bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased Serum PAI-1 Levels in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome and Long-Term Adverse Mental Symptoms: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Huotari Anne , Lehto Soili M. , Niskanen Leo , Herzig Karl-Heinz , Hintikka Jukka , Koivumaa-Honkanen Heli , Tolmunen Tommi , Honkalampi Kirsi , Kaikkonen Noora , Viinamäki Heimo
Published: March 2010

Depression is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), an inhibitor of tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activators, are associated with MetS. To clarify the role of PAI-1 in subjects with long-term adverse mental symptomatology (LMS; including depression) and MetS, we measured circulating PAI-1 levels in controls (n=111), in subjects with MetS and free of mental symptoms (n=42), and in subjects with both MetS and long-term mental symptoms (n=70). PAI-1 increased linearly across the three groups in men. In logistic regression analysis, men with PAI-1 levels above the median had a 3.4-fold increased likelihood of suffering from the comorbidity of long-term adverse mental symptoms and MetS, while no such associations were detected in women. In conclusion, our results suggest that in men high PAI-1 levels are independently associated with long-term mental symptomatology.
Availability of Antimalarial Drugs and Evaluation of the Attitude and Practices for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Bangui, Central African Republic
Authors: Manirakiza Alexandre , Njuimo Siméon Pierre , Le Faou Alain , Malvy Denis , Millet Pascal
Published: March 2010

National malaria management policy is based upon the availability of effective and affordable antimalarial drugs. This study was undertaken to evaluate the quality of the treatment of uncomplicated malaria cases in Bangui, an area with multidrug-resistant parasites, at a time preceding implementation of a new therapeutic policy relying on the artemisinin derivative combined treatment artemether-lumefantrine. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Bangui city to assess availability of antimalarial drugs and the performances of health workers in the management of uncomplicated malaria. Availability of drugs was recorded in all drugs wholesalers (n=3), all pharmacies in health facilities (n=14), private drugstores (n=15), and in 60 non-official drug shops randomly chosen in the city. Despite a limited efficacy at the time of the survey, chloroquine remained widely available in the official and nonofficial markets. Artemisinin derivatives used in monotherapy or in combination were commonly sold. In health care facilities, 93% of the uncomplicated malaria cases were treated in the absence of any laboratory confirmation and the officially recommended treatment, amodiaquine-sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, was seldom prescribed. Thus, the national guidelines for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria are not followed by health professionals in Bangui. Its use should be implemented while a control of importation of drug has to be reinforced.
[Retracted] On Multistep Iterative Scheme for Approximating the Common Fixed Points of Contractive‐Like Operators
Authors: Olaleru J. O. , Akewe H.
Published: March 2010

We introduce the Jungck‐multistep iteration and show that it converges strongly to the unique common fixed point of a pair of weakly compatible generalized contractive‐like operators defined on a Banach space. As corollaries, the results show that the Jungck‐Mann, Jungck‐Ishikawa, and Jungck‐Noor iterations can also be used to approximate the common fixed points of such maps. The results are improvements, generalizations, and extensions of the work of Olatinwo and Imoru (2008), Olatinwo (2008). Consequently, several results in literature are generalized.
Existence of Positive Solutions of a Discrete Elastic Beam Equation
Authors: Ma Ruyun , Li Jiemei , Gao Chenghua
Published: March 2010

Let T be an integer with T ≥ 5 and let . We consider the existence of positive solutions of the nonlinear boundary value problems of fourth‐order difference equations
Δ4u(t − 2) − ra(t)f(u(t)) = 0, ,
u(1) = u(T + 1) = Δ2u(0) = Δ2u(T) = 0, where r is a constant, is continuous. Our approaches are based on the Krein‐Rutman theorem and the global bifurcation theorem.
Autoimmune Thyroiditis Presenting as Palmoplantar Keratoderma
Authors: Lestre Sara , Lozano Eva , Meireles Cláudia , Barata Feio Ana
Published: March 2010

Palmoplantar keratoderma is a heterogeneous group of hereditary and acquired disorders characterized by abnormal thickening of palms and soles. Hypothyroidism is an unusual cause of palmoplantar keratoderma, rarely reported in the literature. We report a case of a 43-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of a diffuse palmoplantar hyperkeratosis unresponsive to topical keratolytics and corticosteroids. Her past medical and family histories were unremarkable. She complained of recent asthenia, mood changes and constipation. Laboratory evaluation revealed an autoimmune thyroiditis with hypothyroidism. Other causes of acquired palmoplantar keratoderma were excluded. After hormonal replacement therapy institution, a gradual improvement of skin condition was observed. The diagnosis of underlying causes for acquired palmoplantar keratoderma can be a difficult task; however its recognition is essential for successful treatment results. Although a very rare association, hypothyroidism must be suspected in patients with acquired palmoplantar keratoderma, particularly when it occurs in association with systemic symptoms.
Size Functions for the Morphological Analysis of Melanocytic Lesions
Authors: Ferri Massimo , Stanganelli Ignazio
Published: March 2010

Size Functions and Support Vector Machines are used to implement a new automatic classifier of melanocytic lesions. This is mainly based on a qualitative assessment of asymmetry, performed by halving images by several lines through the center of mass, and comparing the two halves in terms of color, mass distribution, and boundary. The program is used, at clinical level, with two thresholds, so that comparison of the two outputs produces a report of low‐middle‐high risk. Experimental results on 977 images, with cross‐validation, are reported.
High‐Resolution Algorithm for Image Segmentation in the Presence of Correlated Noise
Authors: Jiang Haiping , Bourennane Salah , Fossati Caroline
Published: March 2010

Multiple line characterization is a most common issue in image processing. A specific formalism turns the contour detection issue of image processing into a source localization issue of array processing. However, the existing methods do not address correlated noise. As a result, the detection performance is degraded. In this paper, we propose to improve the subspace‐based high‐resolution methods by computing the fourth‐order slice cumulant matrix of the received signals instead of second‐order statistics, and we estimate contour parameters out of images impaired with correlated Gaussian noise. Simulation results are presented and show that the proposed methods improve line characterization performance compared to second‐order statistics.
Clinical and Microbiological Determinants of Outcome inStaphylococcus aureusBacteraemia
Authors: Price James , Baker Gillian , Heath Ian , Walker-Bone Karen , Cubbon Marc , Curtis Sally , Enright Mark C. , Lindsay Jodi , Paul John , Llewelyn Martin
Published: March 2010

Staphylococcus aureusbacteraemia (SAB) is commonly complicated by metastatic infection or relapse after treatment.Objectives. The study aim was to determine the role of bacterial, host, and management factors in development of complicated SAB.Methods. A prospectively-conducted observational study gathered data on predisposition, management and outcome of 100 consecutive SAB cases. Antibiotic susceptibilities and genetic lineage of bacterial isolates were determined. Further clinical and microbiological data were gathered on two retrospective series from 1999–2000 (n=57) and 2004 (n=116).Results. In the prospective cases, 27% met our definition of complicated disease. Expressed as RR and 95% CI, complicated disease was associated with diabetes (1.58, 1.00–2.48), injecting-drug use (5.48, 0.88–33.49), community-onset of symptoms (1.4, 1.02–1.92), and symptom duration≥48hours prior to starting effective antibiotic therapy (2.10, 1.22–3.61). Uncomplicated disease was associated with the presence of a central line (0.69, 0.55–0.88) and prompt removal of a primary focus (0.71, 0.57–0.90). Neither methicillin resistance nor genetic lineage was associated with complicated disease, but methicillin resistance was associated with higher mortality.Conclusions. This study demonstrates that clinical rather than microbial factors are the major determinants of SAB outcome and underscores the importance of early treatment.
Development and Validation of a Spike Detection and Classification Algorithm Aimed at Implementation on Hardware Devices
Authors: Biffi E. , Ghezzi D. , Pedrocchi A. , Ferrigno G.
Published: March 2010

Neurons cultured in vitro on MicroElectrode Array (MEA) devices connect to each other, forming a network. To study electrophysiological activity and long term plasticity effects, long period recording and spike sorter methods are needed. Therefore, on-line and real time analysis, optimization of memory use and data transmission rate improvement become necessary. We developed an algorithm for amplitude-threshold spikes detection, whose performances were verified with (a) statistical analysis on both simulated and real signal and (b) Big O Notation. Moreover, we developed a PCA-hierarchical classifier, evaluated on simulated and real signal. Finally we proposed a spike detection hardware design on FPGA, whose feasibility was verified in terms of CLBs number, memory occupation and temporal requirements; once realized, it will be able to execute on-line detection and real time waveform analysis, reducing data storage problems.
Effects of Pesticides on the Growth and Reproduction of Earthworm: A Review
Authors: Yasmin Shahla , D'Souza Doris
Published: March 2010

Scientific literature addressing the influence of pesticides on the growth and reproduction of earthworm is reviewed. Earthworms are considered as important bioindicators of chemical toxicity in the soil ecosystem. Studies on this aspect are important because earthworms are the common prey of many terrestrial vertebrate species such as birds and small mammals, and thus they play a key role in the biomagnification process of several soil pollutants. Majority of the studies have used mortality as an endpoint rather than subtler endpoints such as reproductive output. It is now emphasized that, whereas higher concentrations of a pollutant can easily be assessed with the acute (mortality) test, contaminated soils with lower (sublethal) pollutant concentrations require more sensitive test methods such as reproduction test in their risk assessment.
Protective Effect and Mechanisms of Radix Astragali Injection on the Intestinal Mucosa of Rats with Obstructive Jaundice
Authors: Xiping Zhang , Ke Weng , Yaping Yu , Hongchan Zhao , Qihui Cheng
Published: March 2010

Objective. To research the protective effects and mechanisms of Radix Astragali injection on the intestinal mucosa of rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ).Methods. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model control and Radix Astragali treated group. We observed the pathological changes of intestinal mucosa, expression levels of Bax and NF-κB proteins, and apoptosis indexes in intestinal mucosa as well as serum NO, MDA and SOD contents, respectively, on 7d, 14d, 21d and 28d after operation.Results. The pathological severity score (on 7d and 14d), apoptotic indexes (on 14d) of the intestinal mucosa and serum MDA content (on 14d) of treated group were significantly lower than those in the model control group (P<.05). The serum SOD contents (on all time points) of treated group were significantly higher than those in the model control group (P<.05). The sham-operated group (on 21d) of the product of staining intensity and positive rate of Bax protein was significantly lower than model control group (P<.05).Conclusion. Radix Astragali injection could protect the intestinal mucosa of OJ rats by increasing the content of SOD, reducing the content of MDA, inhibiting the apoptosis and relieving the pathological changes of intestinal mucosa.
Environmental Exposure to Emissions from Petrochemical Sites and Lung Cancer: The Lower Mississippi Interagency Cancer Study
Authors: Simonsen Neal , Scribner Richard , Su L. Joseph , Williams Donna , Luckett Brian , Yang Tong , Fontham Elizabeth T. H.
Published: March 2010

To investigate potential links between environmental exposure to petrochemical plant emissions and lung cancer, a population-based case-control study (LMRICS) was conducted in eleven Louisiana parishes bordering the Mississippi River. Cases and age, gender, and race-matched controls were interviewed regarding potential risk factors. Residential history was geocoded to provide indices of long-term proximity to industrial sites. Cases were more likely to have lived near a petrochemical site. Models adjusted for other risk factors, however, showed small or no association with lung cancer (odds ratio for residence within a half-mile of a site , 95% confidence interval 0.58–2.08). While associations were strongest for exposures exceeding 15 years, none approached statistical significance and there was no clear dose-response across exposure duration, distance categories, or when sites were grouped according to carcinogenicity rating of chemical releases. Residential proximity to petrochemical plants along the lower Mississippi thus showed no significant association with lung cancer.
Global Synchronization in Complex Networks with Adaptive Coupling
Authors: Yuan Zhengzhong , Cai Jianping , Lin Meili
Published: March 2010

Global synchronization in adaptive coupling networks is studied in this paper. A new simple adaptive controller is proposed based on a concept of asymptotically stable led by partial state variables. Under the proposed adaptive update law, the network can achieve global synchronization without calculating the eigenvalues of the outer coupling matrix. The update law is only dependent on partial state variables of individual oscillators. Numerical simulations are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method, in which the unified chaotic system is chosen as the nodes of the network with different topologies.
Scorpion Venom and the Inflammatory Response
Authors: Petricevich Vera L.
Published: March 2010

Scorpion venoms consist of a complex of several toxins that exhibit a wide range of biological properties and actions, as well as chemical compositions, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. These venoms are associated with high morbility and mortality, especially among children. Victims of envenoming by a scorpion suffer a variety of pathologies, involving mainly both sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation as well as central manifestations such as irritability, hyperthermia, vomiting, profuse salivation, tremor, and convulsion. The clinical signs and symptoms observed in humans and experimental animals are related with an excessive systemic host inflammatory response to stings and stings, respectively. Although the pathophysiology of envenomation is complex and not yet fully understood, venom and immune responses are known to trigger the release of inflammatory mediators that are largely mediated by cytokines. In models of severe systemic inflammation produced by injection of high doses of venom or venoms products, the increase in production of proinflammatory cytokines significantly contributes to immunological imbalance, multiple organ dysfunction and death. The cytokines initiate a cascade of events that lead to illness behaviors such as fever, anorexia, and also physiological events in the host such as activation of vasodilatation, hypotension, and increased of vessel permeability.
Ghrelin Cells in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Sakata Ichiro , Sakai Takafumi
Published: March 2010

Ghrelin is 28-amino-acid peptide that was discovered from the rat and human stomach in 1999. Since the discovery of ghrelin, various functions of ghrelin, including growth hormone release, feeding behavior, glucose metabolism, memory, and also antidepressant effects, have been studied. It has also been reported that ghrelin in the gastrointestinal tract has an important physiological effect on gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal motility. Ghrelin has a unique structure that is modified by O-acylation with n-octanoic acid at third serine residues, and this modification enzyme has recently been identified and named ghrelin O-acyl transferase (GOAT). Ghrelin is considered to be a gut-brain peptide and is abundantly produced from endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal mucosa. In the gastrointestinal tract, ghrelin cells are most abundant in the stomach and are localized in gastric mucosal layers. Ghrelin cells are also widely distributed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, abundance of ghrelin cells in the gastric mucosa is evolutionally conserved from mammals to lower vertebrates, indicating that gastric ghrelin plays important roles for fundamental physiological functions. Ghrelin cells in the gastrointestinal tract are a major source of circulating plasma ghrelin, and thus understanding the physiology of these cells would reveal the biological significance of ghrelin.
Correction of Fanconi Anemia Group C Hematopoietic Stem Cells Following Intrafemoral Gene Transfer
Authors: Habi Ouassila , Girard Johanne , Bourdages Valérie , Delisle Marie-Chantal , Carreau Madeleine
Published: March 2010

The main cause of morbidity and mortality in Fanconi anemia patients is the development of bone marrow (BM) failure; thus correction of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) through gene transfer approaches would benefit FA patients. However, gene therapy trials for FA patients using ex vivo transduction protocols have failed to provide long-term correction. In addition, ex vivo cultures have been found to be hazardous for FA cells. To circumvent negative effects of ex vivo culture in FA stem cells, we tested the corrective ability of direct injection of recombinant lentiviral particles encoding FancC-EGFP into femurs ofFancC−/−mice. Using this approach, we show thatFancC−/−HSCs were efficiently corrected. Intrafemoral gene transfer of theFancCgene prevented the mitomycin C-induced BM failure. Moreover, we show that intrafemoral gene delivery into aplastic marrow restored the bone marrow cellularity and corrected the remaining HSCs. These results provide evidence that targeting FA-deficient HSCs directly in their environment enables efficient and long-term correction of BM defects in FA.
Long‐Term Outcomes Following Laparoscopic and Abdominal Supracervical Hysterectomies
Authors: Lieng Marit , Lømo Anne Birthe , Qvigstad Erik
Published: March 2010

Long‐term outcomes, in terms of cervical stump symptoms and overall patient satisfaction, were studied in women both after abdominal (SAH) and laparosocopic (LSH) supracervical hysterectomies. Altogether, 134 women had SAH and 315 women LSH during 2004 and 2005 at our department. The response rate of this retrospective study was 79%. Persistent vaginal bleeding after the surgery was reported by 17% in the SAH group and 24% in the LSH group. Regular bleeding was reported by only 8% in both study groups, and the women rarely found the bleeding bothersome. The women reported a significant pain reduction after the surgery, but women having a hysterectomy because of pain and/or endometriosis should be informed about the possibility of persistent symptoms. The overall patient satisfaction after both procedures was high, but the patients should have proper preoperative information about the possibility of cervical stump symptoms after any supracervical hysterectomy.
Dual Role of Heat Shock Proteins as Regulators of Apoptosis and Innate Immunity
Authors: Joly Anne-Laure , Wettstein Guillaume , Mignot Gregoire , Ghiringhelli François , Garrido Carmen
Published: March 2010

Stress or heat shock proteins (HSPs) 70 and 90 are powerful chaperones whose expression is induced in response to a wide variety of physiological and environmental insults. These proteins have different functions depending on their intracellular or extracellular location. Intracellular HSPs have a protective function. They allow the cells to survive potentially lethal conditions. The cytoprotective functions of HSPs can largely be explained by their anti-apoptotic properties. HSP70 and HSP90 can directly interact with different proteins of the tightly regulated programmed cell death machinery and thereby block the apoptotic process at distinct key points. In cancer cells, where the expression of HSP70 and/or HSP90 is frequently abnormally high, they participate in oncogenesis and in resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, the inhibition of HSPs has become an interesting strategy in cancer therapy. In contrast to intracellular HSPs, extracellularly located or membrane-bound HSPs mediate immunological functions. They can elicit an immune response providing a link between innate and adaptive immune systems. In cancer, most immunotherapeutical approaches based on extracellular HSPs exploit their carrier function for immunogenic peptides. This review will focus on the roles of HSP70 and HSP90 in apoptosis and in innate immunity and how these functions are being exploited in cancer therapy.
Rationale and Design of the Pharmacist Intervention for Low Literacy in Cardiovascular Disease (PILL-CVD) Study
Authors: Schnipper Jeffrey L. , Roumie Christianne L. , Cawthon Courtney , Businger Alexandra , Dalal Anuj K. , Mugalla Ileko , Eden Svetlana , Jacobson Terry A. , Rask Kimberly J. , Vaccarino Viola , Gandhi Tejal K. , Bates David W. , Johnson Daniel C. , Labonville Stephanie , Gregory David , Kripalani Sunil
Published: March 2010

Background—

Medication errors and adverse drug events are common after hospital discharge due to changes in medication regimens, suboptimal discharge instructions, and prolonged time to follow-up. Pharmacist-based interventions may be effective in promoting the safe and effective use of medications, especially among high-risk patients such as those with low health literacy.

Methods and Results—

The Pharmacist Intervention for Low Literacy in Cardiovascular Disease (PILL-CVD) study is a randomized controlled trial conducted at 2 academic centers—Vanderbilt University Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome or acute decompensated heart failure were randomly assigned to usual care or intervention. The intervention consisted of pharmacist-assisted medication reconciliation, inpatient pharmacist counseling, low-literacy adherence aids, and tailored telephone follow-up after discharge. The primary outcome is the occurrence of serious medication errors in the first 30 days after hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes are health care utilization, disease-specific quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. Enrollment was completed September 2009. A total of 862 patients were enrolled, and 430 patients were randomly assigned to receive the intervention. Analyses will determine whether the intervention was effective in reducing serious medication errors, particularly in patients with low health literacy.

Conclusions—

The PILL-CVD study was designed to reduce serious medication errors after hospitalization through a pharmacist-based intervention. The intervention, if effective, will inform health care facilities on the use of pharmacist-assisted medication reconciliation, inpatient counseling, low-literacy adherence aids, and patient follow-up after discharge.

Clinical Trial Registration—

clinicaltrials.gov. Identifier: NCT00632021.
Mitral Annular Dynamics in Myxomatous Valve Disease
Authors: Grewal Jasmine , Suri Rakesh , Mankad Sunil , Tanaka Akiko , Mahoney Douglas W. , Schaff Hartzell V. , Miller Fletcher A. , Enriquez-Sarano Maurice
Published: March 2010

Background—

Mitral annulus is a complex structure of poorly understood physiology. Full-volume real-time 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography offers a unique opportunity to completely image and quantify mitral annulus size and motion.

Methods and Results—

Real-time 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography of the mitral valve was acquired in 32 patients with myxomatous valve disease (MVD) and moderate to severe regurgitation, 15 normal control subjects, and 10 patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation of identical body surface area. Mitral annular dimensions (circumference, area, anteroposterior and intercommissural diameters, height, and ratio of height to intercommissural diameter ratio, which appraises annular saddle-shape depth) were measured throughout the cardiac cycle with dedicated quantification software. Compared with direct surgical measurement, 3-dimensional anterior annular dimension provided reliable measurements (mean difference, 0.1±0.1 mm;
P
=0.73; 95% confidence interval, ±4.4 mm). Annular dimensions were larger in MVD patients compared with control subjects in diastole (all
P
<0.05). Normal annulus displayed early-systolic anteroposterior (
P
<0.001) and area (
P
=0.04) contraction, increased height (
P
<0.001), and deeper saddle shape (ratio of height to intercommissural diameter, 15±1% to 21±1%;
P
<0.001), whereas intercommissural diameter was unchanged (
P
=0.30). In contrast, MVD showed early-systolic intercommissural dilatation (
P
=0.02) and no area contraction (
P
=0.99), height increase (
P
=0.11), or saddle-shape deepening (
P
=0.35). Late-systolic MVD annular saddle shape deepened but annular area excessively enlarged (
P
<0.04) as a result of persistent intercommissural widening (
P
<0.02). MVD annulus also contrasts with ischemic mitral regurgitation annulus, which, despite similar anteroposterior enlargement, is narrower and essentially adynamic. After MVD repair, the annulus remained dynamic without systolic saddle-shape accentuation (
P
=0.30).

Conclusions—

Real-time 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography provides insights into normal, dynamic mitral annulus function with early-systolic area contraction and saddle-shape deepening contributing to mitral competency. MVD annulus is also dynamic but considerably different with loss of early-systolic area contraction and saddle-shape deepening despite similar magnitude of ventricular contraction, suggestive of ventricular-annular decoupling. Subsequent area enlargement may contribute to mitral incompetence. After mitral repair, MVD annulus remains dynamic without systolic saddle-shape accentuation. Thus, real-time 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography provides new insights that allow the refining of mitral pathophysiology concepts and repair strategies.
Targeting Lymphatic Vessel Activation and CCL21 Production by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 Inhibition Has Novel Immunomodulatory and Antiarteriosclerotic Effects in Cardiac Allografts
Authors: Nykänen Antti I. , Sandelin Henrik , Krebs Rainer , Keränen Mikko A.I. , Tuuminen Raimo , Kärpänen Terhi , Wu Yan , Pytowski Bronislaw , Koskinen Petri K. , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Alitalo Kari , Lemström Karl B.
Published: March 2010

Background—

Lymphatic network and chemokine-mediated signals are essential for leukocyte traffic during the proximal steps of alloimmune response. We aimed to determine the role of lymphatic vessels and their principal growth signaling pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C/D/VEGFR-3, during acute and chronic rejection in cardiac allografts.

Methods and Results—

Analysis of heterotopically transplanted rat cardiac allografts showed that chronic rejection increased VEGF-C
+
inflammatory cell and hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1)
+
lymphatic vessel density. Allograft lymphatic vessels were VEGFR-3
+
, contained antigen-presenting cells, and produced dendritic cell chemokine CCL21. Experiments with VEGFR-3/LacZ mice or mice with green fluorescent protein–positive bone marrow cells as cardiac allograft recipients showed that allograft lymphatic vessels originated almost exclusively from donor cells. Intraportal adenoviral VEGFR-3-Ig (Ad.VEGFR-3-Ig/VEGF-C/D-Trap) perfusion was used to inhibit VEGF-C/D/VEGFR-3 signaling. Recipient treatment with Ad.VEGFR-3-Ig prolonged rat cardiac allograft survival. Ad.VEGFR-3-Ig did not affect allograft lymphangiogenesis but was linked to reduced CCL21 production and CD8
+
effector cell entry in the allograft. Concomitantly, Ad.VEGFR-3-Ig reduced OX62
+
dendritic cell recruitment and increased transcription factor Foxp3 expression in the spleen. In separate experiments, treatment with a neutralizing monoclonal VEGFR-3 antibody reduced arteriosclerosis, the number of activated lymphatic vessels expressing VEGFR-3 and CCL21, and graft-infiltrating CD4
+
T cells in chronically rejecting mouse cardiac allografts.

Conclusions—

These results show that VEGFR-3 participates in immune cell traffic from peripheral tissues to secondary lymphoid organs by regulating allograft lymphatic vessel CCL21 production and suggest VEGFR-3 inhibition as a novel lymphatic vessel–targeted immunomodulatory therapy for cardiac allograft rejection and arteriosclerosis.
Cardiac-Specific Activation of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor–Associated Protein Completely Suppresses Cardiac Hypertrophy in Chronic Angiotensin II–Infused Mice
Authors: Wakui Hiromichi , Tamura Kouichi , Tanaka Yutaka , Matsuda Miyuki , Bai Yunzhe , Dejima Toru , Masuda Shin-ichiro , Shigenaga Atsu-ichiro , Maeda Akinobu , Mogi Masaki , Ichihara Naoaki , Kobayashi Yusuke , Hirawa Nobuhito , Ishigami Tomoaki , Toya Yoshiyuki , Yabana Machiko , Horiuchi Masatsugu , Minamisawa Susumu , Umemura Satoshi
Published: March 2010

We cloned a novel molecule interacting with angiotensin II type 1 receptor, which we named ATRAP (for angiotensin II type 1 receptor–associated protein). Previous in vitro studies showed that ATRAP significantly promotes constitutive internalization of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor and further attenuates angiotensin II–mediated hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocytes. The present study was designed to investigate the putative functional role of ATRAP in cardiac hypertrophy by angiotensin II infusion in vivo. We first examined the effect of angiotensin II infusion on endogenous ATRAP expression in the heart of C57BL/6J wild-type mice. The angiotensin II treatment promoted cardiac hypertrophy, concomitant with a significant decrease in cardiac ATRAP expression, but without significant change in cardiac angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression. We hypothesized that a downregulation of the cardiac ATRAP to angiotensin II type 1 receptor ratio is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. To examine this hypothesis, we next generated transgenic mice expressing ATRAP specifically in cardiomyocytes under control of the α-myosin heavy chain promoter. In cardiac-specific ATRAP transgenic mice, the development of cardiac hypertrophy, activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and expression of hypertrophy-related genes in the context of angiotensin II treatment were completely suppressed, in spite of there being no significant difference in blood pressure on radiotelemetry between the transgenic mice and littermate control mice. These results demonstrate that cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of ATRAP in vivo abolishes the cardiac hypertrophy provoked by chronic angiotensin II infusion, thereby suggesting ATRAP to be a novel therapeutic target in cardiac hypertrophy.
Karl Popper and Pentecostal Historiography
Authors: Kay William K.
Published: March 2010

Karl Popper argued that science proceeds not by induction but by offering explanatory theories that scientists then attempt to falsify. What cannot be falsified falls outside the realm of science. In applying his ideas to the writing of history, Popper was particularly scathing about Marxist predictions of future historical development. But he did believe history could be written by looking at the situations in which historical figures found themselves and the problems they attempted to solve. Pentecostal historiography has been divided into four main types: the providential, the historical roots, the multicultural, and the functional. When each of these types is analyzed and judged against Popper’s strictures against induction, we find, among other things, that the unfashionable providential account need not be ruled out.
Pentecostal Ecclesiology and Eucharistic Hospitality: Toward a Systematic and Ecumenical Account of the Church
Authors: Vondey Wolfgang
Published: March 2010

A systematic and ecumenical ecclesiology among Pentecostals is still in the making. The present article suggests that eucharistic hospitality is a suitable starting point for this endeavor. This notion exceeds the traditional confines of a sacramental approach to the nature of the church by rooting the Christian community more firmly in the foundational dimensions of companionship and hospitality. Central to these essential dimensions of the Christian life is the discipline of spiritual discernment, which continues to be neglected in most ecclesiologies. Moreover, the eucharistic meal itself has been entirely disregarded as an instrument of ecumenical discernment. From an analysis of the spiritual practice of discernment, in general, and in the context of the eucharistic meal, in particular, emerges an ecclesiology that emphasizes universal companionship among the faithful and hospitality to all creation. This perspective presents the greatest challenge and opportunity to Pentecostal eucharistic practice, ecumenical engagement, and ecclesiology.
Trust Management as a Legal Form of Managing State Property in Russia
Authors: Benevolenskaya Zlata
Published: March 2010

In Russia, trust management (doveritel'noe upravlenie) is a civil-law institution regulated by the 1994 Russian Civil Code (Chap.53). There has been no small amount of criticism by Russian scholars of the trust doctrine. In part, this is a function of the fact that trust management of property in Russia has common-law roots, based on the fundamental principles of trust. Furthermore, trust management differs from the (Soviet) concepts of 'economic ownership' (khoziaistvennoe vedenie) and 'administrative (operative) management' (operativnoe upravlenie), on the one hand, and from the classic common-law form of trust, on the other. The transplant of foreign experience into Russia has had an influence on the restructuring of the Russian economy as a result of the intent of Russian legislators to introduce legal institutions that work in other legal systems embedded in market economies. In political terms, this has led to a legal model of trust management of property in Russian legislation that is a competitive and alternative legal model to the right of economic ownership and operative management. These latter two constructs traditionally enjoyed exclusive and absolute domination in the sphere of managing state property in the administrative-command economic system in the Soviet Union, and still predominate in Russia today.
Ocean Response to Wind Variations, Warm Water Volume, and Simple Models of ENSO in the Low-Frequency Approximation
Authors: Fedorov Alexey V.
Published: March 2010

Physical processes that control ENSO are relatively fast. For instance, it takes only several months for a Kelvin wave to cross the Pacific basin (Tk ≈ 2 months), while Rossby waves travel the same distance in about half a year. Compared to such short time scales, the typical periodicity of El Niño is much longer (T ≈ 2–7 yr). Thus, ENSO is fundamentally a low-frequency phenomenon in the context of these faster processes. Here, the author takes advantage of this fact and uses the smallness of the ratio ɛk = Tk/T to expand solutions of the ocean shallow-water equations into power series (the actual parameter of expansion also includes the oceanic damping rate). Using such an expansion, referred to here as the low-frequency approximation, the author relates thermocline depth anomalies to temperature variations in the eastern equatorial Pacific via an explicit integral operator. This allows a simplified formulation of ENSO dynamics based on an integro-differential equation. Within this formulation, the author shows how the interplay between wind stress curl and oceanic damping rates affects 1) the amplitude and periodicity of El Niño and 2) the phase lag between variations in the equatorial warm water volume and SST in the eastern Pacific. A simple analytical expression is derived for the phase lag. Further, applying the low-frequency approximation to the observed variations in SST, the author computes thermocline depth anomalies in the western and eastern equatorial Pacific to show a good agreement with the observed variations in warm water volume. Ultimately, this approach provides a rigorous framework for deriving other simple models of ENSO (the delayed and recharge oscillators), highlights the limitations of such models, and can be easily used for decadal climate variability in the Pacific.
Statistical Analyses of Land–Atmosphere Feedbacks and Their Possible Pitfalls
Authors: Orlowsky Boris , Seneviratne Sonia I.
Published: March 2010

In some regions of the world, soil moisture has a typical memory for atmospheric processes and can also feed back to the latter. Thus, a better understanding of feedbacks between soil moisture and the atmosphere could provide promising perspectives for increased seasonal predictability. Besides numerical simulations, statistical analysis of existing GCM simulations or observational data has been used to study such feedbacks. By referring to a recent statistical analysis of soil moisture–precipitation feedbacks in GCM simulations, the authors illustrate potential pitfalls of statistical approaches in this context: (i) most importantly, apparent soil moisture–precipitation feedbacks can often as well or even better be attributed to the influence of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on precipitation and (ii) the discrepancy between different GCMs is large, which makes the aggregation of individual model results difficult. These aspects need to be carefully evaluated in statistical analyses of land–atmosphere coupling. Results for soil moisture–temperature feedbacks complement the precipitation analysis.
Interannual Variations of Arctic Cloud Types in Relation to Sea Ice
Authors: Eastman Ryan , Warren Stephen G.
Published: March 2010

Sea ice extent and thickness may be affected by cloud changes, and sea ice changes may in turn impart changes to cloud cover. Different types of clouds have different effects on sea ice. Visual cloud reports from land and ocean regions of the Arctic are analyzed here for interannual variations of total cloud cover and nine cloud types, and their relation to sea ice.

Over the high Arctic, cloud cover shows a distinct seasonal cycle dominated by low stratiform clouds, which are much more common in summer than winter. Interannual variations of cloud amounts over the Arctic Ocean show significant correlations with surface air temperature, total sea ice extent, and the Arctic Oscillation. Low ice extent in September is generally preceded by a summer with decreased middle and precipitating clouds. Following a low-ice September there is enhanced low cloud cover in autumn. Total cloud cover appears to be greater throughout the year during low-ice years.

Multidecadal trends from surface observations over the Arctic Ocean show increasing cloud cover, which may promote ice loss by longwave radiative forcing. Trends are positive in all seasons, but are most significant during spring and autumn, when cloud cover is positively correlated with surface air temperature. The coverage of summertime precipitating clouds has been decreasing over the Arctic Ocean, which may promote ice loss.
Interdecadal Modulation of the Impact of ENSO on Precipitation and Temperature over the United States
Authors: Mo Kingtse C.
Published: March 2010

Data from observations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) twentieth-century climate change model [phase 3 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3)] simulations were analyzed to examine the decadal changes of the impact of ENSO on air temperature Tair and precipitation P over the United States. The comparison of composites for the early period (1915–60) and the recent period (1962–2006) indicates that cooling (warming) over the south and warming (cooling) over the north during ENSO warm (cold) winters have been weakening. The ENSO influence on winter P over the Southwest is strengthening, while the impact on P over the Ohio Valley is weakening for the recent decades. These differences are not due to the long-term trends in Tair or P; they are attributed to the occurrence of the central Pacific (CPAC) ENSO events in the recent years. The CPAC ENSO differs from the canonical eastern Pacific (EPAC) ENSO. The EPAC ENSO has a sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) maximum in the eastern Pacific. Enhanced convection extends from the date line to the eastern Pacific, with negative anomalies in the western Pacific. The atmospheric responses resemble a tropical Northern Hemisphere pattern. The wave train is consistent with the north–south Tair contrast over North America during the EPAC ENSO winters. The CPAC ENSO has enhanced convection in the central Pacific. The atmospheric responses show a Pacific–North American pattern. It is consistent with west–east contrast in Tair and more rainfall over the Southwest during the CPAC ENSO winters.
The Diurnal Cycle of Precipitation from Continental Radar Mosaics and Numerical Weather Prediction Models. Part I: Methodology and Seasonal Comparison
Authors: Surcel Madalina , Berenguer Marc , Zawadzki Isztar
Published: March 2010

The diurnal cycle of precipitation over the continental United States is characterized through the analysis of radar rainfall maps and is used as a measure of performance of the Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model during the spring (April–May) and summer (July–August) of 2008. The main interest is to determine the effects of different types of forcing (synoptic versus thermal) on the average daily variability of precipitation and on the model’s representation of it. A secondary objective is to study the interannual variability of the diurnal cycle. The investigation is based on the analysis of time–longitude diagrams of precipitation fields, of average statistics, and of model skill scores.

The results show that the main differences between the spring and summer diurnal cycles are the duration of propagating systems, the frequency of convective events in the southeastern United States, and more interannual variability of the spring diurnal cycle. However, most interesting is that the timing of precipitation initiation over the Rockies is in phase with the cycle of solar warming for both seasons, despite the strong synoptic forcing during spring. Also, east of the Rockies, the diurnal cycle is mainly determined by transport mechanism and is consequently out of phase with the solar cycle.

While GEM represents fairly well the timing of precipitation initiation along the Rockies during both seasons, it fails to correctly depict the propagation characteristics of these systems. During spring, the simulated systems show more variability in propagation paths than observed, while during summer, the observed propagation is simply not captured by GEM. This is probably a consequence of different propagation mechanisms acting in the model and in the atmosphere, and between spring and summer.
Why the Wretched Kill in Democratic South Africa
Authors: Seedat Mohamed , Baw Umesh , Ratele Kopano
Published: March 2010

In South Africa in May 2008 violence targeting foreign nationals resulted in 69 deaths, thousand of displaced people and untold psychosocial trauma. The xenophobic violence has been attributed to a range of factors including criminality, a third force, right-wing elements, persistent culture of violence, globalization and the post-apartheid state’s failure to fulfil social justice needs of the majority of South Africans. Most eminent among these in the idea that xenophobic violence arises from interplay of various socio-economic variables: poverty, inequality, joblessness and poor delivery of municipal services. In this article we take a critical look at such explanations in particular those which resonate with anti-colonial theory and scholarship. While many explanations offer a degree of systemic understanding about violence, they do not explain sufficiently why the “wretched of the earth”, the poor, downtrodden and oppressed kill their own. The article attempts to make sense of heinous acts of xenophobia especially when such acts challenge our assumptions of Ubuntu, namely African humanism and notions of Pan-Africanism articulated by many African nationalist leaders like Thabo Mbeki. An examination of the explanations of xenophobic violence helps to raise critical questions about South Africa’s program for transformation, moral regeneration and compassionate citizenship. These questions are of import to contemporary scholarship on Hind Swaraj and the current increasing focus on self determination, freedom, independence and transformation.
The Primacy of Place, Collaborations, and Alliances: Mapping Women’s Businesses in Nineteenth-Century Brooklyn
Authors: Yohn Susan M.
Published: March 2010

Seeking opportunity in nineteenth-century Brooklyn, thousands of women opened small businesses. Concentrated in the fancy goods, millinery, and dressmaking trades, they sought out the best locations on the busiest of commercial streets in the city’s growing and dynamic economy. Most failed within several years, unable to get the requisite credit or attract the volume of business necessary to sustain themselves. A small number, however, remained in business for decades. This article examines the strategies utilized by those who succeeded, focusing on the importance of the geographic locations they chose, the partnerships they forged with friends and family, and the products they marketed to argue that running a successful business required entering into a variety of collaborations. Even so, this exercise in mapping reveals that few women succeeded in growing their businesses into major enterprises.
Design of a fault diagnosis system based on a bank of filter—observers with application to a hot rolling mill
Authors: Theilliol D. , Mahfouf M. , Ponsart J.C. , Sauter D. , Gama M.A.
Published: March 2010

This paper proposes a new method for actuator/sensor faults detection, isolation and magnitude estimation. By establishing new theoretical results relating to fault diagnosis and by defining a specific application domain, the research work described in this paper aims at developing a model-based fault detection filter combined with a conventional Luenberger observer. Based on an appropriate gain, the developed technique enables one to supervise a system through an accurate bank of residuals within a generalized observer scheme. The approach is evaluated by diagnosing a series of actuator/sensor faults in a speed control loop of a hot rolling mill used to carry out multi-pass forward—forward or forward—reverse rolling. The performance of the technique is illustrated via a wide range of simulations in the ‘faulty’ case and a practical experiment in the ‘fault-free’ case using a real rolling mill.