bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hyaluronic acid fragments enhance the inflammatory and catabolic response in human intervertebral disc cells through modulation of toll-like receptor 2 signalling pathways
Authors: Quero Lilian , Klawitter Marina , Schmaus Anja , Rothley Melanie , Sleeman Jonathan , Tiaden André N , Klasen Juergen , Boos Norbert , Hottiger Michael O , Wuertz Karin , Richards Peter J 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is characterized by extracellular matrix breakdown and is considered to be a primary cause of discogenic back pain. Although increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels within degenerating discs are associated with discogenic back pain, the mechanisms leading to their overproduction have not yet been elucidated. As fragmentation of matrix components occurs during IVD degeneration, we assessed the potential involvement of hyaluronic acid fragments (fHAs) in the induction of inflammatory and catabolic mediators.

Methods
Human IVD cells isolated from patient biopsies were stimulated with fHAs (6 to 12 disaccharides) and their effect on cytokine and matrix degrading enzyme production was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The involvement of specific cell surface receptors and signal transduction pathways in mediating the effects of fHAs was tested using small interfering RNA (siRNA) approaches and kinase inhibition assays.

Results
Treatment of IVD cells with fHAs significantly increased mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and -13. The stimulatory effects of fHAs on IL-6 protein production were significantly impaired when added to IVD cells in combination with either Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 siRNA or a TLR2 neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, the ability of fHAs to enhance IL-6 and MMP-3 protein production was found to be dependent on the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that fHAs may have the potential to mediate IVD degeneration and discogenic back pain through activation of the TLR2 signaling pathway in resident IVD cells.
Association of HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1alleles and haplotypes with rheumatoid arthritis in a Pakistani population
Authors: Muazzam Ambreen Gul , Mansoor Atika , Ali Lubna , Siddiqi Saima , Hameed Abdul , Ajmal Muhammad , Mazhar Kehkashan 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with poorly understood pathophysiology. Genetic components of disease etiology, especially human leukocyte antigen (HLA) associations, are well known. Ethnic differences account for a number of variations in disease association with the HLA locus and there seem to be differences in various studies regarding its genetic predisposition. This study was aimed at determining the contribution of DRB1 and DQB1 components of HLA class II in rheumatoid arthritis in a Pakistani cohort.

Method
For this study, 110 patients and 120 healthy controls from the same geographical area and matched ethnicity were enrolled. Blood DNA was isolated from all the subjects and HLA alleles were typed following allele specific amplification. Subsequently, haplotypes were generated and allelic and haplotype distribution frequencies were compared among the patients and controls using χ2 and Arlequin software. The data obtained by this analysis were also compared with other reported associations found in the Pakistani population by meta-analysis.

Results
HLA allelic status was determined among the patients and controls from the same geographical area to account for differences in ethnicity and environmental factors. Significant associations were found for alleles as well as haplotypes among the patients of rheumatoid arthritis. DRB1*10, DQB1*05 and DQB1*602 were found to be associated with disease susceptibility, whereas DRB1*11 and DQB1*02 had protective effect against the disease. Similarly, haplotype DRB1*10-DQB1*05 was associated disease risk, whereas DRB1*07-DQB1*02 and DRB1*11-DQB1*0301 had a protective effect.

Conclusion
There is a significant DRB1and DQB1 allele and haplotype association with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility and protection.
Loss-of-Function and Gain-of-Function Mutations of Calcium-Sensing Receptor: Functional Analysis and the Effect of Allosteric Modulators NPS R-568 and NPS 2143
Authors: Nakamura Akie , Hotsubo Tomoyuki , Kobayashi Keiji , Mochizuki Hiroshi , Ishizu Katsura , Tajima Toshihiro 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjective:Activating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene cause autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism, and heterozygous inactivating CASR mutations cause familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia. Recently, there has been a focus on the use of allosteric modulators to restore the functional activity of mutant CASRs. In this study, the effect of allosteric modulators NPS R-568 and NPS 2143 on CASR mutants was studied in vitro.Methods:DNA sequence analysis of the CASR gene was undertaken in autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism and familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia Japanese patients, and the functional consequences for the Gi-MAPK pathway and cell surface expression of CASR were determined. Furthermore, we studied the effect of NPS R-568 and NPS 2143 on the signal transduction activity and cell surface expression of each mutant CASR.Results:We identified 3 activating mutations (S122C, P569H, and I839T) and 2 inactivating mutations (A110T and R172G) in patients. The activating and inactivating mutations caused leftward and rightward shifts, respectively, in the dose-response curves of the signaling pathway. NPS R-568 rescued the signal transduction capacity of 2 inactivating mutants without increasing cell surface expression levels. NPS 2143 suppressed the enhanced activity of the activating mutants without altering cell surface expression levels, although A843E, which is a constitutively active mutant, was suppressed to a lesser degree.Conclusions:We have identified 4 novel mutations of CASR. Moreover, our results indicate that allosteric modulators can restore the activity of the loss- and gain-of-function mutant CASRs, identified in this study.
Interactions Between Pregnancy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Reutrakul Sirimon , Zaidi Nausheen , Wroblewski Kristen , Kay Helen H. , Ismail Mahmoud , Ehrmann David A. , Van Cauter Eve 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Context:
Questionnaire studies linked symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Whether this association is present when OSA is assessed objectively by polysomnography is not known.

Objective:
The objective of the study was to assess the relationship between pregnancy, OSA, and GDM.

Design, Setting, and Participants:
We conducted observational case-control studies using polysomnography in 15 nonpregnant, nondiabetic women (NP-NGT), 15 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (P-NGT), and 15 pregnant women with GDM (P-GDM). The groups were frequency matched for age and race/ethnicity. Pregnant women were studied during the late second to early third trimester.

Main Outcome Measures:
Comparisons of OSA diagnosis and sleep parameters between NP-NGT and P-NGT to assess the impact of pregnancy and between P-NGT and P-GDM to explore the association between GDM and OSA were measured.

Results:
Compared with NP-NGT, P-NGT women had a higher apnea hypopnea index (AHI) (median 2.0 vs 0.5, P = .03) and more disrupted sleep as reflected by a higher wake time after sleep onset (median 66 vs 21 min, P &lt; .01) and a higher microarousal index (median 16.4 vs 10.6, P = .01). Among the pregnant women, P-GDM had markedly lower total sleep time (median 397 vs 464 min, P = .02) and a higher AHI (median 8.2 vs 2.0, P = .05) than P-NGT women. OSA was more prevalent in P-GDM than in P-NGT women (73% vs 27%, P = .01). After adjustment for prepregnancy body mass index, the diagnosis of GDM was associated with a diagnosis of OSA [odds ratio 6.60 (95% confidence interval 1.15–37.96)]. In pregnancy, after adjusting for prepregnancy body mass index, higher microarousal index significantly associated with higher hemoglobin A1c and fasting glucose levels. Higher oxygen desaturation index was associated with higher fasting glucose levels.

Conclusion:
Pregnancy is associated with sleep disturbances. Sleep is more disturbed in GDM than in P-NGT women. There is a strong association between GDM and OSA.
Formas nominales y pronominales de tratamiento: perspectivas de estudios contrastivos en el ámbito sociopragmático
Authors: Baran Marek 
Published: August 2013

NOMINAL AND PRONOMINAL FORMS OF ADDRESS: PERSPECTIVES OF SOCIOPRAGMATIC CONTRASTIVE STUDIES
The subject of the article is a contrastive analysis of pronominal and nominal forms of address in Polish and Spanish. In the case of the first class of addressative forms, the author focuses his attention on functional differences that are conditioned, among other things, by a slightly different sociopragmatic conceptualization of proximity and distance in both languages (hence, the symmetry of T/T relation dominant in Spanish is juxtaposed with the formal V/V symmetry typical of Polish). As far as nominal addressative forms are concerned, the updating of professional and academic titles characteristic of the Polish-speaking community is emphasized; the Spanish nominal addressative system is, in its turn, characterized as having the hallmarks of exclamatory-appealing style.
A critical response (Louis Thompson, Hive), ‘Jerwood Makers Open’, Jerwood Space, London, Summer 2012
Authors: Wilson Conor 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
A short, experimental text produced in the gallery that draws on the Object-Oriented Ontology of Graham Harman – a ‘flat’ ontology, in which there are no subject–object relations, only objects relating to, and withdrawing from, other objects. It is an attempt to write about an artwork from multiple points of view – the space, the work, the audience and the artist.
Making language: Impetus, workshop and visual languages
Authors: Edwards Harriet , Cho Yen-Ting 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
This article is based on the workshop, Making Language, although originally prompted by RCA research students and their grappling with translation. For example, despite a long simplification and westernization of Chinese language signifying moves away from pictorial origins based on nature, there still appears to be a great looseness about translation from Chinese to English. As with the world of images, there would appear to be more open choices. Conversely, translation of UK academic codes can be a daunting task in terms of what lies behind the surface meaning of words – the indirect and the ironic. The workshop saw an imaginative engagement with translating thought into image and then word, with partners guessing meaning and discussing what it felt like to communicate in this more visual manner – an empathetic practice then, too. The article describes a small foray only into what is a much larger area.
Vanishing resonance and representations of Lie algebras
Authors: Papadima Stefan , Suciu Alexander I. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

We explore a relationship between the classical representation
theory of a complex, semisimple Lie algebra 𝔤 and the
resonance varieties

ℛ

(
V
,
K
)

⊂

V
*

${\mathcal {R}}(V,K)\subset V^*$

attached to irreducible
𝔤-modules V and submodules

K
⊂
V
∧
V

$K\subset V\wedge V$

.
In the process, we give a precise roots-and-weights criterion insuring
the vanishing of these varieties, or, equivalently, the finite-dimensionality
as ℂ-vector spaces of certain modules

𝒲
(
V
,
K
)

$\mathcal {W}(V,K)$

over the
symmetric algebra on V. In the case when

𝔤
=

𝔰𝔩
2

(
ℂ
)

${\mathfrak {g}}={\mathfrak {sl}}_2(\mathbb {C})$

, our
approach sheds new light on the modules studied by Weyman
and Eisenbud in the context of Green's conjecture
on free resolutions of canonical curves. In the
case when

𝔤
=

𝔰𝔩
n

(
ℂ
)

${\mathfrak {g}}={\mathfrak {sl}}_n(\mathbb {C})$

or

𝔰𝔭

2
g

(
ℂ
)

${\mathfrak {sp}}_{2g}(\mathbb {C})$

,
our approach yields a unified proof of two
vanishing results for the resonance varieties
of the (outer) Torelli groups of surface groups,
results which arose in recent work by Dimca,
Hain, and the authors on homological finiteness
in the Johnson filtration of mapping class groups
and automorphism groups of free groups.
Therapeutic delivery using cell-penetrating peptides
Authors: Sawant Rupa R. , Patel Niravkumar R. , Torchilin Vladimir P. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIntracellular delivery of promising therapeutic agents as well as nanocarriers presents a unique challenge. However, with the discovery of the cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), overcoming this obstacle seems more plausible. In many cases, CPPs conjugated with therapeutic agent or therapeutic agent loaded-nanoparticles have shown promising results via increased cellular uptake. In this review, the current status of CPPs for the intracellular delivery of not just potential therapeutic small molecules but also large molecules like peptides, nucleic acids and nanocarriers is discussed. In addition, the design of ‘smart stimuli-sensitive nanocarrier’ to overcome the non-target-specificity of CPPs is also described.
From Ideal Reactor Concepts to Reality: The Novel Drum Reactor for Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Adams Morgan , Campbell Ian , McCullagh Cathy , Russell Donnacha , Bahnemann Detlef W. , Robertson Peter K.J. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
This article reports the development of a novel drum photocatalytic reactor for treating dye effluent streams. The parameters for operation including drum rotation speed, light source distance, catalyst loading and H2O2 doping have been investigated using methylene blue as a model pollutant. Effluent can be generated by a number of domestic and industrial sources, including pharmaceutical, oil and gas, agricultural, food and chemical sectors. The work reported here proposes the application of semiconductor photocatalysis as a final polishing step for the removal of hydrocarbons from effluents sources, initial studies have proved effective in removing residual hydrocarbons from the effluent.
Moisture Sorption Characteristics of Dakuwa (Nigerian Cereal/Groundnut Snack)
Authors: Ocheme Ocheme Boniface , Ariahu Chukwuma Charles , Kongo Ingbian Emmanuel 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The moisture sorption characteristics of dakuwa at 10, 20, 30 and 400°C were studied. The experimental sorption data obtained were applied to BET, GAB, Oswin and Henderson equations to test fitness of the equations to moisture sorption of dakuwa. The sorption isotherms of dakuwa were type III isotherms (J shaped), and the equilibrium moisture content increased with increasing water activity but decreased with increasing temperature. The BET and GAB monolayer moisture contents all decreased with increasing temperature. For adsorption, the BET monolayer was higher (3.163–4.158 g/100 g solid) than that of GAB (2.931–3.728 g/100 g solid), but for desorption, the GAB monolayer (4.792–7.741 g/100 g solid) was higher than that of BET (3.962–4.480 g/100 g solid). Evaluation of goodness of fit of models revealed that moisture sorption of dakuwa was best modelled by GAB equation.
Design of 60° Bent Ridge Waveguides Assisted by Hexagonal-lattice Cylinders
Authors: Lee Keh-Yi , Wu Guo-Jung , Lin Hong-Li , Liu Chi-Kan 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Novel 60° bent ridge waveguides with several layers of hexagonal-lattice dielectric cylinders around the bend corners are proposed in this paper. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations show that just one or two layers of cylinders on the hexagonal array are sufficient to assist in turning the guided wave into the 60° bending section. On the other hand, more than three layers of hexagonal-lattice cylinders may result in larger optical reflection such that less power reaches the output port.
Green Distributed Quality of Transmission Aware Routing and Wavelength Assignment in All-Optical Networks
Authors: Kakekhani Amir , Rahbar Akbar Ghaffarpour 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) algorithms that consider quality of transmission (QoT) in light-path setup spend more time than their conventional counterparts due to exhaustive search and QoT estimation. This paper proposes distributed Quality of Transmission Aware Routing and Wavelength Assignment (QARWA) algorithm to handle dynamic light-path provisioning in wavelength routed all-optical networks taking energy consumption of optical switch nodes into account. Specifically, the QARWA considers bit-error rate (BER), setup delay, and energy consumption constraints at the same time, and establishes light-paths with small BER, low setup latency, and reduced energy consumption. We present and evaluate an enhanced wavelength-assignment solution in the QARWA to handle the wavelength continuity constraint. In QARWA, a source node determines the connection path by means of the shortest path algorithm and a destination node selects a wavelength based on the BER limitation and decreasing order of setup latency. Relating energy consumption to processing time, we show that QARWA can decrease the total energy consumption by reducing the processing time at each node. Under QARWA, when a node finishes the processing of the last control packet, it makes transition to either sleep state or idle state. Hence, QARWA can provide the best performance since it can reduce processing time in control units, light-path setup latency, and energy consumption of nodes.
Investigating Cultural Collision: Educators’ Perceptions of Hip-Hop Culture
Authors: Beachum Floyd D. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractHip-hop music has been embraced worldwide by youth, pummeled in the media for supposedly increasing social misery and hailed as a significant musical breakthrough. Hip-hop culture has transcended musical boundaries and now impacts speech, clothing, mannerisms, movies, websites, television programming, magazines, and energy drinks (
The European Foundation Statute Proposal: Striking the Balance between Supervising and Supporting European Philanthropy?
Authors: Breen Oonagh B. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis article examines the Commission’s Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Statute for a European Foundation (Fundatio Europaea). Focusing on the proposed transparency and accountability provisions, it interrogates whether these provisions are sufficiently robust to facilitate effective Member State supervision of this proposed new supranational legal form, given identified weaknesses in existing Member State foundation regulatory regimes. Consideration is also given to the Statute’s proposed reporting and auditing mechanisms. Particular attention is paid to the challenges inherent in standardising financial reporting standards and the missed opportunities to introduce best practice in the draft Regulation. The article concludes by identifying a number of interpretative loopholes in the existing proposal, which if adopted in its current format, would weaken the potential for an effective, efficient and feasible solution to the problems currently experienced by many foundations operating on a cross-border basis in Europe.
Modelling nonlinearities in equity returns: the mean impact curve analysis
Authors: Martin Vance L. , Sarkar Saikat , Kanto Antti Jaakko 
Published: August 2013

AbstractA time-varying model of equity returns consisting of a volatility factor with time-varying loading, is specified to investigate the dynamical effects of shocks on expected returns. The proposed specification yields a nonlinear relationship between the conditional mean and the news, referred to as the mean impact curve (MIC). Applying this framework to the AORD, Hang Seng and Straits Times equity indexes yields estimated MICs with qualitatively similar nonlinear characteristics for each equity market. An important implication of the empirical results is that the relationship between the conditional mean and the news is found to be dependent upon the size of the shock, a result which is consistent with equity markets displaying mean aversion over short horizons and mean reversion over long horizons.
Growing Pains at Groupon
Authors: Dutta Saurav K. , Caplan Dennis H. , Marcinko David J. 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACT
On November 4, 2011, Groupon Inc. went public with an initial market capitalization of $13 billion. The business was formed a couple of years earlier as an offshoot of “The Point.” The business grew rapidly and increased its reported revenue from $14.5 million in 2009 to $1.6 billion in 2011. Soon after going public, prior to its announcement of its first-quarter results, the company's auditors required Groupon to disclose a material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting that impacted its disclosures on revenue and its estimation of returns.
This case uses Groupon to motivate discussion of financial reporting issues in e-commerce businesses. Specifically, the case focuses on (1) revenue recognition practices for “agency” type e-commerce businesses, (2) accounting for sales with a right of return for new products, and (3) use of alternative financial metrics to better convey the intrinsic value of a business. The case requires students to critically read, analyze, and apply authoritative accounting guidance, and to read and analyze communications between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the registrant.
The geometry of the space of Cauchy data of nonlinear PDEs
Authors: Moreno Giovanni 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
First-order jet bundles can be put at the foundations of the modern geometric approach to nonlinear PDEs, since higher-order jet bundles can be seen as constrained iterated jet bundles. The definition of first-order jet bundles can be given in many equivalent ways — for instance, by means of Grassmann bundles. In this paper we generalize it by means of flag bundles, and develop the corresponding theory for higher-oder and infinite-order jet bundles. We show that this is a natural geometric framework for the space of Cauchy data for nonlinear PDEs. As an example, we derive a general notion of transversality conditions in the Calculus of Variations.
Real-linear isometries between certain subspaces of continuous functions
Authors: Jamshidi Arya , Sady Fereshteh 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
In this paper we first consider a real-linear isometry T from a certain subspace A of C(X) (endowed with supremum norm) into C(Y) where X and Y are compact Hausdorff spaces and give a result concerning the description of T whenever A is a uniform algebra on X. The result is improved for the case where T(A) is, in addition, a complex subspace of C(Y). We also give a similar description for the case where A is a function space on X and the range of T is a real subspace of C(Y) satisfying a ceratin separating property. Next similar results are obtained for real-linear isometries between spaces of Lipschitz functions on compact metric spaces endowed with a certain complete norm.
Strong NMV-algebras, commutative basic algebras and naBL-algebras
Authors: Zhang Xiaohong 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The aim of the paper is to investigate the relationship among NMV-algebras, commutative basic algebras and naBL-algebras (i.e., non-associative BL-algebras). First, we introduce the notion of strong NMV-algebra and prove that
(1)a strong NMV-algebra is a residuated l-groupoid (i.e., a bounded integral commutative residuated lattice-ordered groupoid)(2)a residuated l-groupoid is commutative basic algebra if and only if it is a strong NMV-algebra.
Secondly, we introduce the notion of NMV-filter and prove that a residuated l-groupoid is a strong NMV-algebra (commutative basic algebra) if and only if its every filter is an NMV-filter. Finally, we introduce the notion of weak naBL-algebra, and show that any strong NMV-algebra (commutative basic algebra) is weak naBL-algebra and give some counterexamples.