bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular in situ topology of Aczonin/Piccolo and associated proteins at the mammalian neurotransmitter release site
Authors: Limbach Christoph , Laue Michael M. , Wang Xiaolu , Hu Bin , Thiede Nadine , Hultqvist Greta , Kilimann Manfred W.
Published: June 2011

The protein machinery of neurotransmitter exocytosis requires efficient orchestration in space and time, for speed and precision of neurotransmission and also for synaptic ontogeny and plasticity. However, its spatial organization in situ is virtually unknown. Aczonin/Piccolo is a putative organizer protein of mammalian active zones. We determined by immunogold electron microscopy (EM) (i) the spatial arrangement (i.e., topology) of 11 segments of the Aczonin polypeptide in situ, and correlated it to (ii) the positioning of Aczonin-interacting domains of Bassoon, CAST/ELKS, Munc13, and RIM and (iii) the ultrastructurally defined presynaptic macromolecular aggregates known as dense projections and synaptic ribbons. At conventional synapses, Aczonin assumes a compact molecular topology within a layer 35 to 80 nm parallel to the plasma membrane (PM), with a “trunk” sitting on the dense projection top and a C-terminal “arm” extending down toward the PM and sideward to the dense projection periphery. At ribbon synapses, Aczonin occupies the whole ribbon area. Bassoon colocalizes with Aczonin at conventional synapses but not at ribbon synapses. At both conventional and ribbon synapses, CAST, Munc13, and RIM are segregated from Aczonin, closer to the PM, and Aczonin is positioned such that it may control the access of neurotransmitter vesicles to the fusion site.
MetATT: a web-based metabolomics tool for analyzing time-series and two-factor datasets
Authors: Xia Jianguo , Sinelnikov Igor V. , Wishart David S.
Published: June 2011

Summary: Time-series and multifactor studies have become increasingly common in metabolomic studies. Common tasks for analyzing data from these relatively complex experiments include identification of major variations associated with each experimental factor, comparison of temporal profiles across different biological conditions, as well as detection and validation of the presence of interactions. Here we introduce MetATT, a web-based tool for time-series and two-factor metabolomic data analysis. MetATT offers a number of complementary approaches including 3D interactive principal component analysis, two-way heatmap visualization, two-way ANOVA, ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis and multivariate empirical Bayes time-series analysis. These procedures are presented through an intuitive web interface. At the end of each session, a detailed analysis report is generated to facilitate understanding of the results.

Availability: Freely available at http://metatt.metabolomics.ca

Contact:  jianguox@ualberta.ca
Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Karia Sumit , Ruparelia Meghna
Published: June 2011

Multiple myeloma is a rare but serious haematological malignancy which at any one time affects between 20 000 and 30 000 patients in the UK. Prior to diagnosis, most of these patients present to primary care with non-specific symptoms. A delay in diagnosis is associated with an increase in complications, such as anaemia, bone disease and renal failure. This may have an impact on patients' quality of life as well as their ability to tolerate toxic treatment options. The key steps in primary care are to identify those patients with symptoms suggestive of multiple myeloma, carry out timely investigations and be aware of the appropriate referral pathways. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the GP has a vital role in supporting the patient throughout what is, for most, a chronic debilitating illness.
Volatile Anesthetics Protect Cancer Cells against Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Apoptosis-inducing Ligand-induced Apoptosis via Caveolins
Authors: Kawaraguchi Yoshitaka , Horikawa Yousuke T. , Murphy Anne N. , Murray Fiona , Miyanohara Atsushi , Ali Sameh S. , Head Brian P. , Patel Piyush M. , Roth David M. , Patel Hemal H.
Published: June 2011

Background

Volatile anesthetics have a dual effect on cell survival dependent on caveolin expression. The effect of volatile anesthetics on cancer cell survival and death after anesthetic exposure has not been well investigated. The authors examined the effects of isoflurane exposure on apoptosis and its regulation by caveolin-1 (Cav-1).

Methods

The authors exposed human colon cancer cell lines to isoflurane and proapoptotic stimuli and assessed what role Cav-1 plays in cell protection. They evaluated apoptosis using assays for nucleosomal fragmentation, cleaved caspase 3 expression, and caspase activity assays. To test the mechanism, they used pharmacologic inhibitors (i.e., pertussis toxin) and assessed changes in glycolysis.

Results

Apoptosis as measured by nucleosomal fragmentation was enhanced by isoflurane (1.2% in air) in HT29 (by 64% relative to control, P < 0.001) and decreased in HCT116 (by 23% relative to control, P < 0.001) cells. Knockdown of Cav-1 in HCT116 cells increased the sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli but not with scrambled small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment (19.7 ± 0.4 vs. 20.0 ± 0.6, P = 0.7786 and 19.7 ± 0.5 vs. 16.3 ± 0.4, P = 0.0012, isoflurane vs. control in Cav-1 small interfering RNA vs. scrambled small interfering RNA treated cells, respectively). The protective effect of isoflurane with various exposure times on apoptosis was enhanced in HT29 cells overexpressing Cav-1 (P < 0.001 by two-way ANOVA). Pertussis toxin effectively blocked the antiapoptotic effect of isoflurane exhibited by Cav-1 in all cell lines. Cav-1 cells had increased glycolysis with isoflurane exposure; however, in the presence of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, this increase in glycolysis was maintained in HT29-Cav-1 but not control cells.

Conclusion

Brief isoflurane exposure leads to resistance against apoptosis via a Cav-1-dependent mechanism.
Ultraviolet nuptial colour determines fight success in male European green lizards (Lacerta viridis)
Authors: Bajer Katalin , Molnár Orsolya , Török János , Herczeg Gábor
Published: June 2011

Animal communication through colour signals is a central theme in sexual selection. Structural colours can be just as costly and honest signals as pigment-based colours. Ultraviolet (UV) is a structural colour that can be important both in intrasexual competition and mate choice. However, it is still unknown if a UV signal alone can determine the outcome of male–male fights. European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) males develop a nuptial throat coloration with a strong UV component. Among males differing only in their manipulated UV colour, females prefer males with higher UV. Here, we experimentally decreased the UV coloration of randomly chosen males from otherwise similar male pairs to test the hypothesis that a difference in UV colour alone can affect fight success during male–male competition. Our results fully supported the hypotheses: in almost 90 per cent of the contests the male with reduced UV lost the fight. Our results show that UV can be an important signal, affecting both female mate choice and determining male fight success.
Thermostablility of phycobiliproteins and antioxidant activity from four thermotolerant cyanobacteria
Authors: Pumas Chayakorn , Vacharapiyasophon Panmuk , Peerapornpisal Yuwadee , Leelapornpisid Pimporn , Boonchum Walailuck , Ishii Masaharu , Khanongnuch Chartchai
Published: June 2011

Four cyanobacterial strains including Cyanosarcina sp. SK40, Phormidium sp. PD40‐1, Scytonema sp. TP40 and Leptolyngbya sp. KC45 were selected and investigated for the phycobiliprotein (PBP) content and thermostable antioxidant activity of their cell‐free extracts. The highest content of 181.63 mg/g dry weight phycobiliprotein was found in Leptolyngbya sp. KC45 with phycoerythrin (PE) as the main phycobiliprotein. Among the PBPs of four thermotolerant cyanobacteria, PE from Leptolyngbya sp. KC45 exhibited the highest thermal stability as 80% of the original level remained after being heated at 60°C for 30 min. Antioxidant activities were detected in the cell‐free extracts of all cyanobacteria and that of Leptolyngbya sp. KC45 was also found in the highest value of 7.44 ± 0.14 and 3.89 ± 0.08 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g−1 dry weights determined by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and reducing power assay, respectively. This also corresponded to the phenolic compound content. Based on DPPH and reducing power assay, antioxidant activities of all cyanobacterial extracts showed the high thermostability as approximately 80% remained after being heated at 80°C for 30 min. However, it clearly indicated that the thermostability of antioxidant activity from the hot spring cyanobacterial cell‐free extract was not contributed only by the PE, but also came from phenolic compounds and other oxidative substances.
Chlamydomonas neoplanoconvexa nom. nov. and its unique phylogenetic position within Volvocales (Chlorophyceae)
Authors: Nakada Takashi , Tomita Masaru
Published: June 2011

Chlamydomonas Ehrenb. is a unicellular volvocalean genus consisting of 400–600 species, most of which are known solely based on microscopy. In this study, a newly isolated strain of Chlamydomonas neoplanoconvexa (M. O. P. Iyengar) Nakada nom. nov. (≡Chlamydomonas planoconvexa M. O. P. Iyengar non J. W. G. Lund) was examined using light microscopy and combined 18S rRNA, rbcL and psaB gene phylogeny. The C. neoplanoconvexa strain was quite similar to Chlamydomonas perpusilla (Korshikov) Gerloff in terms of its small fusiform vegetative cells (∼10 µm in length), parietal chloroplast containing a single pyrenoid, and nucleus posterior to the pyrenoid. However, C. neoplanoconvexa was distinguished from C. perpusilla based on the morphology of the papillae and pyrenoids. The two species belong to the clade Caudivolvoxa in the order Volvocales, but are distantly related to each other. Chlamydomonas perpusilla was shown to be sister to Chlorogonium Ehrenb. (clade Chlorogonia, within Caudivolvoxa), while C. neoplanoconvexa represented a second basal lineage within Caudivolvoxa, next to the clade Characiosiphonia. Although the morphology of C. neoplanoconvexa was not particularly outstanding, its unique phylogenetic position will encourage further investigation of this species and its uncultivated relatives.
A Gradient‐Based Comparison Measure for Visual analysis of Multifield Data
Authors: Nagaraj Suthambhara , Natarajan Vijay , Nanjundiah Ravi S.
Published: June 2011

We introduce a multifield comparison measure for scalar fields that helps in studying relations between them. The comparison measure is insensitive to noise in the scalar fields and to noise in their gradients. Further, it can be computed robustly and efficiently. Results from the visual analysis of various data sets from climate science and combustion applications demonstrate the effective use of the measure.
A Framework for Exploring Multidimensional Data with 3D Projections
Authors: Poco J. , Etemadpour R. , Paulovich F.V. , Long T.V. , Rosenthal P. , Oliveira M.C.F. , Linsen L. , Minghim R.
Published: June 2011

Visualization of high‐dimensional data requires a mapping to a visual space. Whenever the goal is to preserve similarity relations a frequent strategy is to use 2D projections, which afford intuitive interactive exploration, e.g., by users locating and selecting groups and gradually drilling down to individual objects. In this paper, we propose a framework for projecting high‐dimensional data to 3D visual spaces, based on a generalization of the Least‐Square Projection (LSP). We compare projections to 2D and 3D visual spaces both quantitatively and through a user study considering certain exploration tasks. The quantitative analysis confirms that 3D projections outperform 2D projections in terms of precision. The user study indicates that certain tasks can be more reliably and confidently answered with 3D projections. Nonetheless, as 3D projections are displayed on 2D screens, interaction is more difficult. Therefore, we incorporate suitable interaction functionalities into a framework that supports 3D transformations, predefined optimal 2D views, coordinated 2D and 3D views, and hierarchical 3D cluster definition and exploration. For visually encoding data clusters in a 3D setup, we employ color coding of projected data points as well as four types of surface renderings. A second user study evaluates the suitability of these visual encodings. Several examples illustrate the framework's applicability for both visual exploration of multidimensional abstract (non‐spatial) data as well as the feature space of multi‐variate spatial data.
Infection of dogs with equine influenza virus: evidence for transmission from horses during the Australian outbreak
Authors: Crispe E , Finlaison DS , Hurt AC , Kirkland PD
Published: June 2011

During the equine influenza (EI) outbreak, respiratory disease was observed in dogs that were in close proximity to infected horses. Investigations were undertaken to exclude influenza virus infection. Of the 23 dogs that were seropositive in tests using the influenza A/Sydney/2007 virus as the test antigen, 10 showed clinical signs. EI virus appeared to be readily transmitted to dogs that were held in close proximity to infected horses, but there was no evidence of lateral transmission of the virus to other dogs that did not have contact with or were not held in close proximity to horses.
Risk of an equine influenza virus reservoir establishing in wild horses in New South Wales during the Australian epidemic
Authors: Gilchrist P , Sergeant ESG
Published: June 2011

Australia has the world's largest population of wild equids and equine influenza (EI) was confirmed on several properties in New South Wales (NSW) close to uncontrolled areas of land during the 2007 outbreak. Likelihood and risk management assessments were carried out to determine the risk of EI infection of the wild horse populations. The likelihood of spread to the wild horse population was determined to be extremely low, but the likelihood of spread from an established wild horse reservoir back to domestic horses was considered high. The most effective mechanism of control was determined to be prevention of the spread of EI into the wild horse population through a vaccination buffer zone between EI infection foci and known wild horse populations.
Biosecurity and vaccination strategies to minimise the effect of an equine influenza outbreak on racing and breeding
Authors: Arthur RJ , Suann CJ
Published: June 2011

Three biosecurity and relief‐and‐recovery initiatives adopted by the NSW horse racing industries reduced the economic and social disruption caused by the disease and subsequent movement controls during the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) incursion. The first was the creation of biosecure horse training and racing precincts around the Sydney area to permit racing to continue with healthy horses. Infection was excluded for 3–5 weeks and race meetings were conducted safely during this period. The second was a vaccination program of racehorses at these and other precincts to maintain an ongoing healthy pool of racehorses. Vaccination commenced too late to enable viable racing to continue in Sydney in the short term, but assisted in managing an early return to racing throughout the state before EI‐free status had been regained. The third was the establishment of approved quarantine stations to facilitate the movement of racing and breeding horses out of high‐risk regions. The difficulties in establishing and managing these initiatives in the face of the EI incursion are discussed.
Ursodeoxycholic acid dose‐dependently improves liver injury in rats fed a methionine‐ and choline‐deficient diet
Authors: Buko Vyacheslav U. , Kuzmitskaya‐Nikolaeva Irina A. , Naruta Elena E. , Lukivskaya Oksana Y. , Kirko Siarhei N. , Tauschel Horst‐Dietmar
Published: June 2011

Aim:  The data on the beneficial effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are controversial. The difference of opinion is connected with UDCA dosage to be used. Therefore, we evaluated the dose‐dependent efficacy of UDCA in experimental NASH.

Methods:  Male Wistar rats were fed the methionine‐ and choline‐deficient (MCD) diet for 10 weeks. Rats were administrated UDCA (10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg bodyweight intragastrically) after 6 weeks of the MCD diet.

Results:  Animals fed the MCD diet developed severe steatohepatitis. Treatment with UDCA dose‐dependently decreased liver damage, but only high‐dose UDCA (80 mg/kg) significantly diminished ultrastructural changes in addition to preventing steatosis, ballooning and inflammatory changes in the liver. The activities of serum marker enzymes and the content of liver triglyceride and blood glucose were increased in MCD diet‐fed rats, but decreased in all the UDCA‐treated groups. Serum insulin concentration was decreased whereas the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index did not changed in MCD diet‐fed groups. Serum tumor necrosis factor‐α content was strongly increased after MCD diet and normalized in the UDCA‐treated rats, with the most pronounced effect in the highest dose groups, 40 and 80 mg/kg. The contents of endogenous ethanol in blood and intestinal mucus were increased in MCD diet‐fed rats which were significantly lowered by UDCA (40 and 80 mg/kg per day).

Conclusion:  The present data demonstrate a beneficial effect of UDCA that manifested by the decrease of liver steatosis, inflammatory signs and serum tumor necrosis factor‐α content especially of the highest 40 and 80 mg/kg day doses.
Rapamycin Reverses Cellular Phenotypes and Enhances Mutant Protein Clearance in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome Cells
Authors: Cao Kan , Graziotto John J. , Blair Cecilia D. , Mazzulli Joseph R. , Erdos Michael R. , Krainc Dimitri , Collins Francis S.
Published: June 2011

Shown previously to extend longevity in animals, the drug rapamycin might serve as a treatment for a human premature aging syndrome.
The Human Cytomegalovirus Protein pUL38 Suppresses Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Cell Death Independently of Its Ability To Induce mTORC1 Activation
Authors: Qian Zhikang , Xuan Baoqin , Gualberto Nathaniel , Yu Dong
Published: June 2011

As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses not only hijack cellular machinery, they also deregulate host stress responses for their infection. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) modulates the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, due at least in part to the viral protein pUL38, and one of the consequences is to maintain the viability of infected cells. Consequently, pUL38-deficient virus induces premature cell death during infection. In addition, pUL38 activates mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which may also antagonize other detrimental cellular stresses (N. J. Moorman et al., Cell Host Microbe 3:253–262, 2008). It remains elusive how pUL38 inhibition of cell death is related to mTORC1 activation. In this study, we defined the interplay of the two pUL38 activities. We constructed a series of pUL38 truncation mutants based on the secondary structure prediction and evolutionary conservation of its sequence. We found that the N-terminal 239 residues of pUL38 were necessary and sufficient to block cell death induced by pUL38-deficient virus or by the ER stress inducer tunicamycin. However, this pUL38 domain was unable to activate mTORC1 when expressed alone. Importantly, small-molecule inhibitors of mTORC1, rapamycin or torin 1, did not compromise pUL38 activity to block cell death in isolation or in virus infection. Expression of a constitutively active variant of an mTORC1 activator, Rheb (
R
as
h
omolog
e
nriched in
b
rain), could not prevent cell death induced by pUL38-deficient virus. Collectively, we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that pUL38 prevents ER stress-induced cell death independent of its role in mTORC1 activation.
Structure and Function of the
d
-Galactose Network in Enterobacteria
Authors: Csiszovszki Zsolt , Krishna Sandeep , Orosz László , Adhya Sankar , Semsey Szabolcs
Published: June 2011

Galactose is important for the survival and virulence of bacteria. In
Escherichia coli
, galactose is utilized by the Leloir pathway, which is controlled by a complex network. To shed light on the potential functions the galactose network could perform, we performed bioinformatical analysis of reference genome sequences belonging to the
Enterobacteriaceae
family. We found that several genomes have reduced numbers of components compared to the
E. coli
galactose system, suggesting that the network can be optimized for different environments. Typically, genes are removed by deletions; however, in
Yersinia pestis
, the galactose mutarotase (
galM
) gene is inactivated by a single-base-pair deletion. Lack of GalM activity indicates that the two anomers of
d
-galactose are used for different purposes, α-
d
-galactose as a carbon source and β-
d
-galactose for induction of UDP-galactose synthesis for biosynthetic glycosylation. We demonstrate that activity of the
galM
gene can be restored by different single-base-pair insertions. During the evolution of
Y. pestis
to become a vector-transmitted systemic pathogen, many genes were converted to pseudogenes. It is not clear whether pseudogenes are present to maintain meiotrophism or are in the process of elimination. Our results suggest that the
galM
pseudogene has not been deleted because its reactivation may be beneficial in certain environments.

IMPORTANCE
Evolution of bacteria to populate a new environment necessarily involves reengineering of their molecular network. Members of the
Enterobacteriaceae
family of bacteria have diverse lifestyles and can function in a wide range of environments. In this study we performed bioinformatical analysis of 34 reference genome sequences belonging to the
Enterobacteriaceae
family to gain insight into the natural diversity of the
d
-galactose utilization network. Our bioinformatical analysis shows that in several species, some genes of the network are completely missing or are inactivated by large deletions. The only exception is the galactose mutarotase (
galM
) gene of
Yersinia pestis
, which is converted to a pseudogene by a single-base-pair deletion. In this paper, we discuss the possible consequences of
galM
inactivation on network function. We suggest that
galM
was converted to a pseudogene rather than being deleted in evolution because its reactivation can be beneficial in certain environments.
Effectiveness of partially penetrating vertical drains under a combined surcharge and vacuum preloading
Authors: Geng Xueyu , Indraratna Buddhima , Rujikiatkamjorn Cholachat
Published: June 2011

This paper considers the consolidation of a layer of clay in which partially penetrating prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) are used in conjunction with a combined surcharge and vacuum preloading. Analytical solutions for partially penetrating PVDs are derived by considering vacuum pressure (suction), time-dependent embankment surcharge, well resistance, and smear zone. Three-dimensional seepage with a virtual vertical drain is assumed to reflect real seepage into the soil beneath the tip of a PVD. Analytical solutions were then used to examine the length of the vertical drain and vacuum pressure on soft clay to determine the consolidation time and degree of consolidation, associated settlement, and distribution of suction along the drain. The proposed solutions are then employed to analyse a case history. Finally, an appropriate PVD length in relation to clay thickness and drain spacing is recommended for various loading patterns.
Cognition Research and Constitutional Classification in Chinese Medicine
Authors: Wang Ji , Li Yingshuai , Ni Cheng , Zhang Huimin , Li Lingru , Wang Qi
Published: June 2011

In the Western medicine system, scholars have explained individual differences in terms of behaviour and thinking, leading to the emergence of various classification theories on individual differences. Traditional Chinese medicine has long observed human constitutions. Modern Chinese medicine studies have also involved study of human constitutions; however, differences exist in the ways traditional and modern Chinese medicine explore individual constitutions. In the late 1970s, the constitutional theory of Chinese medicine was proposed. This theory takes a global and dynamic view of human differences (e.g., the shape of the human body, function, psychology, and other characteristics) based on arguments from traditional Chinese medicine. The establishment of a standard for classifying constitutions into nine modules was critical for clinical application of this theory. In this review, we describe the history and recent research progress of this theory, and compare it with related studies in the western medicine system. Several research methods, including philology, informatics, epidemiology, and molecular biology, in classifying constitutions used in the constitutional theory of Chinese medicine were discussed. In summary, this constitutional theory of Chinese medicine can be used in clinical practice and would contribute to health control of patients.
Elephantopus scaber Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury by Suppression of Signaling Pathways in Rats
Authors: Hung Hsiao-Fang , Hou Chien-Wei , Chen Yi-Ling , Lin Chih-Cheng , Fu Hua-Wen , Wang Jen-Shu , Jeng Kee-Ching
Published: June 2011

Elephantopus scaber (ES, Teng-Khia-U) has been traditionally used for the treatment of nephritis, pain, and fever; however, the direct evidence is lacking. We investigated the effect of ES on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation of BV-2 microglial cells and acute liver injury in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Our results showed that ES reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and prostaglandin (PGE2) production in BV-2 cells. ES significantly decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in LPS-treated rats. Furthermore, the water extract, but not the ethanol extract, of ES dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced JNK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and slightly inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in BV-2 cells but decreased p38 MAPK and COX-2 expressions in the liver of LPS-treated rats. Taken together, these results indicate that the protective mechanism of ES involves an antioxidant effect and inhibition of p38 MAP kinase and COX-2 expressions in LPS-stressed acute hepatic injury in SD rats.
THE PERSISTENT CURRENT ON A DRIVEN MESOSCOPIC RLC CIRCUIT
Authors: PAHLAVANI H.
Published: June 2011

The quantum theory for mesoscopic electric LC circuits with charge discreteness is briefly described. We take into account a resistance element (R) as an environment of the discrete-charge mesoscopic quantum LC circuit which is modeled by a Hamiltonian consisting of oscillators with continuous range of frequencies. Using a minimal coupling method, we investigate the quantum dynamics of this system. Hereby, the persistent current on a quantum damped L-design under the external potential source is obtained. Then, we write Heisenberg equations for a driven mesoscopic quantum RLC circuit with a dissipative term proportional to Ohmic damping and obtain persistent current on such a mesoscopic electric circuit.
COMPUTING NILPOTENT QUOTIENTS OF ASSOCIATIVE ALGEBRAS AND ALGEBRAS SATISFYING A POLYNOMIAL IDENTITY
Authors: EICK BETTINA
Published: June 2011

We describe an effective algorithm to determine the maximal class-c quotient (or the maximal commutative class-c quotient) of a finitely presented associative algebra over an arbitrary field. As application, we investigate the relatively free d-generator algebras satisfying the identity xn = 0. In particular, we consider the identity x3 = 0 and the cases (d, n) = (2, 4) and (d, n) = (2, 5).
Gene Expression Profiling of Fixed Tissues Identified Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α, VEGF, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 as Biomarkers of Lymph Node Metastasis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Xiang Zuo-Lin , Zeng Zhao-Chong , Fan Jia , Tang Zhao-You , Zeng Hai-Ying , Gao Dong-Mei
Published: June 2011

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) most often develops in patients infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus. Differential gene expression profiling is useful for investigating genes associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM). We screened genes to identify potential biomarkers for LNM in HCC.

Experimental Design: RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed specimens of paired intratumoral and peritumoral tissues of patients with lymph node–positive (n = 36) or negative (n = 36) HCC. A cDNA-mediated annealing, selection, extension, and ligation assay was done with an array of 502 known cancer-related genes to identify differentially expressed genes in 20 pairs of patients with or without LNM. Candidate biomarkers were evaluated by using immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays in an independent cohort of 309 HCC patients who had undergone hepatectomy. Of the 309 patients, 235 (76.1%) patients were infected with hepatitis B.

Results: Compared with lymph node–negative patients, lymph node–positive patients had 17 overexpressed genes and 19 underexpressed genes in intratumoral tissues, and 25 overexpressed genes and 22 underexpressed genes in peritumoral tissues. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, VEGF, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 were selected for analysis in the cohort of 309 HCC patients. We found that intratumoral protein levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, and MMP-2 were independent risk factors for developing LNM.

Conclusion: We identified 83 cancer genes that were differentially expressed in lymph node–positive and lymph node–negative HCC. Our findings show that the combination of intratumoral HIF-1α, VEGF, and MMP-2 may be useful as a molecular prediction model for LNM. Clin Cancer Res; 17(16); 5463–72. ©2011 AACR.
Compensatory Pathways Induced by MEK Inhibition Are Effective Drug Targets for Combination Therapy against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Gioeli Daniel , Wunderlich Winfried , Sebolt-Leopold Judith , Bekiranov Stefan , Wulfkuhle Julia D. , Petricoin Emanuel F. , Conaway Mark , Weber Michael J.
Published: June 2011

Targeted therapies have often given disappointing results when used as single agents in solid tumors, suggesting the importance of devising rational combinations of targeted drugs. We hypothesized that construction of such combinations could be guided by identification of growth and survival pathways whose activity or expression become upregulated in response to single-agent drug treatment. We mapped alterations in signaling pathways assessed by gene array and protein phosphorylation to identify compensatory signal transduction pathways in prostate cancer xenografts treated with a MAP/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD325901. In addition to numerous components of the extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway, components of the IKK, hedgehog, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mTOR pathways were upregulated following treatment with PD325901. Combinations of PD325901 with inhibitors of any one of these upregulated pathways provided synergistically greater growth inhibition of in vitro cell growth and survival than the individual drugs alone. Thus, the identification of compensatory signal transduction pathways paves the way for rational combinatorial therapies for the effective treatment of prostate cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(9); 1581–90. ©2011 AACR.
Novel Therapeutic Options in Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Molecular Targets and Immunological Tools
Authors: Merkel Olaf , Hamacher Frank , Sifft Eveline , Kenner Lukas , Greil Richard
Published: June 2011

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a CD30-positive, aggressive T-cell lymphoma, and about half of the patients with this disease harbor the t(2;5)(p21;q35) translocation. This chromosomal aberration leads to fusion of the NPM gene with the ALK tyrosine kinase, leading to its constitutive activation. To date, treatment options include polychemotherapy (e.g., cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), which is sometimes combined with radiation in the case of bulky disease, leading to remission rates of ∼80%. However, the remaining patients do not respond to therapy, and some patients experience chemo-resistant relapses, making the identification of new and better treatments imperative. The recent discovery of deregulated ALK in common cancers such as non–small cell lung cancer and neuroblastoma has reinvigorated industry interest in the development of ALK inhibitors. Moreover, it has been shown that the ALK protein is an ideal antigen for vaccination strategies due to its low expression in normal tissue. The characterization of microRNAs that are deregulated in ALCL will yield new insights into the biology of ALCL and open new avenues for therapeutic approaches in the future. Also, CD30 antibodies that have been tested in ALCL for quite a while will probably find a place in forthcoming treatment strategies. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(7); 1127–36. ©2011 AACR.
Faecal Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Levels in Faeces from Infants with Cow‘s Milk Protein Allergy
Authors: Thompson-Chagoyan Oscar C. , Fallani Matteo , Maldonado José , Vieites José M. , Khanna Sheila , Edwards Christine , Doré Joël , Gil Angel
Published: June 2011

Background: The present study was designed to compare the faecal microbiota and concentrations of faecal short-chain fatty acid and ammonia between healthy and cow’s milk protein allergic (CMPA) infants. Methods: The population comprised 92 infants aged 2–12 months who were nonallergic (n = 46) or diagnosed as having CMPA (n = 46). Faecal samples were analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization and flow cytometry, using a panel of 10 rRNA targeted group- and species-specific oligonucleotide probes. Acetic, propionic, butyric, isocaproic and branched-chain short fatty acids (BCSFA) were measured by gas-liquid chromatography, lactate by enzymatic reaction, and pH and ammonia levels were determined. Results: CMPA infant faeces had significantly higher proportions of the Clostridium coccoides group and Atopobium cluster and a higher sum of the proportions of the different bacterial groups in comparison to healthy infant faeces. Faecal pH and ammonia did not significantly differ between CMPA and healthy infants. Faeces concentrations and percentages of butyric acid and BCSFA were higher in CMPA infants than in healthy infants. Conclusions: The findings clearly set a link between a dysbiosis in gut microbiota composition and the pathogenesis of CMPA. No single species or genus appeared to play an essential role, but dysbiosis led to biomarkers of CMPA among bacterial fermentation products.
Professionals and field-level change: Institutional work and the professional project
Authors: Suddaby Roy , Viale Thierry
Published: June 2011

This article explicates the causal connections between changes in professional jurisdictions and changes in organizational fields. The authors argue that professional projects carry within them projects of institutionalization. They focus attention on the critical but often invisible role that professionals play in institutional work, or the creation, maintenance and transformation of institutions. The key contribution of this article is to explicate the professional project as an endogenous mechanism of institutional change. Based on a review of prior research on institutional change in which professionals play a central role, the authors observe four essential dynamics through which professionals reconfigure institutions and organizational fields. First, professionals use their expertise and legitimacy to challenge the incumbent order and to define a new, open and uncontested space. Second, professionals use their inherent social capital and skill to populate the field with new actors and new identities. Third, professionals introduce nascent new rules and standards that recreate the boundaries of the field. Fourth, professionals manage the use and reproduction of social capital within a field thereby conferring a new status hierarchy or social order within the field.
The contested terrain of hospital management: Professional projects and healthcare reforms in Denmark
Authors: Kirkpatrick Ian , Dent Mike , Jespersen Peter Kragh
Published: June 2011

Although much has been written on the changing management of professional services organizations, only limited attention has been given to the way in which management itself might represent a contested terrain. Drawing on concepts from the sociology of professions, this article develops this idea in relation to the Danish hospital sector. The analysis of secondary sources reveals how, from the mid-1980s, both the nursing and medical professions in Denmark actively sought to lay claim to the jurisdiction of hospital management. The result of this struggle was to further reinforce the dominant position of doctors in the clinical division of labour although the position of nurses has also been enhanced. Such findings point to the need to give more attention to the way broader changes in hospital governance are mediated by interprofessional struggles and rivalries. Such struggles, in turn, have implications not only for the division of labour and status order between professions but also for the way management work itself is enacted.
The re-landscaping of the legal profession: Large law firms and professional re-regulation
Authors: Flood John
Published: June 2011

The size and scope of global law firms has made them difficult to encompass within a single regulatory jurisdiction. As the UK government sought to take control of the legal profession and market by removing self-regulation and introducing external regulation under the Legal Services Act, the large law firms were able to countermand the new regime. Through a combination of associations like CityUK, the City of London Law Society, as well as through individual firms, large law firms lobbied successfully to reinstate a new form of self-regulation known as AIR. The elites of the legal profession constructed a new logic of professionalism that accorded with the firms’ ideologies and government’s market-oriented objectives. Further attempts to consolidate their position at the EU and at the GATS levels are still in negotiation. Despite the legal market shifting to a more diffuse combination of actors, of which lawyers are only a segment, elite law firms have apparently strengthened their hold.
Hollow from the start? Image professionalism in management consulting
Authors: Kipping Matthias
Published: June 2011

This article shows how over the course of more than a century management consulting firms have managed to create an image of professionalism in order to both gain external legitimacy with their clients and control their own human resources. Adding to the extant literature on ‘professionalism as a resource’, it demonstrates in particular how during the development of the industry, the sources of this ‘image professionalism’ changed significantly, ranging from a close association with existing professions (engineering and accounting), to a mimicry of the legal profession, to a purely linguistic notion, akin to ‘professional’ sports. Hence, the ‘professionalism’ of management consulting was in many ways hollow from the start and hollowed out even further through its history. However, as the article also shows, there were opportunities for social closure with the creation of specific professional bodies in the industry — leaving open the question why these ultimately failed.
Exploring Differences and Similarities in Predictors and Use of Upward Influence Strategies in Two Countries
Authors: Botero Isabel C. , Foste Elizabeth A. , Pace Kristin M.
Published: June 2011

Building on past research the current study compares the use of upward influence (UI) strategies within and between two countries (the United States and Colombia). Continuing with the shift to understand the predictors of UI strategy selection, this study explores perceptions of leader-member exchange (LMX) and power distance (PD) as predictors of UI strategy use in the United States and Colombia. Results suggest that participants from the United States and Colombia do not differ in their use of UI strategies, and predictors of UI strategy use work differently based on the type of strategy with no differences between countries. Implications of these results are discussed.
The History and Future of Humanistic Psychology
Authors: Serlin Ilene
Published: June 2011

Since much of humanistic psychology’s agenda has been taken up by mainstream psychology and culture, the question of whether humanistic psychology is relevant today is critical. This article draws on Maslow’s description of “sickness of the soul” to argue that a psychology that stresses connection and embodied experience, meaning and ethics, creativity and dreams, resilience and self-actualization is needed now more than ever.
The Communication Styles Inventory (CSI)
Authors: de Vries Reinout E. , Bakker-Pieper Angelique , Konings Femke E. , Schouten Barbara
Published: June 2011

In this study, a six-dimensional model of communication styles is proposed and operationalized using the Communication Styles Inventory (CSI). The CSI distinguishes between six domain-level communicative behavior scales, Expressiveness, Preciseness, Verbal Aggressiveness, Questioningness, Emotionality, and Impression Manipulativeness, each consisting of four facet-level scales. Based on factor and item analyses, the CSI is shown to be an adequate instrument, with all reliabilities of the domain-level scales surpassing the .80 level. Consistent with the behavioral view espoused in this study, the CSI scales showed medium to high levels of convergent validity with lexical communication marker scales and behavior-oriented communication scales and discriminant validity with nonbehavioral intrapersonal cognitions and feelings vis-à-vis communication. In addition, personality, as operationalized using the HEXACO Personality Inventory—Revised (HEXACO-PI-R) and Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), was found to have medium to strong associations with communication styles, supporting the integration of the trait and communication styles perspectives.
Psychopathic Personality Traits, Genetic Risk, and Gene-Environment Correlations
Authors: Beaver Kevin M. , Barnes J.C. , May Joshua S. , Schwartz Joseph A.
Published: June 2011

There is a great deal of evidence indicating that psychopathy and psychopathic traits represent some of the strongest correlates to serious violent criminal behavior. As a result, there has been a recent surge of behavioral genetic studies examining the genetic and environmental factors that may be related to the development of psychopathy. The current study extends this line of research by analyzing a sample of kinship pairs from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to estimate the extent to which genetic factors relate to measures of psychopathic personality traits created from the five factor model. Moreover, the authors also test for a series of gene—environment correlations between genetic risk for psychopathic personality traits and measures of parental negativity. The results of the analyses revealed that genetic factors explained between .37 and .44 of the variance in measures of psychopathy. Additional statistical models indicated the presence of gene—environment correlations between parental negativity and genetic risk for psychopathic personality traits.
The Relationship Between Early-Phase Substance-Use Trajectories and Drug Court Outcomes
Authors: Jones Craig G.A. , Kemp Richard I.
Published: June 2011

This study sought to identify patterns of substance use among 1,019 participants of the New South Wales Drug Court program (Sydney, Australia) between 2003 and 2009. Group-based trajectory modeling identified five groups of participants: compliant participants (24.4%), who had a near-zero probability of returning a positive urine test at each occasion; responding participants (25.3%), for whom the probability of returning a positive test decreased; relapsing participants (14.1%), for whom the probability of returning a positive test increased; mid-level chronic participants (26.0%), who had a one in two chance of returning a positive test at each episode; and a high-level chronic group (10.2%), who had a very high probability of returning a positive test at each episode. Group membership probability was found to be a good predictor of treatment and criminal justice outcomes. The challenge for future research is to identify the characteristics that explain these early-phase substance use trajectories.
Exploring the Dynamics of Workgroup Fracture
Authors: Priem Richard L. , Nystrom Paul C.
Published: June 2011

A temporary workgroup of trained British soldiers fractured and nearly lost members’ lives when it encountered unexpected adversity in Low’s Gully, Borneo. Although demography-oriented theories of group faultlines and diversity types offer useful cross-sectional baselines for predicting and explaining workgroup fracture, the authors examine the Low’s Gully expedition to build theory exposing the longitudinal microfoundations of workgroup fracture under adversity. The authors incorporate the long-established concept of common ground among parties—information that is both mutually held and mutually understood to be mutually held—to uncover changes in group members’ communications success, intragroup trust, tacit coordination, and fracture likelihood as the expedition’s situation became increasingly tenuous. Their study of how this diverse workgroup faced extreme adversity shows how group trust can dissolve under adversity in a sequence moving from initial trust, to trust-with-trepidation, and then to distrust. Theoretical insights indicate that common ground arising from shared positive experiences increases workgroup resistance to fracture under adversity more than does common ground arising from similar backgrounds; a trust violation occurring among highly similar group members is perceived to be more severe and results in a greater increase in group fracture likelihood than does the same trust violation among dissimilar group members; perceived leader benevolence and integrity are more vital than ability for maintaining intragroup trust, even when ability is necessary for task success; and finally, distrust can sometimes be warranted and even vital for a workgroup’s task accomplishment. The authors discuss the implications for future research and practice.
Communications and transport: The mobility of information, people and commodities
Authors: Morley David
Published: June 2011

In a context where the study of communications tends to focus only on the mobility of information, to the neglect of that of people and commodities, this article explores the potential for a closer integration between the fields of communications and transport studies. Against the presumption that the emergence of virtuality means that material geographies are no longer of consequence, the role of mediated ‘technologies of distance’ is considered here in the broader contexts of the construction (and regulation) of a variety of physical forms of mobility and the changing modes of articulation of the virtual and material worlds.
Better at Life Stuff
Authors: Livingstone Randall
Published: June 2011

Apple’s “Get a Mac” advertising campaign defines for its audience the dichotomy between the casual, confident, creative Mac user and the formal, frustrated, fun-deprived PC user through a series of comical television spots featuring human representations of each technology. The company has been largely applauded over the years for their creative, innovative, and thought-provoking marketing, and “Get a Mac,” winner of the American Marketing Association’s 2007 Grand Effie award, fits nicely with Apple’s tradition of infusing cultural ideology into their ads. Utilizing the methods of close reading and ideological criticism, this study considers the North American “Get a Mac” television campaign as a popular culture text with embedded implications about consumption, identity, and class. The text reveals a number of thematic dichotomies that obscure meaningful issues of difference and class while promoting the spectacle of consumption and the myth of self-actualization through commodities.