bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distributed Compressed Spectrum Sensing via Cooperative Support Fusion
Authors: Song Zha , Jijun Huang , Peiguo Liu , Jianguo He
Published: December 2013

Spectrum sensing in wideband cognitive radio (CR) networks faces several significant practical challenges, such as extremely high sampling rates required for wideband processing, impact of frequency-selective wireless fading and shadowing, and limitation in power and computing resources of single cognitive radio. In this paper, a distributed compressed spectrum sensing scheme is proposed to overcome these challenges. To alleviate the sampling bottleneck, compressed sensing mechanism is used at each CR by utilizing the inherent sparsity of the monitored wideband spectrum. Specifically, partially known support (PKS) of the sparse spectrum is incorporated into local reconstruction procedure, which can further reduce the required sampling rate to achieve a given recovery quality or improve the quality given the same sampling rate. To mitigate the impact of fading and shadowing, multiple CRs exploit spatial diversity by exchanging local support information among them. The fused support information is used to guide local reconstruction at individual CRs. In consideration of limited power per CR, local support information percolates over the network via only one-hop local information exchange. Simulation results testify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme by comparing with several existing schemes in terms of detection performance, communication load, and computational complexity. Moreover, the impact of system parameters is also investigated through simulations.
Carbonate Chemistry and Isotope Characteristics of Groundwater of Ljubljansko Polje and Ljubljansko Barje Aquifers in Slovenia
Authors: Cerar Sonja , Urbanc Janko
Published: December 2013

Ljubljansko polje and Ljubljansko Barje aquifers are the main groundwater resources for the needs of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Carbonate chemistry and isotope analysis of the groundwater were performed to acquire new hydrogeological data, which should serve as a base for improvement of hydrogeological conceptual models of both aquifers. A total of 138 groundwater samples were collected at 69 sampling locations from both aquifers. Major carbonate ions and the stable isotope of oxygen were used to identify differences in the recharging areas of aquifers. Four groups of groundwater were identified: (1) Ljubljansko polje aquifer, with higher Ca2+ values, as limestone predominates in its recharge area, (2) northern part of Ljubljansko Barje aquifer, with prevailing dolomite in its recharge area, (3) central part of Ljubljansko Barje aquifer, which lies below surface cover of impermeable clay and is poor in carbonate, and (4) Brest and Iški vršaj aquifer in the southern part of Ljubljansko Barje with higher Mg2+ in groundwater and dolomite prevailing in its recharge area. The radioactive isotope tritium was also used to estimate the age of groundwater. Sampled groundwater is recent with tritium activity between 4 and 8 TU and residence time of up to 10 years.
Revisiting the Cutaneous Impact of Oral Hormone Replacement Therapy
Authors: Piérard Gérald E. , Humbert Philippe , Berardesca Enzo , Gaspard Ulysse , Hermanns-Lê Trinh , Piérard-Franchimont Claudine
Published: December 2013

Menopause is a key point moment in the specific aging process of women. It represents a universal evolution in life. Its initiation is defined by a 12-month amenorrhea following the ultimate menstrual period. It encompasses a series of different biologic and physiologic characteristics. This period of life appears to spot a decline in a series of skin functional performances initiating tissue atrophy, withering, and slackness. Any part of the skin is possibly altered, including the epidermis, dermis, hypodermis, and hair follicles. Hormone replacement therapy (oral and nonoral) and transdermal estrogen therapy represent possible specific managements for women engaged in the climacteric phase. All the current reports indicate that chronologic aging, climacteric estrogen deficiency, and adequate hormone therapy exert profound effects on various parts of the skin.
Inflammation Amplifier, a New Paradigm in Cancer Biology
Authors: Atsumi Toru , Singh Rajeev , Sabharwal Lavannya , Bando Hidenori , Meng Jie , Arima Yasunobu , Yamada Moe , Harada Masaya , Jiang Jing-Jing , Kamimura Daisuke , Ogura Hideki , Hirano Toshio , Murakami Masaaki
Published: December 2013

Tumor-associated inflammation can induce various molecules expressed from the tumors themselves or surrounding cells to create a microenvironment that potentially promotes cancer development. Inflammation, particularly chronic inflammation, is often linked to cancer development, even though its evolutionary role should impair nonself objects including tumors. The inflammation amplifier, a hyperinducer of chemokines in nonimmune cells, is the principal machinery for inflammation and is activated by the simultaneous stimulation of NF-κB and STAT3. We have redefined inflammation as local activation of the inflammation amplifier, which causes an accumulation of various immune cells followed by dysregulation of local homeostasis. Genes related to the inflammation amplifier have been genetically associated with various human inflammatory diseases. Here, we describe how cancer-associated genes, including interleukin (IL)-6, Ptgs2, ErbB1, Gas1, Serpine1, cMyc, and Vegf-α, are strongly enriched in genes related to the amplifier. The inflammation amplifier is activated by the stimulation of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-6, resulting in the subsequent expression of various target genes for chemokines and tumor-related genes like BCL2L11, CPNE7, FAS, HIF1-α, IL-1RAP, and SOD2. Thus, we conclude that inflammation does indeed associate with the development of cancer. The identified genes associated with the inflammation amplifier may thus make potential therapeutic targets of cancers. Cancer Res; 74(1); 8–14. ©2013 AACR.
The Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitor Orlistat Reduces the Growth and Metastasis of Orthotopic Tongue Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Agostini Michelle , Almeida Luciana Y. , Bastos Débora C. , Ortega Rose M. , Moreira Fernanda S. , Seguin Fabiana , Zecchin Karina G. , Raposo Helena F. , Oliveira Helena C.F. , Amoêdo Nivea D. , Salo Tuula , Coletta Ricardo D. , Graner Edgard
Published: December 2013

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is the biosynthetic enzyme responsible for the endogenous synthesis of fatty acids. It is downregulated in most normal cells, except in lipogenic tissues such as liver, lactating breast, fetal lung, and adipose tissue. Conversely, several human cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), overexpress FASN, which has been associated with poor prognosis and recently suggested as a metabolic oncoprotein. Orlistat is an irreversible inhibitor of FASN activity with cytotoxic properties on several cancer cell lines that inhibits tumor progression and metastasis in prostate cancer xenografts and experimental melanomas, respectively. To explore whether the inhibition of FASN could impact oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) metastatic spread, an orthotopic model was developed by the implantation of SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 cells into the tongue of BALB/c nude mice. These cells were isolated through in vivo selection, show a more invasive behavior in vitro than the parental cells, and generate orthotopic tumors that spontaneously metastasize to cervical lymph nodes in 10 to 15 days only. SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 cells also exhibit enhanced production of MMP-2, ERBB2, and CDH2. The treatment with orlistat reduced proliferation and migration, promoted apoptosis, and stimulated the secretion of VEGFA165b by SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 cells. In vivo, the drug was able to decrease both the volume and proliferation indexes of the tongue orthotopic tumors and, importantly, reduced the number of metastatic cervical lymph nodes by 43%. These results suggest that FASN is a potential molecular target for the chemotherapy of patients with OTSCC. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(3); 585–95. ©2013 AACR.
Tirapazamine Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Topoisomerase I Inhibitors via Cooperative Modulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α
Authors: Cai Tian-Yu , Liu Xiao-Wen , Zhu Hong , Cao Ji , Zhang Jun , Ding Ling , Lou Jian-Shu , He Qiao-Jun , Yang Bo
Published: December 2013

Topoisomerase I inhibitors are a class of anticancer drugs with a broad spectrum of clinical activity. However, they have limited efficacy in hepatocellular cancer. Here, we present in vitro and in vivo evidence that the extremely high level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in hepatocellular carcinoma is intimately correlated with resistance to topoisomerase I inhibitors. In a previous study conducted by our group, we found that tirapazamine could downregulate HIF-1α expression by decreasing HIF-1α protein synthesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that combining tirapazamine with topoisomerase I inhibitors may overcome the chemoresistance. In this study, we investigated that in combination with tirapazamine, topoisomerase I inhibitors exhibited synergistic cytotoxicity and induced significant apoptosis in several hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. The enhanced apoptosis induced by tirapazamine plus SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan) was accompanied by increased mitochondrial depolarization and caspase pathway activation. The combination treatment dramatically inhibited the accumulation of HIF-1α protein, decreased the HIF-1α transcriptional activation, and impaired the phosphorylation of proteins involved in the homologous recombination repair pathway, ultimately resulting in the synergism of these two drugs. Moreover, the increased anticancer efficacy of tirapazamine combined with irinotecan was further validated in a human liver cancer Bel-7402 xenograft mouse model. Taken together, our data show for the first time that HIF-1α is strongly correlated with resistance to topoisomerase I inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma. These results suggest that HIF-1α is a promising target and provide a rationale for clinical trials investigating the efficacy of the combination of topoisomerase I inhibitors and tirapazamine in hepatocellular cancers. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(3); 630–42. ©2013 AACR.
Dinaciclib (SCH727965) Inhibits the Unfolded Protein Response through a CDK1- and 5-Dependent Mechanism
Authors: Nguyen Tri K. , Grant Steven
Published: December 2013

Evidence implicating dysregulation of the IRE1/XBP-1s arm of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in cancer pathogenesis (e.g., multiple myeloma) has prompted the development of IRE1 RNase inhibitors. Here, effects of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor SCH727965 (dinaciclib) on the IRE1 arm of the UPR were examined in human leukemia and myeloma cells. Exposure of cells to extremely low (e.g., nmol/L) concentrations of SCH727965, a potent inhibitor of CDKs 1/2/5/9, diminished XBP-1s and Grp78 induction by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-inducers thapsigargin and tunicamycin, while sharply inducing cell death. SCH727965, in contrast to IRE1 RNase inhibitors, inhibited the UPR in association with attenuation of XBP-1s nuclear localization and accumulation rather than transcription, translation, or XBP-1 splicing. Notably, in human leukemia cells, CDK1 and 5 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown diminished Grp78 and XBP-1s upregulation while increasing thapsigargin lethality, arguing for a functional role for CDK1/5 in activation of the cytoprotective IRE1/XBP-1s arm of the UPR. In contrast, CDK9 or 2 inhibitors or shRNA knockdown failed to downregulate XBP-1s or Grp78. Furthermore, IRE1, XBP-1, or Grp78 knockdown significantly increased thapsigargin lethality, as observed with CDK1/5 inhibition/knockdown. Finally, SCH727965 diminished myeloma cell growth in vivo in association with XBP-1s downregulation. Together, these findings demonstrate that SCH727965 acts at extremely low concentrations to attenuate XBP-1s nuclear accumulation and Grp78 upregulation in response to ER stress inducers. They also highlight a link between specific components of the cell-cycle regulatory apparatus (e.g., CDK1/5) and the cytoprotective IRE1/XBP-1s/Grp78 arm of the UPR that may be exploited therapeutically in UPR-driven malignancies. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(3); 662–74. ©2013 AACR.
AKT-Induced Tamoxifen Resistance Is Overturned by RRM2 Inhibition
Authors: Shah Khyati N. , Mehta Kshama R. , Peterson David , Evangelista Marie , Livesey John C. , Faridi Jesika S.
Published: December 2013

Acquired tamoxifen resistance develops in the majority of hormone-responsive breast cancers and frequently involves overexpression of the PI3K/AKT axis. Here, breast cancer cells with elevated endogenous AKT or overexpression of activated AKT exhibited tamoxifen-stimulated cell proliferation and enhanced cell motility. To gain mechanistic insight on AKT-induced endocrine resistance, gene expression profiling was performed to determine the transcripts that are differentially expressed post-tamoxifen therapy under conditions of AKT overexpression. Consistent with the biologic outcome, many of these transcripts function in cell proliferation and cell motility networks and were quantitatively validated in a larger panel of breast cancer cells. Moreover, ribonucleotide reductase M2 (RRM2) was revealed as a key contributor to AKT-induced tamoxifen resistance. Inhibition of RRM2 by RNA interference (RNAi)–mediated approaches significantly reversed the tamoxifen-resistant cell growth, inhibited cell motility, and activated DNA damage and proapoptotic pathways. In addition, treatment of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells with the small molecule RRM inhibitor didox significantly reduced in vitro and in vivo growth. Thus, AKT-expressing breast cancer cells upregulate RRM2 expression, leading to increased DNA repair and protection from tamoxifen-induced apoptosis.

Implications: These findings identify RRM2 as an AKT-regulated gene, which plays a role in tamoxifen resistance and may prove to be a novel target for effective diagnostic and preventative strategies. Mol Cancer Res; 12(3); 394–407. ©2013 AACR.
T-Type Ca2+ Channel Inhibition Induces p53-Dependent Cell Growth Arrest and Apoptosis through Activation of p38-MAPK in Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Dziegielewska Barbara , Brautigan David L. , Larner James M. , Dziegielewski Jaroslaw
Published: December 2013

Epithelial tumor cells express T-type Ca2+ channels, which are thought to promote cell proliferation. This study investigated the cellular response to T-type Ca2+ channel inhibition either by small-molecule antagonists or by RNAi-mediated knockdown. Selective T-type Ca2+ channel antagonists caused growth inhibition and apoptosis more effectively in HCT116 cells expressing wild-type p53 (p53wt), than in HCT116 mutant p53−/− cells. These antagonists increased p53-dependent gene expression and increased genomic occupancy of p53 at specific target sequences. The knockdown of a single T-type Ca2+ channel subunit (CACNA1G) reduced cell growth and induced caspase-3/7 activation in HCT116 p53wt cells as compared with HCT116 mutant p53−/− cells. Moreover, CaCo2 cells that do not express functional p53 were made more sensitive to CACNA1G knockdown when p53wt was stably expressed. Upon T-type Ca2+ channel inhibition, p38-MAPK promoted phosphorylation at Ser392 of p53wt. Cells treated with the inhibitor SB203580 or specific RNAi targeting p38-MAPKα/β (MAPK14/MAPK11) showed resistance to T-type Ca2+ channel inhibition. Finally, the decreased sensitivity to channel inhibition was associated with decreased accumulation of p53 and decreased expression of p53 target genes, p21Cip1 (CDKN1A) and BCL2-binding component 3 (BBC3/PUMA).

Implications: A novel pathway involving p53 and p38-MAPK is revealed and provides a rationale for antitumor therapies that target T-type Ca2+ channels. Mol Cancer Res; 12(3); 348–58. ©2013 AACR.
MAX Inactivation in Small Cell Lung Cancer Disrupts MYC–SWI/SNF Programs and Is Synthetic Lethal with BRG1
Authors: Romero Octavio A. , Torres-Diz Manuel , Pros Eva , Savola Suvi , Gomez Antonio , Moran Sebastian , Saez Carmen , Iwakawa Reika , Villanueva Alberto , Montuenga Luis M. , Kohno Takashi , Yokota Jun , Sanchez-Cespedes Montse
Published: December 2013

Our knowledge of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) genetics is still very limited, amplification of L-MYC, N-MYC, and C-MYC being some of the well-established gene alterations. Here, we report our discovery of tumor-specific inactivation of the MYC-associated factor X gene, MAX, in SCLC. MAX inactivation is mutually exclusive with alterations of MYC and BRG1, the latter coding for an ATPase of the switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex. We demonstrate that BRG1 regulates the expression of MAX through direct recruitment to the MAX promoter, and that depletion of BRG1 strongly hinders cell growth, specifically in MAX-deficient cells, heralding a synthetic lethal interaction. Furthermore, MAX requires BRG1 to activate neuroendocrine transcriptional programs and to upregulate MYC targets, such as glycolysis-related genes. Finally, inactivation of the MAX dimerization protein, MGA, was also observed in both non–small cell lung cancer and SCLC. Our results provide evidence that an aberrant SWI/SNF–MYC network is essential for lung cancer development.

Significance: We discovered that the MYC-associated factor X gene, MAX, is inactivated in SCLCs. Furthermore, we revealed a preferential toxicity of the inactivation of the chromatin remodeler BRG1 in MAX-deficient lung cancer cells, which opens novel therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of patients with SCLC with MAX-deficient tumors. Cancer Discov; 4(3); 292–303. ©2013 AACR.

See related commentary by Rudin and Poirier, p. 273

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 259
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Outcome Is Predicted by Left Atrial Remodeling on MRI
Authors: McGann Christopher , Akoum Nazem , Patel Amit , Kholmovski Eugene , Revelo Patricia , Damal Kavitha , Wilson Brent , Cates Josh , Harrison Alexis , Ranjan Ravi , Burgon Nathan S. , Greene Tom , Kim Dan , DiBella Edward V.R. , Parker Dennis , MacLeod Rob S. , Marrouche Nassir F.
Published: December 2013

Background—

Although catheter ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) is becoming more common, results vary widely, and patient selection criteria remain poorly defined. We hypothesized that late gadolinium enhancement MRI (LGE-MRI) can identify left atrial (LA) wall structural remodeling (SRM) and stratify patients who are likely or not to benefit from ablation therapy.

Methods and Results—

LGE-MRI was performed on 426 consecutive patients with AF without contraindications to MRI before undergoing their first ablation procedure and on 21 non-AF control subjects. Patients were categorized by SRM stage (I–IV) based on the percentage of LA wall enhancement for correlation with procedure outcomes. Histological validation of SRM was performed comparing LGE-MRI with surgical biopsy. A total of 386 patients (91%) with adequate LGE-MRI scans were included in the study. After ablation, 123 patients (31.9%) experienced recurrent atrial arrhythmias during the 1-year follow-up. Recurrent arrhythmias (failed ablations) occurred at higher SRM stages with 28 of 133 (21.0%) in stage I, 40 of 140 (29.3%) in stage II, 24 of 71 (33.8%) in stage III, and 30 of 42 (71.4%) in stage IV. In multivariate analysis, ablation outcome was best predicted by advanced SRM stage (hazard ratio, 4.89;
P
<0.0001) and diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio, 1.64;
P
=0.036), whereas increased LA volume and persistent AF were not significant predictors. LA wall enhancement was significantly greater in patients with AF versus non-AF controls (16.6±11.2% versus 3.1±1.9%;
P
<0.0001). Histological evidence of remodeling from surgical biopsy specimens correlated with SRM on LGE-MRI.

Conclusions—

Atrial SRM is identified on LGE-MRI, and extensive LGE (≥30% LA wall enhancement) predicts poor response to catheter ablation therapy for AF.
Late Gadolinium Enhancement on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Predicts Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Kuruvilla Sujith , Adenaw Nebiyu , Katwal Arabindra B. , Lipinski Michael J. , Kramer Christopher M. , Salerno Michael
Published: December 2013

Background—

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) by cardiac MR (CMR) is a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). However, these findings are limited by single-center studies, small sample sizes, and low event rates. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic role of LGE by CMR (LGE-CMR) imaging in patients with NICM.

Methods and Results—

PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched for studies looking at the prognostic value of LGE-CMR in patients with NICM. The primary end points included all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and a composite end point of sudden cardiac death (SCD) or aborted SCD. Pooling of odds ratios was performed using a random-effect model, and annualized event rates were assessed. Data were included from 9 studies with a total of 1488 patients and a mean follow-up of 30 months. Patients had a mean age of 52 years, 67% were men, and the average left ventricular ejection fraction was 37% on CMR. LGE was present in 38% of patients. Patients with LGE had increased overall mortality (odds ratio, 3.27;
P
<0.00001), heart failure hospitalization (odds ratio, 2.91;
P
=0.02), and SCD/aborted SCD (odds ratio, 5.32;
P
<0.00001) compared with those without LGE. The annualized event rates for mortality were 4.7% for LGE+ subjects versus 1.7% for LGE− subjects (
P
=0.01), 5.03% versus 1.8% for heart failure hospitalization (
P
=0.002), and 6.0% versus 1.2% for SCD/aborted SCD (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

LGE in patients with NICM is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and SCD. Detection of LGE by CMR has excellent prognostic characteristics and may help guide risk stratification and management in patients with NICM.
A sketch of ‘family’ as a field
Authors: Atkinson Will
Published: December 2013

This article sets out the argument that ‘family’ relations constitute so many small-scale ‘fields’ in Pierre Bourdieu’s sense. It does so primarily to put on firmer conceptual ground a valuable means of making sense of how broader structures of social and cultural domination are lived, reproduced and transformed in everyday life, though in so doing it also intends to challenge those who believe Bourdieu has little to offer scholars of familial life. Using Bourdieu’s own brief reflections as a point of departure, it proceeds by putting substantive flesh on the foundational notion that ‘family’ constitutes a contested yet ‘realized’ category of thought before then sketching the constituent elements of family fields, namely internal doxa, struggles over capital, the existence of boundaries and embeddeness in broader ‘universes’ of family fields.
A Method for Internal Benchmarking of Criminal Justice System Performance
Authors: Ridgeway Greg , MacDonald John M.
Published: December 2013

Internal benchmarking is the process of comparing the performance of one entity with the performance of comparison entities. Assessments of the various entities of the criminal justice system, such as police officers, judges, correctional facilities, and neighborhoods, often involve the construction of benchmarks with which to compare their relative performance. However, the typically made comparisons do not adequately account for the underlying differences in these entities. This article presents a general method, based on propensity scoring and doubly robust estimation, for constructing benchmarks for assessing the performance of entities within the criminal justice system while properly accounting for potentially confounding differences among the entities. The article demonstrates the method on an assessment of police performance in Cincinnati.
Exploring Beliefs About Bottled Water and Intentions to Reduce Consumption
Authors: van der Linden Sander
Published: December 2013

Mass consumption of bottled water is contributing to a multitude of environmental problems, including water wastage, pollution, and climate change. The aim of this study is to advance a social-psychological understanding of how to effectively reduce bottled water consumption. An online survey experiment was conducted among students of a Dutch public university to explore outcome beliefs about drinking less bottled water while testing three strategies for behavioral change. Respondents ( N = 454) were randomly allocated to four different conditions (an information-only, social norm-only, a combination of both, or a control group). It was hypothesized that the combination (i.e., norm-induced information provision) would be most persuasive and elicit the greatest reduction in intentions to buy bottled water. Results were consistent with this hypothesis. Findings also show that while beliefs about health, taste, water quality, lifestyle, the environment, and perceived alternatives are all correlated with bottled water consumption, belief strength varies significantly based on rate of consumption.
Dynamic morphological examination and evaluation of biological characteristics of a multinodular liver cancer model in mice
Authors: Li Yan-Ru , Wang Jin-Rui , Zhang Hai-Ying , Wu Xiao-Fei , Li Sheng-Nan , Wang Lin , Wang Xue-Yao
Published: December 2013

Compared with single nodular liver cancer, the prominent biological characteristics of multinodular liver cancer include rapid progression and short survival. Here, we developed a multinodular liver cancer model in mice and assessed the biological characteristics of the resulting neoplasms. H22 hepatoma cells at a dose of 2 × 105/mouse, suspended in 1.6 mL, 0.8 mL, or 200 µL saline were injected via the tail vein of BALB/c mice at a velocity of 200 µL per second. The mice were sacrificed at different time points after injection. And at the time of death the liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and heart were removed for morphological study. The biological characteristics of the tumor nodules were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. In the mice treated with a large volume injection of H22 cells, by day 7, there was a 100% occurrence of multinodular tumors in the livers, determined by histology. At the time of death, there were 100%, 100%, 37.5% and 37.5% occurrences of tumors in the lungs, kidneys, spleen and heart, respectively. The neoplastic cells in the liver nodules showed pleomorphism, and exhibited high expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), c-myc, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2). In mice treated with a small or medium volume injection, no tumor cells were identified in the livers, spleen, kidneys or heart at any of the examined time points. By day 7 and at the time of death, there was a 100% occurrence of tumor in the lungs. A multinodular liver cancer model in mice was achieved using a large volume injection of H22 cells.
Modeling, control and electromagnetic transient simulation of the doubly fed induction generator-based wind energy generation system
Authors: Han Yang , Shen Pan
Published: December 2013

This paper presents the dynamic modeling and the stator-voltage-aligned control (SVAC) strategies of the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind energy generation system (WEGS). The state-space dynamic model of the DFIG is derived in the synchronous d-q reference frame. The control strategies of the DFIG-based WEGS includes three parts, namely, the network-side converter (NSC) control, the rotor-side converter (RSC) control and the maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. The NSC and RSC control algorithms are implemented based on the internal model control principle. The SVAC algorithm is devised for the RSC, where the positions of the stator and rotor voltage-vectors are referenced to the stator-frame to simplify the controller. The hill-climbing method is adopted for the MPPT algorithm, and the iteration procedure for searching the optimal operation point is discussed. The simulation results obtained from the electromagnetic transient program (EMTP-ATP) are provided, which validates the effectiveness of the control algorithms. The theoretical analysis and EMTP-based digital simulation can be widely applied for the grid-connected converters in renewable generation and smart grid applications.
The Content-Independence of Political Obligations
Authors: Walton Kevin
Published: December 2013

George Klosko rejects the standard assumption that political obligations, at least insofar as they are conceived as moral requirements to obey the law, must be content-independent. He thereby neglects the familiar distinction between obedience to and mere compliance with legal norms. The present article insists on this distinction by identifying a plausible alternative to the understanding of content-independence that Klosko correctly, even if not for the most obvious reason, dismisses and mistakenly, though not unreasonably, attributes to several philosophers with whose work it is actually incompatible. Given Klosko’s failure to examine this further option, which is consistent with nearly all, including skeptical, theories of political obligation, his case against the necessity of content-independence must be deemed unsuccessful.
Active Steps for Diabetes
Authors: Pariser Gina , Hager Kathy , Gillette Patricia , Golemboski Karen , Jackson Kimberly
Published: December 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Active Steps for Diabetes (ASD), a self-management education (DSME) program for aging adults with diabetes and frailty, on blood glucose control (A1C) and level of frailty of participants.

Methods

Fifty females (62.2 ± 10.1 years old) with type 2 diabetes and frailty completed the program; 16 used a walking aid. Outcome measures included A1C and the modified Physical Performance Test (mPPT). Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare outcomes before and after the program and between participants who did and did not use a walking aid.

Results

ASD was effective in reducing A1C and frailty in participants who did and did not use a walking aid. The reduction in A1C was similar for the 2 groups. The reduction in frailty was greater for the group that used a walking aid.

Conclusion

Physical activity, a keystone for blood glucose control, is difficult for older adults who are frail. ASD provides a model for DSME that may reduce frailty of participants and increase their capacity for physical activity.
Scarce Human Capital in Managerial Labor Markets
Authors: Mackey Alison , Molloy Janice C. , Morris Shad S.
Published: December 2013

Strategic human capital scholars are increasingly recognizing the importance of human capital scarcity for explaining individual and firm outcomes. This article focuses on scarce human capital in the top manager labor market—and in particular, patterns in which top managers and firms form employment relationships. This examination redirects strategic human capital scholarship in three important ways. First, the findings point to the importance of specifying an omission from prior human capital scholarship: the relationship between human capital and the firm’s resource base (e.g., potential complementarities). Second, the article illustrates the need to simultaneously consider both human capital scarcity and complementarities, and reinforces that scarce human capital can indeed be general human capital. Finally, the theory explains how complementarities fundamentally alter value creation and appropriation dynamics. Specifically, complementarities facilitate the matching of the best managers and firms with the most productive resources, increase the size of the pie (financial proceeds) from the employment relationship, and can enhance the manager’s bargaining power in the division of these proceeds.
Utilizing global and path information with language modelling for hierarchical text classification
Authors: Oh Heung-Seon , Myaeng Sung-Hyon
Published: December 2013

Hierarchical text classification of a Web taxonomy is challenging because it is a very large-scale problem with hundreds of thousands of categories and associated documents. Furthermore, the conceptual levels and training data availabilities of categories vary widely. The narrow-down approach is the state of the art; it utilizes a search engine for generating candidates from the taxonomy and builds a classifier for the final category selection. In this paper, we take the same approach but address the issue of using global information in a language modelling framework to improve effectiveness. We propose three methods of using non-local information for the task: a passive way of utilizing global information for smoothing; an aggressive way where a top-level classifier is built and integrated with a local model; and a method of using label terms associated with the path from a category to the root, which is based on our systematic observation that they are underrepresented in the documents. For evaluation, we constructed a document collection from Web pages in the Open Directory Project. A series of experiments and their results show the superiority of our methods and reveal the role of global information in hierarchical text classification.
The power of words: A content analytical approach examining whether central bank speeches become financial news
Authors: Masawi Becksndale , Bhattacharya Sukanto , Boulter Terry
Published: December 2013

Few studies have examined the impact that central bank indirect intervention has on exchange rates. Efficient market theory predicts that new information within central bank communication will become a component of information used by currency traders. This study applies a novel methodology to examine whether information contained within Bank of Canada and the Reserve Bank of Australia communications does in fact get embedded within the information reported on the financial newswires. The primary data are speeches that are made public by the two central banks and from news as reported by Reuters from 1995 to 2009. Applying content analysis and an innovative use of information science theoretic measures, we demonstrate the flow-through of information contained within central bank communications to the information set used by traders.
Towards linking libraries and Wikipedia: automatic subject indexing of library records with Wikipedia concepts
Authors: Joorabchi Arash , Mahdi Abdulhussain E.
Published: December 2013

In this article, we first argue the importance and timely need of linking libraries and Wikipedia for improving the quality of their services to information consumers, as such linkage will enrich the quality of Wikipedia articles and at the same time increase the visibility of library resources which are currently overlooked to a large degree. We then describe the development of an automatic system for subject indexing of library metadata records with Wikipedia concepts as an important step towards library–Wikipedia integration. The proposed system is based on first identifying all Wikipedia concepts occurring in the metadata elements of library records. This is then followed by training and deploying generic machine learning algorithms to automatically select those concepts which most accurately reflect the core subjects of the library materials whose records are being indexed. We have assessed the performance of the developed system using standard information retrieval measures of precision, recall and F-score on a dataset consisting of 100 library metadata records manually indexed with a total of 469 Wikipedia concepts. The evaluation results show that the developed system is capable of achieving an averaged F-score as high as 0.92.
The effect of nebivolol on internal mammary artery blood flow during coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Sarikaya S , Onk A , Boztosun B , Kocabay G , Sahin M , Fedakar A , Köksal C
Published: December 2013

Background:

During coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), one of the most important complications related to the internal mammary artery (IMA) is perioperative spasm. Nebivolol causes endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation by increasing nitric oxide (NO) release and prevents endothelial dysfunction in long-term use. In our study, we measured the effect of a third generation beta blocker, nebivolol, on the flow dynamics of IMA grafts.

Methods:

We recruited 90 hypertensive patients undergoing isolated CABG operation, who were divided into three groups and each group included 30 patients: Group 1 patients were under antihypertensive treatment other than beta-blockers (angiontensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors, calcium channel blockers or diuretics; monotherapy or combination therapy), Group 2 received metoprolol (50 mg/day) and Group 3 received nebivolol (5 mg/day). These antihypertensive therapies were given for at least one week before the operation and continued thereafter. IMA blood flow volume was measured for one minute just before cardiopulmonary bypass (measurement A) and before left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-left anterior descending (LAD) artery anastomosis (measurement B) in the three groups. Cardiac output measurements were also achieved simultaneously.

Results:

The measurement A results were 56.3 ± 36.2, 54.6 ± 28.1 and 66.8 ± 34.2 mL/min in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p<0.05). The measurement B results were 78.3 ± 29.6, 80 ± 28.8 and 91.1 ± 40.8 mL/min in Groups 1, 2 and 3 (p<0.05), respectively. There were no differences in cardiac outputs among the groups; 5.2 ± 1.4, 5.0 ± 1.6 and 5.3 ± 1.1 L/min (p>0.05). While the cardiac outputs were similar within the three groups, the IMA free flow volume was higher in the nebivolol group after local papaverine use.

Conclusion:

Nebivolol might represent a good choice in hypertensive patients undergoing cardiac surgery by preventing perioperative myocardial hypoperfusion which increases early morbidity and mortality.
Conditions of religious belonging: Confessionalization, de-parochialization, and the Euro-American divergence
Authors: Nelson Samuel , Gorski Philip S
Published: December 2013

This article presents an alternative account of comparative trajectories of secularization and religious change in Europe and America. Building on (1) ‘supply-side,’ (2) neo-orthodox secularization, and (3) historicist schools, the authors develop a synthetic explanatory framework which emphasizes changed conditions of religious belonging amid the transition to modernity. Modernization, they suggest, disrupted older, parochialized forms of religious community which emerged in the Middle Ages. The authors describe the rise and diffusion of newer, de-parochialized forms of religious belonging and organization in the 18th and 19th centuries and stress their comparative compatibility with modernity; here the authors draw special attention to the impact of missionary organizational schemas derived in colonial environments and re-purposed for domestic evangelism. They argue that mass unchurching was positively related to the persistence of parochialism and negatively related to the spread of post-parochialism. The salient comparison is therefore not merely between Western Europe and the US, but rather between national cases in which de-parochialization accompanied political and economic modernization and those in which it did not.
Triaxial coil embolization using Guglielmi detachable coils with the voltage-dependent coil-detaching technique
Authors: Shimohira Masashi , Hashizume Takuya , Ohta Kengo , Suzuki Kazushi , Kurosaka Kenichiro , Muto Masahiro , Shibamoto Yuta
Published: December 2013

Background

A triple co-axial (triaxial) system, consisting of a 1.9-Fr non-tapered microcatheter with one marker, a 2.7-Fr microcatheter, and a 4-Fr catheter, has been recently developed, and can be used in coil embolizations using 0.010-inch Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) with a voltage-dependent coil-detaching technique.

Purpose

To describe this new technique and evaluate its technical feasibility and clinical efficacy.

Material and Methods

Twenty patients underwent this procedure. Diseases were gastrointestinal bleeding in five patients, traumatic bleeding in three patients, and other diseases in 12 patients. The technical success rate, clinical success rate, and complications of this procedure were evaluated. Technical success was defined as the successful delivery and detachment of a GDC, and clinical success was defined as the immediate postembolic complete cessation of blood flow confirmed by digital subtraction angiography.

Results

A total of 140 GDCs were used and 20 arteries were embolized. The technical success rate was 94% (131/140) and clinical success rate was 95% (19/20). No major complications were reported.

Conclusion

The triaxial system in coil embolization using a GDC by monitoring the voltage for coil-detaching appeared to be safe and effective.
Influenza A Virus Infections in Swine
Authors: Janke B. H.
Published: December 2013

Influenza has been recognized as a respiratory disease in swine since its first appearance concurrent with the 1918 “Spanish flu” human pandemic. All influenza viruses of significance in swine are type A, subtype H1N1, H1N2, or H3N2 viruses. Influenza viruses infect epithelial cells lining the surface of the respiratory tract, inducing prominent necrotizing bronchitis and bronchiolitis and variable interstitial pneumonia. Cell death is due to direct virus infection and to insult directed by leukocytes and cytokines of the innate immune system. The most virulent viruses consistently express the following characteristics of infection: (1) higher or more prolonged virus replication, (2) excessive cytokine induction, and (3) replication in the lower respiratory tract. Nearly all the viral proteins contribute to virulence. Pigs are susceptible to infection with both human and avian viruses, which often results in gene reassortment between these viruses and endemic swine viruses. The receptors on the epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract are major determinants of infection by influenza viruses from other hosts. The polymerases, especially PB2, also influence cross-species infection. Methods of diagnosis and characterization of influenza viruses that infect swine have improved over the years, driven both by the availability of new technologies and by the necessity of keeping up with changes in the virus. Testing of oral fluids from pigs for virus and antibody is a recent development that allows efficient sampling of large numbers of animals.
Peace Formation and Local Infrastructures for Peace
Authors: Richmond Oliver P.
Published: December 2013

The interaction of processes of state formation, liberal peacebuilding and statebuilding and localized practices of peacemaking—or what might be called peace formation—offer the prospect of forms of peace that may be both locally and internationally legitimate. Post-liberal and hybrid forms of peace influenced by local patterns of politics, based on contextual social, cultural and historical, norms, identities, and material resources, as well as cognizant of international norms, not to mention power, may represent a more accurate characterization of the results of peace processes worldwide. This article examines local processes of peace formation and emerging peace infrastructures.
Treating High-Risk Offenders in the Community
Authors: Koetzle Deborah , Listwan Shelley Johnson , Guastaferro Wendy P. , Kobus Kara
Published: December 2013

The drug court model, which integrates drug treatment with community supervision and uses the authority of the court to facilitate compliance and behavioral change, provides an innovative alternative to processing as usual. While drug courts have enjoyed considerable empirical support, research suggests that they could increase their effectiveness through further refining their target population. In particular, it is hypothesized that drug courts are particularly well suited to treat drug offenders who have a high risk for recidivism. The purpose of the current study is to compare recidivism rates of high-risk drug court participants and high-risk probationers. Using new charges as a measure of recidivism, the results indicate drug court participants had significantly better outcomes than probationers. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Women’s Bragging Rights
Authors: Smith Jessi L. , Huntoon Meghan
Published: December 2013

Within American gender norms is the expectation that women should be modest. We argue that violating this “modesty norm” by boasting about one’s accomplishments causes women to experience uncomfortable situational arousal that leads to lower motivation for and performance on a self-promotion task. We hypothesized that such negative effects could be offset when an external source for their situational arousal was made available. To test hypotheses, 78 women students from a U.S. Northwestern university wrote a scholarship application essay to promote the merits of either the self (modesty norm violated) or another person as a letter of reference (modesty norm not violated). Half were randomly assigned to hear information about a (fake) subliminal noise generator in the room that might cause “discomfort” (misattribution available) and half were told nothing about the generator (normal condition: misattribution not available). Participants rated the task and 44 new naive participants judged how much scholarship money to award each essay. Results confirmed predictions: under normal conditions, violating the modesty norm led to decreased motivation and performance. However, those who violated the modesty norm with a misattribution source reported increased interest, adopted fewer performance-avoidance goals, perceived their own work to be of higher quality, and produced higher quality work. Results suggest that when a situation helps women to escape the discomfort of defying the modesty norm, self-promotion motivation and performance improve. Further implications for enhancing women’s academic and workplace experiences are discussed.
SpO2/FiO2 Ratio on Hospital Admission Is an Indicator of Early Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Development Among Patients at Risk
Authors: Festic Emir , Bansal Vikas , Kor Daryl J. , Gajic Ognjen ,   US Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group: Lung Injury Prevention Study Investigators (USCIITG–LIPS)
Published: December 2013

Purpose:

Oxygen saturation to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (SpO2/FiO2) has been validated as a surrogate marker for partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio among mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The validity of SpO2/FiO2 measurements in predicting ARDS has not been studied. Recently, a Lung Injury Prediction Score (LIPS) has been developed to help identify patients at risk of developing ARDS.

Methods:

This was a secondary analysis of the LIPS-1 cohort. A multivariate logistic regression included all established variables for LIPS, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2, age, and comorbid conditions that could affect SpO2/FiO2. The primary outcome was development of ARDS in the hospital. The secondary outcomes included hospital mortality, hospital day of ARDS development, and hospital day of death.

Results:

Of the 5584 patients, we evaluated all 4646 with recorded SpO2/FiO2 values. Median SpO2/FiO2 in those who did and did not develop ARDS was 254 (100, 438) and 452 (329, 467), respectively. There was a significant association between SpO2/FiO2 and ARDS ( P ≤ .001). The SpO2/FiO2 was found to be an independent predictor of ARDS in a “dose-dependent” manner; for SpO2/FiO2 < 100—odds ratios (OR) 2.49 (1.69-3.64, P < .001), for SpO2/FiO2 100 < 200—OR 1.75 (1.16-2.58, P = .007), and for SpO2/FiO2 200 < 300—OR 1.62 (1.06-2.42, P = .025). The discriminatory characteristics of the multivariable model and SpO2/FiO2 as a single variable demonstrated area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 and AUC of 0.74, respectively.

Conclusions:

The SpO2/FiO2, measured within the first 6 hours after hospital admission, is an independent indicator of ARDS development among patients at risk.