bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of immunohistochemistry and laser ablation ICP mass spectrometry for imaging of cancer biomarkers
Authors: Seuma Jaume , Bunch Josephine , Cox Alan , McLeod Cameron , Bell Jane , Murray Cliff
Published: August 2008

Laser ablation (LA) ICP‐MS has been developed as a new tool for imaging of cancer biomarkers in tissue sections. The distribution of two breast cancer‐associated proteins, MUC‐1 and HER2 was studied based on multiple line rastering of tissue sections and measurement of relevant Au/Ag tagged antibodies bound to the tissue. Comparisons with optical microscopy indicated extremely high sensitivity for the LA technique and sufficiently good resolution to permit fine scale feature mapping at the cellular level. Application to the quantitative assessment of HER2 expression in tissue microarrays was demonstrated.
Direct profiling and identification of peptide expression differences in the pancreas of control and ob/ob mice by imaging mass spectrometry
Authors: Minerva Laurens , Clerens Stefan , Baggerman Geert , Arckens Lutgarde
Published: August 2008

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) technology utilizes MALDI MS to map molecules of interest in thin tissue sections. In this study, we have evaluated the potential of MALDI IMS to study peptide expression patterns in the mouse pancreas under normal and pathological conditions, and to in situ identify peptides of interest using MS/MS. Different regions of the pancreas of both control and ob/ob mice were imaged, resulting in peptide‐specific profiles. The distribution of ions of m/z 3120 and 3439 displayed a striking resemblance with Langerhans islet's histology and, following MS/MS fragmentation and database searching were identified as C‐peptide of insulin and glicentin‐related polypeptide, respectively. In addition, a significant increase of the 3120 peak intensity in the obese mice was observed. This study underscores the potential of MALDI IMS to study the contribution of peptides to pancreas pathology.
High‐throughput proteomic analysis of formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue microarrays using MALDI imaging mass spectrometry
Authors: Groseclose M. Reid , Massion Pierre P. , Chaurand Pierre , Caprioli Richard M.
Published: August 2008

A novel method for high‐throughput proteomic analysis of formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue microarrays (TMA) is described using on‐tissue tryptic digestion followed by MALDI imaging MS. A TMA section containing 112 needle core biopsies from lung‐tumor patients was analyzed using MS and the data were correlated to a serial hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)‐stained section having various histological regions marked, including cancer, non‐cancer, and normal ones. By correlating each mass spectrum to a defined histological region, statistical classification models were generated that can sufficiently distinguish biopsies from adenocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma biopsies. These classification models were built using a training set of biopsies in the TMA and were then validated on the remaining biopsies. Peptide markers of interest were identified directly from the TMA section using MALDI MS/MS sequence analysis. The ability to detect and characterize tumor marker proteins for a large cohort of FFPE samples in a high‐throughput approach will be of significant benefit not only to investigators studying tumor biology, but also to clinicians for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.
A graphical device to represent the outcomes of a logistic regression analysis
Authors: Kranse Ries , Roobol Monique , Schröder Fritz H.
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND

Ongoing research on the best way to diagnose prostate cancer has yielded and will continue to yield vast amounts of information. Based on, for example, information from prostate cancer screening trials models have been made that enable urologists to predict which man has prostate cancer on the basis of pre‐biopsy data. In patients with screen detected prostate cancer, the presence of indolent disease can now be identified with reasonable certainty by a different model. For these men active surveillance may be a better option than aggressive treatment with its possible side effects as impotence, incontinence and bowel damage. Both models mentioned above are logistic regression models. Nomograms enable their use in daily clinical practice.

METHODS

Nomograms require the memorization and addition of intermediate results. We aimed to design a device that has the same function as a nomogram without this draw back.

RESULTS

A new device that resembles a circular slide rule was developed and is currently being tested in prostate cancer diagnosis and in prostate cancer patient counseling.

CONCLUSIONS

The new device has identical functionality to the nomogram without the drawback of the latter. The application of the device is not limited to the field of prostate cancer research. Prostate 68: 1674–1680, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Charged single α‐helix: A versatile protein structural motif
Authors: Süveges Dániel , Gáspári Zoltán , Tóth Gábor , Nyitray László
Published: August 2008

A few highly charged natural peptide sequences were recently suggested to form stable α‐helical structures in water. In this article we show that these sequences represent a novel structural motif called “charged single α‐helix” (CSAH). To obtain reliable candidate CSAH motifs, we developed two conceptually different computational methods capable of scanning large databases: SCAN4CSAH is based on sequence features characteristic for salt bridge stabilized single α‐helices, whereas FT_CHARGE applies Fourier transformation to charges along sequences. Using the consensus of the two approaches, a remarkable number of proteins were found to contain putative CSAH domains. Recombinant fragments (50–60 residues) corresponding to selected hits obtained by both methods (myosin 6, Golgi resident protein GCP60, and M4K4 protein kinase) were produced and shown by circular dichroism spectroscopy to adopt largely α‐helical structure in water. CSAH segments differ substantially both from coiled‐coil and intrinsically disordered proteins, despite the fact that current prediction methods recognize them as either or both. Analysis of the proteins containing CSAH motif revealed possible functional roles of the corresponding segments. The suggested main functional features include the formation of relatively rigid spacer/connector segments between functional domains as in caldesmon, extension of the lever arm in myosin motors and mediation of transient interactions by promoting dimerization in a range of proteins. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Na, Mg and Al substitution in hypothetical superconducting Be2B
Authors: Kadri M. T. , Heciri D. , Derradji N. E. , Belfarhi B. , Belkhir H.
Published: August 2008

A theoretical study of the structural and electronic properties of the beryllium semiboride Be2B and its ternary phases (AlBeB, NaBeB and MgBeB) is presented using the full‐potential linearized augmented plane wave method. Exchange and correlation effects are treated within the Perdew–Wang local density approximation and the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation. Results are given for lattice constant and bulk modulus and its pressure derivative. Band structure, density of states and charge density are also given. We also have examined the possibility of modifying the band structure of Be2B via partial substitution of Al, Mg and Na for Be, in order to predict possible superconductive properties for these compounds. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Negative refraction of low‐frequency electromagnetic waves
Authors: Tarkhanyan Roland H. , Niarchos Dimitris G.
Published: August 2008

Features of anomalous refraction of low‐frequency electromagnetic waves are investigated in all‐semiconductor nonmagnetic superlattices with a periodic array of two‐dimensional electron gas layers under quantum Hall effect conditions. We show that the structure exhibits negative refraction on the lateral surface for all angles of incidence, in the frequency region which has no limitation from the low‐frequency side, and that for such intriguing properties it requires no resonance frequency and no negative component of the permittivity tensor. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comparison of the oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in the juices of fast‐growing vegetables and slow‐growing fruits
Authors: Bong Yeon‐Sik , Lee Kwang‐Sik , Shin Woo‐Jin , Ryu Jong‐Sik
Published: August 2008

We have analyzed the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of juices from fruits and vegetables collected from a small orchard in order to investigate the differences in isotopic enrichment and evaporation intensity between fast‐growing vegetables and slow‐growing fruits grown under the same climatic conditions. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope levels were much higher in the juices of the fruits and vegetables than in the source waters in which they grew because of evaporation effects. According to our data, fast‐growing vegetables are subject to greater evaporation than slow‐growing fruits. An evaporation experiment using the source water showed that the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of the 60–80% residual fraction was similar to that of the isotopically enriched grape juice, whereas those of the plume and tomato juices were very close to that of the 80–90% residual fraction, thus proving the effect of evaporation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification and characterization of active compounds and their metabolites by high‐performance liquid chromatography/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry after oral administration of a herbal extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai to rats
Authors: Wu Caisheng , Sheng Yuxin , Zhang Yinghao , Zhang Jinlan , Guo Baolin
Published: August 2008

Epimedium is an important traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used throughout China as a tonic, aphrodisiac, and antirheumatic medicine. Flavonoids are considered to be the active compounds in Epimedium. In the study reported here, high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform‐ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (HPLC/FTICR‐MS) was developed to identify active compounds and their metabolites after oral administration of a herbal extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai to rats, using parent mass list triggered data‐dependent multiple‐stage accurate mass analysis at a resolving power of 100 000 in the external calibration mode. Nine flavonoids were identified in rats. The chemical formulae with unsaturation numbers calculated from accurate m/z values of precursor and product ions were used to assign the structures of metabolites and the chemical sites of metabolism. The mass accuracies obtained for all full‐scan MS and MSn spectra were within 3 ppm (<1 ppm in most cases). The majority of the metabolites identified have been previously reported, but three compounds were noted for the first time in rats. By contrasting the analytical results obtained from the herbal extract with those obtained from biological specimens, the profile of flavonoid biotransformation in Epimedium was obtained and the metabolic pathways of these components, in rats, are described. The results should be of use in targeting potential active ingredients in Epimedium. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid screening method for intact glucosinolates in Chinese medicinal herbs by using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry in negative ion mode
Authors: Lee Kim‐Chung , Chan Wan , Liang Zhitao , Liu Ning , Zhao Zhongzhen , Lee Albert Wai‐Ming , Cai Zongwei
Published: August 2008

An optimized method using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐ITMS) in negative ion mode has been developed for screening different structural classes of intact glucosinolates in six Chinese medicinal herbs. The glucosinolates were extracted with hot methanol/water (70:30 v/v) and separation of the individual glucosinolates was achieved using a reversed‐phase C18 column with an aqueous ammonium acetate/methanol gradient. Identification of the intact glucosinolates was based on the detection of compounds with a constant neutral loss of 242 Da corresponding to the combined loss of anhydroglucose (162 Da) and sulfur trioxide (80 Da) in collision‐induced dissociation. The structures of the identified glucosinolates were confirmed with the use of group‐specific product ions at m/z 195, 241, 259, 275 in their corresponding MS/MS product ion spectra. Differentiation of intact glucosinolates was achieved through their respective retention times and molecular masses as well as the characteristic product ions. The limits of detection were at the low nanogram level per injection, based on constant neutral loss scans. Significant variation in the compositions of intact glucosinolates was identified in the cruciferous herbs. This method was applied in the differentiation and quality control of two pairs of easily confused herbs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mangrove trees growing in a very saline condition but not using seawater
Authors: Lambs Luc , Muller Etienne , Fromard Francois
Published: August 2008

Mangrove trees, which develop along tropical coasts, are known to use saline water uptake. In French Guiana, the high salinity condition is the result of seawater evaporation on mud banks formed from the Amazon sediment flumes. In the back mangrove a few kilometres inland, groundwater, soil water and the xylem sap uptake in the trees remain highly salty, and only very tolerant plants like Avicennia germinans can flourish, whereas the less salt‐tolerant Rhizophora mangle is more difficult to find. Curiously, the same Avicennia trees propagate on the seafront. However, stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) measurements and ion analysis (high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission (ICP‐AES) spectroscopy reveal that the origin of the water in the back mangrove is not seawater. It is freshwater percolating into the sand bars from the inland marshes and rainwater during the wet season that redissolves a marine evaporite and gives a saline groundwater. The absence of barren saltine areas (‘tanne’) in French Guiana could be explained by this freshwater inflow, the aquifer being no longer linked with the ocean. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry of exhaled breath condensate headspace
Authors: Čáp Petr , Dryahina Kseniya , Pehal František , Španěl Patrik
Published: August 2008

Collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a relatively simple noninvasive method of breath analysis; however, no data have been reported that would relate concentration of volatile compounds in EBC to their gaseous concentrations in exhaled air. The aim of the study was to investigate which volatile compounds are present in EBC and how their concentrations relate to results of direct breath analysis. Thus, samples of EBC were collected in a standard way from several subjects and absolute levels of several common volatile breath metabolites (ammonia, acetone, ethanol, methanol, propanol, isoprene, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde) were then determined in their headspace using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS). Results are compared with those from on‐line breath analyses carried out immediately before collecting the EBC samples. It has been demonstrated that SIFT‐MS can be used to quantify the concentrations of volatiles in EBC samples and that, for methanol, ammonia, ethanol and acetone, the EBC concentrations correlate with the direct breath levels. However, the EBC concentrations of isoprene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and propanol do not correlate with direct breath measurements. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of a method for fitting a semi‐Markov process model in the presence of left‐censored spells using the Cardiovascular Health Study
Authors: Cai Liming , Schenker Nathaniel , Lubitz James , Diehr Paula , Arnold Alice , Fried Linda P.
Published: August 2008

We used a longitudinal data set covering 13 years from the Cardiovascular Health Study to evaluate the properties of a recently developed approach to deal with left censoring that fits a semi‐Markov process (SMP) model by using an analog to the stochastic EM algorithm—the SMP‐EM approach. It appears that the SMP‐EM approach gives estimates of duration‐dependent probabilities of health changes similar to those obtained by using SMP models that have the advantage of actual duration data. SMP‐EM estimates of duration‐dependent transition probabilities also appear more accurate and less variable than multi‐state life table estimates. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regaining power lost by non‐compliance via full probability modelling
Authors: Becque T. , White I. R.
Published: August 2008

Non‐compliance, or non‐receipt of randomized intervention, is a common problem in randomized controlled trials. An intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis, which compares individuals as randomized, under‐estimates the efficacy of the intervention and leads to a loss of power. We explore the possibility of regaining some of this power in a setting with all‐or‐nothing compliance, without making any assumptions about the comparability of compliers and non‐compliers. Efficacy may be specified as the complier average causal effect (CACE), which is the difference in mean outcome among compliers. Compliance is only partially observed, but under an exclusion restriction assumption, the CACE may be estimated using maximum likelihood. In order to quantify the possible gain in power, we derive an expression for the asymptotic relative efficiency (ARE) of the CACE relative to the ITT effect with a Normally distributed outcome. Under the assumption of a common CACE across covariate strata, the CACE estimate is at least as powerful as ITT analysis. The inclusion of covariates that predict compliance enables an additional gain in power, which is investigated algebraically. Using data from three clinical trials, we obtain values of the ARE ranging up to 1.05 due to covariates alone, and 1.13 due to CACE modelling alone, corresponding to gains in power of up to 5 per cent. This implies that a large gain in power obtained using as‐treated or per‐protocol analyses is likely to be due to the strong and often implausible assumptions such analyses require to be valid. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing linkage disequilibrium from pooled DNA: A contingency table perspective
Authors: Xu Jinfeng , Yang Yaning , Ying Zhiliang , Ott Jurg
Published: August 2008

Pooling DNA samples of multiple individuals has been advocated as a method to reduce genotyping costs. Under such a scheme, only the allele counts at each locus, not the haplotype information, are observed. We develop a systematic way for handling such data by formulating the problem in terms of contingency tables, where pooled allele counts are expressed as the margins and the haplotype counts correspond to the unobserved cell counts. We show that the cell frequencies can be uniquely determined from the marginal frequencies under the usual Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) assumption and that the maximum likelihood estimates of haplotype frequencies are consistent and asymptotically normal as the number of pools increases. The limiting covariance matrix is shown to be closely related to the extended hypergeometric distribution. Our results are used to derive Wald‐type tests for linkage disequilibrium (LD) coefficient using pooled data. It is discovered that pooling is not efficient in testing weak LD despite its efficiency in estimating haplotype frequencies. We also show by simulations that the proposed LD tests are robust to slight deviation from HWE and to minor genotype error. Applications to two real angiotensinogen gene data sets are also provided. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Saturation throughput analysis of multi‐rate IEEE 802.11 wireless networks
Authors: Deng Der‐Jiunn , Li Bin , Huang Lianfen , Ke Chih‐Heng , Huang Yueh‐Min
Published: August 2008

IEEE 802.11 protocol supports adaptive rate mechanism, which selects the transmission rate according to the condition of the wireless channel, to enhance the system performance. Thus, research of multi‐rate IEEE 802.11 medium access control (MAC) performance has become one of the hot research topics. In this paper, we study the performance of multi‐rate IEEE 802.11 MAC over a Gaussian channel. An accurate analytical model is presented to compute the system saturation throughput. We validate our model in both single‐rate and multi‐rate networks through various simulations. The results show that our model is accurate and channel error has a significant impact on system performance. In addition, our numerical results show that the performance of single‐rate IEEE 802.11 DCF with basic access method is better than that with RTS/CTS mechanism in a high‐rate and high‐load network and vice versa. In a multi‐rate network, the performance of IEEE 802.11 DCF with RTS/CTS mechanism is better than that with basic access method in a congested and error‐prone wireless environment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elective Resection for Diverticular Disease: An Evidence‐Based Review
Authors: Collins D. , Winter D. C.
Published: August 2008

Controversy exists as to the most appropriate management of patients following two episodes of diverticulitis. Despite a growing body of new evidence challenging the concept of elective sigmoid resection after a patient experiences two attacks of diverticulitis, we continue to base our practice on outdated studies carried out more than 30 years ago. The recommendation that patients undergo elective sigmoid resection after two attacks of acute diverticulitis should be re‐evaluated as it is generally inappropriate and is not cost effective. Elective resection for uncomplicated diverticulitis does not alter outcome, nor does it decrease mortality or prevent complications of the disease. In fact, based on current literature, 18 patients would have to undergo elective operation to prevent one emergency surgery. This article aims to review the current evidence for elective resection following episodes of diverticular disease and addresses emerging controversies in the management of this disease.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Adhesive Capsulitis: Correlation with Clinical Staging
Authors: Sofka Carolyn M. , Ciavarra Gina A. , Hannafin Jo A. , Cordasco Frank A. , Potter Hollis G.
Published: August 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of adhesive capsulitis and correlate them with clinical stages of adhesive capsulitis. This will hopefully define a role for shoulder MR imaging in the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis as well as in potentially directing appropriate treatment. Forty-seven consecutive non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging examinations of 46 patients with a clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis were retrospectively reviewed and correlated with clinical staging. Specific MRI criteria correlated with the clinical stage of adhesive capsulitis, including the thickness and signal intensity of the joint capsule and synovium as well as the presence and severity of scarring in the rotator interval. Routine MRI of the shoulder without intraarticular administration of gadolinium can be used to diagnose all stages of adhesive capsulitis, including stage 1, where findings may be subtle on clinical examination. We believe that future studies assessing the role of MRI in guiding the initiation of appropriate treatment should be undertaken.
Tuberculous Pyomyositis of Forearm Muscles
Authors: Narang Sagar
Published: August 2008

Tuberculous pyomyositis is a rare entity reported in literature. The presented case reports the occurrence of such a lesion in forearm muscles, without any bony involvement. The ambiguity in its diagnosis led to inadequate management by the primary care physician. Clinical suspicion, positive tuberculin test, culture of acid-fast bacilli, ‘effective drainage’, and timely anti-tubercular chemotherapy ultimately resulted in a good clinical recovery. This case has been presented to increase the awareness about the existence of such an entity in clinical practice, thereby influencing its workup and the possible modes of management.
Flaxseed oil prevents trans-10, cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid-induced insulin resistance in mice
Authors: Kelley Darshan S. , Vemuri Madhuri , Adkins Yuriko , Gill Sher Himmat S. , Fedor Dawn , Mackey Bruce E.
Published: August 2008

Insulin resistance (IR) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are found in 35 and 30 % of US adults, respectively. Trans-10, cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been found to cause both these disorders in several animal models. We hypothesised that IR and NAFLD caused by CLA result from n-3 fatty acid deficiency. Pathogen-free C57BL/6N female mice (aged 8 weeks; n 10) were fed either a control diet or diets containing trans-10, cis-12-CLA (0·5 %) or CLA+flaxseed oil (FSO) (0·5 %+0·5 %) for 8 weeks. Weights of livers, concentration of circulating insulin, values of homeostatic model 1 (HOMA1) for IR and HOMA1 for β cell function were higher by 160, 636, 985 and 968 % in the CLA group compared with those in the control group. FSO decreased fasting glucose by 20 % and liver weights by 37 % compared with those in the CLA group; it maintained circulating insulin, HOMA1-IR and HOMA1 for β cell function at levels found in the control group. CLA supplementation decreased n-6 and n-3 wt% concentrations of liver lipids by 57 and 73 % and increased the n-6:n-3 ratio by 58 % compared with corresponding values in the control group. FSO increased n-6 and n-3 PUFA in liver lipids by 33 and 342 % and decreased the n-6:n-3 ratio by 70 % compared with corresponding values in the CLA group. The present results suggest that some adverse effects of CLA may be due to n-3 PUFA deficiency and that these can be corrected by a concomitant increase in the intake of α-linolenic acid, 18 : 3n-3.
James Jackson Jarves's Art Criticism: Aesthetic Classifications and Historiographic Consequences
Authors: GEORGI KAREN L.
Published: August 2008

Looking at the methodological principles and rhetorical forms that structure James Jackson Jarves's often-cited 1864 book The Art-Idea, this essay reconsiders Jarves's role in the historiography of American art. Jarves has long been associated with post-Civil War shifts toward international aesthetic trends, which eroded the native bias in favor of verisimilitude and anecdote. He is thought to mark a turning point. His texts, however, only partially corroborate the reputation. Here, firstly, I reread Jarves's art theory to suggest what were the aesthetic preferences he hoped to foster among Americans, and why. Secondly, I propose that the reputed Jarves fulfills an apparently unrecognized need in the subdiscipline of American art history – a fundamental understanding of American art as automatically, necessarily, indexical. It is primarily a manifestation of American culture, and more specifically American culture as defined by change, growth, disruption, reintegration.
The Ruins of Pompey: The Euro-American Invention of Native American Prehistory and the Gothic Mode in Joshua V. H. Clark's Onondaga
Authors: SLOAN DE VILLO
Published: August 2008

In the United States between the approximate dates of 1800 and 1870, a group of writers whom I call Romantic Antiquarians invented and disseminated a narrative of Native American prehistory radically at odds with the later findings of modern archaeologists. Romantic Antiquarian discourse borrows from the themes and modes of literary Romanticism, and textual analysis of this work (which enjoyed widespread public acceptance before it was profoundly discredited) offers insights into the complex relationship between Native and Euro-American cultures. This essay provides an overview of the Romantic Antiquarian movement and explores its ideology. The writing of antiquarian Joshua V. H. Clark of New York is examined closely, including his theories concerning the Iroquois, his relationship with E. G. Squier, and his use of the Gothic mode.
In the Hindutva Laboratory: Pogroms and Politics in Gujarat, 2002
Authors: SPODEK HOWARD
Published: August 2008

Communal violence wracked the state of Gujarat and the city of Ahmedabad once again in 2002, leaving some 2,000 people dead. Because the ruling BJP party had proclaimed Gujarat the ‘Laboratory of Hindutva’, analysts throughout India saw the violence as BJP policy and debated its possible spillover effects elsewhere. This paper finds that in a period already marked by stressful economic and cultural change and attended by political uncertainty, some BJP leaders gambled that an attack on Gujarat's Muslims, and on the rule of law in general, would attract followers and voters. Their gamble proved correct at least in the short run. This paper examines the cultural, social, geographical and educational restructuring that is occurring, through legal and illegal struggles, and the impact of the violence upon these processes. It examines the declining status of Muslims as a result of continuous propaganda against them. It analyzes the degree to which the state was damaged as a result of the decision for violence and asks about the degree to which leaders do, or do not, wish to ‘put it behind them’, and suggests that Ahmedabad's problems are widely shared in both the developing and developed worlds.
AGE-WEIGHTING
Authors: Bognar Greg
Published: August 2008

Some empirical findings seem to show that people value health benefits differently depending on the age of the beneficiary. Health economists and philosophers have offered justifications for these preferences on grounds of both efficiency and equity. In this paper, I examine the most prominent examples of both sorts of justification: the defence of age-weighting in the WHO's global burden of disease studies and the fair innings argument. I argue that neither sort of justification has been worked out in satisfactory form: age should not be taken into account in the framework of the burden of disease measure, and on the most promising formulations of the fair innings argument, it turns out to be merely an indicator of some other factor. I conclude by describing the role of age in theories of justice of healthcare resource allocation.
Strategies to enhance radiosensitivity in breast cancer
Authors: Formenti S. C.
Published: August 2008

Radiotherapy is an important component in the treatment of breast cancer. However, the individual tumor response to radiation is variable, reflecting both the intrinsic properties of the tumor and its microenvironment as well as the different, inherited sensitivity of the patient's normal tissue when exposed to the effect of ionizing radiation. These differences have inspired research to discover the underlying signal transduction pathways and to understand when they pertain to the tumor, the host or both. In fact, understanding the mechanisms underlying radiosensitivity of breast cancer not only does it permit to design more effective radiation treatments, but it sheds light on the complexities of tumor-host interactions in this disease.
Identifying discrete geologic structures that produce anomalous hydraulic response: An inverse modeling approach
Authors: Ronayne Michael J. , Gorelick Steven M. , Caers Jef
Published: August 2008

Subsurface hydraulic response is controlled by discrete geologic structures in a variety of aquifer settings. In this work, we analyze data from the well‐studied alluvial fan system that underlies the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. There, subsurface flow and transport behavior is strongly influenced by discrete channel deposits, which are embedded within less permeable floodplain deposits. We model the distribution of these deposits using a multiple‐point geostatistical approach that enables simulation of geologically plausible connected permeable bodies consistent with a training image. By coupling the geostatistical model with a dynamic flow model in a simulation inversion framework, we identify specific channel structures that are consistent with transient aquifer test data at six observation wells. We perform shortest‐path analysis to characterize the geometry of the simulated channels and to locate critical high‐permeability conduits that control the system's response to pumping. In one area, all successful inverse solutions identify the same set of stacked channel deposits, a geologic feature that provides an explanation for anomalous response behavior observed during the aquifer test.
The Large Benefits of Small‐Satellite Missions
Authors: Baker Daniel N. , Worden S. Pete
Published: August 2008

Small‐spacecraft missions play a key and compelling role in space‐based scientific and engineering programs [Moretto and Robinson, 2008]. Compared with larger satellites, which can be in excess of 2000 kilograms, small satellites range from 750 kilograms—roughly the size of a golf cart—to less than 1 kilogram, about the size of a softball. They have been responsible for greatly reducing the time needed to obtain science and technology results. The shorter development times for smaller missions can reduce overall costs and can thus provide welcome budgetary options for highly constrained space programs. In many cases, we contend that 80% (or more) of program goals can be achieved for 20% of the cost by using small‐spacecraft solutions.
Preparing New Polar Researchers to Lead the Next International Polar Year: New Generation of Polar Researchers Symposium; Colorado Springs, Colorado, 4–11 May 2008
Authors: Wardell Lois , Weiler C. Susan , Drobot Sheldon , Baeseman Jenny
Published: August 2008

Logistics and physical conditions of polar research today, though challenging, are considered comfortable compared with what polar researchers endured 50 years ago during the 1957–1958 International Geophysical Year (IGY). However, the intellectual terrain has grown far more demanding than that of the past. This new generation of polar researchers must not only achieve disciplinary expertise but also be ready to communicate beyond a specialist audience, conduct transformative research, participate in outreach and public communication, keep up with technological and computational developments, and support their research in an increasingly competitive funding environment, all while addressing the urgency of our changing planet.
The Opening of a New Landscape: Columbia Glacier at Mid‐retreat
Authors: Kumar Mohi
Published: August 2008

Glaciers are powerful agents of change on the Earth's surface because of their influence on climate, hydrology, sea level, and landforms. Though fast moving on geological timescales, to the human eye most glaciers seem stationary and unchanging. An exception is Alaska's Columbia Glacier, which terminates in Prince William Sound. This glacier's terminus has retreated about 17 kilometers from its position in the early 1980s—about two thirds of a kilometer each year.
Simulating T‐cell motility in the lymph node paracortex with a packed lattice geometry
Authors: Bogle Gib , Dunbar P Rod
Published: August 2008

Agent‐based simulation modelling of T‐cell trafficking, activation and proliferation in the lymph node paracortex requires a model for cell motility. Such a model must be able to reproduce the observed random‐walk behaviour of T cells, while accommodating large numbers of tightly packed cells, and must be computationally efficient. We report the development of a motility model, based on a three‐dimensional lattice geometry, that meets these objectives. Cells make discrete jumps between neighbouring lattice sites in directions that are randomly determined from specified discrete probability distributions, which are defined by a small number of parameters. It is shown that the main characteristics of the random motion of T cells as typically observed in vivo can be reproduced by suitable specification of model parameters. The model is computationally highly efficient and provides a suitable engine for a model capable of simulating the full T‐cell population of the paracortex.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid‐induced Fat Loss Dependence on Δ6‐desaturase or Cyclooxygenase
Authors: Hargrave‐Barnes Kimberly M. , Azain Michael J. , Miner Jess L.
Published: August 2008

Objective:To determine whether conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)–induced body fat loss is dependent upon metabolism of CLA by Δ6‐desaturase, cyclooxygenase, or lipoxygenase.

Methods and Procedures:Mice were fed diets with or without CLA and inhibitors to either Δ6‐desaturase (SC‐26196), cyclooxygenase (aspirin), or lipoxygenase (nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)) for 2 weeks. Body fat percent, lean mass, fat pad weights, liver weight, and fatty acid concentrations were determined. A Δ6‐desaturase index was calculated, and adipose tissue prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and leukotriene B4(LTB4) concentrations were determined to confirm enzyme inhibition.

Results:Inhibition of Δ6‐desaturase and cyclooxygenase were confirmed. CLA caused a loss of body fat (P< 0.001). The body fat loss was blocked (P= 0.08) by the Δ6‐desaturase inhibitor at a dose that decreased (P< 0.05) the calculated index. Aspirin and NDGA had no effect on body fat and did not interact with CLA.

Discussion:Inhibition of Δ6‐desaturase prevented CLA from being able to cause a body fat loss. Therefore, a desaturated metabolite of CLA appears to be involved in the CLA antiobesity effect. This effect of CLA does not seem dependent upon cyclooxygenase. Because lipoxygenase activity was not blocked by NDGA, we cannot draw conclusions about its importance in mediating the antiobesity effect of CLA.
Age‐ and Gender‐specific BMI in Terms of the Lowest Mortality in Japanese General Population
Authors: Matsuo Tomoaki , Sairenchi Toshimi , Iso Hiroyasu , Irie Fujiko , Tanaka Kiyoji , Fukasawa Nobuko , Ota Hitoshi , Muto Takashi
Published: August 2008

Objective: The primary purposes of our study were to establish age‐ and gender‐specific BMIs in terms of lowest mortality (risk nadir BMIs) for the Japanese population, and to then compare those to (i) BMIs for whites as determined by similar studies and to (ii) the official BMI guidelines.

Methods and Procedures: A total of 32,060 men and 61,916 women aged 40–79 years underwent health check‐ups in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, in 1993 and were followed through 2003. To determine the age‐ and gender‐specific risk nadir BMIs, coefficients and the lowest point from a quadratic model with transformed BMI were calculated by a Cox proportional hazard model. This included the quadratic term of 1/BMI and adjusted values (age, alcohol intake, and smoking status).

Results: For both age and both gender categories, the relationship between all‐cause mortality risk and BMI categories are illustrated as U‐shaped curves. The risk nadir BMIs for men in the age groups of 40–59 and 60–79 years were 23.4 and 25.3 kg/m2, respectively. Similarly, in women, the risk nadir BMIs were 21.6 and 23.4 kg/m2, respectively.

Discussion: Among the general Japanese population, the risk nadir BMI for the age group of 60–79 years was higher compared to the age group of 40–59 years, which was similar to the study for whites, and the age‐dependent risk nadir BMI differed from the official guidelines criteria. Our findings underscore the importance of weight control following appropriate indicators of body weight according to age.
Low Resting Energy Expenditure in Asians Can Be Attributed to Body Composition
Authors: Wouters‐Adriaens Mirjam P.E. , Westerterp Klaas R.
Published: August 2008

Objective: To compare resting energy expenditure (REE) between Asians and whites after adjusting for fat‐free mass measured with a two‐ or more‐compartment model.

Methods and Procedures: Participants were 10 white men (28 ± 3 years), 10 Asian men (30 ± 4 years), 10 white women (22 ± 4 years), and 11 Asian women (31 ± 7 years). REE was measured with a ventilated hood system under strictly controlled conditions. Body composition was measured with a two‐compartment model based on body mass (BM) and body volume (hydrodensitometry), a three‐compartment model adding total body water (TBW) (deuterium dilution), and a four‐compartment model incorporating bone mass (dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA)) as well. Lean BM in the trunk and in the extremities was assessed with DXA. All measurements were performed at Maastricht University. Measurements on Asian subjects were performed within 3 months after their arrival in the Netherlands.

Results: Absolute REE was lower in Asians (5.87 ± 0.91 MJ/day) than in whites (7.00 ± 1.11 MJ/day). There was no significant difference in REE between the two races after adjustment for fat‐free mass.

Discussion: There were no significant differences in REE between Asians and whites after adjustment for differences in body composition based on a two‐ or more‐compartment model.
Postpubertal Development of Total and Abdominal Percentage Body Fat: An 8‐Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Nordström Anna , Neovius Martin G. , Rössner Stephan , Nordström Peter
Published: August 2008

The aim of the present study was to describe postpubertal changes in total and abdominal adiposity in young men and the relation to changes in physical activity (PA). The study included 107 white men with a mean age of 17.1 ± 1.7 years at baseline. Total percentage body fat (%BF) and abdominal percentage body fat (abd%BF) were measured at baseline and after a mean time of 28, 68, and 92 months using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). PA (h/week) was assessed at each visit by questionnaire. Over the study period, significant increases of 7.8 ± 5.5%BF and 9.0 ± 5.6 abd%BF were observed. Subjects who were active athletes throughout the study (n = 24), or nonathletes not changing their level of PA during follow‐up (n = 27) increased 5.7 ± 3.2 and 8.1 ± 6.7%BF, respectively. Athletes who quit organized training during follow‐up period (n = 56) increased by 8.7 ± 4.9%BF. In the total cohort, the average annual gains in BMI, %BF, and abd%BF were 0.4 kg/m2, 0.9%BF, and 1.1abd%BF (all P < 0.0001), respectively. Adjustment for changes in PA altered the coefficient magnitudes only marginally. Changes in PA were, however, significantly and inversely associated with changes in %BF and abd%BF (P = 0.005 and P = 0.02, respectively), but were not significantly associated with BMI development (P = 0.15). In summary, our results indicate that the natural course of adiposity development in postpubertal men is characterized by adiposity gains. The influence of PA on especially abd%BF may influence the future risk of cardiovascular disease.
High‐fat Meal‐induced Changes in the Duodenum Mucosa Transcriptome
Authors: Yoshioka Mayumi , Bolduc Carl , Raymond Vincent , St‐Amand Jonny
Published: August 2008

In order to identify the potential peripheral signals of appetite and satiety from duodenum, we have performed a transcriptomic study in the mucosa after high‐fat (HF) and low‐fat (LF) meal ingestion. After fasting, one group of mice was killed and the others were fed ad libitum with HF or LF diet, and killed 30 min, 1 h, and 3 h after the beginning of the meal. The duodenum mucosa was sampled, and the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) method was performed. The mRNA regulations were confirmed by real‐time PCR. Energy, protein, and fat intakes were higher in the HF than in the LF group. Gene expression profile revealed 118 characterized or partially characterized differentially expressed transcripts. The HF meal delayed the expressions of peptidases compared to the LF groups. Most of mRNAs related to fat absorption, including apolipoprotein A‐IV (Apoa4), were decreased in HF1h group, whereas plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were comparable between HF and LF groups. Noteworthy, these downregulations were concomitant to a break in fat intake 1 h after HF meal. At the same time, the HF meal induced transcripts related to cell growth and organization, whereas transcripts involved in cell defense were repressed. Moreover, we have identified fat‐responsive transcripts. This study has characterized the molecular responses of duodenum mucosa after HF or LF meal ingestion. Characterization of novel fat‐specific candidates whose relations with feeding behavior have never been reported may contribute to the development of new therapeutic targets for appetite and satiety controls.
Is Obesity Associated With Anemia of Chronic Disease? A Population‐based Study
Authors: Ausk Karlee J. , Ioannou George N.
Published: August 2008

Obesity is characterized by chronic, low‐grade, systemic inflammation, which, in turn, has been associated with anemia of chronic disease. We hypothesized that obesity may be associated with the features of anemia of chronic disease, including low hemoglobin concentration, low serum iron and transferrin saturation (TS), and elevated serum ferritin. We compared normal‐weight to overweight and obese adult participants of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with respect to hemoglobin concentration and levels of serum iron, TS, and ferritin. Measured BMI was used to categorize participants into normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2, n = 6,059), overweight (BMI 25 to <30 kg/m2, n = 5,108), mildly obese (BMI 30 to <35 kg/m2, n = 2,366), moderately obese (BMI 35 to <40 kg/m2, n = 850), and severely obese (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2, n = 465). After adjustment for age, gender, menstruation, race/ethnicity, education, alcohol consumption, smoking, blood donation, and dietary iron intake, serum ferritin was progressively higher with increasing BMI category, whereas serum iron and TS were progressively lower. However, compared to normal‐weight persons, those in all other higher BMI categories did not have a significant change in hemoglobin concentration after adjustment for the above‐mentioned confounders. Overweight and obesity were associated with changes in serum iron, TS, and ferritin that would be expected to occur in the setting of chronic, systemic inflammation. However, overweight and obese persons were not more likely to be anemic compared with normal‐weight persons.
Effect of a Cellulose‐containing Weight‐loss Supplement on Gastric Emptying and Sensory Functions
Authors: Berthold Heiner K. , Unverdorben Susanne , Degenhardt Ralf , Unverdorben Martin , Gouni‐Berthold Ioanna
Published: August 2008

CM3, a highly cross‐linked cellulose in capsule form, expands in the stomach to a size several fold of its original volume. It is purported to induce a prolonged feeling of satiation and a delay in gastric emptying, thus promoting weight loss. We examined whether CM3 delays gastric emptying (using the stable isotope 13C‐octanoic breath test) and whether it influences subjective feelings of appetite sensations (using visual analog scales, VASs). We performed a double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled crossover trial in 19 moderately obese but otherwise healthy subjects (mean age 55 ± 9 years, BMI 31.1 ± 4.6 kg/m2). The subjects were treated with six capsules of CM3 or matching placebo 30 min before a standardized solid meal. Breath collection and VASs were performed over 4 h every 15 min and 30 min, respectively. Half‐excretion time of 13CO2 in breath, indicating gastric emptying half time, was the primary outcome parameter. The study was powered to detect a change in gastric emptying of 20–30 min. Mean 13CO2 half‐excretion time changed from 2.3 ± 0.4 to 2.4 ± 0.33 h (mean difference +6 min, 95% confidence interval (CI) −3 to +15 min; P = 0.17). Appetite sensations (hunger, satiation, fullness, prospective food consumption, desire to eat something sweet, salty, savory, or fatty) changed over time during the course of the postprandial phase but were not influenced by CM3 (repeated measures ANOVA). In obese subjects, acute administration of the weight‐loss supplement CM3 does not delay gastric emptying and does not influence subjective appetite sensations.