bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological implications from the adhesion‐induced signaling profiles in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells
Authors: Wu Wen‐Chuan , Chang Yo‐Chen , Wu Kwou‐Yeung , Chen Su‐Yueh , Hsieh Ming‐Chu , Wu Meng‐Hsien , Wu Horng‐Jiun , Wu Wen‐Sheng , Kao Ying‐Hsien 
Published: August 2013

AbstractExtracellular matrix (ECM) plays an active and complex role in regulating cellular behaviors, including proliferation and adhesion. This study aimed at delineating the adhesion‐induced signaling profiles in cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and investigating the antiadhesion effect of antiproliferative drugs in this context. RPE R‐50 cells grown on various ECM molecules, such as type I and IV collagens, fibronectin, and laminin, were used for adhesion assay and for examining the phosphorylation profiles of signaling mediators including Akt, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and integrin‐linked kinase (ILK) using Western blotting. The cells receiving antiproliferative drug treatment at subtoxic doses were used to evaluate their antiadhesive and suppressive effects on kinase activities. ECM coating enhanced adhesion and spreading of RPE cells significantly. The cellular attachment onto ECM‐coated surfaces differentially induced Akt, ERK1/2, and ILK phosphorylation, and concomitantly increased p53 phosphorylation and cyclin D1 expression, but decreased Bcl‐2/Bax ratios. Treatment with antiproliferative agents, including 5‐fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and daunomycin, at subtoxic doses suppressed the ability of RPE cells to adhere to ECM substratum significantly. This suppression was in part mediated through reduction of integrin β1 and β3 expressions and interfering Akt‐ILK signaling activity. Mechanistically, blockade of PI3K/Akt signaling resulted in the suppressed adhesion of RPE cells to ECM. These findings support the hypothesis that, in addition to their antimitogenic effect, antiproliferative agents also exhibit suppressive effect on the adhesiveness of cultured RPE cells. Moreover, inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt signaling mediator can potentially be used as therapeutic agents for proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
Das Lebensende auf der Public-Health-Agenda
Authors: Ewers Michael , Schaeffer Doris 
Published: August 2013

Einleitung
Das Lebensende war lange Zeit kein relevantes Public-Health-Thema. Primäres Ziel war es, den frühzeitigen Tod zu verhindern, die Bevölkerung gesund zu erhalten und Gesundheitssysteme effizient auszurichten. Mittlerweile ist die Frage nach der Qualität des Lebensendes unter veränderten gesellschaftlichen Bedingungen als Herausforderung erkannt. Noch aber konzentrieren sich die Initiativen auf die Verbesserung individueller Sterbesituationen ausgewählter Patienten und erfahren Public-Health-Gesichtspunkte wenig Beachtung.
Palliative Kultur in Alten- und Pflegeheimen – ein Beitrag zu einer nachhaltigen Gesellschaft
Authors: Heimerl Katharina , Schuchter Patrick 
Published: August 2013

Einleitung
Immer mehr Bewohnerinnen sind bereits beim Einzug in Alten- und Pflegeheime schwerkrank und pflegebedürftig, so dass die Verweildauern in diesen Einrichtungen immer kürzer werden und Pflegeheime zunehmend zu „Häusern zum Sterben“ werden. Einerseits nimmt demnach die Bedeutung von Pflegeheimen in der Versorgung von hochbetagten Menschen am Lebensende zu. Andererseits gehören Alten-und Pflegeheime zu jenen Einrichtungen, die abgewertet werden – spürbar beispielsweise über abnehmende Personalressourcen. Erfreulicher Weise lassen sich jedoch auch andere Entwicklungen feststellen. Hospizbewegung und Pflegeheime bewegen sich aufeinander zu, nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern auch international.
IS FOUNDATIONAL A PRIORI JUSTIFICATION INDISPENSABLE?
Authors: Poston Ted 
Published: August 2013

AbstractLaurence BonJour's (1985) coherence theory of empirical knowledge relies heavily on a traditional foundationalist theory of a priori knowledge. He argues that a foundationalist, rationalist theory of a priori justification is indispensable for a coherence theory. BonJour (1998) continues this theme, arguing that a traditional account of a priori justification is indispensable for the justification of putative a priori truths, the justification of any non-observational belief and the justification of reasoning itself. While BonJour's indispensability arguments have received some critical discussion (Gendler 2001; Harman 2001; Beebe 2008), no one has investigated the indispensability arguments from a coherentist perspective. This perspective offers a fruitful take on BonJour's arguments, because he does not appreciate the depth of the coherentist alternative to the traditional empiricist-rationalist debate. This is surprising on account of BonJour's previous defense of coherentism. Two significant conclusions emerge: first, BonJour's indispensability arguments beg central questions about an explanationist form of coherentism; second, BonJour's original defense of coherentism took on board certain assumptions that inevitably led to the demise of his form of coherentism. The positive conclusion of this article is that explanatory coherentism is more coherent than BonJour's indispensability arguments assume, and more coherent than BonJour's earlier coherentist epistemology.
Outcomes of a tobacco treatment programme for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness attending a community mental health team
Authors: Masuhara Joy E. , Heah Tom , Okoli Chizimuzo T.C. 
Published: August 2013

Introduction: Individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses have a greater prevalence of smoking than the general population and are disproportionately affected by tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Evidence-based tobacco treatment can aid such populations in their efforts at smoking cessation. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of tobacco treatment programmes within Mental Health and Addictions Services in Canada.Aims: This study examines outcomes from an evidence-based tobacco treatment programme provided within community mental health services in Vancouver, Canada.Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 134 participants (from June 2010 to February 2012). Information on demographics, tobacco use and cessation history, substance use history, psychiatric disorder diagnosis, expired carbon monoxide level, and duration of treatment in the programme were obtained. Programme completion and smoking cessation/reduction were examined.Results: Sixty-seven per cent completed the programme. Of those who completed, 26.7% were abstinent at the end-of-treatment and 50% (of those not achieving abstinence) reduced their consumption to at least 50% of their baseline cigarette consumption. Predictors of smoking cessation included having a social support for smoking cessation and lower nicotine dependence at baseline.Conclusions: Evidence-based tobacco treatment within community mental health services is well received by individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Such treatment can aid in their efforts towards smoking cessation. Future studies may need to assess factors that can enhance the integration of tobacco treatment within mental health services while providing tailored treatment that addresses the unique needs of smokers who have severe and persistent mental illness.
Quitting smoking using health issue-specific Social Networking Sites (SNSs): What influences participation, social identification, and smoking cessation self-efficacy?
Authors: Phua Joe 
Published: August 2013

Introduction: This study examined members of health issue-specific social networking sites (SNSs) for smoking cessation, applying Social Identity Theory (SIT).Aims: The aim of the study was to test the relationships between perceived verbal, affective, cognitive and physical intimacy on the sites, participation level, social identification and smoking cessation self-efficacy.Methods: An online questionnaire (N = 252) assessed members of SNSs for smoking cessation. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modelling (SEM), mediation analysis, MANOVA and ANOVA tests were used to test the hypotheses.Results/Findings: Verbal, affective, cognitive and physical intimacy significantly predicted participation; participation significantly predicted social identification and smoking cessation self-efficacy; and social identification mediated between participation and smoking cessation self-efficacy. Active participants and lurkers differed significantly on perceived verbal, affective, cognitive and physical intimacy, social identification, and smoking cessation self-efficacy.Conclusions: Health issue-specific SNSs for smoking cessation have a positive impact on members’ smoking cessation self-efficacy. Higher perceived intimacy facilitates participation online, which in turn influences smoking cessation self-efficacy, with social identification mediating this relationship.
UNIQUENESS OF MEROMORPHIC FUNCTIONS WITH WEAKLY WEIGHTED SHARING
Authors: ALZAHARY THAMIR 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce the notion of weakly weighted sharing of zeros of meromorphic functions ignoring multiplicities, which extends the notion of weakly weighted sharing counting multiplicities, and we also introduce the notion of multiplicity. By using these notions, we prove some results on the uniqueness of meromorphic functions concerning differential polynomials sharing nonzero finite values. The results in this paper extend the results of Yang and Hua, Fang, and Dyavanal. In this paper, we correct defective points in the paper of Wu et al. [‘Uniqueness of meromorphic functions sharing one value’, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 85(2012), 280–294].
A systematic review of vitamin D status in populations worldwide
Authors: Hilger Jennifer , Friedel Angelika , Herr Raphael , Rausch Tamara , Roos Franz , Wahl Denys A. , Pierroz Dominique D. , Weber Peter , Hoffmann Kristina 
Published: August 2013

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteoporosis and is thought to increase the risk of cancer and CVD. Despite these numerous potential health effects, data on vitamin D status at the population level and within key subgroups are limited. The aims of the present study were to examine patterns of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels worldwide and to assess differences by age, sex and region. In a systematic literature review using the Medline and EMBASE databases, we identified 195 studies conducted in forty-four countries involving more than 168 000 participants. Mean population-level 25(OH)D values varied considerably across the studies (range 4·9–136·2 nmol/l), with 37·3 % of the studies reporting mean values below 50 nmol/l. The highest 25(OH)D values were observed in North America. Although age-related differences were observed in the Asia/Pacific and Middle East/Africa regions, they were not observed elsewhere and sex-related differences were not observed in any region. Substantial heterogeneity between the studies precluded drawing conclusions on overall vitamin D status at the population level. Exploratory analyses, however, suggested that newborns and institutionalised elderly from several regions worldwide appeared to be at a generally higher risk of exhibiting lower 25(OH)D values. Substantial details on worldwide patterns of vitamin D status at the population level and within key subgroups are needed to inform public health policy development to reduce risk for potential health consequences of an inadequate vitamin D status.
Indicaxanthin inhibits NADPH oxidase (NOX)-1 activation and NF-κB-dependent release of inflammatory mediators and prevents the increase of epithelial permeability in IL-1β-exposed Caco-2 cells
Authors: Tesoriere L. , Attanzio A. , Allegra M. , Gentile C. , Livrea M. A. 
Published: August 2013

Dietary redox-active/antioxidant phytochemicals may help control or mitigate the inflammatory response in chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the present study, the anti-inflammatory activity of indicaxanthin (Ind), a pigment from the edible fruit of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica, L.), was shown in an IBD model consisting of a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2 cells) stimulated by IL-1β, a cytokine known to play a major role in the initiation and amplification of inflammatory activity in IBD. The exposure of Caco-2 cells to IL-1β brought about the activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX-1) and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to activate intracellular signalling leading to the activation of NF-κB, with the over-expression of inflammatory enzymes and release of pro-inflammatory mediators. The co-incubation of the cells with Ind, at a nutritionally relevant concentration (5–25 μm), and IL-1β prevented the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, PGE2and NO, the formation of ROS and the loss of thiols in a dose-dependent manner. The co-incubation of the cells with Ind and IL-1β also prevented the IL-1β-induced increase of epithelial permeability. It was also shown that the activation of NOX-1 and NF-κB was prevented by Ind and the expression of COX-2 and inducible NO synthase was reduced. The uptake of Ind in Caco-2 cell monolayers appeared to be unaffected by the inflamed state of the cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the dietary pigment Ind may have the potential to modulate inflammatory processes at the intestinal level.
A Troublesome Statistic: Traders and Coastal Shipments in the Westward Movement of Slaves
Authors: Steckel Richard H. , Ziebarth Nicolas 
Published: August 2013

We analyze all slave manifests housed at the National Archives—some 24,400 documents involving approximately 135,000 slaves who were transported in the coastwise trade from 1810 to 1861. The manifests list the name of the owner or shipper, which allows us to match names with traders found in other sources. We also utilize demographic characteristics of the manifests to estimate the probability that a trader organized the shipment. Commercial transactions increased over the antebellum period, and on average were responsible for approximately 55 percent of slaves who migrated from Atlantic to Gulf coast ports.“No one has ever suggested a method for finding what proportion of the slaves transported from one state to another were taken by their original masters or their heirs for their own use.”Bancroft 1931, p. 397
Theoretical investigations on the effect of different plasmas on growth and field emission properties of a spherical carbon nanotube (CNT) tip placed over cylindrical surfaces
Authors: TEWARI AARTI , SHARMA SURESH C. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe theoretical investigations on the effect of different plasmas on the growth and field emission properties of a spherical carbon nanotube (CNT) tip placed over cylindrical CNT surfaces have been carried out for the typical glow discharge plasma parameters. Different plasmas such as H2, Ar, CH4 and CF4 have been considered, and the growth of the CNT in the presence of various plasmas has been estimated in the present investigation. This study suggests that the field emission from the CNT grown in the presence of the H2 plasma is largest. It is also found that amongst the plasmas considered, the CF4 plasma is the most favourable for the growth of the large radius CNT, since the radius achieved in the CF4 plasma is the largest.
An electromagnetic gamma-ray free electron laser
Authors: ELIASSON BENGT , LIU CHUAN SHENG 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe present a theoretical model for the generation of coherent gamma rays by a free electron laser, where a high-energy electron beam interacts with an electromagnetic wiggler. By replacing the static undulator with a 1-μm laser wiggler, the resulting radiation would go from X-rays currently observed in experiments, to gamma rays. Coherent light in the gamma-ray range would have wide-ranging applications in the probing of matter on sub-atomic scales.
Drift instability in a positive ion–negative ion plasma
Authors: ROSENBERG M. , MERLINO R. L. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractDrift wave instability in a magnetized plasma composed of positive ions and negative ions is considered using linear kinetic theory in the local approximation. We consider the case where the mass (temperature) of the negative ions is much larger (smaller) than that of the positive ions, and where the gyroradii of the two ion species are comparable. Weak collisional effects are taken into account. Application to possible laboratory parameters is discussed.
Relativistic cross-focusing of extraordinary and ordinary modes in a magnetoactive plasma
Authors: VARSHNEY MEENU ASTHANA , SHUKLA SHALINI , SEN SONU , VARSHNEY DINESH 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis paper presents the effect of self-focusing on a circularly polarized beam propagating along the static magnetic field when the extraordinary and ordinary modes are present simultaneously for relativistic intensities. The nonlinearity in the dielectric function arises on account of the relativistic variation of mass, which leads to the mutual coupling of the two modes that support the self-focusing of each other. The propagation and focusing of the first mode affects the propagation and focusing of the second mode. The fact that the two modes are laser-intensity dependent leads to cross-focusing. Dynamics of one laser beam affects the dynamics of the second laser beam. When both the beams or modes are strong, the nonlinearities introduced by the relativistic effect in the presence of the magnetic field are additive in nature, such that one beam can undergo oscillatory self-focusing and other beam simultaneously defocusing and vice versa. The dynamical equation governing the cross-focusing has been set up and a numerical solution has been presented for typical relativistic laser–plasma parameters from a slightly underdense to overdense plasma.
Anisotropic model for resonant heating of ions by Alfvén waves
Authors: ZHANG T. X. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAnisotropic heating of ions by Alfvén waves with frequency in the ion–cyclotron frequency range and propagation parallel to the magnetic field lines is investigated. First, particle–Alfvén wave interactions are quasilinearly examined from the kinetic theory in a hot multi-ion-magnetized plasma. As a result, the parallel and perpendicular heating rates of ions are derived analytically. Then, in terms of this anisotropic heating model and the dispersion relation of magnetic field-aligned left-hand polarized electromagnetic ion–cyclotron–Alfvén (EMICA) waves, the resonant heating of H,2H,3H,3He, and4He ions in a typical preheated laboratory plasma is numerically studied. It is shown that the EMICA waves can efficiently heat ions through cyclotron resonances primarily in the perpendicular direction. The perpendicular temperatures of H,2H,3H,3He, and4He increase much faster than the parallel ones. In comparison with the result from the previously developed isotropic heating model, the parallel heating by the EMICA waves is about much weaker, while the perpendicular heating is more efficient. Parameters such as density, temperature, magnetic field, wave-energy density, and ion species can affect the efficiency of the Alfvén wave heating in a similar way as shown in the isotropic heating model. The anisotropic model can be applied to explain the measurements of why O+5and Mg+9are heated extreme perpendicularly in solar coronal holes.
Neural substrates of behavioral variability in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: based on ex-Gaussian reaction time distribution and diffusion spectrum imaging tractography
Authors: Lin H.-Y. , Gau S. S.-F. , Huang-Gu S. L. , Shang C.-Y. , Wu Y.-H. , Tseng W.-Y. I. 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundIncreased intra-individual variability (IIV) in reaction time (RT) across various tasks is one ubiquitous neuropsychological finding in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, neurobiological underpinnings of IIV in individuals with ADHD have not yet been fully delineated. The ex-Gaussian distribution has been proved to capture IIV in RT. The authors explored the three parameters [μ(mu),σ(sigma),τ(tau)] of an ex-Gaussian RT distribution derived from the Conners' continuous performance test (CCPT) and their correlations with the microstructural integrity of the frontostriatal–caudate tracts and the cingulum bundles.MethodWe assessed 28 youths with ADHD (8–17 years; 25 males) and 28 age-, sex-, IQ- and handedness-matched typically developing (TD) youths using the CCPT, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 3rd edition and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Microstructural integrity, indexed by generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA), was measured by diffusion spectrum imaging tractrography on a 3-T MRI system.ResultsYouths with ADHD had largerσ(s.d.of Gaussian distribution) andτ(mean of exponential distribution) and reduced GFA in four bilateral frontostriatal tracts. With increased inter-stimulus intervals of CCPT, the magnitude of greaterτin ADHD than TD increased. In ADHD youths, the cingulum bundles and frontostriatal integrity were associated with three ex-Gaussian parameters and withμ(mean of Gaussian distribution) andτ, respectively; while only frontostriatal GFA was associated withμandτin TD youths.ConclusionsOur findings suggest the crucial role of the integrity of the cingulum bundles in accounting for IIV in ADHD. Involvement of different brain systems in mediating IIV may relate to a distinctive pathophysiological processing and/or adaptive compensatory mechanism.
Sovereign debt in Latin America, 1820-1913
Authors: della Paolera Gerardo , Taylor Alan M. 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTThis paper examines sovereign lending to Latin America and the Caribbean from 1820 to 1913. We examine four waves of capital flows where defaults were followed by a return to market access. In spite of extended default, countries kept promising high returns that attracted international investors again and again: financial autarky thus gave way to eras of high integration to global markets as measured by sovereign risk pricing. We discuss imperfections of the sovereign debt institutional context in the region and discuss a menu of options that some countries used to seek funds in the global financial markets after defaults. The parallel with the modern Latin American and Caribbean sovereign bond market experience is striking.
A snake-based scheme for path planning and control with constraints by distributed visual sensors
Authors: Cheng Y. , Jiang P. , Hu Y. F. 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYThis paper proposes a robot navigation scheme using wireless visual sensors deployed in an environment. Different from the conventional autonomous robot approaches, the scheme intends to relieve massive on-board information processing required by a robot to its environment so that a robot or a vehicle with less intelligence can exhibit sophisticated mobility. A three-state snake mechanism is developed for coordinating a series of sensors to form a reference path. Wireless visual sensors communicate internal forces with each other along the reference snake for dynamic adjustment, react to repulsive forces from obstacles, and activate a state change in the snake body from a flexible state to a rigid or even to a broken state due to kinematic or environmental constraints. A control snake is further proposed as a tracker of the reference path, taking into account the robot's non-holonomic constraint and limited steering power. A predictive control algorithm is developed to have an optimal velocity profile under robot dynamic constraints for the snake tracking. They together form a unified solution for robot navigation by distributed sensors to deal with the kinematic and dynamic constraints of a robot and to react to dynamic changes in advance. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the capability of a wireless sensor network to carry out low-level control activities for a vehicle.