bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of therapeutic response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer using diffusion‐weighted MR imaging
Authors: Kim Hyun Su , Kim Chan Kyo , Park Byung Kwan , Huh Seung Jae , Kim Bohyun
Published: September 2012

Purpose:

To investigate the changes in apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in cervical cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), and to assess the relationship between tumor ADCs or changes in tumor ADCs and final tumor responses to therapy.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty‐four patients with cervical cancer who received CCRT were examined with 3 Tesla (T) MRI including diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI). All patients had three serial MR examinations: before therapy (pre‐Tx); at 4 weeks of therapy (mid‐Tx); and 1 month after completion of therapy (post‐Tx). At each examination, ADC was measured in tumors and normal gluteus muscles. Final tumor response as determined by change in tumor size or volume using MRI was correlated with tumor ADCs at each therapeutic time or changes in tumor ADCs at mid‐Tx.

Results:

From pre‐Tx to post‐Tx, mean tumor ADCs were 0.88, 1.30, and 1.47 × 10−3 mm2/s in sequence (P < 0.001), while those of normal gluteus muscles were 1.24, 1.29, and 1.21 × 10−3 mm2/s in sequence (P > 0.05). At mid‐Tx, tumor ADCs and changes in tumor ADCs had a significant correlation with final tumor size responses (P = 0.029 and 0.025, respectively). However, the tumor ADC values at pre‐Tx were not associated with the final tumor size response (P = 0.47). The final tumor volume response was not associated with tumor ADC at pre‐Tx or mid‐Tx (P > 0.05) or changes in tumor ADCs at mid‐Tx (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

DWI may have potentials in evaluating the therapeutic response to CCRT in patients with cervical cancer. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:187–193. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
T2‐based arterial spin labeling measurements of blood to tissue water transfer in human brain
Authors: Gregori Johannes , Schuff Norbert , Kern Rolf , Günther Matthias
Published: September 2012

Purpose:

To investigate blood to tissue water transfer in human brain, in vivo and spatially resolved using a T2‐based arterial spin labeling (ASL) method with 3D readout.

Materials and Methods:

A T2‐ASL method is introduced to measure the water transfer processes between arterial blood and brain tissue based on a 3D‐GRASE (gradient and spin echo) pulsed ASL sequence with multiecho readout. An analytical mathematical model is derived based on the General Kinetic Model, including blood and tissue compartment, T1 and T2 relaxation, and a blood‐to‐tissue transfer term. Data were collected from healthy volunteers on a 3 T system. The mean transfer time parameter Tbl→ex (blood to extravascular compartment transfer time) was derived voxelwise by nonlinear least‐squares fitting.

Results:

Whole‐brain maps of Tbl→ex show stable results in cortical regions, yielding different values depending on the brain region. The mean value across subjects and regions of interest (ROIs) in gray matter was 440 ± 30 msec.

Conclusion:

A novel method to derive whole‐brain maps of blood to tissue water transfer dynamics is demonstrated. It is promising for the investigation of underlying physiological mechanisms and development of diagnostic applications in cerebrovascular diseases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:332–342. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Direct MR arthrography of the shoulder under axial traction: Feasibility study to evaluate the superior labrum‐biceps tendon complex and articular cartilage
Authors: Becce Fabio , Richarme Delphine , Omoumi Patrick , Djahangiri Ali , Farron Alain , Meuli Reto , Theumann Nicolas
Published: September 2012

Purpose:

To assess the value of adding axial traction to direct MR arthrography of the shoulder, in terms of subacromial and glenohumeral joint space widths, and coverage of the superior labrum‐biceps tendon complex and articular cartilage by contrast material.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty‐one patients investigated by direct MR arthrography of the shoulder were prospectively included. Studies were performed with a 3 Tesla (T) unit and included a three‐dimensional isotropic fat‐suppressed T1‐weighted gradient‐recalled echo sequence, without and with axial traction (4 kg). Two radiologists independently measured the width of the subacromial, superior, and inferior glenohumeral joint spaces. They subsequently rated the amount of contrast material around the superior labrum‐biceps tendon complex and between glenohumeral cartilage surfaces, using a three‐point scale: 0 = no, 1 = partial, 2 = full.

Results:

Under traction, the subacromial (Δ = 2.0 mm, P = 0.0003), superior (Δ = 0.7 mm, P = 0.0001) and inferior (Δ = 1.4 mm, P = 0.0006) glenohumeral joint space widths were all significantly increased, and both readers noted significantly more contrast material around the superior labrum‐biceps tendon complex (P = 0.014), and between the superior (P = 0.001) and inferior (P = 0.025) glenohumeral cartilage surfaces.

Conclusion:

Direct MR arthrography of the shoulder under axial traction increases subacromial and glenohumeral joint space widths, and prompts better coverage of the superior labrum‐biceps tendon complex and articular cartilage by contrast material. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:1228–1233. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Magnetization transfer‐based 3D visualization of foot peripheral nerves
Authors: Mekle Ralf , Mortamet Benedicte , Granziera Cristina , Krueger Gunnar , Chevrey Nicolas , Theumann Nicolas , Gambarota Guilio
Published: September 2012

Purpose:

To investigate magnetization transfer (MT) effects as a new source of contrast for imaging and tracking of peripheral foot nerves.

Materials and Methods:

Two sets of 3D spoiled gradient‐echo images acquired with and without a saturation pulse were used to generate MT ratio (MTR) maps of 260 μm in‐plane resolution for eight volunteers at 3T. Scan parameters were adjusted to minimize signal loss due to T2 dephasing, and a dedicated coil was used to improve the inherently low signal‐to‐noise ratio of small voxels. Resulting MTR values in foot nerves were compared with those in surrounding muscle tissue.

Results:

Average MTR values for muscle (45.5 ± 1.4%) and nerve (21.4 ± 3.1%) were significantly different (P < 0.0001). In general, the difference in MTR values was sufficiently large to allow for intensity‐based segmentation and tracking of foot nerves in individual subjects. This procedure was termed MT‐based 3D visualization.

Conclusion:

The MTR serves as a new source of contrast for imaging of peripheral foot nerves and provides a means for high spatial resolution tracking of these structures. The proposed methodology is directly applicable on standard clinical MR scanners and could be applied to systemic pathologies, such as diabetes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:1234–1237. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structures of oxaliplatin‐oligonucleotide adducts from DNA
Authors: Mowaka Shereen , Ziehe Matthias , Mohamed Dalia , Hochkirch Ulrike , Thomale Jürgen , Linscheid Michael W.
Published: September 2012

Oxaliplatin, [(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine](ethanedioato‐O,O')platinum(II) shows a great efficiency against colorectal cancer. Although the mode of action of oxaliplatin is not yet understood, it is commonly accepted that binding of oxaliplatin to DNA prevents DNA synthesis and alters protein to DNA binding. In order to elucidate the modified DNA–protein interaction and thus to understand the mechanisms leading to cellular misinterpretation of DNA information and apoptosis, we have identified the preferential binding sites and the dynamics of the oxaliplatin‐DNA intrastrand and interstrand adducts at the oligomer level using high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI‐MS/MS) and HPLC/inductively coupled plasma‐MS for quantitative studies. We used a combination of benzonase, alkaline phosphatase and Nuclease S1 for digestion. This digestion procedure allows the study of platinated oligomeric nucleotides and more complex interstrand adducts. The digestion products were mostly chromatographically separated and characterized using HPLC/ESI‐ion trap MS/MS experiments. We could show that the adducts to guanine and adenine are quite dynamic; that is, the ratios are changing for several days. In addition, the resulting adducts provide evidence for the action of the digesting enzymes and indicate that the adduct spectrum at the oligomeric level is different to that at the commonly studies dinucleotide level. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High efficiency multishot interleaved spiral‐in/out: Acquisition for high‐resolution BOLD fMRI
Authors: Jung Youngkyoo , Samsonov Alexey A. , Liu Thomas T. , Buracas Giedrius T.
Published: September 2012

Growing demand for high spatial resolution blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging faces a challenge of the spatial resolution versus coverage or temporal resolution tradeoff, which can be addressed by methods that afford increased acquisition efficiency. Spiral acquisition trajectories have been shown to be superior to currently prevalent echo‐planar imaging in terms of acquisition efficiency, and high spatial resolution can be achieved by employing multiple‐shot spiral acquisition. The interleaved spiral in/out trajectory is preferred over spiral‐in due to increased BOLD signal contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) and higher acquisition efficiency than that of spiral‐out or noninterleaved spiral in/out trajectories (Law & Glover. Magn Reson Med 2009; 62:829–834.), but to date applicability of the multishot interleaved spiral in/out for high spatial resolution imaging has not been studied. Herein we propose multishot interleaved spiral in/out acquisition and investigate its applicability for high spatial resolution BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging. Images reconstructed from interleaved spiral‐in and ‐out trajectories possess artifacts caused by differences in T2* decay, off‐resonance, and k‐space errors associated with the two trajectories. We analyze the associated errors and demonstrate that application of conjugate phase reconstruction and spectral filtering can substantially mitigate these image artifacts. After applying these processing steps, the multishot interleaved spiral in/out pulse sequence yields high BOLD CNR images at in‐plane resolution below 1 × 1 mm while preserving acceptable temporal resolution (4 s) and brain coverage (15 slices of 2 mm thickness). Moreover, this method yields sufficient BOLD CNR at 1.5 mm isotropic resolution for detection of activation in hippocampus associated with cognitive tasks (Stern memory task). The multishot interleaved spiral in/out acquisition is a promising technique for high spatial resolution BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging applications. Magn Reson Med 70:420–428, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessing professional equipoise and views about a future clinical trial of invasive urodynamics prior to surgery for stress urinary incontinence in women: A survey within a mixed methods feasibility study
Authors: Hilton Paul , Bryant Andy , Howel Denise , McColl Elaine , Buckley Brian S. , Lucas Malcolm , Tincello Douglas G. , Armstrong Natalie
Published: September 2012

Aims

To determine surgeons' views on invasive urodynamic testing (IUT) prior to surgery for stress (SUI) or stress predominant mixed urinary incontinence (MUI).

Methods

Members of British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG) and British Association of Urological Surgeons Section of Female, Neurological and Urodynamic Urology (BAUS‐SFNUU) were sent an email invitation to complete an online “SurveyMonkey®” questionnaire regarding their current use of IUT prior to surgical treatment of SUI, their view about the necessity for IUT in various clinical scenarios, and their willingness to randomize patients into a future trial of IUT. A purposive sample of respondents was invited for telephone interview to explore further how they use IUT to inform clinical decisions, and to contextualize questionnaire responses.

Results

There were 176/517 (34%) responses, 106/332 (32%) from gynecologists/urogynecologists and 67/185 (36%) from urologists; all respondents had access to IUT, and 89% currently arrange IUT for most women with SUI or stress predominant MUI. For a variety of scenarios with increasingly complex symptoms the level of individual equipoise (“undecided” about IUT) was very low (1–6%) and community equipoise was, at best, 66:34 (IUT “essential” vs. “unnecessary”) even for the simplest scenario. Nevertheless, 70% rated the research question underlying the proposed studies “very important” or “extremely important;” 60% recorded a “willingness to randomize” score ≥8/10.

Conclusions

Most urogynecologists and urologists consider IUT essential before surgery in SUI with or without other symptoms. Most however recognize the need for further research, and indicated a willingness to recruit into multicenter trials addressing this question. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:?–?, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Celtic Ritual Activity at Gordion, Turkey: Evidence from Mortuary Contexts and Skeletal Analysis
Authors: Selinsky P.
Published: September 2012

Primary support for a Celtic presence in Turkey during ancient times comes from textual sources. However, the analysis of human skeletal remains and mortuary practices at the site of Gordion, combined with archaeological findings, provide persuasive evidence of a Celtic settlement including ritual activity. Data are drawn from 47 individuals excavated from the Lower Town area of the site: 21 Later Hellenistic (late 3rdto 2ndcenturies BCE) and 26 Roman (1stto 2ndcenturies CE). The two sub‐samples have markedly different paleodemographic profiles. Composition of the Later Hellenistic group is unusual, with very few infants (5%) and primarily young or middle aged adults (52%), whereas the Roman sample has many infant burials (27%) and less than half young or middle aged adults (35%). Burial contexts for the two groups are also distinct, with only one formal interment associated with the Later Hellenistic, the remaining individuals being in mixed groupings of human and animal bones or disarticulated and commingled human skeletal deposits. By comparison, the Roman sample comprises exclusively primary burials, two cremations, and 24 inhumations. Evidence of inter‐personal violence, such as perimortem cranial trauma and decapitation, is totally absent in the Roman group but present in 25% of the Later Hellenistic specimens. The nature of the Later Hellenistic skeletal assemblages and the ritual space in which they were found show similarities to European Celtic remains identified as resulting from ritual sacrifice. The data presented here represent the first comprehensive bioarchaeological approach to these population groups from central Turkey. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
N‐glycosylation approach to glucose‐functionalized diamine and its use for protection‐free synthesis of polyurea bearing glucoside pendant
Authors: Sudo Atsushi , Sugita Shou
Published: September 2012

A glucose‐functionalized diamine was prepared and used as a new monomer for polyurea synthesis. The diamine was prepared byN‐glycosylation of 1,6‐hexamethylenediamine withD‐glucose. Upon adding diisocyanates to the diamine, isocyanate reacted selectively with the amino groups, not with the hydroxyl groups of the glucose‐derived structure, to give the corresponding polyureas. The polyureas exhibited highly hydrophilic nature due to the presence of the glucose‐derived side chain. A ternary system consisting of the glucose‐functionalized diamine, piperazine, and diisocyanate gave the corresponding polyureas, where content of the glucose‐derived moiety was tunable by feed ratio between the diamine and piperazine. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
XPS investigation of the composition of the external surface of concrete after demoulding, cleaning and carbonation
Authors: Horgnies M. , Chen J. J. , Darque‐Ceretti E.
Published: September 2012

X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) coupled with ion beam etching allows the measurements of concentrations gradients at the external surface of concrete. The chemical modifications, caused by the moulding and cleaning operations and due to carbonation, are efficiently investigated. Based on the detection of specific elements (such as chlorine, carbon and silicon), the presence of formworks residues is established on the concrete surface. Similarly, aliphatic (C–(C,H) and carbonaceous (C–O) residues of the demoulding agent can be detected. The concentration gradients show the presence of moulding residues is mainly superficial and decreases rapidly according to the depth. However, certain of these contaminants (and especially polydimethylsiloxane residues) could alter the wetting of aqueous‐based coatings. The sandblasting process can partially remove the moulding residues, but the decontamination remains incomplete in spite of the high increase of the roughness of the samples. On the contrary, the concentrations in aliphatic and carbonaceous residues increase after cleaning with solvents, which can be trapped in the pores of concrete to contaminate the surface. The carbonation process is also investigated by XPS. The concentration gradient of the carbonate component of the C 1 s peak shows a front of carbonation progressing as a function of the time after demoulding. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The spotlight of attention: shifting, resizing and splitting receptive fields when processing visual motion
Authors: Treue S. , Martinez-Trujillo J.C.
Published: September 2012

In the visual system receptive fields repre­sent the spatial selectivity of neurons for a given set of visual inputs. Their invariance is thought to be caused by a hardwired in­put configuration, which ensures a stable ‘la­beled line’ code for the spatial position of vi­sual stimuli. On the other hand, changeable receptive fields can provide the visual system with flexibility for allocating processing re­sources in space. The allocation of spatial at­tention, often referred to as the spotlight of attention, is a behavioral equivalent of visu­al receptive fields. It dynamically modulates the spatial sensitivity to visual information as a function of the current attentional focus of the organism. Here we focus on the brain sys­tem for encoding visual motion information and review recent findings documenting in­teractions between spatial attention and re­ceptive fields in the visual cortex of primates. Such interactions create a careful balance be­tween the benefits of invariance with those derived from the attentional modulation of information processing according to the cur­rent behavioral goals.
The histone variant macroH2A1.1 is recruited to DSBs through a mechanism involving PARP1
Authors: Xu Chang , Xu Ye , Gursoy-Yuzugullu Ozge , Price Brendan D.
Published: September 2012

The repair of DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) requires remodeling of the local chromatin architecture to allow the repair machinery to access sites of damage. Here, we report that the histone variant macroH2A1.1 is recruited to DSBs. Cells lacking macroH2A1 have defective recruitment of 53BP1, defective activation of chk2 kinase and increased radiosensitivity. Importantly, macroH2A1.1 is not incorporated into nucleosomes at DSBs, but instead associates with the chromatin through a mechanism which requires PARP1 activity. These results reveal an unusual mechanism involving a direct association of macroH2A1.1 with PARylated chromatin which is critical for retaining 53BP1 at sites of damage.
Nitric oxide, substrate of Euphorbia characias peroxidase, switches off the CN− inhibitory effect
Authors: Pintus Francesca , Spanò Delia , Bellelli Andrea , Angelucci Francesco , Forte Elena , Medda Rosaria , Floris Giovanni
Published: September 2012

The oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) by Euphorbia characias latex peroxidase (ELP‐FeIII), in the presence or in the absence of added calcium, has been investigated. The addition of hydrogen peroxide to the native enzyme leads to the formation of Compound I and serves to catalyse the NO oxidation. The addition of NO to Compound I leads to the formation of Compound II and, afterwards, to the native enzyme spectrum. Under anaerobic conditions, the incubation of the native enzyme (ELP‐FeIII)with NO leads to the formation of the stable complex, showing a characteristic absorption spectrum (ELP‐FeII–NO+). The rate of the formation of this complex is slower in the presence of calcium than in its absence, and the same applies to the rate of the formation of Compound II from Compound I, using NO as substrate. Finally, we demonstrate that NO protects ELP from the inactivation caused by CN−
via a mechanism presumably requiring the formation of an enzyme‐nitrosyl cyanide complex.
Co‐mutation of histone H2AX S139A with Y142A rescues Y142A‐induced ionising radiation sensitivity
Authors: Brown James A.L. , Eykelenboom John K. , Lowndes Noel F.
Published: September 2012

Under normal conditions histone H2AX is constitutively phosphorylated on tyrosine (Y) 142 by Williams–Beuren syndrome transcription factor kinase (WSTF). Following DNA double strand breaks (DSB), Y142 is de‐phosphorylated and serine (S) 139 is phosphorylated. Here we explored DSB‐dependent cross talk between H2AX residues S139 and Y142. H2axY142A mutation resulted in increased sensitivity to ionising radiation (IR), compared to H2axS139A. Interestingly, co‐mutation of S139A and Y142A rescued IR sensitivity. The DSB response proteins 53Bp1 and Rad51 were recruited to IR‐induced foci (IRIF) in H2axS139A, H2axY142A and H2axS139A/Y142A cells. Our results suggest that H2axY142A IR sensitivity is dependent upon the C‐terminal residue, S139.
Biogenesis of Mammalian MicroRNAs: A Global View
Authors: Graves Paul , Zeng Yan
Published: September 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 22-nucleotide-long non-coding RNAs that are important regulators of gene expression in eukaryotes. miRNAs are first transcribed as long primary transcripts, which then undergo a series of processing steps to produce the single-stranded mature miRNAs. This article reviews our current knowledge of the mechanism and regulation of mammalian miRNA expression and points out areas of research that may enhance our understanding of how the specificity and efficiency of miRNA production is controlled in vivo.
MicroRNAs in Common Human Diseases
Authors: Li Yu , Kowdley Kris V.
Published: September 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNA molecules that have attracted tremendous attention from the biological and biomedical research communities over the past decade. With over 1900 miRNAs discovered in humans to date, many of them have already been implicated in common human disorders. Facilitated by high-throughput genomics and bioinformatics in conjunction with traditional molecular biology techniques and animal models, miRNA research is now positioned to make the transition from laboratories to clinics to deliver profound benefits to public health. Herein, we overview the progress of miRNA research related to human diseases, as well as the potential for miRNA to becoming the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics.
miRT: A Database of Validated Transcription Start Sites of Human MicroRNAs
Authors: Bhattacharyya Malay , Das Manali , Bandyopadhyay Sanghamitra
Published: September 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNAs of about 22 nt in length that take crucial roles in many biological processes. These short RNAs regulate the expression of mRNAs by binding to their 3′-UTRs or by translational repression. Many of the current studies focus on how mature miRNAs regulate mRNAs, however, very limited knowledge is available regarding their transcriptional loci. It is known that primary miRNAs (pri-miRs) are first transcribed from the DNA, followed by the formation of precursor miRNAs (pre-miRs) by endonuclease activity, which finally produces the mature miRNAs. Till date, many of the pre-miRs and mature miRNAs have been experimentally verified. But unfortunately, identification of the loci of pri-miRs, promoters and associated transcription start sites (TSSs) are still in progress. TSSs of only about 40% of the known mature miRNAs in human have been reported. This information, albeit limited, may be useful for further study of the regulation of miRNAs. In this paper, we provide a novel database of validated miRNA TSSs, miRT, by collecting data from several experimental studies that validate miRNA TSSs and are available for full download. We present miRT as a web server and it is also possible to convert the TSS loci between different genome built. miRT might be a valuable resource for advanced research on miRNA regulation, which is freely accessible at: http://www.isical.ac.in/~bioinfo_miu/miRT/miRT.php.
Differential Expression of Mature MicroRNAs Involved in Muscle Maintenance of Hibernating Little Brown Bats, Myotis Lucifugus: A Model of Muscle Atrophy Resistance
Authors: Kornfeld Samantha F. , Biggar Kyle K. , Storey Kenneth B.
Published: September 2012

Muscle wasting is common in mammals during extended periods of immobility. However, many small hibernating mammals manage to avoid muscle atrophy despite remaining stationary for long periods during hibernation. Recent research has highlighted roles for short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of stress tolerance. We proposed that they could also play an important role in muscle maintenance during hibernation. To explore this possibility, a group of 10 miRNAs known to be normally expressed in skeletal muscle of non-hibernating mammals were analyzed by RT-PCR in hibernating little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus. We then compared the expression of these miRNAs in euthermic control bats and bats in torpor. Our results showed that compared to euthermic controls, significant, albeit modest (1.2–1.6 fold), increases in transcript expression were observed for eight mature miRNAs, including miR-1a-1, miR-29b, miR-181b, miR-15a, miR-20a, miR-206 and miR-128-1, in the pectoral muscle of torpid bats. Conversely, expression of miR-21 decreased by 80% during torpor, while expression of miR-107 remained unaffected. Interestingly, these miRNAs have been either validated or predicted to affect multiple muscle-specific factors, including myostatin, FoxO3a, HDAC4 and SMAD7, and are likely involved in the preservation of pectoral muscle mass and functionality during bat hibernation.
Caveolin‐1 regulates neural differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells into neurons by modulating Notch signaling
Authors: Wang Shuyang , Kan Quancheng , Sun Yingpu , Han Rui , Zhang Guangyu , Peng Tao , Jia Yanjie
Published: September 2012

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to differentiate into neurons in vitro. However, the mechanism underlying MSC differentiation remains controversial. A recent analysis has shown that Notch signaling is involved in regulating the differentiation of MSCs. This study examines the potential mechanism of the differentiation of MSCs into neurons, and it considers the role of caveolin‐1 in this process. We investigated neuron differentiation and Notch signaling by detecting the expression levels of microtubule‐associated protein 2 (MAP‐2), Neuron‐specific Enolase (NSE), Notch‐1, Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and hairy enhancer of split 5 (Hes5). We found that by down‐regulating caveolin‐1 during induction, MSCs were prone to neural differentiation and expressed high levels of neuronal markers. Meanwhile, the expression levels of Notch‐1, NICD and Hes5 decreased. Our results indicate that down‐regulation of caveolin‐1 promotes the neuronal differentiation of MSCs by modulating the Notch signaling pathway.
The decline of the early Neolithic population center of 'Ain Ghazal and corresponding earth-surface processes, Jordan Rift Valley
Authors: Zielhofer Christoph , Clare Lee , Rollefson Gary , Wächter Stephan , Hoffmeister Dirk , Bareth Georg , Roettig Christopher , Bullmann Heike , Schneider Birgit , Berke Hubert , Weninger Bernhard
Published: September 2012

'Ain Ghazal is among the earliest large population centers known in the Middle East. A total of four major stratigraphic cultural units have been identified: 1) The oldest Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (MPPNB) unit (10.2 to 9.5 cal ka BP) clearly corresponds with the early Holocene maximum Dead Sea levels. 2) The second unit consists of Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (LPPNB) in situ walls and hearths. 3) In the subsequent PPNC (8.9 to 8.6 cal ka BP) the population density at the settlement drops dramatically, which corresponds with a significant drop in the Dead Sea level. 4) The 4th stratigraphic unit is characterized by the “Yarmoukian rubble layer”. Additionally, there is evidence for a previously unrecognized use of the site by Chalcolithic pastoralists. Sedimentological analyses reveal a constant increase in dust from a remote source during the entire human occupation period, which correlates well with the detectable drops in climatic humidity from the Dead Sea. As the major focus of this study, we can now rule out previous notions that the “Yarmoukian” rubble layer could have been produced by (catastrophic) slope-scale gravitational movements. To this point, it appears that the Neolithic mega-site was abandoned due to a climatic aridification.
Multiple equilibria in a simple elastocapillary system
Authors: Taroni Michele , Vella Dominic
Published: September 2012

We consider the elastocapillary interaction of a liquid drop placed between two elastic beams, which are both clamped at one end to a rigid substrate. This is a simple model system relevant to the problem of surface-tension-induced collapse of flexible micro-channels that has been observed in the manufacture of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). We determine the conditions under which the beams remain separated, touch at a point, or stick along a portion of their length. Surprisingly, we show that in many circumstances multiple equilibrium states are possible. We develop a lubrication-type model for the flow of liquid out of equilibrium and thereby investigate the stability of the multiple equilibria. We demonstrate that for given material properties two stable equilibria may exist, and show via numerical solutions of the dynamic model that it is the initial state of the system that determines which stable equilibrium is ultimately reached.
Valeurs et émotions, les perspectives du néo-sentimentalisme
Authors: Tappolet Christine
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT: Neo-sentimentalism is the view that to judge that something has an evaluative property is to judge that some affective or emotional response is appropriate to it, but this view allows for radically different versions. My aim is to spell out what I take to be its most plausible version. Against its normative version, I argue that its descriptive version can best satisfy the normativity requirement that follows from Moore’sOpen Question Argumentwhile giving an answer to theWrong Kind of Reason Objection. Finally, I argue that the circularity that is involved is not vicious: understood epistemically, neo-sentimentalism remains instructive.
The FA Analysis of Emotional Values and Practical Reasons
Authors: Lemaire Stephane
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT: Confronted with the “wrong kind of reason problem”, several proponents of the fitting attitude analysis of emotional values have argued in favor of an epistemic approach. In such a view, an emotion fits its object because the emotion is correct. However, I argue that we should reorient our search towards a practical approach because only practical considerations can provide a satisfying explanation of the fittingness of emotional responses. This practical approach is partially revisionist, particularly because it is no longer an analysis of final value and because it is relativistic.
Empathie et perception des valeurs
Authors: Smith Barry C.
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT: Differences of evaluative judgments are often assumed to be a reason to prefer pluralism, relativism or subjectivism to objectivism, and this preference is even more pronounced in the case of judgements of taste. A comparison between perceptual and moral disagreements, however, enables us to understand that differences in judgments may be due to a difference in access to the situation or object, and not necessarily to a difference in value. The feeling of irresolvable differences that sometimes arises in situations of evaluation, may not hold in the absence of objective values and / or common values, but be due to a difficulty or inability to capture the perspective, or circumstances of assessment wherein the other agents are placed.
Berkeley and Proof in Geometry
Authors: BROOK RICHARD J.
Published: September 2012

Berkeley in his Introduction to the Principles of Human knowledge uses geometrical examples to illustrate a way of generating “universal ideas,” which allegedly account for the existence of general terms. In doing proofs we might, for example, selectively attend to the triangular shape of a diagram. Presumably what we prove using just that property applies to all triangles.

I contend, rather, that given Berkeley’s view of extension, no Euclidean triangles exist to attend to. Rather proof, as Berkeley would normally assume, requires idealizing diagrams; treating them as if they obeyed Euclidean constraints. This convention solves the problem of representative generalization.
SongRecommend: From summarization to recommendation
Authors: TATA SWATI , DI EUGENIO BARBARA
Published: September 2012

In recent years, the availability of too much information has become a fact of life for anybody connected with the Internet. The same is true for music: because of the penetration of portable devices and the availability of millions of tracks on the web, individual music collections have become unwieldy. Users need tools to help search their own song collections, and to recommend songs they may be interested in. Whereas recommendation systems have been developed for a variety of products, a music recommendation system presents special challenges, including the ability to recommend individual songs, as opposed to entire albums, even if only full album reviews are available on-line. SongRecommend, our music recommendation system, combines information extraction and generation techniques to produce summaries of reviews of individual songs from album reviews. We present a number of evaluations for SongRecommend: intrinsic evaluations of the extraction components, and of the informativeness of the summaries; and a user study of the impact of the song review summaries on users’ decision-making processes. When presented with the summary, users were able to make quicker decisions, and their choices were more varied. Whereas the smaller size of the summary has an impact on time-on-task, users do not appear to choose a specific recommendation only based on number of words. Our work demonstrates that state-of-the-art techniques in Natural Language Processing can be integrated into an effective end-to-end system.
CREDIT MARKET DISTORTIONS, ASSET PRICES AND MONETARY POLICY
Authors: Pfajfar Damjan , Santoro Emiliano
Published: September 2012

We study the conditions that ensure rational expectations equilibrium (REE) determinacy and expectational stability (E-stability) in a standard sticky-price model augmented with the cost channel. We allow for varying degrees of pass-through of the policy rate to bank-lending rates. Strong cost-side effects limit the size of the policy rate response to inflation that is consistent with determinacy, so that inflation-targeting policies may not be capable of ensuring REE uniqueness. In this case it is advisable to combine policy rate responses to inflation with an appropriate reaction to the output gap and/or firm profitability. The negative reaction of real activity and asset prices to inflationary shocks adds a negative force to inflation responses that counteracts the borrowing cost effect and prevents expectations of higher inflation from becoming self-fulfilling.
Development of an Algorithm for Automatic Image Detection of Biological Particles in Transmission Electron Microscopy Images
Authors: Proença M. C. , Nunes J. F. Moura , de Matos A. P. Alves
Published: September 2012

Automatic image processing of transmission electron microscopy images (TEM) is a utopia often pursued, considering the thousands of images necessary to ensure a high resolution 3D reconstruction of virus particles or other macromolecular machines.
EGCG Prevents the Loss of Pontine Noradrenergic Neurons Induced by Diabetes: A Role in Diabetic Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Morgado Carla , Silva João , Miranda André , Pereira-Terra Patrícia , Raposo Diogo , Tavares Isaura
Published: September 2012

Diabetes is a major health problem with an alarming increasing prevalence, and is the most frequent cause of neuropathy worldwide. Neuropathy affects 50–60% of diabetic patients, being a major life-quality impairment for a quarter of these patients. Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is characterized by spontaneous pain, mechanical hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia and is accompanied by functional and neurochemical changes at the peripheral nerves, spinal cord and supraspinal pain control areas. Regarding the effects of diabetic neuropathy in the central somatossensory system, it was shown that streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats present spontaneous hyperactivity and hyperexcitability of spinal nociceptive neurons, which may be subserving the exacerbated pain responses. The spinal functional changes and pain may be due to increased peripheral input(2), changes in spinal nociceptive modulatory mechanisms and altered supraspinal descending pain modulation. Noradrenergic descending pain modulation seems to be impaired since STZ-diabetic rats present decreased numbers of noradrenergic neurons at the A5 and A7 pontine cell groups, along with lower levels of noradrenaline at the spinal cord and higher behavioral responses to pain. This is consistent with the strong noradrenergic projection from A5 and A7 neurons to the spinal dorsal horn and the modulation of nociceptive transmission by local release of noradrenaline. The mechanisms underlying the decrease in noradrenergic neurons in the brainstem during diabetes remain unclear. Our recent findings that diabetes induces oxidative stress damage in neurons from those areas, lead us to hypothesize that it may contribute to their loss. Thereafter, with the present study we aimed to evaluate the effects of Epigallocathechin Gallate (EGCG), a potent antioxidant present in green tea, on spinal noradrenaline levels, on A5 and A7 noradrenergic neurons and on behavioral pain responses of STZ-diabetic rats.
Assessment of Medicago Based Systems for the Production of Human Proteins: Microscopy Analysis of the Subcellular Deposition Patterns of the Recombinant Product
Authors: Santos R.B. , Pires A.S. , Silva H.S. , Abranches and R.
Published: September 2012

The use of transgenic plants for the large scale production of recombinant proteins with commercial and therapeutic value has emerged as an alternative to conventional platforms. Plant based systems, including whole plants and plant cell cultures offer many advantages particularly regarding safety and cost effectiveness. In our laboratory we have been using the model plant Medicago truncatula as a system to express recombinant proteins with a variety of applications.
Airborne Platanus Pollen Analysis by EPMA
Authors: Duque L. , Guimarães F. , Ribeiro H. , Sousa R. , Abreu I.
Published: September 2012

Particles of anthropogenic and biological origin, minerals and gaseous elements are the major constituents of the aerosol. Pollen is a biological component of the aerosol, found in suspension with other pollutants. In recent years, research has been conducted on the crossed effects between non-biological and biological pollutants on allergy worsening in susceptible individuals or on the development of symptoms in non-symptomatic ones. Platanus spp pollen is abundantly present in the atmosphere of Porto in early spring and is known to promote allergic respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to characterize possible alterations of the main elements present on the Platanus spp. pollen wall under different atmospheric conditions in the coastal city of Porto, Portugal, using EPMA.
Comparative Summary of the Fish Renal Structure, Using the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) as the Reference Model
Authors: Resende A.D. , Lobo-da-Cunha A. , Rocha E.
Published: September 2012

Fish renal morphology has been studied since the 1960’s, but is still incomplete for most species, even for some of the most studied. The functional and morphological diversity and specialization of the fish kidney, due to environmental adaptations, makes this a large subject that remains understudied. References to studies on fish renal structure are given in Table 1. Although authors as Hentschel and Elger contributed to the knowledge of fish renal morphology in a comparative perspective, the knowledge concerning this issue is still reduced. Here we give a short comparative summary of fish renal morphology, using as baseline model the brown trout.
Expression of Chikungunya Virus-like Particles
Authors: Velez R. A. , de Matos A. P. Alves , Parreira R. , Matos J. Piedade, B. , Correia C. , Esteves A.
Published: September 2012

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus responsible for painful disabling polyarthritis, undergoing re-emergence in the Indian Ocean and the Asian continent. Travelling and changing patterns of vector distribution, and abundance due to climate changes, make CHIKV a global threat without effective control strategies. One approach to reduce the CHIKV burden is the development of a vaccine. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a safe and highly effective class of subunit vaccines that mimic the overall structure of virus particles. Accordingly, we aim to produce CHIKV VLPs in a baculovirus-insect cell system, well known for allowing high yields of recombinant protein expression, to be used as a vaccine preparation.
Histological and Structural Analysis of Actinia equina L. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)
Authors: Gadelha J. R. , Morgado F. , Soares A.M.V.M.
Published: September 2012

The Anthozoa class is composed solely by marine benthic consumers, some with adaptations that enable them to inhabit even the most extreme habitats, like hydrothermal vents, the polar seas, and even whale falls. Anthozoans, such as corals and anemones, are important modulators of marine habitats in the coral reef communities, being also ecologically relevant due to their abundance and the trophic level they occupy. One of these is Actinia equina, the most conspicuous species in tidal pool communities in European shores, with a broad range of distribution from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and Aegean seas and South Africa. Histological and structural analyses allows for a more detailed biological and ecological study of these organisms, including their reproductive and metabolic behaviour. This work describes a morphologic and histologic analysis of A. equina, with these endpoints for the first time. Organisms, collected to the natural environmental were processed using a paraffin-embedding technique. Further, samples were processed following by Hematoxilin and Eosin (H & E) standard procedures with adaptations to Actiniidae conditions (the fixation time was 96 hours due to 98% of water body in these organisms). Results obtained confirm that, when compared to higher level animals, the Anthozoa are very simply organized (Figure 1). The body is built up of sheets of tissue (Figure 2 and 3), on the surface of each there is an epithelium, resting upon a middle layer of fibrous mesoglea. This generally contains no cellular elements other than some scattered amoebocytes and locally, genital cells (Figure 2). The aim of this work was to contribute to a new anatomic and histological baseline for these sea anemones family Actiniidae. In order to identify several taxonomic characteristics based on reproductive structures. The methods applied were standard to identify several structures that acid-basic groups ligands, such as phosphate of DNA, collagen and other nuclear proteins. The results obtained were the basic cnidarian structures such as tentacular and mesenteric anatomy. The reproductive structures are show in detail with septal filaments and mesenteric (Figure1). These structures is taxonomically relevant and into the own family (Actiniidae) could following the same patterns. The male and female A. equina mesenteries are different. The mainly conclusion of this study was that the male and female gonads can appear simultaneously in the same individual, or that it can have no defined sex.
Transmission Electron Microscopy Study of Low Mo-content Bi-Mo-O Phases
Authors: Landa-Cánovas Á. R. , Vila Eladio , Hernández-Velasco Jorge , Galy Jean , Castro Alicia
Published: September 2012

δ-Bi2O3, a material with a fluorite-type structure, is one of the best solid-state oxygen-ion conductors. It is a high-temperature form that cannot be quenched to room temperature. However, doping with small amounts of transition metal oxides preserves the δ-Bi2O3 structure at low temperature and retains its anionic conduction properties. The Bi2O3–MoO3 materials are interesting because of their functional properties, chiefly as catalysts and as good ionic conductors. All the phases in this system are related to the fluorite structure except Bi2MoO6 which shows an Aurivillius-type structure.
Laser Assisted Flow Deposition: a New Method to Grow ZnO
Authors: Rodrigues J. , Soares M. R. N. , Fernandes A. J. S. , Monteiro T. , Costa F. M.
Published: September 2012

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been one of the most studied materials in the last decades. Either as bulk material, epilayers or nanostructures, this direct wide band gap semiconductor is known to possess great potential for fundamental science and modern technology applications.
Effects of the Binding Communication Paradigm on Attitudes
Authors: Michelik Fabienne , Girandola Fabien , Joule Robert-Vincent , Zbinden Amandine , Souchet Lionel
Published: September 2012

The binding communication approach is situated at the intersection of research on persuasive communication and commitment. Binding communication refers to the combination of a preparatory act involving commitment and a persuasive message. Two studies showed that differences in attitudes toward recycling (Study 1) or swimming (Study 2) are more likely to occur following a persuasive message combined with a preparatory act involving commitment (i.e., binding communication) as compared to either technique alone. Specifically, in Study 1 we observed a more favorable attitude toward recycling in the binding communication condition compared to the conditions involving only a preparatory act involving commitment or only a persuasive message. In Study 2, we replicated the results of Study 1 and examined the effect on attitudes of performing a preparatory act with a strong versus weak level of commitment when this was preceded versus not preceded by a persuasive message.