bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fecal Molecular Markers for Colorectal Cancer Screening
Authors: Kanthan Rani , Senger Jenna-Lynn , Kanthan Selliah Chandra
Published: November 2011

Despite multiple screening techniques, including colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, radiological imaging, and fecal occult blood testing, colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of death. As these techniques improve, their sensitivity to detect malignant lesions is increasing; however, detection of precursor lesions remains problematic and has generated a lack of general acceptance for their widespread usage. Early detection by an accurate, noninvasive, cost-effective, simple-to-use screening technique is central to decreasing the incidence and mortality of this disease. Recent advances in the development of molecular markers in faecal specimens are encouraging for its use as a screening tool. Genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations that result from the carcinogenetic process can be detected by coprocytobiology in the colonocytes exfoliated from the lesion into the fecal matter. These markers have shown promising sensitivity and specificity in the detection of both malignant and premalignant lesions and are gaining popularity as a noninvasive technique that is representative of the entire colon. In this paper, we summarize the genetic and epigenetic fecal molecular markers that have been identified as potential targets in the screening of colorectal cancer.
Robust H∞ Filtering for General Nonlinear Stochastic State‐Delayed Systems
Authors: Zhang Weihai , Feng Gang , Li Qinghua
Published: November 2011

This paper studies the robust H∞ filtering problem of nonlinear stochastic systems
with time delay appearing in state equation, measurement, and controlled output, where the
state is governed by a stochastic Itô‐type equation. Based on a nonlinear stochastic bounded
real lemma and an exponential estimate formula, an exponential (asymptotic) mean square H∞
filtering design of nonlinear stochastic time‐delay systems is presented via solving a Hamilton‐Jacobi inequality. As one corollary, for linear stochastic time‐delay systems, a Luenberger‐type filter is obtained by solving a linear matrix inequality. Two simulation examples are finally given
to show the effectiveness of our results.
The Indolic Diet-Derivative, 3,3′-Diindolylmethane, Induced Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer Cells through Upregulation of NDRG1
Authors: Lerner A. , Grafi-Cohen M. , Napso T. , Azzam N. , Fares F.
Published: November 2011

N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 participates in carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, metastases, and anticancer drug resistance. In the present study, we analyzed the expression pattern of N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 following treatment of human colonic cancer cell lines; HCT-116 (well differentiated with wild-type p53 gene) and Colo-320 (poorly differentiated with mutant p53 gene), with 3,3′-diindolylmethane, a well-established proapoptotic agent product derived from indole-3-carbinol. Treatment of Colo-320 and HCT-116 with 3,3′-diindolylmethane disclosed inhibition of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, mediated through apoptosis induction. The increased expression of N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 was detected only in poorly differentiated colon cancer cells, Colo-320 cell line. Our results suggest that N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 expression is enhanced by 3,3′-diindolylmethane in poorly differentiated cells and followed by induction of apoptosis. 3,3′-diindolylmethane induced apoptosis may represent a new regulator of N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 in poorly differentiated colonic cancer cells.
Multiband Planar Monopole Antenna for LTE MIMO Systems
Authors: Yao Yuan , Wang Xing , Yu Junsheng
Published: November 2011

A novel multiband-printed planar monopole antenna for LTE multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) application is proposed. A meandering microstrip line-loaded monopole antenna with multiband characteristic is presented. The proposed antenna provides five frequency bands for LTE application, covering 0.7, 1.7, 2.1, 2.3, and 2.5 GHz. In order to provide low mutual coupling and envelope correlation, two of the antennas are combined with orthogonal polarizations. The mutual coupling of the antenna is lower than −13 dB across the operation bands. Both the simulated and measured results are shown to illustrate the performances of the proposed antenna.
Crowdsourcing the Corpus: Using Collective Intelligence as a Method for Composition
Authors: Casal David Plans
Published: November 2011

The author describes the practical application of crowdsourcing human intelligence as a form of collaborative music-making. Spectral decomposition of an original recording is used to derive components from original audio, and these are then offered as on-line tasks in which contributors are asked to record their own interpretations of each component. Components are then gathered in order to re-synthesize the original corpus, which is used to build an improvisation system. The author uses Bernard Stiegler's ecology of attention paradigm to situate crowdsourcing as an emerging form of public participation in music-making and Glenn Gould's ideas on performance and public access to position this participation as an act of composition. The work is offered as an illustration of the author's individual process as a composer for finding new notational pathways for collaborative practice.
Annotating Distributed Scores for Mutual Engagement in Daisyphone and Beyond
Authors: Bryan-Kinns Nick
Published: November 2011

Written and drawn annotations of musical scores form a core part of the music composition process for both individuals and groups. This article reflects on the annotations made in new forms of distributed music-making wherein the score and its annotations are shared across the web. Four kinds of annotation are identified from 8 years of studies of mutual engagement through distributed music-making systems. It is suggested that new forms of web-based music-making might benefit from shared and persistent graphical annotation mechanisms.
Quantifying Statistical Interdependence, Part III: N > 2 Point Processes
Authors: Dauwels Justin , Weber Theophane , Vialatte François , Musha Toshimitsu , Cichocki Andrzej
Published: November 2011

Stochastic event synchrony (SES) is a recently proposed family of similarity measures. First, “events” are extracted from the given signals; next, one tries to align events across the different time series. The better the alignment, the more similar the N time series are considered to be. The similarity measures quantify the reliability of the events (the fraction of “nonaligned” events) and the timing precision. So far, SES has been developed for pairs of one-dimensional (Part I) and multidimensional (Part II) point processes. In this letter (Part III), SES is extended from pairs of signals to N > 2 signals. The alignment and SES parameters are again determined through statistical inference, more specifically, by alternating two steps: (1) estimating the SES parameters from a given alignment and (2), with the resulting estimates, refining the alignment. The SES parameters are computed by maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation (step 1), in analogy to the pairwise case. The alignment (step 2) is solved by linear integer programming. In order to test the robustness and reliability of the proposed N-variate SES method, it is first applied to synthetic data. We show that N-variate SES results in more reliable estimates than bivariate SES. Next N-variate SES is applied to two problems in neuroscience: to quantify the firing reliability of Morris-Lecar neurons and to detect anomalies in EEG synchrony of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Those problems were also considered in Parts I and II, respectively. In both cases, the N-variate SES approach yields a more detailed analysis.
Noninvertibility, Chaotic Coding, and Chaotic Multiplexity of Synaptically Modulated Neural Firing
Authors: Baram Yoram
Published: November 2011

Widely accepted neural firing and synaptic potentiation rules specify a cross-dependence of the two processes, which, evolving on different timescales, have been separated for analytic purposes, concealing essential dynamics. Here, the morphology of the firing rates process, modulated by synaptic potentiation, is shown to be described by a discrete iteration map in the form of a thresholded polynomial. Given initial synaptic weights, a firing activity is triggered by conductance. Elementary dynamic modes are defined by fixed points, cycles, and saddles of the map, building blocks of the underlying firing code. Showing parameter-dependent multiplicity of real polynomial roots, the map is proved to be noninvertible. The incidence of chaos is then implied by the parameter-dependent existence of snap-back repellers. The highly patterned geometric and statistical structures of the associated chaotic attractors suggest that these attractors are an integral part of the neural code. It further suggests the chaotic attractor as a natural mechanism for statistical encoding and temporal multiplexing of neural information. The analytic findings are supported by simulation.
A Statistical Forecast Model of Weather-Related Damage to a Major Electric Utility
Authors: Cerruti Brian J. , Decker Steven G.
Published: November 2011

A generalized linear model (GLM) has been developed to relate meteorological conditions to damages incurred by the outdoor electrical equipment of Public Service Electric and Gas, the largest public utility in New Jersey. Utilizing a perfect-prognosis approach, the model consists of equations derived from a backward-eliminated multiple-linear-regression analysis of observed electrical equipment damage as the predictand and corresponding surface observations from a variety of sources including local storm reports as the predictors. Weather modes, defined objectively by surface observations, provided stratification of the data and served to increase correlations between the predictand and predictors. The resulting regression equations produced coefficients of determination up to 0.855, with the lowest values for the heat and cold modes, and the highest values for the thunderstorm and mix modes. The appropriate GLM equations were applied to an independent dataset for model validation, and the GLM shows skill [i.e., Heidke skill score (HSS) values greater than 0] at predicting various thresholds of total accumulated equipment damage. The GLM shows higher HSS values relative to a climatological approach and a baseline regression model. Two case studies analyzed to critique model performance yielded insight into GLM shortcomings, with lightning information and wind duration being found to be important missing predictors under certain circumstances.
Reverse Contamination
Authors: Krauss Ellis , Nemoto Kuniaki , Pekkanen Robert
Published: November 2011

Why would a candidate in a mixed-member electoral system willingly forego the chance to be dual listed in the party list tier along with the single-member district tier? Mixed-member systems create a “reverse contamination effect” through which list rankings provide important information to voters and thus influence behavior in the nominal tier. Rankings signal importance of the candidate within the party and also constitute information about the likelihood that the candidate will be elected off the list tier. Mixed-member majoritarian (MMM) and mixed-member proportional (MMP) systems create different incentives for parties and candidates to send voters different signals. Candidates in Japan’s MMM “burned their bridges” successfully and gained more votes. In New Zealand’s MMP system, parties instead built “bridges” between the proportional representation and nominal tiers by sending different signals to voters through list rankings.
An Analysis of Prisoner Reentry and Parole Risk Using COMPAS and Traditional Criminal History Measures
Authors: Zhang Sheldon X. , Roberts Robert E. L. , Farabee David
Published: November 2011

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has adopted Correctional Offender Management and Profiling Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS), an actuarial risk- and needs-assessment instrument, as part of its reentry supervision and parole planning procedure. A large-scale 3-year prospective study was conducted to assess the instrument with regard to how well it predicted whether a parolee would be rearrested for (a) any crime and (b) a violent offense. This study followed, for up to 2 years, a total of 91,334 parolees who had been assessed with COMPAS prior to reentry into the community. The instrument achieved an acceptable level of predictive validity in general rearrests with an area under the curve value of 0.70, but its predictive power for subsequent violent offenses fell short of this conventional threshold. Moreover, a parsimonious model using four known risk factors from existing official records (i.e., gender, age, age of first arrest, and the number of prior arrests) performed just as well in predicting subsequent arrests. Findings from this study illustrate the challenges in applying group-based attributes to predict individual criminal behavior and suggest that, although COMPAS has other attractive features such as case management capability, existing official records may offer a lower cost alternative for assessing the risk of reoffending for community reentry purposes.
The Effects of Gender and Gain Versus Loss Frame on Processing Breast Cancer Screening Messages
Authors: Kim Hyo Jung
Published: November 2011

This current study investigated how the gain versus loss framing effect would be moderated by gender of message recipients in the context of breast cancer screening (BCS) intervention that promotes both men and women to recommend regular BCS to their close women. A 2 (male vs. female) x 2 (gain vs. loss) between-subject experiment was conducted using 128 African American participants (mean age = 45.9). The results showed that men and women processed the BCS messages with a different elaboration depth, and also perceived gain- versus loss-framed messages differently. For instance, compared to gain frame loss frame was more effective for women in increasing their message elaboration and supportive thoughts about BCS. In contrast, gain frame was more effective for men in increasing their memory of the BCS messages than loss frame. The findings provided practical implications for health communication practitioners in how to strategically use gain versus loss framing in accordance with their target population.
Changes in Activity Among Older Volunteers
Authors: Morrow-Howell Nancy , Hong Song-Iee , McCrary Stacey , Blinne Wayne
Published: November 2011

Purpose: To explore changes in daily activities associated with high-intensity volunteering, this study assessed activities in a sample of 180 new Experience Corps (EC) volunteers serving low reading students in urban schools.

Methods: Level of activity in 15 areas (visiting friends, reading, watching TV, etc.) was obtained at the beginning of this high-commitment volunteer experience and after 9 months of service. Latent class analyses were used to identify activity patterns, and regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with changes in activities.

Results: At pre-test, 37% were classified in the low-activity group and were more likely to be first time volunteers, older, non-White, and have less education. At post-test, only 17% were classified as low activity. An increase in activity was more likely to occur for those who were low activity before joining the volunteer program.

Implications: These findings demonstrate that increase in activity does occur for less active older adults who join a volunteer program.
Cellular Regulation of the Inflammatory Response
Authors: Janssen William J. , Henson Peter M.
Published: November 2011

In simple terms, inflammation can be defined as a beneficial, nonspecific response of tissues to injury that generally leads to restoration of normal structure and function. In this concept, resolution of the inflammatory response, once it has achieved its protective and pro-immunogenic functions, becomes a critical determinant of what might be considered the paradox of inflammation. On one hand, inflammation is essential to resolve tissue injury and maintain homeostasis. On the other, inflammation is a key participant in the great majority of human diseases. Accordingly, to achieve complete resolution of inflammation, it is necessary to both turn off inflammatory mediator production and inflammatory cell accumulation and to remove inflammatory cells and debris without initiating an autoimmune response. Much of this process involves key activities of the mononuclear phagocyte series of cells, including resident and recruited macrophages. Recognition of activated and dying acute inflammatory cells by mononuclear phagocytes has been shown to (a) enhance macropinocytic activity for removal of debris, (b) enhance uptake of the effete inflammatory cells themselves, (c) induce inflammosuppressive and immunosuppressive mediators such as TGFβ and IL-10 that can down-regulate and limit proinflammatory mediator production, and (d) induce production of growth factors for tissue cells that may play key roles in tissue repair. Defects in these highly regulated processes are associated with persistent inflammation and/or autoimmunity in overaggressive resolution mechanisms such as nonresolving fibrosis or persistent tissue destruction as in emphysema.
Polysomnography before Tonsillectomy in Children
Authors: Tunkel David E.
Published: November 2011

The diagnosis of sleep‐disordered breathing in children has centered around polysomnography (PSG). While PSG is considered the gold standard for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in children, the need for PSG before adenotonsillectomy is widely debated. An evidence‐based clinical practice guideline on the use of PSG in children before tonsillectomy has recently been published. The recommendations contained in this guideline are discussed, emphasizing the appropriate indications for PSG as well as the limitations of existing evidence for the use of PSG and diagnosis of sleep‐disordered breathing in children.
State aid 2000–2010: The UK experience
Authors: Williams Dominic , Fasianos Apostolos
Published: November 2011

The importance of state aid rules as an instrument of regional policy diminished during the period from 2000 to 2010 because European enlargement reduced the number of areas eligible for higher levels of state aid. The Lisbon Agenda led to more emphasis on horizontal pan-European aid rules, including for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but it struggled to match the USA’s more liberal approach to subsidies. This article examines the UK experience of state aid in the light of the shifting policy agenda at European Union (EU) level, but focuses also on the implications of EU state aid rules for SMEs, in particular by comparing EU with US policy.
Prevention of rat breast cancer by genistin and selenium
Authors: Hamdy Soha M , Latif Abdel Karim M Abdel , Drees Ehab A , Soliman Sahar M
Published: November 2011

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women and the third most common cancer. In this study, we investigated the chemoprevention efficacy of each of soy genistin, selenium or a combination of them against breast cancer. Seventy-five female rats were divided into five groups : control group (I); 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) group (II); DMBA treated with genistin group (III); DMBA treated with selenium group (IV); and DMBA treated with genistin combined with selenium group (V). The treatments were daily administered for 3 months. There were a significant decrease in body weight and serum total antioxidant, while a significant elevation in serum total sialic acid, carcinoembryonic antigen, prolactin, estradiol, nitric oxide, and malondialdhyde of DMBA injected rats compared with control group. Administration of genistin and selenium was associated with decreasing levels of tumorigenicity, endocrine derangement, and oxidative stress. Formation of breast carcinoma in DMBA-induced rats and abnormal changes were ameliorated in the rats treated with genistin/selenium or genistin alone. Supplementation of genistin alone or with selenium provided antioxidant defense with high-potential chemopreventive activity against DMBA-induced mammary tumors more than selenium alone.
Stratified scaffolds for osteochondral tissue engineering applications: Electrospun PDLLA nanofibre coated Bioglass®-derived foams
Authors: Yunos DM , Ahmad Z , Salih V , Boccaccini AR
Published: November 2011

This work focuses on designing bilayered constructs by combining electrospun poly-DL-Lactide (PDLLA) fibers and Bioglass®-derived scaffolds for development of osteochondral tissue replacement materials. Electrospinning was carried out using a solution of 5 wt/v% PDLLA in dimethyl carbonate. The PDLLA layer thickness increased from 2 to 150 µm with varying electrospinning time. Bioactivity studies in simulated body fluid showed that HA mineralization decreased as the thickness of the PDLLA layer increased. A preliminary in vitro study using chondrocyte cells (ATDC5) showed that cells attached, proliferated and migrated into the fibrous network, confirming the potential applicability of the bilayered scaffolds in osteochondral defect regeneration.
Complicating the sexualization thesis: The media, gender and ‘sci-candy’
Authors: Attenborough Frederick Thomas
Published: November 2011

General suggestions about the ‘sexualization of culture’ pay too little attention to the ways in which gender shapes the media’s representation of men and women as sexy men and women. As a result, claims to the effect that ‘we are all objectified now’ (i.e. that idealized–sexualized representational strategies are no longer limited to women’s bodies) have proliferated in recent years. In this article, however, it is argued that such claims result from too generic and undifferentiated an understanding of ‘sexualization’. Rather than thinking in terms of ‘the’ process of sexualization, this article seeks to foreground ‘a’ diverse array of practices that tend to coalesce under the heading ‘sexualization’. To do so, it performs a critical discourse analysis on a corpus of national UK newspaper articles in which both a male and a female celebrity scientist are profiled. A discussion of the referential strategies, transitivity choices and strategies of fragmentation and focalization on display in those articles leads not to the claim that ‘we are all objectified now’, but, rather, to the suggestion that the plural pronoun ‘we’ conceals and maintains a definite gender asymmetry.
Appraising through someone else’s words: The evaluative power of quotations in news reports
Authors: Jullian Paula M.
Published: November 2011

This article explores the inclusion of external voices in news reports, especially looking at the way these are exploited for appraising purposes. It is argued that attributions are not evaluation outlets for sources only, but indirect means of appraisal for the journalists as well, who support – and reinforce – the points they want to make through these voices. In this way, quotations help them imprint their personal views on the events and ultimately serve an ideological function in the text. The study compares the use of attributed material in various pieces of online news reporting on the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize award to the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. Taking some elements of Appraisal Theory, the article examines the role of external sources in two corpora representing opposite ideological positions concerning this event – China and the Western world – in order to explore how such material is used by the writer to engage in an ideological–evaluative activity.
Link between Exporting and Productivity
Authors: Kathuria Vinish , Aiyar Anaka
Published: November 2011

The theory that links exporting behaviour and productivity consists broadly of two hypotheses—the ‘self-selection hypothesis’—more productive firms venturing for exports and the ‘learning by exporting hypothesis’—exporting leads to increased productivity. This study measures the productivity differentials between exporters and non-exporters for 120 firms belonging to the Indian chemical industry to investigate if the self-selection hypothesis holds. The productivity differential comparison between exporters and non-exporters show that non-exporters have higher total factor productivity than exporters. Though labour productivity is higher in exporters than non-exporters, the yearly averages show that the labour productivity of exporters is converging to that on the non-exporters. In terms of capital productivity, overall averages show that exporters are more productive, but yearly trend shows that capital productivity of non-exporters has overtaken that of exporters over the years. With respect to self-selection hypothesis, the study does not find any evidence for it for the chemical industry. Prior exporting status, size, being part of a group and age are the only factors that induce a firm to go for exporting.
Successful Implementation of Thai Family Matters
Authors: Rosati Michael J. , Cupp Pamela K. , Chookhare Warunee , Miller Brenda A. , Byrnes Hilary F. , Fongkaew Warunee , Vanderhoff Jude , Chamratrithirong Aphichat , Rhucharoenpornpanich Orratai , Atwood Katharine A.
Published: November 2011

This article discusses the successful process used to assess the feasibility of implementing the Family Matters program in Bangkok, Thailand. This is important work since adopting and adapting evidence-based programs is a strategy currently endorsed by leading prevention funding sources, particularly in the United States. The original Family Matters consists of four booklets designed to increase parental communication with their adolescent children in order to delay onset of or decrease alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. As part of the program, health educators contact parents by telephone to support them in the adoption of the program. Each booklet addresses a key aspect of strengthening families and protecting young people from unhealthy behaviors related to alcohol and other drug use. Adaptation of the program for Bangkok focused on cultural relevance and the addition of a unit targeting adolescent dating and sexual behavior. A total of 170 families entered the program, with the majority (85.3%) completing all five booklets. On average, the program took 16 weeks to complete, with families reporting high satisfaction with the program. This article provides greater detail about the implementation process and what was learned from this feasibility trial.
Tales of Conde
Authors: Moreira Claudio
Published: November 2011

In this performance autoethnography I am talking about the “new writing” that is everywhere, but still, it is also nowhere. This is also about Conde, a poor Black Brazilian soccer fan. Mixing together stories I wrote for my master thesis, memories, notes, and ‘leftovers’ of my field work, my lived experiences, plus six years of my life as grad student at the University of Illinois, I am looking for ways to decolonize inquiry; to decolonize academia. This performance discusses and interrogates forms of representation, knowledge production and experience, method and theory, about the other. All of these issues are pertinent to any field of knowledge which deals with issues of social justice in the lives of human beings.
Effects of conventional and active screen plasma nitriding on properties of electroless Ni–B coating
Authors: Ahmadkhaniha D , Mahboubi F
Published: November 2011

In the present study, the properties of nitrided electroless Ni–B coatings prepared by conventional plasma nitriding and active screen plasma nitriding were investigated. For this purpose, electroless Ni–B coatings were deposited from an alkaline bath on AISI 4140 substrates. Then, some of the prepared coatings were plasma nitrided by conventional method and the other ones by active screen method under the same conditions. Microstructure, morphology, microhardness and wear resistance of the coatings were evaluated. Based on the results, post-treatments change the amorphous as deposited coating structure to a crystalline one, which increases microhardness and wear resistance. Employing plasma nitriding treatment on the coatings results in higher microhardness and superior wear resistance than conventional heat treatment. The sputtering of iron atoms during plasma nitriding process can be the main reason for these results. In addition, active screen plasma nitriding demonstrates less surface roughness and superior wear resistance than conventional plasma nitriding.
Survey about effects of shot peening conditions on fatigue performances of Ti–6Al–4V mechanical specimens featured by different cross-section geometries
Authors: Mapelli C , Manes A , Giglio M , Mombelli D , Giudici L , Baldizzone C , Gruttadauria A
Published: November 2011

The present article provides a technical survey of the effects of shot peening conditions on the fatigue performance of Ti–6Al–4V specimens representative of the material (and the surface treatment) used in helicopter rotor hubs. As the effects of shot peening on non-plain surfaces have been fairly neglected in the scientific literature, the present work attempts to define the effects of shot peening on different specimens, featuring specific cross-section geometries, namely smooth and sharp edged specimens. Experimental tests also include measurements of the residual stress field caused by shot peening and the definition of the fatigue limit (by means of the ‘staircase method’) for all the tested specimen configurations. The present study proceeds with an optical and scanning electron microscopic investigation of the dynamics and causes of the different fatigue limits associated with the geometrical features. The present study conveys a strong correlation between specimen geometry and shot peening microstructural effects, resulting in different fatigue performances. The present work concludes that, whenever surface treatment is involved in the manufacturing process, the component's design must be included, in addition to the required geometrical features for the operative conditions, an evaluation of how these provided features might affect the surface treatment outcome.
Monosomal karyotype in adult acute myeloid leukemia: prognostic impact and outcome after different treatment strategies
Authors: Kayser Sabine , Zucknick Manuela , Döhner Konstanze , Krauter Jürgen , Köhne Claus-Henning , Horst Heinz A. , Held Gerhard , von Lilienfeld-Toal Marie , Wilhelm Sibylla , Rummel Mathias , Germing Ulrich , Götze Katharina , Nachbaur David , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Göhring Gudrun , Späth Daniela , Morlok Carina , Teleanu Veronica , Ganser Arnold , Döhner Hartmut , Schlenk Richard F. ,   for the German-Austrian AML Study Group
Published: November 2011

We aimed to determine the prognostic impact of monosomal karyotype (MK) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the context of the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification and to evaluate the outcome of MK+ patients after allogeneic HSCT. Of 1058 patients with abnormal cytogenetics, 319 (30%) were MK MK+. MK+ patients were significantly older (P = .0001), had lower white blood counts (P = .0006), and lower percentages of BM blasts (P = .0004); MK was associated with the presence of −5/5q−, −7, 7q−, abnl(12p), abnl(17p), −18/18q−, −20/20q−, inv(3)/t(3;3), complex karyotype (CK), and myelodysplasia (MDS)–related cytogenetic abnormalities (P < .0001, each); and NPM1 mutations (P < .0001), FLT3 internal tandem duplications (P < .0001), and tyrosine kinase domain mutations (P = .02) were less frequent in MK+. Response to induction therapy and overall survival in MK+ patients were dismal with a complete remission rate of 32.5% and a 4-year survival of 9%. MK retained its prognostic impact in AML with CK, AML with MDS-related cytogenetic abnormalities, and in a revised definition (MK-R) excluding cases with recurrent genetic abnormalities according to WHO classification and those with derivative chromosomes not leading to true monosomies. In younger patients, allogeneic HSCT from matched related and unrelated donors resulted in a limited improvement of overall survival.
The homology of odontodes in gnathostomes: insights from Dlx gene expression in the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula
Authors: Debiais-Thibaud Mélanie , Oulion Silvan , Bourrat Franck , Laurenti Patrick , Casane Didier , Borday-Birraux Véronique
Published: November 2011

Background

Teeth and tooth-like structures, together named odontodes, are repeated organs thought to share a common evolutionary origin. These structures can be found in gnathostomes at different locations along the body: oral teeth in the jaws, teeth and denticles in the oral-pharyngeal cavity, and dermal denticles on elasmobranch skin. We, and other colleagues, had previously shown that teeth in any location were serially homologous because: i) pharyngeal and oral teeth develop through a common developmental module; and ii) the expression patterns of theDlxgenes during odontogenesis were highly divergent between species but almost identical between oral and pharyngeal dentitions within the same species. Here we examineDlxgene expression in oral teeth and dermal denticles in order to test the hypothesis of serial homology between these odontodes.

Results

We present a detailed comparison of the first developing teeth and dermal denticles (caudal primary scales) of the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) and show that both odontodes develop through identical stages that correspond to the common stages of oral and pharyngeal odontogenesis. We identified sixDlxparalogs in the dogfish and found that three showed strong transcription in teeth and dermal denticles (Dlx3,Dlx4andDlx5) whereas a weak expression was detected forDlx1in dermal denticles and teeth, and forDlx2in dermal denticles. Very few differences inDlxexpression patterns could be detected between tooth and dermal denticle development, except for the absence ofDlx2expression in teeth.

Conclusions

Taken together, our histological and expression data strongly suggest that teeth and dermal denticles develop from the same developmental module and under the control of the same set ofDlxgenes. Teeth and dermal denticles should therefore be considered as serial homologs developing through the initiation of a common gene regulatory network (GRN) at several body locations. This mechanism of heterotopy supports the 'inside and out' model that has been recently proposed for odontode evolution.
Functional annotation of the transcriptome of Sorghum bicolor in response to osmotic stress and abscisic acid
Authors: Dugas Diana V , Monaco Marcela K , Olson Andrew , Klein Robert R , Kumari Sunita , Ware Doreen , Klein Patricia E
Published: November 2011

Background

Higher plants exhibit remarkable phenotypic plasticity allowing them to adapt to an extensive range of environmental conditions. Sorghum is a cereal crop that exhibits exceptional tolerance to adverse conditions, in particular, water-limiting environments. This study utilized next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to examine the transcriptome of sorghum plants challenged with osmotic stress and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) in order to elucidate genes and gene networks that contribute to sorghum's tolerance to water-limiting environments with a long-term aim of developing strategies to improve plant productivity under drought.

Results

RNA-Seq results revealed transcriptional activity of 28,335 unique genes from sorghum root and shoot tissues subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress or exogenous ABA. Differential gene expression analyses in response to osmotic stress and ABA revealed a strong interplay among various metabolic pathways including abscisic acid and 13-lipoxygenase, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and plant defense pathways. Transcription factor analysis indicated that groups of genes may be co-regulated by similar regulatory sequences to which the expressed transcription factors bind. We successfully exploited the data presented here in conjunction with published transcriptome analyses for rice, maize, and Arabidopsis to discover more than 50 differentially expressed, drought-responsive gene orthologs for which no function had been previously ascribed.

Conclusions

The present study provides an initial assemblage of sorghum genes and gene networks regulated by osmotic stress and hormonal treatment. We are providing an RNA-Seq data set and an initial collection of transcription factors, which offer a preliminary look into the cascade of global gene expression patterns that arise in a drought tolerant crop subjected to abiotic stress. These resources will allow scientists to query gene expression and functional annotation in response to drought.
Novel metabolic biomarkers related to sulfur-dependent detoxification pathways in autistic patients of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Yafee Yusra A , Al- Ayadhi Laila Y , Haq Samina H , El-Ansary Afaf K
Published: November 2011

Background

Xenobiotics are neurotoxins that dramatically alter the health of the child. In addition, an inefficient detoxification system leads to oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, and immune dysfunction. The consensus among physicians who treat autism with a biomedical approach is that those on the spectrum are burdened with oxidative stress and immune problems. In a trial to understand the role of detoxification in the etiology of autism, selected parameters related to sulfur-dependent detoxification mechanisms in plasma of autistic children from Saudi Arabia will be investigated compared to control subjects.

Methods

20 males autistic children aged 3-15 years and 20 age and gender matching healthy children as control group were included in this study. Levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), total (GSH+GSSG), glutathione status (GSH/GSSG), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione- s-transferase (GST), thioredoxin (Trx), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and peroxidoxins (Prxs I and III) were determined.

Results

Reduced glutathione, total glutathione, GSH/GSSG and activity levels of GST were significantly lower, GR shows non-significant differences, while, Trx, TrxR and both Prx I and III recorded a remarkably higher values in autistics compared to control subjects.

Conclusion

The impaired glutathione status together with the elevated Trx and TrxR and the remarkable over expression of both Prx I and Prx III, could be used as diagnostic biomarkers of autism.
Changes in cholesterol homeostasis modify the response of F1B hamsters to dietary very long chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Lecker Jaime L , Matthan Nirupa R , Billheimer Jeffrey T , Rader Daniel J , Lichtenstein Alice H
Published: November 2011

Background

The plasma lipoprotein response of F1B Golden-Syrian hamsters fed diets high in very long chain (VLC) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is paradoxical to that observed in humans. This anomaly is attributed, in part, to low lipoprotein lipase activity and is dependent on cholesterol status. To further elucidate the mechanism(s) for these responses, hamsters were fed diets containing supplemental fish oil (VLC n-3 PUFA) or safflower oil (n-6 PUFA) (both 10% [w/w]) and either cholesterol-supplemented (0.1% cholesterol [w/w]) or cholesterol-depleted (0.01% cholesterol [w/w] and 10 days prior to killing fed 0.15% lovastatin+2% cholestyramine [w/w]).

Results

Cholesterol-supplemented hamsters fed fish oil, relative to safflower oil, had higher non-high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations (P < 0.001) which were associated with lower hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c and acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyl transferase-2 (ACAT) mRNA and protein (p < 0.05), and higher hepatic apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 and apo E protein levels. In contrast, cholesterol-depleted hamsters fed fish oil, relative to safflower oil, had lower non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations (P < 0.001) which were associated with lower hepatic SREBP-1c (p < 0.05) but not apo B-100, apo E or ACAT-2 mRNA or protein levels. Independent of cholesterol status, fish oil fed hamsters had lower HDL cholesterol concentrations (p < 0.001), which were associated with lower hepatic apoA-I protein levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These data suggest disturbing cholesterol homeostasis in F1B hamsters alters their response to dietary fatty acids, which is reflected in altered plasma lipoprotein patterns and regulation of genes associated with their metabolism.
Mitral annular calcification predicts immediate results of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy
Authors: Salarifar Mojtaba , Rezvanfard Mehrnaz , Sadeghian Hakimeh , Safir-mardanloo Azam , Shafii Nahid
Published: November 2011

Background

Many previous studies have evaluated the impact of mitral valve (MV) deformity scores on the percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) outcome in patients with mitral stenosis; however, the relationship between mitral annulus calcification (MAC) and the PTMC result has not yet been established. The current study aimed to investigate whether MAC could independently influence the immediate result of PTMC.

Methods

Of all patients undergoing PTMC in our institution between April 2005 and November 2009, we included 87 patients (28.7%male, mean ± SD age = 42.8 ± 12.6 years) with rheumatic mitral stenosis who had additional data on the echocardiographic evaluation of MAC along with MV leaflets morphology. Echocardiographic assessments were repeated up to six weeks after PTMC to evaluate the immediate PTMC outcome. The frequency of the optimal PTMC result (secondary MV area > = 1.5 cm2with > = 25% increase and without final mitral regurgitation grade > 2) was compared between two groups of patients with MAC (n = 17) and those without MAC (n = 70).

Results

The optimal result was obtained in 55 (63.2%) patients, whereas the result was suboptimal in 32 (36.8%) patients due to insufficient MV area increase in 31(96.9%) subjects and post-procedure mitral regurgitation grade > 2 in 1(3.1%). The rate of optimal PTMC results was less in patients with MAC in comparison to those without MAC (29.4% vs.71.4%). After adjustments for possible confounders such as age and leaflets morphological subcomponents (thickening, mobility, calcification, and subvalvular thickening), MAC remained a significant negative predictor of a suboptimal PTMC result (odds ratio = 0.154; 95%CI = 0.038-0.626, p value = 0.009) together with leaflet thickening (odds ratio = 0.214; 95%CI = 0.060-0.770, p value = 0.018).

Conclusions

MAC appeared to independently influence the immediate result of PTMC; therefore, mitral annulus evaluation may be considered in the echocardiographic assessment of the mitral apparatus prior to PTMC.
Rapid typing of foot-and-mouth disease serotype Asia 1 by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification
Authors: Chen Hao-tai , Zhang Jie , Liu Yong-sheng , Liu Xiang-tao
Published: November 2011

A reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was rapidly used to detect serotype Asia 1 of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) within 45 min at 61°C. All FMDV serotype Asia 1 reference strains were positive by RT-LAMP, while other viruses such as FMDV serotypes O, C, A and classical swine fever virus, swine vesicular disease virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and Japanese encephalitis virus remained negative. Furthermore, FMDV sreotype Asia 1 positive samples were able to detect by RT-LAMP assay. This RT-LAMP assay may be suitable particularly for diagnosis of FMDV serotype Asia 1 infection in field stations.
Which dressing do donor site wounds need?: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Eskes Anne M , Brölmann Fleur E , Gerbens Louise AA , Ubbink Dirk T , Vermeulen Hester ,   The REMBRANDT study group (REMBRANDT)
Published: November 2011

Background

Donor site wounds after split-skin grafting are rather 'standard' wounds. At present, lots of dressings and topical agents for donor site wounds are commercially available. This causes large variation in the local care of these wounds, while the optimum 'standard' dressing for local wound care is unclear. This protocol describes a trial in which we investigate the effectiveness of various treatment options for these donor site wounds.

Methods

A 14-center, six-armed randomized clinical trial is being carried out in the Netherlands. An a-priori power analysis and an anticipated dropout rate of 15% indicates that 50 patients per group are necessary, totaling 300 patients, to be able to detect a 25% quicker mean time to complete wound healing. Randomization has been computerized to ensure allocation concealment. Adult patients who need a split-skin grafting operation for any reason, leaving a donor site wound of at least 10 cm2 are included and receive one of the following dressings: hydrocolloid, alginate, film, hydrofiber, silicone dressing, or paraffin gauze. No combinations of products from other intervention groups in this trial are allowed. Optimum application and changes of these dressings are pursued according to the protocol as supplied by the dressing manufacturers. Primary outcomes are days to complete wound healing and pain (using a Visual Analogue Scale). Secondary outcomes are adverse effects, scarring, patient satisfaction, and costs. Outcome assessors unaware of the treatment allocation will assess whether or not an outcome has occurred. Results will be analyzed according to the intention to treat principle. The first patient was randomized October 1, 2009.

Discussion

This study will provide comprehensive data on the effectiveness of different treatment options for donor site wounds. The dressing(s) that will prevail in effectiveness, satisfaction and costs will be promoted among clinicians dealing with such patients. Thus, we aim to contribute a well-designed trial, relevant to all clinicians involved in the care for donor site wounds, which will help enhance uniformity and quality of care for these patients.

Trial registration

http://www.trialregister.nl, NTR1849. Date registered: June 9, 2009
A field-study on Leptospira seroprevalence in dairy cows in four geographical areas in Sweden
Authors: Lindahl Elisabeth , Boqvist Sofia , Artursson Karin , Magnusson Ulf
Published: November 2011

Background

Dairy cattle were used as sentinels for the presence of Leptospira infection in Swedish livestock in four regions contrasting in precipitation and temperature during the summer time. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of five serovars of Leptospira of low pathogenicity in dairy cattle in these four regions.

Findings

Around 150 blood samples were collected from five dairy farms from each region, making 610 samples in total, during December 2009. The samples were screened for L. kirschneri sv Grippotyphosa, L. interrogans sv Icterohaemorrhagiae, L. interrogans sv Canicola, L. borgpetersenii sv Sejroe and one domestic strain similar to sv Sejroe, called strain Mouse 2A using the Microscopic Agglutination Test. Six animals (1%) were seropositive for the strain Mouse 2A. Four of the positive samples were from the south-west region which also was the region with highest precipitation. There were no positive samples to any of the other serovars studied.

Conclusions

The present data indicate that there is a low seroprevalence of Leptospira in Swedish dairy cows. These findings can be used as baseline data to investigate the effects of, for instance, climatic change or alterations in wildlife reservoir populations on the seroprevalence of Leptospira in the future.