bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of Osteoblast Gi Signaling in Age-Related Bone Loss in Female Mice
Authors: Millard Susan M. , Wang Liping , Wattanachanya Lalita , O’Carroll Dylan , Fields Aaron J. , Pang Joyce , Kazakia Galateia , Lotz Jeffrey C. , Nissenson Robert A. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAge-related bone loss is an important risk factor for fractures in the elderly; it results from an imbalance in bone remodeling mainly due to decreased bone formation. We have previously demonstrated that endogenous G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR)-driven Gi signaling in osteoblasts (Obs) restrains bone formation in mice during growth. Here, we launched a longitudinal study to test the hypothesis that Gi signaling in Obs restrains bone formation in aging mice, thereby promoting bone loss. Our approach was to block Gi signaling in maturing Obs by the induced expression of the catalytic subunit of pertussis toxin (PTX) after the achievement of peak bone mass. In contrast to the progressive cancellous bone loss seen in aging sex-matched littermate control mice, aging female Col1(2.3)+/PTX+ mice showed an age-related increase in bone volume. Increased bone volume was associated with increased bone formation at both trabecular and endocortical surfaces as well as increased bending strength of the femoral middiaphyses. In contrast, male Col1(2.3)+/PTX+ mice were not protected from age-related bone loss. Our results indicate that Gi signaling markedly restrains bone formation at cancellous and endosteal bone surfaces in female mice during aging. Blockade of the relevant Gi-coupled GPCRs represents an approach for the development of osteoporosis therapies—at least in the long bones of aging women.
Causes and consequences of nuclear gene positioning
Authors: Shachar Sigal , Misteli Tom 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT
The eukaryotic genome is organized in a manner that allows folding of the genetic material in the confined space of the cell nucleus, while at the same time enabling its physiological function. A major principle of spatial genome organization is the non-random position of genomic loci relative to other loci and to nuclear bodies. The mechanisms that determine the spatial position of a locus, and how position affects function, are just beginning to be characterized. Initial results suggest that there are multiple, gene-specific mechanisms and the involvement of a wide range of cellular machineries. In this Commentary, we review recent findings from candidate approaches and unbiased screening methods that provide initial insight into the cellular mechanisms of positioning and their functional consequences. We highlight several specific mechanisms, including tethering of genome regions to the nuclear periphery, passage through S-phase and histone modifications, that contribute to gene positioning in yeast, plants and mammals.
A novel ATP-synthase-independent mechanism coupling mitochondrial activation to exocytosis in insulin-secreting cells
Authors: De Marchi Umberto , Hermant Aurelie , Thevenet Jonathan , Ratinaud Yann , Santo-Domingo Jaime , Barron Denis , Wiederkehr Andreas 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT
Pancreatic β-cells sense glucose, promoting insulin secretion. Glucose sensing requires the sequential stimulation of glycolysis, mitochondrial metabolism and Ca2+ entry. To elucidate how mitochondrial activation in β-cells contributes to insulin secretion, we compared the effects of glucose and the mitochondrial substrate methylsuccinate in the INS-1E insulin-secreting cell line at the respective concentrations at which they maximally activate mitochondrial respiration. Both substrates induced insulin secretion with distinct respiratory profiles, mitochondrial hyperpolarization, NADH production and ATP-to-ADP ratios. In contrast to glucose, methylsuccinate failed to induce large [Ca2+] rises and exocytosis proceeded largely independently of mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Both glucose- and methylsuccinate-induced secretion was blocked by diazoxide, indicating that Ca2+ is required for exocytosis. Dynamic assessment of the redox state of mitochondrial thiols revealed a less marked reduction in response to methylsuccinate than with glucose. Our results demonstrate that insulin exocytosis can be promoted by two distinct mechanisms one of which is dependent on mitochondrial ATP synthesis and large Ca2+ transients, and one of which is independent of mitochondrial ATP synthesis and relies on small Ca2+ signals. We propose that the combined effects of Ca2+ and redox reactions can trigger insulin secretion by these two mechanisms.
Disciplining the graphic design discipline: The role of external engagement, mediating meaning, and transparency as catalysts for change
Authors: Littlejohn Deborah 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
The singular mission of graphic design schools is to prepare students for a life in professional practice, primarily as creative form-givers of design artefacts and communications. Such a practice-oriented monoculture in the curriculum leaves the field lacking the knowledge-building capacity for producing a diverse body of disciplinary scholarship by academic researchers – who are sorely needed if graphic design is to ever emerge as a true discipline. Meanwhile, several stakeholder organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and Icograda, among others, have challenged design education to address shifts underway in the field towards a more user-centric, evidence-based practice. In the United States, a few graduate programmes have taken steps to bridge graphic design’s knowledge gap by accommodating different pathways into the field that focus on research skills. This article presents findings from a twelve-month grounded theory study investigating the teaching environments of four such programmes, illuminating some of the factors that enabled a programme’s ability to adapt their approaches to curricula design and pedagogic strategies. An integrated model – a grounded theory – is proposed that emphasizes three core categories emerging from the data – External engagement, Mediating meaning and Transparency. Programme strategies that informed these three categories highlight numerous processes shaping faculty relationships, as well as the role of the teaching environment in coordinating between internal pedagogic objectives and external changes in the wider landscape of the graphic design field. Specifically, these processes promoted sense-making, engagement and transformation in the four programmes that participated in the study. This report aims to increase awareness about faculty beliefs and behaviours that affect graphic design education’s ability to remain relevant.
#AlternativeArtschool // an interstitial space for creative dissent
Authors: Gale Cathy 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
The Alternative Art School (AAS) is conceived as an open-ended pedagogic tool through which to interrogate the conditions and consequences of contemporary education. It is interdisciplinary in scope, but focuses on the values of design education, while challenging assumptions of the academic status quo. As a ‘school’ within a school the AAS exploits the opportunities of art school to envisage alternatives in a staff−student collaboration. Extra-curricular and unmarked, the AAS is framed as a case study here employing a dialogic process that aims to disrupt reductive government policy and challenge the fusion of commerce and culture. In this way students are encouraged to reframe their experiences and ambitions from a more critical position and to inspire change through creative dissent.
Praktische Anwendung einer hybriden ereignisbasierten Regelung an einer industriellen Kläranlage
Authors: Stöcker Christian , Roth Matthias 
Published: April 2017

Zusammenfassung
Dieser Beitrag behandelt die praktische Umsetzung einer Regelung der Ammoniumkonzentration in der biologischen
Abwasserreinigung der Kläranlage der BASF. Das System wird über zwei Typen von Aktoren beeinflusst, die kontinuierlich
bzw. diskret arbeiten, und weist damit das Verhalten hybrider dynamischer Systeme auf. Es wird die praktische
Anwendung eines Ansatzes zur hybriden ereignisbasierten Regelung vorgestellt, der um Mechanismen zur besseren
Störkompensation und zum Umgang mit Stellgrößenbeschränkungen erweitert wird. Die Ergebnisse der praktischen Erprobung
dieses Regelungsansatzes zeigen, dass der Arbeitspunkt des Systems an die Störung adaptiert und somit die Regelgüte
gegenüber einem heuristischen Regelungsansatz deutlich verbessert wird.
Recruitment in Ulva blooms in relation to temperature, salinity and nutrients in a subtropical bay of the Gulf of California
Authors: Chávez-Sánchez Tonatiuh , Piñón-Gimate Alejandra , Serviere-Zaragoza Elisa , Sánchez-González Alberto , Hernández-Carmona Gustavo , Casas-Valdez Margarita 
Published: April 2017

Abstractblooms are highly productive ephemeral communities that occur in coastal systems, associated with nutrient enrichment. The objective was to estimate variations in succession, cover, recruitment and length of
Traceability in laboratory medicine: a global driver for accurate results for patient care
Authors: Beastall Graham H. , Brouwer Nannette , Quiroga Silvia , Myers Gary L. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractLaboratory medicine results influence a high percentage of all clinical decisions. Globalization requires that laboratory medicine results should be transferable between methods in the interests of patient safety. International collaboration is necessary to deliver this requirement. That collaboration should be based on traceability in laboratory medicine and the adoption of higher order international commutable reference materials and measurement procedures. Application of the metrological traceability chain facilitates a universal approach. The measurement of serum cholesterol and blood HbA1cserve as examples of the process of method standardization where an impact on clinical outcomes is demonstrable. The measurement of plasma parathyroid hormone and blood HbA2 serve as examples where the current between-method variability is compromising patient management and method standardization and/or harmonization is required. Challenges to the widespread adoption of traceability in laboratory medicine include the availability of reference materials and methods, geographical differences, the use of variable units, complex analytes and limited global coordination. The global collaboration requires the involvement of several different stakeholder groups ranging from international experts to laboratory medicine specialists in routine clinical laboratories. A coordinated action plan is presented with actions attributable to each of these stakeholder groups.
“Dr. Google” and his predecessors
Authors: Jutel Annemarie 
Published: April 2017

Abstract

Background:
Contemporary medicine has expressed concern about lay incursions into the diagnostic process buttressed by commonly available medical information on line. Even while the world wide web is a new structure, there is a long historical precedent for this concern. With the emergence of scientific medicine in the late 19th century came a strong belief in the role of diagnosis, not only to explain disease symptoms but also to differentiate the physician from a range of other unreliable practitioners. Along with this focus on diagnosis came also a concern expressed by doctors about patients’ inclination to self-diagnose, or to propose candidate diagnoses for the problems that ailed them.

Methods:
This paper uses Zerubavel’s social patterning method. Using material written by doctors from the late 19th until the mid-20th century, I explore comments about, and attitudes towards, self-diagnosis.

Results:
Three areas of concern about self-diagnosis are expressed by doctors. First, self-diagnosis produces anxiety in the patient. Second, it interferes with doctor-patient relationship. Finally self-diagnosis is commonly linked to commercial interests.

Conclusions:
Contemporary concerns about self-diagnosis are part of an ongoing social pattern, which simultaneously promotes diagnosis as means for explaining disease but also protests when the diagnostic explanations originate with the patient.
Antioxidant activity of Scots pine heartwood and knot extractives and implications for resistance to brown rot
Authors: Belt Tiina , Hänninen Tuomas , Rautkari Lauri 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Brown rot (BR) fungi are highly destructive wood decaying organisms that utilise free radicals in the initial stages of decay. Although many wood extractives have been shown to have antioxidant (AO) activity, their ability to protect wood from radical-based degradation has received little attention. The present paper reports on the ability of Scots pine heartwood (hW) and knotwood (knW) extractives to inhibit radical-based degradation, with a focus on the Fenton reaction. AO assays showed that extract solutions and pure pinosylvins had good radical scavenging activity and weak to moderate ferrous iron binding and ferric iron reducing activities. AO assays were repeated with wood powders and showed that extractives were also active in wood: hW and knW had significantly higher activities than their extracted counterparts or sapwood. However, when wood powders were subjected to degradation by Fenton reagent, only knW showed reduced mass loss. Based on the activity profiles of knW and hW, it appears that the radical scavenging activity of pine extractives is more important than their interaction with iron. The results suggest that the AO activity of extractives may play a role in inhibiting BR, but its importance relative to the other biological activities of extractives is unknown.
Frequency Sweep Test and Modal Analysis of Watermelon during Transportation
Authors: Wang Fang , Ma Shaochun , Wei Wei , Zhang Yong , Zhang Ziyi 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Determining the natural frequency of watermelon is important to reduce loss by vibration during transportation. The purpose of frequency sweep test is to determine the tolerance of watermelon to vibration within a certain frequency range and to search the resonant frequency of watermelon in a certain frequency range. Frequency sweep test of Xinong No.8 watermelon cultivar was conducted, and the acceleration transmissibility curve was obtained. Furthermore, the 1st and 2nd order natural frequencies of watermelon were determined as 35.125 Hz and 71.034 Hz respectively from the acceleration transmissibility curve. Based on Geometric and mechanical parameters of Xinong No.8 watermelon cultivar, a finite element analysis model was developed and modal analysis of watermelon was carried out to obtain its natural frequencies and mode shapes. Since the value of 1st and 2nd order resonance frequency were the same or similar to the value of 3rd, 4th, and 5th order resonance frequency, this study only focused on 1st and 2nd order modes. The 1st order and 2nd order natural frequency test data fit to the corresponding simulation data well which validated the FEA model. This study demonstrated the feasibility of detecting the resonant frequency of watermelon vibration during transportation using FEA methods and provided a theoretical basis for watermelon transportation device design to reduce damage by avoiding resonant frequency.
Septic cardiomyopathy: evidence for a reduced force-generating capacity of human atrial myocardium in acute infective endocarditis
Authors: Buschmann Katja , Chaban Ryan , Emrich Anna Lena , Youssef Marwan , Kornberger Angela , Beiras-Fernandez Andres , Vahl Christian Friedrich 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBackground:This study analyzes the myocardial force-generating capacity in infective endocarditis (IE) using an experimental model of isolated human atrial myocardium. In vivo, it is difficult to decide whether or not alterations in myocardial contractile behavior are due to secondary effects associated with infection such as an altered heart rate, alterations of preload and afterload resulting from valvular defects, and altered humoral processes. Our in vitro model using isolated human myocardium, in contrast, guarantees exactly defined experimental conditions with respect to preload, afterload, and contraction frequency, thus not only preventing confounding by in vivo determinants of contractility but also excluding effects of other factors associated with sepsis, hemodynamics, humoral influences, temperature, and medical treatment.Methods:We analyzed right atrial trabeculae (diameter 0.3–0.5 mm, initial length 5 mm) from 32 patients undergoing aortic and/or mitral valve replacement for acute valve incompetence caused by IE and 65 controls receiving aortic and/or mitral valve replacement for nonendocarditic valve incompetence. Isometric force amplitudes and passive resting force values measured at optimal length in the two groups were compared using Student’s t-test.Results:There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the passive resting force. The isometric force amplitude in the endocarditis group, however, was significantly lower than in the nonendocarditis group (p=0.001). In the endocarditis group, the calculated active force, defined as the isometric force amplitude minus the resting force, was significantly lower (p<0.0001) and the resting force/active force ratio was significantly higher (p<0.0001). Using linear regression to describe the function between resting force and active force, we identified a significant difference in slope (p<0.0001), with lower values found in the endocarditis group.Conclusion:Our data suggest that the force-generating capacity of atrial myocardium is significantly reduced in patients with IE. In these patients, an elevated resting force is required to achieve a given force amplitude. It remains unclear, however, whether this is due to calcium desensitization of the contractile apparatus, presence of myocardial edema, fibrotic remodeling, disruption of contractile units, or other mechanisms.
Surgical risk factors for recurrence in inguinal hernia repair – a review of the literature
Authors: Niebuhr Henning , Köckerling Ferdinand 
Published: April 2017

AbstractDespite all the progress made in inguinal hernia surgery driven by the development of meshes and laparoendoscopic operative techniques, the proportion of recurrent inguinal hernias is still from 12% to 13%. Recurrences can present very soon after primary inguinal hernia repair generally because of technical failure. However, they can also develop much later after the primary operation probably due to patient-specific factors. Supported by evidence-based data, this review presents the surgical risk factors for recurrent inguinal hernia after the primary operation. The following factors are implicated here: choice of operative technique and mesh, mesh fixation technique, mesh size, management of medial and lateral hernia sac, sliding hernia, lipoma in the inguinal canal, operating time, type of anesthesia, participation in a register database, femoral hernia, postoperative complications, as well as the center and surgeon volume. If these surgical risk factors are taken into account when performing primary inguinal hernia repair, a good outcome can be expected for the patient. Therefore, they should definitely be observed.
Intrauterine growth restriction and placental gene expression in severe preeclampsia, comparing early-onset and late-onset forms
Authors: Nevalainen Jaana , Skarp Sini , Savolainen Eeva-Riitta , Ryynänen Markku , Järvenpää Jouko 
Published: April 2017

Abstract

Objective:
To evaluate placental gene expression in severe early- or late-onset preeclampsia with intrauterine growth restriction compared to controls.

Study design:
Chorionic villus sampling was conducted after cesarean section from the placentas of five women with early- or late-onset severe preeclampsia and five controls for each preeclampsia group. Microarray analysis was performed to identify gene expression differences between the groups.

Results:
Pathway analysis showed over-representation of gene ontology (GO) biological process terms related to inflammatory and immune response pathways, platelet development, vascular development, female pregnancy and reproduction in early-onset preeclampsia. Pathways related to immunity, complement and coagulation cascade were overrepresented in the hypergeometric test for the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Ten genes (ABI3BP, C7, HLA-G, IL2RB, KRBOX1, LRRC15, METTL7B, MPP5, RFLNB and SLC20A) had a ≥±1 fold expression difference in severe early-onset preeclampsia group compared to early controls. There were 362 genes that had a ≥±1 fold expression difference in severe early-onset preeclampsia group compared to late-onset preeclampsia group including ABI3BP, C7, HLA-G and IL2RB.

Conclusion:
There are significant differences in placental gene expression between severe early- and late-onset preeclampsia when both are associated with intrauterine growth restriction. ABI3BP, C7, HLA-G and IL2RB might contribute to the development of early form of severe preeclampsia.
Clinical outcomes in patients with cancer of unknown primary site treated by gastrointestinal oncologists
Authors: Yamane Sakiko , Katada Chikatoshi , Tanabe Satoshi , Azuma Mizutomo , Ishido Kenji , Yano Takafumi , Wada Takuya , Watanabe Akinori , Kawanishi Natsuko , Furue Yasuaki , Kondo Yuki , Komori Shouko , Ishiyama Hiromichi , Hayakawa Kazushige , Koizumi Wasaburo 
Published: April 2017

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients with cancer of an unknown primary site (CUP), who were treated by gastrointestinal oncologists.

Methods
We retrospectively studied 29 patients with CUP who were presented at the Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University Hospital from October 2005 to October 2013, and were treated by the gastrointestinal oncologists. The patients were divided into two groups, namely chemotherapy group and symptomatic therapy group, and the clinical characteristics and survival times were compared. The clinical course was studied according to the histologic type (adenocarcinoma or non-adenocarcinoma), prognostic subset (favorable or unfavorable), and the presence or absence of chemotherapy.

Results
The chemotherapy group comprised 19 patients, and the symptomatic therapy group comprised 10 patients. The median survival time was 11 months in the chemotherapy group and 3 months in the symptomatic therapy group. Twenty-two patients had adenocarcinoma, and 7 had non-adenocarcinoma. Of the 22 patients with adenocarcinoma, 2 belonged to the favorable prognostic subset and received chemotherapy. One of these patients died of cancer at 47 months, and the other was alive and disease free at 58 months. Among the 20 patients with adenocarcinoma in the unfavorable prognostic subset, 16 received chemotherapy and had a median survival of 16 months. Seven (44%) of these patients survived for at least 21 months, and 3 patients who could receive 3 or more regimens survived for at least 46 months.

Conclusion
It might be appropriate for gastrointestinal oncologists to treat CUP on the basis of clinical experience, depending on the situation.