bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract B11: HDAC6 as a therapeutic target in human breast cancer
Authors: Craig Justin M. , Schauwecker Suzanne M. , Clevenger Charles V.
Published: August 2018

Stat5 is a transcription factor utilized by several cytokine/hormone receptor signaling pathways that promotes transcription of genes associated with proliferation, differentiation, and survival of cancer cells. However, there are currently no clinically approved therapies that target Stat5, despite ample evidence that it contributes to breast cancer pathogenesis. Previous research in our lab has shown that the high mobility group nucleosome binding domain 2 (HGMN2) protein serves as a Stat5 co-activator. The activity of HMGN2 has been previously shown to be regulated by acetylation. Here, we show that deacetylation of HMGN2 on lysine residue K2 by histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) promotes Stat5-mediated transcription and breast cancer growth. Conversely, in vitro HDAC6 inhibition by pharmacologic and knockdown approaches enhanced HMGN2 acetylation with a concomitant reduction of in vitro Stat5-mediated signaling and global gene expression, and breast cancer growth. These data, combined with global in silico ChIP-Seq analysis, indicate that HDAC6 serves as a regulator of the pioneer function of HMGN2 for Stat5 transcriptional function. In vitro and in vivo treatment of traditional and patient-derived xenograft models with HDAC6 inhibitors resulted in a highly significant reduction of tumor growth. Translationally, it was also found that high levels of acetylated K2 were present in normal human breast tissue, which was lost in primary breast cancers and lymph node metastases. This suggests that blockade of HMGN2 deacetylation as described above is a novel treatment for breast cancer, given that existing HDAC6 inhibitors have a favorable toxicity profile in phase I trials of other tumor types. Altogether, these results reveal a novel mechanism through which HDAC6 regulates the transcription of Stat5 target genes and demonstrates the utility of HDAC6 inhibition as a potential breast cancer therapeutic.

Citation Format: Justin M. Craig, Suzanne M. Schauwecker, Charles V. Clevenger. HDAC6 as a therapeutic target in human breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr B11.
Abstract B54: Investigating semaphorin 7a in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer progression
Authors: Crump Lyndsey , Elder Alan , Tarullo Sarah , Franz Paris , Lyons Traci
Published: August 2018

While antiestrogen-based treatments are initially effective for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, these tumors often recur, metastasize, and lose responsiveness to endocrine therapies, emphasizing the need for additional therapeutic targets in HR+ disease. We observe that semaphorin 7a (SEMA7A) expression in HR+ patients in the METABRIC dataset confers significantly decreased survival rates by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Thus, we hypothesize that SEMA7A is a potential biomarker for aggressive disease and/or a novel therapeutic target for recurrent HR+ breast cancer. Utilizing multiple 2D and 3D in vitro approaches with human and mouse HR+ tumor cells, we show that shRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of SEMA7A results in cell growth defects and reduced invasive potential. Loss of SEMA7A also increases apoptosis in attached and forced suspension culture conditions. Finally, we demonstrate that expression of SEMA7A is regulated by the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone in a receptor-dependent mechanism. However, we also observe increased expression of SEMA7A with stabilization of HIF1α, suggesting its expression may be context dependent. Overall, these data support SEMA7A as an important driver of multiple hallmarks of cancer in HR+ breast cancer, including cell growth, invasion, and resisting death. As SEMA7A expression is low in normal breast cells, it may be a novel therapeutic target with low toxic side effects.

Citation Format: Lyndsey Crump, Alan Elder, Sarah Tarullo, Paris Franz, Traci Lyons. Investigating semaphorin 7a in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr B54.
Abstract B55: Investigating the role of semaphorin 7a in triple-negative breast cancer cell invasion
Authors: Tarullo Sarah Elizabeth , Elder Alan , Hill Ryan , Hansen Kirk , Lyons Traci
Published: August 2018

Despite new targeted therapies and improved screening, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death of women in the United States. This emphasizes the need to better understand the molecular pathways contributing to breast cancer progression and metastasis and the need for identification of novel therapeutic targets. This is especially true for triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs), which in comparison to hormone receptor-positive (ER+/PR+) and HER2+ subtypes lack a targeted therapy. Without targeted therapy TNBC patients have limited options for treatment, resulting in decreased overall survival. Our lab identified semaphorin 7a (SEMA7A) as a novel protein that promotes TNBC progression. SEMA7A is a member of the semaphorin family, a group of proteins originally described for their developmental roles in axon guidance. SEMA7A is a unique member of the semaphorin family as it is the only GPI-linked semaphorin and can be shed into the extracellular space. Since breast cancer patients mainly die from metastatic disease, we aim to uncover the role of SEMA7A in TNBC cell invasion and metastasis. To study the role SEMA7A may have in promoting cellular invasion, we utilized an shRNA-mediated knockdown of SEMA7A in human TNBC cell lines. Our results show that SEMA7A plays an important role in many steps of the metastatic cascade, with shSEMA7A cells showing increased cell death in both attached and force suspension conditions (anoikis), reduced mesenchymal phenotypes, and less invasion in 3D matrices. We also observed decreased growth and invasion of shSEMA7A tumors in vivo and decreased synthesis of fibronectin and matrix-metalloproteinase 2 ex vivo from shSEMA7A tumors. Taken together, these results show that SEMA7A is a critical molecule for cellular invasion by modulating not only intrinsic cellular pathways, but also the tumor microenvironment.

Citation Format: Sarah Elizabeth Tarullo, Alan Elder, Ryan Hill, Kirk Hansen, Traci Lyons. Investigating the role of semaphorin 7a in triple-negative breast cancer cell invasion [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr B55.
Abstract B67: The DLK1-DIO3 imprinted region regulates long-term proliferation in normal and malignant breast epithelium
Authors: Zabala Maider , Lobo Neethan A. , Seoane Jose A. , Stelzer Yonatan , Luong An V. , Isobe Taichi , Zarnegar Mark A. , Watanabe Nicholas , Antoñana Sonia , Lam Jessica , Qian Dalong , Sikandar Shaheen S. , Kuo Angera H. , Heitink Luuk S. , Shimono Yohei , Scheeren Ferenc A. , Cai Shang , Hisamori Shigeo , Sahoo Debashis , Dirbas Frederick M. , Somlo George , Jaenisch Rudolf , Christina Curtis , Clarke Michael F.
Published: August 2018

DNA methylation changes are common in cancers, but their consequences are not fully understood. The DLK1-DIO3 locus, whose transcripts are controlled by the imprinted control region IG-DMR, is hypomethylated in 8% of breast cancer patients. Moreover, breast cancer patients with increased copy number of miR-127, an miR encoded in the DLK1-DIO3 locus, had worse disease-specific survival. IG-DMR reporter mice revealed that the elevated expression of miR-127 in immature normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells is controlled by allele-specific DNA methylation. Aberrant expression of miR-127 led to the de novo acquisition of long-term proliferation by normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells. Mechanistically, miR-127 suppresses translation of SETD8 and subsequent H4K20me1 deposition at LATS2, resulting in an effective activation of the Hippo target genes. Our results demonstrate that the DLK1-DIO3 region epigenetically regulates mammary stem cells, contributing to increased proliferative and tumorigenic capacity partially via regulation of the Hippo signaling pathway.

Citation Format: Maider Zabala, Neethan A. Lobo, Jose A. Seoane, Yonatan Stelzer, An V. Luong, Taichi Isobe, Mark A. Zarnegar, Nicholas Watanabe, Sonia Antoñana, Jessica Lam, Dalong Qian, Shaheen S. Sikandar, Angera H. Kuo, Luuk S. Heitink, Yohei Shimono, Ferenc A. Scheeren, Shang Cai, Shigeo Hisamori, Debashis Sahoo, Frederick M. Dirbas, George Somlo, Rudolf Jaenisch, Curtis Christina, Michael F. Clarke. The DLK1-DIO3 imprinted region regulates long-term proliferation in normal and malignant breast epithelium [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr B67.
Abstract IA02: Mapping stem and progenitor cells to decipher the origins of breast cancer
Authors: Fu Nai Yang , Nolan Emma , Vaillant Francois , Joyce Rachel , Lindeman Geoffrey , Visvader Jane
Published: August 2018

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease at both the molecular and pathologic levels. To understand this heterogeneity and the cells of origin of breast cancer, it is important to dissect the normal mammary epithelial hierarchy. Both transplantation and lineage tracing studies, a strategy for tracking stem and progenitor cell fate in situ, have been implemented to explore the contribution of stem and progenitor cells to postnatal mammary gland development and tissue homeostasis. The combination of lineage tracing with a novel three-dimensional imaging strategy, which enables visualization of large regions of intact tissue at cellular resolution, has provided insights into the normal differentiation hierarchy as well as potential cells of origin of breast cancer. In a further layer of investigation, we have applied single cell RNA-seq analysis to both mouse and human mammary tissue. This type of analysis has revealed unexpected heterogeneity among epithelial cells that reside in the normal mammary gland.

In the context of human tissue, the identification of cells of origin of cancer and deregulated genes/pathways in crucial target cell populations may enable earlier detection of malignancies and lead to preventive therapies for individuals at high risk of developing breast cancer. Towards this end, we recently showed that the RANK receptor marks a small subset of luminal progenitors and this subset is expanded in precancerous tissue from BRCA1 mutation carriers. In preclinical Brca1-deficient mouse models, inhibition of the RANK ligand (RANKL) prevented or delayed tumorigenesis. These data implicate blockade of the RANK-RANKL signaling axis as a promising breast cancer prevention strategy.

Citation Format: Nai Yang Fu, Emma Nolan, Francois Vaillant, Rachel Joyce, Geoffrey Lindeman, Jane Visvader. Mapping stem and progenitor cells to decipher the origins of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr IA02.
Abstract IA20: A coding region variant in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene may underlie cancer disparities in African Americans
Authors: Murphy Maureen E.
Published: August 2018

In addition to being frequently mutated in sporadic cancer, the p53 tumor suppressor also contains several coding region variants that alter function and can contribute to increased cancer risk. We previously published that the Pro47Ser variant of p53 exists in approximately 1-2% of individuals of African descent, and that this variation prevents a key phosphorylation event on p53, and reduces the ability of this protein to induce cell death (1). We recently published a mouse model for this variant, and show that this mouse develops a striking incidence of sporadic cancer, predominantly hepatocellular cancer but also including cancers of the pancreas, stomach, and intestine. In a cohort of African American women with breast cancer, we found evidence for an association of Pro47Ser with pre-menopausal cancer incidence (HR 1.7, p<0.025) (2). Mechanistically, we find that the Pro47Ser variant displays a very selective transcriptional defect compared to wild-type p53, for a subset of target genes involved in ferroptosis and metabolism (3). Metabolic studies on mouse and human cells, as well as our Pro47Ser mouse, indicate that there is a profound difference in metabolism, with cells and mice containing Pro47Ser showing a significant predilection for aerobic glycolysis instead of oxidative phosphorylation. Interestingly, this defect actually leads to an apparent increase in fitness in these mice. We recently conducted a drug screen to search for compounds that may be selectively efficacious in tumors containing the Pro47Ser variant; this analysis revealed several compounds with increased efficacy against Pro47Ser tumors, compared to identical tumors with wild-type p53 (4). Our combined data suggest that the Pro47Ser variant may underlie increased cancer risk in African Americans, and that we may be able to personalize therapy for individuals containing this variant.

1. Li X, Dumont P, Della Pietra A, Shetler C, Murphy ME. The codon 47 polymorphism in p53 is functionally significant. J Biol Chem 2005;280(25):24245-51. PubMed PMID: 15851479.

2. Murphy ME, Liu S, Yao S, et al. A functionally significant SNP in TP53 and breast cancer risk in African-American women. NPJ Breast Cancer 2017;3:5. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5445618.

3. Jennis M, Kung CP, Basu S, et al. An African-specific polymorphism in the TP53 gene impairs p53 tumor suppressor function in a mouse model. Genes Dev 2016;30(8):918-30. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4840298.

4. Basu S, Barnoud T, Kung CP, Reiss M, Murphy ME. The African-specific S47 polymorphism of p53 alters chemosensitivity. Cell Cycle 2016;15(19):2557-60. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5053554.

Citation Format: Maureen E. Murphy. A coding region variant in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene may underlie cancer disparities in African Americans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr IA20.
Effects of Dexamethasone Dose and Timing on Tissue-Engineered Skeletal Muscle Units
Authors: Larson Alexie A. , Syverud Brian C. , Florida Shelby E. , Rodriguez Brittany L. , Pantelic Molly N. , Larkin Lisa M.
Published: August 2018

Our lab showed that administration of dexamethasone (DEX) stimulated myogenesis and resulted in advanced structure in our engineered skeletal muscle units (SMU). While administration of 25 nM DEX resulted in the most advanced structure, 10 nM dosing resulted in the greatest force production. We hypothesized that administration of 25 nM DEX during the entire fabrication process was toxic to the cells and that administration of DEX at precise time points during myogenesis would result in SMU with a more advanced structure and function. Thus, we fabricated SMU with 25 nM DEX administered at early proliferation (days 0–4), late proliferation (days 3–5), and early differentiation (days 5–7) stages of myogenesis and compared them to SMU treated with 10 nM DEX (days 0–16). Cell proliferation was measured with a BrdU assay (day 4) and myogenesis was examined by immunostaining for MyoD (day 4), myogenin (day 7), and α-actinin (day 11). Following SMU formation, isometric tetanic force production was measured. An analysis of cell proliferation indicated that 25 nM DEX administered at early proliferation (days 0–4) provided 21.5% greater myogenic proliferation than 10 nM DEX (days 0–4). In addition, 25 nM DEX administered at early differentiation (days 5–7) showed the highest density of myogenin-positive cells, demonstrating the greatest improvement in differentiation of myoblasts. However, the most advanced sarcomeric structure and the highest force production were exhibited with sustained administration of 10 nM DEX (days 0–16). In conclusion, alteration of the timing of 25 nM DEX administration did not enhance the structure or function of our SMU. SMU were optimally fabricated with sustained administration of 10 nM DEX.
Intracranial Dystrophic Calcification of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Case Report
Authors: Abbas Mosab , Bakhaidar Mohamad , Baeesa Saleh S.
Published: August 2018

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is one of the most common simple neurosurgical procedures. VP shunt catheters are made of silicone-coated Silastic tubes, which are made to be inert and hardly induce any reaction in normal tissue. We report a rare case of an extensive intracranial calcification of a VP shunt. This is a very rare case of a documented extensive calcification around the ventricular catheter of a VP shunt. We review the previously reported cases in the literature and present our management of the case. We discuss the possible mechanisms for such a dystrophic calcification around a VP shunt.
Tuning of Differential Lipid Order Between Submicrometric Domains and Surrounding Membrane Upon Erythrocyte Reshaping
Authors: Leonard Catherine , Pollet Hélène , Vermylen Christiane , Gov Nir , Tyteca Donatienne , Mingeot-Leclercq Marie-Paule
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Transient nanometric cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched domains, called rafts, are characterized by higher lipid order as compared to surrounding lipids. Here, we asked whether the seminal concept of highly ordered rafts could be refined with the presence of lipid domains exhibiting different enrichment in cholesterol and sphingomyelin and association with erythrocyte curvature areas. We also investigated how differences in lipid order between domains and surrounding membrane (bulk) are regulated and whether changes in order differences could participate to erythrocyte deformation and vesiculation. Methods: We used the fluorescent hydration- and membrane packing-sensitive probe Laurdan to determine by imaging mode the Generalized Polarization (GP) values of lipid domains vs the surrounding membrane. Results: Laurdan revealed the majority of sphingomyelin-enriched domains associated to low erythrocyte curvature areas and part of the cholesterol-enriched domains associated with high curvature. Both lipid domains were less ordered than the surrounding lipids in erythrocytes at resting state. Upon erythrocyte deformation (elliptocytes and stimulation of calcium exchanges) or membrane vesiculation (storage at 4°C), lipid domains became more ordered than the bulk. Upon aging and in membrane fragility diseases (spherocytosis), an increase in the difference of lipid order between domains and the surrounding lipids contributed to the initiation of domain vesiculation. Conclusion: The critical role of domain-bulk differential lipid order modulation for erythrocyte reshaping is discussed in relation with the pressure exerted by the cytoskeleton on the membrane.
Consensus for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of feline mammary tumors
Authors: Cassali Geovanni Dantas , Campos Cecília Bonolo de , Bertagnolli Angélica Cavalheiro , Estrela-Lima Alessandra , Lavalle Gleidice Eunice , Damasceno Karine Araújo , Di Nardi Andrigo Barboza , Cogliati Bruno , Costa Fernanda Vieira Amorim da , Sobral Renata , Di Santis Giovana Wingeter , Fernandes Cristina Gevehr , Ferreira Enio , Salgado Breno Souza , Vieira-Filho Carlos Humberto da Costa , Silva Danielle Nascimento , Martins-Filho Emanoel Ferreira , Teixeira Stéfane Valgas , Nunes Fernanda Camargo , Nakagaki Karen Yumi Ribeiro
Published: August 2018

Mammary neoplasms are described as the third most common type of feline tumor, after haematopoietic and skin tumors, and present a challenge for clinicians because the prognosis for feline mammary tumors ranges from guarded to poor. Thus, it is necessary to define new therapeutic approaches and establish more in-depth knowledge about this disease in felines. The main aspects of the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of feline mammary neoplasia were discussed, aiming to standardize the criteria and to serve as a guide for pathologists and veterinary clinicians.
Liverpool Merchants in 19th-Century Niger Delta
Authors: Wariboko Nimi
Published: August 2018

How does religion or worldview affect business practices and ethics? This tradition of inquiry goes back, at least, to Max Weber who, in the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, explored the impact of theological suppositions on capitalist economic development. But the connection can also go the other way. So the focus of inquiry can become: How does business ethics or practices affect ethics in a given nation or corporation? This paper inquires into how the political and economic conditions created and sustained by nineteenth-century trading community in the Niger Delta influenced religious practices or ethics of Christian missionaries. This approach to mission study is necessary not only because we want to further understand the work of Christian missions and also to tease out the effect of business ethics on religious ethics, but also because Christian missionaries came to the Niger Delta in the nineteenth century behind foreign merchants.
An Intercomparison of GCM and RCM Dynamical Downscaling for Characterizing the Hydroclimatology of California and Nevada
Authors: Xu Zexuan , Rhoades Alan M. , Johansen Hans , Ullrich Paul A. , Collins William D.
Published: August 2018

Dynamical downscaling is a widely used technique to properly capture regional surface heterogeneities that shape the local hydroclimatology. However, in the context of dynamical downscaling, the impacts on simulation fidelity have not been comprehensively evaluated across many user-specified factors, including the refinements of model horizontal resolution, large-scale forcing datasets, and dynamical cores. Two global-to-regional downscaling methods are used to assess these: specifically, the variable-resolution Community Earth System Model (VR-CESM) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model with horizontal resolutions of 28, 14, and 7 km. The modeling strategies are assessed by comparing the VR-CESM and WRF simulations with consistent physical parameterizations and grid domains. Two groups of WRF Models are driven by either the NCEP reanalysis dataset (WRF_NCEP) or VR-CESM7 results (WRF_VRCESM) to evaluate the effects of large-scale forcing datasets. The simulated hydroclimatologies are compared with reference datasets for key properties including total precipitation, snow cover, snow water equivalent (SWE), and surface temperature. The large-scale forcing datasets are critical to the WRF simulations of total precipitation but not surface temperature, controlled by the wind field and atmospheric moisture transport at the ocean boundary. No significant benefit is found in the regional average simulated hydroclimatology by increasing horizontal resolution refinement from 28 to 7 km, probably due to the systematic biases from the diagnostic treatment of rainfall and snowfall in the microphysics scheme. The choice of dynamical core has little impact on total precipitation but significantly determines simulated surface temperature, which is affected by the snow-albedo feedback in winter and soil moisture estimations in summer.
Comparison of Ankle Pressure, Systolic Toe Pressure, and Transcutaneous Oxygen Pressure to Predict Major Amputation After 1 Year in the COPART Cohort
Authors: Salaun Pierre , Desormais Ileana , Lapébie François-Xavier , Rivière Alessandra Bura , Aboyans Victor , Lacroix Philippe , Bataille Vincent , Constans Joël , Boulon Carine
Published: August 2018

The hemodynamic definition of critical limb ischemia (CLI) has evolved over time but remains controversial. We compared the prediction of major amputation by 3 hemodynamic methods. Patients were selected from the Cohorte des Patients ARTériopathes cohort of patients hospitalized for peripheral arterial disease. Patients with CLI were enrolled according to the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document on Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease II definition and followed up for at least 1 year. We compared the major amputation rate according to initial ankle pressure (AP), systolic toe pressure (STP), and forefoot transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2); 556 patients were included and divided into surgical (264) and medical (292) groups. The AP failed to identify 42% of patients with CLI. After 1 year, 27% of medical and 17% of surgical patients had undergone major amputation. The TP <30 mm Hg predicted major amputation in the whole sample and in the medical group (odds ratio [OR] 3.5 [1.7-7.1] and OR 5 [2-12.4], respectively), but AP did not. The TcPO2 <10 mm Hg also predicted major amputation (OR 2.3 [1.5-3.5] and OR 3.8 [2.1-6.8]). The best predictive thresholds to predict major amputation were STP <30 mm Hg and TcPO2 <10 mm Hg. None of these methods performed before surgery was able to predict outcome in the revascularized patients.
Intergroup behavior in military multiteam systems
Authors: Wijnmaalen Julia , Voordijk Hans , Rietjens Sebastiaan , Dewulf Geert
Published: August 2018

The use of multiteam systems is increasing rapidly, as the diversity in skills and knowledge they supply assists organizations in responding more effectively to volatile environments. Multiteam systems consist of teams that depend on each other to achieve a common overarching goal, while simultaneously pursuing different proximal goals. However, multiteam systems often struggle to achieve the expected level of synergy. Multiteam system scholars have speculated that this may be owing to the presence of multiple teams within multiteam systems. Negative effects of salient group identities are well-documented, and yet there is no published empirical evidence of these same effects in multiteam systems yet. In this article, we examine the extent to which salient component team identities lead to multiteam system intergroup behavior. Given the nascent state of multiteam system research, we used Eisenhardt’s method to generate theory from case studies. Three military multiteam systems were studied, with data collected before and during a deployment to Afghanistan. The study’s findings contribute to our understanding of multiteam systems in several ways. First, the study provides empirical evidence that multiteam systems are vulnerable to intergroup behavior. Second, it shows how boundary spoilers, a well-designed team-building period and effective multiteam system leadership influence if and how multiteam system intergroup behavior develops. Finally, the results underscore the importance of existing knowledge of teams and groups in furthering our understanding of multiteam system processes.
Competition in Indian Banking Sector Since 1990s
Authors: Sengupta Atanu , De Sanjoy
Published: August 2018

In this article, we have estimated the degree of competition in Indian banking sector for the period 1992–2012, as well as in the two sub-periods 1992–2001 and 2002–2012. From our study, we have found that, like the majority of the banking sectors in the developed countries, Indian banking sector also operated under monopolistic competition. Further, the level of competition increased in phase two vis-à-vis phase one for the banking system as a whole as well as for all categories of banks. Liberalisation push, wide usage of technology and introduction of new age private sector banks have enhanced competition in the banking space.

JEL Classification: G21, D41, C33
Advantages of the Platoon School
Authors: Kirby Byron C.
Published: August 2018

In less than thirty years the number of Platoon Schools has increased from one to over eight hundred. The writer here presents a strong case for this type of organization in the elementary school.
The Classroom Reference Shelf
Authors: White Mary D.
Published: August 2018

A necessity if young minds are to be awakened, curiosity aroused and answered
History Begins at Home
Authors: Heathcote Charles W.
Published: August 2018

The writer in quest of historic sites, found inhabitants amazingly ignorant of past events
Effect of sowing dates and late season water deficit stress on quantitative and qualitative traits of canola cultivars
Authors: Nazeri Parisa , Shirani Rad Amir Hossein , ValadAbadi Seyed Alireza , Mirakhori Mojtaba , Hadidi Masoule Esmaeil
Published: August 2018

To investigate the effects of sowing dates and late season water deficit stress on quantitative and qualitative traits of different canola cultivars, a 2-year field experiment was carried out in the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons. The experimental factors consisted of sowing date at two levels (7th and 27th October), irrigation at two levels (full irrigation and irrigation termination at silique formation stage) and four German canola cultivars including Trapper, Makro, Smilla, and Agamax. The results indicated that the main effects of sowing date, irrigation, and cultivar were significant on all studied characteristics except for harvest index. The interaction between sowing date and irrigation was also statistically significant on silique number per plant, oil percentage, linolenic acid, and erucic acid percentage. The results demonstrated that seed yield and its components oil percentage and oil yield, as well as oleic and linoleic acid percentage, decreased when sowing date was delayed until 27th October. Due to irrigation termination, all the studied traits decreased except for linolenic and erucic acid. Seed yield also decreased. The results suggest that to improve seed and oil yield, canola should be sown on 7th October and fully irrigated until physiological maturity stage in the study area.
Conservative religious activism in the Brazilian Congress: Sexual agendas in focus
Authors: Carranza Brenda , Vital Da Cunha Christina
Published: August 2018

In this article, we aim to reflect on the emergence and manipulation of social feelings in the context of intense transformations, called cold periods in history by Durkheim. The event known in the mainstream media as the ‘gay kit’, and political and religious articulations surrounding its suppression in 2011, is the empirical basis for our analysis. As a counterpoint, we will identify narratives and conservative activism organized around Bill No. 6583/2013, also known as the Family Statute, which has been the subject of numerous public debates, especially in 2015. In both cases, we reflect on social fears, morally based panic and on the situated activation of the rhetoric of loss by politicians with religious conservative liberal profiles.
Experiences Versus Perceptions: Do Students Agree That They Have Been Bullied?
Authors: Connell Nadine M. , Schell-Busey Natalie M. , Hernandez Richard
Published: August 2018

Each year, an estimated 30% of school children experience bullying by their classmates. While research has explored the prevalence of bullying, the causes of bullying, and the consequences of bullying, less attention has been focused on understanding how students define bullying experiences. Utilizing a school-based sample of students ranging from fifth to eighth grade, we examine the concordance between the experience of situations defined as “bullying” to the opinions of students as to whether they felt “bullied.” On average, one third of students report a mismatch between their victimization experiences and their perceptions of being bullied. Logistic regression analyses suggest that the characteristics of students who do not label victimization experiences as bullying differ based on the bullying behavior specified. We examine the students most likely to label bullying and victimization differently and suggest how these findings can be incorporated by school administrators and researchers to better understand how students experience bullying.
Beyond the Psychological Wage: Du Bois on White Dominion
Authors: Myers Ella
Published: August 2018

W.E.B. Du Bois’s reading of whiteness as a “public and psychological wage” is enormously influential. This essay examines another, lesser known facet of Du Bois’s account of racialized identity: his conceptualization of whiteness as dominion. In his 1920–1940 writings, “modern” whiteness appears as a proprietary orientation toward the planet in general and toward “darker peoples” in particular. This “title to the universe” is part of chattel slavery’s uneven afterlife, in which the historical fact of “propertized human life” endures as a racialized ethos of ownership. The essay examines how this “title” is expressed and reinforced in the twentieth century by the Jim Crow system of racial signs in the United States and by violent “colonial aggrandizement” worldwide. The analytic of white dominion, I argue, allows Du Bois to productively link phenomena often regarded as discrete, namely, domestic and global forms of white supremacy and practices of exploitation and dispossession. Ultimately, the entitlement Du Bois associates with whiteness is best understood as a pervasive, taken-for-granted horizon of perception, which facilitates the transaction of the “wage” but is not reducible to it.
The art of the possible: A call for political intelligence (PQ) in missiological reflection
Authors: Blanton Matthew
Published: August 2018

Missiology has always drawn heavily from other academic disciplines, particularly sociology and cultural anthropology. With the desire to engage intelligently across cultures, missiologists employ specific anthropological tools and methods and stress that missionaries need “CQ” or “cultural intelligence” in order to be effective. Similarly, missiologists have increasingly argued that the gospel necessarily includes a political dimension. However, unlike the sophisticated engagement with “culture,” the calls for political involvement rarely go much deeper. Researchers often point to political structures and problems and call for the church to respond, without offering any ideas on how to effect change practically. Furthermore, there is a glaring lack of engagement with political science and other disciplines that specialize in how policies are changed in the real world. I argue that “PQ” or political intelligence is desperately needed in order to inform and support missiological reflection and strategy on political issues. It is not enough to simply want to influence political systems for Kingdom purposes, we must seek PQ. This is acquired through missiological interaction with political science and the adoption of best practices from the non-academic activist community. I end by presenting several political science concepts that will guide missiology moving forward in its embrace of PQ.
Citizenship in the Global South: Policing Irregular Migrants and Eroding Citizenship Rights in Mexico
Authors: Sarabia Heidy
Published: August 2018

Research on the consequences of being an undocumented migrant has focused mostly on the experiences of migrants in the Global North. Examination of experiences in Mexico reveals the export by the United States of a transnational regime of illegality that has transformed the citizenship rights of Mexican migrants in their own territory.

La investigación sobre las consecuencias de ser un migrante indocumentado se ha centrado principalmente en las experiencias de los migrantes en el Norte Global. El examen de las experiencias en México revela la exportación por los Estados Unidos de un régimen transnacional de ilegalidad que ha transformado los derechos de ciudadanía de los migrantes mexicanos en su propio territorio.
PLS SEM, a quantitative methodology to test theoretical models from library and information science
Authors: Romo-González José Refugio , Tarango Javier , Machin-Mastromatteo Juan D.
Published: August 2018

Structural equation modeling (SEM), with the technique of partial least squares (PLS), can be used for exploratory and predictive evaluations of the causal relationships and impact among variables postulated in theoretical models. This work presents PLS-SEM’s basic notions as a useful methodology to validate the abundance of models in the library and information science field; it offers an example of its application to test a model for measuring the impact of information resources and services on Mexican universities’ academic competitiveness; and it proposes its application to test the Information Needs Model.
Reduction of spike generation frequency by cooling in brain slices from rats and from patients with epilepsy
Authors: Nomura Sadahiro , Kida Hiroyuki , Hirayama Yuya , Imoto Hirochika , Inoue Takao , Moriyama Hiroshi , Mitsushima Dai , Suzuki Michiyasu
Published: August 2018

This study aimed to understand the mechanism by which brain cooling terminates epileptic discharge. Cortical slices were prepared from rat brains (n = 19) and samples from patients with intractable epilepsy that had undergone temporal lobectomy (n = 7). We performed whole cell current clamp recordings at approximately physiological brain temperature (35℃) and at cooler temperatures (25℃ and 15℃). The firing threshold in human neurons was lower at 25℃ (−32.6 mV) than at 35℃ (−27.0 mV). The resting potential and spike frequency were similar at 25℃ and 35℃. Cooling from 25℃ to 15℃ did not change the firing threshold, but the resting potential increased from −65.5 to −54.0 mV and the waveform broadened from 1.85 to 6.55 ms, due to delayed repolarization. These changes enhanced the initial spike appearance and reduced spike frequency; moreover, spike frequency was insensitive to increased levels of current injections. Similar results were obtained in rat brain studies. We concluded that the reduction in spike frequency at 15℃, due to delayed repolarization, might be a key mechanism by which brain cooling terminates epileptic discharge. On the other hand, spike frequency was not influenced by the reduced firing threshold or the elevated resting potential caused by cooling.
Perfusion-sensitive parameters of intravoxel incoherent motion MRI in rectal cancer: evaluation of reproducibility and correlation with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI
Authors: Yang Xinyue , Xiao Xiaojuan , Lu Baolan , Chen Yan , Wen Ziqiang , Yu Shenping
Published: August 2018

Background

Intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging (IVIM-MRI) acquires tumor perfusion information without injection of contrast medium, which is promising in tumor assessment. However, its consistency with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), a more widely used method for tumor perfusion evaluation, is not revealed in rectal cancer.

Purpose

In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of perfusion-sensitive parameters derived from IVIM-MRI with DCE-MRI and measurement reproducibility of IVIM-MRI parameters in rectal cancer.

Material and Methods

Forty-seven rectal cancer patients underwent IVIM-MRI with 16 b-values and DCE-MRI. The perfusion fraction ( f), pseudo-diffusion coefficient ( D*), and f· D* were measured by two radiologists independently and correlated with the transfer constant ( Ktrans), reflux constant ( kep), and extravascular extracellular fractional volume ( ve) obtained from DCE-MRI.

Results

Pearson’s correlation analyses of IVIM-MRI and DCE-MRI parameters showed fair to moderate correlation between f and Ktrans ( r = 0.461, P = 0.001), followed by f and kep ( r = 0.430, P = 0.003), f·D*, and Ktrans ( r = 0.425, P = 0.003), f·D*, and kep ( r = 0.384, P = 0.008). There was no significant correlation between ve and f, ve and D*, ve and f· D*, D* and Ktrans, and D* and kep. The reproducibility of IVIM-MRI measurements was moderate. For parameter f, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.71 (0.53–0.82), coefficient of variation (CV) = 13.05 ± 0.02%, limit of agreement (LoA) = −0.05–0.04; for parameter D*, ICC = 0.55 (0.32–0.72), CV = 20.28 ± 3.23%, LoA = −9.6–8.4.

Conclusion

Perfusion-sensitive parameters derived from IVIM-MRI correlated fairly to moderately with DCE-MRI in rectal cancer patients and showed moderate measurement reproducibility. IVIM-MRI supplements routine high-resolution MRI without contrast enhancement to provide information of tumor microcirculation.
Baseline neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio and platelet–lymphocyte ratio in rectal cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Kim Tae Gyu , Park Won , Kim Hakyoung , Choi Doo Ho , Park Hee Chul , Kim Seok-Hyung , Cho Yong Beom , Yun Seong Hyen , Kim Hee Cheol , Lee Woo Yong , Lee Jeeyun , Kang Ki Mun
Published: August 2018

Purpose:

There is uncertainty over the effect of systemic inflammatory response on oncologic outcomes in patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery for rectal cancer. We investigated the association between neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as markers of systemic inflammation and tumor response and prognosis after treatment.

Methods:

A total of 176 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and curative surgery for rectal cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Pretreatment hematologic parameters and the main clinical factors for patients and tumors were investigated with respect to their relationship with tumor regression and survival.

Results:

In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, NLR 2.0 and PLR 133.4 had the highest sensitivity and specificity in predicting tumor response. NLR <2.0 and PLR <133.4 were significantly correlated with good tumor response (odds ratio [OR] 2.490, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.264–4.904, p = .008; OR 3.009, 95% CI 1.477–6.127, p < .001). Patients with NLR <2.0 had significantly better 5-year disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate compared to patients with NLR ⩾2.0 in multivariate analysis (86.8% vs 70.7%, p = .014; 92.4% vs 71.9%, p = .027).

Conclusions:

Elevated NLR and PLR levels can be considered as predictors of poor pathologic response, and NLR can be considered a prognosticator in patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.
Computational fluid dynamics simulations of the impact of a water spray on a fire-induced smoke layer inside a hood
Authors: Tang Zhi , Fang Zheng , Sun Jiayun , Beji Tarek , Merci Bart
Published: August 2018

This article presents computational fluid dynamics results of the impact of a water spray on the fire smoke layer inside a hood. The models and the settings of parameters are discussed. Three experiments are performed by means of computational fluid dynamics simulations, and the comparisons show good agreement between measured data and predicted results. The simulation results provide insight into the temperature and flow fields for the configuration at hand, revealing an entrainment effect. The influence of the water spray characteristics on the downward smoke displacement due to drag and cooling is explained. Furthermore, an extensive sensitivity study of the simulation results to input parameters and mesh size is performed. The inner spray angle (related to vertical water flux) and droplet size are shown to be key parameters when simulating downward smoke displacement caused by a spray.
Repeat HIV testing among HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men attending Silom Community Clinic, Bangkok, 2011 − 2014
Authors: Wimonsate Wipas , Pattanasin Sarika , Ungsedhapand Chaiwat , Pancharoen Kanokpan , Luechai Pikunchai , Satumay Kesinee , Winaitham Santi , Sukwicha Wichuda , Sirivongrangsan Pachara , Dunne Eileen F , Holtz Timothy H
Published: August 2018

Since 2010, the Thailand Ministry of Public Health has recommended that men who have sex with men (MSM) have an HIV test at least two times a year. We calculated the proportion of, and factors associated with, testing adherence among the HIV-uninfected MSM clients attending Silom Community Clinic @TropMed. We defined testing adherence as repeating at least one HIV test within six months of an initial HIV-negative test, and used log-binomial regression to test for associated factors. We included 1927 clients during 2011–2014; 362 (19%) were adherent with an increased trend ( p < 0.01), from 16% to 24%. Clients aged 18–24 years and those having a history of HIV testing were more likely to adhere (aRR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.6; and aRR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.5, respectively). One-fifth adhered to the recommendation; older clients or naïve testees were less likely to adhere. We need to impress on clients the importance of repeat HIV testing.
The Impact of Citizens United on Large Corporations and Their Employees
Authors: Hansen Wendy L. , Rocca Michael S.
Published: August 2018

The goal of this research is to determine whether the Supreme Court’s landmark 2010 Citizens United ruling changed the contribution strategies of employees of major corporations. Using an original dataset of campaign contributions by employees of Fortune 500 companies, we analyze the contribution strategies of these individuals in the 2008 and 2012 presidential election cycles. Overall, our results suggest three important conclusions. First, Citizens United did not alter Fortune 500 employees’ contribution patterns to traditional political committees. However, the emergence of Super political action committees (PAC) in 2012 may have pulled employees’ contributions from 527 groups, at least in the short term. Second, we find large differences in contributions across resources, and the differences become even more dramatic after Citizens United when CEOs contributed millions to Super PACs. Finally, Fortune 500 employee contributions to traditional political committees still outweigh Super PAC contributions in both numbers and amount. And, importantly, employees of the world’s largest corporations were not the driving force behind the increase in spending after Citizens United.
TGFβ1: Friend or Foe During Recovery in Encephalopathy
Authors: Kim Brian H. , Levison Steven W.
Published: August 2018

The cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is highly induced after encephalopathic brain injury, with data showing that it can both contribute to the pathophysiology and aid in disease resolution. In the immature brain, sustained TGFβ-signaling after injury may prolong inflammation to both exacerbate acute stage damage and perturb the normal course of development. Yet in adult encephalopathy, elevated TGFβ1 may promote a reparative state. In this review, we highlight the context-dependent actions of TGFβ-signaling in the brain during resolution of encephalopathy and focus on neuronal survival mechanisms that are affected by TGFβ1. We discuss the mechanisms that contribute to the disparate actions of TGFβ1 toward elucidating the long-term neurological and neuropsychiatric consequences that follow encephalopathic injury.
Damage characterization of sandwich composites subjected to impact loading
Authors: Pathipaka Ranjith Kumar , Namala Kiran Kumar , Sunkara Nagasrisaihari , Bandaru Chennakesava Rao
Published: August 2018

Advanced composite materials are usually optimized to achieve balance of properties for given range of applications. In recent times, researchers had worked on the sandwich composites by using different foam and metal honeycomb as a core material. In the current project, honeycomb core is prepared by using 3D printed technology. In this case of sandwich composites, cross-linked polyethylene foam and 3D-printed polylactic acid honeycomb as core and GFRP is used as face sheet. The comparison is made between polyethylene foam and 3D printed honeycomb core sandwich composite in the aspect of toughness, strength, and modulus. The present study is to characterize the damages in the sandwich structure for the amount of energy absorbed by the structures such as delamination, indentation, crushing of foams, and debonding of face sheets and core material subjected to free fall impact. The contact force versus time, contact force versus deflection of plates with respect to impact energy levels of 9.3, 16.5, and 25.7 J and impact energy versus time are determined. The current research helps in determination of core materials effecting/absorbing the damage and behavior of sandwich materials subjected to impact loads.