bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design, Synthesis and Potential Anti-Proliferative Activity of Some Novel 4-Aminoquinoline Derivatives
Authors: Ghorab Mostafa M. , Al-Said Mansour S. , Arafa Reem K.
Published: October 2014

Novel nineteen compounds based on a 4-aminoquinoline scaffold were designed and synthesized as potential antiproliferative agents. The new compounds were N-substituted at the 4-position by aryl or heteroaryl (1-9), quinolin- 3-yl (10), 2-methylquinolin-3-yl (11), thiazol-2-yl (12), and dapsone moieties (13, 14 and 18). Bis-compounds 15, 16 and 19 were also synthesized to assess their biological activity. All the newly synthesized comounds were tested for in vitro antiproliferative activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Seventeen of the novel compounds showed higher activity than the reference drug doxorubicin. The corresponding 7-(trifluoromethyl)-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)quinolin-4- amine 1, N-(7-(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-yl)quinolin- 3- amine (10), 2-methyl-N-(7-trifluorome-thyl)quinolin-4-yl) quinolin-3-amine (11) and N-(4-(4-aminophenylsulfonyl) phenyl)-7-chloroquinolin-4-amine (13) were almost twice to thrice as potent as doxorubicin. Biological screening of the tested compounds could offer an encouraging framework in this field that may lead to the discovery of potent anticancer agents.
The Creation Of The National Registry Of Rare Diseases In The Slovak Republic
Authors: Cisárik F. , Baráková A.
Published: October 2014

The creation of a registry of patients with rare diseases is a priority of the National Strategy for Rare Diseases as well as of the National Plan for Rare Diseases. Knowledge of the real number of patients with rare diseases would thus, in addition to basic clinical information, represent an important point in planning health and social care. The presented work introduces points of departure which constitute the basis of a new specific National Registry of Patients with Rare Diseases in the Slovak Republic.
Its creation builds on the existing registries as well as on the structure of health care in the Slovak Republic. With the protection of personal data in mind, the collection of data will be carried out by the National Centre of Health Information (NCHI), which will also use the existing tool in the process of creation. Thanks to the cooperation between NCHI and the Slovak Society of Medical Genetics, NCHI developed separate reporting forms on rare diseases according to OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) and ORPHANET rare disease coding (ORPHA codes of rare diseases), and the International classification of diseases code (ICD 10). The activities also include cooperation with the existing registries (part of which are rare diseases). For example National Registry of Congenital Developmental Heart Defects, national register of neuromuscular disorders, oncologic register or register of diabetes mellitus. Gathering the information from these registries we will extend the data about rare diseases in the Slovak republic. At the international level the participation in the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies (EUROCAT) is important.
Graph of a Reflexive Game and Bélles-léttres
Authors: Novikov Dmitry A. , Chkhartishvili Alexander G.
Published: October 2014

The authors consider reflexive games that describe the interaction of subjects (agents) making decisions based on an awareness structure, i.e., a hierarchy of beliefs about essential parameters, beliefs about beliefs, and so on. It was shown that the language of graphs of reflexive games represents a convenient uniform description method for reflexion effects in bélles-léttres.
Design and Optimization of Interplanetary Aerogravity-Assist Tours
Authors: Henning Gregory A. , Edelman Peter J. , Longuski James M.
Published: October 2014

Aerogravity-assist maneuvers have the potential to deliver spacecraft to a wide range of destinations within the solar system. The ultimate goal is to minimize the maximum lift-to-drag ratio that a vehicle must provide for a given mission. First, assuming an arbitrary maximum lift-to-drag ratio during the aerogravity assist as an initial guess (e.g., maximum [Formula: see text]), a patched-conic solution is obtained for the interplanetary trajectory, yielding boundary conditions at the flyby planets. Second, the flythrough departure velocity at a given planet is maximized while meeting the required atmospheric turn angle to get to the next planet. Depending on whether the departure velocity at each planet is greater (or less) than required, the vehicle’s maximum [Formula: see text] is determined such that the aerogravity-assist maneuver matches the required departure velocity and turn angle. Then, the overall mission minimum value representing the vehicle’s maximum [Formula: see text] to complete a given tour is determined by taking the highest value (or limiting case) found from all of the aerogravity-assist flybys. As an example (and as a possible technology demonstrator) an Earth departure and return mission with flybys at Mars and Venus with a total flight time of 375 days and a maximum lift-to-drag ratio of 3.015 is constructed, enabling atmospheric sample returns from Earth’s nearest neighbors.
Contact Motion on Surface of Asteroid
Authors: Tardivel Simon , Scheeres Daniel J. , Michel Patrick , Van wal Stefaan , Sánchez Paul
Published: October 2014

A comprehensive method for modeling the motion of a spherical pod at the surface of an asteroid is presented. Using triangular faceted surfaces, the largest features of the asteroid (global shape, monoliths, and large boulders) are modeled. The presence of smaller rocks is accounted for using a stochastic model of rock generation and collision. The contact dynamics on regolith or harder surfaces, including multiple contact points situations, are described. The force, torque, and coefficient of rolling resistance are introduced, explained, and estimated. Finally, this model is applied to a hypothetical deployment case on asteroid Itokawa. The numerical simulations show landing time around 5 h, with the main landing basin located in Muses Sea. It also proves the importance of each and every level of detail of the asteroid model for an accurate understanding of asteroid surface motion and the effective design of practical deployment strategies.
Nature Protection Organizations and Climate Change in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States
Authors: van Markham William T. , Koppen C.S.A. (Kris)
Published: October 2014

This article investigates the messages about climate change that ten nature protection organizations in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States communicate to their members and the public through their Internet sites, member magazines, and annual reports. Based on analysis of this content, we conclude that all the organizations address climate change, but to varying extents and in differing ways. All of the organizations note that climate change is a major problem, has a significant impact on nature, and should be addressed mainly via mitigation. With the partial exception of the Dutch groups, all also inform their members about domestic climate change politics. Other themes, including international dimensions of climate change, adaptation to climate change, consumer behavior, collaboration with and criticism of business, and efforts to pressure business or government received less emphasis overall. How much emphasis the organizations gave these themes was conditioned by their traditions, constituencies, national context, and international affiliations.
Tragedy or Chivalrous Romance? The Swedish Government and the Baltic Sea Pipeline
Authors: Fransson Anna-Lisa Sayuli
Published: October 2014

When Sweden was confronted with the idea of building a gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, the Swedish government found itself in a paradoxical situation. Should it give in to strong foreign interests and abandon its proudly held line of environmental policy, or stick to its profile at the risk of earning a powerful adversary? This narrative analysis, building on the government's official narratives, explains how and why the self-proclaimed environmental guardian of the sea ended up having it both ways. By using strategies of depoliticization, polarization, and parallel storytelling, the Swedish government surrendered narrative power to its antagonist, alternated between incompatible views of its own political capability, and added a happy ending to the pipeline tragedy. These strategies enabled the government to make an environmentally controversial decision without losing prestige or abandoning its ethical profile regarding the Baltic Sea.
The learning migration nexus: towards a conceptual understanding
Authors: Morrice Linda
Published: October 2014

Learning and identity formation are inescapable facets of the upheavals accompanying migration; movement across social space inevitably involves reflection, questioning and the need to learn new ways of being and new identities. Although migration is characterised by complexity and diversity, this paper suggests that we can identify key learning perspectives which illuminate the nexus between learning and migration. It argues for an approach which grounds learning in an understanding of socio-cultural space, and highlights the significance of policy discourses surrounding migration and integration. Within the conceptual framework suggested, the nature of learning is seen as multifaceted, and as having the potential to have both positive and negative outcomes for migrants.
Migration and adult education: social movement learning and resistance in the UK
Authors: Grayson John
Published: October 2014

The article is based on data and evidence from a project of 'activist research' in migrant and refugee social movements in South Yorkshire U.K. The article argues that migrants' social movements have been neglected as important in the development of popular adult education in the U.K. The history of migrants' social movements from 1945 is sketched to demonstrate social movement influences on the content and ideological assumptions of state provision of adult education. The history also suggests a similar trajectory to 'old' contentious social movements like trades unions. The current research in migrants and asylum rights movements reported in the article suggests that migrants social movements are active and proficient in developing popular adult education initiatives including critical analysis of racist political and power discourses. The importance of these movements is demonstrated in a case study of a high profile campaign against the privatisation of asylum housing in Yorkshire by the world's largest security company G4S.
Entropy Methods in Guided Self-Organisation
Authors: Prokopenko Mikhail , Gershenson Carlos
Published: October 2014

Self-organisation occurs in natural phenomena when a spontaneous increase in order is produced by the interactions of elements of a complex system. Thermodynamically, this increase must be offset by production of entropy which, broadly speaking, can be understood as a decrease in order. Ideally, self-organisation can be used to guide the system towards a desired regime or state, while "exporting" the entropy to the system's exterior. Thus, Guided Self-Organisation (GSO) attempts to harness the order-inducing potential of self-organisation for specific purposes. Not surprisingly, general methods developed to study entropy can also be applied to guided self-organisation. This special issue covers abroad diversity of GSO approaches which can be classified in three categories: information theory, intelligent agents, and collective behavior. The proposals make another step towards a unifying theory of GSO which promises to impact numerous research fields.
How to Mine Information from Each Instance to Extract an Abbreviated and Credible Logical Rule
Authors: Wang Limin , Sun Minghui , Cao Chunhong
Published: October 2014

Decision trees are particularly promising in symbolic representation and reasoning due to their comprehensible nature, which resembles the hierarchical process of human decision making. However, their drawbacks, caused by the single-tree structure,cannot be ignored. A rigid decision path may cause the majority class to overwhelm otherclass when dealing with imbalanced data sets, and pruning removes not only superfluousnodes, but also subtrees. The proposed learning algorithm, flexible hybrid decision forest(FHDF), mines information implicated in each instance to form logical rules on the basis of a chain rule of local mutual information, then forms different decision tree structures and decision forests later. The most credible decision path from the decision forest can be selected to make a prediction. Furthermore, functional dependencies (FDs), which are extracted from the whole data set based on association rule analysis, perform embedded attribute selection to remove nodes rather than subtrees, thus helping to achieve different levels of knowledge representation and improve model comprehension in the framework of semi-supervised learning. Naive Bayes replaces the leaf nodes at the bottom of the tree hierarchy, where the conditional independence assumption may hold. This technique reduces the potential for overfitting and overtraining and improves the prediction quality and generalization. Experimental results on UCI data sets demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
A Real-Time Sliding Mode Control for a Wind Energy System Based on a Doubly Fed Induction Generator
Authors: Barambones Oscar , Cortajarena Jose , Alkorta Patxi , De Durana Jose
Published: October 2014

In this paper, a real time sliding mode control scheme for a variable speed wind turbine that incorporates a doubly feed induction generator is described. In this design, the so-called vector control theory is applied, in order to simplify the system electrical equations. The proposed control scheme involves a low computational cost and therefore can be implemented in real-time applications using a low cost Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The stability analysis of the proposed sliding mode controller under disturbances and parameter uncertainties is provided using the Lyapunov stability theory. A new experimental platform has been designed and constructed in order to analyze the real-time performance of the proposed controller in a real system. Finally, the experimental validation carried out in the experimental platform shows; on the one hand that the proposed controller provides high-performance dynamic characteristics, and on the other hand that this scheme is robust with respect to the uncertainties that usually appear in the real systems.
A Cross-Sectional Study: Nutritional Polyamines in Frequently Consumed Foods of the Turkish Population
Authors: Buyukuslu Nihal , Hizli Hilal , Esin Kubra , Garipagaoglu Muazzez
Published: October 2014

Putrescine, spermidine and spermine are the most abundant polycationic natural amines found in nearly all organisms. They are involved in regulation of gene expression, translation, cell proliferation and differentiation. They can be supplied by the endogenous synthesis inside the cell or by the intake from exogenous sources. There is a growing body of literature associated with the effects of bioactive amines on health and diseases, but limited information about polyamine content in foods is available. In the present study, the polyamine content of frequently consumed foods in a typical Turkish diet was estimated for adults, including tea, bread and yoghurt. The estimation of daily intake was defined as 93,057 nmol/day putrescine, 33,122 nmol/day spermidine, 13,685 nmol/day spermine. The contribution of foods to daily intake was: dairy products (47.32%), vegetables and grains (21.09%) and wheat products (12.75%).
Orthologs of Human Disease Associated Genes and RNAi Analysis of Silencing Insulin Receptor Gene in Bombyx mori
Authors: Zhang Zan , Teng Xiaolu , Chen Maohua , Li Fei
Published: October 2014

The silkworm, Bombyx mori L., is an important economic insect that has been domesticated for thousands of years to produce silk. It is our great interest to investigate the possibility of developing the B. mori as human disease model. We searched the orthologs of human disease associated genes in the B. mori by bi-directional best hits of BLAST and confirmed by searching the OrthoDB. In total, 5006 genes corresponding to 1612 kinds of human diseases had orthologs in the B. mori, among which, there are 25 genes associated with diabetes mellitus. Of these, we selected the insulin receptor gene of the B. mori (Bm-INSR) to study its expression in different tissues and at different developmental stages and tissues. Quantitative PCR showed that Bm-INSR was highly expressed in the Malpighian tubules but expressed at low levels in the testis. It was highly expressed in the 3rd and 4th instar larvae, and adult. We knocked down Bm-INSR expression using RNA interference. The abundance of Bm-INSR transcripts were dramatically reduced to ~4% of the control level at 6 days after dsRNA injection and the RNAi-treated B. mori individuals showed apparent growth inhibition and malformation such as abnormal body color in black, which is the typical symptom of diabetic patients. Our results demonstrate that B. mori has potential use as an animal model for diabetic mellitus research.
RETRACTED: Tanshinone IIA Pretreatment Renders Free Flaps against Hypoxic Injury through Activating Wnt Signaling and Upregulating Stem Cell-Related Biomarkers
Authors: Xu Zihan , Zhang Zhenxin , Wu Lijun , Sun Yaowen , Guo Yadong , Qin Gaoping , Mu Shengzhi , Fan Ronghui , Wang Benfeng , Gao Wenjie
Published: October 2014

Partial or total flap necrosis after flap transplantation is sometimes clinically encountered in reconstructive surgery, often as a result of a period of hypoxia that exceeds the tolerance of the flap tissue. In this study, we determine whether tanshinone IIA (TSA) pretreatment can protect flap tissue against hypoxic injury and improve its viability. Primary epithelial cells isolated from the dorsal skin of mice were pretreated with TSA for two weeks. Cell counting kit-8 and Trypan Blue assays were carried out to examine the proliferation of TSA-pretreated cells after exposure to cobalt chloride. Then, Polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to determine the expression of β-catenin, GSK-3β, SOX2, and OCT4 in TSA-treated cells. In vivo, after mice were pretreated with TSA for two weeks, a reproducible ischemic flap model was implemented, and the area of surviving tissue in the transplanted flaps was measured. Immunohistochemistry was also conducted to examine the related biomarkers mentioned above. Results show that epidermal cells, pretreated with TSA, showed enhanced resistance to hypoxia. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway in TSA-pretreated cells was characterized by the upregulation of β-catenin and the downregulation of GSK-3β. The expression of SOX2 and OCT4 controlled by Wnt signaling were also found higher in TSA pretreated epithelial cells. In the reproducible ischaemic flap model, pretreatment with TSA enhanced resistance to hypoxia and increased the area of surviving tissue in transplanted flaps. The expression of Wnt signaling pathway components, stem-cell related biomarkers, and CD34, which are involved in the regeneration of blood vessels, was also upregulated in TSA-pretreated flap tissue. The results show that TSA pretreatment protects free flaps against hypoxic injury and increases the area of surviving tissue by activating Wnt signaling and upregulating stem cell-related biomarkers.
Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polypropylene Composites Reinforced with Lignocellulose Nanofibers Dried in Melted Ethylene-Butene Copolymer
Authors: Iwamoto Shinichiro , Yamamoto Shigehiro , Lee Seung-Hwan , Ito Hirokazu , Endo Takashi
Published: October 2014

Lignocellulose nanofibers were prepared by the wet disk milling of wood flour. First, an ethylene-butene copolymer was pre-compounded with wood flour or lignocellulose nanofibers to prepare master batches. This process involved evaporating the water of the lignocellulose nanofiber suspension during compounding with ethylene-butene copolymer by heating at 105 °C. These master batches were compounded again with polypropylene to obtain the final composites. Since ethylene-butene copolymer is an elastomer, its addition increased the impact strength of polypropylene but decreased the stiffness. In contrast, the wood flour- and lignocellulose nanofiber-reinforced composites showed significantly higher flexural moduli and slightly higher flexural yield stresses than did the ethylene-butene/polypropylene blends. Further, the wood flour composites exhibited brittle fractures during tensile tests and had lower impact strengths than those of the ethylene-butene/polypropylene blends. On the other hand, the addition of the lignocellulose nanofibers did not decrease the impact strength of the ethylene-butene/polypropylene blends. Finally, the addition of wood flour and the lignocellulose nanofibers increased the crystallization temperature and crystallization rate of polypropylene. The increases were more remarkable in the case of the lignocellulose nanofibers than for wood flour.
Resveratrol and Endothelial Nitric Oxide
Authors: Xia Ning , Förstermann Ulrich , Li Huige
Published: October 2014

Nitric oxide (NO) derived from the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) has antihypertensive, antithrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic and antiobesogenic properties. Resveratrol is a polyphenol phytoalexin with multiple cardiovascular and metabolic effects. Part of the beneficial effects of resveratrol are mediated by eNOS. Resveratrol stimulates NO production from eNOS by a number of mechanisms, including upregulation of eNOS expression, stimulation of eNOS enzymatic activity and reversal of eNOS uncoupling. In addition, by reducing oxidative stress, resveratrol prevents oxidative NO inactivation by superoxide thereby enhancing NO bioavailability. Molecular pathways underlying these effects of resveratrol involve SIRT1, AMPK, Nrf2 and estrogen receptors.
Hydrogen Sulfide and Polysulfides as Biological Mediators
Authors: Kimura Hideo
Published: October 2014

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is recognized as a biological mediator with various roles such as neuromodulation, regulation of the vascular tone, cytoprotection, anti-inflammation, oxygen sensing, angiogenesis, and generation of mitochondrial energy. It is produced by cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3MST). The activity of CBS is enhanced by S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) and glutathionylation, while it is inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). The activity of CSE and cysteine aminotransferase (CAT), which produces the 3MST substrate 3-mercaptopyruvate (3MP), is regulated by Ca2+. H2S is oxidized to thiosulfate in mitochondria through the sequential action of sulfide quinone oxidoreductase (SQR), sulfur dioxygenase, and rhodanese. The rates of the production and clearance of H2S determine its cellular concentration. Polysulfides (H2Sn) have been found to occur in the brain and activate transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels, facilitate the translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to the nucleus, and suppress the activity of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) by sulfurating (sulfhydrating) the target cysteine residues. A cross talk between H2S and NO also plays an important role in cardioprotection as well as regulation of the vascular tone. H2S, polysulfides, and their cross talk with NO may mediate various physiological and pathophysiological responses.
Buddhist Approaches to Addiction Recovery
Authors: Groves Paramabandhu
Published: October 2014

The Buddha recognized addiction problems and advised his followers accordingly, although this was not the primary focus of his teachings. Thailand and Japan, which have long-standing Buddhist traditions, have developed Buddhist influenced responses to addiction. With its emphasis on craving and attachment, an understanding of the workings of the mind, as well as practices to work with the mind, Buddhism lends itself as a rich resource to assist addiction recovery. The twelve step movement has been an impetus to making use of ideas and practices from Buddhism. In particular, mindfulness, has started to be used to support addiction recovery, with promising results. Exploration of other areas of Buddhism is beginning, and may provide additional benefit in the future.
Retrieval of Particle Scattering Coefficients and Concentrations by Genetic Algorithms in Stratified Lake Water
Authors: Pitarch Jaime , Odermatt Daniel , Kawka Marcin , Wüest Alfred
Published: October 2014

We retrieved the mass-specific scattering coefficient b*sm(λ) = 0.60·(λ/650)−1.82 of the inhomogeneous and optically complex water column of eastern Lake Constance in May 2012. In-situ measured and modelled remote-sensing reflectance Rrs(λ) were matched via a parameter search procedure using genetic algorithms. The optical modelling consisted of solving the azimuthally-averaged Radiative Transfer Equation, forced with in-situ suspended matter concentration (sm) data. b*sm(λ) was univocally determined at red wavelengths. In contrast, we encountered unresolved spectral ambiguity at blue wavelengths due to the absence of organic absorption in our dataset. Despite this, a surprisingly good sm retrieval regression is achieved (R2 > 0.95 with respect to independent data) using our b*sm(λ). Acquisition of accurate inherent optical properties in future field campaigns is needed to verify the estimated b*sm(λ) and related assumptions.
Synchronous Wearable Wireless Body Sensor Network Composed of Autonomous Textile Nodes
Authors: Vanveerdeghem Peter , Van Torre Patrick , Stevens Christiaan , Knockaert Jos , Rogier Hendrik
Published: October 2014

A novel, fully-autonomous, wearable, wireless sensor network is presented, where each flexible textile node performs cooperative synchronous acquisition and distributed event detection. Computationally efficient situational-awareness algorithms are implemented on the low-power microcontroller present on each flexible node. The detected events are wirelessly transmitted to a base station, directly, as well as forwarded by other on-body nodes. For each node, a dual-polarized textile patch antenna serves as a platform for the flexible electronic circuitry. Therefore, the system is particularly suitable for comfortable and unobtrusive integration into garments. In the meantime, polarization diversity can be exploited to improve the reliability and energy-efficiency of the wireless transmission. Extensive experiments in realistic conditions have demonstrated that this new autonomous, body-centric, textile-antenna, wireless sensor network is able to correctly detect different operating conditions of a firefighter during an intervention. By relying on four network nodes integrated into the protective garment, this functionality is implemented locally, on the body, and in real time. In addition, the received sensor data are reliably transferred to a central access point at the command post, for more detailed and more comprehensive real-time visualization. This information provides coordinators and commanders with situational awareness of the entire rescue operation. A statistical analysis of measured on-body node-to-node, as well as off-body person-to-person channels is included, confirming the reliability of the communication system.
Influenza Vaccines: A Moving Interdisciplinary Field
Authors: Schotsaert Michael , García-Sastre Adolfo
Published: October 2014

Vaccination is by far the most effective way of preventing morbidity and mortality due to infection of the upper respiratory tract by influenza virus. Current vaccines require yearly vaccine updates as the influenza virus can escape vaccine-induced humoral immunity due to the antigenic variability of its surface antigens. In case of a pandemic, new vaccines become available too late with current vaccine practices. New technologies that allow faster production of vaccine seed strains in combination with alternative production platforms and vaccine formulations may shorten the time gap between emergence of a new influenza virus and a vaccine becoming available. Adjuvants may allow antigen-sparing, allowing more people to be vaccinated with current vaccine production capacity. Adjuvants and universal vaccines can target immune responses to more conserved influenza epitopes, which eventually will result in broader protection for a longer time. In addition, further immunological studies are needed to gain insights in the immune features that contribute to protection from influenza-related disease and mortality, allowing redefinition of correlates of protection beyond virus neutralization in vitro.
Décentralisation et gestion participative en Inde. Introduction (Decentralisation and participative management in India. An introduction)
Authors: Landy Frederic
Published: October 2014

This text introduces this issue by providing a fact file on «the greatest democracy in the world », namely India : it is a federal, heterogeneous, and still officially « socialist » State. Since the 1990s decentralisation has been revived jointly with economic liberalisation, to the advantage of local bodies mainly. This issue helps distinguish narratives and reality of such ambiguous and diverse processes.
Le nettoyage ethnique à Mitrovica : interprétation géographique d'un double déplacement forcé (Ethnic cleansing in Mitrovica : geographical interpretation of a double forced displacement)
Authors: Tratnjek Benedicte
Published: October 2014

La province du Kosovo aujourd'hui paraît très éloignée de l'idéal titiste de Jedinstvo, Bratstvo ("Unité, Fraternité"), elle est au contraire le théâtre d'un combat permanent entre communautés serbe et albanaise pour le pouvoir et le contrôle territorial. Les effets du nettoyage ethnique, dont le but est de modifier de façon violente le peuplement d'un territoire-cible (Rosière, 2005), sont particulièrement lisibles dans la ville de Mitrovica. Ainsi, l'espace « réel » de la ville est désormais coupé en deux secteurs qui tendent à l'homogénéité ethnique, tandis que « l'espace vécu » reflète les rancœurs entre les communautés. La répartition des communautés dans la ville de Mitrovica résulte de deux processus symétriques de déplacements forcés produits par le nettoyage ethnique. Tout d'abord, celui que menèrent les Serbes contre les Albanais, qui engendra l'intervention militaire de l'OTAN contre la Serbie en 1999 ; puis le nettoyage ethnique "oublié" des Serbes et des petites minorités par les Albanais après l 'arrivée des troupes de l 'OTAN. La situation actuelle est le résultat de ces violents affrontements intercommunautaires pour l 'hégémonie territoriale dans lesquels le nettoyage ethnique est comme le moyen le plus efficace pour parvenir à un contrôle spatial irréversible.
La cartographie hydrogéomorphologique (Hydrogeomorphological mapping)
Authors: Ballais Jean-Louis
Published: October 2014

The hydrogeomorphological mapping is recommended by French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development and Ministry of Equipment for determining flood risk zones. It applies the principles of the French 1/50 000 geomorphological map. It permits to localize the different river beds and to estimate flood risk.
Les problèmes de la détermination de la limite externe de la zone inondable dans le midi méditerranéen français (Problems of the determination of the external limit of the flood zone in the mediterranean french "midi")
Authors: Delorme-Laurent Virginie , Ballais Jean-Louis
Published: October 2014

A travers l 'étude des différentes unités qui constituent la plaine alluviale, la zone inondable du cours d'eau peut être aisément définie. Cependant, sa limite externe est parfois plus difficile à déterminer précisément. Une première ébauche de typologie des différents contacts entre la zone inondable et l'encaissant est proposée ici. De plus, pour chaque nouvelle forme ou nouveau contact mis en évidence, une traduction d'un point de vue cartographique est proposée en accord avec la sémiologie graphique et les contraintes liées à l 'élaboration des documents réglementaires comme les Plans de Prévention des Risques d'Inondation et les Atlas de Zones Inondables.
Piété populaire hier et aujourd'hui à Notre-Dame de Laghet
Authors: Delsanti Yves
Published: October 2014

L'auteur effectue la revue la plus large possible de l'ensemble des sources documentaires pouvant aider l'étude de la dévotion populaire à Notre-Dame de Laghet. C'est ainsi que l'on apprend (fac-similé à l'appui) qu'une intense activité de piété règne depuis plus de trois cents ans dans ce sanctuaire proche de la ville de Nice. La question est posée de la continuité de ces pratiques et mentalités. Une réflexion s'amorce sur l'analyse de contenu des billets de demande de grâce déposés hier et aujourd'hui aux pieds de la statue de la "Belle Vierge".

Bibliographie de 40 titres et références d'articles.

Iconographie : fac-similés de billets de remerciement du XVIIème siècle, d'un poème manuscrit du XVIIème siècle, de certificats médicaux du XVIIème siècle et de la couverture de l'Echo de N-D. de Laghet (décembre 1898). (7 figures'».
Fès et Marrakech : Evolution comparée de deux capitales régionales marocaines
Authors: Troin Jean-François
Published: October 2014

Capitales impériales historiquement puissantes, villes-relais du commerce national et de l'ancien commerce international, Fès et Marrakech ont vu leur rôle décliner au profit des cités de l'Atlantique (Casablanca et Rabat-Salé) au début du XXème siècle.

La bourgeoisie urbaine de Fès a pourtant permis à cette dernière de conserver un rôle économique national (commerce de gros, industries), tandis que Marrakech ne conservait qu'une fonction régionale (pôle d'attraction des ruraux et des produits de la campagne) et développait une activité touristique, certes internationale mais très dépendante de l'extérieur et peu productrice de ressources locales.

Si l'arrière-pays de Fès fournit à la ville du Nord d'importants revenus via des centres-relais constituant une armature urbaine provinciale assez étoffée, les campagnes autour de Marrakech, dominées sans partage par la ville du Sud, ne peuvent assurer des flux commerciaux massifs et faire émerger des pôles urbains-relais.

De ce fait, le drainage vers l'Atlantique et une concurrence soutenue d'Agadir font de Marrakech une capitale régionale écartelée. L'autonomie de Fès par rapport à "sa" région apparaîtrait alors plus solide et assurée, mais cependant le rôle national de la troisième agglomération urbaine du Maroc semblerait aujourd'hui appartenir au passé.
Clinical Analysis of Osteosarcoma Patients Treated with High-Dose Methotrexate-Free Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Xu M. , Xu S.F. , Yu X.C.
Published: October 2014

(1) Objective: High-dose methotrexate (hdmtx) is a common therapeutic agent in the treatment of osteosarcoma. However, hdmtx is highly toxic and requires complex pharmacokinetic monitoring and leucovorin rescue. Thus, alternative therapeutic strategies are necessary. Here, we analyzed the clinical efficacy of a dia regimen (cisplatin–ifosfamide–doxorubicin) to evaluate its potential as an alternative to hdmtx–based therapy. (2) Methods: Patients received 12 cycles of chemotherapy administered over 2 years (2 preoperative cycles and 10 postoperative cycles). Cumulative dose was the same in all cycles: cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on day 1 of week 1, followed by ifosfamide 2.0 g/m2 days 1–5 of week 2, and doxorubicin 20 mg/m2 days 1–3 of week 2. (3) Results: Between January 2004 and October 2008, 39 eligible patients (median age: 16 years) were enrolled, with 36 being evaluable for the study. Of those 36 patients, 20 (55.6%) had a good histologic response to preoperative chemotherapy (>90% tumour necrosis). The estimated 5-year rates of event-free survival (efs) and overall survival were 54.8% and 61.5% respectively. (4) Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that, in osteosarcoma patients, the dia regimen produces an efs rate and survival outcomes comparable to those attained with hdmtx–containing regimens, with fewer adverse reactions. The dia regimen is well tolerated, and we observed a high level of patient compliance. Our results demonstrate that hdmtx-free osteosarcoma treatment regimens can be effective, warranting further investigation.
Impact of Screening Mammography on Mortality from Breast Cancer before Age 60 in Women 40 to 49 Years of Age
Authors: Narod S.A. , Sun P. , Wall C. , Baines C. , Miller A.B.
Published: October 2014

Background: Whether screening mammography programs should include women in their 40s is controversial. In Canada, screening of women aged 40–49 years has not been shown to reduce mortality from breast cancer. Given that screening mammography reduces mean tumour size and that tumour size is inversely associated with survival, the lack of benefit seen with screening is puzzling and suggests a possible adverse effect on mortality of mammography or subsequent treatment (or both) that counterbalances the expected benefit derived from downstaging. Methods: We followed 50,436 women 40–49 years of age until age 60 for mortality from breast cancer. Of those women, one half had been randomly assigned to annual mammography and one half to no mammography. The impact of mammography on breast cancer mortality was estimated using a left-censored Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Of 256 deaths from breast cancer recorded in the study cohort, 134 occurred in women allocated to mammography, and 122 occurred in those receiving usual care and not allocated to mammography. The cumulative risk of death from breast cancer to age 60 was 0.53% for women assigned to mammography and 0.48% for women not so assigned. The hazard ratio for breast cancer–specific death associated with 1 or more screening mammograms before age 50 was 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 0.86 to 1.40). Conclusions: Mammography in women 40–49 years of age is associated with a small but nonsignificant increase in the risk of dying of breast cancer before age 60. Caution should be exercised when recommending mammographic screening to women before age 50.
A Canadian Consensus on the Management of Newly Diagnosed and Relapsed Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia in Adults
Authors: Seftel M.D. , Barnett M.J. , Couban S. , Leber B. , Storring J. , Assaily W. , Fuerth B. , Christofides A. , Schuh A.C.
Published: October 2014

The use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclines (with or without cytarabine) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has dramatically changed the management and outcome of the disease over the past few decades. The addition of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in the relapsed setting—and, more recently, in reduced-chemotherapy or chemotherapy-free approaches in the first-line setting—continues to improve treatment outcomes by reducing some of the toxicities associated with anthracycline-based approaches. Despite those successes, a high rate of early death from complications of coagulopathy remains the primary cause of treatment failure before treatment begins. In addition to that pressing issue, clarity is needed about the use of ATO in the first-line setting and the role of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in the relapsed setting. The aim for the present consensus was to provide guidance to health care professionals about strategies to reduce the early death rate, information on the indications for HSCT and on the use of ATO in induction and consolidation in low-to-intermediate–risk and high-risk APL patients.
Quasi-1D physics in metal-organic frameworks: MIL-47(V) from first principles
Authors: Vanpoucke Danny E P , Jaeken Jan W , De Baerdemacker Stijn , Lejaeghere Kurt , Van Speybroeck Veronique
Published: October 2014

The geometric and electronic structure of the MIL-47(V) metal-organic framework (MOF) is investigated by using ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Special focus is placed on the relation between the spin configuration and the properties of the MOF. The ground state is found to be antiferromagnetic, with an equilibrium volume of 1554.70 Å3. The transition pressure of the pressure-induced large-pore-to-narrow-pore phase transition is calculated to be 82 MPa and 124 MPa for systems with ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic chains, respectively. For a mixed system, the transition pressure is found to be a weighted average of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic transition pressures. Mapping DFT energies onto a simple-spin Hamiltonian shows both the intra- and inter-chain coupling to be antiferromagnetic, with the latter coupling constant being two orders of magnitude smaller than the former, suggesting the MIL-47(V) to present quasi-1D behavior. The electronic structure of the different spin configurations is investigated and it shows that the band gap position varies strongly with the spin configuration. The valence and conduction bands show a clear V d-character. In addition, these bands are flat in directions orthogonal to VO6 chains, while showing dispersion along the the direction of the VO6 chains, similar as for other quasi-1D materials.
Brazilian Trichoptera Checklist II
Authors: Paprocki Henrique , França Diogo
Published: October 2014

A second assessment of Brazilian Trichoptera species records is presented here. A total of 625 species were recorded for Brazil. This represents an increase of 65.34% new species recorded during the last decade. The Hydropsychidae (124 spp.), followed by the Hydroptilidae (102 spp.) and Polycentropodidae (97 spp.), are the families with the greatest richness recorded for Brazil. The knowledge on Trichoptera biodiversity in Brazil is geographically unequal. The majority of the species is recorded for the southeastern region.
Développement financier et croissance économique : les connus connus, les inconnus connus et les inconnus inconnus
Authors: Panizza Ugo
Published: October 2014

Cet article résume les principales conclusions tirées de la littérature traitant de la relation entre le développement économique et financier (les connus connus), suggère des pistes de recherche pour de futurs travaux (les inconnus connus), puis spécule sur la troisième catégorie des inconnus inconnus, proposée par Rumsfeld. La section sur les connus connus organise la littérature empirique sur la finance et la croissance en trois volets : (i) la littérature traditionnelle, qui a établi le lien entre finance et croissance ; (ii) la nouvelle littérature, qui a nuancé certains constats issus de la littérature traditionnelle ; et (iii) la nouvelle-nouvelle littérature, qui met l’accent sur les mesures alternatives de développement financier et sur le côté obscur de la finance. La section des inconnus connus se concentre sur la causalité, sur les canaux par lesquels la finance agit sur la croissance et sur le côté obscur de la finance. La section des inconnus inconnus aborde un sujet que nous connaissons peut-être moins bien que nous le pensons.
Pour une libéralisation prudente du secteur financier : implications en matière de politique économique
Authors: Griffith-Jones Stephany
Published: October 2014

L’article examine en premier lieu les enjeux politiques relatifs aux secteurs financiers nationaux (leurs tailles et leurs structures) et les questions touchant à leur régulation. En second lieu, il traite des enjeux stratégiques afférents à la gestion des comptes de capitaux. Cette analyse repose sur les deux finalités attendues du secteur financier : assurer le financement adéquat et durable des besoins des entreprises et des ménages (et ainsi promouvoir la croissance inclusive) et prévenir les risques de crises destructrices en soutenant la stabilité financière. Bien qu’il soit fait référence aux économies développées, l’analyse porte davantage sur les économies en développement et les économies émergentes.
Fuite des capitaux et paradis fiscaux : impact sur l'investissement et la croissance en Afrique
Authors: Ndikumana Léonce
Published: October 2014

Cet article examine les répercussions de la fuite des capitaux et des paradis fiscaux sur le développement des économies africaines. Plus précisément, il étudie l’impact de la fuite des capitaux sur l’investissement national et les coûts d’opportunité de celle-ci en termes de croissance sacrifiée. Premièrement, une analyse économétrique nous permet d’évaluer l’incidence de la fuite des capitaux sur l’investissement national. Deuxièmement, grâce à un exercice de simulation, nous estimons les gains potentiels en termes de croissance pouvant résulter de l’investissement des capitaux partis à l’étranger sur le marché intérieur. Les données empiriques permettent de tirer quelques conséquences politiques.
DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY BY EXUDATES DETECTION USING CLUSTERING TECHNIQUES
Authors: Santhi D. , Manimegalai D. , Karkuzhali S.
Published: October 2014

Diabetes is the most prevalent disease that affects the retina and leads to blindness without any symptoms. An adverse change in retinal blood vessels that leads to vision loss is called as Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). DR is one among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. There is an increasing interest to design the medical system for screening and diagnosis of DR. Segmentation of exudates is essential for diagnostic purpose. In this regard, Optic Disc (OD) center is detected by template matching technique and then it is masked to avoid misclassification in the results of exudates detection. In this paper, we proposed a novel K-Means nearest neighbor algorithm, combining K-means with morphology and Fuzzy to segment exudates. The main advantage of the proposed approach is that it does not depend upon manually selected parameters. Performances of these algorithms are compared with existing algorithms like Fuzzy C means (FCM) and Spatially Weighted Fuzzy C Means (SWFCM). These different segmentation algorithms are applied to publically available STARE data set and it is found that mean sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values for the fuzzy algorithm is 91%, 94% and 93% respectively and considerably higher than other algorithms.
Atypical Chemokine Receptor ACKR2 Mediates Chemokine Scavenging by Primary Human Trophoblasts and Can Regulate Fetal Growth, Placental Structure, and Neonatal Mortality in Mice
Authors: Teoh Pek Joo , Menzies Fiona M. , Hansell Chris A. H. , Clarke Mairi , Waddell Carolann , Burton Graham J. , Nelson Scott M. , Nibbs Robert J. B.
Published: October 2014

Inflammatory chemokines produced in the placenta can direct the migration of placental leukocytes using chemokine receptors that decorate the surface of these cells. Fetal trophoblasts can also express receptors for inflammatory chemokines, and they are one of the few cell types that express atypical chemokine receptor 2 (ACKR2), previously known as D6. ACKR2 binds many inflammatory CC chemokines but cannot stimulate cell migration or activate signaling pathways used by conventional chemokine receptors. Existing evidence suggests that ACKR2 is a specialized chemokine scavenger, but its function in primary human trophoblasts has not been explored. In mice, ACKR2 is thought to be dispensable for the reproductive success of unchallenged females that have conceived naturally, but it can suppress inflammation-induced abortion and aid the survival of implanted allogeneic embryos. In this article, we demonstrate that cultured primary human trophoblasts express ACKR2 far more strongly than genes encoding conventional receptors for inflammatory CC chemokines. Moreover, these cells are capable of the rapid internalization and efficient scavenging of extracellular chemokine, and this is mediated by ACKR2. We also report that in unchallenged DBA/1j mice, Ackr2 deficiency increases the incidence of stillbirth and neonatal death, leads to structural defects in the placenta, and can decrease fetal weight. Loss of Ackr2 specifically from fetal cells makes a key contribution to the placental defects. Thus, primary human trophoblasts use ACKR2 to scavenge chemokines, and ACKR2 deficiency can cause abnormal placental structure and reduced neonatal survival.