bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans Support Osteoblast Functions and Concurrently Suppress Osteoclasts
Authors: Salbach‐Hirsch Juliane , Ziegler Nicole , Thiele Sylvia , Moeller Stephanie , Schnabelrauch Matthias , Hintze Vera , Scharnweber Dieter , Rauner Martina , Hofbauer Lorenz C.
Published: December 2013

In order to improve bone regeneration, development and evaluation of new adaptive biomaterials is warranted. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as hyaluronan (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) are major extracellular matrix (ECM) components of bone, and display osteogenic properties that are potentially useful for biomaterial applications. Using native and synthetic sulfate‐modified GAGs, we manufactured artificial collagen/GAG ECM (aECMs) coatings, and evaluated how the presence of GAGs and their degree of sulfation affects the differentiation of murine mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts (OB) cultivated on these aECMs. GAG sulfation regulated osteogenesis at all key steps of OB development. Adhesion, but not migration, was diminished by 50% (P < 0.001). Proliferation and metabolic activity were slightly (P < 0.05) and cell death events strongly (P < 0.001) down‐regulated due to a switch from proliferative to matrix synthesis state. When exposed to sulfated GAGs, OB marker genes, such as alkaline phosphatase, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and osteocalcin increased by up to 28‐fold (P < 0.05) and calcium deposition up to 4‐fold (P < 0.05). Furthermore, GAG treatment of OBs suppressed their ability to support osteoclast (OC) differentiation and resorption. In conclusion, GAG sulfation controls bone cell homeostasis by concurrently promoting osteogenesis and suppressing their paracrine support of OC functions, thus displaying a favorable profile on bone remodeling. Whether these cellular properties translate into improved bone regeneration needs to be validated in vivo. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 1101–1111, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Forgiveness, Coping, and Terrorism: Do Tendency to Forgive and Coping Strategies Associate With the Level of Posttraumatic Symptoms of Injured Victims of Terror Attacks?
Authors: Weinberg Michael , Gil Sharon , Gilbar Ora
Published: December 2013

Objective

The study examined the tendency to forgive (self, others, and situations) and coping strategies (problem‐focused, emotion‐focused, and avoidance) among terror attack victims as associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity.

Method

The sample included 108 terror victims who had been injured in terror attacks (mean age 46.23, standard deviation = 11.61; 58.3% male). Participants agreed to undergo assessments of their PTSD symptoms, coping strategies, and tendency to forgive.

Results

A nested structural equation model design showed that tendency to forgive is positively associated with problem‐focused coping and negatively associated with avoidance coping. Additionally, tendency to forgive and problem‐focused coping are associated with decreased PTSD symptom severity, whereas emotion‐focused coping is associated with elevated PTSD symptom severity.

Conclusions

Tendency to forgive and coping strategies are significantly associated with each other and with severity of PTSD symptoms among individuals injured in terror attacks. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Triggers of Fear: Perceptual Cues Versus Conceptual Information in Spider Phobia
Authors: Peperkorn Henrik M. , Alpers Georg W. , Mühlberger Andreas
Published: December 2013

Objective

Fear reactions in spider‐phobic patients can be activated by specific perceptual cues or by conceptual fear‐related information. Matching perceptual fear cues and fear‐related information were expected to result in maximal fear responses, perceptual fear cues alone in less fear, and information alone in the weakest responses.

Method

We used virtual reality to manipulate the available cues and information. Forty‐eight phobic patients and 48 healthy participants were repeatedly exposed to either a perceptual cue, information, or a combination of both.

Results

In conditions with a fear‐relevant perceptual cue, phobic patients reported increased fear compared to the condition with information only. Across exposures trials, these reactions diminished. Skin conductance in phobic patients was significantly higher in the combined than in the cue or the information condition.

Conclusions

Perceptual cues are essential for phobic fear reactions in spider phobia. In combination with fear‐relevant information, perceptual cues activate an intense and persistent fear reaction.
Specific and Nonspecific Psychological Interventions for PTSD Symptoms: A Meta‐Analysis With Problem Complexity as a Moderator
Authors: Gerger Heike , Munder Thomas , Barth Jürgen
Published: December 2013

Context

The necessity of specific intervention components for the successful treatment of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder is the subject of controversy.

Objective

To investigate the complexity of clinical problems as a moderator of relative effects between specific and nonspecific psychological interventions.

Methods

We included 18 randomized controlled trials, directly comparing specific and nonspecific psychological interventions. We conducted moderator analyses, including the complexity of clinical problems as predictor.

Results

Our results have confirmed the moderate superiority of specific over nonspecific psychological interventions; however, the superiority was small in studies with complex clinical problems and large in studies with noncomplex clinical problems.

Conclusions

For patients with complex clinical problems, our results suggest that particular nonspecific psychological interventions may be offered as an alternative to specific psychological interventions. In contrast, for patients with noncomplex clinical problems, specific psychological interventions are the best treatment option.
On modelling electrets and piezoelectric actuators
Authors: Bossavit Alain
Published: December 2013

Electrets and piezoelectric components of various actuating devices require to take displacement currents into account, hence a less familiar modelling than in the eddy‐currents case. We review basic formulations and how to discretize them. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Liverpool uveal melanoma liver metastases pathway: Outcome following liver resection
Authors: Gomez D. , Wetherill C. , Cheong J. , Jones L. , Marshall E. , Damato B. , Coupland S.E. , Ghaneh P. , Poston G.J. , Malik H.Z. , Fenwick S.W.
Published: December 2013

Aim

To determine the outcome of patients that underwent liver resection for metastases from uveal melanoma.

Methods

Over a 9‐year period, patients referred with uveal melanoma metastases were included. Following treatment of primary uveal melanoma, high‐risk patients were offered to be enrolled into a 6‐monthly non‐contrast liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surveillance. Following detection of liver metastases, patients were staged with a contrast‐enhanced (Primovist®) liver MRI, computer tomography (CT) of the thorax and staging laparoscopy.

Results

155 patients were referred with uveal melanoma liver metastases, of which 17 (11.0%) patients had liver resection and one patient was treated with percutaneous radio‐frequency ablation. The majority of patients undergoing liver resection were treated with multiple metastectomies (n = 8) and three patients had major liver resections. The overall median survival for patients treated with surgery/ablation was 27 (14–90) months, and this was significantly better compared to patients treated palliatively [median = 8(1–30) months, P < 0.001]. Following surgery, 11 patients had recurrent disease [median = 13(6–36) months]. Patients who had undergone a major liver resection had a significantly poorer disease‐free survival (P = 0.037).

Conclusions

Patients who can undergo surgical resection for metastatic uveal melanoma have a more favorable survival compared to those who do not. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:542–547. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determining the Critical Success Factors of the Wine Tourism Region of Napa from a Supply Perspective
Authors: Jones Marjorie F. , Singh Neha , Hsiung Yvonne
Published: December 2013

Napa is a renowned region for wine tourism and demonstrates how wine can be an instrument to develop tourism. The purpose of this research is to identify the critical success factors that have shaped the area's rise and growth, and its unique competitiveness in both the domestic and global marketplaces for wine tourism destinations. The findings from the research provide the foundation for a proposed conceptual model of success factors in wine tourism research and as insight to practitioners/suppliers. Findings reveal an aligned marketing effort and strategic partnerships among suppliers of Napa wine tourism. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Randomly‐Branched Polymers by Size Exclusion Chromatography with Triple Detection: Computer Simulation Study for Estimating Errors in the Distribution of Molar Mass and Branching Degree
Authors: Clementi Luis A. , Vega Jorge R. , Meira Gregorio R.
Published: December 2013

This article theoretically evaluates the biases introduced into the distributions of molar masses (MMD) and number of long chain branches per molecule (LCBD), when randomly‐branched polymers are analyzed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with molar mass‐sensitive detectors. The MMD of a polymer with tetrafunctional branch units is simulated under ideal SEC, i.e., θ‐solvent, perfect measurements, and perfect fractionation by hydrodynamic volume except for a minor mixing in the detector cells. A negligible bias is introduced into the MMD, even when including band broadening in the columns. In contrast, poor MMD estimates are obtained when the chromatograms are contaminated with additive noise. Only qualitative estimates of the LCBD are possible.
31P MR spectroscopic imaging combined with 1H MR spectroscopic imaging in the human prostate using a double tuned endorectal coil at 7T
Authors: Luttje Mariska P. , Italiaander Michel G. M. , Arteaga de Castro Catalina S. , van der Kemp Wybe J. M. , Luijten Peter R. , van Vulpen Marco , van der Heide Uulke A. , Klomp Dennis W. J.
Published: December 2013

Purpose

Improved diagnostic sensitivity could be obtained in cancer detection and staging when individual compounds of the choline pool can be detected. Therefore, a novel coil design is proposed, providing the ability to acquire both 1H and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) in patients with prostate cancer.

Methods

A two‐element 1H/31P endorectal coil was designed by adjusting a commercially available 3T endorectal coil. The two‐element coil setup was interfaced as a transceiver to a whole body 7T MR scanner. Simulations and phantom measurements were performed to compare the efficiency of the coil. 1H MRSI and 31P MRSI were acquired in vivo in prostate cancer patients.

Results

The efficiency of the 1H/31P coil is comparable to the dual channel 1H coil previously published. Individually distinguishable phospholipid metabolites in the in vivo 31P spectra were: phosphoethanolamine, phosphocholine, phosphate, glycerophosphoethanolamine, glycerophosphocholine, phosphocreatine, and adenosine triposphate. 1H MRSI was performed within the same scan session, visualizing choline, polyamines, creatine, and citrate.

Conclusion

1H MRSI and 31P MRSI can be acquired in the human prostate at 7T within the same scan session using an endorectal coil matched and tuned for 1H (quadrature) and 31P (linear) without the need of cable traps and with negligible efficiency losses in the 1H and 31P channel. Magn Reson Med 72:1516–1521, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Building and Sustaining a Campus‐Wide Multicultural Initiative
Authors: Dodge Georgina , Jarratt Lindsay
Published: December 2013

This chapter summarizes the implementation of a campus‐wide multicultural initiative at a large public Midwestern university, exploring strategies, challenges, and lessons learned.
Spiritual Development as a Social Good
Authors: Hicks Mona , Tran‐Parsons Uyen
Published: December 2013

The skill development of equanimity and empathy gained through spiritual growth equips students to examine solutions to complex problems in a diverse, global society. This chapter explores intentional multicultural initiatives designed to foster spiritual development and interfaith engagement as means to navigate difference and social good.
Neoplastic Reprogramming of Patient-Derived Adipose Stem Cells by Prostate Cancer Cell-Associated Exosomes
Authors: Abd Elmageed Zakaria Y. , Yang Yijun , Thomas Raju , Ranjan Manish , Mondal Debasis , Moroz Krzysztof , Fang Zhide , Rezk Bashir M. , Moparty Krishnarao , Sikka Suresh C. , Sartor Oliver , Abdel-Mageed Asim B.
Published: December 2013

Emerging evidence suggests that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are often recruited to tumor sites but their functional significance in tumor growth and disease progression remains elusive. Herein we report that prostate cancer (PC) cell microenvironment subverts PC patient adipose-derived stem cells (pASCs) to undergo neoplastic transformation. Unlike normal ASCs, the pASCs primed with PC cell conditioned media (CM) formed prostate-like neoplastic lesions in vivo and reproduced aggressive tumors in secondary recipients. The pASC tumors acquired cytogenetic aberrations and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and expressed epithelial, neoplastic, and vasculogenic markers reminiscent of molecular features of PC tumor xenografts. Our mechanistic studies revealed that PC cell-derived exosomes are sufficient to recapitulate formation of prostate tumorigenic mimicry generated by CM-primed pASCs in vivo. In addition to downregulation of the large tumor suppressor homolog2 and the programmed cell death protein 4, a neoplastic transformation inhibitor, the tumorigenic reprogramming of pASCs was associated with trafficking by PC cell-derived exosomes of oncogenic factors, including H-ras and K-ras transcripts, oncomiRNAs miR-125b, miR-130b, and miR-155 as well as the Ras superfamily of GTPases Rab1a, Rab1b, and Rab11a. Our findings implicate a new role for PC cell-derived exosomes in clonal expansion of tumors through neoplastic reprogramming of tumor tropic ASCs in cancer patients. Stem Cells  2014;32:983–997
Defined Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture Enables Highly Efficient Neuroepithelium Derivation Without Small Molecule Inhibitors
Authors: Lippmann Ethan Scott , Estevez-Silva Maria Carolina , Ashton Randolph Scott
Published: December 2013

The embryonic neuroepithelium gives rise to the entire central nervous system in vivo, making it an important tissue for developmental studies and a prospective cell source for regenerative applications. Current protocols for deriving homogenous neuroepithelial cultures from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) consist of either embryoid body-mediated neuralization followed by a manual isolation step or adherent differentiation using small molecule inhibitors. Here, we report that hPSCs maintained under chemically defined, feeder-independent, and xeno-free conditions can be directly differentiated into pure neuroepithelial cultures ([mt]90% Pax6+/N-cadherin+ with widespread rosette formation) within 6 days under adherent conditions, without small molecule inhibitors, and using only minimalistic medium consisting of Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/F-12, sodium bicarbonate, selenium, ascorbic acid, transferrin, and insulin (i.e., E6 medium). Furthermore, we provide evidence that the defined culture conditions enable this high level of neural conversion in contrast to hPSCs maintained on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). In addition, hPSCs previously maintained on MEFs could be rapidly converted to a neural compliant state upon transfer to these defined conditions while still maintaining their ability to generate all three germ layers. Overall, this fully defined and scalable protocol should be broadly useful for generating therapeutic neural cells for regenerative applications. Stem Cells  2014;32:1032–1042
Function of Jam-B/Jam-C Interaction in Homing and Mobilization of Human and Mouse Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Authors: Arcangeli Marie-Laure , Bardin Florence , Frontera Vincent , Bidaut Ghislain , Obrados Elodie , Adams Ralf H. , Chabannon Christian , Aurrand-Lions Michel
Published: December 2013

The junctional adhesion molecules Jam-b and Jam-c interact together at interendothelial junctions and have been involved in the regulation of immune response, inflammation, and leukocyte migration. More recently, Jam-c has been found to be expressed by hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) in mouse. Conversely, we have reported that Jam-b is present on bone marrow stromal cells and that Jam-b-deficient mice have defects in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell pool. In this study, we have addressed whether interaction between Jam-b and Jam-c participates to HSPC mobilization or hematopoietic reconstitution after irradiation. We show that a blocking monoclonal antibody directed against Jam-c inhibits hematopoietic reconstitution, progenitor homing to the bone marrow, and induces HSPC mobilization in a Jam-b dependent manner. In the latter setting, antibody treatment over a period of 3 days does not alter hematopoietic differentiation nor induce leukocytosis. Results are translated to human hematopoietic system in which a functional adhesive interaction between JAM-B and JAM-C is found between human HSPC and mesenchymal stem cells. Such an interaction does not occur between HSPC and human endothelial cells or osteoblasts. It is further shown that anti-JAM-C blocking antibody interferes with CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor homing in mouse bone marrow suggesting that monoclonal antibodies inhibiting JAM-B/JAM-C interaction may represent valuable therapeutic tools to improve stem cell mobilization protocols. Stem Cells  2014;32:1043–1054
Designing SoTL Studies—Part II: Practicality
Authors: Bartsch Robert A.
Published: December 2013

This chapter suggests solutions to common practical problems in designing SoTL studies. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of different types of designs are discussed.
Self‐optimizing neighbor cell list with dynamic threshold for handover purposes in networks with small cells
Authors: Becvar Zdenek , Mach Pavel , Vondra Michal
Published: December 2013

To select a proper target cell for handover of mobile users, signal level of cells in user's neighborhood is scanned by a user equipment (UE). Cells assumed to be scanned are included in the so‐called neighbor cell list (NCL). Conventionally, the NCL is managed according to the probability of handover of users to a target cell with fixed threshold. Nevertheless, the size of NCL could be significant if this approach is applied to networks with small cells. In this paper, we exploit knowledge of handover probability among cells derived from a handover history to reduce the amount of scanned cells. We introduce dynamic adaptation of the amount of cells to be scanned according to the quality of signal of a serving cell, measured by the UE. We also investigate impact of relation between the handover probability and the signal level to maximize efficiency of this approach. Further, the NCL management considering either summarized handover history of all UE or individual history of each user is compared in our evaluations. As the results show, both methods notably reduce the amount of cells to be scanned, while call drop rate and outage of the users are still negligible as in the conventional way. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
General and Acute Care Surgical Procedures in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Arnaoutakis George J. , Bittle Gregory J. , Allen Jeremiah G. , Weiss Eric S. , Alejo Jennifer , Baumgartner William A. , Shah Ashish S. , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Efron David T. , Conte John V.
Published: December 2013

Background

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become common as a bridge to heart transplant as well as destination therapy. Acute care surgical (ACS) problems in this population are prevalent but remain ill‐defined. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with ACS interventions in LVAD patients.

Methods

A total of 173 patients who received HeartMate® XVE or HeartMate® II (HMII) LVADs between December 2001 and March 2010 were studied. Patient demographics, presentation of ACS problem, operative intervention, co‐morbidities, transplantation, complications, and survival were analyzed.

Results

A total of 47 (27 %) patients underwent 67 ACS procedures at a median of 38 days after device implant (interquartile range 15–110), with a peri‐operative mortality rate of 5 % (N = 3). Demographics, device type, and acuity were comparable between the ACS and non‐ACS groups. A total of 21 ACS procedures were performed emergently, eight were urgent, and 38 were elective. Of 29 urgent and emergent procedures, 28 were for abdominal pathology. In eight patients, the cause of the ACS problem was related to LVADs or anticoagulation. Cumulative survival estimates revealed no survival differences if patients underwent ACS procedures (p = 0.17). Among HMII patients, transplantation rates were unaffected by an ACS intervention (p = 0.2).

Conclusions

ACS problems occur frequently in LVAD patients and are not associated with adverse outcomes in HMII patients. The acute care surgeon is an integral member of a comprehensive approach to effective LVAD management.
Reconciling fault-tolerant distributed algorithms and real-time computing
Authors: Moser Heinrich , Schmid Ulrich
Published: December 2013

We present generic transformations, which allow to translate classic fault-tolerant distributed algorithms and their correctness proofs into a real-time distributed computing model (and vice versa). Owing to the non-zero-time, non-preemptible state transitions employed in our real-time model, scheduling and queuing effects (which are inherently abstracted away in classic zero step-time models, sometimes leading to overly optimistic time complexity results) can be accurately modeled. Our results thus make fault-tolerant distributed algorithms amenable to a sound real-time analysis, without sacrificing the wealth of algorithms and correctness proofs established in classic distributed computing research. By means of an example, we demonstrate that real-time algorithms generated by transforming classic algorithms can be competitive even w.r.t. optimal real-time algorithms, despite their comparatively simple real-time analysis.
Phase I study of MLN8237—investigational Aurora A kinase inhibitor—in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Kelly Kevin R. , Shea Thomas C. , Goy André , Berdeja Jesus G. , Reeder Craig B. , McDonagh Kevin T. , Zhou Xiaofei , Danaee Hadi , Liu Hua , Ecsedy Jeffrey A. , Niu Huifeng , Benaim Ely , Padmanabhan Iyer Swaminathan
Published: December 2013

Purpose Amplification or over-expression of the mitotic Aurora A kinase (AAK) has been reported in several heme-lymphatic malignancies. MLN8237 (alisertib) is a novel inhibitor of AAK that is being developed for the treatment of advanced malignancies. The objectives of this phase I study were to establish the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profiles of escalating doses of MLN8237 in patients with relapsed or refractory heme-lymphatic malignancies. Methods Sequential cohorts of patients received MLN8237 orally as either a powder-in-capsule (PIC) or enteric-coated tablet (ECT) formulation. Patients received MLN8237 PIC 25–90 mg for 14 or 21 consecutive days plus 14 or 7 days’ rest, respectively, or MLN8237 ECT, at a starting dose of 40 mg/day once-daily (QD) for 14 days plus 14 days’ rest, all in 28-day cycles. Subsequent cohorts received MLN8237 ECT 30–50 mg twice-daily (BID) for 7 days plus 14 days’ rest in 21-day cycles. Results Fifty-eight patients were enrolled (PIC n = 28, ECT n = 30). The most frequent grade ≥3 drug-related toxicities were neutropenia (45 %), thrombocytopenia (28 %), anemia (19 %), and leukopenia (19 %). The maximum tolerated dose on the ECT 7-day schedule was 50 mg BID. The terminal half-life of MLN8237 was approximately 19 h. Six (13 %) patients achieved partial responses and 13 (28 %) stable disease. Conclusion The recommended phase II dose of MLN8237 ECT is 50 mg BID for 7 days in 21-day cycles, which is currently being evaluated as a single agent in phase II/III trials in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
Regional distribution patterns predict bird occurrence in Mediterranean cropland afforestations
Authors: Carrascal Luis M. , Galván Ismael , Sánchez‐Oliver Juan S. , Rey Benayas José M.
Published: December 2013

Part of the abandoned cropland in Mediterranean landscapes is being subjected to afforestation dominated by pines. Here we simultaneously evaluate the effect of three categories of factors as predictors of the interspecific variation in bird habitat occupancy of fragmented afforestations, namely regional distribution, habitat preferences, and life‐history traits of species. We use the “natural experiment” that highly fragmented pine plantations of central Spain represent due to the prevailing pattern of land ownership of small properties. Many species with marked habitat preferences for woodland habitats were very scarce or were never recorded in this novel habitat within a matrix of deforested agricultural landscape. Interspecific variability in occurrence was mainly explained by regional distribution patterns: occurrence was significantly and positively associated with the proportion of occupied 10 × 10 UTM km squares around the study area, habitat breadth, and population trend of species in the period 1998–2011. It was also positively associated with regional occupancy of mature and large pine plantations. Other predictor variables related to habitat preferences (for woodland, agricultural and urban habitats) or life‐history traits (migratory strategy, body mass, and clutch size) were unrelated to the occurrence of species. Thus, small man‐made pinewood islands funded by the Common Agrarian Policy within a landscape dominated by Mediterranean agricultural habitats only capture widespread and habitat generalist avian species with increasing population trends, not contributing to enhance truly woodland species.
Breast tumor PDXs are genetically plastic and correspond to a subset of aggressive cancers prone to relapse
Authors: du Manoir Stanislas , Orsetti Béatrice , Bras-Gonçalves Rui , Nguyen Tien-Tuan , Lasorsa Laurence , Boissière Florence , Massemin Blandine , Colombo Pierre-Emmanuel , Bibeau Frédéric , Jacot William , Theillet Charles
Published: December 2013

Patient derived xenografts (PDXs) are increasingly appreciated models in cancer research, particularly for preclinical testing, as they reflect the patient's tumor biology more accurately than cancer cell lines. We have established a collection of 20 breast PDXs and characterized their biological and clinical features, as well as their genetic stability. While most PDXs originated from triple negative breast cancers (70%), our collection comprised five ER + cases (25%). Remarkably, the tumors that produced PDXs derived from a subset of aggressive breast cancers with a high proportion of grade 3 tumors and reduced recurrence‐free survival. Consistent with this, we found significant differences between the transcriptomic signatures of tumors that produced a PDX (Take) and those that did not (No Take). The PDXs faithfully recapitulate the histological features of their primary tumors, and retain an excellent conservation of molecular classification assignment and Copy Number Change (CNC). Furthermore, the CNC profiles of different PDXs established from the same tumor overlap significantly. However, a small fraction of CNCs in the primary tumor that correspond to oligoclonal events were gradually lost during sequential passaging, suggesting that the PDXs' genetic structure eventually stabilizes around a dominant clone present in the tumor of origin. Finally, de novo occurring genetic events covering up to 9% of the genome were found in only a minority of the PDXs, showing that PDXs have limited genetic instability. These data show that breast cancer PDXs represent a subset of aggressive tumors prone to relapse, and that despite of an excellent conservation of original features, they remain genetically dynamic elements.
The Colonial State, Migration, and Diasporic Nationhood in Korea
Authors: Kim Jaeeun
Published: December 2013

Studies of European colonialism have long documented how colonial states served as incubators of nationhood, yet the literature has limited its analytic scope largely to the encounters and ethnic mixings that took place within the territorial boundaries of colonies. This article examines a hitherto understudied phenomenon, the colonial state's trans-border engagement with its subjects who left the territorial unit of the colony and its impact on the contested development of diasporic nationhood. My empirical focus is the shifting trajectories of the classification struggles over Korean migrants in Manchuria during Japan's occupation of Korea. I identify the tumultuous and uneven development of specific legal, organizational, and bureaucratic infrastructures that helped the colonial state extend its trans-border reach and define and identify these migrants as “its own,” often against suspicion, sabotage, hostility, and resistance on the part of other states, indigenous populations, or migrants themselves. I argue that the colonial state's extensive and intensive transborder engagement provided a critical institutional scaffolding for the imagined community of the Korean nation, which came to be conceived as transcending the geographical boundary of the colony. This article contributes to the comparative studies of empire, migration, diaspora, and nationhood formation by challenging the prevalent sedentary bias of the existing literature, by elucidating the critical infrastructural underpinning of the formation of diasporic nationhood, and by extending the horizon of comparison to the political dynamics and long-term ramifications engendered by the migration of, not only metropolitan settlers, but also colonial subjects, within and beyond the ambit of the empire.
Seeing the Unseen in Indonesia's Public Sphere: Photographic Appearances of a Spirit Queen
Authors: Strassler Karen
Published: December 2013

Ratu Kidul is a legendary spirit queen who plays a significant role in Javanese political ontologies and has come to be an icon of Indonesian public culture. In this paper, I trace the history of her mediationas imagevia paint, photography, television, film, and the Internet in order to ask how this queen of the unseen world came to be so visible a feature of the postcolonial landscape and to interrogate the nature and effects of this visibility. I argue that becoming accessible via the image was necessary to her continued political agency within a mass-mediated national public sphere in which visibility and circulation are preconditions of political recognition. Yet popular reception of images of Ratu Kidul as auratic conduits of her spiritual power reveal the continued presence of a visuality within Indonesian national modernity that runs counter to dominant logics of transparency. I offer an ethnographic examination of images of Ratu Kidul across a range of media, attending to their material qualities as mediums by which the spirit queen appears and circulates. Broadly, the essay argues that national political orders and their public spheres cannot be understood apart from a history of visual mediation.
“The army and the people are one hand!” Fraternization and the 25th January Egyptian Revolution
Authors: Ketchley Neil
Published: December 2013

On 28 January 2011 the Egyptian army was deployed onto Cairo's streets following three days of escalating protests. Upon entering Midan al-Tahrir, a column of newly arriving army tanks and APCs was attacked by protestors. Throwing stones and dousing the vehicles in petrol before setting them alight, protestors pulled soldiers out of their vehicles and beat them. Seizing ammunition and supplies, protestors even commandeered a tank. Minutes later those same protestors were chanting pro-army slogans, posing for photographs with soldiers and sharing food. How protestors respond to the deployment of security forces assumed loyal to a regime determined to end protest is often summed-up in the dyad of “fight or flight.” In this paper, I consider a third option: fraternization. Through a social interactionist lens, I explore the prevalence of pro-army chants, graffiti, the mounting of military vehicles, physical embraces, sleeping in tank tracks and posing for photographs with soldiers in and around Midan al-Tahrir during the 25th January Egyptian Revolution. I draw on the contentious politics literature, as well as micro-sociologies of violence and ritual, to suggest that fraternizing protestors developed a repertoire of contention that made immediate, emotional claims on the loyalty of regime troops. From initial techniques of micro-conflict avoidance, protestors and their micro-interactions with soldiers forged a precarious “internal frontier” that bifurcated governance from sovereignty through the performance of the army and the people as one hand in opposition to the Mubarak regime.
SobelRumors and Tribal Truths: Narrative and Politics in Sierra Leone, 1994
Authors: Bolten Catherine E.
Published: December 2013

This article examines a case study from war-torn Sierra Leone in 1994, in which a rumor galvanized violent public action and only dissipated when a seemingly unrelated issue was resolved. I argue that the circulation of rumors can foment the emergence of political narratives focused on topics that are otherwise taboo, and creates the space to act on them without overtly disturbing the status quo. I analyze the content of interview material with residents of the town of Makeni and eight months of articles printed in national newspapers to illustrate the subtle emergence of tribal accusations in the context of military mutiny. The rumor itself concerned an imminent attack by mutinous, criminal soldiers (calledsobels) on the town they were meant to defend. This instigated a mass demonstration, shooting into a crowd, political mudslinging, and accusations that some politicians were trying to “tribalize the war.” Responding to the distress, the government removed the offending “tribalist” administrator from Makeni, and all talk ofsobelfears dissipated, even as the reality ofsobelswas borne out in confirmed attacks and a high profile court-martialing. That tribal favoritism was the real issue was illustrated by residents' embrace of their new military administrator and the town's unprecedented move towards development in the midst of renewed security threats.
On the Log Canonical Inversion of Adjunction
Authors: Hacon Christopher D.
Published: December 2013

We prove a result on the inversion of adjunction for log canonical pairs that generalizes Kawakita's result to log canonical centres of arbitrary codimension.
Abelianity Conjecture for Special Compact Kähler 3-Folds
Authors: Campana Fréderic , Claudon Benoît
Published: December 2013

Using orbifold metrics of the appropriately signed Ricci curvature on orbifolds with a negative or numerically trivial canonical bundle and the two-dimensional log minimal model programme, we prove that the fundamental group of special compact Kähler 3-folds is almost abelian. This property was conjectured in all dimensions by Campana in 2004, and also for orbifolds in 2007, where the notion of specialness was introduced. We briefly recall the definition, basic properties and the role of special manifolds in classification theory.
Investigation of the structure of alpha-lactalbumin protein nanotubes using optical spectroscopy
Authors: Tarhan Özgür , Tarhan Enver , Harsa Şebnem
Published: December 2013

Alpha-lactalbumin (α-la) is one of the major proteins in whey. When partially hydrolysed with Bacillus licheniformis protease, it produces nanotubular structures in the presence of calcium ions by a self-assembly process. This study presents investigation of α-la protein structure during hydrolysis and nanotube formation using optical spectroscopy. Before spectroscopic measurements, nanotubes were examined with microscopy. The observed α-la nanotubes (α-LaNTs) were in the form of regular hollow strands with a diameter of about 20 nm and the average length of 1 μm. Amide and backbone vibration bands of the Raman spectra displayed remarkable conformational changes in α and β domains in the protein structure during nanotube growth. This was confirmed by the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy data. Also, FTIR analysis revealed certain bands at calcium (Ca++) binding sites of COO− groups in hydrolysed protein. These sites might be critical in nanotube elongation.
Ḥasdai Crescas on the Philosophic Foundation of Codification
Authors: Ackerman Ari
Published: December 2013

Ḥasdai Crescas briefly adumbrated his halakhic methodology in the introduction to his philosophic work, 'Or ha-Shem. He followed Maimonides by arguing for the importance of a comprehensive and succinct legal code and opposed himself to those who ascribe independent value to Torah study. However, Crescas disputed Maimonides on the proper goals and character of a legal code. Unlike Maimonides, he designated his code for Torah scholars and focused on the bedrock principles that are the bases for particular laws. According to Crescas, these principles allow the codifier to capture the infinite and boundless halakhah in a finite and accessible form. They also serve as exegetical rules that allow the Torah scholar to create new laws. In this regard, the halakhic enterprise resembles the process of creation and the scholar resembles God.
Maximizing a new quantity in sequential reserve selection
Authors: SCHAPAUGH ADAM W. , TYRE ANDREW J.
Published: December 2013

The fundamental goal of conservation planning is biodiversity persistence, yet most reserve selection methods prioritize sites using occurrence data. Numerous empirical studies support the notion that defining and measuring objectives in terms of species richness (where the value of a site is equal to the number of species it contains, or contributes to an existing reserve network) can be inadequate for maintaining biodiversity in the long-term. An existing site-assessment framework that implicitly maximized the persistence probability of multiple species was integrated with a dynamic optimization model. The problem of sequential reserve selection as a Markov decision process was combined with stochastic dynamic programming to find the optimal solution. The approach represents a compromise between representation-based approaches (maximizing occurrences) and more complex tools, like spatially-explicit population models. The method, the inherent problems and interesting conclusions are illustrated with a land acquisition case study on the central Platte River.
Oligomeric amyloid β induces IL-1β processing via production of ROS: implication in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Parajuli B , Sonobe Y , Horiuchi H , Takeuchi H , Mizuno T , Suzumura A
Published: December 2013

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive neuronal loss and cognitive decline. Oligomeric amyloid β (oAβ) is involved in the pathogenesis of AD by affecting synaptic plasticity and inhibiting long-term potentiation. Although several lines of evidence suggests that microglia, the resident immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS), are neurotoxic in the development of AD, the mechanism whether or how oAβ induces microglial neurotoxicity remains unknown. Here, we show that oAβ promotes the processing of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β into mature IL-1β in microglia, which then enhances microglial neurotoxicity. The processing is induced by an increase in activity of caspase-1 and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and partially via NADPH oxidase-induced ROS. The caspase-1 inhibitor Z-YVAD-FMK inhibits the processing of IL-1β, and attenuates microglial neurotoxicity. Our results indicate that microglia can be activated by oAβ to induce neuroinflammation through processing of IL-1β, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, in AD.
Evolution of the average avalanche shape with the universality class
Authors: Laurson Lasse , Illa Xavier , Santucci Stéphane , Tore Tallakstad Ken , Måløy Knut Jørgen , Alava Mikko J
Published: December 2013

A multitude of systems ranging from the Barkhausen effect in ferromagnetic materials to plastic deformation and earthquakes respond to slow external driving by exhibiting intermittent, scale-free avalanche dynamics or crackling noise. The avalanches are power-law distributed in size, and have a typical average shape: these are the two most important signatures of avalanching systems. Here we show how the average avalanche shape evolves with the universality class of the avalanche dynamics by employing a combination of scaling theory, extensive numerical simulations and data from crack propagation experiments. It follows a simple scaling form parameterized by two numbers, the scaling exponent relating the average avalanche size to its duration and a parameter characterizing the temporal asymmetry of the avalanches. The latter reflects a broken time-reversal symmetry in the avalanche dynamics, emerging from the local nature of the interaction kernel mediating the avalanche dynamics.
High mitochondrial accumulation of new gadolinium(iii) agents within tumour cells
Authors: Morrison Daniel E. , Aitken Jade B. , de Jonge Martin D. , Ioppolo Joseph A. , Harris Hugh H. , Rendina Louis M.
Published: December 2013

The first tumour-cell selective mitochondrial agents containing GdIII which can deliver greater than 1010 Gd atoms per tumour cell are reported.
Covalent attachment and release of small molecules from functional polyphenylene dendrimers
Authors: Hammer Brenton A. G. , Baumgarten Martin , Müllen Klaus
Published: December 2013

Polyphenylene dendrimers were functionalized with thiols to covalently bind small molecules within their scaffold through cleavable disulfide linkages.
Ethynylbenzenoid metabolites of Antrodia camphorata: synthesis and inhibition of TNF expression
Authors: Buccini Marco , Punch Kathryn A. , Kaskow Belinda , Flematti Gavin R. , Skelton Brian W. , Abraham Lawrence J. , Piggott Matthew J.
Published: December 2013

Antrocamphin A and B, and (±)-epi-antrodioxolanone have been synthesised from a common precursor. Antrocamphin A displays anti-inflammatory activity but is also cytotoxic.
Closed‐form statistics for sum of squared Rician shadowed variates and its application
Authors: Clemente M.C. , Paris J.F.
Published: December 2013

New analytical closed‐form expressions are derived for the probability density function and the cumulative distribution function of the squared Rician shadowed variates. In particular, the application of such results in the performance analysis of wireless communication systems is investigated.
Proactive, knowledge‐based intelligent transportation system based on vehicular sensor networks
Authors: Dimitrakopoulos George , Bravos George , Nikolaidou Mara , Anagnostopoulos Dimosthenis
Published: December 2013

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) rapidly migrate towards the Future Internet era, which is characterised, among others, by powerful and complex network infrastructures and innovative applications, services and content. An application area that attracts immense research interest is transportation. In particular, traffic congestions, emergencies and accidents reveal inefficiencies in transportation infrastructures, which can be overcome through the exploitation of ICT findings, in designing systems that are targeted at traffic/emergency management, namely Intelligent Transportation Systems. This study presents such a system that operates on the basis of collecting information from various sources (vehicles and infrastructure objects) through vehicular sensor networks, intelligently processing it, integrating knowledge and experience coming from the past and, finally, issuing directives to the driver for facilitating transportation. The overall approach is presented in detail, whereas a novel heuristic is proposed for the algorithmic process towards reaching decisions. Indicative simulation results showcase its efficiency, mostly with regards to proactively identifying a potential forthcoming danger and accordingly notifying the driver.
Cosecant‐squared pattern synthesis method for broadband‐shaped reflector antennas
Authors: Dastranj Ali Akbar , Abiri Habibollah , Mallahzadeh Ali Reza
Published: December 2013

A new technique based on the invasive weed optimisation (IWO) algorithm and geometrical optics (GO) method for synthesising broadband cosecant‐squared pattern reflector antennas is presented. The main feature that distinguishes this technique from others is the wide bandwidth. Moreover, compared with the previous methods, the proposed method allows to obtain extremely smaller ripples in the shaped region and lower sidelobe level (SLL). To achieve the desired performance over the entire 18–40 GHz operational bandwidth, the reflector surface is synthesised using a complex and accurate frequency‐dependent fitness function including optimum weighting values. The simulation results via FEKO software package further prove the validity and versatility of this technique for solving reflector synthesis problems. In addition, experimental investigations are conducted to understand the complete reflector antenna system behaviours. Measurements show a good agreement with the simulation results. At last, the efficiency of the proposed frequency‐dependent IWO (FDIWO) method both in bandwidth and optimality of the results are compared with original IWO method, common GO method and electromagnetic radiation (TICRA) software package. Comparison results show that the FDIWO method outperforms the other techniques.
Elevation finding algorithm in beam domain under multi‐path environments for VHF radar
Authors: Xu Zhen‐Hai , Rao Bin , Xiong Zi‐Yuan , Zhang Liang , Xiao Shun‐Ping
Published: December 2013

A novel elevation finding algorithm in the beam domain is proposed for very high frequency (VHF) radar under multi‐path environments. Three orthogonal beams (upper, middle and lower beams) are formed using fast Fourier transform. The orthogonal vector of the covariance matrix in beam domain is analytically derived to form the angle spectrum, the peak of which corresponds to the estimation of the elevation of the target. In addition, the complex reflection coefficient (CRC) is also available when the elevation is estimated. The validity and veracity of the proposed scheme is verified with simulations. The relationships between the estimation performance, the signal‐to‐noise‐ratio, elevation and CRC are also investigated, respectively. Furthermore, field data sets are used for validation. It is found that when the elevation is <1/5 of the beamwidth, which poses great difficulty for elevation estimation. The estimation precision is still <1/35 of the beamwidth. The proposed algorithm is particularly suitable for VHF band radars and ship‐borne radars, where the multi‐path effect is serious.