bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alcohol and Drug Use Among Robbery-Related Homicide Victims in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Pierce Rachel K. , Kuhns Joseph B.
Published: January 2011

This study explores the link between alcohol and drugs and robbery-based homicide victimization within the context of routine activities theory. Using 2001-2005 homicide and toxicology data from Trinidad and Tobago, the study considers the general context of robbery-related homicides by identifying common place, victim, offender, and time characteristics. Next, the study examines whether victims of robbery-based homicides were more or less likely to be using alcohol and/or drugs at the time of death than victims of domestic and “street” homicides. The results indicate that robbery-related homicide victims were less likely to test positive for alcohol or be intoxicated and were significantly less likely to test positive for marijuana and cocaine than victims of street homicides. Nevertheless, when considered within a broader context, Trinidad and Tobago robbery-based homicide victims test positive at higher rates for marijuana (13.6%), compared with homicide victims in other locations (6%). The results of this study suggest a firm link between victim substance use and homicide victimization in Trinidad and Tobago, which could help explain escalating violence levels in the country.
Positive and Negative Exchanges in Social Relationships as Predictors of Depression: Evidence From the English Longitudinal Study of Aging
Authors: Stafford Mai , McMunn Anne , Zaninotto Paola , Nazroo James
Published: January 2011

Objective: To investigate whether the impact of negative and positive social exchanges on depression depends on relationship type among late middle age and older adults. Method: Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, baseline positive and negative exchanges with partners, children, other family and friends were linked to 2-year changes in depression on the eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: Positive and negative exchanges with partners and with children were independently associated with depression, adjusting for age, gender, wealth, and baseline depression. Negative but not positive exchanges with other family and with friends were associated with depression. The association between depression and positive/negative exchanges was weaker among the above 70s compared with those aged 50 to 70. Discussion: Negative and positive exchanges with partners and children appear equally salient for depression onset although negative exchanges with family and friends contribute to depression whereas positive exchanges do not.
Use of Relative Baseline Features of Guided Waves for In situ Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Lee Jeong-Seok , Park Gyuhae , Kim Chun-Gon , Farrar Charles R.
Published: January 2011

This article presents a new signal-processing technique, which utilizes ‘‘relative baselines’’ instead of ‘‘pre-stored baselines,’’ for Lamb wave based SHM. Several successful SHM methods utilizing wave propagations usually involve recording baseline measurements and comparing them to a newly measured response for structural damage identification. However, maintaining an accurate database of baselines remains challenging because of the effects of varying environmental conditions. Therefore, in this study, the relative baseline concept is proposed, in which measured Lamb waves are correlated between different sensor-actuator sets, as opposed to being correlated to pre-stored baseline data. This study focuses on determining the feature best used for this relative baseline concept, and cross-correlation and power spectral density analysis techniques are performed on data sets recorded from composite and aluminum plates. Experiments are performed with these plates under the presence of temperature variations in order to demonstrate the capability of the relative baseline concept. Our experimental results clearly indicate that the proposed technique reduces the complications associated with using pre-stored baselines for SHM under varying environmental conditions, and provides a quantitative means of identifying structural damage.
Thoughts From Terence R. Mitchell
Authors: Mitchell Terence R.
Published: January 2011

This is an essay in which I discuss aspects of my career, things I would do differently, advice to new professors, including some guidelines and principles that worked well for me, and given the future of Business Schools, what changes do I foresee? I describe my first few years as rather smooth and uneventful thanks to the mentors and resources that were available at the University of Washington. I wished I had had better teaching preparation and knowledge about how to publish in management journals (I am a psychologist by training and being in a Business School required some adjustments and the learning of new skills). In the future, I think more will be demanded of new professors and they will be held more accountable and required to support what they do through grants, contracts, extra teaching and consulting activities. Both an ethical emphasis and knowledge of technology for the classroom will be important as well. Most of my rules to live by focus on managing time and requests—they are the key navigational tools for success. My crystal ball suggests we will have more specialization in our activities and more contractual arrangements will guide us through periods of our career.
Thoughts From Joyce Osland
Authors: Osland Joyce
Published: January 2011

The author’s personal reflections include her career motivation, the ongoing challenge of work/life balance, and some of the many people who helped her along the way. She summarizes for young scholars the most important advice she received from others. Some dealt with prioritizing and figuring out the necessary conditions one needs to write or theorize, but much of it concerned choices — choosing research topics and designs, choosing co-authors, choosing among too numerous career opportunities, and choosing when and when not to be a change agent in a university setting. If the field were starting anew, the author would reconsider the impact and unanticipated consequences of three types of evaluation systems: RTP systems that only reward A-level journal publications, the AACSB emphasis on peer-reviewed journal articles over other outlets, and college ranking systems. Despite their advantages, are these the best and sufficient measures for a profession that could use its scholarship and pedagogy to make a significant difference in the lives of students and business practitioners and in business and society?
India and the Global Climate Governance: Between Principles and Pragmatism
Authors: Vihma Antto
Published: January 2011

India is a key actor in global climate governance, a result of its emissions profile, economic performance, and leadership role in the developing world. This article examines the new dynamics that are affecting the Indian position in global climate negotiations, which until recently has reflected a very traditional developing country position, tinged with neocolonial rhetoric. To analyze the Indian position in the era of thickening international legalization, the article considers the different basic views among the Indian policy-making elite. A significant national consensus exists on the notion that the developed countries have not “taken the lead” as was agreed in 1992 with the adoption of the U.N. Climate Change Convention. However, there is an intensive political debate in India revolving around the extent to which the country should take unilateral action on climate change and whether and how to link such measures to the international legalization process, as well as the respective role of per capita entitlements in the Indian international position. Influenced by international negotiations, the domestic policy dialogue is also shifting in India in important ways toward a more “internationalist” and proactive approach.
Social Perception and WAIS-IV Performance in Adolescents and Adults Diagnosed With Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism
Authors: Holdnack James , Goldstein Gerald , Drozdick Lisa
Published: January 2011

Previous research using the Wechsler scales has identified areas of cognitive weaknesses in children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with Autism or Asperger’s syndrome. The current study evaluates cognitive functioning in adolescents and adults diagnosed with Autism or Asperger’s syndrome using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) and the Social Perception subtest from the Advanced Clinical Solutions. Deficits in social perception, verbal comprehension, and processing speed were found in the Autism sample. Additionally, they exhibited inconsistent performance on auditory working memory and perceptual reasoning tasks. The Asperger’s syndrome group had better overall cognitive skills than the Autism group, but compared with controls, they had weaknesses in processing speed, social perception, and components of auditory working memory. Both groups had relatively low scores on the WAIS-IV Comprehension subtest compared with the other verbal comprehension subtests. Clinical application and utility of the WAIS-IV and Social Perception in Autism Spectrum Disorders are discussed.
Quality Changes of Fresh Filled Pasta During Storage: Influence of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Microbial Growth and Sensory Properties
Authors: Sanguinetti A.M. , Del Caro A. , Mangia N.P. , Secchi N. , Catzeddu P. , Piga A.
Published: January 2011

This study evaluated the shelf life of fresh pasta filled with cheese subjected to modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) or air packaging (AP). After a pasteurization treatment, fresh pasta was packaged under a 50/50 N2/CO2 ratio or in air (air batch). Changes in microbial growth, in-package gas composition, chemical—physical parameters and sensory attributes were monitored for 42 days at 4 °C. The pasteurization treatment resulted in suitable microbiological reduction. MAP allowed a mold-free shelf life of the fresh filled pasta of 42 days, whereas air-packaged samples got spoilt between 7 and 14 days. The hurdle approach used (MAP and low storage temperature) prevented the growth of pathogens and alterative microorganisms. MAP samples maintained a high microbiological standard throughout the storage period. The panel judged MAP fresh pasta above the acceptability threshold throughout the shelf life.
Higher education as a means of constructing a Russian ethnicity in Israel
Authors: Gvion Liora
Published: January 2011

The article focuses on the meaning college students, who were born in the Former Soviet Union and immigrated to Israel between their 8th and 16th birthday, assign to higher education. It contends that higher education becomes a marker of Russian ethnicity in Israel. Aiming to compensate for their parents’ downward social and professional mobility, the students express pragmatic motives in their choice of majors for the prestigious occupations and seek professions with globally relevant and transferable job potential. In addition, commitment to education is a milestone in the formation of Russian social spaces, which make it possible for the students to differentiate themselves from Israelis of the working class amongst whom they often reside out of financial necessity. The study rests on constructive interviews with 30 Russian-born students, where most of them live in small peripheral towns an hour away from Tel-Aviv, and study in three different academic settings.
Wired for fun
Authors: Liu Fengshu
Published: January 2011

Drawing upon narratives from China’s ‘E-generation’ (the urban only-child generation), this study explores how the Internet as a cultural tool is actually being taken up by young people and made meaningful for themselves within the socio-cultural context of today’s China. The narratives revolve around their perceptions and experiences of the net in some major domains of their lives: recreation, the self, learning (study/work) and sociability. It shows that the importance they attached to the Internet for recreation (and the less importance for the other domains) is directly related to their social–biographical situations. Assigning relevance and meaning of the Internet to their lives, the participants drew different aspects of these situations into the foreground, such as, inter alia, only-child status, high parental expectations, the exam-oriented educational system, being young, lack of authority in the family and society, the competitive labour market, and the ‘emerging adulthood’ in the only-child family.
Staying safe while on the move
Authors: Söderström Sylvia
Published: January 2011

This article investigates differences in young people’s perceptions of the mobile phone’s significance in daily life, drawing on a qualitative interview study with 12 mobility-disabled and 12 non-disabled young Norwegians aged 16–20 years. The interviews were analyzed following a constructivist grounded theory approach, using a continuous content comparative method. While the non-disabled participants perceive the mobile phone’s social potential as it’s most significant quality, the mobility-disabled participants perceived its property as a safety net as the most significant. The objective of this article is to generate knowledge about how differences in young people’s perceptions of the mobile phone are influenced by practical challenges encountered in daily life and how they use mobile phones to meet these challenges. Furthermore, drawing on an actor–network perspective the article seeks to elaborate on how technology — represented in this article by the mobile phone — creates possibilities of action, participation and identity.
A hotel inspector calls: exploring surveillance at the home-work interface
Authors: Di Domenico MariaLaura , Ball Kirstie
Published: January 2011

This article, which examines inspection experiences in the home-based context of the B&B, makes a distinctive contribution to surveillance theory, and specifically the concept of ‘exposure’. It draws on Levinas’s phenomenological ideas on identity and his concept of ‘sensibility’, in order to better place the ‘exposed’ subject at the centre of analysis. Our empirical research shows how B&B proprietors negotiate their exposure to surveillance within their homes when they take part in the tourist board’s accommodation grading process. Their ‘lifestyle businesses’ involve exposing the context of their own lives to their paying guests, and by extension to the hotel inspectors from the tourist board with its own covert inspectorial procedures. These are described from both the inspector’s and proprietor’s perspectives. We explore not only their subjective experiences of the inspection process, but also the power dynamics between proprietor and inspector, and the various resistance and counter-resistance strategies which each employ.
A Health Performance Evaluation Model of Apartment Building Indoor Air Quality
Authors: Qi Zheng  , Lee Donghoon , Lee Sungho , Jeong Tai Kim  , Kim Sunkuk
Published: January 2011

As illnesses attributable to deteriorating indoor air quality (IAQ) increase, people are becoming more aware of the health effects of IAQ because most people in Korea spend >80% of their time indoors. Notably, the IAQ of apartment buildings accounts for a massive share of the construction volume in Korea, which is a highly critical issue. Evaluation of health effects of IAQ would influence not only the statutory criteria for air quality improvement but could also contribute to the development of building design standards. In addition, such evaluation supports quantification efforts for the selection of wholesome construction materials and techniques. Evaluation of the health effects of IAQ is a complex exercise that would require comprehensive consideration of factors such as the concentrations and occurrences of various known, harmful indoor pollutants, ventilation performance in a building and temperature/humidity. Evaluation involves not only quantitative assessment of pollutants but also evaluation of IAQ based on human perception. The aim of this study was to develop a model to evaluate IAQ in quantitative terms based on health impact, but with an emphasis on apartment buildings.
Seasonal Preferences and Interactions of Visual/ Auditory Elements of Streetscape in Namwon City, Korea
Authors: Han Myung-Ho , Joo Mun-Ki , Kim Jeong-Tai , Oh Yang-Ki
Published: January 2011

This study investigated the seasonal preference for visual and auditory elements of streetscape of Korean citizen, and examined the interaction of these elements in different seasons. According to an environmental psychological approach called the caption evaluation method, 45 college students examined the streetscape of Namwon City in North Jeolla Province in different periods of the four seasons. There was interaction between the visual as well as auditory elements of streetscape and with seasons. In spring, summer and autumn, visual preference for natural elements was the highest while visual preference for artificial elements was the highest in winter. Analysis of the order of visual preference of elements found that respecting and enhancing natural/ecological environment and traditional/cultural streetscape of local community was important to improve the visual preference of streetscape. In spring, summer and autumn, auditory preference for natural sounds was the highest while auditory preference for social sounds was the highest in winter. This paper provides an insight for future determination, to decide what attention is required to improve visual preference of the urban elements; to ensure urban landscaping would provide a harmonious ecological environment that would respect culture, tradition and nature.
Early conclusion in bicameral bargaining: Evidence from the co-decision legislative procedure of the European Union
Authors: Rasmussen Anne
Published: January 2011

Time choices are a neglected aspect of the bicameral bargaining literature, even though they may both affect the efficiency of decision-making and have broader democratic implications. An analytical framework is developed to explain when early conclusion occurs in the legislative process. Testing the main implications of this model on the co-decision procedure of the European Union, the results offer a more positive view of early agreements in this system than the existing literature. The findings show that these deals are unlikely to occur when the European Parliament is represented by agents with biased views of the overall legislature. The conventional wisdom that the character of the negotiated files plays a role in explaining whether legislative files are concluded early is also rejected. Instead, bargaining uncertainty and the impatience of the co-legislators matter.
A longitudinal study of euroscepticism in the Netherlands: 2008 versus 1990
Authors: Lubbers Marcel , Jaspers Eva
Published: January 2011

With a unique longitudinal data set covering a time-span of 18 years, we test to what extent euroscepticism evolved among the Dutch between 1990 and 2008. We compare Eurosceptic attitudes on the eve of the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht with attitudes after the Dutch ‘no’ in the referendum on the European Constitution. We find a strong increase in euroscepticism among the Dutch. This change did not develop evenly across the educational strata. We propose to explain these differences through the utilitarian, political cueing, political cynicism and identity approaches. Over the years, the less educated have become more cynical about politics and have come to perceive a greater ethnic threat than before, which explains their stronger increase in euroscepticism. In contrast to 1990, perceived ethnic threat was the main predictor of euroscepticism in 2008.
Moments of Discomfort and Conflict: Holocaust Museums as Agents of Change
Authors: Grenier Robin S.
Published: January 2011

Museums serve as a place of memory, where heritage is conserved, collections cared for, and the best possible conditions are created for visitors to experience exhibits and the meanings and events they represent. These cultural institutions are increasingly defined by the ability to act as disseminators of culture and history as well as conveyors of controversial issues and have the ability to provide a vast range of informal and purposeful learning opportunities for adults. Programming that addresses a range of issues centering on social and environmental consciousness and human rights allows cultural institutions to draw upon resources and expertise to provide chances for individuals to change professional practice, gain new perspectives on societal norms, and challenge existing mental models. The events of the Holocaust and its representation in museums serve as an agent of change to improve the social and environmental situations for individuals and the organizations and communities in which they live and work. Using transformational learning theory as a conceptual frame, this article presents two cases for exploring museums’ role in supporting HRD and offers suggestions for partnerships between organizations and museums. Looking to museums and historic sites as sources of human resource development has far-reaching implications for cultural, organizational, and individual practices and is an innovative approach to initiating societal and institutional change.
Closing Comments: A Call to Action
Authors: McGuire David , Garavan Thomas N.
Published: January 2011

To date, the field of HRD has largely focused on individuals and organisations and has not devoted sufficient attention to its social role and impact. This concluding article calls on the HRD community to take a more active role in shaping sustainability and CSR agendas and realign itself with the vision of the AHRD to develop a healthy economy, healthy organisations and a healthy ecosystem.
Acropolis of the Middle-West: Decay, Renewal, and Boosterism in Cleveland’s University Circle
Authors: Souther J. Mark
Published: January 2011

In the mid-twentieth century, Cleveland, Ohio’s University Circle exemplified an emerging trend in which urban universities and other private institutions engaged in urban renewal. Situating the story of University Circle within the context of contemporary concerns about urban decay, deindustrialization, and suburbanization, the author argues that University Circle institutions were not simply trying to facilitate their own expansion. Rather, they were equally determined to create a setting appropriate to their regional, national, and even international reputations, as well as to advance the idea that an educational, medical, and cultural district could help reposition and rebrand a sagging industrial city. To do so, institutional leaders sought to make University Circle a bulwark against urban problems, which endeared them to suburbanites while constraining their relations with surrounding urban neighborhoods.
The Peace Support Operations Model: Strategic Interaction Process
Authors: Strong Paul
Published: January 2011

Modeling complex social interaction creates a number of challenges for the strategic analyst. Firstly, the fundamental basis of an operational model has to be based on rational and verifiable metrics, but recognize that human interaction in the real world is often irrational and is rarely verifiable. Secondly, the evolving discourse between factions almost always influences the ongoing process of interaction — often creating entirely new modes of interaction as the scenario unfolds. Our solution was to continue to base the Peace Support Operations Model (PSOM) Operational Game on verifiable metrics and create an interaction process designed to include those modes of interaction that are ill-suited to structured analysis and better addressed by processes that can adapt to shifts in strategic emphasis. The PSOM Strategic Interaction Process thus follows the same turn-based design as the Operational Game, but creates a framework for political interaction and the recording of faction intent as the game proceeds.
Looking Up
Authors: Kiken Laura G. , Shook Natalie J.
Published: January 2011

The present research examined the relation between mindfulness and negativity bias, or the tendency to weigh negative information more heavily than positive. A randomized experiment compared a brief mindfulness induction to an unfocused attention control condition. Negativity bias was assessed with a subjective measure of optimism and pessimism and an objective measure of negativity bias in attitude formation, BeanFest, which required associating novel stimuli with positive or negative outcomes. Participants in the mindfulness condition demonstrated less negativity bias in attitude formation. That is, they correctly classified positive and negative stimuli more equally than those in the control condition. Interestingly, the difference in negativity bias stemmed from better categorization of positives. Furthermore, those in the mindfulness condition reported higher levels of optimism compared to the control condition. Together, these results suggest that mindfulness increases positive judgments and reduces negativity bias.
Thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke: an update
Authors: Zaheer Zahid , Robinson Thompson , Mistri Amit K.
Published: January 2011

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, and thrombolysis has served as a catalyst for major changes in the management of acute ischaemic stroke. Intravenous alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) is the only approved thrombolytic agent at present indicated for acute ischaemic stoke. While the licensed time window extends to 3 h from symptom onset, recent data suggest that the trial window can be extended up to 4.5 h with overall benefit. Nonetheless, ‘time is brain’ and every effort must be made to reduce the time delay to thrombolysis. Intracranial haemorrhage is the major complication associated with thrombolysis, and key factors increasing risk of haemorrhage include increasing age, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke severity. Currently, there is no direct evidence to support thrombolysis in patients >80 years of age, with a few case series indicating no overt harm. Identification of viable penumbra based on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging may allow future extension of the time window. Adjuvant transcranial Doppler ultrasound has the potential to improve reperfusion rates. While intra-arterial thrombolysis has been in vogue for a few decades, there is no clear advantage over intravenous thrombolysis. The evidence base for thrombolysis in specific situations (e.g. dissection, pregnancy) is inadequate, and individualized decisions are needed, with a clear indication to the patient/carer about the lack of direct evidence, and the risk–benefit balance. Patient-friendly information leaflets may facilitate the process of consent for thrombolysis. This article summarizes the recent advances in thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke. Key questions faced by clinicians during the decision-making process are answered based on the evidence available.
Recombinant erythroid Kruppel-like factor fused to GATA1 up-regulates delta- and gamma-globin expression in erythroid cells
Authors: Zhu Jianqiong , Chin Kyung , Aerbajinai Wulin , Trainor Cecelia , Gao Peter , Rodgers Griffin P.
Published: January 2011

The β-hemoglobinopathies sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia are among the most common human genetic disorders worldwide. Hemoglobin A2 (HbA2, α2δ2) and fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) both inhibit the polymerization of hemoglobin S, which results in erythrocyte sickling. Expression of erythroid Kruppel-like factor (EKLF) and GATA1 is critical for transitioning hemoglobin from HbF to hemoglobin A (HbA, α2β2) and HbA2. The lower levels of δ-globin expression compared with β-globin expression seen in adulthood are likely due to the absence of an EKLF-binding motif in the δ-globin proximal promoter. In an effort to up-regulate δ-globin to increase HbA2 expression, we created a series of EKLF-GATA1 fusion constructs composed of the transactivation domain of EKLF and the DNA-binding domain of GATA1, and then tested their effects on hemoglobin expression. EKLF-GATA1 fusion proteins activated δ-, γ-, and β-globin promoters in K562 cells, and significantly up-regulated δ- and γ-globin RNA transcript and protein expression in K562 and/or CD34+ cells. The binding of EKLF-GATA1 fusion proteins at the GATA1 consensus site in the δ-globin promoter was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Our studies demonstrate that EKLF-GATA1 fusion proteins can enhance δ-globin expression through interaction with the δ-globin promoter, and may represent a new genetic therapeutic approach to β-hemoglobinopathies.
Dichotomous regulation of GVHD through bidirectional functions of the BTLA-HVEM pathway
Authors: Sakoda Yukimi , Park Jang-June , Zhao Yuming , Kuramasu Atsuo , Geng Degui , Liu Yingjia , Davila Eduardo , Tamada Koji
Published: January 2011

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is a coinhibitory receptor that interacts with herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), and this interaction regulates pathogenesis in various immunologic diseases. In graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), BTLA unexpectedly mediates positive effects on donor T-cell survival, whereas immunologic mechanisms of this function have yet to be explored. In this study, we elucidated a role of BTLA in GVHD by applying the newly established agonistic anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody that stimulates BTLA signal without antagonizing BTLA-HVEM interaction. Our results revealed that provision of BTLA signal inhibited donor antihost T-cell responses and ameliorated GVHD with a successful engraftment of donor hematopoietic cells. These effects were dependent on BTLA signal into donor T cells but neither donor non-T cells nor recipient cells. On the other hand, expression of BTLA mutant lacking an intracellular signaling domain restored impaired survival of BTLA-deficient T cells, suggesting that BTLA also serves as a ligand that delivers HVEM prosurvival signal in donor T cells. Collectively, current study elucidated dichotomous functions of BTLA in GVHD to serve as a costimulatory ligand of HVEM and to transmit inhibitory signal as a receptor.
CO2 plume modeling in deep saline reservoirs by 2D ERT in boreholes
Authors: al Hagrey Said A.
Published: January 2011

The need to manage [Formula: see text] emissions for mitigating the greenhouse effect has led to worldwide research to reduce atmospheric [Formula: see text]. Techniques of carbon capture and storage (CCS) must (1) be effective and cost-competitive, (2) provide stable, long-term storage, and (3) be environmentally benign. Potential terrestrial media for [Formula: see text] storage include depleted oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams that cannot be mined, and deep saline water reservoirs capped by impermeable rock to prevent upward leakage.
Introduction to this special section: Reservoir characterization
Authors: Chopra Satinder , Michelena Reinaldo J.
Published: January 2011

As geoscientists and engineers started realizing that more oil and gas could be squeezed out of existing reservoirs, awareness about characterizing the reservoirs grew, gradually at first and rapidly later. Apparently, the three main reasons that led to the development of reservoir characterization can be listed as follows:
A review of “global” interpretation methods for automated 3D horizon picking
Authors: Hoyes Jack , Cheret Thibaut
Published: January 2011

Traditionally, 3D seismic interpretation has been achieved through extraction of 2D sections around closed loops such that the beginning and end are coincident, a process known as loop tying (Lomask and Guitton, 2007). Using this approach it is often found that errors in picking result in misties. A more advanced method uses seed-based autotracking to extract horizons by correlation of local wavelet amplitude between neighboring traces; however, mis-ties may also occur here as two paths converge, again due to errors in picking. Additionally, these traditional amplitude-based autopickers can fail if the horizon being tracked has significant lateral amplitude variation or polarity reversal or in the presence of a large fault throw.
Facies probabilities from multidimensional crossplots of seismic attributes: Application to tight gas Mamm Creek Field, Piceance Basin, Colorado
Authors: Michelena Reinaldo J. , Godbey Kevin S. , Rodrigues Patricia E.
Published: January 2011

Crossplots are commonly used in the geosciences to gain qualitative insight about relationships between different variables, typically three (for two-dimensional colored crossplots). On rare occasions, the relationships among four variables are explored by using three-dimensional colored crossplots. The variable used to color the crossplot is usually related to the property of interest, sand or pay for instance. In these cases, crossplots can be used in a quantitative sense by selecting (drawing) a region in the crossplot where most of the property of interest “lives.” Drawing a polygon in a 2D crossplot to separate “good” from “bad” areas is the extension to 2D of simple cutoffs commonly applied to 1D well-log data to separate scenarios of interest. One drawback of this approach is that it works best only when there is no overlap between the region occupied by the property of interest and the region occupied by the background. Another drawback is that it is difficult to extend to three-dimensional crossplots and impossible to apply for dimensions higher than three.
Molecular Genetics of Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Marcucci Guido , Haferlach Torsten , Döhner Hartmut
Published: January 2011

Molecular analyses of leukemic blasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have revealed a striking heterogeneity with regard to the presence of acquired gene mutations and changes in gene and microRNA expression. Multiple submicroscopic genetic alterations with prognostic significance have been discovered. Application of gene- and microRNA profiling has identified genome-wide expression signatures that separate cytogenetic and molecular subsets of patients with AML into previously unrecognized biologic and/or prognostic subgroups. These and similar future findings are likely to have a major impact on the clinical management of AML because many of the identified genetic alterations not only represent independent prognosticators, but also may constitute targets for specific therapeutic intervention. In this report, we review genetic findings in AML and discuss their clinical implications.
Leukemia Stem Cells and Microenvironment: Biology and Therapeutic Targeting
Authors: Konopleva Marina Y. , Jordan Craig T.
Published: January 2011

Acute myelogenous leukemia is propagated by a subpopulation of leukemia stem cells (LSCs). In this article, we review both the intrinsic and extrinsic components that are known to influence the survival of human LSCs. The intrinsic factors encompass regulators of cell cycle and prosurvival pathways (such as nuclear factor kappa B [NF-κB], AKT), pathways regulating oxidative stress, and specific molecular components promoting self-renewal. The extrinsic components are generated by the bone marrow microenvironment and include chemokine receptors (CXCR4), adhesion molecules (VLA-4 and CD44), and hypoxia-related proteins. New strategies that exploit potentially unique properties of the LSCs and their microenvironment are discussed.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Response Monitoring of Breast Cancer During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Relevance of Breast Cancer Subtype
Authors: Loo Claudette E. , Straver Marieke E. , Rodenhuis Sjoerd , Muller Sara H. , Wesseling Jelle , Vrancken Peeters Marie-Jeanne T.F.D. , Gilhuijs Kenneth G.A.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

To evaluate the relevance of breast cancer subtypes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers for monitoring of therapy response during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Patients and Methods

MRI examinations were performed in 188 women before and during NAC. MRI interpretation included lesion morphology at baseline, changes in morphology, size, and contrast uptake kinetics (initial and late enhancement). By using immunohistochemistry, tumors were divided into three subtypes: triple negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive, and estrogen receptor (ER) positive/HER2 negative. Tumor response was assessed dichotomously (ie, presence or absence of residual tumor in the surgical specimen). Complementary, a continuous scale assessment was used (the breast response index [BRI], representing the relative change in tumor stage). Multivariate regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis were employed to establish significant associations.

Results

Residual tumor at pathology was present in 31 (66%) of 47 triple-negative tumors, 23 (61%) of 38 HER2-positive tumors, and 96 (93%) of 103 ER-positive/HER2-negative tumors. Multivariate analysis of residual disease showed significant associations between breast cancer subtype and MRI (area under the curve [AUC], 0.84; P < .001). BRI also showed significant correlation among breast cancer subtype, MRI, and age (Pearson's r = 0.465; P < .001). In subset analysis, this was only significant for triple-negative tumors (P < .001) and HER2-positive tumors (P < .05). Residual tumor after NAC in the triple-negative and HER2-positive group is significantly associated with the change in largest diameter of late enhancement during NAC (AUC, 0.76; P < .001). No associations were found for ER-positive/HER2-negative tumors.

Conclusion

MRI during NAC to monitor response is effective in triple-negative or HER2-positive disease but is inaccurate in ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer.
Review of Stem-Cell Transplantation for Myelodysplastic Syndromes in Older Patients in the Context of the Decision Memo for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Myelodysplastic Syndrome Emanating From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Authors: Giralt Sergio A. , Horowitz Mary , Weisdorf Daniel , Cutler Corey
Published: January 2011

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem-cell disorders that result in varying degrees of cytopenia and risk of transformation into acute leukemia. Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) is the only known cure for this disease. The treatment is routinely used for younger patients, but only a minority of patients older than the age of 60 undergo this procedure. The overall MDS incidence is 3.3 per 100,000, but the incidence in patients older than age 70 is between 15 and 50 per 100,000. The median age at presentation is 76 years. Medicare-age patients 65 or older represent 80% of the total population receiving an MDS diagnosis. In the United States, one of the obstacles to SCT for older patients with MDS has been lack of third party reimbursement. On August 4, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released their Decision Memo for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This memo states: “Allogeneic HSCT for MDS is covered by Medicare only for beneficiaries with MDS participating in an approved clinical study that meets the criteria below…. ” In this review, we will summarize what is known regarding the role of allogeneic SCT in older patients as well as other elements that should be included within clinical trials that can provide the evidence necessary to demonstrate that allogeneic SCT should be a covered benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.
Update on Therapy of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Gribben John G. , O'Brien Susan
Published: January 2011

There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) over the past decade, with the goal of therapy no longer being just to palliate symptoms but now to achieve complete remission, eradicate minimal residual disease, and improve survival. During this period, there have also been major advances in identification of molecular factors associated with increased risk of progression. The clinical utility of these factors is being explored to determine whether we can identify groups of patients who should be treated earlier in their disease course and whether we can tailor therapy for groups of patients with specific molecular markers of disease. First-line chemoimmunotherapy approaches now offer prolonged survival, and there is a need to identify patients who are suitable candidates for allogeneic stem-cell transplantation that uses reduced-intensity conditioning regimens. The vast majority of CLL patients are either too old or do not have sufficiently high-risk disease to warrant these approaches, and effective therapies that can be tolerated by the more frail elderly patients with this disease are urgently needed. Numerous novel agents are being developed, and their role in the first-line treatment of frail patients or those who relapse after previous treatment is being explored in clinical trials.
Resuscitation of warm ischaemia predamaged porcine kidneys by fibrinolytic preflush with streptokinase: reduction of animal experiments
Authors: Szyrach M N I , Paschenda P , Afify M , Zeng J , Tolba R H
Published: January 2011

In order to reduce the number of animal experiments, the use of non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) from a commercial abattoir has been proposed. Since the use of slaughterhouse organs is legally not defined as animal experiment, this would fulfil international standards as an alternative to animal experiments. The development of intravascular thrombosis after cardiac arrest negatively impacts organ preservation and thus viability during ischaemic storage and reperfusion. A fibrinolytic preflush with streptokinase might overcome these limitations. Therefore, the functional and histomorphological integrity of kidneys preserved immediately with intact circulation (control group A) and kidneys preserved after cardiac arrest with a 30 min period of warm ischaemia (WI) (group B) was compared with kidneys preflushed with 12.5 kU/L (group C) or 50 kU/L streptokinase (group D) after 30 min WI prior to preservation. We could demonstrate that kidneys preflushed with 12.5 kU/L streptokinase (group C) performed better than those without streptokinase pretreatment after WI (group B). Parameters like oxygen consumption, perfusion pressure, laboratory values, lactate dehydrogenase level and lipidperoxidation were closer to that of the control (group A) than in groups B and D. The higher streptokinase concentration of 50 kU/L (group D) resulted histologically in a more pronounced tissue damage and an attenuated renal function, indicating toxic effects. On the basis of our results we believe streptokinase preflushed slaughterhouse kidneys to be an adequate alternative to organs from laboratory animals with the potential to further reduce the number of animal experiments.
Plant noncoding RNA gene discovery by “single-genome comparative genomics”
Authors: Chen Chong-Jian , Zhou Hui , Chen Yue-Qin , Qu Liang-Hu , Gautheret Daniel
Published: January 2011

Plant genomes have undergone multiple rounds of duplications that contributed massively to the growth of gene families. The structure of resulting families has been studied in depth for protein-coding genes. However, little is known about the impact of duplications on noncoding RNA (ncRNA) genes. Here we perform a systematic analysis of duplicated regions in the rice genome in search of such ncRNA repeats. We observe that, just like their protein counterparts, most ncRNA genes have undergone multiple duplications that left visible sequence conservation footprints. The extent of ncRNA gene duplication in plants is such that these sequence footprints can be exploited for the discovery of novel ncRNA gene families on a large scale. We developed an SVM model that is able to retrieve likely ncRNA candidates among the 100,000+ repeat families in the rice genome, with a reasonably low false-positive discovery rate. Among the nearly 4000 ncRNA families predicted by this means, only 90 correspond to putative snoRNA or miRNA families. About half of the remaining families are classified as structured RNAs. New candidate ncRNAs are particularly enriched in UTR and intronic regions. Interestingly, 89% of the putative ncRNA families do not produce a detectable signal when their sequences are compared to another grass genome such as maize. Our results show that a large fraction of rice ncRNA genes are present in multiple copies and are species-specific or of recent origin. Intragenome comparison is a unique and potent source for the computational annotation of this major class of ncRNA.
A quantitative assay for measuring mRNA decapping by splinted ligation reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: qSL-RT-PCR
Authors: Blewett Nathan , Coller Jeff , Goldstrohm Aaron
Published: January 2011

The degradation of messenger RNA is a critical node of gene regulation. A major pathway of mRNA decay is initiated by shortening of the poly(A) tail, followed by removal of the 5′ cap structure (decapping) and subsequent degradation. Decapping is an important determinate in the destruction of many transcripts. Detailed kinetic analysis of in vivo decapping rates is necessary to understand how this step is regulated. Importantly, the product of decapping is recalcitrant for investigation, in part due to its transient nature. As such, little in vivo kinetic information is available. Here we report the development of an assay that measures decapping of mRNAs by combining splinted ligation and quantitative RT-PCR (qSL-RT-PCR). We apply this method to determine the decapping rate constant for a natural mRNA in vivo for the first time. The qSL-RT-PCR assay may be adapted for use on any mRNA, providing a new tool to study regulation of mRNA decay.
On victims and heroes: Spatial referents and social models in self-representation of the anti-Franco workers movement
Authors: Hurtado Javier Tbar
Published: January 2011

In this article I suggest that individual memory is selective causing gaps in collective memory that need to be analysed and interpreted in order to understand how communities shape their past. I will illustrate my argument by presenting autobiographical accounts of different members
of the anti-Franco workers movement in the 1960s and 1970s in Spain. Here, the use of self-representation as a means to explain the past poses some problems. In the first place, the history of the anti-Franco movement will have to broaden its focus in order to fully understand how the opposition's
memory is constructed and reconstructed in all its complexity. Secondly, what gives meaning to a witness account are the spatial references and references to social models that determine what is memorable and what is not, as well as defining the heroes and the victims. Omissions are likely.
More recently, however, with an increasing number of autobiographical accounts appearing alongside an increasingly significant historiography, it is possible to see how they mutually affect, often in unrecognized ways, memory and history in the construction of their narratives about the past.