bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Form, Grace and Stark Logic: 30 Years of Algorithmic Drawing
Authors: Verostko Roman
Published: June 2010

This essay outlines the personal experiences, influences and ideas that underlie 60 years of Roman Verostko's artwork and that drew him to embrace “algorithmic art.” The author spells out qualities of form unique to computer-assisted algorithmic drawing as well as the genre's pitfalls and discusses his good fortune to have been an active participant in what Peter Weibel has labeled the “Algorithmic Revolution.” For his pioneering work, Roman Verostko was awarded the 2009 SIGGRAPH Lifetime Achievement Award.
Blending Art and Science: Collapse (suddenly falling down)
Authors: Neff Michael , Sumner Dawn , Bawden Gerald W. , Bromberg Ellen , Crutchfield James P. , Davidson Della , Gilbride Shelly , Kellogg Louise H. , Kreylos Oliver
Published: June 2010

Collapse (suddenly falling down) was a dance/theater/media production that brought together a diverse group of artists and scientists to explore the varied ways that social and natural systems collapse and the responses of human societies. This paper focuses on the nature of the collaboration, the unique products it produced and the lessons learned. Three art-science collaboration themes emerged: (1) implementation of a large-scale stereo display for 3D data; (2) exploration from a visual design perspective of digital scans of natural hazard sites normally used for scientific research; and (3) integration of optical tracking for interaction between performers and visualizations. Each theme is explored in detail and each member of the team reflects on lessons learned from the process.
Creating Special Visual Effects with Moiré Patterns in Stereoscopic 3D and 4D Computed Tomographic Art
Authors: Fung Kai-hung
Published: June 2010

Moiré pattern refers to an interference pattern that is observed when two sets of grid lines overlay one another. With special 3D rendering technique such as the “Rainbow Technique” for tomographic art generated from computed tomography (CT), the Moiré pattern can be utilized for its aesthetic effect, particularly in stereoscopic motion images to create a special visual effect. The use of the Moire pattern is featured in my piece Deep Within in the new media art exhibition “Digit@logue” curated by Ellen Pau held in Hong Kong Museum of Art in 2008.
Emotion Gesture Art
Authors: Han Eunjung , Wong Chee-Onn , Jung Keechul , Lee Kyung Ho
Published: June 2010

Emotion gesture art is a new type of user modeling and representation in a form of aesthetic art. It consists of a unique combination of color, sound and animation (shape) that in itself creates the same emotional feeling for spectators. Emotion gesture art takes the body posture expression and remaps the communication of emotions into an aesthetic representation. This paper also presents an emotion gesture art installation (eG-art), a system prototype for affective computing. This installation will allow a smart blend of a system for affective computing with aesthetic art representation.
Insights on the Design of InTml
Authors: Figueroa Pablo
Published: June 2010

This paper describes some details about the design of InTml, the interaction techniques markup language. We explain three main elements in its architecture: a simple mixed reality (MR) based component model, a communication model between components that allows fusion of multimodal information at a fine level of granularity, and an indirection mechanism for dataflows that is useful to keep state inside a dataflow. We also briefly discuss the advantages we have found in the use of formal methods, model driven development, and encapsulation mechanisms. The purpose of this description is to make explicit the design rationale of these mechanisms, which may be fruitful for other developments in our field.
Modularity for Large Virtual Reality Applications
Authors: Allard Jérémie , Lesage Jean-Denis , Raffin Bruno
Published: June 2010

This paper focuses on the design of high performance VR applications. These applications usually involve various I/O devices and complex simulations. A parallel architecture or grid infrastructure is required to provide the necessary I/O and processing capabilities. Developing such applications faces several difficulties, two important ones being software engineering and performance issues. We argue that application modularity is a key concept to help the developer handle the complexity of these applications. We discuss how various approaches borrowed from other existing works can be combined to significantly improve the modularity of VR applications. This led to the development of the FlowVR middleware that associates a data-flow model with a hierarchical component model. Different case studies are presented to discuss the benefits of the approach proposed.
Reflecting on the Design and Implementation Issues of Virtual Environments
Authors: Wingrave Chadwick A , LaViola Joseph J
Published: June 2010

We present a candid reflection on the issues surrounding virtual environment design and implementation (VEDI) in order to: (1) motivate the topic as a researchworthy undertaking, and (2) attempt a comprehensive listing of impeding VEDI issues so they can be addressed. In order to structure this reflection, an idealized model of VEDI is presented. This model, investigated using mixed methods, resulted in 67 distinct issues along the model's transitions and pathways. These were clustered into 11 themes and used to support five VEDI research challenges.
California towhee vocal duets are multi-functional signals for multiple receivers
Authors: Benedict Lauryn
Published: June 2010

Avian vocal duets provide a model system for studying the evolution and production of complex signals which require input from multiple individuals. Duets serve a variety of communication functions in diverse species. To explore the function of duetting in California towhees (Pipilo crissalis) I collected behavioural data from a marked population, conducted sound playback experiments, and removed males from established pairs to observe the behaviour of new partners. Results indicate that California towhees use duets during extra-pair communication with conspecifics and during intra-pair communication between duetting partners. During the breeding season duetting frequency peaked during the chick-rearing period and was low during periods of high female fertility. Playbacks provoked similar levels of aggressive response from male and female territory holders. Mated pairs duetted in response to simulated intrusion by conspecific males, females and pairs. California towhee duets briefly increased in frequency after pairing, and showed no evidence of change due to learning. Duets facilitate spatial and behavioural coordination by mates, which should allow them to more effectively perform behaviours related to mutual reproductive success. No single existing hypothesis adequately explains vocal duetting among California towhees. Instead, duets function in multiple contexts and provide multiple potential benefits.
Which sex controls the duration of postcopulatory courtship and to what effect in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius
Authors: King
Published: June 2010

Resistance by females during a reproductive interaction is thought to reflect conflict between the sexes over the optimal outcome. In the parasitoid wasp, Spalangia endius, the female attempts to brush the male off her back with her hind legs after a few seconds of postcopulatory courtship. Although males do not dismount immediately, this signal is effective. Removal of female hind legs resulted in postcopulatory courtship that was longer, although a normal duration was sufficient to turn off a female's receptivity permanently. Responding immediately to the signal was not advantageous to males. When postcopulatory courtship was experimentally terminated as soon as females began signalling, they sometimes remained attractive and receptive to subsequent males. However, earlier studies suggest that for most if not all females, mating a second time would not increase the production of daughters or of total offspring, and being mounted interferes with oviposition. Thus, the normal duration of postcopulatory courtship is determined by the behaviour of both the male and the female, and currently this may usually be better for both partners than a duration determined by just one partner. Coevolution between the sexes may have mitigated previous conflict, and remaining resistance may reflect the ghost of conflict past.
Decimal Time: Misadventures of a Revolutionary Idea, 1793–2008
Authors: Vera Hector
Published: June 2010

This article traces the idea of decimalized systems of time reckoning, from their first articulated designs and implementation in the French revolution to our day. The paper analyzes how decimal time was the product of a broader rationalizing project that successfully reformed weights and measures (with the invention of the decimal metric system) and money (with the introduction of the franc as a decimal currency), but failed in bringing the chronological and calendrical reform into fruition. Finally, some hypotheses are suggested to explain why contrary to the global success of the metric system and decimal currency, plans for a fully decimalized time system were never accepted.
Are Galaxies and Elementary Particles Real? Objects, Reality, Space and Time. An ISST Forum
Authors: Lestienne Rémy
Published: June 2010

What is an object? What conditions declare it to be “real”? When can a concept, that has been proposed in a physical theory to describe our observations, be declared “physical” or, in other words, to be an element of reality? These questions pertain to the old debate between idealism and realism. In the last decades, the discussion was principally fuelled by the development of Quantum Mechanics, and particularly by the study of the process of measurement and the development of the concept of complementarity by Niels Bohr and the School of Copenhagen. In a few pages taken from The View from the Center of the Universe, Joel Primack and Nancy Abrams propose to limit the use of the concept of existence not only toward the microscopic world but also toward the very large structures of the Universe. This moves us to reopen the Pandora's Box, in a way in which the consideration of Time may play a fundamental role, as Whitehead, for example, insisted on. However, the interrogation seems to drift necessarily towards a reflection onto the concept of emergence and its relation with time. The present article is the end product of a three month's long Forum opened in February 2008 by the initiator among members of the International Society for the Study of Time, onto the “Gnomon” zone of the web site of the Association. Contributions from Nancy Abrams, Mark Aultman, Troy Camplin, Julius T. Fraser, Paul Harris, Marcel Le Bel, Jean Lette, Carlos Montemayor, Giovanni Vicario and Amrit Srecko Sorli were particularly beneficial to the discussion.
Monies of Account and Monetary Transition in China, Twelfth to Fourteenth Centuries
Authors: von Glahn Richard
Published: June 2010

Between the twelfth and the fourteenth centuries China’s monetary system shifted from a multiple currency system including paper notes, bronze coin, and uncoined silver to a unified paper currency system established by the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Consequently, China’s longstanding bronze coin standard was replaced by a new money of account denominated in silver. However, silver largely disappeared as a medium of exchange under Yuan rule. Instead, silver units of account were used to denominate paper currency. The monetary policies of the Mongol Yuan state established a silver unit of account that remained the monetary standard throughout China’s late imperial era.
Talk of change: Temporal contrasts and collective identities
Authors: Ybema Sierk
Published: June 2010

While temporality is generally acknowledged as a critical ingredient in processes of identity formation, studies of identity talk usually assume collective identity is essentially about establishing or facilitating a sense of temporal self-continuity. These studies do not detail how organizational actors might recast their identity narratives and reflectively put together stories about a changing or changed identity. The ethnographic research presented in this article reports how the editors of a Dutch national newspaper constructed their newspaper’s identity in temporal discontinuity talk, discursively constructing a contrast between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’, between legacies from a common past and plans for the future. As the organizational identity literature is primarily focused on talk of temporal continuities, I draw on studies of organizational change and nostalgic and ‘postalgic’ narratives in order to develop an understanding of the temporal dimension of collective identity talk that does not rule out, but incorporates, discontinuity and change.
Diagnostic Features of Feline Restrictive Orbital Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
Authors: Bell C. M. , Schwarz T. , Dubielzig R. R.
Published: June 2010

A progressive debilitating disease of the orbit and adjacent connective tissues of cats has historically been called feline orbital pseudotumor. The authors reviewed clinical, histopathologic, and diagnostic imaging features of this disease in 12 cases from the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin. The cats' ages ranged from 7 to 16 years (mean, 10.8 years). All cats had a history of severely restricted mobility of the globe and eyelids with secondary corneal disease. Eleven cats (92%) had concurrent involvement of the contralateral eye and/or the oral cavity. Diffuse scleral or episcleral thickening was seen with computed tomography in all clinically affected eyes. Histologically, an insidious infiltration of neoplastic spindle cells in the orbit, eyelids, and periorbital skin and soft tissues, with collagen deposition and a few perivascular lymphocytes, led to entrapment and restricted mobility of the eyelids and orbital tissues. The tumor failed to form a discrete mass, and it spread along fascial planes to the contralateral orbit and eyelids and/or the lips and oral cavity. In all tested cases ( n = 10), neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically positive for vimentin, S100 protein, and smooth muscle actin. The authors adopted the term feline restrictive orbital myofibroblastic sarcoma to reflect the restricted mobility of the eyelids and globe and the imaging and histologic features of an invasive yet low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma.
A Conceptual Framework for the Study of Social Capital in New Destination Immigrant Communities
Authors: Bernosky de Flores Catherine H.
Published: June 2010

Mexican immigration to the United States is an intragenerational phenomenon. Young adult Mexicans leave their families of origin in search of employment opportunities that pull them to new destination communities. A conceptual framework that defines and relates the concepts of human capital, personal networks, social capital, and resources is introduced. The influence of social capital on the capacity of immigrants to access resources is described. The framework informed the design of a study to examine the approaches used by Mexican immigrant women to access resources for healthy childbearing in the absence of traditional family support systems in a new destination community.
Transition Into Practice: Experiences of Filipino Physician-Turned Nurse Practitioners
Authors: Jauregui Alan B. , Yu Xu
Published: June 2010

An increasing number of Filipino physician-turned nurse practitioners (MD-NPs) are working in the United States. This phenomenological study examined the transition-into-practice experiences of eight self-identified Filipino MD-NPs in Las Vegas, Nevada. Four themes emerged from the data. First, unfamiliarity with the U.S. health insurance policies and guidelines was identified as the most frequent and challenging barrier to transition and successful work performance. Second, limited scope of practice and the legal requirement to have a physician collaborator posed problems to some Filipino MD-NPs who were once independent, full-fledged physicians. Third, working in a litigious U.S. health care environment changed their attitudes and practices. Fourth, having the education and experience as a physician facilitated their transition and role as NPs and led to a higher job satisfaction than working as staff nurses. Targeted measures are needed to facilitate the transition of Filipino MD-NPs, especially in the context of patient safety, quality of care, and the retention of these new advanced practice nurses. Further research is needed on their transitional issues, including development and testing of an evidence-based transitional program.
Experimental Investigation of MR Damper-based Semiactive Control Algorithms for Full-scale Five-story Steel Frame Building
Authors: Lee Heon-Jae , Jung Hyung-Jo , Moon Seok-Jun , Lee Sung-Kyung , Park Eun-Churn , Min Kyung-Won
Published: June 2010

In this study, the effectiveness of various semiactive control algorithms based on magnetorheological (MR) dampers is experimentally investigated for seismic protection of a full-scale five-story steel frame building structure. This may be the first experimental comparison of several semiactive control algorithms using a full-scale test structure. The MR damper-based control systems are realized, when an MR damper is designed by deriving a suboptimal design procedure considering optimization problem and magnetic analysis, and then a damper with the capacity of 1.0 ton is manufactured. In the experiments, a linear active mass driver and the linear shaker seismic simulation testing method are used to excite the building structure in order to match the full-scale building vibrate as if the building undergoes an earthquake. Under the four historical earthquakes and one filtered artificial earthquake, the performance of the semiactive control algorithms including the passive optimal case is experimentally evaluated. From the experimental results, one can conclude that the Lyapunov and semiactive neuro-control algorithms are appropriate in reducing accelerations of the structural system, and the passive optimal case and the maximum energy dissipation algorithm show the excellent performance in reducing the first floor displacement.
Emergent Ghosts of the Emotion Machine
Authors: Coan James A.
Published: June 2010

Competing perspectives on the nature of emotion are illustrated with latent and emergent variable models. Latent variable models draw from classical test theory, assuming that the measured indicators of emotion covary by virtue of some common executive, organizing neural circuit or network in the brain. By contrast, emergent variable models draw from a theory-driven, operational definition tradition, positing that emotions do not cause, but rather are caused by, the measured indicators of emotion, assuming no executive neural circuit or network, and requiring no covariation among indicators. I suggest that the emergent variable model may be more compatible with the extant literature on the nature of emotion, especially in the age of affective neuroscience.
The Somatic Marker Revisited: Brain and Body in Emotional Decision Making
Authors: Ohira Hideki
Published: June 2010

One important function of emotions is to guide decision making and behaviors for survival in complex environments. In the context of such reasoning, the somatic marker hypothesis (Damasio, 1994) has argued that bodily states are represented in specific brain regions, such as the insula, and would play critical roles in decision making. However, it still remains unclear what causal roles bodily states would play in decision making, and how the bodily states would change accompanying decision making. Thus, the aim of this article is to reconsider aspects of the brain and bodily states in decision making based on recent findings. Questions for future research are proposed based on such findings.
Microstructure and oxidation resistant property of C/C composites modified by SiC–MoSi2–CrSi2 coating
Authors: Chu Y-H , Fu Q-G , Cao C-W , Li H-J , Li K-Z , Lei Q
Published: June 2010

To prevent carbon/carbon (C/C) composites from oxidation, a dense and multiphase inlaid SiC–MoSi2–CrSi2 coating was prepared by pack cementation. The coatings were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The effect of pack composition on the oxidation properties was studied on low density C/C composite, and then optimum composition was finalised. The optimum composition was the one containing 5 wt-%Cr and oxidation behaviour of high and low density C/C composites coatings with this composition was studied. Oxidation test shows that, when the Cr content was 5 wt-%, the SiC–MoSi2–CrSi2 coating possessed excellent oxidation resistant ability. After application of the SiC–MoSi2–CrSi2 multiphase coating, the low density C/C composite showed a mass loss of only 1·36% after oxidation at 1873 K for 43 h, while the mass loss of the coated high density sample was up to 7·45% after oxidation at 1873 K for 8 h.
Aberrant induction of LMO2 by the E2A-HLF chimeric transcription factor and its implication in leukemogenesis of B-precursor ALL with t(17;19)
Authors: Hirose Kinuko , Inukai Takeshi , Kikuchi Jiro , Furukawa Yusuke , Ikawa Tomokatsu , Kawamoto Hiroshi , Oram S. Helen , Göttgens Berthold , Kiyokawa Nobutaka , Miyagawa Yoshitaka , Okita Hajime , Akahane Koshi , Zhang Xiaochun , Kuroda Itaru , Honna Hiroko , Kagami Keiko , Goi Kumiko , Kurosawa Hidemitsu , Look A. Thomas , Matsui Hirotaka , Inaba Toshiya , Sugita Kanji
Published: June 2010

LMO2, a critical transcription regulator of hematopoiesis, is involved in human T-cell leukemia. The binding site of proline and acidic amino acid–rich protein (PAR) transcription factors in the promoter of the LMO2 gene plays a central role in hematopoietic-specific expression. E2A-HLF fusion derived from t(17;19) in B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has the transactivation domain of E2A and the basic region/leucine zipper domain of HLF, which is a PAR transcription factor, raising the possibility that E2A-HLF aberrantly induces LMO2 expression. We here demonstrate that cell lines and a primary sample of t(17;19)-ALL expressed LMO2 at significantly higher levels than other B-precursor ALLs did. Transfection of E2A-HLF into a non-t(17;19) B-precursor ALL cell line induced LMO2 gene expression that was dependent on the DNA-binding and transactivation activities of E2A-HLF. The PAR site in the LMO2 gene promoter was critical for E2A-HLF-induced LMO2 expression. Gene silencing of LMO2 in a t(17;19)-ALL cell line by short hairpin RNA induced apoptotic cell death. These observations indicated that E2A-HLF promotes cell survival of t(17;19)-ALL cells by aberrantly up-regulating LMO2 expression. LMO2 could be a target for a new therapeutic modality for extremely chemo-resistant t(17;19)-ALL.
Proteomic expression profiling of Haemophilus influenzae grown in pooled human sputum from adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reveal antioxidant and stress responses
Authors: Qu Jun , Lesse Alan J , Brauer Aimee L , Cao Jin , Gill Steven R , Murphy Timothy F
Published: June 2010

Background

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae colonizes and infects the airways of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the fourth most common cause of death worldwide.Thus, H. influenzae, an exclusively human pathogen, has adapted to survive in the hostile environment of the human airways.To characterize proteins expressed by H. influenzae in the airways, a prototype strain was grown in pooled human sputum to simulate conditions in the human respiratory tract.The proteins from whole bacterial cell lysates were solubilized with a strong buffer and then quantitatively cleaned with an optimized precipitation/on-pellet enzymatic digestion procedure.Proteomic profiling was accomplished by Nano-flow liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy with low void volume and high separation efficiency with a shallow, long gradient.

Results

A total of 1402 proteins were identified with high confidence, including 170 proteins that were encoded by genes that are annotated as conserved hypothetical proteins.Thirty-one proteins were present in greater abundance in sputum-grown conditions at a ratio of > 1.5 compared to chemically defined media.These included 8 anti-oxidant and 5 stress-related proteins, suggesting that expression of antioxidant activity and stress responses is important for survival in the airways.Four proteins involved in uptake of divalent anions and 9 proteins that function in uptake of various molecules were present in greater abundance in sputum-grown conditions.

Conclusions

Proteomic expression profiling of H. influenzae grown in pooled human sputum revealed increased expression of antioxidant, stress-response proteins and cofactor and nutrient uptake systems compared to media grown cells.These observations suggest that H. influenzae adapts to the oxidative and nutritionally limited conditions of the airways in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by increasing expression of molecules necessary for survival in these conditions.
Mouse brain expression patterns of Spg7, Afg3l1, and Afg3l2 transcripts, encoding for the mitochondrial m-AAA protease
Authors: Sacco Tiziana , Boda Enrica , Hoxha Eriola , Pizzo Riccardo , Cagnoli Claudia , Brusco Alfredo , Tempia Filippo
Published: June 2010

Background

The m-AAA (A TPases A ssociated with a variety of cellular A ctivities) is an evolutionary conserved metalloprotease complex located in the internal mitochondrial membrane. In the mouse, it is a hetero-oligomer variably formed by the Spg7, Afg3l1, and Afg3l2 encoded proteins, or a homo-oligomer formed by either Afg3l1 or Afg3l2. In humans, AFG3L2 and SPG7 genes are conserved, whereas AFG3L1 became a pseudogene. Both AFG3L2 and SPG7 are involved in a neurodegenerative disease, namely the autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia SCA28 and a recessive form of spastic paraplegia, respectively.

Results

Using quantitative RT-PCR, we measured the expression levels of Spg7, Afg3l1, and Afg3l2 in the mouse brain. In all regions Afg3l2 is the most abundant transcript, followed by Spg7, and Afg3l1, with a ratio of approximately 5:3:1 in whole-brain mRNA. Using in-situ hybridization, we showed that Spg7, Afg3l1 and Afg3l2 have a similar cellular pattern of expression, with high levels in mitral cells, Purkinje cells, deep cerebellar nuclei cells, neocortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons, and brainstem motor neurons. However, in some neuronal types, differences in the level of expression of these genes were present, suggesting distinct degrees of contribution of their proteins.

Conclusions

Neurons involved in SCA28 and hereditary spastic paraplegia display high levels of expression, but similar or even higher expression is also present in other types of neurons, not involved in these diseases, suggesting that the selective cell sensitivity should be attributed to other, still unknown, mechanisms.
Dramatic regression and bleeding of a duodenal GIST during preoperative imatinib therapy: case report and review
Authors: Hecker Andreas , Hecker Birgit , Bassaly Birgit , Hirschburger Markus , Schwandner Thilo , Janßen Hermann , Padberg Winfried
Published: June 2010

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. The majority of GISTs is located in the stomach. Only 3-5% of GISTs are located in the duodenum associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding as primary manifestation. With response rates of up to 90%, but complications like bleeding due to tumor necrosis in 3%, imatinib mesylate dramatically altered the pre- and postoperative therapy for GIST patients.

Case presentation

A 58-year-old female patient presented with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding 2 weeks after a giant GIST of the duodenum had been diagnosed. Neoadjuvant imatinib therapy had been initiated to achieve a tumor downsizing prior to surgery. During emergency laparotomy a partial duodenopancreatectomy was performed to achieve a complete resection of the mass. Histology revealed a high-malignancy GIST infiltrating the duodenal wall. Adjuvant imatinib therapy was initiated. At follow-up (19 months) the patient is still alive and healthy.

Conclusion

Giant GISTs of the duodenum are rare and - in contrast to other localizations - harbour a higher risk of serious bleeding as primary manifestation. Tumor necrosis and tumor bleeding are rare but typical adverse effects of imatinib therapy especially during treatment of high-malignancy GIST. In GIST patients with increased risk of tumor bleeding neoadjuvant imatinib therapy should thoroughly be performed during hospitalization. In cases of duodenal GIST primary surgery should be considered as treatment alternative.
A duplex real-time RT-PCR assay for detecting H5N1 avian influenza virus and pandemic H1N1 influenza virus
Authors: Kang Xiao-ping , Jiang Tao , Li Yong-qiang , Lin Fang , Liu Hong , Chang Guo-hui , Zhu Qing-yu , Qin E-de , Qin Cheng-feng , Yang Yin-hui
Published: June 2010

A duplex real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was improved for simultaneous detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus and pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza virus, which is suitable for early diagnosis of influenza-like patients and for epidemiological surveillance. The sensitivity of this duplex real-time RT-PCR assay was 0.02 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) for H5N1 and 0.2 TCID50 for the pandemic H1N1, which was the same as that of each single-target RT-PCR for pandemic H1N1 and even more sensitive for H5N1 with the same primers and probes. No cross reactivity of detecting other subtype influenza viruses or respiratory tract viruses was observed. Two hundred and thirty-six clinical specimens were tested by comparing with single real-time RT-PCR and result from the duplex assay was 100% consistent with the results of single real-time RT-PCR and sequence analysis.
Factors associated with compliance with community directed treatment with ivermectin for onchocerciasis control in Southwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Yirga Daniel , Deribe Kebede , Woldemichael Kifle , Wondafrash Mekite , Kassahun Wondosen
Published: June 2010

Background

Although ivermectin is distributed free of charge through the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), not all eligible individuals within communities receive the annual treatment. This poses a serious threat to efforts aimed to control onchocerciasis. This study attempts to determine factors associated with compliance to Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) and provides a basis for trying to understand how best to sustain long-term compliance in order to achieve success in the control of onchocerciasis.

Methods

An unmatched case-control study was conducted in Bebeka coffee plantation southwest Ethiopia. Cases were, compliant i.e., those individuals who had been registered on the relevant treatment registers and had taken all the five annual doses of Ivermectin. Controls were non-compliant, i.e. those individuals who had been recorded in the relevant treatment registers during the first treatment round(2003), and did not take at least two doses of which one being in the last treatment round (2007). Data were collected using a pre-tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Data were edited, cleaned, coded and analyzed using SPSS version 12.0.1 for Microsoft Windows. Multiple logistic regression models was used to identify factors associated with compliance to ivermectin.

Results

From the total of 456 individuals selected for administration of the survey questionnaire, 450(225 cases and 225 controls) were contacted and completed the study 2 refused and 4 were unavailable. Five factors associated with compliance were identified: high risk perception [Adjusted Odds Ratio(AOR) = 1.98, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.32-2.95], one's family support [AOR = 1.86, 95% CI, 1.22-2.84], perceiving that the Community Drug Distributors (CDDs) are doing their work well [AOR = 2.84, 95% CI, 1.50-5.37] and perceiving measuring height is the best way to determine a person's treatment dose [AOR = 6.37, 95% CI, 2.10-19.29] are positive predictors of compliance to ivermectin.

Conclusion

Interventions to improve compliance in the area should focus on health education using epidemiological data in order to increase risk perception and dispelling misconceptions. Motivation and continued support to improve CDD's performance including training and incentives are crucial.
Downregulation of SPARC expression decreases gastric cancer cellular invasion and survival
Authors: Yin Jie , Chen Guowei , Liu Yucun , Liu Si , Wang Pengyuan , Wan Yuanlian , Wang Xin , Zhu Jing , Gao Hongqiao
Published: June 2010

Background

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) plays a key role in the development of many tissues and organ types. Aberrant SPARC expression was found in a wide variety of human cancers, contributes to tumor development. Because SPARC was found to be overexpressed in human gastric cancer tissue, we therefore to explore the expression of SPARC in gastric cancer lines and the carcinogenic mechanisms.

Methods

SPARC expression was evaluated in a panel of human gastric cancer cell lines. MGC803 and HGC 27 gastric cancer cell lines expressing high level of SPARC were transiently transfected with SPARC-specific small interfering RNAs and subsequently evaluated for effects on invasion and proliferation.

Results

Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of SPARC in MGC803 and HGC 27 gastric cancer cells dramatically decreased their invasion. Knockdown of SPARC was also observed to significantly increase the apoptosis of MGC803 and HGC 27 gastric cancer cells compared with control transfected group.

Conclusions

Our data showed that downregulating of SPARC inhibits invasion and growth of human gastric cancer cells. Thus, targeting of SPARC could be an effective therapeutic approach against gastric cancer.
Senescence evasion by MCF-7 human breast tumor-initiating cells
Authors: Karimi-Busheri Feridoun , Rasouli-Nia Aghdass , Mackey John R , Weinfeld Michael
Published: June 2010

Introduction

A subpopulation of cancer cells, tumor-initiating cells, is believed to be the driving force behind tumorigenesis and resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. The persistence of tumor-initiating cells may depend on altered regulation of DNA damage and checkpoint proteins, as well as a reduced propensity to undergo apoptosis or senescence.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, we isolated CD24-/low/CD44+ tumor-initiating cells (as mammospheres) from MCF-7 breast cancer cells grown in adherent monolayer culture, and carried out a comprehensive comparison of cell death and DNA damage response pathways prior to and after exposure to ionizing radiation in mammospheres and monolayer MCF-7 cells. Single and double-strand break repair was measured by single-cell gel electrophoresis. The latter was also examined by phosphorylation of histone H2AX and formation of 53BP1 and Rad51 foci. Apoptosis was quantified by flow-cytometric analysis of annexin V-binding and senescence was analyzed on the basis of cellular β-galactosidase activity. We employed the telomeric repeat amplification protocol to quantify telomerase activity. Expression of key DNA repair and cell cycle regulatory proteins was detected and quantified by western blot analysis.

Results

Our data demonstrate that in comparison to the bulk population of MCF-7 cells (predominantly CD24+/CD44+), the MCF-7 mammosphere cells benefit from a multifaceted approach to cellular protection relative to that seen in monolayer cells, including a reduced level of reactive oxygen species, a more active DNA single-strand break repair (SSBR) pathway, possibly due to a higher level of expression of the key SSBR protein, human AP endonuclease 1 (Ape1), and a significantly reduced propensity to undergo senescence as a result of increased telomerase activity and a low level of p21 protein expression. No significant difference was seen in the rates of double-strand break repair (DSBR) between the two cell types, but DSBR in mammospheres appears to by-pass the need for H2AX phosphorylation.

Conclusions

Enhanced survival of MCF-7 tumor-initiating cells in response to ionizing radiation is primarily dependent on an inherent down-regulation of the senescence pathway. Since MCF-7 cells are representative of cancer cells that do not readily undergo apoptosis, consideration of senescence pathways may play a role in targeting stem cells from such tumors.
Breast Cancer Adjuvant Chemotherapy Decisions in Older Women: The Role of Patient Preference and Interactions With Physicians
Authors: Mandelblatt Jeanne S. , Sheppard Vanessa B. , Hurria Arti , Kimmick Gretchen , Isaacs Claudine , Taylor Kathryn L. , Kornblith Alice B. , Noone Anne-Michelle , Luta Gheorghe , Tallarico Michelle , Barry William T. , Hunegs Lisa , Zon Robin , Naughton Michael , Winer Eric , Hudis Clifford , Edge Stephen B. , Cohen Harvey Jay , Muss Hyman
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Breast cancer chemotherapy decisions in patients ≥ 65 years old (older) are complex because of comorbidity, toxicity, and limited data on patient preference. We examined relationships between preferences and chemotherapy use.

Methods

Older women (n = 934) diagnosed with invasive (≥ 1 cm), nonmetastatic breast cancer from 2004 to 2008 were recruited from 53 cooperative group sites. Data were collected from patient interviews (87% complete), physician survey (93% complete), and charts. Logistic regression and multiple imputation methods were used to assess associations between chemotherapy and independent variables. Chemotherapy use was also evaluated according to the following two groups: indicated (estrogen receptor [ER] negative and/or node positive) and possibly indicated (ER positive and node negative).

Results

Mean patient age was 73 years (range, 65 to 100 years). Unadjusted chemotherapy rates were 69% in the indicated group and 16% in the possibly indicated group. Women who would choose chemotherapy for an increase in survival of ≤ 12 months had 3.9 times (95% CI, 2.4 to 6.3 times; P < .001) higher odds of receiving chemotherapy than women with lower preferences, controlling for covariates. Stronger preferences were seen when chemotherapy could be indicated (odds ratio [OR] = 7.7; 95% CI, 3.8 to 16; P < .001) than when treatment might be possibly indicated (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.8; P = .06). Higher patient rating of provider communication was also related to chemotherapy use in the possibly indicated group (OR = 1.9 per 5-point increase in communication score; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.8; P < .001) but not in the indicated group (P = .15).

Conclusion

Older women's preferences and communication with providers are important correlates of chemotherapy use, especially when benefits are more equivocal.
Phase II Window Study on Rituximab in Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Mature B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Burkitt Leukemia
Authors: Meinhardt Andrea , Burkhardt Birgit , Zimmermann Martin , Borkhardt Arndt , Kontny Udo , Klingebiel Thomas , Berthold Frank , Janka-Schaub Gritta , Klein Christoph , Kabickova Edita , Klapper Wolfram , Attarbaschi Andishe , Schrappe Martin , Reiter Alfred
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The activity of rituximab in pediatric B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) has not yet been determined. We conducted a phase II window study to examine activity and tolerability of rituximab in newly diagnosed pediatric B-NHL.

Patients and Methods

Patients younger than age 19 years with CD20+ B-NHL with at least one measurable site were eligible. Treatment consisted of rituximab at 375 mg/m2 administered intravenously on day 1; concomitant therapy consisted of rasburicase, intrathecally (IT) triple drug (methotrexate, cytarabine, and prednisolone) on days 1 and 3 for CNS-positive patients and steroids only for anaphylaxis. Response criterion was the product of the two largest perpendicular diameters of one to three lesions and/or the percentage of blasts in bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood (PB) within 24 hours before rituximab and on day 5. Responders had ≥ 25% decrease of at least one lesion or BM or PB blasts and no disease progress at other sites. Response rate (RR) was set at 45% for unfavorable activity or at 65% for favorable activity.

Results

From April 2004 to August 2008, 136 patients were enrolled. National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria 3/4 toxicities attributable to rituximab were general condition, 15%; fatigue, 13%; anaphylaxis, 7%; infection, 3%; glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase/glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, 8%; no capillary leakage; and no toxic death. Forty-nine patients were not evaluable for response because of withdrawal from the study (n = 16), IT therapy in CNS-negative patients (n = 8), corticosteroid treatment (n = 3), technical inadequacy of response evaluation (n = 21), or no evaluable lesion (n = 1). Of 87 evaluable patients, 36 were responders (RR, 41.4%; 95% CI, 31% to 52%); among them, 27 of 67 with Burkitt lymphoma and seven of 15 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A response was more frequently observed in BM (12 of 18) compared with solid tumor lesions (36 of 108; P = .007).

Conclusion

Rituximab is active as a single-agent in pediatric B-NHL even though the RR was lower than requested in the phase II plan.
Quality of Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs
Authors: Jackson George L. , Melton L. Douglas , Abbott David H. , Zullig Leah L. , Ordin Diana L. , Grambow Steven C. , Hamilton Natia S. , Zafar S. Yousuf , Gellad Ziad F. , Kelley Michael J. , Provenzale Dawn
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system treats approximately 3% of patients with cancer in the United States each year. We measured the quality of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) care in VA as indicated by concordance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network practice guidelines (six indicators) and timeliness of care (three indicators).

Patients and Methods

A retrospective medical record abstraction was done for 2,492 patients with incident stages I to III CRC diagnosed between October 1, 2003, and March 31, 2006, who underwent definitive CRC surgery. Patients were treated at one or more of 128 VA medical centers. The proportion of patients receiving guideline-concordant care and time intervals between care processes were calculated.

Results

More than 80% of patients had preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen determination (ie, stages II to III disease) and documented clear surgical margins (ie, stages II to III disease). Between 72% and 80% of patients had appropriate referral to a medical oncologist (ie, stages II to III disease), preoperative computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis (ie, stages II to III disease), and adjuvant fluorouracil-based chemotherapy (ie, stage III disease). Less than half of patients with stages I to III CRC (43.5%) had a follow-up colonoscopy 7 to 18 months after surgery. The mean number of days between major treatment events included the following: 26.6 days (standard deviation [SD], 38.2; median, 20 days) between diagnosis and initiation of treatment (in stages II to III disease); 64.9 days (SD, 54.9; median, 50 days) between definitive surgery and start of adjuvant chemotherapy (in stages II to III disease); and 444.1 days (SD, 182.1; median, 393 days) between definitive surgery and follow-up colonoscopies (in stages I to III disease).

Conclusion

Although there is opportunity for improvement in the area of cancer surveillance, the VA performs well in meeting established guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of CRC.
Molecular Staging of Intracranial Ependymoma in Children and Adults
Authors: Korshunov Andrey , Witt Hendrik , Hielscher Thomas , Benner Axel , Remke Marc , Ryzhova Marina , Milde Till , Bender Sebastian , Wittmann Andrea , Schöttler Anna , Kulozik Andreas E. , Witt Olaf , von Deimling Andreas , Lichter Peter , Pfister Stefan
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The biologic behavior of intracranial ependymoma is unpredictable on the basis of current staging approaches. We aimed at the identification of recurrent genetic aberrations in ependymoma and evaluated their prognostic significance to develop a molecular staging system that could complement current classification criteria.

Patients and Methods

As a screening cohort, we studied a cohort of 122 patients with ependymoma before standardized therapy by using array-based comparative genomic hybridization. DNA copy-number aberrations identified as possible prognostic markers were validated in an independent cohort of 170 patients with ependymoma by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Copy-number aberrations were correlated with clinical, histopathologic, and survival data.

Results

In the screening cohort, age at diagnosis, gain of 1q, and homozygous deletion of CDKN2A comprised the most powerful independent indicators of unfavorable prognosis. In contrast, gains of chromosomes 9, 15q, and 18 and loss of chromosome 6 were associated with excellent survival. On the basis of these findings, we developed a molecular staging system comprised of three genetic risk groups, which was then confirmed in the validation cohort. Likelihood ratio tests and multivariate Cox regression also demonstrated the clear improvement in predictive accuracy after the addition of these novel genetic markers.

Conclusion

Genomic aberrations in ependymomas are powerful independent markers of disease progression and survival. By adding genetic markers to established clinical and histopathologic variables, outcome prediction can potentially be improved. Because the analyses can be conducted on routine paraffin-embedded material, it will now be possible to prospectively validate these markers in multicenter clinical trials on population-based cohorts.
The EU Enlargement Policy and National Majority-Minority Dynamics in Potential European Union Members: The Example of Turkey
Authors: Tasch Laman
Published: June 2010

The absence of a universally accepted definition of minority and standardized mechanisms for minority protection presents challenges during the European Union (EU) accession process. The differences between definitions used by European policy makers and those used in candidate countries are evident in Turkey's journey to the EU. Cultural identity boundaries are dynamic, and emphasizing the protection of particular minority groups can be regarded as a minority-forging policy that places at risk the successful implementation of minority protection in the candidate country.
Balancing, Bonding, and Balking: The European Union, the United States, and the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
Authors: Hemmer Christopher
Published: June 2010

The increasing resources, albeit largely financial, that the European Union has committed to the Israeli-Palestinian relationship has led to increasing calls for the EU to take a greater political role in the peace process. In this essay the potential role of the EU in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is examined in relation to that of the United States. For the EU to play a more influential role in the peace process, neither a pure balancing nor a pure bonding strategy is likely to work. Instead, the most promising strategy for the EU would be a bonding strategy combined with a threat to balk, to simply withhold support from US initiatives if Europe's views are not taken into account.
From Islamic Warriors to Drug Lords: The Evolution of the Taliban Insurgency
Authors: Schmidt Farhana
Published: June 2010

The Taliban of today bears little resemblance to the original Taliban of the 1990s. Everyone from fighters loyal to various warlords to criminals involved in kidnapping and racketeering label themselves Taliban. This makes sorting out exactly who is who a difficult task. Nevertheless, one thing is abundantly clear: the active participation of the Taliban has aided and abetted opium cultivation on a scale unmatched by anything Afghanistan has seen in the past. Papaver soniferum, or poppy, is the lifeblood of the Taliban insurgency. Once the Taliban's financial arteries linked to the poppy are cut off, the insurgency will experience a major organizational blow, unless it morphs into an entirely new animal.