bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTERSPECIFIC CROSSES INVOLVING ALFALFA. V. MEDICAGO SAXATILIS × M. SATIVA WITH REFERENCE TO M. CANCELLATA AND M. RHODOPAEA
Authors: Lesins K.
Published: August 2008

M. saxatilis M.B. (2n = 48) could be crossed with tetraploid (2n = 32) as well as with hexaploid (2n = 48) M. sativa L. Pentaploid (2n = 40) hybrids tended to give progeny with fewer than 40 chromosomes; progenies from the hexaploid F1 tended to stabilize at hexaploid level with some fluctuations around it. At meiotic AI the hexaploid F1 showed two to five laggards in 21% of cells observed, and at AII there were 45% cells with irregular chromosome separation. M. saxatilis could be easily crossed with M. cancellata M.B. Tri-species hybrids involving M. saxatilis and M. sativa on one hand and M. cancellata or M. rhodopaea Velen. on the other hand were obtained. It is assumed that M. saxatilis has the genomic constitution S1S1 XXXX where S1 denotes homologous chromosome sets closely related to those of M. sativa s.l. The X chromosome sets probably have been derived from M. rhodopaea.
EFFETS DES MICROIRRADIATIONS SUR LES MICROSPOROCYTES ET MICROSPORES DE TRADESCANTIA PALUDOSA. II. PARTICULES ALPHA
Authors: Garot G. , Tilquin J. P. , Gilles A.
Published: August 2008

Alpha-irradiations of Tradescantia paludosa meiocytes cultivated under the microscope are performed with micro-needles plated with polonium 210. Injuries on chromosome and spindle are analysed in both meiotic divisions by phase-contrast observation.
ISOZYMES AND ALLOZYMES: ALTERNATE FORMS OF PROTEIN ADAPTATION?
Authors: Myers Judith H.
Published: August 2008

The hypothesis is put forward that constant or predictable environments will select for multiple locus enzymes (isozymic variation) while variable or nonpredictable environments will select for multiple alleles at single loci (allozymic variation). If this hypothesis is valid, isozymes and allozymes should represent alternative forms of enzyme adaptation and the levels of the two types of variation should be negatively correlated. This prediction was tested from data reported in the literature for five groups of organisms: mammals, other vertebrates, insects, other invertebrates and plants. Single substrate enzymes showed the predicted negative relationship between allozymic and isozymic variation. Multiple substrate enzymes did not show a significant relationship. Isozymic variation was greater for insects, other invertebrates and plants, in multiple substrate enzymes compared to single substrate enzymes. For mammals and vertebrates, allozymic variation for multiple substrate enzymes was approximately double that of single substrate enzymes, while isozymic variation remained constant.
STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS OF THE FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDETERMINATE GAMETOPHYTE (ig) MUTANT IN MAIZE
Authors: Lin Bor-Yaw
Published: August 2008

The indeterminate gametophyte (ig) mutation, when crossed as female, conditions polyembryony, heterofertilization and seed defectiveness (Kermicle, 1971). The structure of the mature embryo sacs of ig/ig plants differs from that found in normal (Ig/Ig) plants in several respects: (1) Normal plants have one micropylar cell (egg) whereas 0 to 5 structurally similar cells occur in ig embryo sacs. (2) The central cell of ig embryo sacs sometimes is accompanied by one or two smaller central cells which may be dinucleate also but more commonly are uninucleate; Ig/Ig plants invariably produce embryo sacs with only one central cell. (3) The primary central cell of ig embryo sacs may have from one to six polar nuclei; normal sacs uniformly have two polar nuclei. (4) Some polar nuclei of ig are found scattered about the cell, whereas some are situated at the standard position near the apex of the egg opposite the micropyle. During double fertilization, only portion of micropylar and polar nuclei are functional. The unfertilized micropylar nuclei averaged 0.88 per ovule and unfertilized polar nuclei 0.75 per ovule. The latter include polar nuclei of extra central cells and those of primary central cell situated in regions other than the standard position.
Randomized Phase II Trial on Mitomycin-C/Cisplatin ± KLT in Heavily Pretreated Advanced Breast Cancer
Authors: Guo H.Y. , Cai Y. , Yang X.M. , Wang Z.H. , Wang J.L. , Zhao X.M. , Li J. , Hu X.C.
Published: August 2008

A randomized phase II study using mitomycin (MMC)/cisplatin (DDP) regimen with or without Kanglaite (KLT, a traditional Chinese medicine) as salvage treatment was conducted to exploit KLT's potential effects on patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC). Triweekly regimen consisted of mitomycin (8 mg/m2) administered intravenously on day 1, and cisplatin (25 mg/m2) intravenously on days 1 to 3. KLT (100 ml) was given intravenously per day on days 1 to 14 every 3 weeks. Between April 2006 and July 2007, 60 patients with a median age of 48 years were randomized into MMC/DDP with or without KLT treatment. In all, the objective response rate (ORR) was 17.5%. There were no significant differences between experimental and control treatments in terms of ORR (14.3% vs. 20.7%, p = 0.730), clinical benefit rates (24.1% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.468), median time to progression (TTP; 3.63 vs. 4.0, p = 0.872), and overall survival (OS; 7.17 vs. not reached, p = 0.120). The median TTP for patients with complete or partial responses was 6.0 months, but only 2.1 months for patients with stable or progressive disease (SD or PD; p = 0.028). While the median OS for patients who obtained clinical benefit from chemotherapy was not reached, that of patients with SD of no more than 6 months or PD was only 7.17 months (p = 0.004). There is no additional benefit when KLT is added to the MMC/DDP doublet in the management of ABC. Patients who obtained clinical benefit from chemotherapy had a longer TTP and OS.
Effect of Total Flavonoids of Chrysanthemum indicum on the Apoptosis of Synoviocytes in Joint of Adjuvant Arthritis Rats
Authors: Chen Xiao-Yu , Li Jun , Cheng Wen-Ming , Jiang Hui , Xie Xue-Feng , Hu Rong
Published: August 2008

Chrysanthemum is a traditional Chinese medicine used in China to treat inflammatory diseases. The total flavonoids Chrysanthemum indicum (TFC) were extracted from the dried bud of Chrysanthemum indicum. Our previous study had demonstrated that TFC was a new class of effective anti-inflammation, analgesia and immunoloregulation agents. In this study, we established an adjuvant arthritis (AA) model by injection of Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) to investigate the effect of TFC on the apoptosis of synoviocytes in AA Rats. Synoviocytes isolated from knee joint of rats were treated with different doses of TFC in vitro. Synoviocytes proliferation was measured by MTT assay, and DNA fragmentations were evaluated on agarose gel electrophoresis. The levels of caspase-3 cleaved fragments were analyzed by Western blot. The annexin V stain assay was used to explore the inhibition of caspase-3 on the amelioration of synoviocytes apoptosis. The results showed that TFC inhibited the proliferation of synoviocytes. Electrophoresis showed higher ladders of DNA bands in the TFC group. Cleaved fragments of caspase-3 were increased significantly. Furthermore, the apoptotic synoviocytes were markedly decreased by the caspase-3 specific inhibitor. These results suggest that TFC could induce synoviocytes apoptosis and suppress proliferation of synoviocytes in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats.
Inhibitory Effects of Baicalin on Ultraviolet B-Induced Photo-Damage in Keratinocyte Cell Line
Authors: Min Wei , Lin Xiang-Fei , Miao Xu , Wang Bao-Tao , Yang Zi-Liang , Luo Dan
Published: August 2008

Baicalin, one kind of Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant property, has been commonly used as a clinical medicine. However, little has been known about the effects of Baicalin on ultraviolet (UV) induced photo-aging and photo-carcinogenesis. The photoproduct is critical to the initial event of UV-induced photo-carcinogenesis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether Baicalin, in immortalized human keratinocyte HaCaT cells, could inhibit ultraviolet-B (UVB) induced skin damage and its possible underlying mechanisms, such as inhibiting UVB-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), down-regulating the expression of regulatory proteins which are related to cell apoptosis and DNA damage/repair. Our study revealed that Baicalin treatment could inhibit the UVB-induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis and CPD level. It also decreased the mRNA expression of apoptosis-regulatory genes (p53-p21 and c-fos), the protein levels of p53, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and repair protein A (RPA), and the secretion of cytokines [interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)]. These results suggested that Baicalin may have an inhibitory effect on the UVB-induced photo-damage by blocking the relevant cytokine secretion and expression of p53-p21, c-fos, PCNA and RPA genes.
Rhein Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma BEL-7402 Cells
Authors: Shi Ping , Huang Zhiwei , Chen Guichen
Published: August 2008

Rhein, an anthraquinone derivative of rhubarb, inhibits the proliferation of various human cancer cells. In this paper, we focused on studying the effects of rhein on human hepatocelluar carcinoma BEL-7402 cells and further understanding the underlying molecular mechanism in an effort to make the potential development of rhein in the treatment of cancers. Using MTT assay and flow cytometry, we demonstrate a critical role of rhein in the suppression of BEL-7402 cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The increase of apoptosis rate was observed after incubation of BEL-7402 cells with rhein at 50–200 μM for 48 hours, and the cells exhibit typical apoptotic features including cellular morphological change and chromatin condensation. Moreover, rhein-induced cell cycle S-phase arrest. Additionally, after rhein treatment, expression levels of c-Myc gene were decreased, while those of caspase-3 gene were increased in a dose-dependent manner by using real-time PCR assay. The results demonstrate for the first time that cell cycle S-phase arrest is one of the mechanisms of rhein in inhibition of BEL-7402 cells. Rhein plays its role by inducing cell cycle arrest via downregulation of oncogene c-Myc and apoptosis through the caspase-dependent pathway. It is expected that rhein will be effective and useful as a new agent in hepatocelluar carcinoma treatment in the future.
REVIEW OF FACTORIZATION BREAKING IN DIFFRACTIVE PHOTOPRODUCTION OF DIJETS
Authors: KLASEN MICHAEL , KRAMER GUSTAV
Published: August 2008

After the final analyses of the H1 and ZEUS collaborations for the diffractive photoproduction of dijets have appeared, we have recalculated these cross sections in next-to-leading order (NLO) of perturbative QCD to see whether they can be interpreted consistently. The results of these calculations are compared to the data of both collaborations. We find that at NLO the cross sections disagree with the data, showing that factorization breaking occurs at this order. If direct and resolved contributions are both suppressed by the same amount, the global suppression factor depends on the transverse-energy cut and is 0.42 for the H1 and 0.71 for the ZEUS analysis. However, by suppressing only the resolved contribution by a factor of approximately three, also reasonably good agreement with all the data is found. The size of the factorization breaking effects for resolved photons agrees with absorptive-model predictions.
Ca3Ru2O7: A NEW PARADIGM FOR SPINTRONICS
Authors: CAO G. , SCHLOTTMANN P.
Published: August 2008

Ca3Ru2O7, the bilayered member of the Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) series of Ca -ruthenates, displays a vast variety of physical properties that not only span almost every ordered state (except for superconductivity) known in condensed matter physics, but includes exotic phenomena not found in other materials. In this review article, we first present a brief introduction of the layered ruthenates and then discuss transport and thermodynamic properties of Ca3Ru2O7with a focus on the following intriguing issues: (i) Colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) via suppression of a ferromagnetic (FM) state, (ii) Strong spin valve effect in bulk single crystals, (iii) Quantum oscillations in the non-metallic state, and (iv) Oscillatory magnetoresistance periodic in B (rather than 1/B). It has become increasingly clear that the orbital degrees of freedom of the Ru -ions drive the complex phase diagram via couplings of these orbital degrees of freedom to the spin (spin-orbit interaction) and the lattice (Jahn–Teller effect). The novel and surprising properties of the ruthenates is ultimately defined by these couplings.
A HIERARCHY OF SOLITON EQUATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGHER-DIMENSIONAL LOOP ALGEBRA AND ITS TRI-HAMILTONIAN STRUCTURE
Authors: ZHANG YUFENG , LI YAN
Published: August 2008

A new higher-dimensional loop algebra is given for which a Lax isospectral problem is set up whose compatibility condition gives rise to a Liouville integrable soliton hierarchy along with eight-component potential functions. Specially, the hierarchy of evolution equations has a tri-Hamiltonian structure obtained by the trace identity.
SUPERCONDUCTING ENERGY GAP IN FULLERIDES
Authors: WU JIANGWEN , GUO HONGKAI , WEI QUN , GU ZHUQUAN
Published: August 2008

In fullerides, the deviation of the superconducting energy gap from BCS prediction, especially close to TC, in experiments is an old, but not well-understood problem. If phase fluctuations are considered, the calculated temperature temperature of the energy gap is accurately consistent with the experimental one, and the deviation of the gap is a certain result.
GENERALIZED AND PHASE SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT TIME-DELAYED SYSTEMS
Authors: GHOSH DIBAKAR , RAY ANIRBAN , CHOWDHURY A. ROY
Published: August 2008

In this paper, we investigate the relation between generalized and phase synchronization for time-delayed systems. Two different systems are considered, namely, Logistic and Mackey–Glass systems. Sufficient conditions for determining the generalized synchronization are derived analytically for scalar and modulated time-delay and tested for correctness by numerical simulations. We propose an example that phase synchronization is stronger than generalized synchronization for scalar time-delay and the opposite situation happens for modulated delay time.
CONSTRUCTING THE CITY VORONOI DIAGRAM FASTER
Authors: GÖRKE ROBERT , SHIN CHAN-SU , WOLFF ALEXANDER
Published: August 2008

Given a set P of n point sites in the plane, the city Voronoi diagram subdivides the plane into the Voronoi regions of the sites, with respect to the city metric. This metric is induced by quickest paths according to the Manhattan metric and an accelerating transportation network that consists of c non-intersecting axis-parallel line segments. We describe an algorithm that constructs the city Voronoi diagram (including quickest path information) using O((c+n) polylog (c+n)) time and storage by means of a wavefront expansion. For [Formula: see text] our algorithm is faster than an algorithm by Aichholzer et al., which takes O(n log n + c2 log c) time.
STABLE COMPUTATION OF NATURAL NEIGHBOR INTERPOLATION
Authors: HIYOSHI HISAMOTO
Published: August 2008

Natural neighbor interpolation is a scattered data interpolation method based on Voronoi diagrams. A class of natural neighbor interpolants are defined in an integral form which is not suitable for computation. This paper demonstrates that these interpolants can be computed solely with algebraic operations and conditional branches. In addition, it is noted that special care is required to achieve stable computation, and a procedure is proposed for stably calculating natural neighbor interpolation with computers. Its usability is ascertained by surface drawings of natural neighbor interpolation.
FARAWAY POINT: A SENTINEL POINT FOR DELAUNAY COMPUTATION
Authors: LIU YUANXIN , SNOEYINK JACK
Published: August 2008

Implementations of incremental Delaunay diagram algorithms often handle boundary cases in somewhat ad-hoc manners. The most common is to add a single point at infinity in one dimension higher. This does not interact well with perturbation schemes to remove degeneracies—perturbing can introduce flat simplices. We propose a "faraway point" instead, which can be thought of as infinitesimal perturbation of the point at infinity. The faraway point resolves this perturbation issue, restoring a nice structural property of the computed polytope that would be lost if there were degeneracies in the input. Furthermore, there is a simple implementation policy consistent with the faraway point.
FRACTAL VIDEOFEEDBACK AS ANALOG ITERATED FUNCTION SYSTEMS
Authors: FRAME MICHAEL , NEGER NIAL
Published: August 2008

We demonstrate that videofeedback augmented with one or two mirrors can produce stationary fractal patterns obtained by an iterated function system (IFS) with two transformations (one with a reflection, one without), and with four transformations (two with reflections, one without, one with a 180° rotation). Camera placement yielding only a partial image in one or both mirrors can be achieved using IFS with memory. The IFS rules are obtained from the images of three non-collinear points in each of the principal pieces of the image.
MULTIFRACTAL STRUCTURE OF NON-COMPACTLY SUPPORTED INFINITE MEASURES
Authors: NGAI SZE-MAN
Published: August 2008

Many important definitions in the theory of multifractal measures on ℝd, such as the Lq-spectrum, L∞-dimensions, and the Hausdorff dimension of a measure, cannot be applied to non-compactly supported or infinite measures. We propose definitions that extend the original definitions to positive Borel measures on ℝd which are finite on bounded sets, and recover many important results that hold for compactly supported finite measures. In particular, we prove that if the Lq-spectrum is differentiable at q = 1, then the derivative is equal to the Hausdorff dimension of the measure.
SIZE MEASURE RELATIONSHIP METHOD FOR FRACTAL ANALYSIS OF SIGNALS
Authors: PARAMANATHAN P. , UTHAYAKUMAR R.
Published: August 2008

The fractal dimension of signals represents a powerful tool for analyzing the irregular behavior and state of the dynamical systems. Analysis of waveforms has been used to identify and distinguish specific complex patterns. A variety of algorithms are available for the computation of fractal dimension of waveforms. In this paper we evaluate the performance of our algorithm based on size measure relationship method, quantifying the synthetic waveforms and electroencephalographic signals. Compared to Katz's, Higuchi's and Petrosian's algorithm advantages of this method include greater speed and not affected by noise. The computation time for the algorithm suggested in this paper is much less than the other methods.
Novel use of radio-location for a ground investigation at Pen Park Hole, Bristol, UK
Authors: Farrant A.R. , Mullan G.J.
Published: August 2008

Pen Park Hole is currently the UK's only known hydrothermal cave system. Situated under a large housing estate in north Bristol, it contains one of Britain's largest natural underground cavities, the roof of which is only a few metres below the surface. Discovered in 1669, the cave has had a long history of investigation, including being the object of the world's first published cave survey in 1683. In 2006, a telecommunication company submitted a planning proposal to erect a transmitter close to the site. Given the sensitive nature of the cave and potential uncertainties in the accuracy of a more recent cave survey, Bristol City Council planners required a better fix on the location of the cave. The urban surroundings prevented traditional geophysical techniques being used, and a ground penetrating radar survey failed because of thick residual clay soils over the site. Instead, radio-location was employed to check on the accuracy of the existing cave survey, allowing it to be geo-rectified in relation to the surface. The confirmed reliability of the survey, coupled with an assessment of the cave geomorphology, has allowed the planners to assess the potential for the proposed mast works to intersect the cave or any associated undiscovered voids.
Remote thermal IR surveying to detect abandoned mineshafts in former mining areas
Authors: Gunn D.A. , Marsh S.H. , Gibson A. , Ager G.J. , McManus K.B. , Caunt S. , Culshaw M.G.
Published: August 2008

In former mining areas it is critical to locate unknown, abandoned mineshafts prior to the development of a site. Abandoned mineshafts are ground disturbances that have very localized effects on the morphology and the physical, chemical, drainage and moisture properties of the surface geological materials and thus thermo-physical properties. Remotely sensed thermal IR surveys provide the potential for a rapid, inexpensive and non-intrusive technique for mineshaft detection. The key parameters of thermal IR radiation and the application of remote thermal IR surveys to planning are described, using case histories from former mining areas in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Field-measured IR temperature differences correlated well with different ground conditions caused by changes in vegetation, disturbance, compaction and moisture-drainage regimes. A thermal anomaly over an area of
c
. 6 m
2
above a known mineshaft was characterized by traces of methane and temperatures higher by 0.5–1 °C than those of the adjacent ground surface. Using thermal IR images, collected with the Daedalus 1260 Airborne Thematic Mapper, a scheme was developed to classify and map mineshafts with and without any observed visual characteristics. When applied using thermal imagery obtained from commercial flights the scheme identified several potential sites of abandoned mineshafts in an area designated for the redevelopment of the Nottingham Business Park, East Midlands. The thermal anomalies were associated with minor topographic features such as mounds, depressions and dereliction, as well as compositional features caused by coal enrichment and Coal Measures mudstone infill. These features had very little surface expression and were confirmed only using soil stripping.
The nature, formation and engineering significance of sinkholes related to dissolution of chalk in SE Hampshire, England
Authors: McDowell P.W. , Coulton J. , Edmonds C.N. , Poulsom A.J.
Published: August 2008

An area around Horndean in SE Hampshire, England, has been studied to determine the reasons for an unusually high density of sinkholes related to dissolution of the underlying chalk. Ground investigations and excavations for a variety of engineering and construction projects in this area have provided detailed information that gives an insight into their formation and development. Contouring of the chalk surface indicates the presence of a north–south-trending palaeovalley, beneath Tertiary cover deposits, to the south of Horndean. The significance of this feature to chalk karstification and continuing sinkhole development is discussed, along with the significance of other geological factors, such as fracture zones in the chalk and the nature and distribution of cover deposits. This forms the basis of a risk assessment of ground subsidence in this area, with particular reference to collapse. The engineering significance of the sinkholes and the design of ground investigations are discussed in the light of experience gained from past projects in this area and the established risk of pollution of the chalk aquifer
Longwall mining-induced fault reactivation and delayed subsidence ground movement in British coalfields
Authors: Donnelly L.J. , Culshaw M.G. , Bell F.G.
Published: August 2008

Faults located in areas undergoing mining subsidence during the longwall extraction of coal seams may undergo reactivation. This has been observed and documented throughout the UK (and in other major coalfields around the world) over the past 150 years. Subsidence-induced fault reactivation may cause moderate to severe damage to foundations, houses, buildings, structures and underground services, as well as damage to agricultural land through disruption of drainage and alteration of the gradient. Monitoring of faults, as they are affected by undermining, has resulted in a better understanding of fault reactivation mechanisms and of the various styles of fault reactivation, in different geological and mining settings. The duration of fault reaction is difficult to determine because of the lack of observational data. However, trough subsidence following longwall extraction of coal is rapid, often being completed within weeks to months. This is commonly followed, shortly afterwards, by a period of delayed subsidence known as residual subsidence, which in the British Coal Measures rarely accounts for more than 10% of the total subsidence. In many circumstances, where faults are not present, residual subsidence is complete within 4 months, although several cases have been recorded where subsidence effects were still being observed more than 2 years after mining had finished. Generally, it is accepted that fault reactivation sometimes may extend over the period of residual subsidence. In parts of the abandoned or partially active coalfields in the UK, relatively smaller ground movements have been observed in the vicinity of fault outcrops many years after mining has ceased. The reasons for this are not fully understood. None the less, prolonged periods of fault reactivation may have an important effect on land use and construction. The objectives of this paper are to consider fault reactivation and, in particular, to document examples of post-mining ground movements around fault outcrops and to discuss possible causal mechanisms. Features associated with these movements include increases in elevation of the ground surface and deformation (e.g. subsidence, grabens, scarps or steps, fissures, compression and tension) of the ground surface in the vicinity of faults. These features, in turn, may be associated with groundwater or mine water rebound.
The classification, recording, databasing and use of information about building damage caused by subsidence and landslides
Authors: Cooper A.H.
Published: August 2008

Building damage as a result of subsidence and lateral movement can be caused by numerous mechanisms including mining, dissolution of soluble rocks, shrink–swell of clays and landslides. In many instances, the distribution and severity of the damage caused can be diagnostic of the underlying geological condition and can be used as an aid to geological and geomorphological mapping. Many rigid buildings are sensitive to movement, meaning that careful surveys can delineate fine details that can be compiled to identify broader patterns of mass-movement. This paper discusses how damage has been recorded in the past and presents a unified scheme that is based mainly on UK and Italian practice and that can be applied to most situations. It broadens the existing schemes to include the assessment of damage to infrastructure (such as roads and pavements), which are also sensitive to movements; it also extends the existing schemes to include more serious building damage. In this way it unifies the current, disparate approaches and extends the usage of the semi-quantified approach to damage assessment. The damage assessment lends itself to storage in a database that can be interrogated, displayed and interpreted using a geographical information system (GIS).
The use of microgravity to detect small distributed voids and low-density ground
Authors: Tuckwell G. , Grossey T. , Owen S. , Stearns P.
Published: August 2008

Microgravity is established as a technique for the detection of natural and man-made cavities. However, past published examples have concentrated on substantial natural cavities or mine workings. Two cases are described for which the voids present are relatively small and discontinuous, and where much of the affected ground is characterized by low-density ground rather than large open voids. Here we use the term ‘low-density ground’ to encompass ground that has been disturbed by the collapse or partial collapse of material into a void such that the affected ground shows an anomalously low density in comparison with the surrounding unaffected ground. Case study 1 was undertaken with Mouchel Parkman on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council. A doline had opened up within a school playground. The collapse was expected to be related to natural voids within the chalk at 7–10 m depth. The low-density areas identified in the microgravity survey, in addition to some control locations, were subsequently proved by dynamic probing. The investigation accurately identified voided and poorly consolidated ground, and provided the basis for an assessment of the risks of imminent and potential future collapse. Case study 2 was undertaken with Laing O'Rourke, who were principal contractor for the construction of the A590 bypass, Cumbria. Exploratory boreholes confirmed the presence of loose material in the glacial till overburden associated with suspected voids within the limestone bedrock. The microgravity survey identified areas of low subsurface density, which were subsequently targeted by boreholes. A detailed ground model constructed from borehole data allowed a synthetic gravity map to be calculated for comparison with the measured gravity. Poorly consolidated ground, depth to bedrock and surface topographic effects could be isolated and a clear interpretation of subsurface produced. The microgravity technique is shown to be an effective tool for the investigation of poorly compacted ground and small shallow voids in complex and disturbed ground conditions. When followed by targeted intrusive investigation such surveys can yield a great deal of information that would not otherwise be available to the engineer.
Gene-environment interactions reveal a homeostatic role for cholesterol metabolism during dietary folate perturbation in mice
Authors: Kitami Toshimori , Rubio Renee , O'Brien William , Quackenbush John , Nadeau Joseph H.
Published: August 2008

Dietary folate supplementation can dramatically reduce the severity and incidence of several common birth defects and adult diseases that are associated with anomalies in homocysteine and folate metabolism. The common polymorphisms that adversely affect these metabolic pathways do not fully account for the particular birth defects and adult diseases that occur in at-risk individuals. To test involvement of folate, homocysteine, and other pathways in disease pathogenesis and treatment response, we analyzed global and pathway-specific changes in gene expression and levels of selected metabolites after depletion and repletion of dietary folate in two genetically distinct inbred strains of mice. Compared with the C57BL/6J strain, A/J showed greater homeostatic response to folate perturbation by retaining a higher serum folate level and minimizing global gene expression changes. Remarkably, folate perturbation led to systematic strain-specific differences only in the expression profile of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and to changes in levels of serum and liver total cholesterol. By genetically increasing serum and liver total cholesterol levels in APOE-deficient mice, we modestly but significantly improved folate retention during folate depletion, suggesting that homeostasis among the homocysteine, folate and cholesterol metabolic pathways contributes to the beneficial effects of dietary folate supplementation.
Optics of Chromites and Charge‐Transfer Transitions
Authors: Zenkov Andrei V.
Published: August 2008

Specific features of the charge‐transfer (CT) states and O2p → Cr3d transitions in the octahedral complex are considered in the cluster approach. The reduced matrix elements of the electric‐dipole transition operator are calculated on many‐electron wave functions of the complex corresponding to the initial and final states of a CT transition.
Modeling the optic spectrum of chromites has yielded a complicated CT band. The model spectrum is in satisfactory agreement with experimental data which demonstrates the limited validity of the generally accepted concept of a simple structure of CT spectra.
Performance Enhancement of Dental Composites Using Electrospun Nanofibers
Authors: Dodiuk-Kenig H. , Lizenboim K. , Roth S. , Zalsman B. , McHale W. A. , Jaffe M. , Griswold K.
Published: August 2008

The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of electrospun nanofiber reinforcement on the properties of commercially available, hyperbranched polymer modified (Hybrane, 0.3 wt.% DSM) dental formulations. The emergence of functionalized nanoscale reinforcements having large surface area (hundreds of square meters/gram) has enabled the design of novel nanocomposites with new and complex structures leading to enhanced mechanical and physical properties. Electrospun nanofibers from a range of polymer chemistries (PVOH, PLLA, Nylon 6) have been investigated as a reinforcing phase at levels between 0.01 and 0.3 wt.%, with and without a silane coupling agent surface treatment.
The experimental results indicate that 0.05 wt.% reinforcement with 250 nm diameter PVOH nanofibers leads to a 30% improvement in compressive strength, coupled with a shrinkage reduction of about 50%. Electrospun fiber reinforcement by other chemistries or at other diameters showed either no property improvement or led to property loss.
BMI-1 Promotes Ewing Sarcoma Tumorigenicity Independent ofCDKN2ARepression
Authors: Douglas Dorothea , Hsu Jessie Hao-Ru , Hung Long , Cooper Aaron , Abdueva Diana , van Doorninck John , Peng Grace , Shimada Hiro , Triche Timothy J. , Lawlor Elizabeth R.
Published: August 2008

Deregulation of the polycomb group gene BMI-1 is implicated in the pathogenesis of many human cancers. In this study, we have investigated if the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) expresses BMI-1 and whether it functions as an oncogene in this highly aggressive group of bone and soft tissue tumors. Our data show that BMI-1 is highly expressed by ESFT cells and that, although it does not significantly affect proliferation or survival, BMI-1 actively promotes anchorage-independent growth in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Moreover, we find that BMI-1 promotes the tumorigenicity of both p16 wild-type and p16-null cell lines, demonstrating that the mechanism of BMI-1 oncogenic function in ESFT is, at least in part, independent of CDKN2A repression. Expression profiling studies of ESFT cells following BMI-1 knockdown reveal that BMI-1 regulates the expression of hundreds of downstream target genes including, in particular, genes involved in both differentiation and development as well as cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. Gain and loss of function assays confirm that BMI-1 represses the expression of the adhesion-associated basement membrane protein nidogen 1. In addition, although BMI-1 promotes ESFT adhesion, nidogen 1 inhibits cellular adhesion in vitro. Together, these data support a pivotal role for BMI-1 ESFT pathogenesis and suggest that its oncogenic function in these tumors is in part mediated through modulation of adhesion pathways. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6507–15]
Centrosomal PKCβII and Pericentrin Are Critical for Human Prostate Cancer Growth and Angiogenesis
Authors: Kim Jeewon , Choi Yoon-La , Vallentin Alice , Hunrichs Ben S. , Hellerstein Marc K. , Peehl Donna M. , Mochly-Rosen Daria
Published: August 2008

Angiogenesis is critical in the progression of prostate cancer. However, the interplay between the proliferation kinetics of tumor endothelial cells (angiogenesis) and tumor cells has not been investigated. Also, protein kinase C (PKC) regulates various aspects of tumor cell growth, but its role in prostate cancer has not been investigated in detail. Here, we found that the proliferation rates of endothelial and tumor cells oscillate asynchronously during the growth of human prostate cancer xenografts. Furthermore, our analyses suggest that PKCβII was activated during increased angiogenesis and that PKCβII plays a key role in the proliferation of endothelial cells and tumor cells in human prostate cancer; treatment with a PKCβII-selective inhibitor, βIIV5-3, reduced angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation. We also find a unique effect of PKCβII inhibition on normalizing pericentrin (a protein regulating cytokinesis), especially in endothelial cells as well as in tumor cells. PKCβII inhibition reduced the level and mislocalization of pericentrin and normalized microtubule organization in the tumor endothelial cells. Although pericentrin has been known to be up-regulated in epithelial cells of prostate cancers, its level in tumor endothelium has not been studied in detail. We found that pericentrin is up-regulated in human tumor endothelium compared with endothelium adjacent to normal glands in tissues from prostate cancer patients. Our results suggest that a PKCβII inhibitor such as βIIV5-3 may be used to reduce prostate cancer growth by targeting both angiogenesis and tumor cell growth. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6831–9]
Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C Activation in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Spadaro Francesca , Ramoni Carlo , Mezzanzanica Delia , Miotti Silvia , Alberti Paola , Cecchetti Serena , Iorio Egidio , Dolo Vincenza , Canevari Silvana , Podo Franca
Published: August 2008

Elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for aberrant phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism in cancer cells may allow identification of novel biomarkers of tumor progression and design of new targeted anticancer therapies. We recently reported up-regulation of PC-specific phospholipases in epithelial ovarian cancer cells (EOC) compared with nontumoral (normal or immortalized) counterparts (EONT). In the present study, we focused, in the same cell systems, on levels, subcellular localization, and activity of PC-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), for which a key role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis has been shown in several mammalian cells. A 66-kDa PC-PLC isoform, detected in nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments of both EOC and EONT cells, accumulated on the external plasma membrane of cancer cells only, where it colocalized with β1 integrin, in nonraft membrane domains. PC-PLC activity was 3-fold higher in total cell lysates and 5-fold higher in membrane-enriched fractions of EOC compared with EONT cells. Serum deprivation induced in EOC, but not in EONT, cells a 3-fold decrease in PC-PLC activity, associated with a 40% drop in S-phase fraction. The recovery of both variables to their original levels in serum-restimulated (or lysophosphatidic acid–restimulated) EOC cells was strongly delayed, for at least 24 h, in the presence of the PC-PLC inhibitor tricyclodecan-9-yl-potassium xanthate (D609). The S-phase of serum-restimulated EONT cells was not sensitive to D609. These findings warrant further investigations on the role of PC-PLC and on the effects of its inhibition on the pathways responsible for constitutive EOC cell stimulation and cell proliferation. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6541–9]
Down-regulation of Phospho-Akt Is a Major Molecular Determinant of Bortezomib-Induced Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Chen Kuen-Feng , Yeh Pei-Yen , Yeh Kun-Huei , Lu Yen-Shen , Huang Shang-Yi , Cheng Ann-Lii
Published: August 2008

Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, has been clinically approved for the treatment of myeloma and lymphoma. Here, we report a differential effect of bortezomib on apoptosis in four hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and identify the major molecular event that determines sensitivity. Although bortezomib inhibited proteasome activity to a similar extent in all HCC cell lines, it showed differential effects on their viability: Huh-7 (IC50 196 nmol/L), Sk-Hep1 (IC50 180 nmol/L), Hep3B (IC50 112 nmol/L), and resistant PLC5 (IC50 >1,000 nmol/L). Bortezomib caused cell cycle arrest at G2-M phase in all HCC cells tested whereas apoptotic induction was found only in sensitive cells but not in PLC5 cells. No significant bortezomib-induced NF-κB changes were noted in Huh-7 and PLC5. Bortezomib down-regulated phospho-Akt (P-Akt) in a dose- and time-dependent manner in all sensitive HCC cells whereas no alterations of P-Akt were found in PLC5. Down-regulation of Akt1 by small interference RNA overcame the apoptotic resistance to bortezomib in PLC5 cells, but a constitutively activated Akt1 protected Huh-7 cells from bortezomib-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, bortezomib showed suppression of tumor growth with down-regulation of P-Akt in Huh-7 tumors but not in PLC5 tumors. Down-regulation of P-Akt represents a major molecular event of bortezomib-induced apoptosis in HCC cell lines and may be a biomarker for predicting clinical response to HCC treatment. Targeting Akt signaling overcomes drug resistance to bortezomib in HCC cells, which provides a new approach for the combinational therapy of HCC. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6698–707]
Disturbed Patterns of Immunocompetent Cells in Usual-Type Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Authors: van Seters Manon , Beckmann Ilse , Heijmans-Antonissen Claudia , van Beurden Marc , Ewing Patricia C. , Zijlstra Freek J. , Helmerhorst Theo J.M. , KleinJan Alex
Published: August 2008

Genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is usually transient, as the immune system is capable of eliminating the virus. When immunity “fails” and the infection persists, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) may develop. In this study, we examined the distribution of inflammatory cells in 51 patients with HPV-associated usual-type VIN and in 19 healthy controls. Frozen vulvar tissue samples were tested for the presence of HPV-DNA, and immunohistochemical staining for the markers CD1a, CD207, CD208, CD123/CD11c, CD94, CD4, CD8, and CD25/HLA-DR was performed. Cells were counted in both the epidermis and dermis over at least 2 mm of basal membrane length. In the epidermis of VIN patients, CD1a+ and CD207+ (Langerin) dendritic cells (DC) and CD8+ T cells were significantly lower than in controls, whereas the number of CD123+/CD11c− plasmacytoid DCs (pDC) was significantly increased. No significant changes were observed for CD208+ DCs, CD94+ natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD25+/HLA-DR+ regulatory T cells. In the dermis of VIN patients, elevated numbers of CD208+, CD123+/CD11c−, CD94+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD25+/HLA-DR+ cells were observed when compared with healthy controls. The numbers of CD1a+ and CD207+ DCs were not different between groups. In summary, high-risk HPV–related usual-type VIN lesions are characterized by an immunosuppressive state in the epidermis, showing a reduction of immature myeloid DCs (mDC) and CD8+ T cells. In the dermis, inflammatory activation is reflected by the influx of mature mDCs and pDCs, NK cells, and T cells, suggesting that the cellular immune response on viral HPV infection occurs in the dermis of VIN patients. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6617–22]
Chromosome 17q12 Variants Contribute to Risk of Early-Onset Prostate Cancer
Authors: Levin Albert M. , Machiela Mitchell J. , Zuhlke Kimberly A. , Ray Anna M. , Cooney Kathleen A. , Douglas Julie A.
Published: August 2008

In a recent genome-wide association study by Gudmundsson and colleagues, two prostate cancer susceptibility loci were identified on chromosome 17q. The first locus, at 17q12, was distinguished by two intronic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TCF2 gene (rs4430796 and rs7501939). The second locus was in a gene-poor region of 17q24, where the strongest evidence of association was for SNP rs1859962. To determine if these loci were also associated with hereditary prostate cancer, we genotyped them in a family-based association sample of 403 non-Hispanic white families, including 1,015 men with and without prostate cancer. SNPs rs4430796 and rs7501939, which were in strong linkage disequilibrium (r2 = 0.68), showed the strongest evidence of prostate cancer association. Using a family-based association test, the A allele of SNP rs4430796 was overtransmitted to affected men (P = 0.006), with an odds ratio of 1.40 (95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.81) under an additive genetic model. Notably, rs4430796 was significantly associated with prostate cancer among men diagnosed at an early (<50 years) but not later age (P = 0.006 versus P = 0.118). Our results confirm the prostate cancer association with SNPs on chromosome 17q12 initially reported by Gudmundsson and colleagues. In addition, our results suggest that the increased risk associated with these SNPs is approximately doubled in individuals predisposed to develop early-onset disease. Importantly, these SNPs do not account for a significant portion of our prior prostate cancer linkage evidence on chromosome 17. Thus, there likely exist one or more additional independent prostate cancer susceptibility loci in this region. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6492–5]
Platelet Granule Secretion Continuously Prevents Intratumor Hemorrhage
Authors: Ho-Tin-Noé Benoit , Goerge Tobias , Cifuni Stephen M. , Duerschmied Daniel , Wagner Denisa D.
Published: August 2008

Cancer is associated with a prothrombogenic state capable of platelet activation. Platelets, on the other hand, can support angiogenesis, a process involved in the progression of tumor growth and metastasis. However, it is unclear whether platelet/tumor interactions substantially contribute to tumor physiology. We investigated whether platelets stabilize tumor vessels and studied the underlying mechanisms. We induced severe acute thrombocytopenia in mice bearing s.c. Lewis lung carcinoma or B16F10 melanoma. Intravital microscopy revealed that platelet depletion led to a rapid destabilization of tumor vessels with intratumor hemorrhage starting as soon as 30 min after induction of thrombocytopenia. Using an inhibitor of glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) and genetically engineered mice with platelet adhesion defects, we investigated the role of platelet adhesion receptors in stabilizing tumor vessels. We found that a single defect in either GPIbα, von Willebrand factor, P-selectin, or platelet integrin activation did not lead to intratumor hemorrhage. We then compared the ability of transfused resting and degranulated platelets to prevent intratumor hemorrhage. Whereas resting platelets prevented thrombocytopenia-induced tumor bleeding, circulating degranulated platelets did not. This suggests that the prevention of intratumor hemorrhage by platelets relies on the secretion of the content of platelet granules. Supporting this hypothesis, we further found that thrombocytopenia dramatically impairs the balance between propermeability and antipermeability factors in tumor-bearing animals, in particular depleting blood of angiopoietin-1 and serotonin. Our results show a crucial contribution of platelets to tumor homeostasis through continuous prevention of severe intratumor hemorrhage and consequent cell death. The study also suggests platelet function as a reasonable target for specific destabilization of tumor vessels. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6851–8]