bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical quantification and antioxidant assay of four active components in Ficus hirtaroot using UPLC-PAD-MS fingerprinting combined with cluster analysis
Authors: Yi Tao , Chen Qilei , He Xicheng , So Suiwai , Lo Yuenling , Fan Lanlan , Xu Jun , Tang Yina , Zhang Jianye , Zhao Zhongzhen , Chen Hubiao
Published: July 2013

Background

Root of Ficus hirta (RFH) is widely consumed in China as a plant-derived popular food. However, contents of the active constituents of RFH are unknown, and the chemical as well as bioactive properties of RFH may be affected by growing area. In order to ensure the standard efficacy of health products made with RFH, its active constituents should firstly be determined and, secondly, a means of assessing samples for their contents of these constituents is needed.

Results

Four active components, including two coumarins, namely psoralen and bergapten, and two flavonoids, namely luteolin and apigenin, in twenty RFH samples were quantified using a new ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector and mass spectrometry (UPLC-PAD-MS) method, and the content level in descending order was psoralen > bergapten > luteolin > apigenin. Chromatographic fingerprint similarity evaluation and cluster analysis were used to assess geographical origin of RFH, and the results revealed a high level of similarity for the tested RFH samples obtained from Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi provinces and Hong Kong. 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potencies of the four components, and the results clearly demonstrated that luteolin was most effective; apigenin exhibited a moderate potency, whereas psoralen and bergapten possessed little effect against free radical reactions. Structure-activity relationship of the components was elucidated, and the 3′-hydroxyl group of luteolin was found to be directly responsible for its antioxidant activity.

Conclusion

The present UPLC-PAD-MS method and DPPH radical scavenging assay performed well for the purpose of constituent quantification and antioxidant assay. Global profiles were highly similar for RFH samples from different origins. Both the coumarins and flavonoids were involved in the health benefit of RFH.
TWEAK promotes exercise intolerance by decreasing skeletal muscle oxidative phosphorylation capacity
Authors: Sato Shuichi , Ogura Yuji , Mishra Vivek , Shin Jonghyun , Bhatnagar Shephali , Hill Bradford G , Kumar Ashok
Published: July 2013

Background

Proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and its receptor Fn14 are the major regulators of skeletal muscle mass in many catabolic conditions. However, their role in muscle metabolism remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of TWEAK on exercise capacity and skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and oxidative metabolism.

Methods

We employed wild-type and TWEAK-knockout (KO) mice and primary myotube cultures and performed biochemical, bioenergetics, and morphometric assays to evaluate the effects of TWEAK on exercise tolerance and muscle mitochondrial function and angiogenesis.

Results

TWEAK-KO mice showed improved exercise tolerance compared to wild-type mice. Electron microscopy analysis showed that the abundance of subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria is significantly increased in skeletal muscle of TWEAK-KO mice compared to wild-type mice. Furthermore, age-related loss in skeletal muscle oxidative capacity was rescued in TWEAK-KO mice. Expression of a key transcriptional regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and several other molecules involved in oxidative metabolism were significantly higher in skeletal muscle of TWEAK-KO mice. Moreover, treatment of primary myotubes with soluble TWEAK inhibited the expression of PGC-1α and mitochondrial genes and decreased mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Deletion of TWEAK also improved angiogenesis and transcript levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in skeletal muscle of mice.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that TWEAK decreases mitochondrial content and oxidative phosphorylation and inhibits angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. Neutralization of TWEAK is a potential approach for improving exercise capacity and oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle.
Diagnosis and management of non‐IgE‐mediated cow's milk allergy in infancy ‐ a UK primary care practical guide
Authors: Venter Carina , Brown Trevor , Shah Neil , Walsh Joanne , Fox Adam T
Published: July 2013

The UK NICE guideline on the Diagnosis and Assessment of Food Allergy in Children and Young People was published in 2011, highlighting the important role of primary care physicians, dietitians, nurses and other community based health care professionals in the diagnosis and assessment of IgE and non‐IgE‐mediated food allergies in children. The guideline suggests that those with suspected IgE‐mediated disease and those suspected to suffer from severe non‐IgE‐mediated disease are referred on to secondary or tertiary level care. What is evident from this guideline is that the responsibility for the diagnostic food challenge, ongoing management and determining of tolerance to cow's milk in children with less severe non‐IgE‐mediated food allergies is ultimately that of the primary care/community based health care staff, but this discussion fell outside of the current NICE guideline. Some clinical members of the guideline development group (CV, JW, ATF, TB) therefore felt that there was a particular need to extend this into a more practical guideline for cow's milk allergy. This subset of the guideline development group with the additional expertise of a paediatric gastroenterologist (NS) therefore aimed to produce a UK Primary Care Guideline for the initial clinical recognition of all forms of cow's milk allergy and the ongoing management of those with non‐severe non‐IgE‐mediated cow's milk allergy in the form of algorithms. These algorithms will be discussed in this review paper, drawing on guidance primarily from the UK NICE guideline, but also from the DRACMA guidelines, ESPGHAN guidelines, Australian guidelines and the US NIAID guidelines.
Diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunctions and osteoporosis: is there an association?
Authors: Qorbani Mostafa , Bazrafshan Hamid Reza , Aghaei Mehrdad , Dashti Hossien Shadpour , Rezapour Aziz , Asayesh Hamid , Mohammadi Rasool , Mohammadi Younes , Ansari Hossein , Mansourian Morteza
Published: July 2013

Background

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease with complicated, multifactorial and heterogenic nature that has no known pathological cause. As the role of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and thyroid dysfunctions in the prevalence of osteoporosis is not exactly known, therefore this study was designed to evaluate the probable association between osteoporosis with DM and thyroid dysfunctions in Iranian patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 300 subjects out of the total number of patients referring to Gorgan bone densitometry centers (3000subjects) were selected via random sampling method in 2009. Individual characteristics, DM, thyroid dysfunctions and densitometry results were collected from densitometry records. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS version 16 software and by using Chi square and T-test. The level of significance in all tests was considered 0.05.

Results

The mean of T-score in lumbar and femoral areas of diabetic patients were -0.87 ± 1.08 and -1.94 ± 1.33 and in patient with thyroid dysfunctions was -0.80 ± 1.09 and -1.64 ± 1.24 respectively. The mean of BMD in lumbar and femoral areas of diabetic patients were 0.96 ± 0.19 and 0.75 ± 0.19 and in patient with thyroid dysfunctions were 0.96 ± 0.17 and 0.76 ±0.19 respectively. The mean of BMI in osteoporotic subjects in the lumbar and femoral areas were 25.94 ± 5.62 and 26.95 ± 5.20 respectively. The association between BMI and BMD in the lumbar and femoral areas were statistically significant, but the association between DM and thyroid dysfunctions with BMD and T-score in the femoral and lumbar areas was not statistically significant (P-value > 0.05).

Conclusion

The results of current study show that there is no association between DM and thyroid dysfunctions with osteoporosis.
Efficacy of Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L. on insulin and antioxidants activity in pancreas of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats
Authors: Gomathi Duraisamy , Ravikumar Ganesan , Kalaiselvi Manokaran , Devaki Kanakasabapathi , Uma Chandrasekar
Published: July 2013

Aim

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a leading non communicable disease with multiple etiologies is considered as third greatest cause of death in all over the world. During DM, persistent hyperglycemia causes an increased production of free radicals via auto oxidation of glucose and non-enzymatic protein glycation which may lead to disruption of cellular functions and oxidative damage to membranes. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effect of Evolvulus alsinoides on antioxidant activity in pancreas of experimental diabetes.

Methods

The antioxidant activities were done by using standard protocols. For histopathological analysis, the pancreatic tissues of all experimental groups were fixed with 10% formalin for 24 hrs then the samples were stained with haemotoxylin-eosin for the microscopic observation.

Results

Oral administration of plant extract for 45 days resulted in significant antioxidant activity, increases the insulin level and also inhibits lipid peroxidation in pancreas of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The histopathological studies showed the normal histology of pancreas after treatment with plant extract and glibenclamide. This study showed that the administration of Evolvulus alsinoides to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats improves the antioxidant activity and remodel the structure of pancreas due to the presence of secondary metabolites like phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids and glycosides in the ethanolic extract of plant material.

Conclusion

From the present study, it can be concluded that the plant extract effectively reduced the oxidative stress induced by streptozotocin and potentially increased the insulin level. Hence, it can be used in the management of diabetes mellitus.
Application of curvatures to airborne gravity gradient data in oil exploration
Authors: Cevallos Carlos , Kovac Peter , Lowe Sharon J.
Published: July 2013

We apply equipotential surface curvatures to airborne gravity gradient data. The mean and differential curvature of the equipotential surface, the curvature of the gravity field line, the zero contour of the Gaussian curvature, and the shape index improve the understanding and geologic interpretation of gravity gradient data. Their use is illustrated in model data and applied to FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer data from the Canning Basin, Australia.
1981 and 2011: From Social Democratic to Neoliberal Rioting
Authors: Gilroy Paul
Published: July 2013

This piece contrasts two periods of rioting in Britain that were thirty years apart. It asks how the 2011 riots might be “read” as expressing aspects of the country’s neoliberal transformation.
Building on Destruction
Authors: Nunes Rodrigo
Published: July 2013

Against some voices coming from both the political mainstream and more radical quarters, this article argues for a political reading of the English riots of 2011 and, more broadly, for the need to recognize the subjectivation that participants in such events go through on its own terms, rather than as falling short of what one counts as a “properly” political act. To do so opens the question of how the traces (affective, subjective, perceptive) left by such events can become the material for collective processes of politicization and organization, as well as of how and where such processes can be undertaken today.
Liability for Failure to Warn of a Risk That Does Not Materialize?
Authors: de Costa Alex
Published: July 2013

Doctors in the UK may be reconciled to the fact that they can be held liable for failing to warn patients about complications associated with procedures. They nevertheless might reasonably assume that their liability will be confined to situations where there has been a failure to warn about an inherent complication that subsequently occurred. It might therefore also be assumed that, where a doctor has properly warned the patient about the risk of the complication, the patient cannot seek to recover but this short paper describes several overseas cases where doctors have been held liable in these situations and postulates why courts in the UK may be attracted to this extension of liability.
Differences in antibiotic use and knowledge between adolescent and adult mothers in Ecuador
Authors: Quizhpe P Arturo , Gassowski Martyna , Encalada T Lorena , Barten Francoise
Published: July 2013

Objectives: To investigate the differences in antibiotic use and knowledge between adolescent and adult mothers of children under the age of 5 years in Ecuador.

Methods: A cross sectional study was performed in four health centers and hospitals. Mothers of children under five years, seeking medical attention their child's upper respiratory tract infection (URI), were included. The data was collected through interviews, using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire covered the topics knowledge of antibiotic treatment, risk and resistance. 

Results: 777 mothers were included in the study, of which 15.8% were adolescent and 84.1% adult mothers. There were significant differences in the social and economic characteristics of the mothers (p ≤ 0.05), with adolescent mothers being more likely to have an incomplete high school education and lack of basic services in their home. Significant differences between these groups were found in adherence to treatment, knowledge about risks associated with antibiotic use, and having heard of antibiotic resistance. Among the adult mothers, 83.5% reported correct adherence, 28.5% were knowledgeable about risks associated with antibiotic use, and 29.3% had heard of antibiotic resistance. Among the adolescent mothers, these numbers were 75.4%, 15.0%, and 19.8%, respectively.

Conclusions: To develop successful interventions, it is crucial to understand the factors causing differences in antibiotic use and knowledge between mothers.
Extracellular histone H1 is neurotoxic and drives a pro-inflammatory response in microglia
Authors: Gilthorpe Jonathan D , Oozeer Fazal , Nash Julia , Calvo Margarita , Bennett David LH , Lumsden Andrew , Pini Adrian
Published: July 2013

In neurodegenerative conditions and following brain trauma it is not understood why neurons die while astrocytes and microglia survive and adopt pro-inflammatory phenotypes. We show here that the damaged adult brain releases diffusible factors that can kill cortical neurons and we have identified histone H1 as a major extracellular candidate that causes neurotoxicity and activation of the innate immune system. Extracellular core histones H2A, H2B H3 and H4 were not neurotoxic. Innate immunity in the central nervous system is mediated through microglial cells and we show here for the first time that histone H1 promotes their survival, up-regulates MHC class II antigen expression and is a powerful microglial chemoattractant. We propose that when the central nervous system is degenerating, histone H1 drives a positive feedback loop that drives further degeneration and activation of immune defences which can themselves be damaging. We suggest that histone H1 acts as an antimicrobial peptide and kills neurons through mitochondrial damage and apoptosis.
Determining the efficacy of full-time occlusion therapy in severe amblyopia at different ages
Authors: Irfan Sameera , Adil Nausherwan , Iqbal Haris
Published: July 2013

Objective: To find out how much visual improvement is possible in severe amblyopia using full-time occlusion therapy and if improvement is influenced by the patient’s age.

Methods: A trial of 115 consecutive cases with unilateral, severe amblyopia was conducted at a tertiary referral center from Jan 2010 to Oct 2012. Patients were divided into three age groups: 3-7 years (n= 38), 8-12 years (n=41), 13-35 years (n=36). After a complete ophthalmological examination by a single ophthalmologist, cases with organic visual loss were excluded; cases with previous part-time occlusion therapy that had failed were included in the study. Patients were given optimal refractive correction for a month, followed by full-time occlusion therapy along with near visual activities for 3-4 hours/day. The therapy was continued until maximum visual recovery was achieved (6/6 Snellen’s). Therapy was gradually reduced and stopped. Patients were followed-up regularly for the next 18 months.

Results: There was 100% success in the 3-7 year group, 92.68% in the 8-12 year group and 97.22% in the 13-35 year group.

Conclusion: Visual improvement is possible in almost all patients with severe amblyopia irrespective of their age with full-time occlusion therapy.
Access to Diagnosis and Treatment Services Among Latino Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Magaña Sandra , Lopez Kristina , Aguinaga Arellys , Morton Holly
Published: July 2013

There is greater identification of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and, as a result, more attention to specialty services to address the challenges children with ASD face. Along with the growth in identification of ASD is a growth in the population of Latino children, yet there is some evidence that disparities exist in diagnosis and services between Latino and non-Latino White children. This study further documents these disparities and investigates the mechanisms that may contribute to them. Diagnosis and specialty services were compared between 48 Latino and 56 non-Latino White children diagnosed with ASD, and factors that contribute to differences are explored. Results show that Latino children were diagnosed almost one year later than White children, received fewer specialty services, and had higher unmet service needs. Factors that accounted for differences in the number of services received were maternal level of education and the number of sources of knowledge about autism. Findings suggest that service providers need to work to provide greater awareness and knowledge about autism, and make services more accessible to Latino families.
The Relationship Between Body Movements and Qualities of Social Interaction Between a Boy With Severe Developmental Disabilities and His Caregiver
Authors: Dammeyer Jesper , Køppe Simo
Published: July 2013

Research in social interaction and nonverbal communication among individuals with severe developmental disabilities also includes the study of body movements. Advances in analytical technology give new possibilities for measuring body movements more accurately and reliably. One such advance is the Qualisys Motion Capture System (QMCS), which utilizes optical markers to capture body movements. The aim of this study was to explore the practicality of measuring body movements in the nonverbal communication of a child with severe developmental disabilities. A preliminary case study has been undertaken. The social interaction between a boy with developmental disabilities and his teacher was analyzed (1) using observer ratings on psychological aspects of the social interaction and (2) measuring body positions, velocity, and angles of body movements using the QMCS. Associations between observer ratings and measured body movements were examined. This preliminary case study has indicated that emotional response and attention level during the social interaction corresponded with local, synchronized movements and face-to-face orientation. Measurement of motor behavior is suggested as being a potentially useful methodological approach to studying social interaction and communication development.
Intellectual Disabilities and Dystopian Visions: Ayn Rand and Edgar Rice Burroughs
Authors: Smith J. David , Polloway Edward A.
Published: July 2013

Most cultures have respect for and respond positively to individuals who make significant literary contributions to the way that people understand life and society. While the impact of literature may vary widely, those individuals deemed to have added important perspectives through their writing are often elevated to positions of high regard and influence. Thus, their work becomes important to our understanding of the human condition, including the meaning of disability.
Byron and Oriental Love
Authors: Cohen-Vrignaud Gerard
Published: July 2013

This essay argues that Byron’s Lara (1814) invokes Orientalist discourses so as to suggest the queer potential of its love plot. I contend that “Oriental love,” with its expansive connotations, represents a more apposite name for Byron’s pluralist sexual drives than the “Greek love” that has often been attributed to him. The essay supports these claims by examining a recurring type in Orientalist ethnography: the page boys who served eminent men in the Ottoman Empire, sometimes sexually. Allusions to the figure of the page boy in seventeenth- to nineteenth-century texts show that Muslim same-sex practices were widely known, if not lengthily discussed. After tracking the circulation of this Orientalist trope, I look at its reworking in the form of Lara’s boyish servant, Kaled. I maintain that, by juxtaposing the nonexclusionary nature of Ottoman eros with the open question of Kaled’s sex, the poem undermines the hermeneutic urge to decide, according to the emerging hetero/homo binary, the sexual identity of the characters or the poem’s author. At the same time, I show how Lara stages and ironizes upon the textual and social processes of heterosexualization that have made this queer suggestibility pass unnoticed for a general readership.
Translation and the Transfer of Impressions in George Eliot
Authors: Raterman Jennifer
Published: July 2013

This article traces George Eliot’s use of translation and foreign words to make “impressions” on her readers. This keyword, which recurs in her narratives and in the title of her final work, is used to refer to the repeated reinterpretations of translated quotes that undergird each work’s central narrative. The moral transformation of the central characters, especially Daniel and Gwendolen in Eliot’s last novel, Daniel Deronda (1876), initiates them into the practices of the “good translator” as she defines them in her early writing on translation. Meanwhile, the increasingly frequent confrontation with foreign words prompts readers toward a more sophisticated understanding of the networks linking textual histories across cultures and nations. In the infrequently studied essay collection Impressions of Theophrastus Such (1879), Eliot takes this strategy further by shifting the burden of her argument about national belonging from the novel’s plot to the paratextual space of epigraphs and footnotes. The essays interweave multiple textual traditions and use translation to enact for readers a recognition of the shared impressions left as texts and languages change.
The Development of a Monoclonal Antibody Recognizing the Drosophila melanogaster Phosphorylated Histone H2A Variant (γ-H2AV)
Authors: Lake Cathleen M , Korda Holsclaw Julie , Bellendir Stephanie P , Sekelsky Jeff , Hawley R Scott
Published: July 2013

The recognition of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) using a phospho-specific antibody to the histone 2A variant has become the gold standard assay for DNA damage detection. Here we report on the development of the first monoclonal antibody to the phospho-specific form of Drosophila H2AV and characterize the specificity of this antibody to programmed DSBs in oocytes and rereplication sites in endocycling cells by immunofluorescence assays and to DSBs resulting from irradiation in both cell culture and whole tissue by Western blot assays. These studies show that the antibody derived in the study is highly specific for this modification that occurs at DSB sites, and therefore will be a new useful tool within the Drosophila community for the study of DNA damage response, DSB repair, meiotic recombination and chemical agents that cause DNA damage.
Genetic Determinants of Cell Size at Birth and Their Impact on Cell Cycle Progression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Truong Sandra K , McCormick Ryan F , Polymenis Michael
Published: July 2013

In most cases, cells must increase their size before they can divide. Hence, a small size has been used often as a phenotype for mutants that accelerate initiation of division, such as the celebrated WHI mutants of budding yeast. Recently, we measured the DNA content of all nonessential gene deletion strains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Surprisingly, there was little, if any, correlation between mean cell size and cell-cycle progression. Here, we examine this issue further, providing the first systematic analysis of genetic determinants of the cell size at birth. We found that although a large birth size strongly correlates with a large mean size, the converse relationship (i.e., small birth size vs. small mean size) is not as strong. Our data also suggest that mutants that are born large do not have a significant advantage for faster cell-cycle progression. In contrast, mutants that are born small are more likely to progress slower in the cell cycle. The majority of gene deletions that displayed such phenotypes affect protein synthesis or ribosome biogenesis. Overall, our data suggest that birth size may be a more informative parameter for cell-cycle progression than the mean size of a proliferating cell population. In contrast to WHI phenotype expectations, a small size is more likely to be associated with delayed cell-cycle progression.
Postextraction Implant in Sites With Endodontic Infection as an Alternative to Endodontic Retreatment: A Review of Literature
Authors: Corbella Stefano , Taschieri Silvio , Tsesis Igor , Del Fabbro Massimo
Published: July 2013

The aim of this literature review is to evaluate the outcomes of implants placed after extraction of teeth with infections of endodontic origin. An electronic search was performed through electronic databases (Medline and Embase) using the terms “immediate implant,” “post-extractive implants,” “endodontic infection,” “infected site,” and “extraction socket” combined with the use of Boolean operators (“AND” and “OR”). Only articles on human subjects were considered. At least 12 month of mean follow-up was required for inclusion. No restriction was placed regarding study design. Ten studies were included in this review. Survival rates ranged from 92% to 100%. A total of 497 implants were placed in sites with endodontic infection. In nine studies the use of bone substitutes was associated with immediate implant placement. Because of the low number of included studies and the heterogeneity of study design, more well-designed studies are required to assess the relevance of this treatment alternative.
Assessment of Maxillary and Mandibular Bone Density in Controlled Type II Diabetes: A Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Jolly Sanju John , Hegde Chethan , Shetty N. Sridhar
Published: July 2013

This study was undertaken to compare the bone density in nondiabetic and controlled type II diabetes patients using spiral computed tomography. A group of 40 edentulous men, comprising of 20 nondiabetics and 20 controlled type II diabetics between the ages of 50–65 years, were enrolled in the study. Glycemic control of the diabetic patients was assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin level. The controlled diabetic group had an HbA1c level between 6.1–8%. A radiographic stent was prepared by using chemically cured resin. Bone densities at trabecular, buccal, and lingual cortical regions of maxillary and mandibular edentulous arches were measured by a tomography machine. Mean bone density measurements were recorded in Hounsfield units. The data thus obtained from 10 sites of maxillary and mandibular arches were tabulated and analyzed using SPSS statistical software. This study showed no significant changes in bone density between the controlled diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that bone density does not seem to be affected in controlled type II diabetics.
Relationship between Grain Crop Yield Potential and Nitrogen Response
Authors: Arnall D. B. , Mallarino A. P. , Ruark M. D. , Varvel G. E. , Solie J. B. , Stone M. L. , Mullock J. L. , Taylor R. K. , Raun W. R.
Published: July 2013

The relationship between yield potential and N response in long‐term cereal production is not well known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between yield potential (yield level) and N responsiveness in long‐term winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) field experiments in Stillwater, OK (53 yr), Altus, OK (two trials, 45 yr each), Arlington, WI (49 yr), Shelton, NE (11 yr), Nashua, IA (32 yr), and Kanawha, IA (26 yr). Nitrogen responsiveness or the response index (RI) was determined by dividing the actual grain yield from high N rate plots by the yield from either the 0‐N fertilizer check (RI 0‐N) or medium N rate plots (RI mid‐N). Linear relationships between maximum yield, RI 0‐N, RI mid‐N, and year were thus examined. For the seven long‐term trials comprising 261 yr of site data, yield and N responsiveness were not related whether or not a medium N rate or the check plot (0‐N) was used to determine RI. Because yield level and N responsiveness are independent, and both impact N demand, using both should assist in formulating more accurate fertilizer N recommendations.
Quantifying Corn Growth and Physiological Responses to Ultraviolet‐B Radiation for Modeling
Authors: Reddy K. Raja , Singh Shardendu K. , Koti Sailaja , Kakani V. G. , Zhao Duli , Gao Wei , Reddy V. R.
Published: July 2013

To understand the consequences of rising levels of ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation on corn (Zea mays L.), two experiments were conducted using sunlit growth chambers at a wide range of UV‐B radiation levels. Corn hybrids, Terral‐2100 and DKC 65‐44, were grown in 2003 and 2008, respectively, at four UV‐B levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 kJ m–2 d–1) at 30/22°C, from 4 d after emergence to 43 d under optimum nutrient and water conditions. Plant growth, development, and photosynthetic rates were measured regularly. An inverse relationship between many growth process and dosage of UV‐B radiation was recorded. Shorter plants were due to shorter internodal lengths rather than fewer internodes and the total leaf area was less due to smaller leaves. Lower biomass under enhanced UV‐B was closely related to smaller leaf area and lower photosynthesis. Critical UV‐B limits, defined as 90% of optimum or control, were estimated from the UV‐B response indices. The critical limits for stem extension and leaf area expansion were lower in both hybrids (1.7–3.5 kJ m–2 d–1) than the critical limit for leaf number (>15 kJ m–2 d–1) and photosynthetic processes, indicating that expansion or extension rates of organs were the more sensitive to UV‐B radiation. Hybrid Terral‐2100 exhibited greater sensitivity to UV‐B radiation than DKC 65‐44 for studied parameters. Thus, both current and projected UV‐B radiation can adversely affect corn growth. The functional algorithms developed in this study could be useful to enhance the corn models to predict accurately field performance.
Using a population-based observational cohort study to address difficult comparative effectiveness research questions: the CEASAR study
Authors: Barocas Daniel A , Chen Vivien , Cooperberg Matthew , Goodman Michael , Graff John J , Greenfield Sheldon , Hamilton Ann , Hoffman Karen , Kaplan Sherrie , Koyama Tatsuki , Morgans Alicia , Paddock Lisa E , Phillips Sharon , Resnick Matthew J , Stroup Antoinette , Wu Xiao Cheng , Penson David F
Published: July 2013

Background
: While randomized controlled trials represent the highest level of evidence we can generate in comparative effectiveness research, there are clinical scenarios where this type of study design is not feasible. The Comparative Effectiveness Analyses of Surgery and Radiation in localized prostate cancer (CEASAR) study is an observational study designed to compare the effectiveness and harms of different treatments for localized prostate cancer, a clinical scenario in which randomized controlled trials have been difficult to execute and, when completed, have been difficult to generalize to the population at large.
Methods
: CEASAR employs a population-based, prospective cohort study design, using tumor registries as cohort inception tools. The primary outcome is quality of life after treatment, measured by validated instruments. Risk adjustment is facilitated by capture of traditional and nontraditional confounders before treatment and by propensity score analysis.
Results
: We have accrued a diverse, representative cohort of 3691 men in the USA with clinically localized prostate cancer. Half of the men invited to participate enrolled, and 86% of patients who enrolled have completed the 6-month survey.
Conclusion:
Challenging comparative effectiveness research questions can be addressed using well-designed observational studies. The CEASAR study provides an opportunity to determine what treatments work best, for which patients, and in whose hands.
Room for improvement in breast cancer clinical trial design: taking advantage of the preoperative setting
Authors: Kalinsky Kevin , Hershman Dawn L
Published: July 2013

Achieving approval of new oncologic drugs in breast cancer (BC) is lengthy and costly. After approval in a randomized Phase III trial in metastatic BC, an agent is then evaluated in stage I–III BC. It can take a decade for drug approval in early-stage BC, given the large sample size and long follow-up to detect improvements in disease-free or overall survival. One way to reduce this time period is conducting preoperative trials. In neoadjuvant BC trials, improvements in pathologic complete response in randomized trials of chemotherapy with and without a new agent can lead to accelerated approval. In exploratory investigational new drug trials, such as Phase 0 trials, new drugs can be evaluated for a limited time prior to traditional dose escalation trials. The US FDA has released guidelines for utilization of preoperative trials. The goal is to administer a new agent to the right subset of BC patients quicker and more effectively.
90
Y radioembolization versus chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis of comparative effectiveness
Authors: Xing Minzhi , Kokabi Nima , Camacho Juan C , Kooby David A , El-Rayes Bassel F , Kim Hyun S
Published: July 2013

Locoregional catheter-based therapies for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) include conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE), drug-eluting bead chemoembolization and yttrium-90 (
90
Y) radioembolization. Although current guidelines recommend cTACE for inoperable HCC, comparative effectiveness of drug-eluting bead chemoembolization and
90
Y radioembolization in the management of HCC remains undefined due to the lack of data evaluating safety and effectiveness among these therapies. A comprehensive search of the literature was carried out for studies examining comparative effectiveness of cTACE and
90
Y based on objective tumor response and overall patient survival. Further data on efficacy, safety, toxicity and cost–effectiveness was also examined. The National Cancer Institute Levels of Evidence for Cancer Treatment Studies provided a useful framework for the critical understanding and stratification of current evidence on locoregional therapy for unresectable HCC. Based on current retrospective cohort studies, evidence for similar efficacy and safety between cTACE and
90
Y radioembolization was demonstrated. Further prospective, randomized studies are required to validate these observations and to analyze cost–effectiveness of these interventions in unresectable HCC patients for definitive recommendations to be made.
When is evidence sufficient for decision-making? A framework for understanding the pace of evidence adoption
Authors: Dubois Robert W , Lauer Michael , Perfetto Eleanor
Published: July 2013

Translation of medical evidence into practice has not kept pace with the growth of medical technology and knowledge. We present three case studies – statins, drug eluting stents and bone marrow transplantation for breast cancer – to propose a framework for describing five factors that may influence the rate of adoption. The factors are: validity, reliability and maturity of the science available before widespread adoption; communication of the science; economic drivers; patients’ and physicians’ ability to apply published scientific findings to their specific clinical needs; and incorporation into practice guidelines.
Use of community-based participatory research in primary care to improve healthcare outcomes and disparities in care
Authors: Tapp Hazel , White Lauren , Steuerwald Mark , Dulin Michael
Published: July 2013

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has emerged to bridge the gap between research and primary-care practice through community engagement and social action to increase health equity. It is widely acknowledged that access to high-quality primary care services is important to the overall health of a community. Here, CBPR studies in a primary care setting are reviewed to assess the use of CBPR associated with common health problems seen in primary care such as access to care and disparities in chronic disease management across vulnerable populations. CBPR involves building relationships with local communities, determining areas of need and establishing priorities for health concerns. Studies showing improved access to care for a Hispanic population, reduced asthma symptoms and weight loss are highlighted.
Role of integrated F-18 fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography in evaluation of lung cancer
Authors: Sobic-Saranovic Dragana
Published: July 2013

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. It is
generally divided in two groups: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small
cell lung cancer (SCLC). Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT using the
glucose analogue labeled with 18-fluor (F-18): fluoro-deoxy-glucose
(F-18-FDG), is unique integrated imaging modality that offers simultaneous
anatomic and metabolic information valuable in the diagnosis, staging and
follow-up of both types of lung cancer and in particular in NSCLC. FDG
accumulation in tissue is proportional to the amount of glucose utilization.
Increased consumption of glucose is a characteristic of almost all types of
lung cancer except in bronchoalveolar carcinoma and well differentiated
neuroendocrine tumors. The objective of this brief review is to highlight the
clinical role of F-18-FDG PET/CT in detection, staging, re-staging, and
assessment of therapy response and follow up in lung cancer. The performance
of F-18-FDG PET/CT in specific clinical situations is of special interest: in
the differentiation of indeterminate lung lesions, the staging of NSCLC for
lymph node and extra thoracic metastases, for therapy planning, the detection
of recurrent lung cancer and the use in SCLC. In conclusion, F-18-FDG PET/CT
helps in characterization of suspicious lesions, provides more precise
staging of NSCLC than other imaging techniques, allows better patients?
selection for new modalities of treatment, helps in restaging after induction
therapy, allows better delineation for radiotherapy planning and helps in
follow up evaluation by differentiating residual or recurrent tumor from post
treatment scar.
Susceptibility to peer pressure and attachment to friends
Authors: Lotar-Rihtaric Martina , Kamenov Zeljka
Published: July 2013

The role of attachment to friends in the explanation of adolescents?
susceptibility to peer pressure was explored, regarding the way these two
constructs are measured. In Study 1, 475 high school students (194 boys and
281 girls) were given Susceptibility to Peer Pressure Questionnaire, and
their attachment to friends was measured with Modified Experiences in Close
Relationships Inventory and Relationship Scales Questionnaire. One month
later, 80 boys and 80 girls participated in Study 2, where they completed the
same Susceptibility to Peer Pressure Questionnaire in a chat-room simulation,
convinced that they can see other students? answers and that their own
answers could be seen by others. When susceptibility to peer pressure was
measured by self-report questionnaire, the level of avoidance proved to be a
significant predictor for boys, while the level of anxiety and the model of
others were significant predictors for girls. When susceptibility to peer
pressure was measured experimentally, the results showed that attachment
dimensions predict only girls? susceptibility and that the only significant
predictor is their model of others.
Objective assessment of patient compliance with removable orthodontic appliances: A cross-sectional cohort study
Authors: Tsomos George , Ludwig Björn , Grossen Johannes , Pazera Pawel , Gkantidis Nikolaos
Published: July 2013

Objective:

To assess objectively patient compliance with removable orthodontic appliances and the effect of possible influential factors.

Materials and Methods:

Wearing times of 45 White patients were recorded with the aid of the TheraMon microsensor. Patient compliance was assessed relative to wear prescription and other parameters, such as age and sex.

Results:

There was high individual variation in most measured variables and in all groups/subgroups. During a median observation period of 186 days (range, 55–318 days) the actual wear time was 9.0 h/d (range, 0.0–16.0 h/d) and did not differ between distinct prescriptions (P  =  .49). Eight patients wore their appliances less than 2 h/d, and six of them did not wear their appliances at all. Overall, the median wear per day relative to prescription was 62.5% (range, 0.0–89.3%) for the 14 h/d and 112.5% (range, 0.0–200.0%) for the 8 h/d prescription wear (P  =  .01) groups. There was a strong negative correlation of age (median: 12.5 years) with the daily percentage of actual wear time per day relative to wear prescription (14 h/d prescription: n  =  21, rho  =  −0.61, P  =  .00; 8 h/d prescription: n  =  24, rho  =  −0.73, P  =  .00), while sex did not exert a significant influence on compliance (P  =  .58).

Conclusions:

Despite the fact that patients and parents were informed about wear time recording, compliance was insufficient with regard to functional treatment (14 h/d prescription), while it was sufficient for retention purposes (8 h/d prescription). Objective measures are necessary to assess compliance with removable orthodontic appliances since patient compliance is a highly variable issue.
Cyclodextrin Protects Podocytes in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Merscher-Gomez Sandra , Guzman Johanna , Pedigo Christopher E. , Lehto Markku , Aguillon-Prada Robier , Mendez Armando , Lassenius Mariann I. , Forsblom Carol , Yoo TaeHyun , Villarreal Rodrigo , Maiguel Dony , Johnson Kevin , Goldberg Ronald , Nair Viji , Randolph Ann , Kretzler Matthias , Nelson Robert G. , Burke George W. , Groop Per-Henrik , Fornoni Alessia ,   the FinnDiane Study Group
Published: July 2013

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease despite multifactorial intervention. We demonstrated that increased cholesterol in association with downregulation of ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1 occurs in normal human podocytes exposed to the sera of patients with type 1 diabetes and albuminuria (DKD+) when compared with diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (DKD−) and similar duration of diabetes and lipid profile. Glomerular downregulation of ABCA1 was confirmed in biopsies from patients with early DKD (n = 70) when compared with normal living donors (n = 32). Induction of cholesterol efflux with cyclodextrin (CD) but not inhibition of cholesterol synthesis with simvastatin prevented podocyte injury observed in vitro after exposure to patient sera. Subcutaneous administration of CD to diabetic BTBR (black and tan, brachiuric) ob/ob mice was safe and reduced albuminuria, mesangial expansion, kidney weight, and cortical cholesterol content. This was followed by an improvement of fasting insulin, blood glucose, body weight, and glucose tolerance in vivo and improved glucose-stimulated insulin release in human islets in vitro. Our data suggest that impaired reverse cholesterol transport characterizes clinical and experimental DKD and negatively influences podocyte function. Treatment with CD is safe and effective in preserving podocyte function in vitro and in vivo and may improve the metabolic control of diabetes.
Synchronization of variable-order fractional financial system via active control method
Authors: Xu Yufeng , He Zhimin
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we study the chaotic dynamics of a Variable-Order Fractional Financial System (VOFFS). The Variable-Order Fractional Derivative (VOFD) is defined in Caputo type. A necessary condition for occurrence of chaos in VOFFS is obtained. Numerical experiments on the dynamics of the VOFFS with various conditions are given. Based on them, it is shown that the VOFFS has complex dynamical behavior, and the occurrence of chaos depends on the choice of order function. Furthermore, the chaos synchronization of the VOFFS is studied via active control method. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the active control method is effective and simple for synchronizing the VOFFSs with commensurate or incommensurate order functions.
Bioclimatic Extremes Drive Forest Mortality in Southwest, Western Australia
Authors: Evans Bradley , Lyons Tom
Published: July 2013

Extreme and persistent reductions in annual precipitation and an increase in the mean diurnal temperature range have resulted in patch scale forest mortality following the summer of 2010–2011 within the Forest study area near Perth, Western Australia. The impacts of 20 bioclimatic indicators derived from temperature, precipitation and of actual and potential evapotranspiration are quantified. We found that spatially aggregated seasonal climatologies across the study area show 2011 with an annual mean of 17.7 °C (± 5.3 °C) was 1.1 °C warmer than the mean over recent decades (1981–2011,- 16.6 °C ± 4.6 °C) and the mean has been increasing over the last decade. Compared to the same period, 2010–2011 summer maximum temperatures were 1.4 °C (31.6 °C ± 2.0 °C) higher and the annual mean diurnal temperature range (Tmax−Tmin) was 1.6 °C higher (14.7 °C ± 0.5 °C). In 2009, the year before the forest mortality began, annual precipitation across the study area was 69% less (301 mm ± 38 mm) than the mean of 1981–2010 (907 mm ± 69 mm). Using Système Pour l'Observation de la Terre mission 5 (SPOT-5) satellite imagery captured after the summer of 2010–2011 we map a broad scale forest mortality event across the Forested study area. This satellite-climatology based methodology provides a means of monitoring and mapping similar forest mortality events- a critical contribution to our understanding the dynamical bioclimatic drivers of forest mortality events.