bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Induction of hsp70-Mediated Th17 Autoimmunity Can Be Exploited as Immunotherapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Kottke Timothy , Sanchez-Perez Luis , Diaz Rosa Maria , Thompson Jill , Chong Heung , Harrington Kevin , Calderwood Stuart K. , Pulido Jose , Georgopoulos Nick , Selby Peter , Melcher Alan , Vile Richard
Published: December 2007

A close connectivity between autoimmune and tumor rejection responses is known to exist in the case of melanoma immunotherapy. However, relatively little is known about self-antigens on other types of normal cells, their relation to the development of autoimmune disease, and their possible coexistence as potential tumor rejection antigens on associated tumors. In the current study, we induced inflammatory killing of normal prostate tissue in situ using a fusogenic membrane glycoprotein along with the immune adjuvant hsp70. We show here that, in the prostate, hsp70 induces interleukin (IL)-6, which triggers a CD4- and CD8-dependent progressive autoimmune reactivity, associated with IL-17 expression. This autoimmune response was also able to induce the rejection of established prostate tumors, but not other histologic types of tumors, growing elsewhere in the animal. These data show that the intimate connectivity between autoimmune and tumor rejection responses extends beyond the classic melanoma paradigm and may be clinically valuable for the treatment of established metastatic disease of the prostate. [Cancer Res 2007;67(24):11970–9]
Lack of Mutagenicity of Acrolein-Induced DNA Adducts in Mouse and Human Cells
Authors: Kim Sang-in , Pfeifer Gerd P. , Besaratinia Ahmad
Published: December 2007

Acrolein is an endogenous metabolite and a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. Recently, it has been suggested that acrolein is a major etiologic agent for tobacco smoking–related lung cancer. Despite the known DNA-damaging effects of acrolein, its mutagenicity to mammalian cells remains uncertain. We have investigated acrolein-induced DNA damage in relation to mutagenesis, with special focus on DNA repair, in mouse and human cells. We mapped the formation of acrolein-induced DNA adducts and the kinetics of repair of the induced lesions in the cII transgene, the mutational target, in acrolein-treated transgenic mouse fibroblasts. Acrolein-DNA adducts were formed preferentially at specific nucleotide positions, mainly at G:C base pairs, along the cII transgene. The induced acrolein-DNA adducts were moderately resistant to DNA repair. Quantification of cII mutant frequency in acrolein-treated cells, however, revealed that acrolein was not mutagenic to these cells at doses sufficient to produce DNA adducts. Determination of supF mutant frequency in DNA repair–proficient and DNA repair–deficient human fibroblasts transfected with acrolein-treated plasmids confirmed a lack of acrolein mutagenicity. Because CpG methylation may intensify acrolein-DNA adduction, we examined whether the extent of CpG methylation in the supF gene can determine acrolein-induced mutagenesis in human cells. Enhancement of acrolein-DNA adduction by methylating CpGs in the supF sequence did not elicit a mutagenic response in human fibroblasts, however. We conclude that acrolein is not mutagenic to mouse and human fibroblasts, regardless of DNA repair capacity or methylation status of CpGs, possibly because of a highly accurate replication bypass of the induced lesions. [Cancer Res 2007;67(24):11640–7]
Green Tea Polyphenols Reverse Cooperation between c-Rel and CK2 that Induces the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, Slug, and an Invasive Phenotype
Authors: Belguise Karine , Guo Shangqin , Yang Shi , Rogers Adrianne E. , Seldin David C. , Sherr David H. , Sonenshein Gail E.
Published: December 2007

Exposure to and bioaccumulation of lipophilic environmental pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been implicated in breast cancer. Treatment of female rats with the prototypic xenobiotic PAH 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induces mammary tumors with an invasive phenotype. Here, we show that green tea prevents or reverses loss of the epithelial marker E-cadherin on the surface of DMBA-induced in situ cancers. To investigate the mechanism(s) leading to a less invasive phenotype, the effects of the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) on mammary tumor cells were assessed. EGCG reversed epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in DMBA-treated NF-κB c-Rel–driven mammary tumor cells and reduced levels of c-Rel and the protein kinase CK2. Ectopic coexpression of c-Rel and CK2α in untransformed mammary epithelial cells was sufficient to induce a mesenchymal gene profile. Mammary tumors and cell lines derived from MMTV-c-Rel × CK2α bitransgenic mice displayed a highly invasive phenotype. Coexpression of c-Rel and CK2, or DMBA exposure induced the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and putative target gene product Slug, an EMT master regulator, which could be reversed by EGCG treatment. Thus, activation of c-Rel and CK2 and downstream targets AhR and Slug by DMBA induces EMT; EGCG can inhibit this signaling. [Cancer Res 2007;67(24):11742–50]
Nm23-H1 Suppresses Metastasis by Inhibiting Expression of the Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor EDG2
Authors: Horak Christine E. , Mendoza Arnulfo , Vega-Valle Eleazar , Albaugh Mary , Graff-Cherry Cari , McDermott William G. , Hua Emily , Merino Maria J. , Steinberg Seth M. , Khanna Chand , Steeg Patricia S.
Published: December 2007

Nm23-H1 transcriptionally down-regulates expression of the lysophosphatidic acid receptor EDG2 and this down-regulation is critical for Nm23-H1–mediated motility suppression in vitro. We investigated the effect of altered EDG2 expression on Nm23-H1–mediated metastasis suppression in vivo. Clonal MDA-MB-435–derived tumor cell lines transfected with Nm23-H1 together with either a vector control or EDG2 had similar anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth rates in vitro. However, a 45- and 300-fold inhibition of motility and invasion (P < 0.0001), respectively, was observed in Nm23-H1/vector lines, whereas coexpression of EDG2 restored activity to levels observed in the parental line. Using fluorescently labeled cells and ex vivo microscopy, the capacity of these cells to adhere, arrest, extravasate, and survive in the murine lung over a 24-h time course was measured. Only 5% of Nm23-H1/vector–transfected cells were retained in the murine lung 6 h following tail vein injection; coexpression of EDG2 enhanced retention 8- to 13-fold (P < 0.01). In a spontaneous metastasis assay, the primary tumor size of Nm23-H1/vector and Nm23-H1/EDG2 clones was not significantly different. However, restoration of EDG2 expression augmented the incidence of pulmonary metastasis from 51.9% to 90.4% (P = 2.4 × 10−5), comparable with parental MDA-MB-435 cells. To determine the relevance of this model system to human breast cancer, a cohort of breast carcinomas was stained for Nm23-H1 and EDG2 and a statistically significant inverse correlation between these two proteins was revealed (r = −0.73; P = 0.004). The data indicate that Nm23-H1 down-regulation of EDG2 is functionally important to suppression of tumor metastasis. [Cancer Res 2007;67(24):11751–9]
Cancer-Testis Antigen Lymphocyte Antigen 6 Complex Locus K Is a Serologic Biomarker and a Therapeutic Target for Lung and Esophageal Carcinomas
Authors: Ishikawa Nobuhisa , Takano Atsushi , Yasui Wataru , Inai Kouki , Nishimura Hitoshi , Ito Hiroyuki , Miyagi Yohei , Nakayama Haruhiko , Fujita Masahiro , Hosokawa Masao , Tsuchiya Eiju , Kohno Nobuoki , Nakamura Yusuke , Daigo Yataro
Published: December 2007

Gene expression profile analyses of non–small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) revealed that lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus K (LY6K) was specifically expressed in testis and transactivated in a majority of NSCLCs and ESCCs. Immunohistochemical staining using 406 NSCLC and 265 ESCC specimens confirmed that LY6K overexpression was associated with poor prognosis for patients with NSCLC (P = 0.0003), as well as ESCC (P = 0.0278), and multivariate analysis confirmed its independent prognostic value for NSCLC (P = 0.0035). We established an ELISA to measure serum LY6K and found that the proportion of the serum LY6K-positive cases was 38 of 112 (33.9%) NSCLC and 26 of 81 (32.1%) ESCC, whereas only 3 of 74 (4.1%) healthy volunteers were falsely diagnosed. In most cases, there was no correlation between serum LY6K and conventional tumor markers of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19-fragment (CYFRA 21-1) values. A combined ELISA for both LY6K and CEA classified 64.7% of lung adenocarcinoma patients as positive, and the use of both LY6K and CYFRA 21-1 increased sensitivity in the detection of lung squamous cell carcinomas and ESCCs up to 70.4% and 52.5%, respectively, whereas the false positive rate was 6.8% to 9.5%. In addition, knocked down of LY6K expression with small interfering RNAs resulted in growth suppression of the lung and esophageal cancer cells. Our data imply that a cancer-testis antigen, LY6K, should be useful as a new type of tumor biomarker and probably as a target for the development of new molecular therapies for cancer treatment. [Cancer Res 2007;67(24):11536–46]
A Smac Mimetic Rescue Screen Reveals Roles for Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins in Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Signaling
Authors: Gaither Alex , Porter Dale , Yao Yao , Borawski Jason , Yang Guang , Donovan Jerry , Sage David , Slisz Joanna , Tran Mary , Straub Christopher , Ramsey Tim , Iourgenko Vadim , Huang Alan , Chen Yan , Schlegel Robert , Labow Mark , Fawell Stephen , Sellers William R. , Zawel Leigh
Published: December 2007

Smac mimetic compounds targeting the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) baculoviral IAP repeat-3 domain are presumed to reduce the threshold for apoptotic cell death by alleviating caspase-9 repression. We explored this tenet in an unbiased manner by searching for small interfering RNAs that are able to confer resistance to the Smac mimetic compound LBW242. Among the screening hits were multiple components of the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) signaling pathway as well as X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) itself. Here, we show that in a subset of highly sensitive tumor cell lines, activity of LBW242 is dependent on TNFα signaling. Mechanistic studies indicate that in this context, XIAP is a positive modulator of TNFα induction whereas cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 negatively regulates TNFα-mediated apoptosis. [Cancer Res 2007;67(24):11493–8]
PHA-739358, a potent inhibitor of Aurora kinases with a selective target inhibition profile relevant to cancer
Authors: Carpinelli Patrizia , Ceruti Roberta , Giorgini Maria Laura , Cappella Paolo , Gianellini Laura , Croci Valter , Degrassi Anna , Texido Gemma , Rocchetti Maurizio , Vianello Paola , Rusconi Luisa , Storici Paola , Zugnoni Paola , Arrigoni Claudio , Soncini Chiara , Alli Cristina , Patton Veronica , Marsiglio Aurelio , Ballinari Dario , Pesenti Enrico , Fancelli Daniele , Moll Jürgen
Published: December 2007

PHA-739358 is a small-molecule 3-aminopyrazole derivative with strong activity against Aurora kinases and cross-reactivities with some receptor tyrosine kinases relevant for cancer. PHA-739358 inhibits all Aurora kinase family members and shows a dominant Aurora B kinase inhibition–related cellular phenotype and mechanism of action in cells in vitro and in vivo. p53 status–dependent endoreduplication is observed upon treatment of cells with PHA-739358, and phosphorylation of histone H3 in Ser10 is inhibited. The compound has significant antitumor activity in different xenografts and spontaneous and transgenic animal tumor models and shows a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile. In vivo target modulation is observed as assessed by the inhibition of the phosphorylation of histone H3, which has been validated preclinically as a candidate biomarker for the clinical phase. Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics modeling was used to define drug potency and to support the prediction of active clinical doses and schedules. We conclude that PHA-739358, which is currently tested in clinical trials, has great therapeutic potential in anticancer therapy in a wide range of cancers. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(12):3158–68]
The transcription factor FOXO3a is a crucial cellular target of gefitinib (Iressa) in breast cancer cells
Authors: Krol Janna , Francis Richard E. , Albergaria André , Sunters Andrew , Polychronis Andreas , Coombes R. Charles , Lam Eric W.-F.
Published: December 2007

Gefitinib is a specific inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that causes growth delay in cancer cell lines and human tumor xenografts expressing high levels of EGFR. An understanding of the downstream cellular targets of gefitinib will allow the discovery of biomarkers for predicting outcomes and monitoring anti-EGFR therapies and provide information for key targets for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we investigated the role of FOXO3a in gefitinib action and resistance. Using two gefitinib-sensitive (i.e., BT474 and SKBR3) as well as three other resistant breast carcinoma cell lines (i.e., MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-453), we showed that gefitinib targets the transcription factor FOXO3a to mediate cell cycle arrest and cell death in sensitive breast cancer cells. In the sensitive cells, gefitinib treatment causes cell cycle arrest predominantly at the G0-G1 phase and apoptosis, which is associated with FOXO3a dephosphorylation at Akt sites and nuclear translocation, whereas in the resistant cells, FOXO3a stays phosphorylated and remains in the cytoplasm. The nuclear accumulation of FOXO3a in response to gefitinib was confirmed in tumor tissue sections from breast cancer patients presurgically treated with gefitinib as monotherapy. We also showed that knockdown of FOXO3a expression using small interfering RNA (siRNA) can rescue sensitive BT474 cells from gefitinib-induced cell-proliferative arrest, whereas reintroduction of active FOXO3a in resistant MDA-MB-231 cells can at least partially restore cell-proliferative arrest and sensitivity to gefitinib. These results suggest that the FOXO3a dephosphorylation and nuclear localization have a direct role in mediating the gefitinib-induced proliferative arrest and in determining sensitivity to gefitinib. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(12):3169–79]
Extreme Lipoprotein(a) Levels and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in the General Population
Authors: Kamstrup Pia R. , Benn Marianne , Tybjærg-Hansen Anne , Nordestgaard Børge G.
Published: December 2007

Background—

Elevated lipoprotein(a) levels are associated with myocardial infarction (MI) in some but not all studies. Limitations of previous studies include lack of risk estimates for extreme lipoprotein(a) levels, measurements in long-term frozen samples, no correction for regression dilution bias, and lack of absolute risk estimates in the general population. We tested the hypothesis that extreme lipoprotein(a) levels predict MI in the general population, measuring levels shortly after sampling, correcting for regression dilution bias, and calculating hazard ratios and absolute risk estimates.

Methods and Results—

We examined 9330 men and women from the general population in the Copenhagen City Heart Study. During 10 years of follow-up, 498 participants developed MI. In women, multifactorially adjusted hazard ratios for MI for elevated lipoprotein(a) levels were 1.1 (95% CI, 0.6 to 1.9) for 5 to 29 mg/dL (22nd to 66th percentile), 1.7 (1.0 to 3.1) for 30 to 84 mg/dL (67th to 89th percentile), 2.6 (1.2 to 5.9) for 85 to 119 mg/dL (90th to 95th percentile), and 3.6 (1.7 to 7.7) for ≥120 mg/dL (>95th percentile) versus levels <5 mg/dL (<22nd percentile). Equivalent values in men were 1.5 (0.9 to 2.3), 1.6 (1.0 to 2.6), 2.6 (1.2 to 5.5), and 3.7 (1.7 to 8.0). Absolute 10-year risks of MI were 10% and 20% in smoking, hypertensive women aged >60 years with lipoprotein(a) levels of <5 and ≥120 mg/dL, respectively. Equivalent values in men were 19% and 35%.

Conclusions—

We observed a stepwise increase in risk of MI with increasing levels of lipoprotein(a), with no evidence of a threshold effect. Extreme lipoprotein(a) levels predict a 3- to 4-fold increase in risk of MI in the general population and absolute 10-year risks of 20% and 35% in high-risk women and men.
Effects of Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor Overexpression in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla on Blood Pressure and Urine Excretion in Normal Rats
Authors: Gao Lie , Wang Weizhong , Wang Wei , Li Hongwei , Sumners Colin , Zucker Irving H.
Published: December 2007

Central angiotensin II plays a critical role in the regulation of cardiovascular function and autonomic activity, in part, via angiotensin type 1 receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Increasing evidence indicates that angiotensin II can also act on angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT
2
Rs) to exert antagonistic effects. In the current study we determined the effects of overexpression of AT
2
R in the RVLM on sodium and water excretion and on blood pressure in conscious rats. The overexpression of AT
2
R was induced by bilateral microinjection of the AT
2
R adenovirus (Ad5-SYN-AT2R-IRES-EGFP, 2.5×10
6
infection units in 0.5 μL; Ad5-SYN-EGFP as the control, 2.5×10
6
infection units in 0.5 μL) into the RVLM of rats. Immunofluorescence staining showed that microinjection of AT
2
R adenovirus into the RVLM evoked local overexpression. Significant overexpression of AT
2
R in the RVLM began at 24 hours and was sustained up to 12 days after microinjection. Overexpression of AT
2
R in the RVLM significantly decreased the nocturnal arterial blood pressure and increased the 24-hour urine excretion at days 2, 3, and 4 after gene delivery compared with the control rats. These alterations were abolished by the microinfusion of captopril into the RVLM and were enhanced by angiotensin II infusion. Overexpression of AT
2
R in the RVLM also significantly decreased the urine concentration of noradrenaline and 24-hour noradrenaline excretion (1.1±0.5 μg in control rats and 2.4±0.5 μg in AT
2
R rats;
P
<0.05). These results suggest that overexpression of AT
2
R in the RVLM induced a diuresis that may be mediated, in part, by sympathoinhibition.
Altered Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Gene Expression and Function and Vascular Disease Risk in the Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat
Authors: Corenblum Mandi J. , Wise Vance E. , Georgi Katrin , Hammock Bruce D. , Doris Peter A. , Fornage Myriam
Published: December 2007

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) metabolizes epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and represents a novel therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease treatment. We investigated the relationship among sequence variation in the sEH gene (Ephx2), sEH function, and risk of end-organ injury in strains of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRs) differing in their susceptibility to develop brain vascular disease. Brain Ephx2 expression was significantly lower in stroke-prone (SHR/A3) than in stroke-resistant (SHR/N) SHRs (5-fold;
P
<0.0001). Resequencing of the Ephx2 promoter in the 2 strains identified 3 polymorphisms that significantly influenced promoter transcriptional activity in vitro. Measurements of brain sEH enzyme activity and plasma levels of arachidonate and linoleate metabolites of sEH further suggested significant differences between the 2 strains. Ratios of epoxyoctadecenoic acids to dihydroxyoctadecenoic acids were significantly higher, indicating a lower sEH activity in SHR/A3 than in SHR/N (
P
<0.0001). Plasma dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid levels were lower in SHR/A3 than in SHR/N (
P
<0.0001), but plasma epoxyeicosatrienoic acids levels were similar in the 2 strains. Association analysis of Ephx2 polymorphism in the F2 progeny of an SHR/A3×SHR/N cross showed that animals carrying the SHR/A3 allele of Ephx2 had a greater risk of stroke and associated urinary proteinuria than animals that do not. Investigation of patterns of allelic similarities and differences among multiple stroke-prone and stroke-resistant SHR substrains showed that Ephx2 belongs to a haplotype block shared among all of the stroke-prone but no stroke-resistant substrains. These data support a role for Ephx2 polymorphism on sEH gene expression and function and risk of end-organ injury in the stroke-prone SHR.
Alternative Modernities: A Cultural Genealogy of Japan's Modernization
Authors: Brown Richard
Published: December 2007

Traditional and largely rural patterns of relationships seem to persist in Japan despite economic and political modernization. Infused within modern technology, ideology, and apparently modern organizational forms, one discerns the persistent, if not determining, influence of native values and social patterns. Following a genealogical approach, inspired by Nietzsche and Foucault, this paper goes beyond the opposition between universalist and multiculturalist models of modernization, in order to identify certain indigenous principles of social organization manifest in both "traditional" and "modern" social formations of Japan. The persistence of these basic principles, such as the 'frame orientation," and the emphasis on

wa

(harmony, peace), is traced through the historical process of Japan's modernization in various realms of social life — the economy, political life, and popular culture. e analysis recent structural shifts in Japanese society, while still affirming the principles of Japan's "alternative modernity," also implies that major changes in its basic organizing principles might be under way.
Assumptions, Assertions and the Need for Evidence
Authors: Darr Asaf , Warhurst Chris
Published: December 2007

Despite growing interest in the knowledge economy, the work practice of its key workers has remained neglected. This article reviews the key sociological and managerial debates about ascendant knowledge workers. The authors argue that both debates assume, rather than empirically examine, changing work practices and through a leap of faith move on to discuss the enhanced class position of knowledge workers and the managerial challenges that they pose. The authors postulate that omission of work practice undermines such claims. They critique both debates, presenting an alternative, empirically sensitive research agenda to help overcome the existing analytical myopia.
The Effects of Black Identity on Candidate Evaluations
Authors: Sullivan Jas M. , Arbuthnot Keena N.
Published: December 2007

Although Barack Obama’s entrance into the 2008 presidential campaign has been warmly received by Whites, Blacks have been somewhat ambivalent. Some even have claimed that Obama is not “Black.” The case of Barack Obama brings to the forefront the prospect of intragroup identity differences that exist among Blacks and the potential importance of a candidate’s racial background in elections. Consequently, the authors ask the following questions: (a) Does the racial background of a political candidate affect Black voters’ support and evaluation of a candidate’s personal attributes (i.e., trust, concern, strength, and qualification)? and (b) Focusing purely on the treatment groups separately (White, biracial, and Black candidates), does Black identity affect Blacks’ support and evaluation of a candidate’s personal attributes? The experimental results of this exploratory study find race does make a difference on candidate support, and Black identity influences the way in which Black respondents perceive White, biracial, and Black candidates. As a result, these findings suggest that differences in how Blacks feel about a candidate will depend on the candidate’s racial background, their own attitudes and beliefs about being Black, and where they fall on various demographic and political measures.
A Comparative Study on the Felting Propensity of Animal Fibers
Authors: Xin Liu  , Xungai Wang
Published: December 2007

The felting propensity of different animal fibers, particularly alpaca and wool, has been examined. The Aachen felting test method was employed. 1 g of each type of fiber was soaked in 50 ml of wetting solution and agitated in a dyeing machine to make felt balls. The diameter of each ball was measured in nine directions and the ball density was calculated in g/cm3; the higher the density value of the ball, the higher the feltability of the fibers. The effects of fiber diameter and fiber length on the felting propensity of these fibers were investigated. The results show that the alpaca fibers felt to a higher degree than wool fibers, and short and fine cashmere fibers have lower felting propensity than wool fibers at a similar diameter range. There is a higher tendency of felting for bleached and dyed alpaca fibers than for untreated fibers. Fiber length has a remarkable influence on the propensity of fiber felting. Cotton and nylon fibers were also tested for felting propensity to verify the mechanism responsible for the different fiber felting behavior.
Surface Characterization of Chemically Modified Wool
Authors: Bahi A. , Jones J.T. , Carr C.M. , Ulijn R.V. , Shao J.
Published: December 2007

The surface topography of wool fiber, and in particular the scale height and surface roughness, has been characterized using three-dimensional scanning electron microscopy (3D-SEM). The analysis methodology allows the scale height and surface roughness to be accurately and quickly measured, and may provide detailed information about the fiber topography, any associated damage and possible surface coatings. The treatment of wool fiber with potassium permanganate in salt solution was assessed using 3D-SEM and the progressive reduction in the scale height and cuticle smoothing demonstrated. While this effect was relatively obvious and uniform, the effect of a proteolytic enzymatic treatment on the fiber surface was less uniform. The associated effect of the enzymatic modification on the felting shrinkage, fabric strength, and handle was also determined.
Objective Pilling Evaluation of Wool Fabrics
Authors: Junmin Zhang  , Xungai Wang  , Palmer Stuart
Published: December 2007

An objective pilling evaluation method based on the multi-scale two-dimensional dual-tree complex wavelet transform and linear discriminant function of Bayes' Rule was developed. The surface fuzz and pills are identified from the high-frequency noise, fabric textures, fabric surface unevenness, and illuminative variation of a pilled fabric image by the two-dimensional dual-tree complex wavelet decomposition and reconstruction. The energies of the reconstructed subimages in six spatial orientations (±15º, ±45º, ±75º) are calculated as the elements of the pilling feature vector, whose dimension is reduced by principal component analysis. A linear discriminant function of Bayes' Rule was used as a classifier to establish classification rules among the five pilling grades. A new pilled sample with the same physical construction can then be automatically assigned to one of the five pilling grades by the classification rules. A general evaluation of the proposed method was conducted using the SM50 woven, non-woven, and SM54 knitted standard pilling test image sets. The results suggest that the new method can successfully establish classification rules among the five pilling grade groups for each of the three standard pilling test image sets and should be applicable to practical objective pilling evaluation.
Photochromic Wool Fabrics from a Hybrid Silica Coating
Authors: Tong Cheng  , Tong Lin  , Jian Fang  , Brady Rex
Published: December 2007

In this work, a photochromic wool fabric has been prepared by applying a photochromic-dye hybrid silica sol-gel onto the surface of fabric. The photochromic fabric was found to have a very quick optical response. Two types of silica were used as the matrix material, and the type of silica had a small effect only on the photochromic performance, the fabric washing fastness, and water contact angle, but affected the fabric handle property considerably. The silica from a precursor containing a long alkyl chain showed very little influence on the fabric handle and better photochromic performance than that containing a phenyl group.
Effect of Moisture Management on Functional Performance of Cold Protective Clothing
Authors: Wang S.X. , Li Y. , Tokura Hiromi , Hu J.Y. , Han Y.X. , Kwok Y.L. , Au R.W.
Published: December 2007

This paper reports a study on the effect of moisture management in the design of cold protective clothing. In this research, two kinds of clothing systems were tested, a traditional clothing system (clothing A), and a specially designed moisture management clothing system (clothing B). Both clothing systems have the same four-layer structure (underwear, vest, coat, and outer jacket), but with use of different functional fabrics. The experiments were conducted in a climate chamber where the temperature was controlled at —15 °C. Eleven young male subjects took part in wear trial experiments, in which they were dressed in clothing A or B and walked on a treadmill. The humidities and temperatures at the skin surface and at different layers of the clothing system were measured together with measurements of thermal and moisture sensations. The experimental results showed that the moisture management property of fabrics significantly affected the moisture diffusion and temperature distributions in the cold protective clothing systems, and influenced the thermal and moisture sensations.
Measurement Precision and Evaluation of the Diameter Profiles of Single Wool Fibers
Authors: Wang H. , Mahar T. , Liu X. , Wang X.
Published: December 2007

A recent model of the Single Fiber Analyzer 3001 (SIFAN3001) was firstly employed to obtain the single wool fiber diameter profiles (SfFDPs) at multiple orientations. The results showed that using SIFAN3001 to measure fiber diameter at four orientations for 50 single fibers randomly sub-sampled from each mid-side sample can produce average fiber diameter profiles (AS fFDPs) of fibers within staples. Within the testing regime used, the precision estimates for the total samples were ±1.3 µm for the mean fiber diameter of staples and 1.4 µm for the average fiber diameter of the AS fFDPs at each scanned step in the diameter profile. The mean diameter ratio (ellipticity) obtained from the four orientations was 1.08±0.01, confirming that the Merino wool fibers under review were elliptical rather than circular. The elliptical morphology of wool fibers and the precision of the fiber diameter measurement at each point along a fiber will be considered in the development of a mechanical model of Staple Strength testing.
Self-rated competency in activities predicts functioning and participation one year after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Sveen Unni , Mongs Malin , Røe Cecilie , Sandvik Leiv , Bautz-Holter Erik
Published: December 2007

Objective: To investigate whether the Patient Competency Rating Scale at three months predicts global functioning and participation one year after traumatic brain injury.

Design: Prospective cohort study with follow-up at 3 and 12 months post injury. The Patient Competency Rating Scale was analysed in a logistic regression model with the outcomes Community Integration Questionnaire, Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended and return to work/study.

Setting: The neurosurgical department of a trauma referral centre in a metropolitan hospital.

Subjects: A cohort of 70 patients with acute traumatic brain injury, ranging from mild to severe injury.

Main measures: The Patient Competency Rating Scale, assessing competency in activities, was applied as a predictor. Outcomes describing community participation at 12 months were the Community Integration Questionnaire and return to work/study. Global functioning was evaluated by the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended.

Results: Factor analysis of the Patient Competency Rating Scale items yielded three domains: activities demanding cognition, interpersonal/emotional skills, and activities of daily living (ADL) competency. The first two of these domains significantly predicted return to work/study and community integration, whilst global functioning at one year was predicted by interpersonal/emotional competency.

Conclusions: The Patient Competency Rating Scale at three months predicted functioning and participation one year after traumatic brain injury. This indicates that rehabilitation interventions should focus on cognitive and interpersonal competency in order to enhance participation after traumatic brain injury.
Transparent Rate Mode Bilateral Teleoperation Control
Authors: Mobasser Farid , Hashtrudi-Zaad Keyvan
Published: December 2007

Transparent teleoperation under rate mode has proven to be difficult in terms of stability, performance and implementation. This is mainly due to the need for an exchange of derivative and integral of measured positions and forces which make transparent rate mode controllers prone to noise and abrupt contact force changes. Moreover, the performance of controllers declines in the presence of communication delays. This paper proposes two control architectures based on the use of local force feedback (LFF) and environment impedance reflection (EIR). The LFF controllers eliminate a force channel while preserving transparency under ideal conditions. In the EIR controller, the identified impedance of the environment is employed in the master controller to predict the slave position and contact force derivatives. The stability robustness and performance of these controllers are evaluated and compared to those of a benchmark controller under different operational conditions, such as noise and delay, using analytical methods and experimental results.
Image-based Visual Servoing with Central Catadioptric Cameras
Authors: Mariottini Gian Luca , Prattichizzo Domenico
Published: December 2007

This paper presents an image-based visual servoing strategy for the autonomous navigation of a mobile holonomic robot from a current towards a desired pose, specified only through a current and a desired image acquired by the on-board central catadioptric camera. This kind of vision sensor combines lenses and mirrors to enlarge the field of view. The proposed visual servoing does not require any metrical information about the three-dimensional viewed scene and is mainly based on a novel geometrical property, the auto-epipolar condition, which occurs when two catadioptric views (current and desired) undergo a pure translation. This condition can be detected in real time in the image domain by observing when a set of so-called disparity conics have a common intersection. The auto-epipolar condition and the pixel distances between the current and target image features are used to design the image-based control law. Lyapunov-based stability analysis and simulation results demonstrate the parametric robustness of the proposed method. Experimental results are presented to show the applicability of our visual servoing in a real context.
Cooperative Cleaners: A Study in Ant Robotics
Authors: Wagner Israel A. , Altshuler Yaniv , Yanovski Vladimir , Bruckstein Alfred M.
Published: December 2007

In the world of living creatures, simple-minded animals often cooperate to achieve common goals with amazing performance. One can consider this idea in the context of robotics, and suggest models for programming goal-oriented behavior into the members of a group of simple robots lacking global supervision. This can be done by controlling the local interactions between the robot agents, to have them jointly carry out a given mission. As a test case we analyze the problem of many simple robots cooperating to clean the dirty floor of a non-convex region inZ2 , using the dirt on the floor as the main means of inter-robot communication.
AIDS denialism and 'The humanisation of the African'
Authors: Wang Joy
Published: December 2007

The AIDS denialism of South African President Thabo Mbeki's government is analysed through close examination of a representative monograph circulated throughout the ANC in 2002, referred to here as `The humanisation of the African'. Particular attention is drawn to the document's anti-colonial rhetoric and its indictment of AIDS activism as an instance of western neocolonial intervention. Although the anti-colonial stance of this document is problematic, the expressed resistance to pharmaceutical industries and racism needs to be regarded seriously. Fanon's essay `Medicine and colonialism' establishes useful parameters for historicising the impasse between scientists and Mbeki's government. Understanding Mbeki's AIDS denialism within the context of apartheid and colonialism is crucial in enabling us to read the tragic mismanagement of the epidemic beyond the most frequently employed explanations of South African racial paranoia, pathological despotism and/or scientific illiteracy. A closer examination of AIDS denialism has broader ramifications for a critical understanding of the relationship between medical intervention, postcolonial studies and human rights.
'Integration', discrimination and the left in France: a roundtable discussion
Authors: Bouteldja Naima
Published: December 2007

At a roundtable discussion held in Paris in May 2007, French activists and academics examined the dangers of the current `integration' discourse. In the extracts from the discussion published here, it is argued that a chauvinist consensus on national identity exists across the political spectrum in France. Bound up with this consensus is a set of deeply held prejudices against Muslims and `immigrant' communities. These have led to new restrictions on access to citizenship, and even residence rights, which have been implemented in the name of a notion of `integration' that is never precisely defined. Moreover, the institutions which have been established in France to represent Muslims or tackle discrimination have not been given effective powers and are aimed more at preserving the status quo.
Long-term Evaluation of Porous PEGT/PBT Implants for Soft Tissue Augmentation
Authors: Lamme Evert N. , Druecke Daniel , Pieper Jeroen , May Paul S. , Kaim Peter , Jacobsen Frank , Steinau Hans-Ulrich , Steinstraesser Lars
Published: December 2007

Porous PEGT/PBT implants with different physico-chemical characteristics were evaluated to identify its potential as biodegradable and biofunctional soft tissue filler. Implants (50 × 10 × 5mm3) were implanted subcutaneously in mini-pigs and tissue response, tissue volume generated and its consistency were assessed quantitatively with a 52 weeks follow-up. The absence of wound edema, skin irritation, and chronic inflammation demonstrated biocompatibility of all implants evaluated. The hydrophobic implants induced the mildest foreign body response, generated highest amount of connective tissue and demonstrated a decrease in copolymer MW of 34—37% compared to 90% decrease of the hydrophilic implants. The rate and extent of copolymer fragmentation seems to be the determining factor of success of soft tissue augmentation using porous PEGT/PBT copolymer implants.
Disambiguation, Binding, and the Unity of Visual Consciousness
Authors: LaRock Eric
Published: December 2007

Recent findings in neuroscience strongly suggest that an object's features (e.g., its color, texture, shape, etc.) are represented in separate areas of the visual cortex. Although represented in separate neuronal areas, somehow the feature representations are brought together as a single, unified object of visual consciousness. This raises a question of binding: how do neural activities in separate areas of the visual cortex function to produce a feature-unified object of visual consciousness? Several prominent neuroscientists have adopted neural synchrony and attention-based approaches to explain object feature binding. I argue that although neural synchrony and/or attentional mechanisms might function to disambiguate an object's features, it is difficult to see how either of these mechanisms could fully explain the unity of an object's features at the level of visual consciousness. After presenting a detailed critique of neural synchrony and attention-based approaches to object feature binding, I propose interactive hierarchical structuralism (IHS) . This view suggests that a unified percept (i.e., a feature-unified object of visual consciousness) is not reducible to the activity of any cognitive capacity or to any localized neural area, but emerges out of the interaction of visual information organized by spatial structuring capacities correlated with lower, higher, and intermediate levels of the visual hierarchy. After clarifying different notions of emergence and elaborating evidence for IHS, I discuss how IHS can be tested through transcranial magnetic stimulation and masking. In the final section I present some further implications/advantages of IHS.
Long-term outcome of Chinese patients with membranous lupus nephropathy
Authors: Sun H.O. , Hu W.X. , Xie H.L. , Zhang H.T. , Chen H.P. , Zeng C.H. , Liu Z.H. , Li L.S.
Published: December 2007

A retrospective analysis of the long-term outcome of patients with membranous lupus nephropathy (MLN) was conducted. One hundred Chinese patients, 90 females and 10 males with a mean age of 32 ± 9 years, with systemic lupus erythematosus and biopsy-proven MLN (ISN/RPS2003 classification criteria) were enrolled in this study. The patient and renal survivals were estimated by the Kaplan—Meier method and the risk factors associated with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) were assessed by the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The mean follow-up of all patients was 77.6 ± 56 months. During follow-up, two patients died. Patient survival at 5 and 10 years was 98%. Renal survival at 5 and 10 years was 96.1% and 92.7%, respectively. Severe tubular-intersticial lesion (HR 66.514), nephrotic range proteinuria (HR 19.159) and refractoriness to treatments (HR 9.834) were independent risk factors for developing ESRF. Three of the six patients with ESRF had severe tubular-interstitial lesions on initial biopsy. Twenty-one patients underwent a repeat biopsy after 33months' (median time) follow-up, eight (38.1%) of these (class V superimposed class IV in 5, class V superimposed class III in 2 and class VI in 1) had transformed and three (37.5%) of them progressed to ESRF. Complications included infection (13%), thrombosis (3%), avascular necrosis (3%), diabetes mellitus (4%) and skin cancer (1%). The rate of patient and renal survival was high in this group of patients with MLN.
Clinical and immunological manifestations in 151 SLE patients living in Dubai
Authors: AlSaleh J. , Jassim V. , ElSayed M. , Saleh N. , Harb D.
Published: December 2007

To gain better understanding of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Dubai we studied the clinical and immunological manifestations in a cohort of 151 patients attended Rheumatology Clinic in Dubai Hospital between January 2002 and January 2007. We found that the female to male ratio was 20.5:1, with a mean age of 35.5 years (0.9). The mean age at disease onset was 28.9 years (0.8) and mean disease duration 6.7 years (0.4). Five-year survival rate in our cohort was 94%. The commonest clinical manifestations in this cohort were arthritis (88%), haematological abnormalities (61.6%), and malar rash (60.3%). Leucopenia, fever, hair loss and proteinuria were observed in approximately half of the patients. Anaemia was found in 44.3% but only 9.9% had haemolytic anaemia. Photosensitive rash was seen in 43% of patients. Approximately one-third of the patients had serositis and mouth ulcers, 30.5 and 27.2% respectively. Vasculitis was observed in 19.2% of patients. Neuropsychiatric manifestations (15.9%), discoid lupus lesions (12.6%), and brain infarcts (13.2%) were infrequent. Subacute cutaneous lupus (6%) was also uncommon. Anti-nuclear antibodies were detected in 98%, anti-double stranded DNA antibodies in 88.7%, anti-Sm antibodies in 19.7%, anti-RNP in 40.4%, anti-Ro antibodies in 52.3% and anti-La antibodies in 19.8%. Anti-cardiolipin IgM and IgG were detected in 25.3 and 22.4%, respectively. This study suggests that Arabs with SLE residing in Dubai have comparable clinical features to their counterparts in other Arab countries and Western countries. The high prevalence of positive anti-Ro antibodies among our Arab patients probably reflects a character, that is, commonly seen in SLE patients of Middle East origin.
Influence of aspirin on the clinical outcomes of 103 anti-phospholipid antibodies-positive patients
Authors: Hereng T. , Lambert M. , Hachulla E. , Samor M. , Dubucquoi S. , Caron C. , Launay D. , Morell-Dubois S. , Queyrel V. , Hatron P.-Y.
Published: December 2007

One hundred and three consecutive asymptomatic anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibody-positive carriers, taking aspirin ( n = 75) or not ( n = 28), were studied retrospectively to determine whether aspirin could provide primary prevention of anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) symptoms. All patients positive for anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL; >25 UGPL or UMPL) and/or lupus anti-coagulant were followed for a mean of 64 ± 24.7 months.

Among aPL-positive patients, 37 had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 20 had prolonged activated partial thromboplastin times, 19 had other connective tissue diseases, 16 had autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AIT), 11 had diverse diseases. Nineteen patients experienced thrombotic event(s) during follow-up. Clinical features, biological parameters and hydroxychloroquine use were comparable for the two groups, but thrombotic events differed (log-rank test; P = 0.02). Four of the 10 SLE patients not taking aspirin developed thrombosis compared with 3/27 SLE patients taking aspirin (log-rank test; P = 0.03). Anti-phospholipid -positive patients with AIT developed fewer thromboses while taking aspirin (log-rank test; P = 0.01). In conclusion, aPL-positive SLE and AIT patients should take aspirin to prevent APS manifestations. Prospective therapeutic trials are needed to confirm aspirin's prophylactic role in such patients. Lupus (2008) 17, 11—15.
Mycophenolate mofetil as the primary treatment of membranous lupus nephritis with and without concurrent proliferative disease: a retrospective study of 29 cases
Authors: Kasitanon N. , Petri M. , Haas M. , Magder L.S. , Fine D.M.
Published: December 2007

Studies of immunosuppressive therapy, particularly mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), in membranous lupus nephritis (MLN) are limited. We report on our experience with primary (first-line) MMF therapy to induce and sustain renal remission in MLN with and without a concurrent proliferative lesion. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were studied, retrospectively, if treated with MMF for newly diagnosed MLN. Complete remission was defined as proteinuria less than 0.5 g/24h, inactive urine sediment and normal estimated glomerular filtration rate. Response in pure MLN (Group I, n = 10) was compared with mixed MLN and proliferative lupus nephritis (Group II, n = 19). By 12 months, 4 (40%) patients in Group I and 7 (36.8%) in Group II achieved complete remission ( P = 0.87). One (10%) patient in Group I and 2 (10.5%) in Group II had worsening renal disease ( P = 0.97). Mean time to remission was more than seven months in both groups. The remaining patients had stable disease without improvement or worsening. Only 2 of 11 achieving initial remission had a relapse with an average of 28 months of follow-up after remission. Self-limited gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 12 patients, none requiring withdrawal of the drug. Mycophenolate mofetil as a primary therapy in MLN was successful in inducing complete remission in about 40% of MLN, particularly in patients with mild proteinuria. However, 12 months of therapy was necessary for best outcomes. Response rate was not different in the presence or absence of a proliferative lesion. Lupus (2008) 17, 40—45.