bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphorylated p-70S6K predicts tamoxifen resistance in postmenopausal breast cancer patients randomized between adjuvant tamoxifen versus no systemic treatment
Authors: Beelen Karin , Opdam Mark , Severson Tesa M , Koornstra Rutger HT , Vincent Andrew D , Wesseling Jelle , Muris Jettie J , Berns Els MJJ , Vermorken Jan B , van Diest Paul J , Linn Sabine C
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways results in anti-estrogen resistance in vitro, but a biomarker with clinical validity to predict intrinsic resistance has not been identified. In metastatic breast cancer patients with previous exposure to endocrine therapy, the addition of a mammalian target of rapamycine (mTOR) inhibitor has been shown to be beneficial. Whether or not patients on adjuvant endocrine treatment might benefit from these drugs is currently unclear. A biomarker that predicts intrinsic resistance could potentially be used as companion diagnostic in this setting. We tested the clinical validity of different downstream-activated proteins in the PI3K and/or MAPK pathways to predict intrinsic tamoxifen resistance in postmenopausal primary breast cancer patients.

Methods

We recollected primary tumor tissue from patients who participated in a randomized trial of adjuvant tamoxifen (1–3 years) versus observation. After constructing a tissue micro-array, cores from 563 estrogen receptor α positive were immunostained for p-AKT(Thr308), p-AKT(Ser473), p-mTOR, p-p706SK and p-ERK1/2. Cox proportional hazard models for recurrence free interval were used to assess hazard ratios and interactions between these markers and tamoxifen treatment efficacy.

Results

Interactions were identified between tamoxifen and p-AKT(Thr308), p-mTOR, p-p70S6K and p-ERK1/2. Applying a conservative level of significance, p-p70S6K remained significantly associated with tamoxifen resistance. Patients with p-p70S6K negative tumors derived significant benefit from tamoxifen (HR 0.24, P < 0.0001), while patients whose tumor did express p-p70S6K did not (HR = 1.02, P =0.95), P for interaction 0.004. In systemically untreated breast cancer patients, p-p70S6K was associated with a decreased risk for recurrence.

Conclusions

Patients whose tumor expresses p-p70S6K, as a marker of downstream PI3K and/or MAPK pathway activation, have a favorable prognosis, but do not benefit from adjuvant tamoxifen. A potential benefit from inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in these patients needs to be further explored.
Mechanical ventilation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Schmidt Matthieu , Pellegrino Vincent , Combes Alain , Scheinkestel Carlos , Cooper D Jamie , Hodgson Carol
Published: January 2014

The timing of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiation and its outcome in the management of respiratory and cardiac failure have received considerable attention, but very little attention has been given to mechanical ventilation during ECMO. Mechanical ventilation settings in non-ECMO studies have been shown to have an effect on survival and may also have contributed to a treatment effect in ECMO trials. Protective lung ventilation strategies established for non-ECMO-supported respiratory failure patients may not be optimal for more severe forms of respiratory failure requiring ECMO support. The influence of positive end-expiratory pressure on the reduction of the left ventricular compliance may be a matter of concern for patients receiving ECMO support for cardiac failure. The objectives of this review were to describe potential mechanisms for lung injury during ECMO for respiratory or cardiac failure, to assess the possible benefits from the use of ultra-protective lung ventilation strategies and to review published guidelines and expert opinions available on mechanical ventilation-specific management of patients requiring ECMO, including mode and ventilator settings. Articles were identified through a detailed search of PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane databases and Google Scholar. Additional references were retrieved from the selected studies. Growing evidence suggests that mechanical ventilation settings are important in ECMO patients to minimize further lung damage and improve outcomes. An ultra-protective ventilation strategy may be optimal for mechanical ventilation during ECMO for respiratory failure. The effects of airway pressure on right and left ventricular afterload should be considered during venoarterial ECMO support of cardiac failure. Future studies are needed to better understand the potential impact of invasive mechanical ventilation modes and settings on outcomes.
CapR: revealing structural specificities of RNA-binding protein target recognition using CLIP-seq data
Authors: Fukunaga Tsukasa , Ozaki Haruka , Terai Goro , Asai Kiyoshi , Iwasaki Wataru , Kiryu Hisanori
Published: January 2014

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) bind to their target RNA molecules by recognizing specific RNA sequences and structural contexts. The development of CLIP-seq and related protocols has made it possible to exhaustively identify RNA fragments that bind to RBPs. However, no efficient bioinformatics method exists to reveal the structural specificities of RBP–RNA interactions using these data. We present CapR, an efficient algorithm that calculates the probability that each RNA base position is located within each secondary structural context. Using CapR, we demonstrate that several RBPs bind to their target RNA molecules under specific structural contexts. CapR is available at https://sites.google.com/site/fukunagatsu/software/capr.
Religious Freedom in Early Modern Germany: Theology, Philosophy, and Legal Casuistry
Authors: Hunter Ian
Published: January 2014

It is sometimes presumed that early modern religious conflict can be understood (and judged) on the basis of philosophical principles of religious freedom that display the irrationality of such conflict. Some derive these principles from Lockean and Kantian doctrines purporting to show that religions can be a matter of free rational choice and mutual toleration. Others derive them from Thomistic and communitarian traditions that purport to show that religions can learn mutual toleration by viewing each other as independent virtue-realizing communities. In this article I provide some historical reasons for thinking that conflicting forms of early modern religious identity were embedded in religious cultures whose force was such that they swept such philosophical principles along with them, giving rise to partisan philosophies that were themselves incommensurate and incapable of resolving the conflicts. This incommensurateness applied to the principles of religious freedom themselves, which appeared in rival forms. In the German empire a culture of religious pluralism emerged not from philosophy but from the institutions and practices of public law, during the period between the treaties of Augsburg (1555) and Osnabrück (1648). I argue that this juridical culture was not grounded in a particular philosophy or ideology but arose instead from the institutional habitus of public law under the exigencies of polarized religious conflict, and that it was issued not in principles of religious freedom but in a casuistry for resolving the conflict between such principles.
Immunity or Regulation? Antinomies of Religious Freedom
Authors: Mahmood Saba , Danchin Peter G.
Published: January 2014

A central claim of the right to religious liberty is to protect the right of individuals and groups, particularly religious minorities, to practice their beliefs freely without state coercion and threat of discrimination. Through a comparative reading of Egyptian and European Court of Human Rights case law, this article argues that in authorizing the state to intervene in what appear to be mere expressions of religious belief the right to religious liberty in fact involves the state in making substantive judgments about religion, a domain toward which it claims to be neutral. This paradox is shown to haunt the jurisprudence of the Egyptian courts in seeking to uphold the principles of the sharia, as much as the European Court, which understands itself to be secular. Both systems are shown to face irreconcilable conflicts in maintaining that religious belief is immune from state intervention while at the same time sanctioning its outward expression. In noting remarkable similarities in legal reasoning, the authors suggest that rather than a corruption of the right to religious liberty these antinomies are internal to the conceptual architecture of the right itself.
Genetic evidence that Nkx2.2 and Pdgfra are major determinants of the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation in the developing CNS
Authors: Zhu Qiang , Zhao Xiaofeng , Zheng Kang , Li Hong , Huang Hao , Zhang Zunyi , Mastracci Teresa , Wegner Michael , Chen Yiping , Sussel Lori , Qiu Mengsheng
Published: January 2014

In the central nervous system (CNS), oligodendrocyte maturation and axonal myelination occur on a predictable schedule, but the underlying timing mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that Nkx2.2 homeodomain transcription factor is a key regulator for the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation during development. Whereas induced expression of Nkx2.2 in early oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) causes precocious differentiation of oligodendrocytes, conditional ablation of Nkx2.2 temporally delays oligodendrocyte maturation. Moreover, Nkx2.2 can directly bind to the promoter of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (Pdgfra) and repress its gene expression. Genetic ablation of Pdgfra mimics the effect of Nkx2.2 overexpression in accelerating OPC differentiation in the developing spinal cord. Together, our findings strongly suggest that Nkx2.2 functions as a major ‘switch’ to turn off Pdgfra signaling in OPCs and initiate the intrinsic program for oligodendrocyte differentiation.
How to make spinal motor neurons
Authors: Davis-Dusenbery Brandi N. , Williams Luis A. , Klim Joseph R. , Eggan Kevin
Published: January 2014

All muscle movements, including breathing, walking, and fine motor skills rely on the function of the spinal motor neuron to transmit signals from the brain to individual muscle groups. Loss of spinal motor neuron function underlies several neurological disorders for which treatment has been hampered by the inability to obtain sufficient quantities of primary motor neurons to perform mechanistic studies or drug screens. Progress towards overcoming this challenge has been achieved through the synthesis of developmental biology paradigms and advances in stem cell and reprogramming technology, which allow the production of motor neurons in vitro. In this Primer, we discuss how the logic of spinal motor neuron development has been applied to allow generation of motor neurons either from pluripotent stem cells by directed differentiation and transcriptional programming, or from somatic cells by direct lineage conversion. Finally, we discuss methods to evaluate the molecular and functional properties of motor neurons generated through each of these techniques.
Lung development: orchestrating the generation and regeneration of a complex organ
Authors: Herriges Michael , Morrisey Edward E.
Published: January 2014

The respiratory system, which consists of the lungs, trachea and associated vasculature, is essential for terrestrial life. In recent years, extensive progress has been made in defining the temporal progression of lung development, and this has led to exciting discoveries, including the derivation of lung epithelium from pluripotent stem cells and the discovery of developmental pathways that are targets for new therapeutics. These discoveries have also provided new insights into the regenerative capacity of the respiratory system. This Review highlights recent advances in our understanding of lung development and regeneration, which will hopefully lead to better insights into both congenital and acquired lung diseases.
Netrin 1 and Dcc signalling are required for confinement of central axons within the central nervous system
Authors: Laumonnerie Christophe , Da Silva Ronan V. , Kania Artur , Wilson Sara I.
Published: January 2014

The establishment of anatomically stereotyped axonal projections is fundamental to neuronal function. While most neurons project their axons within the central nervous system (CNS), only axons of centrally born motoneurons and peripherally born sensory neurons link the CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS) together by navigating through specialized CNS/PNS transition zones. Such selective restriction is of importance because inappropriate CNS axonal exit could lead to loss of correct connectivity and also to gain of erroneous functions. However, to date, surprisingly little is known about the molecular-genetic mechanisms that regulate how central axons are confined within the CNS during development. Here, we show that netrin 1/Dcc/Unc5 chemotropism contributes to axonal confinement within the CNS. In both Ntn1 and Dcc mutant mouse embryos, some spinal interneuronal axons exit the CNS by traversing the CNS/PNS transition zones normally reserved for motor and sensory axons. We provide evidence that netrin 1 signalling preserves CNS/PNS axonal integrity in three ways: (1) netrin 1/Dcc ventral attraction diverts axons away from potential exit points; (2) a Dcc/Unc5c-dependent netrin 1 chemoinhibitory barrier in the dorsolateral spinal cord prevents interneurons from being close to the dorsal CNS/PNS transition zone; and (3) a netrin 1/Dcc-dependent, Unc5c-independent mechanism that actively prevents exit from the CNS. Together, these findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that maintain CNS/PNS integrity and, to the best of our knowledge, present the first evidence that chemotropic signalling regulates interneuronal CNS axonal confinement in vertebrates.
Dendrite architecture organized by transcriptional control of the F-actin nucleator Spire
Authors: Ferreira Tiago , Ou Yimiao , Li Sally , Giniger Edward , van Meyel Donald J.
Published: January 2014

The architectures of dendritic trees are crucial for the wiring and function of neuronal circuits because they determine coverage of receptive territories, as well as the nature and strength of sensory or synaptic inputs. Here, we describe a cell-intrinsic pathway sculpting dendritic arborization (da) neurons in Drosophila that requires Longitudinals Lacking (Lola), a BTB/POZ transcription factor, and its control of the F-actin cytoskeleton through Spire (Spir), an actin nucleation protein. Loss of Lola from da neurons reduced the overall length of dendritic arbors, increased the expression of Spir, and produced inappropriate F-actin-rich dendrites at positions too near the cell soma. Selective removal of Lola from only class IV da neurons decreased the evasive responses of larvae to nociception. The increased Spir expression contributed to the abnormal F-actin-rich dendrites and the decreased nocifensive responses because both were suppressed by reduced dose of Spir. Thus, an important role of Lola is to limit expression of Spir to appropriate levels within da neurons. We found Spir to be expressed in dendritic arbors and to be important for their development. Removal of Spir from class IV da neurons reduced F-actin levels and total branch number, shifted the position of greatest branch density away from the cell soma, and compromised nocifensive behavior. We conclude that the Lola-Spir pathway is crucial for the spatial arrangement of branches within dendritic trees and for neural circuit function because it provides balanced control of the F-actin cytoskeleton.
Reelin and CXCL12 regulate distinct migratory behaviors during the development of the dopaminergic system
Authors: Bodea Gabriela Oana , Spille Jan-Hendrik , Abe Philipp , Andersson Aycan Senturk , Acker-Palmer Amparo , Stumm Ralf , Kubitscheck Ulrich , Blaess Sandra
Published: January 2014

The proper functioning of the dopaminergic system requires the coordinated formation of projections extending from dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), ventral tegmental area (VTA) and retrorubral field to a wide array of forebrain targets including the striatum, nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. The mechanisms controlling the assembly of these distinct dopaminergic cell clusters are not well understood. Here, we have investigated in detail the migratory behavior of dopaminergic neurons giving rise to either the SN or the medial VTA using genetic inducible fate mapping, ultramicroscopy, time-lapse imaging, slice culture and analysis of mouse mutants. We demonstrate that neurons destined for the SN migrate first radially and then tangentially, whereas neurons destined for the medial VTA undergo primarily radial migration. We show that tangentially migrating dopaminergic neurons express the components of the reelin signaling pathway, whereas dopaminergic neurons in their initial, radial migration phase express CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), the receptor for the chemokine CXC motif ligand 12 (CXCL12). Perturbation of reelin signaling interferes with the speed and orientation of tangentially, but not radially, migrating dopaminergic neurons and results in severe defects in the formation of the SN. By contrast, CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling modulates the initial migration of dopaminergic neurons. With this study, we provide the first molecular and functional characterization of the distinct migratory pathways taken by dopaminergic neurons destined for SN and VTA, and uncover mechanisms that regulate different migratory behaviors of dopaminergic neurons.
Multiple developmental mechanisms regulate species-specific jaw size
Authors: Fish Jennifer L. , Sklar Rachel S. , Woronowicz Katherine C. , Schneider Richard A.
Published: January 2014

Variation in jaw size during evolution has been crucial for the adaptive radiation of vertebrates, yet variation in jaw size during development is often associated with disease. To test the hypothesis that early developmental events regulating neural crest (NC) progenitors contribute to species-specific differences in size, we investigated mechanisms through which two avian species, duck and quail, achieve their remarkably different jaw size. At early stages, duck exhibit an anterior shift in brain regionalization yielding a shorter, broader, midbrain. We find no significant difference in the total number of pre-migratory NC; however, duck concentrate their pre-migratory NC in the midbrain, which contributes to an increase in size of the post-migratory NC population allocated to the mandibular arch. Subsequent differences in proliferation lead to a progressive increase in size of the duck mandibular arch relative to that of quail. To test the role of pre-migratory NC progenitor number in regulating jaw size, we reduced and augmented NC progenitors. In contrast to previous reports of regeneration by NC precursors, we find that neural fold extirpation results in a loss of NC precursors. Despite this reduction in their numbers, post-migratory NC progenitors compensate, producing a symmetric and normal-sized jaw. Our results suggest that evolutionary modification of multiple aspects of NC cell biology, including NC allocation within the jaw primordia and NC-mediated proliferation, have been important to the evolution of jaw size. Furthermore, our finding of NC post-migratory compensatory mechanisms potentially extends the developmental time frame for treatments of disease or injury associated with NC progenitor loss.
Cdc42/N-WASP signaling links actin dynamics to pancreatic β cell delamination and differentiation
Authors: Kesavan Gokul , Lieven Oliver , Mamidi Anant , Öhlin Zarah Löf , Johansson Jenny Kristina , Li Wan-Chun , Lommel Silvia , Greiner Thomas Uwe , Semb Henrik
Published: January 2014

Delamination plays a pivotal role during normal development and cancer. Previous work has demonstrated that delamination and epithelial cell movement within the plane of an epithelium are associated with a change in cellular phenotype. However, how this positional change is linked to differentiation remains unknown. Using the developing mouse pancreas as a model system, we show that β cell delamination and differentiation are two independent events, which are controlled by Cdc42/N-WASP signaling. Specifically, we show that expression of constitutively active Cdc42 in β cells inhibits β cell delamination and differentiation. These processes are normally associated with junctional actin and cell-cell junction disassembly and the expression of fate-determining transcription factors, such as Isl1 and MafA. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that genetic ablation of N-WASP in β cells expressing constitutively active Cdc42 partially restores both delamination and β cell differentiation. These findings elucidate how junctional actin dynamics via Cdc42/N-WASP signaling cell-autonomously control not only epithelial delamination but also cell differentiation during mammalian organogenesis.
A nutrient-sensitive restriction point is active during retinal progenitor cell differentiation
Authors: Love Nicola K. , Keshavan Nandaki , Lewis Rebecca , Harris William A. , Agathocleous Michalis
Published: January 2014

In many growing tissues, slowly dividing stem cells give rise to rapidly proliferating progenitors that eventually exit the cell cycle and differentiate. Growth rates are limited by nutrient availability, but it is unclear which steps of the proliferation-differentiation programme are particularly sensitive to fuel supplies. We examined how nutrient deprivation (ND) affects stem and progenitor cells in the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) of the amphibian retina, a well-characterised neurogenic niche. We show that ND specifically blocks the proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells through an mTOR-mediated mechanism. By contrast, the identity and proliferation of retinal stem cells are insensitive to ND and mTOR inhibition. Re-feeding starved retinas in vitro rescues both proliferation and differentiation, and activation of mTOR is sufficient to stimulate differentiation even in ND retinas. These results suggest that an mTOR-mediated restriction point operates in vivo to couple nutrient abundance to the proliferation and differentiation programme in retinal progenitor cells.
Ranking the quality of protein structure models using sidechain based network properties
Authors: Ghosh Soma , Vishveshwara Saraswathi
Published: January 2014

Determining the correct structure of a protein given its sequence still remains an arduous task with many researchers working towards this goal. Most structure prediction methodologies result in the generation of a large number of probable candidates with the final challenge being to select the best amongst these. In this work, we have used Protein Structure Networks of native and modeled proteins in combination with Support Vector Machines to estimate the quality of a protein structure model and finally to provide ranks for these models. Model ranking is performed using regression analysis and helps in model selection from a group of many similar and good quality structures. Our results show that structures with a rank greater than 16 exhibit native protein-like properties while those below 10 are non-native like. The tool is also made available as a web-server

(http://vishgraph.mbu.iisc.ernet.in/GraProStr/native_non_native_ranking.html), where, 5 modelled structures can be evaluated at a given time.
Policies to increase the social value of science and the scientist satisfaction. An exploratory survey among Harvard bioscientists.
Authors: Ballabeni Andrea , Boggio Andrea , Hemenway David
Published: January 2014

Basic research in the biomedical field generates both knowledge that has a valueper seregardless of its possible practical outcome and that has the potential to produce more practical benefits. Policies can increase the benefit potential to society of basic biomedical research by offering various kinds of incentives to basic researchers. In this paper we argue that soft incentives or “nudges” are particularly promising. However, to be well designed, these incentives must take into account the motivations, goals and views of the basic scientists. In the paper we present the results of an investigation that involved more than 300 scientists at Harvard Medical School and affiliated institutes. The study shows that basic researchers’ support for soft incentives is such that the transformative value of fundamental investigations can be increased without affecting the spirit of the basic research and scientists’ work satisfaction. After discussing the findings, we suggest a few examples of nudges and discuss one in more detail.
Effect of polyacrylamide on the water and physical properties of the substrates of technogenic landscapes
Authors: Голядкина  , Golyadkina Inna
Published: January 2014

Recovery of technogenic landscapes is an integral part of environment protection. Efficiency of technogenic landscapes revival is evaluated on the recovery of environmental and economic functions of the soil. Moreover, the economic function defined by the ability of the soil to give useful products, is amenable for faster recovery than ecological one, which is determined by the soil´s ability to create and regulate the conditions of existence of soil organisms and carries the complex interaction of food, geochemical, air-water modes and soil properties in the forming habitat.
Productivity of Oxycoccus macrocarpus Pers. on mineral soils
Authors: Корепанова  , Korepanova Darya , Корепанов  , Korepanov Dmitriy , Акшикова  , Akshikova Nadezhda , Андреев  , Andreev Nikolay
Published: January 2014

The paper presents the data of groundwater research of European cranberry productivity on mineral soils in the climatic conditions of the Udmurt Republic useful for industrial and private cultivation. Research aimed at developing technology of European cranberry cultivation on mineral soils, have scientific and practical perspective. Experience in direct rooting of European cranberry cuttings on mineral soils was conducted in 2010…2011 in the botanical garden of the Udmurt State University. As the planting material semilignified European cranberry cuttings were used harvested in the spring before the growing season in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Zeolite filler, activated in electromagnetic fields, for the production of plywood
Authors: Анисимов  , Anisimov Maksim
Published: January 2014

In the course of this work the reduction of emissions of free formaldehyde from the finished plywood is identified, as well as an increase in shear strength to the adhesive layer. Obtained effects in the manufacture of plywood are due to the use of adhesive compositions using natural zeolite sorbent filler – clinoptilolite, previously activated in various electromagnetic fields (fields of over high frequency and weak pulsed magnetic fields). The optimal processing modes of minerals with electromagnetic fields are defined, providing an optimum ratio of values ​​of free formaldehyde emission levels and shear strength to the adhesive layer. The results indicate the possibility of industrial use of the developed techniques.
Changing the properties of protective and decorative coatings during operation of furniture products
Authors: Новоселова  , Novoselova Irina , Фокина  , Fokina Irina
Published: January 2014

The authors conducted research to identify changes in the properties of coatings of furniture over time. Furniture products stored in warehouses and operated for five years were observed. The obtained results allow us to draw some conclusions. Change of gloss during operation on the inner surfaces was larger than on the facade and front ones. Factor fully affecting the change of decorative properties of the internal surfaces is paint film abrasion during usage by furniture contents (given that the coating of internal surfaces have smaller, compared with other, layer thickness).
Determination of moment of inertia of the tractor
Authors: Кочегаров  , Kochegarov Aleksey , Беляев  , Belyaev Aleksandr , Тришина  , Trishina Tatyana
Published: January 2014

The substantiation of the economic efficiency of the analytical method for the determination of the moments of inertia of links and mechanisms of complex mechanical systems in comparison with the experimental method is given. Design scheme of a complex mech-anical system is proposed, which is a tractor, including its basic components: Rear Axle – Transmission – Engine – Front – Frame – Cabin. Definitions k – mass coefficient and  m – mass fraction are introduced. Position of coordinates of the center of mass of one of the nodes of the tractor – frame is defined. The proposed approach can be used to solve similar task for similar to the frame on the design of units of any mechanism.
Consolidation of irrigated soils from the effects of agricultural machines
Authors: Плотников  , Plotnikov Sergey , Черемисинов  , Cheremisinov Aleksandr , Черемисинов  , Cheremisinov Andrey
Published: January 2014

This article deals with the problem of soil consolidation under irrigation. Guaranteed increase in crop yields under the Voronezh region requires the development of irrigation. It provides optimum high levels of humidity of the soil for the plants. But for soils such moisture levels create conditions for their optimal consolidation. To predict the possible density of the soil on the number of passages a mathematical model of density changes for irrigated soils of typical black soil, which is powerful respectively unconsolidated soil, is developed. Graphical analysis revealed the power law dependence.
Determining the reliability of suppliers on the basis of input control
Authors: Лазарев  , Lazarev Ilya
Published: January 2014

The article deals with problems of adaptation of meat processing industry to the conditions of WTO, which involve increased competition in the Russian market, and the need to produce high-quality finished products. And this is possible only if the quality of raw materials is good. Meat processing companies currently depend on import supplies. Urgency of the problem, which is devoted to the article, is proved by the need for incoming inspection procedures by which you plan to prevent counterfeit and unsafe meat to industrial processing.
Technical Note—Capacity Allocation Under Retail Competition: Uniform and Competitive Allocations
Authors: Cho Soo-Haeng , Tang Christopher S.
Published: January 2014

When retailers' orders exceed the supplier's available capacity, the supplier allocates his capacity according to some allocation rule. When retailers are local monopolists, uniform allocation eliminates the “gaming effect” so that each retailer orders her ideal allocation. However, when two retailers engage in Cournot competition under complete information, a recent study has shown that uniform allocation fails to eliminate the gaming effect so that some retailer may inflate her order strategically. By examining a more general situation in which two or more retailers engage in Cournot competition under complete information, we establish exact conditions under which uniform allocation fails to eliminate the gaming effect. These exact conditions enable us to construct a new rule called competitive allocation that can eliminate the gaming effect. Without inflated orders from the retailers, the supplier's profit could be lower under competitive allocation than under uniform allocation when certain restrictive conditions hold. In contrast, competitive allocation generates higher average profits for the retailers and for the supply chain; hence, it reduces the inefficiency of the decentralized supply chain.
Management, Leadership, and User Control in Self-Advocacy: An English Case Study
Authors: Tilley Elizabeth
Published: January 2014

This paper presents findings from a qualitative research project on an English self-advocacy organization. In light of recent political and economic developments that have threatened the sustainability of a number of self-advocacy groups for people with intellectual disability, I seek to explore how one particular organization managed to survive and grow. In particular, the paper explores themes of management, leadership, and user control, linking these to external perceptions about self-advocacy organizations. The organization in my study developed an “interdependent” governance model based on key organizational roles for nondisabled advisors and self-advocates, which proved popular with external funders. Despite the organization's notable achievements, its success raises questions for the wider self-advocacy movement, notably how leadership capacity can be developed among self-advocates.
White-black graphs and right-angled hyperbolic handlebodies
Authors: Ma Jiming
Published: January 2014

We prove a partial analog of Andreev’s theorem on compact hyperbolic polyhedra for irreducible, atoroidal, compact 3-manifolds with non-empty boundary. More precisely, for a 3-manifoldM with non-empty boundary, let Γ be a so called white-black graph in ᏮM; we characterize the conditions on Γ such that M admits a compact hyperbolic structure with Γ as the singular locus which is right-angled on each edge of Γ. In particular, our result applies to handlebodies.
Ein stochastischer Algorithmus zur Bildgenerierung
durch einen zweidimensionalen
Markoff-Erneuerungsprozess
Authors: Dubinin Dmitry , Geringer Viktor , Kochegurov Alexander , Reif Konrad
Published: January 2014

In diesem Beitrag wird ein stochastischer Algorithmus zur
Bildgenerierung durch einen zweidimensionalen Markov Renewal
Process (MRP) betrachtet. Die Zustandsraumauswahl und
Gittereigenschaften, die die Gitterform (eine Form der
Konturstruktur) voraussetzt, werden manuell in Voraus vom Operator
bestimmt. Der Algorithmus lässt verschiedene Typen der
Gitterformstrukturen zu. Horizontale, senkrechte und diagonale
Elemente bei einer 8-fach-Nachbarschaft sind erlaubt. Er bietet
eine hervorragende Grundlage für Entwurf, Analyse, Validierung und
Qualitätssicherung von Bildverarbeitungsalgorithmen.
Why Do Some People Dislike Conceptual Metaphor Theory?
Authors: Gibbs Raymond W.
Published: January 2014

Conceptual metaphor theory (CAIT) is the dominant force in the contemporary world of interdisciplinary metaphor studies. Over the past thirty years, scholars working within the CMT framework have gathered an impressive body of empirical research using a variety of linguistic, psychological, and computational modeling methods drat supports key parts of the theory However, CMT has also been widely been criticized - both as a theory of metaphor use and for its claims about the embodied, metaphorical character of abstract thought. This article describes some of die reasons people dislike CMT and suggests ways that CMT scholars may alter some people’s misunderstandings and address their legitimate concerns about the theory.
Do Metaphors Evolve? The Case of the Social Organism
Authors: Mouton Nico
Published: January 2014

A long line of philosophers and social scientists have defended and extended the curious idea that collective entities - states and societies, cities and corporations - are biological organisms. In this article, I study a few short but spectacular episodes from the history of that metaphor, juxtapose mappings made in one era with correspondences conjured in other epochs, and reflect upon the reasons why they differ. By adopting a historical perspective on the process whereby the notion of a ‘social organism’ evolved from its relatively simple beginnings in ancient philosophy to its rather complex manifestations in the modern social sciences, I hope to show that there are good reasons to reconsider both Lakoff’s decree that metaphors ‘should not be thought of as processes’ and his declaration that they should instead be seen as consisting of ‘a fixed pattern of ontological correspondences across domains’ (Lakoff, 1993:210, emphasis
added). Building on ideas about metaphor that emerged during the Nineteenth Century, I argue that what may initially appear to be a fixed pattern of projections is often better understood as a temporary station in a fluid process.
Metaphor and the Communicative Mind
Authors: Brandt Line
Published: January 2014

On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the first cognitive-semantic theory of metaphor - Metaphors
We Live By (1980) - this paper presents a communication-oriented perspective on the practice of metaphor analysis. Through discussion of contemporary metaphor theories, it identifies a number of unresolved issues. Among these are the notions of domains, mental spaces and binding, the unidirectionality hypothesis, the emergence problem, the significance of pragmatic context, and the philosophical status of representations. The theories discussed are conceptual metaphor theory, conceptual integration theory, the neural theory of language, the attribution model of metaphor, semiotic integration theory, and relevance theoretic approaches to metaphor including the hybrid theory of metaphor. Comparing analyses and explanatory frameworks, the paper offers a theoretical and methodological critique of these approaches - as food for thought and fuel for prospective future research projects in cognitive linguistics and beyond.
Are Cross-Domain Mappings Psychologically Deep, but Conceptually Shallow? What is Still Left to Test for Conceptual Metaphor Theory
Authors: Bundgaard Peer F.
Published: January 2014

This article assesses two objections directed at Conceptual Metaphor Theory: (1) it is circular in that it only provides linguistic evidence for the psychological reality of cross-domain mappings, intended to explain the empirical reality of metaphorical expressions in language; (2) it does not support the conclusion that the massive existence of metaphorical expressions in language reflects the metaphorical structuring of abstract concepts. It is my aim to disentangle these objections. Evidence abounds that makes the first objection obsolete, proving the psychological reality of cross-domain mappings. However, this does not imply that abstract concepts are metaphorically structured: experiments that prove objection (1) wrong cannot be invoked to reject objection (2). Some even tend to justify it.
Synthesis and biocidal activity of novel N-halamine hydantoin-containing polystyrenes
Authors: Chylińska Marta , Ziegler-Borowska Marta , Kaczmarek Halina , Burkowska Aleksandra , Walczak Maciej , Kosobucki Przemysław
Published: January 2014

Three homopolymers containing hydantoin substituents were obtained by chemical modification of reactive p-chloromethylated polystyrene. The prepared polymers were chlorinated to yield N-halamine materials with biocidal properties. The chemical structure of polymers was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. All of the hydantoin polymers are insoluble in water and common organic solvents. Microbiological investigations prove the high biocidal activity of the obtained chlorinated polystyrene derivatives containing spirohydantoin moieties. The obtained polymers will be useful in designing and constructing medical and pharmaceutical equipment. The ability to crosslink allows to expect easy grafting of these biocidal macrochains, for example, on textiles.
Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl chloride-graft-2-vinylpyridine) graft copolymers using a novel macroinitiator by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization
Authors: Öztürk Temel , Göktaş Melahat , Savaş Bedrettin , Işıklar Mustafa , Atalar Mehmet Nuri , Hazer Baki
Published: January 2014

Synthesis of poly(vinyl chloride-graft-2-vinylpyridine) graft copolymers was carried out by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine using a novel macroinitiator (RAFT macroinitiator). For this purpose, RAFT macroinitiator was obtained from the potassium salt of ethyl xanthogenate and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Then the graft copolymers were synthesized by using RAFT macroinitiator and 2-vinylpyridine. The principal parameters such as monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and polymerization time that affect the polymerization reaction were studied. The effect of the reaction conditions on the heterogeneity index and molecular weight was also investigated. The block lengths of the graft copolymers were calculated by using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra. The block lengths of the copolymers could be adjusted by varying the monomer and initiator concentrations. The characterizations of the samples were carried out by using 1H NMR, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, gel-permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and fractional precipitation (γ value) techniques. RAFT polymerization is used to control the polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine over a broad range of molecular weights.
Size and diffusion of polymer in media filled with periodic fillers
Authors: Li Chao-Yang , Zhang Shuang , Huang Jian-Hua , Luo Meng-Bo
Published: January 2014

The effect of nanosized fillers on the equilibrium and dynamic properties of a single polymer chain has been studied by using off-lattice Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Fillers of identical size are arranged periodically in the system and the Lennard-Jones (LJ) interaction is considered between the polymer and fillers. Our results show that the statistical size and dynamic diffusion properties of the polymer are not only dependent on the size of the polymer relative to the size of fillers and the distance between fillers, but also dependent on the interaction between the polymer and filler. The statistical size of the polymer can increase or decrease. Normal diffusion is always observed for long polymers and small fillers, whereas a transition from a desorbed state to an adsorbed state is observed for short polymers and large fillers. Finally, the size and diffusion of the polymer on an infinitely large surface are studied for comparison.
Impact of aspect ratio and CNT loading on the dynamic mechanical and flammability properties of polyethylene nanocomposites
Authors: Thomas Selvin P. , Rahaman Mostafizur , Hussein Ibnelwaleed A.
Published: January 2014

In this study, the effects of aspect ratio and loading of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the dynamic mechanical, thermal, and flammability properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/MWCNT nanocomposites prepared by the melt blending technique were investigated. At low CNT loading, CNT with low aspect ratio acted as a plasticizer in LDPE. The storage modulus of the nanocomposites increased with the increase in aspect ratio and CNT loading. The increase in scan rate for the composites results in the decrease in total crystallinity, crystallization peak temperature, and a late onset of crystallization. The flammability properties like heat release capacity, peak heat release rate, and total heat release decrease with the increase in both aspect ratio and loading of CNTs in the composites.
Dextran nanofiber production by needleless electrospinning process
Authors: Cengiz-Çallıoğlu Funda
Published: January 2014

This article presents the formation of a dextran nanofibrous layer by needleless electrospinning. Optimum process parameters such as polymer solution and addition (surfactant) concentration, voltage, distance, etc. were determined to obtain uniform and smooth dextran nanofibers. It was not possible to produce nanofibers from pure dextran/water solution. Instead, solution drops were deposited on the collector; therefore, anionic surfactant was added in various concentrations to start the nanofiber production. Also, the effects of surfactant concentration on the solution properties, spinnability and fiber properties were determined. Generally, uniform and fine nanofibers were obtained from the rod electrospinning method. The value of 2 wt% surfactant concentration was chosen as the optimum concentration to produce a dextran nanofibrous layer by roller electrospinning. According to the results, spinning performance was 0.6726 g/min per meter, average fiber diameter was 162 nm, diameter uniformity coefficient was 1.03 and the nonfibrous area was 0.5%. In conclusion, this methodology resulted in the production of good product properties such as good spinnability, fine and uniform nanofibers and high fiber density.
On Wolff's L
5/2-Kakeya maximal inequality in ℝ3
Authors: Miao Changxing , Yang Jianwei , Zheng Jiqiang
Published: January 2014

We reprove Wolff's L
5/2-bound for the ℝ3-Kakeya maximal function
without appealing to the argument of induction on scales.
The main ingredient in our proof is an adaptation of Sogge's strategy
used in the work on Nikodym-type sets in curved spaces.
Although the equivalence between these two type maximal functions
is well known, our proof may shed light on some new geometric observations
which is interesting in its own right.
STATCOM-Based Wind-Solar-Hydro Electric Power System with Modified Real and Reactive Power Controls
Authors: Ram Prabhakar J. , Ragavan K.
Published: January 2014

This paper presents a control of distributed generation (DG) system subjected to sudden rise in demand, faults on the distribution feeder and unbalanced load condition. The effects of line to ground faults on the system are investigated and control measures are taken to stabilize the generator speed and to improve voltage quality at the point of common coupling (PCC). The static shunt compensator (STATCOM) is connected at PCC to provide voltage support during sudden demand rise and fault on feeder. Moreover, the STATCOM control is devised such that even during unbalanced load condition the converter current and hydro-turbine–driven induction generator current is balanced. Owing to this, the double power frequency oscillations in the dc-link voltage and torque pulsations in generator can be averted. The STATCOM also supplies reactive power to the load. In addition to this, generation-demand mismatch is moderated using real and reactive power controllers. To demonstrate the performance of the DG system with the said control approach, model of system is simulated in Matlab–Simulink environment and the results are presented.
Detection of Electromechanical Wave Propagation Using Synchronized Phasor Measurements
Authors: Suryawanshi Prakash , Dambhare Sanjay , Pramanik Ashutosh
Published: January 2014

Considering electrical network as a continuum has become popular for electromechanical wave analysis. This paper reviews the concept of electromechanical wave propagation. Analysis of large number of generator ring system will be an easy way to illustrate wave propagation. The property of traveling waves is that the maximum and minimum values do not occur at the same time instants and hence the difference between these time delays can be easily calculated. The homogeneous, isotropic 10 generator ring system is modeled using electromagnetic transient simulation programs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the time delays and wave velocities using Power System Computer Aided Design (PSCAD)/Electromagnetic Transient Program (EMTP). The disturbances considered here are generator disconnections and line trips.
Thermally Stratified Stagnation Point Flow of an Oldroyd-B Fluid
Authors: Hayat T. , Hussain Zakir , Farooq M. , Alsaedi A. , Obaid Mustafa
Published: January 2014

This paper is devoted to examine the thermally stratified mixed convection flow of an Oldroyd-B fluid. The stagnation point flow towards a stretching surface is discussed. The boundary layer flow and energy equations are employed. Resulting partial differential systems are converted into the ordinary differential systems. Convergent series solutions for velocity and temperature are developed and analyzed. Numerical values of Nusselt number is computed and examined. Comparison of present study is shown with the previous results. It is found that velocity decreases through the stratified effects.