bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilateral tension pneumothorax due to acupuncture: Two autopsy cases
Authors: Lee Bongwoo , Kim Yuhoon , Park Sohyung , Seo Joong‐Seok , Lee Hanyoung , Kim Hyoungjoong
Published: June 2010

Pneumothorax is a common and serious complications related to acupuncture needling. Although there have been several clinical cases of pneumothorax induced by acupuncture, autopsy reports on cases of sudden death with the typical gross pathological findings are rare. In the two cases presented here, the deceased suffered dyspnea and chest discomfort after the completion of acupuncture treatments and were found dead within a few hours. Acupuncture pathways from the skin to the lungs, resulting in total bilateral lung collapse were found upon autopsy in these cases. When a sudden death occurs in association with acupuncture the possibility of pneumothorax should be considered and there should be meticulous efforts to find evidence during forensic autopsy.
Impact of lower salinity waters on bacterial heterotrophic production and community structure in the offshore NW Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Laghdass Mélissa , West Nyree J. , Batailler Nicole , Caparros Jocelyne , Catala Philippe , Lantoine François , Oriol Louise , Lebaron Philippe , Obernosterer Ingrid
Published: June 2010

We investigated the impact of water masses originating from freshwater input on bacterial heterotrophic metabolism and community structure at an offshore site in the oligotrophic NW Mediterranean Sea in 2007 and 2008. By combining 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and MICRO‐CARD‐FISH we determined the dominant operational taxonomic units (OTU) and their contribution to bulk abundance and activity in the presence of buoyant water masses characterized by lower salinity (LSW, < 37.9) and compared these with the winter and spring phytoplankton blooms. We demonstrate that organic matter associated with LSW markedly stimulated bacterial heterotrophic production as determined by [3H]‐leucine incorporation. The OTUs SAR11‐IA, SAR11‐IIB, SAR86‐I and SAR86‐III were dominant in all clone libraries, while the Roseobacter clade and the Bacteroidetes OTU NorSea72 were more specific to the spring phytoplankton bloom. The relative contribution of these OTUs to leucine incorporation varied between 23% and 69% for SAR11, 2% and 17% for Roseobacter and was up to 4% for NorSea72. Together, they accounted for roughly 50% of bulk abundance and leucine incorporation during the four situations investigated. Our results suggest that a few cosmopolitan OTUs respond to different DOM sources in the NW Mediterranean Sea.
Atresia coli in a foal: Diagnosis made with colonoscopy aided by N‐butylscopolammonium bromide
Authors: Hunter B. , Belgrave R. L.
Published: June 2010

Atresia coli, a rare congenital defect, was diagnosed in a foal via colonoscopy after N‐butylscopolammonium bromide was used to aid visualisation of the intestinal defect. Colonoscopy is a cost effective tool for diagnosing atresia of the terminal colon. N‐butylscopolammonium bromide aided colonoscopy has not been previously reported in horses.
Ante mortemdiagnosis of necrotising emphysematous oesophagitis and gastritis in a horse
Authors: Whelchel D. , Arnold C. , Chaffin K.
Published: June 2010

The case reported here describes a rare presentation of necrotising, emphysematous oesophagitis and gastritis in a horse presenting for signs of anorexia, dysphagia and ptyalism. Radiography of the retropharyngeal region revealed intramural gas within the cranial oesophagus. Further diagnostic evaluation supported anante mortemdiagnosis of emphysematous oesophagitis with concurrent septic pleuritis and peritonitis.Post mortemfindings confirmed an emphysematous, necrotising oesophagitis and gastritis with aClostridiumsp.transmural infection. To our knowledge, this case describes the first recordedante mortemdiagnosis of emphysematous oesophagitis with concurrent gastritis in the horse.
TMPRSS2-ERG
, a Mover and a Shaker
Authors: Alumkal Joshi
Published: June 2010

TMPRSS2-ERG
modulates critical pathways to promote prostate cancer progression.
Correlation between Azole Susceptibilities, Genotypes, and
ERG11
Mutations in
Candida albicans
Isolates Associated with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in China
Authors: Ge Shu-Hua , Wan Zhe , Li Juan , Xu Jianping , Li Ruo-Yu , Bai Feng-Yan
Published: June 2010

The relationship between susceptibilities to fluconazole and itraconazole and microsatellite CAI genotypes were examined from a total of 154
Candida albicans
isolates (97 isolates causing vulvovaginitis in Chinese women and 6 vaginal isolates and 51 oral cavity isolates from asymptomatic carriers). The two dominant genotypes, CAI 30-45 (45 isolates) and CAI 32-46 (33 isolates), associated with vulvovaginitis showed significantly different azole susceptibility patterns with strong statistical support. CAI 32-46 isolates were usually less susceptible to both fluconazole and itraconazole than CAI 30-45 isolates and than the oral isolates with other diversified CAI genotypes. Remarkably different mutation patterns in the azole target gene
ERG11
were correspondingly observed among
C. albicans
isolates representing different genotypes and sources. Isolates with the same or similar CAI genotypes usually possessed identical or phylogenetically closely related
ERG11
sequences. Loss of heterozygosity in
ERG11
was observed in all the CAI 32-46 isolates but not in the CAI 30-45 isolates and most of the oral isolates sequenced. Compared with the
ERG11
sequence of strain SC5314 (X13296), two homozygous missense mutations (G487T and T916C) leading to two amino acid changes (A114S and Y257H) in Erg11p were found in CAI 32-46 isolates. The correlation between azole susceptibility and
C. albicans
genotype may be of potential therapeutic significance.
Steady-State Intrapulmonary Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Posaconazole in Lung Transplant Recipients
Authors: Conte John E. , DeVoe Catherine , Little Emily , Golden Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2010

This prospective study evaluated the plasma and intrapulmonary pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PKPD) of posaconazole (POS) in lung transplant recipients. Twenty adult lung transplant patients were instructed to take a 400-mg POS oral suspension twice daily (BID) with a high-fat meal for a total of 14 doses. Pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and alveolar cell (AC) samples were obtained via bronchoalveolar lavage, and blood samples were collected at the approximate time of bronchoscopy. POS concentrations were assayed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The maximum concentrations (
C
max
) (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) in plasma, ELF, and AC were 1.3 ± 0.4, 1.3 ± 1.7, and 55.4 ± 44.0 μg/ml. POS concentrations in plasma, ELF, and AC did not decrease significantly, indicating slow elimination after multiple dosing. Mean concentrations of POS in plasma, ELF, and AC were above the MIC
90
(0.5 μg/ml) for
Aspergillus
species over the 12-h dosing interval and for 24 h following the last dose. Area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC
0-12
)/MIC
90
ratios in plasma, ELF, and AC were 21.98, 22.42, and 1,060. We concluded that a dose of 400 mg BID resulted in sustained plasma, ELF, and AC concentrations above the MIC
90
for
Aspergillus
spp. during the dosing interval. Confirmation of the therapeutic value of these observations requires further investigation. The intrapulmonary PKPD of POS may be favorable for treatment or prevention of aspergillosis, although further research on the relevant PKPD parameters and the effect of POS protein binding is required.
Efficacy of Amphiphilic Core-Shell Nanostructures Encapsulating Gentamicin in an
In Vitro Salmonella
and
Listeria
Intracellular Infection Model
Authors: Ranjan A. , Pothayee N. , Vadala T. P. , Seleem M. N. , Restis E. , Sriranganathan N. , Riffle J. S. , Kasimanickam R.
Published: June 2010

Core-shell nanostructures with nonionic amphiphilic shells and ionic cores encapsulating gentamicin were designed for therapy against intracellular pathogens, including
Salmonella
and
Listeria
. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed that their uptake into J774A.1 macrophages proceeded mainly by fluid-phase endocytosis and clathrin-mediated pathways. The nanostructures were nontoxic
in vitro
at doses of 50 to 250 μg/ml, and they significantly reduced the amounts of intracellular
Salmonella
(0.53 log) and
Listeria
(3.16 log), thereby suggesting effective transport into the cells.
qnrVC-Like Gene Located in a Novel Complex Class 1 Integron Harboring the ISCR1Element in anAeromonas punctataStrain from an Aquatic Environment in Shandong Province, China
Authors: Xia Ruirui , Guo Xianhu , Zhang Yuzhen , Xu Hai
Published: June 2010

AqnrVC-like gene,qnrVC4, was found in a novel complex class 1 integron gene cassette array following the ISCR1element andblaPER-1in a multidrug-resistant strain of the aquatic bacteriumAeromonas punctata. The deduced QnrVC4 protein sequence shares 45% to 81% amino acid identity with quinolone resistance determinants QnrB6, QnrA1, QnrS1, QnrC, QnrVC1, and QnrVC3. A Ser-83 to Ile amino acid substitution in gyrase A may be mainly responsible for ciprofloxacin resistance in this strain.
Growth in a Biofilm Induces a Hyperinfectious Phenotype inVibrio cholerae
Authors: Tamayo Rita , Patimalla Bharathi , Camilli Andrew
Published: June 2010

Biofilm formation plays a multifaceted role in the life cycles of a wide variety of microorganisms. In the case of pathogenicVibrio cholerae, biofilm formation in its native aquatic habitats is thought to aid in persistence during interepidemic seasons and to enhance infectivity upon oral ingestion. The structure ofV. choleraebiofilms has been hypothesized to protect the bacteria during passage through the stomach. Here, we directly test the role of biofilm architecture in the infectivity ofV. choleraeby comparing the abilities of intact biofilms, dispersed biofilms, and planktonic cells to colonize the mouse small intestine. Not only wereV. choleraebiofilms better able to colonize than planktonic cells, but the structure of the biofilm was also found to be dispensable: intact and dispersed biofilms colonized equally, and both vastly out-colonized planktonic cells. The infectious dose for biofilm-derivedV. choleraewas orders of magnitude lower than that of planktonic cells. This biofilm-induced hyperinfectivity may be due in part to a higher growth rate of biofilm-derived cells during infection. These results suggest that the infectious dose of naturally occurring biofilms ofV. choleraemay be much lower than previously estimated using cells grown planktonicallyin vitro. Furthermore, this work implies the existence of factors specifically induced during growth in a biofilm that augment infection byV. cholerae.
Delineation of Regions of theYersiniaYopM Protein Required for Interaction with the RSK1 and PRK2 Host Kinases and Their Requirement for Interleukin-10 Production and Virulence
Authors: McPhee Joseph B. , Mena Patricio , Bliska James B.
Published: June 2010

The YopM protein ofYersiniasp. is a type III secreted effector that is required for virulence in murine models of infection. YopM has previously been shown to contain leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and to interact with two host kinases, RSK1 and PRK2, although the consequence of these interactions is unknown. A series of YopM proteins missing different numbers of LRRs or a C-terminal domain were produced and used forin vitrobinding reactions to map domains required for interaction with RSK1 and PRK2. A C-terminal domain of YopM (from LRR12 to the C terminus) was shown to be required for interaction with RSK1, while an internal portion encompassing LRR6 to LRR15 was shown to be required for interaction with PRK2. The virulence of aYersinia pseudotuberculosisΔyopMmutant in mice via an intravenous route of infection was significantly attenuated. At day 4 postinfection, there were significantly increased levels of gamma interferon and reduced levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-10 in the serum of the ΔyopM-infected mice compared to that of mice infected with the wild type, suggesting that YopM action alters the balance of these key cytokines to promote virulence. The PRK2 and RSK1 interaction domains of YopM were both required for IL-10 inductionin vivo, irrespective of splenic colonization levels. In an orogastric model ofY. pseudotuberculosisinfection, a ΔyopMmutant was defective in dissemination from the intestine to the spleen and significantly reduced in virulence. In addition,Y. pseudotuberculosismutants expressing YopM proteins unable to interact with either RSK1 (YopMΔ12-C) or PRK2 (YopMΔ6-15) were defective for virulence in this assay, indicating that both interaction domains are important for YopM to promote pathogenesis.
Avian-Pathogenic
Escherichia coli
Strains Are Similar to Neonatal Meningitis
E. coli
Strains and Are Able To Cause Meningitis in the Rat Model of Human Disease
Authors: Tivendale Kelly A. , Logue Catherine M. , Kariyawasam Subhashinie , Jordan Dianna , Hussein Ashraf , Li Ganwu , Wannemuehler Yvonne , Nolan Lisa K.
Published: June 2010

Escherichia coli
strains causing avian colibacillosis and human neonatal meningitis, urinary tract infections, and septicemia are collectively known as extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC). Characterization of ExPEC strains using various typing techniques has shown that they harbor many similarities, despite their isolation from different host species, leading to the hypothesis that ExPEC may have zoonotic potential. The present study examined a subset of ExPEC strains: neonatal meningitis
E. coli
(NMEC) strains and avian-pathogenic
E. coli
(APEC) strains belonging to the O18 serogroup. The study found that they were not easily differentiated on the basis of multilocus sequence typing, phylogenetic typing, or carriage of large virulence plasmids. Among the APEC strains examined, one strain was found to be an outlier, based on the results of these typing methods, and demonstrated reduced virulence in murine and avian pathogenicity models. Some of the APEC strains tested in a rat model of human neonatal meningitis were able to cause meningitis, demonstrating APEC's ability to cause disease in mammals, lending support to the hypothesis that APEC strains have zoonotic potential. In addition, some NMEC strains were able to cause avian colisepticemia, providing further support for this hypothesis. However, not all of the NMEC and APEC strains tested were able to cause disease in avian and murine hosts, despite the apparent similarities in their known virulence attributes. Thus, it appears that a subset of NMEC and APEC strains harbors zoonotic potential, while other strains do not, suggesting that unknown mechanisms underlie host specificity in some ExPEC strains.
Importance of Conserved Residues of the Serine Protease Autotransporter β-Domain in Passenger Domain Processing and β-Barrel Assembly
Authors: Yen Yihfen T. , Tsang Casey , Cameron Todd A. , Ankrah Dennis O. , Rodou Athina , Stathopoulos Christos
Published: June 2010

Serine protease autotransporters of the familyEnterobacteriaceae(SPATE) comprise a family of virulence proteins secreted by enteric Gram-negative bacteria via the autotransporter secretion pathway. A SPATE polypeptide contains a C-terminal translocator domain that inserts into the bacterial outer membrane as a β-barrel structure and mediates secretion of the passenger domain to the extracellular environment. In the present study, we examined the role of conserved residues located in the SPATE β-barrel-forming region in passenger domain secretion. Thirty-nine fully conserved residues in Tsh were mutated by single-residue substitution, and defects in their secretion phenotypes were assessed by cell fractionation and immunochemistry. A total of 22 single mutants exhibited abnormal phenotypes in different cellular compartments. Most mutants affecting secretion are charged residues with side chains pointing into the β-barrel interior. Seven mutants showed notable abnormalities in processing (constructs with the E1231A, E1249A, and R1374A mutations) and β-barrel assembly or insertion into the outer membrane (constructs with the G1158Y, F1360A, Y1375A, and F1377A mutations). The phenotypes of the β-barrel assembly/insertion mutants and the presence of a processed Tsh passenger domain in the periplasm support the possibility that the translocator domain must undergo extensive folding prior to insertion into the outer membrane. Results from double-mutation experiments further demonstrate that F1360 and F1377 affect β-barrel insertion/assembly at different times. In light of these new data, a more refined model for the mechanism of SPATE secretion is presented.
Coxiella burnetii
Phase I and II Variants Replicate with Similar Kinetics in Degradative Phagolysosome-Like Compartments of Human Macrophages
Authors: Howe Dale , Shannon Jeffrey G. , Winfree Seth , Dorward David W. , Heinzen Robert A.
Published: June 2010

Coxiella burnetii
infects mononuclear phagocytes, where it directs biogenesis of a vacuolar niche termed the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). Owing to its lumenal pH (∼5) and fusion with endolysosomal vesicles, the PV is considered phagolysosome-like. However, the degradative properties of the mature PV are unknown, and there are conflicting reports on the maturation state and growth permissiveness of PV harboring virulent phase I or avirulent phase II
C. burnetii
variants in human mononuclear phagocytes. Here, we employed infection of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDMs) and THP-1 cells as host cells to directly compare the PV maturation kinetics and pathogen growth in cells infected with the Nine Mile phase I variant (NMI) or phase II variant (NMII) of
C. burnetii
. In both cell types, phase variants replicated with similar kinetics, achieving roughly 2 to 3 log units of growth before they reached stationary phase. HMDMs infected by either phase variant secreted similar amounts of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha. In infected THP-1 cells, equal percentages of NMI and NMII PVs decorate with the early endosomal marker Rab5, the late endosomal/lysosomal markers Rab7 and CD63, and the lysosomal marker cathepsin D at early (8 h) and late (72 h) time points postinfection (p.i.). Mature PVs (2 to 4 days p.i.) harboring NMI or NMII contained proteolytically active cathepsins and quickly degraded
Escherichia coli
. These data suggest that
C. burnetii
does not actively inhibit phagolysosome function as a survival mechanism. Instead, NMI and NMII resist degradation to replicate in indistinguishable digestive PVs that fully mature through the endolysosomal pathway.
Precompetition taper and nutritional strategies: special reference to training during Ramadan intermittent fast: Figure 1
Authors: Mujika Iñigo , Chaouachi Anis , Chamari Karim
Published: June 2010

A marked reduction in the training load in the lead-up to major competitions allows athletes to reduce the fatigue induced by intense training and improve competition performance. This tapered training phase is based on the reduction in training volume while maintaining pretaper training intensity and frequency. In parallel to training load reductions, nutritional strategies characterised by lowered energy intakes need to be implemented to match lowered energy expenditure. The Ramadan intermittent fast imposes constrained nutritional practices on Muslim athletes, inducing a shift to a greater reliance on fat oxidation to meet energy needs and a possible increase in protein breakdown. The training load is often reduced during Ramadan to match the absence of energy and fluid intake during daylight, which implies a risk of losing training induced adaptations. Should coaches and athletes decide to reduce the training load during Ramadan, the key role of training intensity in retaining training induced adaptations should be kept in mind. However, experienced elite Muslim athletes are able to maintain their usual training load during this month of intermittent fasting without decrements in measures of fitness and with only minor adverse effects.
AN ALMOST-SECOND-ORDER METHOD FOR A SYSTEM OF SINGULARLY PERTURBED CONVECTION–DIFFUSION EQUATIONS WITH NONSMOOTH CONVECTION COEFFICIENTS AND SOURCE TERMS
Authors: TAMILSELVAN A. , RAMANUJAM N.
Published: June 2010

In this paper, a weakly coupled system of two singularly perturbed convection–diffusion equations with discontinuous convection coefficients and source terms with Dirichlet type boundary conditions is considered. A hybrid finite difference scheme on a Shishkin mesh generating almost-second-order convergence in the maximum norm is constructed for solving this problem. To illustrate the theoretical results, numerical experiments are performed.
FREE VIBRATION OF KIRCHHOFF PLATES WITH SECTOR SHAPES BY THE METHOD OF DISCRETE SINGULAR CONVOLUTION
Authors: GÜRSES M. , KUZU E. , CÍVALEK Ö.
Published: June 2010

The free vibration of sector plates based on the classical Kirchhoff plate theory is analyzed by the method of discrete singular convolution using the Regularized Shannon delta (RSD) kernel. This method is applied to sector plates with a combination of boundary conditions, and the natural frequencies are calculated. The effects of the sector angle, boundary conditions and mode numbers on the frequency parameters are investigated. Comparisons are made with existing numerical and analytical solutions in the literature. This method is very effective for the study of vibration problems of sector plates.
HYBRID SIMULATED ANNEALING AND GENETIC ALGORITHMS FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS
Authors: VASANT PANDIAN
Published: June 2010

This paper describes the origin and the significant contribution of the development of the hybrid simulated annealing and genetic algorithms (HSAGA) approach to obtaining global optimization. HSAGA provides an insightful way to solve complex optimization problems. It is a combination of the metaheuristic approaches of simulated annealing and novel genetic algorithms to solving a nonlinear objective function with uncertain technical coefficients in industrial production management problems. The proposed novel hybrid method is designed to search for global optimization for the nonlinear objective function and to search for the best feasible solutions to the decision variables. Simulated experiments were carried out rigorously to reflect the advantages of the method. A description of the well-developed method and the advanced computational experiment with the Matlab® technical tool is presented. An industrial production management optimization problem is solved using the HSAGA technique. The results are very promising.
AN EXPERIMENT MODEL OF CHANCE DISCOVERY FOR VISUALIZING THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AND TREND
Authors: CHIU TZU-FU , HONG CHAO-FU , CHIU YU-TING
Published: June 2010

In order to visualize the financial situation and trend of a company, an experiment model of chance discovery has been proposed, which enables the stakeholders inside and outside the business to recognize the performance of management and realize the possibility of investment. Usually, the statistical analysis and prediction models are common ways to understand the overall financial trend. Apart from analyzing the public offering financial statements directly, some visualization methods are potential approaches for stakeholders to understand the financial status intuitively. Chance discovery is one of the visualization methods which may be suitable for being applied in the exploration of financial status and trend. Using the experiment model, the annual and serial KeyGraphs as well as the trend diagram and integrated map were generated to depict the overview of the successive five-year scenario. Finally, the visualization of financial trend was then attained in this study.
Triassic ammonoid biostratigraphy: an overview
Authors: Balini Marco , Lucas Spencer G. , Jenks James F. , Spielmann Justin A.
Published: June 2010

The Triassic chronostratigraphic scale was built on two centuries of research on ammonoid biostratigraphy and biochronology. Two Triassic stage bases and all of the Triassic substages are currently defined by ammonoid bioevents. The study of Triassic ammonoids began during the late 1700s, and in 1895, Edmund von Mojsisovics, Wilhelm Waagen and Carl Diener published an essentially complete Triassic chronostratigraphic scale based on ammonoid biostratigraphy. This scale introduced many of the Triassic stage and substage names still used today, and all terminology of stages and substages subsequently introduced has been based on ammonoid biostratigraphy. Early Triassic ammonoids show a trend from cosmopolitanism (Induan) to latitudinal differentiation (Olenekian), and the four Lower Triassic substage (Griesbachian, Dinerian, Smithian and Spathian) boundaries are globally correlated by widespread ammonoid biotic events. Middle Triassic ammonoids have provinciality similar to that of the Olenekian and provide a basis for recognizing six Middle Triassic substages. Late Triassic ammonoids provide a basis for recognizing three stages divided into five substages. The main uncertainty for the future of Triassic ammonoid biostratigraphy is not the decline of the ammonoids as a tool for dating and correlation of Triassic strata but, rather, the dramatic decrease in the number of specialists, due to the lack of replacement of experienced palaeontologists who started their activity in the 1950s and 1960s.
Triassic palynology of central and northwestern Europe: a review of palynofloral diversity patterns and biostratigraphic subdivisions
Authors: Kürschner Wolfram M. , Herngreen G. F. Waldemaar
Published: June 2010

We document palynofloral trends through the Triassic in the Germanic and Alpine facies with an emphasis on diversity trends and possibly related palaeoenvironmental changes. As a first order approximation of palynofloral diversity, we used the range through method of the software package PAST based on a range chart compiled from several Triassic palynological studies and reviews. Our analysis suggests that during the entire Triassic the diversity of plants producing spores was largely controlled by the availability of water, while diversity among gymnosperms was also affected by other environmental and biotic factors. In general, palynofloral diversity declines by some 50% between the early Carnian and the Norian, mainly as a result of a decrease in the number of pollen species. This is the second most severe loss in pollen species after the Permian–Triassic biotic crisis. In comparison to the marked palynofloral turnover at the Permian–Triassic transition and the end-Carnian decrease in palynofloral diversity, the end-Triassic biotic crisis appears to have little affected palynofloral species diversity in Europe. A study of the palynostratigraphy of NW Europe recognizes nine zones (and nine subzones) that encompass the Triassic, most of which have their boundaries based on the first occurrences of marker species. The palynostratigraphic zones and subzones in Europe are correlated to the marine Triassic stages based on various data, including numerous palynological records in marine Alpine Triassic strata.
The Triassic timescale: new constraints and a review of geochronological data
Authors: Mundil Roland , Pálfy József , Renne Paul R. , Brack Peter
Published: June 2010

A review of geochronological data underlying the geological timescale for the Triassic yields a significantly different timescale calibration than that published in the most recent compilation (Geologic TimeScale 2004). This is partly due to the availability of new radio–isotopic data, but mostly because strict selection criteria are applied and complications arising from biases (both systematic and random) are accounted for in this contribution. The ages for the base and the top of the Triassic are constrained by U–Pb ages to 252.3 and 201.5 Ma, respectively. These dates also constrain the ages of major extinction events at the Permian–Triassic and Triassic–Jurassic boundaries, and are statistically indistinguishable from ages obtained for the Siberian Traps and volcanic products from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, respectively, suggesting a causal link. Ages for these continental volcanics, however, are mostly from the K–Ar (
40
Ar/
39
Ar) system, which requires accounting and correcting for a systematic bias of
c
. 1% between U–Pb and
40
Ar/
39
Ar isotopic ages (the
40
Ar/
39
Ar ages being younger).

Robust age constraints also exist for the Induan–Olenekian boundary (251.2 Ma) and the Early–Middle Triassic (Olenekian–Anisian) boundary (247.2 Ma), resulting in a surprisingly short duration of the Early Triassic, which has implications for the timing of biotic recovery and major changes in ocean chemistry during this time. Furthermore, the Anisian–Ladinian boundary is constrained to 242.0 Ma by new U–Pb and
40
Ar/
39
Ar ages. Radio–isotopic ages for the Late Triassic are scarce, and the only reliable and biostratigraphically-controlled age is from an upper Carnian tuff dated to 230.9 Ma, yielding a duration of more than 35 Ma for the Late Triassic. All of these ages are from U–Pb analyses applied to zircons with uncertainties at the permil level or better. The resulting compilation can only serve as a guideline and must be considered a snapshot, resolving some of the issues mainly associated with inaccurate and misinterpreted data in previous publications. However, further advances will require revision of some of the data presented here.
Biochronology of Triassic bivalves
Authors: McRoberts Christopher A.
Published: June 2010

Substantial advances by numerous researchers over the past 20 years have made it possible to develop a composite biochronological scheme for the Triassic based on the bivalvesClaraia,Peribositria,Enteropleura,Daonella,Halobia,EomonotisandMonotis. These bivalves exhibit temporal durations nearly equal to ammonoids and conodonts. Widely distributed across the Tethys, Panthalassa and Boreal regions, these bivalves occur in a wide variety of marine facies and water depths, but are most notable for their thick shell accumulation in deeper-water oxygen deficient environments. They were most likely resting or reclining benthos, may have housed chemosymbionts, and were part of episodic opportunistic palaeocommunities in or near oxygen deficient settings.

A new biochronological zonation for bivalves is presented that encompasses the entire Triassic and is integrated with standard ammonoid schemes. The Lower Triassic is characterized by 2–3 zones ofClaraia, most notably from the eastern Tethys representing the entire Induan and lower portion of the Olenekian. Later in the Olenekian, and most notably from the Boreal realm, species ofPeribositria(included by some workers withinBositra) provide useful zonal indexes. The Middle Triassic is well represented byEnteropleura(Middle Anisian) andDaonella(Upper Anisian through Ladinian) in the Tethys and North America with significant occurrences throughout the circum-Pacific and Boreal realms. The Upper Triassic can be subdivided into 8–13 bivalve zones based on the succession ofHalobia,EomonotisandMonotis sensu latospecies with best representation in the Tethys, Boreal and eastern Panthalassa regions.
Using probabilistic confidence models for trust inference in Web-based social networks
Authors: Kuter Ugur , Golbeck Jennifer
Published: June 2010

In this article, we describe a new approach that gives an explicit probabilistic interpretation for social networks. In particular, we focus on the observation that many existing Web-based trust-inference algorithms conflate the notions of “trust” and “confidence,” and treat the amalgamation of the two concepts to compute the trust value associated with a social relationship. Unfortunately, the result of such an algorithm that merges trust and confidence is not a trust value, but rather a new variable in the inference process. Thus, it is hard to evaluate the outputs of such an algorithm in the context of trust inference.

This article first describes a formal probabilistic network model for social networks that allows us to address that issue. Then we describe SUNNY, a new trust inference algorithm that uses probabilistic sampling to separately estimate trust information and our confidence in the trust estimate and use the two values in order to compute an estimate of trust based on only those information sources with the highest confidence estimates.

We present an experimental evaluation of SUNNY. In our experiments, SUNNY produced more accurate trust estimates than the well-known trust inference algorithm TidalTrust, demonstrating its effectiveness. Finally, we discuss the implications these results will have on systems designed for personalizing content and making recommendations.
Evolvability and Speed of Evolutionary Algorithms in Light of Recent Developments in Biology
Authors: Hu Ting , Banzhaf Wolfgang
Published: June 2010

Biological and artificial evolutionary systems exhibit varying degrees of evolvability and different rates of evolution. Such quantities can be affected by various factors. Here, we review some evolutionary mechanisms and discuss new developments in biology that can potentially improve evolvability or accelerate evolution in artificial systems. Biological notions are discussed to the degree they correspond to notions in Evolutionary Computation. We hope that the findings put forward here can be used to design computational models of evolution that produce significant gains in evolvability and evolutionary speed.
Hodgkin Lymphoma in a Thymic Cyst: Report of a Case with Multiple Secondary Neoplasms
Authors: Almarzooqi Saeeda , Hammond Sue , Kahwash Samir B.
Published: June 2010

The presentation of Hodgkin Lymphoma in a thymic cyst is rare. We describe a case in a 9 year-old boy, with a long follow-up course, complicated by two secondary neoplasms and a post bone marrow transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. We also review the literature on such presentations and second malignant neoplasms in childhood.
Physiologic Basis and Pathophysiologic Implications of the Diastolic Properties of the Cardiac Muscle
Authors: Ferreira-Martins João , Leite-Moreira Adelino F.
Published: June 2010

Although systole was for long considered the core of cardiac function, hemodynamic performance is evenly dependent on appropriate systolic and diastolic functions. The recognition that isolated diastolic dysfunction is the major culprit for approximately fifty percent of all heart failure cases imposes a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms so that better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies can be designed. Risk factors leading to diastolic dysfunction affect myocardial relaxation and/or its material properties by disrupting the homeostasis of cardiomyocytes as well as their relation with surrounding matrix and vascular structures. As a consequence, slower ventricular relaxation and higher myocardial stiffness may result in higher ventricular filling pressures and in the risk of hemodynamic decompensation. Thus, determining the mechanisms of diastolic function and their implications in the pathophysiology of heart failure with normal ejection fraction has become a prominent field in basic and clinical research.
Fixed Points and the Stability of an AQCQ‐Functional Equation in Non‐Archimedean Normed Spaces
Authors: Park Choonkil
Published: June 2010

Using fixed point method, we prove the generalized Hyers‐Ulam stability of the following
additive‐quadratic‐cubic‐quartic functional equation f(x + 2y) + f(x − 2y) = 4f(x + y) + 4f(x − y) − 6f(x) + f(2y) + f(−2y) − 4f(y) − 4f(−y) in non‐Archimedean Banach spaces.
A Novel Prioritization Scheme to Improve QoS in IEEE 802.11e Networks
Authors: Tadayon Navid , Zokaei Saadan , Askari Elaheh
Published: June 2010

IEEE 802.11 WLAN utilizes a distributed function at its MAC layer, namely, DCF to access the wireless medium. Due to its distributed nature, DCF is able to guarantee working stability in a wireless medium while maintaining the assembling and maintenance cost in a low level. However, DCF is inefficient in dealing with real-time traffics due to its incapability on providing QoS. IEEE 802.11e was introduced as a supplementary standard to cope with this problem. This standard introduces an Enhanced Distributed Coordination Function (EDCF) that works based on diff-Serve model and can serve multiple classes of traffics (by using different prioritizations schemes). With the emergence of new time-sensitive applications, EDCF has proved to be yet inefficient in dealing with these kinds of traffics because it could not provide network with well-differentiated QoS. In this study, we propose a novel prioritization scheme to improve QoS level in IEEE 802.11e network. In this scheme, we replace Uniform PDF with Gamma PDF, which has salient differentiating properties. We investigate the suitability and superiority of this scheme on furnishing network with well-differentiated QoS using probabilistic analysis. We strengthen our claims by extensive simulation runs.
Breast Cancer Cells in Three-dimensional Culture Display an Enhanced Radioresponse after Coordinate Targeting of Integrin α5β1 and Fibronectin
Authors: Nam Jin-Min , Onodera Yasuhito , Bissell Mina J. , Park Catherine C.
Published: June 2010

Tactics to selectively enhance cancer radioresponse are of great interest. Cancer cells actively elaborate and remodel their extracellular matrix (ECM) to aid in survival and progression. Previous work has shown that β1-integrin inhibitory antibodies can enhance the growth-inhibitory and apoptotic responses of human breast cancer cell lines to ionizing radiation, either when cells are cultured in three-dimensional laminin-rich ECM (3D lrECM) or grown as xenografts in mice. Here, we show that a specific α heterodimer of β1-integrin preferentially mediates a prosurvival signal in human breast cancer cells that can be specifically targeted for therapy. 3D lrECM culture conditions were used to compare α-integrin heterodimer expression in malignant and nonmalignant cell lines. Under these conditions, we found that expression of α5β1-integrin was upregulated in malignant cells compared with nonmalignant breast cells. Similarly, we found that normal and oncofetal splice variants of fibronectin, the primary ECM ligand of α5β1-integrin, were also strikingly upregulated in malignant cell lines compared with nonmalignant acini. Cell treatment with a peptide that disrupts the interactions of α5β1-integrin with fibronectin promoted apoptosis in malignant cells and further heightened the apoptotic effects of radiation. In support of these results, an analysis of gene expression array data from breast cancer patients revealed an association of high levels of α5-integrin expression with decreased survival. Our findings offer preclinical validation of fibronectin and α5β1-integrin as targets for breast cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 70(13); 5238–48. ©2010 AACR.
High Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity Identifies Tumor-Initiating and Metastasis-Initiating Cells in Human Prostate Cancer
Authors: van den Hoogen Christel , van der Horst Geertje , Cheung Henry , Buijs Jeroen T. , Lippitt Jenny M. , Guzmán-Ramírez Natalia , Hamdy Freddie C. , Eaton Colby L. , Thalmann George N. , Cecchini Marco G. , Pelger Rob C.M. , van der Pluijm Gabri
Published: June 2010

Metastatic progression of advanced prostate cancer is a major clinical problem. Identifying the cell(s) of origin in prostate cancer and its distant metastases may permit the development of more effective treatment and preventive therapies. In this study, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity was used as a basis to isolate and compare subpopulations of primary human prostate cancer cells and cell lines. ALDH-high prostate cancer cells displayed strongly elevated clonogenicity and migratory behavior in vitro. More strikingly, ALDH-high cells readily formed distant metastases with strongly enhanced tumor progression at both orthotopic and metastatic sites in preclinical models. Several ALDH isoforms were expressed in human prostate cancer cells and clinical specimens of primary prostate tumors with matched bone metastases. Our findings suggest that ALDH-based viable cell sorting can be used to identify and characterize tumor-initiating and, more importantly perhaps, metastasis-initiating cells in human prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 70(12); 5163–73. ©2010 AACR.
Distinct Genomic Alterations in Prostate Cancers in Chinese and Western Populations Suggest Alternative Pathways of Prostate Carcinogenesis
Authors: Mao Xueying , Yu Yongwei , Boyd Lara K. , Ren Guoping , Lin Dongmei , Chaplin Tracy , Kudahetti Sakunthala C. , Stankiewicz Elzbieta , Xue Liyan , Beltran Luis , Gupta Manu , Oliver R. Tim D. , Lemoine Nick R. , Berney Daniel M. , Young Bryan D. , Lu Yong-Jie
Published: June 2010

Prostate cancer is significantly more common in Western men than in Asian men, but the basis for this difference remains unknown. Because genomic studies of Asian prostate cancer are very limited, we used a genome-wide approach to reveal the genomic alterations in Chinese prostate cancers. We found a significant reduction in the frequency of certain somatic genomic changes that are commonly found in Western prostate cancers, including the 21q22.2-22.3 deletion, which involves the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene, and 10q deletion, which causes PTEN inactivation. Array results were confirmed by PCR-based molecular copy-number counting in selected samples. The different frequencies of these genomic changes were further evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry analyses of tissue microarray samples. These alterations might be key genetic changes underlying the regional/ethnic difference in clinical incidence and might be induced by specific environmental and/or genetic risk factors that Western men are exposed to. Our findings suggest that tumors arise in Western and Chinese populations by alternative pathogenetic mechanisms. Cancer Res; 70(13); 5207–12. ©2010 AACR.
A Mouse Model of Melanoma Driven by Oncogenic KRAS
Authors: Milagre Carla , Dhomen Nathalie , Geyer Felipe C. , Hayward Robert , Lambros Maryou , Reis-Filho Jorge S. , Marais Richard
Published: June 2010

The small G-protein NRAS is mutated in 22% of human melanomas, whereas the related proteins KRAS and HRAS are mutated in only 2% and 1% of melanomas, respectively. We have developed a mouse model of melanoma in which Cre recombinase/LoxP technology is used to drive inducible expression of G12VKRAS in the melanocytic lineage. The mice develop skin hyperpigmentation, nevi, and tumors that bear many of the cardinal histopathology features and molecular characteristics of human melanoma. These tumors invade and destroy the underlying muscles and cells derived from them can grow as subcutaneous tumors and colonize the lungs of nude mice. These data establish that oncogenic KRAS can be a founder event in melanomagenesis. Cancer Res; 70(13); 5549–57. ©2010 AACR.
Molecular Causes for BUBR1 Dysfunction in the Human Cancer Predisposition Syndrome Mosaic Variegated Aneuploidy
Authors: Suijkerbuijk Saskia J.E. , van Osch Maria H.J. , Bos Frank L. , Hanks Sandra , Rahman Nazneen , Kops Geert J.P.L.
Published: June 2010

Genetic mutations in the mitotic regulatory kinase BUBR1 are associated with the cancer-susceptible disorder mosaic variegated aneuploidy (MVA). In patients with biallelic mutations, a missense mutation pairs with a truncating mutation. Here, we show that cell lines derived from MVA patients with biallelic mutations have an impaired mitotic checkpoint, chromosome alignment defects, and low overall BUBR1 abundance. Ectopic expression of BUBR1 restored mitotic checkpoint activity, proving that BUBR1 dysfunction causes chromosome segregation errors in the patients. Combined analysis of patient cells and functional protein replacement shows that all MVA mutations fall in two distinct classes: those that impose specific defects in checkpoint activity or microtubule attachment and those that lower BUBR1 protein abundance. Low protein abundance is the direct result of the absence of transcripts from truncating mutants combined with high protein turnover of missense mutants. In this group of missense mutants, the amino acid change consistently occurs in or near the BUBR1 kinase domain. Our findings provide a molecular explanation for chromosomal instability in patients with biallelic genetic mutations in BUBR1. Cancer Res; 70(12); 4891–900. ©2010 AACR.
Reduced Reactive Oxygen Species–Generating Capacity Contributes to the Enhanced Cell Growth of Arsenic-Transformed Epithelial Cells
Authors: Chang Qingshan , Pan Jingju , Wang Xing , Zhang Zhuo , Chen Fei , Shi Xianglin
Published: June 2010

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the activation of protein kinases, DNA damage responses, and cell apoptosis. The details of how ROS regulate these intracellular biochemical and genetic processes remain to be fully understood. By establishing transformed bronchial epithelial cells through chronic low-dose arsenic treatment, we showed that the capacity of ROS generation induced by arsenic is substantially reduced in the transformed cells relative to the nontransformed cells. Such a reduction in ROS generation endows cells with premalignant features, including rapid growth, resistance to arsenic toxicity, and increased colony formation of the transformed cells. To validate these observations, the capability of ROS generation was restored in the transformed cells by treatment with inhibitors or siRNAs to silence the function of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or catalase and cell growth was determined following these treatments. Enhancement in ROS generation suppressed cell growth and colony formation of the transformed cells significantly. Despite the fact that the transformed cells showed a decreased expression of NF-κB signaling proteins IKKβ and IKKγ, the proteolytic processing p105 and p100 and NF-κB DNA binding activity were elevated in these cells. Increasing ROS generation by silencing SOD and catalase reduced the DNA binding activity of NF-κB in the transformed cells. Taken together, the transformed cells induced by arsenic exhibited a decrease in ROS generation, which is responsible for the enhanced cell growth and colony formation of the transformed cells, most likely through a sustained alternative activation of the NF-κB transcription factor. Cancer Res; 70(12); 5127–35. ©2010 AACR.
Taspase1 Functions as a Non-Oncogene Addiction Protease that Coordinates Cancer Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis
Authors: Chen David Y. , Liu Han , Takeda Shugaku , Tu Ho-Chou , Sasagawa Satoru , Van Tine Brian A. , Lu Dongsi , Cheng Emily H-Y. , Hsieh James J-D.
Published: June 2010

Taspase1, the mixed lineage leukemia and TFIIAα-β cleaving protease, enables cell proliferation and permits oncogenic initiation. Here, we show its critical role in cancer maintenance and thus offer a new anticancer target. Taspase1 is overexpressed in primary human cancers, and deficiency of Taspase1 in cancer cells not only disrupts proliferation but also enhances apoptosis. Mechanistically, loss of Taspase1 induces the levels of CDK inhibitors (CDKI: p16, p21, and p27) and reduces the level of antiapoptotic MCL-1. Therapeutically, deficiency of Taspase1 synergizes with chemotherapeutic agents and ABT-737, an inhibitor of BCL-2/BCL-XL, to kill cancer cells. Taspase1 alone or in conjunction with MYC, RAS, or E1A fails to transform NIH/3T3 cells or primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts, respectively, but plays critical roles in cancer initiation and maintenance. Therefore, Taspase1 is better classified as a “non-oncogene addiction” protease, the inhibition of which may offer a novel anticancer therapeutic strategy. The reliance of oncogenes on subordinate non-oncogenes during tumorigenesis underscores the non-oncogene addiction hypothesis in which a large class of non-oncogenes functions to maintain cancer phenotypes and presents attractive anticancer therapeutic targets. The emergence of successful cancer therapeutics targeting non-oncogenes to which cancers are addicted supports the future development and potential application of small-molecule Taspase1 inhibitors for cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 70(13); 5358–67. ©2010 AACR.