bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An approach to the utilisation of CO2 as impregnating agent in steam pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse and leaves for ethanol production
Authors: Ferreira-Leitão Viridiana , Perrone Clarissa Cruz , Rodrigues Joice , Franke Ana Paula Machado , Macrelli Stefano , Zacchi Guido
Published: April 2010

Background

The conditions for steam pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse and leaves were studied using CO2 as an impregnating agent. The following conditions were investigated: time (5 to 15 min) and temperature (190 to 220°C). The pretreatment was assessed in terms of glucose and xylose yields after enzymatic hydrolysis and inhibitor formation (furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural) in the pretreatment. Results from pretreatment using SO2 as impregnating agent was used as reference.

Results

For sugar cane bagasse, the highest glucose yield (86.6% of theoretical) was obtained after pretreatment at 205°C for 15 min. For sugar cane leaves the highest glucose yield (97.2% of theoretical) was obtained after pretreatment at 220°C for 5 min. The reference pretreatment, using impregnation with SO2 and performed at 190°C for 5 min, resulted in an overall glucose yield of 79.7% and 91.9% for bagasse and leaves, respectively.

Conclusions

Comparable pretreatment performance was obtained with CO2 as compared to when SO2 is used, although higher temperature and pressure were needed. The results are encouraging as some characteristics of CO2 are very attractive, such as high availability, low cost, low toxicity, low corrosivity and low occupational risk.
Chemokine receptor CXCR7 regulates the invasion, angiogenesis and tumor growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Zheng Ke , Li Hong-Yuan , Su Xin-Liang , Wang Xiao-Yi , Tian Tian , Li Fan , Ren Guo-Sheng
Published: April 2010

Background

In spite of recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic measures, the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remains poor. Therefore, it is crucial to understand what factors are involved in promoting development of HCC. Evidence is accumulating that members of the chemokine receptor family are viewed as promising therapeutic targets in the fight against cancer. More recent studies have revealed that chemokine receptor CXCR7 plays an important role in cancer development. However, little is known about the effect of CXCR7 on the process of HCC cell invasion and angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of CXCR7 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines and to evaluate the role of CXCR7 in tumor growth, angiogenesis and invasion of HCC cells.

Methods

We constructed CXCR7 expressing shRNA, and CXCR7shRNA was subsequently stably transfected into human HCC cells. We evaluated the effect of CXCR7 inhibition on cell invasion, adhesion, VEGF secretion, tube formation and tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry was done to assess the expression of CXCR7 in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and CD31 in tumor of mice. We also evaluated the effect of VEGF stimulation on expression of CXCR7.

Results

CXCR7 was overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. We showed that high invasive potential HCC cell lines express high levels of CXCR7. In vitro, CXCL12 was found to induce invasion, adhesion, tube formation, and VEGF secretion in SMMC-7721 cells. These biological effects were inhibited by silencing of CXCR7 in SMMC-7721 cells. In addition, we also found that VEGF stimulation can up-regulate CXCR7 expression in SMMC-7721 cells and HUVECs. More importantly, enhanced expression of CXCR7 by VEGF was founctional. In vivo, tumor growth and angiogenesis were suppressed by knockdown of CXCR7 in SMMC-7721 cells. However, silencing of CXCR7 did not affect metastasis of tumor in vivo.

Conclusions

Increased CXCR7 expression was found in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Knockdown of CXCR7 expression by transfected with CXCR7shRNA significantly inhibits SMMC-7721 cells invasion, adhesion and angiogenesis. Finally, down-regulation of CXCR7 expression lead to a reduction of tumor growth in a xenograft model of HCC. This study provides new insights into the significance of CXCR7 in invasion and angiogenesis of HCC.
Trichostatin A enhances acetylation as well as protein stability of ERα through induction of p300 protein
Authors: Kim Sung-Hye , Kang Hyun-Jin , Na Hyelin , Lee Mi-Ock
Published: April 2010

Introduction

Trichostatin A (TSA) is a well-characterized histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. TSA modifies the balance between HDAC and histone acetyltransferase activities that is important in chromatin remodeling and gene expression. Although several previous studies have demonstrated the role of TSA in regulation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), the precise mechanism by which TSA affects ERα activity remains unclear.

Methods

Transient transfection was performed using the Welfect-EX™Plus procedure. The mRNA expression was determined using RT-PCR. Protein expression and interaction were determined by western blotting and immunoprecipitation. The transfection of siRNAs was performed using the Oligofectamine™ reagent procedure.

Results

TSA treatment increased acetylation of ERα in a dose-dependent manner. The TSA-induced acetylation of ERα was accompanied by an increased stability of ERα protein. Interestingly, TSA also increased the acetylation and the stability of p300 protein. Overexpression of p300 induced acetylation and stability of ERα by blocking ubiquitination. Knockdown of p300 by RNA interference decreased acetylation as well as the protein level of ERα, indicating that p300 mediated the TSA-induced stabilization of ERα.

Conclusions

We report that TSA enhanced acetylation as well as the stability of the ERα protein by modulating stability of p300. These results may provide the molecular basis for pharmacological functions of HDAC inhibitors in the treatment of human breast cancer.
The developmental expression dynamics of Drosophila melanogastertranscription factors
Authors: Adryan Boris , Teichmann Sarah A
Published: April 2010

Background

Site-specific transcription factors (TFs) are coordinators of developmental and physiological gene expression programs. Their binding to cis-regulatory modules of target genes mediates the precise cell- and context-specific activation and repression of genes. The expression of TFs should therefore reflect the core expression program of each cell.

Results

We studied the expression dynamics of about 750 TFs using the available genomics resources in Drosophila melanogaster. We find that 95% of these TFs are expressed at some point during embryonic development, with a peak roughly between 10 and 12 hours after egg laying, the core stages of organogenesis. We address the differential utilization of DNA-binding domains in different developmental programs systematically in a spatio-temporal context, and show that the zinc finger class of TFs is predominantly early expressed, while Homeobox TFs exhibit later expression in embryogenesis.

Conclusions

Previous work, dissecting cis-regulatory modules during Drosophila development, suggests that TFs are deployed in groups acting in a cooperative manner. In contrast, we find that there is rapid exchange of co-expressed partners amongst the fly TFs, at rates similar to the genome-wide dynamics of co-expression clusters. This suggests there may also be a high level of combinatorial complexity of TFs at cis-regulatory modules.
Improving draft assemblies by iterative mapping and assembly of short reads to eliminate gaps
Authors: Tsai Isheng J , Otto Thomas D , Berriman Matthew
Published: April 2010

Advances in sequencing technology allow genomes to be sequenced at vastly decreased costs. However, the assembled data frequently are highly fragmented with many gaps. We present a practical approach that uses Illumina sequences to improve draft genome assemblies by aligning sequences against contig ends and performing local assemblies to produce gap-spanning contigs. The continuity of a draft genome can thus be substantially improved, often without the need to generate new data.
Effect of Concomitant CYP2D6 Inhibitor Use and Tamoxifen Adherence on Breast Cancer Recurrence in Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Dezentjé Vincent O. , van Blijderveen Nico J.C. , Gelderblom Hans , Putter Hein , van Herk-Sukel Myrthe P.P. , Casparie Mariel K. , Egberts Antoine C.G. , Nortier Johan W.R. , Guchelaar Henk-Jan
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The use of cytochrome P450 2D6–inhibiting drugs (CYP2D6 inhibitors) during tamoxifen treatment leads to a decrease in plasma concentration of endoxifen, the major active tamoxifen metabolite. Concomitant use of CYP2D6 inhibitors, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as well as low tamoxifen adherence may negatively impact tamoxifen efficacy in patients with breast cancer. The objectives of this study were to relate concomitant CYP2D6 inhibitor use and tamoxifen adherence to breast cancer event-free time (EFT).

Patients and Methods

Data were from PHARMO and included a community pharmacy dispensing database; PALGA, a nationwide pathology database; and the Dutch Medical Register in the Netherlands. Patients with breast cancer treated with adjuvant tamoxifen between 1994 and 2006 were included. A Cox proportional hazards model with a time-dependent definition for concomitant CYP2D6 inhibitor exposure was used. Adherence calculated over the first year after tamoxifen initiation was related to breast cancer events in the following period.

Results

In total, 1,962 patients with breast cancer using tamoxifen were included, among whom 150 (7.6%) frequently used a CYP2D6 inhibitor during tamoxifen treatment. No association between concomitant CYP2D6 inhibitor use and breast cancer recurrence was observed (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.87; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.79; P = .69). Poor tamoxifen adherence was associated with lower EFT (adjusted HR, 0.987; 95% CI, 0.975 to 0.999; P = .029).

Conclusion

This observational study did not show an association between concomitant CYP2D6 inhibitor use and breast cancer recurrence among patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen despite the strong biologic rationale. This study shows, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, that poor tamoxifen adherence is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer events.
Pharmacogenetic Assessment of Toxicity and Outcome in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated With LV5FU2, FOLFOX, and FOLFIRI: FFCD 2000-05
Authors: Boige Valérie , Mendiboure Jean , Pignon Jean-Pierre , Loriot Marie-Anne , Castaing Marine , Barrois Michel , Malka David , Trégouët David-Alexandre , Bouché Olivier , Le Corre Delphine , Miran Isabelle , Mulot Claire , Ducreux Michel , Beaune Philippe , Laurent-Puig Pierre
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The aim was to investigate whether germline polymorphisms within candidate genes known or suspected to be involved in fluorouracil (FU), oxaliplatin, and irinotecan pathways were associated with toxicity and clinical outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Patients and Methods

Blood samples from 349 patients included in the Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive 2000-05 randomized trial, which compared FU plus leucovorin (LV5FU2) followed by FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) followed by FU, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI; sequential arm) with FOLFOX followed by FOLFIRI (combination arm) in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival, were collected. Twenty polymorphisms within the DPD, TS, MTHFR, ERCC1, ERCC2, GSTP1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and UGT1A1 genes were genotyped.

Results

The ERCC2-K751QC allele was independently associated with an increased risk of FOLFOX-induced grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity (P = .01). In the sequential arm, TS-5′UTR3RG and GSTT1 alleles were independently associated with response to LV5FU2 (P = .009) and FOLFOX (P = .01), respectively. The effect of oxaliplatin on tumor response increased with the number of MTHFR-1298C alleles (test for trend, P = .008). The PFS benefit from first-line FOLFOX was restricted to patients with 2R/2R (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.68) or 2R/3R (HR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.82) TS-5′UTR genotypes, respectively. Conversely, patients with the TS-5′UTR 3R/3R genotype did not seem to benefit from the adjunction of oxaliplatin (HR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.40; trend between the three HRs, P = .006).

Conclusion

A pharmacogenetic approach may be a useful strategy for personalizing and optimizing chemotherapy in mCRC patients and deserves confirmation in additional prospective studies.
Importance of Achieving a Complete Response in Multiple Myeloma, and the Impact of Novel Agents
Authors: Chanan-Khan Asher A. , Giralt Sergio
Published: April 2010

The goal of treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) is to improve patients' long-term outcomes. One important factor that has been associated with prolonged progression-free and overall survival is the quality of response to treatment, particularly achievement of a complete response (CR). There is extensive evidence from clinical studies in the transplant setting in first-line MM demonstrating that CR or maximal response post-transplant is significantly associated with prolonged progression-free and overall survival, with some studies demonstrating a similar association with postinduction response. Supportive evidence is also available from studies in the nontransplant and relapsed settings. With the introduction of bortezomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide, higher rates of CR are being achieved in both first-line and relapsed MM compared with previous chemotherapeutic approaches, thereby potentially improving long-term outcomes. While standard CR by established response criteria has been shown to have differential prognostic impact compared with lesser responses, increasingly sensitive analytic techniques are now being explored to define more stringent degrees of CR or elimination of minimal residual disease (MRD), including multiparameter flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction. Demonstrating eradication of MRD by these techniques has already been shown to predict for improved outcomes. Here, we review the prognostic significance of achieving CR in MM and highlight the importance of CR as an increasingly realizable goal at all stages of treatment. We discuss clinical management issues and provide recommendations relevant to practicing oncologists, such as the routine use of sensitive techniques for assessment of disease status to inform evidence-based decisions on optimal patient management.
Prognostic Factors in Follicular Lymphoma
Authors: Relander Thomas , Johnson Nathalie A. , Farinha Pedro , Connors Joseph M. , Sehn Laurie H. , Gascoyne Randy D.
Published: April 2010

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is one of the most common types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, for which many treatment options exist, however, no curative standard therapy has been identified. The outcome is highly variable with a median survival of approximately 10 years. The life expectancy of patients with FL has been extended with the use of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the CD20 antigen on FL cells, but there remains a group of patients who fail to respond to chemoimmunotherapy and die early of their disease. Transformation of FL to an aggressive histology is an important event with high morbidity and mortality. The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index has become the clinically useful prognostic tool, but gives only a rough estimate of expected outcome. There is a need for useful biomarkers for prediction of the disease course of single patients to individualize therapy, especially in the new era of chemoimmunotherapy.
Interactions Among Genetic Variants in Apoptosis Pathway Genes, Reflux Symptoms, Body Mass Index, and Smoking Indicate Two Distinct Etiologic Patterns of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhai Rihong , Chen Feng , Liu Geoffrey , Su Li , Kulke Matthew H. , Asomaning Kofi , Lin Xihong , Heist Rebecca S. , Nishioka Norman S. , Sheu Chau-Chyun , Wain John C. , Christiani David C.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

Apoptosis pathway, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (reflux), higher body mass index (BMI), and tobacco smoking have been individually associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) development. However, how multiple factors jointly affect EA risk remains unclear.

Patients and Methods

In total, 305 patients with EA and 339 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. High-order interactions among reflux, BMI, smoking, and functional polymorphisms in five apoptotic genes (FAS, FASL, IL1B, TP53BP, and BAT3) were investigated by entropy-based multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR), classification and regression tree (CART), and traditional logistic regression (LR) models.

Results

In LR analysis, reflux, BMI, and smoking were significantly associated with EA risk, with reflux as the strongest individual factor. No individual single nucleotide polymorphism was associated with EA susceptibility. However, there was a two-way interaction between IL1B + 3954C>T and reflux (P = .008). In both CART and MDR analyses, reflux was also the strongest individual factor for EA risk. In individuals with reflux symptoms, CART analysis indicated that strongest interaction was among variant genotypes of IL1B + 3954C>T and BAT3S625P, higher BMI, and smoking (odds ratio [OR], 5.76; 95% CI, 2.48 to13.38), a finding independently found using MDR analysis. In contrast, for participants without reflux symptoms, the strongest interaction was found between higher BMI and smoking (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.88 to 5.68), also echoed by entropy-based MDR analysis.

Conclusion

Although a history of reflux is an important risk for EA, multifactor interactions also play important roles in EA risk. Gene-environment interaction patterns differ between patients with and without reflux symptoms.
Utility of Influenza Vaccination for Oncology Patients
Authors: Pollyea Daniel A. , Brown Janice M.Y. , Horning Sandra J.
Published: April 2010

Every fall and winter, patients with cancer and their families ask oncologists whether they should be vaccinated for influenza. This season, with escalating concerns regarding the novel H1N1 influenza virus and its recently approved vaccine, this question has become more frequent and increasingly urgent. The purpose of this article is to review evidence related to the ability of patients with cancer to mount protective immunological responses to influenza vaccination. The literature on immunogenicity in pediatric and adult patients, those with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, untreated and actively treated patients, and patients receiving biologic agents is summarized and reviewed. In addition, we report on potential strategies to improve the efficacy of influenza vaccination in patients with cancer, such as the timing of vaccination, use of more than a one-shot series, increasing the antigen dose, and the use of adjuvant therapies. We conclude that there is evidence that patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy are able to respond to influenza vaccination, and because this intervention is safe, inexpensive, and widely available, vaccination for seasonal influenza and the novel H1N1 strain is indicated.
Phase II Study of Amrubicin As Second-Line Therapy in Patients With Platinum-Refractory Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Ettinger David S. , Jotte Robert , Lorigan Paul , Gupta Vicram , Garbo Lawrence , Alemany Carlos , Conkling Paul , Spigel David R. , Dudek Arkadiusz Z. , Shah Chirag , Salgia Ravi , McNally Richard , Renschler Markus F. , Oliver Jennifer W.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

Amrubicin is a synthetic anthracycline with potent topoisomerase II inhibition. This phase II study was conducted to confirm safety and activity of amrubicin in the treatment of refractory small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Patients and Methods

Patients with refractory SCLC (either with progressive disease as best response or progression within 90 days of first-line therapy) received amrubicin (40 mg/m2/d for 3 every 21 days). The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR); secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Results

Seventy-five patients with a median progression-free interval after first-line therapy of 38 days were enrolled; 69 patients received a median of four amrubicin cycles (range, one to 12 cycles). The ORR was 21.3% (95% CI, 12.7% to 32.3%), with one complete response (1.3%) and 15 partial responses (20%). Median PFS and OS were 3.2 months (95% CI, 2.4 to 4.0 months) and 6.0 months (95% CI, 4.8 to 7.1 months), respectively. The ORR in 43 patients who never responded to first-line therapy was 16.3% (95% CI, 6.8% to 30.7%). Most commonly reported grade 3 or 4 adverse events included neutropenia (67%), thrombocytopenia (41%), and anemia (30%), with febrile neutropenia in 12%. There was no decrease in mean LVEF with cumulative amrubicin doses exceeding 750 mg/m2.

Conclusion

Single-agent amrubicin showed promising activity with a 21.3% ORR and an acceptable safety profile when used as second-line therapy patients with platinum-refractory SCLC. Amrubicin did not induce early cardiotoxicity, but its long-term effects are unknown.
Grafts at Work in Late Eighteenth-Century French Discourse and Practice
Authors: Pacini Giulia
Published: April 2010

As they debated the pros and cons of grafting, eighteenth-century French agronomists, philosophers, novelists, and poets negotiated the tensions and contradictions that surfaced between their nostalgia for a `”natural” society, and their dreams of perpetual innovation, culture, and progress. The discourse on grafting helped authors articulate their understandings of the merits or faults of civilization, just as it also allowed them to define good civic participation and ideal forms of stewardship of the land. Furthermore, insofar as grafts could be read as figures of the transplantation and integration of foreign culture(s), they could be used metaphorically to allude to current political events and problems. As a result, the discourse on grafting intersected with, and engaged, some of the key issues of the French Enlightenment.
Paying by the Rules: How Eliminating the Cost Shift Could Improve the Chances for Successful Health Care Reform
Authors: Kilbreth Elizabeth
Published: April 2010

In the 1970s and 1980s, a number of states adopted all-payer rate-setting systems as strategies to control the rate of increase in health care costs. These systems brought stakeholders to the table to negotiate the allocation of costs associated with caring for the uninsured and created, briefly, an opportunity for states to address access problems more broadly with the participation of major stakeholders. This article uses a case study of Maine and comparisons with other states to argue that the payment disparities between public and private payers that have grown over time since the demise of all-payer systems constitute a significant barrier to successful health reform.
The Idea of Europe
Authors: Gossman Lionel
Published: April 2010

Even if its constituent members still define particular positions and pursue at times somewhat independent policies, the EU acts increasingly in important areas as the unified federal state many have long wanted it to be. It may have come into being in response to practical problems, and pragmatic considerations are likely to ensure its continued consolidation, but its most committed champions have also presented it as the realization of an idea, as a longstanding project finally fulfilled. What is the idea that a federal European state can claim to embody or represent or be animated by? How well do the various versions of the idea that have been articulated so far fit the current and emerging reality of the EU? Attention in the article focuses especially on the pan-European movement that emerged after the unprecedented destruction of World War I.
Quietism Now?
Authors: Envoi Anonymous
Published: April 2010

This essay explores the possibilities of quietism in our time. It begins by examining briefly versions of quietism, Eastern and Western, then turns to particular works of Rilke, Kafka, and Beckett to review exigent images of quietism, variously relevant to the modern condition. Subsequently, it touches on some contradictions of quietism and politics, which Zadie Smith also considers in her essay, “Speaking in Tongues.” Finally, the essay dwells on David Malouf's novel, An Imaginary Life, as a fully achieved parable of quietism, applicable to all places and ages. Throughout, the essay argues for a new, kenotic simplicity, a quietism grounded not in transcendence but in pragmatic virtues of self-dispossession.
Morality or Moralism?
Authors: Hache Émilie , Latour Bruno
Published: April 2010

The field of “science studies” has often been suspected of dubious moral grounds because of its intensive concern with nonhumans; the accusation is made by those who use a roughly Kantian definition of what it is to occupy the moral high ground. By evaluating four contrasting texts (by Comte-Sponville, Kant, Serres, and Lovelock) in tandem, this article explores what an “objective morality” would look like, and it considers how to compare the Kantian axiology with the actor-network theory's possible definition of a thing-oriented morality. Especially important in this context is the moral intensity of a text, which this article defines semiotically in terms of the ability to feel responsible by responding to the “call” of more beings than the human beings so exclusively attended to in the moralist tradition.
Responding to Animals
Authors: Rowlands Mark
Published: April 2010

Émilie Hache and Bruno Latour argue in their article “Morality or Moralism?” that contemporary moral treatments of animals exhibit a hard-won insensitivity, and a corresponding inability to respond, to the “call” of animals—to the moral claims that animals legitimately make on us. In responding, Rowlands commends aspects of this thesis but argues that Hache and Latour have improperly formulated it. Rather than being an inability to respond to the call of animals, contemporary moral treatments of the moral claims of animals exhibit a willingness to respond to their call in the only way that remains available, given the development of moral discourse during the last three hundred years. The willingness to respond to the call is admirable; but the restriction on moral discourse that makes this the only available form of moral response is, Rowlands suggests, both admirable and regrettable in almost equal measure.
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α and β control terminal differentiation and cell fate commitment in the gut epithelium
Authors: D'Angelo Anna , Bluteau Olivier , Garcia-Gonzalez Miguel A. , Gresh Lionel , Doyen Antonia , Garbay Serge , Robine Sylvie , Pontoglio Marco
Published: April 2010

The intestinal epithelium is a complex system characterized by massive and continuous cell renewal and differentiation. In this context, cell-type-specific transcription factors are thought to play a crucial role by modulating specific transcription networks and signalling pathways. Hnf1α and β are closely related atypical homeoprotein transcription factors expressed in several epithelia, including the gut. With the use of a conditional inactivation system, we generated mice in which Hnf1b is specifically inactivated in the intestinal epithelium on a wild-type or Hnf1a−/− genetic background. Whereas the inactivation of Hnf1a or Hnf1b alone did not lead to any major intestinal dysfunction, the concomitant inactivation of both genes resulted in a lethal phenotype. Double-mutant animals had defective differentiation and cell fate commitment. The expression levels of markers of all the differentiated cell types, both enterocytes and secretory cells, were affected. In addition, the number of goblet cells was increased, whereas mature Paneth cells were missing. At the molecular level, we show that Hnf1α and β act upstream of the Notch pathway controlling directly the expression of two crucial components: Jag1 and Atoh1. We demonstrate that the double-mutant mice present with a defect in intestinal water absorption and that Hnf1α and β directly control the expression of Slc26a3, a gene whose mutations are associated with chloride diarrhoea in human patients. Our study identifies new direct target genes of the Hnf1 transcription factors and shows that they play crucial roles in both defining cell fate and controlling terminal functions in the gut epithelium.
Micromechanics, microstrains, and modelling of alpha, alpha–beta, and metastable beta Ti alloys
Authors: Raghunathan S L , Talling R J , Dye D
Published: April 2010

In spite of six decades of research, the underlying micromechanisms of deformation of titanium alloys, with their diversity of microstructures and single-crystal behaviour, are still not well understood. Synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction allow for the evolution of lattice strain, texture, and phase fractions to be studied in real time. Pure Ti has been shown to deform primarily by twinning as opposed to 〈 c + a〉 slip, resulting in a characteristic lattice strain response and texture evolution. The addition of > 2.7%Al has been shown to suppress twinning and promote 〈 c + a〉 slip. In two-phase alloys, the β phase usually carries tensile residual lattice strains of up to ∼ 40% of the macroscopic yield strain. The stability of the β phase with respect to both the α phase and superelastic phase transformations is a strong function of composition and in turn of the shear modulus C'.
Exact Solution for Functionally Graded Variable-Thickness Rotating Disc with Heat Source
Authors: Bayat M , Mohazzab A H , Sahari B B , Saleem M
Published: April 2010

Exact elastic solutions for axisymmetric variable-thickness hollow rotating discs with heat source made of functionally graded (FG) materials under free—free and fixed—free boundary conditions are presented. Material properties and disc thickness profiles are assumed to be represented by specified power law distributions. The effect of the heat source and the geometry of the disc on stress and displacement fields are investigated. It is found that the location of maximum radial stress owing to thermal load does not tend towards the outer surface like radial stress owing to mechanical load for free—free FG discs with an increase in parameter m related to the thickness profile. The temperature distribution in a disc with hyperbolic thickness profile is the smallest compared with other thickness profiles. The FG disc with hyperbolic convergent thickness profile has smaller stresses because of thermal load compared with the disc with uniform thickness profile.
Stresses in thin-walled beams subjected to a traversing mass under a pulsating force
Authors: Dehestani M , Vafai A , Mofid M
Published: April 2010

An analytical—numerical method to determine the dynamic response of beams with various boundary conditions subjected to a moving mass under a pulsating force is explained. Governing partial differential equations of the system are changed to a convenience type of ordinary differential equations to be solved through a Runge—Kutta scheme. Pulsating force specifications influenced the dynamic response of the beam depending on the moving mass properties. Results showed the significant effect of the boundary conditions on the dynamic response of the beam, which was considered rarely in the past. Stiffening the constraints reduces the maximum stresses in the beams. Results for identical unsymmetrical beams indicated that stresses in beams would be less when the moving object experiences a stiffer constraint in its start point on the beam. A new extremum value was obtained for the dynamic response of the beam, as the pulsating force on the moving mass oscillates with a special frequency regarded as the main natural frequency of the beam under the moving mass.
Reduction of Friction Torque in Vane Pumps by Using Physical Vapour Deposition-Coated Vane
Authors: Inaguma Y
Published: April 2010

This paper presents a method of reducing friction torque in a hydraulic vane pump through a short-period pump operation by using physical vapour deposition (PVD)-coated vanes. It is well known that the friction torque in a vane pump as well as in other hydraulic machines can be reduced by running-in through a long-time pump operation. This paper revealed that the reduction in the friction torque was derived from lowered friction between a cam contour and vane tips owing to the smoothed surface of a cam contour.

Commonly, it was difficult to obtain such an effect through a short-period pump operation. The author has attempted to lessen the surface roughness of the cam contour and to decrease the friction torque of a vane in a short period of time by using vanes coated with an extremely hard PVD layer on their tips. In this study, three kinds of coatings of chromium nitride (CrN), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), and diamond-like carbon (DLC) by PVD were examined.

It was found that the TiCN-coated vane was excellent in smoothing the surface roughness of the cam contour and in reducing the friction torque of the vane in a short period of time. It was also shown that the reduced friction torque of the vane depended essentially on the smoothness of the cam contour surface. In addition, the difference of the friction at the vane tip between an ordinary vane and coated vanes was indistinct for the same surface roughness of the cam contour below 0.8 μ m Rz.
State of the art for European track maintenance and renewal logistics
Authors: Bouch C J , Roberts C
Published: April 2010

Adopting best practice in the field of track maintenance and renewal logistics is crucial to achieving low costs for Europe's railway; but, European practices vary considerably between infrastructure managers (IMs). This paper describes research carried out to try and establish the current state of the art for logistics, as a first step to identifying European best practice. Data on existing logistics practices were gathered using two questionnaires: one web-based and featuring questions, which were quantitative in nature, and the other covering qualitative questions, which were dealt with in face-to-face interviews. Data provided by the questionnaires suggest that the current state of the art involves centralized purchasing of components by IMs and use of call-off contracts for procurement. Maintenance work is predominantly carried out by in-house staff, but renewals tend to be let to contractors. Work is mainly carried out during ‘white periods’ in the timetable, when no trains are running; blockades are rarely used. Finally, recycling of components is seen as important from the point-of-view of sustainability, but IMs are finding it hard to make the business case.
The influences on railway rolling noise of a rail vibration absorber and wave reflections due to multiple wheels
Authors: Liu H P , Wu T X
Published: April 2010

A compound track-absorber model is employed to study the effect of multiple wheels and rail vibration absorbers on a rail, one of the main parts that generate rolling noise. Effects are wave reflections induced by multiple wheel—rail interactions and the increase in the decay rate of vibration along the rail by using a rail absorber. The rail vibration and noise radiation owing to a roughness excitation are studied by comparing the results of calculations with and without rail absorbers and multiple wheels in turn (i.e. four situations in all). These results are given in terms of vibration energy and sound power levels, and a comparison is made between tracks in four situations. Theoretical predictions show that multiple wheels and rail absorbers have significant effects on the rail receptance, the wheel—rail interaction force, and the vibration decay rate along the track. In addition, the influence of multiple wheels on the energy and noise is limited, whereas that of the rail absorbers is notable. The rail component of rolling noise can be reduced by 7.3 dB(A) by using the rail absorber. However, multiple wheels have a slight effect on the rail radiation.
Blind oral endotracheal intubation of rats using a ventilator to verify correct placement
Authors: Cheong S H , Lee K M , Yang Y I , Seo J Y , Choi M Y , Yoon Y C
Published: April 2010

Endotracheal intubation in rats is challenging due to difficulties visualizing the epiglottis and vocal cords. No visualization of these structures results in repeated intubation attempts which can cause trauma to the oral cavity and/or oesophagus, and death of the animal due to respiratory failure. Here, we describe a simple blind oral tracheal intubation technique in the rat that decreases the frequency of repeated intubations using an intubation device that comprises a 16 G intravenous catheter and a modified 18 G epidural needle, and a rodent ventilator. The epidural needle is bent in such a way that it curves in conformity with the rat's oral airway in order to direct the catheter into the larynx, and the rodent ventilator is used to verify its correct placement. The first attempt success rate of endotracheal intubation using the blind oral tracheal intubation technique with a rodent ventilator was greater than the first attempt success rate using the blind oral tracheal intubation technique without using a rodent ventilator. Although this method is a simple modification of a previously described method of blind oral endotracheal intubation, our method is easy to learn, inexpensive and does not require specialized equipment.
People Skills: Ensuring Project Success—A Change Management Perspective
Authors: Levasseur Robert E.
Published: April 2010

This is one in a series of articles about the most effective models, methods, and processes of organization development (OD), also known as change management, a discipline that offers much to professionals intent on solving real-world problems. Because it is based on a systemic view of organizations, OD includes the whole universe of fuzzy people issues that increasingly determine the success or failure of efforts to implement otherwise flawless technical solutions. This article examines project success rates, suggests reasons for project failure, and provides ideas for dramatically improving the odds of project success based on established change management principles and processes.
Book Reviews
Authors: Lev Benjamin
Published: April 2010

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. However, we do not review software. To submit a book for review, please send it to me at the above address. Although we cannot review all books because of space limitations, we do list all books that we receive. We commission all book reviews and do not accept unsolicited reviews. To become a reviewer, please send me your name, address, and specific areas of expertise. We encourage readers to suggest books for review or to ask publishers to send copies of such books.

The authors or editors of books that we review in this issue are Narendra Agrawal, Stephen A. Smith, Shashi K. Mishra, Giorgio Giorgi, and Jayashankar M. Swaminathan.
Preschool children's eye‐movements during pictorial recall
Authors: Martarelli Corinna S. , Mast Fred W.
Published: April 2010

We investigated eye‐movements during preschool children's pictorial recall of seen objects. Thirteen 3‐ to 4‐year‐old children completed a perceptual encoding and a pictorial recall task. First, they were exposed to 16 pictorial objects, which were positioned in one of four distinct areas on the computer screen. Subsequently, they had to recall these pictorial objects from memory in order to respond to specific questions about visual details. We found that children spent more time fixating the areas in which the pictorial objects were previously displayed. We conclude that as early as age 3–4 years old, children show specific eye‐movements when they recall pictorial contents of previously seen objects.
With a little help from my goals: Integrating intergoal facilitation with the theory of planned behaviour to predict physical activity
Authors: Presseau Justin , Sniehotta Falko F. , Francis Jill J. , Gebhardt Winifred A.
Published: April 2010

Objective. Integration of a multiple goal theory approach into the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to investigate how the perceived facilitating and conflicting relationships in multiple goal pursuit predict performance of a health‐related behaviour.

Design. Prospective design with 8‐week follow‐up.

Methods. At baseline, perceived intergoal facilitation and intergoal conflict were measured using personal projects analysis supplemented with standard TPB measures for physical activity (PA). Self‐reported PA was measured at follow‐up 8 weeks later. N=137 participants completed measures at both time points (55.4% response rate at follow‐up).

Results. Hierarchical regression showed that perceived intergoal facilitation, but not intergoal conflict, directly predicted PA beyond intention and perceived behavioural control (PBC), accounting for more than 4% of additional variance in PA. Intergoal facilitation had an indirect effect on intention through attitude and PBC, and intention partially mediated the effect of intergoal facilitation on behaviour.

Conclusion. The perceived facilitating effect of pursuing other personal goals predicts the performance of a health‐related behaviour over and above single behaviour‐focused social cognitions.
Cellular Distribution and Subcellular Localization of mCLCA1/2 in Murine Gastrointestinal Epithelia
Authors: Roussa Eleni , Wittschen Petra , Wolff Natascha A. , Torchalski Blazej , Gruber Achim D. , Thévenod Frank
Published: April 2010

mCLCA1/2 are members of the CLCA protein family that are widely expressed in secretory epithelia, but their putative physiological role still awaits elucidation. mCLCA1/2 have 95% amino acid identity, but currently no specific antibody is available. We have generated a rabbit polyclonal antibody (pAb849) against aa 424–443 of mCLCA1/2. In HEK293 cells transfected with mCLCA1; pAb849 detected two specific protein bands at ×125 kDa and 90 kDa, representing full-length precursor and N-terminal cleavage product, respectively. pAb849 also immunoprecipitated mCLCA1 and labeled the protein by immunostaining. But pAb849 crossreacted with mCLCA3/4/6 despite ≤80% amino acid identity of the antigenic epitope. We therefore investigated the cellular localization of mCLCA1/2 in epithelial tissues, which do not express mCLCA3/4/6 (salivary glands, pancreas, kidney) or express mCLCA3/6 with known localization (mucus cells of stomach and small intestine; villi of small intestine). mCLCA1/2 mRNA and protein expression were found in both parotid and submandibular gland, and immunohistochemistry revealed labeling in parotid acinar cells, in the luminal membrane of parotid duct cells, and in the duct cells of submandibular gland. In exocrine pancreas, mCLCA1/2 expression was restricted to acinar zymogen granule membranes, as assessed by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and preembedding immunoperoxidase and immunogold electron microscopy. Moreover, mCLCA1/2 immunolabeling was present in luminal membranes of gastric parietal cells and small intestinal crypt enterocytes, whereas in the kidney, mCLCA1/2 protein was localized to proximal and distal tubules. The apical membrane localization and overall distribution pattern of mCLCA1/2 favor a transmembrane protein implicated in transepithelial ion transport and protein secretion.
Busemann Functions and the Julia–Wolff–Carathéodory Theorem for polydiscs
Authors: Frosini Chiara
Published: April 2010

The classical Julia–Wolff–Carathéodory Theorem is one of the main tools to study the boundary behavior of holomorphic self-maps of the unit disc of ℂ. In this paper we prove a Julia–Wolff–Carathéodory type theorem in the case of the polydisc of . The Busemann functions are used to define a class of “generalized horospheres” for the polydisc and to extend the notion of non-tangential limit. With these new tools we give a generalization of the classical Julia Lemma and of the Lindelöf Theorem, which the new Julia–Wolff–Carathéodory Theorem relies upon.
On the scalar curvature of hypersurfaces in spaces with a Killing field
Authors: Albujer Alma L. , Aledo Juan A. , Alías Luis J.
Published: April 2010

We consider compact hypersurfaces in an (n + 1)-dimensional either Riemannian or Lorentzian space endowed with a conformal Killing vector field. For such hypersurfaces, we establish an integral formula which, especially in the simpler case when is a product space, allows us to derive some interesting consequences in terms of the scalar curvature of the hypersurface. For instance, when n = 2 and is either the sphere or the real projective plane , we characterize the slices of the trivial totally geodesic foliation as the only compact two-sided surfaces with constant Gaussian curvature in the Riemannian product such that its angle function does not change sign. When n ≥ 3 and is a compact Einstein Riemannian manifold with positive scalar curvature, we also characterize the slices as the only compact two-sided hypersurfaces with constant scalar curvature in the Riemannian product whose angle function does not change sign. Similar results are also established for spacelike hypersurfaces in a Lorentzian product 𝕄 × ℝ1.
Geometry of self-dual flats over a PID on a polarity
Authors: Huang Li-Ping
Published: April 2010

Let R be any commutative principal ideal domain (PID), and let n be an integer ≥ 2. Denote by 𝕀
n − 1 the set of all (n − 1)-dimensional self-dual flats of a polarity in the projective geometry ℙ(R
2n
). The geometric character of 𝕀
n − 1 is discussed. Two self-dual flats A, B ∈ 𝕀
n − 1 are said to be adjacent if dim(A ∩ B) = n − 2. We prove that ϕ : 𝕀
n − 1 → 𝕀
n − 1 is an adjacency preserving surjection if and only if ϕ is an adjacency preserving bijection in both directions. Chow's theorem on the self-dual flats is extended as follows: If the polarity is the symplectic polarity and ϕ : 𝕀
n − 1 → 𝕀
n − 1 is an adjacency preserving surjection, then ϕ is induced by a collineation on ℙ(R
2n
).
Compositional Analysis of Microwave Chemically Treated Biomass Samples
Authors: Tenlep Lisette N. , Raynie Douglas E. , Thiex Nancy J.
Published: April 2010

The compositional analysis of slurries generated from the microwave-assisted pretreatment of switchgrass, prairie cordgrass, and distillers dried grains with solubles were investigated. The biomass samples were treated under acidic, alkali or neutral conditions at 1200 W and 200°C for 10 min. The supernatants were analyzed for sugars, whereas the compositional analysis of the remaining solid fractions was performed using an integrated scheme based on the Standard Laboratory Analytical Procedures for raw biomass developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The experimental results show that little to no arabinose was found in these treated substrates. Substrates treated under alkaline conditions resulted in the highest carbohydrate content with the lowest lignin amount, whereas acidic pretreatments with 0.5 % H2SO4 resulted in hemicellulose-free biomass. A minute amount of hemicellulose was still present in prairie cordgrass and switchgrass after treatment with 0.2 % H2SO4 and this amount increased for pretreatments with H2O and 0.3 % H2O2. Pretreatments under alkaline conditions with 1 % NaOH were the least aggressive treatments methods because they retained the most carbohydrates in the biomass pulp while having the lowest lignin amount.