bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of the Communication Behaviors of Hong Kong Chinese and Japanese Business Professionals in Intracultural and Intercultural Decision-Making Meetings
Authors: Du-Babcock Bertha , Tanaka Hiromasa
Published: March 2013

Past research in intercultural business communication has laid a partial foundation for explaining Asian business communication. Asians are classified as high-context communicators and speak English in intercultural communication. Nevertheless, the relationship of language and culture on communication behaviors has remained unclear. To address this gap in the research, this study compares the communication behaviors of business professionals from two prominent Asian cultures—Japanese and Hong Kong Chinese—when these professionals participate in intercultural and intracultural decision-making meetings. The study reveals some differences in communication behaviors between the two cultural groups in both the intracultural and the intercultural meetings. Although both groups generally reflected their high-context communication orientations, they exhibited some deviations from the general discourse patterns, especially in the ways in which they expressed disagreements.
Anxiety-Disordered Adolescents With and Without a Comorbid Depressive Disorder
Authors: Queen Alexander H. , Ehrenreich-May Jill
Published: March 2013

There is a high degree of comorbidity between anxiety and depressive disorders among treatment-seeking adolescents. Comorbid youth often present with greater diagnostic severity, worse social functioning, and more severe anxiety and depressive symptoms, compared with anxiety-disordered youth without depression. However, the degree to which these populations may differ in underlying affect and emotion regulation (ER) is largely unknown. This study compared 44 anxiety-disordered adolescents (ages 12-18 years) with a comorbid depressive disorder (ANX + DEP) and 32 anxiety-disordered adolescents without a comorbid depressive disorder (ANX) on several clinical and emotion-related variables. Results indicated that ANX + DEP adolescents were assigned higher clinician-rated diagnostic severity ratings, and reported greater functional impairment and more severe social anxiety and depressive symptoms, compared with ANX adolescents. In addition, ANX + DEP adolescents demonstrated higher levels of negative affect, lower levels of positive affect, and poorer self-reported and parent-reported ER. Implications for assessment and treatment, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.
Transformational Leadership Using TED Talks
Authors: Rubenstein Lisa DaVia
Published: March 2013

There is an ongoing debate about the efficacy of professional development with the field of gifted education. While some studies have found a positive relationship between professional development and teachers’ knowledge and attitudes toward gifted students, others found that such training had no effect on teachers’ attitudes toward the gifted or gifted education in general, but the trained teachers were more likely to perceive themselves as gifted than teachers who had no professional development. To address this issue, this article proposes a new professional development paradigm, anchored by TED talks. Educational leaders can become more effective by learning from leaders in other disciplines. The leaders highlighted in the article demonstrate the importance of a shared purpose. Professional development in the gifted education field should focus on a shared purpose that highlights the importance of increasing the expectations and engagement of all, not just gifted, students. TED can offer inspiration on how teachers can take an active role in this purpose and then how they can share the results of their efforts.
Comments on Foxall’s ‘Intentionality, symbol and situation in the interpretation of consumer choice’
Authors: Oliveira-Castro Jorge M
Published: March 2013

In his paper, Foxall displays exemplary academic honesty in discussing limitations of the theoretical model that he has developed, despite its wide adoption in several areas of consumer behavior research. The exclusive adherence of the model to an extensional language, according to its author, hinders an adequate account of behavior continuity, a personal level of explanation of behavior and a delimitation of behavioral interpretation. In order to overcome such limitations, the author proposes the implementation of intentional idiom in the model, by distinguishing between informative and symbolic reinforcement. Symbolic consequences would be derived from what the individual thinks, believes, desires, or feels to be the case and are described in intentional language, involving social conventions and status conferring rules. These proposals will probably instigate developments in the field, at least in three directions: the inclusion of other dispositional concepts in the model, in addition to intentional expressions; the adoption of dispositional concepts in describing individuals' learning histories; and the improvement of the theoretical notion of self-reinforcement, which seems central to the proposed concept of symbolic reinforcement.
Using Accounting Proxies of Proprietary FDIC Ratings to Predict Bank Failures and Enforcement Actions During the Recent Financial Crisis
Authors: Kerstein Joseph , Kozberg Anthony
Published: March 2013

Focusing on the recent banking crisis, our article examines whether accounting-based proxies for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s proprietary CAMELS measurement system effectively predict the likelihood of failure for most regulated, depository institutions with U.S. operations (in and out of sample testing). This article also utilizes regulatory enforcement actions as both an explanatory and predicted variable. The CAMELS ratings from bank examinations are not released to the public because of regulatory concerns over potential bank runs. To the extent that such ratings provide timely information to banks, our lagged proxies are less likely to be effective predictors of bank failure. However, we find that proxies for each of the six categories of CAMELS—capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity to interest rates—are significantly associated with the probability of bank failure when examined individually. Nearly all measures maintain their significance when examined collectively. These results should aid investors, customers of commercial banks, and also regulators to better assess the risk of bank distress in the future.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor controls murine mast cell homeostasis
Authors: Zhou Yufeng , Tung Hui-Ying , Tsai Ying-Ming , Hsu Shih-Chang , Chang Hui-Wen , Kawasaki Hirokazu , Tseng Hsiao-Chun , Plunkett Beverly , Gao Peisong , Hung Chih-Hsing , Vonakis Becky M. , Huang Shau-Ku
Published: March 2013

Key Points

AhR ligands result in calcium- and ROS-dependent enhancement of mast cell activation. AhR is critical in controlling mast cell homeostasis.
Infection, inflammation and exercise in cystic fibrosis
Authors: van de Weert-van Leeuwen Pauline Barbera , Arets Hubertus Gerardus Maria , van der Ent Cornelis Korstiaan , Beekman Jeffrey Matthijn
Published: March 2013

Regular exercise is positively associated with health. It has also been suggested to exert anti-inflammatory effects. In healthy subjects, a single exercise session results in immune cell activation, which is characterized by production of immune modulatory peptides (e.g. IL-6, IL-8), a leukocytosis and enhanced immune cell functions. Upon cessation of exercise, immune activation is followed by a tolerizing phase, characterized by a reduced responsiveness of immune cells. Regular exercise of moderate intensity and duration has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects and is associated with a reduced disease incidence and viral infection susceptibility. Specific exercise programs may therefore be used to modify the course of chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF).

Patients with CF suffer from severe and chronic pulmonary infections and inflammation, leading to obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disease, exercise intolerance and muscle cachexia. Inflammation is characterized by a hyper-inflammatory phenotype. Patients are encouraged to engage in exercise programs to maintain physical fitness, quality of life, pulmonary function and health.

In this review, we present an overview of available literature describing the association between regular exercise, inflammation and infection susceptibility and discuss the implications of these observations for prevention and treatment of inflammation and infection susceptibility in patients with CF.
Genetic dissection of growth traits in a Chinese indigenous × commercial broiler chicken cross
Authors: Sheng Zheya , Pettersson Mats E , Hu Xiaoxiang , Luo Chenglong , Qu Hao , Shu Dingming , Shen Xia , Carlborg Örjan , Li Ning
Published: March 2013

Background

In China, consumers often prefer indigenous broiler chickens over commercial breeds, as they have characteristic meat qualities requested within traditional culinary customs. However, the growth-rate of these indigenous breeds is slower than that of the commercial broilers, which means they have not yet reached their full economic value. Therefore, combining the valuable meat quality of the native chickens with the efficiency of the commercial broilers is of interest. In this study, we generated an F2 intercross between the slow growing native broiler breed, Huiyang Beard chicken, and the fast growing commercial broiler breed, High Quality chicken Line A, and used it to map loci explaining the difference in growth rate between these breeds.

Results

A genome scan to identify main-effect loci affecting 24 growth-related traits revealed nine distinct QTL on six chromosomes. Many QTL were pleiotropic and conformed to the correlation patterns observed between phenotypes. Most of the mapped QTL were found in locations where growth QTL have been reported in other populations, although the effects were greater in this population. A genome scan for pairs of interacting loci identified a number of additional QTL in 10 other genomic regions. The epistatic pairs explained 6–8% of the residual phenotypic variance. Seven of the 10 epistatic QTL mapped in regions containing candidate genes in the ubiquitin mediated proteolysis pathway, suggesting the importance of this pathway in the regulation of growth in this chicken population.

Conclusions

The main-effect QTL detected using a standard one-dimensional genome scan accounted for a significant fraction of the observed phenotypic variance in this population. Furthermore, genes in known pathways present interesting candidates for further exploration. This study has thus located several QTL regions as promising candidates for further study, which will increase our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying growth-related traits in chickens.
phiBIOTICS: catalogue of therapeutic enzybiotics, relevant research studies and practical applications
Authors: Hojckova Katarina , Stano Matej , Klucar Lubos
Published: March 2013

Background

The incidence of bacterial infections in humans along with the growing problem of antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern worldwide. Therefore it is necessary to develop novel therapeutic agents to control microbial pathogens. In this regard, enzybiotics, lytic enzymes endowed with the capacity to degrade bacterial cell wall, are a very promising group of alternative antimicrobials.

Description

Numerous experimental studies have confirmed unique therapeutic capabilities of enzybiotics and hence they are worth of wider attention of the medical community. In order to summarize the state of current knowledge of enzybiotics, we have developed phiBIOTICS, an information portal about known and studied therapeutic enzybiotics. phiBIOTICS contains information on chemical and biological properties of enzybiotics together with compendium of facts retrieved from research studies, where enzybiotics were applied. Our auxiliary phiBiScan program utility is dedicated for prediction of novel potential enzybiotics.

Conclusions

phiBIOTICS presents a solid body of knowledge about all studied therapeutic enzybiotics to date. The database brings high-value information on outcomes of applied research and pre-clinical trials of these prospective antimicrobial agents. This information which was scattered in research papers with heterogeneous quality and relevance is now available in the form of manually curated database. phiBIOTICS and phiBiScan are freely accessible at http://www.phibiotics.org/.
Preoperative serum C- reactive protein: a prognostic marker in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Stein Barbara , Schrader Andres Jan , Wegener Gerd , Seidel Christoph , Kuczyk Markus A , Steffens Sandra
Published: March 2013

Background

To analyse the prognostic significance of preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) serum level in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC).

Methods

We evaluated 158 UUT-UC patients who had undergone surgery in the University Hospital of Hannover (MHH). 143 (89.4%) suffered from cancer in the renal pelvis, 13 (8.1%) patients presented with tumour located in the ureter. A preoperative CRP value was available for 115 patients. The mean (median) follow-up for these patients was 28.3 (15.1) months.

Results

The median (mean) CRP value of all evaluable patients was 10.0 (40.7) mg/l. The CRP-level, stratified into two subgroups (CRP ≤5 vs. >5 mg/l), correlated significantly with muscle invasive tumour stage (36.4 vs. 78.9%; p<0.001), the risk of presenting nodal disease (4.5 vs. 26.8%; p=0.002) and distant metastasis (2.3 vs. 16.9%; p<0.016). The Kaplan-Meier 5-year cancer specific survival (CSS) rates were 54.2 and 26.4% for patients with preoperative CRP levels ≤ and >5 mg/l, respectively (p<0.006). Next to age and the presence of metastasis, multivariate analysis also identified CRP as a continuous variable as an independent prognosticator for CSS.

Conclusions

A high preoperative serum CRP level is associated with locally advanced and metastatic disease in patients with UUT-UC. Its routine use could allow better risk stratification and risk-adjusted follow-up of UUT-UC patients.
Multicenter phase II study of weekly docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 (TPS) induction chemotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck
Authors: Bae Woo Kyun , Hwang Jun Eul , Shim Hyun Jeong , Cho Sang Hee , Lee Ki Hyeong , Han Hye Suk , Song Eun-Kee , Yun Hwan Jung , Cho In Sung , Lee Joon Kyoo , Lim Sang-Chul , Chung Woong-Ki , Chung Ik-Joo
Published: March 2013

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of weekly docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 (weekly TPS) as induction chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods

A total of 35 patients with previously untreated, locally advanced HNSCC were enrolled. Seven patients (20%) were diagnosed with stage III HNSCC and 28 patients (80%) were diagnosed with stage IV. Induction treatment included 30 mg/m2 docetaxel on day 1 and 8, 60 mg/m2 cisplatin on day 1, and 70 mg/m2 S-1 on days 1 to 14. The regimen was repeated every 21 days. After three courses of induction chemotherapy, patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Results

Among the 35 patients, 30 (85.7%) completed induction chemotherapy. The response to induction chemotherapy was as follows: nine patients (25.7%) achieved a complete response (CR) and the overall response rate (ORR) was 85.7%. Grades 3–4 toxicity during induction therapy included neutropenia (28.5%), neutropenic fever (8.5%), and diarrhea (17.1%). After completion of concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the CR rate was 62.8% and the partial response (PR) was 22.8%. Estimates of progression-free and overall survival at 2 years were 73.2% and 79.3%, respectively.

Conclusions

Weekly TPS is a promising regimen that is well-tolerated, causes minimal myelosuppression and is effective as an outpatient regimen for locally advanced HNSCC.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01645748
Cloud-based active content collaboration platform using multimedia processing
Authors: Han Byong John , Jung In-Yong , Kim Ki-Hyun , Lee Do-kwang , Rho Seungmin , Jeong Chang-sung
Published: March 2013

In this article, a new content-centric collaboration platform called active content collaboration platform which supports automated content-centric collaboration on cloud system is presented. It supports event-driven automatic collaboration by specifying each active work based on active work description language and automating the execution of collaborative task flow composed of active works. It supports a modularized and extensible architecture by making its components in separate modules. Also, it provides a scalable high-performance architecture by supporting multi-level active work processing in active work execution engine, and allocating virtual machines for the computation intensive high-level action such as volume rendering through auto-scalable allocation on cloud system. For the experiment and evaluation, we shall show the results of implementing the collaborative medical application on our system where computation intensive application like a volume rendering is used for MRI analysis.
The host-range, genomics and proteomics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophage rV5
Authors: Kropinski Andrew M , Waddell Tom , Meng Juncai , Franklin Kristyn , Ackermann Hans-Wolfgang , Ahmed Rafiq , Mazzocco Amanda , Yates John , Lingohr Erika J , Johnson Roger P
Published: March 2013

Background

Bacteriophages (phages) have been used extensively as analytical tools to type bacterial cultures and recently for control of zoonotic foodborne pathogens in foods and in animal reservoirs.

Methods

We examined the host range, morphology, genome and proteome of the lytic E. coli O157 phage rV5, derived from phage V5, which is a member of an Escherichia coli O157:H7 phage typing set.

Results

Phage rV5 is a member of the Myoviridae family possessing an icosahedral head of 91 nm between opposite apices. The extended tail measures 121 x 17 nm and has a sheath of 44 x 20 nm and a 7 nm-wide core in the contracted state. It possesses a 137,947 bp genome (43.6 mol%GC) which encodes 233 ORFs and six tRNAs. Until recently this virus appeared to be phylogenetically isolated with almost 70% of its gene products ORFans. rV5 is closely related to coliphages Delta and vB-EcoM-FY3, and more distantly related to Salmonella phages PVP-SE1 and SSE-121, Cronobacter sakazakii phage vB_CsaM_GAP31, and coliphages phAPEC8 and phi92. A complete shotgun proteomic analysis was carried out on rV5, extending what had been gleaned from the genomic analyses. Host range studies revealed that rV5 is active against several other E. coli.
Attenuation of HIV-1 replication in macrophages by cannabinoid receptor 2 agonists
Authors: Ramirez Servio H , Reichenbach Nancy L , Fan Shongshan , Rom Slava , Merkel Steven F , Wang Xu , Ho Wen-zhe , Persidsky Yuri
Published: March 2013

CB2 expression is upregulated in HIV-1 infected macrophages; CB2 agonists limits infection by inhibition of the HIV-1-LTR.

Infiltrating monocytes and macrophages play a crucial role in the progression of HIV-1 infection in the CNS. Previous studies showed that activation of the CB2 can attenuate inflammatory responses and affect HIV-1 infectivity in T cells and microglia. Here, we report that CB2 agonists can also act as immunomodulators on HIV-1-infected macrophages. First, our findings indicated the presence of elevated levels of CB2 expression on monocytes/macrophages in perivascular cuffs of postmortem HIV-1 encephalitic cases. In vitro analysis by FACS of primary human monocytes revealed a step-wise increase in CB2 surface expression in monocytes, MDMs, and HIV-1-infected MDMs. We next tested the notion that up-regulation of CB2 may allow for the use of synthetic CB2 agonist to limit HIV-1 infection. Two commercially available CB2 agonists, JWH133 and GP1a, and a resorcinol-based CB2 agonist, O-1966, were evaluated. Results from measurements of HIV-1 RT activity in the culture media of 7 day-infected cells showed a significant decrease in RT activity when the CB2 agonist was present. Furthermore, CB2 activation also partially inhibited the expression of HIV-1 pol. CB2 agonists did not modulate surface expression of CXCR4 or CCR5 detected by FACS. We speculate that these findings indicate that prevention of viral entry is not a central mechanism for CB2-mediated suppression in viral replication. However, CB2 may affect the HIV-1 replication machinery. Results from a single-round infection with the pseudotyped virus revealed a marked decrease in HIV-1 LTR activation by the CB2 ligands. Together, these results indicate that CB2 may offer a means to limit HIV-1 infection in macrophages.
Lactating Ctcgrp Nulls Lose Twice the Normal Bone Mineral Content due to Fewer Osteoblasts and More Osteoclasts, Whereas Bone Mass Is Fully Restored After Weaning in Association With Up-Regulation of Wnt Signaling and Other Novel Genes
Authors: Collins Jillian N. , Kirby Beth J. , Woodrow Janine P. , Gagel Robert F. , Rosen Clifford J. , Sims Natalie A. , Kovacs Christopher S.
Published: March 2013

The maternal skeleton resorbs during lactation to provide calcium to milk and the lost mineral content is restored after weaning. The changes are particularly marked in Ctcgrp null mice, which lose 50% of spine mineral content during lactation but restore it fully. The known calciotropic hormones are not required for skeletal recovery to occur; therefore, unknown factors that stimulate bone formation may be responsible. We hypothesized that the genes responsible for regulating postweaning bone formation are differentially regulated in bone or marrow, and this regulation may be more marked in Ctcgrp null mice. We confirmed that Ctcgrp null mice had twice as many osteoclasts and 30–40% fewer osteoblasts as compared with wild-type mice during lactation but no deficit in osteoblast numbers after weaning. Genome-wide microarray analyses on tibial RNA showed differential expression of 729 genes in wild-type mice at day 7 after weaning vs prepregnancy, whereas the same comparison in Ctcgrp null mice revealed only 283 genes. Down-regulation of Wnt family inhibitors, Sost and Dkk1, and inhibition of Mef2c, a sclerostin stimulator, were observed. Ctsk, a gene expressed during osteoclast differentiation, and Igfbp2, which stimulates bone resorption, were inhibited. Differential regulation of genes involved in energy use was compatible with a net increase in bone formation. The most marked changes occurred in genes not previously associated with bone metabolism. In conclusion, the postlactation skeleton shows dynamic activity with more than 700 genes differentially expressed. Some of these genes are likely to promote bone formation during postweaning by stimulating the proliferation and activity of osteoblasts, inhibiting osteoclasts, and increasing energy use.
Antiproliferative, Antiinvasive, and Proapoptotic Activity of Folate Receptor α-Targeted Liposomal Doxorubicin in Nonfunctional Pituitary Adenoma Cells
Authors: Liu Xiaohai , Ma Sihai , Dai Congxin , Cai Feng , Yao Yong , Yang Yakun , Feng Ming , Deng Kan , Li Guiling , Ma Wenbing , Xin Bing , Lian Wei , Xiang Guangya , Zhang Bo , Wang Renzhi
Published: March 2013

There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), especially those that are invasive. The folate receptor (FR)α is overexpressed in several cancers, including NFPA. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of FRα-targeted liposomes loaded with doxorubicin (F-L-DOX) in the treatment of NFPA. We evaluated targeting, cytotoxicity, antiinvasive, and proapoptotic activity of F-L-DOX in 25 primary cell lines derived from patients with NFPAs. We found that these liposomes effectively targeted NFPA cells through FRα and that endocytosis of the liposomes was blocked by 1mM free folic acid. F-L-DOX inhibited proliferation of NFPA cells and promoted apoptosis through activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3/7 more effectively than L-DOX. Furthermore, F-L-DOX also exerted greater antiinvasive ability in NFPA cells than L-DOX through suppression of the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Addition of 1mM free folic acid significantly reduced the pleotropic effects of F-L-DOX in NFPA cells, suggesting that FRα plays a critical role in mediating the antitumor effect of F-L-DOX. Our findings warrant further investigation of F-L-DOX as an alternative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NFPAs that express FRα.
Randomized Clinical Trial of Vitamin D3 Doses on Prostatic Vitamin D Metabolite Levels and Ki67 Labeling in Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Wagner Dennis , Trudel Dominique , Van der Kwast Theodorus , Nonn Larisa , Giangreco Angeline Antonio , Li Doris , Dias Andre , Cardoza Monique , Laszlo Sanda , Hersey Karen , Klotz Laurence , Finelli Antonio , Fleshner Neil , Vieth Reinhold
Published: March 2013

Context:

Vitamin D3 might benefit prostate cancer (PCa) patients because prostate cells can locally synthesize the active hormone calcitriol.

Objective:

Our objective was to determine the effects of oral vitamin D3 on vitamin D metabolites and PCa proliferative activity in prostate tissue.

Design and Setting:

We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial at surgical oncology clinics in Toronto, Canada.

Patients:

PCa patients (Gleason 6 or 7) participated in the study. Of 66 subjects who were enrolled, 63 completed the dosing protocol.

Intervention:

Vitamin D3 (400, 10 000, or 40 000 IU/d) was orally administered before radical prostatectomy.

Main Outcome Measures:

We evaluated vitamin D metabolite levels and Ki67 labeling in surgical prostate tissue. Safety measures, PTH, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were also assessed.

Results:

Prostate tissue and serum levels of vitamin D metabolites, including calcitriol, increased dose dependently (P < .03) and were significantly higher in the 40 000-IU/d group than in every other dose group (P < .03). Prostate vitamin D metabolites correlated positively with serum levels (P < .0001). Ki67 measures did not differ significantly among vitamin D dose groups. However, cross-sectional analysis indicated that the calcitriol level attained in prostate was inversely associated with Ki67 intensity and Ki67 (3+) percent positive nuclei in PCa and benign tissue (P < .05). Safety measures did not change adversely with dosing. Compared with the 400-IU/d group, serum PTH and PSA were lower in the combined higher-dose groups at the end of the study (P < .02).

Conclusions:

Oral vitamin D3 raised prostate calcitriol levels (level 1 evidence) and modestly lowered both PSA and PTH. Although Ki67 expression did not differ among dose groups, its levels correlated inversely with prostate calcitriol. These suggestions of clinical benefit justify continued clinical research.
Coronary veins determine the pattern of sympathetic innervation in the developing heart
Authors: Nam Joseph , Onitsuka Izumi , Hatch John , Uchida Yutaka , Ray Saugata , Huang Siyi , Li Wenling , Zang Heesuk , Ruiz-Lozano Pilar , Mukouyama Yoh-suke
Published: March 2013

Anatomical congruence of peripheral nerves and blood vessels is well recognized in a variety of tissues. Their physical proximity and similar branching patterns suggest that the development of these networks might be a coordinated process. Here we show that large diameter coronary veins serve as an intermediate template for distal sympathetic axon extension in the subepicardial layer of the dorsal ventricular wall of the developing mouse heart. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) associate with large diameter veins during angiogenesis. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate that these cells mediate extension of sympathetic axons via nerve growth factor (NGF). This association enables topological targeting of axons to final targets such as large diameter coronary arteries in the deeper myocardial layer. As axons extend along veins, arterial VSMCs begin to secrete NGF, which allows axons to reach target cells. We propose a sequential mechanism in which initial axon extension in the subepicardium is governed by transient NGF expression by VSMCs as they are recruited to coronary veins; subsequently, VSMCs in the myocardium begin to express NGF as they are recruited by remodeling arteries, attracting axons toward their final targets. The proposed mechanism underlies a distinct, stereotypical pattern of autonomic innervation that is adapted to the complex tissue structure and physiology of the heart.
Progesterone drives mammary secretory differentiation via RankL-mediated induction of Elf5 in luminal progenitor cells
Authors: Lee Heather J. , Gallego-Ortega David , Ledger Anita , Schramek Daniel , Joshi Purna , Szwarc Maria M. , Cho Christina , Lydon John P. , Khokha Rama , Penninger Josef M. , Ormandy Christopher J.
Published: March 2013

Progesterone-RankL paracrine signaling has been proposed as a driver of stem cell expansion in the mammary gland, and Elf5 is essential for the differentiation of mammary epithelial progenitor cells. We demonstrate that Elf5 expression is induced by progesterone and that Elf5 and progesterone cooperate to promote alveolar development. The progesterone receptor and Elf5 are expressed in a mutually exclusive pattern, and we identify RankL as the paracrine mediator of the effects of progesterone on Elf5 expression in CD61+ progenitor cells and their consequent differentiation. Blockade of RankL action prevented progesterone-induced side branching and the expansion of Elf5+ mature luminal cells. These findings describe a mechanism by which steroid hormones can produce the expansion of steroid hormone receptor-negative mammary epithelial cells.
Sox2 marks epithelial competence to generate teeth in mammals and reptiles
Authors: Juuri Emma , Jussila Maria , Seidel Kerstin , Holmes Scott , Wu Ping , Richman Joy , Heikinheimo Kristiina , Chuong Cheng-Ming , Arnold Katrin , Hochedlinger Konrad , Klein Ophir , Michon Frederic , Thesleff Irma
Published: March 2013

Tooth renewal is initiated from epithelium associated with existing teeth. The development of new teeth requires dental epithelial cells that have competence for tooth formation, but specific marker genes for these cells have not been identified. Here, we analyzed expression patterns of the transcription factor Sox2 in two different modes of successional tooth formation: tooth replacement and serial addition of primary teeth. We observed specific Sox2 expression in the dental lamina that gives rise to successional teeth in mammals with one round of tooth replacement as well as in reptiles with continuous tooth replacement. Sox2 was also expressed in the dental lamina during serial addition of mammalian molars, and genetic lineage tracing indicated that Sox2+ cells of the first molar give rise to the epithelial cell lineages of the second and third molars. Moreover, conditional deletion of Sox2 resulted in hyperplastic epithelium in the forming posterior molars. Our results indicate that the Sox2+ dental epithelium has competence for successional tooth formation and that Sox2 regulates the progenitor state of dental epithelial cells. The findings imply that the function of Sox2 has been conserved during evolution and that tooth replacement and serial addition of primary teeth represent variations of the same developmental process. The expression patterns of Sox2 support the hypothesis that dormant capacity for continuous tooth renewal exists in mammals.
Temporal control of BMP signalling determines neuronal subtype identity in the dorsal neural tube
Authors: Tozer Samuel , Le Dréau Gwenvael , Marti Elisa , Briscoe James
Published: March 2013

The conventional explanation for how a morphogen patterns a tissue holds that cells interpret different concentrations of an extrinsic ligand by producing corresponding levels of intracellular signalling activity, which in turn regulate differential gene expression. However, this view has been challenged, raising the possibility that distinct mechanisms are used to interpret different morphogens. Here, we investigate graded BMP signalling in the vertebrate neural tube. We show that defined exposure times to Bmp4 generate distinct levels of signalling and induce specific dorsal identities. Moreover, we provide evidence that a dynamic gradient of BMP activity confers progressively more dorsal neural identities in vivo. These results highlight a strategy for morphogen interpretation in which the tight temporal control of signalling is important for the spatial pattern of cellular differentiation.
Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Conducted in Volcanic Reservoir Stone, An Important Factor Caused a Reversed Pattern of Carbon Isotopic for Natural Gases Developed in Deep Layers, Songliao Basin North East China
Authors: Mi Jingkui , Zhang Shuichang , He Kun , Mao Rong
Published: March 2013

Two types of experiments of source rocks pyrolysis with volcanic reservoir rock and without one were conducted under hydrothermal condition and at 200 °C in gold tube system. The experiments result shows that there is a higher concentration of hydrocarbon gases generated in the experiment with rhyolite of reservoir stone and water than that with only water. Moreover, the hydrocarbon gases generated by experiments with rhyolite show a full reserved pattern of carbon isotope. This indicated that the FST reaction could happened between source rocks and volcanic reservoir rock at relatively low temperature.

The numerical calculation for the carbon isotope of the gases from mixture between the gases from our FTS experiments and the typical organic hydrocarbon gases from deep layers of Songliao basin show that the contamination of a little FTS gas (<5%, v/v) could cause the carbon isotope composition of thermal gases great variation. So, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis conducted in volcanic reservoir stone is an un-negligible factor caused the reversed pattern of carbon isotopic for natural gases developed in deep layers, Songliao Basin. This also indicated that the natural gases in deep layers of the basin are organic origin chiefly.
Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions: A Threshold Error Correction and Threshold Granger Causality Analysis
Authors: Çağlayan Ebru , Güriş Burak
Published: March 2013

Energy is one of the key factors of maintaining a quality life with economic and social development. Accordingly, measuring the development level of a given country can be possible by considering the development level of the energy sector of that country. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between the consumption of several energy resources classified as fossil, renewable and nuclear resources with carbon dioxide emission. For this purpose, monthly data of the U.S.A. covering the period of 1990-2011 were used and Threshold Error Correction and Threshold Granger Causality analyses were carried out with the Hansen and Seo (2002) approach. Findings of the study indicate the presence of a causality relation between the consumption levels of the discussed energy resources and CO2 emission.
A Comparative Study on the Energy Demand of Turkey: Coal or Natural Gas
Authors: Capik Mehmet , Kolayli Hasan , Yılmaz Ali Osman
Published: March 2013

Energy demand which has increased rapidly is estimated to increase also in the future. Coal and natural gas would continue to have primary role in electricity generation and industry. Turkey's energy consumption has been growing faster than its production. Natural gas is the greatest source in the energy consumption with a share of 32%. Lignite coal is major domestic energy source of Turkey and its reserves are 12.4 billion tons. Since most of the lignite reserves are low in quality, they are used mostly in electricity generation. On the other hand, Turkey has very limited natural gas reserves. Aim of this article is to evaluate the energy demand of Turkey based on hard coal, lignite and natural gas. As a result of the study it was determined that 70% of the primary energy consumption is met by imported energy sources. This figure shows that Turkey's dependency on foreign energy will continue to increase in following years in parallel with its economic growth. Turkey should increase the use of domestic sources, since foreign dependence of country can be minimized.
Theoretical Derivation and Application Research of Stepped Horizontal Well Patterns with Coupling Reservoir/Wellbore Flow in Multilayer Reservoir
Authors: Ni Jun , Ren Zhanli , Wang Xiangzeng , Zhan Zhuanying
Published: March 2013

It is quite difficult to apply the regular well patterns into the development of oilfields due to a series of factors like the geology complexity, the limitation of development cost and the operability in real reservoir. Therefore, a new kind of well pattern is proposed to deal with the above problem. This method focuses on developing multilayer reservoir by the stepped horizontal well, which is deployed with two vertical injectors at both sides, respectively. According to the newly established well pattern, the corresponding productivity formula for the stepped horizontal is deduced. In this process, the stepped horizontal well is divided into several sections by each layer in the first. Secondly, the productivity equation of one section among them is derived on the basis of conformal transformation and potential flow theory, the other section is dealt with in the same way. Thirdly, the simultaneous equations of productivity for each section are solved on the basis of nodal analysis. Besides, the pressure drop loss of wellbore flow in the horizontal section is also taken into consideration. Finally, the total productivity is worked out.

In order to prove the applicability of the established productivity formula for the proposed well pattern, the data of well Z12-33 in Zhaozhou oilfield are adopted to calculate the total productivity, the results indicate that the error between calculated value and real production is small, which proves the reliability of this formula. Therefore, this formula can be applied into the real reservoirs to aid the oilfields development.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Contrast Agents for Tumor Diagnosis
Authors: Cheng Weiren , Ping Yuan , Zhang Yong , Chuang Kai-Hsiang , Liu Ye
Published: March 2013

This review focuses on MRI contrast agents for tumor diagnosis. Several types of low molecular weight Gd3+‐based complexes and dextran‐coated superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have been used for clinical tumor diagnosis as longitudinal relaxation time (T1) and transverse relaxation time (T2) MRI contrast agents, respectively. To further improve the sensitivity of MRI, new types of chelates for T1 MRI contrast agents and combination of low molecular weight T1 MRI contrast agents with different types of carriers have been investigated. Different types of materials for forming secure coating layers of SPIO and novel superparamagnetic particles with higher relaxivity values have been explored. Various types of ligands were applied to improve the capability to target tumor for both T1 and T2 contrast agents. Furthermore, MRI contrast agents for detection of tumor metabolism were also pursued.
Low Probability Activation of Bax/Bak Can Induce Selective Killing of Cancer Cells by Generating Heterogeneity in Apoptosis
Authors: Raychaudhuri Subhadip , Das Somkanya C.
Published: March 2013

Biomimetic pro‐apoptotic agents (e.g., BH3 mimetics) have been shown to activate the intrinsic death pathway (Type 2 apoptosis) selectively in cancer cells, a mechanism that can be key to developing successful anti‐cancer therapy. This work reports mathematical modeling and computer simulations to explore the mechanisms for cancer cell apoptosis. The results indicate that a combination of low probability Bid‐Bax type reaction along with overexpressed reactant molecules allows specific killing of cancer cells. Low‐probability activation of Bax also emerges as a basis for inherent cell‐to‐cell variability in apoptotic activation. Variations in Bcl‐2 to Bax ratio within a cancer cell population can further affect intrinsic fluctuations generated due to the stochastic Bid‐Bax reaction. Such heterogeneity in apoptosis resistance can also provide a mechanism for the origin of cells with higher tumorigenic potential (cancer stem‐like cells). The implications of our results for cancer therapy, such as in minimizing stochastic fluctuations in cancer cell death, are discussed.
Loading-bearing Capacity Method for Structural Fire Safety Design - A Case Study
Authors: Yong Du , Guo-qiang Li
Published: March 2013

Calculation methods have been developed for application to advanced fire-resistance design. The loading-bearing capacity method involves the performance of a structural analysis for a fire situation using the computer-based finite element method, and checks the loading-bearing capacity of the structure in a fire ultimate limit state. There is a case of a steel roof grid structure fire-resistant assessment to illustrate the basic steps in the loading-bearing capacity method for structural fire safety design. A detailed finite element analysis of a space truss with a credible design fire was carried out to determine the deflections and forces in the space truss, and checked by the fire ultimate limit state. The present data and analysis demonstrate that the loading-bearing capacity method is sufficient for fire safety design.
Stochastic Analysis of Structures in Fire by Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Shi Kaihang , Guo Qianru , Jeffers Ann
Published: March 2013

This paper describes a preliminary study to explore the use of Monte Carlo simulation to assess the reliability of structures in fire given uncertainty in the fire, thermal, and structural model parameters. The methodology requires (1) the probabilistic characterization of the uncertain parameters in the system, (2) a stochastic model for the thermo-structural response, and (3) a limit state function that describes the failure of the system. The study focuses on assessing the failure probability of a protected steel beam under natural fire exposure. The system was modeled stochastically using a series of sequentially coupled thermo-structural finite element analyses that were embedded within a Monte Carlo simulation. Although the example considered here is relatively simplistic in that it focuses on member level performance, it effectively demonstrates the application of the proposed reliability method and provides insight into the practicalities of extending the approach to more complex structural systems.
Individuals with Intellectual Disability Can Self-Teach in Reading
Authors: Loveall Susan J. , Conners Frances A.
Published: March 2013

Previous research has suggested that individuals with intellectual disability (ID) underperform in several areas of reading compared to mental age–matched peers. However, it is unclear how they compare on orthographic aspects of reading, which have to do with learning and matching the specific letter patterns in words. The leading approach to understanding orthographic learning is the self-teaching hypothesis, which suggests that orthographic learning is acquired through the experience of phonologically recoding words. The present study was a first test of the self-teaching hypothesis for individuals with ID in comparison to a group of typically developing children matched on verbal mental age. Results indicated that both groups were able to self-teach.
Validating Functional Measures of Physical Ability for Aging People with Intellectual Developmental Disability
Authors: Maring Joyce R. , Costello Ellen , Birkmeier Marisa C. , Richards Maggie , Alexander Lisa M.
Published: March 2013

Unlike the aging population without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), few standardized performance measures exist to assess physical function and risk for adverse outcomes such as nonfatal, unintentional injuries. We modified 3 selected standardized performance tools in the areas of general fitness (2-Minute Walk Test), balance and gait (Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment I), and functional independence (Modified Barthel Index) for administration with people with IDD. The modified tools were piloted with 30 participants. Results indicated the measures are strongly associated and successfully distinguished between participants with an adverse health event in the previous year. The modified tools have potential to provide clinicians with quantitative measures that track physical performance changes associated with aging in people with IDD.
Disruption of the Presynaptic Cytomatrix Protein Bassoon Degrades Ribbon Anchorage, Multiquantal Release, and Sound Encoding at the Hair Cell Afferent Synapse
Authors: Jing Zhizi , Rutherford Mark A. , Takago Hideki , Frank Thomas , Fejtova Anna , Khimich Darina , Moser Tobias , Strenzke Nicola
Published: March 2013

Inner hair cells (IHCs) of the cochlea use ribbon synapses to transmit auditory information faithfully to spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). In the present study, we used genetic disruption of the presynaptic scaffold protein bassoon in mice to manipulate the morphology and function of the IHC synapse. Although partial-deletion mutants lacking functional bassoon (BsnΔEx4/5) had a near-complete loss of ribbons from the synapses (up to 88% ribbonless synapses), gene-trap mutants (Bsngt) showed weak residual expression of bassoon and 56% ribbonless synapses, whereas the remaining 44% had a loosely anchored ribbon. Patch-clamp recordings and synaptic CaV1.3 immunolabeling indicated a larger number of Ca2+channels for BsngtIHCs compared with BsnΔEx4/5IHCs and for Bsngtribbon-occupied versus Bsngtribbonless synapses. An intermediate phenotype of BsngtIHCs was also found by membrane capacitance measurements for sustained exocytosis, but not for the size of the readily releasable vesicle pool. The frequency and amplitude of EPSCs were reduced in BsnΔEx4/5mouse SGNs, whereas their postsynaptic AMPA receptor clusters were largely unaltered. Sound coding in SGN, assessed by recordings of single auditory nerve fibers and their population responsesin vivo, was similarly affected in Bsngtand BsnΔEx4/5mice. Both genotypes showed impaired sound onset coding and reduced evoked and spontaneous spike rates. In summary, reduced bassoon expression or complete lack of full-length bassoon impaired sound encoding to a similar extent, which is consistent with the comparable reduction of the readily releasable vesicle pool. This suggests that the remaining loosely anchored ribbons in BsngtIHCs were functionally inadequate or that ribbon independent mechanisms dominated the coding deficit.