bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE STABILITY OF SUPERHYDROPHOBIC COTTON FABRICS PREPARED BY SOL–GEL COATING OF SiO2 AND TiO2
Authors: WANG XUE-WEI , GUO CUI , YUAN ZHI-HAO
Published: September 2013

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics are prepared using silica and titania hybrid sol and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane. The surface morphology of cotton fabrics is characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The water contact angles on the as-prepared superhydrophobic cotton fabrics is 159° when the volume ratio between sodium silicate solution and titania sol is 1:3, and the corresponding cotton fabrics can keep the contact angle of 152° after 10 cycles of home machine washing. Meanwhile the treated cotton fabrics can also keep superhydrophobicity after 60 min of UV light irradiation. These results indicate that the cotton fabrics treated with silica and titania hybrid sol and modified with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane show excellent superhydrophobic stability under washing and UV light irradiation. This paper provides the new notion and beneficial reference for the application of the superhydrophobic cotton fabrics in the future.
Wrigley India Pvt Limited: Leveraging Trade Promotions for Competitive Advantage
Authors: Singhvi Sajjan Raj , Gera Rajat
Published: September 2013

The Indian confectionary market consisted of sugar and non-sugar confectionary items. The confectionary market was highly fragmented with several local players. The confectionary market had been growing at over 6% but the gum-based confectionary segment was growing faster at over 10% in last few years. The principal players in this segment were Perfetti, Wrigley, Lotte, Candico and a few local players.

Wrigley acquired Joyco group from Spanish food conglomerate Agrolimen in 2004 in India. The deal further added to a long list of various brands available to Wrigley. Recently the company had been acquired by Mars. The acquired brand from Joyco, Boomer had been the undisputed leader in the bubble gum market in India since 1995. Orbit from Mars-Wrigley was also not only India's but the world's no. 1 sugar-free chewing gum.

Mars-Wrigley India distributed its product both through organized retailers and traditional CFA-distributor-wholesaler-retailer route. 85% of food and beverage sales to consumers in India took place through traditional retail outlets such as Pan and Beedi shops, Kiryana merchants etc. Wrigley had an elaborate system of market coverage and distributors, salespeople and merchandisers performed an important role in the total system. Wrigley India spent heavily on marketing communication. Trade promotions played an important role in increasing the sales and market share and the company's sales force need to possess adequate skills in carrying out trade promotions and making it a success.
Hindalco: The Novelis Acquisition
Authors: Vishwanath S. R.
Published: September 2013

The case documents a high profile cross border acquisition by an Indian company. In 2007, Hindalco, an Indian metals company, announced the acquisition of Novelis, a global leader in the production of aluminum rolled products with operations in four continents comprising 34 operating facilities in 11 countries. The key issue in the case is how to value a loss making enterprise with messy operations. Students are required to assess the strategic motives of the firms and perform a valuation analysis. Students learn the application of alternate valuation models.
Beijing Tianyu Communications: Winning in the 3G Era
Authors: Tsai Terence , Lu Shaohua , Liu Gary , Liu Shubo
Published: September 2013

As emerging markets such as mainland China grew to be vital for the global commercial players, leading mobile telecommunication giants increasingly turned to China for opportunities. China's fast-expanding mobile telecommunication market became a throat-cutting battlefield for both international and local players. Among these competitors, Rong Xiuli's Tianyu had the local advantages. In order to sustain Tianyu's hardearned success, Rong decided to upgrade Tianyu brand and firmly secure a foothold in the 3G era.

In 2002, Rong Xiuli closed Beijing Benephon, the then largest distributor of Samsung Mobile Phone in the Chinese market, and established Beijing Tianyu Communication Equipment Co. Ltd (hereinafter referred to as “Tianyu”) entering the handset manufacturing industry. Despite the growing pains in the beginning, Tianyu eventually went ahead of other domestic mobile phone manufacturers. In 2008, Tianyu reached a sales volume of 24 million mobile phones and a market share of more than 6%, ranking after Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola in the Chinese mobile phone market.

A transition from the second generation (2G) communication technologies to the third generation (3G), however, was initiated at the end of 2008. Mobile phone manufacturers responded by investing heavily on technology upgrades. 3G also elevated the position of telecommunication operators in the industry value chain. As such, Tianyu's advantage in the 2G market could not necessarily guarantee its success in the 3G market. Adding to the uncertainties, demands for 2G mobile phone dropped sharply due to the 2007–2008 global financial crisis.

Despite the oppositions from many colleagues, Rong Xiuli launched a campaign to win the 3G market, reconfiguring almost all the resources to the new business. The case describes Tianyu's success in the 2G mobile phone market and its entry into the 3G market.
Hospice Care Association: Turnaround of a Healthcare Nonprofit Organization
Authors: Dimian Adel , Ohlsson Anne-Valerie
Published: September 2013

This is the case of a Singapore-based nonprofit organization in need of strategic turnaround. Funding changes from the Singapore government were the primary cause of Hospice Care Association's (HCA) critical financial situation. Additionally, staffing response to changes in operations was severe and negative. Dr. Akhileswaran is thrust into a position of leadership that initially overwhelms and surprises him, given that his expected role — and the role he had agreed to take on — was that of Medical Director. The urgent need for the organization was strategic leadership, without which it is very likely that HCA would not be able to sustain its mission, and would have to close its doors. That outcome would result in patients not being treated in their final year of life; something Dr. Akhileswaran was not able to accept as Medical Director. The relevance and difficulty of achieving a nonprofit mission, and the need for strategy and strategic leadership were key elements in this situation.
SOCIO-SEMANTIC FRAMEWORKS
Authors: ROTH CAMILLE
Published: September 2013

Socio-technical systems involve agents who create and process knowledge, exchange information and create ties between ideas in a distributed and networked manner: webloggers, communities of scientists, software developers and wiki contributors are, among others, examples of such networks. The state-of-the-art in this regard focuses on two main issues which are generally addressed in an independent manner: the description of content dynamics and the study of social network characteristics and evolution. This paper relies on recent endeavors to merge both types of dynamics into co-evolutionary, multi-level modeling frameworks, where social and semantic aspects are being jointly appraised. Case studies featuring socio-semantic graphs, socio-semantic hypergraphs and socio-semantic lattices are notably discussed.
HIGH-RESOLUTION FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTRUM OF THE ν2 + ν12 BAND OF ETHYLENE (12C2H4)
Authors: LEBRON G. B. , TAN T. L.
Published: September 2013

The high-resolution Fourier transform infrared absorption spectrum of the ν2 + ν12 combination band of normal ethylene (12 C 2 H 4) in the 3050–3105 cm-1 region was recorded at a resolution of 0.0063 cm-1 and at an ambient temperature of 296 K. Upper state rovibrational analysis was carried out using a standard Watson's Hamiltonian in asymmetric reduction in Ir representation. The band center, rotational constants and centrifugal distortion constants up to quartic terms of the upper ν2 + ν12 = 1 state were determined from the final fit that included 102 infrared transitions. The root-mean-square deviation of the fit was 0.000729 cm-1.
ON DUALITY, SYMMETRY AND SYMMETRY LOST IN SOLID MECHANICS
Authors: BUI HUY DUONG
Published: September 2013

The paper recalls the concept of duality in mathematics and extends it to solid mechanics. One important application of duality is to restore some symmetry between current fields and their adjoint ones. This leads to many alternative schemes for numerical analyses, different from the classical one as used in classical formulation of boundary value problems (finite element method).

Usually, conservation laws in fracture mechanics make use of the current fields, displacement and stress. Many conservation laws of this type are not free of the source term. Consequently, one cannot derive path-independent integrals for use in fracture mechanics.

The introduction of variables and dual or adjoint variables leads to true path-independent integrals. Duality also introduces some anti-symmetry in current fields and adjoint ones for some boundary value problems. The symmetry is lost between fields and adjoint fields. The last notion enables us to derive new variational formulation on dual subspaces and to exactly solve inverse problems for detecting cracks and volume defects.
A SEMI-ANALYTICAL MODEL OF TIME DEPENDENT PLASTIC STRAINS INDUCED DURING SHOT PEENING
Authors: DAVIS J. , RAMULU M.
Published: September 2013

When a semi-infinite surface is shot peened the in-plane inelastic strains are zero because of compatibility. As a result, the in-plane residual stress and plastic strain are linearly related. These boundary conditions motivate a second order differential equation similar in mathematical form to a modified Kelvin solid model with a strain acceleration term. Solving the resulting equation gives a closed form expression for the plastic strain as a function of time. The plastic strain rate is solved by taking the derivative with respect to time. Comparisons with published finite element data show good agreement and are within 10% for most of the loading and unloading period.
ELECTRICAL-FIELD CONTROL OF MAGNETISM MEDIATED BY STRAIN IN Ni NANOSTRUCTURES FABRICATED ON PRE-POLED PMN–PT (011)
Authors: FINIZIO S. , FOERSTER M. , VAZ C. A. F. , MIX C. , MAWASS M. A. , TKACH A. , KLÄUI M. , BUZZI M. , NOLTING F. , MIYAWAKI T. , HOCKEL J. , CARMAN G. P. , VALENCIA S. , KRONAST F.
Published: September 2013

We investigate the effects of piezoelectric-generated strain on the magnetization configuration of Ni nanostructures fabricated on pre-poled piezoelectric (011) [ Pb ( Mg 0.33 Nb 0.66) O 3]0.68–[ PbTiO 3]0.32 (PMN–PT) by high resolution X-ray microscopy. We observe a strong uniaxial anisotropy in the Ni nanostructures, due to the relaxation of the substrate following the deposition of the Ni . The anisotropy can be modified by the application of an electric field to the piezoelectric substrate (thus generating a piezoelectric strain in the system) through the magneto-elastic effect. By applying an electric field to the PMN–PT, the magnetization configuration in nanostructured Ni squares and rings was reversibly manipulated with a high reproducibility.
Insights into the early Tibetan Plateau from (U–Th)/He thermochronology
Authors: Dai Jingen , Wang Chengshan , Hourigan Jeremy , Santosh M.
Published: September 2013

The central Songpan–Ganzi belt, located on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, has a similar high elevation and low relief to parts of central Tibet. Thermochronological studies from the central Tibetan Plateau reveal a history of slow exhumation (rates <0.05kmMa
−1
) since 45Ma; however, the exhumation history of the central Songpan–Ganzi belt is unknown. To address this, we conducted an apatite and zircon (U–Th)/He thermochronology study of bedrock samples collected across the central Songpan–Ganzi belt and into central parts of the Tibetan Plateau. Zircon (U–Th)/He ages range from 54.2±7.5 to 146.5±10.0Ma and the majority of apatite (U–Th)/He ages fall between 74.7±19.0 and 35.7±9.4Ma. Thermal history models of these data show rapid cooling in the late Mesozoic and much slower cooling diagnostic of low rates of erosion throughout most of the Cenozoic. The late Mesozoic rapid cooling is consistent with the existence of significant topography and relief at least in some parts of the Songpan–Ganzi belt at that time. We find no evidence for a regional Miocene acceleration in erosion, although three samples from the headwaters of the Salween and Mekong rivers gave younger AHe ages between 15 and 16Ma that reflect an acceleration in river incision.

Supplementary material:

Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zircon U–Pb data from central and eastern Tibet are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18647
.
Evolution of the Tyrone ophiolite, Northern Ireland, during the Grampian–Taconic orogeny: a correlative of the Annieopsquotch Ophiolite Belt of central Newfoundland?
Authors: Hollis S. P. , Cooper M. R. , Roberts S. , Earls G. , Herrington R. , Condon D. J. , Daly J. S.
Published: September 2013

The Tyrone Plutonic Group of Northern Ireland represents the upper portions of a tectonically dissected suprasubduction-zone ophiolite accreted to the composite Laurentian margin during the Middle Ordovician. Understanding its development and relationship to the Tyrone Central Inlier, an outboard fragment of relatively high-grade, peri-Laurentian continental crust, is essential for reconstructing the closure of the Iapetus Ocean. The Tyrone Plutonic Group is composed of tectonized layered, isotropic and pegmatitic gabbros, sheeted dolerite dykes and rare pillow lavas. New U–Pb zircon thermal ionization mass spectrometry geochronology has yielded an age of 483.68 ± 0.81 Ma from pegmatitic gabbro. Geochemical characteristics, Nd and Sr isotope systematics, and zircon inheritance indicate that the Tyrone Plutonic Group formed above a north-dipping subduction zone, by the propagation of a spreading centre into a microcontinental block. Synkinematic, calc-alkaline tonalitic to granitic material preserved in the contact zone between the Tyrone Plutonic Group and the Tyrone Central Inlier has produced pressure estimates of 2.3–4.0 ± 0.6 kbar and temperatures of 525–610 °C. Coeval arc–ophiolite accretion at
c
. 470 Ma may explain how sillimanite-grade metamorphic conditions were reached locally in the underlying Tyrone Central Inlier. Strong temporal, geochemical and lithological similarities exist to the Annieopsquotch Ophiolite Belt of Newfoundland.

Supplementary materials:

Petrographic photographs, whole-rock, isotopic and mineral geochemical data, and U–Th–Pb isotopic data are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18646
.
A palaeo Tibet–Myanmar connection? Reconstructing the Late Eocene drainage system of central Myanmar using a multi-proxy approach
Authors: Licht A. , France-Lanord C. , Reisberg L. , Fontaine C. , Soe Aung Naing , Jaeger J.-J.
Published: September 2013

Strain resulting from the collision of India with Asia has caused fundamental changes to Asian drainage patterns, but the timing and nature of these changes are poorly understood. One frequently proposed hypothesis involves the connection of the palaeo Tsangpo drainage to a precursor to the Irrawaddy River of central Myanmar in the Palaeogene. To test this hypothesis, we studied the provenance of Palaeogene fluvio-clastic sedimentary rocks that crop out in central Myanmar, namely the Late Middle Eocene–Early Oligocene Pondaung and Yaw Formations. Isotopic analysis on bulk-rock and petrographic data indicate a primary magmatic arc source, and a secondary source composed of recycled, metamorphosed basement material. Although the exact location of both sources is hardly distinguishable because Burmese and Tibetan provinces share common lithological features, the presence of low-grade metamorphic fragments, the heterogeneity in Sr–Nd isotopic values of bulk sediments and westward-directed palaeoflow orientations indicate a proximal source area located on the eastern Asian margin. Central Myanmar was the locus of westward-prograding deltas opening into the Indian Ocean, supplied by the unroofing of an Andean-type cordillera that extended along the Burmese margin. We found no evidence to support a palaeo Tsangpo–Irrawaddy River, at least during the Late Eocene.

Supplementary material:

Data locations, and isotopic and petrographic results are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18655
.
Long-term exhumation of a Palaeoproterozoic orogen and the role of pre-existing heterogeneous thermal crustal properties: a fission-track study of SE Baffin Island
Authors: McGregor E. D. , Nielsen S. B. , Stephenson R. A. , Petersen K. D. , MacDonald D. I. M.
Published: September 2013

New apatite fission-track data from SE Baffin Island exhibit central ages that range from just under 200 Ma to 440 Ma, and mean track lengths that vary between
c
. 12 and 13.3 µm. First-order analysis of the data (a plot of central age v. mean track length) reveals an approximate ‘boomerang’ trend, typical of samples that have experienced contemporaneous cooling from an array of initial temperatures. One-dimensional inverse thermal modelling of single samples suggests that cooling through the partial annealing zone (
c
. 120–60 °C) occurred over discrete periods ranging from 100 to 300 Ma. Modelling the 3D exhumation of a heterogeneous crust with flat topography demonstrates that some of the variability in observed fission-track ages could be attributed to heterogeneity in crustal heat production and thermal conductivity. The remaining variability in the observed dataset is attributed here to differential erosion from a variable initial topography. However, age discontinuities over short distances require other explanations such as faulting and/or unidentified compositional effects. Collectively, these results suggest that the observed data are consistent with a simple exhumation scenario where the present-day high topography is a remnant of that created during Palaeoproterozoic orogenies. The new data do not require any recent (Cenozoic) periods of exhumation.

Supplementary material:

Data locations, and isotopic and petrographic results are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18657
.
A genetic link between silicic slab components and calc-alkaline arc volcanism in central Mexico
Authors: Straub Susanne M. , Zellmer Georg F. , Gómez-Tuena Arturo , Espinasa-Pereña Ramon , Martin-del Pozzo Ana Lillian , Stuart Finlay M. , Langmuir Charles H.
Published: September 2013

A fundamental question in the formation of orogenic andesites is whether their high melt SiO
2
reflects the recycling of silicic melts from the subducted slab or the processing of basaltic mantle melts in the overlying crust. The latter model is widely favoured, because most arc magmas lack the ‘garnet’ signature of partial slab melts. Here we present new trace element data from Holocene high-Mg# >64–72 calc-alkaline basalts to andesites (50–62 wt% SiO
2
) from the central Mexican Volcanic Belt that crystallize high-Ni olivines with the high
3
He/
4
He=7–8 of the upper mantle. These magmas have been proposed to be partial melts from ‘reaction pyroxenites’, which formed by hybridization of mantle peridotite (
c.
82–85%) and heavy rare earth element-depleted silicic slab melt (>15–18%). Forward and inverse models suggest that the absence of a garnet signature in these melts reflects the efficient buffering of the heavy rare earth elements (Ho to Lu) in the subarc mantle. In contrast, all elements more incompatible than Ho – excepting TiO
2
– are more or less strongly controlled by the silicic slab flux that also directly contributes to the silicic arc magma formation. Our study emphasizes the strong link between slab recycling and the genesis of orogenic andesites.

Supplementary material:

Methods, additional data and modelling parameters are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18686
Effects of sandstone provenance on reservoir quality preservation in the deep subsurface: experimental modelling of deep-water sand in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Tobin Rick C. , Schwarzer D.
Published: September 2013

Deep-water turbidite sandstone reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico have been sourced from a variety of provenance terrains. As a result, the framework composition of each reservoir in the basin varies widely, including volcanic-rich litharenite (Oligocene Vicksburg), feldspathic-rich lithic arkose (Oligocene Frio), metamorphic-rich feldspathic litharenite (Palaeogene Wilcox), lithic-poor quartzarenite (Miocene), quartz-rich sublitharenite (Cretaceous) and quartz- and feldspar-rich subarkose (Norphlet).

Provenance-driven differences in composition have a complex but critical influence on how each of these reservoirs responds to burial-induced changes in depth, fluid pressure, effective stress and temperature. A combination of Petromod® and Touchstone™ modelling programs are used in this study to simulate the influence of provenance on compaction and cementation of the main reservoir types in the Gulf of Mexico. For example, modelling results predict that at higher levels of thermal exposure, some lithic-rich sands, although more ductile and highly compacted, will experience less quartz cementation than less ductile, quartz-rich sands, thereby preserving a higher range of porosity and permeability. Furthermore, modelling results predict that temperature/effective stress/depth windows for optimal reservoir quality preservation vary widely depending on sandstone provenance.
The Bratten–Landegode gneiss complex: a fragment of Laurentian continental crust in the Uppermost Allochthon of the Scandinavian Caledonides
Authors: Augland Lars Eivind , Andresen Arild , Corfu Fernando , Agyei-Dwarko Nana Yaw , Larionov Alexander N.
Published: September 2013

This report presents new field observations and geochronology (isotope-dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry/ID-TIMS and secondary-ion mass spectrometry/SIMS) on an igneous complex and its country rocks in the Bodø area, northern Norway, traditionally interpreted to represent the (par)autochthonous crust of Baltica (
c.
1.8 Ga). Field observations however indicate that the rocks are allochthonous and comprise the uppermost tectonostratigraphic level in the area. The presence of a migmatitic megacrystic granite with an emplacement age of 946 Ma strongly supports such an interpretation and indicates that the Bratten–Landegode gneiss complex is exotic with respect to Baltica. The 946 Ma granite intrudes metasedimentary rocks. The rocks were metamorphosed in the Late Ordovician and intruded by granitic pegmatites and diorites at 430 and 427 Ma, respectively. The Bratten–Landegode gneiss complex shows a close correlation with Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic rock complexes in the East Greenland Caledonides and we interpret it to be a Laurentian pre-Caledonian continental fragment. The discovery of Laurentian pre-Caledonian continental crust in the Uppermost Allochthon calls for a revision of the tectonostratigraphy of this part of the Caledonides and provides important constraints on the sequence of events on the Laurentian margin prior to continent–continent collision between Baltica and Laurentia as well as on intercontinental interactions during the Caledonian orogeny.
Sorting of a HaloTag protein that has only a signal peptide sequence into exocrine secretory granules without protein aggregation
Authors: Fujita-Yoshigaki Junko , Matsuki-Fukushima Miwako , Yokoyama Megumi , Katsumata-Kato Osamu
Published: September 2013

The mechanism involved in the sorting and accumulation of secretory cargo proteins, such as amylase, into secretory granules of exocrine cells remains to be solved. To clarify that sorting mechanism, we expressed a reporter protein HaloTag fused with partial sequences of salivary amylase protein in primary cultured parotid acinar cells. We found that a HaloTag protein fused with only the signal peptide sequence (Met1-Ala25) of amylase, termed SS25H, colocalized well with endogenous amylase, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Percoll-density gradient centrifugation of secretory granule fractions shows that the distributions of amylase and SS25H were similar. These results suggest that SS25H is transported to secretory granules and is not discriminated from endogenous amylase by the machinery that functions to remove proteins other than granule cargo from immature granules. Another reporter protein, DsRed2, that has the same signal peptide sequence also colocalized with amylase, suggesting that the sorting to secretory granules is not dependent on a characteristic of the HaloTag protein. Whereas Blue Native PAGE demonstrates that endogenous amylase forms a high-molecular-weight complex, SS25H does not participate in the complex and does not form self-aggregates. Nevertheless, SS25H was released from cells by the addition of a β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, which also induces amylase secretion. These results indicate that addition of the signal peptide sequence, which is necessary for the translocation in the endoplasmic reticulum, is sufficient for the transportation and storage of cargo proteins in secretory granules of exocrine cells.
Reduced colonic microbial diversity is associated with colitis in NHE3-deficient mice
Authors: Larmonier Claire B. , Laubitz Daniel , Hill Faihza M. , Shehab Kareem W. , Lipinski Leszek , Midura-Kiela Monica T. , McFadden Rita-Marie T. , Ramalingam Rajalakshmy , Hassan Kareem A. , Golebiewski Marcin , Besselsen David G. , Ghishan Fayez K. , Kiela Pawel R.
Published: September 2013

Chronic inflammation and enteric infections are frequently associated with epithelial Na+/H+exchange (NHE) inhibition. Alterations in electrolyte transport and in mucosal pH associated with inflammation may represent a key mechanism leading to changes in the intestinal microbial composition. NHE3 expression is essential for the maintenance of the epithelial barrier function. NHE3−/−mice develop spontaneous distal chronic colitis and are highly susceptible to dextran sulfate (DSS)-induced mucosal injury. Spontaneous colitis is reduced with broad-spectrum antibiotics treatment, thus highlighting the importance of the microbiota composition in NHE3 deficiency-mediated colitis. We herein characterized the colonic microbiome of wild-type (WT) and NHE3−/−mice housed in a conventional environment using 454 pyrosequencing. We demonstrated a significant decrease in the phylogenetic diversity of the luminal and mucosal microbiota of conventional NHE3−/−mice compared with WT. Rederivation of NHE3−/−mice from conventional to a barrier facility eliminated the signs of colitis and decreased DSS susceptibility. Reintroduction of the conventional microflora into WT and NHE3−/−mice from the barrier facility resulted in the restoration of the symptoms initially described in the conventional environment. Interestingly, qPCR analysis of the microbiota composition in mice kept in the barrier facility compared with reconventionalized mice showed a significant reduction of Clostridia classes IV and XIVa. Therefore, the gut microbiome plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of colitis in NHE3−/−mice, and, reciprocally, NHE3 also plays a critical role in shaping the gut microbiota. NHE3 deficiency may be a critical contributor to dysbiosis observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
MYC Phosphorylation at Novel Regulatory Regions Suppresses Transforming Activity
Authors: Wasylishen Amanda R. , Chan-Seng-Yue Michelle , Bros Christina , Dingar Dharmendra , Tu William B. , Kalkat Manpreet , Chan Pak-Kei , Mullen Peter J. , Huang Ling , Meyer Natalie , Raught Brian , Boutros Paul C. , Penn Linda Z.
Published: September 2013

Despite its central role in human cancer, MYC deregulation is insufficient by itself to transform cells. Because inherent mechanisms of neoplastic control prevent precancerous lesions from becoming fully malignant, identifying transforming alleles of MYC that bypass such controls may provide fundamental insights into tumorigenesis. To date, the only activated allele of MYC known is T58A, the study of which led to identification of the tumor suppressor FBXW7 and its regulator USP28 as a novel therapeutic target. In this study, we screened a panel of MYC phosphorylation mutants for their ability to promote anchorage-independent colony growth of human MCF10A mammary epithelial cells, identifying S71A/S81A and T343A/S344A/S347A/S348A as more potent oncogenic mutants compared with wild-type (WT) MYC. The increased cell-transforming activity of these mutants was confirmed in SH-EP neuroblastoma cells and in three-dimensional MCF10A acini. Mechanistic investigations initiated by a genome-wide mRNA expression analysis of MCF10A acini identified 158 genes regulated by the mutant MYC alleles, compared with only 112 genes regulated by both WT and mutant alleles. Transcriptional gain-of-function was a common feature of the mutant alleles, with many additional genes uniquely dysregulated by individual mutant. Our work identifies novel sites of negative regulation in MYC and thus new sites for its therapeutic attack. Cancer Res; 73(21); 6504–15. ©2013 AACR.
GM-CSF Promotes the Immunosuppressive Activity of Glioma-Infiltrating Myeloid Cells through Interleukin-4 Receptor-α
Authors: Kohanbash Gary , McKaveney Kayla , Sakaki Masashi , Ueda Ryo , Mintz Arlan H. , Amankulor Nduka , Fujita Mitsugu , Ohlfest John R. , Okada Hideho
Published: September 2013

Malignant gliomas are lethal cancers in the brain and heavily infiltrated by myeloid cells. Interleukin-4 receptor-α (IL-4Rα) mediates the immunosuppressive functions of myeloid cells, and polymorphisms in the IL-4Rα gene are associated with altered glioma risk and prognosis. In this study, we sought to evaluate a hypothesized causal role for IL-4Rα and myeloid suppressor cells in glioma development. In both mouse de novo gliomas and human glioblastoma cases, IL-4Rα was upregulated on glioma-infiltrating myeloid cells but not in the periphery or in normal brain. Mice genetically deficient for IL-4Rα exhibited a slower growth of glioma associated with reduced production in the glioma microenvironment of arginase, a marker of myeloid suppressor cells, which is critical for their T-cell inhibitory function. Supporting this result, investigations using bone marrow-derived myeloid cells showed that IL-4Rα mediates IL-13–induced production of arginase. Furthermore, glioma-derived myeloid cells suppressed T-cell proliferation in an IL-4Rα–dependent manner, consistent with their identification as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plays a central role for the induction of IL-4Rα expression on myeloid cells, and we found that GM-CSF is upregulated in both human and mouse glioma microenvironments compared with normal brain or peripheral blood samples. Together, our findings establish a GM-CSF–induced mechanism of immunosuppression in the glioma microenvironment via upregulation of IL-4Rα on MDSCs. Cancer Res; 73(21); 6413–23. ©2013 AACR.
Tumor Stromal Architecture Can Define the Intrinsic Tumor Response to VEGF-Targeted Therapy
Authors: Smith Neil R. , Baker Dawn , Farren Matthew , Pommier Aurelien , Swann Ruth , Wang Xin , Mistry Sunita , McDaid Karen , Kendrew Jane , Womack Chris , Wedge Stephen R. , Barry Simon T.
Published: September 2013

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the vascular and stromal architecture of preclinical tumor models and patient tumor specimens from malignancies with known clinical outcomes to VEGFi treatment, to gain insight into potential determinants of intrinsic sensitivity and resistance.

Experimental Design: The tumor stroma architecture of preclinical and clinical tumor samples were analyzed by staining for CD31 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Tumor models representative of each phenotype were then tested for sensitivity to the VEGFR2-blocking antibody DC101.

Results: Human tumor types with high response rates to VEGF inhibitors (e.g., renal cell carcinoma) have vessels distributed amongst the tumor cells (a “tumor vessel” phenotype, TV). In contrast, those malignancies where single-agent responses are lower, such as non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), display a complex morphology involving the encapsulation of tumor cells within stroma that also supports the majority of vessels (a “stromal vessel” phenotype). Only 1 of 31 tumor xenograft models displayed the stromal vessel phenotype. Tumor vessel models were sensitive to VEGFR2-blocking antibody DC101, whereas the stromal vessel models were exclusively refractory. The tumor vessel phenotype was also associated with a better Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) response to bevacizumab + chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

Conclusion: The tumor stromal architecture can differentiate between human tumor types that respond to a VEGF signaling inhibitor as single-agent therapy. In addition to reconciling the clinical experience with these agents versus their broad activity in preclinical models, these findings may help to select solid tumor types with intrinsic sensitivity to a VEGFi or other vascular-directed therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 19(24); 6943–56. ©2013 AACR.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma from an Immunologic Perspective
Authors: Greten Tim F. , Duffy Austin G. , Korangy Firouzeh
Published: September 2013

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third most common cancer worldwide. It is an inflammation-associated cancer. Multiple investigators have demonstrated that analysis of the tumor microenvironment may be used to predict patient outcome, indicating the importance of local immune responses in this disease. In contrast with other types of cancer, in which surgery, radiation, and systemic cytotoxic chemotherapies dominate the treatment options, in hepatocellular carcinoma locoregional treatments are widely applied. Such treatments induce rapid tumor cell death and antitumor immune responses, which may favor or impair the patients' outcome. Recent immunotherapeutic studies demonstrating promising results include trials evaluating intratumoral injection of an oncolytic virus expressing granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, glypican-3 targeting treatments, and anti-CTLA4 treatment. Although some of these novel approaches may provide benefit as single agents, there is a clear opportunity in hepatocellular carcinoma to evaluate these in combination with the standard modalities to more effectively harness the immune response. Clin Cancer Res; 19(24); 6678–85. ©2013 AACR.
Comparing Lives in Plato, Laws 5
Authors: Warren James
Published: September 2013

Abstract

In Laws 5 (732d-734e), the Athenian argues in favour of virtuous over vicious lives on the basis that the former are preferable to the latter when we consider the pleasures and pains in each. This essay offers an interpretation of the argument which does not attribute to the Athenian an exclusively hedonist axiology. It argues for a new reading of the division of ‘types of life’ at 733c-d and suggests that the Athenian relies on the conclusion established earlier in the Laws that we humans take pleasure in harmony and order. Virtuous lives exhibit just such harmony and order and are therefore always more pleasant than and preferable to vicious lives.
R. G. Skrynnikov: The Historian and the World – the World of the Historian (An Attempt at Reconstruction)
Authors: Szvák Gyula
Published: September 2013

It is time to study the man himself and not just his work. This brief study would like to sketch out this problem. To understand Ruslan Skrynnikov and his work, we must have a clear picture of Soviet history writing. It is a peculiar feature of his life and career that he had to struggle for acceptance and recognition even within his own restricted world. Skrynnikov’s works of the 1960s were still framed by the determinative Engelsian conception of centralization. Ruslan Grigor’evich followed the mainstream path of Soviet medievalists until the fall of Soviet regime, though Soviet historiography would prove to be his Procrustean bed; in the 1990s he experimented with breaking free of it. We have no reason to ignore the scholarly ethos in Skrynnikov’s new books, and his efforts to discover democratic values in the Russian past. The scholarship of Ruslan Skrynnikov has assumed a permanent place in world historiography. A. S. Lappo-Danilevsky, B. A. Romanov, R. G. Skrynnikov: three generations, one school, The Petersburg-Leningrad school of Russian-Soviet historiography.
Костромские “выборные дети боярские” в 1612-1618 гг.: провинциальное дворянство на исходе Смуты
Authors: Лисейцев Д. В.
Published: September 2013

This article is devoted to changes that took place during the final stage of the Time of Troubles (1612-1618) at the top of the Kostroma provincial nobility – among vybornye deti boiarskie. By studying the collective biography of the Kostroma nobility of this category, it can be concluded that during the Troubles the top layer of the provincial nobility received a unique opportunity to enhance their own welfare and to have more successful careers. At the beginning of the XVII century the Kostroma district ceased to be a place of exile for proscribed nobles, due to which local noble families received an opportunity to lead the gentry militiamen of their district and to promote their own representatives at the Sovereign’s court (Gosudarev dvor).
Witchcraft with a Novgorodian Flair? A Research Note
Authors: Kivelson Valerie A.
Published: September 2013

This article surveys the few witchcraft trials from the Novogrod region that survive in central archives of the Razriadnyi prikaz from the seventeenth century to determine whether or not there is some particular skew to the cases from that region. Although the number of cases is very small, they all show an uncommon willingness on the part of community members to accept benign, medical explanations for the use of roots and grasses instead of attributing malevolent supernatural powers to those ingredients and their users.
A contribution to the Flora of North America: synonymy and lectotypification of Coptis laciniata (Ranunculaceae)
Authors: LI BO , YUAN QINGJUN , ZHANG ZHIYONG
Published: September 2013

Coptis Salisbury (1807: 305) is a small genus of Ranunculaceae containing 10 (Ford 1997) to 15 (Fu 2001) species. It is distributed in temperate and boreal regions of East Asia and North America (Ford 1997, Fu 2001). In order to generate a comprehensive sampling for a phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus, we have reviewed all described species and their distribution (‘A synopsis of Coptis (Ranunculaceae)’, Li, unpublished). Accidentally, we identified a North American taxon, C. venosa Howell (1897: 21), that is not recognized by the latest updated Flora of North America (Ford 1997), nor has the name been included in any literature of the genus since its first description in the Flora of Northwest America (Howell 1897). Besides C. venosa, Howell (1897) recognized another four species from North America in his work: C. aspleniifolia Salisbury (1807: 306), C. laciniata Gray (1887: 297), C. occidentalis Torrey & Gray (1838: 28) and C. trifolia (Linnaeus 1753: 558) Salisbury (1807: 305), and commented that C. venosa was only collected by himself and has the same distribution range as C. occidentalis. No details were given about the morphological differences between C. venosa and the other four species. We closely examined protologues, descriptions, type specimens and other specimens of these five species. On the type specimen of C. venosa (deposited in Oregon State University Herbarium, OSC) (Fig. 1 A), we observed that the flowers of C. venosa are similar to those of C. aspleniifolia, C. laciniata and C. occidentalis in having linear-lanceolate sepals and petals, and nearly basal nectaries. Coptis venosa, however, is clearly different from C. aspleniifolia and C. occidentalis by having a biternate leaf blade that is almost identical to the leaf blade of C. laciniata. Based on overall similarity in morphology between C. venosa and C. laciniata, coupled with their overlapping distribution ranges, we hereby propose to treat C. venosa as a synonym of C. laciniata. Thus, we now recognize four species of Coptis in North America, C. aspleniifolia, C. laciniata, C. occidentalis and C. trifolia, and provide a key to identify them (as below).
Oreocharis glandulosa, a new species of Gesneriaceae from southern Yunnan, China
Authors: TAN YUN-HONG , LI JIAN-WU , PAN BO , WEN BIN , YIN JIAN-TAO , LIU QIANG
Published: September 2013

Oreocharis glandulosa, a new species of Gesneriaceae from southern Yunnan, China, is here described and illustrated. It is similar to O. bodinieri in its corolla shape, but can be easily distinguished by its dense glandular pubescence on the outside of the corolla, the limb distinctly two-lipped, the adaxial lip bilobed to near base, the lobes ovate to triangular-ovate, the abaxial lip trilobed to the base, the included stamens, the glabrous anther connectives and the ring-like, glabrous, entire or subentire disc.
Methodological Approaches to Projecting the Hydrologic Impacts of Climate Change*
Authors: Lofgren Brent M. , Gronewold Andrew D. , Acciaioli Anthony , Cherry Jessica , Steiner Allison , Watkins David
Published: September 2013

Climate change due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) is expected to have important impacts on water resources, with a variety of societal impacts. Recent research has shown that applying different methodologies to assess hydrologic impacts can lead to widely diverging projections of water resources. The authors classify methods of projecting hydrologic impacts of climate change into those that estimate potential evapotranspiration (PET) based on air temperature and those that estimate PET based on components of the surface energy budget. In general, air temperature–based methods more frequently show reductions in measures of water resources (e.g., water yield or soil moisture) and greater sensitivity than those using energy budget–based methods. There are significant trade-offs between these two methods in terms of ease of use, input data required, applicability to specific locales, and adherence to fundamental physical constraints: namely, conservation of energy at the surface. Issues of uncertainty in climate projections, stemming from imperfectly known future atmospheric GHG concentrations and disagreement in projections of the resultant climate, are compounded by questions of methodology and input data availability for models that connect climate change to accompanying changes in hydrology. In the joint atmospheric–hydrologic research community investigating climate change, methods need to be developed in which the energy and moisture budgets remain consistent when considering their interaction with both the atmosphere and water resources. This approach should yield better results for both atmospheric and hydrologic processes.
A Nonparametric Multivariate Multi-Index Drought Monitoring Framework
Authors: Hao Zengchao , AghaKouchak Amir
Published: September 2013

Accurate and reliable drought monitoring is essential to drought mitigation efforts and reduction of social vulnerability. A variety of indices, such as the standardized precipitation index (SPI), are used for drought monitoring based on different indicator variables. Because of the complexity of drought phenomena in their causation and impact, drought monitoring based on a single variable may be insufficient for detecting drought conditions in a prompt and reliable manner. This study outlines a multivariate, multi-index drought monitoring framework, namely, the multivariate standardized drought index (MSDI), for describing droughts based on the states of precipitation and soil moisture. In this study, the MSDI is evaluated against U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) data as well as the commonly used standardized indices for drought monitoring, including detecting drought onset, persistence, and spatial extent across the continental United States. The results indicate that MSDI includes attractive properties, such as higher probability of drought detection, compared to individual precipitation and soil moisture–based drought indices. This study shows that the MSDI leads to drought information generally consistent with the USDM and provides additional information and insights into drought monitoring.
Being a Parent or Having a Parent? The Perceived Employability of Men and Women Who Take Employment Leave
Authors: Kmec Julie A. , Huffman Matt L. , Penner Andrew M.
Published: September 2013

We explore one way family caregiving shapes inequality at work by analyzing the evaluations of men and women who took employment leave to care for a newborn or elderly parents or to recover from a personal injury. Roughly 500 undergraduate students evaluated the employability, qualifications, responsibility, and adherence to leave policies of a fictitious applicant for a professional job. Evaluators rated fathers and male elder caregivers as the most employable. This advantage was not explained by evaluators’ thinking that fathers and male elder caregivers were qualified, responsible, and policy abiding, suggesting the operation of taste discrimination. Likewise, accounting for these factors widens the gap in perceived employability between male and female noncaregivers. We discuss what these findings reveal about the family-work link as well as their methodological and policy implications.
Smaller HDL particles are associated with absence of obstructive coronary artery disease in stable angina pectoris patients
Authors: Zeljkovic Aleksandra , Vekic Jelena , Spasojevic-Kalimanovska Vesna , Jelic-Ivanovic Zorana , Kalimanovska-Ostric Dimitra , Memon Lidija , Bogavac-Stanojevic Natasa , Topic Aleksandra , Spasic Slavica
Published: September 2013

Background

A research on novel cardiovascular risk factors is mainly focused on patients with clinically verified coronary artery disease (CAD), while less is known about their presence in symptomatic patients, but without angiographically proven occlusion of coronary arteries. The aim of this study was to compare plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) size and subclasses in stable angina patients with and without significant obstructive CAD.

Methods

LDL and HDL subclasses were analysed in 100 stable angina patients with ≥50% of obstruction and 40 patients with less than 50% of luminal narrowing, as assessed by coronary angiography.

Results

Patients with <50% of obstruction had reduced mean HDL size and higher proportion of small HDL particles ( P < 0.05). HDL size and proportion of small HDL particles were significant and independent predictors of obstructive CAD ( P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions

Stable angina patients with <50% of coronary obstruction have more favourable HDL subclasses distribution than patients with significant coronary stenosis.
Fluid Intake History and Counseling in Pediatric Outpatients
Authors: Nelson Courtney E. , Marquez Maria , Rappaport David I. , Sharif Iman
Published: September 2013

Objective. To determine if ( a) during well visits physicians are discussing 6 common fluids and ( b) if there is any association between fluid discussion and patient age, gender, or body mass index. Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review of 500 pediatric well visits. We analyzed the relationships between history and/or counseling on fluid intake and patient age, gender, and body mass index percentile using logistic regression and likelihood ratio chi-square testing. Results. Caffeinated beverages were discussed more with overweight/obese patients compared with normal weight patients. Juice, caffeinated, and carbonated beverages were all discussed more with obese patients compared with overweight patients. Water, carbonated, and caffeinated beverages were discussed more with older patients, and milk with younger patients. Juice was discussed more with female patients. Conclusion. Pediatricians discuss high-calorie fluids more frequently with obese children but not more frequently with overweight children, which may be an optimal time to prevent obesity.