bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
KCl Mediates K+ Channel-Activated Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Signaling in Wound Healing
Authors: Shim Jung Hee , Lim Jong Woo , Kim Byeong Kyu , Park Soo Jin , Kim Suk Wha , Choi Tae Hyun 
Published: January 2015

Background Wound healing is an interaction of a complex signaling cascade of cellular events, including inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. K+ channels modulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Here, we investigated whether K+ channel-activated MAPK signaling directs collagen synthesis and angiogenesis in wound healing.
Methods The human skin fibroblast HS27 cell line was used to examine cell viability and collagen synthesis after potassium chloride (KCl) treatment by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and western blotting. To investigate whether K+ ion channels function upstream of MAPK signaling, thus affecting collagen synthesis and angiogenesis, we examined alteration of MAPK expression after treatment with KCl (channel inhibitor), NS1619 (channel activator), or kinase inhibitors. To research the effect of KCl on angiogenesis, angiogenesis-related proteins such as thrombospondin 1 (TSP1), anti-angiogenic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pro-angiogenic factor were assayed by western blot.
Results The viability of HS27 cells was not affected by 25 mM KCl. Collagen synthesis increased dependent on time and concentration of KCl exposure. The phosphorylations of MAPK proteins such as extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 increased about 2.5-3 fold in the KCl treatment cells and were inhibited by treatment of NS1619. TSP1 expression increased by 100%, bFGF expression decreased by 40%, and there is no significant differences in the VEGF level by KCl treatment, TSP1 was inhibited by NS1619 or kinase inhibitors.
Conclusions Our results suggest that KCl may function as a therapeutic agent for wound healing in the skin through MAPK signaling mediated by the K+ ion channel.
Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor β1, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor, and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor by Silicone Gel Sheeting in Early-Stage Scarring
Authors: Choi Jaehoon , Lee Eun Hee , Park Sang Woo , Chang Hak 
Published: January 2015

Background Hypertrophic scars and keloids are associated with abnormal levels of growth factors. Silicone gel sheets are effective in treating and preventing hypertrophic scars and keloids. There has been no report on the change in growth factors in the scar tissue following the use of silicone gel sheeting for scar prevention. A prospective controlled trial was performed to evaluate whether growth factors are altered by the application of a silicone gel sheet on a fresh surgical scar.
Methods Four of seven enrolled patients completed the study. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were investigated immunohistochemically in biopsies taken from five scars at 4 months following surgery.
Results In both the epidermis and the dermis, the expression of TGF-β1 (P=0.042 and P=0.042) and PDGF (P=0.043 and P=0.042) was significantly lower in the case of silicone gel sheet-treated scars than in the case of untreated scars. The expression of bFGF in the dermis was significantly higher in the case of silicone gel sheet-treated scars than in the case of untreated scars (P=0.042), but in the epidermis, the expression of bFGF showed no significant difference between the groups (P=0.655).
Conclusions The levels of TGF-β1, PDGF, and bFGF are altered by the silicone gel sheet treatment, which might be one of the mechanisms of action in scar prevention.
Analysis of Patients with Facial Lacerations Repaired in the Emergency Room of a Provincial Hospital
Authors: Lee Joon Ho , Jeon Myeong Su , Lee Dong Lark , Shin Hea Kyeong , Seul Jung Hyun 
Published: January 2015

Background Facial laceration is the most common injury encountered in the emergency room in the plastic surgery field, and optimal treatment is important. However, few authors have investigated this injury in all age groups or performed follow-up visit after repair. In the present study, the medical records of patients with lacerations in the facial area and underwent primary repair in an emergency room over a 2-year period were reviewed and analyzed.
Methods Medical records of 3,234 patients with lacerations in facial area and underwent primary repair in an emergency room between March 2011 and February 2013 were reviewed and identified.
Results All the 3,234 patients were evaluated, whose ratio of men to women was 2.65 to 1. The forehead was the most common region affected and a slip down was the most common mechanism of injury. In terms of monthly distribution, May had the highest percentage. 1,566 patients received follow-up managements, and 58 patients experienced complications. The average days of follow-up were 9.8.
Conclusions Proportion of male adolescents was significantly higher than in the other groups. Facial lacerations exhibit a 'T-shaped' facial distribution centered about the forehead. Careful management is necessary if a laceration involves or is located in the oral cavity. We were unable to long term follow-up most patients. Thus, it is necessary to encourage patients and give them proper education for follow-up in enough period.
Cognitive Investigation Study of Patients Admitted for Cosmetic Surgery: Information, Expectations, and Consent for Treatment
Authors: Barone Mauro , Cogliandro Annalisa , La Monaca Giuseppe , Tambone Vittoradolfo , Persichetti Paolo 
Published: January 2015

Background In all branches of medicine, it is the surgeon's responsibility to provide the patient with accurate information before surgery. This is especially important in cosmetic surgery because the surgeon must focus on the aesthetic results desired by the patient.
Methods An experimental protocol was developed based on an original questionnaire given to 72 patients. The nature of the responses, the patients' motivation and expectations, the degree of patient awareness regarding the planned operation, and the patients' perceptions of the purpose of the required consent for cosmetic surgery were all analyzed using Fisher's exact test.
Results Candidates for abdominal wall surgery had significantly more preoperative psychological problems than their counterparts did (P=0.035). A significantly different percentage of patients under 40 years of age compared to those over 40 years of age searched for additional sources of information prior to the operation (P=0.046). Only 30% of patients with a lower educational background stated that the preoperative information had been adequate, whereas 92% of subjects with secondary schooling or a postsecondary degree felt that the information was sufficient (P=0.001). A statistically significant difference was also present between patients according to their educational background regarding expected improvements in their quality of life postoperatively (P=0.008).
Conclusions This study suggests that patients require more attention in presurgical consultations and that clear communication should be prioritized to ensure that the surgeon understands the patient's expectations.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy of Chronically Infected Wounds Using 1% Acetic Acid Irrigation
Authors: Jeong Hii Sun , Lee Byeong Ho , Lee Hye Kyung , Kim Hyoung Suk , Moon Min Seon , Suh In Suck 
Published: January 2015

Background Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) induces angiogenesis and collagen synthesis to promote tissue healing. Although acetic acid soaks normalize alkali wound conditions to raise tissue oxygen saturation and deconstruct the biofilms of chronic wounds, frequent dressing changes are required.
Methods Combined use of NPWT and acetic acid irrigation was assessed in the treatment of chronic wounds, instilling acetic acid solution (1%) beneath polyurethane membranes twice daily for three weeks under continuous pressure (125 mm Hg). Clinical photographs, pH levels, cultures, and debrided fragments of wounds were obtained pre- and posttreatment. Tissue immunostaining (CD31, Ki-67, and CD45) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], vascular endothelial growth factor receptor [VEGFR]; procollagen; hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha [HIF-1-alpha]; matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-1,-3,-9; and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase [TIMP]) were also performed.
Results Wound sizes tended to diminish with the combined therapy, accompanied by drops in wound pH (weakly acidic or neutral) and less evidence of infection. CD31 and Ki-67 immunostaining increased (P<0.05) post-treatment, as did the levels of VEGFR, procollagen, and MMP-1 (P<0.05), whereas the VEGF, HIF-1-alpha, and MMP-9/TIMP levels declined (P<0.05).
Conclusions By combining acetic acid irrigation with negative-pressure dressings, both the pH and the size of chronic wounds can be reduced and infections be controlled. This approach may enhance angiogenesis and collagen synthesis in wounds, restoring the extracellular matrix.
La compétence interculturelle est-elle acquise grâce à l’expérience internationale ?
Authors: Bartel-Radic Anne 
Published: January 2015

Les compétences interculturelles sont difficiles à évaluer, et les facteurs permettant de les développer, mal connus. Cette étude opérationnalise une conceptualisation multidimensionnelle de la compétence interculturelle, incluant traits de personnalité et connaissances. Une enquête auprès de 443 personnes de 27 pays, et à l’expérience internationale très variable, montre que les personnes ayant le plus d’expériences internationales sont aussi celles dont les compétences interculturelles sont les plus élevées. Mais l’impact de l’expérience internationale sur la compétence interculturelle atteint seulement 5 %. L’expérience internationale ne peut donc pas être utilisée comme « proxy » pour la compétence interculturelle. Les résultats révèlent également l’existence d’effets de seuil liés aux voyages à l’étranger.
Cooperative Learning Style Develops Social Skills in Mathematics of College Freshmen Students
Authors: Mayordomo Maria Emely Cristy 
Published: January 2015

Most of the students isolate or compete themselves in learning mathematics, sitting alone and struggling in understanding the materials or solve the assigned problems (Davidson, 1990). Cooperative learning in mathematics is an effective tool for meeting the individual needs of students. The relationship of students might have developed and shared common goals as they interact with each other. This study focuses on determining students' perception on the effects of cooperative learning style in enhancing the social skills of students. The researcher used descriptive-correlational design in gathering information and material evidence relating to cooperative learning and social skills of the students. Questionnaire was used and administered to 44 students of Tagum Doctors College, Inc. as the respondents of the study. The researcher uses the following statistical tools: mean, t-test, and Pearson Product - Moment Coefficient of Correlation. The result shows that cooperative learning enhances the social skills of the students. There was a high correlation between cooperative learning and social skills of the students. This study concludes that the more the students engaged in cooperative learning, the higher the level the students develop their social skills.
Long‐term changes in soil pH across major forest ecosystems in China
Authors: Yang Yuanhe , Li Pin , He Honglin , Zhao Xia , Datta Arindam , Ma Wenhong , Zhang Ying , Liu Xuejun , Han Wenxuan , Wilson Maxwell C. , Fang Jingyun 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAtmospheric acidic deposition has been a major environmental problem since the industrial revolution. However, our understanding of the effect of acidic deposition on soil pH is inconclusive. Here we examined temporal variations in topsoil pH and their relationships with atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen deposition across China's forests from the 1980s to the 2000s. To accomplish this goal, we conducted artificial neural network simulations using historical soil inventory data from the 1980s and a data set synthesized from literature published after 2000. Our results indicated that significant decreases in soil pH occurred in broadleaved forests, while minor changes were observed in coniferous and mixed coniferous and broadleaved forests. The magnitude of soil pH change was negatively correlated with atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen deposition. This relationship highlights the need for stringent measures that reduce sulfur and nitrogen emissions so as to maintain ecosystem structure and function.
Shallow crustal permeability enhancement in central Japan due to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake
Authors: Kinoshita Chihiro , Kano Yasuyuki , Ito Hisao 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPore pressure decreased at the Kamioka mine in central Japan after the Tohoku earthquake (M9.0) on 11 March 2011, which can be attributed to a permeability increase. We focus on the Earth's tidal response before and after the earthquake to evaluate rock permeability change through hydraulic diffusivity change. If we assume a constant elastic modulus, hydraulic diffusivity is found to increase from 3.3 to 6.7 m2/s after the Tohoku earthquake. We also analyzed data before and after the 2007 Noto Hanto (M6.9) and 2008 Suruga Bay (M6.5) earthquakes, which yield no significant tidal response changes. We examined the amount of dynamic and static stress changes caused by these earthquakes and show that it is difficult to attribute the permeability enhancement solely to dynamic stress, and static stress change may also affect the permeability enhancement.
The role of effective normal stress, frictional properties, and convergence rates in characteristics of simulated slow slip events
Authors: Watkins W. David , Colella Harmony V. , Brudzinski Michael R. , Richards‐Dinger Keith B. , Dieterich James H. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractSlow slip events (SSEs) observed in subduction zones around the world exhibit a wide range of recurrence intervals, durations, and propagation speeds. To illuminate possible mechanisms responsible for the observed variability and guide future modeling efforts, we employ the earthquake simulator RSQSim to explore the effects of variations in the convergence rates, frictional parameters, and effective normal stress on SSE characteristics. Both recurrence intervals and durations of SSEs are essentially directly proportional to the effective normal stress, while along‐strike propagation speeds are inversely proportional. Effective normal stresses in the range of 3–9 MPa produce fault slip consistent with observed SSEs. Changes in rate‐state frictional instability (b − a) have a moderate inverse effect on propagation speeds but much weaker effects on recurrence intervals and durations. Convergence rates are inversely proportional to recurrence intervals, propagation speeds show a weak positive relationship, and event durations appear insensitive.
Brittle creep and subcritical crack propagation in glass submitted to triaxial conditions
Authors: Mallet Céline , Fortin Jérôme , Guéguen Yves , Bouyer Frédéric 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAn experimental work is presented that aimed at improving our understanding of the mechanical evolution of cracks under brittle creep conditions. Brittle creep may be an important slow deformation process in the Earth's crust. Synthetic glass samples have been used to observe and document brittle creep due to slow crack‐propagation. A crack density of 0.05 was introduced in intact synthetic glass samples by thermal shock. Creep tests were performed at constant confining pressure (15 MPa) for water saturated conditions. Data were obtained by maintaining the differential‐stress constant in steps of 24 h duration. A set of sensors allowed us to record strains and acoustic emissions during creep. The effect of temperature on creep was investigated from ambient temperature to 70°C. The activation energy for crack growth was found to be 32 kJ/mol. In secondary creep, a large dilatancy was observed that did not occur in constant strain rate tests. This is correlated to acoustic emission activity associated with crack growth. As a consequence, slow crack growth has been evidenced in glass. Beyond secondary creep, failure in tertiary creep was found to be a progressive process. The data are interpreted through a previously developed micromechanical damage model that describes crack propagation. This model allows one to predict the secondary brittle creep phase and also to give an analytical expression for the time to rupture. Comparison between glass and crystalline rock indicates that the brittle creep behavior is probably controlled by the same process even if stress sensitivity for glass is lower than for rocks.
Verification of air/surface humidity differences from AIRS and ERA‐Interim in support of turbulent flux estimation in the Arctic
Authors: Boisvert L. N. , Wu D. L. , Vihma T. , Susskind J. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractEvaporation from the Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas is essential for air moisture, cloudiness, and precipitation, as well as for the associated feedbacks, which contribute to the Arctic amplification of climate warming. However, evaporation in the Arctic is still associated with large uncertainties. The Boisvert et al. (2013) moisture flux scheme (BMF13) is based on application of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data, which produces high‐quality, global, daily atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles even in the presence of clouds. Comparing the results of BMF13 against the ERA‐Interim reanalysis, we found differences up to 55 W m−2 in the surface latent heat flux in the Beaufort‐East Siberian Seas (BESS). We found out that the quality of the input data for the BMF13 and ERA‐Interim flux schemes was the main cause for the differences. Differences in the input data sets cause moisture flux estimates to differ up to 1.6 × 10−2 g m−2 s−1 (40 W m−2 latent heat flux) in the BESS region, when both data sets were applied to the BMF13 scheme. Thus, the input data sets, AIRS version 6 and ERA‐Interim reanalysis, were compared with a variety of in situ data. In skin temperature ERA‐Interim had twice as large an error as AIRS version 6, but smaller errors in air specific humidity. The results suggested that AIRS data and the BMF13 scheme are a good option to estimate the moisture flux in the Arctic. However, the differences detected demonstrate a need for more in situ measurements of air temperature and humidity in the Arctic.
Land surface memory effects on dust emission in a Mongolian temperate grassland
Authors: Nandintsetseg Banzragch , Shinoda Masato 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAeolian processes in temperate grasslands are unique in that the plant growth‐decay cycle, soil moisture/snowpack dynamics, and induced grazing interactively affect seasonal and interannual variations of dust emission. This study uses process‐based ecosystem model DAYCENT and unique saltation flux measurements to (1) identify primary land surface factors that control dust emission with soil moisture and vegetation components (live grasses, standing dead grasses, and litter) in a Mongolian grassland and (2) test the dead‐leaf hypothesis proposed by previous observational studies that correlates plant biomass in summer and dust events the following spring. In general, the DAYCENT model realistically simulates seasonal and interannual variations of the vegetation components and soil moisture that were captured by field observations during 2003–2010. Then, the land surface components are correlated with measured daily saltation flux in the springs of 2008–2009 and the frequency of monthly dusty days during March–June 2002–2010. Results show that dust emission had a similar amplitude of significant correlation with wind speed and a combination of all land surface components, which demonstrates a memory of the preceding year. The memory analysis reveals that vegetation and soil moisture anomalies during spring dust emission are significantly autocorrelated with the preceding year's (autumn) corresponding anomalies, which were controlled by rainfall during a given summer. Most importantly, of the vegetation components, the standing dead grasses had the strongest memory and simultaneous correlation with spring dust emission, suggesting the validity of the dead‐leaf hypothesis.
Low‐frequency storminess signal at Bermuda linked to cooling events in the North Atlantic region
Authors: van Hengstum Peter J. , Donnelly Jeffrey P. , Kingston Andrew W. , Williams Bruce E. , Scott David B. , Reinhardt Eduard G. , Little Shawna N. , Patterson William P. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractNorth Atlantic climate archives provide evidence for increased storm activity during the Little Ice Age (150 to 600 calibrated years (cal years) B.P.) and centered at 1700 and 3000 cal years B.P., typically in centennial‐scale sedimentary records. Meteorological (tropical versus extratropical storms) and climate forcings of this signal remain poorly understood, although variability in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) or Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are frequently hypothesized to be involved. Here we present records of late Holocene storminess and coastal temperature change from a Bermudian submarine cave that is hydrographically circulated with the coastal ocean. Thermal variability in the cave is documented by stable oxygen isotope values of cave benthic foraminifera, which document a close linkage between regional temperature change and NAO phasing during the late Holocene. However, erosion of terrestrial sediment into the submarine cave provides a “storminess signal” that correlates with higher‐latitude storminess archives and broader North Atlantic cooling events. Understanding the driver of this storminess signal will require higher‐resolution storm records to disentangle the contribution of tropical versus extratropical cyclones and a better understanding of cyclone activity during hemispheric cooling periods. Most importantly, however, the signal in Bermuda appears more closely correlated with proxy‐based evidence for subtle AMOC reductions than NAO phasing.
Commodity Chains
Authors: Burr Thomas C. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Commodity chains – the series of steps required to produce and distribute a product – constitute the underlying socioeconomic structures of economic globalization. The notion of commodity chains, which are also called value chains, supply chains, or production networks, originated in world systems theory. Studies of commodity chains examine the sequence of stages for each product, the increasingly global geography of chains, their interfirm governance, and the institutional environments in which they operate. Originally manufacturers drove or governed chains; today they are increasingly governed by larger retailers. Attention to consumption in commodity chain studies has long been minimal, but scholars are finally starting to look at how consumers shape these social structures.