bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histamine effect on melanocyte proliferation and vitiliginous keratinocyte survival
Authors: Kim Nan‐Hyung , Lee Ai‐Young
Published: November 2010

Please cite this paper as: Histamine effect on melanocyte proliferation and vitiliginous keratinocyte survival. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 1073–1079.

Abstract:  Repigmention of vitiligo requires melanocyte proliferation and migration. Keratinocytes have been shown to play a role in this process. Data from this laboratory showed that bee venom (BV) stimulated melanocyte proliferation and migration as well as melanogenesis. As histamine release is associated with BV, its effect on melanocyte proliferation and migration was examined. Cultured normal human melanocytes treated with histamine were studied with and without receptor‐specific antagonists or agonists. The effect of histamine on vitiliginous keratinocytes, in cultured cells treated with a PI3K inhibitor in the presence of TNF‐α, was also examined. Histamine exerted a more significant effect on melanocyte proliferation than on melanogenesis. This occurred through the H2 receptor with complex signalling to ERK, CREB, and Akt activation, which stimulated melanocyte migration. Histamine and the H2 receptor agonist also increased survival of vitiliginous, but not normal, keratinocytes, with NF‐κB activation. Because expression levels of the H2 receptor was significantly decreased in depigmented compared to normally pigmented epidermis, in patients with vitiligo, histamine may increase the survival of vitiliginous keratinocytes. Overall, histamine stimulated the proliferation and migration of melanocytes and the vitiliginous keratinocyte survival, providing the basis for novel therapeutic approaches to vitiligo repigmentation.
Academic performance of adolescents with ADHD and other behavioural and learning problems —a population‐based longitudinal study
Authors: Ek U , Westerlund J , Holmberg K , Fernell E
Published: November 2010

Aim:  To study academic performance (final grades at the age of 16 years) in individuals with i) attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ii) other learning and/or behavioural problems.

Methods:  Of a total population of 591 children, originally assessed at the age of 10–11 years, it was possible to obtain final grades for 536 16‐year‐olds (in grade 9). Those fulfilling the criteria for ADHD/sub‐threshold ADHD (n = 39) and those with ‘Behaviour and Learning Problems’ (BLP group), (n = 80) and a comparison group (n = 417) were contrasted.

Results:  The ADHD and BLP groups had a significantly lower total mean grade at the age of 16 years than the comparison group. In addition, the ADHD and BLP groups also qualified for further studies in the upper secondary school to a significantly lesser extent than the controls (72%, 68% and 92%, respectively). All IQ measures (at the age of 10–11 years) were positively correlated with the overall grade after grade 9, with especially strong correlations for verbal capacity.

Conclusion:  ADHD and similar problems entail a risk of underachievement at school. The results indicate that pupils with ADHD underachieve in the school situation in relation to their optimal cognitive capacity. The contextual situation and the particular requirements should be considered in order for adequate educational measures to be undertaken.
Association between number of teeth, edentulism and use of dentures with percentage body fat in south Brazilian community‐dwelling older people
Authors: De Marchi Renato José , Hugo Fernando Neves , Hilgert Juliana Balbinot , Padilha Dalva Maria Pereira
Published: November 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00411.x

Association between number of teeth, edentulism and use of dentures with percentage body fat in south Brazilian community‐dwelling older people

Objective:  To evaluate if poor oral status was associated with percentage body fat in a representative sample of south Brazilian community‐dwelling elderly.

Background:  Evidence suggests that elders with extensive tooth loss and edentulism present with compromised chewing function, which results in dietary changes. However, few studies have assessed whether poor oral status is associated with percentage body fat in community‐dwelling elderly.

Materials and methods:  A random sample of 471 south Brazilians =>60 years of age was evaluated. Measurements included a questionnaire to assess socio‐demographic, behavioural, general, and oral health data. Percentage body fat was measured with a Tanita TBF 612 digital scale, which measures foot‐to‐foot bioelectrical impedance; and oral status assessment, by means of oral examinations assessing the number of teeth and use of dental prostheses. Correlates of risk of inadequate percentage body fat were assessed by means of multinomial logistic regression.

Results:  Edentulous participants were more likely to be underfat [OR: 3.11 (1.27–7.61)] or overfat/obese [OR: 1.82 (1.05–3.16)].

Conclusion:  The present study shows that edentulous older people had higher odds for inadequate percentage body fat. The maintenance of teeth had a crucial role in increasing the chance of having an adequate body fat percentage in the study population.
From Print versus Manuscript to Sociable Authorship and Mixed Media: A Review of Trends in the Scholarship of Early Modern Publication
Authors: Tenger Zeynep , Trolander Paul
Published: November 2010

This review essay outlines current scholarship in literary sociability and social authorship, tracing the development of these trends from earlier scholarly treatments of print culture and manuscript culture during the early modern period. To contextualize this development, it surveys recent scholarship in manuscript studies and the history of the book that takes up the hypothesis that early modern print culture displaced the medieval oral and manuscript culture that preceded it. This hypothesis has been both explored and challenged by such scholars as Elizabeth Eisenstein, Peter Beal, D. F. McKenzie, Arthur Marotti, Harold Love, Margaret Ezell, and David McKitterick. Newer scholarship on early modern sociability by such historians as Peter Clarke, Anna Bryson, and Susan Whyman has been instrumental in shifting literary historical discussion away from the print versus manuscript culture hypothesis to one where print and manuscript represent only two of several media choices available to early modern authors. Following this shift from a focus on media to social conditions of authorship and reading, recent scholarship has explored the role culture plays in shaping media and genre choice in the early modern period.
Sentimentalism and 1790s Radical Novels
Authors: O’Brien Eliza
Published: November 2010

The number of studies in sentiment and sensibility in the eighteenth century has increased dramatically in recent years. This expansion in studies tracking the development of sentiment relates to commerce, empire, rhetoric, physiology, ethics, slavery, philosophy and gender, amongst other subjects. It is important that the influence and significance of eighteenth‐century sentiment, for so long viewed solely as a literary device and associated primarily with fiction and poetry, is fully explored and that scholars look beyond the literary to see the social and political effects of the original theories of moral sentiment and physiological sensibility. This article suggests that it is also necessary to reconsider sentimentalism in 1790s radical literature in the light of recent cultural studies, which can be used to illuminate the extent of the relation between sentiment and 1790s radical novels and their manipulation of the rhetoric and politics of sensibility to achieve their aims.
Effects of a problem‐solving counseling program to facilitate intensified walking on Koreans with type 2 diabetes
Authors: LEE Haejung , KIM Myoung‐Soo , PARK Kyung‐Yeon , PARK Hyoung‐Sook , KIM In‐Joo
Published: November 2010

Aim:  This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and long‐term effects of a 12 week problem‐solving (PS) counseling program to facilitate intensified walking with machinery monitoring on persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Korea.

Methods:  The study used a quasi‐experimental design. The participants were 57 patients with diabetes from three endocrinology or internal medicine clinics in an urban city of South Korea. Moderate‐intensity walking and PS counseling were recommended to both groups. The difference between the two groups was whether the intensity of the exercise was monitored by an ambulatory heart rate monitor (experimental group) or was self‐regulated (comparison group). Those programs were evaluated in relation to BMI, glycemic control (blood glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c]), a vascular complication index (total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, tissue plasminogen activator [t‐PA], plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 [PAI‐1], Parma Cardiovascular Risk Index), and coping strategies at 3 and 6 months.

Results:  The experimental group members showed dramatic decreases in their glucose and HbA1c levels at 3 months. The values of t‐PA decreased significantly at baseline, compared to at 3 months. The levels of PAI‐1 continuously declined and the Parma Cardiovascular Risk Index score did not change significantly from baseline to at 3 months, but showed significant effects at 6 months.

Conclusion:  A combined program of intensified walking, using a heart rate monitor, with PS counseling is more helpful to prevent complications than self‐regulated exercise for persons with type 2 diabetes in Korea.
Breast cancer screening in women: An integrative literature review
Authors: Ravert Patricia K. , Huffaker Crystal
Published: November 2010

Purpose: To (a) conduct a thorough search of the literature for breast cancer screening studies utilizing mammography, ultrasound, or breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and (b) critically appraise these studies to aid the nurse practitioner in choosing the most appropriate screening tool for their individual patients.

Data sources: Articles were identified from the following databases: CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, EBSCO, ISI, and Cochrane Library. Reference lists from all articles were reviewed and an authority in breast cancer screening was contacted regarding the reference list.

Conclusions: Breast MRI had a higher sensitivity than mammography and ultrasound in all studies comparing breast MRI. The specificity was lower for breast MRI than for mammography in five out of six studies. The ultrasound had a higher sensitivity than mammography in all five studies examining women with dense breast tissue.

Implications for practice: Women who fall into high‐risk categories should be screened yearly with breast MRI and mammography. Women with dense breast tissue according to a standardized density score should be screened yearly with ultrasound and mammography. Women in the general population should be screened yearly with mammography.
Bovine pulp tissue dissolution ability of HealOzone®, Aquatine Alpha Electrolyte® and sodium hypochlorite
Authors: Rossi‐Fedele Giampiero , Steier Liviu , Dogramaci Esma Jane , Canullo Luigi , Steier Gabriela , de Figueiredo Jose Antonio Poli
Published: November 2010

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bovine pulp tissue dissolution ability of HealOzone, Aquatine Alpha Electrolyte® and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, used alone or in combination. Thirty bovine pulp fragments were weighed, divided into six groups and placed individually in Eppendorf tubes containing the tested solution until total dissolution occurred. The groups were: G1: saline (negative control), G2: Aquatine Alpha Electrolyte®, G3: 0.5% NaOCl (positive control), G4: Saline + HealOzone, G5: 0.5% NaOCl + HealOzone, G6: Aquatine Alpha Electrolyte® + HealOzone. HealOzone was activated for 2 min with a #6 cup covering the test tube opening on a fixed platform. Two blinded observers using 2× loupes magnification assessed the samples continuously for the first 2 h, and then every hour for the next 8 h. Dissolution speed was calculated by dividing pulp weight by dissolution time (mg min−1). G3 (NaOCl) and G5 (NaOCl + HealOzone) dissolved the pulp tissue completely. The mean dissolution speed for G3 was 0.396 mg min−1 (SD 0.032) and for G5 was 0.775 mg min−1 (SD 0.2). Student's t‐test showed that G5 dissolved bovine pulp tissue faster than G3 (P = 0.01). Only groups containing sodium hypochlorite dissolved pulp tissue, whilst HealOzone enhanced speed of dissolution.
Let’s Audit Bohemia: A Review of Richard Florida’s ‘Creative Class’ Thesis and Its Impact on Urban Policy
Authors: O’Callaghan Cian
Published: November 2010

Richard Florida contends that the key determinant of the economic growth of cities is the presence of concentrations of what he terms the ‘creative class’–‘[those] who use creativity as a key factor in … [their] work …’– and that places should aim to attract these workers by endowing themselves with the 3Ts of technology, talent and tolerance. Despite courting serious criticisms from both the Left and Right, Florida’s arguments continue to resonate with civic leaders and a popular audience. Building on work that questions the theoretical robustness of the concept, this review focuses on the construction of identity and ontology in Florida’s work. Tracing the genealogy of the ‘creativity’ debates, the article seeks to explore the implications of this work on ideas about cities and urban policy. I argue that the creative class thesis successfully streamlined a number of disparate and emergent discourses (on the knowledge economy, cultural and creative industries, industrial clustering, flexible labour, etc.) into a platform upon which such processes could be seen as constitutive, and therefore provide a rhetorical ‘solution’ to a complex set of problems. The concept also works in terms of a personal buy‐in, in that people are willing to subscribe to this world view and place themselves within this schema. Florida’s texts are sophisticated polemic mobilisations of identity, which package and market a particular view of the individual and society. Ultimately, however, the concept accounts for human creativity and the dynamics of place in shallow ways that ignore geographical context, reinforce and almost glorify the growing inequalities between rich poor, and ultimately co‐opt creativity into the status quo of neoliberal capitalism.
Environmental/Green Cultural Shifts: Dynamics of Social Change
Authors: Woehrle Lynne M.
Published: November 2010

The greening of society is a strong cultural wave as we enter the second decade of the century. This article considers what it means to be ‘green’, core issues that the environmental sustainability wave brings to society and the role of sociology its evolution in public culture. A key argument offered is that sociologists’ historic commitment to critical analysis and to social justice could be important in determining whether the green wave is simply a cultural trend or if it will expand to become a cultural shift. The contributions of environmental sociology, ecofeminism, deep ecology, and green economics are considered significant influences on the relationship between environmentalism and social analysis. Whether scholars and activists can link key concepts such as sustainable development, ecological sensitivity, human dignity, and social justice may prove critical for achieving the goal of societal transformation toward a greener culture.
Virtual reality cataract surgery training: learning curves and concurrent validity
Authors: Selvander Madeleine , Åsman Peter
Published: November 2010

Purpose:  To investigate initial learning curves on a virtual reality (VR) eye surgery simulator and whether achieved skills are transferable between tasks.

Methods:  Thirty‐five medical students were randomized to complete ten iterations on either the VR Caspulorhexis module (group A) or the Cataract navigation training module (group B) and then two iterations on the other module. Learning curves were compared between groups. The second Capsulorhexis video was saved and evaluated with the performance rating tool Objective Structured Assessment of Cataract Surgical Skill (OSACSS). The students’ stereoacuity was examined.

Results:  Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in performance over the 10 iterations: group A for all parameters analysed including score (p < 0.0001), time (p < 0.0001) and corneal damage (p = 0.0003), group B for time (p < 0.0001), corneal damage (p < 0.0001) but not for score (p = 0.752). Training on one module did not improve performance on the other. Capsulorhexis score correlated significantly with evaluation of the videos using the OSACSS performance rating tool. For stereoacuity < and ≥120 seconds of arc, sum of both modules’ second iteration score was 73.5 and 41.0, respectively (p = 0.062).

Conclusion:  An initial rapid improvement in performance on a simulator with repeated practice was shown. For capsulorhexis, 10 iterations with only simulator feedback are not enough to reach a plateau for overall score. Skills transfer between modules was not found suggesting benefits from training on both modules. Stereoacuity may be of importance in the recruitment and training of new cataract surgeons. Additional studies are needed to investigate this further. Concurrent validity was found for Capsulorhexis module.
Commitment: Functions, Formation, and the Securing of Romantic Attachment
Authors: Stanley Scott M. , Rhoades Galena K. , Whitton Sarah W.
Published: November 2010

In this theoretical article, we review central concepts in the psychological literature on relationship commitment to provide a foundation to discuss two themes related to long‐term romantic relationships and marriages. First, we describe and discuss the role that commitment plays in stabilizing romantic attachment. Second, we use empirical research on cohabitation to highlight how what are now common trajectories of couple development can undermine the formation of commitment. The first topic underscores an increasingly important role for commitment in an age of companionate marriage. The second topic draws attention to dynamics that can affect the strength of romantic commitments, especially in marriage.
Pharmacists' participation in research: a case of trying to find the time
Authors: Cvijovic Kosta , Boon Heather , Jaeger Walter , Vohra Sunita
Published: November 2010

Objective

The objective of this case study was to explore how pharmacists involved in the Pharmacy Study Of Natural Health Product Adverse Reactions (SONAR) project perceived the barriers and facilitators to participating in clinical research.

Methods

A total of 19 semi-structured interviews were completed with pharmacy staff members who had recently completed data collection in the SONAR study which involved asking patients if they had experienced any unwanted effects while taking natural products. Other data sources included detailed field notes and interviews with SONAR researchers. Basic content analysis with multiple coders was used to analyse the data and triangulation was used to highlight areas of consistency and contrasting view points across the data types.

Key findings

None of the participating pharmacies was able to collect as much data as expected by the SONAR team. Lack of time was stated as the main reason why pharmacy staff had trouble with the data collection. However, observational data and detailed probing in interviews confirmed that data collection itself took very little time (seconds per patient). Lack of time was provided as a socially acceptable excuse that masked deeper issues related to fears associated with challenges modifying established work routines and perceived lack of value associated with research participation.

Conclusion

To successfully engage pharmacists in practice-based natural health product research it is necessary to establish the direct and indirect benefits of participation because those that believe in the value of the research will make the time for participation.
Harnessing the Effect of Adoptively Transferred Tumor‐Reactive T Cells on Endogenous (Host‐Derived) Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Nesbeth Yolanda , Conejo-Garcia Jose R.
Published: November 2010

Adoptive T cell transfer therapy, the ex vivo activation, expansion, and subsequent administration of tumor‐reactive T cells, is already the most effective therapy against certain types of cancer. However, recent evidence in animal models and clinical trials suggests that host conditioning interventions tailored for some of the most aggressive and frequent epithelial cancers will be needed to maximize the benefit of this approach. Similarly, the subsets, stage of differentiation, and ex vivo expansion procedure of tumor‐reactive T cells to be adoptively transferred influence their in vivo effectiveness and may need to be adapted for different types of cancer and host conditioning interventions. The effects of adoptively transferred tumor‐reactive T cells on the mechanisms of endogenous (host‐derived) antitumor immunity, and how to maximize their combined effects, are further discussed.
Bifurcation Analysis for a Delayed Predator-Prey System with Stage Structure
Authors: Jiang Zhichao , Cheng Guangtao
Published: November 2010

A delayed predator-prey system with stage structure is investigated. The existence and stability of equilibria are obtained. An explicit algorithm for determining the direction of the Hopf bifurcation and the stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions is derived by using the normal form and the center manifold theory. Finally, a numerical example supporting the theoretical analysis is given.
Thymoglobulin Induction Dosing Strategies in a Low-Risk Kidney Transplant Population: Three or Four Days?
Authors: Hardinger Karen L. , Rasu Rafia S. , Skelton Rebecca , Miller Brent W. , Brennan Daniel C.
Published: November 2010

The optimal dose and duration of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction has not been defined.Methods. We compared the safety and efficacy of 2 dosing strategies, rATG 1.5 mg/kg for 4 days (n=59) versus 2 mg/kg for 3 days (n=59), in a retrospective, cohort study.Results. Two-year rejection-free survival was 95% in each group (P=.983). Renal function and infection rates were similar. The incidence of leucopenia was similar, although the 2 mg/kg group was more likely to be thrombocytopenic on day 2 (4% versus 28%,P=.04). Length of stay tended to be longer for the 1.5 mg/kg group (6.0±3.7versus5.1±1.9daysP=.104). A cost savings of $920 per patient for rATG were seen in the 2 mg/kg group (P=.122).Conclusions. Shorter, more intense dosing of rATG is safe and effective. The 3-day dose strategy resulted in a clinically shorter length of stay and may result in cost savings.
Viewing Sea Level by a One‐Dimensional Random Function with Long Memory
Authors: Li Ming , Cattani Carlo , Chen Seng-Yong
Published: November 2010

Sea level fluctuation gains increasing interests in several fields, such as geoscience and ocean dynamics. Recently, the long‐range dependence (LRD) or long memory, which is measured by the Hurst parameter, denoted by H, of sea level was reported by Barbosa et al. (2006). However, reports regarding the local roughness of sea level, which is characterized by fractal dimension, denoted by D, of sea level, are rarely seen. Note that a common model describing a random function with LRD is fractional Gaussian noise (fGn), which is the increment process of fractional Brownian motion (fBm) (Beran (1994)). If using the model of fGn, D of a random function is greater than 1 and less than 2 because D is restricted by H with the restriction D = 2 − H. In this paper, we introduce the concept of one‐dimensional random functions with LRD based on a specific class of processes called the Cauchy‐class (CC) process, towards separately characterizing the local roughness and the long‐range persistence of sea level. In order to achieve this goal, we present the power spectrum density (PSD) function of the CC process in the closed form. The case study for modeling real data of sea level collected by the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) at six stations in the Florida and Eastern Gulf of Mexico demonstrates that the sea level may be one‐dimensional but LRD. The case study also implies that the CC process might be a possible model of sea level. In addition to these, this paper also exhibits the yearly multiscale phenomenon of sea level.
Structural and Electronic Properties of Low-Dimensional C-Nanoassemblies and Possible Analogues for Si (and Ge)
Authors: March N. H. , Rubio A.
Published: November 2010

The delocalised nature ofπ-electrons in carbon-based compounds has opened a huge path for new fundamental and technological developments using carbon-based materials of different dimensionality (from clusters, to surfaces, nanotubes and graphene, among others). The success of this field has prompted the proposal that other inorganic structures based on B and N and more recently on Si and Ge could be formed with specific structural, mechanical, and electronic properties. In this paper we provide an analysis of the similarities of the two fields starting from the analysis of the Si6H6molecule, the analogue of the benzene molecule but now being nonplanar. Then we move to the study of the two-dimensional (buckled) analogues of graphene but now formed by Si and Ge. Similarly, we look to nonplanar compounds based on boron and boron-carbon nitrogen composites. In particular, we focus on the mechanical properties of those new materials that exhibit a very high stiffness, resilience, and flexibility. Possible applications in the fields of catalysis, lubrication, electronic, and photonic devices now seem a likely by-product. We also address future directions triggered by the predicted superconducting properties of graphene, among other areas.
Anti‐VEGF Therapy in Breast and Lung Mouse Models of Cancers
Authors: Marina Di Domenico , Carmela Ricciardi , Alfredo Fusco , Giovanna Maria Pierantoni
Published: November 2010

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world after cardiovascular diseases. Some types of cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body through blood circulation or lymph vessels, where they begin to grow. This process is recognized as metastasis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from existing vessel. Normally angiogenesis is a healthy process, that helps the body to heal wounds and repair damaged body tissues, whereas in cancerous condition this process supports new blood vessels formation that provide a tumor with its own blood supply, nutrients and allow it to grow. The most important proximal factor for angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF. Angioinhibition is a form of targeted therapy that uses drugs to stop tumors from making new blood vessels. Therefore, in this paper we analyse the importance of VEGF as target of cancer therapy, analysing murine models.
Effects of Land-Use Change on Characteristics and Dynamics of Watershed Discharges in Babeldaob, Palau, Micronesia
Authors: Golbuu Yimnang , Wolanski Eric , Harrison Peter , Richmond Robert H. , Victor Steven , Fabricius Katharina E.
Published: November 2010

This study assessed the impacts of differing levels of land development in four watersheds in Palau on river sediment yield and on sedimentation and turbidity. Area corrected sediment yield was strongly related to land development (r2=0.96,P=0.02), varying from 9.7 to 216 tons km−2yr−1between the least and most developed watershed. Mean sedimentation rates on reefs ranged from 0.7 to 46 mg cm−2d−1, and mean turbidity ranged from 9 to 139 mg l−1. The higher values exceeded those known to harm corals. Because Palau's watersheds and estuaries are small, river floods were short-lived (typically lasting less than a day) and the estuaries adjusted just as quickly to a number of different estuarine circulation patterns that, in turn, generated a large variability in the export of riverine fine sediment to the reefs. The ultimate fate of the fine sediment deposited on the reefs depended on wind resuspension, local currents, and geomorphology (whether the bay was open or semi-enclosed). Palau's small estuaries were generally not as effective as bigger estuaries in trapping sediments and thus at sheltering the reefs. Therefore, greater efforts are needed to control and mitigate land activities that contribute to the increase in sediment yield.
Class III β-Tubulin Expression Predicts Prostate Tumor Aggressiveness and Patient Response to Docetaxel-Based Chemotherapy
Authors: Ploussard Guillaume , Terry Stéphane , Maillé Pascale , Allory Yves , Sirab Nanor , Kheuang Laurence , Soyeux Pascale , Nicolaiew Nathalie , Coppolani Estelle , Paule Bernard , Salomon Laurent , Culine Stéphane , Buttyan Ralph , Vacherot Francis , de la Taille Alexandre
Published: November 2010

Expression of class III β-tubulin (βIII-tubulin) correlates with tumor progression and resistance to taxane-based therapies for several human malignancies, but its use as a biomarker of tumor behavior in prostate cancer (PCa) remains largely unexplored. Here, we describe βIII-tubulin immunohistochemical staining patterns of prostate tumors obtained from a broad spectrum of PCa patients, some of whom subsequently received docetaxel therapy for castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). Elevated βIII-tubulin expression was significantly associated with tumor aggressiveness in PCa patients with presumed localized disease, as it was found to be an independent marker of biochemical recurrence after treatment. Additionally, βIII-tubulin expression in tumor cells was an independent predictor of lower overall survival for patients receiving docetaxel-based chemotherapy for CRPC. Manipulation of βIII-tubulin expression in human PCa cell lines using a human βIII-tubulin expression vector or βIII-tubulin small interfering RNA altered cell survival in response to docetaxel treatment in a manner that supports a role for βIII-tubulin expression as a mediator of PCa cell resistance to docetaxel therapy. Our findings suggest a role for βIII-tubulin as candidate theranostic biomarker to predict the response to docetaxel-based chemotherapy as well as to target for treatment of docetaxel-resistant CRPC. Cancer Res; 70(22); 9253–64. ©2010 AACR.
Alternative Splicing of Caspase 9 Is Modulated by the Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Pathway via Phosphorylation of SRp30a
Authors: Shultz Jacqueline C. , Goehe Rachel W. , Wijesinghe D. Shanaka , Murudkar Charuta , Hawkins Amy J. , Shay Jerry W. , Minna John D. , Chalfant Charles E.
Published: November 2010

Increasing evidence points to the functional importance of alternative splice variations in cancer pathophysiology. Two splice variants are derived from the CASP9 gene via the inclusion (Casp9a) or exclusion (Casp9b) of a four-exon cassette. Here we show that alternative splicing of Casp9 is dysregulated in non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) regardless of their pathologic classification. Based on these findings we hypothesized that survival pathways activated by oncogenic mutation regulated this mechanism. In contrast to K-RasV12 expression, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression or mutation dramatically lowered the Casp9a/9b splice isoform ratio. Moreover, Casp9b downregulation blocked the ability of EGFR mutations to induce anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, Casp9b expression blocked inhibition of clonogenic colony formation by erlotinib. Interrogation of oncogenic signaling pathways showed that inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase or Akt dramatically increased the Casp9a/9b ratio in NSCLC cells. Finally, Akt was found to mediate exclusion of the exon 3,4,5,6 cassette of Casp9 via the phosphorylation state of the RNA splicing factor SRp30a via serines 199, 201, 227, and 234. Taken together, our findings show that oncogenic factors activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway can regulate alternative splicing of Casp9 via a coordinated mechanism involving the phosphorylation of SRp30a. Cancer Res; 70(22); 9185–96. ©2010 AACR.
Cold Warriors of the Book: American Book Programs in the 1950s
Authors: Barnhisel Greg
Published: November 2010

In the early years of the Cold War, programs run by the United States Department of State and, later, the United States Information Agency attempted to provide opinion-makers in foreign nations with books about the U.S. that would counter Soviet propaganda claims. An overview of these programs and of the titles included shows that their portraits of the U.S. mirrored those of Cold War liberals generally: the U.S. was a society not without flaws, but one whose strength came from its democratic system of governance and its valuation of the principles of “freedom,” both political and economic.
Impossible to Disprove Yet Impossible to Believe: the Unforgiving Epistemology of Deep-Time Oral Tradition
Authors: Henige David
Published: November 2010

This is not a real old time myth but it is what they say now, and it must have been like that.

This man from Ulimang was highly skilled in the art of warfare—like Eisenhower.

A Tahitian businessman who provides ‘Polynesian’ entertainment for tourists in Hawaii with a young Marquesan man whom he took to Samoa to be tattooed by their artistsfollowing designs recorded by early European visitors.

… as for oral Traditions, what certainty can there be in them? What foundation of truth can be laid upon the breath of man? How do we see the reports vary, of those things which our eyes have seen done? How do they multiply in their passage, and either grow, or die upon hazards?

Writing about American Indian reactions to their discovery of large fossil remains, Adrienne Mayor observes in passing that “[f]olklore scholars now generally accept that oral traditions about historical events endure for about a thousand years, although some oral myths about geological and astronomical events can be reliably dated to about seven thousand years.” Mayor's chosen task is to demonstrate that American Indian legends suggest that they rightly regarded fossils as the remains of long extinct megafauna populations. In aid of this, Mayor accepts these arguments in her own work. While this claim might seem extravagantprima facie, and while most folklorists would disown Mayor's claim, she is not without support from the work of a relatively small, but not uninfluential (and possibly growing), cadre of anthropologists, mythographers, geologists, and historians, whose efforts on behalf of deep-time oral tradition I address here.

Some interesting—even intriguing—things have been happening recently in discussions of the carrying capacity of oral tradition—its long-term historicity, in particular.À laMayor, the thrust of this is to credit tradition with being able to preserve “intact” various pieces of information for as long as tens of thousands of years. To the historian interested in the reality of the past in oral societies, this state of affairs is challenging, perplexing, and no doubt to some, highly promising. If, for instance, it can be demonstrated that certain information in oral data is thousands of years old and at the same time an accurate recollection, then reservations about much later (say, several centuries old) orally transmitted information might need to be reassessed, and with such rethinking would come new ways to approach great swaths of the past.
Penser les intermédiaires coloniaux: Note sur les dossiers de carrière de la police du Togo
Authors: Glasman Joël
Published: November 2010

Les employés africains de l'Etat colonial font aujourd'hui l'objet d'un important renouveau historiographique. Des travaux récents sur les enseignants, les sages-femmes, les tirailleurs, ou encore les interprètes ont considérablement renouvelé l'histoire africaine. Dans le même temps, les termes désignant les groupes sociaux situés dans l'entre-deux de la société coloniale se multiplient: Intermédiaires culturels, intermédiaires coloniaux, middle figures, middle men, médiateurs, courtiers/brokers, etc. La question se pose dès lors des sources et méthodes pertinentes pour étudier ces catégories sociales. La présente contribution propose de s'intéresser à un type de source encore sous-utilisé par les historiens de l'Afrique: les dossiers de carrière. Elle défend l'idée que ces sources peuvent enrichir considérablement notre compréhension des carrières africaines au sein de l'Etat colonial et, partant, l'histoire des rapports entre Etat et sociétés en Afrique.

L'étude de cas concerne l'histoire de la police civile au Togo. L'enquête porte sur un corpus de 114 dossiers individuels de policiers ayant servi entre les années 1940 et le début des années 1960, dossiers actuellement conservés au Ministère de la Fonction Publique et de la Réforme Administrative à Lomé. Le recours à ce type de source n'est pas le résultat d'un parti pris, mais le constat, au terme d'une enquête historiographique et de terrain, de leur utilité pour l'histoire des corps professionnels d'Etat. Aujourd'hui bien connus des historiens et anthropologues européanistes, les dossiers de carrière—et, plus généralement, les dossiers personnels—restent pourtant peu utilisés par les historiens de l'Afrique.
Cosmopolitanism: Its Pasts and Practices
Authors: Sluga Glenda , Horne Julia
Published: November 2010

Historians are returning to cosmopolitanism as a significant historical theme. This introductory essay briefly surveys some of the latest trends that mark this new interest, including its interdisciplinary influences and its focus on both cultural and political forms of cosmopolitanism.
Malaria Burden in Pregnancy at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Namusoke Fatuma , Rasti Niloofar , Kironde Fred , Wahlgren Mats , Mirembe Florence
Published: November 2010

Pregnancy-associated malaria is a major global health concern. To assess the Plasmodium falciparum burden in pregnancy we conducted a cross-sectional study at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Malaria prevalence by each of three measures—peripheral smear, placental smear, and placental histology was 9% (35/391), 11.3% (44/389), and 13.9% (53/382) respectively. Together, smear and histology data yielded an infection rate of 15.5% (59/380) of active infections and 4.5% (17/380) of past infections; hence 20% had been or were infected when giving birth. A crude parity dependency was observed with main burden being concentrated in gravidae 1 through gravidae 3. Twenty-two percent were afflicted by anaemia and 12.2% delivered low birthweight babies. Active placental infection and anaemia showed strong association (OR=2.8) whereas parity and placental infection had an interactive effect on mean birthweight (P=.036). Primigravidae with active infection and multigravidae with past infection delivered on average lighter babies. Use of bednet protected significantly against infection (OR=0.56) whilst increased haemoglobin level protected against low birthweight (OR=0.83) irrespective of infection status. Albeit a high attendance at antenatal clinics (96.8%), there was a poor coverage of insecticide-treated nets (32%) and intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment (41.5%).

Erratum to Malaria Burden in Pregnancy at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda
How content and co‐viewers elicit emotional discomfort in moviegoing experiences: Where does the discomfort come from and how is it handled?
Authors: Harris Richard Jackson , Cook Lindsay
Published: November 2010

Although watching movies is typically enjoyable, they also can elicit discomfort. The present studies investigated what makes some moviegoing experiences emotionally uncomfortable. Using autobiographical memory (Study 1) and scenarios/vignettes methodology (Study 2), young adults remembered watching a movie that had made them uncomfortable or responded to scenarios about watching a particular type of movie with particular co‐viewers (e.g. violent movie with one's spouse). Movies eliciting discomfort were most often dramas (39%) or comedies (26%). Discomfort most often arose from content, particularly fairly explicit sex or violence, and secondarily from the presence of co‐viewers. Often the two interacted, for example, being uncomfortable watching explicit sex with one's parents. In terms of dealing with the discomfort, women were overall more direct and men more avoidant. A sizable minority was glad they had seen the film, in spite of the discomfort, and was open to seeing it again. Arguing from converging evidence, these different methodologies produced consistent results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surfactant‐free microdispersion process of gas in organic solvents in microfluidic devices
Authors: Tan J. , Du L. , Xu J. H. , Wang K. , Luo G. S.
Published: November 2010

The scaling of bubble/slug formation in organic solvents at microscale without surfactant was initially investigated by using T‐junction and symmetrically cross‐shaped microfluidic devices. Four unique organic solvents and three dispersion methods were used, forming different flow patterns and dispersion size. The flow pattern of uniform slug flow was investigated. Both the gas–liquid flow and dispersion size, which ranged from 400 to 1400 μm in length and 270 to 430 μm in diameter, depended on several factors including dispersion method, two‐phase flow rates, physical properties of the liquid phase, and structure of microchannels. A general equation L/w = k(QG/QL)αCaβ was used to characterize the dispersion size with modification of QG/QL for different dispersion methods, considering the influences of breakup rate and transformation of the interface shape on the dispersion process. Three models were developed to predict the dispersion size for different dispersion methods, and calculated data were in good agreement with the experimental results. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Investigation of temperature, thermodynamic parameters and dielectrical properties of poly(vinylimidazole)–Na–bentonite nanocomposite
Authors: Kaya A. Ugur , Esmer Kadir , Tekin Nalan , Beyaz Saadet K.
Published: November 2010

The adsorption of poly(vinylimidazole) (PVI) onto Na–Bentonite from aqueous solutions has been investigated as a function of temperature. According to the experimental results, the adsorption of PVI decreases with temperature from 25 to 55°C. The study of temperature effect has been quantified by calculating various thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy changes. The electrical and dielectrical properties of PVI–Na–Bentonite composite have been investigated. The current‐voltage studies show that conductivity was increased at T = 25°C. The dc conductivity was calculated at T = 25°C. The samples show typical dielectric behavior from capacitive measurements. Depending on maximum interactions at 25°C, ac conductivity and loss factors are also in high values. Especially, at frequencies over 1.5 kHz, it was seen completely clay behavior. Variation of tangent loss factor‐frequency shows decreasing of polarization density in structure in high frequency. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Influence of crystallinity on the fracture toughness of poly(lactic acid)/montmorillonite nanocomposites prepared by twin‐screw extrusion
Authors: Gamez‐Perez J. , Nascimento L. , Bou J.J. , Franco‐Urquiza E. , Santana O.O. , Carrasco F. , Ll. Maspoch M.
Published: November 2010

The aim of this work was to study the effect of crystallinity degree on the thermal, mechanical, and fracture properties of poly(lactic acid)/organomodified montmorillonite (PLA/OMMT) nanocomposites. Samples with two different compositions (0.5 and 2.5% weight OMMT in PLA) were prepared by melt mixing in a twin‐screw extruder and injection molding. An annealing treatment was applied to increase the percentage of PLA crystallinity. The thermal behavior was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the mechanical properties were determined via tensile tests and the fracture behavior using the linear elastic fracture mechanics theory, using SENB specimens at low and high testing rates. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) from granulates and injected specimens were also carried out, finding some polymer degradation during extrusion and injection processes. The results show a toughening effect of the nanocomposites on amorphous specimens but embrittlement on the annealed ones. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Einfluss des Sohldrucks auf die vertikalen Schwingungen von Blockfundamenten
Authors: Scheiter Siegfried
Published: November 2010

Auf einem Lehmvorkommen wurde ein Blockfundament gegründet und der Frequenzgang der Schwinggeschwindigkeit bei vertikaler Anregung gemessen. Danach wurde die Masse des Fundaments auf gleicher Grundfläche verdoppelt und die Messung wiederholt. Die Auswertung der Ergebnisse nach dem Analogieverfahren [1] zeigt den Einfluss des Sohldrucks auf die Feder‐ und Dämpfungswirkung des Baugrundes infolge seiner nichtlinearen Spannungs‐Dehnungslinie.

Effect of the base pressure on vertical vibrations in block foundations. The vibration velocity (for vertical excitation) was measured in a foundation block constructed on clay. The mass of the foundation was then doubled (with identical surface area) and the measurement was repeated. The analysis of the results based on the analogy technique [1] illustrates the influence of the base pressure on the spring and attenuation effect of the soil due to its non‐linear stress‐strain characteristics.
Instandsetzung von Spannbetonbrücken bei laufender Schadensanalyse
Authors: Knaute Walter , Mielke Frithjof , Franze Hanno
Published: November 2010

Bei der Instandsetzung von zwei etwa 30 Jahre alten Spannbetonbrücken traten eine Reihe von Problemen auf, die einer raschen Klärung bedurften, um unter den komplizierten Randbedingungen das Vorhaben fortführen zu können.

Dies betraf unter anderem sofortige Materialanalysen und Erarbeitung von Lösungen zu den Themen Abdichtung/Aus kris talli sa tionen mit etwaigen Treibreaktionen bzw. gefährdeter Betonzusammensetzung und Rissen sowie ganz besonders zu den Lagern, Betonschäden an Endquerträgern und Auflagerbänken. Ein weiterer Schwer punkt war die Instandsetzung von Spann gliedern, da Mängel bei der Endverankerung festgestellt wurden. Die nötigen Unter suchungen nebst Lösungen der Pro bleme werden dargestellt.

Repair of prestressed concrete bridges with continuous failure analysis. During the reinstatement of two 30 year old pre‐stressed concrete bridges a great range of problems occurred. These problems required a rapid clarification to be able to continue the project under the complicated boundary conditions. This concerned among others immediate material analyses and development of solutions to the topics sealing/crystallizations with possible expansive reactions or endangered concrete composition and cracks as well as in particular bearings, concrete damages to end transversal girders and bridge seats. A further main focus was the repair of tendons because there were detected defects at the end anchorage. The necessary investigations together with the solutions of the problems are illustrated.