Increased autophagy in EphrinB2-deficient osteocytes is associated with elevated secondary mineralization and brittle bone

Mineralized bone forms when collagen-containing osteoid accrues mineral crystals. This is initiated rapidly (primary mineralization), and continues slowly (secondary mineralization) until bone is remodeled. The interconnected osteocyte network within the bone matrix differentiates from bone-forming osteoblasts; although osteoblast differentiation requires EphrinB2, osteocytes retain its expression. Here we report brittle bones in mice with osteocyte-targeted EphrinB2 deletion. This is not caused by low bone mass, but by defective bone material. While osteoid mineralization is initiated at normal rate, mineral accrual is accelerated, indicating that EphrinB2 in osteocytes limits mineral accumulation. No known regulators of mineralization are modified in the brittle cortical bone but a cluster of autophagy-associated genes are dysregulated. EphrinB2-deficient osteocytes displayed more autophagosomes in vivo and in vitro, and EphrinB2-Fc treatment suppresses autophagy in a RhoA-ROCK dependent manner. We conclude that secondary mineralization involves EphrinB2-RhoA-limited autophagy in osteocytes, and disruption leads to a bone fragility independent of bone mass

Contextualising social capital in online brand communities

Online brand communities (OBC) are growing in number and becoming an increasingly important interface where marketers can effectively facilitate the relationship between their brand and consumers. A qualitative study using a four-month netnography over three OBCs followed by focus groups with OBC members explored the dynamics of social capital in these communities. Findings indicate that social capital is an important driver in the success of OBCs, and all the elements of social capital including a shared language, shared vision, social trust and reciprocity are evident. Moreover, results from this study indicate that these elements are crucial in developing the network ties that are integral to building loyalty and brand equity

The genesis and early developments of Aitken\u2019s process, Shanks\u2019 transformation, the \u3b5\u2013algorithm, and related fixed point methods

In this paper, we trace back the genesis of Aitken\u2019s \u3942 process and Shanks\u2019 sequence transformation. These methods, which are extrapolation methods, are used for accelerating the convergence of sequences of scalars, vectors, matrices, and tensors. They had, and still have, many important applications in numerical analysis and in applied mathematics. They are related to continued fractions and Pad\ue9 approximants. We go back to the roots of these methods and analyze the original contributions. New and detailed explanations on the building and properties of Shanks\u2019 transformation and its kernel are provided. We then review their historical algebraic and algorithmic developments. We also analyze how they were involved in the solution of systems of linear and nonlinear equations, in particular in the methods of Steffensen, Pulay, and Anderson. Testimonies by various actors of the domain are given. The paper can also serve as an introduction to this domain of numerical analysis