bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and Modeling Studies on the Conversion of Inulin to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Using Metal Salts in Water
Authors: Fachri Boy , Rasrendra Carolus , Heeres Hero
Published: December 2015

Inulin, a plant polysaccharide consisting of mainly d-fructose units, is considered an interesting feed for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a top 12 bio-based chemical. We here report an exploratory experimental study on the use of a wide range of homogeneous metal salts as catalysts for the conversion of inulin to HMF in water. Best results were obtained using CuCl2. Activity-pH relations indicate that the catalyst activity of CuCl2 is likely related to Lewis acidity and not to Brönsted acidity. The effects of process conditions on HMF yield for CuCl2 were systematically investigated and quantified using a central composite design (160–180 °C, an inulin loading between 0.05 and 0.15 g/mL, CuCl2 concentration in range of 0.005–0.015 M, and a reaction time between 10 and 120 min). The highest experimental HMF yield in the process window was 30.3 wt. % (39 mol %, 180 °C, 0.05 g/mL inulin, 0.005 M CuCl2 and a reaction time of 10 min). The HMF yields were modelled using non-linear, multi variable regression and good agreement between experimental data and model were obtained.
Optimal Referral Reward Considering Customer’s Budget Constraint
Authors: Zhou Dan , Yao Zhong
Published: December 2015

Everyone likes Porsche but few can afford it. Budget constraints always play a critical role in a customer’s decision-making. The literature disproportionally focuses on how firms can induce customer valuations toward the product, but does not address how to assess the influence of budget constraints. We study these questions in the context of a referral reward program (RRP). RRP is a prominent marketing strategy that utilizes recommendations passed from existing customers to their friends and effectively stimulates word of mouth (WoM). We build a stylized game-theoretical model with a nested Stackelberg game involving three players: a firm, an existing customer, and a potential customer who is a friend of the existing customer. The budget is the friend’s private information. We show that RRPs might be optimal when the friend has either a low or a high valuation, but they work differently in each situation because of the budget. Furthermore, there are two budget thresholds, a fixed one and a variable one, which limit a firm’s ability to use rewards.
Combination Treatment with Sublethal Ionizing Radiation and the Proteasome Inhibitor, Bortezomib, Enhances Death-Receptor Mediated Apoptosis and Anti-Tumor Immune Attack
Authors: Cacan Ercan , Spring Alexander , Kumari Anita , Greer Susanna , Garnett-Benson Charlie
Published: December 2015

Sub-lethal doses of radiation can modulate gene expression, making tumor cells more susceptible to T-cell-mediated immune attack. Proteasome inhibitors demonstrate broad anti-tumor activity in clinical and pre-clinical cancer models. Here, we use a combination treatment of proteasome inhibition and irradiation to further induce immunomodulation of tumor cells that could enhance tumor-specific immune responses. We investigate the effects of the 26S proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, alone or in combination with radiotherapy, on the expression of immunogenic genes in normal colon and colorectal cancer cell lines. We examined cells for changes in the expression of several death receptors (DR4, DR5 and Fas) commonly used by T cells for killing of target cells. Our results indicate that the combination treatment resulted in increased cell surface expression of death receptors by increasing their transcript levels. The combination treatment further increases the sensitivity of carcinoma cells to apoptosis through FAS and TRAIL receptors but does not change the sensitivity of normal non-malignant epithelial cells. Furthermore, the combination treatment significantly enhances tumor cell killing by tumor specific CD8+ T cells. This study suggests that combining radiotherapy and proteasome inhibition may simultaneously enhance tumor immunogenicity and the induction of antitumor immunity by enhancing tumor-specific T-cell activity.
Tissue Regeneration in the Chronically Inflamed Tumor Environment: Implications for Cell Fusion Driven Tumor Progression and Therapy Resistant Tumor Hybrid Cells
Authors: Dittmar Thomas , Zänker Kurt
Published: December 2015

The biological phenomenon of cell fusion in a cancer context is still a matter of controversial debates. Even though a plethora of in vitro and in vivo data have been published in the past decades the ultimate proof that tumor hybrid cells could originate in (human) cancers and could contribute to the progression of the disease is still missing, suggesting that the cell fusion hypothesis is rather fiction than fact. However, is the lack of this ultimate proof a valid argument against this hypothesis, particularly if one has to consider that appropriate markers do not (yet) exist, thus making it virtually impossible to identify a human tumor cell clearly as a tumor hybrid cell. In the present review, we will summarize the evidence supporting the cell fusion in cancer concept. Moreover, we will refine the cell fusion hypothesis by providing evidence that cell fusion is a potent inducer of aneuploidy, genomic instability and, most likely, even chromothripsis, suggesting that cell fusion, like mutations and aneuploidy, might be an inducer of a mutator phenotype. Finally, we will show that “accidental” tissue repair processes during cancer therapy could lead to the origin of therapy resistant cancer hybrid stem cells.
Effects of Ethanol on the Expression Level of Various BDNF mRNA Isoforms and Their Encoded Protein in the Hippocampus of Adult and Embryonic Rats
Authors: Shojaei Shahla , Ghavami Saeid , Panjehshahin Mohammad , Owji Ali
Published: December 2015

We aimed to compare the effects of oral ethanol (Eth) alone or combined with the phytoestrogen resveratrol (Rsv) on the expression of various brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) transcripts and the encoded protein pro-BDNF in the hippocampus of pregnant and embryonic rats. A low (0.25 g/kg body weight (BW)/day) dose of Eth produced an increase in the expression of BDNF exons I, III and IV and a decrease in that of the exon IX in embryos, but failed to affect BDNF transcript and pro-BDNF protein expression in adults. However, co-administration of Eth 0.25 g/kg·BW/day and Rsv led to increased expression of BDNF exons I, III and IV and to a small but significant increase in the level of pro-BDNF protein in maternal rats. A high (2.5 g/kg·BW/day) dose of Eth increased the expression of BDNF exons III and IV in embryos, but it decreased the expression of exon IX containing BDNF mRNAs in the maternal rats. While the high dose of Eth alone reduced the level of pro-BDNF in adults, it failed to change the levels of pro-BDNF in embryos. Eth differentially affects the expression pattern of BDNF transcripts and levels of pro-BDNF in the hippocampus of both adult and embryonic rats.
Tissue- Specific Expression Analysis of Anthocyanin Biosynthetic Genes in White- and Red-Fleshed Grape Cultivars
Authors: Xie Sha , Song Changzheng , Wang Xingjie , Liu Meiying , Zhang Zhenwen , Xi Zhumei
Published: December 2015

Yan73, a teinturier (dyer) grape variety in China, is one of the few Vitis vinifera cultivars with red-coloured berry flesh. To examine the tissue-specific expression of genes associated with berry colour in Yan73, we analysed the differential accumulation of anthocyanins in the skin and flesh tissues of two red-skinned grape varieties with either red (Yan73) or white flesh (Muscat Hamburg) based on HPLC-MS analysis, as well as the differential expression of 18 anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in both varieties by quantitative RT-PCR. The results revealed that the transcripts of GST, OMT, AM3, CHS3, UFGT, MYBA1, F3′5′H, F3H1 and LDOX were barely detectable in the white flesh of Muscat Hamburg. In particular, GST, OMT, AM3, CHS3 and F3H1 showed approximately 50-fold downregulation in the white flesh of Muscat Hamburg compared to the red flesh of Yan73. A correlation analysis between the accumulation of different types of anthocyanins and gene expression indicated that the cumulative expression of GST, F3′5′H, LDOX and MYBA1 was more closely associated with the acylated anthocyanins and the 3′5′-OH anthocyanins, while OMT and AM3 were more closely associated with the total anthocyanins and methoxylated anthocyanins. Therefore, the transcripts of OMT, AM3, GST, F3′5′H, LDOX and MYBA1 explained most of the variation in the amount and composition of anthocyanins in skin and flesh of Yan73. The data suggest that the specific localization of anthocyanins in the flesh tissue of Yan73 is most likely due to the tissue-specific expression of OMT, AM3, GST, F3′5′H, LDOX and MYBA1 in the flesh.
Sensing Religion in Alfonso Cuarón’s “Children of Men”
Authors: Hamner M.
Published: December 2015

This essay attends closely to the affective excess of Children of Men, arguing that this excess generates two modalities of religion—nostalgic and emergent—primarily through a sensitive use of color and music. These affective religious modalities are justly termed “religion” not only because they are sutured to overtly Christian names, images, and thematics, but also because they signal the sacred and transcendence, respectively. The essay reads the protagonist, Theo Faron (Clive Owen), as navigating these two modalities of religion, not as a hero but as what Giorgio Agamben terms “whatever-being.” Noting Theo’s religious function draws attention to transformations of political being and human hope.
Technological Advancement in Tower-Based Canopy Reflectance Monitoring: The AMSPEC-III System
Authors: Tortini Riccardo , Hilker Thomas , Coops Nicholas , Nesic Zoran
Published: December 2015

Understanding plant photosynthesis, or Gross Primary Production (GPP), is a crucial aspect of quantifying the terrestrial carbon cycle. Remote sensing approaches, in particular multi-angular spectroscopy, have proven successful for studying relationships between canopy-reflectance and plant-physiology processes, thus providing a mechanism to scale up. However, many different instrumentation designs exist and few cross-comparisons have been undertaken. This paper discusses the design evolution of the Automated Multiangular SPectro-radiometer for Estimation of Canopy reflectance (AMSPEC) series of instruments. Specifically, we assess the performance of the PP-Systems Unispec-DC and Ocean Optics JAZ-COMBO spectro-radiometers installed on an updated, tower-based AMSPEC-III system. We demonstrate the interoperability of these spectro-radiometers, and the results obtained suggest that JAZ-COMBO can successfully be used to substitute more expensive measurement units for detecting and investigating photosynthesis and canopy spectra. We demonstrate close correlations between JAZ-COMBO and Unispec-DC measured canopy radiance (0.75 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.85) and solar irradiance (0.95 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.96) over a three month time span. We also demonstrate close agreement between the bi-directional distribution functions obtained from each instrument. We conclude that cost effective alternatives may allow a network of AMSPEC-III systems to simultaneously monitor various vegetation types in different ecosystems. This will allow to scale and improve our understanding of the interactions between vegetation physiology and spectral characteristics, calibrate broad-scale observations to stand-level measurements, and ultimately lead to improved understanding of changing vegetation spectral features from satellite.
Focusing Bistatic FMCW SAR Signal by Range Migration Algorithm Based on Fresnel Approximation
Authors: Li Yake , O’Young Siu
Published: December 2015

Frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technique has recently been employed by synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to decrease the radar cost and volume. However, the operation range is limited by the direct energy leakage from the transmitting channel to receiving channel due to the operation principle of FMCW technique. Bistatic configuration is an efficient way to increase the isolation between the transmitter and receiver, which could significantly increase the radar standoff range. A bistatic FMCW SAR spectrum model is proposed by using the Fresnel approximation in this paper. This model is similar to that of a monostatic FMCW SAR spectrum, which allows the existing imaging algorithms to be used on bistatic image processing. Based on the new model and the characteristics of FMCW signal, a modified range migration algorithm (RMA) for FMCW SAR is proposed to focus the image, which requires less memory and computational load than the traditional RMA. Point-target simulation is used to verify the proposed spectral model and real data processing verified the effectiveness of the proposed RMA.
Design, Implementation and Evaluation of an Indoor Navigation System for Visually Impaired People
Authors: Martinez-Sala Alejandro , Losilla Fernando , Sánchez-Aarnoutse Juan , García-Haro Joan
Published: December 2015

Indoor navigation is a challenging task for visually impaired people. Although there are guidance systems available for such purposes, they have some drawbacks that hamper their direct application in real-life situations. These systems are either too complex, inaccurate, or require very special conditions (i.e., rare in everyday life) to operate. In this regard, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology has been shown to be effective for indoor positioning, providing a high level of accuracy and low installation complexity. This paper presents SUGAR, an indoor navigation system for visually impaired people which uses UWB for positioning, a spatial database of the environment for pathfinding through the application of the A* algorithm, and a guidance module. The interaction with the user takes place using acoustic signals and voice commands played through headphones. The suitability of the system for indoor navigation has been verified by means of a functional and usable prototype through a field test with a blind person. In addition, other tests have been conducted in order to show the accuracy of different relevant parts of the system.
The Spatial Econometric Analysis of China’s Banking Competition and Its Influential Factors
Authors: Li Ying
Published: December 2015

This paper determines alternative indexes to measure banking competition from the perspective of industrial economics. Spatial correlation of competition in China’s banking environment is studied from the perspective of spatial economics. A spatial panel data model is built to make an empirical study of factors influencing banking competition. The results show that the global autocorrelation test index Moran’s I indicates that China’s banking competition has obvious spatial correlation characteristics and significant spatial clustering. The space LISA map indicates that banking competition in most provinces has the characteristics of spatial dependence, and only a few provinces have the characteristics of spatial heterogeneity. Human capital, economic growth, financial scale of development, and foreign direct investment all have a significant positive effect on improving the degree of banking competition. Government intervention has a significant negative impact on the degree of banking competition, while fixed asset investment has no significant impact on it.
Lenkiamosios gelžbetoninės sijos su papildoma anglies pluošto kompozito armatūra laikomosios galios sumažėjimas dėl šlyties
Authors: Daugevičius Mykolas
Published: December 2015

Straipsnyje pateiktas gelžbetoninės sijos su anglies pluošto kompozito armatūra statmenojo pjūvio skaičiavimas, kai papildomai įvertinamas šlyties įrąžų sukeliamas kompozito pasislinkimo efektas. Šlyties įtaka nagrinėjama tempiamuose sijos sluoksniuose – tarp tempiamos armatūros ir tempiamos anglies pluošto kompozito armatūros. Taip pat aptariami įvairių projektavimo rekomendacijų metodai, rodantys kompozitinės išorinės armatūros pasislinkimą ir jo neįvertinantys. Statmenojo pjūvio skaičiavimas ir eksperimentinis bandymas parodė, kad būtina įvertinti horizontalųjį pluošto pasislinkimą, nes jo neįvertinus sijos apskaičiuota atlaikoma apkrova bus gerokai didesnė už nustatytąją eksperimentiniais bandymais.
Nekilnojamojo turto kainų burbulas ir jo pasekmės baltijos šalims
Authors: Tupėnaitė Laura , Kanapeckienė Loreta
Published: December 2015

Straipsnyje nagrinėjama nekilnojamojo turto kainų burbulo susidarymo problematika Baltijos šalyse. Aptariama nekilnojamojo turto kainų burbulo sąvoka, jo susidarymo priežastys, kainų burbulą lemiantys fundamentalieji ir neracionalieji veiksniai, kainų burbulo sprogimo pasekmės šalies ekonomikai. Remiantis autorių sukurtu tyrimo modeliu atliktas praktinis Baltijos šalių nekilnojamojo turto rinkos tyrimas, nustatytos būsto kainų kitimo tendencijos, išnagrinėta fundamentaliųjų ir neracionaliųjų veiksnių įtaka nekilnojamojo turto kainų augimui. Įrodyta, kad Baltijos šalyse 2004–2006 m. buvo susiformavęs nekilnojamojo turto kainų burbulas. Aptartos nekilnojamojo turto kainų burbulo sprogimo priežastys ir poveikis Baltijos šalių ekonomikai.
La fabrique des cadres intermédiaires de la fonction publique
Authors: Quéré Olivier
Published: December 2015

Cet article montre que le travail de formation des cadres intermédiaires de l’État relève d’un travail de positionnement de ces fonctionnaires dans la hiérarchie des places et des tâches administratives. À partir du cas de la formation des attachés d’administration dans les Instituts régionaux d’administration (IRA), nous mettons en évidence les usages que les formateurs font des enseignements en droit et en management, dans l’objectif de fabriquer et d’homogénéiser les échelons intermédiaires de la fonction publique. Cette fabrication procède d’une double injonction : celle de la sujétion à la haute fonction publique à travers l’appel au respect de la hiérarchie, et celle du travail d’encadrement des équipes de fonctionnaires subalternes.
Conducteurs ou passagers ?
Authors: de Larminat Xavier
Published: December 2015

Dans un contexte de réforme des services de probation de l’administration pénitentiaire, les cadres intermédiaires occupent une place stratégique, au point d’articulation entre la redéfinition des normes et leur mise en application. Face à l’indétermination de leur rôle, ces derniers se retrouvent toutefois tiraillés entre les attentes divergentes de leurs supérieurs et de leurs subordonnés. Cet article analyse leur comportement en situation en croisant les dispositions incorporées avec la position occupée au sein de l’administration. La configuration organisationnelle, tant nationale que locale, pèse sur l’adoption d’un style d’encadrement formaliste ou de proximité dans l’exercice du métier. Les trajectoires professionnelles révèlent de leur côté une césure générationnelle qui structure les représentations de la carrière. Une fois mises en relation, ces dimensions font émerger différents modes d’ajustement aux réformes, qui vont de l’apathie à la temporisation, et de la neutralité bienveillante à la traduction volontariste.
L’innovation perçue et ses conséquences dans les centres commerciaux modernes d’Afrique : l’exemple du Sénégal
Authors: Diallo Mbaye Fall , Seck Anne Marianne , Diop Sall Fatou
Published: December 2015

L’innovation commerciale est une problématique importante pour les distributeurs qui s’orientent vers les pays émergents et en développement. L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier la perception de l’innovation dans les centres commerciaux par les consommateurs dans un pays en développement, afin de comprendre comment elle affecte le comportement du consommateur. Les résultats d’une étude qualitative menée auprès de consommateurs sénégalais mettent en évidence quatre dimensions associées à l’innovation dans le centre commercial en milieu africain : innovation de service, innovation produit, innovation de concept et innovation technologique. Nous montrons aussi que l’innovation perçue crée un sentiment d’attachement non seulement au centre commercial, mais aussi aux marques. Cependant, elle ne se traduit pas souvent en actes d’achat, ce qui constitue un défi pour les centres commerciaux modernes. Les résultats de la recherche sont discutés et les implications managériales présentées.
Radiographie d’un comité d’audit bancaire mutualiste
Authors: Lobre-Lebraty Katia
Published: December 2015

La nécessité d’une régulation financière s’est traduite dans les entreprises par l’attention accrue portée aux comités d’audit. La théorie de l’agence accorde une attention insuffisante aux perceptions et comportements des acteurs internes du comité. Dépassant cette théorie, une enquête réalisée en milieu bancaire mutualiste, permet l’élaboration d’une grille d’analyse desdits comités et conduit à une meilleure connaissance de leur rôle dans la gouvernance de l’organisation.
Le poker : pratiques normales et pathologiques
Authors: Barrault Servane , Varescon Isabelle
Published: December 2015

Le poker est à l’heure actuelle l’un des jeux de hasard et d’argent les plus populaires, notamment en ligne. L’une des principales spécificités de ce jeu est la composante réelle d’habileté impliquée dans l’issue du jeu. Cette intrication entre chance et stratégie complexifie le rapport du sujet au hasard et contribue à faire du poker un jeu à part au sein des jeux de hasard et d’argent. Dans cet article, nous nous intéressons aux spécificités du poker et à sa pratique, normale comme pathologique. Dans un premier temps, l’histoire du poker est brièvement retracée et le jeu en lui-même décrit. Nous évoquons ensuite les différents types de pratique du poker. La question du jeu pathologique et de ses spécificités (prévalence, facteurs de risques et caractéristiques) est ensuite abordée. Enfin, nous interrogeons le rapport du joueur au hasard et l’implication des distorsions cognitives, ou fausses croyances liées au jeu, dans le jeu pathologique.
Psychopathologie des jeux dangereux chez les jeunes : lorsque le plaisir est conditionné par la violence et le risque
Authors: Michel Grégory
Published: December 2015

Le phénomène des jeux dangereux et violents est devenu depuis quelques années un problème préoccupant tant il concerne les enfants et les adolescents. Dans cet article, nous nous intéresserons aux trois types de jeux : les jeux de défi, les jeux d’agression et les jeux de non-oxygénation. Nous analyserons les aspects psychologiques et psychopathologiques des motivations de ces jeunes joueurs puis nous mènerons une réflexion en matière de prévention.
Le processus d’endettement dans le jeu excessif. Résultats d’une recherche exploratoire
Authors: Philibert Anne , Morel Géraldine , Pignolo Loïc
Published: December 2015

Cet article aborde le lien complexe entre jeu excessif et endettement. Nombreuses sont les études s’étant penchées sur les facteurs facilitant l’émergence d’une pratique excessive chez les individus : ces facteurs seraient de nature structurelle (types de jeux), situationnelle (proximité avec des lieux de jeu par exemple) ou individuelle (âge, genre, situation migratoire, situation sociale, ou autre). En revanche, peu d’entre elles ont mis en évidence les facteurs liés à l’endettement qui en découle, comme s’il était vécu plus ou moins uniformément chez les individus. Loin de composer le portrait d’un groupe social homogène, il est possible de montrer comment certains facteurs favorisent l’apparition d’un endettement chez les personnes souffrant d’addiction au jeu. En croisant les données des institutions spécialisées (centre de traitement, organismes de désendettement) et les récits de vie recueillis auprès de joueurs, des joueuses et de leurs proches, nous proposons d’établir une typologie de l’endettement lié au jeu en fonction du statut socio-économique et des ressources mobilisables (entourage social et familial).
Les « Tanguys » des jeux vidéo
Authors: Rossé Elizabeth
Published: December 2015

L’article aborde la situation des joueurs excessifs de jeux vidéo en ligne, âgés de plus de 25 ans. Les principaux éléments psychopathologiques identifiés pour les joueurs problématiques de jeux en ligne plus jeunes sont retrouvés : la difficulté d’élaboration de la séparation d’avec les parents, la fuite de la réalité, l’humeur dépressive. Nous présenterons ici une vignette clinique, ainsi que les possibilités de soin et d’accompagnement.
À propos des adolescents difficiles
Authors: Bourcier Gérard , Griffond Alain
Published: December 2015

L’association Jean Cotxet a créé plusieurs institutions à caractère social plus spécialement vouées à l’accueil d’adolescents difficiles, c’est-à-dire présentant des troubles psychiques à expression comportementale forte. Les auteurs décrivent une perspective globale de compréhension des troubles, en lien notamment avec la dimension de fragilité des assises narcissiques que présentent très souvent ces adolescents qui mettent les institutions en difficulté, et les poussent nécessairement à interroger leurs pratiques habituelles.
À propos du livre Rencontrer l’autiste et le psychotique
Authors: Hébert François , Pétry Philippe
Published: December 2015

Comment un éducateur a pu chercher et trouver une ouverture dans une situation difficile qui était en impasse ? Telle est la préoccupation de François Hébert par rapport à des enfants classés ou identifiés comme psychotiques ou autistiques. La désignation du symptôme a trop souvent tendance à servir de prétexte pour avoir une attitude de méfiance à l’égard de l’enfant différent. L’auteur présente alors deux cas de rencontre entre un éducateur et un enfant classé « psychotique » dans lesquels le dialogue a pu se nouer grâce à l’acceptation de ses émotions par l’éducateur et l’observation fine de la manière dont l’enfant réagissait aux différentes situations du quotidien de l’institution. La dimension du jeu au sens winnicottien est évoquée également.
En quête de « raison sociale », le soin dans la balance. Regard et positionnements d’un éducateur de prévention spécialisée
Authors: d’Hautefeuille Joseph
Published: December 2015

L’auteur raconte une expérience avec un jeune homme de 19 ans en situation de semi-errance souffrant de troubles obsessionnels compulsifs et potentiellement de schizophrénie. En dépit de l’avis du psychiatre, le contact noué dans la rue au quotidien ainsi que le désir d’écoute active partagé entre l’éducateur de quartier et l’assistante sociale du cmp vont permettre que le jeune homme arrive à suivre enfin un stage d’insertion professionnelle complet.
Problèmes posés par un adolescent psychotique en foyer éducatif
Authors: Baudelaire Karine
Published: December 2015

À travers l’étude d’un cas clinique, nous allons décrire ce que les troubles psychotiques d’un adolescent carencé placé en foyer peuvent poser comme inter-rogations tant sur le plan individuel que groupal, tant au niveau de l’équipe éducative que psychiatrique ou judiciaire.
The Transcription Factor ARID3a Is Important for In Vitro Differentiation of Human Hematopoietic Progenitors
Authors: Ratliff Michelle L. , Mishra Meenu , Frank Mark B. , Guthridge Joel M. , Webb Carol F.
Published: December 2015

We recently reported that the transcription factor ARID3a is expressed in a subset of human hematopoietic progenitor stem cells in both healthy individuals and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Numbers of ARID3a+ lupus hematopoietic stem progenitor cells were associated with increased production of autoreactive Abs when those cells were introduced into humanized mouse models. Although ARID3a/Bright knockout mice died in utero, they exhibited decreased numbers of hematopoietic stem cells and erythrocytes, indicating that ARID3a is functionally important for hematopoiesis in mice. To explore the requirement for ARID3a for normal human hematopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cell progenitors from human cord blood were subjected to both inhibition and overexpression of ARID3a in vitro. Inhibition of ARID3a resulted in decreased B lineage cell production accompanied by increases in cells with myeloid lineage markers. Overexpression of ARID3a inhibited both myeloid and erythroid differentiation. Additionally, inhibition of ARID3a in hematopoietic stem cells resulted in altered expression of transcription factors associated with hematopoietic lineage decisions. These results suggest that appropriate regulation of ARID3a is critical for normal development of both myeloid and B lineage pathways.
IgG1 Allotypes Influence the Pharmacokinetics of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies through FcRn Binding
Authors: Ternant David , Arnoult Christophe , Pugnière Martine , Dhommée Christine , Drocourt Daniel , Perouzel Eric , Passot Christophe , Baroukh Nadine , Mulleman Denis , Tiraby Gérard , Watier Hervé , Paintaud Gilles , Gouilleux-Gruart Valérie
Published: December 2015

Because IgG1 allotypes might have different half-lives, their influence on infliximab (G1m17,1 allotype) pharmacokinetics was investigated in a group of spondyloarthritis patients. Infliximab was found to have a shorter half-life in patients homozygous for the G1m17,1 allotypes than in those carrying the G1m3 with no G1m1 (G1m3,-1) allotype. Because the neonatal FcR (FcRn) is involved in the pharmacokinetics of mAbs, the interaction of different IgG1 allotypes with FcRn was examined using cellular assays and surface plasmon resonance. G1m17,1 mAbs, such as infliximab and rituximab, were shown to bind more efficiently to FcRn and to be transcytosed better than the G1m3,-1 mAb cetuximab, which explains why infliximab is a better competitor for endogenous IgG1 in G1m3,-1 allotype–bearing patients. A set of four allotype variants of adalimumab (G1m17,1; G1m17,-1; G1m3,1; and G1m3,-1) was also tested for its binding to FcRn, revealing that the G1m3,1 variant, not present in commercial mAbs, binds more efficiently to FcRn and is transcytosed better than the other three variants, all of which are found in therapeutic mAbs.
PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C AMONG EGYPTIAN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND THE ROLE OF IL28B GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN SPONTANEOUS VIRAL CLEARANCE
Authors: Mousa Somaia Mohammed , El-Ghamrawy Mona Kamal , El-Ghamrawy Mona Kamal , Gouda Heba , Gouda Heba , Khorshied Mervat , Khorshied Mervat , Ahmed Dina , Ahmed Dina , Shiba Hala , Shiba Hala
Published: December 2015

Background and objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health problem in Egypt with its prevalence estimated to be 14.7% among general population in 2008. Patients receiving frequent blood transfusions like sickle cell disease (SCD) are more exposed to the risk of acquiring HCV. IL28B gene polymorphisms have been associated with spontaneous HCV clearance. This study aims to determine the prevalence of HCV infection among children with SCD and to study the relation between IL28B gene polymorphisms and spontaneous HCV clearance.Methods: Seventy SCD patients were screened for HCV antibody. HCV positive patients were tested for the level of HCV RNA using quantitative real time PCR. IL28B polymorphisms (rs 12979860 SNP and rs 12980275 SNP) were detected using Taqman QRT-PCR and sequence specific primers PCR respectively. Results: Sixteen patients (23%) were HCV antibody positive, 9 of them (56.3%) had undetectable HCV RNA in serum and 7 (43.7%) had persistent viremia. Genotypes CC/CT/TT of rs12979860 were found in 30 (42.9%), 29 (41.4%) and 11 (15.7%) and rs12980275 AA/AG/GG were found in 8 (11.4%), 59 (84.3%) and 3 (4.3%).  There was no significant difference in the frequency of IL28B (rs 12979860 and rs12980275) genotypes among HCV patients who cleared the virus and those with persistent viremia (p=0.308 and 0.724 respectively). Conclusion: Egyptian SCD patients have high prevalence of HCV. Muti-transfused patients still exposed to a risk of transmission of HCV. IL28B gene polymorphisms are not associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV in this cohort of Egyptian children with SCD.
TREATMENT WITH LOW-DOSE CYTARABINE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS (AGE 70 YEARS OR OLDER) WITH ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA: A SINGLE INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE
Authors: Heiblig Maël , Elhamri Mohamed , Tigaud Isabelle , Plesa Adriana , Barraco Fiorenza , Labussière Hélène , Ducastelle Sophie , Michallet Mauricette , Nicolini Franck , Plesa Claudiu , Wattel Eric , Salles Gilles , Thomas Xavier
Published: December 2015

Objectives: Low-dose cytarabine (LD-AraC) is still regarded as the standard of care in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ‘unfit’ for intensive chemotherapy. In this study, we compared the efficacy of LD-AraC, in patients ≥ 70 years old, with that of intensive chemotherapy, best supportive care (BSC), or hypomethylating agents in a single institution experience.Methods: Between 2000 and 2014, 60 patients received LD-AraC at 20 mg once or twice daily by subcutaneous injection for 10 consecutive days every 4-6 weeks. 85 patients were treated by intensive chemotherapy, 34 patients by hypomethylating agents, and 43 patients only by BSC.Results: Complete remission rate with LD-AraC was 7% versus 56% with intensive chemotherapy and 21% with hypomethylating agents. Median overall survival (OS) of patients treated with LD-AraC was 9.6 months with 3-year OS of 12%. Survival with LD-AraC was better than with BSC only (P = 0.001). Although not statistically significant, intensive chemotherapy and hypomethylating agents tended to be better than LD-AraC in terms of OS (median: 12.4 months and 16.1 months, respectively). There was no clear evidence that a beneficial effect of LD-AraC was restricted to any particular subtype of patients, except for cytogenetics.Conclusions: Despite a trend in favor of intensive chemotherapy and hypomethylating agents over LD-AraC, no real significant advantage could be demonstrated, while LD-AraC showed a significant advantage comparatively to BSC. This tends to confirm that LD-AraC can still represent a baseline against which new promising agents may be compared either alone or in combination.
Existence and Asymptotic Behavior of Positive Solutions for Variable Exponent Elliptic Systems
Authors: Yin Honghui , Yang Zuodong
Published: December 2015

In this paper, our main purpose is to establish the existence of positive solution of the following systemwhereare constants.F(x,u,υ) = λp(x)[g(x)a(u)+f(υ)],H(x,u,υ)=θq(x)[g1(x)b(υ)+h(u)], λ,θ>0 are parameters,p(x),q(x) are radial symmetric functions,is calledp(x)-Laplacian. We give the existence results and consider the asymptotic behavior of the solutions. In particular, we do not assume any symmetric condition, and we do not assume any sign condition onF(x,0,0) andH(x,0,0) either.
Hard water and old food. The freshwater reservoir effect in radiocarbon dating of food residues on pottery
Authors: Philippsen Bente
Published: December 2015

This paper discusses the problem of the freshwater reservoir effect in the radiocarbon dating of different sample materials, in particular food crusts on pottery. Charred food residue can be used to directly date of the use of the pottery. However, this material is highly complex, which can lead to various dating errors.
The beginnings of salt exploitation in the Carpathian basin (6th-5th millennium BC)
Authors: Bánffy Eszter
Published: December 2015

While there are ample data for salt exploitation in later prehistory, in the Neolithic, i.e. 6th–5th millennium BC, archaeological data from Southern Central Europe remain scanty. The paper attempts to give an overview of Neolithic salt research in the Carpathian basin. Both the archaeological traces and the research of Neolithic salt extraction activity are rather uneven there. While the eastern half had close contacts with Transylvanian salt regions, the western part, i.e. Transdanubia, lacks salt sources of any kind. The obvious need for salt gave rise to the search for salt-rich areas within reach of the early LBK migration in Central Europe, and indeed, these groups had rapidly settled in three key salt regions in Western and Central Germany, as well as in Little Poland. One of the reasons for the rapid migration and long-term contacts with these zones might thus have been access to salt. In general terms, it is in many cases highly probable that some sites specialised in salt exploitation, and that certain regions served as settings for exchange networks.
Neolithic ceramic spoons – indicators of dietary distinctiveness in the eastern Adriatic Neolithic?
Authors: Horvat Kristina
Published: December 2015

Among the rich and diverse archaeological finds collected at more than fifty known Neolithic sites in the entire area of the eastern Adriatic and its hinterland, ceramic spoons comprise a group of very rare and almost marginalised items. Only eight examples, discovered in the northern and central Dalmatia region (hinterland of Zadar and πibenik), at open-air Neolithic sites known to date to the Middle and Late Neolithic. Based on current research and in accordance with the available archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data from Neolithic sites in the eastern Adriatic region, this paper poses a question about the connection of ceramic spoons with the dietary habits of Neolithic communities in the eastern Adriatic.
Intercomparison of in situ water vapor balloon-borne measurements from Pico-SDLA H2O and FLASH-B in the tropical UTLS
Authors: Ghysels M. , Riviere E. D. , Khaykin S. , Stoeffler C. , Amarouche N. , Pommereau J.-P. , Held G. , Durry G.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. In this paper we compare water vapor mixing ratio measurements from two quasi-parallel flights of the Pico-SDLA H2O and FLASH-B hygrometers. The measurements were made on 10 February 2013 and 13 March 2012, respectively, in the tropics near Bauru, Sao Paulo St., Brazil during an intense convective period. Both flights were performed as part of a French scientific project, TRO-Pico, to study the impact of the deep-convection overshoot on the water budget. Only a few instruments that permit the frequent sounding of stratospheric water vapor can be flown within a small volume weather balloons. Technical difficulties preclude the accurate measurement of stratospheric water vapor with conventional in situ techniques. The instruments described here are simple and lightweight, which permits their low-cost deployment by non-specialists aboard a small weather balloon. We obtain mixing ratio retrievals which agree above the cold-point tropopause to within 1.9 and 0.5 % for the first and second flights, respectively. This level of agreement for measured stratospheric water mixing ratio is among the best ever reported in the literature. Because both instruments show similar profiles within their combined uncertainties, we conclude that the Pico-SDLA H2O and FLASH-B datasets are mutually consistent.
Solar wind reconstruction from magnetosheath data using an adjoint approach
Authors: Nabert C. , Othmer C. , Glassmeier K.-H.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. We present a new method to reconstruct solar wind conditions from spacecraft data taken during magnetosheath passages, which can be used to support, e.g., magnetospheric models. The unknown parameters of the solar wind are used as boundary conditions of an MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) magnetosheath model. The boundary conditions are varied until the spacecraft data matches the model predictions. The matching process is performed using a gradient-based minimization of the misfit between data and model. To achieve this time-consuming procedure, we introduce the adjoint of the magnetosheath model, which allows efficient calculation of the gradients. An automatic differentiation tool is used to generate the adjoint source code of the model. The reconstruction method is applied to THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) data to calculate the solar wind conditions during spacecraft magnetosheath transitions. The results are compared to actual solar wind data. This allows validation of our reconstruction method and indicates the limitations of the MHD magnetosheath model used.
Carbon sequestration in managed temperate coniferous forests under climate change
Authors: Dymond C. C. , Beukema S. , Nitschke C. R. , Coates K. D. , Scheller R. M.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Management of temperate forests has the potential to increase carbon sinks and mitigate climate change. However, those opportunities may be confounded by negative climate change impacts. We therefore need a better understanding of climate change alterations to temperate forest carbon dynamics before developing mitigation strategies. The purpose of this project was to investigate the interactions of species composition, fire, management and climate change on the Copper–Pine creek valley, a temperate coniferous forest with a wide range of growing conditions. To do so, we used the LANDIS-II modelling framework including the new Forest Carbon Succession extension to simulate forest ecosystems under four different productivity scenarios, with and without climate change effects, until 2050. Significantly, the new extension allowed us to calculate the Net Sector Productivity, a carbon accounting metric that integrates above and below-ground carbon dynamics, disturbances, and the eventual fate of forest products. The model output was validated against literature values. The results implied that the species optimum growing conditions relative to current and future conditions strongly influenced future carbon dynamics. Warmer growing conditions led to increased carbon sinks and storage in the colder and wetter ecoregions but not necessarily in the others. Climate change impacts varied among species and site conditions and this indicates that both of these components need to be taken into account in when considering climate change mitigation activities and adaptive management. The introduction of a new carbon indicator – Net Sector Productivity, promises to be useful in assessing management effectiveness and mitigation activities.
Sediment trap efficiency of paddy fields at the watershed scale in a mountainous catchment in Northwest Vietnam
Authors: Slaets J. I. F. , Schmitter P. , Hilger T. , Vien T. D. , Cadisch G.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Composite agricultural systems with permanent maize cultivation in the uplands and irrigated rice in the valleys are very common in mountainous Southeast Asia. The soil loss and fertility decline of the upland fields is well documented, but little is known about reallocation of these sediments within the landscape. In this study, a turbidity-based linear mixed model was used to quantify sediment inputs, from surface reservoir irrigation water and from direct overland flow, into a paddy area of 13 hectares. Simultaneously, the sediment load exported from the rice fields was determined. Mid-infrared spectroscopy was applied to analyze sediment particle size. Our results showed that per year, 64 Mg ha−1 of sediments were imported into paddy fields, of which around 75 % were delivered by irrigation water and the remainder by direct overland flow during rainfall events. Overland flow contributed one third of the received sandy fraction, while irrigated sediments were predominantly silty. Overall, rice fields were a net sink for sediments, trapping 28 Mg ha−1 a−1 or almost half of total sediment inputs. As paddy outflow consisted almost exclusively of silt- and clay-sized material, 24 Mg ha−1 a−1 of the trapped amount of sediment was estimated to be sandy. Under continued intensive upland maize cultivation, such a sustained input of coarse material could jeopardize paddy soil fertility, puddling capacity and ultimately also food security of the inhabitants of these mountainous areas. Preventing direct overland flow from entering the paddy fields, however, could reduce sand inputs by up to 34 %.
The Sodankylä in-situ soil moisture observation network: an example application to Earth Observation data product evaluation
Authors: Ikonen J. , Vehviläinen J. , Rautiainen K. , Smolander T. , Lemmetyinen J. , Bircher S. , Pulliainen J.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Soil moisture is one of the main drivers in water, energy, and carbon cycles. Both latent and sensible heat fluxes, governing the air temperature and humidity boundary layer over land, are affected by variations in soil moisture. During the last decade there has been considerable development in remote sensing techniques relating to soil moisture retrievals over large areas. Within the framework of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) a new soil moisture product has been generated, merging different satellite-based surface soil moisture based products. Such remotely sensed data needs to be validated by means of in-situ observations in different climatic regions. In that context, a comprehensive, distributed network of in-situ measurement stations gathering information on soil moisture, as well as soil temperature, has been set up in recent years at the Finnish Meteorological Institute's (FMI) Sodankylä Arctic research station. The network forms a (CAL-VAL) reference site and is used as a tool to evaluate the validity of satellite retrievals of soil properties. In this paper we present the Sodankylä CAL-VAL reference site soil moisture observation network. The procedures for choosing the representative sites for individual soil moisture network stations are discussed, as well as the development of a weighted average of top layer (5–10 cm) soil moisture over the study area. Comparisons of top layer soil moisture around the Sodankylä CAL-VAL site between the years 2012 and 2014 using ESA CCI soil moisture data against in-situ network observations were conducted. The comparisons were made against a single CCI data product pixel encapsulating the Sodankylä observation sites. Comparisons have been made against both daily CCI soil moisture estimates and against weekly running average values. Soil moisture comparisons are only conducted during snow free and thawed periods, as the presence of snow and soil frost interfere with Earth Observation (EO) data based soil moisture retrievals. While the overall achieved correlation between the CCI data product and in-situ observations was low (0.479), this was largely the result of a single year of observations (2014) with poor correlation metrics. The best values were achieved in 2012 and 2013 at 0.551 and 0.621. All years exhibit a negative (dry) bias ranging from 0.0346 to 0.046. Averaging CCI soil moisture data from daily to weekly estimates significantly improves both correlation and RMSE, but has little effect on bias. The average correlation between the CCI data product and weighted average in-situ observations improves from 0.479 to 0.637. The improvements in correlation are most pronounced in 2012 and 2013, with an improvement from 0.551 to 0.840 and from 0.621 to 0.813 respectively.