groenewald M. , Theelen B. , Liu X.-Z. , Boekhout T. , Bai F.-Y.
Published: January 2016

Most small genera containing yeast species in the Pucciniomycotina (Basidiomycota, Fungi) are monophyletic, whereas larger genera including Bensingtonia, Rhodosporidium, Rhodotorula, Sporidiobolus and Sporobolomyces are polyphyletic.
With the implementation of the “One Fungus = One Name” nomenclatural principle these polyphyletic genera were revised. Nine genera, namely Bannoa, Cystobasidiopsis, Colacogloea, Kondoa, Erythrobasidium, Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces,
Sakaguchia and Sterigmatomyces, were emended to include anamorphic and teleomorphic species based on the results obtained by a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis, phylogenetic network analyses, branch length-based methods, as well as morphological, physiological and biochemical
comparisons. A new class Spiculogloeomycetes is proposed to accommodate the order Spiculogloeales. The new families Buckleyzymaceae with Buckleyzyma gen. nov., Chrysozymaceae with Chrysozyma gen. nov., Microsporomycetaceae with Microsporomyces
gen. nov., Ruineniaceae with Ruinenia gen. nov., Symmetrosporaceae with Symmetrospora gen. nov., Colacogloeaceae and Sakaguchiaceae are proposed. The new genera Bannozyma, Buckleyzyma, Fellozyma, Hamamotoa, Hasegawazyma,
Jianyunia, Rhodosporidiobolus, Oberwinklerozyma, Phenoliferia, Pseudobensingtonia, Pseudohyphozyma, Sampaiozyma, Slooffia, Spencerozyma, Trigonosporomyces, Udeniozyma, Vonarxula, Yamadamyces and Yunzhangia
are proposed to accommodate species segregated from the genera Bensingtonia, Rhodosporidium, Rhodotorula, Sporidiobolus and Sporobolomyces. Ballistosporomyces is emended and reintroduced to include three Sporobolomyces species of the sasicola
clade. A total of 111 new combinations are proposed in this study.
The inertial subrange in turbulent pipe flow: centreline
Authors: Morrison J. F. , Vallikivi M. , Smits A. J.
Published: January 2016

The inertial-subrange scaling of the axial velocity component is examined for the centreline of turbulent pipe flow for Reynolds numbers in the range $249\leqslant Re_{{\it\lambda}}\leqslant 986$. Estimates of the dissipation rate are made by both integration of the one-dimensional dissipation spectrum and the third-order moment of the structure function. In neither case does the non-dimensional dissipation rate asymptote to a constant; rather than decreasing, it increases indefinitely with Reynolds number. Complete similarity of the inertial range spectra is not evident: there is little support for the hypotheses of Kolmogorov (Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, vol. 32, 1941a, pp. 16–18; Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, vol. 30, 1941b, pp. 301–305) and the effects of Reynolds number are not well represented by Kolmogorov’s ‘extended similarity hypothesis’ (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 13, 1962, pp. 82–85). The second-order moment of the structure function does not show a constant value, even when compensated by the extended similarity hypothesis. When corrected for the effects of finite Reynolds number, the third-order moments of the structure function accurately support the ‘four-fifths law’, but they do not show a clear plateau. In common with recent work in grid turbulence, non-equilibrium effects can be represented by a heuristic scaling that includes a global Reynolds number as well as a local one. It is likely that non-equilibrium effects appear to be particular to the nature of the boundary conditions. Here, the principal effects of the boundary conditions appear through finite turbulent transport at the pipe centreline, which constitutes a source or a sink at each wavenumber.
THE 7-REGULAR AND 13-REGULAR PARTITION FUNCTIONS MODULO 3
Authors: BOLL ERIC , PENNISTON DAVID
Published: January 2016

Let $b_{\ell }(n)$ denote the number of $\ell$-regular partitions of $n$. In this paper we establish a formula for $b_{13}(3n+1)$ modulo $3$ and use this to find exact criteria for the $3$-divisibility of $b_{13}(3n+1)$ and $b_{13}(3n)$. We also give analogous criteria for $b_{7}(3n)$ and $b_{7}(3n+2)$.
RESOLVABILITY OF MEASURABLE SPACES
Authors: HORBACZEWSKA GRAŻYNA , LINDNER SEBASTIAN
Published: January 2016

We consider a special kind of structure resolvability and irresolvability for measurable spaces and discuss analogues of the criteria for topological resolvability and irresolvability.
A 2-ARC TRANSITIVE PENTAVALENT CAYLEY GRAPH OF
Authors: LING BO , LOU BEN GONG
Published: January 2016

Zhou and Feng [‘On symmetric graphs of valency five’, Discrete Math. 310 (2010), 1725–1732] proved that all connected pentavalent 1-transitive Cayley graphs of finite nonabelian simple groups are normal. We construct an example of a nonnormal 2-arc transitive pentavalent symmetric Cayley graph on the alternating group $\text{A}_{39}$. Furthermore, we show that the full automorphism group of this graph is isomorphic to the alternating group $\text{A}_{40}$.
RISK CONTROL CLAUSES IN INSURANCE LAW: LAW REFORM AND THE FUTURE
Authors: Soyer Baris
Published: January 2016

Risk control clauses are often used in insurance contracts with a view to preventing the assured from altering the risk during the currency of the policy. An insurance warranty is the most commonly used risk prevention clause in practice. Having been subjected to severe criticisms for years, the legal regime concerning insurance warranties and other risk control clauses has recently been revamped by the Insurance Act 2015, which will apply to all contracts of insurance concluded after 12 August 2016. This article intends to elaborate on the appropriateness of the reforms introduced by the 2015 Act from risk assessment and management perspectives. It is also intended to offer a critical analysis on the potential impact of the changes on insurance law and practice.
“Here, There and Everywhere”: The Beatles, America, and Cultural Globalization, 1964–1968
Authors: LEBOVIC SAM
Published: January 2016

This article explores the Beatles’ invasion of America as a moment of cultural globalization. Paying attention to the political economy underpinning the Beatles’ success, the international hybridity at the heart of their cultural work, and the diverse ways in which Americans interpreted the Beatles, the article argues that the band was a primary vector of pop culture's increasing globality in the 1960s. More broadly, the article argues that the Beatles’ trajectory reveals that cultural globalization cannot be understood as a process either of homogenization or of creolization. Rather, the Beatles represented an increasingly unified and commodified culture that simultaneously served to reproduce cultural differences when different social formations projected their own meanings onto the hybridized group. The article therefore provides new perspectives on the historical significance of the iconic band and on the intersections between global and domestic cultural history in the 1960s, as well as suggesting a new framework for thinking about both the history and the contradictions of cultural globalization.
Where's the Omelet? Bad King Deng and the Challenges of Biography and History
Authors: Hayford Charles W.
Published: January 2016

Stalinists legitimized their methods by saying “you can't make omelets without breaking eggs.” Others might ask, “you broke lots of eggs, but where are the omelets?” These three biographies of Deng Xiaoping are only the most recent of biographies of epoch-making Chinese leaders that assess the ratio of broken eggs to finished omelets. Reading them together with the body of reviews provokes questions about how biography as a genre can usefully address historical analysis and moral judgment. How much could a single leader transform China? Did Deng merely inherit institutions and decisive policies from earlier leaders or is China today somehow “Deng's China”? What can we learn about the problems from reviewers and critics?
On Experimental Philosophy, Morality and Meaning
Authors: Yan Hektor K. T.
Published: January 2016

The emerging field known as experimental philosophy has expanded into moral philosophy: by presenting experimental subjects with vignettes describing scenarios with moral implications, data about people's moral intuitions are gathered and analyzed. This paper examines the adequacy of applying the common methodology of experimental philosophy to the study of moral thought. By employing Raimond Gaita's notion of moral seriousness and his distinction between form and content, it argues that the kind of empirical research on moral intuitions conducted by experimental philosophers fails to take into consideration some fundamental characteristics of moral thinking.
A Tempered Liberalism: Political Ethics and Ethos in Reinhold Niebuhr's Thought
Authors: Cherniss Joshua L.
Published: January 2016

This article examines Reinhold Niebuhr's contributions both to twentieth-century liberalism and to reflection on liberalism's relationship to political ethics. These contributions are, I argue, twofold. First, Niebuhr's account of moral psychology chastens liberal ambitions and assumptions, offering a more “realistic” liberalism (while avoiding certain weaknesses of “realist” theories). Second, Niebuhr's thought points to the importance of ethos—the combination of dispositions, temperament, and perceptions that shape individual conduct—in defining liberalism and determining the quality of political action. In articulating an ethos of humility, moderation, skepticism, irony, and self-restraint, Niebuhr offers a reformulation and defense of liberalism, and a warning against dangers that threaten liberalism both from within and without.
On Translating Religious Reasons: Rawls, Habermas, and the Quest for a Neutral Public Sphere
Authors: Sikka Sonia
Published: January 2016

Through a critical analysis of the positions of Rawls and Habermas, the article argues against the proviso that religious language be “translated” into an allegedly neutral vocabulary as a condition for full inclusion within public political reasoning. Defending and expanding the analysis of Maeve Cooke, it maintains that both Habermas and Rawls mischaracterize the nature of religious reasons in relation to reasons alleged to be “freestanding,” “secular,” or “postmetaphysical.” Reflection on the origins of religious discourse and the component thought to be retained when such discourse is “translated” demonstrates the untenability of a sharp distinction between “rational” and “religious” discourse on matters pertaining to morality. The article nonetheless affirms the need for common acceptance of the justificatory language of coercive political policies, but contends that this language is best conceived as a historically evolving wide (not universal) agreement, and as a confluence of various types of agreement.
The relational making of people and place: the case of the Teignmouth World War II homefront
Authors: ANDREWS GAVIN J.
Published: January 2016

Building on the pioneering research of a small number of gerontologists, this paper explores the rarely trodden common ground between the academic domains of social gerontology and modern history. Through empirical research it illustrates the complex networking that exists through space and time in the relational making of people and places. Indeed, the study focuses specifically on the lived reality and ongoing significance of life on the small-town British coastal homefront during World War II. Seventeen interviews with older residents of Teignmouth, Devon, United Kingdom, investigate two points in their lives: the ‘then’ (their historical experiences during this period) and the ‘then and now’ (how they continue to reverberate). In particular, their stories illustrate the relationalities that make each of these points. The first involves residents’ unique interactions during the war with structures and technologies (such as rules, bombs and barriers) and other people (such as soldiers and outsiders) which themselves were connected to wider historical, social, political and military networks. The second involves residents’ perceptions of their own and their town's wartime histories, how this gels or conflicts with public awareness, and how this history connects to their current lives. The paper closes with some thoughts on bringing together the past, present and older people in the same scholarship.
Activism within music education: working towards inclusion and policy change in the Finnish music school context
Authors: Laes Tuulikki , Schmidt Patrick
Published: January 2016

This study examines how interactions between policy, institutions and individuals that reinforce inclusive music education can be framed from an activist standpoint. Resonaari, one among many music schools in Finland, provides an illustrative case of rather uncommonly inclusive practices among students with special educational needs. By exploring this case, contextualised within the Finnish music school system, we identify the challenges and opportunities for activism on micro, meso and macro levels. On the basis of our analysis, we argue that Resonaari's teachers are proactive because, within an inclusive teaching and learning structure, they act in anticipation of future needs and policy changes, engaging in what we call teacher activism. We claim that this type of activism is key for inclusive practices and policy disposition in music education.
Chasing a moving target: perceptions of work readiness and graduate capabilities in music higher research degree students
Authors: Harrison Scott , Grant Catherine
Published: January 2016

Recent efforts to increase workplace readiness in university students have largely centred on undergraduates, with comparatively few strategies or studies focusing on higher research degree candidates. In the discipline of music, a wide diversity of possible career paths combined with rapidly changing career opportunities makes workplace readiness a moving target. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data from semi-structured interviews, dialogue forums, an online survey and pre-existing literature, this paper explores perceptions of higher degree research (HDR) music students about their work readiness, and critically examines these perceptions against graduate capabilities frameworks. It recommends ways to better prepare HDR music students for life beyond their studies, advocating in particular a more collaborative model of research education than is currently the norm. The findings may help improve the student experience and graduate outcomes among HDR students, both in music and more broadly.