bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing coughing-induced influenza droplet transmission and implications for infection risk control
Authors: CHENG Y.-H. , WANG C.-H. , YOU S.-H. , HSIEH N.-H. , CHEN W.-Y. , CHIO C.-P. , LIAO C.-M. 
Published: July 2015

SUMMARYIndoor transmission of respiratory droplets bearing influenza within humans poses high risks to respiratory function deterioration and death. Therefore, we aimed to develop a framework for quantifying the influenza infection risk based on the relationships between inhaled/exhaled respiratory droplets and airborne transmission dynamics in a ventilated airspace. An experiment was conducted to measure the size distribution of influenza-containing droplets produced by coughing for a better understanding of potential influenza spread. Here we integrated influenza population transmission dynamics, a human respiratory tract model, and a control measure approach to examine the indoor environment–virus–host interactions. A probabilistic risk model was implemented to assess size-specific infection risk for potentially transmissible influenza droplets indoors. Our results found that there was a 50% probability of the basic reproduction number (R0) exceeding 1 for small-size influenza droplets of 0·3–0·4µm, implicating a potentially high indoor infection risk to humans. However, a combination of public health interventions with enhanced ventilation could substantially contain indoor influenza infection. Moreover, the present dynamic simulation and control measure assessment provide insights into why indoor transmissible influenza droplet-induced infection is occurring not only in upper lung regions but also in the lower respiratory tract, not normally considered at infection risk.
Investigating Alfvénic wave propagation in coronal open-field regions
Authors: Morton R. J. , Tomczyk S. , Pinto R. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe physical mechanisms behind accelerating solar and stellar winds are a long-standing astrophysical mystery, although recent breakthroughs have come from models invoking the turbulent dissipation of Alfvén waves. The existence of Alfvén waves far from the Sun has been known since the 1970s, and recently the presence of ubiquitous Alfvénic waves throughout the solar atmosphere has been confirmed. However, the presence of atmospheric Alfvénic waves does not, alone, provide sufficient support for wave-based models; the existence of counter-propagating Alfvénic waves is crucial for the development of turbulence. Here, we demonstrate that counter-propagating Alfvénic waves exist in open coronal magnetic fields and reveal key observational insights into the details of their generation, reflection in the upper atmosphere and outward propagation into the solar wind. The results enhance our knowledge of Alfvénic wave propagation in the solar atmosphere, providing support and constraints for some of the recent Alfvén wave turbulence models.
Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki revisited: Domestication study and antioxidant properties of its basidiocarps and mycelia
Authors: Tan Wee-Cheat , Kuppusamy Umah Rani , Phan Chia-Wei , Tan Yee-Shin , Raman Jegadeesh , Anuar Azliza Mad , Sabaratnam Vikineswary 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMushroom cultivation benefits humankind as it deliberately encourages wild mushrooms to be commercially propagated while recycling agricultural wastes. Ganoderma neo-japonicum is a rare polypore mushroom found growing on decaying Schizostachyum brachycladium (a tropical bamboo) clumps in Malaysia. The Malaysian indigenous tribes including the Temuans and Temiars use the basidiocarps of G. neo-japonicum to treat various ailments including diabetes. In this study, the domestication of G. neo-japonicum in artificial logs of different agricultural residues was investigated. Sawdust promoted the mycelia spawn colonisation in the shortest period of 38 ± 0.5 days. However, only sawdust and bamboo dust supported the primodia formation. Complex medium supported mycelium growth in submerged cultures and 27.11 ± 0.43 g/L of mycelia was obtained after 2 weeks of cultivation at 28 °C and 200 rpm. Antioxidant potential in mushroom may be influenced by different cultivation and extraction methods. The different extracts from the wild and cultivated basidiocarps as well as mycelia were then tested for their antioxidant properties. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of mycelia and basidiocarps tested had varying levels of antioxidant activities. To conclude, domestication of wild G. neo-japonicum using agroresidues may ensure a continuous supply of G. neo-japonicum for its medicinal use while ensuring the conservation of this rare species.
Genome-wide mutational spectra analysis reveals significant cancer-specific heterogeneity
Authors: Tan Hua , Bao Jiguang , Zhou Xiaobo 
Published: July 2015

AbstractCancer is widely recognized as a genetic disease in which somatic mutations are sequentially accumulated to drive tumor progression. Although genomic landscape studies are informative for individual cancer types, a comprehensive comparative study of tumorigenic mutations across cancer types based on integrative data sources is still a pressing need. We systematically analyzed ~106non-synonymous mutations extracted from COSMIC, involving ~8000 genome-wide screened samples across 23 major human cancers at both the amino acid and gene levels. Our analysis identified cancer-specific heterogeneity that traditional nucleotide variation analysis alone usually overlooked. Particularly, the amino acid arginine (R) turns out to be the most favorable target of amino acid alteration in most cancer types studied (P < 10−9, binomial test), reflecting its important role in cellular physiology. The tumor suppressor gene TP53 is mutated exclusively with the HYDIN, KRAS and PTEN genes in large intestine, lung and endometrial cancers respectively, indicating that TP53 takes part in different signaling pathways in different cancers. While some of our analyses corroborated previous observations, others indicated relevant candidates with high priority for further experimental validation. Our findings have many ramifications in understanding the etiology of cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms in particular cancers.
Antioxidative properties of ginsenoside Ro against UV-B-induced oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Kang Hyun Ji , Oh Yuri , Lee Sihyeong , Ryu In Wang , Kim Kyunghoon , Lim Chang-Jin 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Ginsenoside Ro (Ro), an oleanolic acid-type ginsenoside, exhibited suppressive activities on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) elevation in UV-B-irradiated fibroblasts. Ro could overcome the reduction of the total glutathione (GSH) contents in UV-B-irradiated fibroblasts. Ro could not interfere with cell viabilities in UV-B-irradiated fibroblasts. Collectively, Ro possesses a potential skin anti-photoaging property against UV-B radiation in fibroblasts.
The relationship between budgetary evaluation, firm size and performance
Authors: Elhamma Azzouz 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to present the main results of the first empirical study done in Morocco and attempts to highlight the impact of the firm size on the budgetary evaluation and its performance according to the firm size.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected using a questionnaire sent to the Moroccan firms. A total of 62 questionnaires were correctly returned. The response rate was 15 per cent.Findings– In this research, we identified three principal styles of budgetary evaluation: “strict budgetary evaluation” adopted by 21 per cent of the sample; “moderate budgetary evaluation” adopted by 27.4 per cent of the surveyed enterprises; and “lower budgetary evaluation” adopted by 51.6 per cent of the sample. The first style is adopted especially by large firms. The firm’s performance is significantly and positively correlated with the budgetary evaluation in large enterprises. This correlation is not significant in SMEs.Practical implications– The findings of this research can help managers of companies in emerging economies in the choice of a better budgetary evaluation system.Originality/value– The outcomes of the study are relevant both to the literature on budgetary evaluation in particular and on management control in general, since they determine that the correct fit between budgetary evaluation and firm size causes a positive and significant change in the firm’s performance.
An emic approach to organizational citizenship behavior of Mexican professionals
Authors: Baeza Miguel A. , Wang Yong J. 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the dimensionality of emic (culturally specific) organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of Mexican professionals.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study considered the collectivistic cultural background of Mexican professional employees and developed a framework based on the emic (culturally specific) dimensions of OCB.

Findings
– Based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the authors find that the emic OCB of Mexican professionals is characterized by five dimensions: collegial harmony, organizational camaraderie, professional development, organizational faithfulness, and protecting company resources.

Originality/value
– The findings also offer incremental contributions to OCB research. In order to correctly capture the entire phenomena of OCB in different cultures, researchers often focus on the emic (specific/cultural unique) approach. Along this vein, the authors identified the Mexican OCB dimensions in an emic approach.
The UEFA Champions League: maintaining the status quo?
Authors: Plumley Daniel , Flint Stuart W. 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the competitive balance of the UEFA Champions League group stages. There are numerous financial and commercial benefits to clubs that participate in this competition. The current paper examines whether the seeding system operated by UEFA is hindering some lower ranked teams from qualification and, thus, the associated benefits.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected for all UEFA Champions League group stages between1999/2000 and 2013/2014. Data analysis techniques included Herfindahl-Hirschman Index to examine competitive balance and one-way ANOVAs to examine the impact of the current seeding system on club performance.Findings– The findings suggest that there are flaws in the ranking and seeding system used by UEFA, as results show that the competition is competitively imbalanced at the group stage. Additionally, clubs that are continually placed in the highest seeding pot historically tend to accumulate more points and finish in a higher position in the group, thereby giving them a better opportunity to progress further in the competition.Research limitations/implications– The study has implications for both the clubs competing in the Champions League, who will be affected by the seeding system, and UEFA themselves when considering the sporting integrity of their flagship competition.Originality/value– To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper of its kind to examine competitive balance in this competition, and the paper contributes new knowledge that extends the research undertaken in the field previously.
Clinical features of venous insufficiency and the risk of venous thrombosis in older people
Authors: Engbers Marissa J. , Karasu Alev , Blom Jeanet W. , Cushman Mary , Rosendaal Frits R. , van Hylckama Vlieg Astrid 
Published: July 2015

SummaryVenous thrombosis is common in older age, with an incidence of 0·5–1% per year in those aged >70 years. Stasis of blood flow is an important contributor to the development of thrombosis and may be due to venous insufficiency in the legs. The risk of thrombosis associated with clinical features of venous insufficiency, i.e., varicose veins, leg ulcers and leg oedema, obtained with a standardized interview was assessed in the Age and Thrombosis Acquired and Genetic risk factors in the Elderly (AT‐AGE) study. The AT‐AGE study is a case–control study in individuals aged 70 years and older (401 cases with a first‐time venous thrombosis and 431 control subjects). We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age, sex and study centre. Varicose veins and leg ulcer were associated with a 1·6‐fold (95% CI 1·2–2·3) and 3·3‐fold increased risk of thrombosis (95% CI 1·6–6·7), respectively, while the risk was increased 3·0‐fold (95% CI 2·1–4·5) in the presence of leg oedema. The risk of thrombosis was highest when all three risk factors occurred simultaneously (OR: 10·5; 95% CI 1·3–86·1). In conclusion, clinical features of venous insufficiency, i.e., varicose veins, leg ulcers and leg oedema, are risk factors for venous thrombosis in older people.
High‐dose therapy improves the bone remodelling compartment canopy coverage and bone formation in multiple myeloma
Authors: Hinge Maja , Delaisse Jean‐Marie , Plesner Torben , Clasen‐Linde Erik , Salomo Morten , Andersen Thomas Levin 
Published: July 2015

SummaryBone loss in multiple myeloma (MM) is caused by an uncoupling of bone formation to resorption trigged by malignant plasma cells. Increasing evidence indicates that the bone remodelling compartment (BRC) canopy, which normally covers the remodelling sites, is important for coupled bone remodelling. Loss of this canopy has been associated with bone loss. This study addresses whether the bone remodelling in MM is improved by high‐dose therapy. Bone marrow biopsies obtained from 20 MM patients, before and after first‐line treatment with high‐dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation, and from 20 control patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance were histomorphometrically investigated. This investigation confirmed that MM patients exhibited uncoupled bone formation to resorption and reduced canopy coverage. More importantly, this study revealed that a good response to anti‐myeloma treatment increased the extent of formative bone surfaces with canopy, and reduced the extent of eroded surfaces without canopy, reverting the uncoupled bone remodelling, while improving canopy coverage. The association between improved coupling and the canopy coverage supports the notion that canopies are critical for the coupling of bone formation to resorption. Furthermore, this study supports the observation that systemic bone disease in MM can be reversed in MM patients responding to anti‐myeloma treatment.
Epigenetic alterations in sperm associated with male infertility
Authors: Kitamura Akane , Miyauchi Naoko , Hamada Hirotaka , Hiura Hitoshi , Chiba Hatsune , Okae Hiroaki , Sato Akiko , John Rosalind M. , Arima Takahiro 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe most common form of male infertility is a low sperm count, known as oligozoospermia. Studies suggest that oligozoospermia is associated with epigenetic alterations. Epigenetic alterations in sperm, which may arise due to the exposure of gametes to environmental factors or those that pre‐exist in the sperm of infertile individuals, may contribute to the increased incidence of normally rare imprinting disorders in babies conceived after assisted reproductive technology using the sperm of infertile men. Genomic imprinting is an important developmental process whereby the allelic activity of certain genes is regulated by DNA methylation established during gametogenesis. The aberrant expression of several imprinted genes has been linked to various diseases, malignant tumors, lifestyle and mental disorders in humans. Understanding how infertility and environmental factors such as reproductive toxicants, certain foods, and drug exposures during gametogenesis contribute to the origins of these disorders via defects in sperm is of paramount importance. In this review, we discuss the association of epigenetic alterations with abnormal spermatogenesis and the evidence that epigenetic processes, including those required for genomic imprinting, may be sensitive to environmental exposures during gametogenesis, fertilization and early embryonic development. In addition, we review imprinting diseases and their relationships with environmental factors. While the plasticity of epigenetic marks may make these more susceptible to modification by the environment, this also suggests that aberrant epigenetic marks may be reversible. A greater understanding of this process and the function of epidrugs may lead to the development of new treatment methods for many adult diseases in the future.
Animal Models of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma–Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Kapoor Harit , Lohani Kush Raj , Lee Tommy H. , Agrawal Devendra K. , Mittal Sumeet K. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractEsophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest rising cancer in the United States. It develops from long‐standing gastroesophageal reflux disease which affects >20% of the general population. It carries a very poor prognosis with 5‐year survival <20%. The disease is known to sequentially progress from reflux esophagitis to a metaplastic precursor, Barrett's esophagus and then onto dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, only few patients with reflux develop Barrett's esophagus and only a minority of these turn malignant. The reason for this heterogeneity in clinical progression is unknown. To improve patient management, molecular changes which facilitate disease progression must be identified. Animal models can provide a comprehensive functional and anatomic platform for such a study. Rats and mice have been the most widely studied but disease homology with humans has been questioned. No animal model naturally simulates the inflammation to adenocarcinoma progression as in humans, with all models requiring surgical bypass or destruction of existing antireflux mechanisms. Valuable properties of individual models could be utilized to holistically evaluate disease progression. In this review paper, we critically examined the current animal models of Barrett's esophagus, their differences and homologies with human disease and how they have shaped our current understanding of Barrett's carcinogenesis.
The number of seizures needed in the EMU
Authors: Struck Aaron F. , Cole Andrew J. , Cash Sydney S. , Westover M. Brandon 
Published: July 2015

SummaryObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative framework to estimate the likelihood of multifocal epilepsy based on the number of unifocal seizures observed in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU).MethodsPatient records from the EMU at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) from 2012 to 2014 were assessed for the presence of multifocal seizures as well the presence of multifocal interictal discharges and multifocal structural imaging abnormalities during the course of the EMU admission. Risk factors for multifocal seizures were assessed using sensitivity and specificity analysis. A Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the risk of multifocal epilepsy for a given number of consecutive seizures. To overcome the limits of the Kaplan‐Meier analysis, a parametric survival function was fit to the EMU subjects with multifocal seizures and this was used to develop a Bayesian model to estimate the risk of multifocal seizures during an EMU admission.ResultsMultifocal interictal discharges were a significant predictor of multifocal seizures within an EMU admission with a p < 0.01, albeit with only modest sensitivity 0.74 and specificity 0.69. Multifocal potentially epileptogenic lesions on MRI were not a significant predictor p = 0.44. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was limited by wide confidence intervals secondary to significant patient dropout and concern for informative censoring. The Bayesian framework provided estimates for the number of unifocal seizures needed to predict absence of multifocal seizures. To achieve 90% confidence for the absence of multifocal seizure, three seizures are needed when the pretest probability for multifocal epilepsy is 20%, seven seizures for a pretest probability of 50%, and nine seizures for a pretest probability of 80%.SignificanceThese results provide a framework to assist clinicians in determining the utility of trying to capture a specific number of seizures in EMU evaluations of candidates for epilepsy surgery.
Cytotoxicity and migration of fibroblasts on two types of calcium sulfate dihydrate
Authors: Teparat‐Burana Thitiwan , Onsiri Natnicha , Jantarat Jeeraphat 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAimThe aim of the present study was to compare cytotoxicity and migration ability of L929 on medical‐grade calcium sulfate dihydrate (MCS) with commercial calcium sulfate dihydrate (CCS).MethodsSamples of both freshly‐mixed and set states of MCS and CCS were extracted in culture medium and tested for cytotoxicity according to International Organization of Standardization 10993‐5:2009. The 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used, and the percentage of cell viability was calculated. Thirty petri dishes were divided into three equal groups: polystyrene (control), CCS, and MCS. In each petri dish, triplicate wells were made on the agarose overlay on the material. The central well was occupied with L929 cell suspension, one well was filled with platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB, and the remaining well with Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution. After incubation, the migration distances were measured and the corrected migration distances were calculated. The final step involved scanning electron microscopy (SEM).ResultsThe CCS had significantly less cell viability than MCS at a high extracted concentration (P < 0.001) in both samples. The mean corrected migration of MCS was significantly greater than that of CCS (P < 0.05). SEM showed that L929 cells on MCS exhibited an elongated spindle shape.ConclusionMCS was less cytotoxic and provided greater migration of L929 fibroblasts compared with CCS.
Plain talk on computing education
Authors: Guzdial Mark 
Published: July 2015

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Mark Guzdial considers how the variety of learning outcomes and definitions impacts the teaching of computer science.
The role of grammatical metaphor in the development of advanced literacy in Spanish as a first, second, and heritage language
Authors: Velázquez-Mendoza Omar 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis paper draws some general conclusions from the evidence gathered by two recent analyses, which traced the development of advanced literacy by two undergraduate language learner populations: (1) Humanities students of the National Autonomous University of Mexico for whom Spanish is a native language (L1); and (2) Linguistics students enrolled at the University of California, Davis for whom Spanish is either a heritage (HL) or a second language (L2). Textual scrutiny of student texts extracted from the Corpus del Lenguaje Académico en Español (or CLAE: <www.lenguajeacademico.info>) documents positive trends in the acquisition of ideational grammatical metaphors both in the monolingual, Spanish-only university setting of Mexico, and in the Spanish-English bilingual context of California. In this analysis, I propose that, regardless of the participants’ native language(s), learners of Spanish undergo parallel developmental stages within Halliday’s model of language acquisition at the advanced level.