bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary Follicular Lymphoma of the Duodenum with Erosions as Atypical Macroscopic Features
Authors: Takeuchi Keiko , Iwamuro Masaya , Imagawa Atsushi , Kubota Yoshitsugu , Miyatani Katsuya , Takata Katsuyoshi , Okada Hiroyuki
Published: June 2012

A 52-year-old Japanese woman who was eventually diagnosed with primary follicular lymphoma of the duodenum showed atypical endoscopic features, namely, erosions with peripheral whitish edematous mucosa. Initial biopsy specimens taken from the erosions revealed insufficient numbers of lymphoma cells for histological diagnosis. Subsequent biopsy specimens from the peripheral mucosa containing the whitish enlarged villi showed infiltration of the lymphoma cells forming lymphoid follicles, which led us to the appropriate diagnosis. This case indicates that endoscopists should take biopsy samples from the peripheral mucosa with whitish enlarged villi rather than erosions in the rare instances that erosions appear as the main macroscopic feature of intestinal follicular lymphoma.
Employment Assimilation of Immigrants in The Netherlands: Dip and Catchup by Source Country
Authors: Zorlu Aslan , Hartog Joop
Published: June 2012

Using two Dutch labour force surveys, we compare employment assimilation of immigrants by source country, after ranking countries by presumed social-cultural distance to The Netherlands. We test this ranking of human capital transferability on the ranking by initial performance dip at entry as an immigrant and speed of assimilation as measured by the slope on years-since-migration. We also test the predicted association between entry gap and speed of assimilation (faster assimilation if the initial dip is larger). Both hypotheses are largely supported. Most immigrant groups never reach parity with native Dutch, neither in (un-)employment probability nor in job quality, and certainly not within 25 years after arrival.
Analyzing Gene Expression Profile in K562 Cells Exposed to Sodium Valproate Using Microarray Combined with the Connectivity Map Database
Authors: Zhang Xiang-Zhong , Yin Ai-Hua , Lin Dong-Jun , Zhu Xiao-Yu , Ding Qian , Wang Chun-Huai , Chen Yun-Xian
Published: June 2012

To explore the mechanism underlying antileukaemia effect of sodium valproate, the growth and survival of the K562 cell line were investigated. Global profiles of gene expression in K562 cells exposed to sodium valproate were assessed and validated. The differentially expressed genes identified were further used to query the connectivity map database to retrieve a ranked list of compounds that act on the same intracellular targets as sodium valproate. A significant increase in cell apoptosis and a change in gene expression profile were observed in valproate-exposed K562 cells. The significant enrichment analysis of gene ontology terms for the differentially expressed genes showed that these genes were involved in many important biological processes. Eight differentially expressed genes involved in apoptosis were verified by quantitative real-time PCR. The connectivity map analysis showed gene expression profile in K562 cells exposed to sodium valproate was most similar to that of HDACi and PI3K inhibitors, suggesting that sodium valproate might exert antileukaemic action by inhibiting HDAC as well as inhibiting PI3K pathway. In conclusion, our data might provide clues to elucidate the molecular and therapeutic potential of VPA in leukaemia treatment, and the connectivity map is a useful tool for exploring the molecular mechanism of drug action.
Measuring the Food Environment: A Systematic Technique for Characterizing Food Stores Using Display Counts
Authors: Miller Cassandra , Bodor J. Nicholas , Rose Donald
Published: June 2012

Marketing research has documented the influence of in-store characteristics—such as the number and placement of display stands—on consumer purchases of a product. However, little information exists on this topic for key foods of interest to those studying the influence of environmental changes on dietary behavior. This study demonstrates a method for characterizing the food environment by measuring the number of separate displays of fruits, vegetables, and energy-dense snack foods (including chips, candies, and sodas) and their proximity to cash registers in different store types. Observations in New Orleans stores (N=172) in 2007 and 2008 revealed significantly more displays of energy-dense snacks than of fruits and vegetables within all store types, especially supermarkets. Moreover, supermarkets had an average of 20 displays of energy-dense snacks within 1 meter of their cash registers, yet none of them had even a single display of fruits or vegetables near their cash registers. Measures of the number of separate display stands of key foods and their proximity to a cash register can be used by researchers to better characterize food stores and by policymakers to address improvements to the food environment.
Impact ofLactobacillus reuteriSupplementation on Anti-Helicobacter pyloriLevofloxacin-Based Second-Line Therapy
Authors: Ojetti Veronica , Bruno Giovanni , Ainora Maria Elena , Gigante Giovanni , Rizzo Gianluca , Roccarina Davide , Gasbarrini Antonio
Published: June 2012

Introduction.Helicobacter pylorieradication therapy has the potential burden of antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. The occurrence of side effects is among the major drawbacks of such regimens. GI manifestations may be related to alterations in the intestinal microflora. Probiotics can prevent or reduce antibiotic-associated side effects and have an inhibitory effect onH. pylori.Methods. To define the efficacy ofLactobacillus reuterisupplementation inH. pylorieradication and in preventing GI-associated side effects during a second-line levofloxacin triple therapy. 90H. pylori-positive patients receive for 7 days a second-line triple therapy with esomeprazole, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin withL. reuterifor 14 days (group 1) and without probiotic supplementation (group 2). Each subject received a validated questionnaire to record symptoms everyday for 4 weeks from the start of therapy.H. pyloristatus and side effects were assessed 6 weeks after treatment.Results. The eradication rate was significantly influenced by probiotic supplementation withL. reuteri(group 1: 36/45, 80%; group 2: 28/45 62%;P<0.05). The incidence of nausea and diarrhoea in group 1 was significantly lower than that in group 2.Conclusion. InH. pylori-positive subjectsL. reuterisupplementation increases the eradication rate while reducing the incidence of the most common side effects associated with antibiotic therapy in second-line treatment.
Effect of Pot Size on Various Characteristics Related to Photosynthetic Matter Production in Soybean Plants
Authors: Kasai Minobu , Koide Keisuke , Ichikawa Yuya
Published: June 2012

Despite the wide uses of potted plants, information on how pot size affects plant photosynthetic matter production is still considerably limited. This study investigated with soybean plants how transplantation into larger pots affects various characteristics related to photosynthetic matter production. The transplantation was analyzed to increase leaf photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance without affecting significantly leaf intercellular CO2concentration, implicating that the transplantation induced equal increases in the rate of CO2diffusion via leaf stomata and the rate of CO2fixation in leaf photosynthetic cells. Analyses of Rubisco activity and contents of a substrate (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP)) for Rubisco and total protein in leaf suggested that an increase in leaf Rubisco activity, which is likely to result from an increase in leaf Rubisco content, could contribute to the transplantation-induced increase in leaf photosynthetic rate. Analyses of leaf major photosynthetic carbohydrates and dry weights of source and sink organs revealed that transplantation increased plant sink capacity that uses leaf starch, inducing a decrease in leaf starch content and an increase in whole plant growth, particularly, growth of sink organs. Previously, in the same soybean species, it was demonstrated that negative correlation exists between leaf starch content and photosynthetic rate and that accumulation of starch in leaf decreases the rate of CO2diffusion within leaf. Thus, it was suggested that the transplantation-induced increase in plant sink capacity decreasing leaf starch content could cause the transplantation-induced increase in leaf photosynthetic rate by inducing an increase in the rate of CO2diffusion within leaf and thereby substantiating an increase in leaf Rubisco activity in vivo. It was therefore concluded that transplantation of soybean plants into larger pots attempted in this study increased the plant photosynthetic matter production by increasing mainly sink capacity that uses leaf starch for whole plant growth, particularly, growth of sink organs.
Picolinic Acid in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Zuwała-Jagiello Jolanta , Pazgan-Simon Monika , Simon Krzysztof , Warwas Maria
Published: June 2012

Macrophage activation seems to be a feature of chronic liver diseases. Picolinic acid (PA) as a macrophage secondary signal causes the activation of interferon-gamma- (IFN-γ-) prime macrophage and triggers cytokine-driven inflammatory reactions. The rationale for seeking increased PA formation in chronic viral hepatitis is based on the involvement of activated macrophages in chronic viral hepatitis-associated inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine serum PA levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, taking into account the presence of diabetes. We assessed PA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as a marker of inflammation in 51 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC), both with and without diabetes and 40 controls. Compared with the controls, the patients with CHC showed a significant increase in plasma concentrations of PA and hsCRP (P<0.01andP<0.05, resp.). The values of PA and hsCRP were more elevated in patients with diabetes than without diabetes (bothP<0.01). The positive relationships were between PA and hsCRP levels (P<0.05) and the presence of diabetes (P<0.001). We documented that significant elevation in serum PA levels is associated with diabetes prevalence and increased inflammatory response reflected in hsCRP levels in CHC patients.
Simplified Analytical Method for Estimating the Resistance of Lock Gates to Ship Impacts
Authors: Buldgen Loïc , Le Sourne Hervé , Rigo Philippe
Published: June 2012

The present paper is concerned with the design of lock gates submitted to ship impacts. In this paper, a simplified analytical method is presented to evaluate the resistance of such structures under collision. The basic idea is to assume that the resistance is first provided through a local deforming mode, corresponding to a localized crushing of some impacted structural elements. For consecutive larger deformations, the resistance is then mostly provided through a global deforming mode, corresponding to an overall movement of the entire gate. For assessing the resistance in the case of the local deforming mode, the structure is divided into a given number of large structural entities called “superelements.” For each of them, a relation between the resistance of the gate and the penetration of the striking ship is established. However, as some results are already available in the literature, this subject is not treated extensively in this paper. On the contrary, the calculation of the resistance of the gate provided through the global mode is detailed and the strategy to switch from local to global deformation is highlighted. Finally, we propose to validate our developments by making a comparison between results obtained numerically and those predicted by the present analytical approach.
IgG4-Related Fibrotic Diseases from an Immunological Perspective: Regulators out of Control?
Authors: Lighaam Laura C. , Aalberse Rob C. , Rispens Theo
Published: June 2012

Patients with autoimmune pancreatitis have a striking polyclonal elevation of total IgG4 in serum. This observation has been confirmed and extended to other fibrotic conditions (that are therefore called IgG4-related disease) but as yet remains unexplained. The affected tissue contains many IgG4-producing plasma cells embedded in a fibrotic matrix originating from activated mesenchymal (stellate) cells. We propose that the process results from an unusual interaction between two regulatory systems: the regulatory arm of the immune system (including Bregs) and the tissue repair regulatory components orchestrated by the activated stellate cell. This interaction results in ongoing mutual activation, generating TGFbeta, IL10, and vitamin D. This environment suppresses most immune reactions but stimulates the development of IgG4-producing plasma cells.
Lyapunov′s Type Inequalities for Fourth‐Order Differential Equations
Authors: Saker Samir H.
Published: June 2012

For a fourth‐order differential equation, we will establish some new Lyapunov‐type inequalities, which give lower bounds of the distance between zeros of a nontrivial solution and also lower bounds of the distance between zeros of a solution and/or its derivatives. The main results will be proved by making use of Hardy’s inequality and some generalizations of Opial‐Wirtinger‐type inequalities involving higher‐order derivatives. Some examples are considered to illustrate the main results.
Short-Term Rationing of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy: Impact on Morbidity, Mortality, and Loss to Follow-Up in a Large HIV Treatment Program in Western Kenya
Authors: Bell April J. , Wools-Kaloustian Kara , Kimaiyo Sylvester , Liu Hai , Katschke Adrian , Shen Changyu , Simiyu Gilbert , Musick Beverly S. , Sidle John E. , Siika Abraham , Braitstein Paula
Published: June 2012

Background. There was a 6-month shortage of antiretrovirals (cART) in Kenya.Methods. We assessed morbidity, mortality, and loss to follow-up (LTFU) in this retrospective analysis of adults who were enrolled during the six-month period with restricted cART (cap) or the six months prior (pre-cap) and eligible for cART at enrollment by the pre-cap standard. Cox models were used to adjust for potential confounders.Results. 9009 adults were eligible for analysis: 4,714 pre-cap and 4,295 during the cap. Median number of days from enrollment to cART initiation was 42 pre-cap and 56 for the cap (P<0.001). After adjustment, individuals in the cap were at higher risk of mortality (HR=1.21; 95% CI : 1.06–1.39) and LTFU (HR=1.12; 95% CI : 1.04–1.22). There was no difference between the groups in their risk of developing a new AIDS-defining illness (HR=0.9295% CI 0.82–1.03).Conclusions. Rationing of cART, even for a relatively short period of six months, led to clinically adverse outcomes.
Comparison of Two Suspension Arrays for Simultaneous Detection of Five Biothreat Bacterial in Powder Samples
Authors: Yang Yu , Wang Jing , Wen Haiyan , Liu Hengchuan
Published: June 2012

We have developed novel Bio-Plex assays for simultaneous detection ofBacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella spp., Francisella tularensis,andBurkholderia pseudomallei. Universal primers were used to amplify highly conserved region located within the 16S rRNA amplicon, followed by hybridized to pathogen-specific probes for identification of these five organisms. The other assay is based on multiplex PCR to simultaneously amplify five species-specific pathogen identification-targeted regions unique to individual pathogen. Both of the two arrays are validated to be flexible and sensitive for simultaneous detection of bioterrorism bacteria. However, universal primer PCR-based array could not identifyBacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis,andBrucella spp.at the species level because of the high conservation of 16S rDNA of the same genus. The two suspension arrays can be utilized to detectBacillus anthracissterne spore andYersinia pestisEV76 from mimic “write powder” samples, they also proved that the suspension array system will be valuable tools for diagnosis of bacterial biothreat agents in environmental samples.
Meditation as a Potential Therapy for Autism: A Review
Authors: Sequeira Sonia , Ahmed Mahiuddin
Published: June 2012

Autism is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown cause that affects approximately 1–3 percent of children and four times more boys than girls. Its prevalence is global and its social impact is devastating. In autism, the brain is unable to process sensory information normally. Instead, simple stimuli from the outside world are experienced as overwhelmingly intense and strain the emotional centers of the brain. A stress response to the incoming information is initiated that destabilizes cognitive networks and short-circuits adequate behavioral output. As a result, the child is unable to respond adequately to stimulation and initiate social behavior towards family, friends, and peers. In addition, these children typically face immune-digestive disorders that heighten social fears, anxieties, and internal conflicts. While it is critical to treat the physical symptoms, it is equally vital to offer an evidence-based holistic solution that harmonizes both their emotional and physical well-being as they move from childhood into adult life. Here, we summarize evidence from clinical studies and neuroscience research that suggests that an approach built on yogic principles and meditative tools is worth pursuing. Desired outcomes include relief of clinical symptoms of the disease, greater relaxation, and facilitated expression of feelings and skills, as well as improved family and social quality of life.
A Dutch Fanconi AnemiaFANCCFounder Mutation in Canadian Manitoba Mennonites
Authors: de Vries Yne , Lwiwski Nikki , Levitus Marieke , Kuyt Bertus , Israels Sara J. , Arwert Fré , Zwaan Michel , Greenberg Cheryl R. , Alter Blanche P. , Joenje Hans , Meijers-Heijboer Hanne
Published: June 2012

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a recessive DNA instability disorder associated with developmental abnormalities, bone marrow failure, and a predisposition to cancer. Based on their sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, FA cells have been assigned to 15 complementation groups, and the associated genes have been identified. Founder mutations have been found in different FA genes in several populations. The majority of Dutch FA patients belongs to complementation group FA-C. Here, we report 15 patients of Dutch ancestry and a large Canadian Manitoba Mennonite kindred carrying theFANCCc.67delG mutation. Genealogical investigation into the ancestors of the Dutch patients shows that these ancestors lived in four distinct areas in The Netherlands. We also show that the Dutch and Manitoba MennoniteFANCCc.67delG patients share the same haplotype surrounding this mutation, indicating a common founder.
A Stability Indicating UPLC Method for the Determination of Tramadol Hydrochloride: Application to Pharmaceutical Analysis
Authors: Vinay Kanakapura B. , Revanasiddappa Hosakere D. , Xavier Cijo M. , Ramesh Pavagada J. , Raghu Madihalli S.
Published: June 2012

The use of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), with a rapid 5-minute
reversed phase isocratic separation on a 1.7 μm reversed-phase packing material to provide rapid
‘‘high throughput’’ support for tramadol hydrochloride (TMH) is demonstrated. A simple, precise
and accurate stability-indicating isocratic UPLC method was developed for the determination of
TMH in bulk drug and in its tablets. The method was developed using Waters Aquity BEH C18
column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with mobile phase consisting of a mixture of potassium
dihydrogen phosphate buffer of pH 2.8 and an equal volume of acetonitrile (60 : 40 v/v). The eluted
compound was detected at 226 nm with a UV detector. The standard curve of mean peak area
versus concentration showed an excellent linearity over a concentration range 0.5–300 μg mL−1
TMH with regression coefficient (r) value of 0.9999. The limit of detection (S/N =3) was 0.08 μg mL−1 and the limit of quantification (S/N
=10) was 0.2 μg mL−1. Forced degradation of the bulk
sample was conducted an accordance with the ICH guidelines. Acidic, basic, hydrolytic, oxidative,
thermal and photolytic degradation were used to assess the stability indicating power of the method.
TMH was found to degrade significantly in acidic, basic and oxidative stress conditions and stable
in thermal, hydrolytic and photolytic conditions.
The Well‐Posedness of Solutions for a Generalized Shallow Water Wave Equation
Authors: Lai Shaoyong , Wang Aiyin
Published: June 2012

A nonlinear partial differential equation containing the famous Camassa‐Holm and Degasperis‐Procesi equations as special cases is investigated. The Kato theorem for abstract differential equations is applied to establish the local well‐posedness of solutions for the equation in the Sobolev space Hs(R) with s > 3/2. Although the H1‐norm of the solutions to the nonlinear model does not remain constant, the existence of its weak solutions in the lower‐order Sobolev space Hs with 1 ≤ s ≤ 3/2 is proved under the assumptions u0 ∈ Hs and .
Robust Signature-Based Copyright Protection Scheme Using the Most Significant Gray-Scale Bits of the Image
Authors: Awrangjeb Mohammad
Published: June 2012

Themost significant bit- (MSB-) plane of an image is least likely to change by the most signal processing operations. This paper presents a novel multibit logo-based signature, using the most significant gray-scale bits, which is then used to develop an extremely simple but robust copyright protection scheme, where images along with their signatures are sent to a trusted third party when a dispute arises. Different ways of processing the MSB-plane before calculating the robust signature have been developed. This paper then presents an innovative classifier-based technique to test the robustness and uniqueness of any signature-based scheme. A new MSB-based attack, which would defeat our scheme most, has also been proposed. Experimental results have clearly demonstrated the superiority of the proposed scheme showing the high robustness of different MSB-based signatures over the existing signature-based schemes.
Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis and Management of Vitreoretinal Interface Pathologies
Authors: Barak Yoreh , Ihnen Mark A. , Schaal Shlomit
Published: June 2012

The introduction of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) has enhanced Vitreoretinal Interface (VRI) imaging considerably and facilitated the diagnosis, followup, prognosis determination, and management of VRI-associated pathologies. HR-OCT became a common practical tool seen in almost every ophthalmology practice. Knowledge of SD-OCT image interpretation and recognition of pathologies are required for all ophthalmologists. This paper methodically reviews the normal aging process of the VRI and discusses several commonly encountered VRI pathologies. The role of SD-OCT imaging in VRI-associated disorders such as posterior vitreous detachment, vitreomacular traction syndrome, idiopathic epiretinal membranes, lamellar holes, pseudoholes, and full thickness macular holes is portrayed. Future perspectives of new OCT technologies based on SD-OCT are discussed.
Curcumin Attenuates Gastric Cancer Induced byN-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea and Saturated Sodium Chloride in Rats
Authors: Sintara Kawiya , Thong-Ngam Duangporn , Patumraj Suthiluk , Klaikeaw Naruemon
Published: June 2012

To determine effects of curcumin onN-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and saturated sodium chloride (s-NaCl)-induced gastric cancer in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: control (CO), control supplemented with 200 mg/kg curcumin (CC), MNU + s-NaCl, MNU + s-NaCl supplemented with 200 mg/kg curcumin daily for the first 3 weeks (MNU + s-NaCl + C3W), and MNU + s-NaCl supplemented with curcumin for 20 weeks (MNU + s-NaCl + C20W). To induce stomach cancer, rats except for CO and CC were orally treated with 100 mg/kg MNU on day 0 and 14, and s-NaCl twice-a-week for the first 3 weeks. The experiment was finished and rats were sacrificed at the end of 20 weeks. Cancers were found in forestomachs of all rats in MNU + s-NaCl. The expressions of phosphorylated inhibitor kappaB alpha (phospho-IκBα), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and cyclin D1 significantly increased in MNU + s-NaCl compared with CO. Curcumin treatments for 3 and 20 weeks reduced the cancer incidence resulting in a decrease of phospho-IκBα expression in benign tumor-bearing rats compared with MNU + s-NaCl. Curcumin treatment for 20 weeks also decreased 8-OHdG expression in benign tumor-bearing rats compared with MNU + s-NaCl. Curcumin can attenuate cancer via a reduction of phospho-IκBα and 8-OHdG expressions, which may play a promising role in gastric carcinogenesis.
Metformin: An Emerging New Therapeutic Option for Targeting Cancer Stem Cells and Metastasis
Authors: Rattan Ramandeep , Ali Fehmi Rouba , Munkarah Adnan
Published: June 2012

Metastasis is an intricate process by which a small number of cancer cells from the primary tumor site undergo numerous alterations, which enables them to form secondary tumors at another and often multiple sites in the host. Transition of a cancer cell from epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype is thought to be the first step in the progression of metastasis. Recently, the recognition of cancer stem cells has added to the perplexity in understanding metastasis, as studies suggest cancer stem cells to be the originators of metastasis. All current and investigative drugs have been unable to prevent or reverse metastasis, as a result of which most metastatic cancers are incurable. A potential drug that can be considered is metformin, an oral hypoglycemic drug. In this review we discuss the potential of metformin in targeting both epithelial to mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells in combating cancer metastases.
A Review of Psoriasis, a Known Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease and Its Impact on Folate and Homocysteine Metabolism
Authors: McDonald Ian , Connolly Maureen , Tobin Anne-Marie
Published: June 2012

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This risk has been attributed to an association with many independent risk factors including obesity, hypertension, smoking, and dyslipidemia. Psoriasis patients also have lower levels of folate and conversely higher levels of homocysteine, which in itself is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It has been postulated that low folate levels in this group may be a direct cause of hyperhomocysteinemia and therefore a treatable risk factor by folate supplementation. This paper looks at the literature published to date on the relationship between psoriasis, homocysteine, and folate levels.
DrosophilaModels of Tauopathies: What Have We Learned?
Authors: Gistelinck Marc , Lambert Jean-Charles , Callaerts Patrick , Dermaut Bart , Dourlen Pierre
Published: June 2012

Aggregates of the microtubule-associated protein Tau are neuropathological hallmark lesions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related primary tauopathies. In addition, Tau is genetically implicated in a number of human neurodegenerative disorders including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The exact mechanism by which Tau exerts its neurotoxicity is incompletely understood. Here, we give an overview of how studies using the genetic model organismDrosophilaover the past decade have contributed to the molecular understanding of Tau neurotoxicity. We compare the different available readouts for Tau neurotoxicity in flies and review the molecular pathways in which Tau has been implicated. Finally, we emphasize that the integration of genome-wide approaches in human or mice with high-throughput genetic validation inDrosophilais a fruitful approach.
Colorectal Cancer Chemoprevention by Mesalazine and Its Derivatives
Authors: Stolfi Carmine , Pallone Francesco , Monteleone Giovanni
Published: June 2012

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face an increased lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Independent factors associated with increased risk include long disease duration, extensive colonic involvement, young age at onset of IBD, severity of inflammation, primary sclerosing cholangitis, backwash ileitis, and a family history of CRC, thus emphasising the role of intestinal inflammation as an underlying mechanism. This notion is also supported by the demonstration that the use of certain drugs used to attenuate the ongoing mucosal inflammation, such as mesalazine, seems to associate with a reduced incidence of colitis-associated CRC. In the last decade, work from many laboratories has contributed to delineate the mechanisms by which mesalazine alters CRC cell behaviour. In this paper, we review the available experimental data supporting the ability of mesalazine and its derivatives to interfere with intracellular signals involved in CRC cell growth.
Valproic Acid Downregulates the Expression of MGMT and Sensitizes Temozolomide-Resistant Glioma Cells
Authors: Ryu Chung Heon , Yoon Wan Soo , Park Kwang Ywel , Kim Seong Muk , Lim Jung Yeon , Woo Ji Sun , Jeong Chang Hyun , Hou Yun , Jeun Sin-Soo
Published: June 2012

Temozolomide (TMZ) has become a key therapeutic agent in patients with malignant gliomas; however, its survival benefit remains unsatisfactory. Valproic acid (VPA) has emerged as an anticancer drug via inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs), but the therapeutic advantages of a combination with VPA and TMZ remain poorly understood. The main aim of the present study was to determine whether an antitumor effect could be potentiated by a combination of VPA and TMZ, especially in TMZ-resistant cell lines. A combination of VPA and TMZ had a significantly enhanced antitumor effect in TMZ-resistant malignant glioma cells (T98 and U138). This enhanced antitumor effect correlated with VPA-mediated reduced O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression, which plays an important role in cellular resistance to alkylating agents.In vitro, the combination of these drugs enhanced the apoptotic and autophagic cell death, as well as suppressed the migratory activities in TMZ-resistant cell lines. Furthermore,in vivoefficacy experiment showed that treatment of combination of VPA and TMZ significantly inhibited tumor growth compared with the monotherapy groups of mice. These results suggest that the clinical efficacy of TMZ chemotherapy in TMZ-resistant malignant glioma may be improved by combination with VPA.
Fibulin-3 Promotes Glioma Growth and Resistance through a Novel Paracrine Regulation of Notch Signaling
Authors: Hu Bin , Nandhu Mohan S. , Sim Hosung , Agudelo-Garcia Paula A. , Saldivar Joshua C. , Dolan Claire E. , Mora Maria E. , Nuovo Gerard J. , Cole Susan E. , Viapiano Mariano S.
Published: June 2012

Malignant gliomas are highly invasive and chemoresistant brain tumors with extremely poor prognosis. Targeting of the soluble factors that trigger invasion and resistance, therefore, could have a significant impact against the infiltrative glioma cells that are a major source of recurrence. Fibulin-3 is a matrix protein that is absent in normal brain but upregulated in gliomas and promotes tumor invasion by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that fibulin-3 is a novel soluble activator of Notch signaling that antagonizes DLL3, an autocrine inhibitor or Notch, and promotes tumor cell survival and invasion in a Notch-dependent manner. Using a strategy for inducible knockdown, we found that controlled downregulation of fibulin-3 reduced Notch signaling and led to increased apoptosis, reduced self-renewal of glioblastoma-initiating cells, and impaired growth and dispersion of intracranial tumors. In addition, fibulin-3 expression correlated with expression levels of Notch-dependent genes and was a marker of Notch activation in patient-derived glioma samples. These findings underscore a major role for the tumor extracellular matrix in regulating glioma invasion and resistance to apoptosis via activation of the key Notch pathway. More importantly, this work describes a noncanonical, soluble activator of Notch in a cancer model and shows how Notch signaling can be reduced by targeting tumor-specific accessible molecules in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Res; 72(15); 3873–85. ©2012 AACR.
Arterial Properties as Determinants of Time-Varying Myocardial Stress in Humans
Authors: Chirinos Julio A. , Segers Patrick , Gillebert Thierry C. , Gupta Amit K. , De Buyzere Marc L. , De Bacquer Dirk , St John-Sutton Martin , Rietzschel Ernst R.
Published: June 2012

Myocardial and arterial load are time-varying phenomena. Despite their importance in myocardial function, the arterial properties that determine time-resolved myocardial wall stress are unknown. We aimed to assess arterial properties as determinants of time-resolved myocardial stress among 1214 men and women enrolled in the Asklepios Study. Time-resolved central pressure, flow, and left ventricular geometry were measured with carotid tonometry, Doppler, and speckle-tracking echocardiography, respectively, for computation of arterial load and ejection-phase time-varying myocardial wall stress. For any given end-diastolic left ventricular geometry and cardiac output, peak myocardial stress correlated directly with systemic vascular resistance (standardized β=1.12;
P
<0.0001) and aortic characteristic impedance (standardized β=0.17;
P
<0.0001). The ejection-phase stress-time integral correlated with systemic vascular resistance (standardized β=1.06;
P
<0.0001), lower total arterial compliance (standardized β=−0.13;
P
=0.0008), and earlier return of wave reflections (standardized β=−0.10;
P
<0.0001) but not with reflection magnitude, whereas end-systolic wall stress correlated with systemic vascular resistance (standardized β=1.06;
P
<0.0001) and reflection magnitude (standardized β=0.12;
P
<0.0001). After adjustment for age, all of the measured arterial properties, end-diastolic left ventricular geometry, and cardiac output, women demonstrated greater peak (534 versus 507 kdyne/cm
2
;
P
<0.0001), end-systolic (335 versus 320 kdyne/cm
2
;
P
<0.0001), and ejection-phase stress-time integral (157 versus 142 kdyne · s · cm
−2
;
P
<0.0001). In conclusion, different arterial properties have selective effects on time-resolved ejection-phase myocardial wall stress, which are not apparent from single-time point measurements. Women demonstrate less efficient myocardial-arterial coupling, with higher wall stress development for any given left ventricular geometry, arterial properties, and flow output. These observations may relate to the differential susceptibility of women to heart failure.
How Effective Are Capital Controls in Asia?
Authors: Gochoco-Bautista Maria Socorro , Jongwanich Juthathip , Lee Jong-Wha
Published: June 2012

This study examines the effects of capital account restrictions on capital flows in nine emerging Asian economies using panel regressions with 75 economies and fixed effects over the period 1995–2007. The results show that effectiveness of capital controls in the nine emerging Asian economies varies by asset type and by direction of flow and may differ from that in the rest of the world. For example, unlike in the rest of the world, the use of controls on capital outflows in emerging Asia actually increases the amount of these outflows. This finding suggests that it may be best for emerging market economies in Asia to liberalize rather than constrain capital outflows if they want to prevent such outflows.
Understanding the Performance of the Electric Power Industry in China
Authors: Liu Guy , Zhang Liang
Published: June 2012

Despite three decades of reform, China's electricity sector is still organized by a “new reformed plan” where capacity investment has been liberalized but prices and production remain controlled. This paper examines the impact of the current plan prices on end-users with reference to the OECD and how the plan price of electricity supply is formed. We argue that the plan price is set in an attempt to balance the interests of the public and the power industry. We find that China's industries do not pay a cheaper price for electricity than the West, and the plan price is formed through bargain between the firm and the state, which allows the firm to have a soft price constraint on its costs.
Analysis of Spatiotemporal Balancing between Wind and Solar Energy Resources in the Southern Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Santos-Alamillos F. J. , Pozo-Vázquez D. , Ruiz-Arias J. A. , Lara-Fanego V. , Tovar-Pescador J.
Published: June 2012

Electricity from wind and, to a lesser extent, solar energy is intermittent and not controllable. Unlike conventional power generation, therefore, this electricity is not suitable to supply base-load electric power. In the future, with greater penetration of these renewable sources, intermittency and control problems will become critical. Here, the authors explore the use of canonical correlation analysis (CCA) for analyzing spatiotemporal balancing between regional solar and wind energy resources. The CCA allows optimal distribution of wind farms and solar energy plants across a territory to minimize the variability of total energy input into the power supply system. The method was tested in the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula, a region covering about 350 000 km2. The authors used daily-integrated wind and solar energy estimates in 2007 from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model, at a spatial resolution of 9 km. Results showed valuable balancing patterns in the study region, but with a marked seasonality in strength, sign, and spatial coverage. The autumn season showed the most noteworthy results, with a balancing pattern extending almost over the entire study region. With location of reference wind farms and photovoltaic (PV) plants according to the balancing patterns, their combined power production shows substantially lower variability than production of the wind farms and PV plants separately and combined production obtained with any other locations. Atmospheric circulations associated with the balancing patterns were found to be significantly different between seasons. In this regard, synoptic-scale variability played an important role, but so did topographic conditions, especially near the Strait of Gibraltar.
Atmospheric and Fuel Moisture Characteristics Associated with Lightning-Attributed Fires
Authors: Dowdy Andrew J. , Mills Graham A.
Published: June 2012

A systematic examination is presented of the relationship between lightning occurrence and fires attributed to lightning ignitions. Lightning occurrence data are matched to a database of fires attributed to lightning ignition over southeastern Australia and are compared with atmospheric and fuel characteristics at the time of the lightning occurrence. Factors influencing the chance of fire per lightning stroke are examined, including the influence of fuel moisture and weather parameters, as well as seasonal and diurnal variations. The fuel moisture parameters of the Canadian Fire Weather Index System are found to be useful in indicating whether a fire will occur, given the occurrence of lightning. The occurrence of “dry lightning” (i.e., lightning that occurs without significant rainfall) is found to have a large influence on the chance of fire per lightning stroke. Through comparison of the results presented here with the results of studies from other parts of the world, a considerable degree of universality is shown to exist in the characteristics of lightning fires and the atmospheric conditions associated with them, suggesting the potential for these results to be applied more widely than just in the area of the study.
U.S. Summer Precipitation and Temperature Patterns Following the Peak Phase of El Niño
Authors: Wang Hui , Kumar Arun , Wang Wanqiu , Jha Bhaskar
Published: June 2012

Evidence for spatially coherent, but different, U.S. summer precipitation and surface air temperature anomalies during the evolving phase and during the summers following the peak phase of the winter El Niño is presented. The spatial patterns during the decaying phase of El Niño are distinctive from patterns in the preceding summer when El Niño is in its evolving phase, that is, the traditional “simultaneous” composite patterns associated with El Niño. The analysis of a multimodel ensemble of global atmospheric models forced by observed sea surface temperature further confirms that the differences in the U.S. summer precipitation and surface temperature anomalies between the developing and decaying phases of El Niño are a result of the atmospheric response to tropical warm SST anomalies that are shifted eastward and are confined east of 120°W during the decaying phase of El Niño. Given the distinctive pattern, and relatively large amplitude of these anomalies during the decaying phase of El Niño, the results may have implications for the seasonal prediction of U.S. summer precipitation and temperature following winter El Niños.
Large-Scale Control on the Patagonian Climate
Authors: Garreaud R. , Lopez P. , Minvielle M. , Rojas M.
Published: June 2012

Patagonia, located in southern South America, is a vast and remote region holding a rich variety of past environmental records but a small number of meteorological stations. Precipitation over this region is mostly produced by disturbances embedded in the westerly flow and is strongly modified by the austral Andes. Uplift on the windward side leads to hyperhumid conditions along the Pacific coast and the western slope of the Andes; in contrast, downslope subsidence dries the eastern plains leading to arid, highly evaporative conditions.

The authors investigate the dependence of Patagonia’s local climate (precipitation and near-surface air temperature) year-to-year variability on large-scale circulation anomalies using results from a 30-yr-long high-resolution numerical simulation. Variations of the low-level zonal wind account for a large fraction of the rainfall variability at synoptic and interannual time scales. Zonal wind also controls the amplitude of the air temperature annual cycle by changing the intensity of the seasonally varying temperature advection.

The main modes of year-to-year variability of the zonal flow over southern South America are also investigated. Year round there is a dipole between mid- and high latitudes. The node separating wind anomalies of opposite sign migrates through the seasons, leading to a dipole over Patagonia during austral summer and a monopole during winter. Reanalysis data also suggests that westerly flow has mostly decreased over north-central Patagonia during the last four decades, causing a drying trend to the west of the Andes, but a modest increase is exhibited over the southern tip of the continent.
Different Evolutions of the Philippine Sea Anticyclone between the Eastern and Central Pacific El Niño: Possible Effects of Indian Ocean SST
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Yang Song , Zhang Zuqiang
Published: June 2012

The authors examine different evolution features of the low-level anticyclone over the tropical northwestern Pacific between eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño events and central Pacific (CP) El Niño events. During EP El Niño, the low-level anticyclone shows an eastward movement from the northern Indian Ocean to the east of the Philippines. During CP El Niño, however, the anticyclone is mostly confined to the west of the Philippines. It is weaker, exhibits a shorter lifetime, and lacks eastward movement compared to the Philippine Sea anticyclone (PSAC) during EP El Niño. Investigation into the possible impact of Indian Ocean (IO) sea surface temperature (SST) on the evolution of the low-level anticyclone during EP and CP El Niño indicates that both SST and low-level atmospheric circulation over the IO are related more strongly with EP El Niño than with CP El Niño. The IO SST tends to exert a more prominent influence on PSAC during EP El Niño than during CP El Niño. During the developing summer and autumn of EP El Niño, the anomalous anticyclone over the northern Indian Ocean excited by positive IO dipole may contribute to an early development of the PSAC. During the winter and decaying spring, the anomalous anticyclone to the east of the Philippines instigated by the IO basin-wide warming mode also favors a larger persistence of the PSAC. During CP El Niño, however, IO SST shows a negligible impact on the evolution of the anticyclone.
A Study on the Synoptic-Dynamical Characteristics of Compact Tropical Cyclones in the Western North Pacific
Authors: Yen-Chu Chen Delia , Cheung Kevin K. W. , Lee Cheng-Shang
Published: June 2012

This study focuses on the synoptic and dynamical characteristic of compact and incompact tropical cyclones (TCs) in the western North Pacific. To identify the distinct mechanisms related to the development and maintenance of these two categories of TCs, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) is used to simulate the compact Typhoon Yutu (2007) and the incompact Typhoon Manyi (2007). Simulation results of Yutu show that the wind speed increases primarily in the inner-core region, where strong relative vorticity and high inertial stability is also located. Comparatively, the inertial stability for Typhoon Manyi is much weaker, which makes it more susceptible to influences from external low-level forcing. Diagnoses of the numerical simulations as well as examination of the synoptic environments that embed the two TCs suggest that compact TCs mainly develop through internal dynamics, whereas incompact TCs are usually driven by external forcing. Several sets of sensitivity experiments are designed to determine the relative roles of initial vortex structure, environmental flow, and humidity in subsequent TC structural evolution. Results show that in an environment that favors compact TCs, initial vortex largely determines the later structural development. However, vortex development is quite sensitive to its initial intensity and the radius of maximum wind (RMW) under environmental flow that favors incompact TCs. Results of the experiments on environmental humidity show that a humid environment generates large vortex structural changes in incompact TCs. A relatively dry environment brings minimal impacts to the originally compact TC, but can increase the compactness of the originally incompact ones.
Objective Prediction of Warm Season Afternoon Thunderstorms in Northern Taiwan Using a Fuzzy Logic Approach
Authors: Lin Pin-Fang , Chang Pao-Liang , Jong-Dao Jou Ben , Wilson James W. , Roberts Rita D.
Published: June 2012

In this study, a fuzzy logic algorithm is developed to provide objective guidance for the prediction of afternoon thunderstorms in northern Taiwan using preconvective predictors during the warm season (May–October) from 2005 to 2008. The predictors are derived from surface stations and sounding measurements. The study is limited to 277 days when synoptic forcing was weak and thermal instability produced by the solar heating is primarily responsible for thunderstorm initiation. The fuzzy algorithm contains 29 predictors and associated weights. The weights are based on the maximum of the critical success index (CSI) to forecast afternoon thunderstorms. The most important predictors illustrate that under relatively warm and moist synoptic conditions, sea-breeze transport of moisture into the Taipei Basin along with weak winds inland provide favorable conditions for the occurrence of afternoon convective storms. In addition, persistence of yesterday’s convective storm activity contributed to improving today’s forecast. Skill score comparison between the fuzzy algorithm and forecasters from the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau showed that for forecasting afternoon thunderstorms, the fuzzy logic algorithm outperformed the operational forecasters. This was the case for both the calibration and independent datasets. There was a tendency for the forecasters to overforecast the number of afternoon thunderstorm days. The fuzzy logic algorithm is able to integrate the preconvective predictors and provide probability guidance for the prediction of afternoon thunderstorms under weak synoptic-scale conditions, and could be implemented in real-time operations as a forecaster aid.