bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EXACTLY SOLVABLE INTERPOLATING HAMILTONIANS WITH POSITION-DEPENDENT MASS
Authors: JANA T. K. , ROY P.
Published: October 2010

It is shown that Hamiltonians of the form H(s) = (1 - s)H- + sH+, 0 ≤ s ≤ 1 where H± are supersymmetric partner Hamiltonians corresponding to position-dependent mass Schrödinger equations are exactly solvable for a number of deformed shape-invariant potentials. The method has also been extended to a system with broken supersymmetry.
ON THE AXIAL ANOMALY IN NON-ABELIAN BF MODEL WITH TOPOLOGICAL COUPLING
Authors: MENDES K. C. , LANDIM R. R. , ALENCAR G.
Published: October 2010

We study the axial anomaly problem in a non-Abelian topologically massive BF model with fermion coupling. The fermion is coupled to the vector and the tensor gauge fields in a non-minimal way.
ON UNITARITY OF A LINEARIZED YANG–MILLS FORMULATION FOR MASSLESS AND MASSIVE GRAVITY WITH PROPAGATING TORSION
Authors: GAITAN DEVERAS ROLANDO
Published: October 2010

A perturbative regime based on contortion as a dynamical variable and metric as a (classical) fixed background, is performed in the context of a pure Yang–Mills formulation for gravity in a (2+1)-dimensional space–time. In the massless case, we show that the theory contains three degrees of freedom and only one is a nonunitary mode. Next, we introduce quadratical terms dependent on torsion, which preserve parity and general covariance. The linearized version reproduces an analogue Hilbert–Einstein–Fierz–Pauli unitary massive theory plus three massless modes, two of them represents nonunitary ones. Finally, we confirm the existence of a family of unitary Yang–Mills-extended theories which are classically consistent with Einstein's solutions coming from nonmassive and topologically massive gravity. The unitarity of these Yang–Mills-extended theories is shown in a perturbative regime. A possible way to perform a nonperturbative study is remarked.
BREMSSTRAHLUNG RADIATION IN DEUTERIUM/TRITIUM DEGENERATE PLASMA
Authors: MAHDAVI M. , KALEJI B. , KOOHROKHI T.
Published: October 2010

The Bremsstrahlung radiation power is one of the important loss processes in the inertial confinement fusion. The motion of ions is usually neglected when calculating the Bremsstrahlung radiation of the plasma. We calculate the Bremsstrahlung radiation power by taking into account the motion of ions in degenerate plasma. We found a two-temperature function for Bremsstrahlung radiation of the plasma. Finally, the Bremsstrahlung optical depth is obtained for plasma.
MULTIPARTITE ENTANGLEMENT CONTROL VIA THE QUANTUM ZENO EFFECT
Authors: OLIVEIRA J. G. , ROSSI R. , NEMES M. C.
Published: October 2010

We develop a protocol based on 2M pairwise-interacting qubits, which through the quantum Zeno effect controls the entanglement distribution of the system. We present two examples: the first is concerned with the well-known double Jaynes–Cummings model, and in the second we construct a generalization for 2M qubits coupled pairwise. This provides a way of data manipulation within a quantum register which allows the transfer of data between qubits without the physical movement of any of the qubits.
SPHERICAL AVERAGED ENDPOINT STRICHARTZ ESTIMATES FOR THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION WITH INVERSE SQUARE POTENTIAL
Authors: CHEN I-KUN
Published: October 2010

We investigate the two-dimensional Schrödinger equation with repulsive inverse square potential, and we prove the following homogeneous endpoint Strichartz estimate: [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a norm that applies L2average on the angular variable, first, and then the supremum on the radial variable.
GLOBAL REGULARITY FOR YANG–MILLS FIELDS IN R1+5
Authors: STEFANOV ATANAS
Published: October 2010

We show global persistence of solutions with small data for the model equation □u = u⋅∇u + u3, on R 1+d, d ≥ 5, subject to the Coulomb gauge condition [Formula: see text]. In particular, this covers the important case of the Yang–Mills problem.
WELL-POSEDNESS FOR THE EQUATIONS OF MOTION OF AN INVISCID, INCOMPRESSIBLE, SELF-GRAVITATING FLUID WITH FREE BOUNDARY
Authors: NORDGREN KARL HÅKAN
Published: October 2010

Building on work by Lindblad, Coutand and Shkoller, and the present author, we prove that the equations of motion of an inviscid, incompressible, self-gravitating fluid with free boundary are well-posed.
US INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS
Authors: JAMES WILLIAM E.
Published: October 2010

The decline in world trade volume in 2009 was the worst since the Great Depression. The United States (US) spread the global recession as a major source of external demand. US import and export data are examined to understand the repercussions, particularly for developing economies divided into preferential and non-preferential trading partners. A key finding is that US trade with preferential partners contracted faster than with non-preferential partners. Case studies of autos and textiles provide insights. A new global trade deal may be the way forward as the US will have to expand net exports to restore growth.
A prolific approach for automated generation of test cases from informal requirements
Authors: Chatterjee Ram , Johari Kalpana
Published: October 2010

Specification-based testing begins with the documentation of customers' requirements. This informal depiction of requirements needs to undergo formalization for effective test case generation to corroborate specification-based testing so as to catapult validation testing. In this paper, we discuss a credible approach for test suite generation by formalizing the informal requirements that further proves prolific in pioneering effective test case generation. The endeavor is directed towards testing software in the absence of source code.
Developing maintainability index of a software component
Authors: Upadhyay Nitin , Deshapande Bharat M. , Agrawal Vishnu P.
Published: October 2010

This paper describes a methodology based on a digraph and matrix approach for developing the maintainability (characteristic) indexof a software component. Sub-characteristics and associated attributes of a component that characterize maintainability are identified and modelled in terms of maintainability digraph. The nodes in the digraph represent maintainability sub-characteristics and edges represent interactive complexity among the subcharacteristics. A detailed procedure for the maintainability analysis of
component
is suggested through a maintainability function. The maintainability index (
Im
) is obtained from
VPF - m
(i.e. permanent of the matrix) by substituting the numerical values of the sub-characteristics and their interactions. The concept of hypothetical best index and hypothetical worst index is also proposed, which will help system developers to identify relative comparison of candidates from hypothetical best and hypothetical worst indices and designers and developers to improve the component maintainability characteristic (looking upon critical attributed factors) by performing sensitivity analysis. A higher value of the
VPF - m
implies better maintainability of a component. An example is also presented to demonstrate and validate the effectiveness of the methodology.
A concept of quality assurance for metrics in CASE-tools
Authors: Yazbek Hashem
Published: October 2010

The quality of software has become more important to software companies in the past years. Software measurement is one of many approaches that is used to check the quality of software [18]. This may involve measuring some attributes of a software product or a software process and comparing these measurements to each other or to some desirable level. A software metric is "any type of measurement that relates to a software system, process or related documentation" [7]. Software metrics can help to improve the quality of the produced software. However, metrics and metrics tools are still not used in most software companies -- for example in the 3 companies where we cooperated in last 5 years. One reason is that there is lack of knowledge about metrics and hence software metrics are still unknown or difficult to use for some developers, and software measurement is still time-consuming for managers. Another reason is that, good metrics tools are still expensive for small and middle companies. In our opinion the effectiveness of metrics can be improved by simple organizational expedients. In this paper we present new/adapted requirements on metrics in CASE tools to define flexible product quality models. For this quality model we tried to use some standard techniques, e.g. metrics suite, metrics visualization or metrics filtering to show how metrics in CASE tools can be defined and how it can benefit different people who are involved in a software deployment.
The average response time in a heavy-traffic srpt queue
Authors: Lin Minghong , Wierman Adam , Zwart Bert
Published: October 2010

Shortest Remaining Processing Time first (SRPT) has long been known to optimize the queue length distribution and the mean response time (a.k.a. flow time, sojourn time). As such, it has been the focus of a wide body of analysis. However, results about the heavy-traffic behavior of SRPT have only recently started to emerge. In this work, we characterize the growth rate of the mean response time under SRPT in the M/GI/1 system under general job size distributions. Our results illustrate the relationship between the job size tail and the heavy traffic growth rate of mean response time. Further, we show that the heavy traffic growth rate can be used to provide an accurate approximation for mean response time outside of heavy traffic.
Index policies for admission and routing of soft real-time traffic to parallel queues
Authors: Niño-Mora José
Published: October 2010

We consider the design of index policies for admission and routing of soft real-time jobs to parallel queues, comparing three methods with respect to the average deadlinemiss costs incurred, based on individually optimal, policy improvement, and restless bandit indices.
Law and Culture in a Global Context: Interventions to Eradicate Female Genital Cutting
Authors: Boyle Elizabeth Heger , Corl Amelia Cotton
Published: October 2010

Female genital cutting practices (FGCs) provide a contemporary lens into the relationship between law and culture in a global context. In this discussion, we take both legal and cultural pluralism seriously to illustrate how laws and cultures interact to create or resist change. We consider law and culture at the international, national, and community levels. The literature shows how “insiders” who speak the language of “outsiders” can quickly lose their legitimacy at any of these levels. We also discern that the impact of law is notably more effective in the global North than in the global South although laws in all countries are typically adopted with little input from FGC-practicing communities. The greater effectiveness of laws in the North occurs because they tend to be accompanied by changes in informal social control mechanisms. In the global South, when trusted organizations work with communities to increase overall living standards as well as combat FGCs, they tend to be highly effective in reducing the practices. Ultimately, to determine the impact of international and national laws, scholars need to look at development efforts as well as anti-FGC statutes.
The Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus: A Second Cholinergic Source for Frequency-Specific Auditory Plasticity
Authors: Luo Feng , Liu Xiuping , Wang Carol , Yan Jun
Published: October 2010

Cholinergic modulation is essential for many brain functions and is an indispensable component of the prevalent models attempting to understand the neural mechanism responsible for learning-induced auditory plasticity. Unlike the cholinergic basal forebrain, the cholinergic pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) has received little attention. This study was designed to confirm whether the PPTg enables frequency-specific plasticity in the ventral division of the medial geniculate body of the thalamus (MGBv). Using the mouse model, we paired electrical stimulation of the PPTg with tone stimulation to help define the role of the PPTg. The receptive fields of MGBv neurons were examined before and after the paired stimulation; they were quantified in this study by best frequency (BF), response threshold, dynamic range, and spike number. We found that the electrical stimulation of the PPTg together with a tone presentation shifted the BFs of MGBv neurons upward when the frequency of the paired tone was higher than that of the control BF. Similarly, the BFs shifted downward when the frequency of the paired tone was lower than that of the control BF. The BFs of MGBv neurons, however, remained unchanged when the frequency of the paired tone was the same as that of the control BF. There was a linear relationship between the BF shift of MGBv neurons and the difference between the frequency of the paired tone and the control BF of MGBv neurons. Highly frequency specific changes were also observed in the response threshold, dynamic range, and spike number. This frequency-specific plasticity was largely eliminated by the microinjection of the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine into the MGBv before the paired stimulation. Our findings suggest that the PPTg, like the cholinergic basal forebrain, is an important cholinergic source that enables frequency-specific plasticity in the central auditory system.
Ray's Theorem for Firmly Nonexpansive-Like Mappings and Equilibrium Problems in Banach Spaces
Authors: Saejung Satit
Published: October 2010

We prove that every firmly nonexpansive-like mapping from a closed convex subset "Equation missing" of a smooth, strictly convex and reflexive Banach pace into itself has a fixed point if and only if "Equation missing" is bounded. We obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of solutions of an equilibrium problem and of a variational inequality problem defined in a Banach space.
The Immunocytochemistry Is a Valuable Tool in the Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in FNA's Using Liquid-Based Cytology
Authors: Pazaitou-Panayiotou Kalliopi , Mygdakos Nikolas , Boglou Kyriaki , kiziridou Anastasia , Chrisoulidou Alexandra , Destouni Chariklia
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignancy of the thyroid. An accurate cytological diagnosis is based on distinctive cytological features in combination with immunocytochemistry.Methods. A number of 83 fine needle aspirations, positive for papillary thyroid cancer (44 from thyroid nodules and 39 from cervical lymph nodes), were studied using Thin Layer Cytology. A panel of the immunomarkers Cytokeratin-19, Galectin-3, HBME1, CD-44, CD-56, and E-Cadherin was performed.Results. Positive expression of CK-19 was observed in 77 cases (92.7%), of Galectin-3 in 74 cases (89.1%), of HBME1 in 65 (78.3%), and of CD-44 in 72 cases (86.7%). Loss of expression of CD-56 was observed in 80 cases (96.4%) and of E-cadherin in 78 (93.9%).Conclusions. Our data suggest that Thin Layer Cytology increases the diagnostic accuracy in papillary carcinoma and seems to be a promising technique for further investigation of thyroid lesions permitting the possibility to use archive material. Positive immunoexpression of CK-19, Galectin-3, HBME-1, and CD-44 improves the diagnostic accuracy of papillary thyroid cancer. Furthermore, loss of E-cadherin and of CD-56 expression is a feature of malignancy.
DNA Damage Recognition via Activated ATM and p53 Pathway in Nonproliferating Human Prostate Tissue
Authors: Jäämaa Sari , af Hällström Taija M. , Sankila Anna , Rantanen Ville , Koistinen Hannu , Stenman Ulf-Håkan , Zhang Zhewei , Yang Zhiming , De Marzo Angelo M. , Taari Kimmo , Ruutu Mirja , Andersson Leif C. , Laiho Marikki
Published: October 2010

DNA damage response (DDR) pathways have been extensively studied in cancer cell lines and mouse models, but little is known about how DNA damage is recognized by different cell types in nonmalignant, slowly replicating human tissues. Here, we assess, using ex vivo cultures of human prostate tissue, DDR caused by cytotoxic drugs (camptothecin, doxorubicin, etoposide, and cisplatin) and ionizing radiation (IR) in the context of normal tissue architecture. Using specific markers for basal and luminal epithelial cells, we determine and quantify cell compartment–specific damage recognition. IR, doxorubicin, and etoposide induced the phosphorylation of H2A.X on Ser139 (γH2AX) and DNA damage foci formation. Surprisingly, luminal epithelial cells lack the prominent γH2AX response after IR when compared with basal cells, although ATM phosphorylation on Ser1981 and 53BP1 foci were clearly detectable in both cell types. The attenuated γH2AX response seems to result from low levels of total H2A.X in the luminal cells. Marked increase in p53, a downstream target of the activated ATM pathway, was detected only in response to camptothecin and doxorubicin. These findings emphasize the diversity of pathways activated by DNA damage in slowly replicating tissues and reveal an unexpected deviation in the prostate luminal compartment that may be relevant in prostate tumorigenesis. Detailed mapping of tissue and cell type differences in DDR will provide an outlook of relevant responses to therapeutic strategies. Cancer Res; 70(21); 8630–41. ©2010 AACR.
Epigenetically Deregulated microRNA-375 Is Involved in a Positive Feedback Loop with Estrogen Receptor α in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: de Souza Rocha Simonini Pedro , Breiling Achim , Gupta Nibedita , Malekpour Mahdi , Youns Mahmoud , Omranipour Ramesh , Malekpour Fatemeh , Volinia Stefano , Croce Carlo M. , Najmabadi Hossein , Diederichs Sven , Sahin Özgür , Mayer Doris , Lyko Frank , Hoheisel Jörg D. , Riazalhosseini Yasser
Published: October 2010

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) upregulation causes abnormal cell proliferation in about two thirds of breast cancers, yet understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains incomplete. Here, we show that high expression of the microRNA miR-375 in ERα-positive breast cell lines is a key driver of their proliferation. miR-375 overexpression was caused by loss of epigenetic marks including H3K9me2 and local DNA hypomethylation, dissociation of the transcriptional repressor CTCF from the miR-375 promoter, and interactions of ERα with regulatory regions of miR-375. Inhibiting miR-375 in ERα-positive MCF-7 cells resulted in reduced ERα activation and cell proliferation. A combination of expression profiling from tumor samples and miRNA target prediction identified RASD1 as a potential miR-375 target. Mechanistic investigations revealed that miR-375 regulates RASD1 by targeting the 3′ untranslated region in RASD1 mRNA. Additionally, we found that RASD1 negatively regulates ERα expression. Our findings define a forward feedback pathway in control of ERα expression, highlighting new strategies to treat ERα-positive invasive breast tumors. Cancer Res; 70(22); 9175–84. ©2010 AACR.
Heparanase Enhances Local and Systemic Osteolysis in Multiple Myeloma by Upregulating the Expression and Secretion of RANKL
Authors: Yang Yang , Ren Yongsheng , Ramani Vishnu C. , Nan Li , Suva Larry J. , Sanderson Ralph D.
Published: October 2010

Excessive bone destruction is a major cause of morbidity in myeloma patients. However, the biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of myeloma-induced bone disease are not fully understood. Heparanase, an enzyme that cleaves the heparan sulfate chains of proteoglycans, is upregulated in a variety of human tumors, including multiple myeloma. We previously showed that heparanase promotes robust myeloma tumor growth and supports spontaneous metastasis of tumor cells to bone. In the present study, we show, for the first time, that the expression of heparanase by myeloma tumor cells remarkably enhances bone destruction locally within the tumor microenvironment. In addition, enhanced heparanase expression in the primary tumor also stimulated systemic osteoclastogenesis and osteolysis, thus mimicking the systemic osteoporosis often seen in myeloma patients. These effects occur, at least in part, as the result of a significant elevation in the expression and secretion of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) by heparanase-expressing myeloma cells. Moreover, analysis of bone marrow biopsies from myeloma patients reveals a positive correlation between the level of expression of heparanase and RANKL. Together, these discoveries reveal a novel and key role for heparanase in promoting tumor osteolysis and show that RANKL is central to the mechanism of heparanase-mediated osteolysis in myeloma. Cancer Res; 70(21); 8329–38. ©2010 AACR.
von Hippel-Lindau–Dependent Patterns of RNA Polymerase II Hydroxylation in Human Renal Clear Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Yi Ying , Mikhaylova Olga , Mamedova Aygun , Bastola Prabhat , Biesiada Jacek , Alshaikh Enas , Levin Linda , Sheridan Rachel M. , Meller Jarek , Czyzyk-Krzeska Maria F.
Published: October 2010

Purpose: We have previously shown that von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) regulates ubiquitylation and proline 1465 hydroxylation of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II, Rpb1, in human renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines. Here, our goal was to determine the effect of this VHL function and the status of P1465 hydroxylation in human RCC tumors.

Experimental Design: Primary human tumors and matched normal kidney samples were probed for expression levels of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II (Rpb1), Rpb1 hydroxylated on P1465 [Rpb1(OH)], Rpb1 phosphorylated on Ser5 [Rpb1(S5P)], and proline hydroxylases PHD1, PHD2, and PHD3. Results from RCC tumors were categorized according to the status of VHL gene. Mechanistic analysis was performed in orthotopic xenograft model using 786-O RCC cells with wild-type (WT) VHL and knockdown of PHD2, characterized by high levels of Rpb1(OH) and PHD1.

Results: Levels of Rpb1(OH), PHD1, and PHD2 were significantly higher in RCC tumors compared with normal kidneys. RCC tumors with WT VHL had higher levels of Rpb1(OH) and PHD1 and lower levels of PHD2 than tumors with VHL gene alterations. Levels of Rpb1(OH) significantly correlated with levels of PHD1 in tumors and normal kidneys. Knockdown of PHD2 in 786-O VHL(+) cells resulted in a more malignant phenotype in orthotopic xenografts and higher expression of specific cell cycle regulators (CDC25A, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, CCNA2) compared with VHL(−) RCC cells.

Conclusions: Elevated PHD1 concomitant with decreased PHD2 are causatively related to Rpb1 hydroxylation and oncogenesis in human RCC tumors with WT VHL gene. Thus, P1465-hydroxylated Rpb1 and PHD1 represent attractive drug targets for new RCC treatments. Clin Cancer Res; 16(21); 5142–52. ©2010 AACR.
A Novel Correlation between LINE-1 Hypomethylation and the Malignancy of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Igarashi Shinichi , Suzuki Hiromu , Niinuma Takeshi , Shimizu Haruo , Nojima Masanori , Iwaki Hiroyuki , Nobuoka Takayuki , Nishida Toshirou , Miyazaki Yasuaki , Takamaru Hiroyuki , Yamamoto Eiichiro , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Tokino Takashi , Hasegawa Tadashi , Hirata Koichi , Imai Kohzoh , Toyota Minoru , Shinomura Yasuhisa
Published: October 2010

Purpose: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most important mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. The vast majority of GISTs exhibit activating mutations of KIT or PDGFRA, but epigenetic alteration of GISTs is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to clarify the involvement of DNA methylation in GIST malignancy.

Experimental Design: A total of 106 GIST specimens were studied. Levels of LINE-1 methylation were analyzed using bisulfite pyrosequencing. In addition, methylation of three other repetitive sequences (Alu Yb8, Satellite-α, and NBL2) was similarly analyzed, and CpG island hypermethylation was analyzed using MethyLight. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) was carried out in 25 GIST specimens.

Results: LINE-1 hypomethylation was significantly correlated with risk, and high-risk GISTs exhibited significantly lower levels of LINE-1 methylation than low-risk (61.3% versus 53.2%; P = 0.001) or intermediate-risk GISTs (60.8% versus 53.2%; P = 0.002). Hypomethylation of Satellite-α and NBL2 was also observed in high-risk GISTs. By contrast, promoter hypermethylation was relatively infrequent (CDH1, 11.2%; MLH1, 9.8%; SFRP1, 1.2%; SFRP2, 11.0%; CHFR, 9.8%; APC, 6.1%; CDKN2A, 0%; RASSF1A, 0%; RASSF2, 0%) and did not correlate with LINE-1 methylation or risk. Array CGH analysis revealed a significant correlation between LINE-1 hypomethylation and chromosomal aberrations.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that LINE-1 hypomethylation correlates significantly with the aggressiveness of GISTs and that LINE-1 methylation could be a useful marker for risk assessment. Hypomethylation may increase the malignant potential of GISTs by inducing accumulation of chromosomal aberrations. Clin Cancer Res; 16(21); 5114–23. ©2010 AACR.
Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum Upregulates Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptors through Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Enhances VEGF Production in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Tanaka Nobuyuki , Miyajima Akira , Kosaka Takeo , Shirotake Suguru , Hasegawa Masanori , Kikuchi Eiji , Oya Mototsugu
Published: October 2010

We previously reported that angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonists enhanced the cytotoxity of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (CDDP) in a bladder cancer xenograft model. To elucidate the synergistic mechanism, we investigated whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by CDDP may affect the regulation of AT1R expression. Five invasive human bladder cancer cell lines, T24, UMUC-3, 5637, KU-1, and KU-19-19, were used in the in vitro study. For the in vivo study, T24 cells were used. We also examined AT1R and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in human bladder cancer specimens that had been treated with CDDP-based chemotherapy. The in vitro study showed that AT1R expression was significantly upregulated by CDDP in T24, KU-1, and KU-19-19 cells. On the other hand, AT1R expression was not changed in UMUC-3 and 5637 cells. ROS generation was also significantly upregulated by CDDP in T24, KU-1, and KU-19-19 cells. The upregulation of AT1R expression induced by CDDP was significantly suppressed by scavenging free radicals. Angiotensin II induced VEGF production in CDDP-treated cells; however, the AT1R antagonist significantly inhibited the increase in VEGF. The in vivo study results also showed that CDDP treatment upregulated AT1R expression, resulting in increased VEGF. Clinical specimens from patients who underwent cystectomy after neoadjuvant CDDP-based chemotherapy showed significantly higher AT1R and VEGF expression than corresponding transurethral resection specimens. Our findings indicate that CDDP upregulates AT1R expression though ROS generation and enhances VEGF production. Therefore, AT1R blockade may be an effective strategy for bladder cancer in combination with CDDP-based chemotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(11); 2982–92. ©2010 AACR.
Dual Inhibition of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor is an Effective Chemopreventive Strategy in the Mouse 4-NQO Model of Oral Carcinogenesis
Authors: Zhou Guolin , Hasina Rifat , Wroblewski Kristen , Mankame Tanmayi P. , Doçi Colleen L. , Lingen Mark W.
Published: October 2010

Despite recent therapeutic advances, several factors, including field cancerization, have limited improvements in long-term survival for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Therefore, comprehensive treatment plans must include improved chemopreventive strategies. Using the 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) mouse model, we tested the hypothesis that ZD6474 (Vandetanib, ZACTIMA) is an effective chemopreventive agent. CBA mice were fed 4-NQO (100 μg/mL) in their drinking water for 8 weeks and then randomized to no treatment or oral ZD6474 (25 mg/kg/d) for 24 weeks. The percentage of animals with OSCC was significantly different between the two groups (71% in control and 12% in the ZD6474 group; P ≤ 0.001). The percentage of mice with dysplasia or OSCC was significantly different (96% in the control and 28% in the ZD6474 group; P ≤ 0.001). Proliferation and microvessel density scores were significantly decreased in the ZD6474 group (P ≤ 0.001 for both). Although proliferation and microvessel density increased with histologic progression in control and treatment cohorts, epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 phosphorylation was decreased in the treatment group for each histologic diagnosis, including mice harboring tumors. OSCC from ZD6474-treated mice exhibited features of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, as shown by loss E-cadherin and gain of vimentin protein expression. These data suggest that ZD6474 holds promise as an OSCC chemopreventive agent. They further suggest that acquired resistance to ZD6474 may be mediated by the expression of an epithelial to mesenchymal transition phenotype. Finally, the data suggests that this model is a useful preclinical platform to investigate the mechanisms of acquired resistance in the chemopreventive setting. Cancer Prev Res; 3(11); 1493–502. ©2010 AACR.
Differences in Neonatal Outcome in Fetuses with Absent versus Reverse End-Diastolic Flow in Umbilical Artery Doppler
Authors: Vasconcelos Rodney Paiva , Brazil Frota Aragão José Richelmy , Costa Carvalho Francisco Herlânio , Salani Mota Rosa Maria , de Lucena Feitosa Francisco Edson , Alencar Júnior Carlos Augusto
Published: October 2010

Objectives: It was the aim of this study to evaluate differences in the prognosis of fetuses with absent (AED) and reverse end-diastolic (RED) flow in the umbilical artery based on neonatal outcomes. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study based on the records of 143 patients attending at Assis Chateaubriand Teaching Maternity between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2005. Patients were classified according to diagnosis as having either fetal centralization (FC), AED or RED. Obstetrical findings and perinatal outcomes were compared for the 3 groups and between AED and RED by Fisher’s exact test. Perinatal outcomes were analyzed quantitatively with logistic or multinomial regression. Odds ratios were calculated for significant risk factors. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in gestational age at diagnosis, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, Capurro score, use of surfactant and mechanical ventilation, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, perinatal and neonatal death. When comparing RED with AED, the odds of neonatal intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, use of surfactant, neonatal mortality and perinatal mortality were 3.2, 1.4, 1.0, 5.1 and 5.3 times higher for RED. Only perinatal mortality kept statistically significant with odds of 5.2 (p = 0.043) when adjusted by gestational age (multivariate analysis). Conclusion: The incidence of perinatal mortality was observed to increase with the severity of Doppler findings, with significant differences between the AED and RED groups.
Clinical laboratory measurement of direct factor Xa inhibitors: Anti-Xa assay is preferable to prothrombin time assay
Authors: Wang Zhaoqing , Frost Charles , Shenker Andrew , Barrett Yu Chen
Published: October 2010

Apixaban and other factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors are in late-stage clinical development for prevention and treatment of thromboembolic diseases. Although routine monitoring will not be required, in certain situations assessment of drug level may be helpful. This study evaluated the suitability of commercially available prothrombin time/international normalised ratio (PT/INR) and anti-FXa activity assays to measure FXa inhibitors in plasma. Twelve PT (ISI 0.89ﺹ1.88) and three anti-Xa assays were evaluated in vitro using human plasma spiked with four FXa inhibitors (0ﺹ2,000 ng/ml). Assay variability and correlation with drug plasma exposure were evaluated in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with apixaban. All FXa inhibitors prolonged PT; however, assay sensitivity was dependent on thromboplastin reagents used and FXa inhibitors tested. To achieve a doubling of PT, the concentration of each FXa inhibitor varied 2.6- to 8-fold between thromboplastin reagents. The rank order of a FXa inhibitor’s effect on PT ratio varied across thromboplastin reagents. Conversion to INR increased variability. Different anti-Xa assays showed different dynamic ranges for each FXa inhibitor; however, their rank order was consistent. For apixaban, the dynamic range of <7.8–240 ng/ml, and inter- and intra-assay precision of <6% coefficient of variation by Rotachrom assay appeared suitable for the anticipated apixaban plasma concentrations with 2.5 and 5 mg bid clinical doses. The stronger correlation between apixaban plasma concentration and anti-Xa activity (r2 = 0.88–0.89) compared with PT/INR (r2 = 0.36) in patients undergoing VTE treatment suggested that anti-Xa activity was the better indicator of apixaban plasma concentrations.
A Novel Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Based Therapeutic in Experimental Angiotensin II Mediated Acute Hypertension
Authors: McKie Paul M. , Cataliotti Alessandro , Boerrigter Guido , Chen Horng H. , Sangaralingham S. Jeson , Martin Fernando L. , Ichiki Tomoko , Burnett John C.
Published: October 2010

M-atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP; M-ANP) is a novel next generation 40 amino acid peptide based on ANP, which is highly resistant to enzymatic degradation and has greater and more sustained beneficial actions compared with ANP. The current study was designed to advance our understanding of the therapeutic potential of M-ANP in a canine model of acute angiotensin II–induced hypertension with elevated cardiac filling pressures and aldosterone activation. We compare M-ANP with vehicle and equimolar human B-type natriuretic peptide, which possesses the most potent in vivo actions of the native natriuretic peptides. M-ANP significantly lowered mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Importantly, despite a reduction in blood pressure, renal function was enhanced with significant increases in renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, diuresis, and natriuresis after M-ANP infusion. Although angiotensin II induced an acute increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, M-ANP significantly lowered pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and right atrial pressure. Further, M-ANP significantly suppressed angiotensin II–induced activation of aldosterone. These cardiovascular and renal enhancing actions of M-ANP were accompanied by significant increases in plasma and urinary cGMP, the second messenger molecule of the natriuretic peptide system. When compared with human B-type natriuretic peptide, M-ANP had comparable cardiovascular actions but resulted in a greater natriuretic effect. These results suggest that M-ANP, which is more potent than ANP in normal canines, has potent blood pressure lowering and renal enhancing properties and may, therefore, serve as an ANP based therapeutic for acute hypertension.
Honor Thy Creditors Beforan Thy Shareholders: Are the Profits of Chinese State-Owned Enterprises Real?
Authors: Ferri Giovanni , Liu Li-Gang
Published: October 2010

Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have become quite profitable recently. As the largest shareholder, the state has not asked SOEs to pay dividends in the past. Therefore, some have suggested that the state should ask SOEs to pay dividends. Indeed, the Chinese government has adopted this policy advice and started to demand back dividend payments starting from 2008. Although we do not question the soundness of the dividend policy, the point we raise is whether those profits are real if all costs owed by SOEs are properly accounted for. Among others, we are interested in investigating whether the profits of SOEs are still as large as they claim if they were to pay a market interest rate. Using a representative sample of corporate China, we find that the costs of financing for SOEs are significantly lower than for other companies after controlling for some fundamental factors for profitability and individual firm characteristics. In addition, our estimates show that if SOEs were to pay a market interest rate, their existing profits would be entirely wiped out. Our findings suggest that SOEs are still benefiting from credit subsidies, and they are not yet subject to the market interest rates. In an environment where credit rights are not fully respected, dividend policy, though important, should come second and not first.
Reflections on the Great Recession of 2008–09
Authors: de Menil Georges
Published: October 2010

In the years that preceded the Great Recession of 2008–09, many financial institutions in the developed world engaged in practices that increased the risk of systemic failure in the markets. The economics profession itself, overly confident of its ability to engineer stability, encouraged financial actors to exceed the traditional dictates of caution. The financial crisis that ensued also revealed many fault lines. One of the most glaring was an absence of international coordination, which encouraged regulatory shopping. Dramatic actions taken by public authorities in the fall of 2008 avoided collapse, but left a legacy of increased moral hazard, to which the best long-term answer is radical structural reform. Asian emerging markets were, by and large, spared the worst of the storm. They should learn from the mistakes of their peers in the developed world, but not reject wholesale the benefits of free markets.
Enforced Disappearances in Colombia: A Plea for Synergy between the Courts
Authors: Courtney Jocelyn
Published: October 2010

Currently, thousands of people each year become the victims of enforced disappearance in Colombia. There is growing pressure for the national courts to prosecute perpetrators, deterring others who might commit the crime, and for intervention by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Enforced disappearance was chosen as the paradigmatic crime for this article because it vividly demonstrates the incapacity of the State to respond to the offense and the need for international intervention. The IACHR and the ICC each fulfil different fundamental purposes and both are needed at this time in Colombia. To prevent jurisdictional conflicts, the two tribunals must exercise comity towards one another. As the IACHR has already tried cases, this article proposes that the ICC should use the IACHR’s jurisprudence as a frame of reference when judging a case’s admissibility under its own Complementarity Principle (Art. 17), and also with regards to certain evidentiary standards and victim procedures.
Reading Hillary and Sarah: Contradictions of Feminism and Representation in 2008 Campaign Political Cartoons
Authors: Edwards Janis L. , McDonald C. Austin
Published: October 2010

The 2008 presidential campaign was noteworthy for heightening the profile of women candidates, although neither Sarah Palin nor Hillary Clinton won her race. The authors study political cartoons as texts that sharply illuminate gendered aspects of political representation. However, the findings suggest that formulaic and stereotypical representations of Palin and Clinton are subsumed by both ideological and image differences between these two women and increased gender neutrality in their representations. The authors suggest that the study of political women in the media requires fresh approaches to accommodate ideologically nuanced symbolic women and a possible erosion of gender bias in the media.
The Endorsement Effect: An Examination of Statewide Political Endorsements in the 2008 Democratic Caucus and Primary Season
Authors: Summary Bryce
Published: October 2010

Presidential candidates often pursue the endorsements of elected officials hoping to boost the candidate’s chances of electoral success. But do these endorsements really enhance electoral outcomes? This study pays special attention to endorsements by sitting U.S. senators, U.S. House members, and governors in the 2008 Democratic presidential nominating season. Evidence is found of a statistically significant relationship between endorsements and the state-level vote share. Other significant variables include momentum, a state’s racial and elderly composition, the type of selection process, and the number of campaign events each candidate held in the state.
Influence of 8DSS Peptide on Nano-mechanical Behavior of Human Enamel
Authors: Hsu C.C. , Chung H.Y. , Yang J.-M. , Shi W. , Wu B.
Published: October 2010

Aspartate-serine-serine (DSS) repeats are abundant in naturally occurring proteins that are critical for tooth formation. We recently developed octuplet repeats of aspartate-serine-serine (8DSS) peptides to promote the nucleation of calcium phosphate carbonate from free ions. In this paper, we report a possible role of 8DSS in promoting mineral deposition onto human enamel. Human enamel specimens were demineralized, exposed briefly to 8DSS solution, and then exposed to simulated body fluid that favors mineral deposition. At various stages of treatment, nano-mechanical behaviors, namely, hardness and elastic modulus, were determined by nano-indentation. Nano-indentation results showed that 8DSS treatment effectively improved the mechanical and elastic properties of demineralized enamel. The values of hardness and elastic modulus for the 8DSS-treated enamel were significantly higher than those of surfaces without 8DSS treatment. Furthermore, 8DSS peptides promoted the uniform deposition of nano-crystalline calcium phosphate carbonate over demineralized enamel surfaces and reduced surface roughness of demineralized enamel.
Employee participation in the EU: The long and winding road to legislation
Authors: Gold Michael
Published: October 2010

Over recent years, the EU has managed to adopt three important measures on employee participation: the European Works Councils Directive (1994, recast in 2009), the European Company Statute (2001) and the Directive on the Information and Consultation of Employees (2002). While the emergence of forms of ‘soft’ law and ‘multilevel governance’ were preconditions for the adoption of these directives, this article draws attention to the significance of the changing rationales mobilized by the Commission to justify them. Rationales have included company law harmonization; prevention of social dumping; protection of workers’ rights; and participation as a ‘productive factor’. As the EU has widened membership and deepened economic integration, the Commission has sought to demonstrate in particular that employee participation may act as a ‘productive factor’ for companies experiencing business turbulence. Such a rationale, though generally aimed at employers, challenges unions and employee representatives to ensure that the new measures genuinely promote workers’ interests.
Facilitators and Barriers to Self-management of Type 2 Diabetes Among Urban African American Adults
Authors: Orr Chlebowy Diane , Hood Sula , LaJoie A. Scott
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers to self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among urban African American adults.

Methods

Thirty-eight African American adults with T2DM were recruited from 1 of 3 health care agencies in a midsized city in the southeastern United States. Qualitative data were obtained using focus groups, wherein each participant engaged in a 60- to 90-minute audio-recorded session. Focus group data were transcribed and analyzed using Atlas ti 6 ® data analysis software. Demographic and medical history information was also collected.

Results

Factors relating to external locus of control primarily facilitated adherence to T2DM self-management behaviors. Support from family, peers, and health care providers positively influenced adherence behaviors by providing cues to action, direct assistance, reinforcement, and knowledge. Internal factors were primarily described as barriers to self-management behaviors and included fears associated with glucose monitoring, lack of self-control over dietary habits, memory failure, and perceived lack of personal control over diabetes.

Conclusions

African Americans perceived external factors as facilitators of their T2DM management behaviors and internal factors as barriers to self-management. Further research is necessary to design and test interventions that capitalize on the external facilitators while helping African Americans to overcome perceived barriers identified in this study.
Context and communication strategies in naturalistic behavioural intervention: A framework for understanding how practitioners facilitate communication in children with ASD
Authors: Sowden Hannah , Perkins Mick , Clegg Judy
Published: October 2010

There are many different approaches to intervention aimed at facilitating the social and communicative abilities of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Behavioural interventions seek to improve the social and communicative abilities of children with ASD through interaction. Recently there has been a move towards naturalistic behaviour-based interventions (NBI). Despite this trend there has been relatively little research into the mechanics of this approach. This study investigated an intervention programme aimed at pre-school children with ASD to identify, first, the different contexts of interaction during the intervention and, second, the communication strategies developed by the practitioners. Eight children were followed through the intervention programme, resulting in 21 hours of video data. Ten contexts of interaction were identified, including play, directed tasks and transitions. Practitioners combined structure and directiveness in their communication strategies. Six levels of directiveness were identified, ranging from observing to prompting. A distinction was made between emergent and imposed structures. The interaction strategies, within this dataset, which resulted in prolonged and varied discourse were based on dynamic emergent structures and in the mid range of the directiveness continuum. The findings are discussed with reference to how strategies may be identified and implemented by practitioners within NBI.
Establishment and Characterization of a Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cell Line
Authors: Snyder S. A. , Linder K. , Hedan B. , Hauck M. L.
Published: October 2010

Stringently controlled in vitro experiments are a necessary part of translational research. Cell lines are useful for exploring the underlying biology of cancer. Very few canine soft tissue sarcoma cell lines exist. This report describes the establishment of a new canine soft tissue sarcoma cell line (MBSa1) derived from a high-grade, metastatic neurofibrosarcoma. The primary tumor tissue was obtained from a 12-year-old neutered male German Shepherd Dog and was maintained in tissue culture for a minimum of 20 passages over 7 months. MBSa1 was injected into athymic mice to determine tumorigenicity. Five million cells were injected into the subcutis of the right flank of athymic nude mice. Nine of the 10 mice grew tumors 1 cm or larger within 8 weeks of cell injection. The large number of in vitro passages coupled with solid tumor formation in athymic nude mice demonstrates that MBSa1 has been immortalized and is tumorigenic.
Mucinous Adenocarcinoma and T-Cell Lymphoma in the Small Intestine of 2 Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs (Sus scrofa)
Authors: Corapi W. V. , Rodrigues A. , Lawhorn D. B.
Published: October 2010

Small intestinal T-cell lymphoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma are rarely reported in the pig, with most lymphomas being of B-cell origin and only a single report of mucinous adenocarcinoma. Two aged Vietnamese potbellied pigs had concurrent T-cell lymphoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. The lymphomas formed polypoid masses that projected into the intestinal lumen, whereas the mucinous adenocarcinomas were mural masses that bulged from the serosal surface. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells within the lymphomas were positive for CD3 and negative for CD79a. Mucicarmine stain highlighted the abundant cytoplasmic and extracellular mucin in the adenocarcinomas.