bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
African Great Apes Are Naturally Infected with Polyomaviruses Closely Related to Merkel Cell Polyomavirus
Authors: Leendertz Fabian H. , Scuda Nelly , Cameron Kenneth N. , Kidega Tonny , Zuberbühler Klaus , Leendertz Siv Aina J. , Couacy-Hymann Emmanuel , Boesch Christophe , Calvignac Sébastien , Ehlers Bernhard
Published: November 2010

The oncogenic Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infects humans worldwide, but little is known about the occurrence of viruses related to MCPyV in the closest phylogenetic relatives of humans, great apes. We analyzed samples from 30 wild chimpanzees and one captive gorilla and identified two new groups of polyomaviruses (PyVs). These new viruses are by far the closest relatives to MCPyV described to date, providing the first evidence of the natural occurrence of PyVs related to MCPyV in wild great apes. Similar to MCPyV, the prevalence of these viruses is relatively high (>30%). This, together with the fact that humans in West and Central Africa frequently hunt and butcher primates, may point toward further MCPyV-like strains spreading to, or already existing in, our species.
Complement Opsonization Enhances Friend Virus Infection of B Cells and Thereby Amplifies the Virus-Specific CD8
+
T Cell Response
Authors: Bila Custodio , Oberhauser Verena , Ammann Christoph G. , Ejaz Asim , Huber Georg , Schimmer Simone , Messer Ron , Pekna Marcela , von Laer Dorothee , Dittmer Ulf , Hasenkrug Kim J. , Stoiber Heribert , Bánki Zoltán
Published: November 2010

B cells are one of the targets of Friend virus (FV) infection, a well-established mouse model often used to study retroviral infections
in vivo
. Although B cells may be effective in stimulating cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, studies involving their role in FV infection have mainly focused on neutralizing antibody production. Here we show that polyclonal activation of B cells promotes their infection with FV both
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Furthermore, we demonstrate that complement opsonization of Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) enhances infection of B cells, which correlates with increased potency of B cells to activate FV-specific CD8
+
T cells.
Host Alternation of Chikungunya Virus Increases Fitness while Restricting Population Diversity and Adaptability to Novel Selective Pressures
Authors: Coffey Lark L. , Vignuzzi Marco
Published: November 2010

The mechanisms by which RNA arboviruses, including chikungunya virus (CHIKV), evolve and maintain the ability to infect vertebrate and invertebrate hosts are poorly understood. To understand how host specificity shapes arbovirus populations, we studied CHIKV populations passaged alternately between invertebrate and vertebrate cells (invertebrate ↔ vertebrate) to simulate natural alternation and contrasted the results with those for populations that were artificially released from cycling by passage in single cell types. These CHIKV populations were characterized by measuring genetic diversity, changes in fitness, and adaptability to novel selective pressures. The greatest fitness increases were observed in alternately passaged CHIKV, without drastic changes in population diversity. The greatest increases in genetic diversity were observed after serial passage and correlated with greater adaptability. These results suggest an evolutionary trade-off between maintaining fitness for invertebrate ↔ vertebrate cell cycling, where maximum adaptability is possible only via enhanced population diversity and extensive exploration of sequence space.
Psychological predictors of injuries in circus artists: an exploratory study
Authors: Shrier Ian , Hallé Madeleine
Published: November 2010

Objectives

To explore the relationship between potential psychological risk factors and injury risk in circus artists.

Design

Historical cohort study.

Setting

Cirque du Soleil training programme.

Participants

Forty-seven circus artists training to become Cirque du Soleil artists.

Assessment of risk factors

Artists completed the validated REST-Q questionnaire (19 domains) during their first 2 weeks of training.

Main outcome

Injury risk ratio.

Results

Of the five a priori exposures of interest, injury, emotional exhaustion, self-efficacy and fatigue were associated with an increase in injury risk (risk ratios between 1.8 and 2.8), but Conflicts/Pressure was not (risk ratio=0.8). Of the several specific psychological aspects that are considered risk factors for injury, low self-efficacy had the strongest relationship.

Conclusions

Most of the strong psychological risk factors for injuries previously identified in athletes also appear to be risk factors in circus artists.
Lichenized unicellular cyanobacteria fix nitrogen in the light
Authors: Crittenden P. D. , Llimona X. , Sancho L. G.
Published: November 2010

Diurnal variation in N2-fixation (acetylene reduction) rate was measured in Thyrea girardii (Durieu & Mont.) Bagl. & Carestia and Thyrea confusa Henssen, lichens containing a unicellular cyanobacterial photobiont. In field assays, mean acetylene-reduction rates in the light were 25.8 ± 8.9 (n = 11) and 21.0 ± 5.6 nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1(n = 13) for T. girardii and T. confusa, respectively, and the respective mean rates in the dark were 8.2 ± 1.8 (n = 26) and 13.5 ± 5.4 (n = 8) nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1. In laboratory assays under relatively isothermal conditions (ca. 19–22 °C), the maximum acetylene reduction rate (52.0 ± 6.0 nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1) was recorded in the light and the minimum rate (20.2 ± 6.0 nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1) in the dark. This diurnal pattern is contrary to expectations for unicellular cyanobacteria. We suggest carbon flow to the fungal symbiont reduces the potential for nitrogenase activity in the dark.
The influence of grass root systems on growth and form of Trifolium repens
Authors: Turkington Roy
Published: November 2010

Pure swards of the grasses Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, and Lolium perenne were allowed to grow in boxes in a standard growth medium; one additional set of boxes with no grasses was used as a control. After 43 weeks, all aboveground parts of the grasses were removed by harvesting at 2 cm below ground level. Next, clones of Trifolium repens collected from patches in a pasture dominated by these three grasses were introduced into each of the grass boxes, in all combinations of grass treatment and T. repens origin, and allowed to grow for 16 weeks. Both the site of origin of the T. repens clones and the treatment imposed by the grasses had significant influences on the growth and form of T. repens. Treatment effects were consistent for most characters, and on average, depression of growth was in the following order: Dactylis > Lolium > Holcus > control. This ranking differs from that reported by many other studies where either whole plants or shoot systems alone were used as the treatment effects on T. repens. Key words: interference, growth, morphogenesis, roots, Trifolium repens.
Ecology of a mediterranean-climate estuarine wetland at Carpinteria, California: plant distributions and soil salinity in the upper marsh
Authors: Callaway Ragan M. , Jones Scott , Ferren Jr. Wayne R. , Parikh Anuja
Published: November 2010

We examined seasonal changes in soil salinity in four different vegetative zones in a mediterranean-climate estuarine wetland in southern California. Each zone had a characteristic seasonal pattern of soil salinity: (i) the low marsh zone was high in salinity throughout the year; (ii) the salt flat zone was hypersaline throughout the year; (iii) the transition zone was hypersaline in the summer and fall, and low in salinity in the winter and spring; and (iv) the nonflooded grassland was low in salinity throughout the year. The transition zone was densely populated with winter annuals that were distributed along gradients of elevation and soil salinity. This occurrence of annuals is a characteristic feature of mediterranean-climate marshes. We found that the relative growth rates and the germination of each of these annuals in experimental solutions of different salinities corresponded with the winter and spring soil salinities of the subzones they occupied in the field.
Non-collinear antiferromagnetism in FeCrAs Special issue on Neutron Scattering in Canada.
Authors: Swainson Ian P. , Wu Wenlong , McCollam Alix , Julian Stephen R.
Published: November 2010

FeCrAs undergoes a magnetic ordering transition at TN ≃ 125 K. The magnetic structure of FeCrAs, which crystallizes in space group [Formula: see text] and is isostructural to Fe2P, was determined by constant wavelength neutron powder diffraction. A single basis function was found to describe the intensity distribution in the magnetic satellite reflections, which are associated with propagation vector k = (1/3, 1/3, 0), representing a K-point zone-boundary ordering. The magnetic intensity could be modelled by moments from Cr only, which lie on the 3g-sites, in pyramidal coordination by As, whereas the moments on Fe, in tetrahedral coordination on the 3f-sites, were found to be so small as to be zero within error. This agrees with previous Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements on this compound. The magnetic structure is characterized by non-collinear antiferromagnetic order of the moments, all of which lie in the hexagonal plane. This does not appear to have been observed in other monopnictides with Fe2P structure but is consistent with geometric frustration of antiferromagnetic interactions.
Formation mechanism of self-assembled unilamellar vesiclesSpecial issue on Neutron Scattering in Canada
Authors: Nieh Mu-Ping , Kučerka Norbert , Katsaras John
Published: November 2010

Uniform size self-assembled unilamellar vesicles (ULVs) can be produced from mixtures of weakly charged short- and long-chain phospholipids. These lipid mixtures self-assemble into bilayered micelles (so-called bicelles), and a bicelle to ULV transition has been previously reported. Here, we discuss the effect of various parameters (i.e., lipid concentration, charge density, membrane rigidity, lipid composition, and lipid hydrocarbon chain length) on ULV radius as determined by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS data were best fit using a core-shell disk and a spherical-shell model to obtain the size of bicelles and ULVs, respectively. From the present experiments we conclude that a previously proposed mechanism of ULV formation, where bicelles coalesce into large precursor and self-fold into ULVs, is able to explain the present SANS data.
Omega-phase in Ti-Hf-Zr alloys produced by the hydride-cycle methodSpecial issue on Neutron Scattering in Canada.
Authors: Swainson Ian P. , Dolukanyan Seda K. , Aleksanyan Anahit G. , Shekhtman Veniamin Sh. , Mayilyan Davit G. , Yonkeu André L.
Published: November 2010

We report the presence of large proportions of ω-phase in Ti-Hf-Zr alloys, prepared using the hydride cycle technique. We show that the ω-phase extends across the concentration triangle of Ti-Zr-Hf and report the partitioning of the three metals across the two sites in this structure from neutron and X-ray data. We examine the symmetry of the order parameter governing the β–ω phase transition and show that a two-step model for the phase transition involving site ordering followed by displacement is not likely to be correct. We suggest that an interstitial solid solution of oxygen and octahedral vacancies exists, and that the observation of any ω-phase diffraction pattern of alloys of these metals at ambient temperature and pressure should be viewed as a potential sign of the presence of oxygen in the octahedral interstitial sites.
A Canadian perspective on engineering strain measurements by neutron diffractionSpecial issue on Neutron Scattering in Canada.
Authors: Holden T. M.
Published: November 2010

The origins of the method, which relies on the high penetration of thermal neutrons through most industrial materials, in the late 1970s and 1980s and its development up to the present time are described. The basic steps from the measurement of lattice spacing to the calculation of stress are outlined. The length scales on which strains and stresses are manifest have a bearing on the interpretation of strain in terms of stress. A number of examples of macroscopic strain or stress fields are described where these scale considerations, as well as gradients of solute concentration that affect the interpretation of strain, matter. The strains on the length scale of the grains provide useful information about the elasticity and plasticity of materials, particularly in materials of lower symmetry than cubic. Finally, a number of future directions are suggested, which are enabled by the new intense neutron sources and improved equipment built in the last few years.
Distinguishing splanchnic nerve and chromaffin cell stimulation in mouse adrenal slices with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry
Authors: Walsh Paul L. , Petrovic Jelena , Wightman R. Mark
Published: November 2010

Electrical stimulation is an indispensible tool in studying electrically excitable tissues in neurobiology and neuroendocrinology. In this work, the consequences of high-intensity electrical stimulation on the release of catecholamines from adrenal gland slices were examined with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon fiber microelectrodes. A biphasic signal, consisting of a fast and slow phase, was observed when electrical stimulations typically used in tissue slices (10 Hz, 350 μA biphasic, 2.0 ms/phase pulse width) were applied to bipolar tungsten-stimulating electrodes. This signal was found to be stimulation dependent, and the slow phase of the signal was abolished when smaller (≤250 μA) and shorter (1 ms/phase) stimulations were used. The slow phase of the biphasic signal was found to be tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium independent, while the fast phase was greatly reduced using these pharmacological agents. Two different types of calcium responses were observed, where the fast phase was abolished by perfusion with a low-calcium buffer while both the fast and slow phases could be modulated when Ca2+was completely excluded from the solution using EGTA. Perfusion with nifedipine resulted in the reduction of the slow catecholamine release to 29% of the original signal, while the fast phase was only decreased to 74% of predrug values. From these results, it was determined that high-intensity stimulations of the adrenal medulla result in depolarizing not only the splanchnic nerves, but also the chromaffin cells themselves resulting in a biphasic catecholamine release.
Pathophysiology of motility dysfunction in bowel obstruction: role of stretch-induced COX-2
Authors: Shi Xuan-Zheng , Lin You-Min , Powell Don W. , Sarna Sushil K.
Published: November 2010

In gastrointestinal conditions such as bowel obstruction, pseudo-obstruction, and idiopathic megacolon, the lumen of affected bowel segments is distended and its motility function impaired. Our hypothesis is that mechanical stretch of the distended segments alters gene expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which impairs motility function. Partial obstruction was induced with a silicon band in the distal colon of rats for up to 7 days, and wild-type and COX-2 gene-deficient mice for 4 days. Mechanical stretch was mimicked in vitro in colonic circular muscle strips and in primary culture of colonic circular smooth muscle cells (SMC) with a Flexercell system. The rat colonic circular muscle contractility was significantly decreased in the distended segment oral to obstruction, but not in the aboral segment. This change started as early as day 1 and persisted for at least 7 days after obstruction. The expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein increased dramatically also in the oral, but not aboral, segment. The upregulation of COX-2 expression started at 12 h and the effect persisted for 7 days. At 24 h after obstruction, the COX-2 mRNA level in the oral segment increased 26-fold compared with controls. This was not accompanied by any significant increase of myeloperoxidase or inflammatory cytokines. Immunohistochemical studies showed that COX-2 was selectively induced in the colonic SMC. In vitro stretch of colonic muscle strips or cultured SMC drastically induced COX-2 expression. Incubation of circular muscle strips from obstructed segment with COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 restored the contractility. The impairment of muscle contractility in obstructed colon was attenuated in the COX-2 gene-deficient mice. In conclusion, mechanical stretch in obstruction induces marked expression of COX-2 in the colonic SMC, and stretch-induced COX-2 plays a critical role in the suppression of smooth muscle contractility in bowel obstruction.
Multiple hypothalamic circuits sense and regulate glucose levels
Authors: Karnani Mahesh , Burdakov Denis
Published: November 2010

The hypothalamus monitors body energy status in part through specialized glucose sensing neurons that comprise both glucose-excited and glucose-inhibited cells. Here we discuss recent work on the elucidation of neurochemical identities and physiological significance of these hypothalamic cells, including caveats resulting from the currently imprecise functional and molecular definitions of glucose sensing and differences in glucose-sensing responses obtained with different experimental techniques. We discuss the recently observed adaptive glucose-sensing responses of orexin/hypocretin-containing neurons, which allow these cells to sense changes in glucose levels rather than its absolute concentration, as well as the glucose-sensing abilities of melanin-concentrating hormone, neuropeptide Y, and proopiomelanocortin-containing neurons and the recent data on the role of ventromedial hypothalamic steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1)/glutamate-containing cells in glucose homeostasis. We propose a model where orexin/hypocretin and SF-1/glutamate neurons cooperate in stimulating the sympathetic outflow to the liver and pancreas to increase blood glucose, which in turn provides negative feedback inhibition to these cells. Orexin/hypocretin neurons also stimulate feeding and reward seeking and are activated by hunger and stress, thereby providing a potential link between glucose sensing and goal-oriented behavior. The cell-type-specific neuromodulatory actions of glucose in several neurochemically distinct hypothalamic circuits are thus likely to be involved in coordinating higher brain function and behavior with autonomic adjustments in blood glucose levels.
Midkine, a heparin-binding protein, is increased in the diabetic mouse kidney postmenopause
Authors: Diamond-Stanic Maggie K. , Romero-Aleshire Melissa J. , Hoyer Patricia B. , Greer Kevin , Hoying James B. , Brooks Heddwen L.
Published: November 2010

Estrogen is thought to protect against the development of chronic kidney disease, and menopause increases the development and severity of diabetic kidney disease. In this study, we used streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes in the 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)-treated mouse model of menopause. DNA microarrays were used to identify gene expression changes in the diabetic kidney postmenopause. An ANOVA model, CARMA, was used to isolate the menopause effect between two groups of diabetic mice, diabetic menopausal (STZ/VCD) and diabetic cycling (STZ). In this diabetic study, 8,864 genes of the possible 15,600 genes on the array were included in the ANOVA; 99 genes were identified as demonstrating a >1.5-fold up- or downregulation between the STZ/VCD and STZ groups. We randomly selected genes for confirmation by real-time PCR; midkine (Mdk), immediate early response gene 3 (IEX-1), mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig6), and ubiquitin-specific protease 2 (USP2) were significantly increased in the kidneys of STZ/VCD compared with STZ mice. Western blot analysis confirmed that Mdk and IEX-1 protein abundance was significantly increased in the kidney cortex of STZ/VCD compared with STZ mice. In a separate study, DNA microarrays and CARMA analysis were used to identify the effect of menopause on the nondiabetic kidney; VCD-treated mice were compared with cycling mice. Of the possible 15,600 genes on the array, 9,142 genes were included in the ANOVA; 20 genes were identified as demonstrating a >1.5-fold up- or downregulation; histidine decarboxylase and vanin 1 were among the genes identified as differentially expressed in the postmenopausal nondiabetic kidney. These data expand our understanding of how hormone status correlates with the development of diabetic kidney disease and identify several target genes for further studies.
Dynamics of PTH-induced disassembly of Npt2a/NHERF-1 complexes in living OK cells
Authors: Weinman Edward J. , Steplock Deborah , Shenolikar Shirish , Blanpied Thomas A.
Published: November 2010

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) inhibits the reabsorption of phosphate in the renal proximal tubule by disrupting the binding of the sodium-dependent phosphate transporter 2A (Npt2a) to the adapter protein sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor-1 (NHERF-1), a process initiated by activation of protein kinase C (PKC). To gain additional insights into the dynamic sequence of events, the time course of these responses was studied in living opossum kidney (OK) cells. Using a FRET-based biosensor, we found that PTH activated intracellular PKC within seconds to minutes. In cells expressing GFP-Npt2a and mCherry-NHERF, PTH did not affect the relative abundance of NHERF-1 but there was a significant and time-dependent decrease in the Npt2a/NHERF-1 ratio. The half-time to maximal dissociation was 15 to 20 min. By contrast, PTH had no effect on the fluorescence ratio for GFP-ezrin compared with mCherry-NHERF-1 at the apical surface. These experiments establish that PTH treatment of proximal tubule OK cells leads to rapid activation of PKC with the subsequent dissociation of Npt2a/NHERF-1 complexes. The association of NHERF-1 with Ezrin and their localization at the apical membrane, however, was unperturbed by PTH, thereby enabling the rapid recruitment and membrane reinsertion of Npt2a and other NHERF-1 targets on termination of the hormone response.
GAD67-GFP+ Neurons in the Nucleus of Roller. II. Subthreshold and Firing Resonance Properties
Authors: van Brederode J.F.M. , Berger A. J.
Published: November 2010

In the companion paper we show that GAD67-GFP+ (GFP+) inhibitory neurons located in the Nucleus of Roller of the mouse brain stem can be classified into two main groups (tonic and phasic) based on their firing patterns in responses to injected depolarizing current steps. In this study we examined the responses of GFP+ cells to fluctuating sinusoidal (“chirp”) current stimuli. Membrane impedance profiles in response to chirp stimulation showed that nearly all phasic cells exhibited subthreshold resonance, whereas the majority of tonic GFP+ cells were nonresonant. In general, subthreshold resonance was associated with a relatively fast passive membrane time constant and low input resistance. In response to suprathreshold chirp current stimulation at a holding potential just below spike threshold the majority of tonic GFP+ cells fired multiple action potentials per cycle at low input frequencies (<5 Hz) and either stopped firing or were not entrained by the chirp at higher input frequencies (= tonic low-pass cells). A smaller group of phasic GFP+ cells did not fire at low input frequency but were able to phase-lock 1:1 at intermediate chirp frequencies (= band-pass cells). Spike timing reliability was tested with repeated chirp stimuli and our results show that phasic cells were able to reliably fire when they phase-locked 1:1 over a relatively broad range of input frequencies. Most tonic low-pass cells showed low reliability and poor phase-locking ability. Computer modeling suggested that these different firing resonance properties among GFP+ cells are due to differences in passive and active membrane properties and spiking mechanisms. This heterogeneity of resonance properties might serve to selectively activate subgroups of interneurons.
Adrenergic Receptors Modulate Motoneuron Excitability, Sensory Synaptic Transmission and Muscle Spasms After Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Rank M. M. , Murray K. C. , Stephens M. J. , D'Amico J. , Gorassini M. A. , Bennett D. J.
Published: November 2010

The brain stem provides most of the noradrenaline (NA) present in the spinal cord, which functions to both increase spinal motoneuron excitability and inhibit sensory afferent transmission to motoneurons (excitatory postsynaptic potentials; EPSPs). NA increases motoneuron excitability by facilitating calcium-mediated persistent inward currents (Ca PICs) that are crucial for sustained motoneuron firing. Spinal cord transection eliminates most NA and accordingly causes an immediate loss of PICs and emergence of exaggerated EPSPs. However, with time PICs recover, and thus the exaggerated EPSPs can then readily trigger these PICs, which in turn produce muscle spasms. Here we examined the contribution of adrenergic receptors to spasms in chronic spinal rats. Selective activation of the α1Aadrenergic receptor with the agonists methoxamine or A61603 facilitated Ca PIC and spasm activity, recorded both in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, the α2receptor agonists clonidine and UK14303 did not facilitate Ca PICs, but did decrease the EPSPs that trigger spasms. Moreover, in the absence of agonists, spasms recorded in vivo were inhibited by the α1receptor antagonists WB4010, prazosin, and REC15/2739, and increased by the α2receptor antagonist RX821001, suggesting that both adrenergic receptors were endogenously active. In contrast, spasm activity recorded in the isolated in vitro cord was inhibited only by the α1antagonists that block constitutive receptor activity (activity in the absence of NA; inverse agonists, WB4010 and prazosin) and not by the neutral antagonist REC15/2739, which only blocks conventional NA-mediated receptor activity. RX821001 had no effect in vitro even though it is an α2receptor inverse agonist. Our results suggest that after chronic spinal cord injury Ca PICs and spasms are facilitated, in part, by constitutive activity in α1adrenergic receptors. Additionally, peripherally derived NA (or similar ligand) activates both α1and α2adrenergic receptors, controlling PICs and EPSPs, respectively.
Norm and Essential Norm of an Integral‐Type Operator from the Dirichlet Space to the Bloch‐Type Space on the Unit Ball
Authors: Stević Stevo
Published: November 2010

Operator norm and essential norm of an integral‐type operator, recently introduced by this author, from the Dirichlet space to the Bloch‐type space on the unit ball inℂnare calculated here.
Carbon Monoxide Oxidation on Nanostructured Pt Thin Films Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Deposition: Insights into the Morphology Effects
Authors: Saidani Fatma , Rochefort Dominic , Mohamedi Mohamed
Published: November 2010

Nanostructured Pt thin film catalysts of various morphologies have been synthesized by pulsed laser deposition and studied towards enhancing their tolerance to CO poisoning, a reaction of critical issue to liquid fuel cells. It was discovered that Pt film deposited under 5 Torr of He background pressure showed the highest electroactive surface area and the lowest onset potential of CO oxidation demonstrating an enhancement of the CO poisoning resistance. The reason for such enhanced electrocatalytic activity is ascribed to the high roughness of Pt surface. This study further provides a methodology for the proper design of electrocatalysts that might be considered to be developed by the pulsed laser deposition technique.
Biliary Epithelial Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Senescence in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Authors: Sasaki Motoko , Nakanuma Yasuni
Published: November 2010

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized serologically by the high prevalence of anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMAs) and histologically by the cholangitis of small bile ducts, eventually followed by extensive loss of the small bile duct. An autoimmune pathogenesis is suggested by clinical and experimental studies, but there remain issues regarding the etiology, the significance of AMAs in the pathogenesis of bile duct lesions, and so on. The unique properties of apoptosis in biliary epithelial cells (BECs), in which there is exposure of autoantigen to the effectors of the immune system, are proposed to be a cause of bile duct lesions in PBC. Recent progress disclosed that cellular senescence and autophagy are involved in bile duct lesions in PBC. Senescent BECs may modulate the periductal microenvironment by expressing senescence-associated secretory phenotypes, including various chemokines, and contribute to the pathogenesis of bile duct lesions in PBC.
Strong Convergence to Common Fixed Points for Countable Families of Asymptotically Nonexpansive Mappings and Semigroups
Authors: Wattanawitoon Kriengsak , Kumam Poom
Published: November 2010

We prove strong convergence theorems for countable families of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings and semigroups in Hilbert spaces. Our results extend and improve the recent results of Nakajo and Takahashi (2003) and of Zegeye and Shahzad (2008) from the class of nonexpansive mappings to asymptotically nonexpansive mappings.
Testing a German Adaption of the Entrapment Scale and Assessing the Relation to Depression
Authors: Trachsel Manuel , Krieger Tobias , Gilbert Paul , Grosse Holtforth Martin
Published: November 2010

The construct ofentrapmentis used in evolutionary theory to explain the etiology of depression. The perception of entrapment can emerge when defeated individuals want to escape but are incapable. Studies have shown relationships of entrapment to depression, and suicidal tendencies. The aim of this study was a psychometric evaluation and validation of the Entrapment Scale in German (ES-D). 540 normal subjects completed the ES-D along with other measures of depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and distress. Good reliability and validity of the ES-D was demonstrated. Further, whereas entrapment originally has been regarded as a two-dimensional construct, our analyses supported a single-factor model. Entrapment explained variance in depressive symptoms beyond that explained by stress and hopelessness supporting the relevance of the construct for depression research. These findings are discussed with regard to their theoretical implications as well as to the future use of the entrapment scale in clinical research and practice.
Dendritic Cell‐Based Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Jähnisch Hanka , Füssel Susanne , Kiessling Andrea , Wehner Rebekka , Zastrow Stefan , Bachmann Michael , Rieber Ernst Peter , Wirth Manfred P. , Schmitz Marc
Published: November 2010

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen‐presenting cells (APCs), which display an extraordinary capacity to induce, sustain, and regulate T‐cell responses providing the opportunity of DC‐based cancer vaccination strategies. Thus, clinical trials enrolling prostate cancer patients were conducted, which were based on the administration of DCs loaded with tumor‐associated antigens. These clinical trials revealed that DC‐based immunotherapeutic strategies represent safe and feasible concepts for the induction of immunological and clinical responses in prostate cancer patients. In this context, the administration of the vaccine sipuleucel‐T consisting of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells including APCs, which were pre‐exposed in vitro to the fusion protein PA2024, resulted in a prolonged overall survival among patients with metastatic castration‐resistent prostate cancer. In April 2010, sipuleucel‐T was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for prostate cancer therapy.
A Comprehensive Overview of the Cold Spot
Authors: Vielva Patricio
Published: November 2010

The report of a significant deviation of the CMB temperature anisotropies distribution from Gaussianity (soon after the public release of the WMAP data in 2003) has become one of the most solid WMAP anomalies. This detection grounds on an excess of the kurtosis of the Spherical Mexican HatWavelet coefficients at scales of around
10 degrees. At these scales, a prominent feature—located in the southern Galactic hemisphere—was highlighted
from the rest of the SMHW coefficients: the Cold Spot. This paper presents a comprehensive overview related
to the study of the Cold Spot, paying attention to the non‐Gaussianity detection methods, the morphological
characteristics of the Cold Spot, and the possible sources studied in the literature to explain its nature. Special
emphasis is made on the Cold Spot compatibility with a cosmic texture, commenting on future tests that would
help to give support or discard this hypothesis.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure Characterization of Zinc (II) Tetronic Acid Complexes
Authors: Prousis K. C. , Athanasellis G. , Stefanou V. , Matiadis D. , Kokalari E. , Igglessi-Markopoulou O. , McKee V. , Markopoulos J.
Published: November 2010

The synthesis and characterization of two new tetronic acid zinc (II) complexes of the empirical formulae [Zn(L–H)2] (1) and [Zn(L–H)2(H2O)(MeOH)]H2O (2) found within the same crystal are reported. The zinc ions bind through alkoxide and carbonyl groups of the ligand 3‐methoxycarbonyl‐5‐phenyl tetronic acid (LH) as indicated by  1H NMR and X‐ray crystallographic studies. These complexes promote intra‐ and intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding and π stacking, giving place to the formation of molecular aggregates.
CdSe Quantum Dots Sensitized Mesoporous TiO2Solar Cells with CuSCN as Solid-State Electrolyte
Authors: Chen Guanbi , Wang Lei , Zou Yu , Sheng Xia , Liu Hongjuan , Pi Xiaodong , Yang Deren
Published: November 2010

Mesoporous TiO2is functionalized by 3-mercaptopropyl trimethyoxysilane (MPTMS) to anchor CdSe quantum dots (QDs). The resulting TiO2/CdSe is combined with solid-state electrolyte (CuSCN) to form solar cells. It is found that the efficiency of electron injection from QDs to TiO2can be improved owing to the substitution of the long chains of organic capping agents at the surface of QDs with MPTMS. The hydrolyzate of MPTMS forms an insulating barrier layer to reduce the recombination at the TiO2/CdSe interface, leading to the increase of open-circuit voltage (Voc).
Decreasing the Adverse Effects of Cancer Therapy: National Cancer Institute Guidance for the Clinical Development of Radiation Injury Mitigators
Authors: Movsas Benjamin , Vikram Bhadrasain , Hauer-Jensen Martin , Moulder John E. , Basch Ethan , Brown Stephen L. , Kachnic Lisa A. , Dicker Adam P. , Coleman C. Norman , Okunieff Paul
Published: November 2010

Recently, many agents have been identified that target molecular pathways that can mitigate radiation toxicity. To date, no drugs have been approved as radiation injury mitigators, which are defined as agents administered after irradiation but before toxicity is manifest. In order to accelerate the application of potential mitigators for cancer patients, a meeting sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was held in January 2010. This article presents an algorithm to guide clinical trials for such agents in patients receiving radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. It reviews the mechanisms of radiation injury, the clinical problem, the preclinical and clinical development of candidate agents, and the design and conduct of clinical trials. The central role of patient reported outcomes is outlined, as well as key lessons learned from prior clinical trials. Ultimately, the goal is to be able to apply such promising agents to improve the quality of life for patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 17(2); 222–28. ©2010 AACR.
Massive Benign Osteoblastoma of the Suboccipital Bone and Foramen Magnum Region
Authors: Muzumdar D. , Balasubramaniam S. , Jhawar S. , Goel A.
Published: November 2010

Benign osteoblastoma is an uncommon primary bone tumor frequently found in the vertebral column and long tubular bones, and rarely occurring in the calvarium. A case of a massive benign osteoblastoma of the suboccipital bone and foramen magnum region in a 9-year-old boy is reported. He presented with progressively worsening nuchal pain and headaches secondary to a bony lesion in the suboccipital and foramen magnum region. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain showed a large midline occipital/suboccipital bony lesion extending to either side (R > L) and extending from the torcula till the foramen magnum region, causing moderate obstructive hydrocephalus. The atlas was uninvolved by the tumor. In addition, the cerebellum was pushed anteriorly squashing the fourth ventricle. The tumor was completely resected with wide margins via a suboccipital route. At follow-up after 7 years, the patient was asymptomatic, and CT imaging demonstrated no recurrence. The occurrence of benign osteoblastoma in the suboccipital bone and foramen magnum region has not been reported earlier in the pediatric population. Surgical extirpation of the lesion with wide margins is advocated and can produce an excellent long-term outcome. Serial vigilant follow-up along with sequential imaging is advocated even in cases with complete resection to detect early recurrence and possible malignant transformation.
Regrowth of Septal Spur in Split Cord Malformation
Authors: Gupta Deepak Kumar , Ahmed Shameem , Garg Kanwaljeet , Mahapatra A.K.
Published: November 2010

Regrowth of a diastematomyelic bone septum is very rare, and only few cases have been reported in the literature. We report a 3-year-old female patient who developed recurrent fibro-osseous spur after primary excision.
Long-Term Outcome after Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Children
Authors: Appelgren Tobias , Zetterstrand Sofia , Elfversson Jörgen , Nilsson Daniel
Published: November 2010

Aims: To provide long-term outcome data after treatment of hydrocephalus in children, and to identify risk factors for ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) failure. Methods: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and VPS procedures in children between 2001 and 2005 were reviewed. Data collected prospectively included age at surgery, sex, aetiology of hydrocephalus, gestational age, emergency/planned surgery, duration of surgery, time of day, surgeon’s experience and other concomitant surgery. The mean follow-up was 4.7 years (min. 2 years). The endpoint was a new surgery due to failure of treatment, and the time to failure was noted. Risk factors for VPS failure were analysed by univariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included, 76 with a VPS, 22 with an ETV. Fifty-five percent of ETV and 58% of VPS failed. Significant risk factors (p < 0.05) for VPS failure were prematurity (HR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.12–3.76), concomitant procedure (HR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.04–4.12) and long duration of surgery (HR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.06–1.44), while sex, surgeon’s experience, shunt type, at what department the surgery was performed, whether the surgery was acute or elective, and time of day were not. Conclusion: Treatment failure occurred in >50% of patients after ETV and VPS. Prematurity and concomitant surgery were major risk factors for VPS failure.
Macrophages Acquire Fibroblast Characteristics in a Rat Model of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy
Authors: Lin Miao-li , Li Yong-ping , Li Zhan-rong , Lin Jian-xian , Zhou Xiao-lai , Liang Dan
Published: November 2010

Purpose: Our aim was to establish a rat model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) induced by macrophages and investigate whether macrophages can be a cell origin of fibroblast-like cells present in PVR. Methods: One eye of each rat received an intravitreal injection of macrophages. Clinical examination was performed to evaluate the development of PVR. Histological study was carried out to observe the pathological progression. Immunohistochemical staining with vimentin (VIM), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), α-smooth-muscle actin (α-SM actin), cytokeratin (CK) and CD68 characterized the cell types within the PVR membranes. The distribution, morphological change of prelabeled macrophages, as well as their colocalization with CD68, VIM, GFAP, α-SM actin and CK, were observed on days 3, 14 and 28 after injection. Results: In response to intravitreal injection of macrophages, 90% of the experimental rats developed PVR from postoperative day 7. The histological progression of PVR was characterized by the sequential appearance of inflammatory cell invasion, fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. The dominating cells comprising the proliferative membranes at the advanced stage were fibroblasts. Injected macrophages retained round shape and positive staining with CD68 on day 3. On day 28, they acquired elongated/spindle shape combined with intense staining of VIM but absence of CD68, GFAP, α-SM actin and CK, and became the primary constituent of fibrocellular membranes. Conclusions: Macrophages effectively and reproducibly induce the development of proliferative fibrocellular membranes in rats. In this PVR model, macrophages acquire fibroblast-like cell phenotype and contribute to fibrocellular membranes directly, suggesting that macrophages may be a cell origin of fibroblast-like cells involved in PVR.
Tooth Erosion with Low Severity Does Not Impact Child Oral Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Vargas-Ferreira F. , Piovesan C. , Praetzel J.R. , Mendes F.M. , Allison P.J. , Ardenghi T.M.
Published: November 2010

Background: Prevalence data about tooth erosion has attracted increasing attention in the dental community; however, no study has addressed the impact of this condition on child oral health-related quality of life (COHRQoL). This study assessed the impact of tooth erosion on COHRQoL. Methods: This study followed a cross-sectional design, with a multistage random sample of 944 11- to 14-year-old children representative of Santa Maria, a southern city in Brazil. They were examined for recording the prevalence and severity of tooth erosion by 2 examiners. Children completed the Brazilian version of Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11–14) and data about socioeconomic variables of the target population were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. The Poisson regression model using robust variance was performed to assess the association between the predictor variables and the outcomes. Results: Prevalence of tooth erosion (7.2%) and severity were low. Poisson regression models showed a distinct gradient in mean CPQ11–14 scores by socioeconomic indicators. Children with tooth erosion with low levels of severity did not report higher means in the total scores or domains of CPQ11–14. Conclusion: The presence of tooth erosion of low severity did not have a significant negative impact on the children’s perception of oral health or on their daily performance.
Comparing three body condition indices in amphibians: a case study of yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata
Authors: Plăiaşu Rodica , Hartel Tibor , Băncilă Raluca Ioana , Cogălniceanu Dan , Smets Joost
Published: November 2010

Body condition is important because it is correlated with population and habitat quality parameters. Since the direct measurements are either lethal or unreliable, a wide range of non-lethal body condition indices has been proposed. The aim of our study was to apply and compare three body condition indices (Fulton's index, relative body condition mass index and residual index) using body size indicator – body mass data for 24 populations of the yellow bellied toad (Bombina variegata). The condition index should be independent of body size indicator, in this case snout vent length (SVL). Therefore we tested all three indices for the statistical independence of SVL and for the normality of distribution. Fulton's index violated the independence assumption, whereas the relative body condition mass index did not have a normal distribution. Residual index was found both independent of SVL and normally distributed. Moreover, the residual index highlighted biological significant differences on the basis of altitude and season. Our results recommend the residual index as a useful tool in amphibian monitoring and conservation.
Spatial and temporal patterns of richness and abundance in the anuran assemblage of an artificial water reservoir from the semiarid central region of Argentina
Authors: Jofré Mariana Beatriz , Caviedes-Vidal Enrique , Cid Fabricio Damián
Published: November 2010

This constitutes the first study of anuran fauna composition of an artificial permanent water reservoir, in a semiarid ecosystem of San Luis. Species richness, relative abundance, spatial distribution and pattern of summer activity were estimated in the anuran community of the Embalse La Florida, an artificial water reservoir in the semiarid central region of the sierras of San Luis, Argentina. This reservoir represents one of the few sources of water available for reproduction and early development of amphibian species in the zone. We identified anurans using call surveys during two summers at fifteen sites, belonging to four zones around the shorelines of the reservoir. Eight amphibian species (Rhinella arenarum, Melanophryniscus stelzneri, Leptodactylus bufonius, Leptodactylus mystacinus, Odontophrynus americanus, Odontophrynus occidentalis, Pleurodema tucumanum and Hypsiboas cordobae) were recorded at the shores of the embalse. The highest species richness (seven) was detected in the preserve located on the north shore. Species richness analyzed by month or survey was not correlated with weather variables. The highest relative abundance of anurans was detected at the highly modified campsites area, which may provide stable food and refugia. Relative abundance of all anuran species was positively correlated with precipitation. This permanent water reservoir may act as an important site of amphibian fauna concentration, which is important to monitor and preserve.
The Spread Wings Motif on Armenian Steles: Its Meaning and Parallels in Sasanian Art
Authors: Compareti Matteo
Published: November 2010

This paper is a study on the so-called “spread wings”—a particular element of the Sasanian art that is attested also in other regions of the Persian Empire in Late Antiquity, including the western coast of the Persian Gulf and the Caucasus. The spread wings can be observed on Sasanian coins above the royal crowns, which are considered specific for every Sasanian sovereign, supporting astronomical elements, like the crescent, star, and, possibly, the sun. The Arabs and the peoples of the Caucasus who adopted Christianity used the spread wings element as a pedestal for the cross. In Armenian literature, there are some connections between those spread wings and glory, so that a kind of pedestal could be considered a device to exalt or glorify the element above it. The floating ribbons attached to Sasanian crowns had possibly the same meaning and were adopted also outside of proper Persia. In the same way, it could be considered correct to identify those luminaries on Sasanian crowns as divine elements connected with the religion of pre-Islamic Persia.
Shaggy or Shaved? The Symbolism of Hair among Persian Qalandar Sufis
Authors: Ridgeon Lloyd
Published: November 2010

The Qalandars have usually been considered antinomian Sufis, a view that may have been perpetuated by their shocking appearance (the shaving of head-hair, eyebrows, moustache and beard, that is, the so-called “four-shaves”, chahār-żarb, which runs against the normative Islamic tradition. This paper briefly highlights the significance of hair in the Islamic tradition with reference to the sacred sources (the Qur'ān, Hadīth and biographies of the Prophet). Subsequently the general Sufi perspective on hair is considered, and then the study focuses on the Qalandars. Following a brief investigation of the term, four seemingly different Qalandar explanations for the origins of the chahār-żarb are presented. Despite the apparent dissimilarity in these emic sources, it is argued that they hold significant parallels. An understanding of the contents of these stories reveals the Qalandars to be located firmly within a normative Sufi tradition; rather than having an unbounded, intoxicated and antinomian lifestyle, these stories suggest that the Qalandars were deeply attached to Qur'ānic and Islamic referents, and wished to uphold an ethic by which they were able to devote their focus on the divine.