bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF IRRADIATED FRUIT: A CASE STUDY USING CHOICE‐BASED CONJOINT ANALYSIS
Authors: DELIZA ROSIRES , ROSENTHAL AMAURI , HEDDERLEY DUNCAN , JAEGER SARA R.
Published: December 2009

Papaya is a popular fruit among Brazilian consumers, but one problem is that fruit ripens quickly due to the high temperatures of the country. Irradiation is an effective way of slowing down ripening, hereby increasing shelf‐life, but consumer acceptance of this novel technology is paramount for its successful introduction by industry. Using conjoint analysis, this research measures consumer acceptance of irradiated papaya fruit in a sample of urban Brazilian consumers. The study assesses the joint influence of product appearance, price and information about the use of irradiation for consumer choice. Real fruit was used and consumer responses were collected through intercept interviews in supermarkets. These two empirical aspects add external validity to the research. The responses from a convenience sample of 168 consumers from Rio de Janeiro revealed that the product appearance, as a proxy for product quality, was the most important factor influencing decision to purchase papaya. Price was of lesser importance. The participants in this study did not reject papaya due to the labelled information about the use of irradiation. This suggests irradiation as a viable alternative for fruit producers. Consumers demonstrated no knowledge about food irradiation, and education initiatives may be useful as a strategy to aid commercial introduction of irradiated papaya in Brazil.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study has important practical implications for Brazilian agribusinesses because it contributes to our understanding of the relationship between market changes, consumer behavior, food products and processing technologies. It has shown that sensory appearance was the key factor influencing Brazilian consumers' choice of papaya, however, more education and information regarding irradiation technology should be provided. The results suggest that irradiation could be used in Brazil and provide a viable alternative to fruit producers. As a consequence, these results are useful for strategic planning of consumer education regarding food irradiation (with emphasis on the benefits of processing and addressing the myths), something which could, eventually, contribute to a more favorable consumer response to the technology.
THE TACTILE SENSORY EVALUATION OF KNITTED FABRICS: EFFECT OF SOME FINISHING TREATMENTS
Authors: JEGUIRIM SELSABIL EL‐GHEZAL , DHOUIB AMAL BABAY , SAHNOUN MAHDI , CHEIKHROUHOU MORCHED , NJEUGNA NICOLE , SCHACHER LAURENCE , ADOLPHE DOMINIQUE
Published: December 2009

Good textile sensory characteristics required by the consumers incites textile industrialists to improve the sensory properties of fabrics. Therefore, several textile finishing processes have been proposed to improve the feel of fabrics. This work investigates the effects of some finishing treatments on the tactile properties using sensory analysis. The studied finishing treatments, namely bleaching, dyeing in different conditions, bio‐polishing, softening, emerizing and calendaring, were applied on 100% cotton knitted fabrics. The obtained sensory properties of treated fabrics are in accordance with each finishing treatment aim. Hence, the bio‐polishing treatment confers to fabrics a less hairy feeling, softening procures to fabrics a more soft, hairy and elastic feeling and emerizing leads to a more hairy and soft feeling.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The practical use of the research presented in this paper is in the sensory evaluation of textile products. The tactile quality of fabrics is an important selling argument. Thus, the textile industrialists try to optimize the production, and especially finishing processes to improve the fabrics tactile feeling. Therefore, it seems necessary to develop tools describing and grading the sensory quality of the produced fabrics for similar consumers' evaluation.
INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION/PROFESSION OF MEXICAN CONSUMERS ON ACCEPTANCE AND PURCHASE INTENT OF CORN TORTILLA
Authors: CORREDOR JOSE ANDRES HERRERA , PRINYAWIWATKUL WITOON , NO HONG KYOON , CHOMPREEDA PENKWAN , GARCIA KAREN , SAIDU JANETTE E.P. , KHACHATRYAN ARMEN
Published: December 2009

Influence of education/profession of Mexican consumers on acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortillas was evaluated. Two groups of 150 Mexican consumers each (faculty/graduate students [A] versus field laborers [B]) rated sensory acceptability of corn tortillas. Acceptance and purchase intent were rated using a binomial scale. Group B had higher expectations towards corn tortillas as indicated by lower acceptability ratings. Both groups used rollability, resistance‐to‐tearing, and chewiness to differentiate tortilla samples, but group B paid more attention to these attributes as indicated by higher canonical correlation values. Acceptance was influenced by overall liking for both groups; chewiness and taste were also significant for group B. Purchase intent was influenced by overall liking and taste for both groups, but color for group A, and appearance and chewiness for group B were also critical. This study demonstrated that education/profession of Mexican consumers affected their acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortillas.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study revealed that education/profession of Mexican consumers affected acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortillas. Two groups of consumers with different levels of education had different expectation toward tortillas when making purchase decision. Understanding how each consumer segment differently perceives about the tortilla product will give marketers and manufacturers a better direction for developing tortilla products with expected sensory qualities.
ISOMORPHIC PERMUTED EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN CONJOINT ANALYSIS
Authors: GOFMAN ALEX , MOSKOWITZ HOWARD
Published: December 2009

This paper deals with experimental designs used in conjoint analysis. The described approach permutes the structure of the underlying fractional experimental design to make different sets of combinations. The resulting experimental designs, suggested to be called Isomorphic Permuted Experimental Designs (IPED), are statistically equivalent to each other while combining diverse sets of the variables and levels into different designs. By facilitating distinctive individual designs (for each respondent), IPEDs reduce a bias caused by some possibly unusually strong performing combinations, and allow detection and estimation of interactions among variables, as well as identification of pattern‐based segments emerging from individual models of utilities. This paper examines the theoretical foundation of the approach, formalizes the methodology for algorithmic implementation and shows a practical example of utilization.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Isomorphic Permuted Experimental Design (IPED) allows for overcoming multiple interlinked statistical problems that affect the traditional conjoint analysis approaches, thus leading to more reliable and targeted results in practice. IPED facilitates individual respondents' models based on unique designs, thus allowing for pattern‐based segmentation. The approach also allows for the detection of any and all interactions between the elements (features) of the experiments, thus increasing the reliability of conjoint analysis results. It has been utilized in many practical applications, such as for message optimization, early stage new product development, advertising, package and website optimization.
Simulating Seepage into Mine Shafts and Tunnels with MODFLOW
Authors: Zaidel Jacob , Markham Bradley , Bleiker David
Published: December 2009

In cases when an equivalent porous medium assumption is suitable for simulating groundwater flow in bedrock aquifers, estimation of seepage into underground mine workings (UMWs) can be achieved by specifying MODFLOW drain nodes at the contact between water bearing rock and dewatered mine openings. However, this approach results in significant numerical problems when applied to simulate seepage into an extensive network of UMWs, which often exist at the mine sites. Numerical simulations conducted for individual UMWs, such as a vertical shaft or a horizontal drift, showed that accurate prediction of seepage rates can be achieved by either applying grid spacing that is much finer than the diameter/width of the simulated openings (explicit modeling) or using coarser grid with cell sizes exceeding the characteristic width of shafts or drifts by a factor of 3. Theoretical insight into this phenomenon is presented, based on the so‐called well‐index theory. It is demonstrated that applying this theory allows to minimize numerical errors associated with MODFLOW simulation of seepage into UMWs on a relatively coarse Cartesian grid. Presented examples include simulated steady‐state groundwater flow from homogeneous, heterogeneous, and/or anisotropic rock into a vertical shaft, a horizontal drift/cross‐cut, a ramp, two parallel drifts, and a combined system of a vertical shaft connected to a horizontal drift.
The Global Financial Crisis and the Efficient Market Hypothesis: What Have We Learned?
Authors: Ball Ray
Published: December 2009

The sharp economic downturn and turmoil in the financial markets, commonly referred to as the “global financial crisis,” has spawned an impressive outpouring of blame. The efficient market hypothesis (EMH)—the idea that competitive financial markets exploit all available information when setting security prices—has been singled out for particular attention. Like all successful theories, the EMH has major limitations, even as it continues to provide the foundation for not only past accomplishment, but future advances in the field of finance.

Despite the theory's undoubted limitations, the claim that it is responsible for the current worldwide crisis seems wildly exaggerated. This essay shows the misreading of the theory and logical inconsistencies involved in popular arguments that EMH played a significant role in (1) the formation of the real estate and stock market bubbles, (2) investment practitioners' miscalculation of risks, and (3) the failure of regulators to recognize the bubbles and avert the crisis. At the same time, the author argues that the collapse of Lehman Brothers and other large financial institutions, far from resulting from excessive faith in efficient markets, reflects a failure to heed the lessons of efficient markets. In the author's words, “To me, Lehman's demise conclusively demonstrates that, in a competitive capital market, if you take massive risky positions financed with extraordinary leverage, you are bound to lose big one day—no matter how large and venerable you are.”

Finally, behavioral finance, widely considered as challenging and even supplanting efficient markets theory, is viewed in this article as complementing if not reinforcing efficient markets theory. As the author says, “it takes a theory to beat a theory.” Behavioralism, for all its important contributions to finance literature, is described as not a theory but rather “a collection of ideas and results”— one that depends for its existence on the theory of efficient markets.
The Theory and Practice of Corporate Risk Management*
Authors: Servaes Henri , Tamayo Ane , Tufano Peter
Published: December 2009

The financial crisis of 2008 and the resulting recession caught many companies unprepared and, in so doing, provided a stark reminder of the importance of effective risk management. While academic theory has long touted the benefits of risk management, companies have varied greatly in the ways and extent to which they put theory into practice.

Drawing on a global survey of over 300 CFOs of non‐financial companies, the authors report that while most CFOs felt that their risk management programs have significant benefits, the risk management function in general needs more attention. A large percentage of the finance executives surveyed acknowledged that the most important corporate risks extend far beyond the CFO's direct reports, and that risk‐based thinking is not incorporated into everyday business activities or corporate strategies. A large majority of executives also said they were seeking a more widespread understanding of risk throughout their organizations—and many confessed their firms' inability, or lack of interest, in evaluating their own risk management functions. At the same time, the efforts of most companies to develop enterprise‐wide risk management (ERM) programs were said to fall well short of the comprehensive and highly coordinated programs envisioned by the proponents of such programs.

Three areas of opportunity were clearly identified as having potential to improve corporate risk management in ways that increase firm value over an entire business cycle:

Incorporate risk management thinking into the strategic planning process. Line executives, and not just technicians, need to be sensitive to risks, thereby building flexibility into the firm's business plan and its execution.

Clearly define the objectives of the risk management function, in part by developing appropriate benchmarks. The risk management process should be subject to the same rigorous evaluation process that is used when measuring risks throughout the business.

Instill a risk management culture throughout the organization. While an effective risk management function is necessary, only when employees at all levels of the company embrace risk management as part of their daily operations will the firm get maximum value from risk management.
Effect of β‐Blocker Therapy on Survival in PatientsWith Severe Aortic Regurgitation: Results From a Cohort of 756 Patients
Authors: Harris Scott , Tepper David , Ip Randy
Published: December 2009

Abstract.  Objectives.  The authors sought to investigate the effect of β‐blocker (BB) therapy on survival in patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR)

Background BBs are thought to be contraindicated in patients with AR because a slower heart rate increases the duration of diastole, during which AR occurs. But AR also causes neuroendocrine activation similar to a heart failure state, for which BBs are potentially beneficial.

Methods This is an observational study. An echocardiographic database was screened for patients with severe AR. Detailed chart reviews were performed for clinical, demographic, and therapeutic data. Mortality data were obtained from the Social Security Death Index and analyzed as a function of BB therapy.

Results Overall, 355 (47%) of the 756 patients with severe AR were taking a BB, mean age was 61±18 years, and mean ejection fraction was 54%±19%. Over a mean follow‐up of 4.5 years, BB therapy was associated with a higher survival rate (1‐ and 5‐year survival rates of 90% and 70%, respectively) compared with those without (1‐ and 5‐year survival rates of 75% and 55%, respectively) (P=.0009). The Cox regression model showed that BB therapy was an independent predictor of better survival after adjusting for age, sex, heart rate, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, renal insufficiency, ejection fraction, and aortic valve replacement (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.93; P=.01). The survival benefit of BB therapy was further supported by propensity score analysis.

Conclusions This observational study strongly suggests that BB therapy is associated with a survival benefit in patients with severe AR.
The Impact of Changing ICD Code on Hypertension‐Related Mortality in the Southeastern United States from 1994–2005
Authors: Joyner‐Grantham JaNae , Simmons Debra R. , Moore Michael A. , Ferrario Carlos M.
Published: December 2009

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:213–222. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Confusion surrounding cardiovascular disease trends arises when measurement and reporting of classification systems such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code are revised. The current study examined the impact of ICD code revision on mortality trends for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes in 16 Southeast states using data published in the 1994–2005 Centers for Disease Control National Vital Statistics Reports. Data were averaged by year and analyzed separately before (1994–1998) and after (1999–2005) the ICD code change, pooled across codes using comparability ratios (1994–2005), and further compared at the year of ICD code change using standard error of 1998 data to determine whether corresponding 1999 rates fell within 95% confidence intervals. The change in classification did not alter Southeast US trends regarding a decrease in heart disease and cerebrovascular disease rates and an increase in diabetes mortality in years 1994–2005. On the other hand, the change in ICD code classification systems did impact mortality rates for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes, suggesting that change in code to ICD‐10 in 1999 underestimates heart disease and cerebrovascular disease and overestimates diabetes mortality rates in the Southeast United States. Health and disease burden profiles, which use mortality data to measure health status, need to carefully evaluate and report the influence of ICD code revisions as they draw conclusions. Primary care health providers should question the impact and comparability of ICD revision before accepting mortality trend conclusions.
From Charity to Bienfaisance: Picturing Good Deeds in Late Eighteenth‐Century France
Authors: BARKER EMMA
Published: December 2009

This article explores the proliferation of engraved images of good deeds on behalf of the poor in late eighteenth‐century France. This phenomenon testifies to the vogue for bienfaisance, a newly coined term that played a central role in the moral and social discourse of the period. The aim here is to demonstrate how such images at once exemplified the humanitarian and utilitarian ideals of bienfaisance and contributed to their exploitation by the wealthy and powerful for purposes of self‐legitimation. Among the examples discussed are images celebrating the bienfaisance of Mme Necker, Beaumarchais, Louis XVI and the duc d'Orléans.
Thinking Big, Going Global: The Challenge of BRAC's Global Expansion
Authors: Hossain Naomi , Sengupta Anasuya
Published: December 2009

Since 2002, BRAC, a non‐governmental organisation (NGO) of Bangladeshi origin, has gone global. It has expanded its programme of ‘microfinance plus’ (education, health, enterprise support, etc) to Afghanistan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Pakistan. It has established organisations in the UK and the USA to raise funds and its international profile. It is believed to be the largest NGO in Afghanistan, is growing fast elsewhere, and has long been the largest non‐governmental entity in Bangladesh. BRAC's global expansion appears to be part of a trend of the ‘South in the South’, marked by the expansion of Chinese business in Africa, but also, it seems, by new forms of Southern non‐governmental organisation transplanted across Southern contexts. This paper explores two challenges of BRAC's global expansion. The first is the challenges BRAC faces as it seeks to break new ground as the first International NGO of Southern origin to take its programme and managerial expertise to other countries. It is an ambitious agenda. A critical challenge is the need to attract financing and carve out regulatory room for service delivery programmes within new political spaces that are sometimes unfamiliar with and unwelcoming of NGOs on the BRAC scale. The second challenge of the title is the challenge to thinking about NGOs in development: discussions about NGOs in development currently emphasise disappointment with their performance, and a withdrawal, including among aid donors and discourses, from their ‘magic bullet’ heyday of the late 1990s. While BRAC's global expansion is facing challenges, its ambitious expansionary programme counters disappointment around NGOs, raising new questions about the roles of NGOs in development.
Function of the Nucleotide Exchange Activity of Vav1 in T Cell Development and Activation
Authors: Saveliev Alexander , Vanes Lesley , Ksionda Olga , Rapley Jonathan , Smerdon Stephen J. , Rittinger Katrin , Tybulewicz Victor L. J.
Published: December 2009

The guanine nucleotide exchange activity of Vav1 is required for some, but not all, of its functions in T cell development, activation, and signaling.
Stressed About Atherosclerosis?
Authors: Adler Elizabeth M.
Published: December 2009

Toxic lipids elicit macrophage endoplasmic stress through aP2.
Norbin Knockout
Authors: Ray L. Bryan
Published: December 2009

The protein Norbin regulates the accumulation of a neurotransmitter receptor in mouse brain cell membranes.
Making Sense of Signal TransductionReview and commentary on
Biochemistry of Signal Transduction and Regulation, 4th edition
, by Gerhard Krauss. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany, 2008, 646 pp. ISBN: 978-3-527-31397-6
Authors: Miller W. Todd
Published: December 2009

Textbook provides an overview of signaling concepts and models for teaching.
BUSEMANN POINTS OF ARTIN GROUPS OF DIHEDRAL TYPE
Authors: WALSH CORMAC
Published: December 2009

We study the horofunction boundary of an Artin group of dihedral type with its word metric coming from either the usual Artin generators or the dual generators. In both cases, we determine the horoboundary and say which points are Busemann points, that is, the limits of geodesic rays. In the case of the dual generators, it turns out that all boundary points are Busemann points, but this is not true for the Artin generators. We also characterize the geodesics with respect to the dual generators, which allows us to calculate the associated geodesic growth series.
RS4-type resistant starch prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity via increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation and decreased postprandial GIP in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Shimotoyodome Akira , Suzuki Junko , Fukuoka Daisuke , Tokimitsu Ichiro , Hase Tadashi
Published: December 2009

Chemically modified starches (CMS) are RS4-type resistant starch, which shows a reduced availability, as well as high-amylose corn starch (HACS, RS2 type), compared with the corresponding unmodified starch. Previous studies have shown that RS4 increases fecal excretion of bile acids and reduces zinc and iron absorption in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary RS4 supplementation on the development of diet-induced obesity in mice. Weight- and age-matched male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 24 wk on a high-fat diet containing unmodified starch, hydroxypropylated distarch phosphate (RS4), or HACS (RS2). Those fed the RS4 diet had significantly lower body weight and visceral fat weight than those fed either unmodified starch or the RS2 diet. Those fed the RS4 diet for 4 wk had a significantly higher hepatic fatty acid oxidation capacity and related gene expression and lower blood insulin than those fed either unmodified starch or the RS2 diet. Indirect calorimetry showed that the RS4 group exhibited higher energy expenditure and fat utilization compared with the RS2 group. When gavaged with fat (trioleate), RS4 stimulated a lower postprandial glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP; incretin) response than RS2. Higher blood GIP levels induced by chronic GIP administration reduced fat utilization in high-fat diet-fed mice. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with RS4-type resistant starch attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity more effectively than RS2 in C57BL/6J mice, which may be attributable to lower postprandial GIP and increased fat catabolism in the liver.
Lack of functional GABAB receptors alters GnRH physiology and sexual dimorphic expression of GnRH and GAD-67 in the brain
Authors: Catalano Paolo N. , Di Giorgio Noelia , Bonaventura María M. , Bettler Bernhard , Libertun Carlos , Lux-Lantos Victoria A.
Published: December 2009

GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, acts through GABAA/C and GABAB receptors (GABABRs); it is critical for gonadotropin regulation. We studied whether the lack of functional GABABRs in GABAB1 knockout (GABAB1KO) mice affected the gonadotropin axis physiology. Adult male and female GABAB1KO and wild-type (WT) mice were killed to collect blood and tissue samples. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) content in whole hypothalami (HT), olfactory bulbs (OB), and frontoparietal cortexes (CT) were determined (RIA). GnRH expression by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was evaluated in preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus (POA-AH), medial basal-posterior hypothalamus (MBH-PH), OB, and CT. Pulsatile GnRH secretion from hypothalamic explants was measured by RIA. GABA, glutamate, and taurine contents in HT and CT were determined by HPLC. Glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 (GAD-67) mRNA was measured by qRT-PCR in POA-AH, MBH-PH, and CT. Gonadotropin content, serum levels, and secretion from adenohypophyseal cell cultures (ACC) were measured by RIA. GnRH mRNA expression was increased in POA-AH of WT males compared with females; this pattern of expression was inversed in GABAB1KO mice. MBH-PH, OB, and CT did not follow this pattern. In GABAB1KO females, GnRH pulse frequency was increased and GABA and glutamate contents were augmented. POA-AH GAD-67 mRNA showed the same expression pattern as GnRH mRNA in this area. Gonadotropin pituitary contents and serum levels showed no differences between genotypes. Increased basal LH secretion and decreased GnRH-stimulated gonadotropin response were observed in GABAB1KO female ACCs. These results support the hypothesis that the absence of functional GABABRs alters GnRH physiology and critically affects sexual dimorphic expression of GnRH and GAD-67 in POA-AH.
Functional characterization of transient receptor potential channels in mouse urothelial cells
Authors: Everaerts Wouter , Vriens Joris , Owsianik Grzegorz , Appendino Giovanni , Voets Thomas , De Ridder Dirk , Nilius Bernd
Published: December 2009

The bladder urothelium is currently believed to be a sensory structure, contributing to mechano- and chemosensation in the bladder. Transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels act as polymodal sensors and may underlie some of the receptive properties of urothelial cells. However, the exact TRP channel expression profile of urothelial cells is unclear. In this study, we have performed a systematic analysis of the molecular and functional expression of various TRP channels in mouse urothelium. Urothelial cells from control and trpv4−/− mice were isolated, cultured (12–48 h), and used for quantitative real-time PCR, immunocytochemistry, calcium imaging, and whole cell patch-clamp experiments. At the mRNA level, TRPV4, TRPV2, and TRPM7 were the most abundantly expressed TRP genes. Immunohistochemistry showed a clear expression of TRPV4 in the plasma membrane, whereas TRPV2 was more prominent in the cytoplasm. TRPM7 was detected in the plasma membrane as well as cytoplasmic vesicles. Calcium imaging and patch-clamp experiments using TRP channel agonists and antagonists provided evidence for the functional expression of TRPV4, TRPV2, and TRPM7 but not of TRPA1, TRPV1, and TRPM8. In conclusion, we have demonstrated functional expression of TRPV4, TRPV2, and TRPM7 in mouse urothelial cells. These channels may contribute to the (mechano)sensory function of the urothelial layer and represent potential targets for the treatment of bladder dysfunction.
Mislocalization of mitochondria and compromised renal function and oxidative stress resistance inDrosophila SesBmutants
Authors: Terhzaz Selim , Cabrero Pablo , Chintapalli Venkateswara R. , Davies Shireen-A. , Dow Julian A. T.
Published: December 2009

Mitochondria accumulate at sites of intense metabolic activity within cells, but the adaptive value of this placement is not clear. In Drosophila, sesB encodes the ubiquitous isoform of adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT, the mitochondrial inner membrane ATP/ADP exchanger); null alleles are lethal, whereas hypomorphic alleles display sensitivity to a range of stressors. In the adult renal tubule, which is densely packed with mitochondria and hence enriched for sesB, both hypomorphic alleles and RNA interference knockdowns cause the mitochondria to lose their highly polarized distribution in the tissue and to become rounded. Basal cytoplasmic and mitochondrial calcium levels are both increased, and neuropeptide calcium response compromised, with concomitant defects in fluid secretion. The remaining mitochondria in sesB mutants are overactive and maintain depleted cellular ATP levels while generating higher levels of hydrogen peroxide than normal. When sesB expression is knocked down in just tubule principal cells, the survival of the whole organism upon oxidative stress is reduced, implying a limiting role for the tubule in homeostatic response to stressors. The physiological impacts of defective ANT expression are thus widespread and diverse.
Isolation of Osteosarcoma‐Associated Human Antibodies from a Combinatorial Fab Phage Display Library
Authors: Dantas-Barbosa Carmela , Faria Fabrícia P. , Brigido Marcelo M. , Maranhão Andrea Q.
Published: December 2009

Osteosarcoma, a
highly malignant disease, is the most common
primary bone tumor and is frequently found in
children and adolescents. In order to isolate
antibodies against osteosarcoma antigens, a
combinatorial osteosarcoma Fab library displayed
on the surface of phages was used. After three
rounds of selection on the surface of tumor
cells, several osteosarcoma‐reactive Fabs were
detected. From these Fabs, five were better
characterized, and despite having differences in
their VH (heavy chain variable domain) and
Vκ (kappa chain variable domain) regions, they all bound to a protein with the same molecular mass. Further analysis by cell ELISA and immunocytochemistry suggested that the Fabs recognize a membrane‐associated tumor antigen expressed in higher amounts in neoplasic cells than in normal tissue. These results suggest that the human Fabs selected in this work are a valuable tool for the study of this neoplasia.
Modelling the Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Raw Portioned Tomatoes, Inoculated with Aspergillus fumigatus and Emericella nidulans
Authors: Cardillo Daniela , Bevilacqua Antonio , Cibelli Francesca , Altieri Clelia , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: December 2009

The metabiotic interactions occurring among two fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Emericella nidulans) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on raw portioned tomatoes were studied. Tomatoes, preinoculated with the moulds and inoculated with the pathogen, were packaged in air and stored at 4, 8 and 12 ∘C for 9 days; pathogen cell number and pH were monitored throughout the storage and the data were modeled using three different equations (Geeraerd, Weibull, and modified Weibull), to assess the shoulder length, the 1‐log reduction time, and the death time. Both A. fumigatus and E. nidulans increased the survival of E. coli O157:H7 through the prolongation of the shoulder length; in contrast, the death time was significantly increased.
The results of this paper suggested that the metabiotic interactions aspergilli/E. coli O 157:H7 could be of public concern, as the consumption of tomatoes (or other fruits and vegetables) contaminated both by the moulds and the pathogen is a possible scenario.
Differences in Protein Expression and Gene Amplification of Cyclins between Colon and Rectal Adenocarcinomas
Authors: Aamodt Rolf , Jonsdottir Kristin , Andersen Solveig Norheim , Bondi Johan , Bukholm Geir , Bukholm Ida R. K.
Published: December 2009

Adenocarcinomas of rectum and colon may be different with regard to the cellular biological basis for cancer development. A material of 246 rectal cancers removed surgically at Akershus University Hospital in the years 1992–2000 was investigated and was compared to a material of 219 colon cancers operated on at Akershus University Hospital during the years 1988, 1990 and 1997–2000. There were highly significant differences between the rectal and the colon cancers in the protein expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D3, cyclin E, nuclearβ-catenin, and c-Myc and in gene amplification of cyclin A2, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, and cyclin E. Gene amplification and protein expression in the rectal cancers correlated significantly for the cyclins B1, D3, and E. A statistically significant relation was observed between overexpression of cyclin A2 and local relapse of rectal carcinomas, as higher expression of cyclin A2 was associated with lower local recurrence rate.
Prosthetic Joint Infection due toMycobacterium bovisafter Intravesical Instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)
Authors: Gomez Eric , Chiang Tom , Louie Ted , Ponnapalli Madhavi , Eng Robert , Huang David B.
Published: December 2009

Intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is a treatment to prevent recurrence of superficial urothelial bladder carcinoma. Complications after bladder instillation of BCG have been reported including locally invasive and systemic infections due to dissemination ofMycobacterium bovisfrom the bladder. We present an uncommon case and literature review of prosthetic joint infection due toM. bovisafter intravesical BCG treatment of bladder cancer.
An ILP Formulation for the Task Graph Scheduling Problem Tailored to Bi‐Dimensional Reconfigurable Architectures
Authors: Redaelli F. , Santambrogio M. D. , Ogrenci Memik S.
Published: December 2009

This work proposes an exact ILP formulation for the task scheduling problem on a 2D dynamically and partially reconfigurable architecture. Our approach takes physical constraints of the target device that is relevant for reconfiguration into account. Specifically, we consider the limited number of reconfigurators, which are used to reconfigure the device. This work also proposes a reconfiguration‐aware heuristic scheduler, which exploitsconfiguration prefetching, module reuse, andantifragmentationtechniques. We experimented with a system employing two reconfigurators. This work also extends the ILP formulation for a HW/SW Codesign scenario. A heuristic scheduler for this extension has been developed too. These systems can be easily implemented using standard FPGAs. Our approach is able to improve the schedule quality by 8.76% on average (22.22% in the best case). Furthermore, our heuristic scheduler obtains the optimal schedule length in 60% of the considered cases. Our extended analysis demonstrated that HW/SW codesign can indeed lead to significantly better results. Our experiments show that by using our proposed HW/SW codesign method, the schedule length of applications can be reduced by a factor of 2 in the best case.
Glioblastoma Multiforme in the Posterior Cranial Fossa in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type I
Authors: Broekman Marike L. D. , Risselada Roelof , Engelen-Lee JooYeon , Spliet Wim G. M. , Verweij Bon H.
Published: December 2009

Patients with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have an increased risk of developing neoplasms. The most common brain tumors, found in 15%–20% of NF1 patients, are hypothalamic-optic gliomas, followed by brainstem and cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas. These tumors generally have a benign nature. NF1 patients are predisposed to a 5-fold increased incidence of high-grade astrocytomas, which are usually located in supratentorial regions of the brain. We present an NF1 patient who developed a high-grade astrocytoma in the posterior fossa and discuss possible pathophysiological mechanisms.
High Harvest Yield, High Expansion, and Phenotype Stability of CD146 Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Whole Primitive Human Umbilical Cord Tissue
Authors: Schugar Rebecca C. , Chirieleison Steven M. , Wescoe Kristin E. , Schmidt Benjamin T. , Askew Yuko , Nance Jordan J. , Evron Joshua M. , Peault Bruno , Deasy Bridget M.
Published: December 2009

Human umbilical cord blood is an excellent primitive source of noncontroversial stem cells for treatment of hematologic disorders; meanwhile, new stem cell candidates in the umbilical cord (UC) tissue could provide therapeutic cells for nonhematologic disorders. We show novel in situ characterization to identify and localize a panel of some markers expressed by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs; CD44, CD105, CD73, CD90) and CD146 in the UC. We describe enzymatic isolation and purification methods of different UC cell populations that do not require manual separation of the vessels and stroma of the coiled, helical‐like UC tissue. Unique quantitation of in situ cell frequency and stromal cell counts upon harvest illustrate the potential to obtain high numerical yields with these methods. UC stromal cells can differentiate to the osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages and, under specific culturing conditions, they exhibit high expandability with unique long‐term stability of their phenotype. The remarkable stability of the phenotype represents a novel finding for human MSCs, from any source, and supports the use of these cells as highly accessible stromal cells for both basic studies and potentially therapeutic applications such as allogeneic clinical use for musculoskeletal disorders.
Kinematics of Milky Way Satellites: Mass Estimates, Rotation Limits, and Proper Motions
Authors: Strigari Louis E.
Published: December 2009

In the past several years kinematic data sets from Milky Way satellite galaxies have greatly improved, furthering the evidence that these systems are the most dark matter dominated objects known. This paper discusses a maximum likelihood formalism that extracts important quantities from these kinematic data sets, including the amplitude of a rotational signal, proper motions, and the mass distributions. Using a simple model for galaxy rotation it is shown that the expected error on the amplitude of a rotational signal is ∼0.5 km s−1 with ∼103 stars from either classical or ultra‐faint satellites. As an example Sculptor is analyzed for the presence of a rotational signal; no significant detection of rotation is found, with a 90% c.l. upper limit of ∼2 km s−1. A criterion for model selection is presented that determines the parameters required to describe the dark matter halo density profiles and the stellar velocity anisotropy. Applied to four data sets with a wide range of velocities, models with variable velocity anisotropy are preferred relative to those with constant velocity anisotropy, and that central dark matter profiles both less cuspy and more cuspy than Lambda‐Cold Dark Matter‐based fits are equally acceptable.
Generalized Asymptotic Pointwise Contractions and Nonexpansive Mappings Involving Orbits
Authors: Nicolae Adriana
Published: December 2009

We give fixed point results for classes of mappings that generalize pointwise contractions, asymptotic contractions, asymptotic pointwise contractions, and nonexpansive and asymptotic nonexpansive mappings. We consider the case of metric spaces and, in particular, CAT"Equation missing" spaces. We also study the well-posedness of these fixed point problems.
Application of Game Theory to Neuronal Networks
Authors: Schuster Alfons , Yamaguchi Yoko
Published: December 2009

The paper is a theoretical investigation into the potential application of game theoretic concepts to neural networks (natural and artificial). The paper relies on basic models but the findings are more general in nature and therefore should apply to more complex environments. A major outcome of the paper is a learning algorithm based on game theory for a paired neuron system.
Quantified Tumor T1 Is a Generic Early-Response Imaging Biomarker for Chemotherapy Reflecting Cell Viability
Authors: McSheehy Paul M.J. , Weidensteiner Claudia , Cannet Catherine , Ferretti Stephane , Laurent Didier , Ruetz Stephan , Stumm Michael , Allegrini Peter R.
Published: December 2009

Purpose: Identification of a generic response biomarker by comparison of chemotherapeutics with different action mechanisms on several noninvasive biomarkers in experimental tumor models.

Experimental Design: The spin-lattice relaxation time of water protons (T1) was quantified using an inversion recovery-TrueFISP magnetic resonance imaging method in eight different experimental tumor models before and after treatment at several different time points with five different chemotherapeutics. Effects on T1 were compared with other minimally invasive biomarkers including vascular parameters, apparent diffusion coefficient, and interstitial fluid pressure, and were correlated with efficacy at the endpoint and histologic parameters.

Results: In all cases, successful chemotherapy significantly lowered tumor T1 compared with vehicle and the fractional change in T1 (ΔT1) correlated with the eventual change in tumor size (range: r2 = 0.21, P < 0.05 to r2 = 0.73, P < 0.0001), except for models specifically resistant to that drug. In RIF-1 tumors, interstitial fluid pressure was decreased, but apparent diffusion coefficient and permeability increased in response to the microtubule stabilizer patupilone and 5-fluorouracil. Although ΔT1 was small (maximum of −20%), the variability was very low (5%) compared with other magnetic resonance imaging methods (24-48%). Analyses ex vivo showed unchanged necrosis, increased apoptosis, and decreased %Ki67 and total choline, but only Ki67 and choline correlated with ΔT1. Correlation of Ki67 and ΔT1 were observed in other models using patupilone, paclitaxel, a VEGF-R inhibitor, and the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus.

Conclusions: These results suggest that a decrease in tumor T1 reflects hypocellularity and is a generic marker of response. The speed and robustness of the method should facilitate its use in clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res; 16(1); 212–25
A High-Throughput Pharmaceutical Screen Identifies Compounds with Specific Toxicity against BRCA2-Deficient Tumors
Authors: Evers Bastiaan , Schut Eva , van der Burg Eline , Braumuller Tanya M. , Egan David A. , Holstege Henne , Edser Pauline , Adams David J. , Wade-Martins Richard , Bouwman Peter , Jonkers Jos
Published: December 2009

Purpose: Hereditary breast cancer is partly explained by germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Although patients carry heterozygous mutations, their tumors have typically lost the remaining wild-type allele. Selectively targeting BRCA deficiency may therefore constitute an important therapeutic approach. Clinical trials applying this principle are underway, but it is unknown whether the compounds tested are optimal. It is therefore important to identify alternative compounds that specifically target BRCA deficiency and to test new combination therapies to establish optimal treatment strategies.

Experimental Design: We did a high-throughput pharmaceutical screen on BRCA2-deficient mouse mammary tumor cells and isogenic controls with restored BRCA2 function. Subsequently, we validated positive hits in vitro and in vivo using mice carrying BRCA2-deficient mammary tumors.

Results: Three alkylators—chlorambucil, melphalan, and nimustine—displayed strong and specific toxicity against BRCA2-deficient cells. In vivo, these showed heterogeneous but generally strong BRCA2-deficient antitumor activity, with melphalan and nimustine doing better than cisplatin and the poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase inhibitor olaparib (AZD2281) in this small study. In vitro drug combination experiments showed synergistic interactions between the alkylators and olaparib. Tumor intervention studies combining nimustine and olaparib resulted in recurrence-free survival exceeding 330 days in 3 of 5 animals tested.

Conclusions: We generated and validated a platform for identification of compounds with specific activity against BRCA2-deficient cells that translates well to the preclinical setting. Our data call for the re-evaluation of alkylators, especially melphalan and nimustine, alone or in combination with the poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase inhibitors, for the treatment of breast cancers with a defective BRCA pathway. Clin Cancer Res; 16(1); 99–108
Intranasal CpG Therapy Attenuated Experimental Fungal Asthma in a TLR9-Dependent and -Independent Manner
Authors: Ramaprakash Hemanth , Hogaboam Cory M.
Published: December 2009

Background: CpG administration abolishes airway inflammation and remodeling in acute models of allergic airway disease. Methods: Herein, we investigated the therapeutic effect of CpG in a chronic fungal model of asthma. TLR9+/+ and TLR9–/– mice were sensitized to soluble Aspergillus fumigatus antigens and challenged with live A. fumigatus conidia. Mice were treated with intraperitoneal (IP) or intranasal (IN) CpG, or left untreated 14–28 days after conidium challenge. All features of allergic airway disease were attenuated in TLR9+/+ mice treated with IN CpG, including airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), mucus production, and peribronchial fibrosis. Results: TLR9–/– mice treated with IN CpG exhibited attenuated airway remodeling but not AHR. Whole-lung IL-12 levels were significantly elevated in both TLR9+/+ and TLR9–/– mice receiving IN CpG but not in either group receiving IP CpG. Whole-lung IL-10 levels were significantly elevated in IN CpG-treated TLR9+/+ mice but not in TLR9–/– mice receiving IN CpG. Increased whole-lung transcript and protein levels of the scavenger receptors SR-A and MARCO were observed in TLR9–/– mice compared with TLR9+/+ mice, possibly accounting for the CpG responsiveness in the knockout group. Conclusions: Together, these data show that IN CpG has a therapeutic effect during established fungal asthma, which is TLR9 dependent and independent.
Association of Plasma Soluble CTLA-4 with Lung Function and GenePolymorphism in Chinese Asthmatic Children
Authors: Chan Iris H.S. , Tang Nelson L.S. , Leung Ting F. , Lam Yvonne Y.O. , Wong Gary W.K. , Wong Chun K. , Lam Christopher W.K.
Published: December 2009

Background: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is known to downregulate the TH2 immune response. Recent studies have suggested an association of CTLA-4 polymorphisms with allergic diseases. We investigated the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CTLA-4 on asthma traits and plasma sCTLA-4 in 298 Chinese asthmatic children and 175 controls. Methods: Plasma sCTLA-4, total and allergen-specific IgE concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Six SNPs, namely –1147CT, +49AG, CT60, JO31, JO30 and JO27_1, in CTLA-4 were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: Plasma sCTLA-4 was negatively associated with FEV1/FVC (r = –0.146, p = 0.036) among our asthmatic patients. Analysis of locus-locus interaction by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction showed that –1147CT was the best model for plasma sCTLA-4 with a cross-validation consistency of 10 out of 10 and a prediction error of 40.9% (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the association between plasma sCTLA-4 concentration with –1147CT among the 6 SNPs tested (p = 0.002) after adjustment for gender and age. The plasma sCTLA-4 concentration was significantly lower in patients homozygous for the C allele than in T allele carriers (p = 0.001). There was also a significant association between the most common haplotypes with low sCTLA-4 in asthmatics. We could not find any significant association between plasma total IgE, atopy and lung function with the 6 SNPs after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: Plasma sCTLA-4 is associated with lung function and –1147CT polymorphism in Chinese asthmatic children. This may help to identify CTLA-4 signaling as a potential therapeutic target in asthma.