bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Method for Embedded-Culture of Pig Pancreatic Islet-Like Cell Clusters in Agarose Containing Maltose-Carrying Polystyrene (HEVM) and Nicotinamide
Authors: Ohgawara Hisako , Kobayashi Akira , Kawamura Makiko , Karibe Sachiyo , Fu Qian , Omori Yasue , Akaike# Toshihiro
Published: November 2017

A method for embedded-culture of islet-like cell clusters (ICCs) from neonatal pig pancreas is described. The procedure is based on a sequential treatment of the pancreas with a proteolytic enzyme and ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA). During the exposure to EDTA-Dispase, small pieces of pancreas were gradually digested, with gentle stirring. Under- and over-digested pancreatic cell clusters were separated from the pancreatic fragments by filtration, and formed whole islet-like cell clusters in RPMI 1640 containing 11.0 mM d-glucose and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The ICCs were embedded in agarose with or without a gel containing a random copolymer hydroxethylmethacrylatevinylbenzyl maltonamide (HEVM) of hydroxethylmethacrylate- (HEMA)-vinylbenzyl maltonamide (VMA) and nicotinamide. They remained morphologically intact and a physiological response to acute stimulation with glucose was obtained when they were embedded in the agarose containing HEVM and nicotinamide. These findings suggest that ICCs in agarose containing HEVM and nicotinamide could be a useful tool for morphological, biochemical and molecular biological studies, and also as a potential source of material for transplantation.
Assessment of Islet Isolation Efficacy in Dogs
Authors: Van Der Burg Michael P.M. , Guicherit Onno R. , Frölich Marijke , Scherft Johannes P. , Prins Frans A. , Bruijn Jan Anthonie , Gooszen Hein G.
Published: November 2017

The outcome of islet isolation is considered uncertain because of the large variability of islet and insulin yield, but comparison of the isolated and native islet population has not been attempted. We therefore addressed the efficacy of collagenase digestion, and density gradient purification of islets from the splenic dog pancreas (n = 31) by morphometry of the islet volume and size distribution, and by extraction of insulin and amylase, in samples from the pancreas, the digest, and gradient fractions. In contrast to a ~90% recovery of pancreatic insulin and amylase after digestion, islet yield amounted to 50% of the islet content of the pancreas. After density separation, islets were mainly found in the purified fractions, while half of the recovered insulin was located in the acinar fraction of the gradients — indicating a substantial proportion of islets entrapped in acinar fragments. The islet and insulin content of the pancreas correlated well with islet and insulin yield after digestion (r = 0.7, p < .0001). The insulin content of digest suspensions did neither correlate with islet nor insulin recovery in the purified fraction of the gradients (r = 0.4) as opposed to the islet content of digest suspensions, which correlated with both (r = 0.7, p < .0001). After density separation near 100% purity was obtained, and no loss of insulin from isolated islets was demonstrated by extraction and microscopy. Size distributions of native and isolated islets demonstrated no fragmentation. We conclude that the variability of isolation outcome may be attributed to a large extent to the variability of the native endocrine pancreas. Isolation efficacy was best documented by morphometry, because insulin extraction did not discriminate between free and entrapped islets. However, assessment by both morphometry and extraction allowed the quantitation of entrapped islets, and demonstrated preservation of β-cell granulation. Similar studies should facilitate the analysis of other factors affecting islet isolation in man.
Bacteremia due to Transplantation of Contaminated Cryopreserved Pancreatic Islets
Authors: Taylor Geoffrey D. , Kirkland Terri , Lakey Jonathan , Rajotte Ray , Warnock Garth L.
Published: November 2017

Objective

To report two cases of pancreatic islet transplantation-related septicemia, and the results of an investigative protocol to identify potential sources of contamination.

Design

Case series.

Setting

University hospital clinical investigational islet transplantation program.

Results

The last two of our first seven islet transplantation recipients developed Enterobacter cloacae septicemia within hours of islet infusion. Both had received thawed cryopreserved islet infusions. No source of infection apart from islets could be identified. Pancreas harvesting and islet isolation protocols provided multiple opportunities for contamination. Environmental cultures during a mock islet isolation procedure failed to identify a source of Enterobacter. Previously cryopreserved islet lots were thawed and submitted for culture, 14/47 grew micro-organisms including E. cloacae in four instances. Following revision of protocols for aseptic handling of islets during processing and cryopreservation 55 consecutive pancreata undergoing processing were evaluated; 7 grew micro-organisms on arrival and in 3 cases these persisted through to cryopreservation.

Conclusion

Two of seven islet transplantation recipients developed septicemia, likely related to infusion of contaminated cryopreserved islets. Using existing technology, for isolating islets from donor pancreata, recipients will remain at risk for this complication. Prevention should entail strict adherence to aseptic technique, and, possibly, use of surveillance microbial cultures during the islet isolation process.
Recyclable Islet Isografts: A Biological Insulin Pump to Facilitate Surgery in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Yang Hua , Yu Weiming , Wan Xiaoying , Al-Abdullah Ismail , Wright James R.
Published: November 2017

A method is described to facilitate extensive abdominal surgery in diabetic rats using temporary renal subcapsular islet isografts. The procedure is performed in three stages —each separated by 2 wk. After each rat is made diabetic (Step 1), an isogenic islet transplant is performed beneath the left renal capsule (Step 2). Step 3 is the operative procedure, followed by a left nephrectomy. Finally, it is shown how the islet isograft can be excised from the nephrectomy specimen and “recycled” into another diabetic rat (Step 2). Using this three step process, it is possible to decrease the mortality rate following orthotropic liver transplantation in diabetic rats from 100% to about 30%. This procedure can also be used to facilitate other extensive surgical procedures in diabetic rats.
Intrastriatal Cografts of Autologous Adrenal Medulla and Sural Nerve in MPTP-Induced Parkinsonian Macaques: Behavioral and Anatomical Assessment
Authors: Watts Ray L. , Mandir Allen S. , Bakay Roy A. E.
Published: November 2017

To examine the effects of autologous sural nerve and adrenal medullary tissue intrastriatal cografts upon voluntary motor performance in parkinsonism, a non-human primate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model was employed to quantitatively assess skilled hand movements. Motor performance was studied in normal, MPTP-induced parkinsonian, and then cografted states. Reaction and movement times were prolonged and variability increased in experimental and control animals in the parkinsonian state. Animals undergoing autologous cografts demonstrated improved motor performance whereas the control animal continued in a chronic, stable parkinsonian state. Intrastriatal cografts of autologous adrenal medullary tissue and sural nerve resulted in good to excellent chromaffin cell survival. The mechanism of the restoration of function in the cografted monkeys remains to be determined.
Neural Transplantation of Cells Expressing the Anti-Apoptotic Gene Bcl-2
Authors: Anton Rein , Kordower Jeffrey H. , Kane Darci J. , Markham Charles H. , Bredesen Dale E.
Published: November 2017

Long-term survival of grafted neural cells is a major goal of neural transplantation, but typical survival rates of grafted fetal neurons are in the range of 5-10%. Whether the death of transplanted neural cells is apoptotic or necrotic is unknown. The expression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 inhibits both apoptotic and necrotic neural cell death. In a 6-OHDA induced rat model of Parkinson's disease, Hoechst 33258 prelabelled conditionally immortalized nigral cells engineered to express bcl-2 were stereotactically transplanted into the striatum ipsilaterally to the lesioned nigrostriatal pathway. Sixteen rats received bcl-2 transfected cells, 15 received cells transfected with vector alone, and 12 received either a nondopaminergic cell line or were sham transplanted as controls. Four wk following transplantation, the rats with grafts containing bcl-2 expressing cells showed an approximately 43% decrease in apomorphine-induced rotational behavior. In contrast, 12% improvement occurred in the rats with transplanted cells transfected with vector alone (p < 0.05), and no improvement occurred in sham-operated animals (p < 0.05). Histological examination showed no tumor formation. Despite the difference in behavioral effect, no clear difference in Hoechst fluorescent staining or staining for TH, GFAP was noted; therefore, it is unknown at present whether the observed effect was due to a difference in survival or to increased efficacy per surviving transplanted neural cell, or both.
Long-Term Viability of Isolated Bovine Adrenal Medullary Chromaffin Cells following Intrastriatal Transplantation
Authors: Schueler Sherry B. , Sagen Jacqueline , Pappas George D. , Kordower Jeffrey H.
Published: November 2017

Adrenal medullary grafts generally exhibit poor viability when grafted into the striatum. Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that chromaffin cells can survive well for up to 2 mo following grafting into the intact rat striatum after cells are isolated from the nonchromaffin supporting cells (fibroblasts and endothelial cells) of the adrenal medulla. The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term viability of isolated bovine chromaffin cells following grafting into the intact rat striatum. The viability of grafted bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells was compared in rats receiving either (a) perfused adrenal medulla; (b) isolated chromaffin cells; or (c) isolated chromaffin cells that were subsequently recombined with their nonchromaffin supporting cells. One year postimplantation, all graft types which included fibroblasts and endothelial cells were infiltrated with macrophages and demonstrated an abundance of cellular debris. No viable chromaffin cells were observed. In contrast, healthy tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta hydroxylase (DβH) immunoreactive chromaffin cells survived for 1 yr posttransplantation when grafted in isolation from the nonchromaffin constituents of the adrenal medulla. Good xenograft survival was achieved in this group despite the fact that these rats were only immunosuppressed for 1 mo postimplantation. Grafted cells demonstrated morphological characteristics of chromaffin cells in situ and these implants were not accompanied by macrophage infiltration. These data demonstrate that long-term survival of chromaffin cells can be achieved following intrastriatal implantation and the viability of grafted chromaffin cells is dependent upon the removal of the nonchromaffin supporting cells.
Cyclosporine-A Increases Spontaneous and Dopamine Agonist-Induced Locomotor Behavior in Normal Rats
Authors: Borlongan Cesario V. , Freeman Thomas B. , Scorcia Theresa A. , Sherman Kathleen A. , Olanow Warren C. , Cahill David W. , Sanberg Paul R.
Published: November 2017

Cyclosporine-A (CsA) has been increasingly used as an immunosuppressant concomitant with neural transplantation treatment for different degenerative disorders. However, the possible role that CsA itself may have in the recovery of transplant patients is not known. Some investigators have argued that clinical improvement following transplantation (e.g., myoblast) may be confounded by CsA administration. The present study was conducted to delineate CsA-induced behavioral alterations. Four groups of normal 5-wk old Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8 per group) were utilized in two separate experiments. In both experiments, two groups of animals were used; each group either received daily injections of 15 mg/kg of CsA or olive oil for 32 days (experiment 1) and 21 days (experiment 2). Animals in both experiments were subsequently tested for nocturnal locomotor behavior. Animals in experiment 2 were further tested in passive avoidance task, motor coordination, and amphetamine-induced locomotor activity. Results demonstrated that CsA-treated animals were significantly hyperactive compared to controls across the 12-h nocturnal activity periods and in amphetamine-induced locomotor activity. No significant differences between the CsA- and vehicle-treated animals were observed in passive avoidance or in motor coordination. Postmortem analyses of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum and olfactory tubercle did not show any significant differences between the CsA- and the vehicle-treated groups. In summary, CsA significantly increased nocturnal spontaneous and amphetamine-induced locomotor behavior, but the neurochemical correlates for these effects need to be investigated. In addition, while the present study demonstrated that CsA induced motor alterations, any possible effects CsA may have on neurological or dystrophic patients with motor dysfunctions remain to be determined.
Fetal Ammon's Horn Transplants Improve Acquisition of a Radial Arm Maze and a Low-Rate Operant Schedule in Trimethyltin-Treated Rats
Authors: Freeman James N. , Baisden Ronald H. , Woodruff Michael L.
Published: November 2017

The results of previous studies indicated that block grafts of fetal hippocampal tissue made into cavities produced by aspiration lesions of the hippocampus in rats given the neurotoxin trimethyltin (TMT) significantly worsened the TMT-induced deficit in water maze acquisition. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that a procedure for transplantation that produced less destruction to the host brain and resulted in transplants with less mass might produce recovery in a spatial learning task in TMT-exposed rats. Acquisition of an externally cued (spatial) version of the radial arm maze (RAM), an internally cued version of the RAM, and of a differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) operant schedule was assessed in normal rats, rats given TMT, and rats given TMT and stereotaxic implants of either fetal Ammon's horn or entorhinal cortex. The rats receiving Ammon's horn transplants made significantly fewer reentries into the baited arms in both maze configurations and fewer reentries into the nonbaited arms in the spatial RAM than rats in the TMT-only and TMT/entorhinal cortex transplant groups. The rats receiving transplants of Ammon's horn made significantly fewer responses and received more reinforcements during training on the DRL-20 schedule than rats receiving just TMT or rats receiving TMT and transplants of fetal entorhinal cortex. These results support the proposal that transplantation procedures that cause less damage to the host brain and result in transplants that do not occupy a large extent of the ventricular space increase the probability of behavioral recovery.
Fetal Neocortical Transplants Grafted into Neocortical Lesion Cavities Made in Newborn Rats: An Analysis of Transplant Integration with the Host Brain
Authors: Schulz M.K. , Mcnulty J.A. , Handa R.J. , Hogan T.P. , Tillotson G.L. , Shaw P.L. , Zimmer J. , Castro A.J.
Published: November 2017

Fetal neocortical transplants placed into frontal cortex aspiration lesion cavities in newborn rats have been shown to survive and exchange connections with the host brain. To further study the afferent innervation of such transplants, enzyme- and immunohistochemical techniques were employed to examine the distribution of cholinergic, cat-echolaminergic and serotonergic fibers within the transplants, and radiochemical enzyme assays and high performance liquid chromatography were used to determine the content of neurotransmitter markers for these same fiber systems. To examine functional integration of the transplanted neurons in terms of activation of molecular signaling systems, the graft recipient animals were exposed to a novel open field environment. This behavioral testing paradigm is known to induce c-fos mRNA and Fos protein within several areas of the normal brain, including the sensorimotor cortex. Subsequent detection of the induction of this particular immediate early gene (transcription as well as translation) in the grafts would accordingly indicate genomic activation and therefore functional integration at the level of molecular signaling systems. Our results showed that these global fiber systems are distributed evenly throughout the extent of three mo old neocortical grafts and that the content of transmitter-related markers for these systems do not differ significantly from control cortex. Open field exposure of the grafted animals resulted in c-fos mRNA and Fos protein expression of cells distributed throughout the transplants. We conclude that the “global” fiber system innervation of neocortical transplants placed into newborn rats is similar to the innervation of normal cortex and that grafted neurons respond to host brain activation at the level of molecular signaling systems.
The Influence of Donor Age on the Survival of Solid and Suspension Intraparenchymal Human Embryonic Nigral Grafts
Authors: Freeman Thomas B. , Sanberg Paul R. , Nauert G. Michael , Boss Barbara D. , Spector Dennis , Olanow C. Warren , Kordower Jeffrey H.
Published: November 2017

In many species, graft survival and graft-derived behavioral recovery are affected by the embryonic donor age. We compared the ability of solid and suspension grafts of human embryonic mesencephalic dopaminergic (DA) neurons at different embryonic stages to survive intra-parenchymal transplantation into 6-OHDA lesioned immunosuppressed rats. Suspension grafts survived best when donor age was between postconception (PC) days 34 and 56. Transplants displayed numerous healthy tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons which sent extensive neuritic processes into the host striatum. Suspension grafts survived poorly when donor age was greater than 65 days. Solid implants displayed comparable viability of TH-IR neurons when donor age was between 44 and 65 days. No solid grafts contained TH-IR cells when donor tissue was older than 72 days. The suspension and solid methods of transplantation resulted in comparable survival of robust grafts, but solid grafts resulted in more intergraft variability than suspension grafts, particularly among the more marginal implants. Our results demonstrate that the upper limit for survival of human embryonic DA suspension grafts correlates well with the period of development of the human nigrostriatal pathway. The “window” for donor age of solid human embryonic DA grafts appears to be extended by about 9 days in comparison to suspension grafts. These data suggest that the upper age limit for grafting human mesencephalic DA neurons should be PC day 56 for suspension grafts, and PC day 65 for solid implants. Older donors are likely to produce grafts with fewer surviving DA neurons.
Recent Topics in the Management of Pain: Development of the Concept of Preemptive Analgesia
Authors: Suzuki Hajime
Published: November 2017

Recent studies concerned with the relationship between injury responses and acute and chronic pain were reviewed. Basic and clinical studies of pain have revealed that a large proportion of the mechanisms that produce strange signs and symptoms, such as allodynia, hyperalgesia and hyperpathia, after tissue injury are ascribed to increased excitability, or to sensitization derived from biological changes in spinal dorsal horn cells subjected to excessive noxious stimuli from injured tissues. Preemptive analgesia has been under consideration as a means of preventing the predictable sensitization to pain that follows surgery. The findings of many clinical investigations, however, remain controversial. This report discusses the importance of preemptive analgesia including the possibilities of prevention, and of extension to the control, of chronic pain syndromes.
Cell Therapy with Encapsulated Xenogeneic Tumor Cells Secreting β-Endorphin for Treatment of Peripheral Pain
Authors: Saitoh Youichi , Taki Takuyu , Arita Norio , Ohnishi Takanori , Hayakawa Toru
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study was to assess whether xenogeneic tumor cells secreting β-endorphin and immunologically isolated in polymer capsules could survive and continue to reduce pain when transplanted into the spinal cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) space of rats. Also, a silicone container for polymer capsules was designed for the clinical application of this method of cell therapy. The mouse tumor cell lines, proopiomelanocortin gene transfected Neuro2A which secrete β-endorphin, were enclosed in polymer capsules at a density of 5 x 106/mL, and transplanted into the spinal CSF space from the occipito-atlantal junction of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Three analgesiometric tests —the tail pinch test, the hot plate test, and electrical stimulation test — showed that the rats with encapsulated Neuro2A (n = 6) were significantly less sensitive to pain after transplantation than control animals (n = 8). The analgesia induced by the encapsulated cells secreting β-endorphin was attenuated by the opiate antagonist naloxone. Morphological study revealed that the encapsulated cells survived for 1 mo after transplantation into the CSF space. An in vitro experiment on cultured capsules (3 cm long) with a silicone container (Kaneka Medics Co) showed that the encapsulated Neuro2A (5 x 106 mL) could secrete peptides for 1 mo. The results of this study indicate that immunologically isolated xenogeneic tumor cells can secrete opiate in the CSF space, and that a silicone container may help the application of this method to the treatment of cancer pain.
Analysis of Survival of Allogeneic Fetal Liver Fragments in Rats
Authors: Shimura Tatsuo , Hagihara Masao , Takebe Kentaro , Munkhbat Batmunkh , Tsuji Kimiyoshi
Published: November 2017

The survival of allogeneic fetal liver fragments in the omentum was analyzed in rats. The lymphocyte subsets of the spleen and peripheral blood were also examined. When the fetal liver fragments were transplanted into the omentum, they survived for 2 wk, whereas adult liver fragments survived only 1 wk. In fetal liver fragments transplantation, the CD8 positive lymphocyte percentage in peripheral blood decreased significantly 3 wk after transplantation in comparison with that in adult liver fragment transplantation. The skin graft of the donor party showed a longer median survival time in rats receiving fetal liver fragment transplants than that in recipients of adult liver fragments. Although further study is needed, allogeneic fetal liver fragments survived longer in the omentum than reported elsewhere, and the decrease of CD8 positive peripheral blood lymphocytes may have been the reason for this.
Monitoring for Engraftment following Rat Orthotopic Liver Transplantation by in Vitro Amplification of Y-Chromosome Gene Using Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Tashiro Hirotaka , Fukuda Yasuhiko , Hoshino Shuji , Furukawa Masahiro , Shintaku Sadanori , Dohi Kiyohiko
Published: November 2017

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific for the rat Y-chromosome gene made it possible to distinguish a very small number of male rat cells from a large excess of female rat cells. In nonimmunosuppressed LEW recipients of ACI liver allografts, the donor cells in the bloodstream disappeared rapidly by day 3, earlier than the biochemical changes indicative of liver dysfunction. In immunosuppressed LEW recipients of ACI liver allografts, the donor cells were detected for a longer time. Moreover, in LEW recipients surviving for long period, the PCR revealed mixed-microchimerism. Our results indicated that this Y chromosomal gene-specific PCR method is useful for assessing engraftment following rat liver transplantation.
Rapid determination of phytic acid content in cottonseed meal via near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Zhao Rubing , Xu Xiaojian , Li Jiale , Li Cheng , Chen Jinhong , Liu Yu , Zhu Shuijin
Published: November 2017

A near infrared calibration model with higher precision and better stability was constructed in the present study, using 280 cottonseed samples. The reference phytic acid contents were determined by high-performance ion chromatography. A combination of Savitzky–Golay smoothing, standard normal variate, and the first derivative was chosen as the spectral pre-treatment method. Monte Carlo uninformative variable elimination was proposed for spectral variable selection. The regression methods of partial least squares, least squares support vector machines, and weighted least squares support vector machines were developed for the calibration model. The optimal near infrared calibration model for phytic acid contents in the cottonseed meals was least squares support vector machines, with r2 = 0.97, RPD = 5.53, RMSECV = 0.06%, and RMSEP = 0.05%. This robust method can replace the traditional method of phytic acid determination in cottonseed meals.
Wide field continuous wave reflectance optical topography including a clear layer on top of the diffusive surface
Authors: Carbone NA , Iriarte DI , Pomarico JA
Published: November 2017

This work considers some experimental details which complement the results of a previous paper concerned with wide field near infrared continuous wave diffuse reflectance optical mammography. Different from the case of phantoms, clinical applications require some transparent interface between the breast and the camera. This interface provides the necessary flat surface to be imaged by the camera. We present an experimental study which compares the performance of the method when such an interface is present, to the case of the exposed phantom’s surface presented in that previous paper. Several index matching materials were also included in the study and a validation using Monte Carlo is presented.
Quantification of betaglucans, lipid and protein contents in whole oat groats (Avena sativa L.) using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Gracia Montilla-Bascón , Armstrong Paul R , Rongkui Han , Mark Sorrells
Published: November 2017

Whole oat has been described as an important healthy food for humans due to its beneficial nutritional components. The positive health benefits of consuming oats as a whole-grain food are attributed in part to β-glucan, which has outstanding functional and nutritional properties. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy is a powerful, fast, accurate and non-destructive analytical tool that can be substituted for some traditional chemical analysis. A total of 1728 single intact groats of six different oat varieties were scanned by near infrared spectroscopy to develop non-destructive predictions for (1,3;1,4)-β-D-glucan (β-glucan), protein and oil content in groats. Prediction models for single kernels were developed using partial least squares regression. Regression parameters between the chemical values, determined by wet-lab reference methods, and the predicted values determined from near infrared spectra, were veriﬁed by cross-validation and against data from a set of independent samples. The cross-validation correlation coefficients ( R2CV) for β-glucan, protein and oil were 0.83, 0.72 and 0.92, respectively, the root-mean-square error ranged from 0.25% to 0.60% for all compounds. Independent validation data had r2 values ranging from 0.69 to 0.95; root-mean-square error of prediction values (RMSEP) values were equal to or less than 0.52%, 0.62% and 0.27% for β-glucan, protein and oil, respectively. The data indicated that non-destructive screening of β-glucan, protein and oil contents in single kernels of dehulled oat grains from their near infrared spectra could be successfully used in breeding programs.
Development of calibration model to predict nitrogen content in single seeds of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) using near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Ishikawa Haruki , Boukar Ousmane , Fatokun Christian , Shono Mariko , Muranaka Satoru
Published: November 2017

Cowpea is an important crop for food security, as it is a primary source of protein and cash income for farmers in the dry savanna areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. Improved varieties should contain reasonable amounts of protein in the grains, and to ensure this, timely and cost-effective analytical methods need to be developed. In this study, a procedure for estimating the grain nitrogen (protein) content in single seeds using near infrared spectroscopy was developed. Near infrared spectroscopic analysis of single seeds is a useful tool for breeders and food companies. A total of 200 cowpea germplasm accessions with wide variation in grain nitrogen content (2.44 – 5.12%N) were used for calibration. Two kinds of sample processing were performed for seed preparation (intact seed and husked seed). The models developed were validated using data from 88 and 89 genotypes. The calibration models based on both intact and husked seeds showed a high level of consistency (R2 = 0.88 and 0.88) in cross-validation. The calibration models predicted samples in validation sets with an accuracy of r2 = 0.85, RMSEP = 0.17%N, RPD = 2.55 and r2 = 0.88, RMSEP = 0.15%N, RPD = 2.90, for intact and husked seeds, respectively. With these levels of accuracy, the developed predictive models showed that NIR measurements for single seeds could be useful to determine the uniformity of grain quality, or for rapid screening of the nitrogen content in the seeds of cowpea genotypes.
Near infrared analysis for nutritive attributes of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata)
Authors: Adriansz TD , Hardy JLM , Milton JTB , Oldham CM , Real D
Published: November 2017

Tedera ( Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) is a perennial legume native to Lanzarote, an island within the Canary Islands; known for its dry environment. It is a plant known as a grazing option within that island. Tedera was tested for its potential as an optional feed source for sheep grazing under Western Australian conditions, also known for its frequent periods of drought stress. Four sets each of 35 seasonal samples were taken from seven accessions of the legume, in an area known to have less than 600 mm of rain each year. Milled leaf – stem samples were analysed for a series of nutritive attributes and calibrations were developed using information in near infrared spectra. This paper presents findings, which demonstrate that some sound calibrations are possible for major nutritive attributes including acid detergent fibre, crude protein, calcium and chloride; for these attributes the ratio of performance to deviation exceeded a value of 4.5.
Segregating wood wastes by repetitive principal component analysis of near infrared spectra
Authors: Kobori Hikaru , Higa Sakura , Tsuchikawa Satoru , Kojima Yoichi , Suzuki Shigehiko
Published: November 2017

To improve the recycling rate of wooden materials, it is necessary to classify wood waste by disposal method and usage. In the industrial manufacture of these materials, rapid and accurate determination of their chemical and physical properties is critical for a stable supply of wood products with reliable quality. In this study, we investigated a discriminant analysis process for waste wood products using hyperspectral imaging with a newly developed repetitive principal component analysis. Hyperspectral images of four types of wood waste (plywood coated with resin, preservative-treated wood, hardwood and softwood) were acquired. The mean spectrum of each sample was extracted from a hypercube in order to build a classification model. A novel classification method based on principal component analysis, named repetitive principal component analysis, was developed. A total of three repetitions of principal component analysis were performed to classify the four types of wood waste. Cross-validated results of repetitive principal component analysis resulted in classifications greater than 85% for any of the four wood waste types. The discriminant model was then applied to single-pixel spectra of the hypercube to form a prediction map. Hyperspectral imaging, with the aid of the new repetitive principal component analysis discriminant analysis, is a powerful tool in wood recycling processes.
Cities in the Era of Globalization: Positioning Global Cities in International Political Economy
Authors: Dattagupta Oindrila
Published: November 2017

Cities are the dynamic analytical entities of research that involve interactions of economic, social, political, and cultural arenas, associating themselves with the process of industrialization, globalization, technological advancements, and financial revolution. Conceptually, the global cities are the pivotal points of production, manufacturing, connecting three levels of international relations: local, national, and global, providing a broader lens to view the international politics. Emphasis on global cities challenges the statist domination of the international relations framework, thus making the discipline multiscalar (regional, national, and global). The article aims to analyze the role of cities in accelerating capital flows, attracting labor and technological upgradation calling for flexible adjustments in the national government policies in the era of globalization. It will delve into the conceptualization of global cities, strategic role they play in national and international economy, and how critical and significant they are for the flourishing of global capitalism. The core research puzzle is to identify the rise of cities in international political economy and the examination of power, dominance, and the transformation of cities vis-à-vis the changing role of the states.
The Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons Against the Syrian People: Does It Justify Forceful Intervention?
Authors: Krishnan S.
Published: November 2017

The USA continues to deliberate over the use of military force against the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad, after its alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians. So long as the UN Security Council does not agree with intervention, any US action is not permissible under the UN Charter. Even the principle of Responsibility to Protect would not be justified in this case, as any action is likely to be short, punitive, and unlikely to end the attacks on Syrian civilians. To determine if international law permits the launching of US military strikes in Syria, it is the UN Charter, and not the Geneva Conventions, which must guide the US government and the American people. Then, there is the so-called humanitarian intervention, or a military campaign calculated to stop widespread attacks on a civilian population, including acts of genocide, other crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Book Review: Rajeev Malhotra, Indian Public Policy Report 2014
Authors: Chakravarty Debabani , Dutta Pankaj
Published: November 2017

Rajeev Malhotra, Indian Public Policy Report 2014. New Delhi: Jindal School of Government and Public Policy and Oxford University Press, 2014, ₹782, 264 pp.
Book Review: Praveen Jha and Geetha Rani (eds), Right to Education in India: Resources, Institutions and Public Policy
Authors: Venkataraman L. N.
Published: November 2017

Praveen Jha and Geetha Rani (eds), Right to Education in India: Resources, Institutions and Public Policy. New Delhi: Routledge, 2016, ₹895 (hardback), 366 pp.
Multidimensional Aspect of Child Poverty in India
Authors: Radhakrishna R. , Ravi C.
Published: November 2017

This article analyzes incidence of childhood poverty in India and the states in the post-reform period by considering monetary poverty, malnutrition and educational deprivation. It focuses on malnutrition and analyzes the determinants of malnutrition by considering child, mother and household-specific characteristics. It ranks states on their levels of child well-being and also on the progress made in improving the well-being of their children. It also examines whether growth is adequate to eliminate child poverty.
Philanthropy, Remittances and Identity: The Case of London-based Sri Lankans
Authors: Kabir Sarah , Stirrat R.L.
Published: November 2017

Although expatriate remittances are a major topic of study in the world of development, relatively little research has taken place on the motives and meanings of international remittances. This article examines Sri Lankan expatriates in the United Kingdom. It focuses on charitable and philanthropic activities and argues that these can only be understood within the context of the personal histories of the donors.
Fiscal Consolidation versus Infrastructural Obligations
Authors: M.R. Anantha Ramu , Gayithri K.
Published: November 2017

This article analyses two important issues pertaining to Indian economy. One is the numerical target under rule-based fiscal correction mechanism being followed by Indian government and second is on infrastructural investment requirements.

India lags behind many countries in the world including some of the developing ones both in terms of stock and quality of infrastructure. There exist huge investment requirements in order to foster the economic growth and efficiently utilise the available resources. In the recent years, there is a significant contribution from the private sector towards infrastructural investment. However, private participation is concentrated in few sectors which are commercially viable and hence in the remaining key areas, like rural infrastructure, government is the sole investor.

In India, excess spending by the central government is restricted under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 and for the state governments under state-specific Fiscal Responsibility Legislations. The Act limits the fiscal deficit (FD) to 3 per cent of GDP for central government and 3 per cent of GSDP for state governments. FD is capped due to its adverse impact on macroeconomy. However, the available literature shows mixed evidence. Most importantly, revenue deficit (RD) component covers major portion of FD and only a meagre amount is left for capital investments. This article debates whether 3 per cent cap on FD is advisable in all the circumstances and also analyses whether infrastructural investment gap can be filled with available fiscal-deficit amount. This article finds that there is an infrastructural investment gap of ‘5,165.20 billion in the 12th Plan period and concludes that it makes no harm even though FD crosses 3 per cent cap given that amount in entirety is spent on capital formation.
Does Trust Matter? An Inquiry on Citizens’ Trust in Public Institutions of Sri Lanka
Authors: Ramesh R.
Published: November 2017

Citizen trust in public institutions is an indication of successful governance as it has often been viewed as an important element of good governance. Citizen distrust in government and its institutions considerably affects the effectiveness and efficiency of public policies and their implementation. Since the independence, Sri Lanka has been regarded as a third world democracy with a strong welfare state system in which public institutions have played pivotal role in fostering democracy and citizen trust. Nevertheless, in the recent past, citizen trust in most public institutions has been alarmingly decreasing owing to politicization of public sector, service delivery, political and bureaucratic corruption, lack of transparency, accountability, ethnic prejudice and partiality in the working of the public institutions. In this backdrop, this paper examines the level of citizen trust in selected institutions and explores factors that influence on trust. The study adopted mixed method approach to explore the problem phenomenon. The study finds that ethnic majority has more trust in public institutions than that of minority, and identity, language of administration and lack of equal representation in bureaucracy are also considerably determine level of trust citizens have in public institutions. Further, political patronage in service delivery has subverted quality of public institutions and trust, interestingly, citizens those who support and being affiliated with ruling party tend to have more trust in government. Police and village-level officers are least trusted owing to endemic corruption.
State, Market and Social Inequalities: A Study of Primary Education in the Indian Punjab
Authors: Gill Angrej Singh
Published: November 2017

The article, using the National Sample Survey (henceforth NSS) data, establishes that the non-state providers, particularly the private-unaided sub-sector, have predominantly captured the primary school education market in Punjab. The predominance of these schools in the state has made the primary education a tradable commodity, catering to the demands based on the ability of the households to pay. In such a situation, the type of school (government or private) the households in the state are able to choose for their wards, particularly at rural level, is largely contingent on their caste and gender, which clearly shows that a new form of social inequality has emerged in Punjab (given not only that the learning environment in the government schools is perceived to be of formidable concern, but these schools are also non-English medium). The article suggests that without a properly functional state-financed school education system, the market forces will continue to strengthen the prevailing social inequalities.
Book Review: Kevin McKague and Muhammad Siddique. 2014. Making Markets More Inclusive: Lessons from Care and the Future of Sustainability in Agricultural Value Chain Development
Authors: Bhatt Anar
Published: November 2017

Kevin McKague and Muhammad Siddique. 2014. Making Markets More Inclusive: Lessons from Care and the Future of Sustainability in Agricultural Value Chain Development. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 242, $70 (Hardcover); $65 (Softcover); $49 (Ebook). ISBN 978-1-137-37375-5.
Book Review: Dev Nathan, Meenu Tiwari and Sandip Sarkar (Eds). 2016. Labour in Global Value Chains in Asia—Development Trajectories in Global Value Chains
Authors: John Jannet
Published: November 2017

Dev Nathan, Meenu Tiwari and Sandip Sarkar (Eds). 2016. Labour in Global Value Chains in Asia—Development Trajectories in Global Value Chains. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, p. 560. US$150. ISBN: 9781107103740 (Hardback)
MiR-204/ZEB2 axis functions as key mediator for MALAT1-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in breast cancer
Authors: Wang Yuzhou , Zhou Yijin , Yang Zhicheng , Chen Baoying , Huang Wennan , Liu Yongyuan , Zhang Ying
Published: November 2017

Long non-coding RNAs recently were identified as key mediators of cancer metastasis. This study provided evidence that long non-coding RNA MALAT1 was up-regulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. MALAT1 promoted cancer cell invasion through inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Interestingly, we revealed there was a reciprocal repression between MALAT1 and miR-204. ZEB2 was identified as a downstream target of miR-204 and MALAT1 exerted its function mainly through the miR-204/ZEB2 axis. Our findings suggested that MALAT1 may serve as a new diagnostic biomarker and therapy target for breast cancer.
Polymorphisms of the receptor for advanced glycation end products and glyoxalase I and long-term outcome in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Tesarova Petra , Zima Tomas , Kubena Ales A , Kalousova Marta
Published: November 2017

Receptor for advanced glycation end products and glyoxalase I metabolizing advanced glycation end product precursors may play important role in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. Potential relation between soluble forms of receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), receptor for advanced glycation end products, glyoxalase I polymorphisms, and long-term outcome (median follow-up of 10.3 years) was studied in 116 patients with breast cancer. Gly82Ser and 2184 A/G RAGE polymorphisms were related to the mortality due to the breast cancer and -419 A/C glyoxalase I polymorphism was related to the overall mortality of the patients suggesting their role not only in the risk of breast cancer but also in the outcome of patients with breast cancer.
Circular RNA GLI2 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting miR-125b-5p
Authors: Li Ji-Feng , Song Yu-Ze
Published: November 2017

Circular RNAs are novel identified type of endogenous non-coding RNAs, which exert vital functions in human and animals. However, the in-depth role of circular RNAs in the progression of tumorigenesis, especially osteosarcoma, is still undefined. Our preliminary study had found that cir-GLI2 was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissue. Moreover, cir-GLI2 silencing could effectively suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of osteosarcoma cells, indicating the tumor-promoting role. Besides, bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay predicted the direct binding to miR-125b-5p, which has been reported to function as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma. Furthermore, functional experiments validated that cir-GLI2 exerted the tumor-promoting effects on osteosarcoma cells via negatively targeting miR-125b-5p. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that cir-GLI2 acts as an oncogenic circular RNA in osteosarcoma genesis, providing a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
Inflammatory breast cancer: High incidence of GCC haplotypes (−1082A/G, −819T/C, and −592A/C) in the interleukin-10 gene promoter correlates with over-expression of interleukin-10 in patients’ carcinoma tissues
Authors: Sabet Salwa , El-Sayed Shrouk Khalaf , Mohamed Hossam Taha , El-Shinawi Mohamed , Mohamed Mona M
Published: November 2017

Interleukin-10 is involved in carcinogenesis by supporting tumor escape from the immune response. The aim of this study was to assess the single nucleotide polymorphisms, −1082A/G, −819T/C and −592A/C, in interleukin-10 gene promoter in inflammatory breast cancer compared to non–inflammatory breast cancer and association of these polymorphisms with interleukin-10 gene expression. We enrolled 105 breast cancer tissue (72 non–inflammatory breast cancer and 33 inflammatory breast cancer) patients and we determined the three studied single nucleotide polymorphisms in all samples by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism and investigated their association with the disease and with various prognostic factors. In addition, we assessed the expression of interleukin-10 gene by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and the correlation between studied single nucleotide polymorphisms and interleukin-10 messenger RNA expression. We found co-dominant effect as the best inheritance model (in the three studied single nucleotide polymorphisms in non–inflammatory breast cancer and inflammatory breast cancer samples), and we didn’t identify any association between single nucleotide polymorphisms genotypes and breast cancer prognostic factors. However, GCC haplotype was found highly associated with inflammatory breast cancer risk (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 43.05). Moreover, the expression of interleukin-10 messenger RNA was significantly higher (p < 0.001) by 5.28-fold and 8.95-fold than non–inflammatory breast cancer and healthy control, respectively, where GCC haplotype significantly increased interleukin-10 gene expression (r = 0.9, p < 0.001).