bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rebellions or factionalism? Timorese forms of resistance in an early colonial context, 1650-1769
Authors: Hägerdal Hans
Published: April 2013

The history of Timor in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is interspersed with conflicts where indigenous groups opposed polities with a partly European background. In Western historiography such conflicts are usually portrayed as rebellions against a given European colonial apparatus (Morais 1934; Leitão 1952; Boxer 1968). A closer look, however, reveals these events to be quite complex affairs, which raises questions about the nature of acts of rebellion and colonial rule. Are we dealing with a one-sided anticolonial resistance, or is there more to the picture?
Foreign images in Mentawai: Authenticity and the exotic
Authors: Bakker Laurens
Published: April 2013

Human cultures and groups, when defining themselves, compare themselves with others. Names used to denote other groups often refer to characteristics associated with these groups, frequently in a way that expresses the superiority of the naming group or the strangeness or even danger of the named group. Derogatory terms such as ‘barbarians’, ‘head-cutters’ or simply ‘edible ones’ are examples of names referring to dangerous traits. The number of groups in the world using a name for themselves that translates simply as ‘human’ to differentiate themselves from neighbouring groups is staggering.
Bělahan and the division of Airlangga’s realm
Authors: Jordaan Roy E.
Published: April 2013

While investigating the role of the Śailendra dynasty in early eastern Javanese history, I became interested in exploring what relationship King Airlangga had to this famous dynasty. The present excursion to the royal bathing place at Bělahan is an art-historical supplement to my inquiries, the findings of which have been published elsewhere (Jordaan 2006a). As this is a visit to a little-known archaeological site, I will first provide some background on the historical connection, and the significance of Bělahan for ongoing research on the Śailendras.
Jacobus Arnoldus Hazaart and the British interregnum in Netherlands Timor, 1812-1816
Authors: Farram Steven
Published: April 2013

The term ‘British interregnum’, in relation to Indonesia, refers to two short periods in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries when the British took control of most of the Netherlands Indies from the Dutch, only to hand it back a few years later. The British did this as a result of their wars with France. The first occupation occurred in 1795-1797 after a pro-France regime had been established in Holland. After peace was declared in 1802, the occupied territories were returned to the Dutch. Hostilities soon resumed, however, and with the annexation of Holland by the French in 1810, the British once more moved into the Netherlands Indies. Following France’s defeat in Europe, the Dutch territories were restored once again in 1816. This paper deals with British rule in Timor, one of the far-flung outposts of the Netherlands Indies, and the central role played by a native of that island, Jacobus Arnoldus Hazaart, in helping the British administer the territory.
Eva Gauthier, Java to jazz
Authors: Cohen Matthew Isaac
Published: April 2013

Java did not enjoy a significant place in the American imagination during the nineteenth century, and in contrast to India, China, or Japan was rarely an artistic subject. In the early years of the twentieth century, adventurous artist-travellers occasionally gave exhibitions of paintings and sculptures of Indonesian subjects. In the days when illustrated lectures were still a popular entertainment, one might also attend a talk on Java by itinerant lecturers such as Dwight Elmendorf.
Language, class, and ethnicity in Indonesia
Authors: Goebel Zane
Published: April 2013

This paper focuses on the role of institutions and everyday talk in the building of associations between language, region, ethnicity and class in Indonesia. In particular, I am interested in exploring how institutions have contributed to the reproduction of language ideologies that link ethnicity and class with language variety. While I argue that institutional activities have helped – often unintentionally – to associate region with language to the extent that both are equated with ethnicity or ethnic identity, these associations do not fully account for the patterns of language use at the local level.
Lebensraum in Luwu : Emergent identity, migration and access to land
Authors: Roth Dik
Published: April 2013

The downfall of the Soeharto regime has radically changed power relations between centre and region in Indonesia. Decentralization and administrative fragmentation (pemekaran), based on Government Regulation 129/2000, have created new opportunities for political actors at all levels. As a result, from the late 1990s, regional autonomy movements have mushroomed. These changes in administrative structures often entail a radical reshuffle of relationships, patterns of control over resources, identities, territories and boundaries. Therefore, such changes can only be understood against the background of their specific historical contexts, paying attention not only to the changes but also to the ‘changing continuities’ (Schulte-Nordholt 2003) behind such changes.
Epinephelus geoffroyi (Klunzinger, 1870) (Pisces: Serranidae), a valid species of grouper endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Authors: RANDALL JOHN E. , BOGORODSKY SERGEY V. , KRUPP FRIEDHELM , ROSE JEAN MICHEL , FRICKE RONALD
Published: April 2013

The grouper Epinephelus geoffroyi (Klunzinger), type locality Red Sea, previously regarded as a synonym of E. chlo-rostigma (Valenciennes) is recognized as a valid species. It is differentiated from E. chlorostigma by having 25–29 (mod-ally 27) gill rakers vs. 23–26 (modally 24), a more angular anal fin, the dark spots on the abdomen more widely separated, and lacking a clear white margin posteriorly on the caudal fin. The missing holotype of E. geoffroyi was found at the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (SMNS 233, 191 mm). Epinephelus chlorostigma is wide-ranging from the Gulf of Aden and east coast of Africa to Samoa; it is reported from the depth range of 32–280 m. Epinephelus geoffroyi is presently known only from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden at depths of 3–32 m. Illustrations are provided for three other species of groupers with numerous small dark spots, E. areolatus (Forsskål), E. gabriellae Randall & Heemstra, and E. polylepis Randall & Heemstra, that are, or might be, sympatric with E. geoffroyi.
New species and records of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata) from the passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) from the Russian Far East
Authors: SKORACKI MACIEJ , MIRONOV SERGEY V.
Published: April 2013

Two new species, Syringophilopisis pari sp. nov. from Poecile palustris Linnaeus (Paridae) and Torotrogla volgini sp. nov. from Emberiza elegans Temminck (Emberizidae) are described. Additionally, new host species are reported for three syringophilid species: Emberiza tristrami Swinhoe and E. rutila Pallas for Betasyringophiloidus schoeniclus (Skoracki); Sitta europaea Linnaeus (Sittidae) for Syringophilopsis sittae Skoracki et al., and Zosterops erythropleurus Swinhoe (Zos-teropidae) for Neoaulonastus zosterops Skoracki et al. All avian hosts were captured in the Primorsky Krai, Russia. The syringophilid fauna presently recorded from Russia is summarized. �� n-ȷ���5%'>20 in 2 species. The decrease in autosome number (14A) has been accompanied by 2 pairs of extremely large autosomes (Anoplocnemis binotata Distant and Cletus borealis Blöte) and the increase in autosome number (22A, 24A) has been accompanied by distinctly small autosomes (Petalocnemis obscura and Prionolomia sp.) in the complement. The behavior of chromosomes during meiosis is typical of Coreidae. Deviations wherever recorded are discussed. During diplotene, chiasmata are located terminally and there is a predominance of a single chiasma per bivalent. However, in Anoplocnemis binotata and Cletus borealis, one or both of the large bivalents show two terminal or subterminal chiasmata in diplotene. A regular arrangement of chromosomes is observed during both metaphase I and II: all the autosomes form a ring with microchromosomes lying inside and sex chromosomes lying outside the ring.
Impact of Low-Level Jets on the Nocturnal Urban Heat Island Intensity in Oklahoma City
Authors: Hu Xiao-Ming , Klein Petra M. , Xue Ming , Lundquist Julie K. , Zhang Fuqing , Qi Youcun
Published: April 2013

Previous analysis of Oklahoma City (OKC), Oklahoma, temperature data indicated that urban heat islands (UHIs) frequently formed at night and the observed UHI intensity was variable (1°–4°C). The current study focuses on identifying meteorological phenomena that contributed to the variability of nocturnal UHI intensity in OKC during July 2003. Two episodes, one with a strong UHI signature and one with a weak signature, were studied in detail using observations along with simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Mechanical mixing associated with low-level jets (LLJs) played a critical role in moderating the nocturnal UHI intensity. During nights with weak LLJs or in the absence of LLJs, vertical mixing weakened at night and strong temperature inversions developed in the rural surface layer as a result of radiative cooling. The shallow stable boundary layer (SBL < 200 m) observed under such conditions was strongly altered inside the city because rougher and warmer surface characteristics caused vertical mixing that eroded the near-surface inversion. Accordingly, temperatures measured within the urban canopy layer at night were consistently higher than at nearby rural sites of comparable height (by ~3°–4°C). During nights with strong LLJs, however, the jets facilitated enhanced turbulent mixing in the nocturnal boundary layer. As a consequence, atmospheric stability was much weaker and urban effects played a much less prominent role in altering the SBL structure; therefore, UHI intensities were smaller (<1°C) during strong LLJs. The finding that rural inversion strength can serve as an indicator for UHI intensity highlights that the structure of the nocturnal boundary layer is important for UHI assessments.
Decadal Prediction of the Sahelian Precipitation in CMIP5 Simulations
Authors: Gaetani Marco , Mohino Elsa
Published: April 2013

In this study the capability of eight state-of-the-art ocean–atmosphere coupled models in predicting the monsoonal precipitation in the Sahel on a decadal time scale is assessed. To estimate the importance of the initialization, the predictive skills of two different CMIP5 experiments are compared, a set of 10 decadal hindcasts initialized every 5 years in the period 1961–2009 and the historical simulations in the period 1961–2005. Results indicate that predictive skills are highly model dependent: the Fourth Generation Canadian Coupled Global Climate Model (CanCM4), Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques Coupled Global Climate Model, version 5 (CNRM-CM5), and Max Planck Institute Earth System Model, low resolution (MPI-ESM-LR) models show improved skill in the decadal hindcasts, while the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, version 5 (MIROC5) is skillful in both the decadal and historical experiments. The Beijing Climate Center, Climate System Model, version 1.1 (BCC-CSM1.1), Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 (HadCM3), L'Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace Coupled Model, version 5, coupled with NEMO, low resolution (IPSL-CM5A-LR), and Meteorological Research Institute Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean General Circulation Model, version 3 (MRI-CGCM3) models show insignificant or no skill in predicting the Sahelian precipitation. Skillful predictions are produced by models properly describing the SST multidecadal variability and the initialization appears to play an important role in this respect.
The Surface Climate Response to 11-Yr Solar Forcing during Northern Winter: Observational Analyses and Comparisons with GCM Simulations
Authors: Hood Lon , Schimanke Semjon , Spangehl Thomas , Bal Sourabh , Cubasch Ulrich
Published: April 2013

The surface climate response to 11-yr solar forcing during northern winter is first reestimated by applying a multiple linear regression (MLR) statistical model to Hadley Centre sea level pressure (SLP) and sea surface temperature (SST) data over the 1880–2009 period. In addition to a significant positive SLP response in the North Pacific found in previous studies, a positive SST response is obtained across the midlatitude North Pacific. Negative but insignificant SLP responses are obtained in the Arctic. The derived SLP response at zero lag therefore resembles a positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation (AO). Evaluation of the SLP and SST responses as a function of phase lag indicates that the response evolves from a negative AO-like mode a few years before solar maximum to a positive AO-like mode at and following solar maximum. For comparison, a similar MLR analysis is applied to model SLP and SST data from a series of simulations using an atmosphere–ocean general circulation model with a well-resolved stratosphere. The simulations differed only in the assumed solar cycle variation of stratospheric ozone. It is found that the simulation that assumed an ozone variation estimated from satellite data produces solar SLP and SST responses that are most consistent with the observational results, especially during a selected centennial period. In particular, a positive SLP response anomaly is obtained in the northeastern Pacific and a corresponding positive SST response anomaly extends across the midlatitude North Pacific. The model response versus phase lag also evolves from a mainly negative AO-like response before solar maximum to a mainly positive AO response at and following solar maximum.
On the Longwave Climate Feedbacks
Authors: Huang Yi
Published: April 2013

This paper mainly addresses two issues that concern the longwave climate feedbacks. First, it is recognized that the radiative forcing of greenhouse gases, as measured by their impact on the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), may vary across different climate models even when the concentrations of these gases are identically prescribed. This forcing variation contributes to the discrepancy in these models' projections of surface warming. A method is proposed to account for this effect in diagnosing the sensitivity and feedbacks in the models. Second, it is shown that the stratosphere is an important factor that affects the OLR in transient climate change. Stratospheric water vapor and temperature changes may both act as a positive feedback mechanism during global warming and cannot be fully accounted as a “stratospheric adjustment” of radiative forcing. Neglecting these two issues may cause a bias in the longwave cloud feedback diagnosed as a residual term in the decomposition of OLR variations. There is no consensus among the climate models on the sign of the longwave cloud feedback after accounting for both issues.
Ethical dilemmas of the social work professional in a (post-)secular society, with special reference to the Christian social worker
Authors: Neagoe Alexandru
Published: April 2013

Focusing mainly on the complex relationship between professional and spiritual values, this article explores the ethical dilemmas faced by social workers in the context of a secular society. It discusses the impact of a secular (or, possibly, post-secular) context on the practice of social work. As a window into the ethical dilemmas that a social worker may face in such a context, specific attention is paid to the professional practice of Christian social workers. A concluding section highlights the main findings and implications of the article.
Social work and faith-based agencies in Sweden and Australia
Authors: Crisp Beth R.
Published: April 2013

The roles which faith-based agencies play in social work provision vary between countries. This article provides an overview of social work provision by the Church of Sweden in Sweden and the Catholic Church in Australia and explores how different relationships between faith-based organizations and professional social work practice have emerged in different countries. The article concludes with questions about the role of faith-based agencies which readers can reflect upon in their own contexts.
Teaching through the tension: Resolving religious and sexuality based schism in social work education
Authors: Melville-Wiseman Janet
Published: April 2013

This article presents an approach to resolving religious and sexuality based schism amongst UK social work students. It explores how this classroom schism mirrored current religion and sexuality based tensions in wider society including social work education and social work services. It also identifies the challenges involved in attempting to resolve such a schism. A teaching model is proposed that examines the limits of any claims to anti-discriminatory practice; that clarifies what is and what is not a social work task in relation to religious texts; and the risks involved for each side of the schism.
Addiction, spirituality and 12-step programmes
Authors: Dossett Wendy
Published: April 2013

Drawing on qualitative data, this article attempts to clarify the language of spirituality as used in relation to addiction and recovery. It explores what is meant by ‘spirituality’ in the context of 12-step programmes followed in the numerous anonymous mutual help groups which address the problem of addiction to a variety of substances and behaviours, and raises some of the most frequently cited problems with a ‘spiritual’ approach. It argues that wariness on the part of social workers (and other professionals) of 12-step programmes on grounds of their religious/spiritual dimension may benefit from reconsideration. It also suggests that social workers might be informed and empowered to support those individuals and families who chose to seek recovery through the 12 steps.
Multifunctional nanocomposite foams based on polypropylene with carbon nanofillers
Authors: Antunes Marcelo , Gedler Gabriel , Velasco José Ignacio
Published: April 2013

This work considers the preparation and characterization of polypropylene foams with variable concentrations of graphene and carbon nanofibres, focussing on the influence of the foaming process and the nanofillers on the microstructural and dynamic-mechanical-thermal properties of the foams. Great differences were found in terms of foam morphology depending on the type of foaming process, with foams prepared by physical foaming showing a vertically deformed cell structure, while chemical foams presented an isotropic-like cellular structure. The addition of graphene resulted in foams with higher cell densities and more uniform cellular structures when compared to the ones with nanofibres. Direct result of the combination of their particular cellular structure and higher expansion, polypropylene foams obtained by physical foaming presented a higher orientation of the α-monoclinic polypropylene crystal perpendicular to the foam’s surface and higher exfoliation of the nanofillers, resulting in foams with improved mechanical properties. All these considerations are of extreme importance, as some of the most promising applications of these polymer foams require a good electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency, which greatly depends on the developed foam morphology.
Old Status Trappings in a New World
Authors: Park Eugene Y.
Published: April 2013

Master narratives structure discussions of ancestry in Korea. Status conscious commoners and slaves made genealogical claims in early modern Korea, but what chungin, government-employed specialists, is unclear. This study argues that as the demise of rigid status hierarchy accelerated in the nineteenth century, attitudes of the chungin and their descendants to genealogies reflect phases that Korean society has undergone vis-à-vis perceptions of descent and status. Some chungin families invented traditions, the majority stopped participating in genealogy compilations; still others have kept records for record’s sake. Critiquing Korea’s lingering tendency to privilege aristocratic families can raise questions about historical agency.
Rhizoanalytic Pathways in Qualitative Research
Authors: Masny Diana
Published: April 2013

This article deploys the concept of rhizoanalysis in order to disrupt, to think, and to do qualitative research differently. Rhizoanalysis is a concept created out of Deleuze and Guattari’s (1987) concept of the rhizome. The article explores what rhizoanalysis can do, how it functions, and what it produces in relation to research on literacies, in particular multiple literacies theory (MLT). The article is a rhizome having multiple entries: concept creation, rhizoanalysis the concept, an introduction to MLT followed by a detailed presentation of a rhizoanalytic study on conceptualizing writing systems in multilingual children. The article exits with an intermezzo and a potential becoming of rhizoanalysis as an approach to qualitative inquiry.
The avatar in marketing: Synthesis, integrative framework and perspectives
Authors: Garnier Marion , Poncin Ingrid
Published: April 2013

The marketing literature on the graphical representation of the online consumer and its effects on consumption and exchanges is still in its infancy. This article contributes by carrying out a multidisciplinary synthesis on this theme. The proposed integrative model focuses on the identification with the avatar, its antecedents and consequences in a commercial context. Based on this framework, the article concludes with specific propositions for future research in this domain.
The roles of co-clients and their influence on overall satisfaction during the service experience
Authors: Camelis Christèle , Dano Florence , Goudarzi Kiane , Hamon Viviane , Llosa Sylvie
Published: April 2013

The objective of this article is to show how co-clients – clients interacting with the customer during the service experience but unknown before it– impact customer satisfaction with service delivery. This exploratory research is based on a mix of qualitative methods in the context of rail transport and fitness classes. It identifies six roles that have an impact on satisfaction and four mechanisms by which these roles influence satisfaction. Co-clients give information about the forthcoming service, set the standards for social rules, provide a standard for comparison, distract, perturb and help to participate. Through these roles, other customers impact satisfaction by modifying customer expectations and perceived service performance, as well as perceived service equity. The authors propose situational variables that moderate this relationship.
Temporal distance, mental simulation and the adoption of complex technological innovations
Authors: Jeannot Florence , Jolibert Alain
Published: April 2013

This article aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying the influence of the interaction between temporal distance and mental simulation on consumer reactions towards technological innovations, and to determine whether the benefits of this interaction, which have been demonstrated previously with semi-continuous innovation, also occur with discontinuous innovation. Due to the high rate of failure at the launching of discontinuous innovations and the issues this poses for companies operating in the high technology sector, it remains important to identify effective actions to foster adoption by consumers. Our results show that when the purchase is considered in the short term, process-focused simulation reduces learning cost uncertainty and anxiety, and increases use and purchase intent. In the long term, outcome-focused simulation decreases benefit uncertainty and increases optimism as well as both use and purchase intent.
Education and Dowry: An Economic Exploration
Authors: Munshi Soumyanetra
Published: April 2013

Rising levels of dowry often seem to be associated with increasing levels of education. In this article, we briefly survey some of the economic theories that have been put forward to explain the emergence, existence and spread of the dowry phenomenon, especially highlighting the role of education. For a more India-specific perspective, we look at the evolution of dowry among the Muslims and Christians of India. In general, it has been found that dowry increases with the level of the groom’s education but is unrelated to that of the bride. Apart from existing theories, we hypothesize about education serving as a signal for the quality of the groom. The idea is that the qualities that help a man earn more education, also make him more attractive in the marriage market and hence, a higher dowry might be a reflection of the price brides are willing to pay for the qualities.
Investigating the concordance of Gene Ontology terms reveals the intra- and inter-platform reproducibility of enrichment analysis
Authors: Zhang Lifang , Zhang Juan , Yang Gang , Wu Di , Jiang Lina , Wen Zhining , Li Menglong
Published: April 2013

Background

Reliability and Reproducibility of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are essential for the biological interpretation of microarray data. The microarray quality control (MAQC) project launched by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) elucidated that the lists of DEGs generated by intra- and inter-platform comparisons can reach a high level of concordance, which mainly depended on the statistical criteria used for ranking and selecting DEGs. Generally, it will produce reproducible lists of DEGs when combining fold change ranking with a non-stringent p-value cutoff. For further interpretation of the gene expression data, statistical methods of gene enrichment analysis provide powerful tools for associating the DEGs with prior biological knowledge, e.g. Gene Ontology (GO) terms and pathways, and are widely used in genome-wide research. Although the DEG lists generated from the same compared conditions proved to be reliable, the reproducible enrichment results are still crucial to the discovery of the underlying molecular mechanism differentiating the two conditions. Therefore, it is important to know whether the enrichment results are still reproducible, when using the lists of DEGs generated by different statistic criteria from inter-laboratory and cross-platform comparisons. In our study, we used the MAQC data sets for systematically accessing the intra- and inter-platform concordance of GO terms enriched by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and LRpath.

Results

In intra-platform comparisons, the overlapped percentage of enriched GO terms was as high as ~80% when the inputted lists of DEGs were generated by fold change ranking and Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM), whereas the percentages decreased about 20% when generating the lists of DEGs by using fold change ranking and t-test, or by using SAM and t-test. Similar results were found in inter-platform comparisons.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that the lists of DEGs in a high level of concordance can ensure the high concordance of enrichment results. Importantly, based on the lists of DEGs generated by a straightforward method of combining fold change ranking with a non-stringent p-value cutoff, enrichment analysis will produce reproducible enriched GO terms for the biological interpretation.
Effect of interleukin-6 polymorphism on risk of preterm birth within population strata: a meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Wilfred , Clark Erin A S , Stoddard Gregory J , Watkins W Scott , Esplin M Sean , Manuck Tracy A , Xing Jinchuan , Varner Michael W , Jorde Lynn B
Published: April 2013

Background

Because of the role of inflammation in preterm birth (PTB), polymorphisms in and near the interleukin-6 gene (IL6) have been association study targets. Several previous studies have assessed the association between PTB and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs1800795, located in the IL6 gene promoter region. Their results have been inconsistent and SNP frequencies have varied strikingly among different populations. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis with subgroup analysis by population strata to: (1) reduce the confounding effect of population structure, (2) increase sample size and statistical power, and (3) elucidate the association between rs1800975 and PTB.

Results

We reviewed all published papers for PTB phenotype and SNP rs1800795 genotype. Maternal genotype and fetal genotype were analyzed separately and the analyses were stratified by population. The PTB phenotype was defined as gestational age (GA) < 37 weeks, but results from earlier GA were selected when available. All studies were compared by genotype (CC versus CG+GG), based on functional studies.

For the maternal genotype analysis, 1,165 PTBs and 3,830 term controls were evaluated. Populations were stratified into women of European descent (for whom the most data were available) and women of heterogeneous origin or admixed populations. All ancestry was self-reported. Women of European descent had a summary odds ratio (OR) of 0.68, (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51 – 0.91), indicating that the CC genotype is protective against PTB. The result for non-European women was not statistically significant (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.59 - 1.75). For the fetal genotype analysis, four studies were included; there was no significant association with PTB (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.72 - 1.33). Sensitivity analysis showed that preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) may be a confounding factor contributing to phenotype heterogeneity.

Conclusions

IL6 SNP rs1800795 genotype CC is protective against PTB in women of European descent. It is not significant in other heterogeneous or admixed populations, or in fetal genotype analysis.

Population structure is an important confounding factor that should be controlled for in studies of PTB.
VEGF is an important mediator of tumor angiogenesis in malignant lesions in a genetically engineered mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Majeti Bharat K , Lee Joseph H , Simmons Brett H , Shojaei Farbod
Published: April 2013

Background

VEGF is one of the key drivers of physiological or pathological angiogenesis hence several VEGF inhibitors are in different stages of clinical development. To further dissect the role of VEGF in different stages of tumor progression in lung tumors, we utilized KrasG12D-LSL GEMMs (genetically engineered mouse models).

Methods

Intranasal delivery of adenoviruses expressing cre recombinase in KrasG12D-LSL mice results in the expression of mutant Kras that leads to development of tumor lesions ranging from adenomatous hyperplasia to large adenoma and adenocarcinoma over time in lung. In the current study, we treated KrasG12D-LSL mice at 14 weeks post inhalation with three different angiogenic inhibitors including axitinib and PF-00337210 both of which are selective inhibitors of VEGFR and sunitinib which targets VEGFR, C-SF1-R, PDGFR and KIT.

Results

Pathology findings showed no significant difference in percentage of adenomatous hyperplastic lesions between the vehicle vs. any of the treatments suggesting that angiogenesis may not play a major role at early stages of tumorigenesis. However, each inhibitor suppressed percentage of benign adenoma lesions and almost fully inhibited growth of adenocarcinoma lesions in the recipients which was consistent with a reduction in tumor vasculature. Treatment with sunitinib which is a multi-targeted RTKI did not provide any advantage compared to selective VEGFR inhibitor further emphasizing role of VEGF in tumor angiogenesis in this model.

Conclusion

Overall, our studies indicate significance of VEGF and angiogenesis in a spontaneous model of lung tumorigenesis and provide a proof of mechanism for anti-cancer activity of VEGF inhibitors in this model.
A case of synchronous bilateral lung cancers: EML4-ALK positive adenocarcinoma in the right lung and adenocarcinoma in situ (the former bronchioloalveolar carcinoma) in the left lung
Authors: Matsuda Ikuo , Takeuchi Kengo , Mizuguchi Shinjiro , Kaji Masahide , Ueda Kayo , Teramura Kazuhiro , Hirota Seiichi
Published: April 2013

Background

Recently it has been revealed that lung adenocarcinomas with distinct gene mutations or fusions are associated with particular histopathological entities. For example, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations are often associated with well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung with bronchioloalveolar pattern. On the other hand, echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene in a subset of lung adenocarcinoma is related to mucinous cribriform histology.

Case presentation

Reported herein is a case of synchronous EML4-ALK positive lung adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ in the bilateral lungs of a 55-year-old Japanese woman. The woman had EML4-ALK positive lung adenocarcinoma in the right lower lung while adenocarcinoma in situ in the left upper lung, which was EML4-ALK negative.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first report of synchronous, bilateral lung adenocarcinomas composed of EML4-ALK positive and negative ones.
Sodium-Calcium Exchangers in Rat Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons
Authors: Kuroda Hidetaka , Sobhan Ubaidus , Sato Masaki , Tsumura Maki , Ichinohe Tatsuya , Tazaki Masakazu , Shibukawa Yoshiyuki
Published: April 2013

Background

Noxious stimulation and nerve injury induce an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) via various receptors or ionic channels. While an increase in [Ca2+]i excites neurons, [Ca2+]i overload elicits cytotoxicity, resulting in cell death. Intracellular Ca2+ is essential for many signal transduction mechanisms, and its level is precisely regulated by the Ca2+ extrusion system in the plasma membrane, which includes the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). It has been demonstrated that Ca2+-ATPase is the primary mechanism for removing [Ca2+]i following excitatory activity in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons; however, the role of NCXs in this process has yet to be clarified. The goal of this study was to examine the expression/localization of NCXs in TG neurons and to evaluate their functional properties.

Results

NCX isoforms (NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3) were expressed in primary cultured rat TG neurons. All the NCX isoforms were also expressed in A-, peptidergic C-, and non-peptidergic C-neurons, and located not only in the somata, dendrites, axons and perinuclear region, but also in axons innervating the dental pulp. Reverse NCX activity was clearly observed in TG neurons. The inactivation kinetics of voltage-dependent Na+ channels were prolonged by NCX inhibitors when [Ca2+]i in TG neurons was elevated beyond physiological levels.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that NCXs in TG neurons play an important role in regulating Ca2+-homeostasis and somatosensory information processing by functionally coupling with voltage-dependent Na+ channels.
Silence between patients and doctors: the issue of self-determination and amniocentesis in Japan
Authors: Kato Masae
Published: April 2013

Japan is among the few countries that have passed laws concerning eugenics. Consequently, the practice of selective abortion (abortion of an abnormal foetus) has been publicly debated for the past 35 years. Nevertheless, data show that knowledge in Japan about prenatal diagnosis is anything but common. In my fieldwork (April- June 2006) only 38% of interviewees (13/34) knew or had heard of 'amniocentesis' and 6% knew nothing about it at all. There are many explanations for why people are unaware of prenatal diagnosis. The most crucial factor is that medical doctors do not talk to their patients about it. My interviews with 11 medical doctors revealed that they do not talk about it because they want to respect the principle of patient selfdetermination. In this paper I aim first to introduce and analyse, in the context of Japanese eugenic history and the contemporary notion of the patient-doctor relationship, medical doctors' explanations for not talking to their patients about amniocentesis. Second, I address whether the principle of 'non-intervention' equates to 'self-determination'. Lastly, I suggest possible improvements to the practice of 'self-determination' in Japan.
The application of PET-CT to post-mastectomy regional radiation therapy using a deformable image registration
Authors: Lee Yu Sun , Kim Kyoung Ju , Ahn Seung Do , Choi Eun Kyung , Kim Jong Hoon , Lee Sang-wook , Song Si Yeol , Yoon Sang Min , Kim Young Seok , Park Jin-hong , Cho Byung Chul , Kim Su Ssan
Published: April 2013

Background

To evaluate the utility of the preoperative PET-CT using deformable image registration (DIR) in the treatment of patients with locally advanced breast cancer and to find appropriate radiotherapy technique for further adequate treatment of axillary nodal area.

Methods

Sixty-five breast cancer patients who had level II, III axillary or supraclavicular lymph node metastasis on 18F-FDG PET-CT and received postoperative radiotherapy after modified radical mastectomy were enrolled. One radiation oncologist contoured normal organs (axillary vessels, clavicular head, coracoids process and humeral head) and involved lymph nodes on PET-CT and simulation CT slices. After contouring, deformable image registration of PET-CT on simulation CT was carried out. To evaluate the performance of the DIR, Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Center of mass (COM) were used. We created two plans, one was the historically designed three field plan and the other was the modified plan based on the location of axillary lymph node, and we compared the doses that irradiated the axillary lymph nodes.

Results

The DSCs for axillary artery, axillary vein, clavicular head, coracoids process and humeral head were 0.43 ± 0.15, 0.39 ± 0.20, 0.85 ± 0.10, 0.72 ± 0.20 and 0.77 ± 0.20, respectively. The distances between the COMs of axillary artery, axillary vein, clavicular head, coracoids process and humeral head in simulation CT and from PET-CT were 13.0 ±7.1, 20.2 ± 11.2, 4.4 ± 6.3, 3.7 ± 6.7, and 9.5 ± 25.0 mm, respectively. In the historically designed plan, only 57.7% of level II lymph nodes received more than 95% of prescribed dose and the coverage was improved to 70.0% with the modified plan (p < 0.01). For level III lymph nodes, the volumes received more than 95% of prescribed dose were similar in both plans (96.8 % vs 97.9%, p = 0.35).

Conclusion

Deformable image registration of PET-CT on simulation CT was helpful in the identification of the location of the preoperatively involved axillary lymph node. Historically designed three-field plan was not adequate to treat the axillary level II lymph node area. Novel treatment technique based on the location of axillary lymph node from PET-CT using DIR can result in more adequate coverage of nodal area.
Consortia-mediated bioprocessing of cellulose to ethanol with a symbiotic Clostridium phytofermentans/yeast co-culture
Authors: Zuroff Trevor R , Xiques Salvador Barri , Curtis Wayne R
Published: April 2013

Background

Lignocellulosic ethanol is a viable alternative to petroleum-based fuels with the added benefit of potentially lower greenhouse gas emissions. Consolidated bioprocessing (simultaneous enzyme production, hydrolysis and fermentation; CBP) is thought to be a low-cost processing scheme for lignocellulosic ethanol production. However, no single organism has been developed which is capable of high productivity, yield and titer ethanol production directly from lignocellulose. Consortia of cellulolytic and ethanologenic organisms could be an attractive alternate to the typical single organism approaches but implementation of consortia has a number of challenges (e.g., control, stability, productivity).

Results

Ethanol is produced from α-cellulose using a consortium of C. phytofermentans and yeast that is maintained by controlled oxygen transport. Both Saccharomyces cerevisiae cdt-1 and Candida molischiana “protect” C. phytofermentans from introduced oxygen in return for soluble sugars released by C. phytofermentans hydrolysis. Only co-cultures were able to degrade filter paper when mono- and co-cultures were incubated at 30°C under semi-aerobic conditions. Using controlled oxygen delivery by diffusion through neoprene tubing at a calculated rate of approximately 8 μmol/L hour, we demonstrate establishment of the symbiotic relationship between C. phytofermentans and S. cerevisiae cdt-1 and maintenance of populations of 105 to 106 CFU/mL for 50 days. Comparable symbiotic population dynamics were observed in scaled up 500 mL bioreactors as those in 50 mL shake cultures. The conversion of α-cellulose to ethanol was shown to improve with additional cellulase indicating a limitation in hydrolysis rate. A co-culture of C. phytofermentans and S. cerevisiae cdt-1 with added endoglucanase produced approximately 22 g/L ethanol from 100 g/L α-cellulose compared to C. phytofermentans and S. cerevisiae cdt-1 mono-cultures which produced approximately 6 and 9 g/L, respectively.

Conclusion

This work represents a significant step toward developing consortia-based bioprocessing systems for lignocellulosic biofuels production which utilize scalable, environmentally-mediated symbiosis mechanisms to provide consortium stability.
Zygmunt Bauman. Individual and society in the liquid modernity
Authors: Palese Emma
Published: April 2013

Starting from the postmodern, the philosophical and sociological speculation by Zygmunt Bauman, opens - through the analysis of the phenomenon of globalization – to the meta-level of life, and then circumscribes the most recent thinking on political life, until reaching the liquid modernity: overcoming postmodernity itself. As a result individual, society, ethics, power, religion become those words impregnated with a liquidity capable of condensing in itself the most significant aspects of the present reality: a dimension in which the lasting gives way to the transient, the need to the desire, and the necessity to the utility.
Electromagnetic interferometry in wavenumber and space domains in a layered earth
Authors: Hunziker Jürg , Slob Evert , Fan Yuanzhong , Snieder Roel , Wapenaar Kees
Published: April 2013

With interferometry applied to controlled-source electromagnetic data, the direct field and the airwave and all other effects related to the air-water interface can be suppressed in a data-driven way. Interferometry allows for retreival of the scattered field Green’s function of the subsurface or, in other words, the subsurface reflection response. This reflection response can then be further used to invert for the subsurface conductivity distribution. To perform interferometry in 3D, measurements on an areal grid are necessary. We discuss 3D interferometry by multidimensional deconvolution in the frequency-wavenumber and in the frequency-space domains and provide examples for a layered earth model. We use the synthetic aperture source concept to damp the signal at high wavenumbers to allow large receiver sampling distances. Interferometry indeed increases the detectability of a subsurface reservoir. Finally, we discuss the dependency of the accuracy of the retrieved reflection response on the two crucial parameters: the conductivity of the seabed at the receiver location and the stabilization parameter of the least-squares inversion.
Local time stepping with the discontinuous Galerkin method for wave propagation in 3D heterogeneous media
Authors: Minisini Sara , Zhebel Elena , Kononov Alexey , Mulder Wim A.
Published: April 2013

Modeling and imaging techniques for geophysics are extremely demanding in terms of computational resources. Seismic data attempt to resolve smaller scales and deeper targets in increasingly more complex geologic settings. Finite elements enable accurate simulation of time-dependent wave propagation in heterogeneous media. They are more costly than finite-difference methods, but this is compensated by their superior accuracy if the finite-element mesh follows the sharp impedance contrasts and by their improved efficiency if the element size scales with wavelength, hence with the local wave velocity. However, 3D complex geologic settings often contain details on a very small scale compared to the dominant wavelength, requiring the mesh to contain elements that are smaller than dictated by the wavelength. Also, limitations of the mesh generation software may produce regions where the elements are much smaller than desired. In both cases, this leads to a reduction of the time step required to solve the wave propagation and significantly increases the computational cost. Local time stepping (LTS) can improve the computational efficiency and speed up the simulation. We evaluated a local formulation of an LTS scheme with second-order accuracy for the discontinuous Galerkin finite-element discretization of the wave equation. We tested the benefits of the scheme by considering a geologic model for a North-Sea-type example.
High Arctic marine geophysical data acquisition
Authors: Mosher D. C. , Chapman C. B. , Shimeld J. , Jackson H. R. , Chian D. , Verhoef J. , Hutchinson D. , Lebedeva-Ivanova N. , Pederson R.
Published: April 2013

Despite record-low sea ice extents over the past five years, the high Arctic Ocean remains one of the most difficult operational environments on Earth for marine geophysical data acquisition. Until 2006, the extent of seismic reflection data in the western Arctic Ocean (western, from a North American perspective) amounted to ∼3000 line-km. In 2008, the United States and Canada teamed up to embark on four years of joint marine operations to acquire in excess of 15,000 line-km of geophysical data reaching to the farthest points north. Each nation contributed an icebreaker to operate jointly to acquire seismic reflection, seismic refraction, shipborne gravity, single and multibeam bathymetry, and subbottom reflection data. This article presents some of the operational aspects of data acquisition in perennially ice-covered seas and demonstrates some of the outstanding data that resulted, focusing on the seismic components of the program. The multibeam-sonar component of the program is published by Armstrong et al. (2012).
Deformations of elliptic fiber bundles in positive characteristic
Authors: Partsch Holger
Published: April 2013

We study the deformation theory of elliptic fiber bundles over curves in positive characteristics. As applications, we give examples of nonliftable elliptic surfaces in characteristics 2 and 3, which answer a question of Katsura and Ueno. Also, we construct a class of elliptic fibrations, whose liftability is equivalent to a conjecture of Oort concerning the liftability of automorphisms of curves. Finally, we classify deformations of bielliptic surfaces.