bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FUNCTIONAL EQUATIONS FOR DOUBLE L-FUNCTIONS AND VALUES AT NON-POSITIVE INTEGERS
Authors: KOMORI YASUSHI , MATSUMOTO KOHJI , TSUMURA HIROFUMI
Published: March 2011

We consider double L-functions with periodic coefficients and complex parameters. We prove functional equations for them, which is of traditional symmetric form on certain hyperplanes. These are character analogs of our previous result on double zeta-functions. We further evaluate double L-functions at non-positive integers and construct certain p-adic double L-functions.
EXACT FORMULAS FOR COEFFICIENTS OF JACOBI FORMS
Authors: BRINGMANN KATHRIN , RICHTER OLAV K.
Published: March 2011

In previous work, we introduced harmonic Maass–Jacobi forms. The space of such forms includes the classical Jacobi forms and certain Maass–Jacobi–Poincaré series, as well as Zwegers' real-analytic Jacobi forms, which play an important role in the study of mock theta functions and related objects. Harmonic Maass–Jacobi forms decompose naturally into holomorphic and non-holomorphic parts. In this paper, we give exact formulas for the Fourier coefficients of the holomorphic parts of harmonic Maass–Jacobi forms and, in particular, we obtain explicit formulas for the Fourier coefficients of weak Jacobi forms.
THE THEOREM OF JENTZSCH–SZEGŐ ON AN ANALYTIC CURVE: APPLICATION TO THE IRREDUCIBILITY OF TRUNCATIONS OF POWER SERIES
Authors: CHAMBERT-LOIR ANTOINE
Published: March 2011

A theorem of Jentzsch–Szegő describes the limit measure of a sequence of discrete measures associated to zeroes of a sequence of polynomials in one variable. Following the presentation by Andrievskii and Blatt in [Discrepancy of Signed Measures and Polynomial Approximation, Springer Monographs in Mathematics (Springer-Verlag, New York, 2002)] we extend this theorem to compact Riemann surfaces and to analytic curves in the sense of Berkovich over ultrametric fields, using classical potential theory in the former case, and Baker/Rumely, Thuillier's potential theory on analytic curves in the latter case. We then apply this equidistribution theorem to the question of irreducibility of truncations of power series with coefficients in ultrametric fields.

Résumé français: Le théorème de Jentzsch–Szegő décrit la mesure limite d'une suite de mesures discrètes associée aux zéros d'une suite convenable de polynômes en une variable. Suivant la présentation que font Andrievskii et Blatt dans [Discrepancy of Signed Measures and Polynomial Approximation, Springer Monographs in Mathematics (Springer-Verlag, New York, 2002)] on étend ici ce résultat aux surfaces de Riemann compactes, puis aux courbes analytiques sur un corps ultramétrique. On donne pour finir quelques corollaires du cas particulier de la droite projective sur un corps ultramétrique à l'irréductibilité des polynômes-sections d'une série entière en une variable.
DISTINGUISHING HECKE EIGENFORMS
Authors: GHITZA ALEXANDRU
Published: March 2011

We revisit a theorem of Ram Murty about the number of initial Fourier coefficients that two cuspidal eigenforms of different weights can have in common. We prove an explicit upper bound on this number, and give better conditional and unconditional asymptotic upper bounds. Finally, we describe a numerical experiment testing the sharpness of the upper bound in the case of forms of level one.
MULTIPLE PATTERNS OF k-TUPLES OF INTEGERS
Authors: RIBENBOIM PAULO
Published: March 2011

The first proposition and its corollary are a transfiguration of Dirichlet's pigeon-hole principle. They are applied to show that a wide variety of sequences display arbitrarily large patterns of sums, differences, higher differences, etc. Among these, we include sequences of primes in arithmetic progressions, of powerful integers, sequences of integers with radical index having a prescribed lower bound, and many others. We also deal with patterns in iterated sequences of primes, patterns of gaps between primes, patterns of values of Euler's φ-function, or their gaps, as well as patterns related to the sequence of Carmichael numbers.
CONSTRUCTION OF SOME UNIMODULAR LATTICES WITH LONG SHADOWS
Authors: HARADA MASAAKI
Published: March 2011

In this paper, we construct odd unimodular lattices in dimensions n = 36,37 having minimum norm 3 and 4s = n - 16, where s is the minimum norm of the shadow. We also construct odd unimodular lattices in dimensions n = 41,43,44 having minimum norm 4 and 4s = n - 24.
FACTORS OF SUMS AND ALTERNATING SUMS INVOLVING BINOMIAL COEFFICIENTS AND POWERS OF INTEGERS
Authors: GUO VICTOR J. W. , ZENG JIANG
Published: March 2011

We study divisibility properties of certain sums and alternating sums involving binomial coefficients and powers of integers. For example, we prove that for all positive integers n1,…,nm, nm+1 = n1, and any nonnegative integer r, there holds [Formula: see text] and conjecture that for any nonnegative integer r and positive integer s such that r + s is odd, [Formula: see text] where ε = ±1.
DOUBLE COVERINGS AND UNIT SQUARE PROBLEMS FOR CYCLOTOMIC FIELDS
Authors: LI YAN , MA LIANRONG
Published: March 2011

In this paper, using the theory of double coverings of cyclotomic fields, we give a formula for [Formula: see text], where K = ℚ(ζn), G = Gal (K/ℚ), 𝔽2 = ℤ/2ℤ and UK is the unit group of K. We explicitly determine all the cyclotomic fields K = ℚ(ζn) such that [Formula: see text]. Then we apply it to the unit square problem raised in [Y. Li and X. Zhang, Global unit squares and local unit squares, J. Number Theory128 (2008) 2687–2694]. In particular, we prove that the unit square problem does not hold for ℚ(ζn) if n has more than three distinct prime factors, i.e. for each odd prime p, there exists a unit, which is a square in all local fields ℚ(ζn)v with v | p but not a square in ℚ(ζn), if n has more than three distinct prime factors.
THE CONGRUENT PROPERTIES FOR rs(n)
Authors: CHEN YONG-GAO , LOU JING-RUI
Published: March 2011

Let rs(n) denote the number of ways to write an integer n as the sum of s squares of integers. In this paper, the congruent properties for rs(n) are studied. We give the elementary combinatorial proofs of all related results due to Wagstaff and Chen, and obtain some new results.
CONCENTRATION OF POINTS ON MODULAR QUADRATIC FORMS
Authors: ZUMALACÁRREGUI ANA
Published: March 2011

Let Q(x, y) be a quadratic form with discriminant D ≠ 0. We obtain non-trivial upper bound estimates for the number of solutions of the congruence Q(x, y) ≡ λ ( mod p), where p is a prime and x, y lie in certain intervals of length M, under the assumption that Q(x, y) - λ is an absolutely irreducible polynomial modulo p. In particular, we prove that the number of solutions to this congruence is Mo(1) when M ≪ p1/4. These estimates generalize a previous result by Cilleruelo and Garaev on the particular congruence xy ≡ λ( mod p).
ON THE SUMS OF TWO CUBES
Authors: REZNICK BRUCE , ROUSE JEREMY
Published: March 2011

We solve the equation f(x, y)3 + g(x, y)3 = x3 + y3 for homogeneous f, g ∈ ℂ(x, y), completing an investigation begun by Viète in 1591. The usual addition law for elliptic curves and composition give rise to two binary operations on the set of solutions. We show that a particular subset of the set of solutions is ring isomorphic to ℤ[e2πi/3].
Improving the Performance of Nanowires Polycrystalline Silicon Twin Thin-Film Transistors Nonvolatile Memory by NH3 Plasma Passivation
Authors: Wu Yung-Chun , Hung Min-Feng , Su Po-Wen
Published: March 2011

This study investigates the performance improvement of the polycrystalline silicon nanowires twin thin-film transistors nonvolatile memory (poly-Si NWs twin-TFT NVM) by NH3 and H2 plasma treatment. The NWs twin-TFT NVM exhibits superior gate control because its tri-gate structure provides a large memory window (ΔVth) and high program/erase (P/E) efficiency. Additionally, the proposed twin-TFT NVM scheme has effective NH3 and H2 plasma passivation efficiency due to its split nanowire channels structure. As for characteristics of transistors, passivation by both NH3 and H2 plasma increases the mobility and the Ion/Ioff ratio. Moreover, as for characteristics of NVM, they increase ΔVth, P/E speed and improve the reliability of the devices. Comparing channel hot electron (CHE) injection and Fowler–Nordheim (FN) tunneling programming mechanisms reveals that the device with NH3 plasma passivation can significantly enhance the program speed. This ability is attributed to passivation of the defects in both the grain boundaries of the poly-Si channel and the Si/SiO2 interface by hydrogen and nitrogen radicals, respectively. As for reliability results, the NH3 plasma-passivated NVM device has memory windows of 1.7 and 3.8 V after 103 P/E cycles and for ten years of data storage, respectively.
Ion channels and transporters in cancer. 1. Ion channels and cell proliferation in cancer
Authors: Becchetti Andrea
Published: March 2011

Progress through the cell mitotic cycle requires precise timing of the intrinsic molecular steps and tight coordination with the environmental signals that maintain a cell into the proper physiological context. Because of their great functional flexibility, ion channels coordinate the upstream and downstream signals that converge on the cell cycle machinery. Both voltage- and ligand-gated channels have been implicated in the control of different cell cycle checkpoints in normal as well as neoplastic cells. Ion channels mediate the calcium signals that punctuate the mitotic process, the cell volume oscillations typical of cycling cells, and the exocytosis of autocrine or angiogenetic factors. Other functions of ion channels in proliferation are still matter of debate. These may or may not depend on ion transport, as the channel proteins can form macromolecular complexes with growth factor and cell adhesion receptors. Direct conformational coupling with the cytoplasmic regulatory proteins is also possible. Derangement or relaxed control of the above processes can promote neoplasia. Specific types of ion channels have turned out to participate in the different stages of the tumor progression, in which cell heterogeneity is increased by the selection of malignant cell clones expressing the ion channel types that better support unrestrained growth. However, a comprehensive mechanistic picture of the functional relations between ion channels and cell proliferation is yet not available, partly because of the considerable experimental challenges offered by studying these processes in living mammalian cells. No doubt, such studies will constitute one of the most fruitful research fields for the next generation of cell physiologists.
Diaphragm curvature modulates the relationship between muscle shortening and volume displacement
Authors: Greybeck Brad J. , Wettergreen Matthew , Hubmayr Rolf D. , Boriek Aladin M.
Published: March 2011

During physiological spontaneous breathing maneuvers, the diaphragm displaces volume while maintaining curvature. However, with maximal diaphragm activation, curvature decreases sharply. We tested the hypotheses that the relationship between diaphragm muscle shortening and volume displacement (VD) is nonlinear and that curvature is a determinant of such a relationship. Radiopaque markers were surgically placed on three neighboring muscle fibers in the midcostal region of the diaphragm in six dogs. The three-dimensional locations were determined using biplanar fluoroscopy and diaphragm VD, curvature, and muscle shortening were computed in the prone and supine postures during spontaneous breathing (SB), spontaneous inspiration efforts after airway occlusion at lung volumes ranging from functional residual capacity (FRC) to total lung capacity, and during bilateral maximal phrenic nerve stimulation at those same lung volumes. In supine dogs, diaphragm VD was approximately two- to three-fold greater during maximal phrenic nerve stimulation than during SB. The contribution of muscle shortening to VD nonlinearly increases with level of diaphragm activation independent of posture. During submaximal diaphragm activation, the contribution is essentially linear due to constancy of diaphragm curvature in both the prone and supine posture. However, the sudden loss of curvature during maximal bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation at muscle shortening values greater than 40% (ΔL/LFRC) causes a nonlinear increase in the contribution of muscle shortening to diaphragm VD, which is concomitant with a nonlinear change in diaphragm curvature. We conclude that the nonlinear relationship between diaphragm muscle shortening and its VD is, in part, due to a loss of its curvature at extreme muscle shortening.
Alteration of connexin expression is an early signal for chronic kidney disease
Authors: Toubas Julie , Beck Samantha , Pageaud Anne-Laure , Huby Anne-Cecile , Mael-Ainin Mouna , Dussaule Jean-Claude , Chatziantoniou Christos , Chadjichristos Christos E.
Published: March 2011

Chronic kidney disease is promoted by a variety of factors that induce chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Inflammation and excessive scaring have been recently associated with disruptions of the gap junction-mediated intercellular communication. Nevertheless, little is known about alterations of the expression of gap junction proteins such as connexin (Cx) 43 and 37 in chronic renal disease. In this study, we investigated the expression of these two Cxs in the hypertensive RenTg mice, the anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis, and the unilateral ureteral obstruction models, all leading to the development of chronic kidney disease in mice. Expression of Cx43 was almost negligible in the renal cortex of control mice. In contrast, Cx43 was markedly increased in the endothelium of peritubular and glomerular capillaries of the 3-mo-old RenTg mice, in the glomeruli of mice suffering from glomerulonephritis, and in the tubules after obstructive nephropathy. The Cx43 expression pattern was paralleled closely by that of the adhesion markers such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 as well as the inflammatory biomarker monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. In contrast, Cx37 that was abundantly expressed in the renal cortex of healthy mice was markedly decreased in the three experimental models. Interestingly, Cx43+/− mice showed restricted expression of VCAM-1 after 2 wk of obstructive nephropathy. These findings suggest the importance of Cxs as markers of chronic renal disease and indicate that these proteins may participate in the inflammatory process during the development of this pathology.
Activity of motor cortex neurons during backward locomotion
Authors: Zelenin P. V. , Deliagina T. G. , Orlovsky G. N. , Karayannidou A. , Stout E. E. , Sirota M. G. , Beloozerova I. N.
Published: March 2011

Forward walking (FW) and backward walking (BW) are two important forms of locomotion in quadrupeds. Participation of the motor cortex in the control of FW has been intensively studied, whereas cortical activity during BW has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze locomotion-related activity of the motor cortex during BW and compare it with that during FW. For this purpose, we recorded activity of individual neurons in the cat during BW and FW. We found that the discharge frequency in almost all neurons was modulated in the rhythm of stepping during both FW and BW. However, the modulation patterns during BW and FW were different in 80% of neurons. To determine the source of modulating influences (forelimb controllers vs. hindlimb controllers), the neurons were recorded not only during quadrupedal locomotion but also during bipedal locomotion (with either forelimbs or hindlimbs walking), and their modulation patterns were compared. We found that during BW (like during FW), modulation in some neurons was determined by inputs from limb controllers of only one girdle, whereas the other neurons received inputs from both girdles. The combinations of inputs could depend on the direction of locomotion. Most often (in 51% of forelimb-related neurons and in 34% of the hindlimb-related neurons), the neurons received inputs only from their own girdle when this girdle was leading and from both girdles when this girdle was trailing. This reconfiguration of inputs suggests flexibility of the functional roles of individual cortical neurons during different forms of locomotion.
Association of Low Birth Weight Infants and Maternal Sociodemographic Status in Tuzla Canton during 1992–1995 War Period in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Skokić Fahrija , Bačaj Dubravka , Selimović Amela , Hasanović Evlijana , Muratović Selma , Halilbašić Amir
Published: March 2011

Objectives. We examined association between incidence rate of low birth weight in liveborn infants and maternal sociodemographic status in Tuzla Canton during 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Methods. The present study covers a 22-year period (1988–2009), including the war period (1992–1995), and we retrospectively collected data on a total of 108 316 liveborn infants and their mothers from three different socioeconomic periods: before (1988–1991), during (1992–1995), and after the war (1996–2009). Association between incidence rate of low birth weight in liveborn infants and maternal sociodemographic status were determined for each study period.Results. There were 23 194 live births in the prewar, 18 302 during the war, and 66 820 in the postwar period. Among the liveborn infants born during the war, 1373 (7.5%) had birth weight of <2500 g, which is significantly more in comparison with 851 (3.6%) liveborn infants in this birth weight group born before and 1864 (2.8%) after the war. We found the number of examinations during pregnancy was 1.8 per pregnant woman in the war period, which was low in comparison with the number of examinations before (4.6 per pregnant woman) and after (7.1 per pregnant woman) the war ( for both). Prewar perinatal mortality LBW infants of 6.2 per 1000 live births increased to 10.8 per 1000 live births during the war (), but after the war, perinatal mortality LBW infants (5.2‰) and early neonatal mortality (2.4‰) decreased.Conclusions. We found statistically significant association between low-birth-weight and maternal sociodemographic status in Tuzla Canton during 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Social and Cultural Influences on Management for Carbon Sequestration on US Family Forestlands: A Literature Synthesis
Authors: Fischer A. Paige , Charnley Susan
Published: March 2011

Nonindustrial private—or “family”—forests hold great potential for sequestering carbon and have received much attention in discussions about forestry-based climate change mitigation. However, little is known about social and cultural influences on owners' willingness to manage for carbon and respond to policies designed to encourage carbon-oriented management. We review the published literature to examine how family forest owners' values, ecological knowledge, risk perceptions, and forest management and policy preferences may affect their interest in managing for carbon sequestration. We find that although family forest owners may not be particularly motivated to mitigate climate change, their forest management values and practices compliment many carbon-oriented management strategies. However, the strong value owners place on privacy and autonomy, and the weak importance many place on financial reward, may inhibit participation in policies and programs that incentivize carbon-oriented management. These findings also have implications for policy efforts to encourage management for other ecological values besides carbon sequestration on family forestlands.
Approximation of Common Solutions to System of Mixed Equilibrium Problems, Variational Inequality Problem, and Strict Pseudo-Contractive Mappings
Authors: Kumam Poom , Jaiboon Chaichana
Published: March 2011

We introduce an iterative algorithm for finding a common element of the set of fixed points of strict pseudocontractions mapping, the set of common solutions of a system of two mixed equilibrium problems and the set of common solutions of the variational inequalities with inverse strongly monotone mappings. Strong convergence theorems are established in the framework of Hilbert spaces. Finally, we apply our results for solving convex feasibility problems in Hilbert spaces. Our results improve and extend the corresponding results announced by many others recently.
Numerical Simulation of Pollutant Transport in Fractured Vuggy Porous Karstic Aquifers
Authors: Fan Xiaolin , Sun Shuyu , Wei Wei , Kou Jisheng
Published: March 2011

This paper begins with presenting a mathematical model for contaminant transport in the fractured vuggy porous media of a species of contaminant (PCP). Two phases are numerically simulated for a process of contaminant and clean water infiltrated in the fractured vuggy porous media by coupling mixed finite element (MFE) method and finite volume method (FVM), both of which are locally conservative, to approximate the model. A hybrid mixed finite element (HMFE) method is applied to approximate the velocity field for the model. The convection and diffusion terms are approached by FVM and the standard MFE, respectively. The pressure distribution and temporary evolution of the concentration profiles are obtained for two phases. The average effluent concentration on the outflow boundary is obtained at different time and shows some different features from the matrix porous media. The temporal multiscale phenomena of the effluent concentration on the outlet are observed. The results show how the different distribution of the vugs and the fractures impacts on the contaminant transport and the effluent concentration on the outlet. This paper sheds light on certain features of karstic groundwater are obtained.
Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk due to Prevalence ofBRCA1andBRCA2Variants in Pakistani Population: A Pakistani Database Report
Authors: Farooq Ayesha , Naveed Abdul Khaliq , Azeem Zahid , Ahmad Tausif
Published: March 2011

Introduction. Pakistani population has a very rich anthrogeneological background with waves of migration from neighboring regions. Incidence rates of breast and ovarian cancer in Pakistan are on such a rapid rise that it is necessary to check the contributory factors, genetic and nongenetic. An insight into the prevalence data emphasizes the formulation of aBRCA1andBRCA2database for the Pakistani population.Method. In this study conducted by authors, data from diagnosed cases of both sporadic and inherited female breast and ovarian cancer cases was gathered after performing molecular genetic analysis by screening for alterations in the coding sequence of theBRCAgene. The region of interest was analyzed by the aid of various molecular biology tools such as automated DNA sequencer. Bioinformatics software was used to interpret the results, and database was prepared.Results. Mutational screening of the exons in all the samples of our study group did not reveal any pathogenic mutation. These results along with the results of the previous Pakistani studies for bothBRCA1andBRCA2genes were summed up to prepare a Pakistani database. Percentage involvement of these genes was estimated. Nine percent of these cancers show alterations inBRCA1gene while 3 percent have shownBRCA2variants. The remaining 88 percent of breast and ovarian cancers can be attributed to the involvement of other genes.
Acquisition of German Noun Plurals in Typically Developing Children and Children with Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Kauschke Christina , Kurth Anna , Domahs Ulrike
Published: March 2011

The present study investigates the acquisition of plural markers in
German children with and without language impairments using an elicitation task. In the first cross-sectional study, 60
monolingual children between three and six years of age were tested. The results show
significant improvements starting at the age of five. Plural forms which require a vowel
change (umlaut) but no overt suffix were most challenging for all children. With regard to
their error patterns, the typically developing children preferably overapplied the suffix -e to
monosyllabic stems and added -s to stems ending in a trochee. Though the children made
errors in plural markings, the prosodic structures of pluralized nouns were kept legitimate.
In the second study, the production of plural markers in eight children with SLI was compared
to age-matched and MLU-matched controls. Children with SLI performed at the level of the
MLU-matched controls, showing subtle differences with regard to their error patterns, and
their preferences in addition and substitution errors: In contrast to their typically developing
peers, children with SLI preferred the frequent suffix -n in their overapplications, suggesting
that they strongly rely on frequency-based cues. The findings are discussed from a
morphophonological perspective.
Purulent Meningitis as an Unusual Presentation ofStaphylococcus aureusEndocarditis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Ceccarelli Giancarlo , d'Ettorre Gabriella , Vullo Vincenzo
Published: March 2011

On presentation ofStaphylococcus aureusendocarditis, unusual manifestations may represent the main clinical features of the disease. Isolated bacterial meningitis as the first manifestation of endocarditis is considered to be an unusual neurological complication. Here, we describe a caseS. aureusendocarditis presenting as isolated meningitis and mimicking meningococcal septicaemia. Because of the high mortality rate of the disease, the prompt recognition of this infectious syndrome is of crucial importance for the correct management of patients.
Utilization Patterns and Projected Demand of Antiretroviral Drugs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Renaud-Théry Françoise , Avila-Figueroa Carlos , Stover John , Thierry Sigrid , Vitoria Marco , Habiyambere Vincent , Souteyrand Yves
Published: March 2011

Background. The rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings has greatly increased demand for antiretroviral medicines and raised the importance of good forward planning, especially in the context of the new 2010 WHO treatment guidelines.Methods. Forecasting of the number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy from 2010 to 2012 was produced using three approaches: linear projection, country-set targets, and a restricted scenario. Two additional scenarios were then used to project the demand for various antiretroviral medicines under a fast and slower phase-out of stavudine.Results. We projected that between 7.1 million and 8.4 million people would be receiving ART by the end of 2012. Of these, 6.6% will be on second-line therapy. High variation in forecast includes reductions in the demand for d4T and d4T increases in the demand for tenofovir, emtricitabine followed by efavirenz, ritonavir, zidovudine and lopinavir; lamivudine, atazanavir, and nevirapine.Conclusion. Despite the global economic crisis and in response to the revised treatment guidelines, our model forecasts an increasing and shifting demand for antiretrovirals in resource-limited settings not only to provide treatment to new patients, but also to those switching to less toxic regimens.
Is Accurate Perception of Body Image Associated with Appropriate Weight-Control Behavior among Adolescents of the Seychelles
Authors: Alwan Heba , Viswanathan Bharathi , Paccaud Fred , Bovet Pascal
Published: March 2011

Background. We examined body image perception and its association with reported weight-control behavior among adolescents in the Seychelles.Methods. We conducted a school-based survey of 1432 students aging 11–17 years in the Seychelles. Perception of body image was assessed using both a closed-ended question (CEQ) and Stunkard's pictorial silhouettes (SPS). Voluntary attempts to change weight were also assessed.Results. A substantial proportion of the overweight students did not consider themselves as overweight (SPS: 24%, CEQ: 34%), and a substantial proportion of the normal-weight students considered themselves as too thin (SPS: 29%, CEQ: 15%). Logistic regression analysis showed that students with an accurate weight perception were more likely to have appropriate weight-control behavior.Conclusions. We found that substantial proportions of students had an inaccurate perception of their weight and that weight perception was associated with weight-control behavior. These findings point to forces that can drive the upwards overweight trends.
Serum Resistin Level in Obese Male Children
Authors: Amirhakimi Anis , Karamifar Hamdollah , Moravej Hosein , Amirhakimi Gholamhosein
Published: March 2011

Objectives. Resistin is a member of cysteine-rich molecules. Several studies have been carried out to determine the biological effect of resistin, nevertheless a significant number are animal studies. All the studies performed regarding the relationship between serum resistin and obesity were merely accomplished in women. To the best of our knowledge, there is no survey on the correlation of the serum resistin level and obesity in male children. The aim of the present study is to assess serum concentration of resistin in obese male children.Methods. Between June 2009 and January 2010, we enrolled 42 randomly selected obese male students (body mass index (BMI) >95th percentile, age ). Thirty-eight healthy age-matched male students with normal BMI (<85th percentile) were selected as a control group for the purpose of comparison of the serum resistin levels.Results. Serum resistin levels were measured in obese and control group. No significant difference was found between resistin levels of the 2 groups (obese:  ng/mL versus normal:  ng/mL; ). There was no significant correlation between serum resistin level and BMI. Assessing the resistin level in male subjects was the distinct feature of our study. The outstanding finding of this research is that there is no correlation between serum resistin level and obesity.Conclusion. We have demonstrated that there is no correlation between obesity in male children and resistin level. Consequently, metabolic abnormalities of insulin resistance seen in obese male patients are not related to resistin.
mTORC1 and mTORC2 Regulate EMT, Motility, and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer via RhoA and Rac1 Signaling Pathways
Authors: Gulhati Pat , Bowen Kanika A. , Liu Jianyu , Stevens Payton D. , Rychahou Piotr G. , Chen Min , Lee Eun Y. , Weiss Heidi L. , O'Connor Kathleen L. , Gao Tianyan , Evers B. Mark
Published: March 2011

Activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling is associated with growth and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). We have previously shown that the mTOR kinase, a downstream effector of PI3K/Akt signaling, regulates tumorigenesis of CRC. However, the contribution of mTOR and its interaction partners toward regulating CRC progression and metastasis remains poorly understood. We found that increased expression of mTOR, Raptor, and Rictor mRNA was noted with advanced stages of CRC, suggesting that mTOR signaling may be associated with CRC progression and metastasis. mTOR, Raptor, and Rictor protein levels were also significantly elevated in primary CRCs (stage IV) and their matched distant metastases compared with normal colon. Inhibition of mTOR signaling, using rapamycin or stable inhibition of mTORC1 (Raptor) and mTORC2 (Rictor), attenuated migration and invasion of CRCs. Furthermore, knockdown of mTORC1 and mTORC2 induced a mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) and enhanced chemosensitivity of CRCs to oxaliplatin. We observed increased cell–cell contact and decreased actin cytoskeletal remodeling concomitant with decreased activation of the small GTPases, RhoA and Rac1, upon inhibition of both mTORC1 and mTORC2. Finally, establishment of CRC metastasis in vivo was completely abolished with targeted inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2 irrespective of the site of colonization. Our findings support a role for elevated mTORC1 and mTORC2 activity in regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), motility, and metastasis of CRCs via RhoA and Rac1 signaling. These findings provide the rationale for including mTOR kinase inhibitors, which inhibit both mTORC1 and mTORC2, as part of the therapeutic regimen for CRC patients. Cancer Res; 71(9); 3246–56. ©2011 AACR.
Anti-TIM3 Antibody Promotes T Cell IFN-γ–Mediated Antitumor Immunity and Suppresses Established Tumors
Authors: Ngiow Shin Foong , von Scheidt Bianca , Akiba Hisaya , Yagita Hideo , Teng Michele W. L. , Smyth Mark J.
Published: March 2011

Strategies to activate and rescue exhausted tumor-specific T cells, including the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that block the negative costimulatory receptors CTLA-4 and PD-1 are proving very effective, but TIM3 has been relatively neglected as a target. Here we report an extensive characterization of the therapeutic activity and mechanism of action of an anti-mouse TIM3 mAb against experimental and carcinogen-induced tumors. For the first time we specifically define the mechanism of antitumor action of anti-TIM3 requiring IFN-γ producing CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells, and a higher ratio of tumor infiltrating CD8+:CD4+ T cells correlating with therapeutic success. Interestingly, in some models, anti-TIM3 appeared to be effective sometime before the appearance and accumulation of significant TIM3+PD-1+ T cell populations in tumor bearing mice. Anti-TIM3 displayed modest prophylactic and therapeutic activity against a small fraction of carcinogen-induced sarcomas, but comparative and combination studies of anti-TIM3 with anti-CTLA-4 and anti–PD-1 against experimental and carcinogen-induced tumors suggested that these agents might be well-tolerated and very effective in combination. Cancer Res; 71(10); 3540–51. ©2011 AACR.
Antimyeloma Activity of a Multitargeted Kinase Inhibitor, AT9283, via Potent Aurora Kinase and STAT3 Inhibition Either Alone or in Combination with Lenalidomide
Authors: Santo Loredana , Hideshima Teru , Cirstea Diana , Bandi Madhavi , Nelson Erik A. , Gorgun Gullu , Rodig Scott , Vallet Sonia , Pozzi Samantha , Patel Kishan , Unitt Christine , Squires Matt , Hu Yiguo , Chauhan Dharminder , Mahindra Anuj , Munshi Nikhil C. , Anderson Kenneth C. , Raje Noopur
Published: March 2011

Purpose: Aurora kinases, whose expression is linked to genetic instability and cellular proliferation, are being investigated as novel therapeutic targets in multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we investigated the preclinical activity of a small-molecule multitargeted kinase inhibitor, AT9283, with potent activity against Aurora kinase A, Aurora kinase B, and Janus kinase 2/3.

Experimental Design: We evaluated the in vitro antimyeloma activity of AT9283 alone and in combination with lenalidomide and the in vivo efficacy by using a xenograft mouse model of human MM.

Results: Our data showed that AT9283 induced cell-growth inhibition and apoptosis in MM. Studying the apoptosis mechanism of AT9283 in MM, we observed features consistent with both Aurora kinase A and Aurora kinase B inhibition, such as increase of cells with polyploid DNA content, decrease in phospho-histone H3, and decrease in phospho-Aurora A. Importantly, AT9283 also inhibited STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation in MM cells. Genetic depletion of STAT3, Aurora kinase A, or Aurora kinase B showed growth inhibition of MM cells, suggesting a role of AT9283-induced inhibition of these molecules in the underlying mechanism of MM cell death. In vivo studies showed decreased MM cell growth and prolonged survival in AT9283-treated mice compared with controls. Importantly, combination studies of AT9283 with lenalidomide showed significant synergistic cytotoxicity in MM cells, even in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells. Enhanced cytotoxicity was associated with increased inhibition of phosphorylated STAT3 and phosphorylated extracellular signal–regulated kinase.

Conclusions: Demonstration of in vitro and in vivo anti-MM activity of AT9283 provides the rationale for the clinical evaluation of AT9283 as monotherapy and in combination therapy for treating patients with MM. Clin Cancer Res; 17(10); 3259–71. ©2011 AACR.
Antioxidant Effects of Lycopene in African American Men with Prostate Cancer or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: van Breemen Richard B. , Sharifi Roohollah , Viana Marlos , Pajkovic Natasa , Zhu Dongwei , Yuan Long , Yang Yanan , Bowen Phyllis E. , Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis Maria
Published: March 2011

Consumption of tomato products is associated with a decreased risk of developing prostate cancer, and lycopene, the red carotenoid in the tomato, is a potent antioxidant that might contribute to this chemoprevention activity. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 105 African American men veterans, recommended for prostate biopsy to detect cancer, was carried out to investigate whether oral administration of lycopene increases lycopene levels in blood and prostate tissue and lowers markers of oxidative stress. Urology patients were randomly assigned to receive 30 mg/d of lycopene as a tomato oleoresin or placebo for 21 days prior to prostate biopsy for possible diagnosis of prostate cancer. A total of 47 men had a diagnosis of prostate cancer, and 58 men had a diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia. Diet, smoking, and drinking habits were assessed. For the men receiving lycopene, the mean lycopene concentration increased from 0.74 ± 0.39 to 1.43 ± 0.61 μmol/L in plasma (P < 0.0001) and from 0.45 ± 0.53 to 0.59 ± 0.47 pmol/mg in prostate tissue (P = 0.005). No significant changes in the DNA oxidation product 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine and the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde were observed in prostate tissue and plasma, respectively, as a result of lycopene administration. Cancer Prev Res; 4(5); 711–8. ©2011 AACR.
Effects of Exemestane, Anastrozole and Tamoxifen on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover Markers in Postmenopausal Early Breast Cancer Patients: Results of N-SAS BC 04, the TEAM Japan Substudy
Authors: Aihara T. , Suemasu K. , Takei H. , Hozumi Y. , Takehara M. , Saito T. , Ohsumi S. , Masuda N. , Ohashi Y.
Published: March 2011

Background: Use of aromatase inhibitors in women with postmenopausal breast cancer accompanies risks of bone loss. We evaluated changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in patients treated with exemestane, anastrozole or tamoxifen for hormone-sensitive postmenopausal early breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Sixty-eight patients enrolled in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational Japan bone substudy were randomly assigned to receive tamoxifen, exemestane or anastrozole. During a 2-year study period, lumbar spine BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX) and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were also measured. Results: BMD at 2 years of treatment was higher in tamoxifen patients compared with exemestane and anastrozole patients; however, the intergroup difference was not significant (p = 0.2521 and p = 0.0753, respectively). BMD was higher in exemestane patients compared with anastrozole patients; however, the intergroup difference was not significant (p = 0.7059 and p = 0.8134, respectively). NTX and BAP were significantly lower in tamoxifen patients compared with exemestane and anastrozole patients at 1 and 2 years of treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Tamoxifen may provide better bone protection compared with exemestane or anastrozole. The effect of exemestane and anastrozole on bone loss may be comparable in Japanese postmenopausal women.
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound: A Filter Role in AJCC Stage I/II Melanoma Patients
Authors: De Giorgi Vincenzo , Gori Alessia , Grazzini Marta , Rossari Susanna , Marino Gaetano , D’Elia Giovanni , Crocetti Emanuele , Roselli Giuliana , Innocenti Paolo , Dini Mario , Lotti Torello
Published: March 2011

One of the most significant advances in melanoma staging is sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). It is a surgical technique to detect occult nonpalpable micrometastases in regional lymph nodes. Recently, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was introduced as a noninvasive procedure, in spite of SLNB, for the detection of SLNs in patients with cutaneous melanoma. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS in the diagnostic workup of patients with melanoma in comparison with the final histology of SLNs detected through preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Fifteen patients with cutaneous melanoma underwent prompt excisional biopsy with narrow margins in order to avoid impairment of the melanoma lymphatic basin and were referred for SLNB according to routine indications between January and February 2009. In our study CEUS showed, albeit based on a small patient sample, a negative predictive value of 100%, that means that all negative results were confirmed by negative SLN histopathological examination; all ultrasonographically negative lymph nodes corresponded to nonmetastatic sentinel nodes.
Early Cellular Pathways of Mouse Natural Killer Cell Development
Authors: Sitnicka Ewa
Published: March 2011

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes that are components of the innate immune system. These cells are key players in the defense against viral and other microbial infections and cancer and have an important function during pregnancy, autoimmunity and allergy. Furthermore, NK cells play important roles in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation by providing the graft versus leukemia effect and preventing the development of graft versus host disease. Thus, understanding the developmental pathway(s) from multipotent HSCs to the NK cell lineage-restricted progenitors is of significant clinical value. However, despite extensive progress in the delineation of mature blood cell development, including the B- and T-cell lineages, the early stages of NK cell lineage commitment and development have been less well established and characterized. Here, I review the progress made thus far in dissecting the developmental stages, from HSCs in the bone marrow to the lineage-committed NK cells in mouse.
Erosive Tooth Wear and Consumption of Beverages among Children in the United States
Authors: Okunseri C. , Okunseri E. , Gonzalez C. , Visotcky A. , Szabo A.
Published: March 2011

Background/Aim: Experimental studies have identified differences in the effect of physicochemical properties of beverages on the etiology of erosive tooth wear (ETW). Little is known from epidemiological studies about the relationship between ETW and consumption of juices, drinks and milk. This study examined the relationship between the consumption of juices, drinks, milk and ETW in children in the United States. Methods: The National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey data for 2003–2004 was analyzed. Trained and calibrated examiners used the modified Smith and Knight Tooth Wear Index from a 1998 United Kingdom Adult Health Survey to measure ETW. Beverage consumption collected via a Food Frequency Questionnaire was processed with Diet*Calc software to obtain the average daily consumption frequency for all queried juice categories, milk and carbonated beverages. Survey-weighted descriptive and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: Prevalence of ETW was highest in children aged 18–19 years (56%), males (49%), and lowest in Blacks (31%). Milk and soft drinks (0.85 times a day) and fruit drinks (0.69) were the most consumed products by children. Children with ETW had significantly higher odds of being frequent consumers of apple juice after adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Blacks had the highest mean daily apple juice consumption, but the mean difference between those with ETW and those without ETW was not significant. Conclusion: ETW was associated with frequent intake of apple juice, but the mean difference in consumption between groups with ETW versus those without ETW within racial/ethnic groups was not significant.
High Ki67 Index and Bulky Disease Remain Significant Adverse Prognostic Factors in Patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma before and after the Introduction of Rituximab
Authors: Gaudio Francesco , Giordano Annamaria , Perrone Tommasina , Pastore Domenico , Curci Paola , Delia Mario , Napoli Anna , de’ Risi Clara , Spina Alessandro , Ricco Rosalia , Liso Vincenzo , Specchia Giorgina
Published: March 2011

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of clinical variables and biologic features on response rate (RR), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in 111 patients with de novo diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Fifty-three patients were treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) and 58 patients were treated with R-CHOP (rituximab + CHOP). The variables predictive of RR in the CHOP group were B symptoms, age, clinical stage, bone marrow involvement, bulky disease, International Prognostic Index (IPI) and Bcl-2; in the R-CHOP group, these variables were bulky disease, bone marrow involvement, IPI and Ki67 expression >80%. Multivariate analysis showed that in patients treated with CHOP, the independent prognostic factors associated with PFS were age, bulky disease, IPI and Bcl-2 and those associated with OS were performance status, clinical stage, IPI and bone marrow involvement. In contrast, in patients treated with R-CHOP, the variable shown by multivariate analysis to be an independent prognostic factor associated with PFS was bulky disease, whereas Ki67 expression >80% was associated with OS and PFS. Our data show that a high Ki67 expression and bulky disease could represent possible predictive factors of poor prognosis, which would help to identify a high-risk subgroup of newly diagnosed DLBCL.
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and HbA1c Level
Authors: Díez-Espino Javier , Buil-Cosiales Pilar , Serrano-Martínez Manuel , Toledo Estefanía , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Martínez-González Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2011

Rationale and Objective: The Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) has beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. We analyzed the association between adherence of a MeDiet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and levels of HbA1c. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in individuals with T2DM participating in the PREDIMED trial at the centre of Pamplona. Information on diet was collected with a validated 14 point scale of adherence to the MeDiet and blood samples were obtained to assess HbA1c levels. Results: We studied 383 participants with T2DM, 53.4% women (mean age 69 ± 6 years). HbA1c data were available in 262 cases (mean 6.9 ± 1.5%). Although there was a potential inverse non-significant association between adherence to MeDiet and HbA1c levels after adjusting for age and sex, it was not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis additionally adjusted for physical activity, smoking, time of evolution of the T2DM, body mass index and insulin treatment found similar findings (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.17–2.83). Conclusions: Although we found not enough evidence to support that a MeDiet is associated with lower levels of HbA1c in patients with T2DM, our results suggested an inverse trend. Future studies with larger sample size are necessary.