bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerobic Interval Training Attenuates Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rats Post-Myocardial Infarction: Roles of Mitochondrial Network Dynamics
Authors: Jiang Hong-Ke , Wang You-Hua , Sun Lei , He Xi , Zhao Mei , Feng Zhi-Hui , Yu Xiao-Jiang , Zang Wei-Jin
Published: March 2014

Aerobic interval training (AIT) can favorably affect cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of AIT on post-myocardial infarction (MI)—associated mitochondrial dysfunctions remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of AIT on myocardial mitochondria in post-MI rats by focusing on mitochondrial dynamics (fusion and fission). Mitochondrial respiratory functions (as measured by the respiratory control ratio (RCR) and the ratio of ADP to oxygen consumption (P/O)); complex activities; dynamic proteins (mitofusin (mfn) 1/2, type 1 optic atrophy (OPA1) and dynamin-related protein1 (DRP1)); nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α); and the oxidative signaling of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and P53 were observed. Post-MI rats exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction and adverse mitochondrial network dynamics (reduced fusion and increased fission), which was associated with activated ERK1/2-JNK-P53 signaling and decreased nuclear PGC-1α. After AIT, MI-associated mitochondrial dysfunction was improved (elevated RCR and P/O and enhanced complex I, III and IV activities); in addition, increased fusion (mfn2 and OPA1), decreased fission (DRP1), elevated nuclear PGC-1α and inactivation of the ERK1/2-JNK-P53 signaling were observed. These data demonstrate that AIT may restore the post-MI mitochondrial function by inhibiting dynamics pathological remodeling, which may be associated with inactivation of ERK1/2-JNK-P53 signaling and increase in nuclear PGC-1α expression.
Formative Evaluation of Clinician Experience with Integrating Family History-Based Clinical Decision Support into Clinical Practice
Authors: Doerr Megan , Edelman Emily , Gabitzsch Emily , Eng Charis , Teng Kathryn
Published: March 2014

Family health history is a leading predictor of disease risk. Nonetheless, it is underutilized to guide care and, therefore, is ripe for health information technology intervention. To fill the family health history practice gap, Cleveland Clinic has developed a family health history collection and clinical decision support tool, MyFamily. This report describes the impact and process of implementing MyFamily into primary care, cancer survivorship and cancer genetics clinics. Ten providers participated in semi-structured interviews that were analyzed to identify opportunities for process improvement. Participants universally noted positive effects on patient care, including increases in quality, personalization of care and patient engagement. The impact on clinical workflow varied by practice setting, with differences observed in the ease of integration and the use of specific report elements. Tension between the length of the report and desired detail was appreciated. Barriers and facilitators to the process of implementation were noted, dominated by the theme of increased integration with the electronic medical record. These results fed real-time improvement cycles to reinforce clinician use. This model will be applied in future institutional efforts to integrate clinical genomic applications into practice and may be useful for other institutions considering the implementation of tools for personalizing medical management.
Vibrio vulnificus MO6-24/O Lipopolysaccharide Stimulates Superoxide Anion, Thromboxane B2, Matrix Metalloproteinase-9, Cytokine and Chemokine Release by Rat Brain Microglia in Vitro
Authors: Mayer Alejandro , Hall Mary , Holland Michael , De Castro Cristina , Molinaro Antonio , Aldulescu Monica , Frenkel Jeffrey , Ottenhoff Lauren , Rowley David , Powell Jan
Published: March 2014

Although human exposure to Gram-negative Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported to result in septic shock, its impact on the central nervous system’s innate immunity remains undetermined. The purpose of this study was to determine whether V. vulnificus MO6-24/O LPS might activate rat microglia in vitro and stimulate the release of superoxide anion (O2−), a reactive oxygen species known to cause oxidative stress and neuronal injury in vivo. Brain microglia were isolated from neonatal rats, and then treated with either V. vulnificus MO6-24/O LPS or Escherichia coli O26:B6 LPS for 17 hours in vitro. O2− was determined by cytochrome C reduction, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 by gelatinase zymography. Generation of cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), IL-6, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1α)/chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3), MIP-2/chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)/CCL2, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2alpha/beta (CINC-2α/β)/CXCL3, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), were determined by specific immunoassays. Priming of rat microglia by V. vulnificus MO6-24/O LPS in vitro yielded a bell-shaped dose-response curve for PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)-stimulated O2− generation: (1) 0.1–1 ng/mL V. vulnificus LPS enhanced O2− generation significantly but with limited inflammatory mediator generation; (2) 10–100 ng/mL V. vulnificus LPS maximized O2− generation with concomitant release of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and several cytokines and chemokines; (3) 1000–100,000 ng/mL V. vulnificus LPS, with the exception of TXB2, yielded both attenuated O2− production, and a progressive decrease in MMP-9, cytokines and chemokines investigated. Thus concentration-dependent treatment of neonatal brain microglia with V. vulnificus MO6-24/O LPS resulted in a significant rise in O2− production, followed by a progressive decrease in O2− release, with concomitant release of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and generation of TXB2, MMP-9, cytokines and chemokines. We hypothesize that the inflammatory mediators investigated may be cytotoxic to microglia in vitro, by an as yet undetermined autocrine mechanism. Although V. vulnificus LPS was less potent than E. coli LPS in vitro, inflammatory mediator release by the former was clearly more efficacious. Finally, we hypothesize that should V. vulnificus LPS gain entry into the CNS, it would be possible that microglia might become activated, resulting in high levels of O2− as well as neuroinflammatory TXB2, MMP-9, cytokines and chemokines.
In Vitro Efficient Expansion of Tumor Cells Deriving from Different Types of Human Tumor Samples
Authors: Turin Ilaria , Schiavo Roberta , Maestri Marcello , Luinetti Ombretta , Bello Barbara , Paulli Marco , Dionigi Paolo , Roccio Marianna , Spinillo Arsenio , Ferulli Federica , Tanzi Matteo , Maccario Rita , Montagna Daniela , Pedrazzoli Paolo
Published: March 2014

Obtaining human tumor cell lines from fresh tumors is essential to advance our understanding of antitumor immune surveillance mechanisms and to develop new ex vivo strategies to generate an efficient anti-tumor response. The present study delineates a simple and rapid method for efficiently establishing primary cultures starting from tumor samples of different types, while maintaining the immuno-histochemical characteristics of the original tumor. We compared two different strategies to disaggregate tumor specimens. After short or long term in vitro expansion, cells analyzed for the presence of malignant cells demonstrated their neoplastic origin. Considering that tumor cells may be isolated in a closed system with high efficiency, we propose this methodology for the ex vivo expansion of tumor cells to be used to evaluate suitable new drugs or to generate tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes or vaccines.
Ca2+-Transport through Plasma Membrane as a Test of Auxin Sensitivity
Authors: Kirpichnikova Anastasia , Rudashevskaya Elena , Yemelyanov Vladislav , Shishova Maria
Published: March 2014

Auxin is one of the crucial regulators of plant growth and development. The discovered auxin cytosolic receptor (TIR1) is not involved in the perception of the hormone signal at the plasma membrane. Instead, another receptor, related to the ABP1, auxin binding protein1, is supposed to be responsible for the perception at the plasma membrane. One of the fast and sensitive auxin-induced reactions is an increase of Ca2+ cytosolic concentration, which is suggested to be dependent on the activation of Ca2+ influx through the plasma membrane. This investigation was carried out with a plasmalemma enriched vesicle fraction, obtained from etiolated maize coleoptiles. The magnitude of Ca2+ efflux through the membrane vesicles was estimated according to the shift of potential dependent fluorescent dye diS-C3-(5). The obtained results showed that during coleoptiles ageing (3rd, 4th and 5th days of seedling etiolated growth) the magnitude of Ca2+ efflux from inside-out vesicles was decreased. Addition of ABP1 led to a recovery of Ca2+ efflux to the level of the youngest and most sensitive cells. Moreover, the efflux was more sensitive, responding from 10−8 to 10−6 M 1-NAA, in vesicles containing ABP1, whereas native vesicles showed the highest efflux at 10−6 M 1-NAA. We suggest that auxin increases plasma membrane permeability to Ca2+ and that ABP1 is involved in modulation of this reaction.
Correction: Shannon, A.M.; Power, H.E.; Webster, J.M.; Vila-Concejo, A. Evolution of Coral Rubble Deposits on a Reef Platform as Detected by Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing, 2013, 5, 1–18
Authors: Shannon Amelia , Power Hannah , Webster Jody , Vila-Concejo Ana
Published: March 2014

Due to an oversight by the authors there are a few corrections that are necessary for the publication [1]: [...]
An Automated Approach to Map the History of Forest Disturbance from Insect Mortality and Harvest with Landsat Time-Series Data
Authors: Neigh Christopher , Bolton Douglas , Diabate Mouhamad , Williams Jennifer , Carvalhais Nuno
Published: March 2014

Forests contain a majority of the aboveground carbon (C) found in ecosystems, and understanding biomass lost from disturbance is essential to improve our C-cycle knowledge. Our study region in the Wisconsin and Minnesota Laurentian Forest had a strong decline in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from 1982 to 2007, observed with the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) series of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). To understand the potential role of disturbances in the terrestrial C-cycle, we developed an algorithm to map forest disturbances from either harvest or insect outbreak for Landsat time-series stacks. We merged two image analysis approaches into one algorithm to monitor forest change that included: (1) multiple disturbance index thresholds to capture clear-cut harvest; and (2) a spectral trajectory-based image analysis with multiple confidence interval thresholds to map insect outbreak. We produced 20 maps and evaluated classification accuracy with air-photos and insect air-survey data to understand the performance of our algorithm. We achieved overall accuracies ranging from 65% to 75%, with an average accuracy of 72%. The producer’s and user’s accuracy ranged from a maximum of 32% to 70% for insect disturbance, 60% to 76% for insect mortality and 82% to 88% for harvested forest, which was the dominant disturbance agent. Forest disturbances accounted for 22% of total forested area (7349 km2). Our algorithm provides a basic approach to map disturbance history where large impacts to forest stands have occurred and highlights the limited spectral sensitivity of Landsat time-series to outbreaks of defoliating insects. We found that only harvest and insect mortality events can be mapped with adequate accuracy with a non-annual Landsat time-series. This limited our land cover understanding of NDVI decline drivers. We demonstrate that to capture more subtle disturbances with spectral trajectories, future observations must be temporally dense to distinguish between type and frequency in heterogeneous landscapes.
A Fast and Accurate Sparse Continuous Signal Reconstruction by Homotopy DCD with Non-Convex Regularization
Authors: Wang Tianyun , Lu Xinfei , Yu Xiaofei , Xi Zhendong , Chen Weidong
Published: March 2014

In recent years, various applications regarding sparse continuous signal recovery such as source localization, radar imaging, communication channel estimation, etc., have been addressed from the perspective of compressive sensing (CS) theory. However, there are two major defects that need to be tackled when considering any practical utilization. The first issue is off-grid problem caused by the basis mismatch between arbitrary located unknowns and the pre-specified dictionary, which would make conventional CS reconstruction methods degrade considerably. The second important issue is the urgent demand for low-complexity algorithms, especially when faced with the requirement of real-time implementation. In this paper, to deal with these two problems, we have presented three fast and accurate sparse reconstruction algorithms, termed as HR-DCD, Hlog-DCD and Hlp-DCD, which are based on homotopy, dichotomous coordinate descent (DCD) iterations and non-convex regularizations, by combining with the grid refinement technique. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and related analysis.
Locatable-Body Temperature Monitoring Based on Semi-Active UHF RFID Tags
Authors: Liu Guangwei , Mao Luhong , Chen Liying , Xie Sheng
Published: March 2014

This paper presents the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology for the real-time remote monitoring of body temperature, while an associated program can determine the location of the body carrying the respective sensor. The RFID chip’s internal integrated temperature sensor is used for both the human-body temperature detection and as a measurement device, while using radio-frequency communication to broadcast the temperature information. The adopted RFID location technology makes use of reference tags together with a nearest neighbor localization algorithm and a multiple-antenna time-division multiplexing location system. A graphical user interface (GUI) was developed for collecting temperature and location data for the data fusion by using RFID protocols. With a puppy as test object, temperature detection and localization experiments were carried out. The measured results show that the applied method, when using a mercury thermometer for comparison in terms of measuring the temperature of the dog, has a good consistency, with an average temperature error of 0.283 °C. When using the associated program over the area of 12.25 m2, the average location error is of 0.461 m, which verifies the feasibility of the sensor-carrier location by using the proposed program.
Language Model Applications to Spelling with Brain-Computer Interfaces
Authors: Mora-Cortes Anderson , Manyakov Nikolay , Chumerin Nikolay , Van Hulle Marc
Published: March 2014

Within the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) community, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) have raised great hopes as they provide alternative communication means for persons with disabilities bypassing the need for speech and other motor activities. Although significant advancements have been realized in the last decade, applications of language models (e.g., word prediction, completion) have only recently started to appear in BCI systems. The main goal of this article is to review the language model applications that supplement non-invasive BCI-based communication systems by discussing their potential and limitations, and to discern future trends. First, a brief overview of the most prominent BCI spelling systems is given, followed by an in-depth discussion of the language models applied to them. These language models are classified according to their functionality in the context of BCI-based spelling: the static/dynamic nature of the user interface, the use of error correction and predictive spelling, and the potential to improve their classification performance by using language models. To conclude, the review offers an overview of the advantages and challenges when implementing language models in BCI-based communication systems when implemented in conjunction with other AAL technologies.
Survey of Mycotoxins in Corn Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles from Seventy-Eight Ethanol Plants in Twelve States in the U.S. in 2011
Authors: Khatibi Piyum , McMaster Nicole , Musser Robert , III David
Published: March 2014

Fuel ethanol co-products known as distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are a significant source of energy, protein, and phosphorous in animal feed. Fuel ethanol production may concentrate mycotoxins present in corn into DDGS. One hundred and forty one corn DDGS lots collected in 2011 from 78 ethanol plants located in 12 states were screened for the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone (ZON). DON ranged from <0.50 to 14.62 μg g−1, 15-ADON ranged from <0.10 to 7.55 μg g−1, and ZON ranged from <0.10 to 2.12 μg g−1. None of the DDGS lots contained 3-ADON or NIV. Plants in OH had the highest levels of DON overall (mean of 9.51 μg g−1), and plants in NY, MI, IN, NE, and WI had mean DON levels >1 and <4 μg g−1. Twenty six percent (36/141) of the DDGS lots contained 1.0 to 5.0 μg g−1 DON, 2% (3/141) contained >5.0 and <10.0 μg g−1 DON, and 3% (4/141) contained >10.0 μg g−1 DON. All DDGS lots contaminated with unacceptable levels of DON evaded detection prior to their commercial distribution and were likely sold as feed products.
Use of Natural and Applied Tracers to Guide Targeted Remediation Efforts in an Acid Mine Drainage System, Colorado Rockies, USA
Authors: Cowie Rory , Williams Mark , Wireman Mike , Runkel Robert
Published: March 2014

Stream water quality in areas of the western United States continues to be degraded by acid mine drainage (AMD), a legacy of hard-rock mining. The Rico-Argentine Mine in southwestern Colorado consists of complex multiple-level mine workings connected to a drainage tunnel discharging AMD to passive treatment ponds that discharge to the Dolores River. The mine workings are excavated into the hillslope on either side of a tributary stream with workings passing directly under the stream channel. There is a need to define hydrologic connections between surface water, groundwater, and mine workings to understand the source of both water and contaminants in the drainage tunnel discharge. Source identification will allow targeted remediation strategies to be developed. To identify hydrologic connections we employed a combination of natural and applied tracers including isotopes, ionic tracers, and fluorescent dyes. Stable water isotopes (δ18O/δD) show a well-mixed hydrological system, while tritium levels in mine waters indicate a fast flow-through system with mean residence times of years not decades or longer. Addition of multiple independent tracers indicated that water is traveling through mine workings with minimal obstructions. The results from a simultaneous salt and dye tracer application demonstrated that both tracer types can be successfully used in acidic mine water conditions.
A propos du concept de monnaie
Authors: Courbis Bernard , Froment Éric , Servet Jean-Michel
Published: March 2014

There is no agreement between economists about the definition of money. The authors indicate the necessity of a transhistoricai definition of the concept of Money. A relevant definition must take account of the wide range of monetary practices and forms which can be observed through time and space. The only two functions of money are account and payment ; the store function is not a specific one. In our societies, monetary dynamics rely on a game between State's power and market practices. With metal, Money, embeded in a fixed price coin, first has a political feature ; with credit, merchants tend to create payment and account instruments requiring authorities'final ratification to get close to Money.
Turgot et le fondement subjectif de la valeur
Authors: Erreygers Guido
Published: March 2014

Dans l'article court et inachevé « Valeurs et monnaies » (1769 ?) Turgot esquissait une théorie de la valeur basée sur des fondements subjectifs. En premier lieu je soumets les propositions de Turgot à un examen critique. Ainsi je démontre que l'une des idées fondamentales de Turgot, à savoir que le gain de l'échange doit être le même pour le vendeur et pour l'acheteur, est intenable. Plus généralement, la piste suivie par Turgot ne s'avère guère prometteuse. En deuxième lieu j'essaie de voir dans quelle mesure les propositions de Turgot peuvent être considérées comme une anticipation de la théorie néoclassique de la valeur. Je montre qu'il est possible de reformuler la théorie de Turgot en termes néoclassiques. Ce qui sépare Turgot de la tradition néoclassique, toutefois, est l'absence du principe de maximisation de l'utilité.
Characterization of Insulin-Secreting Porcine Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Ex Vivo and Autologous Cell Therapy in Vivo
Authors: Van Thi Do Hai , Loke Wan Ting , Kee Irene , Liang Vivienne , David Sebastian J. , Gan Shu Uin , Lee Sze Sing , Ng Wai Har , Koong Heng Nung , Ong Hock Soo , Lee Kok Onn , Calne Roy Y. , Kon Oi Lian
Published: March 2014

Cell therapy could potentially meet the need for pancreas and islet transplantations in diabetes mellitus that far exceeds the number of available donors. Bone marrow stromal cells are widely used in clinical trials mainly for their immunomodulatory effects with a record of safety. However, less focus has been paid to developing these cells for insulin secretion by transfection. Although murine models of diabetes have been extensively used in gene and cell therapy research, few studies have shown efficacy in large preclinical animal models. Here we report optimized conditions for ex vivo expansion and characterization of porcine bone marrow stromal cells and their permissive expression of a transfected insulin gene. Our data show that these cells resemble human bone marrow stromal cells in surface antigen expression, are homogeneous, and can be reproducibly isolated from outbred Yorkshire–Landrace pigs. Porcine bone marrow stromal cells were efficiently expanded in vitro to >1010 cells from 20 ml of bone marrow and remained karyotypically normal during expansion. These cells were electroporated with an insulin expression plasmid vector with high efficiency and viability, and secreted human insulin and C-peptide indicating appropriate processing of proinsulin. We showed that autologous insulin-secreting bone marrow stromal cells implanted and engrafted in the liver of a streptozotocin-diabetic pig that modeled type 1 diabetes resulted in partial, but significant, improvement in hyperglycemia that could not be ascribed to regeneration of endogenous β-cells. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo from implanted cells in the treated pig was documented by a rise in serum human C-peptide levels during intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Compared to a sham-treated control pig, this resulted in significantly reduced fasting hyperglycemia, a slower rise in serum fructosamine, and prevented weight loss. Taken together, this study suggests that bone marrow stromal cells merit further development as autologous cell therapy for diabetes.
Cell Therapy with G-CSF-Mobilized Stem Cells in a Rat Osteoarthritis Model
Authors: Deng Ming-Wei , Wei Shih-Jung , Yew Tu-Lai , Lee Po-Hui , Yang Tzu-Yu , Chu Hen-Yi , Hung Shih-Chieh
Published: March 2014

G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (gm-PBSCs) offer a convenient cell source for treatment of hematopoietic and vascular disorders. Whether gm-PBSCs provide beneficial effects on skeleton diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA), remains unknown. This study was undertaken to address the hypothesis that gm-PBSCs promote articular regeneration in OA. Here we studied the effect of single-dose intra-articular injection of gm-PBSCs from male donors delivered in hyaluronic acid (HA) on papain-induced OA in the knee joints of female Sprague—Dawley (SD) rats. Contralateral OA knee joints received single-dose HA alone and served as vehicle controls. We evaluated the histologic changes in glycosaminoglycan, type II collagen, type X collagen, modified Mankin score, and cell apoptosis rate in the articular cartilage of rat knees. We demonstrated that gm-PBSCs were mobilized to the peripheral blood via G-CSF infusion for 5 days in SD rats with increasing CD34+ percentage up to 55-fold. We showed that gm-PBSCs inhibit progression of papain-induced OA via reducing articular surface irregularity, fibrillation, and erosion, preventing cellular necrosis and loss of chondrogenic proteins, such as glycosaminoglycan and type II collagen, at both 3 and 6 weeks after treatment. Moreover, gm-PBSCs reduced modified Mankin scores and cellular apoptosis rates compared with HA alone. Our findings demonstrate that HA plus gm-PBSCs, rather than HA alone, inhibits progression of OA in rats in vivo. Thus, intra-articular injection of gm-PBSCs is a convenient protocol for treating OA with consistent beneficial effects.
Immature Dental Pulp Stem Cells Showed Renotropic and Pericyte-Like Properties in Acute Renal Failure in Rats
Authors: Barros Michele A. , Martins João Flávio Panattoni , Maria Durvanei Augusto , Wenceslau Crisitiane Valverde , De Souza Dener Madeiro , Kerkis Alexandre , Câmara Niels Olsen S. , Balieiro Julio Cesar C. , Kerkis Irina
Published: March 2014

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common renal disease that can lead to high mortality. Recovery from ARF occurs with the replacement of necrotic tubular cells by functional tubular epithelial cells and the normalization of microvascular endothelial cell function in the peritubular capillaries. Conventional therapeutic techniques are often ineffective against ARF. Hence, stem cell therapies, which act through multiple trophic and regenerative mechanisms, are encouraging. We investigated the homing of human immature dental pulp stem cells (IDPSCs) after endovenous (EV) or intraperitoneal (IP) injection, in immunocompetent Wistar rats with ARF induced by intramuscular injection of glycerol, without the use of immunosuppression. The cells, which had been cryopreserved for 6 years, were CD105+, CD73+, CD44+, and partly, STRO-1+and CD146+, and presented unaltered mesoderm differentiation potential. The presence of these cells in the tubular region of the kidney and in the peritubular capillaries was demonstrated. These cells accelerate tubular epithelial cell regeneration through significant increase of Ki-67-immunoreactive cells in damaged kidney. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that IDPSCs home to the kidneys (EV 34.10% and IP 33.25%); a lower percentage of cells was found in the liver (EV 19.05% and IP 9.10%), in the muscles (EV 6.30% and IP 1.35%), and in the lungs (EV 2.0% and IP 1.85%). After infusion into rat, these cells express pericyte markers, such as CD146+, STRO-1+, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF+). We found that IDPSCs demonstrate renotropic and pericyte-like properties and contributed to restore renal tubule structure in an experimental rat ARF model.
Preculturing Islets with Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells is an Effective Strategy for Improving Transplantation Efficiency at the Clinically Preferred Intraportal Site
Authors: Rackham Chloe L. , Dhadda Paramjeet K. , Le Lay Aurélie M. , King Aileen J. F. , Jones Peter M.
Published: March 2014

We have recently shown that preculturing islets with kidney-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) improves transplantation outcome in streptozotocin-diabetic mice implanted with a minimal mass of islets beneath the kidney capsule. In the present study, we have extended our previous observations to investigate whether preculturing islets with MSCs can also be used to enhance islet function at the clinically used intraportal site. We have used MSCs derived from adipose tissue, which are more readily accessible than alternative sources in human subjects and can be expanded to clinically efficacious numbers, to preculture islets throughout this study. The in vivo efficacy of grafts consisting of islets precultured alone or with MSCs was tested using a syngeneic streptozotocin-diabetic minimal islet mass model at the clinically relevant intraportal site. Blood glucose concentrations were monitored for 1 month. The vascularization of islets precultured alone or with MSCs was investigated both in vitro and in vivo, using immunohistochemistry. Islet insulin content was measured by radioimmunoassay. The effect of preculturing islets with MSCs on islet function in vitro was investigated using static incubation assays. There was no beneficial angiogenic influence of MSC preculture, as demonstrated by the comparable vascularization of islets precultured alone or with MSCs, both in vitro after 3 days and in vivo 1 month after islet transplantation. However, the in vitro insulin secretory capacity of MSC precultured islets was superior to that of islets precultured alone. In vivo, this was associated with improved glycemia at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days posttransplantation, in recipients of MSC precultured islets compared to islets precultured alone. The area of individual islets within the graft-bearing liver was significantly higher in recipients of MSC precultured islets compared to islets precultured alone. Our experimental studies suggest that preculturing islets with MSCs represents a favorable strategy for improving the efficiency of clinical islet transplantation.
CONFIGURING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS FOR STOCK MARKET PREDICTIONS
Authors: Ruxanda Gheorghe , Badea Laura Maria
Published: March 2014

Making accurate predictions for stock market values with advanced non-linear methods creates opportunities for business practitioners, especially nowadays, with highly volatile stock market evolutions. Well suited for approaching non-linear problems, Artificial Neural Networks provide a number of features which make possible reasonably accurate forecasts. But, like the old Latin saying “Primus inter pares”, not all Artificial Neural Networks perform the same, end results depending very much on the network architecture and, more specifically, on the chosen training algorithm. This paper provides suggestions on how to configure Artificial Neural Networks for performing stock market predictions, with an application on the Romanian BET index. Final results are confirmed by testing the trained networks on the Croatian Stock Market data. End remarks entitle Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno training algorithm as a good choice in terms of model convergence and generalization capacity.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY INSPIRED LARGE-SCALE FEED-FORWARD PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION
Authors: Raudys Šarūnas , Raudys Aistis , Pabarškaitė Židrina
Published: March 2014

To understand large-scale portfolio construction tasks we analyse sustainable economy problems by splitting up large tasks into smaller ones and offer an evolutional feed-forward system-based approach. The theoretical justification for our solution is based on multivariate statistical analysis of multidimensional investment tasks, particularly on relations between data size, algorithm complexity and portfolio efficacy. To reduce the dimensionality/sample size problem, a larger task is broken down into smaller parts by means of item similarity – clustering. Similar problems are given to smaller groups to solve. Groups, however, vary in many aspects. Pseudo randomly-formed groups compose a large number of modules of feed-forward decision-making systems. The evolution mechanism forms collections of the best modules for each single short time period. Final solutions are carried forward to the global scale where a collection of the best modules is chosen using a multiclass cost-sensitive perceptron. Collected modules are combined in a final solution in an equally weighted approach (1/N Portfolio). The efficacy of the novel decision-making approach was demonstrated through a financial portfolio optimization problem, which yielded adequate amounts of real world data. For portfolio construction, we used 11,730 simulated trading robot performances. The dataset covered the period from 2003 to 2012 when environmental changes were frequent and largely unpredictable. Walk-forward and out-of-sample experiments show that an approach based on sustainable economy principles outperforms benchmark methods and that shorter agent training history demonstrates better results in periods of a changing environment.
STATE OF ART SURVEYS OF OVERVIEWS ON MCDM/MADM METHODS
Authors: Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Turskis Zenonas , Kildienė Simona
Published: March 2014

Decision-making is primarily a process that involves different actors: people, groups of people, institutions and the state. As a discipline, multi-criteria decision-making has a relatively short history. Since 1950s and 1960s, when foundations of modern multi-criteria decision-making methods have been laid, many researches devoted their time to development of new multi-criteria decision-making models and techniques. In the past decades, researches and development in the field have accelerated and seem to continue growing exponentially. Despite the intensive development worldwide, few attempts have been made to systematically present the theoretical bases and developments of multi-criteria decision-making methods. However, the methodological choices and framework for assessment of decisions are still under discussion. The article describes the situation with reviews of MCDM/MADM methods. Furthermore, there is a need for research to study the strengths and weaknesses of different decision-making methods.
Ethos public et quête de sens dans cette ère de réforme : le NMP, ses critiques et les luttes pour la reconnaissance d'une spécificité du secteur public
Authors: Fortier Isabelle
Published: March 2014

Cet article porte sur la spécificité du secteur public du point de vue des gestionnaires, au-delà des approches dominantes sur les valeurs et les motivations individuelles sur cette question. Il s’appuie sur une recherche utilisant les récits de vie et l’identité narrative dans une perspective phénoménologique où l’on demande à des gestionnaires d’expériences variées de raconter, rétrospectivement, comment ils en sont venus à la compréhension qu’ils ont aujourd’hui de cette spécificité. Le concept d’ethos public, en tant que sagesse pratique à teneur éthique qui imprègne les dynamiques sociales des gestionnaires avec les différents groupes d’acteurs avec lesquels ils interagissent, émane de l’analyse des récits. Il permet de nommer cette spécificité qui marque l’action publique en ce qui, à leurs yeux, tient du « possible, normal et désirable ». Après avoir développé le concept d’ethos à partir d’assises existantes et de l’avoir articulé à sa dimension publique, nous présentons les processus d’appropriation de l’ethos public à différentes étapes de la carrière, ses aspects productifs et reproductifs en termes relationnels, de même que ses possibles transformations dans des conditions émergentes. Entre la reconnaissance comme appréciation, ancrée dans le lien d’appartenance et le don de soi, et celle sous forme d’admiration, marquée par la valorisation de la compétition et des réussites individuelles, nous envisageons les paradoxes émergents dans les rapports de reconnaissance dans l’administration publique, et les enjeux de reproduction, lutte et résistance, ou de transformation de l’ethos public qu’ils peuvent entraîner. Dans la perspective d’une société de la réussite subjectivée telle que le sont nos sociétés modernes avancées, on soulève les enjeux dans l’administration publique de revendiquer le travail comme source de réalisation de soi. Nous tentons d’identifier quelle est la contribution de l’introduction des préceptes du Nouveau management public dans ces transformations et ses effets sur l’ethos public.
Le commerce international est-il un facteur de paix ?
Authors: Fontanel Jacques
Published: March 2014

La théorie du « doux commerce » de Montesquieu n’a cessé d’être débattue. Ses plus virulents opposants ont été les marxistes, pour qui les échanges commerciaux entre économies capitalistes procèdent de l’exploitation du prolétariat et conduisent à l’impérialisme et à la guerre. La chute du bloc communiste n’a pas clos la controverse. Aujourd’hui, certains économistes affirment que l’interdépendance est un facteur de stabilité, tandis que d’autres soutiennent qu’elle favorise la montée des tensions.
Turquie : le syndrome de Sèvres, ou la guerre qui n'en finit pas
Authors: Schmid Dorothée
Published: March 2014

Le traité de Sèvres symbolise pour les Turcs la liquidation de l’Empire et l’action des puissances extérieures pour démembrer la Turquie. L’effet historique du traité survit sous forme de syndrome, justifiant une vision obsidionale de la survie nationale. Au-delà de l’actuel néo-ottomanisme, un dialogue repensé avec l’Europe pourrait peut-être donner au pays un rapport nouveau à sa mémoire et l’aider à dépasser un syndrome manié par toutes les composantes de sa classe politique.
Constructions du héros à l'adolescence
Authors: Monniello Gianluigi
Published: March 2014

Deux définitions éloquentes d’Arioste et de Fioretti sont utilisées par l’Auteur pour décrire d’abord , le besoin naturel de construire , au niveau imaginaire, la figure du héros en tant que contribution possible au fonctionnement psychique adolescent et en tant que référent adéquat imaginaire pour se créer et pour créer son propre ars vivendi  ; ensuite , pour souligner que la rencontre avec l’adolescent implique aussi la présence en lui de quelque chose qui va au-delà du processus naturel de construction , inhérent au développement et à jouer à faire le héros de l’enfance. L’Auteur décrit trois poussées possibles, co-existantes, dans l’héroïsme, avec des résultats très différents. La première poussée , réactive, est celle qui continue courageusement la recherche et la récupération des valeurs du passé ; la deuxième poussée , positive et différenciatrice, invite l’adolescent à se détacher des mondes qui l’ont engendré et de leurs influences internes et externes ; la troisième , créative, est celle qui le rend fidèle à ses expériences sensorielles originaires en le poussant, inconsciemment, « à faire ce qu’il peut ».
L'adolescence, une transformation « impossible » : entre l'héroïsme grec et la pensée chinoise de la transformation
Authors: Squverer Amos
Published: March 2014

L’adolescence est un moment de passage et de transformation, mais quelle est la logique de transformation qui le sous-tend ? Cet article propose de dialoguer avec l’œuvre de François Jullien qui distingue le modèle chinois des transformations silencieuses de la conception occidentale qui ne peut concevoir la transformation que dans le prisme de l’ontologie comme le fruit d’une action héroïque qui vise un état idéal. L’auteur propose de repérer la position freudienne sur la question de la transformation et de la situer dans la tension crée entre le modèle grec et le modèle chinois. Position paradoxale qui se révèle féconde pour éclairer l’enjeu de ce moment adolescent qui témoigne, par sa crise et par ses symptômes, d’un impossible que les deux modèles cherchent à masquer.
Redefinition and synonymy of genera in theOphiomyiagenus group, with the description ofEuhexomyzanew genus (Diptera: Agromyzidae)
Authors: Lonsdale Owen
Published: March 2014

Generic boundaries are reevaluated in the subfamily Agromyzinae (Diptera: Agromyzidae), specifically, amongst those taxa in theOphiomyiagenus group.OphiomyiaBraschnikov, 1897 is redefined on the basis of an anteriorly truncated clypeus, the only character consistently found in all species of this diverse group, with very few exceptions. This results in the synonymy of the species-poor generaKleinschmidtimyiaSpencer, 1986new synonym,PenetagromyzaSpencer, 1959new synonym, andHexomyzaEnderlein, 1936new synonym. Many species ofHexomyzaare recombined asOphiomyiaand one species is returned toMelanagromyzaHendel, 1920, but the remainding species form a small, mostly Holarctic clade that is here given the new genus nameEuhexomyzanew genus.MelanagromyzaandTropicomyiaSpencer, 1973 are also redefined, and while mostTropicomyiabelong to a single lineage, at least one is clearly of separate origins and the genus should be reclassified following closer examination.EpidermomyiaIpe and Ipe, 2004new synonymis included as a junior synonym ofTropicomyia. Although larval morphology and life history have sometimes been found to be predictive of phylogeny in the Agromyzinae, superficially similar feeding strategies in the broadly inclusive categories of leaf mining, stem mining/boring, and gall forming are found to occur independently multiple times throughout the subfamily and can be misleading when delimiting genus-level groups.
Quality characteristics of ostrich meat
Authors: Heinze P. H. , Naudé R. T. , Van Rensburg A. J. J.
Published: March 2014

The quality of ostrich meat was evaluated according to final pH value, histological sections, collagen content and solubility, muscle-fibre diameter and sarcomere length, pigment content, cooking loss and water-binding capacity, shear-force value and taste-panel evaluation. Where possible, these values were compared with comparable values obtained from beef. The average final pH value of the ostrich meat was 6,06, indicating Dark, Firm and Dry (DFD) meat which may have resulted from the slaughtering of exhausted animals. Large intracellular vacuoles were found in histological sections, probably due to the slow freezing of the meat.
Practical problems and possible corrections of agricultural research at tertiary education institutions
Authors: Human J. J.
Published: March 2014

Agricultural research at tertiary institutions is subjected to quite a few practical problems. The most important of these are time, assistance and money. Due to the relatively high lecture load of agricultural teaching staff, it is impossible for them to do any significant research without suitable assistance. The provision in this regard is however totally inadequate at the moment. Several problems arise around funding. The most important are that it is inadequate, that there is no continuity and that poor provision is being made for the creation and maintenance of a research infrastructure. Further problems highlighted are the limited availability of funds for so called “free” research and that several problems exist around all the existing financing agents.
Hemodynamic improvement after continuous renal replacement therapies: Not only immunomodulation
Authors: Herrera-Gutiérrez Manuel E. , Seller-Pérez Gemma , Arias-Verdu Dolores , Delgado-Amaya Manuel
Published: March 2014

Hemodynamically unstable patients under continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) frequently show an improvement in hemodynamic parameters and a reduction in vasopressor agents. Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain this effect. A high rate of fluid exchange between interstitial and intravascular compartments seems to contribute to the therapeutic effect of CRRT. Other mechanism that seems to play a role is cooling; a raise in BP and SVR will follow a moderate heat loss but this effect will be accompanied by a decrement in oxygen delivery that can be detrimental and, when the cooling is severe, a shock can theoretically be precipitated. Metabolic acidosis, usually present when RRT is started, is a proinflammatory stimulus and conditions vasopressor unresponsiveness; the efficient control provided by CRRT can explain in part a positive hemodynamic response. Ionized calcium may have a role based on a potential effect on cardiac function and has been used in some studies in high concentration but there are limited in vivo data supporting this effect. The role of sodium concentration as a factor influencing hemodynamic tolerance has been reported for IHD but for CRRT has not been studied so far. Clearance of cytokines is the central key factor proposed as a mechanism for hemodynamic improvement but we have conflicting data regarding elimination. The volume of fluid exchange involved is a critical factor in order to reach an effective clearance but at this point we lack a proven theory for the way CCRT works. In this review we aim to explore possible mechanisms involved in the hemodynamic effect of CRRT on critically ill unstable patients.
Protein Kinase C-ε Promotes EMT in Breast Cancer
Authors: Jain Kirti , Basu Alakananda
Published: March 2014

Protein kinase C (PKC), a family of serine/threonine kinases, plays critical roles in signal transduction and cell regulation. PKCε, a member of the novel PKC family, is known to be a transforming oncogene and a tumor biomarker for aggressive breast cancers. In this study, we examined the involvement of PKCε in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), the process that leads the way to metastasis. Overexpression of PKCε was sufficient to induce a mesenchymal phenotype in non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial MCF-10 A cells. This was accompanied by a decrease in the epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin, zonula occludens (ZO)-1, and claudin-1, and an increase in mesenchymal marker vimentin. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) induced Snail expression and mesenchymal morphology in MCF-10 A cells, and these effects were partially reversed by the PKCε knockdown. PKCε also mediated cell migration and anoikis resistance, which are hallmarks of EMT. Thus, our study demonstrates that PKCε is an important mediator of EMT in breast cancer.
Successful Remission of Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome during the Third-line Weekly Gemcitabine for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Kok Victor C. , Wu Sheng-Chung , Lee Chien-Kuang
Published: March 2014

Sequential palliative chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer incorporating weekly gemcitabine administered as three-weeks-on, one-week-off schedule is widely adopted throughout the East Asia region. Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with weekly gemcitabine for a breast cancer patient is extremely rare. We report here a case of 43-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer who received weekly gemcitabine as a third-line palliative chemotherapy for her disease. She developed HUS after a cumulative dose of 11,000 mg/m2 gemcitabine, evidenced by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) with schistocytes seen in peripheral blood smear, decreased haptoglobin level (<0.29 mmol/L), thrombocytopenia, negative direct Coombs test, and acute kidney injury. Owing to the ease of administration of weekly gemcitabine, gemcitabine-induced thrombocytopenia, multifactorial anemia in metastatic breast cancer, and possibility of cancer progression, HUS could have gone unnoticed. Breast cancer oncologist should be cognizant of this rare HUS even during weekly gemcitabine treatment.