bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking the Judean Past: Questions of History and a Social Archaeology of Memory in the First Book of the Maccabees
Authors: Aguilar Mario I.
Published: January 2009

This article explores the issue of history within post-structuralist social models of investigation applied to the biblical text. Within the context of a biblical narrative of Judean history, such as the Hasmonean revolt, the author assumes the necessary exploration of social voices, narratives, and even "controversial" texts, in order to gain a fuller understanding of the Maccabean period. While historians have perceived the past as a reality to be reconstructed and collided, this article argues for the perception of the past as an ethnographic reality, where sociability and the authority of texts depend on conflicting memories. Narratives and historical narrations arise out of a concern for continuity and the future, more than out of the past and its singularity. Thus social and individual memories reflect social and individual experiences and cannot be discarded, even when they conflict with one another.
Grafted In: Why Christians Are Thinking about a Jewish Biblical Theology
Authors: Brawley Anna
Published: January 2009

In the exploration of the question, "Why are Christians thinking about a Jewish biblical theology?", the opinions of two opposed representative Jewish and two opposed representative Christian scholars on the issue of a Jewish biblical theology are compared and assessed. Why, then, are Christians interested in the idea of a Jewish biblical theology in the first place? Based on a detailed analysis of Romans 11:11-24, the conclusion is that this interest has come about in part because of the unique nature of the relationships between Judaism and Christianity, and Jews and Christians, and most especially because of the unique way in which Christians regard Jews and Judaism.
Covenants and Criticism: Deuteronomy and the American Founding
Authors: Connor George E.
Published: January 2009

In its application of biblical historical criticism to the American founding, this analysis departs from traditional scholarship and the textual measure of biblical influence. Moving beyond the textual influence of Deuteronomy, this analysis suggests that a more meaningful, contextual influence can be illuminated. More specifically, this research outlines a relevant historical parallel between the American founding and the Josianic composition and discovery of Deuteronomy. Further, by noting the difference between Deuteronomic authors and editors, this analysis suggests that the influence of Deuteronomy on the American founding can be traced to the hand of the Deuteronomist with respect to kingship and covenants.
Spaces and Places, Whence and Whither, Homes and Rooms: "Territoriality" in the Fourth Gospel
Authors: Neyrey Jerome H.
Published: January 2009

The Fourth Gospel is inordinately involved with places and spaces, valuing some but dis- valuing others. The task of interpreting all such references is greatly aided by the use of the anthropological model of "territoriality" which shows how all peoples 1) classify space, 2) communicate this and 3) control access to or exit from this territory. The classifications might be as follows: public/private, sacred/profane, honorable/shameful, clean/unclean, fixed/fluid, center/periphery and the like. Where appropriate these classifications are used to interpret the Johannine data on spaces and places, particularly 1) Galilee/Judean, 2) public/in secret, 3) not on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, 4) whence/whither, 5) in my Father's house there are many rooms, 6) "indwelling" and "being-in" another; and 7) two different worlds.
Postmodernism and the Interpretation of Biblical Texts for Behavior
Authors: O'Grady John E
Published: January 2009

Postmodernism has many meanings and many names. Whatever it actually means depends on different cultures and different individuals. That explains enough the current American situation. as well as the general condition in developed countries. How much continuity remains from the past? How much discontinuity will characterize the future? How does this affect the interpretaiton of biblical texts from different cultures and different time periods? Can biblical scholars and religious leaders ever be clever enough to be aware of, and respond to, the lived existence of ordinary believers? This article offes no defintite answers—only attempts to orchestrate the problems. Roland Murphy taught me long ago to "pay attention to your audience." As a scholar he always listened to what ordinary believers had to say and responded accordingly. His senstivity to the everyday disciples of Jesus living their lives of faith today, made him a noble priest first and then a noble scholar.
Bibles That Matter: Biblical Theology and Queer Performativity
Authors: Stone Ken
Published: January 2009

Discussions of Bible and homosexuality, and discussions of postmodern biblical interpretation, have often taken place in isolation from one another. However, Judith Butler's “queer” approach to sex, gender and performativity may allow biblical scholars to rethink their objects and procedures in a manner that brings such discussions together. Grounded in a reading of speech act theory, Butler's work explores the possibility that gender, rather than being conceived in a modernist fashion as the social interpretation of stable sexed bodies, is best understood in terms of collective practices that produce perceptions of fixed sexes and genders as performative effects. So too the Bible, often conceived as a fixed object, may be reconceptualized in terms of the collective practices, including conventional modes of scholarly and popular analysis, that produce perceptions of a single, stable Bible as performative effects. Postmodern queer theory's appreciation of complexity and pluralism as resources rather than threats can thus be extended from bodies to bibles. Just as Butler examines processes whereby bodies come to “matter” (in both senses of that term), biblical scholars can examine processes—including those associated with biblical theology and those associated with sexuality debates—whereby bibles, too, “matter.”
Brothers and Friends in Philippi: Family Honor in the Roman World and in Paul's Letter to the Philippians
Authors: Hellerman Joseph
Published: January 2009

The essay seeks to demonstrate the value of insights from the social sciences for New Testament interpretation by triangulating between (a) a cultural anthropological model of ancient Mediterranean family honor, (b) the social realia of the Roman colony at Philippi, and (c) Paul's letter to the Philippians. Archaeological evidence from Philippi decidedly confirms the particular aspect of the social scientific model in view, namely, that family members in the ancient Mediterranean world ideally deferred in honor to persons within their kinship groups and competed for honor with representatives of other families. Both activities are amply attested in the inscriptions from Philippi. The presence of these values in the colony sheds light, moreover, upon portions of Philippians, since Paul viewed the Jesus community in Philippi as a family, and he sought in his letter to encourage the Philippians to treat one another like surrogate siblings. This suggests that Paul desired to establish a relational ethos among Christians in the colony which would forcefully discourage competition for honor among persons who took seriously their identity as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ecological Crisis and Plagues (Revelation 11:6)
Authors: Bredin Mark
Published: January 2009

This article examines the two witnesses striking the earth and considers how such a text is inspiring to those concerned about the environment. I propose that the two witnesses are accused of actions that humanity has brought upon the earth. The two witnesses call the “inhabitants of the earth” to turn from their policies of greed, blame and exclusion and acknowledge that the ecological disaster is their responsibility and their fault and call upon them to live in harmony with earth rather than treating earth as only fit to plunder. The witnesses reveal to the destroyers of the earth what they are doing and the consequences of it. In this way Revelation 11 inspires today's work of environmental preservation as initiating now what God will later complete.
Funerals and Baptisms, Ordinary and Otherwise: Ritual Criticism and Corinthian Rites
Authors: DeMaris Richard E.
Published: January 2009

The emerging field of ritual studies gives Second Testament scholars innovative ways of approaching the rites of the Jesus movement and thus enables them better to re-create the community life reflected in the language of the Second Testament. In the case of Corinth, placing the rites of the Jesus movement there in the context of Mediterranean ritual activity alerts interpreters to an expulsion rite conducted as a funeral at 1 Corinthians 5:2 2 and directs them to rites with features analogous to baptism on behalf of the dead (1 Cor 15 :29). This study sets the Corinthian extension of baptism to the dead alongside funerals conducted for the living and imaginary or honorary funerals, with the aim of characterizing the creative modification rites could undergo in the Greco-Roman world. As a result, a ritual critical approach provides a way of integrating baptism on behalf of the dead into the baptismal practices of the Corinthians, and it suggests how rites marking entry into and exit from their community were related.
The Power of Place and the Future of Spatial Analysis in the Study of Conflict
Authors: Starr Harvey
Published: January 2009

Given the general neglect of space and place in the study of conflict and conflict processes- especially in contrast to the temporal context- this article makes a plea for a more explicit and extensive attention to the spatial contexts of social phenomena. In so doing, the paper discusses the importance of space, the relationship between space and time, how space and spatiality can be studied, and the continuing challenges that come with the study of space, and of combining the study of space and time in our analyses of social phenomena.
Explaining Interstate Conflict and War: What Should Be Controlled for?
Authors: Lee Ray James
Published: January 2009

Most multivariate models designed by analysts of intemational conflict focus on one key explanatory factor and include several control variables. There are prominent norms or customs in the subfield of international politics regarding the construction of multivariate models and the selection of control variables. Several of these norms or customs may make the results of multivariate analyses confusing and difficult to interpret. Analysts typically do not, for example, distinguish between confounding and intervening variables even though the implications and impacts of such variables are substantially different. Most researchers also fail to distinguish between confounding variables and variables that have an impact on interstate conflict that is complementary to that of the key explanatory factor. Commonly, control variables are included in a model for no other reason than that they also have an impact on interstate conflict or some other outcome variable. In some recent analyses, "independent" variables are included that are related by definition to the key explanatory variable, or to each other. This practice introduces into multivariate models artifactual, misleading degrees of statistical association between variables related to each other by definition with tautological relationships masquerading as empirical causal connections that complicate the interpretation of results. Finally, the construction of pooled cross-sectional, time series analyses is consistently based on the assumption that the key explanatory factor, as well as the control variables, have essentially identical impacts on interstate conflict across space, and over time. Substantial evidence, some of which is provided in this paper, suggests that this assumption is unwarranted. This paper provides five guidelines for the construction of multivariate models that address these issues in a manner aimed at making the results of multivariate analyses more intelligible and credible.
Examining Conflict Escalation Within the Civilizations Context
Authors: Bolks Sean , Stoll Richard
Published: January 2009

Samuel Huntington's article and book on the clash of civilizations has created a great deal of controversy and interest. The focus of this is his assertion that in the post-Cold War era, there will be significant conflict between states from Western civilization and states from Islamic civilization. This assertion has been the subject of a number of systematic empirical studies (Henderson, 1997, 1998; Henderson and Tucker, 2001; Russett, Oneal and Cox, 2000; Chiozza, 2002). These studies share two things in common. First, they all use the dyad year as the case and predict to the onset of conflict. Second, none found any support for Huntington's thesis. In our paper, we ask a different question: Given the engagement of a dyad in a militarized interstate dispute (MIDs), is there a relationship between the civilizational status of the dyad and the chances of the dispute escalating to war? Using the MID data, we conduct a two-stage estimation to identify the mixed civilization effect on the probability of dispute and then on the probability of the escalation to war. In the pre-Cold war era, there is a greater probability for mixed civilization dyads and for Islamic-Western dyads to engage in disputes and for these disputes to escalate to war. These findings contradict Huntington's argument that the clash of civilization thesis applies only to the post-Cold War era. The post-Cold War era does not offer complete empirical support for Huntington's expectations either. Mixed civilization dyads do not appear to be as likely to engage in dispute or escalate to war. Islamic-Western dyads do appear to be more apt to engage in dispute during this period, but not to escalate.
From Mammy to Superwoman
Authors: Reynolds-Dobbs Wendy , Thomas Kecia M. , Harrison Matthew S.
Published: January 2009

Black women, like other women of color, find themselves at the intersection of both racism and sexism in the workplace. Due to their unique dual status as racial and gender minorities, they encounter unique and unexplored barriers that inhibit their career as well as leadership development. The goal of this article is to highlight the emerging literature on how images of professional Black women align with their workplace experiences, and to highlight how these experiences may derail their ability to fully reach their potential. The authors also hope to motivate researchers and practitioners to investigate areas of practice that may better support these women's career development.
Battered Women Who Kill
Authors: Plumm Karyn M. , Terrance Cheryl A.
Published: January 2009

Mock jurors ( N = 312) viewed a simulated trial involving a woman, charged with the murder of her abusive husband, entering a plea of not guilty by reason of self-defense. Expert testimony was varied using battered woman syndrome, social agency framework, or no expert testimony. Within expert testimony conditions, jurors were presented with opening and closing statements either including or not including instructions aimed at inducing empathy. Results indicate differences in gender and expert testimony for ratings of guilt as well as differences in gender, expert testimony, and empathy induction for perceptions of the defendant.
A Preliminary Study of Intimate Partner Violence Among Nepali Women in the United States
Authors: Thapa-Oli Soni , Dulal Hari Bansha , Baba Yoko
Published: January 2009

Although there is a growing number of studies on intimate partner violence (IPV) in U.S. South Asian communities, the examination of IPV among Nepali women in the United States is still in the initial stage. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of and vulnerabilities to IPV among 45 Nepali immigrant women residing in the New York metropolitan area. The findings demonstrated that 75.6% of women had been verbally insulted by their current partners, and 62.2% had to seek permission from their partners to go to their friends' or relatives' houses.
Change and persistence in healthcare inequities: Access to elective surgery in Finland in 1992—2003
Authors: Manderbacka Kristna , Arffman Martti , Leyland Alastair , Mccallum Alison , Keskimäki Ilmo
Published: January 2009

Aims: Many countries experience persistent or increasing socioeconomic disparities in specialist care. This study examines the socioeconomic distribution of elective surgery from 1992 to 2003 in Finland. Methods: Administrative registers were used to identify common elective procedures performed in all public and private hospitals in Finland in 1992—2003. Patients' individual sociodemographic data came from 1990—2003 census and employment statistics databases. First coronary revascularisation, hip and knee replacement, lumbar disc operation, cataract extraction, hysterectomy and prostatectomy on residents aged 25—84 years were analysed. Age-standardized procedure rates by income quintile were calculated for both genders, and concentration indices were developed and applied to age-standardized procedure rates in 5% income groups for each study year. Results: Most procedure rates increased during the study period. Three trends emerged: declining inequality for coronary revascularisations, an increase and then a decline in cataract extractions and primary knee replacements among men, and positive relationships between income and treatment for hysterectomy and lumbar disc operations. Conclusions: Our results suggest that structural features — uneven availability, co-payments and plurality of provision — sustain inequity in access; decreasing inequities reflect directed service expansion. Increased attention to collective, prospective funding of primary and specialist ambulatory care is required to increase equity of access to elective surgery.
The angiotensin AT4receptor subtype as a target for the treatment of memory dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Wright John W , Harding Joseph W
Published: January 2009

Over recent years antihypertensive drugs, particularly angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), have been reported to have beneficial effects upon cognitive impairment. Such findings suggest that pharmacological manipulation of angiotensin ligands may be of clinical importance in slowing or halting the cognitive deterioration seen in vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.The mechanism(s) underlying these improvements in cognitive function remains unclear; however, important leads are emerging. The angiotensin AT4receptor subtype, discovered by our laboratory in 1992, influences several important behaviours and physiologies, including learning and memory, and may play a role in this cognitive improvement.This review initially describes the therapeutic drugs approved by the Federal Drug Administration and new approaches presently being developed to treat Alzheimer's disease-induced cognitive impairment. Next, the biologically-active angiotensin ligands and their respective receptor subtypes are discussed, followed by the roles of angiotensin II, angiotensin IV, ACE inhibitors and ARBs in cognitive function.We conclude with a working hypothesis concerning the importance of the AT4receptor subtype as a new potential drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease-associated memory loss.
Renin-angiotensin system-related highlights from the High Blood Pressure Research Conference annual meeting
Authors: Luft Friedrich C
Published: January 2009

The High Blood Pressure Research Conference of the American Heart Association is a theoretical meeting for hypertension researchers who direct their attention to hypertension-related basic disease mechanisms. The items that I have selected for this brief review are molecular intracellular receptor function, novel angiotensin (Ang)-related pathways, including Ang-(1-7), the Mas receptor, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, oxidative stress, immunity, the (pro)renin receptor, and until now unappreciated signalling pathways, such as the tonicity element binding protein.
College Football Games and Crime
Authors: Rees Daniel I. , Schnepel Kevin T.
Published: January 2009

There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence that college football games can lead to aggressive and destructive behavior by fans. However, to date, no empirical study has attempted to document the magnitude of this phenomenon. We match daily data on offenses from the National Incident-Based Reporting System to 26 Division I-A college football programs to estimate the relationship between college football games and crime. Our results suggest that the host community registers sharp increases in assaults, vandalism, arrests for disorderly conduct, and arrests for alcohol-related offenses on game days. Upsets are associated with the largest increases in the number of expected offenses.
From Discretionary to Required
Authors: Turnipseed David L. , Wilson George L.
Published: January 2009

The distinction between organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and required behavior remains questionable more than two decades after its conceptualization. To examine the conceptual confusion, OCB was assessed for consistency with the traditional definition. OCB perceived as owed to the organization was also identified. Results indicate that many OCBs are perceived as part of the job description, rewarded, and punished. This highlights the definitional problem: What is the theoretical and pragmatic difference between OCB and required behavior, or what does the label OCB mean? Assuming that OCB exists (perhaps at organization entry), it is argued to migrate from discretionary to psychologically required. Results are discussed in terms of role sending, leader—member exchange, and reinforcement by managers. Rather than reduce the worth of the OCB construct, we suggest that it remains valuable: discretionary, extrarole OCB may be a midpoint between a formal job description and expanded work behavior migrating to psychologically required.
Propensity to Trust and the Impact on Social Exchange
Authors: Bernerth Jeremy B. , Walker H. Jack
Published: January 2009

This study investigated the influence of individuals' propensity to trust on the relationship between supervisors and their subordinates. Specifically, the authors tested both the direct and interactional effects of supervisors' and employees' propensity to trust and perceptions of social exchange quality. Results indicated that managerial propensity to trust did not have a direct influence on perceptions of social exchange, but employees' propensity to trust was positively related to their perceived social exchange quality. Additionally, the interaction between managerial and employee propensity to trust indicated that the most positive exchange relationships were perceived to exist when both managers and employees were high in propensity to trust.
Language and Metalanguage: Key Issues in Emotion Research
Authors: Wierzbicka Anna
Published: January 2009

Building on the author's earlier work, this paper argues that language is a key issue in understanding human emotions and that treating English emotion terms as valid analytical tools continues to be a roadblock in the study of emotions. Further, it shows how the methodology developed by the author and colleagues, known as NSM (from Natural Semantic Metalanguage), allows us to break free of the “shackles” (Barrett, 2006) of English psychological terms and explore human emotions from a culture-independent perspective. The use of NSM makes it possible to study human emotions from a genuinely cross-linguistic and cross-cultural, as well as a psychological, perspective and thus “opens up new possibilities for the scientific understanding of subjectivity and psychological experience” (Goddard, 2007).
Love, Loss, and Hope Go Deeper than Language: Linguistic Semantics Has Only a Limited Role in the Interdisciplinary Study of Affect
Authors: Katz Leonard D.
Published: January 2009

Human emotional experience is organized at multiple levels, only some of which are easily penetrable by or dependent on language. Affects connected with mammalian parental care seem involved in Anna Wierzbicka's example of the experience of Jesus in Gethsemane. However, such affects are not characterizable as she requires, using only NSM's short list of linguistic semantic universals. Following her methodology, even using an enriched NSM really exhaustive of linguistic semantic universals, may involve serious losses of cognitive opportunity. Specifically, it forecloses any possibility of linking language with other cognitive resources to construct novel concepts, as may be needed to understand the deep biologically-based structure of emotion—which, after all, goes far deeper in us than language does.
On Art, Science, Metaphors, and Ghosts: A Few Thoughts to Share
Authors: Averill James R.
Published: January 2009

The sharing of emotional experiences, whether in face-to-face interactions or anonymously through written communications, can influence a person's psychological and physical well-being. The mediating mechanisms are, however, poorly understood. The present comment concerns ambiguities that may result when concepts from ordinary language, such as emotion, cognition, and related metaphors, are applied to presumed mediating mechanisms.
The Salmonella Pathogenicity Island (SPI) 1 contributes more than SPI2 to the colonization of the chicken by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Dieye Yakhya , Ameiss Keith , Mellata Melha , Curtiss Roy
Published: January 2009

Background

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Typhimurium) is an important pathogen that infects a broad range of hosts. In humans, Typhimurium causes a gastroenteritis characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pains. Typhimurium infection occurs mainly through the ingestion of contaminated food including poultry, pork, eggs, and milk. Chickens that are asymptomatic carriers of Typhimurium constitute a potential reservoir for infection. The type three secretion systems encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI) 1 and 2 are major virulence factors of Salmonella. However, only a few studies have investigated their role during the infection of chickens.

Results

We have taken a mixed infection approach to study the contribution of SPI1 and SPI2 to the colonization of the chicken by Typhimurium. We found that SPI1 contributes to colonization of both the cecum and spleen in the chicken. In contrast, SPI2 contributes to colonization of the spleen but not the cecum and, in the absence of SPI1, inhibits cecal colonization. Additionally, we show that the contribution of SPI1 in the spleen is greater than that of SPI2. These results are different from those observed during the infection of the mouse by Typhimurium where SPI2 is the major player during systemic colonization.

Conclusion

The co-infection model we used provides a sensitive assay that confirms the role of SPI1 and clarifies the role of SPI2 in the colonization of the chicken by Typhimurium.
Aurora kinase inhibitors synergize with paclitaxel to induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Scharer Christopher D , Laycock Noelani , Osunkoya Adeboye O , Logani Sanjay , McDonald John F , Benigno Benedict B , Moreno Carlos S
Published: January 2009

Background

A large percentage of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer develop resistance to the taxane class of chemotherapeutics. While mechanisms of resistance are being discovered, novel treatment options and a better understanding of disease resistance are sorely needed. The mitotic kinase Aurora-A directly regulates cellular processes targeted by the taxanes and is overexpressed in several malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Recent data has shown that overexpression of Aurora-A can confer resistance to the taxane paclitaxel.

Methods

We used expression profiling of ovarian tumor samples to determine the most significantly overexpressed genes. In this study we sought to determine if chemical inhibition of the Aurora kinase family using VE-465 could synergize with paclitaxel to induce apoptosis in paclitaxel-resistant and sensitive ovarian cancer cells.

Results

Aurora-A kinase and TPX2, an activator of Aurora-A, are two of the most significantly overexpressed genes in ovarian carcinomas. We show that inhibition of the Aurora kinases prevents phosphorylation of a mitotic marker and demonstrate a dose-dependent increase of apoptosis in treated ovarian cancer cells. We demonstrate at low doses that are specific to Aurora-A, VE-465 synergizes with paclitaxel to induce 4.5-fold greater apoptosis than paclitaxel alone in 1A9 cells. Higher doses are needed to induce apoptosis in paclitaxel-resistant PTX10 cells.

Conclusion

Our results show that VE-465 is a potent killer of taxane resistant ovarian cancer cells and can synergize with paclitaxel at low doses. These data suggest patients whose tumors exhibit high Aurora-A expression may benefit from a combination therapy of taxanes and Aurora-A inhibition.
Beta amyloid oligomers and fibrils stimulate differential activation of primary microglia
Authors: Sondag Cindy M , Dhawan Gunjan , Combs Colin K
Published: January 2009

Background

Beta amyloid (Aβ) peptides are the major constituents of the senile plaques present in Alzheimer's diseased brain. Pathogenesis has been associated with the aggregated form of the peptide as these fibrils are the conformation readily found in the plaques. However, recent studies have shown that the nonaggregated, soluble assemblies of Aβ have the potential to stimulate neuronal dysfunction and may play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Methods

Soluble, synthetic Aβ1–42 oligomers were prepared producing mainly dimer-trimer conformations as assessed by SDS-PAGE. Similar analysis demonstrated fibril preparations to produce large insoluble aggregates unable to migrate out of the stacking portion of the gels. These peptide preparations were used to stimulate primary murine microglia and cortical neuron cultures. Microglia were analyzed for changes in signaling response and secretory phenotype via Western analysis and ELISA. Viability was examined by quantifying lactate dehydrogenase release from the cultures.

Results

Aβ oligomers and fibrils were used to stimulate microglia for comparison. Both the oligomers and fibrils stimulated proinflammatory activation of primary microglia but the specific conformation of the peptide determined the activation profile. Oligomers stimulated increased levels of active, phosphorylated Lyn and Syk kinase as well as p38 MAP kinase compared to fibrils. Moreover, oligomers stimulated a differential secretory profile for interleukin 6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and keratinocyte chemoattractant when compared to fibrils. Finally, soluble oligomers stimulated death of cultured cortical neurons that was exacerbated by the presence of microglia.

Conclusion

These data suggest that fibrils and oligomers stimulate unique signaling responses in microglia leading to discrete secretory changes and effects on neuron survival. This suggests that inflammation changes during disease may be the consequence of unique peptide-stimulated events and each conformation may represent an individual anti-inflammatory therapeutic target.
Nonconstrictive epicarditis mimicking a cardiac mass in a 71-year-old Caucasian man: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Margolis Asa M , Emmerman Andrew B , Rascon Mario , Chaudhry Saima I
Published: January 2009

Introduction

Isolated cases of epicarditis are rare. Thus far, all have occurred with constrictive physiology as most cases involve both parietal and visceral pericardium. We report the first case of asymptomatic epicarditis that involved only the visceral pericardium presenting without constrictive physiology.

Case presentation

A 71-year-old male with a history of atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, pericardial effusion, type-2 diabetes and hypothyroidism presented with 5 weeks of fatigue and 1 day of dizziness. Physical examination was significant for pallor and tachycardia. Laboratory analysis revealed a hemoglobin count of 7.2 g/dl and iron deficiency anemia. The patient was transfused and evaluated by endoscopic ultrasound. A polypoid mass in the gastric cardia was found and later diagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma (staged as T1N0M0). The pericardial effusion was evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography which showed a 2.0 × 2.7 cm mass associated with the right atrium. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the mass but did not reveal constrictive physiology. Whole-body contrast computed tomography failed to demonstrate metastatic disease. Biopsy of the cardiac mass revealed epicarditis without parietal pericardium involvement. Partial gastrectomy was performed to remove the gastric adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

This is the first reported case of asymptomatic epicarditis. Our case was especially unusual because the epicarditis presented as an incidental cardiac mass. The clinical picture was complicated due to the concomitant presence of gastric adenocarcinoma and chronic pericardial effusion. This case demonstrates that epicarditis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cardiac masses.
Intraoperative anaphylaxis due to gelofusine in a patient undergoing intramedullary nailing of the femur: a case report
Authors: Polyzois Ioannis , Lampard Andrina , Mohanlal Paras , Tsiridis Evgenios , Manidakis Nikolaos , Tsiridis Eleftherios
Published: January 2009

Background

Although uncommon, anaphylaxis due to a colloid plasma expander can occur peri-operatively

Case presentation

We present a case of an intra-operative cardiac arrest in a 72 year old Caucasian male patient who underwent prophylactic intramedullary nailing for a proximal femoral metastasis from prostate cancer. The patient was resuscitated successfully and the procedure was completed uneventfully. Elevated serum tryptase levels confirmed the diagnosis of an anaphylactic reaction and positive allergy skin prick testing identified gelofusine as the causative agent.

Conclusion

A high index of suspicion, prompt diagnosis and rapid institution of treatment are essential for a safe outcome following such reactions. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of such a severe reaction to gelofusine infusion that occurs during an orthopaedic procedure.
Gastric outlet obstruction possibly secondary to ulceration in a 2-year-old girl: a case report
Authors: Okawada Manabu , Okazaki Tadaharu , Takahashi Tsubasa , Lane Geoffrey J , Yamataka Atsuyuki
Published: January 2009

Gastric outlet obstruction due to ulceration is extremely rare in childhood. We report a case of gastric outlet obstruction possibly secondary to peptic ulceration and our surgical management. Our approach, without vagotomy or antrectomy, would appear to be a safe and effective.
CD146 expression is associated with a poor prognosis in human breast tumors and with enhanced motility in breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Zabouo Gwladys , Imbert Anne-Marie , Jacquemier Jocelyne , Finetti Pascal , Moreau Thomas , Esterni Benjamin , Birnbaum Daniel , Bertucci François , Chabannon Christian
Published: January 2009

Introduction

Metastasis is a complex process involving loss of adhesion, migration, invasion and proliferation of cancer cells. Cell adhesion molecules play a pivotal role in this phenomenon by regulating cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. CD146 (MCAM) is associated with an advanced tumor stage in melanoma, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. Studies of CD146 expression and function in breast cancer remain scarce except for a report concluding that CD146 could act as a tumor suppressor in breast carcinogenesis.

Methods

To resolve these apparent discrepancies in the role of CD146 in tumor cells, we looked at the association of CD146 expression with histoclinical features in human primary breast cancers using DNA and tissue microarrays. By flow cytometry, we characterized CD146 expression on different breast cancer cell lines. Using siRNA or shRNA technology, we studied functional consequences of CD146 downmodulation of MDA-MB-231 cells in migration assays. Wild-type, mock-transfected and downmodulated transfected cells were profiled using whole-genome DNA microarrays to identify genes whose expression was modified by CD146 downregulation.

Results

Microarray studies revealed the association of higher levels of CD146 with histoclinical features that belong to the basal cluster of human tumors. Expression of CD146 protein on epithelial cells was detected in a small subset of cancers with histoclinical features of basal tumors. CD146+ cell lines displayed a mesenchymal phenotype. Downmodulation of CD146 expression in the MDA-MB-231 cell line resulted in downmodulation of vimentin, as well as of a set of genes that include both genes associated with a poor prognosis in a variety of cancers and genes known to promote cell motility. In vitro functional assays revealed decreased migration abilities associated with decreased CD146 expression.

Conclusions

In addition to its expression in the vascular compartment, CD146 is expressed on a subset of epithelial cells in malignant breast. CD146 may directly or indirectly contribute to tumor aggressiveness by promoting malignant cell motility. Changes in molecular signatures following downmodulation of CD146 expression suggest that CD146 downmodulation is associated with the reversal of several biological characteristics associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and the phenomenon associated with the metastatic process.
Comparative analysis of processed ribosomal protein pseudogenes in four mammalian genomes
Authors: Balasubramanian Suganthi , Zheng Deyou , Liu Yuen-Jong , Fang Gang , Frankish Adam , Carriero Nicholas , Robilotto Rebecca , Cayting Philip , Gerstein Mark
Published: January 2009

Background

The availability of genome sequences of numerous organisms allows comparative study of pseudogenes in syntenic regions. Conservation of pseudogenes suggests that they might have a functional role in some instances.

Results

We report the first large-scale comparative analysis of ribosomal protein pseudogenes in four mammalian genomes (human, chimpanzee, mouse and rat). To this end, we have assigned these pseudogenes in the four organisms using an automated pipeline and make the results available online. Each organism has a large number of ribosomal protein pseudogenes (approximately 1,400 to 2,800). The majority of them are processed (generated by retrotransposition). However, we do not see a correlation between the number of pseudogenes associated with a ribosomal protein gene and its mRNA abundance. Analysis of pseudogenes in syntenic regions between species shows that most are conserved between human and chimpanzee, but very few are conserved between primates and rodents. Interestingly, syntenic pseudogenes have a lower rate of nucleotide substitution than their surrounding intergenic DNA. Moreover, evidence from expressed sequence tags indicates that two pseudogenes conserved between human and mouse are transcribed. Detailed analysis shows that one of them, the pseudogene of RPS27, is likely to be a protein-coding gene. This is significant as previous reports indicated there are exactly 80 ribosomal protein genes encoded by the human genome.

Conclusions

Our analysis indicates that processed ribosomal protein pseudogenes abound in mammalian genomes, but few of these are conserved between primates and rodents. This highlights the large amount of recent retrotranspositional activity in mammals and a relatively larger amount of it in the rodent lineage.
Competition in Service Industries with Segmented Markets
Authors: Allon Gad , Federgruen Awi
Published: January 2009

We develop a model for the competitive interactions in service industries where firms cater to multiple customer classes or market segments with the help of shared service facilities or processes so as to exploit pooling benefits. Different customer classes typically have distinct sensitivities to the price of service as well as the delays encountered. In such settings firms need to determine (i) the prices charged to all customer classes; (ii) the waiting time standards, i.e., expected steady state waiting time promised to all classes; (iii) the capacity level; and (iv) a priority discipline enabling the firm to meet the promised waiting time standards under the chosen capacity level, all in an integrated planning model that accounts for the impact of the strategic choices of all competing firms. We distinguish between three types of competition: depending on whether firms compete on the basis of their prices only, waiting time standards only, or on the basis of prices and waiting time standards. We establish in each of the three competition models that a Nash equilibrium exists under minor conditions regarding the demand volumes. We systematically compare the equilibria with those achieved when the firms service each market segment with a dedicated service process.
Supply Chain Coordination and Influenza Vaccination
Authors: Chick Stephen E. , Mamani Hamed , Simchi-Levi David
Published: January 2009

Annual influenza outbreaks incur great expenses in both human and monetary terms, and billions of dollars are being allocated for influenza pandemic preparedness in an attempt to avert even greater potential losses. Vaccination is a primary weapon for fighting influenza outbreaks. The influenza vaccine supply chain has characteristics that resemble the newsvendor problem but possesses several characteristics that distinguish it from many other supply chains. Differences include a nonlinear value of sales (caused by the nonlinear health benefits of vaccination that are due to infection dynamics) and vaccine production yield issues. We show that production risks, taken currently by the vaccine manufacturer, lead to an insufficient supply of vaccine. Several supply contracts that coordinate buyer (governmental public health service) and supplier (vaccine manufacturer) incentives in many other industrial supply chains cannot fully coordinate the influenza vaccine supply chain. We design a variant of the cost-sharing contract and show that it provides incentives to both parties so that the supply chain achieves global optimization and hence improves the supply of vaccines.
Controlling Co-Epidemics: Analysis of HIV and Tuberculosis Infection Dynamics
Authors: Long Elisa F. , Vaidya Naveen K. , Brandeau Margaret L.
Published: January 2009

A co-epidemic arises when the spread of one infectious disease stimulates the spread of another infectious disease. Recently, this has happened with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB). We develop two variants of a co-epidemic model of two diseases. We calculate the basic reproduction number (R0), the disease-free equilibrium, and the quasi-disease-free equilibria, which we define as the existence of one disease along with the complete eradication of the other disease, and the co-infection equilibria for specific conditions. We determine stability criteria for the disease-free and quasi-disease-free equilibria. We present an illustrative numerical analysis of the HIV-TB co-epidemics in India that we use to explore the effects of hypothetical prevention and treatment scenarios. Our numerical analysis demonstrates that exclusively treating HIV or TB may reduce the targeted epidemic, but can subsequently exacerbate the other epidemic. Our analyses suggest that coordinated treatment efforts that include highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV, latent TB prophylaxis, and active TB treatment may be necessary to slow the HIV-TB co-epidemic. However, treatment alone may not be sufficient to eradicate both diseases. Increased disease prevention efforts (for example, those that promote condom use) may also be needed to extinguish this co-epidemic. Our simple model of two synergistic infectious disease epidemics illustrates the importance of including the effects of each disease on the transmission and progression of the other disease.
3D Visualization and Measurement of Capillaries Supplying Metabolically Different Fiber Types in the Rat Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle During Denervation and Reinnervation
Authors: Janáček Jiîí , Čebašek Vita , Kubínová Lucie , Ribarič Samo , Eržen Ida
Published: January 2009

The aim of this study was to determine whether capillarity in the denervated and reinnervated rat extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) is scaled by muscle fiber oxidative potential. We visualized capillaries adjacent to a metabolically defined fiber type and estimated capillarity of fibers with very high oxidative potential (O) vs fibers with very low oxidative potential (G). Capillaries and muscle fiber types were shown by a combined triple immunofluorescent technique and the histochemical method for NADH-tetrazolium reductase. Stacks of images were captured by a confocal microscope. Applying the Ellipse program, fibers were outlined, and the diameter, perimeter, cross-sectional area, length, surface area, and volume within the stack were calculated for both fiber types. Using the Tracer plug-in module, capillaries were traced within the three-dimensional (3D) volume, the length of capillaries adjacent to individual muscle fibers was measured, and the capillary length per fiber length (Lcap/Lfib), surface area (Lcap/Sfib), and volume (Lcap/Vfib) were calculated. Furthermore, capillaries and fibers of both types were visualized in 3D. In all experimental groups, O and G fibers significantly differed in girth, Lcap/Sfib, and Lcap/Vfib, but not in Lcap/Lfib. We conclude that capillarity in the EDL is scaled by muscle fiber size and not by muscle fiber oxidative potential. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:437–447, 2009)
Localized Genetic Structure Persists in Wild Populations of Chinook Salmon in the John Day River Despite Gene Flow from Outside Sources
Authors: Narum Shawn R. , Schultz Terra L. , Van Doornik Donald M. , Teel David
Published: January 2009

Samples of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha collected from four spawning areas in the John Day River, Oregon (n = 330), were genotyped with 13 microsatellite loci to test for bottlenecks and temporal stability within sites as well as genetic differentiation among sites, and to estimate gene flow from outside populations. Since the John Day River has never been stocked with hatchery‐reared fish, this study provided the opportunity to evaluate the genetic integrity and structure of Chinook salmon in a wilderness area amid many hatchery‐supported populations in the Columbia River. No tests for bottlenecks (Wilcoxon tests for heterozygosity excess) were significant, and the temporal variation was slight and not significant within any spawning reach except for the collections from the Middle Fork John Day River. Overall, the genetic distance estimates suggest that there are three distinct subpopulations in the John Day River, namely, those in (1) the North Fork John Day River (including Granite Creek), (2) the Middle Fork John Day River, and (3) the upper main‐stem John Day River. These genetic relationships were supported by results from a neighbor‐joining dendrogram. Assignment tests indicate that out‐of‐basin straying occurs throughout the John Day River, the largest percentage of strays going to the North Fork John Day River. Immigration may have acted to avert genetic bottlenecks and maintain genetic diversity in populations with fluctuating census size. Yet the genetic substructure of the Chinook salmon in the John Day River indicates natural reproduction from philopatric individuals, possibly with higher reproductive success than immigrants. The evidence presented here elucidates the balance of philopatry and dispersal acting to maintain genetic diversity and localized structure among the Chinook salmon of the John Day River.
Gestational Breast Cancer
Authors: Doyle-Lindrud Susan
Published: January 2009

This case narrative reviews the clinical course of a 33-year-old woman, pregnant with her second child, diagnosed with breast cancer. This case study was chosen because of the complicated and sensitive nature of the treatment decision making under such circumstances.