bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le grand salon de l’Impératrice au château de Fontainebleau du temps de l’impératrice Eugénie
Authors: Carlier Yves
Published: December 2015

Entre 1856 et 1858, l’impératrice Eugénie procéda à un renouvellement complet de l’ameublement de son grand salon au château de Fontainebleau. Son choix se porta sur des meubles d’époque Louis XVI provenant de deux ensembles distincts qui furent couverts de la même étoffe à fond blanc broché de fleurs : deux canapés provenant du Garde-Meuble appartenant à un ensemble plus important et une série de sièges richement sculptés pris dans la salle du Trône et la chapelle du château de Fontainebleau. Ensuite, elle fit disposer un temps un autre meuble Louis XVI en bois peint qu’elle fit envoyer ensuite au Petit Trianon. L’élément le plus marquant de sa démarche fut qu’elle disposa à Fontainebleau de meubles anciens et non de style comme on peut le remarquer dans les grands salons des autres résidences impériales.
Les copies à l’ère des premières Expositions universelles : les œuvres de Dasson et de Beurdeley, « un xviiie qui continue de vivre » ?
Authors: Mestdagh Camille
Published: December 2015

La production mobilière du dernier quart du xixe siècle se caractérise par un genre nouveau : les copies de meubles royaux ou d’autres chefs-d’œuvre du xviiie siècle français. Les ateliers parisiens dirigés par Henry Dasson et Beurdeley, qui se consacrent à la fois à la fabrication des bronzes et de l’ébénisterie, en sont les premiers grands spécialistes. Fervents continuateurs de l’excellence des ateliers de l’Ancien Régime, leur œuvre de copistes peut être perçue comme une démonstration de leurs talents bien que ces répliques ne soient pas toujours identiques et révèlent souvent une volonté de personnalisation, sinon de perfectionnement. L’évolution de ces deux maisons permet d’identifier les éléments déterminants dans le développement de la copie, aboutissant à la reconstitution des chefs-modèles de bronze, outils fondamentaux dans le processus de reproduction. Ce genre nouveau fut ainsi motivé par le goût et le négoce des meubles et objets anciens mais aussi initié par le quatrième marquis d’Hertford qui passa commande d’un ensemble important de copies. Avec la IIIe République, l’ouverture au public des palais et la délivrance de permis spécifiques stimulent la réalisation des copies. Néanmoins, ces autorisations délivrées aux fabricants, ne permettaient pas la réalisation de surmoulage et témoignent de la difficulté de cette entreprise. Et pourtant, à l’Exposition universelle de 1900, les copies sont nombreuses sur les stands des fabricants d’ameublement parisiens. Exportées et transposées, elles deviennent elles-mêmes modèles, symboles universels du meuble de luxe français.
La corbeille de mariage de la dauphine en 1770 : le premier serre-bijoux de Marie-Antoinette
Authors: Tilles Rebecca
Published: December 2015

Dans cet article, Rebecca Tilles relate l’histoire de la commande du premier serre-bijoux de Marie-Antoinette, réalisé pour le mariage de la dauphine en 1769, son évolution stylistique dans le contexte du néo-classicisme, ainsi que le contenu du cabinet, qui comprenait les cadeaux de mariage, distribués après la cérémonie. L’article analyse également les documents concernant la commande du cabinet aux Archives nationales, le dessin original conservé à la Bibliothèque nationale de France, et deux tableaux emblématiques de la reine qui illustrent le cabinet, aujourd’hui conservés à Versailles.
Deliberation with Working College Students Influencing Civic Learning, Opinion Formation and Engagement
Authors: McCarthy-Latimer Christopher
Published: December 2015

This article describes the results from the use of deliberation in the classroom where a majority of students are working. The course included college students from Framingham State University. They discussed the issue of the economic impact of a big-box store. This analysis includes a study of the deliberative polling literature; research of the data on civic learning; an examination of the data comprising net changes in the participants' opinions and gross changes in the participants' opinions; and finally a discussion of the implications for engagement. The results illustrate that the process of deliberation affects changes in attitude items at both the individual and aggregate level.
Understanding the ‘Public and Private' of Public and Private Partnerships
Authors: Strongman Luke
Published: December 2015

Ideas about the public realm arose from the emergence of the nation-state and the theories of sovereignty – a reaction to the claims of unrestrained power by monarchs and parliaments to make law and possibly to free the private spheres from the encroaching power of the state (Horwitz 1982). This article explores the nature of this paradox in delineating and commenting on the meanings of the shared boundaries of the terms ‘public and private' from within the context of the neoliberal critique of Keynesian policies. The public-private distinction is replete with variables such as ownership, impact on societal values, and openness to external influences within society (Perry and Rainey 1988). From an organisational communication perspective while Public and Private Partnerships may be efficient at achieving specific societal ends, they nevertheless may compromise important civic concepts in doing so.
Nature of Tweets in the 2015 Nigerian Presidential Elections
Authors: Egbunike Nwachukwu Andrew , Ihebuzor Noel , Onyechi Ngozi
Published: December 2015

Social media is becoming increasingly important as a means for social engagement. In Nigeria, Twitter is employed to convey opinion and make commentary on matters ranging from football to politics. Tweets are also used to inform, advocate, recruit and even incite. Previous studies have shown that Twitter could be effective for political mobilization. However, there is dearth of research on how Twitter has been used as a purveyor of neutral and/or hate speech in the Nigerian context. This study examined the nature of tweets in the immediate aftermath of the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria. The authors employed content analysis of 250 purposively selected tweets from the #Igbo hashtag which trended between March 29 and 31, 2015. The tweets were then categorized into five explicit hate and one neutral tweet category respectively. Results revealed the dominance of three hate tweet types: derogatory, mocking and blaming. These findings were then discussed bearing in mind earlier theories on the functionality of tweets and voting patterns from an analysis of the election results.
The Challenges of Public Administration, Good Governance and Service Delivery in the 21st Century
Authors: Essien Essien D.
Published: December 2015

Contemporary studies on public administration in Nigeria have revealed two dramatic findings. First, despite the moderate achievements in democratic governance and being rich in natural and human resources, there remain many politico-administrative challenges to be addressed in Nigeria. Second, ailing public administration has resulted in disturbing socio-economic indicators which are among the worst in the world. This paper examines the challenges of public administration for effective service delivery and good governance in Nigeria. The paper employs descriptive method of research and content analysis which is anchored on ‘efficiency theory' to examine the subject matter. Findings reveal that, notwithstanding the dramatic administrative reforms, citizen's confidence in government service is near an historic low because of poor service delivery and exclusionary policies. The paper submits that the label of poor performance and absence of excellence in the public service has the tendency to undermine development and good governance in Nigeria.
A Joint Power Harvesting and Communication Technology for Smartphone Centric Ubiquitous Sensing Applications
Authors: Joshi Ranjana , Nie Hong
Published: December 2015

Smartphone centric ubiquitous sensing applications use a smartphone with external sensors. The 3.5mm audio interface provide a common data interface for communication in different smartphones. The 3.5mm audio interface cannot provide DC power to external sensors. Thus, power needs to be harvested from an earphone channel. The existing technology uses one earphone channel to harvest power. Consequently, for many smartphones the technology cannot harvest enough power to support external sensors. In this paper, based on frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation scheme, the authors have proposed a joint power harvesting and communication technology that can simultaneously harvest power and transfer data with the same earphone channels. Circuit measurements show that, the proposed technology can extract more than two times of power as from one earphone channel. Meanwhile, demodulation tests show that our newly-developed timer-based FSK demodulator can reliably recover the data transferred from a smartphone to external sensors without any error.
A Consensus of Thought in Applying Change Management to Information System Environments
Authors: Zanzig Jeffrey S. , Francia III Guillermo A. , Francia Xavier P.
Published: December 2015

Failure to keep pace with rapid developments in information technology can subject an organization to inefficiencies in obtaining reliable information that is imperative in making important decisions. The concept of change management attempts to move organizations in an efficient manner toward a desirable future state. In the realm of information processing, there is a continuing development of thought as to an appropriate framework to cover a vast array of issues from patching a specific software application to changing an overall system to better meet the strategic issues of an organization's environment. This article considers related guidance provided in a Global Technology Audit Guide (GTAG) from The Institute of Internal Auditors, COBIT from the ISACA, and current change and patch management literature in order to demonstrate that there is a common stream of thought in the evolution of a framework for applying change management to information systems.
A Typology of Firms Regarding M-Commerce Adoption
Authors: San-Martín Sonia , Jiménez Nadia
Published: December 2015

Nowadays firms are actively considering the mobile phone as a means of marketing and should also analyze its potential as a means of selling. In this study, the authors present the survey results from a sample of 125 firms, in Spain. They outline four types of firms (innovators, followers, laggards and traditionalists) on the basis of factors that drive or inhibit this type of selling and the main variables from TOE (technological, organizational and environmental) framework. The authors also characterize those four types of firms according to their size, sector, experience and use of ICT marketing strategies. To the best of their knowledge, scarce studies have analyzed mobile selling in Spain and proposed an exhaustive characterization of mobile vendor firms and strategies. Both academic and managerial implications of interest are derived from this study.
Social Business
Authors: Ferreira Maria João , Moreira Fernando , Seruca Isabel
Published: December 2015

Information systems and technologies (IST) are the essence of up-to date organizations, and changes in this field are occurring at an uncontrollable pace, interrupting traditional business models and forcing organisations to implement new models of business. Social media represent a subset of these technologies which contribute to organizational transformation. However, by itself, the adoption of social media does not imply such a transformation; changes in the organization's culture and behaviour are also needed. The use of IST in an appropriate and integrated way with the organization's processes will depend on an individual and collective effort. For organizations to take advantages of these technologies within the context of Social Business, a comprehension exercise is required in how to demonstrate their usefulness. To this end, this paper will provide a comprehensive view of a new context of labour faced by traditional organizations i.e. social business supported by mobile IST – mobile_Create, Share, Document and Training (m_CSDT) – in order to improve the well-being of these organizations through the collective intelligence and agility dimensions.
If Pandora had a Blog
Authors: Pacea Otilia
Published: December 2015

In the context of internet genre migration and proliferation, conventional taxonomies are no longer valid. To classify blogs between thematic and personal blogs is to blissfully ignore the legions of successful content prosumers, from political blogs to travel blogs, from food blogs to MAD (mom and dad) blogs, from fashion blogs to milblogs. With the recent explosion of social media, the digital landscape shifted and today there are more voices online than ever before. For blogs, however, the original purpose for communication has always been twofold: to inform and to emote. Computer-mediated communication may be overpopulated with a myriad of mixed forms and blogs might be dead or simply, difficult to reach with so much overlapping. Yet high-impact blogs still remain and are widely read. This paper explores the language of high-impact blogs, testing a new methodology for genre analysis to solve genre hybridity in the case of computer-mediated discourse.
News-Seekers vs. Gate-Keepers
Authors: Jarvis Sharon E. , Stephens Maegan
Published: December 2015

Traditional research on gatekeeping examines how journalists, editors, and publishers construct and position information to become news. Opportunities for interactivity in online news outlets, however, are creating space for audience members to also play this role. This article analyzes the tone and scope of the stories appearing on the print front-pages in the online most-read lists in twelve news outlets. Findings reveal how news-seekers prefer serious soft news articles, stories that position readers prominently, and fact-laden updates. These trends are interpreted in light of an elitist approach to gatekeeping versus a more egalitarian mindset and the authors conclude that the articles promoted by news-seekers are far less frivolous than feared.
Towards the Maturity of Object-Relational Database Technology: Promises and Reality
Authors: Keivani Negin , Maatuk Abdelsalam M. , Aljawarneh Shadi , Ali Muhammad Akhtar
Published: December 2015

Object-relational technology provides a significant increase in scalability and flexibility over the traditional relational databases. The additional object-relational features are particularly satisfying for advanced database applications that relational database systems have experienced difficulties. The key factor to the success of object-relational database systems is their performance. This paper aims to review the promises of Object-Relational database systems, examine the reality, and how their promises may be fulfilled through unification with the relational technology. To investigate the performance implications of using object-relational relative to relational technology, the query-oriented BUCKY benchmark has been previously applied to an early object-relational database system, i.e., Illustra 97. This paper presents the results obtained from implementing and running the BUCKY benchmark on Oracle 10g. The results acquired from the work described in this paper are compared with the results obtained in BUCKY benchmark. This study throws light on the functionality of object-relational databases, where object-relational technology has made improvements but some limitations are identified as well. In general, the performance of relational supersedes that of object-relational database system.
Examining the Factors that Influence ICT Adoption in SMEs
Authors: Lawrence Japhet Eke
Published: December 2015

Many opportunities have been made available through the use of Information communication technologies (ICT) in organizations in general, and particularly in Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the early adopters' successes well publicized. Thus, many organizations not taking advantages of the ICT are currently examining their options. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence SMEs' decision in adopting ICT in business. The diffusion theory, the technology acceptance model and information richness will provide the theoretical foundation for this study. Currently in the data collection phase, the owner/manager or someone responsible for IT employed by the SMEs will be surveyed in this cross-industry study. Preliminary results from the study are reported as well as sample questions resulting from the study to be used in the final survey questionnaire.
A Critical Review of Theories and Models of Technology Adoption and Acceptance in Information System Research
Authors: Tarhini Ali , Arachchilage Nalin Asanka Gamagedara , Masa'deh Ra'ed , Abbasi Muhammad Sharif
Published: December 2015

Previous research shows that selecting an appropriate theory or model has always remained a critical task for IS researchers. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there are few papers that review and compare the acceptance theories and models at the individual level. Hence, this article aims to overcome this problem by providing a critical review of eight of the most influential theories that have been used to predict and explain human behaviour towards adoption of various technologies at the individual level. This article also summarizes their evolution; highlight the key constructs, extensions, strengths, and criticisms from a selective list of published articles appeared in the literature related to IS. This review provides a holistic picture for future researchers in selecting appropriate single/multiple theoretical models/constructs based on their strengths and weaknesses and in terms of predictive power and path significance. It is concluded that a well-established theory should consider the personal, social, cultural, technological, organizational and environmental factors
All Is Right with the World
Authors: Sasidharan Sharath
Published: December 2015

Business-to-Consumer e-commerce vendors view consumer trust as an important determinant of purchasing intent. Based on the cognitive dissonance and schema-congruity theories, this paper examines the impact of schema-congruity between the website design elements of color and typography with the product context in impacting trust. Websites perceived as compatible with subconsciously internalized belief systems and hence deemed schema-congruent by consumers are expected to engender higher levels of trust. A controlled experimental study involving 128 participants spanning eight different schema-congruency conditions was conducted. Results indicated that completely schema-congruent websites engendered higher levels of trust. Partially schema-congruent and schema-incongruent websites registered significantly lower levels of trust due to cognitive dissonance arising out of their incompatibility with consumer belief systems. The judicious selection of color and typography perceived as schema-congruent with the product context can serve to enhance consumer trust in e-commerce websites.
DJ Pairing during VDJ Recombination Shows Positional Biases That Vary among Individuals with Differing IGHD Locus Immunogenotypes
Authors: Kidd Marie J. , Jackson Katherine J. L. , Boyd Scott D. , Collins Andrew M.
Published: December 2015

Human IgH diversity is influenced by biases in the pairing of IGHD and IGHJ genes, but these biases have not been described in detail. We used high-throughput sequencing of VDJ rearrangements to explore DJ pairing biases in 29 individuals. It was possible to infer three contrasting IGHD-IGHJ haplotypes in nine of these individuals, and two of these haplotypes include deletion polymorphisms involving multiple contiguous IGHD genes. Therefore, we were able to explore how the underlying genetic makeup of the H chain locus influences the formation of particular DJ pairs. Analysis of nonproductive rearrangements demonstrates that 3′ IGHD genes tend to pair preferentially with 5′ IGHJ genes, whereas 5′ IGHD genes pair preferentially with 3′ IGHJ genes; the relationship between IGHD gene pairing frequencies and IGHD gene position is a near linear one for each IGHJ gene. However, striking differences are seen in individuals who carry deletion polymorphisms in the D locus. The absence of different blocks of IGHD genes leads to increases in the utilization frequencies of just a handful of genes, and these genes have no clear positional relationships to the deleted genes. This suggests that pairing frequencies may be influenced by additional complex positional relationships that perhaps arise from chromatin structure. In contrast to IGHD gene usage, IGHJ gene usage is unaffected by the IGHD gene–deletion polymorphisms. Such an outcome would be expected if the recombinase complex associates with an IGHJ gene before associating with an IGHD gene partner.
Fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve
Authors: Malan Leon , Bezuidenhout Abraham F. , Banderker Ebrahim
Published: December 2015

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma is a rare benign tumour most commonly affecting the median nerve and is characterised by fibro-fatty nerve infiltration. It results in fusiform nerve enlargement with a pathognomonic ‘spaghetti-like’ imaging appearance. Patients present with numbness and paraesthesia and later with motor deficits in the affected nerve distribution. The condition frequently coexists with macrodystrophia lipomatosa in up to two-thirds of cases.
Tuberculosis of the skull mimicking a bony tumor
Authors: Rosli Fadzlishah , Haron Rahmat
Published: December 2015

We present a rare case of calvarial tuberculosis mimicking a solitary bone tumor, which was surgically removed. A 52-year-old female presented with a right forehead swelling, which gradually enlarged over the course of 2 years, with no symptoms or raised intracranial pressure or neurological deficits. Plain and contrast-enhanced brain computed tomography scans were done, revealing a punched-out lesion of the right frontal bone, with a nonenhancing lytic mass. With an initial diagnosis of an intraosseous meningioma, and later on intraoperatively thought to be a metastatic tumor, the mass was excised along with a rim of bone. Histopathological examination results came back as caseous necrosis, highly suggestive of tuberculosis. The patient was then treated with a 1 year regimen of anti-tuberculous medications. Tuberculosis of the cranium is a rare entity, and can mimic tumors or multiple myeloma. A high index of suspicion and knowledge is required for an early diagnosis. A combined surgical and medical therapy is curative.
Comparing monomodality treatments of low-grade intracranial arteriovenous malformation at Hospital Kuala Lumpur between 2008 and 2011: A retrospective study
Authors: bin Rosli Fadzlishah , Mohammed Haspani Mohammed , Ab Ghani Abdul
Published: December 2015

Introduction: Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of Spetzler-Martin grades (SMGs) I-III are treated using either monomodality treatments of microsurgical excision, embolization or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), or a combination of two or more of these treatment options. At Hospital Kuala Lumpur, we still practice monomodality treatments for AVMs of these three grades. In this study, we wanted to achieve an understanding whether monomodality treatments can achieve a satisfactory outcome of AVM nidi for patients, for up to 3 years, and to gather an objective data for AVM treatment for the Malaysian population. Subjects and Methods: This is a retrospective review of records study. The data are acquired from case notes of patients with intracranial AVM of SMGs I to III who underwent monomodality treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur between 2008 and 2011. The patients were followed up with imaging for up to 3 years from the date of treatment. A total of 81 patients were recruited in this study, where 30 underwent microsurgical treatment, 27 underwent embolization, and 24 underwent SRS. Results: Total obliteration of AVM nidus was achieved in 96.7% of patients who underwent microsurgery, 8.7% of patients who underwent embolization, and 79.2% of patients who underwent SRS. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) for all three groups showed an improving trend, with the microsurgery group showing the best improvement (from 70% at 3 months to 92.3% at 3 years showing favorable mRS scores). Conclusions: The AVM nidus obliteration for each treatment group is comparable to the meta-analysis published in 2011. Each modality had its own set of complications; however, most of the patients in all three groups had either static or improved mRS at the end of the 3-year follow-up.
Organizing Collaboration in Inter-Organizational Innovation Networks, from Orchestration to Choreography
Authors: Ferraro Giovanna , Iovanella Antonio
Published: December 2015

Innovation networks constitute a valid structure within which to foster members' abilities to interact and cooperate, in order to reduce environmental uncertainty and face the challenges that derive from economic change. Network members take advantage of their participation in the system by creating and extracting value when performing certain deliberate and purposeful activities. Traditionally the interactions between network members are represented in a hierarchical structure with a prominent member performing a leadership role in managing the system. Recently, more complex organizations have emerged in which the power of the decisions is spread among all partners. In this paper, we overcome the single hub model and propose a new organizational framework called “choreography”, which takes into account all network members, extending the roles of coordination and management throughout the entire network.

We consider a real inter-organizational innovation network as an eligible case study which supports the choreography model.
Approaches to Innovation Process Assessment: Complex Results from an Exploratory Investigation
Authors: Zizlavsky Ondrej
Published: December 2015

Managing innovation is vital for many enterprises to survive in a competitive and dynamic environment. Thus, decision-makers have always been involved in the challenge of finding the right performance measures for the innovation process. This paper tackles the issue of innovation performance measurement and management. Its main goal is to present complex results obtained from the Czech manufacturing industry within the research project “Innovation Process Performance Assessment: A Management Control System Approach among Czech Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises” financed by the Czech Science Foundation – 13–20123P. The results reveal many positive aspects of the investigated issue. Czech companies are aware of the importance of innovation and engage in it in various forms. Moreover, the vast majority of the respondents also evaluated the implemented innovations no matter the size of the company. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies differ in terms of their innovation performance measurements and management control techniques and methods. However, both groups adopt traditional measurement tools rather than modern techniques. Here, the gap between global and Czech companies is noted. Therefore, this paper is supposed to motivate researchers to conduct more large-scale studies in the area of innovative performance measurement systems and their implementation in different business sectors and areas.
Identification of Formaldehyde under Different Interfering Gas Conditions with Nanostructured Semiconductor Gas Sensors
Authors: Zhao Lin , Wang Jing , Li Xiaogan
Published: December 2015

Sensor array with pattern recognition method is often used for gas detection and classification. Processing time and accuracy have become matters of widespread concern in using data analysis with semiconductor gas sensor array for volatile organic compound gas mixture classification. In this paper, a sensor array consisting of four nanostructured semiconductor gas sensors was used to generate the response signal. Three main categories of gas mixtures, including single-component gas, binary-component gas mixtures, and four-component gas mixtures, are tested. To shorten the training time, extreme learning machine (ELM) is introduced to classify the category of gas mixtures and the concentration level (low, middle, and high) of formaldehyde in the gas mixtures. Our results demonstrate that, compared to traditional neural networks and support vector machines (SVM), ELM networks can achieve 204 and 817 times faster training speed. As for classification accuracy, ELM networks can achieve comparable results with SVM.
Turning the Page to Year 2016
Authors: Dettenhofer Markus , Kuo Winston Patrick
Published: December 2015

As we conclude another year (2015), Volume 2 completed, we are pleased with the number of quality published manuscripts. We are also excited to announce Nanobiomedicine has been indexed in DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) ( https://doaj.org/toc/1849-5435 )! This was in part attributed with the help of our Special Editor, Dr. Barbara Smith, who spearheaded manuscripts highlighting innovative results that impacted the global health spectrum implementing new methods for disease diagnosis, including technological and product development for enhanced point-of-care and personalized health care. Dr. Smith undertook this endeavor as she transitioned from a post-doc position (from George Whitesides' lab at Harvard University) to a faculty position at Arizona State, getting acclimated and setting up her laboratory. We want to thank Dr. Smith for her time and commitment to our journal. It's worth noting, we had a high number of submissions throughout the year, however, the expectations of the manuscripts not published fell short due to our review process, indicating the emphasis of publishing high quality manuscripts. We thank all the reviewers for their time and feedback.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction Does Not Compromise the Regenerative Potential of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Duscher Dominik , Atashroo David , Maan Zeshaan N. , Luan Anna , Brett Elizabeth A. , Barrera Janos , Khong Sacha M. , Zielins Elizabeth R. , Whittam Alexander J. , Hu Michael S. , Walmsley Graham G. , Pollhammer Michael S. , Schmidt Manfred , Schilling Arndt F. , Machens Hans-Günther , Huemer Georg M. , Wan Derrick C. , Longaker Michael T. , Gurtner Geoffrey C.
Published: December 2015

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently become a focus of regenerative medicine, both for their multilineage differentiation capacity and their excretion of proregenerative cytokines. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are of particular interest because of their abundance in fat tissue and the ease of harvest via liposuction. However, little is known about the impact of different liposuction methods on the functionality of ASCs. Here we evaluate the regenerative abilities of ASCs harvested via a third-generation ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) device versus ASCs obtained via standard suction-assisted lipoaspiration (SAL). Lipoaspirates were sorted using fluorescent assisted cell sorting based on an established surface-marker profile (CD34+/CD31−/CD45−), to obtain viable ASCs. Yield and viability were compared and the differentiation capacities of the ASCs were assessed. Finally, the regenerative potential of ASCs was examined using an in vivo model of tissue regeneration. UAL- and SAL-derived samples demonstrated equivalent ASC yield and viability, and UAL ASCs were not impaired in their osteogenic, adipogenic, or chondrogenic differentiation capacity. Equally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed comparable expression of most osteogenic, adipogenic, and key regenerative genes between both ASC groups. Cutaneous regeneration and neovascularization were significantly enhanced in mice treated with ASCs obtained by either UAL or SAL compared with controls, but there were no significant differences in healing between cell-therapy groups. We conclude that UAL is a successful method of obtaining fully functional ASCs for regenerative medicine purposes. Cells harvested with this alternative approach to liposuction are suitable for cell therapy and tissue engineering applications.

Significance

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are an appealing source of therapeutic progenitor cells because of their multipotency, diverse cytokine profile, and ease of harvest via liposuction. Alternative approaches to classical suction-assisted liposuction are gaining popularity; however, little evidence exists regarding the impact of different liposuction methods on the regenerative functionality of ASCs. Human ASC characteristics and regenerative capacity were assessed when harvested via ultrasound-assisted (UAL) versus standard suction-assisted liposuction. ASCs obtained via UAL were of equal quality when directly compared with the current gold standard harvest method. UAL is an adjunctive source of fully functional mesenchymal stem cells for applications in basic research and clinical therapy.
Intravenous Administration of Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells Overexpressing Integrin β1 Augments Angiogenesis in Ischemic Legs
Authors: Goto Kazuko , Takemura Genzou , Takahashi Tomoyuki , Okada Hideshi , Kanamori Hiromitsu , Kawamura Itta , Watanabe Takatomo , Morishita Kentaro , Tsujimoto Akiko , Miyazaki Nagisa , Ushikoshi Hiroaki , Kawasaki Masanori , Mikami Atsushi , Kosai Ken-ichiro , Minatoguchi Shinya
Published: December 2015

When injected directly into ischemic tissue in patients with peripheral artery disease, the reparative capacity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) appears to be limited by their poor survival. We, therefore, attempted to improve the survival of transplanted EPCs through intravenous injection and gene modification. We anticipated that overexpression of integrin β1 will enable injected EPCs to home to ischemic tissue, which abundantly express extracellular matrix proteins, the ligands for integrins. In addition, integrin β1 has an independent angiogenesis-stimulating function. Human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs; late-outgrowth EPCs) were transduced using a lentiviral vector encoding integrin β1 (ITGB1) or enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP). We then locally or systemically injected phosphate-buffered saline or the genetically modified ECFCs (GFP-ECFCs or ITGB1-ECFCs; 1 × 105 cells each) into NOD/Shi-scid, IL-2Rγnull mice whose right femoral arteries had been occluded 24 hours earlier. Upregulation of extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin, was apparent in the ischemic legs. Four weeks later, blood perfusion of the ischemic limb was significantly augmented only in the ITGB1-ECFC group. Scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts revealed increases in the perfused blood vessels in the ischemic legs of mice in the ITGB1-ECFC group and significant increases in the density of both capillaries and arterioles. Transplanted ECFC-derived vessels accounted for 28% ± 4.2% of the vessels in the ITGB1-ECFC group, with no cell fusion. Intravenous administration of ECFCs engineered to home to ischemic tissue appears to efficiently mediate therapeutic angiogenesis in a mouse model of peripheral artery disease.

Significance

The intravenous administration of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) genetically modified to overexpress integrin β1 effectively stimulated angiogenesis in ischemic mouse hindlimbs. Transplanted ECFCs were observed in the ischemic leg tissue, even at the chronic stage. Moreover, the cells appeared functional, as evidenced by the improved blood flow. The cell type used (ECFCs), the route of administration (intravenous, not directly injected into the affected area), and the use of ligand-receptor interactions (extracellular matrix and integrins) for homing represent substantial advantages over previously reported cell therapies for the treatment of peripheral artery disease.
The Last Groups Standing: Living Abandonment at the Ancient Maya Center of Minanha, Belize
Authors: Lamoureux-St-Hilaire Maxime , Macrae Scott , McCane Carmen A. , Parker Evan A. , Iannone Gyles
Published: December 2015

The most archaeologically visible dimension of the Classic Maya Collapse is the abandonment of monumental royal courts. Yet, in some cases, non-elite populations lived for centuries in and around Classic Maya centers without rulers. Processes of abandonment among Classic Maya commoners are detectable and reflect their own ritual and social practices divorced from the ritual performances undertaken by the ruling elite. We study the abandonment context and chronology of three domestic groups from the Contreras Valley, an agricultural community located on the outskirts of the Classic Maya center ofMinanha, Belize. There, several artifact assemblages were deposited at the time of abandonment, representing termination rituals. This study goes beyond the ideological dimension of termination rituals to examine how these ceremonies helped reshape the identity of social groups who were about to abandon their home. We explore how the last inhabitants of a mostly abandoned landscape lived through this process of gradual depopulation. Moreover, we evaluate potential explanations for the archaeological processes behind the occurrence or non-occurrence of termination rituals in different domestic groups.
The splicing regulator PTBP1 controls the activity of the transcription factor Pbx1 during neuronal differentiation
Authors: Linares Anthony J , Lin Chia-Ho , Damianov Andrey , Adams Katrina L , Novitch Bennett G , Black Douglas L
Published: December 2015

The RNA-binding proteins PTBP1 and PTBP2 control programs of alternative splicing during neuronal development. PTBP2 was found to maintain embryonic splicing patterns of many synaptic and cytoskeletal proteins during differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) into early neurons. However, the role of the earlier PTBP1 program in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and NPCs was not clear. We show that PTBP1 controls a program of neuronal gene expression that includes the transcription factor Pbx1. We identify exons specifically regulated by PTBP1 and not PTBP2 as mouse ESCs differentiate into NPCs. We find that PTBP1 represses Pbx1 exon 7 and the expression of the neuronal Pbx1a isoform in ESCs. Using CRISPR-Cas9 to delete regulatory elements for exon 7, we induce Pbx1a expression in ESCs, finding that this activates transcription of neuronal genes. Thus, PTBP1 controls the activity of Pbx1 to suppress its neuronal transcriptional program prior to induction of NPC development.
Dendritic nonlinearities are tuned for efficient spike-based computations in cortical circuits
Authors: Ujfalussy Balázs B , Makara Judit K , Branco Tiago , Lengyel Máté
Published: December 2015

Cortical neurons integrate thousands of synaptic inputs in their dendrites in highly nonlinear ways. It is unknown how these dendritic nonlinearities in individual cells contribute to computations at the level of neural circuits. Here, we show that dendritic nonlinearities are critical for the efficient integration of synaptic inputs in circuits performing analog computations with spiking neurons. We developed a theory that formalizes how a neuron's dendritic nonlinearity that is optimal for integrating synaptic inputs depends on the statistics of its presynaptic activity patterns. Based on their in vivo preynaptic population statistics (firing rates, membrane potential fluctuations, and correlations due to ensemble dynamics), our theory accurately predicted the responses of two different types of cortical pyramidal cells to patterned stimulation by two-photon glutamate uncaging. These results reveal a new computational principle underlying dendritic integration in cortical neurons by suggesting a functional link between cellular and systems--level properties of cortical circuits.
A dystonia-like movement disorder with brain and spinal neuronal defects is caused by mutation of the mouse laminin β1 subunit, Lamb1
Authors: Liu Yi Bessie , Tewari Ambika , Salameh Johnny , Arystarkhova Elena , Hampton Thomas G , Brashear Allison , Ozelius Laurie J , Khodakhah Kamran , Sweadner Kathleen J
Published: December 2015

A new mutant mouse (lamb1t) exhibits intermittent dystonic hindlimb movements and postures when awake, and hyperextension when asleep. Experiments showed co-contraction of opposing muscle groups, and indicated that symptoms depended on the interaction of brain and spinal cord. SNP mapping and exome sequencing identified the dominant causative mutation in the Lamb1 gene. Laminins are extracellular matrix proteins, widely expressed but also known to be important in synapse structure and plasticity. In accordance, awake recording in the cerebellum detected abnormal output from a circuit of two Lamb1-expressing neurons, Purkinje cells and their deep cerebellar nucleus targets, during abnormal postures. We propose that dystonia-like symptoms result from lapses in descending inhibition, exposing excess activity in intrinsic spinal circuits that coordinate muscles. The mouse is a new model for testing how dysfunction in the CNS causes specific abnormal movements and postures.
Investigating the effect of solvent boiling temperature on the active layer morphology of diffusive bilayer solar cells
Authors: Vohra Varun , Dörling Bernhard , Higashimine Koichi , Murata Hideyuki
Published: December 2015

Using chlorobenzene as a base solvent for the deposition of the poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) layer in P3HT:phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester diffusive bilayer solar cells, we investigate the effect of adding of small amounts of high-boiling-point solvents with similar chemical structures on the resulting active layer morphologies. The results demonstrate that the crystallinity of the P3HT films as well as the vertical donor–acceptor gradient in the active layer can be tuned by this approach. The use of high-boiling-point solvents improved all photovoltaic parameters and resulted in a 32% increase in power conversion efficiency.
Quantifying the magnitude of the oxygen artefact inherent in culturing airway cells under atmospheric oxygen versus physiological levels
Authors: Kumar Abhinav , Dailey Lea Ann , Swedrowska Magda , Siow Richard , Mann Giovanni E. , Vizcay‐Barrena Gema , Arno Matthew , Mudway Ian S. , Forbes Ben
Published: December 2015

To date, in vitro studies assessing the pulmonary toxicity of inhaled particles have provided poor correlation with in vivo results. We explored whether this discrepancy reflected cellular adaptations in pulmonary cells cultured under atmospheric oxygen concentrations (21%) compared with in vivo alveolar concentrations (100 mm Hg, ~ 13%) and whether this blunted cellular responses to nanoparticle challenge. At 21% oxygen, A549 cells had augmented intracellular glutathione concentrations, with evidence of increased tolerance to CuO nanoparticles, with reduced reactive oxygen species production, blunted transcriptional responses and delayed cell death, compared to cells cultured at 13% oxygen. These data support the contention that standard cell culture conditions pre‐adapt cells to oxidative insults and emphasize the necessity of ensuring normoxic conditions in model systems to improve their predictive value.
Dependence of trends in and sensitivity of drought over China (1961–2013) on potential evaporation model
Authors: Zhang Jie , Sun Fubao , Xu Jijun , Chen Yaning , Sang Yan‐Fang , Liu Changming
Published: December 2015

The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) can lead to controversial results in assessing droughts responding to global warming. Here we assess recent changes in the droughts over China (1961–2013) using the PDSI with two different estimates, i.e., the Thornthwaite (PDSI_th) and Penman‐Monteith (PDSI_pm) approaches. We found that droughts have become more severe in the PDSI_th but slightly lessened in the PDSI_pm estimate. To quantify and interpret the different responses in the PDSI_th and PDSI_pm, we designed numerical experiments and found that drying trend of the PDSI_th responding to the warming alone is 3.4 times higher than that of the PDSI_pm, and the latter was further compensated by decreases in wind speed and solar radiation causing the slightly wetting in the PDSI_pm. Interestingly, we found that interbasin difference in the PDSI_th and PDSI_pm responses to the warming alone tends to be larger in warmer basins, exponentially depending on mean temperature.
The impact of T‐TREC‐retrieved wind and radial velocity data assimilation using EnKF and effects of assimilation window on the analysis and prediction of Typhoon Jangmi (2008)
Authors: Wang Mingjun , Xue Ming , Zhao Kun
Published: December 2015

This study examines the relative impact of assimilating T‐TREC‐retrieved winds (VTREC) versus radial velocity (Vr) on the analysis and forecast of Typhoon Jangmi (2008) using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). The VTREC and Vr data at 30 min intervals are assimilated into the ARPS model at 3 km grid spacing over four different assimilation windows that cover, respectively, 0000–0200, 0200–0400, 0400–0600, and 0000–0600 UTC, 28 September 2008. The assimilation of VTREC data produces better analyses of the typhoon structure and intensity than the assimilation of Vr data during the earlier assimilation windows, but during the later assimilation windows when the coverage of Vr data on the typhoon from four Doppler radars is much improved, the assimilation of Vr outperforms VTREC data. The combination of VTREC and Vr data, either by assimilating both VTREC and Vr data in all cycles or by assimilating VTREC in the first cycle and Vr in the remaining cycles (labeled VTFVR), further improves the analyses of the typhoon structure and intensity compared to assimilating VTREC or Vr data alone. Quantitative verifications of 24 h forecasts of the typhoon show that the VTFVR assimilation experiments produces forecasts that best match the best track data and also have the highest precipitation prediction skills. The track forecast errors in experiment that assimilate VTREC data through the later cycles are the largest. The behaviors are discussed based on the coverage, information content, and accuracy of the various forms of data.
Rehabilitation and Acute Care in Nursing Homes
Authors: Resnick Barbara
Published: December 2015

Given the increasing numbers of older adults, extensive multimorbidity, and the need to provide high‐quality care in an affordable manner, acute levels of care in alternative settings have received increased attention. Long‐term care facilities are one such venue to receive acute services such as wound care, rehabilitation and other types of life‐sustaining interventions. In these settings an increased emphasis on rehabilitation and a function‐focused care approach are provided and are central to the care that individuals receive. Providing this type and level of care helps older adults regain and maintain their highest level of function and physical activity throughout their lifetimes.
Sensorimotor–Cognitive Interactions
Authors: Li Karen Z. H. , Bruce Halina
Published: December 2015

The shared variance between sensorimotor (hearing, vision, mobility) and cognitive processes (e.g., attention, memory) is often observed to be greater in late life than in young and middle adulthood. Empirical observations reflecting this developmental trend include cross‐sectional and longitudinal correlational, experimental, neuroimaging, and intervention studies. Theoretical explanations vary in the directionality of the influence between peripheral limitations (sensory/sensorimotor declines) and central limitations (higher level cognitive declines). The implications of such interdependencies are also discussed in terms of assessment and intervention considerations.