bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuentes romanas gráficas y literarias del baldaquino y la pérgola de la Catedral de Santiago
Authors: Taín Guzmán Miguel
Published: April 2014

Entre 1654 y 1677 se reforma el mobiliario de la capilla mayor de la Catedral de Santiago, siguiendo los nuevos postulados barrocos importados de Madrid e Italia, fruto de la cual es el actual baldaquino, el camarín, la pérgola de columnas salomónicas y el revestimiento lignario de las paredes.
Su construcción durante tantos años fue dirigida por el canónigo fabriquero José de Vega y Verdugo, tras su estancia durante varios años en Roma, y llevada a cabo primero por el maestro de obras catedralicio Francisco de Antas y luego por el nuevo maestro mayor catedralicio Domingo de Andrade. En el presente artículo se proponen y revisan las fuentes romanas —el baldaquino de Bernini y la pérgola de columnas torsas de Constantino— del baldaquino y la pérgola, aportando nuevos datos gráficos y literarios.
Juan Guas en la Catedral de Segovia
Authors: López Díez María
Published: April 2014

Juan Guas es uno de los canteros más activos de la segunda mitad del siglo XV. Durante veinte años (1471-1491) trabajó en Segovia, donde participó en la construcción de la catedral y en otros edificios de la misma ciudad, siendo Segovia un lugar de referencia obligada en la investigación sobre el maestro. El presente artículo analiza, desde un punto de vista documental, la participación de Guas en las obras de la catedral a través de los diferentes contratos que firmó con el cabildo catedralicio. Estos permiten evaluar la progresiva consolidación de Guas en el ejercicio de su profesión, de gran interés para el mejor conocimiento de la práctica artística de su época.
Una documentación inédita sobre el claustro de la catedral de Cuenca: la correspondencia de Juan de Herrera y el obispo Quiroga con el Cabildo Catedralicio
Authors: Sánchez García Miguel Ángel
Published: April 2014

La participación de Juan de Herrera en el proyecto del claustro de la catedral de Cuenca es conocida desde hace tiempo. El propósito fundamental de este artículo es dar a conocer unas cartas que suponemos inéditas y revelan algunos datos interesantes sobre tal intervención, y, al tiempo, poner de manifiesto la importancia que tuvo el obispo Quiroga que, desde su llegada a Cuenca, mostró particular interés en las obras de la claustra y no dudó en solicitar para ello la colaboración del arquitecto real.
Antonio María Antonozi, ingeniero de las comedias del Buen Retiro (1657-1662). Nuevos datos para la biografía de un inventor de ‘maravillosas apariencias’
Authors: Sánchez del Peral y López Juan Ramón
Published: April 2014

El presente artículo pretende cubrir la laguna documental que hasta hoy constituía la biografía del escenógrafo italiano Antonio María Antonozi, figura relegada al olvido en la historiografía española, a pesar de que jugó un importante papel en la dirección de las comedias del Real Sitio del Buen Retiro, en Madrid, en los años finales del reinado de Felipe IV. Al mismo tiempo, se ha pretendido precisar algunas cuestiones de fondo erróneamente planteadas hasta ahora y esclarecidas en el presente artículo sobre la participación de los pintores de corte en las puestas en escena teatrales.
Dos importantes pinturas flamencas inéditas atribuidas al Maestro de Frankfurt y a Petrus Christus
Authors: Bermejo Elisa
Published: April 2014

Se estudia una nueva obra del Maestro de Frankfurt definiendo una serie de caracteres que permiten establecer una serie de conclusiones sobre la personalidad del artista, uno de los pintores más avanzados de su época. Se completan las noticias que se dieron sobre el Tríptico de El Salvador de la Catedral de Ávila que atribuimos a Petrus Christus.
Juan de Caramuel y su “Declaración mystica de las armas de España” (Bruselas, 1636)
Authors: Mínguez Víctor
Published: April 2014

Coincidiendo con un momento álgido de la Guerra de los Treinta Años, Juan de Caramuel y Lobkowitz publica en Bruselas en 1636 la Declaración Mystica de las Armas de España, invictamente belicosas, dedicada al Cardenal Infante Don Fernando de Austria. Se trata de una apología místico simbólica de las armas de la monarquía hispánica a través de la explicación de cada uno de los escudos de los reinos que componen la monarquía. Sus discursos dotan de contenido emblemático a los blasones de reinos y establecen las pautas de muchas series de jeroglíficos festivos posteriores que representarán territorios políticos o alegorías por medios de escudos explicados simbólicamente.
La defensa del arte bizantino por El Greco: Notas sobre una paradoja
Authors: Hadjinicolaou Nicos
Published: April 2014

En el margen del texto de su ejemplar de las Vidas de Vasari (1568), encontramos una curiosa nota manuscrita de Domenicos Theotokopoulos, donde el Cretense defiende el arte bizantino frente a un comentario desdeñoso de Vasari. ¿Cómo explicar esta nota proveniente de un artista que volvió la espalda al arte de tipo bizantino desde su llegada a Italia?
Ángel Ferrant y la reforma de las escuelas superiores de Bellas Artes
Authors: Asenjo Fernández Ignacio
Published: April 2014

En plena Guerra Civil, el gobierno de la Segunda República española creó un Consejo Central de Artes Plásticas para reorganizar las enseñanzas artísticas y la Escuela de Arquitectura. El escultor Ángel Ferrant formó parte activa de la Comisión de expertos. El artículo examina el proyecto de reorganización de las Escuelas Superiores de Bellas Artes elaborado por Ferrant.
La obra de Francisco Giralte en Valladolid
Authors: Parrado del Olmo Jesús María
Published: April 2014

No disponible
Cultura y espiritualidad en la edad moderna valenciana: Juan de Juanes y el ostensorio bifaz de la iglesia parroquial de San Andrés de l’Alcúdia
Authors: Franco Llopis Borja
Published: April 2014

En este artículo, partiendo de las pinturas de Juan de Juanes en l’Alcúdia, analizamos las cuestiones sociales que pudieron incidir en su producción artística, iconografía y difusión dentro del ámbito valenciano. La posible influencia del erasmismo, la filosofía intimista, la cristología de Eiximenis o el adoctrinamiento a los moriscos son algunos aspectos sobre los que centramos nuestra reflexión.
Escultura castellana del Renacimiento y Barroco en el Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Authors: Yeguas i Gassó Joan
Published: April 2014

En el Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) existe una colección de escultura de la época del Renacimiento y Barroco formada por más de 500 obras, de las cuales pocas están a la vista del público. Por lo tanto, no es de extrañar que se trate de una colección bastante desconocida, también entre los investigadores en historia del arte. A falta de un catálogo razonado de las obras adscritas a nuestra área, el objetivo del presente artículo es estudiar una selección de esculturas de los fondos del MNAC, obras de gran interés artístico, la mayoría de las cuales son inéditas. En total son nueve: atribuible a la importación flamenca, al círculo de Felipe Bigarny, a un colaborador de Diego de Siloé, a Jerónimo Hernández, al taller de Juan de Anchieta, a un seguidor de Juan de Juni, a Manuel Pereira, a un discípulo de Gregorio Fernández y a un seguidor de Luis Salvador Carmona.
Denis Calvaert y el monasterio boloñés de San Michele in Bosco: una pintura redescubierta
Authors: Sanzsalazar Jahel
Published: April 2014

Tenido por anónimo, el lienzo con Jesús curando a los enfermos se restituye aquí a Denis Calvaert, al tiempo que se asocia por primera vez a su dibujo preparatorio en el Louvre. La autora también identifica el cuadro con el perdido en el célebre monasterio boloñés de San Michele in Bosco, descrito a lo largo de la historia y tenido por una de las más bellas obras de su mano.
El escultor Fernando del Cid. Algunos datos sobre su vida y su actividad artística
Authors: Sánchez Rivera Jesús Ángel
Published: April 2014

El presente artículo pretende esbozar el perfil de un escultor prácticamente desconocido, Fernando del Cid, que habría de desarrollar su actividad durante la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII en Madrid, proyectándola a otros lugares de España. En él incluimos un exiguo catálogo de obras, más de la mitad de ellas atribuidas ahora, con las debidas reservas.
La arquitectura del pleno barroco en Granada: el hospital del Corpus Christi
Authors: Barrios Rozúa Juan Manuel
Published: April 2014

El hospital del Corpus Christi de Granada fue víctima de los prejuicios contra el barroco de influyentes historiadores. Sin embargo, el edificio constituye un interesante ejemplo de arquitectura hospitalaria con un templo francamente original. Gracias al análisis exhaustivo de su completo archivo, puede detectarse la labor de una treintena de artífices, entre ellos Alonso Cano y su discípulo Juan Luis de Ortega, cuyas obras arquitectónicas son valoradas aquí.
Correspondencia entre Fernando de Aragón (1644-1713), 8.º duque de Montalto, y su agente en Bruselas sobre la realización de la tapicería de la “Historia de la casa de los Moncada”
Authors: García Calvo Margarita
Published: April 2014

La documentación inédita que aquí se aporta proporciona una valiosa e inusual información sobre los progresos de la tejeduría y de las relaciones entre el comitente y los artistas de la tapicería de la “Historia de los Moncada”.
Nuevas aportaciones a la obra de Francisco Ignacio Ruiz de la Iglesia (1649-1703)
Authors: Zapata Fernández de la Hoz Teresa , Gómez Aragüete Juan Carlos
Published: April 2014

Este artículo da a conocer una serie de dibujos del pintor madrileño Ruiz de la Iglesia, conservados en la Casa de la Moneda de Madrid, identificados como estudios preparatorios para el gran lienzo del Martirio de San Andrés de la parroquia de Casarrubios del Monte (Toledo), una de sus mejores obras, y otros conservados en la Biblioteca Nacional de España y en el British Museum de Londres, que perfilan su figura como dibujante excepcional de producción muy extensa y variada. De la misma forma, se incorpora a su catálogo una pintura atribuida a Claudio Coello, la Virgen del Carmen entregando el escapulario a un caballero de Santiago, de interesante iconografía.
Richard Lindau y el museo de arte japonés de Barcelona
Authors: Bru Turull Ricard
Published: April 2014

Richard Lindau residió como diplomático en Japón entre 1866 y 1868, durante los años de transición entre el shogunato Tokugawa y el nuevo sistema imperial Meiji. Lindau estuvo en el archipiélago nipón en el momento oportuno para adquirir una excepcional colección de arte japonés. Trasladado a Barcelona en 1876 como cónsul de Alemania, Lindau ofreció la colección al público abriendo su residencia y anunciándola como Museo Japonés. Este artículo recupera la historia de la colección olvidada de uno de los primeros museos privados de arte japonés del sur de Europa.
Nuevas hipótesis sobre La miel es más dulce que la sangre de Dalí
Authors: Moure Pazos Iván
Published: April 2014

El 10 de febrero de 2011, la Fundación Gala-Salvador Dalí adquiría en Christie’s el estudio para La miel es más dulce que la sangre (1926) de Dalí –actualmente desaparecido–. Se trata de una obra iconográficamente compleja, así como crucial en la trayectoria del pintor catalán. El presente artículo pretende ofrecer una visión actualizada del cuadro, en base a los últimos descubrimientos que apuntan al Conde de Lautréamont –pseudónimo de Isidore Ducasse– como posible elemento inspirador y protagonista en la obra.
Un nuevo Van Dyck en la Casa Consistorial de Palma de Mallorca: El martirio de San Sebastián del Conde de Monterrey
Authors: Díaz Padrón Matías
Published: April 2014

El autor identifica el Martirio de San Sebastián, lienzo de gran tamaño, que consta como copia desde hace tres siglos en la Casa Consistorial de Palma de Mallorca. No se tenía conciencia de su calidad ni del prestigioso origen que hoy localizamos en la colección del conde de Monterrey, contemporáneo del pintor. Estudia la devoción al santo en la isla y en España que explica el gran número de versiones, réplicas y copias vinculadas con el ambiente hispano. También trata las fuentes documentales y formales y los dibujos preparatorios de esta afortunada composición en la producción del maestro.
El impacto del cine en las vanguardias históricas
Authors: Ansón Antonio
Published: April 2014

Trabajo que investiga la manera en que el cine influyó en las formas de la vanguardia histórica. De qué manera son recibidos e interpretados sus recursos formales, cómo esos procedimientos son descifrados y asimilados por los artistas e intelectuales de principios de siglo XX, y de qué modo influyeron y transformaron la estética de vanguardia que fue testigo y se desarrolló de manera simultánea.
Un caso excepcional en el arte mudéjar hispano: Las decoraciones del alero de la Catedral de Teruel
Authors: Hernando Sebastián Pedro Luis
Published: April 2014

En el exterior de la nave central de la Catedral de Teruel, en el alero del tejado, se descubrió, y se ha restaurado, un gran conjunto de representaciones pictóricas medievales que habían pasado desapercibidas para la historiografía.
Estudio sobre el urbanismo moderno: Adolfo Blanco y Pérez del Camino, pensionado por la JAE en 1927
Authors: Díez Ibargoitia María
Published: April 2014

Adolfo Blanco realizó uno de los primeros estudios dentro de la disciplina urbanística. La obra analizada contiene 66 láminas (entre planos y dibujos) de los ensanches de las ciudades del Norte de África y Europa.
Una Aparición de la Virgen con el Niño a san Felipe Neri de Francisco Ignacio Ruiz de la Iglesia: atribución y contexto iconográfico
Authors: Gutiérrez Pastor Ismael
Published: April 2014

Se estudia una pintura de la Aparición de la Virgen con el Niño a San Felipe Neri, se atribuye al pintor Francisco Ignacio Ruiz de la Iglesia y se analiza su iconografía en el contexto de la pintura madrileña del Barroco.
Joaquín Vaquero Palacios en Nueva York
Authors: Egaña Casariego Francisco
Published: April 2014

El autor reconstruye las estancias en Nueva York del joven arquitecto y pintor Joaquín Vaquero Palacios (Oviedo, 1900-Madrid, 1998) entre los años 1928 y 1930. Si su consideración de pensionado por la Junta para Ampliación de Estudios le facilitó el acceso a los últimos rascacielos, su vocación plástica le llevó a pintar paisajes urbanos y a ilustrar con sus dibujos la edición norteamericana e inglesa del libro New York, del escritor francés Paul Morand. Por lo demás, su estancia en la gran metrópoli le permitió conocer su ambiente artístico y cultural, así como exhibir sus paisajes de España en importantes galerías y centros culturales.
Design and Selection of Chemically Deposited Ni-P-W Coatings for Optimum Tribological Behavior
Authors: Sahoo Prasanta , Roy Supriyo , Davim J. Paulo
Published: April 2014

Chemically deposited nickel coatings possess superior tribological properties such as high hardness, good wear, and corrosion resistance. The quest for improved tribological performance has led to the design and selection of newer variants of these coatings. The present chapter deals with the development of Ni-P-W coating on mild steel substrate and the improvement of tribological characteristics through modification of the coating process parameters. Three coating process parameters, concentration of nickel source, concentration of reducing agent, and concentration of tungsten source along with the annealing temperature, are optimized for minimum friction and wear of the coating. Friction and wear tests are carried out in a multi-tribotester using block on roller configuration under dry conditions. Taguchi-based grey relational analysis is employed for the optimization of this multiple response problem using L27 orthogonal array. Analysis of variance shows that the concentration of nickel source, the interaction between nickel source concentration, and reducing agent concentration, and also the interaction between nickel source concentration and tungsten source concentration have significant influence in controlling the friction and wear behavior of chemically deposited Ni-P-W coating. It is observed that wear mechanism is a mild adhesive in nature. The structural morphology, composition, and phase structure of the coating are studied with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX), and X-Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), respectively.
Surface Engineering Techniques and Applications
Authors: Persaud-Sharma Dharam
Published: April 2014

Magnesium and its alloys are a well-explored type of material with a multitude of applications ranging from biomedical prosthetics to non-biological tools such as automotive components. The use of magnesium and its alloys are highly desired for such applications mainly because magnesium is lightweight and possesses a high strength to weight ratio, which reduces the amount of energy required for the operation of an apparatus. In particular, the biomedical industry uses magnesium as orthopedic implants because of its strength properties that are similar to organic bone structures. Additionally, the highly corrosive or degrading nature of magnesium makes it suitable for degradable implants or medical devices. Cast magnesium alloys are also used as components in modern engines and automobiles, as magnesium's lightweight and high strength properties permit for faster automotive speeds, acceleration, and reduced energy consumption. Magnesium produces a quasi-passive hydroxide film that offers little to no inhibition of corrosion processes. Although the degree of film passivity can be increased through metallurgical techniques like alloying, the highly oxidizing nature of magnesium remains the single most important challenge to its widespread use. This chapter provides a detailed explanation of the most successful mechanisms used to control the corrosion of magnesium and its alloys and highlights the benefits and challenges for using them.
Interdisciplinary Game-Theoretic Approach to Trust Modeling
Authors: Cofta Piotr , Lacohée Hazel
Published: April 2014

Trust, as a social construct, suffers from a lack of clarity, leading to the lack of a coherent, pragmatic model. The divisiveness of opinions on trust has led to a visible disruption in an important area of interdisciplinary research, resulting in trust being side-lined by control-based constructs of security and power. This negatively impacts on the ability to properly integrate trust-related considerations into the engineering of secure systems. This paper proposes a model of trust that has the potential to reconcile the rift between approaches proposed by social sciences and those proposed by technology. It postulates that trust inspires two distinctively different variants of social behaviours and that those variants are supported by distinctive neurobiological mechanisms of the human brain, which have evolved into an abstract system. We propose a way in which these two variants of trust can be used as a model shared by different research and industrial groups.
Securing Data Storage By Extending Role-Based Access Control
Authors: Rashid Mamoon , Chawla Er. Rishma
Published: April 2014

Role-based access control (RBAC) models have generated a great interest in the security community as a powerful and generalized approach to security management and ability to model organizational structure and their capability to reduce administrative expenses. In this paper, the authors highlight the drawbacks of RBAC models in terms of access control and authorization and later provide a more viable extended-RBAC model, which enhances and extends its powers to make any Cloud Server more secure by adding valuable constraints. Later the Blobs are stored on cloud server which is then accessed by the end users via this Extended RBAC model. The authors describe a practical implementation of the proposed extended RBAC based architecture and discuss the performance results with its base models. The authors later show how the users with different premiums can access this architecture in a better way and also how the unknown users for this architecture can be denied the usage of services by adding valuable constraints.
A Context-Based Performance Enhancement Algorithm for Columnar Storage in MapReduce with Hive
Authors: Sharma Yashvardhan , Verma Saurabh , Kumar Sumit , U. Shivam
Published: April 2014

To achieve high reliability and scalability, most large-scale data warehouse systems have adopted the cluster-based architecture. In this context, MapReduce has emerged as a promising architecture for large scale data warehousing and data analytics on commodity clusters. The MapReduce framework offers several lucrative features such as high fault-tolerance, scalability and use of a variety of hardware from low to high range. But these benefits have resulted in substantial performance compromise. In this paper, we propose the design of a novel cluster-based data warehouse system, Daenyrys for data processing on Hadoop – an open source implementation of the MapReduce framework under the umbrella of Apache. Daenyrys is a data management system which has the capability to take decision about the optimum partitioning scheme for the Hadoop's distributed file system (DFS). The optimum partitioning scheme improves the performance of the complete framework. The choice of the optimum partitioning is query-context dependent. In Daenyrys, the columns are formed into optimized groups to provide the basis for the partitioning of tables vertically. Daenyrys has an algorithm that monitors the context of current queries and based on the observations, it re-partitions the DFS for better performance and resource utilization. In the proposed system, Hive, a MapReduce-based SQL-like query engine is supported above the DFS.
A Proposed Model for Using Cloud Computing and Web2.0 in Deploying E-Learning Ecosystem (ELES)
Authors: Helmy Yehia , Nasr Mona , Ouf Shimaa
Published: April 2014

Research community has believed that an e-learning ecosystem is the next generation of e-learning but has faced challenges in optimizing resource allocations, dealing with dynamic demands on getting information and knowledge anywhere and anytime, handling rapid storage growth requirements, cost controlling and greater flexibility. So, flourish, growing, scalable, available, up to date and strong infrastructure e-learning ecosystems in a productive and cost effective way will be needed to face challenges and rapidly changing in learning environment. This paper work focused on an e-learning ecosystem (ELES) which supports new technologies is introduced and implemented. An integration between cloud computing and Web 2.0 technologies and services used to support the development of e-learning ecosystems. Cloud computing an adaptable technology for many of the universities with its dynamic scalability and usage of virtualized resources as a service through the Internet and Web 2.0 brings new instruments help building dynamic e-learning ecosystem on the web.
Empirical Performance Assessment of Public Clouds Using System Level Benchmarks
Authors: Ahuja Sanjay P. , Furman Thomas F. , Roslie Kerwin E. , Wheeler Jared T.
Published: April 2014

Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) Service is one of the leading public cloud service providers and offers many different levels of service. This paper looks into evaluating the memory, central processing unit (CPU), and input/output I/O performance of two different tiers of hardware offered through Amazon's EC2. Using three distinct types of system benchmarks, the performance of the micro spot instance and the M1 small instance are measured and compared. In order to examine the performance and scalability of the hardware, the virtual machines are set up in a cluster formation ranging from two to eight nodes. The results show that the scalability of the cloud is achieved by increasing resources when applicable. This paper also looks at the economic model and other cloud services offered by Amazon's EC2, Microsoft's Azure, and Google's App Engine.
Advanced Mediating Effects Tests, Multi-Group Analyses, and Measurement Model Assessments in PLS-Based SEM
Authors: Kock Ned
Published: April 2014

Use of the partial least squares (PLS) method has been on the rise among e-collaboration researchers. It has also seen increasing use in a wide variety of fields of research. This includes most business-related disciplines, as well as the social and health sciences. The use of the PLS method has been primarily in the context of PLS-based structural equation modeling (SEM). This article discusses a variety of advanced PLS-based SEM uses of critical coefficients such as standard errors, effect sizes, loadings, cross-loadings and weights. Among these uses are advanced mediating effects tests, comprehensive multi-group analyses, and measurement model assessments.
A Web-based Learner-Controlled Adaptive Group Formation Technique
Authors: Papadimitriou Alexandros , Grigoriadou Maria , Gyftodimos Georgios
Published: April 2014

This paper presents the learner-controlled adaptive group formation technique offered by the web-based adaptive educational hypermedia system MATHEMA. More specifically, this paper describes why we take into consideration the group effectiveness, concerning the concrete-abstract dimension of learners' learning style, in forming learner groups and how the adaptive group formation algorithm generates a priority list of possible matching candidate collaborators for a certain student, taking into account the abstract or concrete dimension of his/her learning style and his/her possible candidate collaborators' learning style and knowledge level on the current learning goal as well. Moreover, the paper describes how the algorithm supports the learners in selecting the most suitable collaborator, and how it automatically links them up via a chat tool with the aim of negotiating a collaboration agreement. An evaluation of the adaptive group formation of our system indicated that it is usable and useful enough tool for collaborative learning.
How to Manage Virtual Communities and Teams using Adjacencies
Authors: Diviné Marc , Le Cardinal Julie Stal
Published: April 2014

This paper aims at responding to the need for specific management of virtual entities. It proposes a flexible process based on Functional Analysis and Adaptive Structuration Theory, called Virtual Entities Management Support (VEMS). Starting from environmental requirements analysis, the method helps to choose functions, attitudes, and tools based on a strategic vision in three dimensions: the virtual entity value addition, the members' satisfaction, and the entity flexible frontiers. It leverages the powerful concept of adjacent individuals and adjacent communities inside the 3-D model. The full process is detailed and applied to five virtual entities inside and outside the industry. It raised a common view of 21 best attitudes. The paper provides managerial guidelines to managers of virtual entities.
The Human Immune System Recognizes Neopeptides Derived from Mitochondrial DNA Deletions
Authors: Duvvuri Bhargavi , Duvvuri Venkata R. , Wang Chao , Chen Lina , Wagar Lisa E. , Jamnik Veronica , Wu Jianhong , Yeung Rae S. M. , Grigull Jörg , Watts Tania H. , Wu Gillian E.
Published: April 2014

Mutations in mitochondrial (mt) DNA accumulate with age and can result in the generation of neopeptides. Immune surveillance of such neopeptides may allow suboptimal mitochondria to be eliminated, thereby avoiding mt-related diseases, but may also contribute to autoimmunity in susceptible individuals. To date, the direct recognition of neo-mtpeptides by the adaptive immune system has not been demonstrated. In this study we used bioinformatics approaches to predict MHC binding of neopeptides identified from known deletions in mtDNA. Six such peptides were confirmed experimentally to bind to HLA-A*02. Pre-existing human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from healthy donors were shown to recognize and respond to these neopeptides. One remarkably promiscuous immunodominant peptide (P9) could be presented by diverse MHC molecules to CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells from 75% of the healthy donors tested. The common soil microbe, Bacillus pumilus, encodes a 9-mer that differs by one amino acid from P9. Similarly, the ATP synthase F0 subunit 6 from normal human mitochondria encodes a 9-mer with a single amino acid difference from P9 with 89% homology to P9. T cells expanded from human PBMCs using the B. pumilus or self-mt peptide bound to P9/HLA-A2 tetramers, arguing for cross-reactivity between T cells with specificity for self and foreign homologs of the altered mt peptide. These findings provide proof of principal that the immune system can recognize peptides arising from spontaneous somatic mutations and that such responses might be primed by foreign peptides and/or be cross-reactive with self.
SHP2 Phosphatase Promotes Mast Cell Chemotaxis toward Stem Cell Factor via Enhancing Activation of the Lyn/Vav/Rac Signaling Axis
Authors: Sharma Namit , Everingham Stephanie , Ramdas Baskar , Kapur Reuben , Craig Andrew W. B.
Published: April 2014

SHP2 protein–tyrosine phosphatase (encoded by Ptpn11) positively regulates KIT (CD117) signaling in mast cells and is required for mast cell survival and homeostasis in mice. In this study, we uncover a role of SHP2 in promoting chemotaxis of mast cells toward stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand for KIT receptor. Using an inducible SHP2 knockout (KO) bone marrow–derived mast cell (BMMC) model, we observed defects in SCF-induced cell spreading, polarization, and chemotaxis. To address the mechanisms involved, we tested whether SHP2 promotes activation of Lyn kinase that was previously shown to promote mast cell chemotaxis. In SHP2 KO BMMCs, SCF-induced phosphorylation of the inhibitory C-terminal residue (pY507) was elevated compared with control cells, and phosphorylation of activation loop (pY396) was diminished. Because Lyn also was detected by substrate trapping assays, these results are consistent with SHP2 activating Lyn directly by dephosphorylation of pY507. Further analyses revealed a SHP2- and Lyn-dependent pathway leading to phosphorylation of Vav1, Rac activation, and F-actin polymerization in SCF-treated BMMCs. Treatment of BMMCs with a SHP2 inhibitor also led to impaired chemotaxis, consistent with SHP2 promoting SCF-induced chemotaxis of mast cells via a phosphatase-dependent mechanism. Thus, SHP2 inhibitors may be useful to limit SCF/KIT-induced mast cell recruitment to inflamed tissues or the tumor microenvironment.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa–Induced Apoptosis in Airway Epithelial Cells Is Mediated by Gap Junctional Communication in a JNK-Dependent Manner
Authors: Losa Davide , Köhler Thilo , Bellec Jessica , Dudez Tecla , Crespin Sophie , Bacchetta Marc , Boulanger Pierre , Hong Saw See , Morel Sandrine , Nguyen Tuan H. , van Delden Christian , Chanson Marc
Published: April 2014

Chronic infection and inflammation of the airways is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The response of the CF airway epithelium to the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is characterized by altered inflammation and apoptosis. In this study, we examined innate immune recognition and epithelial responses at the level of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in polarized human airway epithelial cells upon infection by PAO1. We report that PAO1 activates cell surface receptors to elicit an intracellular signaling cascade leading to enhancement of gap junctional communication. Expression of Cx43 involved an opposite regulation exerted by JNK and p38 MAPKs. PAO1-induced apoptosis was increased in the presence of a JNK inhibitor, but latter effect was prevented by lentiviral expression of a Cx43-specific short hairpin RNA. Moreover, we found that JNK activity was upregulated by pharmacological inhibition of CFTR in Calu-3 cells, whereas correction of a CF airway cell line (CF15 cells) by adenoviral expression of CFTR reduced the activation of this MAPK. Interestingly, CFTR inhibition in Calu-3 cells was associated with decreased Cx43 expression and reduced apoptosis. These results indicate that Cx43 expression is a component of the response of airway epithelial cells to innate immune activation by regulating the survival/apoptosis balance. Defective CFTR could alter this equilibrium with deleterious consequences on the CF epithelial response to P. aeruginosa.
Bromodomain and Extraterminal Proteins Suppress NF-E2–Related Factor 2–Mediated Antioxidant Gene Expression
Authors: Michaeloudes Charalambos , Mercado Nicolas , Clarke Colin , Bhavsar Pankaj K. , Adcock Ian M. , Barnes Peter J. , Chung Kian Fan
Published: April 2014

Oxidative stress, a pathogenetic factor in many conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arises due to accumulation of reactive oxygen species and defective antioxidant defenses in the lungs. The latter is due, at least in part, to impaired activation of NF-E2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor involved in the activation of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes. The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins, Brd2, Brd3, Brd4, and BrdT, bind to acetylated lysine residues on histone or nonhistone proteins recruiting transcriptional regulators and thus activating or repressing gene transcription. We investigated whether BET proteins modulate the regulation of Nrf2-dependent gene expression in primary human airway smooth muscle cells and the human monocytic cell line, THP-1. Inhibition of BET protein bromodomains using the inhibitor JQ1+ or attenuation of Brd2 and Brd4 expression using small interfering RNA led to activation of Nrf2-dependent transcription and expression of the antioxidant proteins heme oxygenase-1, NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit. Also, JQ1+ prevented H2O2-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species production. By coimmunoprecipitation, BET proteins were found to be complexed with Nrf2, whereas chromatin–immunoprecipitation studies indicated recruitment of Brd2 and Brd4 to Nrf2-binding sites on the promoters of heme oxygenase-1 and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1. BET proteins, particularly Brd2 and Brd4, may play a key role in the regulation of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant gene transcription and are hence an important target for augmenting antioxidant responses in oxidative stress–mediated diseases.
Conversion of Der p 23, a New Major House Dust Mite Allergen, into a Hypoallergenic Vaccine
Authors: Banerjee Srinita , Weber Milena , Blatt Katharina , Swoboda Ines , Focke-Tejkl Margit , Valent Peter , Valenta Rudolf , Vrtala Susanne
Published: April 2014

Der p 23, a new, major house dust mite (HDM) allergen that is recognized by >70% of HDM-allergic patients, has high allergenic activity and, therefore, must be considered an important component for HDM-specific immunotherapy. We constructed and characterized a hypoallergenic Der p 23 vaccine for HDM immunotherapy. Three nonallergenic peptides from the C-terminal IgE epitope-containing part of Der p 23 (P4, P5) and P6, a mutant peptide containing serines instead of cysteines, were identified. Peptides were fused to the hepatitis B virus–derived PreS domain as recombinant fusion proteins (i.e., PreS-2XP4P5 and PreS-4XP6) that were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Compared with Der p 23, PreS-2XP4P5 and PreS-4XP6 showed no relevant IgE reactivity and exhibited considerably reduced allergenic activity in basophil activation tests using blood from HDM-allergic patients. Upon immunization of rabbits, only PreS-2XP4P5 induced high levels of Der p 23–specific IgG Abs that inhibited binding of patients’ IgE to Der p 23, comparable to IgG Abs induced with Der p 23, whereas Abs induced with PreS-4XP6 had only low blocking capacity. Additionally, IgG Abs induced with PreS-2XP4P5 inhibited Der p 23–induced basophil activation comparable to IgG Abs induced with Der p 23. Compared with Der p 23, PreS-2XP4P5 induced lower T cell proliferation but higher levels of the tolerogenic cytokine IL-10 and the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ in PBMCs from HDM-allergic patients, indicating an immunomodulatory capacity of the fusion protein. Therefore, PreS-2XP4P5 represents a promising candidate for immunotherapy of HDM-allergic patients.
Clinical utility of BOLD fMRI in preoperative work-up of epilepsy
Authors: Ganesan Karthik , Ursekar Meher
Published: April 2014

Surgical techniques have emerged as a viable therapeutic option in patients with drug refractory epilepsy. Pre-surgical evaluation of epilepsy requires a comprehensive, multiparametric, and multimodal approach for precise localization of the epileptogenic focus. Various non-invasive techniques are available at the disposal of the treating physician to detect the epileptogenic focus, which include electroencephalography (EEG), video-EEG, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI including blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) techniques, single photon emission tomography (SPECT), and 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). Currently, non-invasive high-resolution MR imaging techniques play pivotal roles in the preoperative detection of the seizure focus, and represent the foundation for successful epilepsy surgery. BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) maps allow for precise localization of the eloquent cortex in relation to the seizure focus. This review article focuses on the clinical utility of BOLD (fMRI) in the pre-surgical work-up of epilepsy patients.
Mapping of cognitive functions in chronic intractable epilepsy: Role of fMRI
Authors: Chaudhary Kapil , Kumaran S Senthil , Chandra Sarat P , Wadhawan Ashima Nehra , Tripathi Manjari
Published: April 2014

Background: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a non-invasive technique with high spatial resolution and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast, has been applied to localize and map cognitive functions in the clinical condition of chronic intractable epilepsy. Purpose: fMRI was used to map the language and memory network in patients of chronic intractable epilepsy pre- and post-surgery. Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee, six patients with intractable epilepsy with an equal number of age-matched controls were recruited in the study. A 1.5 T MR scanner with 12-channel head coil, integrated with audio-visual fMRI accessories was used. Echo planar imaging sequence was used for BOLD studies. There were two sessions in TLE (pre- and post-surgery). Results: In TLE patients, BOLD activation increased post-surgery in comparison of pre-surgery in inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and superior temporal gyrus (STG), during semantic lexical, judgment, comprehension, and semantic memory tasks. Conclusion: Functional MRI is useful to study the basic concepts related to language and memory lateralization in TLE and guide surgeons for preservation of important brain areas during ATLR. This will help in understanding future directions for the diagnosis and treatment of such disease.
Bilateral asymmetrical duplicated origin of vertebral arteries: Multidetector row CT angiographic study
Authors: Rameshbabu CS , Gupta OM Prakash , Gupta Kanchan Kumar , Qasim Muhammad
Published: April 2014

Bilateral duplicated origin of V-1 segment of vertebral arteries is an extremely rare vascular variant and only two such cases have been reported so far. Presence of this vascular abnormality was observed incidentally in a 36-year-old male patient, with a complaint of dizziness, evaluated by multidetector row computed tomography (CT) angiography. Two limbs of the right vertebral artery arose from the right subclavian artery and fused to form a single vessel at the interval between fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, which entered the foramen transversarium of fourth cervical vertebra. On the left side, the medial limb originated directly from the arch of aorta and the lateral limb from the left subclavian artery, and both united at the interval between fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae to form a single vessel which entered the foramen transversarium of fifth cervical vertebra. No other cerebrovascular pathology like aneurysm, fenestration, dissection, and stenosis was detected, which could be correlated with the symptoms of the patient. This rare congenital vascular anomaly has diagnostic and therapeutic implications in any intervention involving the vertebral artery.
Variations in superior thyroid artery: A selective angiographic study
Authors: Gupta Pankaj , Bhalla Ashu Seith , Thulkar Sanjay , Kumar Atin , Mohanti Bidhu Kalyan , Thakar Alok , Sharma Atul
Published: April 2014

Aim: To investigate variations in superior thyroid artery (STA) based on digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Materials and Methods: Twenty five angiography studies of 15 pts performed between June 2010 and December 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. These patients underwent DSA of the head and neck region as a part of their superselective neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy protocol for treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. Depending upon the location of the tumor, unilateral or bilateral arteriograms of common carotid artery (CCA), external carotid artery (ECA), and STA were performed. Arteriograms were evaluated for the site of origin and branching pattern of STA. STA anatomy was ascribed to one of the three branching patterns. Results: A total of 25 angiograms were evaluated, including 14 right and 11 left. On the right side, STA was noted to arise from ECA in 10 (71.5%), bifurcation of CCA in 3 (21.5%), and CCA in 1 (7%) patient. Left STA was seen to arise from ECA in 8 (72.5%), bifurcation of CCA in 2 (18.5%), and internal carotid artery (ICA) in 1 (9%) patient. Type III branching pattern (non-bifurcation, non-trifurcation) was found to be the most frequent (52%). Infrahyoid branch was found to be the most consistent in terms of its origin from STA. Conclusions: Origin of STA is predictable, arising from ECA in more than 70% cases. Branching pattern of STA, following origin from ECA, is, however, highly variable. Knowledge concerning the origin and branching pattern of STA is essential in enhancing precision and decreasing morbidity related to the surgical and interventional radiological head and neck procedures.
Expression of cucumber LOX genes in response to powdery mildew and defense-related signal molecules
Authors: Oh Sang-Keun , Jang Hyun A. , Kim Jungeun , Choi Doil , Park Youn-Il , Kwon Suk-Yoon
Published: April 2014

Oh, S.-K., Jang, H. A., Kim, J., Choi, D., Park, Y.-I. and Kwon, S.-Y. 2014. Expression of cucumber LOX genes in response to powdery mildew and defense-related signal molecules. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 845–850. The cucumber genome contains 23 lipoxygenase (LOX) genes. The expression of seven type-I and six type-II LOX genes was induced when cucumber leaves were challenged with Sphaerotheca fuliginea and treated with salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, and abscisic acid. These 13 CsLOX genes were differentially regulated during biotic and abiotic stresses.
Inheritance of spot blotch resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Authors: Singh Sarvjeet , Singh Harvinder , Sharma Achla , Meeta Madhu , Singh Baljit , Joshi Neha , Grover Pooja , Al-Yassin Adnan , Kumar Shiv
Published: April 2014

Singh, S., Singh, H., Sharma, A., Meeta, M., Singh, B., Joshi, N., Grover, P., Al-Yassin, A. and Kumar, S. 2014. Inheritance of spot blotch resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1203–1209. Spot blotch, caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, is a major disease of barley hampering its commercial production in many parts of the world. Growing resistant cultivars is the most effective, economical and eco-friendly approach to control the disease. To understand the inheritance of resistance, F1, F2 and F3 generations of two crosses, involving susceptible (PL426 and RD2503) and resistant (BL9 and BL10) parents were studied. The susceptibility of F1 plants and a ratio of 13 susceptible:3 resistant in F2 populations in both crosses indicated that the reaction to spot blotch is hypostatic and is governed by two genes with an epistatic/inhibitory effect of first on the second one. The resistant reaction appeared due to the presence of dominant allele of the second gene. The first gene in dominant homozygous or heterozygous condition had an inhibitory effect over the second gene. The inheritance pattern was confirmed from the segregation pattern of F3 progenies of both the crosses. One hundred-fifty F2:6 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from PL426/BL10 cross gave a good fit to the ratio of 1 resistant:3 susceptible lines under artificial and natural epiphytotic conditions. Recovery of transgressive segregants in the RIL population indicated the presence of some modifiers or minor genes. Test of allelism involving susceptible (PL426)×susceptible (RD2503) and resistant (BL9)×resistant (BL10) parents revealed that both the susceptible parents as well as resistant parents were allelic to each other.
Pyramiding white mould resistance between and within common bean gene pools
Authors: Singh Shree P. , Schwartz Howard F. , Terán Henry , Viteri Diego , Otto Kristen
Published: April 2014

Singh, S. P., Schwartz, H. F., Terán, H., Viteri, D. and Otto, K. 2014. Pyramiding white mould resistance between and within common bean gene pools. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 947–954. White mould caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a severe disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in North America and similar production regions. Low to high levels of white mould resistance exist in cultivated and wild common bean and the secondary gene pool. But, cultivars with high levels of resistance are not yet available. The objectives of this study were: (1) to combine or pyramid high levels of resistance from multiple-parent populations between and within gene pools, and (2) to compare the response of pyramided breeding lines (PBL) to four isolates of the white mould pathogen with that of known sources of resistance. Two Andean PBL each derived from an Andean intra-gene pool and inter-gene pool, four Middle American pinto bean PBL from one inter-gene pool multiple-parent population, their seven resistant parents, and susceptible pinto, Othello, were inoculated in the greenhouse with pathogen isolates ARS12D and ND710 at University of Idaho, Kimberly in 2012, and isolates CO467 and NY133 at Colorado State University, Fort Collins in 2013. The percentage of resistant plants for the PBL ranged from 62.5 to 81.9, and mean white mould score from 4.0 to 4.6. The respective values for the white mould resistant parents ranged from 3.1 to 57.0 for the percentage of resistant plants and from 4.8 to 7.5 for the mean white mould score. Furthermore, PBL SE154-1 inoculated with isolate ARS12D, and SE152-6 with isolates ARS12D and ND710 had 100% resistant plants. But, only SE153-1 and SE155-9 inoculated with isolates CO467 and NY133 had significantly (P ≤0.05) higher levels of resistance than the most resistant parents A 195 and VA 19. The pinto bean PBL SE153-1, SE153-6, and SE153-7, and Andean types SE152-6 and SE155-9 were the most resistant among all genotypes inoculated with the four isolates of the white mould pathogen in both greenhouses.
Isolation and Molecular Identification of Bartonellae from Wild Rats (Rattus Species) in Malaysia
Authors: Tay Sun Tee , Mokhtar Aida Syafinaz , Zain Siti Nursheena Mohd , Low Kiat Cheong
Published: April 2014

This study describes our investigation on the prevalence and molecular identification of bartonellae from Rattus diardii and R. norvegicus in the urban areas of Malaysia. Of 95 rats investigated, Bartonella tribocorum, B. rattimassiliensis, B. coopersplainsensis, B. elizabethae, and B. queenslandensis were isolated from kidney and spleen homogenates of four rats. Bartonellae DNA was amplified from the rat organ tissues by using primers specific for the bartonellae RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene in nine other rats. Sequence analysis of the rpoB gene fragments shows the identification of B. queenslandensis in five rats, B. elizabethae in three rats, and B. tribocorum in one rat. Combining the results of isolation and molecular detection of bartonellae, we found that the prevalence of Bartonella infection in the Rattus spp. investigated in this study was 13.7%. Implementation of effective rat control program in the urban areas is necessary to prevent the spillover of bartonellosis from rats to humans.