bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRING THEORY EFFECTS ON FIVE-DIMENSIONAL BLACK HOLE PHYSICS
Authors: CASTRO ALEJANDRA , DAVIS JOSHUA L. , KRAUS PER , LARSEN FINN
Published: March 2008

We review recent developments in understanding quantum/string corrections to BPS black holes and strings in five-dimensional supergravity. These objects are solutions to the effective action obtained from M-theory compactified on a Calabi–Yau threefold, including the one-loop corrections determined by anomaly cancellation and supersymmetry. We introduce the off-shell formulation of this theory obtained through the conformal supergravity method and review the methods for investigating supersymmetric solutions. This leads to quantum/string corrected attractor geometries, as well as asymptotically flat black strings and spinning black holes. With these solutions in hand, we compare our results with analogous studies in four-dimensional string-corrected supergravity, emphasizing the distinctions between the four- and five-dimensional theories.
GEOMETRIC PHASES AND QUANTUM PHASE TRANSITIONS
Authors: ZHU SHI-LIANG
Published: March 2008

Quantum phase transition is one of the main interests in the field of condensed matter physics, while geometric phase is a fundamental concept and has attracted considerable interest in the field of quantum mechanics. However, no relevant relation was recognized before recent work. In this paper, we present a review of the connection recently established between these two interesting fields: investigations in the geometric phase of the many-body systems have revealed the so-called "criticality of geometric phase", in which the geometric phase associated with the many-body ground state exhibits universality, or scaling behavior in the vicinity of the critical point. In addition, we address the recent advances on the connection of some other geometric quantities and quantum phase transitions. The closed relation recently recognized between quantum phase transitions and some of the geometric quantities may open attractive avenues and fruitful dialogue between different scientific communities.
OPTICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL LATTICE
Authors: XU LEI , ZHANG JUN
Published: March 2008

We investigate the optical conductivity in the two-dimensional (2D) square and triangular tight-binding lattice-electron model with staggered magnetic flux (SMF). The SMF results in a two-sublattice system with two branches of energy bands in both cases, and even generates new flux-dependent optical properties. Results for the flux parameter dependence of the mean kinetic energy, the Drude weight and the optical conductivity are discussed in detail. A comparison between the two cases has been done.
A DARKLESS SPACE–TIME
Authors: TARTAGLIA ANGELO , CAPONE MONICA
Published: March 2008

In cosmology it has become usual to introduce new entities as dark matter and dark energy in order to explain otherwise unexplained observational facts. Here, we propose a different approach treating space–time as a continuum endowed with properties similar to those of ordinary material continua, such as internal viscosity and strain distributions originated by defects in the texture. A Lagrangian modeled on the one valid for simple dissipative phenomena in fluids is built and used for empty space–time. The internal "viscosity" is shown to correspond to a four-vector field. The vector field is shown to be connected with the displacement vector field induced by a point defect in a four-dimensional continuum. Using the known symmetry of the universe, assuming the vector field to be divergenceless and solving the corresponding Euler–Lagrange equation, we directly obtain inflation and a phase of accelerated expansion of space–time. The only parameter in the theory is the "strength" of the defect. We show that it is possible to fix it in such a way as to also quantitatively reproduce the acceleration of the universe. We have finally verified that the addition of ordinary matter does not change the general behavior of the model and that the proper Newtonian limit exists.
MAPPING CARTESIAN COORDINATES INTO EMISSION COORDINATES: SOME TOY MODELS
Authors: RUGGIERO MATTEO LUCA , TARTAGLIA ANGELO
Published: March 2008

After briefly reviewing the relativistic approach to positioning systems based on the introduction of the emission coordinates, we show how explicit maps can be obtained between the Cartesian coordinates and the emission coordinates, for a suitably chosen set of emitters, whose world lines are supposed to be known by the users. We consider Minkowski space–time and the space–time where a small inhomogeneity is introduced (i.e. a small a "gravitational" field), in 1 + 1 and 1 + 3 dimensions.
HYDRODYNAMIC FLOW AS CONGRUENCE OF GEODESIC LINES IN RIEMANNIAN SPACE–TIME
Authors: VEROZUB L. V.
Published: March 2008

It is shown that small volume elements of a perfect esentropic fluid move along geodesic lines of a Riemannian space–time.
SEARCH FOR BOTTLENECK EFFECTS IN PENNA AGEING AND SCHULZE LANGUAGE MODEL
Authors: MALARZ KRZYSZTOF , STAUFFER DIETRICH
Published: March 2008

No influence was seen when in two models with memory effects the populations were drastically decreased after equilibrium was established, and then allowed to increase again.
High-bandwidth data dissemination for large-scale distributed systems
Authors: Kostić Dejan , Snoeren Alex C. , Vahdat Amin , Braud Ryan , Killian Charles , Anderson James W. , Albrecht Jeannie , Rodriguez Adolfo , Vandekieft Erik
Published: March 2008

This article focuses on the multireceiver data dissemination problem. Initially, IP multicast formed the basis for efficiently supporting such distribution. More recently, overlay networks have emerged to support point-to-multipoint communication. Both techniques focus on constructing trees rooted at the source to distribute content among all interested receivers. We argue, however, that trees have two fundamental limitations for data dissemination. First, since all data comes from a single parent, participants must often continuously probe in search of a parent with an acceptable level of bandwidth. Second, due to packet losses and failures, available bandwidth is monotonically decreasing down the tree.

To address these limitations, we present Bullet, a data dissemination mesh that takes advantage of the computational and storage capabilities of end hosts to create a distribution structure where a node receives data in parallel from multiple peers. For the mesh to deliver improved bandwidth and reliability, we need to solve several key problems: (i) disseminating disjoint data over the mesh, (ii) locating missing content, (iii) finding who to peer with (peering strategy), (iv) retrieving data at the right rate from all peers (flow control), and (v) recovering from failures and adapting to dynamically changing network conditions. Additionally, the system should be self-adjusting and should have few user-adjustable parameter settings. We describe our approach to addressing all of these problems in a working, deployed system across the Internet. Bullet outperforms state-of-the-art systems, including BitTorrent, by 25-70% and exhibits strong performance and reliability in a range of deployment settings. In addition, we find that, relative to tree-based solutions, Bullet reduces the need to perform expensive bandwidth probing.
A Conversation with Jason Hoffman
Authors: Stanik John
Published: March 2008

Jason Hoffman has a Ph.D. in molecular pathology, but to him the transition between the biological sciences and his current role as CTO of Joyent was completely natural: "Fundamentally, what I’ve always been is a systems scientist, meaning that whether I was studying metabolism or diseases of metabolism or cancer or computer systems or anything else, a system is a system," says Hoffman. He draws on this broad systems background in the work he does at Joyent providing scalable infrastructure for Web applications. Joyent’s cloud-computing infrastructure has become the foundation for many of the increasingly popular applications developed to feed into the social-networking site Facebook.com.
Mechanism of action of exenatide to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Cervera Antonio , Wajcberg Estela , Sriwijitkamol Apiradee , Fernandez Marianella , Zuo Pengou , Triplitt Curtis , Musi Nicolas , DeFronzo Ralph A. , Cersosimo Eugenio
Published: March 2008

We examined the contributions of insulin secretion, glucagon suppression, splanchnic and peripheral glucose metabolism, and delayed gastric emptying to the attenuation of postprandial hyperglycemia during intravenous exenatide administration. Twelve subjects with type 2 diabetes (3 F/9 M, 44 ± 2 yr, BMI 34 ± 4 kg/m2, Hb A1c7.5 ± 1.5%) participated in three meal-tolerance tests performed with double tracer technique (iv [3-3H]glucose and oral [1-14C]glucose): 1) iv saline (CON), 2) iv exenatide (EXE), and 3) iv exenatide plus glucagon (E+G). Acetaminophen was given with the mixed meal (75 g glucose, 25 g fat, 20 g protein) to monitor gastric emptying. Plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, acetaminophen concentrations and glucose specific activities were measured for 6 h post meal. Post-meal hyperglycemia was markedly reduced ( P < 0.01) in EXE (138 ± 16 mg/dl) and in E+G (165 ± 12) compared with CON (206 ± 15). Baseline plasma glucagon (∼90 pg/ml) decreased by ∼20% to 73 ± 4 pg/ml in EXE ( P < 0.01) and was not different from CON in E+G (81 ± 2). EGP was suppressed by exenatide [231 ± 9 to 108 ± 8 mg/min (54%) vs. 254 ± 29 to189 ± 27 mg/min (26%, P < 0.001, EXE vs. CON] and partially reversed by glucagon replacement [247 ± 15 to 173 ± 18 mg/min (31%)]. Oral glucose appearance was 39 ± 4 g in CON vs. 23 ± 6 g in EXE ( P < 0.001) and 15 ± 5 g in E+G, ( P < 0.01 vs. CON). The glucose retained within the splanchnic bed increased from ∼36g in CON to ∼52g in EXE and to ∼60g in E+G ( P < 0.001 vs. CON). Acetaminophen(AUC)was reduced by ∼80% in EXE vs. CON ( P < 0.01). We conclude that exenatide infusion attenuates postprandial hyperglycemia by decreasing EGP (by ∼50%) and by slowing gastric emptying.
Systematic assessment of the human osteoblast transcriptome in resting and induced primary cells
Authors: Grundberg Elin , Brändström Helena , Lam Kevin C. L. , Gurd Scott , Ge Bing , Harmsen Eef , Kindmark Andreas , Ljunggren Östen , Mallmin Hans , Nilsson Olle , Pastinen Tomi
Published: March 2008

Osteoblasts are key players in bone remodeling. The accessibility of human primary osteoblast-like cells (HObs) from bone explants makes them a lucrative model for studying molecular physiology of bone turnover, for discovering novel anabolic therapeutics, and for mesenchymal cell biology in general. Relatively little is known about resting and dynamic expression profiles of HObs, and to date no studies have been conducted to systematically assess the osteoblast transcriptome. The aim of this study was to characterize HObs and investigate signaling cascades and gene networks with genomewide expression profiling in resting and bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-2- and dexamethasone-induced cells. In addition, we compared HOb gene expression with publicly available samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Our data show a vast number of genes and networks expressed predominantly in HObs compared with closely related cells such as fibroblasts or chondrocytes. For instance, genes in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway were enriched in HObs ( P = 0.003) and included the binding proteins (IGFBP-1, -2, -5) and IGF-II and its receptor. Another HOb-specific expression pattern included leptin and its receptor ( P < 10−8). Furthermore, after stimulation of HObs with BMP-2 or dexamethasone, the expression of several interesting genes and pathways was observed. For instance, our data support the role of peripheral leptin signaling in bone cell function. In conclusion, we provide the landscape of tissue-specific and dynamic gene expression in HObs. This resource will allow utilization of osteoblasts as a model to study specific gene networks and gene families related to human bone physiology and diseases.
Host Nuclear Factor-κB Activation Potentiates Lung Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Stathopoulos Georgios T. , Sherrill Taylor P. , Han Wei , Sadikot Ruxana T. , Yull Fiona E. , Blackwell Timothy S. , Fingleton Barbara
Published: March 2008

Epidemiologic and experimental evidence suggests that a link exists between inflammation and cancer, although this relationship has only recently begun to be elucidated for lung cancer, the most frequently fatal human tumor. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a transcription factor that controls innate immune responses in the lungs, has been implicated as an important determinant of cancer cell proliferative and metastatic potential; however, its role in lung tumorigenesis is uncertain. Here, we specifically examine the role of NF-κB–induced airway inflammation in lung cancer metastasis using a model of intravenous injection of Lewis lung carcinoma cells into immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice. Induction of lung inflammation by direct and specific NF-κB activation in airway epithelial cells potentiates lung adenocarcinoma metastasis. Moreover, we identify resident lung macrophages as crucial effectors of lung susceptibility to metastatic cancer growth. We conclude that NF-κB activity in host tissue is a significant factor in the development of lung metastasis. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(3):364–71)
Metallothionein Induction by Hypoxia Involves Cooperative Interactions between Metal-Responsive Transcription Factor-1 and Hypoxia-Inducible Transcription Factor-1α
Authors: Murphy Brian J. , Kimura Tomoki , Sato Barbara G. , Shi Yihui , Andrews Glen K.
Published: March 2008

Mammalian metallothionein (MT) genes are transcriptionally activated by the essential metal zinc as well as by environmental stresses, including toxic metal overload and redox fluctuations. In addition to playing a key role in zinc homeostasis, MT proteins can protect against metal- and oxidant-induced cellular damage, and may participate in other fundamental physiologic and pathologic processes such as cell survival, proliferation, and neoplasia. Previously, our group reported a requirement for metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) in hypoxia-induced transcription of mouse MT-I and human MT-IIA genes. Here, we provide evidence that the protumorigenic hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1α (HIF-1α) is essential for induction of MT-1 by hypoxia, but not zinc. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that MTF-1 and HIF-1α are both recruited to the mouse MT-I promoter in response to hypoxia, but not zinc. In the absence of HIF-1α, MTF-1 is recruited to the MT-I promoter but fails to activate MT-I gene expression in response to hypoxia. Thus, HIF-1α seems to function as a coactivator of MT-I gene transcription by interacting with MTF-1 during hypoxia. Coimmunoprecipitation studies suggest interaction between MTF-1 and HIF-1α, either directly or as mediated by other factors. It is proposed that association of these important transcription factors in a multiprotein complex represents a common strategy to control unique sets of hypoxia-inducible genes in both normal and diseased tissue. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(3):483–90)
Distinct Functionality of Tumor Cell–Derived Gelatinases during Formation of Liver Metastases
Authors: Gerg Michael , Kopitz Charlotte , Schaten Susanne , Tschukes Alexander , Kahlert Christoph , Stangl Manfred , Hann von Weyhern Claus W. , Brücher Björn L.D.M. , Edwards Dylan R. , Brand Karsten , Krüger Achim
Published: March 2008

The specific spatiotemporal role of the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 (gelatinase) during metastasis is still under debate. Host cells have been described as major contributors to these MMPs during metastasis. Here, we show strong overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by tumor cells of clinical liver specimen of recurrent metachronous metastases, leading us to address the importance of tumor cell–derived MMP-2 or MMP-9 during liver metastasis. Thus far, distinction of their roles was impossible due to lack of inhibitors which can act exclusively on tumor cells or distinguish MMP-2 from MMP-9. We therefore used short hairpin RNA interference technology in the well-established syngeneic L-CI.5s lymphoma model, in which we could analyze the time course of experimental liver colonization (arrest/invasion of single tumor cells, outgrowth, and invasion within the parenchyma) in immunocompetent mice and correlate these steps with MMP-2 or MMP-9 expression levels. In parental tumor cells, MMP-9 expression closely correlated with the invasive phases of liver colonization, whereas MMP-2 expression remained unaltered. Specific knockdown of MMP-9 revealed a close correlation between invasion-dependent events and tumor cell–derived MMP-9 expression. In contrast, knockdown of MMP-2 did not significantly alter the metastatic potential of the cells but led to a marked inhibition of metastatic foci growth. These findings explain the efficacy of gelatinase-specific synthetic inhibitors on invasion and growth of tumor cells and attribute distinct functions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 to aspects of liver metastasis. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(3):341–51)
Wetter and Better?
Authors: Pape Hilde , Rossow Ingeborg , Storvoll Elisabet E.
Published: March 2008

Background/Aims: The consumption of alcohol and the frequency of intoxication among Norwegian youth increased significantly from 1992 to 2002, and we thus asked what, if anything, can be expected to happen to rates of other problem behaviors when heavy drinking becomes more widespread? Do such aggregate level changes in alcohol use imply that individual level associations between drunkenness and behavioral deviance change as well? Method: School-based surveys of 16- to 19-year-old Norwegians that were carried out in 1992 (n = 4,744, response rate 97%) and 2002 (n = 5,458, response rate 92%). Results: Contrary to rates of drunkenness, the level of theft/pilfering declined from 1992 to 2002, while rates of aggressive behavior and school misconduct remained unchanged. We assumed that heavy-drinking adolescents were relatively less deviant with regard to non-violent problem behaviors when the youth culture was relatively ‘wet’ (2002) as compared to the period when it was much ‘drier’ (1992) and revealed that this was the case. However, the link between drunkenness and aggressive behavior was equally strong at both assessments. Conclusion: Differential temporal trends in the associations between drunkenness and various problem behaviors may reflect variations with respect to the etiological significance of alcohol use on such behaviors.
Mortality in Opioid-Maintained Patients after Release from an Addiction Clinic
Authors: Bauer Susanne M. , Loipl Rita , Jagsch Reinhold , Gruber Diego , Risser Daniele , Thau Kenneth , Fischer Gabriele
Published: March 2008

Aim: To investigate the mortality rate in a cohort of 269 opioid-dependent patients and the outcome of survivors meeting DSM-IV criteria for opioid dependence. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Participants: Patients enrolled in synthetic opioid maintenance therapy during a time frame from 1998 to 1999 originally at the Addiction Clinic and then discharged to general practitioners. Methods: Structured interviews (Europ-ASI), urinalysis at time of interview as well as autopsy findings from deceased patients. Results: After six mailings, information from 147 (54.6%) patients was gained. 85 patients (31.6%) were interviewed. From these 76.5% (n = 65) were still enrolled in maintenance therapy, 18.8% (n = 16) were drug-free and 4.7% (n = 4) relapsed. From 29 fatalities, 37.9% died of intoxication with illicit substances, 34.5% related to AIDS and 27.6% of somatic complications. The Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) was 29.13 (95% CI = 19.27–44.04). A higher lifetime frequency of hospitalization, less working days and a lack of social relationships were factors associated with high mortality. Conclusions: The study confirms the high mortality rate in this patient group and supports the importance of maintenance therapy. Although great efforts were undertaken in locating patients, about 45% of the target group could not be located.
Head Injury in Children due to Cricket Ball Scenario in Developing Countries
Authors: Wani Abrar A. , Ramzan A.U. , Tariq R. , Kirmani A.R. , Bhat A.R.
Published: March 2008

Objectives: The aim of the study was the assessment of head injury caused by cricket ball injury in children. In underdeveloped countries, this is particularly important due to the absence of safety precautions. The study was undertaken to increase the public awareness of the need to reduce the morbidity related to this sport. Methods: This was a prospective study in which all the children <18 years who had sustained head injury due to cricket balls were enrolled. Results: The study included 27 children, 26 males and 1 female. Out of these 21 cases of head injury were due to hard plastic cricket balls and the rest were due to conventional cricket balls. In 25 patients, CT scan was done, which revealed a lesion in 21 of them. Six patients required surgery, 3 for extradural hematoma, 1 for acute subdural hematoma, 1 for contusion and 1 for compound depressed fracture. One death occurred in our series. There was no significant difference in the nature of injury sustained by either plastic or conventional cricket balls. Conclusion: Head injury due to cricket balls can lead to serious consequences even if an innocuous plastic ball is used in place of a conventional cricket ball. Public awareness apart from safety measures is required so that helmets are worn during playing. Change in the nature of the balls may bring a reduction in the severity of head injury.
Long-Term Chronic Stimulation of Internal Capsule in Poststroke Pain and Spasticity
Authors: Franzini Angelo , Cordella Roberto , Nazzi Vittoria , Broggi Giovanni
Published: March 2008

This report describes the long-term follow-up of chronic stimulation of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (IC) adjacent to the sensory thalamus in an elderly patient who suffered pain and spasticity in the left leg due to stroke. Both pain and motor symptoms ameliorated during 5 years of deep brain stimulation. Our case report suggests the possibility to stimulate a more precise representation of the inferior limbs within the IC and thalamus. We propose that chronic stimulation of the IC might be an effective surgical option to motor cortex stimulation when the pain and spasticity are referred to the lower limbs.
Phase II Study of a 3-Week Schedule of Irinotecan Combined with Cisplatin in Previously Untreated Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Lee Jeong Eun , Park Hee Sun , Jung Sung Soo , Kim Ju Ock , Kim Sun Young
Published: March 2008

Background: Irinotecan has been introduced to improve the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). We conducted a trial involving a 3-week schedule of irinotecan combined with cisplatin (IP) to validate the efficacy and toxicity of this regimen in patients with previously untreated extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Patients and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with previously untreated ES-SCLC were enrolled in the study between January 2003 and December 2005. Irinotecan 60 mg/m2 was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 in combination with cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1 every 21 days. Results: Twenty-eight patients were followed until July 2007. The median follow-up time was 15.6 months. The actual dose intensities (DIs) of cisplatin and irinotecan were 97.7 and 92.2%, respectively. Among the 28 ES-SCLC patients, the objective response rate was 89.3% (25 patients). The major grade 3/4 hematological toxicity was neutropenia (26.9% of cycles). Grade 3/4 non-hematological toxicities were rare. The median progression-free and overall survival times were 8.7 and 16.5 months, with a 1-year survival rate of 66.6% and 2-year survival rate of 22.2%. Conclusion: The 3-week schedule of IP was feasible and showed a high DI of irinotecan and decreased toxicity.
Attention Bias in Children of Patients with Panic Disorder
Authors: Schneider Silvia , Unnewehr Suzan , In-Albon Tina , Margraf Jürgen
Published: March 2008

Cognitive models of panic disorder have emphasized the role of cognitive distortions in the maintenance of this disorder. Several studies have produced results consistent with this hypothesis, but it is still unclear whether cognitive biases precede anxiety disorders or whether they are a consequence of the disorder. In the present study, we compared children of individuals with panic disorder, children of individuals with animal phobia, and children of normal controls with respect to attentional bias with an emotional Stroop task, which included three types of words: panic-relevant, animal phobia-relevant, and neutral words. Our results revealed that children of panic patients did not show an attentional bias for panic-relevant stimuli. Results will be discussed in the context of theoretical models explaining the etiological factor of cognitive biases for the development of anxiety disorders.
Circulating Adiponectin and Leptin in Relation to Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Dalamaga Maria , Nikolaidou Athina , Karmaniolas Konstantinos , Hsi Alex , Chamberland John , Dionyssiou-Asteriou Amalia , Mantzoros Christos S.
Published: March 2008

Objective: Adiponectin plays a protective role in several malignancies, including myeloblastic leukemia, whereas leptin may increase the proliferation of progenitor cells and may stimulate leukemic cell growth in vitro. We investigated the role of adiponectin and leptin levels in the etiopathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a preleukemic condition with increasing incidence which has recently been associated with obesity. Methods: In a case-control study, 101 cases with incident, histologically confirmed primary MDS and 101 controls matched on gender and age were studied between 2004 and 2007, and blood samples were collected. Results: Higher serum adiponectin levels were associated with lower risk of MDS by bivariate analysis and after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and serum levels of leptin (p < 0.001). Subjects in the third quartile for leptin levels had a lower risk of MDS than controls, and low leptin concentrations were observed in low-risk MDS patients with normal or good prognostic karyotype after adjusting for age, gender and body mass index. Conclusions: Circulating adiponectin and leptin may play an important role in MDS etiopathogenesis. Future studies are needed to confirm these associations and to explore underlying mechanisms.
Proteasome Inhibition Potentiates the Cytotoxic Effects of Hyperthermia in HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells through Inhibition of Heat Shock Protein 27
Authors: Chen Fei , Rezavi Reza , Wang Cha-Chi , Harrison Lawrence E.
Published: March 2008

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether proteasome inhibition acts as a thermal sensitizing agent to induce tumor cell death in a colon cancer cell line. Methods: HT-29 colon cancer cells were exposed to hyperthermia (43°C) in the presence of proteasome inhibition for 1 h. Viable cell mass and apoptosis were measured by MTT and annexin V staining, respectively. Protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: A significant synergistic effect on cell viability with proteasome inhibition was noted under hyperthermic conditions compared to hyperthermia alone (p < 0.05). Increases in phosphorylated ERK and decreases in HSP27 levels were observed in the cells exposed to proteasome inhibition at 43°C. Pretreatment with an inhibitor of ERK yielded an additional increase in apoptosis when used in combination with proteasome inhibition and hyperthermia. Decreased expression of HSP27 by siRNA also resulted in increased thermally induced apoptotic cell death. Conclusions: Thermal sensitization through proteasome inhibition may represent a novel approach to increase the efficacy of hyperthermia as an anticancer modality.
Wnt Signaling Pathway in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast: Relationship between β-Catenin, Disheveled and Cyclin D1 Expression
Authors: Prasad Chandra P. , Gupta Siddhartha D. , Rath Gayatri , Ralhan Ranju
Published: March 2008

Objective: The Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade is an important signal transduction pathway in human cancers. Overexpression of β-catenin and its downstream effector, cyclin D1, is implicated in malignant transformation and acquisition of an invasive tumor phenotype. This study aimed to determine the clinical significance of Wnt/β-catenin canonical pathway components in breast cancer. Methods: Expression of β-catenin, disheveled (Dvl) and cyclin D1 was examined in invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) of the breast by immunohistochemical analysis. Results: Of the 98 IDCs analyzed, 30% of tumors displayed both nuclear and cytoplasmic staining of Dvl protein, while 52% showed nuclear localization. Loss of cell surface β-catenin was observed in 66% of breast carcinomas, whereas nuclear expression was observed in 48% IDCs. Cyclin D1 overexpression was observed in 60% IDCs; 31/59 (53%) of these tumors showed nuclear expression of β-catenin, suggesting upregulation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our study demonstrates a significant association between nuclear localization of Dvl and β-catenin (p < 0.01, OR = 15.8). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study showing an association between nuclear localization of Dvl and β-catenin in IDCs and suggests the upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway components, β-catenin, Dvl and cyclin D1 in IDCs of the breast.
Treatment of Transformed Mycosis Fungoides with Intermittent Low-Dose Gemcitabine
Authors: Awar Omar , Duvic Madeleine
Published: March 2008

The malignant helper T cells of mycosis fungoides, a type of cutaneous T cell lymphoma, are capable of transforming into large cerebriform cells. Large cell transformation usually renders the disease more resistant to treatment and prone to relapse. Currently investigated treatment modalities for transformed mycosis fungoides are few and include phototherapy, chemotherapy, biologic response modification, targeted molecular therapy and combinations thereof. A tolerable and reliable modality has yet to be identified. Gemcitabine, a novel purine analogue, is gaining recognition as a potent agent for advanced nontransformed cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Here we present a brief review of the literature with 3 illustrative cases that additionally reveal gemcitabine monotherapy to be a practical, safe and efficacious option for mycosis fungoides that has undergone large cell transformation.
Serum Lipids and Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Levels in Hyperlipidemic Subjects after Consumption of an Oat β-Glucan-Containing Ready Meal
Authors: Biörklund M. , Holm J. , Önning G.
Published: March 2008

Background/Aims: To investigate whether a daily intake of a nutrient-balanced ready meal containing 4 g of oat β-glucans lowers total cholesterol (T-C) and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in hyperlipidemic subjects and to evaluate its effect on postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations. Methods: A parallel, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 43 healthy men and women with elevated serum cholesterol levels. During the 3-week run-in period, all subjects consumed daily a ready-meal soup, low in energy and fat and high in fiber but without oat β-glucans. Subjects were then randomly assigned for the following 5-week intervention period to either continue consumption of the control soup or an equal soup supplemented with β-glucan. Results: Consumption of the β-glucan-enriched ready meal decreased T-C (0.22 ± 0.41 mmol/l) and LDL-C (0.16 ± 0.36 mmol/l), but the reductions were not significantly lower compared with control. After a meal with β-glucan soup, neither postprandial glucose nor insulin concentrations were significantly different from those after a control soup. Conclusion: A daily dose of 4 g of oat β-glucans incorporated into a healthy ready meal did not significantly lower T-C and LDL-C compared with an equal ready meal without β-glucans. Thus, if a food product fulfils general healthy dietary recommendations it may not necessarily be a candidate for supplementation with β-glucans.
Sensitivity Derivatives for Flexible Sensorimotor Learning
Authors: Abdelghani M. N. , Lillicrap T. P. , Tweed D. B.
Published: March 2008

To learn effectively, an adaptive controller needs to know its sensitivity derivatives—the variables that quantify how system performance depends on the commands from the controller. In the case of biological sensorimotor control, no one has explained how those derivatives themselves might be learned, and some authors suggest they are not learned at all but are known innately. Here we show that this knowledge cannot be solely innate, given the adaptive flexibility of neural systems. And we show how it could be learned using forms of information transport that are available in the brain. The mechanism, which we call implicit supervision, helps explain the flexibility and speed of sensorimotor learning and our ability to cope with high-dimensional work spaces and tools.
3D Axon Structure Extraction and Analysis in Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy Images
Authors: Zhang Yong , Zhou Xiaobo , Lu Ju , Lichtman Jeff , Adjeroh Donald , Wong Stephen T. C.
Published: March 2008

The morphological properties of axons, such as their branching patterns and oriented structures, are of great interest for biologists in the study of the synaptic connectivity of neurons. In these studies, researchers use triple immunofluorescent confocal microscopy to record morphological changes of neuronal processes. Three-dimensional (3D) microscopy image analysis is then required to extract morphological features of the neuronal structures. In this article, we propose a highly automated 3D centerline extraction tool to assist in this task. For this project, the most difficult part is that some axons are overlapping such that the boundaries distinguishing them are barely visible. Our approach combines a 3D dynamic programming (DP) technique and marker-controlled watershed algorithm to solve this problem. The approach consists of tracking and updating along the navigation directions of multiple axons simultaneously. The experimental results show that the proposed method can rapidly and accurately extract multiple axon centerlines and can handle complicated axon structures such as cross-over sections and overlapping objects.
The Way of the Yellow and the Red: Re-examining the Sexual Initiation Rite of Celestial Master Daoism
Authors: Raz Gil
Published: March 2008

That Daoists engaged in sexual practices is well known. But what precisely were these practices, and what was their significance? This paper examines the initiation ritual of Celestial Master Daoism as found in the text entitled Shangqing Huangshu guodu yi. I argue that this practice has been misunderstood by earlier scholars who focused on the sexual aspect of the rite and interpreted it through the cosmological model of yin and yang. I suggest that the ritual procedure described in this text should not be read as a sexual manual but must be placed in the context of Celestial Master ritual and mythology as found in contemporaneous texts. Such a reading reveals that this ritual is based on a cosmogony in which the procreative function of yin and yang is a secondary, and not a primary, stage of cosmogony. Rather than a hierogamy, the real significance of this ritual is, in fact, to transcend the mundane realm, symbolized by the sexual act, and to attain the primordial undifferentiated oneness, beyond sexual division.
Parades and Processions: Protestant and Catholic Ritual Performances in a Nuevo New South Town
Authors: Seales Chad
Published: March 2008

Since the early 1990s, the American South has changed drastically and Siler City, North Carolina reflects those changes. Like larger southern cities, Siler City has received a significant number of migrants from Latin America in a short amount of time. New migrants, many but not all of them Roman Catholic, bring diverse sets of ethnic, cultural, and religious practices to a town traditionally dominated by Baptists and Methodists. One of the most visible examples of local religious disruption in Siler City has been the public display of Good Friday processions by Latino Catholics. That performance signified the presence of new migrants in downtown space. White Protestants, in turn, drew on the long standing ritual tradition of downtown Fourth of July parades to reassert their presence in that same space. Annually performed since 1901, the parades revealed a moral order based on the logic of southern Christian sacrifice. And the vitality of downtown parades indicated the political strength of white Protestants to maintain established order. That strength diminished with the local economic decline of downtown businesses in the 1980s and was challenged by the arrival of Latino migrants in the 1990s. The parades ended in 1988 but were renewed in 1997, the year following the first Good Friday procession in city streets. In the revitalized parade, white Protestants expressed nostalgia for a southern way of life and publicly remembered a time and place — downtown Siler City — before economic decline and Latino arrival.
The Storm-Gods of the Ancient Near East: Summary, Synthesis, Recent Studies Part I
Authors: Schwemer Daniel
Published: March 2008

In many regions of the ancient Near East, not least in Upper Mesopotamia, Syria and Anatolia where agriculture relied mainly on rainfall, storm-gods ranked among the most prominent gods in the local panthea or were even regarded as divine kings, ruling over the gods and bestowing kingship on the human ruler. While the Babylonian and Assyrian storm-god never held the highest position among the gods, he too belongs to the group of 'great gods' through most periods of Mesopotamian history. Given the many cultural contacts and the longevity of traditions in the ancient Near East only a study that takes into account all relevant periods, regions and text-groups can further our understanding of the different ancient Near Eastern storm-gods. The study Wettergottgestalten Mesopotamiens und Nordsyriens by the present author (2001) tried to tackle the problems involved, basing itself primarily on the textual record and excluding the genuinely Anatolian storm-gods from the study. Given the lack of handbooks, concordances and thesauri in our field, the book is necessarily heavily burdened with materials collected for the first time. Despite comprehensive indices, the long lists and footnotes as well as the lack of an overall synthesis make the study not easily accessible, especially outside the German-speaking community. In 2003 Alberto Green published a comprehensive monograph entitled The Storm-God in the Ancient Near East whose aims are more ambitious than those of Wettergottgestalten: All regions of the ancient Near East—including a chapter on Yahwe as a storm-god—are taken into account, and both textual and iconographic sources are given equal space. Unfortunately this book, which was apparently finished and submitted to the publisher before Wettergottgestalten came to its author's attention, suffers from some serious flaws with regard to methodology, philology and the interpretation of texts and images. In presenting the following succinct overview I take the opportunity to make up for the missing synthesis in Wettergottgestalten and to provide some additions and corrections where necessary. It is hoped that this synthesis can also serve as a response to the history of ancient Near Eastern storm-gods as outlined by A. Green.
Media Violence
Authors: Gunter Barrie
Published: March 2008

This review of empirical research into the effects of media violence examines what has been learned from evidence and to what extent the evidence can be accepted at face value. This article reexamines debates about different data types, different methodologies, theoretical and explanatory models, directions of effect, and value of aggregated data sets. Limitations and weaknesses are identified in relation to the various methodological approaches and sources of evidence that have been featured in academic discussions and debates about media policy and content regulation. Although not dismissing the empirical research on this subject as valueless, this critique advises caution in accepting blanket conclusions about harmful effects of media violence, instead calling for a targeted approach that recognizes that some media consumers may be more susceptible than others to media effects and that media depictions of violence can vary in the risks they represent as potential triggers of unpleasant or harmful reactions among media consumers.
Organoclay Effect on Mechanical Responses of Glass/Epoxy Nanocomposites
Authors: Tsai Jia-Lin , Wu Ming-Daw
Published: March 2008

This research aims to perform a symmetric investigation regarding the organoclay effect on the mechanical behaviors of glass/epoxy nanocomposites. Tensile, flexural, as well as interlaminar fracture toughness are of concern in this study. To demonstrate the organoclay effect, three different loadings, 2.5, 5 and 7.5wt% of organoclay were dispersed in the epoxy resin using a mechanical mixer followed by sonication. The corresponding glass/epoxy nanocomposites were prepared by inserting the organoclay epoxy mixture into the dry glass fiber through a vacuum hand lay-up process. Tensile tests revealed that longitudinal tensile strength decreases as organoclay loading increases; on the other hand, transverse tensile strength increases with the increase of the organoclay. Furthermore, SEM observation on the transverse failure specimens indicates that the enhanced mechanism is due to the improved interfacial bonding between the fibers and the surrounding matrix modified by organoclay. The increasing tendency was also found in the transverse flexural strength of the nanocomposites. However, mode I fracture tests indicated that with the increase of the organoclay, the corresponding fracture toughness of the nanocomposites decreases appreciably. For the quasi-isotropic glass/epoxy laminates, since the failure is dominated by fiber rupture, the strength is not influenced significantly by the organoclay.
Teaching Conceptual Model—Based Word Problem Story Grammar to Enhance Mathematics Problem Solving
Authors: Yan Ping Xin  , Wiles Ben , Lin Yu-Ying
Published: March 2008

Borrowing the concept of story grammar from reading comprehension literature, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of teaching word problem (WP) story grammar on arithmetic WP solving that emphasizes the algebraic expression of mathematical relations in conceptual models. Participants were five students in Grades 4 and 5 with or at risk for mathematics disabilities in two urban public elementary schools in the Midwest. An adapted multiple-probe-across-participants design was used to assess the functional relation between the intervention and students' problem-solving performance. The results indicated that conceptual model—based representation prompted by WP story grammar improved students' performance on arithmetic WP solving and promoted prealgebra concept and skill acquisition. The practical implications of integrating algebraic reasoning in elementary mathematics are discussed.
Ageing and Biography: The Letters of Bernard and Mary Berenson
Authors: Bytheway Bill
Published: March 2008

Concern with the state of theory in gerontology has led to growing interest in biography and in ordinary theorising about age. This article analyses two published volumes of letters in order to identify how the experience of ageing is interpreted and theorised in process rather than retrospectively. They provide evidence of a degree of complex theorising which is relevant to a more critical understanding of ageing as a social phenomenon. Gender is found to be highly pertinent, not least in the editorial processing of such biographical material.
Dissecting Darfur: Anatomy of a Genocide Debate
Authors: Brunk Darren
Published: March 2008

The current humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur, Sudan, has been labelled by many foreign observers as `genocide'. How and why this determination has been made, however, may have less to do with the actual character of Darfur's conflict, and more to do with its association in the international community with the Rwanda genocide of 1994. This article will examine how the tenth anniversary of the Rwanda genocide influenced the international community's awareness and perception of the Darfur crisis. It will examine the extent to which the meanings and memory of Rwanda may have influenced policy debate about the Darfur crisis, and the determination of genocide there.
Engaging with Extremists
Authors: Malik Maleiha
Published: March 2008

This article argues that traditional models of liberalism that define democracy as the creation of a public liberal consensus are not an appropriate basis for political engagement with contemporary extremist groups. It proposes an alternative way of defining the goals of liberal politics based on the concepts of `agonistic respect', `deliberative democracy' and `discourse ethics'. Agonistic respect and deliberative democracy create political space for extremist groups. At the same time, the principles of discourse ethics contain the potential harm caused by extremist ideas and practices. This article applies these theoretical arguments to three practical problems. What are the limits of tolerating illiberal groups? Are extremist groups legitimate participants in public debates about foreign policy? How should a liberal state build a wide-ranging consensus about national security?
Theorists and Actors
Authors: Jenco Leigh K.
Published: March 2008

This paper draws on the thought of the early twentieth century Chinese intellectual Zhang Shizhao to re-examine the foundations of effective political action. Writing during the critical historical juncture that spanned the fall of China's last imperial dynasty and the establishment of a republican government, Zhang reflects upon the possibilities for political action in contexts where the communities that might underwrite its meaning are no longer—or not yet—accessible. These reflections culminate in Zhang's vision of self-rule as an individualized process of “self-awareness.” I sketch out the model of political action his account implies to explain how he can render such individualized activity politically relevant. Contrasting with accounts of democratic action like Hanna Pitkin's that privilege “action in concert,” Zhang's self-awareness reorients the focus of political activity toward disparate—though cumulative—efforts to render shared problems incrementally and personally tractable.
Optimal stabilization of modal control with variable structure
Authors: Boršč M. , Vitko A. , Thurský B.
Published: March 2008

The paper shows that a control strategy based on the changing structure of a control system, ie, on controlled jump changes of the control system parameters, ensures more rapid stabilization than a control system with constant parameters. An algorithm of the time-optimal stabilization is designed in accordance with the Pontriagin's maximum principle in such a way that the resulting behaviour is non-periodic. The designed control algorithm divides the state space into segments in which the parameters take their limit values. The control problem is resolved for third-order and higher linear systems. Issues of system robustness are demonstrated by the example of stabilizing a variably loaded gantry crane.