bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Upregulation of HO‐1 with Haemin Alleviates LPS‐Stimulated Pro‐inflammatory Responses Through Downregulation of p38 Signalling Pathways in Rat Liver
Authors: Tang J. , Li L. , Li C.‐M. , Wu J. , Sun Y. , Wang G.‐L. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractHaem oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) plays an important role in inflammatory disease development and progression. Whether it has an anti‐inflammatory role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced liver injury remains unclear. To investigate the functional role of HO‐1 in protecting liver tissue against inflammatory response stimulated by LPS in rat and the mechanism by which it achieves this protective effect, LPS‐stimulated inflammatory models were established. In pretreatment of rats with HO‐1 activator (haemin) or inhibitor (zinc protoporphyrin‐9, ZnPP, a specific inhibitor of HO) before LPS stimulation, we evaluated the pathological changes by haematoxylin–eosin staining. The mRNA expression and secretion of IL‐1β and IL‐6 in rat liver were analysed using the real‐time PCR and ELISA. Real‐time PCR and Western blot were also used to evaluate the expression of HO‐1, p38 and p‐p38 in liver. Liver CO contents were sensitized to the expression of HO‐1. Induction of HO‐1 by haemin remarkably inhibited the expression of p38, and addition of ZnPP increased this expression. Our results demonstrate that HO‐1 is an anti‐inflammation factor in LPS‐stimulated liver, which regulate the inflammatory response through downregulation of p38 signalling pathways in rat liver.
Ethnicity as a Variable: An Assessment of Measures and Data Sets of Ethnicity and Related Identities*
Authors: Marquardt Kyle L. , Herrera Yoshiko M. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveWith the proliferation of new data sets and measures of identity‐based diversity, especially regarding ethnicity, it is essential that scholars who use these data sets on “ethnicity” understand their theoretical underpinnings, as well as their points of convergence and divergence.MethodsWe conduct a review of existing cross‐national measures of ethnic diversity.ResultsDifferent data sets involve inclusion boundaries for groups that vary drastically, and operationalize the relationship between the enumerated groups and outcomes of interest in ways that have often unacknowledged theoretical implications.ConclusionsWe describe the advantages and disadvantages of different data sets, and build on this description to point toward future directions in assessing the relationship between diversity and social phenomena, specifically focusing on the mechanisms that link groups to these outcomes. We also provide appendices listing the data sets discussed in the article, enabling scholars to conveniently access them.
Methodological Problems in the Study of Nation‐Building: Behaviorism and Historicist Solutions in Political Science*
Authors: Mylonas Harris 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveThe goal of this article is to highlight the methodological problems involved in the study of nation‐building and propose solutions. I identify three categories of methodological problems that flow from respective practices in social science research: (i) inferring intentions from observed behavior or outcomes; (ii) relying on census data to infer a country's ethnic diversity; and (iii) arbitrary periodization and anachronism, that is, attributing certain actions to concepts and/or phenomena that were not politically salient or even understood by the actors under study.MethodsI conduct a meta‐analysis of the body of evidence I used in my recent work, which systematically documents nation‐building policies toward noncore groups in the post World War I Balkans.ResultsIn each section, I use empirical examples to illustrate the methodological pitfalls that may result from these practices and suggest strategies to overcome these difficulties.ConclusionCertain applications of behaviorism can lead to wrongheaded theories and introduce bias in our analysis. Needless to say, these problems are not unique to the study of nation‐building. Scholars are invited to adopt historicist solutions to these problems.
The Asymmetry of Nationalist Exclusion and Inclusion: Migration Policy Preferences in Russia, 2005–2013*
Authors: Alexseev Mikhail 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveThe study investigates sources of asymmetry between individual attitudes toward nationalist inclusion and exclusion—focusing on why public support in Russia for deporting all migrants remained about the same from 2005 to 2013, while support for admitting all migrants significantly declined.MethodsData from surveys based on multistage random sampling of the adult population of the Russian Federation in 2005 (N= 579) and 2013 (N= 805) are subjected to multiple (OLS) regression analysis, in which support for deportation and admission of migrants are dependent variables and survey measures (with different specifications) of intergroup threat, competition, bias, contact, and the immigration security dilemma, as well as education and media exposure are the independent variables.ResultsOnly two predictors consistently explained support for both inclusion and exclusion of migrants in Russia in both 2005 and 2013—perceived state strength and economic vulnerability. In every test, support for exclusion nonrandomly related to more predictors in the same model than support for inclusion.ConclusionIn changing political and socioeconomic contexts exclusionist views are more persistent than inclusive views. Both measures need to be used in research on intergroup relations and nationalism. Otherwise, one is more likely to accept false positives while underestimating some significant enduring predictors.
The Construction of National Identity and its Challenges in Post‐Yugoslav Censuses*
Authors: Bieber Florian 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo understand the politics of population census in postconflict countries and salience of the categories imposed through census. By doing so, it seeks to shed light on the mechanisms of identity construction in the post‐Yugoslav context.MethodsThe article analyzes the categories and the responses to post‐Yugoslav censuses, focusing on national, religious, and linguistic identity markers.ResultsThe analysis shows that a varying, yet significant, share of the population refuses to identify according to the identity markers proposed by the state and promoted by key political actors.ConclusionThe article proposes a novel way of studying censuses and argues that even in a postconflict context national identities are less fixed than often supposed and highlights the need to focus more on nonconformist identities in postconflict settings.
E3 ubiquitin ligase gene CMPG1–V from Haynaldia villosa L. contributes to powdery mildew resistance in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Zhu Yanfei , Li Yingbo , Fei Fei , Wang Zongkuan , Wang Wei , Cao Aizhong , Liu Yuan , Han Shuang , Xing Liping , Wang Haiyan , Chen Wei , Tang Sanyuan , Huang Xiahe , Shen Qianhua , Xie Qi , Wang Xiue 
Published: August 2015

SummaryPowdery mildew is one of the most devastating wheat fungal diseases. A diploid wheat relative, Haynaldia villosa L., is highly resistant to powdery mildew, and its genetic resource of resistances, such as the Pm21 locus, is now widely used in wheat breeding. Here we report the cloning of a resistance gene from H. villosa, designated CMPG1–V, that encodes a U–box E3 ubiquitin ligase. Expression of the CMPG1–V gene was induced in the leaf and stem of H. villosa upon inoculation with Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) fungus, and the presence of Pm21 is essential for its rapid induction of expression. CMPG1–V has conserved key residues for E3 ligase, and possesses E3 ligase activity in vitro and in vivo. CMPG1–V is localized in the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane and partially in trans‐Golgi network/early endosome vesicles. Transgenic wheat over‐expressing CMPG1–V showed improved broad‐spectrum powdery mildew resistance at seedling and adult stages, associated with an increase in expression of salicylic acid‐responsive genes, H2O2 accumulation, and cell‐wall protein cross‐linking at the Bgt infection sites, and the expression of CMPG1–V in H. villosa was increased when treated with salicylic acid, abscisic acid and H2O2. These results indicate the involvement of E3 ligase in defense responses to Bgt fungus in wheat, particularly in broad‐spectrum disease resistance, and suggest association of reactive oxidative species and the phytohormone pathway with CMPG1–V‐mediated powdery mildew resistance.
A quantification of the effectiveness of EPID dosimetry and software‐based plan verification systems in detecting incidents in radiotherapy
Authors: Bojechko Casey , Phillps Mark , Kalet Alan , Ford Eric C. 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:Complex treatments in radiation therapy require robust verification in order to prevent errors that can adversely affect the patient. For this purpose, the authors estimate the effectiveness of detecting errors with a “defense in depth” system composed of electronic portal imaging device (EPID) based dosimetry and a software‐based system composed of rules‐based and Bayesian network verifications.Methods:The authors analyzed incidents with a high potential severity score, scored as a 3 or 4 on a 4 point scale, recorded in an in‐house voluntary incident reporting system, collected from February 2012 to August 2014. The incidents were categorized into different failure modes. The detectability, defined as the number of incidents that are detectable divided total number of incidents, was calculated for each failure mode.Results:In total, 343 incidents were used in this study. Of the incidents 67% were related to photon external beam therapy (EBRT). The majority of the EBRT incidents were related to patient positioning and only a small number of these could be detected by EPID dosimetry when performed prior to treatment (6%). A large fraction could be detected by in vivo dosimetry performed during the first fraction (74%). Rules‐based and Bayesian network verifications were found to be complimentary to EPID dosimetry, able to detect errors related to patient prescriptions and documentation, and errors unrelated to photon EBRT. Combining all of the verification steps together, 91% of all EBRT incidents could be detected.Conclusions:This study shows that the defense in depth system is potentially able to detect a large majority of incidents. The most effective EPID‐based dosimetry verification is in vivo measurements during the first fraction and is complemented by rules‐based and Bayesian network plan checking.
Correction factor measurements for multiple detectors used in small field dosimetry on the Varian Edge radiosurgery system
Authors: Tanny Sean , Sperling Nicholas , Parsai E. Ishmael 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:Accurate dosimetry of small fields remains a challenge to the clinical physicist. Choosing the appropriate detector and determination of factors continue to be an area of active research. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the output factors for a dedicated stereotactic accelerator using multiple dosimeters designed for use in small fields and evaluate published factors relative to measured values using a commercial scintillating fiber.Methods:Four microionization chambers, a commercial plastic scintillation detector, and a semiconducting diode were used to measure output factors for a linear accelerator. Field sizes ranging from 6 × 6 to 0.6 × 0.6 cm2 were measured in a water phantom at 10 cm depth for 100 cm SSD. All microionization chambers were mounted in both vertical and horizontal configurations. Fields were normalized to the output at 5 × 5 cm2. Output correction factors, , were calculated as the ratio of a detector response relative to the scintillating fiber response for a given clinical field size, fclin.Results:Ionization chambers consistently under‐responded for small fields relative to the scintillating fiber. Variations in response between horizontal and vertical mounting were most notable for the microchambers, with the vertical mounting which reduced the magnitude of the necessary correction factor, , for the microionization chambers ranging from 1.1 to 1.2 for the smallest field size at all energies. The semiconducting diode over‐responded by 7% for the smallest field size across all energies, resulting in a of ∼0.93.Conclusions:The commercial scintillating fiber, which produces accurate and consistent ratios of dose to water for nonstandard fields, can be used to measure correction factors for various detectors used in a clinical setting. This can allow for comparison of measured correction factors to previously published values.
Statistical iterative reconstruction to improve image quality for digital breast tomosynthesis
Authors: Xu Shiyu , Lu Jianping , Zhou Otto , Chen Ying 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a novel modality with the potential to improve early detection of breast cancer by providing three‐dimensional (3D) imaging with a low radiation dose. 3D image reconstruction presents some challenges: cone‐beam and flat‐panel geometry, and highly incomplete sampling. A promising means to overcome these challenges is statistical iterative reconstruction (IR), since it provides the flexibility of accurate physics modeling and a general description of system geometry. The authors’ goal was to develop techniques for applying statistical IR to tomosynthesis imaging data.Methods:These techniques include the following: a physics model with a local voxel‐pair based prior with flexible parameters to fine‐tune image quality; a precomputed parameter λ in the prior, to remove data dependence and to achieve a uniform resolution property; an effective ray‐driven technique to compute the forward and backprojection; and an oversampled, ray‐driven method to perform high resolution reconstruction with a practical region‐of‐interest technique. To assess the performance of these techniques, the authors acquired phantom data on the stationary DBT prototype system. To solve the estimation problem, the authors proposed an optimization‐transfer based algorithm framework that potentially allows fewer iterations to achieve an acceptably converged reconstruction.Results:IR improved the detectability of low‐contrast and small microcalcifications, reduced cross‐plane artifacts, improved spatial resolution, and lowered noise in reconstructed images.Conclusions:Although the computational load remains a significant challenge for practical development, the superior image quality provided by statistical IR, combined with advancing computational techniques, may bring benefits to screening, diagnostics, and intraoperative imaging in clinical applications.
Frequency‐specific functional connectivity revealed by wavelet‐based coherence analysis in elderly subjects with cerebral infarction using NIRS method
Authors: Tan Qitao , Zhang Ming , Wang Yi , Zhang Manyu , Wang Yan , Xin Qing , Wang Bitan , Li Zengyong 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:Resting‐state functional connectivity in subjects with cerebral infarction (CI) was assessed using wavelet‐based coherence analysis of near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signals.Methods:Continuous recordings of NIRS signals were measured from the prefrontal cortex and sensorimotor cortical areas of 12 subjects with CI (CI group) and 16 healthy subjects (healthy group) during the resting state. The channels in these areas were divided into four connection types: homologous connectivity, frontoposterior connectivity, contralateral connectivity, and homolateral connectivity. Wavelet coherence (WCO) and wavelet phase coherence (WPCO) were calculated in six frequency intervals in each channel pair: I, 0.6–2 Hz; II, 0.145–0.6 Hz; III, 0.052–0.145 Hz; IV, 0.021–0.052 Hz; V, 0.0095–0.021 Hz; and VI, 0.005–0.0095 Hz.Results:WCO in the six frequency intervals was significant for all channels in the healthy group. By contrast, WCO in frequency intervals II–VI showed weakened connectivity in the CI group, especially in terms of frontoposterior connectivity. WCO was significantly lower in the CI group than in the healthy group in the following connectivities and frequency intervals: front‐posterior, IV–VI (p < 0.05); homologous, III–V (p < 0.01); motor‐contralateral, III–V (p < 0.05); and motor‐homolateral, III–V (p < 0.05). WPCO in frequency intervals III (F = 5.032, p = 0.033) and IV (F = 11.95, p = 0.002) in frontoposterior connectivity, as well as in intervals III–V in homologous, motor‐contralateral and motor‐homolateral connectivities were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the CI group than in the healthy group. However, WPCO in interval I showed significantly higher levels in motor‐homolateral connectivity in the CI group than in the healthy group (F = 4.241, p = 0.049).Conclusions:The authors’ results suggest that CI causes a frequency‐specific disruption in resting‐state connectivity. This may be useful for assessing the effectiveness of functional recovery after CI.
Remodeling of the Z-Ring Nanostructure during the Streptococcus pneumoniae Cell Cycle Revealed by Photoactivated Localization Microscopy
Authors: Jacq Maxime , Adam Virgile , Bourgeois Dominique , Moriscot Christine , Di Guilmi Anne-Marie , Vernet Thierry , Morlot Cécile 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Ovococci form a morphological group that includes several human pathogens (enterococci and streptococci). Their shape results from two modes of cell wall insertion, one allowing division and one allowing elongation. Both cell wall synthesis modes rely on a single cytoskeletal protein, FtsZ. Despite the central role of FtsZ in ovococci, a detailed view of the
in vivo
nanostructure of ovococcal Z-rings has been lacking thus far, limiting our understanding of their assembly and architecture. We have developed the use of photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) in the ovococcus human pathogen
Streptococcus pneumoniae
by engineering spDendra2, a photoconvertible fluorescent protein optimized for this bacterium. Labeling of endogenously expressed FtsZ with spDendra2 revealed the remodeling of the Z-ring's morphology during the division cycle at the nanoscale level. We show that changes in the ring's axial thickness and in the clustering propensity of FtsZ correlate with the advancement of the cell cycle. In addition, we observe double-ring substructures suggestive of short-lived intermediates that may form upon initiation of septal cell wall synthesis. These data are integrated into a model describing the architecture and the remodeling of the Z-ring during the cell cycle of ovococci.

IMPORTANCE
The Gram-positive human pathogen
S. pneumoniae
is responsible for 1.6 million deaths per year worldwide and is increasingly resistant to various antibiotics. FtsZ is a cytoskeletal protein polymerizing at midcell into a ring-like structure called the Z-ring. FtsZ is a promising new antimicrobial target, as its inhibition leads to cell death. A precise view of the Z-ring architecture
in vivo
is essential to understand the mode of action of inhibitory drugs (see T. den Blaauwen, J. M. Andreu, and O. Monasterio, Bioorg Chem 55:27–38, 2014, doi:10.1016/j.bioorg.2014.03.007, for a review on FtsZ inhibitors). This is notably true in ovococcoid bacteria like
S. pneumoniae
, in which FtsZ is the only known cytoskeletal protein. We have used superresolution microscopy to obtain molecular details of the pneumococcus Z-ring that have so far been inaccessible with conventional microscopy. This study provides a nanoscale description of the Z-ring architecture and remodeling during the division of ovococci.
The impact of interruptions on the duration of nursing interventions: a direct observation study in an academic emergency department
Authors: Cole Gai , Stefanus Dicky , Gardner Heather , Levy Matthew J , Klein Eili Y 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundInterruptions to nursing workload may contribute to procedural failures and clinical errors impacting quality/safety of care, but the impact of interruptions on the duration of these activities has not been closely scrutinised. This study analyses the effect of interruptions to care provided by nurses and clinical technicians on the length of clinical procedures and interventions (excluding the length of the interruption).MethodsAn observational time study of the effect of interruptions on common nursing interventions in the emergency department (ED) of a large academic medical centre was conducted. This study used direct observations of nurses and clinical technicians while delivering care to patients.ResultsThe average time spent on an uninterrupted intervention was 296.47 s (median:185.15, SD:319.05), while interrupted interventions took 682.02 s (median:589.63, SD:504.59). Controlling for intervention type and other potential confounding factors using multiple linear regression found that interrupted interventions were 121.36 s (95% CI 79.57 to 163.15) longer, a 19 percentage point increase (95% CI 11.31 to 26.89), than an intervention without (excluding the length of the interruption). Family/patient interruptions effected duration the most while staff interruptions affected the intervention time the least.DiscussionOur findings are consistent with outcomes of studies in non-healthcare domains, but are contrary to a study of ED physicians, suggesting differential responses to interruptions by physicians and nurses. Future studies on interruptions in healthcare should thus be discipline specific. Though the effect of interruptions on intervention length is only about 2 min, in an ED setting, this can increase patient risks and costs. To better focus efforts to reduce interruptions future research should focus on further separation of interruption type (eg, urgent vs routine or unnecessary).
Searches for non-SM heavy Higgses at a 100 TeV pp collider
Authors: Hajer Jan , Ismail Ahmed , Kling Felix , Li Ying-Ying , Liu Tao , Su Shufang 
Published: August 2015

In this write-up, we summarize the production of non-SM Higgses in the Type II Two Higgs Doublet Model at a 100 TeV [Formula: see text] collider, as well as their decays. We present the reach for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] as well as [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] at the 100 TeV [Formula: see text] collider and outline the possible search channels via Higgs exotic decays. We point out that a combination of these conventional channels potentially yields full coverage for [Formula: see text] and pushes the exclusion limits from the [Formula: see text] at the LHC to the [Formula: see text] at a 100 TeV [Formula: see text] collider, whereas the exotic decays of a heavy Higgs into two light Higgses or one light Higgs plus one SM gauge boson provide alternative discovery channels.
Low energy impurity kink in the normal and anomalous self-energies in Bi-cuprate superconductors
Authors: Bok Jin Mo , Bae Jong Ju , Hong Seung Hwan , Zhou X. J. , Choi Han-Yong 
Published: August 2015

The sharp low energy kink (LEK) in quasiparticle (qp) spectra well below the superconducting energy gap observed in the angle-resolved photo-emission spectroscopy (ARPES) of the Bi-cuprates may be understood in terms of the forward scattering impurities located off the Cu–O planes. The relevance of the idea has been established by comparing the calculated normal self-energy from the off-plane impurity effects and the extracted one from the self-energy analysis of [Formula: see text] (Bi2212) ARPES data in Hong et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 057001 (2014)]. In addition to the explanation of the LEK, this is a necessary step to analyze ARPES data, to reveal the spectrum of fluctuations promoting superconductivity. We also present the extracted anomalous self-energy from the self-energy analysis, which is its first experimental determination as far as we are aware of. The extracted anomalous self-energy and its implications are discussed in comparison with the calculated impurity self-energy term.