bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UNSTEADY MOTION OF POOL FIRE ON SMALL-SCALE BURNER
Authors: GOTODA HIROSHI , SASO YUKO
Published: September 2007

The flame motion of a pool fire on a small-scale burner has been experimentally investigated from the viewpoint of nonlinear dynamics, focusing on the relationship between the flame motion behavior and increasing burner diameter d. Hexane ( C 6 H 14) was used as a liquid fuel in the present study. For small burner diameters of up to d ≈ 10 mm , a stable conical flame was observed. The flame tip of the stable flame began to oscillate at low frequency (approximately 10 Hz) due to the buoyancy-driven hydrodynamic instability when d exceeded 13 mm. With further increase in d, the flame tip oscillation began to exhibit an interesting oscillation mode. These flame motions can be shown quantitatively by drawing an attractor, and evaluated by estimating the correlation dimension Dc. For d ≤ 10 mm , the attractor was a fixed point and Dc was approximately zero. When d reached 13 mm, the attractor became a limit cycle and Dc was estimated to be approximately unity, indicating a periodic motion. With larger burner diameters of up to d ≈ 50 mm , the trajectories of the attractor seemed to be rolled up and Dc approached approximately 2, indicating a quasi-periodic motion. These results indicate that the flame motion of the small-scale pool fire switches from stable to quasi-periodic, throughout periodic with increasing the burner diameter. The present results also show that a nonlinear analysis based on deterministic chaos theory, such as that using the attractor and the correlation dimension, would be a valid method by which to discuss the flame instability issue of the pool fire.
TOWARDS META-SYNTHETIC SUPPORT TO UNSTRUCTURED PROBLEM SOLVING
Authors: TANG XIJIN
Published: September 2007

Decision support system (DSS) aims to provide effective support to solve unstructured, ill-structured or wicked problems as its initial claim in the late 1960s. Great as those technology achievements, "people problems" are key reasons of unimplemented goals of DSS, and sometimes increase uncertainties to decision making process. Meta-synthesis system approach (MSA) is oriented to complexities in those problems. In this paper, we adopt a paradigm of decision making in a DSS context, which emphasizes the synthesis of perspectives towards problems description and analysis, to explain the meta-synthetic support to unstructured problem solving. After very brief introduction of basic ideas of MSA and its testbed, Hall of Workshop on Meta-Synthetic Engineering (HWMSE), which is regarded as a knowledge creating ba, we address computerized supports to expose problem structure by collaborative activities for qualitative meta-synthesis. A practical tool and its visualization of humans' ideas are introduced.
TOPOCHEMICAL MODELS FOR THE PREDICTION OF LIPOPHILICITY OF 1,3-DISUBSTITUTED PROPAN-2-ONE ANALOGS
Authors: DUREJA HARISH , KUMAR VIPIN , GUPTA SUNIL , MADAN ANIL KUMAR
Published: September 2007

In the present study, the relationship between the topochemical indices and log P values of 1,3-disubstituted propan-2-one analogs has been investigated. Three topochemical indices, Wiener's topochemical index — a distance-based topochemical descriptor, molecular connectivity topochemical index — an adjacency-based topochemical descriptor, and eccentric connectivity topochemical index — an adjacency-cum-distance-based topochemical descriptor, were used for the present investigation. The values of the Wiener's topochemical index, molecular connectivity topochemical index, and eccentric connectivity topochemical index were computed for each of the 45 analogs constituting the data set using an in-house computer program. The predicted log P values using leave-one-out (LOO) procedure exhibited a q2 of 0.72, 0.70, and 0.71 with reported log P values for Wiener's topochemical index, molecular connectivity topochemical index, and eccentric connectivity topochemical index, respectively. Separate models were developed using training set and log P of each analog in the independent test set was predicted using these models. The correlation of predicted log P values with the reported values, for independent test set, were in good agreement with those predicted using LOO procedure.
ON THE DIAGONALIZATION OF HERMITIAN MATRICES, AND ITS USE TO CALCULATE THE HÜCKEL ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF LARGE CARBON NANOTUBES
Authors: COLLADO J. R. ALVAREZ
Published: September 2007

In this paper, a method for calculating all the Hückel molecular orbitals (MO) of large (16.000 atoms) carbon zigzag nanotubes is presented. These MO have been obtained by combining the singular value decomposition (SVD), the Sylvester–Hadamard transform, and the theory of Hamiltonian–Symplectic matrices. Numerical diagonalization of hermitian matrices is reviewed and improved. A new, more advantageous, (tri-diagonal) algorithm is proposed and analyzed. The reactivity of the atoms is described by calculating their free valence indices.
THE H2NO POTENTIAL ENERGY SURFACE EXPLORED WITH HIGH LEVEL AB INITIO AND DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY METHODS
Authors: JALBOUT ABRAHAM F.
Published: September 2007

The transition states for the H 2 NO decomposition and rearrangements mechanisms have been explored by the CBS-Q method or by density functional theory. Six transition states were located on the potential energy surface, which were explored with the Quadratic Complete Basis Set (CBS-Q) and Becke's one-parameter density functional hybrid methods. Interesting deviations between the CBS-Q results and the B1LYP density functional theory lead us to believe that further study into this system is necessary. In the efforts to further assess the stabilities of the transition states, bond order calculations were performed to measure the strength of the bonds in the transition state.
HYDRATION AND DISSOCIATION OF CALCIUM HYDROXIDE IN WATER CLUSTERS: A QUANTUM CHEMICAL STUDY
Authors: MEN CLARA JIAYUN , TAO FU-MING
Published: September 2007

The structure, stability, and properties of the hydrated clusters of calcium hydroxide, Ca ( OH )2( H2O )n, n = 1–6, were investigated using density functional and ab initio quantum chemical methods. The results show that six water molecules are needed to result in the complete dissociation of Ca ( OH )2. The stable and ionic conformer of Ca ( OH )2( H2O )6has C3symmetry. Its surprising stability and high IR activity render hydrated clusters of Ca ( OH )2potentially significant in the nucleation of noctilucent clouds in the mesosphere. Trends in the interaction energies (ΔEe) of the complexes show that water molecules in the first shell of Ca2+are highly stable, further alluding to the role of hydrated Ca ( OH )2in aerosol formation.
AN ONIOM STUDY ON THE CROSSLINKED BASE PAIRS IN DNA REACTED WITH CHLOROETHYLNITROSOUREAS
Authors: ZHAO LIJIAO , ZHONG RUGANG , ZHEN YAN
Published: September 2007

Chloroethylnitrosoureas (CENUs) are clinically useful anticancer agents. Their cytotoxicity is associated with the generation of DNA interstrand crosslinks. QM/MM computations are carried out to investigate DNA crosslinks by CENUs with ONIOM hybrid method. The crosslinked DNA are subdivided into three layers, each of which are described at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p), AM1, and UFF level of theory, respectively. The result shows that the deformation of DNA with dG ( N 1)– dC ( N 3) crosslink is much less than the other crosslinks, which indicate that the most favorable crosslink is between the N1 atom of guanine and the N3 atom of the complementary cytosine.
POPULAR DCT MODELS
Authors: NADARAJAH SARALEES , KOTZ SAMUEL
Published: September 2007

It is well known that the distribution of the discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients of most natural images follows a Laplace distribution. In this note, using a Bayesian approach, we derive two popular models for the distribution of the actual DCT coefficient. We illustrate the superior performance of these models over the standard Laplace model.
HIGHER-DENSITY DUAL TREE DISCRETE WAVELET TRANSFORM
Authors: PENG LIZHONG , YUAN WEITAO
Published: September 2007

This paper introduces the higher-density dual-tree (HDDT) discrete wavelet transform (DWT). A new MRA is introduced to describe higher-density DWT and used to obtain the sufficient condition for the HDDT Hilbert transform pair. In designing HDDT filters we use the extended common-factor method which not only includes the common-factor method but also provides exact linear phase bi-frame filters. Both HDDT tight frame and bi-frame (anti)symmetric filter design methods are given. At last, the results of denoising experiments by our newly designed HDDT filters in this paper prove the effectiveness of higher-density dual-tree DWT in the application of image processing.
The revetment of rock slopes in the Clevedon Hills for the M5 motorway
Authors: Eyre W. A.
Published: September 2007

1. Introduction

The route of the M5 Motorway passes to the west of Bristol, crossing the River Avon just upstream from the docks at Avonmouth. The line ultimately chosen west of the river gradually ascends the 300–400 ft (109–182 m) high Carboniferous Limestone hills of the Tickenham Ridge. The motorway passes over the crest of the hill through the Court Hill saddle at 243 ft (74·06 m) OD. Climbing the hillside the road is in a cutting with a maximum face of 100 ft (30·48 m).

At the western end of this ridge and towards the head of the Gordano Valley is a steep north facing scarp where the Carboniferous Limestone has been thrust northwards over the less resistant Pennant Series which in this area is dominantly sandstone. For a length of about 8000 ft (2438 m) between Wynhol Farm and Hill Lane the line follows the exposure of the thrust fault requiring the construction of retaining walls and other measures to revet the rock faces in both the Pennant Series and Carboniferous Limestone and to deal with cavities, fissures and problems arising from the jointing. Over the major part of this length the dip was into the hillside and the limestone was massive, but the faulting.

At the time of the preliminary feasibility soil survey in 1961, the alignment of the route was up to 1000 ft (305 m) south of the line ultimately adopted and it was not anticipated that this line sandstone was badly disturbed and brecciated
The investigation of and remedial works for unstable slopes beside the A40 Trunk Road near Monmouth
Authors: Early K. R.
Published: September 2007

The A40 improvement between Whitchurch and Monmouth entailed the construction of a dual carriageway road with trunk road standards from Ganerew Bridge at about 300 ft above N.D. down a steep sidelong slope beside the river Wye to the flood plain level of the Wye at about 60 ft above N.D. The course of the road approximates to the strike of the rocks which have an easterly dip of about 30° into the Wye valley and which consist of sandstone with subordinate mudstones of the Devonian Brownstones Group. The mudstones have marked clay mineral orientation parallel to the bedding which makes them particularly susceptible to bedding slips. In a length of cut on the up-dip side of the road near Ganerew slips occurred, were investigated, and successful remedial measures were designed and applied. On the sidelong slopes opposite the Wye the road had to cross three ancient landslips involving considerable cut and fill. The fill on one slip at Chapel Farm resulted in reactivation of the entire slipped mass and the ultimate destruction of the farm. On another, the Whipping Green Slip, the intercarriageway cut failed repeatedly. The geometry and piezometric condition of all the slips were investigated thoroughly and remedial measures were prescribed. These involved counterforts, lightweight embankments, and a large berm at the toe of Chapel Farm slip, below which sand drains had to be employed in the Wye alluvium. The object of these remedial measures was to at least restore if not improve the original Factor of Safety which was marginally > 1. Above the road there is a large area of partly slipped rock which it was decided to leave subject to the installation of a permanent monitoring installation. The installation of the monitoring devices is taking place this year.
Slope stability on the Bougainville Copper Project, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Baumer A. , Searle P. J. , Tillmann V. H.
Published: September 2007

During the evaluation and construction stages of the Bougainville Copper Project, intensive engineering geological and rock mechanical investigations were carried out to provide slope design information initially for the assessment of the economic feasibility, and later for the operation, of the mine and its facilities. This paper describes the nature and background of these investigations, the problems that have been encountered and the current studies.
The Argentine Ant: Challenges in Managing an Invasive Unicolonial Pest
Authors: Silverman Jules , Brightwell Robert John
Published: September 2007

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, has invaded urban, agricultural, and natural habitats worldwide, causing economic damage and disrupting ecosystem processes. Introduced populations of L. humile and those of many other invasive ants tend to be unicolonial, forming expansive, multiqueened supercolonies that dominate native ant communities and challenge control practices in managed habitats. Argentine ant management typically entails the application of residual insecticide liquids, granules, or baits to only a portion of the colony, resulting in fairly rapid reinfestation. We suggest that prevailing control methodologies are incomplete and not compatible with the behavior, nesting habits, and population structure of this ant, and therefore, more aggressive management strategies are required. Successful eradication efforts against other invasive unicolonial ant species can provide useful insights for local-scale L. humile eradication.
Combining Technology Mapping With Layout
Authors: Pedram Massoud , Bhat Narasimha , Kuh Ernest S.
Published: September 2007

Due to the significant contribution of interconnect to the area and speed of today′s circuits
and the technological trend toward smaller and faster gates which will make the effects of
interconnect even more substantial, interconnect optimization must be performed during all
phases of the design. The premise of this paper is that by increasing the interaction between
logic synthesis and physical design, circuits with smaller area and interconnection length,
and improved performance and routability can be obtained compared to when the two processes
are done separately. In particular, this paper describes an integrated approach to
technology mapping and physical design which finds solutions in both domains of design
representation simultaneously and interactively. The two processes are performed in lockstep:
technology mapping takes advantage of detailed information about the interconnect
delays and the layout cost of various optimization alternatives; placement itself is guided by
the evolving logic structure and accurate path‐based delay traces. Using these techniques,
circuits with smaller area and higher performance have been synthesized.
On Ensuring Multilayer Wirability by Stretching Layouts
Authors: Gonzalez Teofilo F. , Zheng Si-Qing
Published: September 2007

Every knock‐knee layout is four‐layer wirable. However, there are knock‐knee layouts
that cannot be wired in less than four layers. While it is easy to determine whether a
knock‐knee layout is one‐layer wirable or two‐layer wirable, the problem of determining
three‐layer wirability of knock‐knee layouts is NP‐complete. A knock‐knee layout may
be stretched vertically (horizontally) by introducing empty rows (columns) so that it can
be wired in fewer than four layers. In this paper we discuss two different types of
stretching schemes. It is known that under these two stretching schemes, any knock‐knee
layout is three‐layer wirable by stretching it up to (4/3) of the knock‐knee layout
area (upper bound). We show that there are knock‐knee layouts that when stretched
and wired in three layers under scheme I (II) require at least 1.2 (1.07563) of the original
layout area. Our lower bound for the area increase factor can be used to guide the
search for effective stretching‐based dynamic programming three‐layer wiring algorithms
similar to the one presented in [8].
Comparison of Non‐Parabolic Hydrodynamic ModelsBased On Different Band Structure Models
Authors: Smith Arlynn W. , Brennan Kevin F.
Published: September 2007

This paper presents two non‐parabolic hydrodynamic model formulations suitable for the
simulation of inhomogeneous semiconductor devices. The first formulation uses the Kane
dispersion relationship, (ℏk)2/2m = W(1+αW). The second formulation makes use of a power law, (ℏk)2/2m = xWy, for the dispersion relation. The non‐parabolicity and energy range of the hydrodynamic model based on the Kane dispersion relation is limited. The power law formulation produces closed form coefficients similar to those under the parabolic band approximation
but the carrier concentration can deviate. An extended power law dispersion relation
is proposed to account for band structure effects, (ℏk)2/2m = xW1+yW. This dispersion relation closely matches the calculated band structure over a wide energy range and may lead to
closed form coefficients for the hydrodynamic model.
Advanced Numerical Methods and Software Approachesfor Semiconductor Device Simulation
Authors: Carey Graham F. , Pardhanani A. L. , Bova S. W.
Published: September 2007

In this article we concisely present several modern strategies that are applicable to driftdominated
carrier transport in higher‐order deterministic models such as the driftdiffusion,
hydrodynamic, and quantum hydrodynamic systems. The approaches include
extensions of “upwind” and artificial dissipation schemes, generalization of the traditional
Scharfetter – Gummel approach, Petrov – Galerkin and streamline‐upwind Petrov
Galerkin (SUPG), “entropy” variables, transformations, least‐squares mixed methods
and other stabilized Galerkin schemes such as Galerkin least squares and discontinuous
Galerkin schemes. The treatment is representative rather than an exhaustive
review and several schemes are mentioned only briefly with appropriate reference
to the literature. Some of the methods have been applied to the semiconductor device
problem while others are still in the early stages of development for this class of applications.
We have included numerical examples from our recent research tests with
some of the methods. A second aspect of the work deals with algorithms that employ
unstructured grids in conjunction with adaptive refinement strategies. The full benefits
of such approaches have not yet been developed in this application area and we
emphasize the need for further work on analysis, data structures and software to
support adaptivity. Finally, we briefly consider some aspects of software frameworks.
These include dial‐an‐operator approaches such as that used in the industrial simulator
PROPHET, and object‐oriented software support such as those in the SANDIA
National Laboratory framework SIERRA.
Moment Equations with Maximum Entropy Closurefor Carrier Transport in Semiconductor Devices:Validation in Bulk Silicon
Authors: Anile A. M. , Muscato O. , Romano V.
Published: September 2007

Balance equations based on the moment method for the transport of electrons in silicon
semiconductors are presented. The energy band is assumed to be described by the Kane
dispersion relation. The closure relations have been obtained by employing the maximum
entropy principle.

The validity of the constitutive equations for fluxes and production terms of the
balance equations has been checked with a comparison to detailed Monte Carlo
simulations in the case of bulk silicon.
Isolation and Molecular Profiling of Bone Marrow Micrometastases Identifies TWIST1 as a Marker of Early Tumor Relapse in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Watson Mark A. , Ylagan Lourdes R. , Trinkaus Kathryn M. , Gillanders William E. , Naughton Michael J. , Weilbaecher Katherine N. , Fleming Timothy P. , Aft Rebecca L.
Published: September 2007

Purpose: Micrometastatic cells detected in the bone marrow have prognostic significance in breast cancer. These cells are heterogeneous and likely do not exhibit uniform biological behavior. To understand the molecular diversity of disseminated cancer cells that reside in bone marrow, we enriched this cell population and did global gene expression profiling in the context of a prospective clinical trial involving women with clinical stage II/III breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Experimental Design: Enrichment of TACSTD1 (EpCAM)–expressing cells from bone marrow of breast cancer patients was achieved using immunomagnetic beads. Gene expression profiles were compared between enriched cell populations and whole bone marrow from 5 normal volunteers and 23 breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment. Enriched cells from bone marrow samples of breast cancer patients before treatment or at 1 year follow-up were also analyzed (total of 87 data sets). The expression of transcripts specifically detected in enriched cell populations from breast cancer patients was correlated with 1-year clinical outcome using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in an independent cohort of bone marrow samples.

Results: Analysis of EpCAM-enriched bone marrow cells revealed specific expression of a subgroup of transcripts, including the metastasis regulator, TWIST1. Most transcripts identified, including TWIST1, were not expressed in enriched populations of bone marrow from normal volunteers, suggesting that this expression profile reflects a signature of breast cancer bone marrow micrometastases that persist after chemotherapy. In an independent set of bone marrow samples obtained before any treatment, TWIST1 expression correlated with early disease relapse.

Conclusions: Disseminated breast cancer cells present in bone marrow after chemotherapy possess unique transcriptional signatures. Genes whose expression is overrepresented in these cell populations, such as TWIST1, may prove to be excellent markers of early distant relapse in breast cancer patients.
Deletion of a Small Consensus Region at 6q15, Including theMAP3K7Gene, Is Significantly Associated with High-Grade Prostate Cancers
Authors: Liu Wennuan , Chang Bao-Li , Cramer Scott , Koty Patrick P. , Li Tao , Sun Jishan , Turner Aubrey R. , Von Kap-Herr Chris , Bobby Peggy , Rao Jianyu , Zheng S. Lilly , Isaacs William B. , Xu Jianfeng
Published: September 2007

Purpose: Chromosome 6q14-21 is commonly deleted in prostate cancers, occurring in ∼22% of all tumors and ∼40% of metastatic tumors. However, candidate prostate tumor suppressor genes in this region have not been identified, in part due to the large and broad nature of the deleted region implicated in previous studies.

Experimental Design: We first used high-resolution Affymetrix single nucleotide polymorphism arrays to examine DNA from malignant and matched nonmalignant cells from 55 prostate cancer patients. We identified a small consensus region on 6q14-21 and evaluated the deletion status within the region among additional 40 tumors and normal pairs using quantitative PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization. We finally tested the association between the deletion and Gleason score using the Fisher's exact test.

Results: Tumors with small, interstitial deletions at 6q14-21 defined an 817-kb consensus region that is affected in 20 of 21 tumors. The MAP3K7 gene is one of five genes located in this region. In total, MAP3K7 was deleted in 32% of 95 tumors. Importantly, deletion of MAP3K7 was highly associated with higher-grade disease, occurring in 61% of tumors with Gleason score ≥8 compared with only 22% of tumors with Gleason score ≤7. The difference was highly significant (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Our study provides strong evidence for the first time that a small deletion at 6q15, including the MAP3K7 gene and four other genes, is associated with high-grade prostate cancers. Although the deletion may be a marker for high-grade prostate cancer, additional studies are needed to understand its molecular mechanisms.
Significance of HER2 Low-Level Copy Gain in Barrett's Cancer: Implications for Fluorescence In situ Hybridization Testing in Tissues
Authors: Rauser Sandra , Weis Roland , Braselmann Herbert , Feith Marcus , Stein Hubert J. , Langer Rupert , Hutzler Peter , Hausmann Michael , Lassmann Silke , Siewert Jörg Rüdiger , Höfler Heinz , Werner Martin , Walch Axel
Published: September 2007

Purpose: HER2 may be a relevant biomarker in Barrett's cancer. We compared three HER2 laboratory methods, standard fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), image-based three-dimensional FISH in thick (16 μm) sections, and immunohistochemistry, to predict patient outcome.

Experimental Design: Tissue microarray sections from 124 Barrett's cancer patients were analyzed by standard FISH on thin (4 μm) sections and by image-based three-dimensional FISH on thick (16 μm) sections for HER2 and chromosome-17, as well for p185HER2 by immunohistochemistry. Correlations with clinical and follow-up data were examined.

Results: Only three-dimensional FISH on thick (16 μm) sections revealed HER2 gene copy gain to be associated with increased disease-specific mortality (relative risk, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-4.26; P = 0.033). In contrast, standard FISH on thin (4 μm) sections and immunohistochemistry failed to predict clinical outcome. Low-level gain of HER2 occurred frequently in Barrett's cancer (≥2.5-4.0 HER2 copies, 59.7%; HER2-to-chromosome-17 ratio, ≥1.1-2.0; 61.2%) and defined a subpopulation for patient outcome as unfavorable as HER2 gene amplification [disease-free survival, P = 0.017 (HER2 copies)]. This low-level group was neither definable by standard FISH nor immunohistochemistry. No prognostic significance was found for chromosome-17 aneusomy.

Conclusions: Low-level copy gains of HER2 define a biologically distinct subpopulation of Barrett's cancer patients. Importantly, these subtle copy number changes are not reliably detected by standard FISH in thin (4 μm) tissue sections, highlighting a thus far unrecognized weakness in HER2 FISH testing. These results should be taken into account for accurate evaluation of biomarkers by FISH and for HER2 FISH testing in tissue sections.
Augmented HER-2–Specific Immunity during Treatment with Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy
Authors: Taylor Clare , Hershman Dawn , Shah Nina , Suciu-Foca Nicole , Petrylak Dan P. , Taub Robert , Vahdat Linda , Cheng Bin , Pegram Mark , Knutson Keith L. , Clynes Raphael
Published: September 2007

Purpose: Passive immunotherapy with antitumor antibodies has the potential to induce active tumor immunity via the opsonic enhancement of immunogenicity of tumor antigen. We have assessed whether immune sensitization to the HER-2/neu tumor antigen occurs during treatment with the anti-HER-2/neu monoclonal antibody trastuzumab.

Experimental Design: Twenty-seven patients treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy were assessed for the induction of HER-2/neu–specific immunity. Sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained before and after trastuzumab therapy were compared for the presence of anti-HER-2/neu endogenous Igλ antibodies and HER-2/neu–specific CD4 responses by ELISA and enzyme-linked immunospot, respectively.

Results: Anti-HER-2/neu antibodies were detectable in 8 of 27 (29%) patients before trastuzumab treatment and in 15 of 27 (56%) patients during trastuzumab treatment. In the overall study population, anti-HER-2/neu humoral responses significantly increased during therapy (P < 0.001) and were not associated with development of an anti-idiotypic response. In 10 evaluable individuals, 6 showed augmented HER-2/neu–specific CD4 T-cell responses during therapy. Of the 22 individuals treated for metastatic disease, those patients showing objective clinical responses exhibited more frequent (P = 0.004) and larger (P = 0.006) treatment-associated anti-HER-2/neu humoral responses.

Conclusion: Humoral immune sensitization occurs during treatment with chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether augmented anti-HER-2/neu humoral and cellular immunity contributes mechanistically to clinical outcome.
The Intestinotrophic Peptide, GLP-2, Counteracts Intestinal Atrophy in Mice Induced by the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor, Gefitinib
Authors: Hare Kristine Juul , Hartmann Bolette , Kissow Hannelouise , Holst Jens Juul , Poulsen Steen Seier
Published: September 2007

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been introduced as antitumor agents in the treatment of cancers overexpressing the receptor. The treatment has gastrointestinal side effects which may decrease patient compliance and limit the efficacy. Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is an intestinal hormone with potent intestinotrophic properties and therapeutic potential in disorders with compromised intestinal capacity. The growth stimulation is highly specific to the gastrointestinal tract, and no effects are observed elsewhere. The aim of this study was to examine whether the inhibition of the EGFR induces intestinal atrophy and if this can be counteracted by treatment with GLP-2.

Experimental Design: Mice were treated for 10 days with either gefitinib orally, GLP-2 as injections, or a combination of both. After sacrifice, the weight and length of the segments of the gastrointestinal tract were determined, and histologic sections were analyzed by morphometric methods.

Results: A significant atrophy of the small-intestinal wall was observed after treatment with gefitinib because both intestinal weight and morphometrically estimated villus height and cross-sectional area were decreased. The same parameters were increased by GLP-2 treatment alone, and when GLP-2 was combined with the gefitinib treatment, the parameters remained unchanged.

Conclusions: Treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor in mice results in small-intestinal growth inhibition that can be completely prevented by simultaneous treatment with GLP-2. This suggests that the gastrointestinal side effects elicited by treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors can be circumvented by GLP-2 treatment.
Clinical Significance of Serum Mesothelin in Patients with Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
Authors: Cristaudo Alfonso , Foddis Rudy , Vivaldi Agnese , Guglielmi Giovanni , Dipalma Nicola , Filiberti Rosangela , Neri Monica , Ceppi Marcello , Paganuzzi Michela , Ivaldi Gian Paolo , Mencoboni Manlio , Canessa Pier Aldo , Ambrosino Nicolino , Chella Antonio , Mutti Luciano , Puntoni Riccardo
Published: September 2007

Purpose: High levels of serum-soluble mesothelin family proteins (SMRP) have been found to be associated with malignant mesothelioma (MM), but not lung cancer (LC). To verify the clinical role of this marker for both these tumors, we tested serum SMRP in the largest population of thoracic cancers ever assembled.

Experimental Design: SMRP blood concentrations were measured in 107 patients with MM, 215 patients with LC, 130 patients with benign respiratory diseases (BRD), and 262 controls. Statistical comparison between mean serum SMRP levels in all groups was done and receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to evaluate the performance of this marker.

Results: SMRP levels were significantly higher in patients with MM and LC than in patients with benign respiratory diseases and controls (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for serum SMRP discriminating MM and controls was 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.83), with a best cutoff of 1.00 nmol/L (sensitivity, 68.2%; specificity, 80.5%). In both MM and LC, serum SMRP levels did not differ significantly between early and late stages. High SMRP levels proved to be an independent negative prognostic factor in patients with MM.

Conclusions: Our data confirm that serum SMRP is a promising marker for the diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical monitoring of MM. We found that serum SMRP dosage may prove helpful in LC diagnosis as well. These data may also have positive repercussions on secondary preventive medical strategies for workers previously exposed to asbestos.
Computer Graphic—Aesthetic Experiments between Two Cultures
Authors: Klütsch Christoph
Published: September 2007

The author presents a summary of his research on the Stuttgart School and information aesthetics as developed by Max Bense in the 1950s and 1960s. Three artists, Frieder Nake, Georg Nees and Manfred Mohr, adopted the use of information aesthetics in computer graphics. The author investigates the relation between artistic practice and aesthetic theory.
Disability, Technology, and Compromises With Reality
Authors: Fleischer Doris Zames
Published: September 2007

Because of New York City's proximity to water, edifices were built with one step as a barrier to potential flooding. The increase in the disability population made it evident that this step formed a barrier to people who could not negotiate level changes, especially those in wheelchairs and motorized scooters. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that new construction be accessible to people with disabilities and that older buildings be altered when such accessibility is “readily achievable.” The problem is that except for people with disabilities filing legal complaints when the ADA is violated, there is no other enforcement mechanism. Also, New York City's narrow streets allow too little space for compliant ramps. This article describes how disability activists and government representatives created a model for accessibility that allowed for informal agreements and solutions that, although not always strictly compliant with the law, served the actual needs of the disability population.
Conceptualizations of Nature From Science Students in Northeastern Colombia
Authors: Medina-Jerez William
Published: September 2007

The purpose of this study was to explore rural and provincial students' conceptualizations of nature in Colombia alongside the science education offered in their school communities. Students' perceptions of nature were produced from interviews that revolved around a focusing event and two eliciting devices to document their views about home, school science, and nature. Eighteen students from two urban and one provincial school communities were invited to participate in an interview. An anthropological approach to education allowed for case descriptions in urban and provincial settings in a northeastern region of Colombia, South America. The findings specifically reflect how multiple worldviews correlate with the framework of school science.
The Speed Death of the Eye: The Ideology of Hollywood Film Special Effects
Authors: Blackmore Tim
Published: September 2007

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, increased computing power has made possible extraordinary leaps in film special effects. This article argues that special effects developed since the beginning of digital animation, when coupled with standard editing room techniques (jump cuts, cutaways), have brought us to an era where the eye cannot keep pace with on-screen events. It is arguable that video gamers are best equipped to handle the visual overload produced by action films' effects. The article enumerates a series of techniques used in current action films to bring about visual excess that has an upsetting, exciting, overwhelming somatic effect on the viewer; these same effects are indispensable for the success of contemporary blockbuster action movies. Following theorist Paul Virilio's arguments, this article suggests that a machine ideology drives the perceptual system to dizzying limits, resulting in the “speed death of the eye.”
The Knowledge Bluff
Authors: Vanderburg Willem H.
Published: September 2007

Our knowledge “system” is built up from disciplines and specialties as its components, which are “wired” by patterns of collaboration that constitute its organization. The intellectual autonomy of these components prevents this knowledge system from adequately accounting for what we have gradually discovered during the past 50 years: In human life, society, and the biosphere, everything is related to everything else. It has also created a dual mode of knowing and doing, one embedded in experience and culture and the other separated from them. It is becoming increasingly evident that the lacunae in our knowledge system are directly related to the challenges faced by our civilization. This article outlines a proposal to begin delimiting these lacunae by inserting new components on the basis of roundtables into the knowledge system.
Managing the Toll of Stripping
Authors: Barton Bernadette
Published: September 2007

This article examines three psychospatial boundary-setting strategies exotic dancers rely on to manage the difficulties of working in strip bars: what the author elaborates as the “toll” of stripping. These include setting personal rules, “othering” of fellow performers, and creating a dancer persona. Dancers set rules to personally determine the amount of sexual and emotional contact they are willing to have with customers to prevent workplace exploitation and manage the toll of stripping. Othering involves constructing oneself as superior to one's peers, and the dancer persona provides an internal boundary that separates the “authentic” from the stripper self.
Acting in the Public Interest? Another Look at Research on Nonprofit Governance
Authors: Stone Melissa M. , Ostrower Francie
Published: September 2007

This article begins to fill gaps that currently exist between research on the governance of nonprofit organizations and research on public governance and focuses on how nonprofit governance research can benefit from insights in the public governance literature. As boundaries between nonprofit governance and public governance are increasingly fluid, our theoretical understanding as well as our empirical work on governance must expand to encompass these new relationships. The article summarizes the extant empirical literature on nonprofit governance and compares this research to emerging work on public governance. Drawing on this literature, the article specifically calls for research on nonprofit governance that (a) gives greater attention to the links between organizational governance and the public interest, (b) incorporates a broader view of governance as a process engaging multiple actors and taking place at multiple levels, and (c) links governance to accountability for results.
Factors Explaining the Rating of Microfinance Institutions
Authors: Gutiérrez-Nieto Begoña , Serrano-Cinca Carlos
Published: September 2007

The growing relevance of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) has led to the development of specialized MFI rating agencies that perform global risk assessments. In this article, the authors have conjectured different hypotheses pertaining to the relationship between financial and social indicators and the ratings assigned. The authors tested the hypotheses empirically by using MFIs' accounting information and ratings from a leading agency. As expected, the larger, more profitable, more productive, and less risky MFIs achieved better ratings. This proves the usefulness of MFIs' ratings for providers of funds. In contrast, the authors did not observe any relationship between social performance and rating. Given MFIs' important social mission, agencies should develop ratings that accurately reflect the achievement of social goals.
The Value of Volunteering for a Nonprofit Membership Association: The Case of ARNOVA
Authors: Mook Laurie , Handy Femida , Ginieniewicz Jorge , Quarter Jack
Published: September 2007

Although research indicates that volunteer labor is of significant value to many nonprofit organizations, this value is generally not included in the organization's financial accounting statements. This study discusses the value added to nonprofit membership organizations of the volunteering done by its members. It uses an exploratory case study of the Association for Research on Nonprofits Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) to demonstrate how volunteer labor is valued and presented within a social accounting framework by utilizing the Expanded Value Added Statement. This is followed by discussion of some of the benefits and limitations of such a method and policy implications.
The Relativity of Foundation Effectiveness: The Case of Community Foundations
Authors: Ostrower Francie
Published: September 2007

This article proposes that efforts to understand and achieve greater foundation effectiveness would be advanced by expanding the discussion to be more attuned to the relative and context-dependent nature of effectiveness. It illustrates this point through an analysis of community foundation effectiveness and comparisons of community foundations with private foundations. The findings show that effectiveness does not—and cannot—mean the same thing for community and private foundations because of their different contexts. The article further proposes that community foundations would strengthen their ability to address current challenges by developing a clearer and more realistic definition of effectiveness rooted in their distinctive mission and community context. The article is based on survey data from 236 community foundations and 853 private ones and interviews with chief executive officers and trustees of 21 community foundations.
Certainty and speculation in news reporting of the future: the execution of Timothy McVeigh
Authors: Jaworski Adam , Fitzgerald Richard , Morris Deborah
Published: September 2007

This article explores the temporal organization and manipulation of time in the production and presentation of news reports. Time is often cited as one of the most central organizing concepts of news production; indeed one of the major features of news reporting is the breaking of stories and the reporting of events `as they happen'. However, whilst much emphasis is placed upon time within media production, much of this pertains to the reporting of past and present events rather than the reporting of the future. This article explores the future within news reporting through an examination of sequential events leading up to a main scheduled newsworthy event: the execution of Timothy McVeigh. It analyses how the production of `news' utilizes the future by relying upon prediction and speculation about what will happen and examines: (i) how news can be seen to depend to a large degree on uncertainty for its value; (ii) the use of time frames within media reporting; and (iii) the way time is manipulated in the service of the recency and immediacy of news reporting.
Gene analogue finder: a GRID solution for finding functionally analogous gene products
Authors: Tulipano Angelica , Donvito Giacinto , Licciulli Flavio , Maggi Giorgio , Gisel Andreas
Published: September 2007

Background

To date more than 2,1 million gene products from more than 100000 different species have been described specifying their function, the processes they are involved in and their cellular localization using a very well defined and structured vocabulary, the gene ontology (GO). Such vast, well defined knowledge opens the possibility of compare gene products at the level of functionality, finding gene products which have a similar function or are involved in similar biological processes without relying on the conventional sequence similarity approach. Comparisons within such a large space of knowledge are highly data and computing intensive. For this reason this project was based upon the use of the computational GRID, a technology offering large computing and storage resources.

Results

We have developed a tool, GEN e AnaloG ue FIN dE r (ENGINE) that parallelizes the search process and distributes the calculation and data over the computational GRID, splitting the process into many sub-processes and joining the calculation and the data on the same machine and therefore completing the whole search in about 3 days instead of occupying one single machine for more than 5 CPU years. The results of the functional comparison contain potential functional analogues for more than 79000 gene products from the most important species. 46% of the analyzed gene products are well enough described for such an analysis to individuate functional analogues, such as well-known members of the same gene family, or gene products with similar functions which would never have been associated by standard methods.

Conclusion

ENGINE has produced a list of potential functionally analogous relations between gene products within and between species using, in place of the sequence, the gene description of the GO, thus demonstrating the potential of the GO. However, the current limiting factor is the quality of the associations of many gene products from non-model organisms that often have electronic associations, since experimental information is missing. With future improvements of the GO, this limit will be reduced. ENGINE will manifest its power when it is applied to the whole GODB of more than 2,1 million gene products from more than 100000 organisms. The data produced by this search is planed to be available as a supplement to the GO database as soon as we are able to provide regular updates.
3D cell nuclei segmentation based on gradient flow tracking
Authors: Li Gang , Liu Tianming , Tarokh Ashley , Nie Jingxin , Guo Lei , Mara Andrew , Holley Scott , Wong Stephen TC
Published: September 2007

Background

Reliable segmentation of cell nuclei from three dimensional (3D) microscopic images is an important task in many biological studies. We present a novel, fully automated method for the segmentation of cell nuclei from 3D microscopic images. It was designed specifically to segment nuclei in images where the nuclei are closely juxtaposed or touching each other. The segmentation approach has three stages: 1) a gradient diffusion procedure, 2) gradient flow tracking and grouping, and 3) local adaptive thresholding.

Results

Both qualitative and quantitative results on synthesized and original 3D images are provided to demonstrate the performance and generality of the proposed method. Both the over-segmentation and under-segmentation percentages of the proposed method are around 5%. The volume overlap, compared to expert manual segmentation, is consistently over 90%.

Conclusion

The proposed algorithm is able to segment closely juxtaposed or touching cell nuclei obtained from 3D microscopy imaging with reasonable accuracy.