bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Saliva Suppresses Osteoclastogenesis in Murine Bone Marrow Cultures
Authors: Caballé-Serrano J. , Cvikl B. , Bosshardt D.D. , Buser D. , Lussi A. , Gruber R.
Published: October 2014

Saliva can reach mineralized surfaces in the oral cavity; however, the relationship between saliva and bone resorption is unclear. Herein, we examined whether saliva affects the process of osteoclastogenesis in vitro. We used murine bone marrow cultures to study osteoclast formation. The addition of fresh sterile saliva eliminated the formation of multinucleated cells that stained positive for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). In line with the histochemical staining, saliva substantially reduced gene expression of cathepsin K, calcitonin receptor, and TRAP. Addition of saliva led to considerably decreased gene expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK) and, to a lesser extent, that of c-fms. The respective master regulators of osteoclastogenesis (c-fos and NFATc1) and the downstream cell fusion genes (DC-STAMP and Atp6v0d2) showed decreased expression after the addition of saliva. Among the costimulatory molecules for osteoclastogenesis, only OSCAR showed decreased expression. In contrast, CD40, CD80, and CD86—all costimulatory molecules of phagocytic cells—were increasingly expressed with saliva. The phagocytic capacity of the cells was confirmed by latex bead ingestion. Based on these in vitro results, it can be concluded that saliva suppresses osteoclastogenesis and leads to the development of a phagocytic cell phenotype.
Peer victimization in youth from immigrant and non-immigrant US families
Authors: Sulkowski Michael L. , Bauman Sheri , Wright Savannah , Nixon Charisse , Davis Stan
Published: October 2014

The phenomenology of peer victimization in youth from immigrant and non-immigrant US families was investigated in the current study. Specifically, differences in how youth were victimized, their responses to being victimized, and how peer bystanders responded to peer aggression incidents involving youth from these respective groups were investigated. Data were collected from two subsets of youth involved in a national research project. Results indicate that youth from immigrant families are more likely than their non-immigrant peers to report being victimized by physical aggression and to be victimized because of issues related to their race, religion, and family income. In addition, youth from immigrant families were more likely to report that their own responses to peer aggression were less likely to lead to positive outcomes and that peer bystander interventions did not benefit them as much as these interventions benefited their non-immigrant peers. Lastly, a concerning number of youth from immigrant families reported that both their own and bystander responses to peer aggression actually resulted in negative outcomes for them.
The Impact of Culture on the Quality of Internal Audit
Authors: Alzeban Abdulaziz
Published: October 2014

This study draws on Hofstede’s theoretical framework to examine the impact of different dimensions of culture on the quality of internal audit (QIA) in Saudi Arabia. A sample of chief internal auditors from 67 listed companies has been used to examine the direct effect of the cultural dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism on the QIA. Evidence was found that organizations, in which power distance and uncertainty avoidance are high, are characterized by lower QIA. The results also show a positive association between individualism and the QIA, indicating that internal audit is largely based on the accomplishments of the individual internal auditors associated with the process. Considering these outcomes from the Saudi Arabian standpoint, where the cultural and economic contexts are underpinned by collectivism rather than individualism, it emerges that it is only comparatively recently that a tradition of governance and audit has started to develop, and that quite particular and strong cultural influences stemming from tribalism and pervasive core traditions beliefs operate to condition the effort to achieve the ideal internal audit environment.
Evidence-based medicine and myocardial protection — where is the evidence?
Authors: Ferguson ZG , Yarborough DE , Jarvis BL , Sistino JJ
Published: October 2014

Objective:

Myocardial protection with cardioplegia is an integral component of most cardiac surgical procedures, providing protection of the heart by limiting metabolic activity and increasing the myocardium’s capacity to withstand ischemia for prolonged periods of time. Cardioplegia has greatly affected the landscape of cardiothoracic surgery since its introduction in the 1960s, but, to this day, there continues to be a debate over what the ideal cardioplegic solution should be. The goal of this analysis is to describe current practices in cardioplegia and to point out the lack of quality human research and subsequent publications that prevent best practices from being utilized.

Methods:

This study is a systematic review of journal publications pertaining to the composition of commonly used cardioplegic solutions. Four main types of cardioplegia were assessed to give a narrower field of examination; specifically, microplegia, del Nido, Custodiol HTK, and 4:1 blood cardioplegia. Other combinations of cardioplegia, including St. Thomas’s Solution and the University of Wisconsin (UW) Solution, were considered when applicable according to the context of the publication being reviewed. Factors being assessed consisted of scientific validity, nature of the test subject (isolated organ vs. animal vs. human studies), experimental setup (retrospective trials vs. randomized clinical trials) and patient outcomes.

Results:

There are very few randomized clinical trials with human subjects comparing commonly used cardioplegic solutions. Numerous retrospective studies exist, but often show similar intraoperative and postoperative outcomes between the solutions. Some solutions, del Nido cardioplegia in particular, were found to have few or no significant human trials to back the rigor required in such a highly specialized field as cardiovascular surgery. A wide variation in the types of surgeries and primary outcomes were included in the publications, so it is difficult to perform an accurate systematic review of the topic.

Conclusion:

Uniform variables among different studies would be preferable for analysis of this topic; thus, it is the researchers’ recommendation that the collection of multicenter data be undertaken in order to more fully answer this research question. Comparative effectiveness studies to associate commonly used solutions are needed. Without this research, surgeon preference remains the primary determining factor for deciding which cardioplegic solution to use. Cardioplegia selection should rely more on higher scientific research, using evidenced-based medicine and ranking of clinical studies.
A classification for macroscopic charcoal morphologies found in Holocene lacustrine sediments
Authors: Mustaphi Colin J. Courtney , Pisaric Michael F.J.
Published: October 2014

Macroscopic charcoal analysis of lake sediment stratigraphies is a widely used approach to reconstruct past biomass burning patterns of ecosystems. The development of fire records often relies on a single quantification method of charcoal in a sediment subsample; however, recent studies have shown that additional paleoecological information can be obtained by classifying charcoal morphologies. The morphologies and diagnostic features of charcoal yields information about fuel sources, fire type, and charcoal taphonomy, and can aid in calibrating sediment records to known historical fires. This additional information enhances paleoecological inferences by providing more paleoenvironmental information than studies of total charcoal as the only metric. Here we present a classification of 27 macroscopic charcoal morphologies observed in Holocene sediments of lakes located in the mixed-conifer forests of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. This classification system builds on other morphological classifications that have been previously utilized, but is more inclusive of the morphological variability observed and is flexible to modification for use when applied to other study settings. The morphological classification presented here was developed following the observation of >100,000 macroscopic charcoal fragments >150 µm. This paper focuses on the observed morphological classes, their identification, potential fuel sources, and the morphotype assemblage stratigraphy from one site as an example. The charcoal assemblages varied throughout the mid-to-late Holocene contemporaneously with known regional scale hydroclimatic changes in British Columbia. Major changes in fire frequency were also concomitant with morphotype assemblage changes. Future work focusing on linking fuel types with charcoal morphotypes, post-fire observations of charcoal taphonomy, and the analysis of multiple attribute charcoal data sets from a variety of ecosystems will improve our understanding of biomass burning and long-term fire ecology.
Comparative Study of Refractive Errors, Strabismus, Microsaccades, and Visual Perception Between Preterm and Full-Term Children With Infantile Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Kozeis Nikolaos , Panos Georgios D. , Zafeiriou Dimitrios I. , de Gottrau Philippe , Gatzioufas Zisis
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the refractive status, orthoptic status and visual perception in a group of preterm and another of full-term children with cerebral palsy, in order to investigate whether prematurity has an effect on the development of refractive errors and binocular disorders. A hundred school-aged children, 70 preterm and 30 full-term, with congenital cerebral palsy were examined. Differences for hypermetropia, myopia, and emmetropia were not statistically significant between the 2 groups. Astigmatism was significantly increased in the preterm group. The orthoptic status was similar for both groups. Visual perception was markedly reduced in both groups, but the differences were not significant. In conclusion, children with cerebral palsy have impaired visual skills, leading to reading difficulties. The presence of prematurity does not appear to represent an additional risk factor for the development of refractive errors and binocular disorders.
Is Previous Removal From the United States a Marker for High Recidivism Risk? Results From a 9-Year Follow-Up Study of Criminally Involved Unauthorized Immigrants
Authors: Hickman Laura J. , Wong Jennifer , Suttorp-Booth Marika
Published: October 2014

The present study examines the long-term recidivism patterns of a group of unauthorized immigrants identified to be at high risk of recidivism. Using a sample of 517 male unauthorized immigrants, we used three measures of recidivism to assess 9-year rearrest differences between unauthorized immigrants who have and who have not been previously removed from the United States. Results indicate that prior removal was a significant risk marker for recidivism, with previously removed immigrants showing a higher likelihood of rearrest, a greater frequency of rearrest, and a more rapid time-to-first rearrest. While the present study does not establish whether previous removal is a consistent indicator of high recidivism, it suggests that this group of unauthorized immigrants may be worthy of review and policy consideration. Much potential value for law enforcement lies in the sharing of federal immigration records with academics to further study the outcomes of unauthorized immigrants.
Preserving Personhood: Quaker Individualism and Liberal Culture in Dialogue
Authors: Wood Benjamin
Published: October 2014

For many Christian ethicists the language of individualism serves as a philosophical short-hand for an atomistic and anti-social existence which refuses the invitation of a common life with others. Is this negative description deserved? This article undertakes a close reading of the categories of the individual and the person in order to formulate a theologically affirmative account of certain liberal strands of social and political individualism. In an effort to ground this project, dialogue is initiated with the Quaker theological tradition. Through a close engagement with early Quaker accounts of community, selfhood and conversion, the discussion retrieves a social and teleological model of individuality which challenges key suppositions of individualism’s contemporary critics. This article concludes by considering ways in which Quaker formations of the individual can assist the Church in the task of faithfully engaging with liberal societies.
Ethnic Differences in Attitudes and Bias Toward Older People Comparing White and Asian Nursing Students
Authors: Lee Young-Shin
Published: October 2014

Purposes: To identify attitudes and bias toward aging between Asian and White students and identify factors affecting attitudes toward aging. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 308 students in a nursing program completed the measure of Attitudes Toward Older People and Aging Quiz electronically. Findings: There were no differences in positive attitudes and pro-aged bias between Asian and White groups, but Asian students had significantly more negative attitudes and anti-aged bias toward older people than White students. Multiple regression analysis showed ethnicity/race was the strongest variable to explain negative attitudes toward older people. Feeling uneasy about talking to older adults was the most significant factor to explain all attitudinal concepts. Conclusions: Asian students were uneasy about talking with older people and had negative attitudes toward older adults. To become competent in cross-cultural care and communication in nursing, educational strategies to reduce negative attitudes on aging are necessary.
Faultlines and Subgroups
Authors: Meyer Bertolt , Glenz Andreas , Antino Mirko , Rico Ramón , González-Romá Vicente
Published: October 2014

Research on faultlines—hypothetical dividing lines splitting a team into homogeneous subgroups based on team members’ attributes—has produced several meta-analyses, reviews, and algorithms for faultline and subgroup detection. To help navigate this complexity, we summarize the current theories underlying faultline and subgroup research. We also compare the two most recent algorithms for computational faultline/subgroup detection, offer a guideline for choosing adequate algorithms, and recommend measure combinations for future research. We further review empirical faultlines and subgroup research and show that different contextual factors exhibit a strong influence on the effects of faultlines and subgroups. We discuss the need for further theorization on faultlines that does not rely on attribute salience, which considers the number of aligning attributes and the consequences of faultlines at the subgroup level. We conclude considering new potential applications of the faultline construct.
Influence of Perceived Teacher Acceptance and Parental Acceptance on Youth’s Psychological Adjustment and School Conduct
Authors: Ali Sumbleen , Khaleque Abdul , Rohner Ronald P.
Published: October 2014

This cross-cultural meta-analysis tests the contribution of teachers’ and parents’ acceptance to youth’s psychological adjustment and school conduct. It is based on nine studies involving 2,422 school-going youth in 12 nations. The study addressed two questions drawn from one of the basic postulates of interpersonal acceptance–rejection theory (IPARTheory): (a) To what extent are boys’ and girls’ perceptions of teacher acceptance related internationally to their psychological adjustment and school conduct? (b) To what extent are boys’ and girls’ perceptions of maternal and paternal acceptance related internationally to their psychological adjustment and school conduct? All studies included in this meta-analysis used the child version of the Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire for Mothers and Fathers (child PARQ: Mother and Father), child version of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire (child PAQ), the Teacher’s Evaluation of Student’s Conduct (TESC), and the Teacher Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire (TARQ). Results showed that both parental and teacher acceptance correlate significantly in all countries with psychological adjustment and school conduct of children, regardless of gender differences. The study also showed that perceived teacher acceptance has a significantly stronger relation with the school conduct of boys than of girls.
Policing “The Patch”: Police Response to Rapid Population Growth in Oil Boomtowns in Western North Dakota
Authors: Archbold Carol A. , Dahle Thorvald , Jordan Rachel
Published: October 2014

This study examines police response to rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom in western North Dakota. This study uses methodological triangulation to examine how rapid population growth has affected the way that police personnel conduct their work and interact with citizens in their communities. Data sources include face-to-face interviews with 101 sworn police personnel working in eight agencies, across four counties in western North Dakota, and examination of official data (including concealed weapons permits, calls for police service, and police personnel). Research findings reveal that the oil boom has caused significant changes to policing in western North Dakota.
Improved extended high order analysis of sandwich beams with a bilinear core shear behavior
Authors: Jedari Salami S , Sadighi M , Shakeri M
Published: October 2014

The response of a sandwich panel with bilinear constitutive behavior for shear stress of a core is presented based on a proposed improved extended high order sandwich panel theory. In this theory the face sheets are analyzed based on the first order shear deformation theory that is hitherto not applied in the conventional extended high order sandwich panel theory. Besides, the two-dimensional (2D) elasticity is used for the core. The field equations are derived using the Ritz-based solution which is suitable for any essential boundary condition. In each type of boundary conditions, the effects of plastic shear modulus of the core on transverse shear stress distribution within the core, transverse normal stresses at top and bottom face sheet–core interfaces, displacement components through the thickness of the core, as well as the force and moment resultants and transverse displacements in the face sheets are studied in detail. Also, all results based on the bilinear material assumption of the core are compared with the linear elastic ones. The results reveal that initial plastic regions are created at core edges. Furthermore, the absolute value of shear stresses in the plastic zones based on the bilinear analysis is lower than those obtained from linear elastic one for both types of the boundary conditions. It is seen that, unlike the case of the clamped edges, the plastic regions predicted by bilinear material behavior are much more extensive than ones resulted from elastic material behavior in the simply supported case. Finally, in the case of the linear elastic analysis, the results of the transverse deflections and shear stresses are compared with finite element simulation.
The influence of cell micro-structure on the in-plane dynamic crushing of honeycombs with negative Poisson’s ratio
Authors: Zhang Xin-Chun , An Li-Qiang , Ding Hai-Min , Zhu Xiao-Yan , El-Rich Marwan
Published: October 2014

The in-plane dynamic crushing behaviors and energy-absorbed characteristics of honeycombs with negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) have been studied by means of explicit dynamic finite element analysis (DFEA) using ANSYS/LS-DYNA. First, the honeycomb models filled with different reentrant cells by the variation of micro-cell configuration parameters (cell-wall angle and shape ratio) are established. The respective influences of micro-structure and impact velocities on the deformation behaviors, the dynamic plateau stresses and the absorbed energy of reentrant honeycombs are explored in detail. It is shown that owing to the variation of cell micro-structure, reentrant honeycombs display different macro-/micro- deformation properties during the crushing. For the given impact velocity, the dynamic plateau stresses are related to the shape ratio by a power law and to the cell-wall angle by least-square curves. And they are also proportional to the square of impact velocities for a high impact velocity. Based on the finite element simulated results and one-dimensional shock wave theory, an empirical formula for auxetic honeycomb to predict the dynamic plateau stress is derived in terms of relative density and impact velocity.
Rethinking normative literacy practices, behaviors, and interactions: Learning from young immigrant boys
Authors: Souto-Manning Mariana , Dernikos Bessie , Yu Hae Min
Published: October 2014

In light of the historical failure of boys of color in US schools, this article sheds light onto the ways in which normative discourses of literacy and learning shape the experiences of immigrant boys and how they are perceived and defined as un/successful students. Findings indicate that although these boys—deemed to be “at-risk” or “struggling readers”—were not knowledgeable of prevalent school discourses and interactional sequences, they had sophisticated linguistic understandings and knowledgeable communicative practices. Yet, “good” and “successful” literate subjects were defined according to how well a child’s literacy behaviors aligned with school norms and expectations. Implications highlight the need to recognize and challenge gender-specific and behavioral norms that continue to disadvantage boys whose literacy practices do not mirror normative expectations.
The Brazilian dictatorship and the battle of images
Authors: Lissovsky Mauricio , Lígia Leite e Aguiar Ana
Published: October 2014

In contrast to other South American countries, in Brazil, where a military dictatorship (1964–1985) incarcerated, tortured and ‘disappeared’ countless opponents, there have been very few initiatives to construct a public memory in the form of memorials and museums. Only recently, when the National Truth Commission was set up in 2012, debates on the importance of memory re-emerged, including a significant increase in the number of proposals to construct memorials of national importance, taking as their point of reference the coup in which the military seized power 50 years ago. This text offers a study of news sections dealing with memories of the Brazilian dictatorship and the activities of the National Truth Commission as they were reported in the daily press between 2012 and 2014 as well as visits to some of the monuments and memorials erected or planned after the end of the dictatorship in various parts of the country. Cases studied are divided into two groups: first, monuments stemming from the transition to democracy and the political pact that underwrote it, and second, cases that reflect the fragility of this pact and the efforts to undertake a revision of its terms. Rather than one succeeding the other, these two versions of memory are interdependent and have contested the hegemony of public initiatives to shape our memory of the period.
Soluble factors from colonic epithelial cells contribute to gut homeostasis by modulating macrophage phenotype
Authors: Kristek Maja , Collins Laura E , DeCourcey Joseph , McEvoy Fiona A , Loscher Christine E
Published: October 2014

Intestinal macrophages originate from inflammatory blood monocytes which migrate to the intestine, where they differentiate into anti-inflammatory macrophages through a number of transitional stages. These macrophages typically remain hypo-responsive to commensal bacteria and food Ags in the intestine, yet also retain the ability to react to invading pathogens. In this study we examined the role of epithelial cells in inducing this intestinal macrophage phenotype. Using an in vitro system we showed that, in two-dimensional culture, epithelial cell-derived factors from a murine cell line, CMT-93, are sufficient to induce phenotypic changes in macrophages. Exposure of monocyte-derived macrophages, J774A.1, to soluble factors derived from epithelial cells, induced an altered phenotype similar to that of intestinal macrophages with decreased production of IL-12p40, IL-6 and IL-23 and expression of MHC ІІ and CD80 following TLR ligation. Furthermore, these conditioned macrophages showed enhanced phagocytic activity in parallel with low respiratory burst and NO production, similar to the response seen in intestinal macrophages. Our findings suggest a role for colonic epithelial cells in modulation of macrophage phenotype for maintenance of gut homeostasis. Further understanding of the cell interactions that maintain homeostasis in the gut could reveal novel therapeutic strategies to restore the balance in disease.
Living With Chronic Lower Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Pooler Charlotte
Published: October 2014

In this article, I present a phenomenological study of individuals’ experiences of living with moderate to very severe chronic lower pulmonary disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or both). Phenomenology is a philosophy, distinct from descriptive or thematic research, which is useful as a foundation for scientific inquiry. In this study, I used the lens of Merleau-Ponty to understand and interpret participants’ experiences of living with pulmonary disease, and the approach of van Manen for analysis. I conclude that in chronic pulmonary disease, awareness of breathing and the body is experienced in the sounds, sensations, and signals of breathing and the body, and in the experiences of the body-in-the-world. Central themes of being-in-the-world from the study describe the disruption of the embodied phenomenological self: Participants experienced slowing down, doing less, and having to stop due to shortness of breath. Both chronic and acute dyspnea were prevalent and the taken-for-granted aspects of daily activities were disrupted. Findings of this study have implications for public and patient education, and opportunities for integration of experiential aspects within nursing education and practice.
The Evolution of Professional Nursing Culture in Italy
Authors: Rocco Gennaro , Affonso Dyanne D. , Mayberry Linda J. , Stievano Alessandro , Alvaro Rosaria , Sabatino Laura
Published: October 2014

We explored the perceptions of Italian nurses regarding their developing culture as a health profession. We sought to understand the ongoing evolution of the nursing profession and the changes that were central to it becoming an intellectual discipline on par with the other health professions in Italy. In 2010, the Regulatory Board of Nursing established a center of excellence to build evidence-based practice, advocate for interdisciplinary health care, and champion health profession reforms for nursing. In this study, focus groups—involving 66 nurse participants from various educational, clinical, and administrative backgrounds—were utilized to better ascertain how the profession has changed. Six themes, three of them metaphors—“vortex,” “leopard spots,” and “deductive jungle”—explain nurses’ experiences of professional change in Italy between 2001 and 2011 and the multiple dimensions that characterize their professional identity and autonomy.
Impact of a Transitions of Care Training Module on Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Attitudes
Authors: Azzi Andrew G. , Powers Mary F. , Lengel Aaron J. , Mangan Michelle N.
Published: October 2014

Background: Community pharmacists’ accessibility to patient histories and personal patient relationships situates them to have a potentially significant impact on transitions of care. Recent literature has demonstrated that improved patient outcomes and an overall reduction in health care costs occur when pharmacists are involved in medication reconciliation during transitions of care. Objective: To develop a transitions of care training module for community pharmacists. To assess the training module’s impact on pharmacists’ transition of care knowledge and their attitude toward actively participating in the transitions of care for their patients. Methods: Community pharmacists practicing in a supermarket pharmacy chain participated in this study. A pretest and posttest were administered around a 30-minute transitions of care training module. The attitude assessment consisted of a 5-point Likert-type scale, while the knowledge-based assessment consisted of true/false and multiple-choice questions. SPSS version 21.0 was used to generate descriptive and nonparametric statistical analyses. The study was approved by the University of Toledo Social, Behavioral, and Educational Institutional Review Board. Results: Thirty-six pharmacists (72%) successfully completed the pre–post survey. The average pharmacist posttest knowledge survey score improved from the pretest score, 73% to 99%. A paired Student’s t test demonstrated the posttest percentage of correct questions on the knowledge-based survey improved from the baseline knowledge. Pharmacists’ average posttest attitudes regarding participation in patients’ transitions of care statistically improved compared to their pretest attitudes. Conclusion: Community pharmacists’ transitions of care knowledge and attitudes can be improved through a training module.
Thrombopoietin/MPL signaling confers growth and survival capacity to CD41-positive cells in a mouse model of Evi1 leukemia
Authors: Nishikawa Satoshi , Arai Shunya , Masamoto Yosuke , Kagoya Yuki , Toya Takashi , Watanabe-Okochi Naoko , Kurokawa Mineo
Published: October 2014

Key Points

Expression of ITGA2B (CD41) and MPL positively correlates with that of EVI1 in acute myeloid leukemia patients. Thrombopoietin/MPL signaling enhances growth and survival of CD41+ Evi1 leukemia cells with a high leukemia-initiating capacity.
SLAP/SLAP2 prevent excessive platelet (hem)ITAM signaling in thrombosis and ischemic stroke in mice
Authors: Cherpokova Deya , Bender Markus , Morowski Martina , Kraft Peter , Schuhmann Michael K. , Akbar Sarah M. , Sultan Cheryl S. , Hughes Craig E. , Kleinschnitz Christoph , Stoll Guido , Dragone Leonard L. , Watson Steve P. , Tomlinson Michael G. , Nieswandt Bernhard
Published: October 2014

Key Points

SLAP and SLAP2 have redundant functions in the regulation of platelet (hem)ITAM signaling. SLAP and SLAP2 in platelets limit occlusive thrombus formation and ischemic brain infarction.
Biosimilars: the science of extrapolation
Authors: Weise Martina , Kurki Pekka , Wolff-Holz Elena , Bielsky Marie-Christine , Schneider Christian K.
Published: October 2014

Despite the establishment of a specific approval pathway, the issuance of detailed scientific guidelines for the development of similar biological medicinal products (so-called “biosimilars”) and the approval of several biosimilars in the European Union, acceptance of biosimilars in the medical community continues to be low. This is especially true in therapeutic indications for which no specific clinical trials with the biosimilar have been performed and that have been licensed based on extrapolation of efficacy and safety data from other indications. This article addresses the concerns frequently raised in the medical community about the use of biosimilars in such extrapolated indications and explains the underlying scientific and regulatory decision making including some real-life examples from recently licensed biosimilars.
Enhanced anticancer activity of DM1-loaded star-shaped folate-core PLA-TPGS nanoparticles
Authors: Tang Xiaolong , Liang Yong , Zhu Yongqiang , Cai Shiyu , Sun Leilei , Chen Tianyi
Published: October 2014

The efficient delivery of therapeutic drugs into interested cells is a critical challenge to broad application of nonviral vector systems. In this research, emtansine (DM1)-loaded star-shaped folate-core polylactide-d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (FA-PLA-TPGS-DM1) copolymer which demonstrated superior anticancer activity in vitro/vivo in comparison with linear FA-PLA-TPGS nanoparticles was applied to be a vector of DM1 for FR+ breast cancer therapy. The DM1- or coumarin 6-loaded nanoparticles were fabricated, and then characterized in terms of size, morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release. And the viability of MCF-7/HER2 cells treated with FA-DM1-nanoparticles (NPs) was assessed. Severe combined immunodeficient mice carrying MCF-7/HER2 tumor xenografts were treated in several groups including phosphate-buffered saline control, DM1, DM1-NPs, and FA-DM1-NPs. The antitumor activity was then assessed by survival time and solid tumor volume. All the specimens were prepared for formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections for hematoxylin-eosin staining. The data showed that the FA-DM1-NPs could efficiently deliver DM1 into MCF-7/HER2 cells. The cytotoxicity of DM1 to MCF-7/HER2 cells was significantly increased by FA-DM1-NPs when compared with the control groups. In conclusion, the FA-DM1-NPs offered a considerable potential formulation for FR+ tumor-targeting biotherapy.
Cell localisation of gadolinium-based nanoparticles and related radiosensitising efficacy in glioblastoma cells
Authors: Štefančíková Lenka , Porcel Erika , Eustache Pierre , Li Sha , Salado Daniela , Marco Sergio , Guerquin-Kern Jean-Luc , Réfrégiers Matthieu , Tillement Olivier , Lux François , Lacombe Sandrine
Published: October 2014

Recently, the addition of nanoparticles (NPs) has been proposed as a new strategy to enhance the effect of radiotherapy particularly in the treatment of aggressive tumors such as glioblastoma. The physical processes involved in radiosensitisation by nanoparticles have been well studied although further understanding of its biological impact is still lacking, and this includes the localisation of these NPs in the target cells. Most studies were performed with NPs tagged with fluorescent markers. However, the presence of these markers can influence the NPs uptake and localisation. In this study, a set of methods was used to unambiguously and fully characterise the uptake of label-free NPs, their co-localisation with cell organelles, and their radiosensitising efficacy. This set was applied to the case of gadolinium-based nanoparticles (GdBN) used to amplify the radiation killing of U87 glioblastoma cells extracted from highly aggressive human tumor. For the first time, Synchrotron Radiation Deep UV (SR-DUV) microscopy is proposed as a new tool to track label-free GdBN. It confirmed the localisation of the NPs in the cytoplasm of U87 cells and the absence of NPs in the nucleus. In a second step, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that GdBN penetrate cells by endocytosis. Third, using confocal microscopy it was found that GdBN co-localise with lysosomes but not with mitochondria. Finally, clonogenic assay measurements proved that the presence of NPs in the lysosomes induces a neat amplification of the killing of glioblastoma cells irradiated by gamma rays. The set of combined experimental protocols—TEM, SR-DUV and confocal microscopy—demonstrates a new standard method to study the localisation of label-free NPs together with their radiosensitising properties. This will further the understanding of NP-induced radiosentisation and contribute to the development of nanoagents for radiotherapy.
Metabolism of alkenes and ketones by Candida maltosa and related yeasts
Authors: Beier Andy , Hahn Veronika , Bornscheuer Uwe T , Schauer Frieder
Published: October 2014

Knowledge is scarce about the degradation of ketones in yeasts. For bacteria a subterminal degradation of alkanes to ketones and their further metabolization has been described which always involved Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs). In addition, the question has to be clarified whether alkenes are converted to ketones, in particular for the oil degrading yeast Candida maltosa little is known. In this study we show the degradation of the aliphatic ketone dodecane-2-one by Candida maltosa and the related yeasts Candida tropicalis, Candida catenulata and Candida albicans as well as Trichosporon asahii and Yarrowia lipolytica. One pathway is initiated by the formation of decyl acetate, resulting from a Baeyer-Villiger-oxidation of this ketone. Beyond this, an initial reduction to dodecane-2-ol by a keto reductase was clearly shown. In addition, two different ways to metabolize dodec-1-ene were proposed. One involved the formation of dodecane-2-one and the other one a conversion leading to carboxylic and dicarboxylic acids. Furthermore the induction of ketone degrading enzymes by dodecane-2-one and dodec-1-ene was shown. Interestingly, with dodecane no subterminal degradation products were detected and it did not induce any enzymes to convert dodecane-2-one.
Time-lapse difference static correction using prestack crosscorrelations: 4D seismic image enhancement case from Ketzin
Authors: Bergmann Peter , Kashubin Artem , Ivandic Monika , Lüth Stefan , Juhlin Christopher
Published: October 2014

A method for static correction of time-lapse differences in reflection arrival times of time-lapse prestack seismic data is presented. These arrival-time differences are typically caused by changes in the near-surface velocities between the acquisitions and had a detrimental impact on time-lapse seismic imaging. Trace-to-trace time shifts of the data sets from different vintages are determined by crosscorrelations. The time shifts are decomposed in a surface-consistent manner, which yields static corrections that tie the repeat data to the baseline data. Hence, this approach implies that new refraction static corrections for the repeat data sets are unnecessary. The approach is demonstrated on a 4D seismic data set from the Ketzin [Formula: see text] pilot storage site, Germany, and is compared with the result of an initial processing that was based on separate refraction static corrections. It is shown that the time-lapse difference static correction approach reduces 4D noise more effectively than separate refraction static corrections and is significantly less labor intensive.
Animal Appetites
Authors: DeVun Leah
Published: October 2014

This essay focuses on “hermaphrodites” to examine how ideas about sexual difference shaped the human-nonhuman distinction in medieval Europe. When constructing a definition of the human, medieval authors repeatedly pointed to a particular kind of sexual difference as a key indicator of humanness: a binary and stable sex, a singular means of reproduction, and a restricted set of possible sexual acts. The boundaries between male and female and animal and human also intersected with how medieval authors imagined boundaries between Christians and non-Christians and Europeans and non-Europeans, who were thought to possess bodily appetites that were more animal than human in nature. During the period, some European texts ascribed hermaphroditic, monstrously misshapen genitals to those living outside the geographic bounds of Europe, linking imagined deviations in anatomy to “race,” a logic that was ultimately applied to Jews and Muslims, and which had a long legacy in both Europe and the Americas. This essay argues that sexual difference is wrapped up in the very taxonomy of the human-nonhuman divide. A turn toward nonhumanism — as modern scholars have proposed in an effort to queer the liberal human subject — is thus not necessarily emancipatory, and in the premodern period it was not. While this essay makes no easy equations between medieval and modern systems of sexual and racial difference, it suggests that engagement with earlier periods of history can help us to think about species difference and its connection to sexual and racial difference in contemporary contexts.
Black Anality
Authors: Nash Jennifer C.
Published: October 2014

“Black Anality” argues that “black” and “anal” are rendered ideologically, discursively, and representationally synonymous, and that black female flesh becomes the material space on which this convergence occurs. Drawing on an archive of online, widely accessible black pornographies, I develop the term black anality to describe how black pleasures are represented as peculiarly and particularly oriented toward the anus, and thus as peculiarly and particularly attached to anal ideologies. In doing so, I depart from black feminist scholarship, which has long examined the buttocks as an imagined locus of racial-sexual difference and which has developed a set of analytics that now predominate in the study of black female sexualities: spectacularity, excess, grotesquerie, and display. “Black Anality” offers a new set of analytics for black feminist work on sexuality: spatiality, waste, toxicity, and filth. These analytics, I argue, allow black feminists to consider how black female sexuality is imagined to be rooted in (and perhaps generative of) certain kinds of filthy spaces, particularly the ghetto; how black sexuality is constructed as literally and metaphorically dirty; how black sexuality is posited as toxic, non-productive, and nonreproductive; and how black sexuality is imagined as wasteful. In turning attention to this understudied and overdetermining space — the black anus — “Black Anality” considers the racial meanings produced in pornographic texts that insistently return to the black female anus as a critical site of pleasure, peril, and curiosity.
Holotype specimens and type citations: General issues
Authors: McNeill John
Published: October 2014

As specification of a holotype has only been necessary for valid publication of a name of a species or infraspecific taxon since 1 January 1990, for names published before that date it is often uncertain if a holotype exists, and, if it does, where it is located. The rules governing holotype recognition are outlined and suggestions for best practice are made.
Repeated evolution of endoscopic peripheral vascular bundles in succulent leaves of Aizoaceae (Caryophyllales)
Authors: Melo-de-Pinna Gladys F.A. , Ogura Aline S. , Arruda Emilia C.P. , Klak Cornelia
Published: October 2014

We investigated the presence and orientation of peripheral vascular bundles in leaves of 81 species representing 72 genera of Aizoaceae. Our study included a wide range of morphological shapes of leaves sampled from all four subfamilies of Aizoaceae, with an emphasis on succulent leaves found in Mesembryanthemoideae and Ruschioideae. Our anatomical studies revealed that only three of the four subfamilies in Aizoaceae have peripheral vascular bundles in their leaves, i.e., Sesuvioideae, Mesembryanthemoideae and Ruschioideae. Apart from Sesuvium (Sesuvioideae), all other species with peripheral vascular bundles have an endoscopic orientation, i.e., the phloem is positioned closer to the epidermis, whereas the xylem is pointing towards the interior of the leaf. This contrasts the situation in other Caryophyllales, where, with the exception of Borszczowia (Amaranthaceae), two different types of three‐dimensional venations were observed. The distinct types of three‐dimensional venation may in turn provide clues to the different pathways by which the similar leaves evolved. Endoscopic peripheral vascular bundles in Aizoaceae were only found in species with an expanded leaf base and (sub‐)cylindrical to trigonous leaves. Although flat‐bladed species of Aizoaceae generally have no peripheral vascular bundles, they were present in Delosperma tradescantioides (Ruschioideae: Ruschieae). Persistent, flat leaves are very rare within the hyperdiverse Ruschieae, which typically have (sub‐)cylindrical to trigonous leaves. Thus, the presence of peripheral vascular bundles in leaves of D. tradescantioides indicates that flat‐bladed, persistent leaves constitute a reversal within tribe Ruschieae. The additional presence of lateral bundles in the outer lamina of leaves of D. tradescantioides can be interpreted as a regain of planate venation. Mapping the evolution of peripheral vascular bundles onto a phylogeny of the Aizoaceae suggests that this character evolved repeatedly within subfamilies Mesembryanthemoideae and Ruschioideae.
Multi-Chamber Graves from the Tell el-Farkha Cemeteries
Authors: Rosińska-Balik Karolina
Published: October 2014

The Tell el-Farkha cemeteries demonstrate the typical burial customs of their periods. From the 120 burials discovered so far, one can distinguish two main types of graves, namely a simple grave pit or a pit lined with mud bricks. The latter has various subtypes including multichamber graves. This interesting group, small in number, reveals unusual funeral practice, which was probably connected with the social position of the deceased. In this paper, the multi-chamber group is presented with all its differences and similarities.
The Presence of Euboeans in the North Helladic Region and the Myths of Heracles
Authors: Tiverios Michalis
Published: October 2014

Recent excavations carried out in Chalcidice and at the head of the Thermaic Gulf have revealed that the Euboeans played a leading role in these areas, during the first and second Greek colonization. This is also attested by written evidence. The prominent position enjoyed by Heracles in northern Greece, which is confirmed not only by the written sources but also by the relevant representations on monuments found in this region, must be mainly due to the Euboeans. It is difficult, however, to deal with issues relevant to the formation and dissemination of these myths of Heracles and reach definite conclusions. As is well known, the Greeks often created myths in order to legitimize their conquests and territorial claims.
Amphora Stamps from the Agora of Nea Paphos, Cyprus
Authors: Dobosz Agata
Published: October 2014

32 stamped amphora handles were excavated on the Agora site in Paphos (ancient Nea Paphos), Cyprus, within the framework of the Paphos Agora Project conducted by the Department of Classical Archaeology of the Jagiellonian University Institute of Archaeology under the direction of Professor E. Papuci-Władyka since 2011. Most of them were found in contexts dated from the Hellenistic to the Roman period. There are, however, a few stamped handles that were uncovered in definitively uncontaminated Hellenistic contexts. Most probably all of the stamped handles date to the Hellenistic period. They come from Greek amphora production centres including Rhodes, Knidos, Thasos in the Aegean and from Sinope on the Black Sea coast. Most of these stamps are commonly known, although there are several examples of a special interest.
Cypriot Lagynoi with a Funnel Shaped Mouth and a Twisted Handle
Authors: Lund John
Published: October 2014

Lagynoi with a funnel shaped mouth and a twisted handle are commonly found in in Cyprus. They come in a standard type (with a squat version), as well as in at least two variants. Their contexts and distribution suggest that the former were manufactured in southeastern Cyprus, between c. the middle of the 2nd century and the middle of the 1st century BC, whereas the two variants were probably manufactured in the central, southern and northern parts of the island. These vessels further our understanding of the regional distribution patterns of pottery (and by implication perhaps other goods as well) in Hellenistic Cyprus.
A Few Comments on Loomweight Decoration
Authors: Miszk Łukasz
Published: October 2014

This short paper aims to provide an overview of the two main types of ornamentation applied to loomweights. This type of artifact, though usually classified in the so-called ‘small finds’ category, often contains very interesting objects on which we can observe various kinds of ornamentation. The author will firstly identify two main types of decoration. The first of them relates to the application of signs, symbols or letters, while the second is more spectacular as it involves the application of engraved, impressed or painted iconographic representations. The author will then attempt to outline the hypotheses which have been put forward concerning the reasons behind the decoration of loomweights. The author will focus on three main possible causes. The first is the marking of the manufacturer of the weight, the second is the personal desire of the owner (e.g. decorative purposes) and the third relates to the votive and funerary nature of this type of artifact.