bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Built to last: The Dokdo territorial controversy. The baseline conditions in domestic politics and international security of Japan and South Korea
Authors: Bong Youngshik D
Published: March 2013

The baseline conditions in domestic politics and international security of Japan and South Korea compel these countries to deal with historical issues in provocative terms, with each side alienating the other. The current status of the Dokdo controversy between Japan and South Korea has remained largely unchanged since 1965, when the two countries signed the diplomatic normalization treaty: Japan continues its protest that South Korea has unlawfully occupied the islands, and South Korea responds that there is no dispute to be settled with Japan regarding the sovereign status of the islands. The path dependency from the past and domestic political institutions continue to deprive top decision makers in Japan and South Korea of political autonomy to move beyond the 1965 formula in addressing the issue of Dokdo in productive and forward-looking ways. Resolving the controversy would require a critical rupture in order to transform the current baseline conditions inherent in the Dokdo issue.
Parents Reap What They Sow
Authors: Ashton-James Claire E. , Kushlev Kostadin , Dunn Elizabeth W.
Published: March 2013

A controversial feature of modern parenting is “child-centrism,” the tendency for parents to prioritize their children’s well-being above their own. It has been suggested that child-centric parenting in its various forms may undermine parental well-being. Contrary to popular belief, more child-centric parents reported deriving more happiness and meaning from parenthood (Study 1). Study 2 employed the day reconstruction method (Kahneman, Krueger, Schkade, Schwarz, & Stone, 2004) to capture parents’ actual experiences while taking care of their children. Consistent with Study 1, greater child-centrism was associated with the experience of greater positive affect, less negative affect, and greater meaning in life when engaged in child care activities. This link between child-centrism and well-being stands in contrast to recent arguments about the pitfalls of overinvestment in children, while dovetailing with a growing body of evidence that personal well-being is associated with investing in others rather than oneself.
Molecular imaging in endoscopy
Authors: Hoetker Michael S , Goetz Martin
Published: March 2013

Molecular imaging focuses on the molecular signature of cells rather than morphological changes in the tissue. The need for this novel type of imaging arises from the often difficult detection and characterization especially of small and/or premalignant lesions. Molecular imaging specifically visualizes biological properties of a lesion and might thereby be able to close diagnostic gaps, e.g. when differentiating hyperplastic from neoplastic polyps or detecting the margins of intraepithelial neoplastic spread. Additionally, not only the detection and discrimination of lesions could be improved: based on the molecular features identified using molecular imaging, therapy regimens could be adjusted on the day of diagnosis to allow for personalized medicine and optimized care for each individual patient.
Laser fabrication of nickel aluminide coatings on Al2024 alloy
Authors: Tian Y S , Ge R
Published: March 2013

Coatings containing nickel aluminide were fabricated on Al alloy 2024 by laser alloying with pure Ni powder. Microstructure images illustrated that the coatings are free from cracks and pores and metallurgically bonded to substrate. Test results showed that the coatings have a microhardness of about 600 HV0·2 and the wear resistance is four times higher than that of the substrate. Laser processing parameters, especially power output and scanning speed, affect coating's quality significantly. Qualified coatings can be produced with a set of parameters of power output of 800 W, scanning speed of 8 mm s−1, beam size of 1·5 mm and overlap rate of 30%.
Wogonoside induces cell cycle arrest and differentiation by affecting expression and subcellular localization of PLSCR1 in AML cells
Authors: Chen Yan , Hui Hui , Yang Hao , Zhao Kai , Qin Yansu , Gu Cong , Wang Xiaotang , Lu Na , Guo Qinglong
Published: March 2013

Key Points

Wogonoside induces cell cycle arrest and differentiation. Wogonoside acts by changing PLSCR1 expression and subcellular localization in the nucleus and by PLSCR1-related molecular events.
Long-term repair of T-cell synapse activity in a phase II trial of chemoimmunotherapy followed by lenalidomide consolidation in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Authors: Shanafelt Tait D. , Ramsay Alan G. , Zent Clive S. , Leis Jose F. , Tun Han W. , Call Timothy G. , LaPlant Betsy , Bowen Deborah , Pettinger Adam , Jelinek Diane F. , Hanson Curtis A. , Kay Neil E.
Published: March 2013

Key Points

Lenalidomide consolidation repairs T-cell immune synapses in CLL patients. Lenalidomide consolidation improved the quality of response in CLL patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy.
Nedd8 processing enzymes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: O’Donoghue Jean E , Bech-Otschir Dawadschargal , Larsen Ida B , Wallace Mairi , Hartmann-Petersen Rasmus , Gordon Colin
Published: March 2013

Background

Conjugation of the ubiquitin-like modifier Nedd8 to cullins is critical for the function of SCF-type ubiquitin ligases and thus facilitates ubiquitin conjugation and ultimately degradation of SCF substrates, including several cell cycle regulators. Like ubiquitin, Nedd8 is produced as a precursor that must first be processed before it becomes active. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae this is carried out exclusively by the enzyme Yuh1.

Results

Here we show that in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the Yuh1 orthologue, Uch1, is not the sole Nedd8 processing enzyme. Instead it appears that deubiquitylating enzymes can efficiently process the Nedd8 precursor in vivo.

Conclusions

Several enzymes contribute to Nedd8 precursor processing including a number of deubiquitylating enzymes.
Identification of TRPC6 as a possible candidate target gene within an amplicon at 11q21-q22.2 for migratory capacity in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Bernaldo de Quirós Sandra , Merlo Anna , Secades Pablo , Zambrano Iriana , de Santa María Ines Saenz , Ugidos Nerea , Jantus-Lewintre Eloisa , Sirera Rafael , Suarez Carlos , Chiara María-Dolores
Published: March 2013

Background

Cytogenetic and gene expression analyses in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have allowed identification of genomic aberrations that may contribute to cancer pathophysiology. Nevertheless, the molecular consequences of numerous genetic alterations still remain unclear.

Methods

To identify novel genes implicated in HNSCC pathogenesis, we analyzed the genomic alterations present in five HNSCC-derived cell lines by array CGH, and compared high level focal gene amplifications with gene expression levels to identify genes whose expression is directly impacted by these genetic events. Next, we knocked down TRPC6, one of the most highly amplified and over-expressed genes, to characterize the biological roles of TRPC6 in carcinogenesis. Finally, real time PCR was performed to determine TRPC6 gene dosage and mRNA levels in normal mucosa and human HNSCC tissues.

Results

The data showed that the HNSCC-derived cell lines carry most of the recurrent genomic abnormalities previously described in primary tumors. High-level genomic amplifications were found at four chromosomal sites (11q21-q22.2, 18p11.31-p11.21, 19p13.2-p13.13, and 21q11) with associated gene expression changes in selective candidate genes suggesting that they may play an important role in the malignant behavior of HNSCC. One of the most dramatic alterations of gene transcription involved the TRPC6 gene (located at 11q21-q22.2) which has been recently implicated in tumour invasiveness. siRNA-induced knockdown of TRPC6 expression in HNSCC-derived cells dramatically inhibited HNSCC-cell invasion but did not significantly alter cell proliferation. Importantly, amplification and concomitant overexpression of TRPC6 was also found in HNSCC tumour samples.

Conclusions

Altogether, these data show that TRPC6 is likely to be a target for 11q21–22.2 amplification that confers enhanced invasive behavior to HNSCC cells. Therefore, TRPC6 may be a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of HNSCC.
Low expression of TFPI-2 associated with poor survival outcome in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Xu Cheng , Wang Huijun , He Hongyu , Zheng Fengyun , Chen Yating , Zhang Jin , Lin Xiaoyan , Ma Duan , Zhang Hongwei
Published: March 2013

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of TFPI-2 expression in breast cancer patients through examining the correlation between TFPI-2 expression and breast cancer clinicopathologic features.

Methods

Immunohistochemical staining combined with digital image analysis was used to quantify the expression of TFPI-2 protein in breast tumor tissues. For evaluation of the prognostic value of TFPI-2 expression to each clinicopathologic factor, Kaplan-Meier method and COX’s Proportional Hazard Model were employed.

Results

TFPI-2 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, clinical stage, and vessel invasion. More importantly, TFPI-2 expression was also associated with disease-free survival (DFS) of breast cancer patients. We found that patients with high TFPI-2 expression had longer DFS compared with those with low or negative expression of TFPI-2 (P <0.05, log-rank test). Cox’s regression analysis indicated that TFPI-2 expression, histologic grade, and vessel invasion might be significant prognostic factors for DFS, while TFPI-2 expression and histologic grade were the most significant independent predictors for tumor recurrence. Compared with the group with low/high TFPI-2 expression, the TFPI-2 negative group was more likely to have tumor relapse. The hazard ratio of DFS is 0.316 (P <0.01).

Conclusions

Low or negative expression of TFPI-2 is associated with breast cancer progression, recurrence and poor survival outcome after breast cancer surgery. TFPI-2 expression in breast tumors is a potential prognostic tool for breast cancer patients.
Design and experimental evaluation of a low-complexity spatial combiner for LTE distributed antenna systems
Authors: Soler-Garrido Josep , Sandell Magnus , Tosato Filippo , Milford David , Ahmed Imran
Published: March 2013

This article presents a distributed antenna system (DAS) architecture for small-cell base stations (BTSs), whereby cooperation between the DAS infrastructure and the BTS allows for an increase in performance compared to conventional systems, while at the same time keeping complexity and cost at low levels. Specifically, the article investigates the improvements in uplink physical layer performance achieved by adding an initial antenna combining step in the DAS system before conventional combining and equalization at the BTS. This initial step can be implemented in a very low-complexity fashion by performing all operations in the time domain and using channel state information calculated at the BTS itself. The article presents this technique in the context of an LTE DAS system. Results from both a software simulator and a custom-made hardware prototype are presented, establishing the feasibility of the proposed architecture.
Stochastic time‐concentration activity models for cytotoxicity in 3D brain cell cultures
Authors: Renner Maria , Zurich Marie-Gabrielle , Kopp-Schneider Annette
Published: March 2013

Background

In vitro aggregating brain cell cultures containing all types of brain cells have been shown to be useful for neurotoxicological investigations. The cultures are used for the detection of nervous system‐specific effects of compounds by measuring multiple endpoints, including changes in enzyme activities. Concentration‐dependent neurotoxicity is determined at several time points.

Methods

A Markov model was set up to describe the dynamics of brain cell populations exposed to potentially neurotoxic compounds. Brain cells were assumed to be either in a healthy or stressed state, with only stressed cells being susceptible to cell death. Cells may have switched between these states or died with concentration‐dependent transition rates. Since cell numbers were not directly measurable, intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was used as a surrogate. Assuming that changes in cell numbers are proportional to changes in intracellular LDH activity, stochastic enzyme activity models were derived. Maximum likelihood and least squares regression techniques were applied for estimation of the transition rates. Likelihood ratio tests were performed to test hypotheses about the transition rates. Simulation studies were used to investigate the performance of the transition rate estimators and to analyze the error rates of the likelihood ratio tests. The stochastic time‐concentration activity model was applied to intracellular LDH activity measurements after 7 and 14 days of continuous exposure to propofol. The model describes transitions from healthy to stressed cells and from stressed cells to death.

Results

The model predicted that propofol would affect stressed cells more than healthy cells. Increasing propofol concentration from 10 to 100 μ M reduced the mean waiting time for transition to the stressed state by 50%, from 14 to 7 days, whereas the mean duration to cellular death reduced more dramatically from 2.7 days to 6.5 hours.

Conclusion

The proposed stochastic modeling approach can be used to discriminate between different biological hypotheses regarding the effect of a compound on the transition rates. The effects of different compounds on the transition rate estimates can be quantitatively compared. Data can be extrapolated at late measurement time points to investigate whether costs and time‐consuming long‐term experiments could possibly be eliminated.
The index of tobacco treatment quality: development of a tool to assess evidence-based treatment in a national sample of drug treatment facilities
Authors: Cupertino A Paula , Hunt Jamie J , Gajewski Byron J , Jiang Yu , Marquis Janet , Friedmann Peter D , Engelman Kimberly K , Richter Kimber P
Published: March 2013

Background

Quitting smoking improves health and drug use outcomes among people in treatment for substance abuse. The twofold purpose of this study is to describe tobacco treatment provision across a representative sample of U.S. facilities and to use these data to develop the brief Index of Tobacco Treatment Quality (ITTQ).

Methods

We constructed survey items based on current tobacco treatment guidelines, existing surveys, expert input, and qualitative research. We administered the survey to a stratified sample of 405 facility administrators selected from all 3,800 U.S. adult outpatient facilities listed in the SAMHSA Inventory of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. We constructed the ITTQ with a subset of 7 items that have the strongest clinical evidence for smoking cessation.

Results

Most facilities (87.7%) reported that a majority of their clients were asked if they smoke cigarettes. Nearly half of facilities (48.6%) reported that a majority of their smoking clients were advised to quit. Fewer (23.3%) reported that a majority of their smoking clients received tobacco treatment counseling and even fewer facilities (18.3%) reported a majority of their smoking clients were advised to use quit smoking medications. The median facility ITTQ score was 2.57 (on a scale of 1–5) and the ITTQ displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .844). Moreover, the ITTQ had substantial test-retest reliability (.856), and ordinal confirmatory factor analysis found that our one-factor model for ITTQ fit the data very well with a CFI of 0.997 and an RMSEA of 0.042.

Conclusions

The ITTQ is a brief and reliable tool for measuring tobacco treatment quality in substance abuse treatment facilities. Given the clear-cut room for improvement in tobacco treatment, the ITTQ could be an important tool for quality improvement by identifying service levels, facilitating goal setting, and measuring change.
Inoculation of Triatoma Virus (Dicistroviridae: Cripavirus) elicits a non-infective immune response in mice
Authors: Querido Jailson F B , Agirre Jon , Marti Gerardo A , Guérin Diego M A , Silva Marcelo Sousa
Published: March 2013

Background

Dicistroviridaeis a new family of small, non-enveloped, +ssRNA viruses pathogenic to both beneficial arthropods and insect pests. Little is known about the dicistrovirus replication mechanism or gene function, and any knowledge on these subjects comes mainly from comparisons with mammalian viruses from thePicornaviridaefamily. Due to its peculiar genome organization and characteristics of theper osviral transmission route, dicistroviruses make good candidates for use as biopesticides.Triatoma virus(TrV) is a pathogen ofTriatoma infestans(Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of the human trypanosomiasis disease called Chagas disease. TrV was postulated as a potential control agent against Chagas’ vectors. Although there is no evidence that TrV nor other dicistroviruses replicate in species outside theInsectaclass, the innocuousness of these viruses in humans and animals needs to be ascertained.

Methods

In this study, RT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect the infectivity of this virus inMus musculusBALB/c mice.

Results

In this study we have observed that there is no significant difference in the ratio IgG2a/IgG1 in sera from animals inoculated with TrV when compared with non-inoculated animals or mice inoculated only with non-infective TrV protein capsids.

Conclusions

We conclude that, under our experimental conditions, TrV is unable to replicate in mice. This study constitutes the first test to evaluate the infectivity of a dicistrovirus in a vertebrate animal model.
LUMINEX®: a new technology for the simultaneous identification of five Entamoeba spp. commonly found in human stools
Authors: Santos Helena Lúcia Carneiro , Bandyopadhyay Kakali , Bandea Rebecca , Peralta Regina Helena Saramago , Peralta José Mauro , Da Silva Alexandre Januário
Published: March 2013

Background

Six species of the genusEntamoeba, i.e.,E. histolytica, E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, E. polecki, E. coli, and E. hartmaniican be found in human stools. Among these, onlyE. histolyticais considered to be pathogenic, causing intestinal and extra-intestinal disease, but it is morphologically identical toE. disparandE. moshkovskii. In general,E. polecki,E. coli, andE. hartmaniican be differentiated morphologically fromE. histolytica, but some of their diagnostic morphologic features may overlap creating issues for the differential diagnosis. Moreover, the previous inability to differentiate amongEntamoebaspecies has limited epidemiologic information onE histolytica. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, high-throughput screening method using Luminex technique for the simultaneous detection and differentiation ofEntamoebaspecies.

Methods

PCR amplification was performed with biotinylatedEntamoebasp 18S rRNA gene primers, designed to amplify a fragment ranging from 382 to 429 bp of theEntamoebaspp studied. Regions of this fragment that could differentiate amongE. histolytica,E. moshkovskii, E. dispar, E. hartmaniiandE. coliwere selected to design hybridization probes to link to Luminex beads. The assay was standardized with cloned DNA samples of each species and evaluated with 24 DNA extracts from samples obtained from individuals diagnosed with these amebas in their stools.

Results

Using this approach we were able to correctly identifyE. histoltyica,E. dispar,E hartmanni,E. coliandE. moshkovskiiin all specimens studied. From twenty four samples tested by microscopy, PCR/DNA Sequencing and real-time PCR, 100% agreed with PCR-Luminex assay for identification ofE. dispar, E. moshkovskii, E. hartmanni, E. histolytica,andE. coli.

Conclusion

These results show that this method could be used in the diagnostic detection ofEntamoebaspp in fecal samples. This diagnostic test was useful to clearly distinguish E histolytica from other species and also to strengthen epidemiologic data onEntamoebaspp.
An observational study on rhabdomyolysis in the intensive care unit. Exploring its risk factors and main complication: acute kidney injury
Authors: El-Abdellati Esmael , Eyselbergs Michiel , Sirimsi Halil , Hoof Viviane Van , Wouters Kristien , Verbrugghe Walter , Jorens Philippe G
Published: March 2013

Background

Because neither the incidence and risk factors for rhabdomyolysis in the ICU nor the dynamics of its main complication, i.e., rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) are well known, we retrospectively studied a large population of adult ICU patients (n = 1,769).

Methods

CK and sMb (serum myoglobin) and uMb (urinary myoglobin) were studied as markers of rhabdomyolysis and AKI (RIFLE criteria). Hemodialysis and mortality were used as outcome variables.

Results

Prolonged surgery, trauma, and vascular occlusions are associated with increasing CK values. CK correlates with sMb (p < 0.001) and peaks significantly later than sMb or uMb.

The logistic regression showed a positive correlation between CK and the development of AKI, with an OR of 2.21. Univariate logistic regression suggests that elevations of sMb and uMb are associated with the development of AKI, with odds ratios of 7.87 and 1.61 respectively. The ROC curve showed that for all three markers a significant correlation with AKI, for sMb with the greatest area under the curve. The best cutoff values for prediction of AKI were CK > 773 U/l; sMb > 368 μg/l and uMb > 38 μg/l respectively.

Conclusions

Because it also has extrarenal elimination kinetics, our data suggest that measuring myoglobin in patients at risk for rhabdomyolysis in the ICU may be useful.
Standard molar enthalpy of combustion and formation of quaternary ammonium tetrachlorozincate [n-CnH2n+1 N(CH3)3]2 ZnCl4
Authors: Ren Biyan , Zhang Shuying , Ruan Bei , Wu Kezhong , Zhang Jianjun
Published: March 2013

The standard molar enthalpy of combustion (Δc
H
o
m) and formation (Δf
H
o
m) of quaternary ammonium tetrachlorozincate [n-CnH2n+1N(CH3)3]2ZnCl4 have been determined for the hydrocarbon chain length from even number 8 to 18 of carbon atoms (n) by an oxygen-bomb combustion calorimeter. The results indicated that the values of Δc
H
o
m increased and Δf
H
o
m decreased with increasing chain length and showed a linear dependence on the number of carbon atoms, which were caused by that the order and rigidity of the hydrocarbon chain decreased with increasing the carbon atoms. The linear regression equations are -Δc
H
o
m =1440.50n +3730.67 and -Δf
H
o
m = −85.32n + 1688.22.
2013 Updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards Including Standards for the Safe Administration and Management of Oral Chemotherapy
Authors: Neuss Michael N. , Polovich Martha , McNiff Kristen , Esper Peg , Gilmore Terry R. , LeFebvre Kristine B. , Schulmeister Lisa , Jacobson Joseph O.
Published: March 2013

Chemotherapy providers have generally developed and implemented good practices around the safe delivery of intravenous chemotherapy. Nonetheless, practices applying for QOPI certification usually modify or expand one or more processes to meet standards for safe parenteral administration.
Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification Program: Measuring Implementation of Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards in the Outpatient Oncology Setting
Authors: Gilmore Terry R. , Schulmeister Lisa , Jacobson Joseph O.
Published: March 2013

The QOPI Certification Program addresses the Institute of Medicine call to close the quality gap by aligning evidence-based guidelines and consensus-driven standards with requirements for oncology practices to develop and maintain structural safety components.
Role of Thyroid Hormone Receptor Subtypes α and β on Gene Expression in the Cerebral Cortex and Striatum of Postnatal Mice
Authors: Gil-Ibañez Pilar , Morte Beatriz , Bernal Juan
Published: March 2013

The effects of thyroid hormones (THs) on brain development and function are largely mediated by the control of gene expression. This is achieved by the binding of the genomically active T3 to transcriptionally active nuclear TH receptors (TRs). T3 and the TRs can either induce or repress transcription. In hypothyroidism, the reduction of T3 lowers the expression of a set of genes, the positively regulated genes, and increases the expression of negatively regulated genes. Two mechanisms may account for the effect of hypothyroidism on genes regulated directly by T3: first, the loss of T3 signaling and TR transactivation, and second, an intrinsic activity of the unliganded TRs directly responsible for repression of positive genes and enhancement of negative genes. To analyze the contribution of the TR subtypes α and β, we have measured by RT-PCR the expression of a set of positive and negative genes in the cerebral cortex and the striatum of TR-knockout male and female mice. The results indicate that TRα1 exerts a predominant but not exclusive role in the regulation of positive and negative genes. However, a fraction of the genes analyzed are not or only mildly affected by the total absence of TRs. Furthermore, hypothyroidism has a mild effect on these genes in the absence of TRα1, in agreement with a role of unliganded TRα1 in the effects of hypothyroidism.
Connectivity of Random Geometric Graphs Related to Minimal Spanning Forests
Authors: Hirsch C. , Neuhäuser D. , Schmidt V.
Published: March 2013

The almost-sure connectivity of the Euclidean minimal spanning forest MSF(X) on a homogeneous Poisson point processX⊂ ℝdis an open problem for dimensiond>2. We introduce a descending family of graphs (Gn)n≥2 that can be seen as approximations to the MSF in the sense that MSF(X)=∩n=2∞Gn(X). Forn=2, one recovers the relative neighborhood graph or, in other words, the β-skeleton with β=2. We show that almost-sure connectivity ofGn(X) holds for alln≥2, all dimensionsd≥2, and also point processesXmore general than the homogeneous Poisson point process. In particular, we show that almost-sure connectivity holds if certain continuum percolation thresholds are strictly positive or, more generally, if almost surelyXdoes not admit generalized descending chains.
Estimates of the Exit Probability for Two Correlated Brownian Motions
Authors: Shao Jinghai , Wang Xiuping
Published: March 2013

Given two correlated Brownian motions (Xt)t≥ 0 and (Yt)t≥ 0 with constant correlation coefficient, we give the upper and lower estimations of the probability ℙ(max0 ≤s≤tXs≥ a, max0 ≤s≤tYs≥ b) for any a,b,t > 0 through explicit formulae. Our strategy is to establish a new reflection principle for two correlated Brownian motions, which can be viewed as an extension of the reflection principle for one-dimensional Brownian motion. Moreover, we also consider the nonexit probability for linear boundaries, i.e. ℙ (Xt ≤ at+c,Yt ≤ bt+d, 0≤ t≤T) for any constants a, b≥0 and c,d, T > 0.
Loss Systems with Slow Retrials in the Halfin–Whitt Regime
Authors: Avram F. , Janssen A. J. E. M. , Van Leeuwaarden J. S. H.
Published: March 2013

The Halfin–Whitt regime, or the quality-and-efficiency-driven (QED) regime, for multiserver systems refers to a situation with many servers, a critical load, and yet favorable system performance. We apply this regime to the classical multiserver loss system with slow retrials. We derive nondegenerate limiting expressions for the main steady-state performance measures, including the retrial rate and the blocking probability. It is shown that the economies of scale associated with the QED regime persist for systems with retrials, although in situations when the load becomes extremely critical the retrials cause deteriorated performance. Most of our results are obtained by a detailed analysis of Cohen's equation that defines the retrial rate in an implicit way. The limiting expressions are established by studying prelimit behavior and exploiting the connection between Cohen's equation and Mills' ratio for the Gaussian and Poisson distributions.
Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery
Authors: Bucci Federico , Plagnol Philippe
Published: March 2013

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare condition caused by a cystic abnormality of the adventitia. It is most commonly found in young or middle-aged adults without significant risk factors for peripheral arterial disease. The disease usually affects the popliteal artery and can present with intermittent claudication. We present a case of CAD of the popliteal artery in a 65-year-old man and describe its treatment. For symptomatic patients, treatment of choice remains surgical resection of the cyst through a posterior approach.
Limb salvage in a child with severely injured mangled lower extremity and muscle rigor
Authors: Elsharawy Mohamed A , Maher Karay , Elsaid Aymen S
Published: March 2013

Most surgeons make their decision to amputate or perform limb salvage of a mangled extremity based on scoring systems and grading of acute ischemic limb. We report on a child in whom limb salvage was achieved in spite of a clinical picture of irreversible ischemia with high mangled severity scores. Attempts to revascularize the mangled extremity of children are recommended, regardless of their severity scores and condition of the foot.
Longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) diversity in a fragmented temperate forest landscape
Authors: Pavuk Daniel M , Wadsworth Andrea M
Published: March 2013

Longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are an important component of temperate forest ecosystems.  We trapped longhorned beetles in forests in northwest Ohio during 2008 to test the hypothesis that larger forests have greater species diversity than smaller forests.  Large forests had a significantly greater cerambycid species richness than small forests (t = 3.16. P = 0.02), and there was a significant relationship between forest size and cerambycid species richness.
An Outer-Inner Approximation for Separable Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programs
Authors: Hijazi Hassan , Bonami Pierre , Ouorou Adam
Published: March 2013

A common structure in convex mixed-integer nonlinear programs (MINLPs) is separable nonlinear functions. In the presence of such structures, we propose three improvements to the outer approximation algorithms. The first improvement is a simple extended formulation, the second is a refined outer approximation, and the third is a heuristic inner approximation of the feasible region. As a side result, we exhibit a simple example where a classical implementation of the outer approximation would take an exponential number of iterations, whereas it is easily solved with our modifications. These methods have been implemented in the open source solver Bonmin and are available for download from the Computational Infrastructure for Operations Research project website. We test the effectiveness of the approach on three real-world applications and on a larger set of models from an MINLP benchmark library. Finally, we show how the techniques can be extended to perspective formulations of several problems. The proposed tools lead to an important reduction in computing time on most tested instances.
Come together: Forging publics in Brisbane’s Gallery of modern Art
Authors: Coombs Gretchen , O’Connor Justin
Published: March 2013

The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city, recently staged ‘21st Century: Art of the First Decade’. The gallery spaces were replete with a commissioned slide by Carsten Höller, an installation of Rivane Neuenschwande’s
I Wish Your Wish (2003), a table of white Legos, a room of purple balloons and other participatory or interactive artworks designed to engage multiple publics and encourage audience participation in a variety of ways. Many of the featured projects used day-to-day experiences and offered new
conceptions about art practice and what they can elicit in their public – raise awareness about local issues, help audiences imagine different ways of negotiating their environs or experi-ence a museum in a new way. At times, the bottom floor galleries resembled a theme park –
adults and children playing with Legos and using Höller’s slide.

This article examines the benefits and limitations of such artistic interventions by relating the GoMA exhibition to Brisbane City Council’s campaign of ‘Together Brisbane’ (featuring images of
Neunenschwande’s ribbons); a response to the devastation brought to the city and its surrounds in January 2011. During the Brisbane floods, GoMA’s basement was damaged, the museum closed and upon reopening, visitor numbers soared. In this context, GoMA’s use of engaged art
practice – always verging on the ephemeral and ‘fun’ – has been used to project a wider notion of a collective urban public. What questions does this raise, not only regarding the cultural politics around the social and participatory ‘turn’ in art practice,
but its use to address a much wider urban public in a moment of crisis.
Academic entrepreneurship: Barriers and fears versus wishes and opportunities
Authors: Binkauskas Gintaras
Published: March 2013

The aim of this article is to investigate the identification of the attitude of researchers towards entrepreneurialism and academic-entrepreneurs and the main barriers that hinder researchers’ entrepreneurialism in universities. The purpose of this research is also to identify
the main reasons that determine that universities as organized institutions are passive in commercializing research findings. The mission of universities as principal knowledge-generating institutions has always been education and science; however, during the last two decades yet another mission
of universities has developed, which has adequately emerged as a response to global processes, ever-changing environment, internationalization of studies and science, and increased competition.
Color sensitivity of the multi-exposure HDR imaging process
Authors: Lenseigne Boris , Jacobs Valéry Ann , Withouck Martijn , Hanselaer Peter , Jonker Pieter P.
Published: March 2013

Multi-exposure high dynamic range(HDR) imaging builds HDR radiance maps by stitching together different views of a same scene with varying exposures. Practically, this process involves converting raw sensor data into low dynamic range (LDR) images, estimate the camera response curves, and use them in order to recover the irradiance for every pixel. During the export, applying white balance settings and image stitching, which both have an influence on the color balance in the final image. In this paper, we use a calibrated quasi-monochromatic light source, an integrating sphere, and a spectrograph in order to evaluate and compare the average spectral response of the image sensor. We finally draw some conclusion about the color consistency of HDR imaging and the additional steps necessary to use multi-exposure HDR imaging as a tool to measure the physical quantities such as radiance and luminance.
Red cell indices: differentiation between β-thalassemia trait and iron deficiency anemia and application to sickle cell disease and sickle cell thalassemia
Authors: Sahli Chaima A. , Bibi Amina , Ouali Faida , Fredj Sondess Hadj , Dakhlaoui Boutheina , Othmani Rym , Laaouini Naouel , Jouini Latifa , Ouenniche Fekria , Siala Hajer , Touhami Imed , Becher Mariem , Fattoum Slaheddine , El Houda Toumi Nour , Messaoud Taieb
Published: March 2013

Background: In Tunisia, thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SS) represent the most prevalent monogenic hemoglobin disorders with 2.21% and 1.89% of carriers, respectively. This study aims to evaluate the diagnosis reliability of 12 red blood cell (RBC) indices in differentiation of β-thalassemia trait (β-TT) from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and between homozygous SS and sickle cell thalassemia (ST).

Methods: The study covered 384 patients divided into three groups. The first one is composed of 145 control group, the second consists of 57 β-TT and 52 IDA subjects and the last one with 88 SS and 42 ST patients. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive values, negative-predictive values, percentage of correctly identified patients and Youden’s Index (YI) for each indice. We also established new cut-off values by receiver operating characteristic curves for each indice. An evaluation study was performed on another population composed of 106 β-TT, 125 IDA, 31 SS, and 17 ST patients.

Results: Srivastava Index (SI) shows the highest reliability in discriminating β-TT from IDA at 5.17 as a cut-off and also SS from ST with 7.7 as another threshold. Mentzer Index (MI) and RBC appear also useful in both groups with new cut-offs slightly different from those described in literature for β-TT and IDA.

Conclusions: The effectiveness and the simplicity of calculation of these indices make them acceptable and easy to use. They can be relied on for differential diagnosis and even for diagnosis of β-TT with atypical HbA2 levels.
Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the oral cavity during pregnancy
Authors: Ghadimi-Mahani Mohsen , McDonnold Mollie A. , Jana Bagi , Markowitz Avi , Willis Maurice , Harirah Hassan
Published: March 2013

Head and neck cancer in pregnancy is a rare disease and difficult to manage. Few case reports exist in the medical literature. We present the case of a pregnant woman with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. While initial management in the general population may consist of surgery and, if not possible, concomitant chemotherapy and radiation, these modalities were not an option for this patient given her pregnant state. As an alternative, she was treated through gestation with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. She experienced significant reduction in tumor size and associated symptoms, and fetal growth remained normal and there were no fetal myelosuppresive effects noted at birth. Risks of chemotherapy and radiation in pregnancy are reviewed.
Extensions of tame algebras and
finite group schemes of domestic representation type
Authors: Farnsteiner Rolf
Published: March 2013

Let k be an algebraically closed field. Given an extension A : B of finite-dimensional k-algebras, we establish criteria ensuring that the representation-theoretic notion of polynomial growth is preserved under ascent and descent. These results are then used to show that principal blocks of finite group schemes of odd characteristic are of polynomial growth if and only if they are Morita equivalent to trivial extensions of radical square zero tame hereditary algebras. In that case, the blocks are of domestic representation type and the underlying
group schemes are closely related to binary polyhedral group schemes.
The influence of lathe check depth and orientation on the bond quality of phenol-formaldehyde – bonded birch plywood
Authors: Rohumaa Anti , Hunt Christopher G. , Hughes Mark , Frihart Charles R. , Logren Janne
Published: March 2013

During the rotary peeling of veneer for plywood or the laminated veneer lumber manufacture, checks are formed in the veneer that are as deep as 70–80% of the veneer thickness. The results of this study show that, during adhesive bond testing, deep lathe checks in birch (Betula pendula Roth.) veneer significantly reduce the shear strength and the percent wood failure of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) – bonded plywood. The results also show that specimens tested with the checks pulled open or closed can fail by different mechanisms. Dried rotary peeled birch veneers were sanded to create uniform surfaces with lathe check depths varying from 30% to 90% of veneer thickness. Then, 7-ply plywood was manufactured with a commercial PF resin. After the preparation of the test specimens, the check depth of each specimen was measured microscopically. Subsequently, bond quality was measured according to EN 314. The results show that veneer checking alone can bring EN 314 specimens to the brink of failure even with an excellent adhesive. These findings stress the importance of measuring the depth of lathe checks and considering the orientations of checks during the testing to get a better understanding of bond quality in veneer-based products.
Nanocellulose: From Nature to High Performance Tailored Material
Authors: Gray D.
Published: March 2013

No abstract available.
Cyclophilin D as a potential target for antioxidants in neurodegeneration: the X-ALD case
Authors: López-Erauskin Jone , Ferrer Isidre , Galea Elena , Pujol Aurora
Published: March 2013

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a severe inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by adrenal insufficiency and graded damage in the nervous system. Loss of function of the peroxisomal ABCD1 fatty-acid transporter, resulting in the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids in organs and plasma, is the genetic cause. Treatment with a combination of antioxidants halts the axonal degeneration and locomotor impairment displayed by the animal model of X-ALD, and is a proof of concept that oxidative stress contributes to axonal damage. New evidence demonstrates that metabolic failure and the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore orchestrated by cyclophilin D underlies oxidative stress-induced axonal degeneration. Thus, cyclophilin D could serve as a therapeutic target for the treatment of X-ALD and cyclophilin D-dependent neurodegenerative and non-neurodegenerative diseases.
Notes on English used as a lingua franca as an object of study
Authors: Mortensen Janus
Published: March 2013

This article discusses how English used as a lingua franca (ELF) can be defined as an object of study. It offers a critical appraisal of a high-profile definition of ELF (the VOICE/Seidlhofer definition), and argues that definitions of this kind, whether purposely or not, in effect invite conceptualizations of ELF as a reified entity. This kind of reification is shown to entail a number of problems, the main one being that reified conceptualizations of ELF as an object of study are at odds with the available empirical evidence. On the basis of this critique, the article suggests an alternative approach to the conceptualization of ELF where ELF is defined in straightforward functional terms as the use of English in a lingua franca language scenario. This definition underscores the complexity and breadth of ELF as an object of study, and highlights that researchers in the field of ELF studies need to acknowledge this complexity and adopt structured methods in dealing with it. Using well-known examples from the literature, the article shows that Dell Hymes's SPEAKING heuristic may be employed as one such tool.
Prostaglandin receptor EP3 mediates growth inhibitory effect of aspirin through androgen receptor and contributes to castration resistance in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Kashiwagi Eiji , Shiota Masaki , Yokomizo Akira , Itsumi Momoe , Inokuchi Junichi , Uchiumi Takeshi , Naito Seiji
Published: March 2013

Although numerous epidemiological studies show aspirin to reduce risk of prostate cancer, the mechanism of this effect is unclear. Here, we first confirmed that aspirin downregulated androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen in prostate cancer cells. We also found that aspirin upregulated prostaglandin receptor subtype EP3 but not EP2 or EP4. The EP3 antagonist L798106 and EP3 knockdown increased AR expression and cell proliferation, whereas the EP3 agonist sulprostone decreased them, indicating that EP3 affects AR expression. Additionally,EP3(PTGER3) transcript levels were significantly decreased in human prostate cancer tissues compared with those in normal human prostate tissues, suggesting that EP3 is important to prostate carcinogenesis. Decreased EP3 expression was also seen in castration-resistant subtype CxR cells compared with parental LNCaP cells. Finally, we found that aspirin and EP3 modulators affected prostate cancer cell growth. Taken together, aspirin suppressed LNCaP cell proliferation via EP3 signaling activation; EP3 downregulation contributed to prostate carcinogenesis and to progression from androgen-dependent prostate cancer to castration-resistant prostate cancer by regulating AR expression. In conclusion, cyclooxygenases and EP3 may represent attractive therapeutic molecular targets in androgen-dependent prostate cancer.
The role of insulin and IGF system in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Trajkovic-Arsic Marija , Kalideris Evdokia , Siveke Jens T
Published: March 2013

The importance of the IGF system in carcinogenesis has been established for many solid cancers. It is well known that individuals with higher circulating levels of the IGF1 ligand present an increased risk of cancer. However, therapies with monoclonal antibodies targeting the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) have been largely unsuccessful. One of the potential reasons for this failure is the existence of the highly homologous insulin receptor (IR), which appears to be at least equally efficient as the IGF1R in the transition of mitogenic signals to the nucleus and promotion of cell growth. Furthermore, IGF1 and insulin receptors can form hybrid receptors sensitive to stimulation of all three ligands of the system: insulin, IGF1, and IGF2. Although the connection between insulin, diabetes, and cancer has been established for years now, clear evidence that demonstrate the redundancy of insulin and insulin receptors and insulin-like growth factors and their receptors in cancer is missing. In this review, we focus on the contribution of insulin and IGFs to carcinogenesis in the insulin-producing organ, the pancreas. We give a short summary on the complexity of insulin and the IGF system in the pancreas and their potential roles in pancreatic cancer, especially pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Finally, we discuss drug-targeting options of this system and the rationale of simultaneous targeting of both the insulin and the IGF systems.
Raman Scattering and Photoluminescence transformation in core/shell CdSe/ZnS Quantum dots with Interface state at the bioconjugation
Authors: Rodríguez I. Ch. Ballardo , Hernandez A.Vivas
Published: March 2013

Papers in the Appendix were published in electronic format as Volume 1534
A Sarcomere-Mimetic Gel: Gelation of Astral-Shaped Actin Filaments with Their Plus End Connected on Photopolymer Beads by Myosin Filaments
Authors: Ikawa Taiji , Shiozawa Masahito , Mouri Makoto , Narita Mamiko , Watanabe Osamu
Published: March 2013

We have developed a method of a stepwise construction of a gel consisting of (i) astral-shaped actin filaments with their plus end connected on photo-responsive polymer beads and (ii) bipolar myosin filaments as linkers in order to mimic sarcomeric structure, the basic unit of a muscle. In the method, firstly, 4 μm diam. beads were prepared from an acrylate polymer containing azobenzene moiety by a good-solvent evaporation technique. Next, gelsolin, which servers and remains bound to the plus end of an actin filament, was adsorbed and then immobilized on the bead surface by exposure to light from blue light-emitting diodes, and then fluorescent actin filaments were mixed with the beads. Formation of star-like, astral actin filaments on the beads were observed in fluorescent microscopy. Finally, the beads with actin filaments were mixed with myosin mini filaments with ca. 1 μm in length. Dozens of the beads were observed to be assembled into a gel form in optical microscopy. After adding adenosine triphosphate to the gel solution, the gel was slowly contract up to 60% comparing with its original volume, suggesting that linker myosin filaments moved on the actin filaments toward the plus end on the beads.