bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extending the concept of awareness to include static and dynamic person information
Authors: Danis Catalina M.
Published: May 2014

One of the goals of my work is to build Web spaces that promote collaborative activities among people who meet in online environments. In this endeavor, conventional concepts of awareness that stress presence and activity information are critical to informing the design of environments to support interactions among strangers. Knowing that people are around and what they are doing helps set the stage for social interaction. However, the task confronting strangers is to identify the "right" people to interact with. By this I mean, the ones who have the skills, knowledge, interests and motivation to provide value to the other party. Systems that are informed by current concepts of awareness do not help an individual address the
selection question.
In this position paper, I argue that the current concepts of awareness need to be extended to provide descriptive information about people to support the selection task. The descriptive information is of two types: dynamic and static. Static information is a priori collected characterizations of a person. Such descriptions might include a person's skills, interests, goals and any other data that would enable others to judge whether an interaction with a specific purpose might be of interest. Dynamic data is emergent. It is based on observation of a person's activities and is the by-product of such activity. Participants can use data from these two sources to select people with whom to interact and to guide their interactions.I am applying these notions to a system called ePlace with which I have been working for the past year. ePlace is a 2-D visualization environment that provides visitors to a Web site with awareness of other visitors to that site. It does this through the use of an abstract graphical representation of people and activities [for a detailed description see 8].
From information to conversation
Authors: Robinson Mike , You Yu , Pekkola Samuli
Published: May 2014

We support the calls from many commentators to include human interaction
in
the web, rather than as an extra
outside
the web. We suggest a generic model of awareness, and some specific interpretations: action-event couplings to call a receiver;
general
awareness of
known others;
and
local
awareness of
all others.
We then consider extensions to the web into mobile and domestic appliances, and suggest that an underlying awareness service will be needed there as much, or more than in classic desktop web access.
Designing reflective dialogue to support learning from experience
Authors: Aakhus Mark
Published: May 2014

This paper discusses the design and use of a web-based application-"virtual dialectic"-created to facilitate learning from experience among distributed participants who are also engaged in work. The approach taken in developing this application embraces the observation that language is a form of action and the importance of technological design in helping people manage "break down" in ongoing activities [1]. The virtual dialectic, unlike many CSCW systems, is not designed to directly support the conduct of some particular work practice. Instead, the application addresses how people make sense of communication at work and in professional life with the goal of helping individuals develop their self-understanding and identity as professionals. The application draws users attention to aspects of organizational action they might otherwise take for granted by providing "micro" and "macro" tools for participants to orchestrate their distant interaction as a type of reflective dialogue.The virtual dialectic application is an interesting case for those interested in the language action perspective on communication modeling because this application explores, essentially, how to articulate cooperation at conflict. Such a design goal may, on its face, seem odd since many CSCW systems are geared toward the achievement of consensus and intersubjectivity among users. Alterity, disagreement, and conflict, however, are important collaborative achievements that contribute to learning, decision-making, and innovation processes.This paper has two parts. First, the key aspects of the virtual dialectic application are described relative to the background assumptions, and the context of development, that inform its design. This section outlines the rationale for framing design as the management of disagreement rather than the management of consensus. The broader design assumptions, requirements, and procedures of the virtual dialectic are described in derail elsewhere [2]. Second, an example of online interaction using the virtual dialectic is discussed to illustrate the complex ways in which participants avoid and express opposition. The main purpose is to explore the important puzzle managing disagreement presents for designing systems to support processes such as learning and deliberation.
A framework for the normative analysis of workflow loops
Authors: Weigand Hans , de Moor Aldo
Published: May 2014

The goal of this paper is to make the communication norms underlying various LAP (Language/Action Perspective) workflow loop models (DEMO, ActionWorkflow) explicit and to contrast them with auditing norms. The transaction paradigm of DEMO and the customer satisfaction orientation of Action Workflow lead to norms which resemble the ones required by internal control, but there are some important differences. We propose a framework for the normative analysis of communication structures in which customer relations and agency relations are distinguished. Whereas most LAP approaches do not take agency relations explicitly into account, the extended workflow loop model allows us to analyze the effects of delegation on communicative structures.
A note on getting started with FLBC
Authors: Kimbrough Steven Orla
Published: May 2014

My aim in this note is to provide a series of examples that will serve to illustrate how to symbolize English sentences in a manner concording with the theory I have been developing for an FLBC (formal language for business communication, cf. [3, 6, 8, 7, 5, 9, 4]). In that theory, which can be called the
lean event semantics with disquotation
(LESD) theory, first-order logic is used for (nearly) all representations. The version of FLBC being illustrated here I shall call Elementary FLBC. The presentation is example-driven. Theory is used and alluded to, but must be accessed in other writings as cited above.
Guidance navigation
Authors: Nakamura Shoichi , Sato Kazuhiko , Miyadera Youzou , Koyama Akio , Cheng Zixue
Published: May 2014

Recently, learning activities adopting web documents as learning materials have become quite prosperous with the rapid developments of network environment. This change has brought about diversification of needs in learning. Therefore, development of novel learning styles, which can satisfy various needs based on each learner's interests, knowledge, and so on, is strongly demanded. In this research, a synthetic environment for supporting novel learning styles has been developed.This paper mainly describes algorithms for supporting instructors to grasp learning situation, which is quite important for effective guidance. Specifically, algorithms for constructing valuable support knowledge based on visualization of learning information are developed. Algorithms for creating guidance navigation, which manages each instructor's guidance styles and assists his selecting support knowledge, are also developed. Finally, the effectiveness of developed support algorithms has been shown by experiments.
Coping with conflict in concurrent design environment
Authors: Kim Myong Ok
Published: May 2014

In concurrent design the design teams participating in a project have different perspectives, and those differences lead to conflicting decisions. The resolution model, mediator, proposed in this work provides system-mediated resolution to optimize the design process in general. This paper introduces the core concept of the mediator, which produces a resolution network from a given constraint network and determines the most optimistic resolution in terms of satisfying overall constraints based on rational reasoning.
Biological storytelling
Authors: Kuchinsky Allan , Graham Kathy , Moh David , Adler Annette , Babaria Ketan , Creech Michael L.
Published: May 2014

We have built software tools to support the hypothesis formulation activities of molecular biologists, in particular the activities of organizing, retrieving, using, sharing, and reusing diverse biological information. A key aspect of our approach, based upon the findings of user studies, is the use of
narrative structure
as a conceptual framework for developing and representing the "story" of how genes, proteins, and other molecules interact in biological processes.
Biological stories
are represented textually and graphically within a simple conceptual model of
items, collections
, and
stories
.
The VISTA architecture
Authors: Figa Elizabeth , Tarau Paul
Published: May 2014

VISTAs (Virtual Interactive Story Telling Agents) interact with users through natural language query/answer patterns derived from the analysis of narrative content developed from multimedia. This paper describes the rationale for agent development, their software components, and the overall architecture for VISTAs, which are used as a form of high-level dialog manager to provide information retrieval for educational and entertainment purposes.
Can community knowledge exceed its members'?
Authors: Stahl Gerry
Published: May 2014

We are investigating the nature of knowledge building in virtual communities. In particular, we are exploring the possibility that a small group of students collaborating online on math problems can construct shared group knowledge that exceeds the knowledge of the individual group members. That is, can people working and learning as a community accomplish tasks that none of them would have been able to do individually?
Knowledge creating communities in the context of work processes
Authors: Fuchs-Kittowski Frank , Köhler André
Published: May 2014

This article deals with the support potential of knowledge communities for a co-operative knowledge generation and problem solving before the background of the increasing economic importance of knowledge-intensive processes. Therefore, requirements for an IT-support of a co-operative knowledge generation and problem solving via knowledge communities are being developed that are of significance in the induction and dissemination of knowledge within communities. Special emphasis is put on the integration of the knowledge of the community into relevant work processes aiming at an initiation of synergies with this combination. According to the above- mentioned requirements, we will present the realisation of a knowledge community with the help of the Wiki-approach. Thereupon, a concept for integrating knowledge communities in process-oriented knowledge structures will be developed by creating an adequate interface. This concept could be realised in a prototype way in an implementation. The developed prototype will be described in a brief case study.
Virtual communities in health care
Authors: Krcmar H. , Arnold Y. , Daum M. , Leimeister J. M.
Published: May 2014

This paper focuses on the process of designing, implementing and evaluating a community platform for cancer patients. Following an introduction to the situation of cancer patients in Germany we summarize our findings on cancer patients' demands for trustworthy information as well as their need for interaction with peers in similar situations. On this basis we describe the process of translating socio-technical needs into system requirements and the steps undertaken to develop a functioning community platform for cancer patients. We combine a generic iterative process model for systems' development with elements of prototyping towards an engineering process model for community platforms for cancer patients. We then describe the evaluation framework and first results.
Virtual collaboration in oil and gas organizations
Authors: Gulbrandsøy Kenneth , Hepsø Vidar , Skavhaug Amund
Published: May 2014

This paper covers some general observations regarding the relations between remote operation concepts and virtual organizations. In this paper we will show that remote operation concepts among other things involve developing systems supporting communication and collaboration in virtual organizations. In an effort to reduce the complexity we have categorized the different communication and collaboration requirements, with respect to the three lines of operation in the O&G industry. This categorization is then used as a platform for discussing the different needs and challenges that a remote operation concept presents.
Esophageal reflexes modulate frontoparietal response in neonates: Novel application of concurrent NIRS and provocative esophageal manometry
Authors: Jadcherla Sudarshan R. , Pakiraih Joanna F. , Hasenstab Kathryn A. , Dar Irfaan , Gao Xiaoyu , Bates D. Gregory , Kashou Nasser H.
Published: May 2014

Central and peripheral neural regulation of swallowing and aerodigestive reflexes is unclear in human neonates. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive method to measure changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbD). Pharyngoesophageal manometry permits evaluation of aerodigestive reflexes. Modalities were combined to investigate feasibility and to test neonatal frontoparietal cortical changes during pharyngoesophageal (visceral) stimulation and/or swallowing. Ten neonates (45.6 ± 3.0 wk postmenstrual age, 4.1 ± 0.5 kg) underwent novel pharyngoesophageal manometry concurrent with NIRS. To examine esophagus-brain interactions, we analyzed cortical hemodynamic response (HDR) latency and durations during aerodigestive provocation and esophageal reflexes. Data are presented as means ± SE or percent. HDR rates were 8.84 times more likely with basal spontaneous deglutition compared with sham stimuli ( P = 0.004). Of 182 visceral stimuli, 95% were analyzable for esophageal responses, 38% for HDR, and 36% for both. Of analyzable HDR ( n = 70): 1) HbO concentration (μmol/l) baseline 1.5 ± 0.7 vs. 3.7 ± 0.7 poststimulus was significant ( P = 0.02), 2) HbD concentration (μmol/l) between baseline 0.1 ± 0.4 vs. poststimulus −0.5 ± 0.4 was not significant ( P = 0.73), and 3) hemispheric lateralization was 21% left only, 29% right only, and 50% bilateral. During concurrent esophageal and NIRS responses ( n = 66): 1) peristaltic reflexes were present in 74% and HDR in 61% and 2) HDR was 4.75 times more likely with deglutition reflex vs. secondary peristaltic reflex ( P = 0.016). Concurrent NIRS with visceral stimulation is feasible in neonates, and frontoparietal cortical activation is recognized. Deglutition contrasting with secondary peristalsis is related to cortical activation, thus implicating higher hierarchical aerodigestive protective functional neural networks.
Hyperthermia modulates regional differences in cerebral blood flow to changes in CO2
Authors: Ogoh Shigehiko , Sato Kohei , Okazaki Kazunobu , Miyamoto Tadayoshi , Hirasawa Ai , Shibasaki Manabu
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study was to assess blood flow responses to changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA), and vertebral artery (VA) during normothermic and hyperthermic conditions. Eleven healthy subjects aged 22 ± 2 (SD) yr were exposed to passive whole body heating followed by spontaneous hypocapnic and hypercapnic challenges in normothermic and hyperthermic conditions. Right ICA, ECA, and VA blood flows, as well as left middle cerebral artery (MCA) mean blood velocity ( Vmean), were measured. Esophageal temperature was elevated by 1.53 ± 0.09°C before hypocapnic and hypercapnic challenges during heat stress. Whole body heating increased ECA blood flow and cardiac output by 130 ± 78 and 47 ± 26%, respectively ( P < 0.001), while blood flow (or velocity) in the ICA, MCA, and VA was reduced by 17 ± 14, 24 ± 18, and 12 ± 7%, respectively ( P < 0.001). Regardless of the thermal conditions, ICA and VA blood flows and MCA Vmean were decreased by hypocapnic challenges and increased by hypercapnic challenges. Similar responses in ECA blood flow were observed in hyperthermia but not in normothermia. Heat stress did not alter CO2 reactivity in the MCA and VA. However, CO2 reactivity in the ICA was decreased (3.04 ± 1.17 vs. 2.23 ± 1.03%/mmHg; P = 0.039) but that in the ECA was enhanced (0.45 ± 0.47 vs. 0.95 ± 0.61%/mmHg; P = 0.032). These results indicate that hyperthermia is capable of altering dynamic cerebral blood flow regulation.
Modeling effects of spinal cord stimulation on wide-dynamic range dorsal horn neurons: influence of stimulation frequency and GABAergic inhibition
Authors: Zhang Tianhe C. , Janik John J. , Grill Warren M.
Published: May 2014

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a clinical therapy for chronic, neuropathic pain, but an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms underlying SCS contributes to the lack of improvement in SCS efficacy over time. To study the mechanisms underlying SCS, we constructed a biophysically based network model of the dorsal horn circuit consisting of interconnected dorsal horn interneurons and a wide-dynamic range (WDR) projection neuron and representations of both local and surround receptive field inhibition. We validated the network model by reproducing cellular and network responses relevant to pain processing including wind-up, A fiber-mediated inhibition, and surround receptive field inhibition. We then simulated the effects of SCS on the activity of the WDR projection neuron and found that the response of the model WDR neuron to SCS depends on the SCS frequency; SCS frequencies of 30–100 Hz maximally inhibited the model WDR neuron, while frequencies under 30 Hz and over 100 Hz excited the model WDR neuron. We also studied the impacts on the effects of SCS of loss of inhibition due to the loss of either GABA or KCC2 function. Reducing the influence of local and surround GABAergic interneurons by weakening their inputs or their connections to the WDR neuron and shifting the anionic reversal potential of the WDR neurons upward each reduced the range of optimal SCS frequencies and changed the frequency at which SCS had a maximal effect. The results of this study provide insights into the mechanisms of SCS and pave the way for improved SCS parameter selection.
Loss of the Polycomb Mark from Bivalent Promoters Leads to Activation of Cancer-Promoting Genes in Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Hahn Maria A. , Li Arthur X. , Wu Xiwei , Yang Richard , Drew David A. , Rosenberg Daniel W. , Pfeifer Gerd P.
Published: May 2014

In colon tumors, the transcription of many genes becomes deregulated by poorly defined epigenetic mechanisms that have been studied mainly in established cell lines. In this study, we used frozen human colon tissues to analyze patterns of histone modification and DNA cytosine methylation in cancer and matched normal mucosa specimens. DNA methylation is strongly targeted to bivalent H3K4me3- and H3K27me3-associated promoters, which lose both histone marks and acquire DNA methylation. However, we found that loss of the Polycomb mark H3K27me3 from bivalent promoters was accompanied often by activation of genes associated with cancer progression, including numerous stem cell regulators, oncogenes, and proliferation-associated genes. Indeed, we found many of these same genes were also activated in patients with ulcerative colitis where chronic inflammation predisposes them to colon cancer. Based on our findings, we propose that a loss of Polycomb repression at bivalent genes combined with an ensuing selection for tumor-driving events plays a major role in cancer progression. Cancer Res; 74(13); 3617–29. ©2014 AACR.
Oxidative Stress Activates SIRT2 to Deacetylate and Stimulate Phosphoglycerate Mutase
Authors: Xu Yanping , Li Fulong , Lv Lei , Li Tingting , Zhou Xin , Deng Chu-Xia , Guan Kun-Liang , Lei Qun-Ying , Xiong Yue
Published: May 2014

Glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM) plays an important role in coordinating energy production with generation of reducing power and the biosynthesis of nucleotide precursors and amino acids. Inhibition of PGAM by small RNAi or small molecule attenuates cell proliferation and tumor growth. PGAM activity is commonly upregulated in tumor cells, but how PGAM activity is regulated in vivo remains poorly understood. Here we report that PGAM is acetylated at lysine 100 (K100), an active site residue that is invariably conserved from bacteria, to yeast, plant, and mammals. K100 acetylation is detected in fly, mouse, and human cells and in multiple tissues and decreases PGAM2 activity. The cytosolic protein deacetylase sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) deacetylates and activates PGAM2. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species stimulate PGAM2 deacetylation and activity by promoting its interaction with SIRT2. Substitution of endogenous PGAM2 with an acetylation mimetic mutant K100Q reduces cellular NADPH production and inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth. These results reveal a mechanism of PGAM2 regulation and NADPH homeostasis in response to oxidative stress that impacts cell proliferation and tumor growth. Cancer Res; 74(13); 3630–42. ©2014 AACR.
Blocking and Randomization to Improve Molecular Biomarker Discovery
Authors: Qin Li-Xuan , Zhou Qin , Bogomolniy Faina , Villafania Liliana , Olvera Narciso , Cavatore Magali , Satagopan Jaya M. , Begg Colin B. , Levine Douglas A.
Published: May 2014

Randomization and blocking have the potential to prevent the negative impacts of nonbiologic effects on molecular biomarker discovery. Their use in practice, however, has been scarce. To demonstrate the logistic feasibility and scientific benefits of randomization and blocking, we conducted a microRNA study of endometrial tumors (n = 96) and ovarian tumors (n = 96) using a blocked randomization design to control for nonbiologic effects; we profiled the same set of tumors for a second time using no blocking or randomization. We assessed empirical evidence of differential expression in the two studies. We performed simulations through virtual rehybridizations to further evaluate the effects of blocking and randomization. There was moderate and asymmetric differential expression (351/3,523, 10%) between endometrial and ovarian tumors in the randomized dataset. Nonbiologic effects were observed in the nonrandomized dataset, and 1,934 markers (55%) were called differentially expressed. Among them, 185 were deemed differentially expressed (185/351, 53%) and 1,749 not differentially expressed (1,749/3,172, 55%) in the randomized dataset. In simulations, when randomization was applied to all samples at once or within batches of samples balanced in tumor groups, blocking improved the true-positive rate from 0.95 to 0.97 and the false-positive rate from 0.02 to 0.002; when sample batches were unbalanced, randomization was associated with the true-positive rate (0.92) and the false-positive rate (0.10) regardless of blocking. Normalization improved the detection of true-positive markers but still retained sizeable false-positive markers. Randomization and blocking should be used in practice to more fully reap the benefits of genomics technologies. Clin Cancer Res; 20(13); 3371–8. ©2014 AACR.
T-Cell and NK-Cell Infiltration into Solid Tumors: A Key Limiting Factor for Efficacious Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Melero Ignacio , Rouzaut Ana , Motz Greg T. , Coukos George
Published: May 2014

Summary: Cancer immunotherapy has great promise, but is limited by diverse mechanisms used by tumors to prevent sustained antitumor immune responses. Tumors disrupt antigen presentation, T/NK–cell activation, and T/NK–cell homing through soluble and cell-surface mediators, the vasculature, and immunosuppressive cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells. However, many molecular mechanisms preventing the efficacy of antitumor immunity have been identified and can be disrupted by combination immunotherapy. Here, we examine immunosuppressive mechanisms exploited by tumors and provide insights into the therapies under development to overcome them, focusing on lymphocyte traffic. Cancer Discov; 4(5); 522–6. ©2014 AACR.
Finding the Right Balance of BRAF Inhibition in Melanoma
Authors: Davies Michael A.
Published: May 2014

Summary: Paradoxical activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway can cause secondary malignancies in patients treated with inhibitors of BRAFV600 proteins. Characterization of a patient with concurrent BRAF-mutant melanoma and NRAS-mutant leukemia treated intermittently with combined BRAF and MEK inhibition provides new insights into the potential clinical and molecular effects of this therapeutic strategy. Cancer Discov; 4(5); 510–2. ©2014 AACR.

See related article by Abdel-Wahab et al., p. 538
From Breaking Bad to Worse: Exploiting Homologous DNA Repair Deficiency in Cancer
Authors: Hemann Michael T.
Published: May 2014

Summary: DNA repair deficiencies are common among cancer cells and represent a potential vulnerability that might be exploited by targeting compensatory repair pathways. However, the identification of synthetically lethal combinations of DNA repair defects, although of significant clinical relevance, has been somewhat anecdotal. Although numerous models have been proposed to explain synthetic lethality among DNA repair mutations, we have only a limited understanding of why a given mutation should render cells sensitive to another. In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Dietlein and colleagues define a general connection between mutations in genes involved in homologous recombination and sensitivity to inhibitors of non-homologous end joining. In doing so, they provide a mechanism to demarcate a set of seemingly diverse tumors that may be highly responsive to established DNA repair–targeted therapeutics. Cancer Discov; 4(5); 516–8. ©2014 AACR.

See related article by Dietlein et al., p. 592
MTOR Mutations in the Crosshairs of Targeted Therapy
Authors: Rejto Paul A. , Abraham Robert T.
Published: May 2014

Summary: The identification of genetic lesions that affect tumor sensitivity to targeted therapies is a major objective of precision medicine. Two reports in this issue combine tumor genome analyses with functional characterization to uncover activating mutations in MTOR that confer sensitivity to a clinically used mTOR inhibitor. Cancer Discov; 4(5); 513–5. ©2014 AACR.

See related article by Wagle et al., p. 546

See related article by Grabiner et al., p. 554
Differential Contribution of Monocytes to Heart Macrophages in Steady-State and After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Heidt Timo , Courties Gabriel , Dutta Partha , Sager Hendrik B. , Sebas Matt , Iwamoto Yoshiko , Sun Yuan , Da Silva Nicolas , Panizzi Peter , van der Laan Anja M. , Swirski Filip K. , Weissleder Ralph , Nahrendorf Matthias
Published: May 2014

Rationale
:

Macrophages populate the steady-state myocardium. Previously, all macrophages were thought to arise from monocytes; however, it emerged that, in several organs, tissue-resident macrophages may self-maintain through local proliferation.

Objective
:

Our aim was to study the contribution of monocytes to cardiac-resident macrophages in steady state, after macrophage depletion in CD11b
DTR/+
mice and in myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results
:

Using in vivo fate mapping and flow cytometry, we estimated that during steady state the heart macrophage population turns over in ≈1 month. To explore the source of cardiac-resident macrophages, we joined the circulation of mice using parabiosis. After 6 weeks, we observed blood monocyte chimerism of 35.3±3.4%, whereas heart macrophages showed a much lower chimerism of 2.7±0.5% (
P
<0.01). Macrophages self-renewed locally through proliferation: 2.1±0.3% incorporated bromodeoxyuridine 2 hours after a single injection, and 13.7±1.4% heart macrophages stained positive for the cell cycle marker Ki-67. The cells likely participate in defense against infection, because we found them to ingest fluorescently labeled bacteria. In ischemic myocardium, we observed that tissue-resident macrophages died locally, whereas some also migrated to hematopoietic organs. If the steady state was perturbed by coronary ligation or diphtheria toxin–induced macrophage depletion in CD11b
DTR/+
mice, blood monocytes replenished heart macrophages. However, in the chronic phase after myocardial infarction, macrophages residing in the infarct were again independent from the blood monocyte pool, returning to the steady-state situation.

Conclusions
:

In this study, we show differential contribution of monocytes to heart macrophages during steady state, after macrophage depletion or in the acute and chronic phase after myocardial infarction. We found that macrophages participate in the immunosurveillance of myocardial tissue. These data correspond with previous studies on tissue-resident macrophages and raise important questions on the fate and function of macrophages during the development of heart failure.
Foxp3
+
CD4
+
T Cells Improve Healing After Myocardial Infarction by Modulating Monocyte/Macrophage Differentiation
Authors: Weirather Johannes , Hofmann Ulrich D.W. , Beyersdorf Niklas , Ramos Gustavo C. , Vogel Benjamin , Frey Anna , Ertl Georg , Kerkau Thomas , Frantz Stefan
Published: May 2014

Rationale
:

An exaggerated or persistent inflammatory activation after myocardial infarction (MI) leads to maladaptive healing and subsequent remodeling of the left ventricle. Foxp3
+
CD4
+
regulatory T cells (T
reg
cells) contribute to inflammation resolution. Therefore, T
reg
cells might influence cardiac healing post-MI.

Objective
:

Our aim was to study the functional role of T
reg
cells in wound healing post-MI in a mouse model of permanent left coronary artery ligation.

Methods and Results
:

Using a model of genetic T
reg
-cell ablation (Foxp3
DTR
mice), we depleted the T
reg
-cell compartment before MI induction, resulting in aggravated cardiac inflammation and deteriorated clinical outcome. Mechanistically, T
reg
-cell depletion was associated with M1-like macrophage polarization, characterized by decreased expression of inflammation-resolving and healing-promoting factors. The phenotype of exacerbated cardiac inflammation and outcome in T
reg
-cell–ablated mice could be confirmed in a mouse model of anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody–mediated depletion. In contrast, therapeutic T
reg
-cell activation by superagonistic anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody administration 2 days after MI led to improved healing and survival. Compared with control animals, CD28-SA–treated mice showed increased collagen de novo expression within the scar, correlating with decreased rates of left ventricular ruptures. Therapeutic T
reg
-cell activation induced an M2-like macrophage differentiation within the healing myocardium, associated with myofibroblast activation and increased expression of monocyte/macrophage-derived proteins fostering wound healing.

Conclusions
:

Our data indicate that T
reg
cells beneficially influence wound healing after MI by modulating monocyte/macrophage differentiation. Moreover, therapeutic activation of T
reg
cells constitutes a novel approach to improve healing post-MI.
The Incidence of Kidney Injury for Patients Treated With a High‐Potency Versus Moderate‐Potency Statin Regimen After an Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Sarma Amy , Cannon Christopher P. , de Lemos James , Rouleau Jean L. , Lewis Eldrin F. , Guo Jianping , Mega Jessica L. , Sabatine Marc S. , O'Donoghue Michelle L.
Published: May 2014

Background

Observational studies have raised concerns that high‐potency statins increase the risk of acute kidney injury. We therefore examined the incidence of kidney injury across 2 randomized trials of statin therapy.

Methods and Results

PROVE IT
‐
TIMI
22 enrolled 4162 subjects after an acute coronary syndrome (
ACS)
and randomized them to atorvastatin 80 mg/day versus pravastatin 40 mg/day. A‐to‐Z enrolled 4497 subjects after
ACS
and randomized them to a high‐potency (simvastatin 40 mg/day×1 months, then simvastatin 80 mg/day) versus a delayed moderate‐potency statin strategy (placebo×4 months, then simvastatin 20 mg/day). Serum creatinine was assessed centrally at serial time points. Adverse events (AEs) relating to kidney injury were identified through database review. Across both trials, mean serum creatinine was similar between treatment arms at baseline and throughout follow‐up. In A‐to‐Z, the incidence of a 1.5‐fold or ≥0.3 mg/
dL
rise in serum creatinine was 11.4% for subjects randomized to a high‐potency statin regimen versus 12.4% for those on a delayed moderate‐potency regimen (odds ratio [
OR],
0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76 to 1.10;
P
=0.33). In
PROVE IT
‐
TIMI
22, the incidence was 9.4% for subjects randomized to atorvastatin 80 mg/day and 10.6% for subjects randomized to pravastatin 40 mg/day (
OR,
0.88; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.09;
P
=0.25). Consistent results were observed for different kidney injury thresholds and in individuals with diabetes mellitus or with moderate renal dysfunction. The incidence of kidney injury‐related adverse events (AEs) was not statistically different for patients on a high‐potency versus moderate‐potency statin regimen (
OR,
1.06; 95%
CI,
0.68 to 1.67;
P
=0.78).

Conclusions

For patients enrolled in 2 large randomized trials of statin therapy after
ACS
, the use of a high‐potency statin regimen did not increase the risk of kidney injury.
More than a ritual dance. The Dutch practice of parliamentary oversight and control of the intelligence community
Authors: Hijzen Constant
Published: May 2014

Parliamentary oversight and control of intelligence and security services is complex, in theory as well as in practice. Because of the secrecy that surrounds their work, parliamentary control is essentially difficult. In this article the Dutch experiences in institutionalizing and practising oversight are explored. It will become clear that factors such as the structural makeup of the parliamentary committee for oversight, political culture, and the personal views of the Members of Parliament involved, decide to a large degree how often the committee convenes, what the atmosphere of the meetings is like, and what issues are on the table.
From Oversight to Undersight: the Internationalization of Intelligence
Authors: van Buuren Jelle
Published: May 2014

Due to the globalization and nodalisation of intelligence - resulting in hybrid intelligence assemblages - well-known problems related to overseeing intelligence are deteriorating. Not only does the international cooperation between intelligence services contribute to this problem, but especially the internationalization of intelligence collection meaning that as a consequence of technological and market transformations intelligence collection has become footloose and can be conducted remotely. In that way it leaves any idea of national sovereignty or the national protection of civil rights increasingly obsolete. Instead of oversight by institutions the real counter-power in post-democratic constellations seems to be practised by whistleblowers and investigative journalists. Sousveillance or undersight therefore seems to be the most important current oversight mechanism.
The 2013 OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Kyiv: Addressing persistent dividing lines
Authors: Liechtenstein Stephanie
Published: May 2014

Against the larger international relations background, this article analyses the outcomes of the 20th OSCE Ministerial Council (MC) meeting, which was held in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 5 and 6 December 2013. The political crisis – related to the non-signing by the Ukrainian government of the EU Association Agreement - which erupted in Ukraine in the days prior to the MC meeting is also taken into account. An analysis is made of adopted decisions in the three security dimensions as well as of drafts that failed to reach consensus. The main documents include declarations on the ‘Helsinki+40 process’ and the protracted conflicts as well as innovative cyber security measures.
Codification of the inviolability of frontiers principle in the Helsinki Final Act: Its purpose and implications for conflict resolution
Authors: Sadigbayli Rovshan
Published: May 2014

This article tests the proposition that there is inherent conflict between the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, specifically those related to equal rights and the self-determination of peoples, territorial integrity and the inviolability of frontiers. For this purpose the drafting history of the Helsinki Accords is revisited to shed light on how the participating States interpreted these principles and what meaning they attributed to them. It is argued that the overall purpose of the Final Act, which is to codify the stability of frontiers principle by prohibiting the use of force against frontiers as well as any unilateral, non-consensual actions as far as the territory of the participating States is concerned, should be kept in mind while interpreting these principles. The article concludes by reviewing the practice of States in interpreting the principles over the past two decades to show that changed political circumstances in Europe have not affected the interpretation of the relevant Helsinki Final Act provisions.
Politics and National Minorities: a trade-off between security and justice?
Authors: Kemp Walter
Published: May 2014

For twenty years, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has worked to prevent inter-ethnic conflict. While there are those that have argued that the High Commissioner has ‘securitized’ minority issues by putting too much emphasis on security rather than justice, the past 20 years of the High Commissioner have shown a track record characterised by conflict prevention and “desecuritization”.
Homecoming for Wandering Dutch Whistle-blowers?
Authors: Moll Chris
Published: May 2014

In many European countries, whistle-blowers are perceived in a negative light. However, whistle-blowers have increasingly played a critical role in the recent disclosure of covert governmental programmes, private sector economic criminal offenses and redesigned risk management strategies. Real change requires effective legal shielding for whistle-blowers. Most legal frameworks in Europe fall short of providing genuine legal protection due to reluctant public authorities and private sector actors. The exception proves the rule, as currently illustrated in The Netherlands. A group of MPs is creating a House for wandering Dutch whistle-blowers, but runs the risk of ‘design failures’ by not actively seeking valuable ‘construction advice’.
Approaching a Sociology of Fethullah Gülen
Authors: Hendrick Joshua D.
Published: May 2014

Fethullah Gülen is Turkey’s most famous, influential, and controversial faith-based communitarian leader. Collectively known as “the Gülen movement” (GM), individuals inspired by Gülen’s charismatic teachings control organizations that span the world. Led by “aksiyon insanları” (people of action), the GM has accumulated tremendous social influence in education, media, trade, and allegedly, in unelected state office. Responding to those critical of its power, GM actors claim to be nothing more than “selfless,” “service oriented” advocates for interfaith and intercultural dialogue. The effort of this introduction to this special issue of Sociology of Islam is to situate the GM in its Turkish context. As a collective actor, the GM creates subjects and impacts societies. The social norms and communitarian social structure that are reproduced in the GM network engender identities, regulate desires, and determine social, economic, and political outcomes in Turkey and around the world. In this way, the GM constitutes a source of social power, and thus warrants academic scrutiny. In an attempt to fill a void in the literature on the impact of the GM’s collective mobilization, the contributing authors to this special issue of Sociology of Islam hope to contribute to the sociological investigation of Turkey’s GM in particular, and to the interactions between Islam and modern socio-political organization in general.
The Sohbet: Talking Islam in Turkey
Authors: Jassal Smita Tewari
Published: May 2014

As Islam moves to the center of Turkey’s public life, an opportunity emerges to explore how Islamic knowledge is transmitted through the discursive practice of pious reading circles known in Turkish as sohbet (conversation). Constituting a ritualistic practice of Turkish Muslims who are inspired by the influential faith community leader, Fethullah Gülen, this article investigates how sohbet is practiced by a group of middle class housewives in Ankara. In so doing, the article addresses the meanings and interpretations that pious women ascribe to the reading of religiously oriented texts, and to discussions on prayer, family, and community that take place at sohbet. It also explores how new Islamic subjectivities are fashioned, how Islamic knowledge is reclaimed, and how spirituality is integrated by women into their roles as mothers and wives. Methodologically anchored upon ethnography, this article concludes that the distinctive features of sohbet in the so-called Gülen community, among other effects, facilitate social coherence, and subsequently, a greater capacity for women to synthesize their experience with modernity and tradition.
Revision of Trachelissa Aurivillius, 1912 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Authors: QUINTINO HINGRID YARA S. , MONNÉ MARCELA L.
Published: May 2014

A revision of the genus Trachelissa Aurivillius, 1912, based on a study of external morphology and terminalia, is presented. The genus and its species are redescribed. Five species are recognized, two of which are described as new: T. bella sp. nov. from Bolivia and T. opaca sp. nov. from Argentina. A new host plant for T. maculicollis Audinet-Serville, 1834 is recorded. A key to all species, and their photographs and distribution maps are provided.
New additions to the genus Kisaura Ross (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae) from the Indian Himalaya
Authors: PANDHER MANPREET SINGH , SAINI MALKIAT SINGH
Published: May 2014

Four new species of genus Kisaura Ross are added to the philopotamid fauna of India. The newly described species are K. holiensis sp. nov., K. holzenthali sp. nov., K. morsei sp. nov. (all from Uttarakhand) and K. golitarensis sp. nov. from Sikkim.
Review of the Gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from the territory of the former Yugoslavia, with three newly reported species
Authors: ŽIKIĆ VLADIMIR , ACHTERBERG CORNELIS VAN , STANKOVIĆ SAŠA S. , DUBAIĆ JOVANA BILA , ĆETKOVIĆ ALEKSANDAR
Published: May 2014

The results of more than 120 years of investigation of the fauna of Gasteruptiidae for the territory of former Yugoslavia (including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia) are summarized. Results from recently collected material and from unidentified specimens in collections are combined with those of published records. The total number of valid species of the genus Gasteruption Latreille for the area of former Yugoslavia is 22, which is more than in any country represented in Fauna Europaea database. One species is firstly recorded for the mainland Europe (G. syriacum Szépligeti), two more species are newly recorded for the investigated area and there are 23 first country-records for the involved countries (based on 17 species).
Cochabambia Pirán, 1959 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae), a senior homonym of Cochabambia Marcuzzi, 1985 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), with notes on the placement of Cochabambia Pirán
Authors: FAÚNDEZ EDUARDO I. , RIDER DAVID A. , CARVAJAL MÁRIOM A.
Published: May 2014

Cochabambia Marcuzzi (1985) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a junior homonym of Cochabambia Pirán, 1959 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae). Allotriocochabambia is proposed as a new name for the tenebrionid genus, and as result Allotriocochabambia kulzeri (1985) is proposed as new combination. The placement of Cochabambia Pirán within the Acanthosomatidae is discussed.
An Analysis of Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Patients With Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Authors: Yetiser Sertac , Ince Dilay , Gul Murat
Published: May 2014

Objective:

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) selectively test the vestibular end-organ. The aim of this study was to analyze how the site of the diseased canal, type of particulate deposition, duration of symptoms, severity of nystagmus, recurrence, and age affect the VEMP in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Methods:

One hundred two patients were enrolled in the study between 2009 and 2012. There were 36 men and 66 women with ages ranging from 16 to 71 years (mean age, 42.28 ± 11.29 years). Patients with BPPV were tested with roll-on and head-hanging maneuvers under video-electronystagmography monitoring and with air conduction cervical VEMP testing. Patients were grouped for duration, severity, recurrence, age, site of canal involvement, and so on, and the results were compared in each subgroup. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for the comparative analysis.

Results:

Twenty-four patients (23.5%) had a gross VEMP abnormality (absence of VEMP in 6 and greater than 25% depression of the amplitude in 18). Abnormality of VEMPs was not correlated with factors including age, severity of nystagmus, number of maneuvers applied, and the site of canal involvement ( P < .05). However, persistence or recurrence of symptoms has an effect on VEMP results ( P = .016).

Conclusion:

Vestibular evoked myogenic potential is a useful tool to study the otolithic function in patients with BPPV and should be included in the test battery.
Short-term Outcomes of Sport- and Recreation-Related Concussion in Patients Admitted to a Pediatric Trauma Service
Authors: Bramley Harry , Mcfarland Carol , Lewis Mechelle M. , Shaffer Michele L. , Cilley Robert , Engbrecht Brett , Santos Mary , Rzucidlo Susan , Shirk Beverly , Simmons Lynn , Dias Mark S.
Published: May 2014

The outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital following a sport-related concussion are largely unknown. Medical records of patients admitted to the pediatric trauma service between 2008 and 2011 after sustaining a sport-related concussion were reviewed. In all, 59 participants were in the high-velocity activities group, and 21 in the field or court sport group. Abnormal CT scans were found in 14 patients in the high-velocity group and 2 in the field or court sport group. The majority of participants in the field or court sport group were football players, all of whom had normal CT scans. Headache was predictive of an abnormal CT scan. Among the patients, 56% clinically improved and were discharged the following day. Patients with field or court sport–related concussion admitted to a pediatric trauma service appear to be at low risk for clinically significant intracranial pathology and do well in the acute setting.