bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of Epstein–Barr Virus–Positive Gastric Cancers by Definition of DNA Methylation Epigenotypes
Authors: Matsusaka Keisuke , Kaneda Atsushi , Nagae Genta , Ushiku Tetsuo , Kikuchi Yasuko , Hino Rumi , Uozaki Hiroshi , Seto Yasuyuki , Takada Kenzo , Aburatani Hiroyuki , Fukayama Masashi
Published: October 2011

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is associated with Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, opportunistic lymphomas in immunocompromised hosts, and a fraction of gastric cancers. Aberrant promoter methylation accompanies human gastric carcinogenesis, though the contribution of EBV to such somatic methylation changes has not been fully clarified. We analyzed promoter methylation in gastric cancer cases with Illumina's Infinium BeadArray and used hierarchical clustering analysis to classify gastric cancers into 3 subgroups: EBV−/low methylation, EBV−/high methylation, and EBV+/high methylation. The 3 epigenotypes were characterized by 3 groups of genes: genes methylated specifically in the EBV+ tumors (e.g., CXXC4, TIMP2, and PLXND1), genes methylated both in EBV+ and EBV−/high tumors (e.g., COL9A2, EYA1, and ZNF365), and genes methylated in all of the gastric cancers (e.g., AMPH, SORCS3, and AJAP1). Polycomb repressive complex (PRC) target genes in embryonic stem cells were significantly enriched among EBV−/high-methylation genes and commonly methylated gastric cancer genes (P = 2 × 10−15 and 2 × 10−34, respectively), but not among EBV+ tumor-specific methylation genes (P = 0.2), suggesting a different cause for EBV+-associated de novo methylation. When recombinant EBV was introduced into the EBV−/low-methylation epigenotype gastric cancer cell, MKN7, 3 independently established subclones displayed increases in DNA methylation. The promoters targeted by methylation were mostly shared among the 3 subclones, and the new methylation changes caused gene repression. In summary, DNA methylation profiling classified gastric cancer into 3 epigenotypes, and EBV+ gastric cancers showed distinct methylation patterns likely attributable to EBV infection. Cancer Res; 71(23); 7187–97. ©2011 AACR.
Epithelial Junction Opener JO-1 Improves Monoclonal Antibody Therapy of Cancer
Authors: Beyer Ines , van Rensburg Ruan , Strauss Robert , Li ZongYi , Wang Hongjie , Persson Jonas , Yumul Roma , Feng Qinghua , Song Hui , Bartek Jiri , Fender Pascal , Lieber André
Published: October 2011

The efficacy of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) used to treat solid tumors is limited by intercellular junctions which tightly link epithelial tumor cells to each another. In this study, we define a small, recombinant adenovirus serotype 3-derived protein, termed junction opener 1 (JO-1), which binds to the epithelial junction protein desmoglein 2 (DSG2). In mouse xenograft models employing Her2/neu- and EGFR-positive human cancer cell lines, JO-1 mediated cleavage of DSG2 dimers and activated intracellular signaling pathways which reduced E-cadherin expression in tight junctions. Notably, JO-1-triggered changes allowed for increased intratumoral penetration of the anti-Her2/neu mAb trastuzumab (Herceptin) and improved access to its target receptor, Her2/neu, which is partly trapped in tight junctions. This effect translated directly into increased therapeutic efficacy of trastuzumab in mouse xenograft models using breast, gastric, and ovarian cancer cells that were Her2/neu-positive. Furthermore, combining JO-1 with the EGFR-targeting mAb cetuximab (Erbitux) greatly improved therapeutic outcomes in a metastatic model of EGFR-positive lung cancer. A combination of JO-1 with an approach that triggered transient degradation of tumor stroma proteins elicited eradication of tumors. Taken together, our findings offer preclinical proof of concept to employ JO-1 in combination with mAb therapy. Cancer Res; 71(22); 7080–90. ©2011 AACR.
A Comparison of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and Surface Plasmon Resonance for Genotyping of High-Risk Human Papillomaviruses
Authors: Qu Shoufang , Huang Jie , Zhao Jinyin , Zhao Xuequan , Deng Haijun , Yang Huawei , Chen Weijun , Liu Licheng , Zhang Lining , Gao Shangxian
Published: October 2011

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing coupled with appropriate clinical management is associated with a significant decline in the rate of advanced cervical cancer and associated death. Methods: In this present study, we evaluated the performance of 2 new HPV genotyping methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in 30 kinds of HPV control materials and in 129 cases of cervical smears including 79 HPV-positive samples screened from 1,600 abnormal clinical samples and 50 cervical cytology samples. Results: The HPV genotyping accuracy of both MALDI-TOFMS and SPR was 100% for the HPV genotyping of control materials. In the analysis of the 79 HPV-positive samples by MALDI-TOFMS, HPV positivity was 88.6% (70/79). Nine samples were non-high-risk HPV (non-HR-HPV), which were not targets of MALDI-TOFMS. In the analysis of the 50 cervical samples, the agreement of both tests was 84% with a ĸ value of 0.660. By using consensus results that mean agreement between 2 of 3 methods, the HR-HPV genotyping accuracy was 100% (77/77) by MALDI-TOFMS and 94.8% (73/77) by SPR in the 129 cervical samples. The sensitivity (88.2%; 82/93) and specificity (88.9%; 32/36) of MALDI-TOFMS were similar to those of SPR. Conclusion: These results support that MALDI-TOFMS is a sensitive, specific and feasible method for HR-HPV detection in clinical application, compared with the SPR method.
Polyomavirus-Infected Decoy Cells in Cytocentrifuged Urine Cytology Specimens from Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Maia T.M.C. , Silva S.F.R. , Silva S.L. , Holanda M.C. , Nascimento J.M. , Ferreira M.V.P.
Published: October 2011

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of BK virus (BKV) infection in renal transplant recipients based on the detection of urinary decoy cells. Methods: Fifty transplantation patients (56% males) aged 39.9 ± 11 years were screened for urinary decoy cells. The majority (86%) had received grafts from living donors. The inclusion criteria were graft dysfunction, hematuria, and/or leukocyturia. Creatinine and urea serum levels were monitored for 6 months. Results: Decoy cells were found in the urine of 12 (24%) patients 1–2 years after transplantation. The immunosuppression regimens most frequently adopted by BKV-positive patients were cyclosporine + azathiprine (50%) and FK + mycophenolate mofetyl + prednisone (25%). A renal biopsy revealed normal structures in 7 patients (58.4%), BKV nephropathy with lymphomononuclear infiltrate and fibrosis in 4 patients (33.3%), and acute cellular rejection with lymphomononuclear infiltrate without fibrosis in 1 patient (8.3%). In the latter patient, BKV-associated nephropathy was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. During the first month, creatinine and urea serum levels were higher among patients with urinary decoy cells. Creatinine levels decreased between the first and the sixth months. Conclusion: The finding of BKV-associated nephropathy in 33.3% of the patients with urinary decoy cells stresses the importance of screening for BKV with urinary cytology.
Fibronectin III 13-14 Domains Induce Joint Damage via Toll-Like Receptor 4 Activation and Synergize with Interleukin-1 and Tumour Necrosis Factor
Authors: Sofat Nidhi , Robertson Saralili Dipa , Wait Robin
Published: October 2011

Cartilage loss is a feature of chronic arthritis. It results from degradation of the extracellular matrix which is composed predominantly of aggrecan and type II collagen. Extracellular matrix degradation is mediated by aggrecanases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Recently, a number of endogenous matrix molecules, including fibronectin (FN), have been implicated in mediating cartilage degradation. We were interested in studying the C-terminal heparin-binding region of FN since it mediates aggrecan and type II collagen breakdown in cartilage, but the specific FN domains responsible for proteolytic enzyme activity and their receptors in cartilage are unknown. In this study, the ability of recombinant FN domains to induce cartilage breakdown was tested. We found that the FN III 13-14 domains in the C-terminal heparin-binding region of FN are potent inducers of aggrecanase activity in articular cartilage. In murine studies, the FN III 13-14-induced aggrecanase activity was inhibited in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockout mice but not wild-type mice. FN III 13-14 domains also synergized with the known catabolic cytokines interleukin-1α and tumour necrosis factor and induced secretion of MMP-1, MMP-3, gp38 and serum amyloid-like protein A in chondrocytes. Our studies provide a mechanistic link between the innate immune receptor TLR4 and sterile arthritis induced by the FN III 13-14 domains of the endogenous matrix molecule FN.
Impact of Extensive Neck Dissection on Survival from Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Kandil Emad , Friedlander Paul , Noureldine Salem , Islam Tareq , Tufano Ralph P.
Published: October 2011

Background: Cervical lymph node metastasis commonly occurs in papillary thyroid cancer. Emerging evidence from large population-based studies demonstrates decreased survival with regional lymph node metastasis. There is considerable debate in the literature regarding the optimal initial treatment for papillary thyroid cancer. We hypothesized that overall survival is influenced by the extent of neck involvement and neck dissection. Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was used to identify all patients with papillary thyroid cancer who underwent thyroidectomy. Patients with distant metastasis, invalid, or missing staging, and neck dissection information were excluded. A Kaplan-Meier survival estimate and a multivariate adjusted Cox regression model were used to estimate survival rates of patients undergoing selective, modified, and radical neck dissection as compared to those who did not have a neck dissection. Results: 3,439 eligible patients were included in this analysis. The mean age was 45 years; 76% were females and 86% were white. 2,414 (70.1%) of the patients underwent thyroidectomy without any neck dissection, whereas selective (limited), modified and radical neck dissections were performed on 19.3, 7.9 and 2.7% of the patients, respectively. Five-year patient survival rates were 96.6, 96.4, 89.5 and 80.9% among patients who had no neck dissection, selective, modified, and radical neck dissections, respectively. After adjusting for age, gender and race, the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of survival for modified and radical neck dissection were 2.35 (95% CI: 1.46–3.78) and 4.48 (95% CI: 2.57–7.84), respectively, as compared to no neck dissection (p < 0.001). Similar associations were also noted after stratifying by localized or regional tumor. Conclusions: Extensive neck dissection among patients with papillary thyroid cancer did not result in an improved survival benefit. Further study is warranted to better understand the extent and requirement of neck dissection among this group of patients.
Green Tea Prevents Hyperglycemia-Induced Retinal Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Kumar Binit , Gupta Suresh Kumar , Nag Tapas Chandra , Srivastava Sushma , Saxena Rohit
Published: October 2011

Purpose: Our objective was to investigate the effect of green tea (GT) on diabetes-induced retinal oxidative stress and proinflammatory parameters in rats. Methods: Treatment (200 mg/kg body weight) was carried out for a period of 16 weeks in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and was evaluated for hypoglycemic, antioxidant [reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] and anti-inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] activity. Histological changes were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. Results: Retinal GSH levels were 1.5-fold lower in diabetic rats as compared to normal rats (p < 0.05). However, in GT-treated rats, retinal GSH levels were restored close to those of the normal group. The antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT showed a more than 2-fold decrease in activity in diabetic retinae as compared to normal retinae (p < 0.05). Both SOD and CAT enzymatic activities were restored close to normal in the GT-treated group. Expression of proinflammatory parameters (TNF-α and VEGF) was significantly inhibited in GT-treated retinae as compared to diabetic retinae (p < 0.05). Moreover, GT treatment prevented retinal capillary basement membrane thickness. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of GT suggest its potential role in the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy in human subjects.
Dual Properties of Anticancer Agents: An Exploratory Study on the in vitro Anti-Candida Properties of Thirty Drugs
Authors: Routh Madhushree M. , Raut Jayant S. , Karuppayil S. Mohan
Published: October 2011

Background: Anticancer/antineoplastic agents could be a good resource for the discovery of novel antifungal agents and targets since human beings share a common eukaryotic heritage with fungi. Methods: Thirty commonly prescribed anticancer drugs belonging to 12 different classes were analyzed for their effects on the growth of Candida albicans. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were obtained using standard CLSI-M27 A2 methodology, and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were determined via the agar plate method. Results: Anticancer agents inhibited the growth of C. albicans in a concentration-dependent manner. Nine drugs from different classes were effective at low concentrations (≤50 µg·ml–1), while 15 anticancer drugs exhibited MICs of 100 µg·ml–1. Sixteen out of 30 drugs exerted fungicidal activity in the range of 400–800 µg·ml–1. Conclusions: MICs and MFCs for 30 anticancer drugs were established against C. albicans. Our study highlighted the anti-Candida potential of these drugs, which may give insights to unexplored targets for antifungal chemotherapy.
Genome-Wide Association Studies for Bivariate Sparse Longitudinal Data
Authors: Das Kiranmoy , Li Jiahan , Fu Guifang , Wang Zhong , Wu Rongling
Published: October 2011

Objective: Longitudinal measurements with bivariate response have been analyzed by several authors using two separate models for each response. However, for most of the biological or medical experiments, the two responses are highly correlated and hence a separate model for each response might not be a desirable way to analyze such data. A single model considering a bivariate response provides a more powerful inference as the correlation between the responses is modeled appropriately. In this article, we propose a dynamic statistical model to detect the genes controlling human blood pressure (systolic and diastolic). Methods: By modeling the mean function with orthogonal Legendre polynomials and the covariance matrix with a stationary parametric structure, we incorporate the statistical ideas in functional genome-wide association studies to detect SNPs which have significant control on human blood pressure. The traditional false discovery rate is used for multiple comparisons. Results: We analyze the data from the Framingham Heart Study to detect such SNPs by appropriately considering gender-gene interaction. We detect 8 SNPs for males and 7 for females which are most significant in controlling blood pressure. The genotype-specific mean curves and additive and dominant effects over time are shown for each significant SNP for both genders. Simulation studies are performed to examine the statistical properties of our model. The current model will be extremely useful in detecting genes controlling different traits and diseases for humans or non-human subjects.
Efficacy of Low-Dose Rituximab in a Refractory Acquired Factor VIII Inhibitor Case Secondary to Pemphigus
Authors: Gao Yujuan , Liu Shuchuan , Ma Guibo , Lv Linlin , Su Yanhua
Published: October 2011

Acquired factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor induces a bleeding disorder caused by specific antibodies to FVIII. The cause of approximately one fifth of cases can be attributed to autoimmune disorders, such as pemphigus. Here, we describe a case of refractory acquired FVIII inhibitor in a patient with primary pemphigus and its successful treatment with low-dose rituximab. Coagulation studies revealed a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, which could not be corrected with the mixing test. At the same time, the FVIII activity level was significantly reduced, and the FVIII inhibitor titer was elevated. A treatment regimen with prednisolone/cyclophosphamide followed by prednisolone/cyclosporine was used. The patient temporarily responded but then became resistant to these medicines. However, subsequent treatment with low-dose rituximab achieved considerable clinical and laboratory improvement in the same patient. Follow-up at 6 months revealed a low level of residual FVIII inhibitor activity with normal coagulation functions. No drug-related side effects were detected. In conclusion, our results indicate that low-dose rituximab might be an effective and safe treatment for patients with acquired FVIII inhibitor.
Characterization of the Natural History of Extracellular Matrix Production in Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts during Neovessel Formation
Authors: Naito Yuji , Williams-Fritze Misty , Duncan Daniel R. , Church Spencer N. , Hibino Narutoshi , Madri Joseph A. , Humphrey Jay D. , Shinoka Toshiharu , Breuer Christopher K.
Published: October 2011

Background: The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical determinant of neovessel integrity. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six (polyglycolic acid + polycaprolactone and poly lactic acid) tissue-engineered vascular grafts seeded with syngeneic bone marrow mononuclear cells were implanted as inferior vena cava interposition grafts in C57BL/6 mice. Specimens were characterized using immunohistochemical staining and qPCR for representative ECM components in addition to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Total collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) contents were determined. MMP activity was measured using zymography. Results: Collagen production on histology demonstrated an initial increase in type III at 1 week followed by type I production at 2 weeks and type IV at 4 weeks. Gene expression of both type I and type III peaked at 2 weeks, whereas type IV continued to increase over the 4-week period. Histology demonstrated fibrillin-1 deposition at 1 week followed by elastin production at 4 weeks. Elastin gene expression significantly increased at 4 weeks, whereas fibrillin-1 decreased at 4 weeks. GAG demonstrated abundant production at each time point on histology. Gene expression of decorin significantly increased at 4 weeks, whereas versican decreased over time. Biochemical analysis showed that total collagen production was greatest at 2 weeks, and there was a significant increase in elastin and GAG production at 4 weeks. Histological characterization of MMPs showed abundant production of MMP-2 at each time point, while MMP-9 decreased over the 4-week period. Gene expression of MMP-2 significantly increased at 4 weeks, whereas MMP-9 significantly decreased at 4 weeks. Conclusions: ECM production during neovessel formation is characterized by early ECM deposition followed by extensive remodeling.
Concerns for the Reliability and Validity of the National Stroke Project Stroke Severity Scale
Authors: El Husseini Nada , Shea Kenneth J. , Goldstein Larry B.
Published: October 2011

Background: The National Stroke Project (NSP) was a retrospective cohort study of US Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The NSP included a simple assessment of stroke severity (NSP-Stroke Scale, NSP-SS). Used for risk adjustment in outcome studies, the reliability and validity of the NSP-SS have not been assessed. We determined the reliability, concurrent and construct validity of theNSP-SS. Methods: The initial neurologic examinations of 100 consecutive patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke/TIA in a single academic medical center were reviewed. The NSP-SS was retrospectively scored twice by the same rater and independently by a second rater to assess reliability. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIH-SS) was also scored retrospectively and used as the criterion standard for concurrent validity. Construct validity was based on discharge status. Results: The NSP-SS had moderate-substantial inter-rater (weighted kappa, ĸw = 0.66, 95% CI 0.55–0.77) and intra-rater (ĸw = 0.63, 95% CI 0.52–0.75) reliability. Correlation between NSP-SS and NIH-SS scores was moderate (Spearman r = 0.65, 95% CI 0.52–0.75, p < 0.0001) but some categorizations in the NSP-SS seemed inappropriate reflecting poor content validity. Each NSP-SS point was associated with a greater likelihood of poor outcome (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–3.7, p = 0.016). Based on dichotomized scores (NSP 0–2 and NIH-SS <6; mild deficits), the NSP-SS sensitivity was 70.9% (95% CI 57.9–81.2%), specificity 82.2% (95% CI 68.7–90.7%), likelihood ratio for severe stroke 4.0 (95% CI 2.1–7.6) and likelihood ratio for mild stroke 0.3 (95% CI 0.20–0.5). The dichotomized NSP-SS and NIH-SS similarly predicted poor outcome (NSP-SS >2, OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.7–13.0, p = 0.003 vs. NIH-SS ≧6, OR = 4.4, 95% CI 1.5–13.0, p = 0.006) with excellent discrimination (C = 0.827 and 0.826, respectively). Conclusion: The NSP-SS has moderate-substantial reliability but poor content validity and poor to moderate concurrent validity as compared with the NIH-SS. In addition, it is not clear that the NSP-SS is easier to extract from medical records than the NIH-SS. Given this, and its other limitations, the utility of this scale for risk adjustment in future stroke outcome studies is questionable.
Comparison of Histological Measures of Skin Photoaging
Authors: Hughes M.C. , Bredoux C. , Salas F. , Lombard D. , Strutton G.M. , Fourtanier A. , Green A.C.
Published: October 2011

Background: Dermal elastosis is considered the histological ‘gold standard’ for evaluation of skin photoaging, but the relation of the level of dermal elastosis to other histological indicators of photoaging is not clear. Objective: To investigate how various proposed histological measures of photoaging compare with the level of dermal elastosis. Methods: Prospective, community-based study in Southeast Queensland, Australia, among 89 participants aged 40–82 years. Quantitative histology was used to evaluate 8 biomarkers of photoaged skin, and associations between grades of dermal elastosis and each of the other 7 biomarkers were analysed using ordinal logistic regression models with proportional odds assumption, using histological grades of elastosis as the outcome. Results: Older age, male sex and high outdoor exposure levels were confirmed as predictors ofhigh levels of dermal elastosis. After adjustment for age and sex, the only significant positive association with increasing elastosis grades was the proportion of p53-positive cells. Epidermal thickness, interdigitation index proportion of surface covered with melanin (% Fontana-Masson staining) and glycosaminoglycan content were not associated with elastosis in either crude or adjusted models. Conclusions: Amonga range of suggested biomarkers of photoaged skin, only p53-positive cells appear to be strongly associated with the level of dermal elastosis.
Survival Benefit With Drug-Eluting Stents in Observational Studies
Authors: Venkitachalam Lakshmi , Lei Yang , Magnuson Elizabeth A. , Chan Paul S. , Stolker Joshua M. , Kennedy Kevin F. , Kleiman Neal S. , Cohen David J.
Published: October 2011

Background—

Recently, there has been increased interest in leveraging observational studies for comparative effectiveness research. Without robust and valid risk adjustment, however, findings from these nonrandomized studies may remain biased. Previous studies examining long-term mortality with drug-eluting stents (DESs) have demonstrated discordant results between randomized trials and observational studies. To examine the impact of treatment selection bias on these findings, we used data from a prospective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry (EVENT [Evaluation of Drug Eluting Stents and Ischemic Events]) to compare clinical outcomes between DESs and bare metal stents (BMSs) using conventional (multivariable regression and propensity matching) and novel (instrumental variable analysis) risk-adjustment techniques.

Methods and Results—

The study population consisted of 9266 patients who underwent nonemergent PCI with stent placement at 55 US centers between 2004 and 2007. All-cause mortality and target lesion revascularization (TLR) were assessed prospectively over 1 year of follow-up. Overall, 8171 patients (88%) received DES, but this proportion substantially differed by treatment year (93% in 2004–2006 and 73% in 2007;
P
<0.001). One-year rates of death and TLR were significantly lower with DES versus BMS (death, 2.5% versus 5.6%; TLR, 4.2% versus 6.9%;
P
<0.001 for both), findings that persisted in both multivariable-adjusted and propensity-matched analyses. In contrast, instrumental variable analysis, using enrollment period (2004–2006 versus 2007) as the instrument, demonstrated no significant difference in 1-year mortality (predicted absolute difference, 2.0%; 95% CI, -1.8% to 5.7%;
P
=0.30) and a strong trend toward reduced TLR with DES use (predicted absolute difference, -4.2%; 95% CI, -8.8% to 0.4%;
P
=0.07).

Conclusions—

Among unselected PCI patients in contemporary practice, DES use tended to be associated with a consistent reduction in TLR regardless of risk-adjustment method but showed discordant effects on mortality with conventional risk adjustment compared with instrumentable variable analysis. These findings underscore the limitations of standard risk-adjustment methods to adequately address treatment selection bias in nonrandomized studies and have important implications for comparative effectiveness research using observational data.
The calling songs of male spring field crickets (Gryllus veletis) change as males age
Authors: Bertram Susan M. , Fitzsimmons Lauren P.
Published: October 2011

Sexual traits are typically thought to convey information about a male's quality or condition. Female preference for older males has been documented in many taxa, but the evidence that males signal their age is inconclusive. We investigated lifetime patterns of acoustic mate attraction signalling in a longitudinal study of the spring field cricket, Gryllus veletis. We recorded males continuously throughout their lives, such that every pulse of sound produced by every male was analyzed. Our study answers two main questions: (1) Do calls change as males age? Our results reveal that the calls of male spring field crickets change with age; the calls of older males were quieter, with more silent periods within and between chirps, and produced less often than those of younger males. As males aged most of the changes in call structure reflect decreased calling effort. (2) What is the relationship between calling effort and longevity? Lifetime calling effort was positively related to longevity, such that males that called the most over their life also lived longer than males that called less. Together, our findings provide the most thorough exploration of lifetime signalling patterns in crickets to date.
Infant bystanders modulate the influence of ovarian hormones on female socio-sexual behaviour in free-ranging rhesus macaques
Authors: Mandalaywala Tara M. , Higham James P. , Heistermann Michael , Maestripieri Dario
Published: October 2011

It has long been established that one of the driving factors underlying changes in female socio-sexual behaviour across the ovarian cycle is variation in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. However, the effect that the social environment, and specifically con-specific bystanders, exerts on social relationships is far less clear. Here we explore the modulating effects of infant bystanders on relationships between female ovarian cycling and socio-sexual behaviour in free-ranging rhesus macaques during the 6-month mating season on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. We used non-invasive hormone assessment to time ovulation in females, and analysed measures of social and sexual behaviour with respect to a 2-day ovulation window. Rates of copulation and ejaculation varied relative to ovulation, with female–male sexual interactions peaking around ovulation. Moreover, the presence of an infant bystander affected these rates, with fewer sexual interactions occurring for a given day with respect to ovulation when infant bystanders were more frequently in close proximity to the female. Other bystander categories (adult females, adult males, and adult female & infant groupings) did not have the same effect on female mating behaviour. These results suggest that mother–offspring conflict might manifest not only as direct interactions between mother and infant (e.g., weaning or carrying conflict), but also through indirect interactions.
Rhampsinitus, Setne Khamwas and the Descent to the Netherworld: Some Remarks on Herodotus II, 122, 1
Authors: Serrano Delgado Jose M.
Published: October 2011

The purpose of this article is to analyse Pharaoh Rhampsinitus’ descent to the Underworld, briefly reported by Herodotus (II, 122, 1) and included by the Greek writer in the legendary history of Egypt. This short episode can be connected to the demotic cycle of Setne Khamwas, to be precise when this literary hero seizes a book of magic from a tomb after playing dice—the Egyptian senet—with the dead. These two stories share a common origin, arising possibly from the same folkloric tradition from the second half of the First Millenium B.C. But even if the adventure of Rhampsinitus is one of the many underworld motifs which occur in folklore throughout the world, it is important to note that the descent to hell is not a recurrent theme in Egyptian imagery. Here we are dealing possibly with a foreign topic, even an interpretatio graeca of the katabasis of Rhampsinitus, Herodotus being influenced by the echoes of the doctrines of the Orphics and the Pythagoreans, and trying to support the supposedly Egyptian belief in the transmigration of the soul, a clearly dubious statement.
The Rituals of Renaissance: Liturgy and Mythic History in The Marvels of Rome
Authors: Hamilton Louis I.
Published: October 2011

The Mirabilia urbis romae offers us insight into the symbolic meaning of the streetscape of Rome from the perspective of a canon of St. Peter’s. It should be read alongside the contemporary Roman Ordo with which it was certainly associated in the twelfth century. When read in that context, the Mirabilia serves as a kind of direct and indirect commentary on the papal liturgy. The papal liturgies at Easter and Christmas moved through an environment that was “re-written” by the Mirabilia as a narrative of Christian Roman renewal and of triumph throughout the Mediterranean world. The Mirabilia celebrates both Roman renewal and hegemony in the eastern Mediterranean, giving heightened significance to the liturgical life of the twelfth-century papacy. The papal liturgy, at these most triumphant processional moments, celebrated that historic and, ultimately, eschatological triumph.
Viewing Rome from the Roman Empires
Authors: Albu Emily
Published: October 2011

Twelfth-century German and Byzantine emperors vied with each other—and with the popes in Rome—for imperial status, each of the three seeing himself as the legitimate heir of ancient Roman imperium. From the court at Constantinople, historians Anna Komnene and John Kinnamos leveled a venomous critique against the west, surveying Rome through the lens of religious disputes, Crusade, and the hated Latin presence in the East. The Byzantine narratives have left a gritty view of their contemporary Rome, a violent and cruel city of illicit popes and anti-popes, anarchy, and barbarism. The Peutinger map, by contrast, seems but an innocent relic of the past, a map of the inhabited world as known to the pagan Romans. Typically considered an ancient Roman artifact and product of Roman culture, the surviving map actually dates from the very end of the long twelfth century. Produced in Swabia, it continued the anti-papal assault as a fresh salvo in a long-lived Battle of the Maps between Church and secular imperium. This display map, like its lost prototype, advertised the supreme authority of Roman imperial power with claims much more venerable than those of the papacy. Its visual narrative implicitly contradicted the power of papal Rome by foregrounding ancient Rome as the centerpiece of an intricately connected oikoumene, a world that should be ruled by Rome’s German heirs. For Germans as for Byzantines, Rome still mattered. Even while assailing a resurgent imperial papacy, neither secular emperor nor their courts could ignore the power exercised by pagan Rome and papal Rome over twelfth-century imaginations.
Decoding the Labyrinth: Rome in Arabic and Persian Medieval Literature
Authors: Casari Mario
Published: October 2011

The city of Rome is described in a number of Arabic and Persian geographical and historical texts produced between the ninth and thirteenth centuries. Despite the chronological range and geographical distances that separate many of these texts, a common thread of transmission unites them, testament to the fact that very few eyewitness accounts of the city were used. Instead, the descriptions of Rome drew on the authority of more ancient literary accounts, that were reproduced with variations and additions deriving from a number of different origins. While it is not possible to identify the exact web of sources used, nor whether some descriptions refer to Old Rome—the city of the Pope—or to the new Rome on the Bosporus, Constantinople, these texts nevertheless reveal a substantial knowledge of the city’s symbolic features. Indeed, it appears that accurate physical descriptions of Rome were considered less important than exemplary representations of the city. One of the figurative details assumes the iconographic form of a labyrinth, at times identified as a map of the city of Rome, and at other times as a prison located in the city. In this paper, it will be argued that the labyrinth icon is drawn from one of Rome’s own myths concerning the founding of the city by complex and at times obscure means that offer promising directions for further research. More generally, it would appear that the Arabic and Persian sources considered here share a view of the city of Rome that is nourished by a great respect and admiration.
Digital Diplomacy and US Foreign Policy
Authors: Ross Alec
Published: October 2011

We live in an era of pervasive connectivity. At an astonishing pace, much of the world’s population is joining a common network. The proliferation of communications and information technology creates very significant changes for statecraft. But we have to keep in mind that the Internet is not a magic potion for political and social progress. Technology by itself is agnostic. It simply amplifies the existing sociologies on the ground, for good or ill. And it is much better at organizing protest movements than organizing institutions to support new governments in place of those that have been toppled. Diplomacy in the twenty-first century must grapple with both the potential and the limits of technology in foreign policy, and respond to the disruptions that it causes in international relations.
Distinctive Characteristics of American Diplomacy
Authors: Wiseman Geoffrey
Published: October 2011

My central claim is that the United States has conducted a distinctive form of ‘anti-diplomacy’, accepting in practice many diplomatic norms and practices while remaining reluctant to acknowledge the fact. To support this claim, this article argues that since its rise as a world power, the United States has participated in international society’s diplomatic culture in a distinctive way and that this distinctiveness stems from seven interconnected characteristics of American diplomacy: (1) America’s long-held distrust and negative view of diplomats and diplomacy, which has contributed to the historical neglect and sidelining of the US Department of State in the United States’ policy-making process; (2) a high degree of domestic influence over foreign policy and diplomacy; (3) a tendency to privilege hard power over soft power in foreign policy; (4) a preference for bilateral over multilateral diplomacy; (5) an ideological tradition of diplomatically isolating states that are considered adversarial and of refusing to engage them until they meet preconditions; (6) a tradition of appointing a relatively high proportion of political rather than career ambassadors; and (7) a demonstrably strong cultural disposition towards a direct, low-context negotiating style. A consequence of these distinguishing characteristics is that American diplomacy tends to be less effective than it might otherwise be, not only in advancing the United States’ own interests, but also in advancing wider international cooperation. A goal here is to provide a working framework with which to evaluate any US administration’s relationship to diplomacy as the country’s interests and identity evolve.
A Common Neoliberal Trajectory
Authors: Baccaro Lucio , Howell Chris
Published: October 2011

Based on quantitative indicators for fifteen advanced countries between 1974 and 2005, and case studies of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Ireland, this article analyzes the trajectory of institutional change in the industrial relations systems of advanced capitalist societies, with a focus on Western Europe. In contrast to current comparative political economy scholarship, which emphasizes the resilience of national institutions to common challenges and trends, it argues that despite a surface resilience of distinct national sets, all countries have been transformed in a neoliberal direction. Neoliberal transformation manifests itself not just as institutional deregulation but also as institutional conversion, as the functions associated with existing institutional forms change in a convergent direction. A key example is the institution of centralized bargaining, once the linchpin of an alternative, redistributive and egalitarian, model of negotiated capitalism, which has been reshaped in the past twenty years to fit the common imperative of liberalization.
Olympic Proportions: The Expanding Scalar Politics of the London ‘Olympics Mega-Mosque’ Controversy
Authors: DeHanas Daniel Nilsson , Pieri Zacharias P.
Published: October 2011

When cities host mega-events, such as the Olympic Games, these events change the context in which conventionally local political decisions are considered and made. This article follows Islamic movement Tablighi Jamaat’s proposed plans to build the large Abbey Mills Mosque in Newham, East London, and the controversy that followed. The analysis builds from media accounts, interviews with a leading mosque opponent, and ethnographic observation from religious gatherings at the Abbey Mills site. Taking a scalar politics approach, we investigate how the ‘mega’ scale of the mosque was framed and debated in media and opposition campaign accounts, and how Tablighi Jamaat belatedly responded with counterframes of its own. The ‘Olympics mega-mosque’ controversy would grow to encompass an increasingly broad public sphere and larger anxieties about national identity, government competence, and the integration of Muslims in Britain. We conclude with implications of the case for studying contentious politics, Islamophobia, and contemporary governance.
Re-conceptualizing the Relationship Between Community Colleges and Universities Using a Conceptual Framework Drawn From the Study of Jurisdictional Conflict Between Professions
Authors: Skolnik Michael L.
Published: October 2011

This article examines the relationship between community colleges and universities in Canada and the United States based on increased involvement of community colleges in offering baccalaureate programs. The article employs a theoretical framework borrowed from the study of jurisdictional conflict between professions. After considering the types of possible and occurring jurisdiction settlement over baccalaureate preparation between universities and community colleges, the author concludes that the older, simplistic criterion—based on credentials awarded—that defined the division of labor between postsecondary sectors should be replaced with newer, more complex and multifaceted criteria that relate to program and client characteristics.
Serum Immunoglobulin G Analysis to Establish a Delayed Diagnosis of Chronic Cough due to Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Bock Jonathan M. , Burtis Charles C. , Poetker David M. , Blumin Joel H. , Frank Michael O.
Published: October 2011

Objectives

Incidence of Bordetella pertussis infection among adults has risen significantly throughout the United States, but pertussis is not often considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic cough in adults. The authors hypothesized that serum IgG testing can establish a diagnosis of pertussis infection late in disease presentation when cultures and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing are not reliable.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary care hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Institutional B pertussis serum IgG and PCR tests were reviewed since 2007. Clinical factors assessed included vaccination history, duration and severity of cough, and general medical history.

Results

Forty‐eight patients had B pertussis fimbrial agglutinogen IgG levels tested since 2007, with a significant increase in positive IgG tests (>27 IU/mL, 3 times the upper limit of normal) since fall 2009. Nineteen patients (39.5%) met IgG criteria for likely recent pertussis infection. Six IgG‐positive patients also had PCR swab testing performed, with 50% positive for B pertussis. IgG values were similar for patients with positive or negative B pertussis PCR testing with positive IgG titers. IgG‐positive patients were much more likely to have posttussive syncope. Recent vaccination for pertussis within the 3 years prior to IgG testing did not significantly increase IgG levels.

Conclusions

One‐time B pertussis serum IgG testing and patient history can establish a likely diagnosis of recent pertussis infection in the adult patient with chronic cough late in disease presentation when PCR testing is often negative. Pertussis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients with chronic cough.
Liver Function Tests
Authors: Deal Allison M. , Patel Mihir R. , Thorp Brian D. , Cannon Trinitia Y. , Shores Carol G. , Zanation Adam M.
Published: October 2011

Objective

Report the prevalence and risk factors of liver metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) while evaluating the utility of liver function tests (LFTs) in detection of such metastases.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Subjects and Methods

Of 745 patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx) treated at University of North Carolina hospitals from 1989 to 2005, 655 had sufficient data for analysis.

Results

Prevalence of liver metastasis was 3% (20/655) with 7 patients demonstrating early metastasis and 12 with late metastasis. Oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal lesions constituted 65% of identified liver metastasis but only 39% of the study population. Patients with oropharyngeal lesions were most likely to develop liver metastasis (P =. 047). Abnormal LFTs were seen in 26% of all patients. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 45% and 75%. Seventy‐five percent of patients with liver metastasis had stage IV disease at diagnosis and were more likely to have abnormal LFTs than other stages (P =. 048). In these patients, 2.2% (8/365) had liver metastases and abnormal LFTs, whereas 1.9% (7/365) had liver metastases and normal LFTs. Sensitivity for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively. Specificities ranged from 88.0% to 94.3%. Positive predictive values were poor, with the highest being 10.5%.

Conclusions

Liver metastases are rare in HNSCC and often delayed in presentation. This study clearly reveals that LFTs do not reliably identify patients with liver metastasis and do not provide physicians with an adequate screening modality in this population.
Uncovering adolescent choral singers’ philosophical beliefs about music-making: A qualitative inquiry
Authors: Parker Elizabeth Cassidy
Published: October 2011

The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to investigate adolescent choral singers’ philosophical beliefs regarding music-making within three different, mid-sized, Midwestern mixed choirs in the United States. Eighteen participants were interviewed for approximately 40 minutes each. Audio files were transcribed and coded with four themes resulting: (1) music-making as a simultaneously feelingful experience for participants; (2) musical knowing as interpersonal knowing; (3) expressed music as expressed feeling; and (4) music-making as enlightening. Participants verified the data through member checks. The presence of a peer de-briefer helped the investigator work through potential ethical issues. The findings reflect many ideas within the field of music philosophy including aesthetic perception, expressiveness by convention, music-making as distinctly human and art as self-unification. Findings also aligned with past studies regarding participants’ expressed meaning of musical experiences including areas such as social growth, expression of emotion, increased self-confidence, and development of personal character. Future suggestions for study include investigating perspectives of individual performers and participants who engage in different music ensembles to strengthen understanding of contextual factors.
Household Composition and the Well–Being of Rural Serbia in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Djurdjev Branislav , Lukic Tamara , Cvetanovic Milan
Published: October 2011

This article uses the population census of 1863 in order to compare relations between household size and household structure (according to Cambridge group typology), on one side, and the amount of household property per capita and household monthly income per capita, on the other. In terms of household size, a clear bimodal curve is visible in case of both: a steady decline to household size of five to seven members and undisturbed increase after that level up to eleven members. In terms of household structure, the amount of household property per capita generally declines from smaller to larger household structure, but the household monthly income per capita is similar among household classes. The old-age security strategy of peasants is the main driving force behind the paradox that majority of households are located within the poorest composition. Throughout his or her lifetime, an individual passes through several classes, and with the passage of time his or her well-being changes.
The Influence of Others
Authors: Byun Sang-Eun , Mann Manveer
Published: October 2011

While human crowding has been considered a driver of negative emotions, leading to unpleasant shopping experiences, other studies have found that it does not necessarily result in negative emotions but creates excitement in certain shopping contexts. To fill the research gap, this study investigates whether perceived competition mediates the relationships among human crowding, emotions, and hedonic shopping value. The authors tested the model with actual shoppers from fast fashion retailers in the United States. Results showed that when perceived human crowding is mediated through perceived shopping competition, it creates positive emotions and induces hedonic shopping value.