bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The expression and role of non‐canonical (PKC) signaling in nucleus pulposus cell metabolism
Authors: Arai Fumiyuki , Hiyama Akihiko , Sakai Daisuke , Yokoyama Katsuya , Mochida Joji 
Published: March 2012

AbstractCanonical Wnt/β‐catenin (hereafter Wnt) signaling regulates the proliferation and differentiation of various cell types. However, the role of non‐canonical signaling including protein kinase C (PKC) signaling has not been investigated in intervertebral disc (IVD) cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the activation of PKC signaling act to modulate Wnt signaling in IVD cells. We performed several reporter assays, real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses, and western blot analyses using rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. We also examined the cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution under phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) stimulation, a known activator of PKC signaling. We found that NP cells exhibited decreased β‐catenin mRNA and protein levels upon stimulation with PMA. PMA treatment promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. In addition, activation of the PKC signaling also regulated the expression of aggrecan. Finally, activation by PMA induced the expression of several PKC isoforms in NP cells. It is concluded that activation of PKC signaling might lead to an increase in matrix synthesis and cell proliferation, thereby inhibiting IVD degeneration. Crosstalk in these signaling pathways plays an important role in the regulation of IVD homeostasis. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1478–1485, 2012
Energetic boundary element method analysis of wave propagation in 2D multilayered media
Authors: Aimi A. , Gazzola S. , Guardasoni C. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe analysis of scalar wave propagation in 2D zonewise homogeneous media with vanishing initial and mixed boundary conditions is carried out. The problem is formulated in terms of time‐dependent boundary integral equations, and then it is set in a weak form, based on a natural energy identity satisfied by the differential problem solution. Several numerical results have been obtained by means of the related energetic Galerkin boundary element method showing accuracy and stability of the method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mixed integer least squares optimization for flight and maintenance planning of mission aircraft
Authors: Kozanidis George , Gavranis Andreas , Kostarelou Eftychia 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWe address the problem of generating a joint flight and maintenance plan for a unit of mission aircraft. The objective is to establish a balanced allocation of the flight load and the maintenance capacity to the individual aircraft of the unit, so that its long‐term availability is kept at a high and steady level. We propose a mixed integer nonlinear model to formulate the problem, the objective function of which minimizes a least squares index expressing the total deviation of the individual aircraft flight and maintenance times from their corresponding target values. Using the model's special structure and properties, we develop an exact search algorithm for its solution. We analyze the computational complexity of this algorithm, and we present computational results comparing its performance against that of a commercial optimization package. Besides demonstrating the superiority of the proposed algorithm, these results reveal that the total computational effort required for the solution of the problem depends mainly on two crucial parameters: the size of the unit (i.e., the number of aircraft that comprise it) and the space capacity of the maintenance station. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2012
Results of AIEOP LNH‐97 protocol for the treatment of anaplastic large cell lymphoma of childhood
Authors: Pillon Marta , Gregucci Fabiana , Lombardi Alessandra , Santoro Nicola , Piglione Matilde , Sala Alessandra , D'Amore Emanuele S.G. , De Santis Raffaela , Casale Fiorina , Zecca Marco , Mussolin Lara , Rosolen Angelo ,   On behalf of the NHL‐Committee of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP)
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackgroundAnaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) represents approximately 15% of all pediatric non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). It has distinct clinical features, including frequent involvement of extranodal sites and rare localization to the central nervous system (CNS). Despite varying treatment approaches the outcome of patients with ALCL has not significantly improved during the last two decades.ProcedureFrom October 1997 to beginning of 2000, newly diagnosed ALCL patients were enrolled into AIEOP LNH‐97 protocol for ALCL. Thereafter and until 2007, only CNS positive patients were included. AIEOP LNH‐97 was based on the BFM‐95 schema for ALCL and included six high‐dose chemotherapy courses. CNS prophylaxis was obtained with one intrathecal injection of chemotherapy in each course, whereas treatment of CNS involvement included three intrathecal injections without irradiation.ResultsThirty‐two patients were eligible for the study. Lymph‐node disease was the most frequent localization (69% of the cases), followed by mediastinal (25%), CNS (22%), bone marrow (16%), and skin (13%) involvement. Probabilities of overall survival (OS) and of event‐free survival (EFS) at 5 years for the whole population were 87% (SE 6%) and 68% (SE 8%), respectively.ConclusionsThis study confirmed that short pulse chemotherapy is an efficacious treatment option for first line therapy of pediatric ALCL, and that dose intensity may have some relevance for outcome, but not in all of the patients. Refinement and optimization of therapy strategies for ALCL may originate from a combination of clinical and biological prospective studies, as those in the pipeline of current international collaboration. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59: 828–833. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Writing Workshop In Preschool
Authors: King Kelly A. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPreschoolers may be novices in the area of writing but, as this article highlights, they are indeed writers. In a year‐long ethnography of preschoolers during structured writing time the teacher/researcher explored how students adapted to a writing workshop format. Students participated in daily journal writing and sharing, and weekly conference time. This article shows how students used the classroom structure to demonstrate their growing understanding about what it means to be a writer; and how the teacher observed student behavior in order to adapt writing time to best meet the needs of her students.
Factoring AAVE Into Reading Assessment and Instruction
Authors: Wheeler Rebecca , Cartwright Kelly B. , Swords Rachel 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn our increasingly diverse schools, students bring diverse ways of speaking to the classroom. In turn, as features from students’ home language varieties transfer into their readings of texts, teachers’ assessment and intervention plans may be directly affected. If teachers conflate dialect influence with reading error in Standard English, they may inaccurately assess students’ reading performance and propose inappropriate instructional plans. In this article we provide insights into the ways African American Vernacular English (AAVE) may influence reading assessments and subsequent instructional decisions. Additionally, we describe an intervention – contrastive analysis and code‐switching – designed to help students become metacognitively aware of the multiple language varieties at work in their worlds. Newly aware of the structures and uses of home and school English, students learn to strategically choose the language variety appropriate to the context. In this way, factoring dialect into reading assessment and intervention results in improved literacy performance.
Breast Cancer Local Therapy: What Is Its Effect on Mortality?
Authors: Benson John R. , Teo Katy A. T. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractUntil recently, the concept of biological predeterminism appeared pre‐eminent and a worthy successor to the Halstedian doctrine of centrifugal spread of cancer. However, evidence has now emerged from clinical trials to cast doubt on the universal application of this concept to breast tumors. Prevention of local recurrence can save lives, local control does matter, and rates of local recurrence should be minimized in the first 5 years. In up to one quarter of cases of local recurrence the locally recurring disease will be a determinant and not simply a marker of risk for distant relapse and death. Both types of local recurrence are manifestations of the same biological processes and reflect intrinsic behavior of the tumor. This principle applies to reduction in local relapse from both adjuvant radiotherapy and surgical modalities.
Prolactin Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Janus Kinase 2
Authors: Yeh Yao‐Tsung , Lee King‐Teh , Tsai Chia‐Jung , Chen Yu‐Jie , Wang Shen‐Nien 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackgroundHepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) is one human cancer with obvious gender disparity. This study investigated the association of aberrant prolactin levels with HCC risk and the potential impacts on HCC of the prolactin receptor (PRLR)/Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling.MethodsSerum prolactin of 63 HCC patients and 162 subjects without HCC was measured by radioimmunoassay. The expressions of PRLR and phosphorylated JAK2 (p‐JAK2) in 82 retrospectively collected HCC specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and further incorporated into the survival analysis. The immunoblotting and proliferation assays were used to analyze the effects of PRLR/JAK2 signaling on liver cancer cells with prolactin treatment.ResultsSerum prolactin level was significantly higher in HCC patients than in controls. Hepatocellular carcinoma patients with high p‐JAK2 expression had a significantly higher postoperative risk than those with low p‐JAK2 expression. Moreover, results from the multivariate analysis indicated the prognostic role of p‐JAK2 expression with respect to overall survival in HCC patients. In addition, the Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed that high p‐JAK2 expression was associated with poor survival in HCC patients with high PRLR expression. The immunoblotting assay showed that prolactin induced the expression of both p‐JAK2 and cyclin D1 in Hep‐G2 cells. Importantly, the proliferative effects induced by prolactin could be effectively attenuated by adding AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor.ConclusionsIncreased circulating prolactin was found in HCC patients and high p‐JAK2 expression could predict poor overall survival in those patients expressing high PRLR. In addition, prolactin contributed to the proliferation of liver cancer cells through PRLR/JAK2 signaling.
Ectopic pregnancy: when is expectant management safe?
Authors: Rodrigues Sharon P. , de Burlet Kirsten J. , Hiemstra Ellen , Twijnstra Andries R. H. , van Zwet Erik W. , Trimbos-Kemper Trudy C. M. , Jansen Frank W. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate expectant management in asymptomatic patients with an initial serum beta-hCG titer of <2,500 IU/l and to determine the independent ability of initial serum beta-hCG titers and trend of serum beta-hCG to predict successful expectant management. A cohort of patients (N = 418) with suspected ectopic pregnancy (EP) between January 1991 and July 2008 is described. Three groups were defined: group I (n = 182), immediate surgical intervention (<24 h); group IIa (n = 130), unsuccessful expectant management (surgical intervention during follow-up), and group IIb (n = 99), successful expectant management (spontaneous regression of trophoblast). Hospital protocol was not complied in 35 cases (Table 1). Beta-hCG levels >3,000 IU/l occur in our expectant management group; however, none of these cases were successful. Unnecessary surgery was prevented in 14% (n = 7) of asymptomatic patients with initial beta-hCG of >2,000 IU/l. The success rate of expectant management was 49%, without a rise in complication rate or number of acute cases. In conclusion, the initial serum beta-hCG cutoff level of 2,000 IU/l is not a rigid upper limit for accepting expectant management in suspected EP and best practice is case specific. In asymptomatic patients, the serum beta-hCG cutoff level of at least 2,500 IU/l can be used for expectant management. This cutoff could be higher, but interpretation is limited due to censure in follow-up inherent to the predefined clinical protocol. There is no gain in including patients for expectant management with initial serum beta-hCG level >3,000 IU/l.
Progress in understanding 2‐hydroxyglutaric acidurias
Authors: Kranendijk Martijn , Struys Eduard A. , Salomons Gajja S. , Van der Knaap Marjo S. , Jakobs Cornelis 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe organic acidurias d‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D‐2‐HGA), l‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L‐2‐HGA), and combined d,l‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D,L‐2‐HGA) cause neurological impairment at young age. Accumulation of d‐2‐hydroxyglutarate (D‐2‐HG) and/or l‐2‐hydroxyglutarate (L‐2‐HG) in body fluids are the biochemical hallmarks of these disorders. The current review describes the knowledge gathered on 2‐hydroxyglutaric acidurias (2‐HGA), since the description of the first patients in 1980. We report on the clinical, genetic, enzymatic and metabolic characterization of D‐2‐HGA type I, D‐2‐HGA type II, L‐2‐HGA and D,L‐2‐HGA, whereas for D‐2‐HGA type I and type II novel clinical information is presented which was derived from questionnaires.
Subjective well-being and exercise in the second half of life: a critical review of theoretical approaches
Authors: Lehnert Katrin , Sudeck Gorden , Conzelmann Achim 
Published: March 2012

AbstractResearch has shown repeatedly that the “feeling better” effect of exercise is far more moderate than generally claimed. Examinations of subgroups in secondary analyses also indicate that numerous further variables influence this relationship. One reason for inconsistencies in this research field is the lack of adequate theoretical analyses. Well-being output variables frequently possess no construct definition, and little attention is paid to moderating and mediating variables. This article integrates the main models in an overview and analyzes how secondary analyses define well-being and which areas of the construct they focus on. It then applies a moderator and/or mediator framework to examine which person and environmental variables can be found in the existing explanatory approaches in sport science and how they specify the influence of these moderating and mediating variables. Results show that the broad understanding of well-being in many secondary analyses makes findings difficult to interpret. Moreover, physiological explanatory approaches focus more on affective changes in well-being, whereas psychological approaches also include cognitive changes. The approaches focus mostly on either physical or psychological person variables and rarely combine the two, as in, for example, the dual-mode model. Whereas environmental variables specifying the treatment more closely (e.g., its intensity) are comparatively frequent, only the social support model formulates variables such as the framework in which exercise is presented. The majority of explanatory approaches use simple moderator and/or mediator models such as the basic mediated (e.g., distraction hypothesis) or multiple mediated (e.g., monoamine hypotheses) model. The discussion draws conclusions for future research.
The Distinctive Characteristics of Environmental Education Research in Australia: An Historical and Comparative Analysis
Authors: Stevenson Robert B. , Evans Neus (Snowy) 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis paper addresses the question of how Australian environmental education (EE) research was conceptualised and contextualised in the decade of the 1990s. Sixty seven articles published by Australian authors in this journal from 1990–2000 were analysed to examine the conceptualisation of this research using an inductive emergent categorisation approach and a five frames model (Reid, in press) of key arguments and debates in the field. Contextualisation was explored in relation to specialist areas, scale and environmental dimensions of focus. A search for a coherent and distinct meaning of of this research was explored by making comparisons with international environmental education research during a similar time period that was the subject of two reviews. These analyses revealed that Australian environmental education research can be characterised as questioning and challenging prevailing (at the time) environmental education orthodoxies by critiquing and theorising the conceptual and curriculum framing of environmental education, most commonly from a socially critical and global perspective. Specialist areas and educational sectors that received little attention are also discussed.
Environmental Education as the Mountain – Exploring Chinese-ness of Environmental Education
Authors: Ji Xia 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWhat experiences have infuenced Chinese educators' environmental consciousness and their involvement in environmental education work? Using the autobiographical inquiry approach the author explored this question with fourteen master environmental educators from various regions of China and examined in depth their signifcant life experiences (SLE). Participants described several paths to become involved in environmental education work. Multiple factors impacted their environmental consciousness. Out of ten main categories of SLE three themes emerged: serendipity, , and a strong sense of responsibility toward the environment and toward environmental education work. This study illuminates the Chinese-ness of environmental education from the angle of life experiences and reflections of environmental educators in mainland China, which also has relevance to and implications for the wider international environmental education community.
An Australian Story: School Sustainability Education in the Lucky Country
Authors: Salter Zarin , Venville Grady , Longnecker Nancy 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis paper documents a case study involving a Perth primary school accompanied on its sustainability journey by Millennium Kids Inc, a local not-for-proft community organisation. Tension between the school's sustainability focus, its prestige as an elite private school and a “lucky country” mentality frames the Australian-ness of this environmental education story. Data draws from interviews conducted with teachers, the deputy principal, principal, and CEO of Millennium Kids. School staff reported that Millennium Kids' collaborative approach connected the school with community groups and families in meaningful ways, provided support to staff, and infuenced curriculum integration by engaging the student voice. Challenges in the school related to managing expectations from families, leadership that fosters shared responsibility, and teachers' efforts to integrate sustainability across learning areas. A pattern of sustainability education was established in the school but these challenges could encumber the longevity, integration and support for these initiatives in the future.
Conventions, Constituent Assemblies, and Round Tables: Models, principles and elements of democratic constitution-making
Authors: ARATO ANDREW 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe article presents the Round Table form, elsewhere post-sovereign multi-stage constitution making as an independent democratic type superior to the alternatives. It locates the form along with Convention and Constituent Assembly both in a comprehensive typology based on models of regime transformation, as well as historically. After making a set of normative arguments comparing the three forms, focusing on the issue legitimation, I make a case for the synthetic nature of the Round Table in relation to the two important democratic predecessors. Finally, I reluctantly admit the path-determined nature of the Round Table that strictly speaking seems relevant only 1) in the transitions from dictatorships, if 2) new forces do not have the power to accomplish revolutionary change. Nevertheless, I argue that the principles of the Round Table (inclusion, consensus, publicity, legality and veil of ignorance) are relevant to other paths, from the point of view of their legitimation. I further claim with reference to Iraq, Turkey and the European Union that elements of the Round Table can be adopted even under conditions of revolutionary change, as well as constitutional reform.
Holocene subsurface temperature variability in the eastern Antarctic continental margin
Authors: Kim Jung‐Hyun , Crosta Xavier , Willmott Veronica , Renssen Hans , Bonnin Jérôme , Helmke Peer , Schouten Stefan , Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S. 
Published: March 2012

We reconstructed subsurface (∼45–200 m water depth) temperature variability in the eastern Antarctic continental margin during the late Holocene, using an archaeal lipid‐based temperature proxy (TEX86L). Our results reveal that subsurface temperature changes were probably positively coupled to the variability of warmer, nutrient‐rich Modified Circumpolar Deep Water (MCDW, deep water of the Antarctic circumpolar current) intrusion onto the continental shelf. The TEX86Lrecord, in combination with previously published climatic records, indicates that this coupling was probably related to the thermohaline circulation, seasonal variability in sea ice extent, sea temperature, and wind associated with high frequency climate dynamics at low‐latitudes such as internal El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This in turn suggests a linkage between centennial ENSO‐like variability at low‐latitudes and intrusion variability of MCDW into the eastern Antarctic continental shelf, which might have further impact on ice sheet evolution.
In-silico identification of potential antagonists for human Casein kinase II subunit alpha' (CK2α2)
Authors: Hema Kanipakam , Meduru Harika , Pallapotu Navya , Umamaheswari Amineni 
Published: March 2012

AbstractHuman CK2α2 is an enzyme that belongs to the Serine/Threonine protein kinase family which is involved in signal transduction. Over expression of CK2α2 causes kidney cancer therefore, human CK2α2 has been identified as a drug target for the development of potential antagonists against cancer therapy. The existing human CK2α2 inhibitors in clinical practice are having side effects like fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, anorexia and vomiting. High-throughput virtual screening is one of the most common method used to identify lead compounds was implemented in the present study to identify potential inhibitors of human CK2α2. The co-crystal structure of human CK2α2 was retrieved from the protein data bank. A 2D similarity search was performed for available five human CK2α2 inhibitors (Apigenin, VX680, Sunitinib, SUI4813 and CCK) taken from PDB and PubMed to acquire 1942 structural analogs. The 3D structural conversion and multiple confirmations for 1942 compounds were generated using LigPrep. The docking and scoring calculations were performed using Glide v5.7 which includes high throughput virtual screening (HTVS), Standard precision (SP) docking and extra precision (XP) docking. Obtained 39 leads were compared with docking scores of the existing inhibitors and proposed six leads having good binding affinity. The binding orientation of CK2α2-lead 1complex was correlating with native co-crystal structure. Hence, lead ‘1’ can be suggested as potent inhibitor against human CK2α2 involved in kidney cancer.